Breaking Army - Chapter 14

A Taoist priest?

Whether or not evil spirits were truly at the root of the chaos, ordinary people lacked the ability to discern the truth, they could only rely on hearsay. Only a true cultivator could see through such things. Xiao Chen found himself wanting to meet this priest.

If it really was the work of malevolent spirits, he might be able to help.

Xiao Chen narrowed his eyes slightly. “And where is this priest you speak of?”

“In Ruoshui Town, naturally! The priest is a divine man with a body of purity, untouched by evil. He didn’t even contract the plague, wait, why am I telling you this! Men, go up there and seize them, quickly!”

The soldiers were terrified of Mu Qing after their previous beating, but Ming Feiyi urged them on repeatedly. This time, he carried the City Lord’s official orders, so it wasn’t just a personal whim. Those still standing gritted their teeth, raised their weapons, and charged again.

Mu Qing leveled his sword once more, but Xiao Chen patted his shoulder. Before Mu Qing could react, Xiao Chen tapped his toes against the railing and flipped over the edge. He leaped down from the second floor, landing directly in front of Ming Feiyi. Without even using a weapon, he easily repelled the two guards protecting the young master. With a swift reach, his hand clamped firmly around Ming Feiyi’s throat.

Ming Feiyi’s eyes bulged in terror, his scream cut short in his windpipe before it could even escape.

Xiao Chen’s face still carried the flushed heat of his fever, but the hand gripping Ming Feiyi’s neck was steady. “Tell them to stop, understood?”

Ming Feiyi clawed at Xiao Chen’s hand, but he couldn’t budge it an inch. With his life on the line, he finally managed to scrape together some logic from a brain usually clouded by lust. “Stop! Everyone stop!” he squeaked.

As the soldiers stood down, they all let out sighs of relief, for they truly were no match for Mu Qing.

Holding Ming Feiyi captive, Xiao Chen tossed a playful glance toward Mu Qing on the balcony. “Let me teach you a trick: to catch the bandits, first capture their king.”

Mu Qing felt his heart stir at that spirited look. He couldn’t help but smile, then followed suit by leaping down from the second floor.

Only then did Xiao Chen address Ming Feiyi with mock politeness. His voice was raspy, his pace measured. “To tell you the truth, I am a 68th-generation disciple of the Starcloud Sect, specializing in capturing ghosts and exorcising demons,” he lied effortlessly, inventing a new identity without blinking. “If evil spirits are truly causing trouble, it is my duty to intervene. Ahem, Master Ming, could you lead me to Ruoshui Town to investigate? I would also like to meet this fellow cultivator from the Qingyun Sect.”

Ming Feiyi had come with a mission, but he had harbored his own designs. He had planned to force the two beauties to submit and hide them away for his own pleasure, while handing over two random people to his uncle and the priest to finish the job.

But now, with Xiao Chen’s hand around his throat and his breath coming in ragged gasps, the fear of death finally outweighed his greed. Ming Feiyi turned red as he squeezed out an answer. “Ruoshui, Ruoshui Town has been sealed off. Except for officials, no one is allowed to enter. Besides, I don’t want to get sick, ugh, I can’t go in!”

Xiao Chen’s expression remained neutral. “Then just lead the way. You don’t have to enter.”

With all the soldiers standing down, Mu Qing walked to Xiao Chen’s side. Xiao Chen said to him, “Go back to the room and pack your things. Leave Mingxiao City.”

Mu Qing froze, then gestured with his hands: Wait for you outside the city?

Xiao Chen felt an itch in his throat and turned away from Mu Qing to let out a low cough. He turned back with a helpless smile. “Silly boy, Ruoshui Town is likely a plague site, how can I let you come with me? Once we’re out of the city, we’ll part ways. If fate allows, perhaps we’ll meet again.”

Xiao Chen had lost his spiritual power, but his body was still that of an immortal. Even if he fell ill from internal causes, he wouldn’t catch a human plague. Mu Qing was just a mortal, he couldn’t drag a kid into such a mess. He also couldn’t leave him here, Ming Feiyi had used an official token to order their arrest, so Mu Qing couldn’t stay in Mingxiao City. He had to use this hostage situation to get the boy as far away as possible.

