Chapter 135: Peril

It turns out that when a brute resorts to trickery, it can be fatal. Wu Kui’s two massive hammers whirled like a rapidly spinning windmill; even a Ferrari would have been smashed into silence, let alone a yellow steed.

Qin Qiong was struck with terror, but he was already within a dozen paces. His yellow steed had accelerated to its limit, and coming to a stop was physically impossible. Everyone’s heart was in their throat; based on past experience, a hammer the size of a watermelon would crush the horse's skull, and the warrior atop it would be pulverized by the next blow.

In a flash, Qin Qiong hurled his spear like a javelin. But the spear didn't even touch Wu Kui; the giant hammer knocked it aside instantly. Yun Hao clearly saw a fox-like smile on Wu Liang’s face. Damn it! All these wicked schemes were cooked up by this bastard. He had calculated everything, but he never expected Wu Liang to be this cunning.

Qin Qiong threw the spear, then snatched his golden tile-shaped mace. Swinging it with all his might, he brought it down toward Wu Kui’s hammer.

*Clang!* With a sound of clashing metal, the mace in Qin Qiong’s hand was knocked away like a dry stick. Yet, this single strike forced Wu Kui’s hammer slightly off-course. The giant weapon whistled past the horse’s ear, missing its mark. Qin Qiong’s hand split open from the impact, blood instantly surging out, and his entire arm went numb and useless.

Qin Qiong had no weapons left, and the rules of the match forbade bows and arrows. As his horse brushed past Wu Kui, he suddenly remembered the grappling hook hanging from the saddle. He reached for it, swung it a few times, and flung it at Wu Kui.

The hook caught on Wu Kui’s collarbone, the sharp prongs sinking deep into the bone. Wu Kui let out a howl of agony, his hands clamping over the hook.

Under normal circumstances, Wu Kui could have easily yanked Qin Qiong from his horse. But the earlier windmill-like display had drained every ounce of his strength. After being drugged by Yun Hao and forced to run all morning, even an iron man would have collapsed.

Qin Qiong was desperate. He spurred his horse hard. The steed neighed and bolted forward. The unsteady Wu Kui could not withstand the force; after stumbling two steps, he was dragged to the ground. Qin Qiong urged his horse to gallop for its life around the training grounds—he dared not stop. If Wu Kui still had any strength left to fight like a cornered beast, Qin Qiong would have no weapon to defend himself. Even without his hammers, those bare fists could beat him to death.

For a time, Qin Qiong dragged the massive Wu Kui across the field, leaving a trail of yellow dust, accompanied by Wu Kui’s shrill, desperate screams.

"Great Commander! My brother knows he was wrong. Please, for the sake of Commander Lai Hu'er, spare my brother’s life!" Wu Liang knelt on the ground, kowtowing incessantly to Luo Yi on the high platform, hoping that the fear of offending Lai Hu'er would grant Wu Kui a reprieve. If this dragged on for even a moment longer, Wu Kui would be dragged to death on the training field.

"General Wu Liang, please rise. I will send men to stop Qin Qiong immediately." Luo Yi said, giving a wink to Yuchi Nan beside him.

"Great Commander, it seems Qin Qiong’s horse has been startled. Look, it’s not responding to his control at all!" Yuchi Nan pointed at the yellow horse, which was still charging wildly.

"Oh, it does seem to be startled. That boy Qin Qiong is truly something—can he not even afford a decent horse? Tell him to pick one from my stables later; what a piece of junk." Luo Yi watched the swirling dust and said with complete sincerity.

"Great Commander! Please, spare my brother!" Wu Liang’s forehead was bruised and bleeding from the repeated kowtowing.

"Oh, you scoundrels! Even if the horse is startled, it must be stopped! Do not let General Wu Kui come to harm!" Luo Yi slapped the table and shouted at Yuchi Nan.

"Understood! I shall go stop the runaway horse at once!" Yuchi Nan replied immediately, walking down from the platform with measured steps—a journey that took him the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn.

Wu Kui had started out roaring, but his cries had turned into whimpers. The screaming grew weaker and weaker, and by the time Yuchi Nan reached the ground, there was no sound left.

Qin Qiong’s mind was a blur. He didn't care if Wu Kui was dead or not; he only had one thought: he had no weapon. If Wu Kui stood up, he was a dead man.

Behind him, Wu Kui had long since stopped moving. There wasn't even a cough on the training field. Wu Kui’s poor, mangled collarbone had finally failed to support his massive frame, and the hook had been ripped clean out of his body. Qin Qiong, losing his momentum, fell forward. Fortunately, he kicked his feet free from the stirrups, or he would have been dragged to his own death.

Yuchi Nan and his men rushed over to help Qin Qiong up. Aside from some scrapes on his face, his bones and tendons were intact.

"Brother!" Wu Liang threw himself toward Wu Kui like a madman, but all that remained was a pile of mangled flesh. His facial features were ground into a bloody mess by the coarse gravel, and there was a gaping hole in his shoulder. The torn muscles and tendons hung outward, a chaotic mix of red, white, and blood, caked in dirt.

