How Can I Yield to the Traitor! - Chapter 9

Xie Gebai clearly knew exactly where he was; the tracking capabilities of an ancient army were far more formidable than Qi Zhan had imagined.

Yet, Xie Gebai was an extremely proud man. If a woman preferred to flee into a chaotic, war-torn world just to get away from him, he was not the type to force her. Furthermore, he suspected this person might be a Qi Princess his mortal enemy. He had pursued her mostly to reach a final closure, driven by a lingering spark of irritation. He wasn’t truly heartless enough to do her harm.

Regardless of the circumstances, she was the first person who had ever moved his heart.

The sunlight in the forest was sliced into mottled fragments by the leaves, falling onto Xie Gebai’s black armor with a cold, hard glint. He pulled the reins, sitting tall upon his horse, looking down at the disheveled and battered Qi Zhan, who had just stumbled out from behind a tree.

Their eyes met.

Qi Zhan’s heart nearly leaped out of his chest. His mind went blank, filled only with the despair of a “game over” realization. He could clearly see the turbulence of complex emotions in Xie Gebai’s eyes: shock, anger, and something he couldn’t quite decipher a deep disappointment or perhaps self-mockery?

Xie Gebai’s gaze was locked onto Qi Zhan. The person before him had a mess of hair, with ebony strands clinging to a sweat-dampened forehead and cheeks. That once-exquisite face was smeared with dust and grime, and the coarse cloth clothing was torn in several places, revealing delicate skin and faint bloody scratches beneath.

There wasn’t a trace left of the previous “fragile beauty.” He looked exactly like a refugee lad. And yet, even in this state of extreme dishevelment, those wide, terrified eyes and those striking features maintained a heart-stopping beauty that blurred the lines of gender.

Xie Gebai’s grip on the reins tightened until his knuckles turned white. He thought of the peerless beauty in the palace, then looked at this person in male disguise who would rather turn themselves into this wretched state than stay by his side.

An indescribable sense of defeat and fury rushed to his head, only to be suppressed by an even deeper feeling of helplessness. He, Xie Gebai, who had conquered battlefields and struck terror into the hearts of his enemies when had he ever been this pathetic? To be played like a fiddle by a “woman,” and to actually care for her enough to fear she might perish in the chaos of war.

What a massive joke!

He closed his eyes. When he opened them again, the stormy waves had been forcibly calmed, leaving only a quiet, weary peace.

“Heh…” He let out a soft laugh, one full of self-derision. “Do you loathe me this much? You would rather live as a fugitive at the edge of the world than remain by my side?”

Qi Zhan was stunned by this reaction. His mind raced: He hasn’t realized I’m a man yet? He still thinks I’m a girl in disguise?

Xie Gebai didn’t wait for an answer; it seemed he didn’t need one. He gave a sharp wave of his hand. One of his personal guards immediately dismounted and placed a heavy bundle and a water skin on the ground in front of Qi Zhan.

“Since your mind is made up,” Xie Gebai’s voice was cold and devoid of emotion as he looked away toward the layered mountain ranges in the distance, “take these. A bit of gold and silver enough for you to live a stable life.”

Qi Zhan was utterly baffled. He looked at the bundle on the ground in disbelief, then back up at the expressionless Xie Gebai. What kind of plot development is this? Aren’t we enemies? Shouldn’t he be dragging me back to be executed? Why is he giving me money and horses? Did he hit his head? Is he being extra lenient just because he thinks she’s a woman?

Xie Gebai didn’t look at him again. He turned his horse around. “From this day forward, our debts are settled. We have nothing more to do with one another. Take care of yourself.”

With that, he showed no further lingering attachment. He led his guards away, turning back the way they came without hesitation. The sound of hooves soon vanished into the depths of the forest.

Qi Zhan and Fu’an stood there, mouths agape, staring at the bundle and the two gentle-looking horses tied to a nearby tree. The forest returned to silence, as if that group of soldiers had never existed.

It took a long time for Qi Zhan to finally bend down and pick up the bundle. It was heavy. Inside were two sets of clothes, a sword, several ingots of gold and silver, and loose change enough for an ordinary family to live comfortably for half a lifetime.

So, Xie Gebai genuinely thinks he’s been heartbroken by a woman and came here to get closure… and even threw in a “breakup fee” and transportation?

Qi Zhan’s feelings were complicated to the extreme. On one hand, he was relieved to have survived; on the other, the situation felt entirely absurd. Xie Gebai is definitely not right in the head! But in a weird way, he actually has a bit of a gentlemanly streak?

“Young Master…” Fu’an spoke up, sounding just as dazed and terrified. “This… this is…”

Qi Zhan took a deep breath, clutching the bundle tightly. He looked in the direction Xie Gebai had vanished, his expression shifting through a dozen emotions. Finally, he let out a long, weary sigh. “Whatever. Better to have it than not. Let’s move, before he changes his mind.”

