Even though he clearly knew that Shen Qiao was blind, Chen Gong still subconsciously avoided making eye contact with him.
Upon seeing this, Mu Tipo chuckled, Chen Gong told there was a beauty here who was a hundred tis prettier than all of my n combined. I didnt believe him at first, thinking that this boy hadnt seen much of the world and only knew how to brag, so I followed him to have a look. But now after seeing you, I finally know that he wasnt really exaggerating.
Shen Qiao remained silent, his face was expressionless.
Mu Tipo didnt mind it. I am Mu Tipo, the Commandery Prince of Chengyang. His Majesty is very fond of , so if you are willing to go back with , you will live a luxurious life with wealth and honor from now on, and you wont have to live in such a crude place anymore.
Only then did Shen Qiao finally let out a sigh, Chen Gong, you are the one who told him my whereabouts?
Knowing that there was no turning back, Chen Gong steeled his heart and replied, I had no other choice! If I didnt bring them here, then I would have to serve Mu Commandery Prince Mu myself!
Shen Qiao shook his head. Do you really think you can get away with it just by bringing them here? Why dont you ask Commandery Prince of Chengyang whether he is willing to let you go or not?
Mu Tipo laughed, Youre right. Even though this boy is nothing compared to you, at least hes not crippled. Hes smart, and his face is fairly good-looking. Id say making him a servant would be nice too!
Chen Gong was shocked. You just said you would let go!
Mu Tipo didnt pay any attention to him. With a wave of his hand, people from his left and right stepped forward and seized Chen Gong.
anwhile, he walked towards Shen Qiao himself.
Perhaps Shen Qiao felt him approaching, he finally got up with the help of the table. It seed like he was about to greet Mu Tipo with a salutation.
A smile climbed up the corners of Mu Tipos mouth. Everything went just as he expected.
When it ca to power and authority, everyone in the world either dreaded or envied it. The ones who dreaded it trembled with fear while the ones with envy chased after it like a moth to a fla. Even though the other person appeared to be reluctant right now, he too would soon get used to or even fall in love with wealth, power, and fair ladies. At that point, if he wanted to get out, it would no longer be up to him to make the decision.
Mu Tipo asked, Whats your na?
Im Shen Qiao.
Is it the Qiao as in Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao[1]? It suits you well indeed.
Its the Qiao with a Shan (Mountain) on its left.
Mu Tipo raised his eyebrows and laughed, As in I ca to appease all gods in the world, including the ones in rivers and high mountains (Qiao)? This Qiao feels a little too fierce. Its not a na a beauty should have.
But Shen Qiao didnt laugh. I think this na is good.
Fine, fine, as long as you like it. Do you have a courtesy na [2]? Or should I just call you Xiao-qiao? Ah-qiao? Mu Tipo laughed. His tone unconsciously held so humor and compliance.
Shen Qiao bent down to pick up the bamboo stick, and part of his neck was revealed underneath the collar. It was fine and slim, arousing all kinds of fanciful thoughts in others.
It made Mu Tipos heart itch. He couldnt hold himself back from reaching out his hand to help Shen Qiao, thinking that he could use the opportunity to pull that person into his arms so that he could co to him.
Shen Qiaos body temperature was low. He was emaciated due to sickness. When Mu Tipo was holding Shen Qiaos wrist, he could even feel the bones underneath the thin layer of skin.
Normally, for soone like Mu Tipo who had seen all kinds of beauties, he sure would have disliked how bony Shen Qiao felt in his hand. But at this very mont, his mind was blown away by it, and he beca even more eager to have him.
Ah-qiao He only said two words.
And he only had ti to say these two words.
Before he felt a sting on his chest.
He looked down. That bamboo stick had sohow appeared in front of him and was pointing right at where his heart was.
Mu Tipos reaction was not slow. Right after he felt the sting, he imdiately took advantage of the montum and leaned backward, grabbing the bamboo stick with one hand while attacking Shen Qiao with the other.
He was not a broad-minded person in the first place. Even more so, he hated this seemingly harmless beauty who dared to backstab him; therefore, by the ti he attacked, there was no rcy left.
Mu Tipo also practiced martial arts. Despite the fact that his skill was only second or third-rate, if his palm were to really hit Shen Qiao, the latter would be at least severely injured, if not killed.
However, much to his surprise, the bamboo stick which undoubtedly should have fallen into his hand swiftly slipped to the side, escaping Mu Tipos range of control.
