Chapter 59: Chongyin Twilight

March 23rd.

After six days in Chongyin Mountain, none of them looked human anymore.

Clothes were stained with grass juice and mud, torn by branches and thorns.

In short, everyone leaned on sticks, dressed in rags.

They were the living image of a pack of beggars.

However, the good news was that this route due north across the mountains saved nearly half the distance compared to the official road used when the army first entered Southern Zhao.

At their current speed, they would likely cross the mountains and enter the territory of the State of Wu by tomorrow.

By then, they would be safe.

That evening, they passed through a valley with a stream and a hunter’s cabin nearby.

Ding Suian decided to rest there for the night to gather their strength and make the final push tomorrow.

Having traveled together for several days, they had grown much more familiar with one another.

“Brother Li, if I may ask, how did you end up with a name like Second Sister?”

Ding Suian sat by the stream, finally feeling a bit relaxed after several days.

“He had two elder brothers who died young. To protect him, his elders gave him the name Second Sister.”

Third Young Master Gao answered for Second Sister Li with a chuckle.

He, Huang Wulang, and Second Sister Li seemed to have known each other before.

Ding Suian smiled and looked at Huang Wulang, whose left eye socket was wrapped in herbs. “Brother Huang, are you feeling better?”

“Hahaha. Much better. It’s all thanks to you and your wife this time. If I hadn’t met you and my sister-in-law, I would have been dead for sure.”

Huang Wulang cupped his fists heroically in thanks.

Over the past few days, it was only thanks to Zhao Yan constantly finding herbs along the way that Huang Wulang and Li Baicheng’s injuries hadn’t worsened or become infected.

As they spoke, a string of silver-bell-like cheerful laughter came from behind them.

The group looked over to see Zhao Yan skipping to the stream with a bundle of wild fruit wrapped in leaves.

“Husband, husband, look!”

Zhao Yan held the wild fruit out to Ding Suian as if seeking credit.

The dry rations they had scavenged from the Zhao Army had run out yesterday; fortunately, they had Zhao Yan.

One must know that mid-spring was not summer or autumn; wild fruit was extremely hard to find at this time.

“Everyone, have a little something to tide you over. If all goes well, we’ll have a feast tomorrow night.”

Ding Suian called out, but before anyone could say thank you…

Sun Zhirao lunged from the side and snatched the wild fruit into his arms.

“The Immortal Master of the State Religion hasn’t eaten yet.”

With that, he turned and walked toward the cabin in the valley.

You bastard…

Ding Suian stood up, but Li Baicheng, who had been quiet, grabbed him and shook his head. “Squad Leader Ding.”

This was a well-intentioned reminder. When Ding Suian saved them on the night of the seventeenth, he had identified himself as part of the Dragon Guard Army.

If he clashed with Sun Zhirao and the Green-Robed Cultivator, they might settle accounts later.

Second Sister Li frowned as he watched Sun Zhirao scurry into the cabin. “That Sun guy has a prince for an uncle; does he really need to suck up to the State Religion so desperately?”

Li Baicheng hesitated for a moment and whispered, “I’ve heard that in recent years, the State Religion has refined a celestial dew called crimson dew. It can rapidly raise a Martial Artist’s Realm. Rumor has it that many Martial Artists have been in close contact with the State Religion in private to obtain it.”

Gao and Li subconsciously looked at Huang Wulang.

Huang Wulang’s expression remained calm as if he already knew. “Haha, Brother Ding, I’m curious—since you were with the army on the southern expedition, why did you bring your wife along?”

Seeing Huang Wulang deliberately change the subject, Gao and Li withdrew their gazes.

“About that…”

Ding Suian had naturally prepared a story, something about being saved by Zhao Yan and so on.

As he spoke, he felt a chill on his back, like needles against his skin.

He looked back. Lin Dafu had sat down behind them at some point, his eyes dark and full of resentment.

…

On the fifteenth, the day the central army collapsed, Old Lin probably felt there was no hope of survival.

That phrase ‘treat Consort Su better’ had already made it clear to Ding Suian that he had long since seen through their private affair.

Talking about another woman in front of him now was indeed a bit inappropriate.

*Cough, cough*

Ding Suian stood up and looked into the distance. “You guys chat; I’m going to climb the peak to check tomorrow’s route.”

The twilight was heavy.

Zhao Yan accidentally spotted a colorful butterfly and chased after it like a fool, giggling to herself as she ran.

Before she knew it, she had chased it behind the cabin.

The evening glow in the western sky washed over the jagged ridges, soaking through layer by layer.

The valley looked as if it were draped in fire-wash silk.

Inside the cabin, a pair of eyes silently watched that carefree figure.

“Young Master Sun…”

“What are the Immortal Master’s orders?”

“Come closer and listen.”

A moment later, Sun Zhirao stepped out and headed toward the back of the house.

When Zhao Yan saw him, she didn’t care at all, still skipping and lunging after the butterfly for her own amusement.

“Madam Ding, the Immortal Master invites you inside; he has a few things to ask you.”

“Ask me what?” Zhao Yan stopped.

“It concerns your husband.”

“Oh… alright then.”

At the hour of the Rooster, the valley grew dark.

Ding Suian hid on the peak for a while before returning to the valley.

He looked around but couldn’t find Zhao Yan.

He asked the others still sitting by the stream.

Huang Wulang said, “I saw my sister-in-law catching butterflies nearby just now. Did she wander off? It’s getting dark; we’ll help you look.”

“No need, she definitely hasn’t gone far.”

Ding Suian wasn’t worried about that; for Zhao Yan, the forest was her home.

He could get lost, but she never would.