Having horses changed everything. Fu’an had experience tending horses in the palace, and riding was far more efficient than traveling on foot. With the money and the mounts, their journey became much smoother.

Qi Zhan held the sword Xie Gebai had gifted him and wore the new clothes, though his mood remained peculiar. What a mess. A fallen king accepting aid from the enemy who destroyed his country? But the harsh reality of their situation didn’t allow for pride; this “charity” was a life-saver.

“I’ll give him this much,” Qi Zhan said, looking back toward the direction of the main army. “If he ever ends up betrayed and on the verge of death, and I happen to be there, I’ll save him to repay this debt.”

After all, Qi Zhan knew from the “plot” that Xie Gebai’s future wouldn’t be easy. Internal power struggles and suspicion would eventually push him toward a darker abyss. Of course, all of that depended on Qi Zhan himself surviving first.

They traveled carefully along the foothills, avoiding main roads where large armies might pass. Along the way, they met more small groups of refugees. Qi Zhan had Fu’an take some loose change to gather information. Fu’an’s kind face made it easier to gain the trust of these “startled birds.”

“Elder, where are you all heading?” Fu’an asked an older man in a group of refugees after giving them some coins.

The old man looked them over warily. Seeing they were tired and didn’t look like soldiers especially Qi Zhan, whose dusty face still held an air of refinement he sighed. “Where else? Southeast. Across Jiming Mountain to the old Wu territories.”

“The Wu territories? Is it stable there?” Fu’an pressed.

“Hah, is any place truly stable anymore?” The old man shook his head. “But I heard there are many mountains and rivers there. The Wei and Yan cavalry find it hard to enter. There are still some of our old Qi officials and powerful families holding fortresses. It’s a living. Better than staying here to be caught for labor or turned into slaves!”

A woman nearby chimed in: “Yes, heading south. They say the Chu people have taken the Huai River area. It’s messy, but it’s the only choice we have!”

The common people had their own survival wisdom. Through word of mouth and bitter experience, they knew which paths were death traps and which offered a sliver of safety. Their choices were always the most practical.

Qi Zhan listened in silence. The southeast Wu territories, with their mountains and water networks, were indeed unsuitable for large-scale cavalry perfect for hiding. This aligned with his own judgment. After thanking the refugees, they continued on.

“Young Master, shall we head southeast as well?” Fu’an asked.

“Yes,” Qi Zhan nodded. “Follow the general direction of the refugees, but keep our distance. We are a small target and we have horses. We’ll move faster than them and hopefully find a place to settle before the crowds arrive.”

With a clear direction and transportation, the journey no longer felt like a blind flight.

The sound of hooves crunched on the rugged mountain paths as they pushed southeast. As they moved further south, the terrain grew more uneven, and the forests more dense. While the roads became harder to travel, Qi Zhan’s heart grew steadier. This terrain would significantly hinder the rapid advance of the Wei iron cavalry.

Beyond geography, a small, flickering hope lived in the back of his mind: the old Qi officials holding out in those territories.

He was the King of Qi.

While that title currently brought nothing but danger and pursuit, in certain situations, it might be his only shield. If he was lucky enough to find a loyalist official who still cared for the old kingdom, he and Fu’an might find a genuine sanctuary. This thought was like a faint light in the dark. But he also knew how slim the chance was. The country was gone; hearts were unpredictable. Whether those local power-holders were loyal or just looking to carve out their own small kingdoms was anyone’s guess. Exposing his identity could lead to salvation or he could be handed over to a new master for a reward.

“Young Master, there seems to be a small town ahead,” Fu’an said, pointing to a few wisps of smoke in a mountain valley.

Qi Zhan pulled the reins. The town was built against the mountain; it didn’t look large, but it clearly had signs of life. “Be careful. We’ll bypass it. We won’t stop in the town.”

He couldn’t take the risk. What if there were deserters or Wei scouts there?

They led their horses, intending to circle through the forest. However, as they passed a high ridge, Qi Zhan glanced down and suddenly froze.

At the entrance of the small town, there was a checkpoint! A dozen soldiers wearing Qi uniforms though looking quite disorganized were inspecting the people passing through, mostly the refugees. They didn’t seem to be searching for a specific person; it looked more like they were extorting a “passage fee.”

But what caught Qi Zhan’s eye was a man standing behind the checkpoint. He wore the robes of a low-level civil official and looked extremely anxious. The man was constantly pleading with a minor military officer, seemingly asking him to have mercy and let the poorest refugees through, only to be repeatedly pushed aside.

Fu’an’s pupils constricted. He recognized that man!