Unexpected Twist
He Yan remained in jail for two days.
Within those two days, besides Shen Han who visited once, no one else came. Even when Shen Han visited, he did not mention to her the situation outside so it meant that nothing had happened yet. The more it was so, the more unsettled He Yan felt. Unfortunately, the prison in Liangzhou Guard was as sturdy as stone so it was difficult for her to find a way to escape. Song Taotao and Cheng Lisu were probably kept under-watched so their traces weren’t seen lately.
The food and sleep were rough, but this was not too difficult for He Yan to bear. With the passing of time, the most terrifying was the invisible crisis that was gradually approaching.
Unfortunately, no one has noticed yet.
It started snowing at midnight.
Snowflakes were as big as goose feathers, flying in pieces. Even the cotton clothes could not withstand the biting cold when they landed on people. The two guards standing on the podium rubbed their hands coldly and breathed towards the palms of their hands. At that moment, a cloud of white mist appeared in front of them and quickly dissipated.
Liangzhou Guard was caged in silence. The guard station in winter was not as lively as in summer. There were no recruits going to Wulu River to take a shower at night, nor was there any noise, except the sound of the cold from the melting snow on the ground.
“I’m going to the latrine.” A guard stamped his foot, “I can’t hold it anymore.”
His comrade urged, “Hurry go and come back.”
The man put down the stick meant for beating the drum, took his knife, turned, and went to the latrine. The snow was so heavy that thick layers of snow formed on the ground in a short period of time. When stepped on the ground, before even lifting the leg, the coldness crawled from the foot to the head. The guard shivered in the cold and hurried to the latrine behind.
There was a burning torch outside the latrine. A few days ago, a recruit woke up in the middle of the night to take a leak but did not see the road clearly. He ended up slipping on the icy ground and injuring his leg. After that, Shen Han asked someone to place a torch here to light up the path.
There was someone inside when the guard entered. He looked at the person in the dim light and smiled, “Oh, you came along too?”
The other smiled and replied, “I just came.”
“It’s too cold. I wouldn’t make this trip if I couldn’t hold it in.” The guard grumbled.
He released the water, pulled up his pants, and was about to head out. That person also finished his business and followed him — one in the front and one behind.
The torch outside the door cast a shadow on the snow-covered ground — it was swaying. The guard casually glanced to the side and saw that the shadow behind him had already opened both his hands. In a shock, he was about to shout–
A hand covered his nose and mouth and the person behind pulled out the knife on his waist. The person ruthlessly slashed the knife across the guard’s neck.
Blood splattered on the ground and the young man’s body silently fell. There was no more breath.
Without any hesitation, the black shadow bent down to drag the guard’s corpse away. The snow fell even heavier and covered the traces of blood earlier in no time. After a stick of incense, the guard walked out again.
He grabbed a bunch of snow to wipe away the traces of blood on the knife and placed it back on his waist. He then tidied the felt hat on his head before lifting and returning to the podium.
On the podium, his comrade was already waiting impatiently. He suddenly heard some sounds and saw the guard who went to the latrine coming back, he sighed in relief and scolded, “Why did you take so long? Were you slacking away?”
The guard shook his head, lowered his head, and took a breath as if he was too cold to speak. His comrade saw this and couldn’t help but to also rub his hands, “Darn it, this is too cold.”
The guard pressed his felt hat very low. His comrade saw it, he scolded, “Do you think it won’t be cold if you pull your hat down? Pull it up. How can you watch the night when you can’t see anything!” He stretched out his hand to lift up the guard’s hat. The moment he approached, he suddenly froze.
The color of the guard’s clothes was different from the pure red and black colors of the recruits. The collar was staggered with a layer of a white border, with two dots of red color at the border.
This was not an old stain. The color was bright and was slowly spreading. There was nothing on it when the person went to the latrine a moment ago.
The comrade looked towards the guard who never spoke a word upon his return. He was about to pull out his knife but his action was a pace slower.
The person actually had two knives.
One belonged to the dead guard, pierced through his chest. The other had a bent blade, sliced open his throat.
