Drunk on Madness - Chapter 20

Inside the Fifth Prince’s Mansion

Prince Chen, Zhou Zhiyi, hurled a teacup at the officials kneeling before him. “Useless fools! You can’t even keep track of a few children. What good are you to me?” The officials immediately pressed their foreheads to the ground in fear.

One of them stammered, “Your Highness, please calm your anger. The sons of Prince Yan have fled into the mountains. The wilderness is vast, the paths treacherous, and the undergrowth thick. The scouts I sent have no clear direction, it’s truly difficult to find them.”

Suppressing the impatience in his eyes, Zhou Zhiyi commanded, “Ming Ying, go assist them.” A gray-clad middle-aged man emerged from behind him and bowed. “As you command, Your Highness.”

Prince Chen lifted his gaze, his expression languid and indifferent. “The best way to topple Prince Yan is through his wife and children. If they resist to the death, I can understand if they lose an arm or a leg, just don’t kill him. As for the others, they’re worthless. Dispose of them all.” With a wave of his hand, he dismissed them.

The officials withdrew one after another.

Before dusk fell, Su Mo found a low cave by the lakeside, small but sheltered from the wind. The group divided tasks: gathering firewood, building a fire, arranging a bed of leaves, roasting meat. After a simple meal, they gazed at the rippling lake. It had been days since any of them had bathed properly; they had only wiped themselves down with damp clothes. Fortunately, it was winter, so the discomfort was bearable. Seeing the lake so close, they decided to wash properly that night.

They got to work immediately, draping blankets to create a makeshift enclosure. A pot of water heated over the fire. Su Mo fashioned an animal hide into a makeshift water container, puncturing small holes at the bottom with a knife, an ancient version of a showerhead.

The men took turns pouring water for each other, enjoying the rare luxury. When it was Li Xiang’s turn, Su Mo hesitated.

Li Xiang envied the refreshed expressions of the others after their baths, but given the difference between men and women, she couldn’t ask Su Mo to help pour water for her. Seeing his conflicted expression, she said, “Momo, help me wash my hair.” Ever since they had gotten together, Li Xiang had taken to calling him “Momo,” and Su Mo delighted in it.

After a brief pause, Su Mo understood and smiled. “Of course.”

The firelight flickered across Zhou Mingxuan’s face as he watched the two by the lake, his damp hair still loose. Su Mo held the “showerhead” in one hand while using the other to shield the collar of Li Xiang’s clothes. The two chatted and laughed as they washed her hair.

Once Li Xiang was done, she stood up and flicked water at Su Mo’s face. He quickly blocked it with his sleeve, feigning hurt. “You repay kindness with cruelty.”

Li Xiang smirked. “Serves you right for not holding the ‘showerhead’ steady, water kept dripping down my neck.”

Su Mo’s expression turned concerned. “Really? Let me see.” Li Xiang touched her neck. “Look, it’s all wet.” In truth, she had tilted her head back, letting the water run down on purpose.

Su Mo hurriedly stepped forward, using his dry sleeve to wipe her neck. “Dry it quickly, or you’ll catch a cold.” He gathered her damp hair in his hands and led her back to the fire.

The four of them sat on the dry grass. Su Mo squeezed the water from Li Xiang’s hair with his sleeves while Gu Ci and Zhou Mingxuan watched their interaction. Su Mo glanced at them briefly before continuing his task.

Leaning against the cave wall, Gu Ci remarked, “Xiang Xiang, your Su Mo spoils you too much. I’m dying of envy.”

Li Xiang, clad in a dark green cotton-padded jacket, moved somewhat clumsily. A flicker of amusement flashed in her eyes as she said, “If you’re envious, you can have him.”

Gu Ci retorted, “What would I do with him? Be brothers? He doesn’t treat brothers like this.”

Hearing this, Li Xiang laughed and teased, “Then what do you want? To make him your wife?” Su Mo, realizing she was using him to poke fun at Gu Ci, couldn’t resist giving her a little punishment.

He lightly pinched Li Xiang’s waist a few times. Ticklish, she immediately shielded her abdomen with her hands, pleading for mercy and admitting her mistake. The intimacy between them didn’t escape Zhou Mingxuan’s notice, and a faint look of surprise crossed his furrowed brows.

The four of them trekked through the mountain forest, climbing over rocky cliffs and crossing rivers. Su Mo led the way, with the other three following closely behind.

Suddenly, from the depths of the distant mountains, several large birds took flight in alarm. Su Mo halted, sensing something amiss. He crouched on the ground, pressing his ear to listen. After a few moments, he stood up and said, “There’s a large group of people ahead.”

The atmosphere instantly grew tense among the three. Su Mo pointed toward another part of the forest and said, “Let’s go this way and avoid them.”

They quickly made their way through the underbrush, heading in the opposite direction. But before they had gone far, a scout spotted them.

Su Mo rushed forward and clamped his hand over the man’s throat before he could cry out. Just as the four began to relax, a loud shout came from behind: “They’re here!”

Su Mo had no intention of engaging in a fight. He sprinted ahead at full speed. Li Xiang, being a woman, couldn’t keep up and gradually fell behind. Zhou Mingxuan scooped her up in his arms and continued running.