Ding Suian wandered over to the cabin. Sun Zhirao, who had been sitting on the ground, stood up reflexively when he saw him, his expression unnatural.

Ding Suian focused his Qi to listen and heard what sounded like a struggle inside; he immediately stepped forward.

“You can’t go in!”

Sun Zhirao blocked him with open arms. Perhaps because they were entering Great Wu tomorrow, he felt this Manifesting Elemental State Squad Leader who had protected them all the way was no longer useful. He said bluntly, “That woman is from Southern Zhao. Who knows if she’s a spy planted by the enemy? The State Master is interrogating her.”

Ding Suian didn’t want to waste words. He grabbed him by the collar, threw him aside, and kicked the door open.

…

Inside, the Immortal Master had somehow been gagged with a rag again. Zhao Yan was pulling his topknot with one hand while her other small hand was balled into a fist, punching him in the face repeatedly.

His eye sockets were bruised purple, his nose was crooked, and blood flowed down his chest.

Hearing the door, the energized Zhao Yan looked back, jumped up, and stood against the wall with her head down.

“Husband, I didn’t hit him… no…”

With the witness and evidence right there, Zhao Yan felt it was too much to say she hadn’t hit him. She quickly changed her story and muttered, “He’s a bad person. He was saying bad things about you behind your back just now. That’s why I hit him.”

She fidgeted with her hands in front of her stomach like a child who had done something wrong.

Ding Suian glanced at the Green-Robed Cultivator lying on the ground and asked, “What bad things did he say about me?”

“This idiot said… er, this Immortal Master said husband is just a common soldier with no future and will die a violent death sooner or later. He said Nunu would suffer following husband, and he said he wanted to send Nunu to the State Religion to be some kind of Saintess.”

“Wuuwaa wuuwaa—”

Seeing Ding Suian arrive, the veins on the Green-Robed Cultivator’s neck bulged as he lifted his head, trying to say something.

But it was all blocked by the rag.

One could tell that this idiot—er, sorry, this Immortal Master—the Immortal Master was very angry!

At that moment, Sun Zhirao rushed in from outside. He had indeed heard some noise while outside.

But what he had imagined was not this scene at all.

Who would have thought a seemingly ignorant and charming young woman would dare to tie up an Immortal Master of the State Religion and beat him!

Sun Zhirao quickly pulled the rag from the Immortal Master’s mouth. The latter immediately roared, “Demoness! Demoness! Ding Suian, if you don’t kill this demoness with your own hands, This Seat will ensure not a trace of you remains after we return to the capital!”

Hearing this, Zhao Yan realized she had caused big trouble. She looked up timidly at Ding Suian and whimpered, “Husband, Nunu knows she was wrong…”

Ding Suian, however, gave a thumbs up. “Well hit!”

…

The Immortal Master was furious. “Ding Suian! You are also a demon! A monster!”

The people by the stream heard the commotion and all came running over.

Seeing the crowd gather, Sun Zhirao’s courage surged. He immediately shouted toward the door, “The Ding couple has offended the Immortal Master! Everyone, bear witness! We shall discuss their crimes upon our return!”

Ding Suian finally turned his gaze from the Immortal Master to Sun Zhirao and suddenly asked, “Young Master Sun, are you sure you’re going back?”

“What do you mean?”

Sun Zhirao froze. His eyes met Ding Suian’s briefly, and he glimpsed a trace of danger.

His heart skipped a beat.

He was decisive, immediately running toward Huang Wulang and the others.

“Little Ding, you mustn’t!”

But as soon as he turned around, he saw Lin Dafu’s face full of terror.

Then, a chill at his neck.

His vision flipped and the world spun.

Eh? Why am I seeing my own feet?

Oh, so my head fell off…

Huang Wulang and the others, who had just approached, all skidded to a halt.

Sun Zhirao’s head happened to roll down the slope and stop right at their feet.

Setting aside Sun Zhirao’s uncle, the prince, just the fact that his military rank was higher than Ding Suian’s meant the latter had violated the ‘Ten Executions’ military code.

Inside, the Immortal Master on the floor hadn’t expected this youth to kill so readily.

Amidst his terror, his lips moved, intending to use a State Religion Divine Ability to control Ding Suian.

Unexpectedly, Ding Suian was prepared. He turned with a sweep kick that landed squarely on the Immortal Master’s chin. Under the immense force, his upper and lower teeth slammed shut, and his tongue was bitten clean in half by his own teeth.

Now, he could no longer chant the State Religion’s spells.

“Ah— Ah—”

Blood surged from the Immortal Master’s mouth as he rolled on the ground in agony.

Facing the people outside, Ding Suian thrust the Kunwu downward with his backhand. The blade pierced accurately through the Immortal Master’s thigh, pinning him to the floor.

Outside, Lin Dafu was shaking all over.

Killing a scion of the nobility and wounding an Immortal Master of the State Religion in public—even if a god descended, they couldn’t save Young Master Ding now!

The others stood silently, their expressions difficult to read.

Against the background of the Immortal Master’s screams, Ding Suian pulled a short dagger from his waist and tossed it onto the grass in front of them.

“Uncle Lin, stand aside.”

Ding Suian looked at the remaining four. “Come on. Each of you take a stab, and we’ll go back to the capital together.”

Zhao Yan, who had thought she was in big trouble a moment ago, skipped to Ding Suian’s side and hugged his arm. Poking her chest out in a true display of ‘the fox borrowing the tiger’s terror,’ she said, “Right, right, right! With me and husband working together, none of you can escape Chongyin Mountain! Listen to my husband, each of you take a stab and kill this bad man, otherwise, my husband is going to kill you!”