He could not scream out a sound and stumble onto the ground. The murderer turned and walked down the podium. The guard crawled hard on the ground, trying to pick up the drumstick that dropped on the ground.
As long as he grabbed the drumstick and sounded the drum, the entire Liangzhou Wei would wake up.
This was the final thing he could do.
The blood below his body has dragged a distance, creating a shocking sight. He used all his energy to crawl next to the drum. Holding onto the drumstick, he wanted to lift his body to beat the drum.
When half of his body was just lifted, a sharp pain came in right at that instance. Blood spattered on the surface of the drum and the arm that was grabbed onto the drumstick also fell on the ground.
His right arm was chopped.
The murderer left and returned. He stood in front and said in a low voice, “I almost forgot.”
Not far away, the movement here seemed to startle the soldiers patrolling on the other side. Someone shouted, “Hey. Are you alright?”
This person pressed his felt hat and waved towards the distance, “It’s fine! I tripped.”
Blood was everywhere on the ground. The guard that was barely breathing earlier has completely died.
Like an abyss, the night approached the entire Liangzhou Wei.
…
The next morning, when the sky was just brightened, the recruits woke up to eat and went for a morning run on the martial arts arena.
Hong Shan, Mak, and the rest sat together and ate. Not long after, Wang Ba, Huang Xiong, and Jiang Jiao joined. Huang Xiong asked, “Has He Yan been released?”
Hong Shan shook his head.
“This is bad,” Jiang Jiao said, “It’s surprisingly cold these few days. I heard Young Master Cheng say that there is nothing in the prison. Even if one doesn’t freeze to death, one will freeze to illness.” Even though He Yan had been criticized because of the “green hat” incident, Jiang Jiao could not help but to worry at this point.
“Do you think He Yan will be released after the Chief Commander returns?” Wang Ba asked.
“It’s hard to tell,” Shi replied.
“Why?” Wang Ba was curious.
“Now everyone in Liangzhou Wei knows that He Yan has killed someone and no one is able to find evidence to prove that she did not kill.” Hong Shan sighed.
“What evidence does he need? He’s not a fool who only goes about killing without burying the bodies, deliberately leaving the body for others to take advantage of. This is the evidence!”
Mak whispered, “This is too far-fetched.”
Wang Ba glared, “How is this far-fetched? Tell me what’s far-fetched about it!”
As they spoke, there was a sudden noise from outside, mixed with some people’s exclamations, “Someone’s dead! Someone’s dead! Hurry and find the Chief Instructor!”
“What?” Everyone went out to look, but they saw a short recruit looking anxiously as he said, “The martial arts arena, the brothers who were on guard at the martial arts arena are dead!”
Dead?!
Everyone’s expression changed, they stood up and got to the martial arts arena.
Blood flowed like a river on the martial arts arena.
No one knew when the snow stopped. Some bloodstains were covered by the snow, some froze to ice. The remains on the martial arts arena clearly revealed the violence from last night.
There was not a single one amongst the dozens of guards — be it those who stood guarding at the platform or those who were guarding around the martial arts arena — lived. The corpses were placed in the center of the martial arts arena, piled up and down as if they were piling up rations for pigs and sheeps. All the soldiers who died were killed with a single slash — their throats were severed by the knife — which was extremely miserable. The one stacked on the top had his right hand chopped off at his elbow. This man was wearing the guards’ outfit and his right hand was chopped off when he wanted to beat the drum.
They were all their companions who got along day and night everyday, and they were killed just across a wall. For a while, everyone’s eyes in the martial arts arena turned red. Someone said bitterly, “Who did it? If I find out, I will…I will…”
Someone’s voice came with a dull arrogance, “What will you do?”
No one knew when, there were around a few hundreds to a thousand soldiers coming from behind the martial arts arena, marching on the road connecting to Baiyue Mountain. The leader was a long-haired man. He was riding on the horse, wearing dark-colored armour and holding a scimitar that was half the height of a human. He looked extremely sturdy and muscular. He had broad shoulders, a high nose and his eyes were dark-blue in color like the lake waters. His appearance was different from the people in the Central Plains. He smiled like a vulture drinking blood and grinding teeth, and carried an intimidating thirst for blood, which made the heart palpitating.