Not only that, but Mu Tipos other hand also failed to hit the target.
The person he thought to be a sick, fragile beauty actually dodged his attack using so exquisite footwork, he even managed to strike back and hit his waist with the bamboo stick.
He didnt have any inner qi, so the hit could not inflict much damage on Mu Tipo. However, it hit him right on the weakest spot between his ribs. Mu Tipo was taken by surprise and thus failed to use inner qi to defend himself. As a result, the pain inflicted by the strike almost made his eyes water. He could not restrain himself from letting out a cry before retreating hastily.
Only then did his servants finally realize what had happened. So of them stepped forward to support Mu Tipo, while the others rushed up in a crowd, ready to take down Shen Qiao.
Mu Tipo had never expected that he would suffer losses at this place, his face sunk to the point that he was about to explode. Gazing at Shen Qiao ferociously, in his mind he already had more than a hundred ways to torture the man. Catch him alive!
So of the servants he brought were quite skilled in martial arts. Relying on the fact that they were overwhelming in numbers, they didnt take the blind, sickly person seriously; yet unexpectedly, they were all defeated.
With just one bamboo stick, he kept all of them away. No one was able to approach him.
But that was not all. Knowing that Mu Tipo had more people on his side, Shen Qiao did not intend to spend more ti with them either. His attacks beca more and more ruthless, his countenance which normally appeared rather delicate due to him being blind was now veiled in coldness. One of them secretly moved behind Shen Qiao in an attempt to capture him, but Shen Qiao took him straight down with a whip of his stick. The person stumbled backward, and without any rcy, Shen Qiao imdiately followed up and pushed him out the window.
A shrill scream pierced the air as the person fell off the second floor, and everyone was sowhat intimidated. For a mont, they even forgot to move.
Who else?
Shen Qiao looked at all of them, his face expressionless. The tip of the bamboo stick touched the ground, whereas he stood there, steadfast and unmoved.
His face was still pale, but one could faintly discern an extra trace of sternness on it.
Chen Gong stood at where he was and gasped.
The last ti he saw Shen Qiao fighting off a few beggars was back then when they were still in the shabby temple. At that ti, he knew Shen Qiao was most likely an expert martial artist before he lost his mory and beca sick. However, after he witnessed the fight between Yan Wushi, Zen Master Xueting, and the others at Beyond Cloud Monastery, his outlook seed to broaden as well, and he no longer felt Shen Qiao was that strong.
Until this mont, he seed to have finally caught a glimpse of Shen Qiaos many secrets, yet it also seed like he was still kept in the dark, not knowing anything at all.
Mu Tipo felt embarrassed, and his hatred and resentnt toward Shen Qiao grew. For a mont, he wanted to kill this person, but at the sa ti, he thought killing him alone was not enough to quench his abhorrence. He had to catch him alive and f*ck him at least a good number of tis after they returned. In the end, he could dump him and let his subordinates f*ck him to deathonly then would he be able to vent this festering hatred in his heart.
He looked around. Seeing that all of his n appeared hesitant and no one dared to co up, he couldnt help but cursed, scolding them, Dont tell that you cant even fight a blind person! You could just crush him with weights!
But they still didnt dare to move, mainly because they were too afraid of him now since each one of them had been more or less injured in the previous fight. No one had expected that the person could brilliantly utilize a bamboo stick to such an extent.
Shen Qiaos face appeared indifferent. He just stood there without any words, as if he was waiting for them to either leave or continue to co up and provoke him.
Mu Tipo laughed grimly, You didnt use any inner qi just now, and exquisite moves alone dont last for long. Ive already asked them to surround the inn. If you know your place, you should just kneel down and beg , maybe Ill show you a way out then. Otherwise
Otherwise what will happen?
Mu Tipos expression beca fierce, Otherwise
But before he could finish, he saw Shen Qiao striking a palm towards the side.
Everyone who thought Shen Qiao didnt possess any inner qi was astounded. As the air created by the palm passed by, the cabinet fell down at once.
They didnt see it coming, so they had to dodge, and Mu Tipo was no exception. Since the cabinet was not far behind him, he couldnt step backward, and the only choice left for him was to lean sideways. However, while he was dodging, Shen Qiao took the opportunity and stroke another palm toward his back at once.
Mu Tipo turned around for a counterattack, but he unexpectedly fell straight into Shen Qiaos trap. The latter imdiately rolled up his sleeve and caught him by his wrist. Shen Qiao dragged him back as he retreated to the window, then clutched his neck with his other hand.
