Chapter 50: A World Apart

  The third watch had just struck, and Qing Xia's figure flashed out of the small pavilion in the middle of the lake like a wisp of a ghost. The empty streets of South Chu were deathly silent, with white mist swirling back and forth on the cold and deserted roads. Qing Xia hid in the shadows, running and jumping with the agility of a wild cat.

  Chu Li had seen her skills and knew that ordinary guards couldn't stop her, so he didn't set up any guards. Everyone in the entire Lake Heart Pavilion was already asleep, and Qing Xia easily left the southern part of the city and quickly rushed towards the eastern prison.

  She had just left for less than an hour, and the grand palace officials of the imperial court walked into the gate of the small pavilion in the middle of the lake. In a short while, the news that the future empress, Zhuang Qingxia, had disappeared again was transmitted to the majestic Donggong Palace.

  Chu Li wore a bright yellow auspicious robe, with a golden dragon crown on his head and an eight-treasured jade belt around his waist. He stood upright in the grand hall. The officials from the Ministry of Rites held the Imperial Seal and the Phoenix Seal, everything was ready. The Southern Chu, which had been under the rule of the previous incompetent emperor for a long time, would soon welcome a new ruler. Chu Li had a smile on his face, he hadn't smiled like this in many years. Xu Quan, the guard standing beside him, knew that the throne had long been in Chu Li's hands, and Chu Li was so happy because he had finally put down something that had been entangling his heart.

  At this moment, the imperial envoy who had gone to deliver the edict to the Huxin Xiaozhu returned in a flurry. All the officials were kneeling on the ground, trembling with fear. Chu Li's face was calm and serene, but his facial muscles twitched slightly. After a while, a scout from the Black Armor Secret Guard approached cautiously, whispered something in Chu Li's ear, and then retreated.

  Chu Li's face was as usual, his back straight, without a hint of wavering or reaction. He slowly walked up to a trembling official, who was shaking all over like a sieve, with a golden-colored brocade on the tray in his hand, on which the Hou Quan Feng Yin, symbolizing the motherland, shone with dazzling brilliance.

  Chu Li didn't even glance at the officials kneeling on the ground around him, but slowly stretched out his hand to tightly grasp the warm and smooth imperial seal. He then clenched it, raised it high, and released his grip. Amidst the loud shouts of the ritual officials, the warm and thick imperial seal fell to the ground with a crash, shattering into pieces that flew in all directions.

  "Your Highness!" The synchronized bowing sounds echoed in unison, and Huang Ge, the director of the Imperial Observatory, even burst into tears, loudly lamenting as he picked up the broken pieces of jade one by one.

  "I haven't trusted people for many years, but this time, I want to give it a try."

  Fate often has only a thin line of difference, missing that moment is missing an entire life.

  Those who are not in the situation may never understand.

  With the experience of last time, Qing Xia this time familiarly sneaked into Tianlao, almost no one guarded along the way. The lax defense made Qing Xia feel more crisis-ridden, she cautiously moved forward, and finally when she sneaked into the underground prison, Qing Xia saw a noblewoman in luxurious clothes, Xiangui Fei, then she quickly realized that things might not be as simple as she thought.

  She turned to leave, but the sound of footsteps suddenly thundered from behind. Xiao Guifei burst into a mad laughter and said in a cold voice: "You wretch! If it weren't for you informing on me that day when I left the palace, how would I have ended up like this today? Even as a ghost, I won't let you off!"

  The cold dagger suddenly pointed at the heart and stabbed down fiercely. Qing Xia quickly stepped forward, grabbing onto Xiao Guifei's arm, but it was still a step too late. A burst of fresh blood spurted out in an instant. Xiao Guifei's face turned deathly pale, her bright red lips were full of blood, her hands suddenly grasped tightly onto Qing Xia's collar, her eyes shot out intense hatred, and she said in a low voice: "Accompany me to hell!"

