Chapter Twenty-Five: An Incident Occurs

“Chief, what should we do next?” one of the incense masters asked respectfully.

“Tomorrow, the three of you will lead a group of elite disciples to Jinyuan County. You have two tasks. The first is to investigate what happened to the one in gray—whether he’s dead or not. He was the helmsman’s servant, and I must give the helmsman an explanation. The second task is your main mission, which is…”

…

A long procession of grain wagons slowly entered Rongcang Town.

As soon as the unloading was finished, Qin Yi and the others were summoned by their master, Wang Qingxuan.

“Greetings, Master!” Everyone bowed in respect.

“You few, come with me,” Wang Qingxuan said with an expressionless face.

“Yes, Master!”

Soon, they arrived at a tent.

A heavy smell of blood assaulted their senses.

Inside, two simple beds had been set up, and on them lay two men.

“Brother Zhao! Brother Wang!” Qin Yi was shocked to see the two men unconscious on the beds.

Zhao Shaojie was missing his left arm, his abdomen wrapped in blood-stained bandages.

Huang Fangrui was in even worse shape—both legs gone, one eye lost, his complexion ashen and terrifying.

No one knew what to say at such a sight.

“Master, did they get wounded on the battlefield?” Chen Jie asked, his face pale; as soon as the words left his mouth, he realized how pointless they were.

These two were Master’s personal disciples. Zhao Shaojie, though only at the second stage, was naturally strong enough to challenge those at the third. Huang Fangrui, even more gifted, was already at the third stage. Yet even they had suffered such tragedy on the battlefield.

“Yes,” Wang Qingxuan replied, his voice weary and tinged with hidden grief and rage.

He had seen far too many disciples fall recently, yet could do nothing.

The disciples saw their master’s sorrow but could find no words of comfort. The mood grew heavy.

Truth be told, those of them who were at the first stage, or hadn’t even reached it, were extremely fortunate not to be sent to the front lines. Their uncles had fought for them to stay behind; otherwise, they might have ended up like their two brothers—or worse.

“When you return, take them with you. Once you reach Jinyuan County, find a doctor to treat them.” As he spoke, Wang Qingxuan took a ten-tael silver note from his sleeve and handed it to Chen Jie.

“Yes, Master!” Chen Jie accepted it respectfully.

“Take them back quickly. Fangrui’s condition is critical. I fear any delay might cost him his life.”

“Yes, Master.” They all bowed, then carefully lifted their wounded brothers and hurried back to the grain convoy.

Half an hour later, the convoy began its return journey.

The next day.

…

Inside a house in a courtyard.

The air was thick with the scent of herbal medicine and blood.

Brother Huang lay in the neighboring room, not yet awake. The doctor had said the next three days would determine his fate.

Brother Zhao, at least, had regained consciousness.

“Brother Zhao, let me change your dressings.”

“Thank you.” Zhao Shaojie, lying on the bed, nodded weakly.

As he changed the bandages, Qin Yi asked, “Brother Zhao, how many of our fellow disciples from Qingwei Dao Palace are still at the front?”

“Of those at the second stage, fifteen remain. The third stage, twelve. Among our uncles at the fourth stage or higher, four have already been lost,” Zhao Shaojie replied sadly.

They had started out with forty second-stage and twenty third-stage disciples. Now…

“Even half of the fourth-stage uncles have perished?” Qin Yi’s eyes widened. Of the eight uncles conscripted this time, there were two at the fifth stage and six at the fourth!

“That wretch Xue is using us as little more than his trump card—suicide squads! At this rate, it won’t be long before we’re all dead!” Zhao Shaojie’s voice trembled with emotion.

The strain reopened his wounds, and cold sweat broke out on his brow from the pain.

“Don’t move, Brother.”

“…Sigh.”

“Have any of the uncles considered fleeing?” Qin Yi asked in a low voice.

“Run? If we run, Qingwei Dao Palace will be purged—if not now, then later. The prefecture may be too busy now, but they’ll come for us eventually. We’re trapped,” Zhao Shaojie said, rubbing his temples.

Qin Yi fell silent. In his heart, he wondered if things truly were hopeless yet.

…

Stepping out of the room, Qin Yi’s expression darkened. He hesitated, unsure whether he should flee.

If things continued this way, who was to say he wouldn’t be sent to the front himself one day?

“But I’m still practicing the Celestial Pivot Step. It’s not the right time to leave. If things get any worse…”

“I also need to find a way out for my father—get him far away from this troubled place!”

But how? He had only a few dozen taels of silver. Where could he send his father? If he wasn’t by his father’s side, he would worry. For now, he had to stay here and train.

He had no idea what had become of his third brother, either.

Since the outbreak of the rebellion, he hadn’t received any word at all.

…

In a secluded courtyard within Jinyuan County.

“Sir, we left the contact signal, but after a whole day, no one came. It seems all our people hiding in the city have been eliminated.”

Gao Ming spoke slowly, “It seems that person truly is dead.”

He turned to the other two incense masters. “Gentlemen, let’s focus on the second task the chief assigned us. That one takes priority.”

“I agree.”

“So do I. But we should still send someone to thoroughly investigate the helmsman’s servant, so we can give a proper account.”

“Of course.”

…

Night fell, a cool breeze stirring.

Most had gone to sleep, but Qin Yi was still in the courtyard, practicing the Celestial Pivot Step.

He had no idea how long it would take to master it.

All he could do was bury himself in diligent practice.

He’d wanted to consult Brother Zhao, but the man didn’t know this technique.

Suddenly.

A sharp whistling split the air.

Whoosh!

A streak of fire shot into the sky.

Boom!

It exploded overhead, illuminating half of Jinyuan County with its fiery glow.

“That’s… in the direction of the county office! Could something have happened there?” Qin Yi looked up at the sky, frowning at the blossoming flare.

Inside, the other disciples had been roused by the commotion and hurried out, throwing on their clothes.

“Brother Qin, what’s going on?” Liu Haibin ran up to ask.

“I think I heard fireworks exploding?”

“Yes,” Qin Yi replied. “There was a distress signal from the county office just now. I don’t know what’s happened.”