Mu Qing grew frantic, his gestures coming fast: No! You’re still sick, how can I leave you alone! If you can go into Ruoshui Town, I am strong and healthy, so I can go too!

Xiao Chen sighed. His limbs were weak, making it difficult to gauge his strength. He was being very careful with Ming Feiyi, fearing he might lose his grip if he was too light, or snap the man’s neck if he was too heavy. As time passed, he grew more exhausted. He said helplessly, “If it’s a plague, does being strong guarantee you won’t get sick? And if it’s evil spirits, you aren’t a cultivator, what would you even do?”

Mu Qing was incredibly stubborn and didn’t back down an inch, his face devoid of fear. I have martial arts. I’ve heard that the pinnacle of the martial path can defeat spirits, I can try. And if it’s a plague, what about you? You’re burning with fever, you’re a patient who needs medicine!

Though he couldn’t speak, his gestures and expressions were fierce and filled with emotion. Xiao Chen felt like he was back in the days of raising Xiang Zhi and Geng Xie. He rubbed his temples, but the slight movement caused Ming Feiyi to squeal like a pig at slaughter. The man was so jumpy that even the slightest breeze terrified him. He flailed his limbs. “I’ll lead the way! I’ll lead the way! Just don’t kill me!”

Looking at Mu Qing’s “I’m following you wherever you go” stubbornness, Xiao Chen, whose energy was flagging due to his illness, didn’t want to argue anymore. Finally, he compromised. “Fine, fine, you can come along.”

He actually did have a way to ensure Mu Qing wouldn’t catch the plague.

Having said that, Xiao Chen shoved Ming Feiyi toward Mu Qing. Mu Qing instinctively grabbed the man, quickly pressing his sword against Ming Feiyi’s throat. Seeing how quickly the boy caught on, Xiao Chen clapped his hands. “Very good. You take charge of him then. I’m a patient, I shouldn’t work too hard.”

You actually remember you’re a patient?

Poor Ming Feiyi had just been freed and was trying to take a deep breath when a cold blade pressed against his skin. He sucked in a breath and didn’t dare let it out, nearly fainting. While a hand on the throat left some room for error, a blade against the flesh meant blood with one wrong move. Having been pampered his whole life, this was the first time Ming Feiyi had been treated so roughly. His legs gave out completely, and if Mu Qing hadn’t been holding him up, he would have collapsed on the spot.

Ming Feiyi had arrived in a carriage. Normally, holding a hostage inside a carriage would be easier, but Mu Qing insisted that Xiao Chen sit inside. He used simple gestures to piece together the message: he could drive the carriage while keeping the hostage in check. Xiao Chen felt weary and drowsy. Since he had already compromised on the biggest issue, he simply lifted the curtain and sat inside, leaving Mu Qing and Ming Feiyi outside.

Mu Qing held Ming Feiyi with one hand and the reins with the other, driving surprisingly steadily. Inside, Xiao Chen closed his eyes for a nap.

The carriage traveled for about fifteen minutes after leaving the city before Ming Feiyi started clamoring for them to stop. Xiao Chen had dozed for a bit, but when he opened his eyes, the dizziness hadn’t improved, and his limbs felt even heavier. He pulled back the curtain. Ahead was the border of Ruoshui Town. A large stone tablet carved with the town’s name stood tall, guarded by soldiers who all had white cloths covering their noses and mouths.

Mu Qing had swapped his sword for a short dagger during the journey, pressing it against Ming Feiyi’s back. This way, even from a distance, people wouldn’t notice that the young master was being held captive.

Seeing Xiao Chen awake, Mu Qing nodded and grabbed Ming Feiyi to get off. Xiao Chen followed. Unfortunately, Mu Qing’s hands were full, otherwise he surely would have assisted him. Xiao Chen slowly climbed down, but the moment his feet hit the ground, he covered his nose. “Ugh, what is that smell!”

