“Master!” Li Mu suddenly sprang out from the forest, startling Wang Dian.
Liang Ye glanced at him, “Injured?”
“Just some minor wounds, nothing serious.” Li Mu half-knelt on the ground and cupped his fists. “After receiving your signal, I rushed over here. When I arrived at the mountain cave, you had already left. I was delayed on the way, please punish me, Master.”
“Get up.” Liang Ye was impatient with such trivial matters, and quickly understood, “How many troops did Bian Feng bring to Sipan Mountain?”
“Thirty thousand.” Li Mu said, “Of these thirty thousand, ten thousand were the elite troops you provided. Initially, our three thousand light cavalry were repeatedly defeated, but soon people reacted and gathered the elite troops. Later, the Prince of Danyang brought twenty thousand additional troops. After the mountain flood broke out, Bian Feng’s troops quickly surrendered. Out of fifty thousand troops, eight thousand were killed or injured. As per your previous instructions, I had the deputy generals lead the troops west across Changshui, and then encountered General Lu Shu, who carried the tiger tally and claimed to be here on Your Highness’s orders to provide support.”
Liang Ye turned to look at Wang Dian.
Wang Dian folded his sleeves, “I see you trust Lu Shu greatly. I gave him some instructions before leaving.”
The troops painstakingly raised could not be entirely lost in internal strife.
Their thoughts unexpectedly coincided, and they had ultimately provided support to each other without knowing the other’s plans, executing a beautiful coordination.
Wang Dian also understood why Liang Ye had so readily dispatched so many elite troops – he had likely calculated that Bian Feng would try to make the soldiers kill each other.
Liang Ye was mediocre in warfare, but he was extremely perceptive about people. Over a few months, he had probably already figured out seven or eight parts of those generals’ personalities.
“After dispatching the soldiers according to your orders, I led a group to search the mountain,” Li Mu said. “Two deputy generals who voluntarily stayed behind harbored murderous intentions. According to their implications, they were acting on Bian Feng’s orders. At the time, I had limited manpower and dared not engage in prolonged combat. Seeing your signal, I abandoned Sipan Mountain… I brought two hundred secret guards and have already found ships. We can cross Changshui to Zhangmu Mountain, and traveling downstream will be twice as fast as horseback.”
“Well done.” Liang Ye rarely offered praise.
“This subordinate is ashamed.” Li Mu felt he could have done better.
Wang Dian looked at him with some admiration, “Commander Li, His Majesty is sword-wounded. Can we find a physician nearby?”
In this wilderness, the request was indeed challenging. However, Li Mu raised his head and cupped his fists, “If Your Highness does not mind, this subordinate can treat His Majesty.”
Wang Dian looked skeptical at his assassin-like appearance, “You?”
“He is Li Bu’s son.” Liang Ye led him by the hand towards the riverside, not turning back and saying to Li Mu, “First, help His Highness examine his leg.”
“Yes.” Li Mu responded, somewhat excited.
He had always thought His Majesty did not remember him, especially after previously asking his name impatiently at the foot of Sipan Mountain. Who would have thought His Majesty not only knew his name but also knew his father’s name!
But then he remembered his parents had been separated for many years, and his excitement instantly dampened. He steadied himself and strode after Liang Ye and Wang Dian onto the boat.
Wang Dian’s leg was not seriously injured, merely looking frightening. After Li Mu treated it, he was sent to treat Liang Ye’s wounds.
Liang Ye was covered in countless wounds, especially the abdominal injury which looked particularly horrifying. Wang Dian frowned beside him, his face dark. With Li Mu present, Liang Ye could not speak, and simply watched Li Mu treat the wounds expressionlessly.
Under the cold stares of these two important figures, sweat beaded on Li Mu’s forehead. Although he had studied medicine with his father for years, he had rarely practiced since joining the secret guards. He had volunteered out of desperation. In his heart, he prayed from his ancestral master to his grandfather, renowned as a divine physician, and gritted his teeth to treat Liang Ye’s wounds.
“If the bleeding had not been stopped in time, I’m afraid—” Li Mu was about to sigh in relief when he met Liang Ye’s threatening gaze. His tone suddenly changed, “His Majesty is blessed by heaven and will surely turn danger into safety.”
Liang Ye gave him an approving glance and waved for him to withdraw.
“This subordinate will go prepare the medicine.” Li Mu bowed to each of them and eagerly retreated from the cabin.
He was beginning to understand his father’s difficulties. Before the Emperor, being able to treat wounds was less important than being able to read the room. One wrong move could cost one’s life. Abandoning his medical inheritance was indeed a wise choice.
Regardless of Li Mu’s nervousness, Liang Ye felt somewhat inexplicably nervous facing Wang Dian’s cold gaze. He sat up supporting himself on the bed, and Wang Dian glanced at him and placed a soft cushion behind his back.
The boat traveled quickly, slightly swaying, with outside scenery rapidly passing by.
“The capital has changed. When we reach the next water intersection, you—” Liang Ye’s words were interrupted by the water cup Wang Dian handed him, which he frowned and drank most of.