  "What a person! Put down the imperial concubine!" The bright lamp suddenly lit up, and several loud shouts rang out. The cold blade was aimed at Qing Xia's snow-white neck. Countless torches crackled and burned fiercely. Qing Xia raised her head, and her black night-traveling clothes were filled with a strong smell of blood. In her arms was the lifeless body of Xiao Guifei. Qing Xia grasped the cold dagger, silently looking up at a pair of golden-yellow deerskin boots slowly stepping onto the dusty ground of the prison cell.

  In the brightly lit corridor, Chu Li wore a bright yellow brocade robe, his eyebrows furrowed, and his eyes shone like stars. He slowly walked out of the corridor, his brow tightly furrowed, with what seemed to be a massive storm brewing in his eyes. Though he appeared calm, there was also a hint of pain, yet he remained silent as he gazed at Qing Xia's blood-stained body, before slowly turning towards the woman who lay on the ground, dressed in luxurious attire, the one who had given birth to him and raised him, only to repeatedly push him into the abyss.

  "Your Highness, the Imperial Consort has stopped breathing." Xu Quan's voice suddenly rang out.

  At this time, two black-clad guards rushed in and reported in a low voice: "Your Highness, there is a prison break in the Western Prison. More than 80 of our men have been killed, and the King of Nanhuai has been taken away."

  "Your Highness!" A loud shout suddenly rang out, the urgent footsteps and armor clanking echoed through the great prison, a black-clad guard in black armor knelt on the ground with a thud, his right arm covered in blood, saying in a low voice: "The Qi State Envoy broke out of the South City Gate, there was someone waiting to receive him thirty miles outside the city, General Wang led troops out of the city to pursue and has already clashed with the Qi people."

  A few moments ago, the words I said to Zhuang Dianru echoed in my ears again, "The things that Qi'an and Seventh Brother did together with the people of Shangdang at Juyongguan Pass, if I were to expose them to King Qi, could you still be as secure in your position as the crown prince? With this handle in my hands, how dare he make reckless moves?"

  Can't blame him for being too careless, maybe can only blame him for being too naive. Chu Li's bitter smile slowly spread across his face, his furrowed eyebrows relaxing, but his eyes had lost all warmth and emotion, becoming cold, numb, and devoid of any luster.

  All eyes were suddenly fixed on Qing Xia, Chu Li's bitter smile was momentarily dazzling, Qing Xia looked around and suddenly saw Yang Fen standing behind Chu Li, in a flash of lightning, everything connected in her mind, she said loudly: "Chu Li, it wasn't me, you have to believe me."

  "Do you believe me?" Chu Li smiled, his smile filled with thick self-mockery and bitterness. He repeated it in a low voice, then slowly raised his head, his tone calm and seemingly nonchalant as he said, "An hour ago, I really did think that way."

  Qing Xia stood in the crowd, her back straight and upright. She didn't even glance at the surrounding guards, but instead looked directly into Chu Li's eyes, saying word by word: "Chu Li, I can explain everything, as long as you believe me."

  "Alright," Chu Li smiled faintly and nodded, "I'll give you a chance. You tell me, why did you sneak into the Imperial City Prison right after I left Hu Xin Xiao Zhu? The cell next to this one is where my brother, who was kidnapped by the Qi people, is being held. Your lover, with whom you've had a long romance, broke through the city gate and escaped at this very moment, but you're standing here, guarding my mother's corpse, and attracting all the pursuing soldiers from the Military Machinery Camp. What exactly are you doing?"

  "I thought you were holding Yang Feng captive here, I thought you wanted to kill him."

  "Your sophistry, I've heard too much of it." Chu Li's voice was calm and detached, his face expressionless, the whole person exuding a huge sense of alienation and coldness. He glanced slightly at Qing Xia, lowered his head and smiled bitterly: "Do you mean that if the one locked up today is really Yang Fen, you can still betray me?"

  Qing Xia's words came to an abrupt halt as she stared into Chu Li's angry eyes, feeling that everything was futile.

  "Someone, take down Zhuang Qingxia!"

