Chapter 114 (1/2)
Chapter 114
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
He picked her up and allowed her to lean against his chest while using his fist to hammer on her back. Lightning flashed relentlessly in the heavens, as the thunder shook the earth. Amidst the pitch black of the night, only those streaks of white occasionally lit up the surroundings.
”Wake up! Wake up!”
”Cough cough…” A wave of light coughs replied to him, as Zhuge Yue quickly grabbed Chu Qiao by her shoulders and stared into her eyes. He asked, ”Are you awake? Are you awake?”
Chu Qiao's cough was initially very light, but it worsened, as became more and more vigorous. Muddy water was expelled from her lungs, as her face was flushed an unnatural red. Lying in Zhuge Yue's embrace, she could not even talk, as she continued to cough.
Even though it was just sounds of coughing, it sounded like soothing music to Zhuge Yue's ears. He let out a sigh of relief and completely went limp. In this cold, freezing night with a torrential downpour and raging wind, exacerbated by the threat of death, he did not want to conceal his emotions anymore. His arms enveloped the woman in his chest and he tightly hugged her
”Your…family…will punish you...” a quiet voice said. The whisper was so soft, it was instantly swept away by the raging wind. ”The Xia Empire… Zhao Yang….. Zhao Che...they will not let you off.”
The downpour had not relented in the slightest, continuing to wash away the blood and mud on the duo. Another flash of lightning streaked across the heavens above, illuminating their pale faces.
”You will die! Do you know you will die?!” Chu Qiao's hoarse voice was choking on tears as she questioned. All this time, how could she not realize Zhuge Yue's intention to protect her? But now he had openly fought against the forces of Zhao Yang, could he have not known what type of ending would await him?
”Who did you think you were?” Chu Qiao clenched her teeth and glared at him. ”You killed my family and sacrificed Yan Xun and I. I really want to just kill you now. Our hatred runs so deep, but why did you save me?”
Zhuge Yue did not reply as he stared quietly into her eyes, as if observing her soul. After the escapade and multiple life and death encounters, Chu Qiao finally broke down, as her iron heart was shattered by her conflicting emotions.
”Zhuge Yue, I owed you so much, what do you want me to do?” She closed her red swollen eyes, as she freely let her tears flow down her cheeks.
The path forward was straight and free of any obstacles. In the heavy rain, the occasional lightning lit up the entire view. During the intense brawl on the streets of An Bai County, there was not a single soldier that approached the combat zone. This was enough to infer the mastermind behind this assassination. Different from others, Zhao Yang had been the victim of intense bullying and ostracization in the palace since young. This nurtured his ruthlessly cruel methods. Even if it was against Zhuge Yue, he had not shown any mercy.
Out of options, Zhuge Yue could only bring the injured Chu Qiao along while traversing in the shadows without even contacting Yue Qi and the rest. They joined a merchant convoy that was headed towards Tang Jing after paying some fees to join as travelers. Closing the door, Zhuge Yue informed Chu Qiao, ”I found out that the owner of this convoy is called Liu Xi. Would you happen to know him?”
Chu Qiao lightly frowned, and replied, ”I should have met him once before.”
”If so, we must leave immediately,” Zhuge Yue decisively declared.
”Wait!” Chu Qiao called out. ”I had merely seen him from afar, and we had not even seen each other's face clearly. And that was many years ago.”
Zhuge Yue's brow furrowed. Chu Qiao naturally knew what he was worried about, and tried to pacify him. ”Those people will think that we are common folks who had contracted some kind of disease. We will not even get a chance to see them. As long as I remain careful, it will surely be fine.”
”Isn't he the nephew of Liu Mingjun?”
”Indeed.”
Zhuge Yue descended into contemplation, and he slowly remarked, ”The Liu family is considered a big family in Xian Yang City. I am unsure if he was in the welcoming fanfare during my entrance to the city.”
Upon hearing that, Chu Qiao frowned as well. Zhuge Yue continued, ”I think it is better to err on the side of caution. Tomorrow morning, I will head out to buy horses, and we will ride on our own carriage to Tang Jing.”
Chu Qiao nodded in reply. Her current position now was relatively awkward. Since Liu Xi was Liu Mingjun's nephew and was a member of the Da Tong Guild, she would definitely be able to gain his assistance and be escorted back to Yan Bei if she so requested. But right now, Zhuge Yue was alone without his bodyguards. If Liu Xi attempted anything funny…