Reign of the Phoenix

Chapter 77 – Kill to Seal the Secret
In the eastern suburbs of Songyang County, at the start of Hog hour. A servant of the Bai family pushed forward Cai Sang, whose hands were tied up, along the road, before stopping at a certain spot on the roadside. The hillside around hid fifty archers dressed in armor, ready to shoot the exchanger to death after the exchange was complete. The servant who hauled Cai Sang along waited and waited until it was the mid-Hog hour but there was no sign of anyone. He started to grow a little impatient.

Bai Xianwu paced back and forth in the Bai Estate’s study. It had already past the beginning of Rat (11pm – 1am), and no one had brought Bai Hongkai back. Bai Xianwu was burning up with anxiety. Mid-Rat hour, a servant delivered a bloodstained letter. Bai Xianwu unfolded the paper with trembling hands and read it.

‘Since Old Mister Bai has failed to act in good faith and set up an ambush, you cannot blame me for being cruel. The blood on this paper came from your son, but rest assured it’s only from his nose. The next time you dare to cheat me again, it will be an ear. This exchange of hostages is cancelled, and the time of the next one is yet to be determined. It’s been tough on you guys having to lie in ambush for hours in vain.’

His growing anger and frustration made Bai Xianwu want to stamp his feet and beat his chest. He ordered a servant, “Go inform General Xu to recall his team. They were discovered. My son, ahh, his life is in grave danger in the hands of that thief. Invite General Xu over to discuss the countermeasures.”

——

Chiyun Yuexuan sat in Murong Zhining’s room with a confident smile on his face. “That old fogey wants to play dirty tricks with me? Just who does he think I am?”

Murong Zhining teased him, “And who are you?”

The confident smile switched to a fawning one. “I’m the son-in-law of Shangxia. Those folks are so audacious to provoke even the national son-in-law, don’t you think?”

Murong Zhining shyly replied, “General, your skin is thick. National son-in-law? About that Du Youtian, I find his name very familiar.”

Chiyun Yuexuan was indignant. “My wife, how do you find everyone familiar but can’t remember me at all? And to answer your doubts, Captain Wu said that Du Youtian is from Lotus Pond Hollow, that’s where your foster mother lives.”

Murong Zhining swept Chiyun Yuexuan a disgruntled glance. “Didn’t I also dream about you playing the qin? My foster mother? Lotus Pond Hollow? My head hurts…” Murong Zhining pressed her hands to her forehead.

Chiyun Yuexuan’s heart ached to see her in pain like this. He hugged her tightly. “Don’t think, it’s okay if you can’t remember. It’s best you forget everyone and only remember your husband – me.”

…

All tied up, Bai Hongkai fell back to the corner of the wall. He cried out to the guard, “Please let me go. My father will give you as much money as you want. I’m so sorry, I was blind and couldn’t see Mount Tai. Please let me go.”

The guard yelled at Bai Hongkai, “Shut your dog mouth! Keep making a ruckus and I’ll let you have it! Isn’t your father the ‘local emperor’? Let’s see if he has the ability to save you. Who told you to provoke someone you shouldn’t, huh?”

Seeing that being soft wouldn’t work, Bai Hongkai shouted loudly, “Help! Whoever saves my life, I’ll tell my dad to reward him 100,000 silver taels! Help!”

Hearing Bai Hongkai’s shout, Murong Zhining said, “Just have him detained, don’t beat him, it may lead to bigger trouble.”

Chiyun Yuexuan pinched her face. “Even I don’t beat him, someone else will, and nothing I could do about that. You don’t have to pity him, he is a wicked man. Many people have suffered in the hands of their father and son pair in Songyang County. I have no intention of letting them off after we get Cai Sang back.”

Murong Zhining tugged at Chiyun Yuexuan’s clothes, “It’s good enough to be able to get Cai Sang back, don’t cause any more trouble, Ning’er is afraid. No matter what, we need to get Cai Sang tomorrow and leave Songyang as soon as possible.”

