Chapter 171

Chapter 171

For someone with Xiao Zhen's skills, it wasn't difficult to hold the defending general hostage at close range. The key issue was whether they could convince the general to let them in.

The couple whispered some explanations to each other and adjusted their clothing and hairstyles to look more like villagers who had trekked over mountains.

Once Xiao Zhen's face stopped bleeding, they instructed Tong Gui and Qi Yun to keep an eye on the movements at Yuziji Pass before setting off themselves.

At Yuziji Pass.

Due to the natural defenses, the defending general Yang Rui and his 1,000 soldiers were quite relaxed, only assigning four sentinels on the watchtower to keep an eye out while the rest stayed inside the pass. Although drinking alcohol was forbidden, they were allowed to gamble with dice for entertainment. Those with copper coins continued gambling, while those who had none or had lost everything watched for fun.

In this desolate Dragon Path, with no enemy attacks and no high-ranking officials coming for inspections, how else could 1,000 men pass the time?

Yang Rui was only a commander of a thousand in the imperial court army, but here at Yuziji Pass, he was the highest-ranking officer. The soldiers all fawned over him, only daring to send money his way without winning against him, so Yang Rui particularly enjoyed gambling. After breakfast in the morning, he would call the soldiers over to play until they got hungry for lunch, nap for a while, and then continue playing until dark.

There were enough soldiers to always have a full table for gambling.

Just as a new round began, a sentinel suddenly shouted from the watchtower outside: "Sir, we have a situation! Two people are approaching from the mountain path to the west!"

Although the Dragon Path generally ran north-south, the mountain roads twisted and turned, and the pass gates could also be set on the east or west sides.

With battles ongoing in Jincheng, Yang Rui, despite his love for gambling, didn't dare to be negligent. He hurriedly led everyone up to the top.

Standing on the west watchtower, Yang Rui looked down into the distance from above.

The mountain path was relatively wide, able to accommodate two carriages side by side, but the cliffs on either side were high, making the two people on the road below look like ants.

The mountain wind blew through the gorge, ruffling the long hair of one of them, revealing a woman's figure.

Yang Rui swallowed.

He had been stationed here for over three months and hadn't seen anyone other than the soldiers and a few messengers. Let alone a woman.

"Archers, prepare."

There were only two people. If they were enemy soldiers, a volley of arrows would be enough to kill them. Even without the arrows, they wouldn't be able to climb up, so there was no need to worry.

After half a cup of tea time, the two people finally came closer. Due to the height of the pass, Yang Rui could only make out that the tall man on the left had a bloody face from an injury, while the woman on the right seemed very timid, mostly staying in the man's arms. Apart from catching a glimpse of some fair skin, Yang Rui couldn't tell if she was beautiful or not.

"Stop! Who are you, and why are you on the imperial road blocked by the court to stop rebels?" Yang Rui asked coldly.

Tong Sui had already hidden behind Xiao Zhen, who looked up and replied, "We are villagers from Yang Village. Three days ago, I took my sister into the mountains to hunt. I accidentally fell off a cliff and got lost. We only found a main road after reaching this side of the mountain and followed it here. Please, sir, may we have some water."

Yang Rui sneered, "I'm also from Yang Village. How come I've never seen you before?"

Xiao Zhen was surprised, "You're also from Yang Village, sir? May I ask which family you're from?"

Tong Sui, with her eyes downcast, thought: The two survivors from Eagle Claw Pass have already confessed. These soldiers were transferred from the capital. What are the chances that the defending general would be from nearby Yang Village?

Yang Rui was just bluffing, but seeing Xiao Zhen's surprise without panic, he let it go and continued, "Why did you bring your sister hunting?"

Xiao Zhen's expression changed slightly, instinctively protecting Tong Sui more, and explained, "Our parents died early. With battles happening nearby, I was afraid to leave my sister alone at home, so I've been taking her with me when I go into the mountains recently."

Yang Rui sneered, "Tell her to come out. I have something to ask her."

After some coaxing from Xiao Zhen, Tong Sui slowly moved next to him, still keeping her head turned towards him.

Yang Rui said, "Look up when you speak!"

Tong Sui had no choice but to lift her face.

At this moment, dressed in rough cloth clothes with her long hair messily hanging behind her and some dirt on her forehead, Tong Sui's clear, beautiful eyes were impossible to hide, not to mention her slender neck, which was as white as the wild flowers blooming everywhere in the mountains.

Yang Rui, with his sharp eyes, immediately saw through it. This girl was definitely beautiful and had deliberately dirtied her face to avoid being coveted.

Yang Rui said, "Are you really his sister?"

Tong Sui nodded nervously.

Yang Rui didn't believe her, "But you two don't look alike at all. The way he protects you, it's more like you're a couple."

Tong Sui, anxious, looked at Xiao Zhen.

Just as Xiao Zhen was about to make up for it, Yang Rui suddenly grabbed a bow from an archer and aimed at him, "Tell the truth, or I'll kill you with an arrow!"

Xiao Zhen immediately pulled Tong Sui down with him and begged, "Please spare our lives, sir! I did lie just now. Actually, we eloped from Yang Village. We've been in love since childhood, but her parents didn't want her to marry a poor hunter like me, so we had no choice but to escape into the mountains. Please, sir, have mercy and let us leave the pass to start a new life elsewhere!"

Yang Rui laughed, "A pair of star-crossed lovers, huh? That explains it. I haven't seen a single hunter here for ages, and now one suddenly shows up. Bring them in, and search the man!"