Upon seeing this, the other people dared not to move even more.
Mu Tipo didnt expect his bony wrist to be so powerful that he was completely unable to breathe under its grip; Shen Qiaos other hand firmly restrained his gate of vitality, leaving him afraid to even to use his inner qi.
By doing this, youre onlycough, coughonly heading to your own doom! Mu Tipo had never thought that in the end, he would have his eyes pecked out by an eagle after spending his life training and toying with them. He was pissed to death, yet he dared not to act rashly.
But who would have thought that Shen Qiao could still fool around with everyone even with a body like this?
I dont know if Im heading to my own doom, but I do know if you dont let go today, youll probably et your doom here first. Shen Qiaos tone was almost flat, his voice was not loud either. Occasionally, a soft cough could be heard, but there was no anger in his voice. To be able to have your noble life in exchange for my insignificant one, its a great bargain indeed.
How the hell did he mistake this person for soone who was harmless and delicate!
Mu Tipo had no choice but to order those servants, who were staring at them and ready to take action, to retreat. Go out and tell all of them to withdraw!
Shen Qiao sighed, Wouldnt it be better if Commandery Prince acted so readily earlier? Lets go. Please accompany all the way to the outside of the city, and then give a carriage.
Mu Tipo sneered, How is a carriage going to help a blind person like you? Dont tell that I have to assign you a coachman too!
Shen Qiao thought for a mont and said, Commandery Prince Mu is right. Then please excuse for keeping you a little longer. Im sure this way the coachman would not dare to disobey.
Mu Tipo was exasperated.
Thus they went all the way out of the city. Mu Tipo was forced to get on the carriage, and with him in Shen Qiaos hand, the coachman did not dare to resist.
The carriage headed west for two days and one night until they were close to the border of Northern Zhou. Shen Qiao made sure that Mu Tipos servants would not be able to catch up with them for a while before he let the coachman return with the carriage, whereas he went into an inn while holding Mu Tipo as his hostage. He first knocked Mu Tipo out, and then rendered his offspring maker useless to prevent him from harming other people in the future. After leaving him in one of the guest rooms, Shen Qiao finally left all by himself.
After he ca out of the inn, Shen Qiao quickly walked toward the city gate. However, he could only make a few steps before having to stop. He found a corner in an empty, remote alley. Leaning against the wall there, he could not hold onto this state of a spent arrow any longer. He bent over and coughed up a big mouthful of blood.
A sneer ca from the side.
Without lifting his head, Shen Qiao already knew who the person was. He erased the bloodstains on his lips with his sleeves and simply sat down against the wall.
A black-robed person had appeared, yet no one could tell when it had happened. His face was handso, and his manner was overbearing. A few wrinkles sprinkled along his long and narrow eyes, but they rather enhanced his stature with an indescribable charm.
Yan Wushi stood there with his hands clasped behind him. Seeing how pale Shen Qiao looked as if the person was going to burn out at any mont, he clicked his tongue, Its so obvious that you parted with Chen Gong because you didnt want to implicate him. But your heartfelt kindness was repaid with betrayal right at the next second. That Chen guy didnt want to be Mu Tipos boy-toy himself, so he threw you out at once. Well, how does it feel to be a good person?
Shen Qiao felt extrely nauseous inside his chest. He covered his mouth, wishing he could spit out a couple more mouthfuls of blood just to make himself feel better.
What you said is wrong. I was the one reading the script that night at Beyond Cloud Monastery, and I am the only one whos literate out of the two of us. Even if Chen Gong has an outstanding mory and rembers a few sentences, he doesnt know the aning behind them. If the people from Six Harmonies Association decide to look for us afterwards, they must be coming after . Therefore, the reason I parted with him is because I dont want to involve him in my troubles. It would bother my conscience if he suffered because of .
He didnt have enough energy to finish, so he had to pause for a mont and catch his breath before continuing:
But Im not a prophet. I didnt know he would run into Mu Tipo, and even more so, I didnt know he would lead the disaster to for the sake of freeing himself. But even then, I cant use him as my scapegoat without feeling guilty just for the possibility that he might do sothing in the future that will cause harm.
Translators Notes:
[1] Da Qiao, Xiao Qiao (, ): Two famous beauties from the Three Kingdoms Period.
[2] Courtesy Na ( zi): A na bestowed upon one at adulthood in addition to ones given na, generally used instead of ones given na as a form of respect.
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