“Who are you?” The recruits said.
The long-haired man ignored them and just approached the recruit who had just spoken, “If you find out, what will you do?”
His smile was cruel and tyrannical. The recruit couldn’t help shivering when facing this person. He plucked up the courage and said, “I- I will seek justice for my dead comrades!”
“Really?” The long-haired man laughed, “How are you going to seek justice?” Before the recruit answered, he raised the machete in his hand and chopped it down!
With a “thud”, a figure passed by and blocked his scimitar. However, that blow made him take a few steps back. After standing still, he looked at the long-haired man, “How bold of you to murder in my Liangzhou Wei!”
It was Shen Han.
“Chief Instructor Shen! Chief Instructor Shen is here!” All the recruits shouted agitatedly as they finally had a reliance.
“Chief Instructor?” The long-haired man looked towards Shen Han, “You are the Chief Instructor in Liangshou Wei?”
“Who are you?” Shen Han’s face was as still as water.
“My name is Ridamuzy. I heard that the famous General of Wei — General Fengyun Xiao Huaijin — is brave and has never once lost a battle so I specially came to learn from him. Why? Is Xiao Huanjing too afraid to fight?”
“What nonsense are you spouting!” A recruit couldn’t help but to rebut, “You clearly know that the Chief Commander isn’t around…”
“Shut up!” Du Mao roared to stop his words but it was too late.
“He isn’t around?” Ridamuzy squinted his eyes, “Then that’s really unfortunate.”
The coaches looked at each other, and their hearts gradually sank. The so-called learning from Xiao Jue is nothing more than an excuse. They were afraid that this person had long known that Xiao Jue was not in Liangzhou Wei, and so he brought people to provoke him. But it’s just…bringing no more than a thousand people to face the tens of thousand young men in Liangzhou Wei, even if they were only recruits with no combat experiences, was a little too arrogant. Could there be other conspiracy?
The guards were killed overnight. It would be impossible to do if it was done by the enemy, unless there was a spy within then they really died at their own hand.
Ma Damei whispered, “What He Yan said is true.”
What He Yan said was true. They have been watching Hu Yuanzhong these days, but Hu Yuanzhong showed no signs of suspiciousness . If he had an accomplice hiding among the recruits, everything would make sense.
“In your formation!.” Shen Han ordered.
The tens of thousands of recruits showed their weapons in an orderly manner.
Since the other party was not friendly, the young man of Wei had no reasons to take a step back.
Seeing this, Ridamuzy laughed loudly and said, “Sigh, Chief Instructor, I came here not to battle against you.”
“Your Excellency seems to be a Qiang.” Shen Han sneered. “General Feihong fought against the Qiang many years ago. I thought that the Qiangs no longer had ill intentions. Now that you came to my Liangzhou Wei and killed dozens of people, if you were not here to fight, could you be here to make peace?”
Speaking of General Feihong, Ridamuzy’s face changed slightly. After a while, his gaze was glued to Shen Han, and he smiled thoughtfully, “Chief Instructor, you must not slander me. My intention was only to have an exchange with Xiao Huaijin. Who knew that the guards were so unfriendly and had a dispute with my brothers when we passed by here last night. We had no choice but to eliminate them all.” He spoke so easily, “I thought the soldiers brought up by Xiao Huaijin would be at least capable but I didn’t expect them to be so weak. When they died, they didn’t even scream–”
“You!” The recruits were filled with indignation.
“Don’t be angry, Chief Instructor. I’m really here to learn from each other,” he looked at the recruits behind Shen Han with interest, “If Xiao Huaijin can’t make it, let his soldiers replace him. If it doesn’t work, instructors like you can replace them too.”
Liang Ping took a step forward, “Your Excellency, are you thinking too highly of yourself? Why are you so sure that we will accept the fight?”
“Are you unwilling?” Rimudazy calmy clapped his hand, a few people came from far and some were struggling, “Let me go–”
Shen Han’s face changed colors.
Several foreign soldiers carried two people like chickens — one was Cheng Lisu and the other was Song Taotao. Both of them had their hands and feet tied behind. They looked miserable as they struggled.