The stench wasn’t far away. Looking closely, the front of Ming Feiyi’s pants was soaked.

The Po Jun Prince, who had walked through storms of blood, never expected to actually see someone wet themselves from fear. He was genuinely amazed for a moment, though he didn’t forget to warn Mu Qing, “Be careful, don’t get any on you.”

Mu Qing naturally kept his distance, ensuring he didn’t touch a drop.

Ming Feiyi trembled. “Ruoshui Town is just ahead. I’ve led you here, now let me go! I don’t want to go in, I don’t want to die! Noble beauties, heroes, please show mercy and spare me!”

Xiao Chen asked, “Aren’t you going to introduce us to our fellow Taoist from the Qingyun Sect?”

“Priest Hua is right inside! You’ll see him as soon as you enter the town!” Ming Feiyi wailed with a miserable face. “He’s a divine man, but I’m not! Spare me! Please, I was wrong, I was wrong!”

“Do you have a token? We need an identity to enter the town, don’t we?”

Ming Feiyi hurriedly removed his waist token. It turned out he held an official rank, though he rarely wore the badge. He had only put it on today because he was on official business to arrest people. He offered it with both hands. “My waist token, they’ll let you pass once they see it.”

Because of the smell lingering on Ming Feiyi, Xiao Chen made sure the token was clean before disdainfully picking it up with two fingertips. He nodded to Mu Qing. The boy was clever and understood the signal immediately, retracting the dagger and kicking Ming Feiyi away from the town. Ming Feiyi tumbled along the ground, his wet pants picking up a thick layer of mud.

“Alright, get lost.” Xiao Chen held up the token. “Let’s go.”

When they were about ten paces from the guarding soldiers, Xiao Chen called out, “Mu Qing.”

As Mu Qing turned his head, he felt a coolness on his lips, Xiao Chen had quickly brushed a finger across them.

Mu Qing: “?”

Xiao Chen’s hands were still cold. After the coolness passed, Mu Qing realized something had been left behind. It was slightly wet. He instinctively reached up to touch it, but Xiao Chen stopped him. “Hey, don’t touch it. I’ve applied some medicine for you to prevent the plague from entering your body. Um, just lick it in. Even though it’s just a little bit, it’s definitely effective.”

Mu Qing didn’t doubt for a second that Xiao Chen might harm him. He obediently pursed his lips and licked the “medicine” into his mouth. But the moment his tongue touched it, Mu Qing froze. It clearly tasted like rust! He quickly touched his lip and looked at his finger. Sure enough, a smudge of crimson stained his fingertip.

Mu Qing’s pupils shrank. What medicine? It was clearly blood.

Xiao Chen didn’t think he could hide it forever, but he didn’t panic at all. His illness didn’t stop him from spinning more lies. “This medicine requires a bit of blood as a catalyst. Don’t be afraid.”

To lead an army, one needed not just courage but strategy. The Rebel Army welcomed all, but one had to guard against villains. Therefore, Prince Po Jun was a master of the “falsehoods as truth” technique. He could bluff with total conviction. If Geng Xie hadn’t learned how to deceive people from him, who would believe it?

Mu Qing couldn’t speak. In this situation, even if he weren’t a mute, he probably wouldn’t have been able to find his voice. He knit his beautiful brows and looked at Xiao Chen with a gaze full of grievance and sorrow.

How could you make me drink your blood?

He was naturally handsome, and with the faint trace of blood on his lips like rouge, he looked even more strikingly vivid. His eyes were incredibly expressive. Anyone being stared at by those soulful, hurt eyes would find it impossible to remain unmoved.

Good grief. Xiao Chen wasn’t afraid of rowdy kids, but he was weak against those who acted spoiled or played the victim. That was why he often went soft on Xiang Zhi. Being looked at like this by Mu Qing, his vast heart finally felt a tiny prick of guilt for tricking the boy.

