Chapter Forty: Danger Appro

On the second day, with the sun already high in the sky, Su Bai stretched lazily and yawned long and hard before finally sitting up from his straw mat. Looking up, he saw Wei Mingyuan nearby, dark circles under his eyes, cleaning up the mess from the night before.

“Didn’t sleep well last night?” Su Bai asked, feigning ignorance.

Wei Mingyuan’s gaze flickered twice before he replied in a muffled voice, “It was too cold last night, woke me up several times. I didn’t sleep well.”

“Oh?” Su Bai deliberately drew out the word. “Is that so? My dear brother, I must remind you—as your elder, it’s important to ensure you’re well-rested when traveling. Otherwise, if you let your guard down and someone takes advantage, what will you do?”

As he spoke, he shot Wei Mingyuan a meaningful look. “Wouldn’t you agree, brother?”

Clearly, Wei Mingyuan was not in the best spirits, barely able to respond, “Yes, you’re right, elder brother. I’ll be more careful in the future.” Yet his eyes betrayed a certain wariness.

Seeing that his efforts from the night before had paid off, Su Bai didn’t press him further. He himself had deliberately stayed awake that night, waiting for Wei Mingyuan to attempt to search him.

Sure enough, Wei Mingyuan didn’t disappoint. About an hour after both had lain down, he couldn’t resist and got up, hoping to retrieve the antidote from Su Bai. The moment his left hand touched Su Bai, Su Bai quietly said, “Brother, what are you looking for?”

Wei Mingyuan was so startled he immediately tried to cover up. “Nothing, just worried you might get cold at night. I was going to put my coat over you.”

He quickly returned to his spot and curled up to sleep, but having been caught so easily, his mind was troubled and sleep eluded him. He considered trying again, but feared being caught a second time. He suspected Su Bai hadn’t slept and was still wary of him.

“If I get caught a second time, there’ll be no chance of getting the antidote. He’s baiting me to steal—can’t fall for it. I’ll sleep now, even if I’m exhausted tomorrow.”

Though he tried to comfort himself and will himself to sleep, he tossed and turned in vain. Meanwhile, Su Bai, after his warning, fell asleep at once and didn’t wake until now. Wei Mingyuan, on the other hand, barely managed an hour’s sleep before dawn.

Seeing Su Bai still sleeping, he dared not try again. His repeated failures had shattered his confidence before Su Bai. Even now, when Su Bai seemed utterly vulnerable, he didn’t dare make a move.

This was exactly the effect Su Bai had intended. With various healing medicines left by the Third Elder and a few pills scavenged from the dead, he could now walk, albeit slowly. But at this pace, reaching Yanxing City in three days was impossible.

“Looks like I’ll have to think of something else,” Su Bai mused, propping his chin in his hand and casting his gaze toward Wei Mingyuan.

...

A one-wheeled cart, half-covered with a straw mat, carried a young boy lying quietly atop it. His clothes around the lower abdomen were stained with a large patch of blood, and his face was covered in scars. He wasn’t exactly ugly, but rather nauseating to behold.

Pushing the cart was another boy, his skin tanned and his clothes in tatters, yet his slight frame managed the load with surprising steadiness.

These two were Su Bai and Wei Mingyuan.

Su Bai had incited Wei Mingyuan to steal the cart, claiming it was for carrying leftover food, but in truth, he wanted a free driver. Wei Mingyuan only realized he’d been tricked later, but with Su Bai’s relentless exploitation and the poison still in his system, he could only swallow his pride for now.

“At least he’s skin and bones—not much weight,” Wei Mingyuan comforted himself, finding the cart easy enough to push.

Meanwhile, Su Bai lay in rare contentment, eyes closed against the blazing summer sun, humming a tune and savoring the perverse pleasure of exploiting another’s labor.

Elsewhere...

At the Shenzhou division of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, more than a dozen men in black robes sat around a round table, none daring to touch the sumptuous food and wine before them.

At the head sat a man barely in his twenties, yet every movement he made seemed to set everyone on edge.

At last, he spoke slowly, “Don’t just sit there—start eating!”

The abrupt command sent a chill down everyone’s spine, especially as their eyes fell on the blue-green token at his left hand. His identity required no further mention: he was Qing Jing, one of the Thirteen Protectors.

After the order, the others could only force themselves to pick up their chopsticks, choking down the food like swill.

Qing Jing poured himself a cup of wine, prompting the others to do the same. Raising his cup, he said, “We serve the court. The commander wants someone found. Even if we must scour heaven and earth, we’ll bring him to the commander’s feet.”

“Rest assured, Protector Qing, we’ll do our utmost to bring back Cheng Yuyan’s head. As for any secrets he holds, they’ll die with him,” vowed a black-clad man beside Qing Jing, thumping his chest.

Qing Jing smiled lightly. “No need for speeches—let’s drink to a successful mission.”

This seemed to ease the tension. The warmth of the wine spread through their bodies, finally letting them relax.

After several rounds, as the wine took effect, Qing Jing spoke softly, “The commander has given the final, irrevocable order.”

He held up three fingers. “Three months. We have only three months. If Cheng Yuyan isn’t caught by then—you, you, and you—all of you will die.”

His brief words chilled the room to the core. Everyone’s brows knit tight, their cups frozen in midair.

Seeing their fear, Qing Jing continued, “No need to panic.”

He pulled down his right sleeve, revealing a sinister black handprint on his shoulder.

“This—!” gasped the assembly.

