Chapter 204: Bringing You Home

Chapter 204: Coming to Take You Home

Qin Jiao never expected that after all this time, he and Xie Nai would meet again under such circumstances—dark clouds obscuring the sun, a lone bridge suspended over a ravine. Qin Jiao was dangling from a rope at the cliff's edge, with surging mountain torrents below him and explosives placed all around.

Countless torches blazed, illuminating the devastated battlefield before them. Where houses once stood in rows now lay ruins; where broad roads once ran now gaped with craters. Broken arrows, shattered spears, and cracked shields littered the ground.

Blood that hadn't yet dried spread across the parched earth. In the distance, riderless war horses wandered in panic through the wreckage, whinnying mournfully. Every inch of this land seemed to tell of war's cruelty and the suffering of countless lives.

With the stream bridge dam as the dividing line, Wu Tuyin stood on the left, while Xie Nai and Xie Xuanran were on the right. The two armies faced off, tension crackling in the air.

Qin Jiao swayed like a kite suspended at the cliff's edge. His eyes met Xie Nai's. "Sixth Brother, I'm fine," Qin Jiao mouthed silently.

And it was this silent utterance that shattered the Prince of Lingnan's iron composure in an instant.

"Xiao Jiu, wait for Sixth Brother to come take you home."

Unexpectedly, Xie Nai made a hand gesture to Qin Jiao.

"Sixth Brother..." Seeing this, Qin Jiao's heart ached, bitter and stirred at once.

Just then, the wind parted the clouds, and moonlight poured down. Xie Nai and Qin Jiao's gazes met again in silent exchange, both seeming to hold back a thousand unspoken words. But with the enemy before them, no matter how anxious they felt, this wasn't the time for heartfelt talk.

So Xie Nai forced himself to look away, turning to Xie Xuanran instead. "Your Majesty, please speak with Wu Tuyin."

"Mm." Xie Xuanran nodded in acknowledgment, then urged his horse forward a few steps. But before he could speak, Wu Tuyin spoke first. "Young Emperor, how about we make a deal?" Wu Tuyin sat astride a chestnut warhorse, his dark armor gleaming, his gaze cold as frost.

"And if I refuse?" Xie Xuanran called out, the young man's bearing was dignified and imposing.

"Then your uncle's beloved, along with these girls, will be swept away by the flood."

Wu Tuyin clapped, and the next moment, Wu Fei appeared before everyone with a group of terrified children—the red-eyed girls who had been taken to Mengqin.

Xie Xuanran counted: Wu Fei had brought twenty red-eyed girls. Combined with the children Xie Nai and the others had rescued earlier in Xiaoxiang Commandery, the total number of missing children added up exactly. The children were all gagged and dumped beside the pile of explosives, huddled together, trembling in fear.

Xie Xuanran took a deep breath, trying to steady his pounding heart. "What deal do you want to make?" he asked.

Wu Tuyin: "If you withdraw your troops from Jing Pass, you may choose either Qin Jiao or the red-eyed girls."

"Impossible!" Xie Xuanran refused without hesitation. "Jing Pass is a strategic stronghold for both armies. If I withdraw, wouldn't that be handing Tianyuan to you on a silver platter?"

Xie Xuanran looked gravely at Xie Nai and Qin Jiao. "I believe that even Uncle and Qin Jiao would never agree to such a thing."

The wind howled as Xie Nai and Qin Jiao silently affirmed Xie Xuanran's words.

The nation outweighs the self; if sacrifice is demanded, one's own life can be given. That is the greater righteousness.

"Fine then," Wu Tuyin said. "I, this Lord, will offer another option. Withdraw your troops from Xianqiao Town, and our two nations will continue to maintain peace. How about that?"

Wu Tuyin's words had a hint of concession, which puzzled Qin Jiao. Given Wu Tuyin's nature, how could he possibly willingly admit defeat?

But Xie Xuanran didn't seem surprised by this. The young emperor thought for a moment, then said, "In a few months, winter will descend upon Mengqin. I am willing to give Mengqin three hundred thousand jin of grain and one hundred thousand jin of tea and salt, and I guarantee that within five years, Tianyuan will not wage war against Mengqin. Since both nations wish to maintain peace, Chieftain, why not release both the children and Qin Jiao?"