However, compared to Mu Qing’s safety, this guilt was like a needle in the ocean, it surfaced for a moment and then sank again. Besides, he hadn’t given much blood, just a tiny bit on his fingertip, only enough to smudge a lip.

Seeing how aggrieved the boy was, Xiao Chen reached out and patted his head. “Good boy, okay?”

Mu Qing’s expression immediately became even more pained.

Right, Mu Qing didn’t like being treated like a child. Xiao Chen withdrew his hand and coughed twice. Why did I instinctively reach out…

Yet, the youth who had been silently accusing him a second ago was suddenly full of urgency, gesturing worriedly: Are you feeling even worse?

The change in expression was faster than flipping a page in a book.

Xiao Chen only marveled for a moment. Since he didn’t need to coax the boy anymore, business came first. He waved his hand. “I’m fine. Let’s go. We need to enter the town and see the situation.”

Another lie. If walking with great effort was considered “fine,” then he truly didn’t know what “not fine” meant. Not only was he good at bluffing others, but he was also a master at faking it himself. Regardless, no one could tell that he was currently in a state where he could collapse at any moment.

As Xiao Chen walked forward, Mu Qing followed closely behind. The matter of the blood seemed to have been smoothed over… but if Xiao Chen had looked back, he wouldn’t have thought so.

The look in Mu Qing’s eyes when no one was watching wasn’t something a seventeen or eighteen-year-old could possess, nor was it the look a stranger should have.

His gaze was cautious, revealing only in fleeting moments the heavy depth hidden within. Mu Qing wanted to wipe away the tiny bit of blood left on his lips, but if he did, Xiao Chen’s blood would have been shed in vain.

Mu Qing slumped his shoulders helplessly. He couldn’t let Xiao Chen’s blood and intent go to waste, not even a single drop.

So, he slowly licked his lips, cleaning away every trace of the blood, even making sure not to miss the mark on his fingertip. He truly didn’t leave a single bit behind.

After being kicked away, Ming Feiyi didn’t dare go back for the carriage. He stumbled forward on his own two legs. After walking a short distance, he saw a silhouette. His knees shook instinctively, but then he realized it was an acquaintance. He let out a sigh of relief and said dejectedly, “Priest Hua…”

Priest Hua gave him a gentle smile. The priest was also a beauty, but Ming Feiyi had just survived a brush with death and had a mess in his pants. His terror hadn’t faded. Usually, he might have had the heart to fantasize about Priest Hua, but now he wasn’t in the mood. He felt incredibly wronged. “I did as you said… I almost, almost lost my life!”

Priest Hua comforted him softly, “It’s alright. Aren’t you standing here just fine?”

“That’s because I’m smart and I ran fast, otherwise how could I have made it back!” Ming Feiyi said, clutching his chest over his thick layers of fat. Compared to his disheveled and frantic state, Priest Hua was perfectly composed. Ming Feiyi had a stomach full of questions. “Priest, is that man in white really the one to break the deadlock? Also, it’s amazing. You were right, as soon as they heard about the plague, they rushed toward Ruoshui Town. Most people would run as far as possible from a plague.”

Priest Hua smiled and said, “Because he is merciful and compassionate, he won’t stand by and watch people die. Alright, Master Ming, go back to your uncle. Tell the City Lord that he no longer needs to worry about the plague. Once this matter is settled, I shall depart. Please forgive me for being unable to bid him farewell in person.”

“Eh? Priest Hua, curing the plague is a great merit, we should at least throw a victory banquet for you, you…”

“That won’t be necessary.” Hua Wuhen maintained his gentle smile, but his refusal was firm. “Master Ming, we part ways here.”

For some reason, Ming Feiyi caught a hint of impatience on Hua Wuhen’s composed face. It was an expression of intense anticipation for something, carefully suppressed. He was familiar with that look, the crazed gamblers at the casinos often looked like that. That was why Ming Feiyi noticed it. As Hua Wuhen turned away, his smile even carried a trace of madness. Ming Feiyi shuddered and quickly gathered his robes to run away, not daring to say another word.

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