  The black-clad guards rushed forward suddenly. Qing Xia swiftly drew out a dagger and held it horizontally in front of her, saying in a low voice: "Chu Li! Don't force me!"

  "Did I force you?" Chu Li's cold smile flashed, the chill in his eyes revealing a huge, uncontrollable mockery, it was unclear whether he was mocking himself or others: "It's been you who has been forcing me all along."

  "Get moving!"

  A low, muffled voice suddenly rang out, and over a dozen black-clad guards raised the combat knives in their hands and charged at Qing Xia. Qing Xia's figure was agile, dodging the blade and rolling on the ground, but still couldn't avoid the opponent's sharp edge. The headscarf wrapped around her head flew off instantly, and her long black hair scattered and fluttered, sweeping across Qing Xia's pale cheek. She bent her elbow and heavily struck another soldier's ankle, and a cracking sound rang out as that soldier crashed to the ground.

  "Chu Li, I told you it wasn't me who did it!" Qing Xia shouted in a sharp voice, her movements agile and quick. While many people might be better than her at swordsmanship, when it came to free combat, she was absolutely one of the best in the world. The narrow corridor made it difficult to wield long knives, but Qing Xia darted left and right, bursting out of the encircled area in an instant.

  The black-clad guards tensely stepped forward and surrounded Chu Li, as Xu Quan loudly shouted: "Protect the prince!"

  Seizing the hair of a black-clad guard, Qing Xia's body spun in mid-air, her legs kicking out in a flurry of motion that sent three approaching guards crashing to the ground. Her palm struck with deadly precision on the neck of another guard, who instantly fell unconscious.

  Until now, she still hadn't made her move, watching as the black-clad guards gathered around her, Qing Xia's brow furrowed in concentration, her mind racing with thoughts.

  She believed Princess Jia Yun's words, thinking that Yang Feng was being held captive. Later, when she probed Chu Li, it further confirmed her idea. In fact, it wasn't that Princess Jia Yun's lies were particularly clever, but rather that Qing Xia had never trusted Chu Li in the first place. Yang Feng helping her escape from the Cold Palace was already a serious crime, and hiding herself in the military camp while deceiving Chu Li was an even greater offense. Who would have thought that all of this was someone else's trap? Princess Jia Yun may be arrogant, but she is also naive and must have been used by others. Qing Xia quickly pieced together the entire sequence of events in her mind.

  After this incident, the King of Huainan, who was supposed to be exiled to Luling City, escaped and avoided being imprisoned. The state of Qi also got involved in this mess, which naturally benefited them as well. By breaking into the prison at midnight and luring Chu Li to come, they loosened the outer defenses and created an opportunity for the people of Qi to escape. Dan Fei instigated Jia Yun to trick herself, all for the purpose of getting rid of Zhuang Qingxia, who was a thorn in her side. On the other hand, Xiao Guifei's 13th prince had already died, she had no desire to live on, and helping her young son escape would be worth sacrificing her life for.

  From start to finish, it was a shallow scam jointly carried out by several people who may not be allies but had their own purposes and reached such an agreement. The ridiculous thing is that I foolishly fell into it, got trapped, and couldn't pull myself out.

  A sharp blade suddenly came, Qing Xia dodged and grabbed the opponent's collar with one hand. Her eyebrows were tightly locked, her eyes filled with hesitation, but she still held back the dagger and struck the opponent's neck with the hilt. The person immediately fainted. Qing Xia's expression was stern, her mouth pursed, and she said in a low voice: "Don't force me again!"

  At this moment, a sudden burning sensation on her back made her stumble two steps. Without giving her any chance to catch her breath, the two long clubs struck her right leg knee cap, and the sound of bones dislocating followed, a sharp pain suddenly attacked. Qing Xia's body stiffened for a moment, a trail of blood light was instantly raised from her left shoulder by the gun head, Qing Xia let out a low groan, dragging her injured foot to jump out of the crowd, leaning against a corner of the wall, coldly staring at Chu Li and others.