“Instructor Shen!” Cheng Lisu saw Shen Han, as if he had seen help, and cried, “Who are they and why did they tie us?”
Who are they? Shen Han’s mouth was bitter. He had sent many people to guard Cheng Lisu’s and Song Taotao’s doors to secretly protect them, but they were still caught. The strength of the opponent could not be underestimated. And the fact that they knew seizing Cheng Lisu and Song Taotao could restrain Liangzhou Wei, showed they were very familiar with Liangzhou Wei.
“Now,” Ridamuzy said with satisfaction while looking at Shen Han, “Chief Instructor, are you still willing to spar with us?”
Song Taotao shouted, “Like they’re here just for an exchange. Why would they be so nice? It must be a scheme!”
Shen Han said, “Fine.”
“Wonderful!” Ridamuzi sat up straight, “The weather is too cold and I am too lazy so let’s stick to just three rounds. You can pick three men.” He said to the people behind him, “Brothers, whoever that wants to go can go!”
A person behind him said, “Commander, Wala is willing to fight!”
This was a very muscular man. The Qiangs have always had a strong physique. The people from the Central Plains will only appear much thinner and weaker standing next to them. Though he was young, in his early twenties, he was already 6.9 feet tall, like an ancient giant. He also had a fierce look, his eyes slightly protruding like cows and he was holding a scimitar, making him look really hostile.
“Sure!” Ridamuzy shouted, “Wala’s bravery worthy of being a son of the Qiangs!” He turned to Shen Han again, “How about you?”
Wala’s abnormal huge physicality made people retreat when they see him. Moreover, the corpses in the martial arts arena clearly showed how cruel these Qiang were so no one from Liangzhou Wei responded for a while.
“If there’s no one to accept the fight, then the instructors can come instead.” Ridamuzy laughed, “A fight like this is perfect to give these recruits a good lesson.”
Liang Ping who was biting his teeth at the side was about to voice out and accept the fight but a voice came, “I’ll volunteer.”
This was a young recruit from the Forward Battalion, named Wei Huan. Shen Han still remembered this man because he was also excellent at swordsmanship and was one of the best in the Forward Battalion. However, his character was very gentle and shy and was not as good as Lei Hou. So although he and Lei Hou were both outstanding, he was far not as eye-catching as Lei Hou.
Speaking of Lei Hou, Shen Han was startled, where is Lei Hou?
“You?” Ridamuzi glanced at Wei Huan, and said with a grin, “Your courage is commendable.”
Wei Huan stepped forward slowly and walked to Wala, “I would like to have an exchange with you.”
Wala laughed, and only looked around to see the high platform of the martial arts arena. He said, “Alright then. The height is perfect. If I cut your neck off on the platform, the people below will be able to see it clearly, right?”
Wei Huan’s expression remained unchanged. Wala laughed loudly, and leaped onto the martial arts platform, saying, “Let’s fight!”
Countless people have gone up to the high platform of the martial arts arena many times these days. But these were all the recruits who only wanted to exchange skills with each other. Whereas the other recruits watched relaxingly below the platform and pointed out the exciting fights and flaws.
Because they knew that there would still be many such exchanges.
None of the exchanges in the past was as sullen as the match today. Especially when Rimudazy remembered something, he looked to Shen Han and spoke a volume that everyone could hear, “Chief Instructor, I forgot to tell you, according to our Qiang’s rules, once they are on the stage of life and death, the victor is only decided when the other party dies.”
“What?” Liang Ping said angrily.
“Warriors must have the consciousness to die at any time. This is the supreme glory.” Ridamuzi said coldly, “There are no exceptions.”
On the platform, Wei Huan slowly drew the knife from his waist and nodded at Wala.
…
In the prison, it was dark and damp as usual.
Nobody knew when the guard at the entrance disappeared. It was so silent in the prison that the sound of a needle falling could be heard clearly and the footsteps of a person were exceptionally ear-piercing.
The shadow followed the stairs and came down step-by-step. The fire at the entrance shining against the person made the shadow sway. The person in the innermost cell was curled into a ball, sleeping against the wall. As if she caught an extreme cold, she shivered and her lip turned pale.
