The Slender Waist-Chapter 240 - 169: Call Her Auntie

Feng Yun’s eyes widened, too late to react, when she was suddenly clasped tightly around the waist and then found herself in blood-scented arms, swiftly whisked off the top of the wall.

Pei Jue set her down on the ground without a word and approached the gate.

"Make way."

The four guards had just moved the stone a foot away when they saw the Great General approaching. Startled for a moment, they then watched Pei Jue step forward, wrap his arms around the stone...

With one effort.

With a loud slam, the stone was hurled more than ten feet away.

The onlookers: ...

Feng Yun stepped forward, wanting to say something, but Pei Jue did not give her the chance.

"Lady Yun, prepare to evacuate."

Feng Yun was slightly surprised, "Are we leaving Bingzhou City?"

Pei Jue grunted in affirmation, not having time to explain, simply saying:

"There is important property, pack it up quickly."

He remembered she cherished those books.

Feng Yun met his gaze and felt a constriction in her heart.

"I have already packed. General, my eldest brother is still on the city wall; have you seen him?"

Pei Jue looked at her, "It was General Wen who opened the city gate for me; he is now leading troops to clear the path at the North Gate. Lady Yun, you are most kind."

Feng Yun trembled slightly inside, "Then why are we leaving?"

Pei Jue said: "Deng Guang has opened the East Gate for the Qi Army. Once the gate is open, it will not be half an hour before Xiao Cheng leads his troops to storm the city..."

Feng Yun exclaimed in shock.

Was Deng Guang really in collusion with Xiao Cheng?

"Our remaining forces are not enough to resist the main force of the Qi Army..."

Pei Jue murmured lowly, "We have eliminated Kou Shan’s forces, those were the Qi Army’s elite troops. Xiao Cheng, the royal commander, will certainly seek revenge without counting the cost."

Feng Yun was very pleased.

But she quickly became worried again.

This time, defeating Xiao Cheng’s royal elite forces relied on the element of surprise and an ambush, but to battle head-on with real swords and spears, the disparity in numbers was too great, especially with Deng Guang opening the city gates to the enemy, Bingzhou had already lost its defensive barrier...

To win with fewer against many requires the advantages of timing and terrain, but now with an open game laid out, to meet the Qi Army’s main force in battle within Bingzhou City would be foolish.

Feng Yun nodded, "Good! We need to evacuate immediately."

Neither of them noticed that during their conversation, the "we" they both used unconsciously bound them together, distinguishing friend from foe against Xiao Cheng.

As they left the Camp Villa, Pei Jue had Feng Yun get into the carriage first.

"Close the curtains, do not look."

Feng Yun frowned slightly, unsure of what he was about to do, but still nodded her head.

Shortly after, Pei Jue’s icy voice came from outside.

"Kill them!"

"Not a single one spared."

Feng Yun’s heart jolted, and she closed her eyes.

The heart-wrenching screams of agony and desperate pleas for mercy were deafening.

The carriage curtains swayed without wind, and in no time, the stench of fresh blood invaded her nostrils.

The pitiful wails were striking to the heart, but the scene was deadly silent, with no one speaking.

Yesterday’s brothers-in-arms, just because of different choices, embarked on completely different paths today... the Netherworld Path.

This was the fate of traitors; Pei Jue would not show mercy.

Especially under the current circumstances, swift execution was the best means of dealing with the situation.

Outside the villa’s gate, blood flowed like a river.

Blood had splattered on the face of the stone lion, and its copper-bell-like eyes were threaded with red, which was quite chilling.

After a surge of bloody screams, silence fell.

All were killed.

Deng Guang was brought before Pei Jue.

"Kneel!" Zuo Zhong kicked the back of his knees.

Thud! Deng Guang’s legs went weak, and he fell to the ground, covered in fresh blood.

From start to finish, he did not speak, nor did he move.

His hair hung down over his cheeks, looking like a thoroughly dead corpse.

"Deng Guang," Pei Jue’s voice was slightly heavy, "do you have anything to say?"