  Chu Li walked slowly forward, his eyes flashing with an unclear light. His voice was low and hoarse as he said in a deep tone: "Zhuang Qing Xia, don't force me to take action against you."

  "You've already laid hands on me, no need to pretend to be kind." With a sudden burst of strength, she lifted her deformed right leg, grasped it with both hands, and forcibly reset the dislocated bone. A crisp cracking sound echoed through the air as Qing Xia grunted in pain, beads of sweat rolling down her forehead like a slow-moving stream. Her pale face was deathly white, yet she still stood there, clad in a black blood-stained bodysuit, her dark hair disheveled, clutching a dagger, looking disheveled but unyieldingly firm without any hint of fear.

  "Take her down." Countless black-clad guards rushed forward from behind Chu, Qing Xia swiftly drew out the long knife at her waist, holding it diagonally above her head, with her feet slightly apart, assuming a starting stance of Japanese swordsmanship. Japan has always revered the way of the ninja, every move and style is a fatal blow that leaves no room for retreat, although the crowd didn't know what Japanese ninjutsu was, but as soon as they saw Qing Xia's expansive and powerful posture, they already understood her intentions.

  Chu Li's face was solemn, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, and then he slowly closed his eyes.

  "Up!" A loud shout came from the mouth of a leader of the black-clothed guards, and everyone immediately attacked Qing Xia. With his own strength, Qing Xia resisted the crowd, but with his old wounds still not healed, he was suddenly at a disadvantage, his hair disheveled, blood dripping.

  At this moment, a loud shout suddenly rang out, and everyone hastily turned their heads back, only to see Yang Feng's eyebrows and eyes coldly stern, his whole body clad in icy armor with a chilling aura, the snow-white battle knife placed at Chu Li's neck, saying calmly: "Everyone, stop!"

  "Big Brother Yang!"

  "Yang Feng! Are you crazy?!"

  Several cries of surprise almost rose at the same time, Yang Feng's face sank like water, not looking at anyone else, but cautiously holding Chu Li, saying in a low voice: "Prepare four horses for me, enough dry food and clear water, put them at the entrance of the heavenly prison, Your Highness, please send us on our way."

  "Yang Feng, you are indeed a spy sent by the Dongqi faction!" Xu Quan said in a cold voice.

  Yang Feng didn't say anything, he just turned his head and looked deeply at Qing Xia's injured body, saying in a low voice: "Xiao Xia, follow me."

  That night, on the bustling streets of Shengdu, the capital of Southern Chu, all the soldiers from the entire Imperial Guard gathered in one place. Three million troops stood arrayed beneath the city walls, watching as two figures held the Emperor of Southern Chu hostage and walked step by step out of the city gates. The formation of three million against two was disproportionately matched on the empty plains, as Yang Feng supported Chu Li and helped the stumbling Qing Xia, gradually moving further and further away from the massive and majestic city walls.

  "You can't escape." Chu Li's voice was low and calm, without a hint of panic or awareness as a hostage. Far away, at the gate of Shengdu City, 3 million troops of South Chu were waiting like a group of fierce tigers, ready to pounce on these two reckless people at any moment and swallow them whole.

  Yang Feng led the war horse, slowly putting down the cold knife on Chu Li's neck, and said in a clear tone: "Your Highness, I'm sorry." After finishing, he immediately flipped onto the horse, his movements neat and decisive.

  "Xia Xia, let's go."

  Qing Xia's body was covered in wounds, with fresh blood dripping down, as she sat on a tall warhorse, slowly turning her head to stare at Chu Li, whose hands were bound by Yang Fen. Many chaotic memories replayed before her eyes like fragmented scenes.

  The enchanting and arrogant first meeting, the violent outburst when being bullied by oneself, the gloomy and mysterious suspicion of oneself, the shrill cry when rushing into the raging fire, the reluctance to give up in the dense forest, and the soft and gentle whispers in the small bamboo hut. All of these memories are flashing back, converging into the shadow in front of her eyes. The experiences of the past two months seem like a grand dream, and now she is finally going to leave this magnificent prison, but unexpectedly, it's in such a tragic way.