The shadow stopped outside He Yan’s cell.
There was an empty bowl on the ground. It stored either water or rice but was licked so clean that it was shining. The thin quilt was short and couldn’t even cover the whole body, even the feet were shown despite curling up into a ball. She trembled slightly, and her face was pale and abnormal. The shadow looked at her for a moment and reached out to insert the key into the lock hole, and with a “click”, the lock was unlocked.
The person in the cell was still ignorant.
He walked in.
The young boy’s spirited appearance in the past completely vanished. She looked no different from all the prisoners. He seemed to be a little regretful, but also a little vigilant as he stood still and stared at the boy’s face.
The boy was motionless.
After a while, the dark shadow slowly covered it.
At this moment, the young man raised his head suddenly, revealing a pair of eyes, black and white colors were clear. The eyes were not at all half-sleepy but very awake.
“You–” He just had time to say a word. Before the knife in his hand fell. He felt a pain in his body. He was kicked right in the bull’s eyes. The pain caused him to kneel to the ground. The next moment, a white silk strangled his neck and He Yan’s voice came from behind.
“I’ve been waiting for you for a long time, Lei Hou.”
Lei Hou was strangled till his eyes turned up, but He Yan’s strength was extremely strong as she pressed her legs against his legs, making him unable to move. Seeing Lei Hou was about to be strangled to death, He Yan suddenly let go. After getting the space to breathe, Lei Hou clutched his neck and gasped for breath, and saw He Yan walked up to him in two steps. Like prying open a duck’s mouth, she poured something into his mouth.
Lei Hou was panting with his mouth open. How could he have been able to prevent this? When he finished drinking the last drop, he was about to say something but couldn’t even after exerting all his strength. He just felt numb all over, and passed out after a short while, as if nothing happened.
He Yan stretched her foot and kicked him twice to confirm that the person was not moving. Then, she tore the white silk into two pieces, and tied Lei Hou’s hands and feet together.
On that day, she asked Song Taotao if she had any weapons. But Song Taotao being a girl’s house would not carry a knife or a sword around. She only had a bottle of Menghan drug [1] which she took from Shen Muxue’s table thinking to use it if she met a bad person. He Yan could only ask for those items as her last attempt to salvage the situation.
But as that was not enough, she also borrowed Song Taotao’s belt. Song Taotao’s belt was purchased in Liangzhou by Chiwu after they returned to Liangzhou Wei. The fabric was special — very strong and durable — and it could be matched with a rope.
When necessary, this belt could also be used to strangle a person.
He Yan was thinking that since the other party deliberately slandered her for murder and sent her to Liangzhou Wei’s prison, it seemed that he was also afraid of her. The other party would definitely not give up even if she enters the prison and will come to kill her. So she must carry a weapon with her to fight back at any time.
But all her weapons were confiscated, and had only a bottle of Menghan drug and Song Taotao’s belt.
Early this morning, it was very peculiar that no one came to bring her breakfast. It was usually around this time that breakfast was brought to her. Because with Song Taotao and Cheng Lisu pleading, although Shen Han did not allow Song Taotao and the others to come to see her, he did not harshly ban He Yan from eating.
The guardhouse usually paid great attention to punctuality. The fact that no one came over at this time meant something must have happened.
He Yan was scratching her heart, but couldn’t get out. She didn’t know what was going on outside. Afterward, she gradually calmed down. Since something had happened, the other party would take advantage of the chaos to come here and kill her.
Before Song Taotao left, she didn’t know how she could help, so he gave He Yan everything, including a box of powder. He Yan smeared some on her face, then wiped some on her lips and curled up in a ball, like a prisoner who couldn’t afford to be seriously ill.
When she was guessing what was going on outside, she heard footsteps. Soon after, the scene in front of her eyes unfolded.
He Yan dragged Lei Hou to a corner, as his face was lying against the wall. The Menghan drug lasts for sixteen hours. In this short duration, Lei Hou would not wake up.
She exited the prison cell, turned around, and locked the door.
Lei Hou became the prisoner instead.
t/n:
- Menghan drug is an ancient drug with numbing effects that works like sleeping pills.