As Bai Hongkai howled on without any sign of stopping, Chiyun Yuexuan went to the room he was detained in, squatted down before the guy and threatened him, “You’re finally afraid now? I know that you’ve done your fair share of atrocities.”

Saying so, he took out a cloth bag and pulled out a silver needle with a red tassel.

Bai Hongkai shrank into the corner in fear. “Please forgive me, please let me go!”

Chiyun Yuexuan stuck the needle into his leg then patted his face. “I don’t want your dog life yet, I just want you to shut up.” He signaled to the guard. “Keep a close watch on him, take turns and make sure to watch him the whole night.”

When Chiyun Yuexuan left the room, he spotted the server turning around to go downstairs. He frowned and entered Wu Siyuan’s room. “General Wu, send someone to keep an eye on the server, and send another person to keep an eye outside the Bai Estate’s gate. As soon as there is any movement, report it immediately. Also, have a few people take turns to guard the inn.”

At about the fifth period (3am – 5am) at night, Chiyun Yuexuan vaguely heard the sound of Flash neighing from the stable. He sprang to the door and shouted outside, “Everyone get up and stay on guard, something’s going on.”

Shortly after, all of the soldiers were armored and armed and on standby in the corridor.

Chiyun Yuexuan ordered three soldiers to guard the door of Murong Zhining’s room while the rest took crossbows and went to conceal themselves outside. The instant after the arrangement was made, the inn door was kicked open and a group of Shangxia soldiers rushed in.

In the lobby, Chiyun Yuexuan put a dagger on Bai Hongkai’s neck, wanting to use him to force the Shangxia soldiers out of the inn.

Xu Jiantao shouted loudly from outside the inn, “Listen carefully, unruly peasants inside. The inn is surrounded. If you want to live, hand over Mister Bai immediately and I might just spare your lives.”

Chiyun Yuexuan shouted his answer, “If you have the ability, charge in and try. You don’t want this Mister Bai alive? I respect you as a general of Shangxia and don’t want to trouble you, so stop insisting on doing the wrong thing. Have Old Mister Bai exchange my maid for his son, otherwise don’t blame me for accidentally hurting Mister Bai.”

Xu Jiantao sneered, “I only want to capture the culprits for meritorious service. Who cares if that good-for-nothing lives or dies? I’ll count to three, release him or my people storm in.”

Bai Hongkai grieved, “Brother-in-law, don’t! They will kill me!”

Xu Jiantao spat, “And I’m not to blame if they do! You father and son duo only know to cause me trouble. This time, I’m only capturing the culprits for contributions, I give no shits about the life of anyone.”

Chiyun Yuexuan was shocked. This Xu Jiantao truly possessed a heart of stone, ignoring even the life of his brother-in-law. There must be some reason behind this.

Chiyun Yuexuan pretended to compromise, “General Xu, I agree to hand over Mister Bai. Make your people back off. When I can ensure the safety of my men, I’ll let him go.”

Xu Jiantao, however, seemed determined to take the lives of this room full of people. He ordered, “Go in and kill everyone you see, leave no one alive.”

Only the sounds of whooshing were heard outside. The prepared Chiyun soldiers had shot all of the 50-odd soldiers brought by Xu Jiantao to death.

Meanwhile, Chiyun Yuexuan hauled Bai Hongkai upstairs. After pushing Bai Hongkai off to another soldier, he jumped back downstairs and strode towards Xu Jiantao with his dagger. “General Xu is not here to save Prince Bai, but to massacre, am I right? Can you tell me who gave this order and why?”

Xu Jiantao didn’t answer. He hacked his blade at Chiyun Yuexuan, who blocked with his dagger. The force shocked Xu Jiantao’s arm numb and the blade flew out of his hand. Chiyun Yuexuan stepped forward and neatly subdued him by both hands.