"Alas! Accidents are inevitable. Order a proper burial for the Vanguard General. Qin Qiong’s horse was startled; this was not his intent. Besides, in a duel, weapons have no eyes. I shall not pursue this further. However, Qin Qiong must take this as a lesson—next time, find a better horse. Dismiss the troops!" Luo Yi felt a great sense of satisfaction as he watched Wu Kui being dragged to death. He gave Qin Qiong a perfunctory scolding and ordered the troops to disperse.

Today’s events were witnessed by the entire army. The soldiers finally knew exactly whose world this Beiping City was.

"That's... that's it?" Yun Hao looked at Hou Junji, who was yawning beside him.

In Yun Hao's imagination, this should have been an epic, world-shaking battle. Both sides should have exhausted their skills, with blades and spears clashing in a storm of steel. Qin Qiong should have fought through hardship, suffered grave injuries, and finally defeated the big boss. That was how a story should go. How could a giant like a diamond be dragged to death by a horse?

This defied logic!

"It's over! He died a miserable death, dragged to death by a horse. But Officer Qin had a narrow escape. If he hadn't thrown his spear and used his mace to parry, we would be the ones collecting his corpse now! When it comes to wit in battle, ten Chai Shaos couldn't compare to one Qin Qiong." Chai Shao glanced at Wu Liang, who was wailing in the distance.

"That bastard is a calamity." Yun Hao watched Wu Liang as well. For the first time, he felt this man was truly terrifying. To be able to make Wu Kui feign exhaustion and set a trap in such a situation—it had nearly cost Qin Qiong his life.

"Don't worry, the Prince of Beiping wants that kid dead even more than you do. He won't live for many more days. Let's go! I'm hungry." Chai Shao clapped his hands and returned to the carriage. Though it was a bright day, the weather in Beiping remained frigid. The carriage had been outfitted with a stove today, and it would be a waste not to warm up.

"Qin Qiong, Luo Yi..." Wu Liang watched the imposing Luo Yi leave with his guards, gnashing his teeth.

His older brother had been his only leverage, and now that his brother was dead, his leverage was gone. Wu Liang knew he wouldn't live to see the sun rise tomorrow. In a sense, Luo Yi hated him even more than he had hated Wu Kui. Wu Kui was merely a brute, but a sharp mind was a true threat, and Luo Yi understood that better than anyone.

Wu Liang still couldn't figure out where things had gone wrong. Why had his brother been so exhausted? He caught a glimpse of Yun Hao’s group boarding their carriage. Could it be them? But how could they have managed it?

"I'm going to get some real sleep when we get back. Damn it, I spent half the night on Wu Kui's roof. If it weren't for your distilled wine, I would have frozen to death. The weather in Beiping is cold as hell." Hou Junji complained in the carriage, tossing a large piece of beef jerky into his mouth, claiming he needed to replenish his strength after such a hard night.

"Sleep? Fine, sleep well. The girls at Huichun Pavilion are truly beautiful." Yun Hao lounged on the carriage seat like he had no bones. He hadn't slept all night either. He had only just dozed off when Hou Junji returned covered in frost at daybreak.

"Huichun Pavilion? A brothel?" Hou Junji’s eyes lit up. At eighteen, he already knew what women were about, and his blood was hot. Hearing about the girls, all his sleepiness vanished.

"You think the soldiers won't go out to celebrate after seeing Officer Qin survive? Go back and prepare food. After the Commander's meeting, they'll come here to feast. Last time Zhang Gongjin didn't get a girl; this time, he’ll probably book the whole house. You, our great hero..."

"Not at all! Not at all! The wicked ideas were all yours; I was just the one running errands." Hou Junji was uncharacteristically humble.

Sure enough, as soon as they arrived at their residence, they saw the soldiers banging on tables and chairs, demanding wine and food. Yun Hao and his group had returned by carriage, but these soldiers had ridden back at full gallop. It seemed Luo Yi was in such a good mood that he had canceled the scheduled meeting, leaving them free to wreak havoc at Yun Hao’s place.

"Where are the girls?" Hou Junji jumped off the carriage, craning his neck in anticipation.

Yun Hao groaned inwardly. It looked like the small supply of distilled wine he’d brought wouldn't last a single jar. If these brutes left even the jars behind, it would be a miracle. He helplessly ordered the cook to prepare food, watching the chaos unfold in the hall.

"Kid, Wu Kui’s household security is tight. How did you manage it?" Qin Qiong was astonished that Yun Hao had the ability to poison Wu Kui under such heavy guard.

"He did it." Yun Hao pointed at Hou Junji.

"The idea was his, and the poison was his too." Hou Junji immediately sold out Yun Hao. He didn't want to do this kind of work again. If he had been caught by Wu Kui last night, he would have been torn in half on the spot.

Just as they were speaking, a servant walked in and whispered a few words to Chai Shao. Chai Shao’s eyes lit up instantly: "Is this true?"