HCAW 38

Chapter 38: Cut Off the Harbor and Sever the Source

The courtyard was crowded with people, whispering among themselves. Their eyes toward the Mohe Guard held suspicion and fear, but no one dared openly confront him. Young Master Tao lay dead in a pool of blood. When someone dared to prove their words by death, no one would dare doubt their them.

The Mohe Guard wept bitterly, tears streaming down his face, but his old eyes remained sharp. He turned to look at Fang Jingyu’s face—his eyebrows were sharp, handsome and refined, bearing an uncanny resemblance to the late Emperor Bai. A sense of certainty formed in his heart. He choked on his tears and said,

“I was once an old friend of the Langgan Guard, and acquainted with this boy as well. The Langgan Guard, to conceal his identity, treated him coldly in his youth, so he developed a cold disposition—always scheming, ruthless. Moreover, as the son of a tyrant, sparing his life is like nurturing a tiger to bring calamity!”

The old man raised his arm and called out, “Brothers of the Xian Mountain officials, seize this man and deliver him to the emperor for judgment!”

In an instant, dozens of frosted blades were drawn, pointed at Fang Jingyu. Cold sweat poured from him. In this situation, no one dared defy the power of the Xian Mountain Guard, nor defend him. His injuries from the Immortal Yonghe had not healed, and after the fight with the captain, his chest was in agonizing pain; he could barely support himself, let alone escape.

Just then, the distinctive whinny of a horse echoed through the courtyard.

Suddenly, a black steed charged through the crowd! Fang Jingyu was startled and shouted, “Zhaocai!”

The black steed, as if understanding, lifted its hooves and knocked down several Xian Mountain officials, rushing to the side room. Fang Jingyu mounted quickly, pulled the reins tight, urging the horse to break through the human wall, shouting:

“Go!”

The black steed swept through the courtyard like a whirlwind. As it burst through the gate, Fang Jingyu caught a glimpse of a figure in a reed-flower coat, hunched over—Chu Kuang. He held a horse-brush, expression calm. Could he have released the black steed from the stable? Why help him?

This thought flickered briefly, and Fang Jingyu spurred the horse, galloping out of the estate.

Most Xian Mountain officials were still stunned by the sudden chaos. Only when the Mohe Guard shouted, “Pursue the rebel!” did they raise spears and surge after him.

An hour later, the house was in total disarray.

Neighbors had all been driven away; inside and out, Xian Mountain officials crowded the estate with no gaps. Each door stood wide open, officials swarmed inside, searching roughly, overturning chairs, stools, and cabinets as if tearing down the whole estate. Xiao Jiao was furious, rushing to fight the officials, shouting:

“You filthy lackeys! Who gave you the right to touch our things?” Then she shouted at Chu Kuang, “Laborer Chu, you’re not so bad—stop them!”

Chu Kuang immediately covered his head, whining slyly, “Miss, I can’t, my headache is acting up again—how can I fight the officials?” He slumped against the wall, watching from the sidelines. Xiao Jiao was enraged but helpless against this madman.

Officials familiar with her and Fang Jingyu were ordered to retreat, leaving mostly Mohe Guard henchmen. Someone shouted, “Get lost! Fang Jingyu is a rebel; we’re following orders!”

Xiao Jiao yelled back, “Rebel my foot! You’re just good at framing the innocent!”

She fought fiercely, wildly swinging a string of beads and knocking down several men. Seeing this, the officials turned their focus on her, surrounding her and seizing the beads, pinning her to the ground.

Xiao Jiao was hit on pressure points with an iron rod, her whole body numb and aching. One official sneered and spat, “Living with a rebel like that, you’re his treacherous concubine. Take her to the dungeon and teach her to keep company with that Fang!”

“Damn bitch, why’re you barking? Your parents don’t know what kind of creature gave birth to a dog like you! Bring back that damned gourd!” Xiao Jiao cursed.

The official grew furious. He wanted to fling the iron rod to beat her but was interrupted by someone rushing into the courtyard, shouting, “Retreat! Retreat! Do not harm the residents or servants!”

Xiao Jiao and the official froze. The official refused to believe, “What order? We’re just investigating a criminal hideout. Why retreat?”

“It’s the order of Lord Mohe Guard!” The newcomer shouted sternly, “Do not harm the residents, withdraw beyond the gate, do not cross the threshold!”

———

An hour earlier, Fang Jingyu rode hard toward Chunsheng Pass. Along the way, he scattered several market stalls, causing passersby to shout in alarm. As he spurred his horse, regret churned in his heart. Was he truly without a place in Penglai? If only he had left with the ‘Mule’ back then, would this farce have been avoided?

At that time, he hesitated to leave because of the Fang family and Brother Minsheng. Now, his concerns had grown to include Xiao Jiao and the caring neighbors. Fang Jingyu silently thought, perhaps Chu Kuang was half someone he cared for.