Chiyun Yuexuan used his knee to restrain Xu Jiantao, whose hands were pinned behind his back. A soldier immediately handed Chiyun Yuexuan a rope to tie him up with.

Several soldiers pushed Xu Jiantao and Bai Hongkai, who were tied up, into an upstairs room. Chiyun Yuexuan came in right after for interrogation. “General Xu, your raid tonight is not to save Mister Bai, but to kill all the people here. Can you tell me why you did this?”

Bai Hongkai spat at Xu Jiantao, “Can’t believe I regard you as my f*cking brother-in-law. My father treats you like his own son, but you planned to kill me behind his back.”

Xu Jiantao spat back at him. “You think I want your life? It was your father’s order. You two father and son put me in this situation!”

Watching them hurling abuse at each other, Chiyun Yuexuan frowned. “As I understand, the server reported to Bai Xianwu for money. After you guys knew of Princess’ identity from the server, you were afraid of the ensuing trouble, so you decided to take advantage when things haven’t escalated to kill us all.”

Xu Jiantao nodded. “You live up to your reputation, General Chiyun. I admire your intelligence. Too bad a big mistake has been made.”

Bai Hongkai had confused written all over his face. “What princess? So you’re really the husband of Shangxia princess? And I thought you were just bragging. I’m so doomed. In order to protect himself, my father will just abandon me.”

Chiyun Yuexuan relaxed his brows. “General Xu, since you’re not a person of great evil, if you are willing to remedy this, I will not hold you responsible. The maid detained by the Bai family is the princess’ personal maid-in-waiting, and they are as close as sisters. If you rescue her, I promise that you will not be held accountable.”

After a long hesitation, Xu Jiantao said, “General Chiyun is not afraid that I’ll turn against you after I leave?”

Chiyun Yuexuan smiled calmly. “If I doubted you, I wouldn’t have spared your life just now. If you refuse to help, I can still think of some other way to save the girl, just that it’ll cause a bigger commotion, for sure. For the sake of Princess, I can tolerate everything.”

Weighing the pros and cons, Xu Jiantao decided to help Chiyun Yuexuan and rescue Cai Sang.

Xu Jiantao went to the Bai Estate where Bai Xianwu was waiting anxiously for his news. “Has everything been settled yet? Are they all handled? How is Kai’er?”

Xu Jiantao asked solemnly, “If General Chiyun doesn’t pursue this matter anymore and agrees to leave Songyang after exchanging hostages, will you return Cai Sang to them?”

Bai Xianwu gnashed his teeth. “You can’t even do what is asked of you properly? If that can solve the problem, what would I throw in Kai’er’s life for? They all say General Chiyun is a devil incarnate. You think he will let you off so easily? In the end, you’re just not cruel enough to become a gem. Forget it, I’ll send Eldest Son-in-Law on it.”

Xu Jiantao creased his brows. He knew full well how sinister Bai Xianwu was. At present, he could even ignore the life of his own son, which just demonstrated his ruthless and vicious character. Xu Jiantao’s thought swayed a little. He had already paid the lives of over 50 soldiers and pierced a big hole by involving himself. If he helped Bai Xianwu attempt to kill Chiyun Yuexuan again, he had no confidence to deal with such a talented general. However, if he offended Bai Xianwu, he wouldn’t be able to fill in this disaster hole by himself. For a moment, Xu Jiantao was lost in thought.

Weighing the situation over and over again, Xu Jiantao suddenly regained his sanity and also the bit of his conscience that hadn’t been extinguished. He went to the courtyard where Cai Sang was held.

When the manservants bowed respectfully to him, Xu Jiantao said, “Old Master had me take the maid in custody to exchange for Young Master. Open the door and bring her out.”

The manservants didn’t doubt him and opened the door. Cai Sang shrank in the corner, staring at Xu Jiantao in fear.

Xu Jiantao hauled Cai Sang, whose hands were tied up, to the entrance of the Bai Estate. Just as he was about to step out of the gate, a rebuke resounded behind him.