Five years without war was easy to promise, but three hundred thousand jin of grain was a huge show of good faith—enough to feed Mengqin's population for at least a year. Moreover, in the current conflict, the Tianyuan Dynasty was not at a disadvantage; on the contrary, they had been winning battle after battle, pushing Mengqin into a defensive position. Xie Xuanran was willing to make such a big concession entirely because of Qin Jiao.

However, Wu Tuyin rejected Xie Xuanran's proposal. "Qin Jiao or the children—you can only choose one."

As Wu Tuyin finished speaking, the soldiers behind him let out a thunderous roar, slamming their spears into the ground, making the mountains themselves seem to tremble.

Xie Xuanran went quiet for a moment. He hadn't expected that even such generous terms wouldn't change Wu Tuyin's mind.

Very well. For now, save who we can.

Having made up his mind, Xie Xuanran looked at Wu Tuyin. "Fine then—one choice it is!"

Wu Tuyin smiled arrogantly at this, then swept his gaze over Qin Jiao and the red-eyed girls. "Choose."

Since ancient times, choices have always been painful—especially this one. On one side was his uncle's beloved, on the other, innocent children. Xie Xuanran could hardly bring himself to choose.

Behind Xie Xuanran, Lin Wen and Xiao Baiyu furrowed their brows too, while Shen Fuqing alone remained calm, his gaze cold and unreadable.

"Choose the children."

Just as Xie Xuanran found himself caught between a rock and a hard place, Xie Nai made the decision for him.

"But..." Xie Xuanran's gaze shifted to Qin Jiao. "Your Majesty, the children!" Qin Jiao had heard every word of the exchange between Xie Xuanran and Wu Tuyin, and now he forced out a few hoarse words.

The cliff was so high—if he fell, there might still be a slim chance of survival, but if those children fell, they would surely be killed instantly.

Qin Jiao didn't need to think to know that Xie Nai would make the same choice he would, just like that day on the lake island.

Xie Xuanran took a deep breath and looked at Lin Wen. Lin Wen said nothing, just nodded at him.

"I'll send someone to bring back the children."

Finally, Xie Xuanran's words sealed the deal. "Once we have the children, we'll withdraw immediately."

"How hypocritical!"

Hearing Xie Xuanran's—no, one could say Xie Nai and Qin Jiao's—choice, Wu Tuyin gave a cold laugh.

As the saying goes, every man for himself. Including that time on the lake island, he had given Qin Jiao and the others two chances, and both times they had made such hypocritical choices. It was absolutely disgusting!

Though Wu Tuyin was displeased, the deal went ahead as planned. Lin Wen and Shen Fuqing went together to retrieve the children, accompanied by Luo Bei, Luo Yue, and Wusheng and Tongsheng.

Wu Tuyin watched with a blank expression as they led the children away. Suddenly, a rich floral fragrance drifted through the air. This scent... Wu Tuyin seemed to realize something, his expression changing instantly. Then a sharp pain struck his chest, and blood rushed up his throat—"Pfft!"

Almost in an instant, Wu Tuyin violently spat out a mouthful of blood, then tumbled uncontrollably from his horse!

"Chieftain!" Wu Fei shouted, rushing toward Wu Tuyin. "Chieftain, what's wrong?!"

"Xie Nai, now!"

Nearby, Xiao Baiyu's shout was even louder than Wu Fei's. As his words fell, Xie Nai's Crimson Feather Arrow shot out instantly—a lightning-fast arrow heading straight for Wu Tuyin's face!

"Chieftain!" Seeing the arrow about to strike Wu Tuyin, Wu Fei's eyes went wide. But the next second, he ignored Wu Tuyin entirely and lunged instead at Lin Wen, who was escorting the girls away!

Not far off, Xie Xuanran shouted in alarm, "Prime Minister Lin!"

"Protect Chancellor Lin!"

Luo Bei was the first to react. Just as he and Luo Yue clashed with Wu Fei with their swords, Wu Tuyin, who had been lying on the ground, suddenly sprang up! Moving with the speed of a hunting leopard, he rolled across the ground to dodge the Crimson Feather Arrow, then in one fluid motion seized Shen Fuqing by the throat!

"Cough, cough!"

Shen Fuqing choked, coughing violently. Seeing this, Xie Nai's face went stiff, and Xiao Baiyu beside him immediately realized:

"Damn it! He wasn't poisoned!"

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