"Yes, sir!"

Yang Rui went back down to wait. A group of soldiers opened the west gate, searched Xiao Zhen to make sure he wasn't carrying any weapons, and only took his bow and money. Another soldier handed a wet cloth to Tong Sui, forcing her to wipe her face. After she nervously and hesitantly wiped her face, the surrounding soldiers looked at her differently.

Xiao Zhen pulled Tong Sui into his arms, warily guarding against them.

No matter what the soldiers thought, they could only bring the two to Yang Rui.

In the middle of the pass was an open area. At this moment, the soldiers were lined up on the sides, and Yang Rui sat on a chair with four armed guards standing behind him.

Seeing Tong Sui's true appearance, Yang Rui narrowed his eyes. No wonder they eloped. With a beauty like her, which parents would want to marry her off to a poor hunter?

Xiao Zhen protected Tong Sui and respectfully yet warily said to Yang Rui, "Sir, if you're willing to spare us a meal, we would be extremely grateful. If you don't wish to keep us, please let us leave the pass."

Yang Rui found it amusing, "Leave the pass? Do you know how much the rebels in Jincheng would pay to bribe us for passage on this road? Do you really think you can just pass with a simple request?"

Xiao Zhen pressed his lips, "I can give you all the money I have."

The soldier who had searched him immediately presented an old purse, "Sir, we only found a little over two taels of silver on him, all here."

Yang Rui took the money bag and weighed it in his hand, then said to Xiao Zhen, "This isn't enough; it's only good for one meal for you guys."

Without hiding his intentions, he shifted his gaze to Tong Sui.

Xiao Zhen stepped back two paces, "We won't go any further. Please let us return the way we came."

Yang Rui said, "Do you think this is your own front door, where you can come and go as you please? Guards, seize them!"

As the soldiers around them were about to close in, Tong Sui suddenly pulled a dagger from her sleeve, pressing it against her own neck as she threatened Yang Rui, "Don't move! If you hurt him in the slightest, I'll die right here in front of you!"

The soldiers stopped in their tracks, and Yang Rui, startled, rose from his seat, holding his hands up to calm her. "Easy now, let's talk this through. Please don't hurt yourself!"

He was counting on having the beauty by his side to keep him company through countless long nights; if she died, there'd be nothing left for him.

Tong Sui stared at him intently, while Xiao Zhen, standing behind her, remained alert to the soldiers who might rush them from behind.

Seeing that Tong Sui's hand holding the dagger was trembling, Yang Rui measured the distance between them and continued to coax her, "I'm under orders to guard Yuji Pass and cannot let anyone through. These are strict rules. I can't risk my head just to let you two pass for free. How about this: if you serve me and satisfy me, I'll let both of you pass immediately, and we'll pretend this never happened."

Tong Sui cursed, "Animal!"

Yang Rui replied, "I may be an animal, but think about it. If you serve me once, you'll save two lives, and the two of you can be together forever. Isn't that better than dying here together?"

Tong Sui, her face pale, glanced back at the man behind her, clearly wavering.

Xiao Zhen said, "Don't listen to him! I'd rather die here than let you be defiled by him!"

Yang Rui signaled the soldiers opposite him with his eyes.

As the soldiers closed in on Xiao Zhen, and just as he was tensely guarding against them, Yang Rui suddenly lunged forward, trying to grab Tong Sui's wrist and retreat.

But Tong Sui swiftly moved to Xiao Zhen's side. In a flash, Xiao Zhen, who had anticipated the move, turned around and grabbed Yang Rui's arm, twisting it behind his back. With his other hand, he took the dagger from Tong Sui and pressed it precisely against Yang Rui's neck.

With a slight push, the tip of the dagger pierced Yang Rui's neck, drawing a line of blood.

Startled, Yang Rui didn't dare move and hastily ordered, "Back off! All of you, back off!"

The soldiers retreated in a flurry.

Holding Yang Rui hostage, Xiao Zhen said, "I don't want to kill anyone. I just want to leave the pass safely."

Yang Rui stammered, "Alright, alright. I'll cooperate."

Xiao Zhen demanded, "Give me back my bow and arrows."

Yang Rui signaled his men to comply.

Tong Sui took the bow and arrows and immediately stood behind Xiao Zhen in a defensive position.

Xiao Zhen said, "Order your men to drop their weapons and return to their rooms. Once we've locked the doors and escaped ten miles away, we'll release you."

Yang Rui immediately barked orders for all the soldiers to return to their rooms.

Xiao Zhen thoroughly checked to ensure no soldiers were hiding outside, then, together with Tong Sui, they locked the doors one by one.

Though the doors were locked, they were wooden and could be kicked down with enough force from either side.

Xiao Zhen dislocated Yang Rui's arms and continued to hold the dagger against him as he sat back down on the chair. Scanning the locked doors, Xiao Zhen said to Tong Sui, "Go prepare some food in the kitchen."

Tong Sui left, ostensibly for the kitchen, but actually circled around to the west gate and quietly opened it.

Seeing this from a distance, Qi Yun and Tong Gui immediately led their men forward.

By the time Yang Rui and his soldiers realized that Xiao Zhen and Tong Sui were not just a couple trying to elope, it was too late.

Xiao Zhen ended Yang Rui's life with a single move, then picked up a large blade and joined the slaughter.

Tong Sui, standing with two rows of archers, shot down any defending soldiers who tried to escape.

Before long, Yuji Pass fell into the hands of the Right Route Army without further incident.