A Ming listened more carefully again but still shook his head. However, he then lay on the ground, pressing his ear to the dirt.
"Hey, it seems like there really is some noise; it’s coming from underground."
"Yes, it’s coming from underground."
"Could it be the foundation shifting?"
"If it were a problem with the foundation, the noise wouldn’t be this faint. Besides, the blind man supervised the construction of this fortress; the quality should be fine."
"Hard to say, hard to say. Oh, right, I’ve seen the blind man’s blueprints. There’s a secret passage under our fortress. The blind man specifically had it dug. The other end of the passage connects to the willow grove over there."
"Is that in case of a siege?"
"A fortress is static, but people are adaptable. It’s not like we have such lofty ideals that we’d fight to the death for Yan and never retreat."
"Actually, our initial faction choice wasn’t too bad. If we had started in Qian State, life would probably be quite miserable."
"It’s alright, I guess. No, wait, the sound is still there. Do you think rats or some other small creatures got into the tunnel?"
"Why don’t you go and check?"
A Ming shook his head firmly.
"Why not?" Liang Cheng asked.
"The room with the entrance to the secret passage was originally my room. But later, under the blind man’s arrangement, he had me swap rooms with Shatuo Queshi to store the coffin."
At this, A Ming and Liang Cheng both froze and looked at each other.
They spoke almost in unison, "Could it be Shatuo Queshi who moved?"
The carriage stopped in the willow grove, at Zheng Fan’s request.
"Don’t worry. After we leave this grove, we’ll be close to that village."
"Are you trying to stall for your troops in the fortress to come and rescue you?"
Mr. Chen was clearly not easily fooled.
"Have you seen me send them any messages this entire way? Besides, I’m already this badly injured; how could I send a message?"
"Your blind servant seems to have the ability to communicate without speaking, and servants mostly learn their skills from their masters."
"You really overestimate me then."
"Even if your troops could receive your message, they wouldn’t make it in time to save you. I dared to bring you back here because I’m not worried about any unexpected incidents. If there’s any sign of trouble, I’ll cut you down with my sword immediately."
"I know, I know, Mr. Chen. The reason I asked you to stop here is that I want to fulfill one last wish before I die. I want to plant a willow twig here."
"Can a willow twig even survive if planted in winter?"
"Alright. Be quick about it; don’t delay the time I need to dig your grave."
"Oh, speaking of digging the grave, could you make it a bit bigger and more spacious? Would that be alright?"
"Mr. Chen, do you know why that distant fortress I currently command is called Green Willow Fortress?"
"Then let me tell you the story."
"Fine, but the grave won’t get any bigger."
"That’s alright. Getting to say a few more words before I die is a bonus in itself. Legend has it that a hundred years ago, the first Earl of North Border planted a willow branch here, hoping that by the time the willow grew into a tree, he could water his horses in the imperial capital."
"Heh, I thought you wouldn’t even care about this."
"I am a man of Qian State; how could I not care?"
"But what cannot be changed is this: what couldn’t be accomplished a hundred years ago may very well be realized today.
It’s a pity, such a pity, that I won’t be there to see it. To ride into battle, expand the territory for my great Yan, exterminate the barbarians, pacify Qian State, pursue the Royal Court, and breach the imperial capital—
This has been my dream since childhood.
Mr. Chen, you can kill me today, but in Yan, there are thousands upon thousands of Zheng Fans! You can’t kill us all; you can never exterminate us!"
Mr. Chen looked at Zheng Fan, a trace of respect dawning in his eyes.
"Today, I want to plant a willow twig here. I believe that in the future, when this twig has grown into a tree, your Emperor and Empress of Qian State, when escorted here as prisoners, can rest beneath it."
"Although I must kill you, I have to admit, from the perspective of Yan State, you are truly admirable."
With that said, Mr. Chen performed a half-bow to Zheng Fan, his sword still in hand.
Zheng Fan rolled his eyes at Mr. Chen.
This kid is so gullible, he thought. No wonder he inexplicably came to kill me. So, does one have to be a simpleton to become a master?
"Mr. Chen, please break off a willow twig for me."
Upon hearing this, Mr. Chen alighted from the carriage and snapped off a willow twig.
"Just plant it there, in that low-lying spot."
Mr. Chen nodded. Even though he had gotten off the carriage, leaving Zheng Fan alone on it, he knew that from this distance, felling Zheng Fan was still just a matter of a single sword strike.
Even if a troop of armored cavalry were to charge out from Green Willow Fortress at this very moment, he could still easily decapitate Zheng Fan and escape.
Only those with true ability possess such confidence.
Mr. Chen planted the twig in the ground, stood up, and dusted off his hands.
Leaning against the carriage, Zheng Fan looked at Mr. Chen and said very seriously, "I swear, I truly didn’t kill the people of Chahe Village."
Mr. Chen’s face immediately showed displeasure. He said, "Still trying to quibble at a time ?"
"I am not quibbling."
"Tell me quickly where Xiao Hua and the others are, and I can still dig you a pit."
"Mr. Chen, let me ask you one more time: can you—or can you not—spare me?!"
Mr. Chen raised his sword and said, "Xiao Hua and the others... are they already gone?"
Zheng Fan, however, shouted, "Spare me today, and I guarantee your safe departure from Yan State!"
"Xiao Hua and the others... they’re already dead, or you’ve sold them, haven’t you?"
Zheng Fan shook his head. "No. I didn’t sell them, nor did I kill them. That, I can guarantee."
Mr. Chen breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Good. In that case, quickly take me to them. I, in turn, can dig a spacious pit for you, one where you can lie comfortably, to your satisfaction."
Zheng Fan laughed, gritted his teeth, and summoning every last bit of strength in his grievously wounded body, he roared, "Mr. Chen, courtesy demands reciprocity! This is the pit I’ve specially prepared for you. Please... accept it with pleasure!"
From beneath the ground, a roar suddenly erupted:
"ROAR!!!!!" Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⚑𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⚑𝕟𝕖𝕥