Su Mo slowed his pace and glanced back at Li Xiang in Zhou Mingxuan’s arms before turning forward again. As he ran, he spoke loud enough for the others to hear: “Once we pass that grove ahead, we’ll split up. Gu Ci and I will go one way to draw them off. You, my lord, and Xiangxiang take the other path. We’ll regroup in Gold City, use the agreed-upon markers to indicate direction. If we don’t arrive within three days, continue toward the border without waiting for us.”

Zhou Mingxuan, carrying Li Xiang, leaped over a fallen tree and replied, “Understood. Be careful.” With that, he dashed off in another direction.

Su Mo watched Zhou Mingxuan’s figure recede into the distance before slowing his pace, waiting for the pursuers to catch up. When he heard their footsteps, he deliberately rustled the underbrush, luring them after him.

After what felt like an eternity, the pursuers began to tire. Just as Su Mo and Gu Ci thought they were close to shaking them off, a black-clad figure descended from above, none other than Ming Ying.

Su Mo turned to Gu Ci and said, “You go ahead, my lord. I’ll handle him.” With that, he engaged Ming Ying in combat.

Without hesitation, Gu Ci replied, “Be careful,” and continued running.

Su Mo swung his right arm, thrusting his sword at Ming Ying with swift, ruthless precision, the blade cutting sharply through the air. Ming Ying blocked the attack, surprised by the young man’s skill.

After several exchanges, Su Mo began to falter, his stamina nearly spent.

The pursuing soldiers caught up, and Ming Ying called out, “I’ll deal with this one. The Prince of Yan’s heir is ahead!” Hearing this, the soldiers immediately bypassed them to chase Gu Ci.

Seizing the moment, Ming Ying kicked at Su Mo’s distracted form, aiming for his chest. Su Mo barely managed to block the strike with his sword, but the force sent him sliding backward until he collided with a large tree.

Realizing he was outmatched, Su Mo abandoned the fight and raced off in Gu Ci’s direction.

Seeing the young man trying to escape, Ming Ying stomped the ground fiercely, his figure shooting forward like an arrow released from a bow. His long sword sliced through the air, but Su Mo had already been prepared. With a swift sidestep, he dodged Ming Ying’s attack and countered by flicking his wrist, sending a small dagger hurling toward Ming Ying.

Ming Ying raised his hand to block, effortlessly deflecting the strike. “For someone so young, you have impressive skills. If you surrender now, I might put in a good word for you in front of His Highness. How about becoming my disciple?”

Su Mo sneered, his movements as swift as the wind. “You’re not worthy of being my master.”

Ming Ying’s expression darkened. “I’ve been lenient with you out of appreciation for your talent. Don’t mistake kindness for weakness.”

Su Mo’s eyes brimmed with disdain. “Spare me the lecture.”

With a cold laugh, Ming Ying flashed forward, appearing right in front of Su Mo in an instant. His palm strike carried a blade-like gust of wind, aimed straight for Su Mo’s throat.

It was the first time Su Mo had encountered such speed. He barely managed to evade, but Ming Ying had already closed the distance, delivering a punch toward his chest. Su Mo hastily retreated, yet the force of the punch still grazed him, drawing a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth.

Seizing the opportunity, Ming Ying launched his final attack, a razor-sharp sword aura slashing toward Su Mo’s neck. Su Mo raised his sword to block, but the sheer force shattered his weapon, and Ming Ying’s blade plunged deep into Su Mo’s right arm.

Ming Ying chuckled. “Am I worthy now?” He pressed the sword deeper.

Su Mo gripped the blade with both hands, blood seeping through his fingers, but his defiance remained unshaken. “You only won because of your sword.”

Seeing the young man’s stubbornness, Ming Ying knocked him unconscious with a swift elbow strike. He thought to himself that he’d take him back and try to reform him, it wasn’t every day he came across such promising talent.

Just then, a group of scouts arrived, escorting Gu Ci. “Master Ming, the young master has been captured.”

Gu Ci’s gaze turned icy as he saw Su Mo bleeding on the ground. He glared at Ming Ying and demanded, “What did you do to him?”

Ming Ying’s eyes darkened slightly. “Killed him.” Upon hearing this, Gu Ci dropped to his knees beside Su Mo, tears streaming down his face. During their days on the run, he had known death was a possibility, but seeing his friend die before him was still unbearable.

Ming Ying observed him with curiosity. “A royal heir, shedding tears for a mere guard. How touching.”

Gu Ci’s reddened eyes shimmered with emotion. “What do you know? Su Mo and I grew up together, as close as brothers. His father died saving my father, and my father adopted him as his own. He loved martial arts, so my father arranged for us to study together at the academy. The bond between us is something a killer like you could never understand.”

Ming Ying hadn’t expected the young man to have such a background. No wonder his skills were impressive, his father had been a guard too; it ran in the blood. Watching Gu Ci’s tear-streaked face, Ming Ying said, “He’s not dead. Just unconscious.”

Relief washed over Gu Ci as he immediately reached out to check Su Mo’s pulse. Only after confirming it did he finally relax. As long as he was alive, there was hope.