Reaching East Street, he encountered people playing drums. Seeing him, they called out, “Captain Fang, this way!” and pointed him to a shortcut. After he passed, they resumed leading the chant and drums, deliberately misleading the pursuing Xian Mountain officials down a completely different route.

Rounding the southeast corner, merchants naturally gave way, knowing Fang Jingyu had helped the people of Penglai before. Those he had helped shielded him now. Within moments, Fang Jingyu had put distance between himself and his pursuers.

Just as he was about to leave the alley, a squad charged from the side, shouting, “Capture the rebel!” It was clearly the Mohe Guard ambush. Fang Jingyu turned his horse sharply, but the black steed suddenly lost balance and crashed heavily to the ground. The fall knocked him senseless. Looking up, he saw iron spikes driven into the ground, with a tether to trip horses.

The heavy fall tore open his chest wound again, blood flowing. Fang Jingyu trembled, unable to move. Xian Mountain officials swarmed him, chaining his hands and feet. Shortly after, a steed galloped fiercely toward them, ridden by the Mohe Guard.

The Mohe Guard dismounted and looked coldly at the helpless Fang Jingyu, though his face showed regret. The old man said, “Jingyu, when I sent you to learn the blade with the Yu Yin Guard, that was my last kindness to you. I never expected, Brother Fang, to have such schemes—willing to sacrifice his own son to save you.”

Fang Jingyu ground his teeth fiercely and glared at the Mohe Guard from the ground.

The Mohe Guard studied him for a moment. “You are the son of a tyrant, living is already a mistake. Your features increasingly resemble Emperor Bai’s, Ji Zhi. In a few years, you will surely learn the same savage ways. Our Xian Mountain Guards must not spare your life.” He beckoned to the officials, “Take him to the inner prison and await judgment.”

Fang Jingyu said, “If you want me to follow you quietly, you must meet one condition.”

“What condition? With your current state, how could you threaten me?” The Mohe Guard laughed.

Fang Jingyu opened his mouth, but the Mohe Guard’s smile faded. He saw blood in Fang Jingyu’s mouth and a spike nail on his tongue—the same spike he had earlier thrown to knock down the Radiance-Absorbing Sword. Fang Jingyu had secretly retrieved it. The spike had sharp edges; swallowed, it would pierce the intestines and cause certain death.

Fang Jingyu said calmly, “A live fish is worth more than a dead one. I know you don’t want me dead yet and want to use me as a bargaining chip. So here’s the deal: spare those living in my estate who are merely guests or servants. They have nothing to do with me and know nothing of my identity. If you guarantee their safety, I will go with you.”

The Mohe Guard stared at him for a long moment, then suddenly laughed heartily.

“Tell the brothers in the estate not to harm the residents or servants.” The old man turned to his followers and said this, then looked at Fang Jingyu. “Is that acceptable?”

“I don’t trust you. I’ll talk once I’m in the prison,” Fang Jingyu said. The Mohe Guard frowned slightly but waved his hand, ordering the Xian Mountain officials to escort him away.

Watching his retreating back, the Mohe Guard fell into thought. Would merely finding an emperor’s sword on Fang Jingyu be enough to condemn him beyond redemption? Perhaps the evidence was still insufficient.

He noticed the sorrow and disbelief in the eyes of the gathered people. Fang Jingyu held a high place in their hearts. Even if the old man’s grandson died on the spot, it would only make them half believe. He still needed proof to confirm Fang Jingyu was truly the heir of Emperor Bai.

The tomb of Emperor Bai had been robbed over twenty years ago, and the scattered remains were no longer suitable for “bone drip” identification. Moreover, nine years ago, the Langgan Guard had already tampered with the test to deceive him and the Yu Ji Guard, so it was no longer reliable.

“No, no,” the Mohe Guard suddenly shook his head, murmuring to himself. “It’s still worth a try.”

“Lord Mohe Guard?” A follower nearby noticed the change in expression and anxiously asked.

The Mohe Guard slowly opened his eyes, paused in silence, then said, “Go to the Langgan Guard Fang estate, bring the emperor’s decree.” Many years ago, Emperor Changyi had entrusted him with the mission to eradicate the remnants of the previous dynasty. Because of this, he could travel freely in Penglai.

The follower asked, “May I ask the purpose of visiting the Langgan Guard estate?”

The Mohe Guard looked up at the sky—clear and blue like wax-dyed cloth embroidered with white clouds. Yet the heavens were unpredictable and could suddenly bring storms, like the emperor’s will. He steadied himself and spoke in a cold voice:

“Retrieve a bone fragment from the Langgan Guard Fang estate and apply the ‘bone drip’ method. If the blood cannot merge with the bone, then there is no doubt—Fang Jingyu is truly the son of Emperor Bai!”