Wang Dian wiped the water from his mouth corners, “Instead of saying useless things here, it’s better to think about how to rescue Chong Heng.”
Liang Ye slowly blinked.
A day’s journey was shortened to half a day. Where they disembarked was not far from Zhangmu Mountain, and they could arrive quickly.
Liang Ye resisted and tried to retreat, but was pulled back by his collar and fitted with a thin armor.
Liang Ye discontentedly tilted his head, “I won’t need this.”
“Heh.” Wang Dian gave a cold laugh, “You insist on going up the mountain if not stopped. Since you’re going, stay obediently at the back and watch.”
Although Liang Ye had come, he was severely wounded and could definitely not use martial arts again, unless he truly wanted to die.
Liang Ye superficially bore it with forbearance and agreed. Wang Dian saw through his superficial compliance at a glance and after a moment of silence said, “Chong Heng will be fine.”
The two had just changed disguises and docked the boat when they received a secret letter from Chang Ying.
Wang Dian’s gaze paused on the letter’s contents. Liang Ye took it and read it through in one glance, revealing a chilling smile, “This little bastard actually dares to show up before Zhen.”
Wang Dian raised his head, looking gravely at the towering and precipitous mountain range ahead, suddenly feeling an ominous premonition rising in his heart, “Hurry and go up the mountain.”
At the broken temple of Zhangmu Mountain.
Bian Feng looked at the young man firmly bound by iron chains in the water cage, squatted down and grabbed his hair, forcing him to lift his head, “Looking at you, there’s nothing special. Why does Liang Ye care so much about you?”
Chong Heng, nearly unconscious, struggled to open his eyes. Seeing the person’s face, a flash of anger passed, and he violently struggled, but his hands and feet were bound by chains in the water, rendering him immobile, “Bian Feng! It’s actually you!”
Bian Feng grabbed his hair and slammed him hard against the side of the cage. Blood immediately spread in the water, and he laughed, “Yes, are you surprised?”
Blood covered Chong Heng’s eyes. He ground his teeth, “Despicable scoundrel, with your abilities, you dare to challenge Master!”
A murderous intent flashed in Bian Feng’s eyes.
Standing beside him, Tan Yishuang coldly said, “Liang Ye raised him since childhood and considers him like a brother. He will definitely come to rescue him.”
Bian Feng laughed contemptuously, “I thought Liang Ye was truly cold-blooded, but he’s actually just an ordinary person. How disappointing.”
While Chong Heng continued struggling, Bian Feng grabbed his neck and pressed him down into the water. Water splashed everywhere, and after a long while, his struggling weakened.
“Young Master Bian, if he dies, we won’t be able to negotiate with Liang Ye,” Tan Yishuang spoke indifferently.
Bian Feng glanced at her, unhurriedly grabbing Chong Heng’s hair and lifting him up, speaking with interest, “I heard this kid fell into the trap because of you, Imperial Concubine. Are you feeling sympathetic?”
Tan Yishuang said expressionlessly, “I simply agreed to Young Master Bian’s conditions. If they die here, I can leave.”
“Tsk tsk tsk, in terms of viciousness, the Imperial Concubine is still superior. Being able to kill a child raised before your own eyes.” Bian Feng looked at the dying Chong Heng in the water cage, a glimmer of interest in his eyes, “But I’ve heard the Imperial Concubine is traditionally merciful. How could I believe that?”
He took out a dagger from his sleeve, patted Chong Heng’s face, stood up and walked to Tan Yishuang, smiling obediently, “Why don’t you chop off one of his hands? When Liang Ye arrives, I’ll present it as a gift. What do you say?”
The cold dagger was heavily placed in Tan Yishuang’s hand.
“Please, Imperial Concubine.” Bian Feng stepped aside, light-heartedly supporting Tan Yishuang’s waist, leaning close to her ear and laughing softly, “Remember to chop the right hand. After all, he’s a martial arts practitioner.”
After speaking, he made a gesture to kiss her ear. Tan Yishuang gripped the dagger and suddenly retreated.
“Bian Feng—” Chong Heng glared, his eyes about to burst, roaring, “I will kill you!”
Bian Feng covered his injured shoulder, a flash of rage in his eyes. He suddenly turned and strode to the water cage, heavily kicking Chong Heng’s chin. The blood he spat immediately stained a large area of dirty water.
“Liang Ye couldn’t kill me. What makes you think you can!?” Bian Feng’s face turned cold. Seeing Chong Heng barely alive, he sighed contentedly, “That old man Bian Cang always thought I was inferior to him. But in one thing, at least I won’t be a fool who dies for a woman.”
Chong Heng difficultly opened his eyes, coldly laughing, “Someone like you… isn’t even worth…a strand of Master’s hair……”
Bian Feng twisted his mouth, but no smile reached his eyes. He was about to firmly grab Chong Heng’s neck and slam him against the iron cage.
“Young Master Bian!” Tan Yishuang coldly called out.
In the next instant, a long rope directly broke through the window, suddenly wrapping around Bian Feng’s arm.