Ignoring their shock, Qing Jing calmly went on, “You’re not mistaken. I have only three months left as well. Fail to find Cheng Yuyan, and I die with you. No need to hide it: I’ve poisoned your wine. The poison will kill you in three months. Before then, you needn’t worry about antidotes or your lives. Do the job well and the commander will reward us. Fail, and you know the consequences.”

With that, Qing Jing stood and left, leaving the Shenzhou officers in silent gloom.

A Captain quietly approached the Chief and asked, “Sir, what shall we do...?”

The Chief raised his hand to silence him and said to Marshal Tong, “Protector Qing’s orders are the commander’s will. If we don’t swallow our pride and find balance with the commander, we’ll be wiped out. Our only option is to obey Qing Jing, find any trace of Cheng Yuyan, and investigate everyone he’s contacted. If they know anything...”

He drew a finger across his neck.

Marshal Tong nodded. “You’re right. Everyone, get ready.”

“Yes, sir!” At the order, the assembly left their cups behind, the cold atmosphere thickening. Their faces hardened, eyes steely with murderous intent. Freed from Qing Jing’s oppressive presence, their innate ruthlessness returned at once.

Meanwhile, under the scorching sun, Su Bai and Wei Mingyuan pressed on with difficulty. Yet, from the clear sky, a gentle summer rain began to fall.

Su Bai, restless on the cart, made Wei Mingyuan wish he could tip him out.

“How much longer to Yanxing City, brother?” Su Bai, unable to bear the sun any longer, asked.

Wei Mingyuan fumed. If not for the antidote in Su Bai’s hands, he would have killed him a thousand times over. Still, he showed remarkable patience for his age, gritting his teeth and ignoring the sweat and rain soaking him. “At this pace, even in four days, we may not reach Yanxing.”

Su Bai only replied with a noncommittal grunt, popping a blood-replenishing pill in his mouth before closing his eyes again.

Yet inwardly, he grew ever more wary of Wei Mingyuan.

“This boy is frighteningly patient at his age. If he ever finds a good master, he’ll become a real threat. Good thing I’ve given him two poisons already—he won’t find anyone in Yanxing to cure him.”

The thought brought him some comfort. He had no wish to create another enemy, especially one with such potential.

As he pondered, Wei Mingyuan noticed a scattering of villages in the distance, like faint islands in a boundless sea. His eyes lit up.

But glancing down at Su Bai’s loathsome face, Wei Mingyuan’s anger only grew.

“How do I get rid of this burden? I can’t confront him now, or he’ll destroy the antidote. Still days from Yanxing, I’ll bide my time, serve him for now, and act when the moment is right.”

Having made up his mind, he forced a smile. But his poor acting fooled no one, least of all a soul with forty years’ experience (including ten since his transmigration) like Su Bai.

Su Bai’s face was as calm as still water. He looked coolly at Wei Mingyuan. “What’s making you so happy, brother?”

Su Bai was instantly on his guard at Wei Mingyuan’s sudden enthusiasm. But after his question, he understood the reason behind it.

He laughed inwardly. “Trying to lull me with such tricks? Typical of a nine-year-old. However evil you may be inside, you lack the means to act on it—yet.”

After his private mockery, Su Bai’s expression turned stern. “Don’t take it amiss, brother. In our line of work, we must always be cautious. A single slip could cost us our lives.”

Wei Mingyuan secretly scoffed but maintained a respectful front. “You’re right, elder brother. I’ll be careful. I only spotted a village ahead, and thought you haven’t eaten all day. We can’t survive on yesterday’s scraps forever.”

“Thank you for your concern,” Su Bai replied, delighted by the news. He hadn’t expected to find a village in this seemingly desolate land.

Though the area was largely uninhabited, that didn’t mean no one lived here. Government oppression, poor soil—any number of reasons could explain it.

Wei Mingyuan pushed the cart toward the village.

This time, Su Bai did not close his eyes but watched the landscape intently. The closer they got, the greater his unease grew.

“Stop!” Su Bai’s sudden command startled Wei Mingyuan, whose already weary arms gave out and released the cart.

The cart rolled down the steep slope, quickly picking up speed.

At first, Wei Mingyuan chased after it in a panic, but his pace slowed and he eventually stopped, his expression growing complicated.

Su Bai, inside the cart, was stunned by Wei Mingyuan’s odd behavior. Gritting his teeth, he suddenly flung his body to the right, tipping the cart off balance. It careened down the slope, picking up speed thanks to the slick from the recent rain.

As the cart hurtled toward the village, Su Bai made a decision. In Wei Mingyuan’s astonished gaze, Su Bai leapt from the speeding cart.

“He’s crazy!” Wei Mingyuan muttered, mouth twitching.

The momentum sent Su Bai tumbling down a side path. Fortunately, he had already planned how to stop himself. After only five or six meters, a surge of pain wracked his body as his injuries flared, silencing him with agony.

Wei Mingyuan frowned at Su Bai’s pain, a flicker of struggle in his eyes. But after a moment, he cautiously approached.

When he was within ten paces, Su Bai suddenly spoke. “What do you want?”

Wei Mingyuan was startled, about to answer, when a towering man, more than seven feet tall, strode toward them.

The man’s face was covered in a thick beard, his teeth gleaming ominously in the sunlight. His hulking figure cast a shadow of fear over the two boys.

Behind him were dozens of men in neat ranks, all wearing red kerchiefs on their heads. The fierce light in their eyes was far beyond that of ordinary bandits.

The bearded leader strode forward, eyeing the boys with interest. “These two little whelps aren’t afraid of us? Interesting.”

His men burst out laughing, their invisible menace sweeping over the two children like a wave.