  "Chu Li, whether you believe it or not, I didn't do what happened tonight. From now on, we'll be worlds apart and never see each other again."

  "Zhuang Qingxia, you can't escape." Chu Li's face was deep and solemn, as if he would only say this one sentence, and said in a low voice.

  "Come on, Qing Xia." Yang Feng pulled over Qing Xia's reins and said, turning his head.

  Qing Xia nodded, finally resolutely turned around, raised the whip and struck it on the horse's back, a loud crackling sound, followed Yang Feng's back, galloping towards the north.

  "Your Highness!" Xu Quan and the black-clad guards galloped up on horseback, shouting loudly: "I've brought the marksmen from the Divine Machinery Battalion, we'll capture them right away."

  The archers of the Divine Machinery Camp used a strong bow with unique characteristics of Southern Chu, which was sturdy and large, requiring four people to pull it together. The shooting range reached over 2,800 steps, making it a long-range attack weapon in the world. The people of the Divine Machinery Camp quickly pulled open the bow and arrow, aiming at the two people who were galloping far away. As soon as Chu gave an order, they could shoot and kill these two rebellious ministers under their horses.

  "Your Highness?" Xu Quan furrowed his brow, looking at Chu Li in confusion.

  Chu Li's hand, which had just broken free from its restraints, hovered in front of him, yet refused to fall. His palm trembled slightly, as if his inner self was waging a fierce battle. Time ticked by slowly, and the figure in the distance grew farther and farther away: 800 steps, 1,000 steps, 1,500 steps, 1,800 steps, 2,000 steps...

  Finally, it disappeared on the plain, leaving only two lines of dust, drifting in mid-air without dispersing.

  Chu Li's hand slowly came down, without any commanding force, simply letting go.

  "Zhuang Qingxia, you can't escape." The low voice echoed across the vast expanse of withered grass, under the pale moonlight that cast a faint glow on the man's body. On the empty plain, white mist floated slowly, and Chu Li slowly turned around, walking step by step in the direction of Shengdu, his footsteps heavy, like an old man in his seventies or eighties.

  Suddenly, Chu Li's footsteps stumbled, and a few strands of blood suddenly overflowed from his mouth.

  Xu Quan was shocked and just wanted to rush forward, but was stopped by Chu Li's gesture.

  He didn't mount his horse, nor did he lean on anyone's arm. He still walked slowly towards the heart of Southern Chu with an unyielding spirit. At first, he stumbled and almost fell, but gradually, he became more steady, more determined, and finally, he straightened his back completely, restoring himself to that proud and overbearing king who looked down on everything.

  The long night is about to pass, and the sky has already lit up slightly. Today is his coronation day, the day he becomes the Emperor of Southern Chu. He walks step by step towards that golden throne, behind him lies a trail of corpses and thick blood, as well as some things that had to be abandoned.

  Vultures of decay soar in the sky, devouring the last bit of softness at the bottom of people's hearts, gradually forging an arm as hard as iron. On this arm, you can prop up the entire empire, you can prop up the entire southern sky, but you cannot prop up a thread of tenderness, a thread of weakness, and a thread of hesitation.

  "Qīng xià, I haven't trusted anyone for a long time, but this time, I want to give it a try."

  "The world is big, if you have nowhere to go, just stay here."

  "I just hope that you can stay in Nan Chu now, and stay by my side."

  "I'm scared, so don't betray me..."

  A large bird flew across the northern sky, a snow-white crane that originally lived on the snowy peaks of the far north. It didn't belong here and would eventually return to the lofty, cold mountain peak. The sun slowly rose above the horizon, its golden rays illuminating the earth, casting a brilliant glow everywhere.

  Tomorrow is V day, today is the last chapter of Nan Chou Juan, Dong Er worked hard to write more than 6,000 words, and it will be a final gift for friends who can't keep up.

  Starting tomorrow, updates for Volume 3 - Iron Blood Great Qin will begin.

  Dong Er continues to work hard.