Deng Guang, with his disheveled hair, slowly lifted his face, "In the game of thrones, a winner is a king, and a loser, a bandit. There is nothing to be said."

Pei Jue said, "I remember you have a young son, still in swaddling clothes when I set out on the campaign?"

Upon hearing this, Deng Guang’s previously calm face twisted instantly into a fierce scowl, his angry eyes staring and struggling against Zuo Zhong’s grip, his voice trembling with agitation.

"Pei Jue, what are you planning to do? A true man takes responsibility for his actions. You could hack me to pieces and quarter my body without going too far, but my child is innocent..."

Pei Jue stepped forward twice, lowering his head to look at Deng Guang’s face, now contorted with rage.

"What benefits did Li Zongxun promise you?"

Deng Guang kept his lips tightly sealed.

"Speak!" Pei Jue suddenly kicked forward.

The force struck Deng Guang in the chest; a surge of blood churned within him, and with a retch, he spurted fresh blood.

With bloodshot eyes, he looked up, "The position of Great General. And all that the Great General possesses."

At least he was being honest.

Pei Jue fell silent for a moment, then nodded slightly.

"I will spare your child and allow your wife to remarry."

Having said that, he strode away, mounted his horse, and raised his hand ever so slightly.

Behind him, a fountain of blood shot up into the sky, and a warlord died beneath the hooves of horses.

Pei Jue did not look back at him, walking over to Feng Yun’s carriage.

"March."

-

When leaving Bingzhou City, the sun finally peeked out from the clouds.

The air outside the city, fresh as if carrying the moisture of dewdrops.

The troops were quiet; besides the clattering of the carriage wheels and the occasional snorting of horses, Feng Yun could hardly feel the tumult of the marching army.

Behind them, Bingzhou City was ablaze with fire, the clamor of people boiling over.

Shi Yin was still leading the rear guard, fighting and retreating as needed.

Wen Xingsu only came to join them after Feng Yun left the city.

After a night of battle, General Wen did not show fatigue on his face. His spirited appearance made Feng Yun have to marvel; her eldest brother became a different person on the battlefield—it was there that he could find his place... During his convalescence, he did not vocalize much, but his whole being seemed drained of vitality. It was only now, facing the morning sun and riding forth, that Wen Xingsu returned to the famed General Ningyuan of his past life, as if he himself were glowing.

"Great General."

"General Wen."

Wen Xingsu and Pei Jue saluted each other at the crossroads, exchanging a few words about the battle before falling silent.

He could assist Pei Jue in quelling Deng Guang’s rebellion, but if asked to confront the Qi Army as enemies, he still could not do it.

Pei Jue understood this and did not mention Xiao Cheng, who was besieging the city. Instead, he ordered Wen Xingsu to lead his men ahead to Hongye Valley and head back to Xinzhou to provide support.

Wen Xingsu glanced at Feng Yun’s carriage, acknowledging the command.

In front of Feng Yun, the two men chose a tacit, friendly silence.

-

In about half an hour, they reached the waters of Ghost River.

Near the Bingzhou side of Ghost River, the flow was very calm, with warships already waiting there.

Before Feng Yun even approached the ferry, upon seeing that figure on the shore, her eyelids involuntarily twitched twice...

Was it Ao Qi?

She thought her eyes were playing tricks on her.

Yet, when that person turned his head and saw her, he broke through the morning mist, hand on the hilt of his blade, and strode rapidly toward the carriage...

"Lady!"

Having not seen each other for so long, Ao Qi’s voice seemed to have changed—it still had the clarity of a young man but now also included the magnetism of an adult male, honey-sweet and cozy, warming Feng Yun’s ears with its sticky sweetness.

Ao Qi was still alive.

That in itself was enough to comfort her.

So she gave him a wide smile.

"Guard Ao Qi."

"Lady!" Ao Qi’s face flushed with excitement, and as he approached the carriage and called out again, his overzealous enthusiasm made even Zuo Zhong think of reminding him...

It was then that they heard Pei Jue’s voice.

"You should start calling her ’Aunt’ now."