Chapter 553 - Meng Wuyan (2/2)
Xiao Chen took a deep breath. This must be the nemesis that Yang Qing had spoken to him about. “That man spoke about Yang Qing’s sister,” he asked, “What about her?”
“Many years ago, that cur of a bitch…” hissed the man holding Yang Qing, “He forced Brother Yang to watched his own little sister defiled by four of his men… Then he absorbed her blood, bleeding her alive… Yingying was only sixteen then…” He shook his head in the end, his eyes closed with grief as he drew in a long, heavy breath. “This was a nightmarish memory for Brother Yang… One that he would rather forget… But he… he swore to take revenge…”
Xiao Chen squeezed his own fingers. No wonder Yang Qing was so enraged that he lost control… He has had to endure such torment… What would happen if I was in his shoes? What would happen if Xian’er was taken…
It was but only a fleeting notion, but the hint of malice flashed through his eyes for a moment. If it was Xian’er who had been taken… He would have killed everyone and his rage would still be no less assuaged.
He did not know why. Just a simple notion and malice budded inside him. It was a form of hatred. A grudge that haunted him whenever he experienced a rise in his emotions would be exemplified, just like the time when he fought against Red Sleeve at the stronghold of the Corpse Refinery Sect.
Xiao Chen drew another breath to help cast aside the needless, if not superfluous, thoughts. He glanced at Zhao Jiu’s corpse and promised in a low tone, “Take Zhao Jiu’s body back. I will save the others.”
He could not ignore what he had seen. Yang Qing and the others were caught by Black Horn only because they were doing his bidding. Their meeting at Mount Wuyue was but a chance encounter, but up until now, they have repaid his kindness then with everything they have—including their own lives.
He took another breath and walked over to examine Yang Qing. The ashen hues on his face growing stronger was a sign that the poison was taking hold. A special concoction unique to Black Horn, Xiao Chen could only delay its effects temporarily. And not being able to remove the poison just now, the emotional upheaval that Yang Qing experienced had made things worse by forcing the poison to spread further inside him.
“There is someone though…” said another man beside him, “Who might be able to cure Brother Yang…”
…
A pale crescent hung mid-sky four hours later into the quiet night. Inside a room wafting with the faint scent of fragrant candles, a woman clad in purple sighed. “Everything was fine up until last night, and yet here you are, a complete mess tonight. Come another hour late and not even the gods shall be able to do anything…”
“My apologies for coming so late, but thank you so much…” said a man apologetically.
“Whatever…” Zi Qin waved dismissively. She reached for her pipe on the table and peered at Yang Qing lying unconscious on the bed. “Don’t worry. He’ll be fine when he wakes up tomorrow.”
“I see. Thank you so much, Miss Zi Qin,” thanked Xiao Chen, bowing deeply.
The woman glanced at him briefly, waving him off and said, “Whatever. I’m not interested in any of your affairs. Even King Shen is cautious of anything that has to do with Black Horn. Yet you… Forget it. I’m leaving.” And she sauntered out the door.
The Illusive Aroma Lane had never allowed anyone to overnight there, but for Xiao Chen, they made an exception. Xiao Chen and his companions stayed until the next morning. When he came to check on Yang Qing, he had barely entered, when Yang Qing leaped from his bed, screaming, “Yingying! Yingying!”
His face was a complete pallid white, although the poison has been purged. Still, beads of cold sweat mottled his body, soaking almost the whole bed and the sheets. Xiao Chen shut the door and said to him, “Are you feeling any better, Brother Yang? It’s me.”
“B-B-Brother Xiao…” Yang Qing stammered, wiping more sweat off his brows, “Where are the others?”
“Don’t worry, Brother Yang, everyone is fine.” He reached for the teapot from the table, emptied the cup of the tea from last night, before pouring him a fresh cup. Parched, an eager Yang Qing upended the cup and drank everything thirstily, looking very much better finally.
Before any of them could say anything, hurried footfalls came from outside. Xiao Chen’s forehead creased uneasily, knowing that the anxious footsteps portended nothing else but trouble. He placed the teapot down on Yang Qing’s bedside table and went to the door, pushing it out. The door swung outwards, revealing Chu Qi and another three of Yang Qing’s men along with Zi Qin.
“What is it?”
“No time to explain! Take Brother Yang, Brother Xiao! We need to go NOW!” said one of the men frantically and Xiao Chen spied the troubled frown on Zi Qin’s face.
Yang Qing heard the commotion from inside. He appeared at the door, with his clothes already put on, and said, “What’s going on?”
“No time to talk! We need to go now, Brother Yang!”
“Use the back door,” Zi Qin hissed grimly, “Follow me.”
It was hardly time for questions, and everyone seemed to agree. They followed Zi Qin’s lead to the rear courtyard until they reached a little compound and there was a well. They peered inside and saw the sparkle of water greeting cheerily from below. “There’s a secret passage at the bottom of the well,” Zi Qin revealed, “I will activate the mechanism that opens the passage. Just follow the passage until you reach the exit. That should bring you out to the suburbs somewhere 5,000 meters away.”
With no one protesting the idea, they threw themselves into the well. Down below, the ice-cold chills of the water pierced through their skins, threatening to burrow right into their bones. Xiao Chen dived below to find a passage and he took the lead, entering it with the others right behind his heels. They entered the passage and slowly, they clambered up a slope allow them to keep their heads out of the water. But it was very dark and cold inside with only the intermittent drips of droplets from somewhere in the distance to accompany them.