Chen Kuang had only worked at the Ministry of Rites for three years, but before being appointed as a court musician, he had actually lived in the imperial city for nine full years.
Due to his low status, he often did menial errands, such as traveling out of the city to procure goods.
To leave the capital of Liang, one had to pass three levels of inspection:
First, the inner city gate guards.
Second, the moat around the outer city.
Third, the barracks of the Huo-banner troops stationed outside the city.
Liang's Emperor Su Yu was notoriously afraid of death, and the first group of troops that followed Huo Hengxuan to guard the capital came from these outer garrisons.
So Chen Kuang had long since grown familiar with the procedures.
But now, the city gates had collapsed, the Huo-banner troops were defeated, and the moat had long become ornamental, he should have been able to escape smoothly.
And yet, a new impassable barrier had appeared before him.
Shen Xingzhu stood suspended in the air, clothed in black, her eyes beneath the gauzy veil glimmering like ripples on water.
In an instant, all fell silent. The smoke, the fire, the distant sounds of chaos, all seemed to fade into the distance.
She had been waiting here for a long time.
Lying in wait for the rabbit.
And Chen Kuang was that dumb rabbit.
"Huu..."
Chen Kuang exhaled a deep breath, knowing full well, this was the final checkpoint of the night, and the most difficult one of all.
Shen Xingzhu lowered her eyes slightly and said softly, "You've made a mistake."
Chen Kuang nodded calmly. "Yes, I made a mistake."
On this blood-soaked path he had carved, he never once cared if those he slew were mortals or cultivators.
Anyone who stood in his way, was the enemy.
Naturally, this constituted the crime of the strong oppressing the weak. It gave Shen Xingzhu a justifiable reason to kill him.
Chu Wenruo had never met her, but her intuition screamed danger. Her expression turned anxious, and she whispered, "She's..."
Chen Kuang spoke in a low voice: "Mysterious Divine Path Sect, Shen Xingzhu."
"Mysterious Divine Path Sect? Aren't they known for preaching peace and morality? They've always mediated conflict, not participated in it... why would she be involved in this war?" Chu Wenruo said in surprise, clutching the little princess tightly in her arms.
But she used too much force. The little girl's face turned pale, and she suddenly began to struggle, her voice muffled and faint: "Mama... it hurts. Let go... it hurts..."
Chu Wenruo panicked and quickly loosened her grip, shaking her daughter's shoulders. "Ying'er? What's wrong? Don't scare me!"
Tears brimmed in her eyes.
Chen Kuang's heart tightened as well. The battle had been so intense earlier, he hadn't had time to check on the mother and child.
Could it be the little princess had been injured without anyone noticing?
If she were to die at the last moment, it would be unbearable...
The little girl's complexion worsened, her face turning faintly purple. She clutched at her mother's arm, gasping as if suffocating:
"Mama... don't..."
Unable to bear it anymore, her stomach churned violently, and she suddenly threw up.
A torrent of undigested food splattered all over the beautiful mane of the Xuantian horse...
Turns out, this little "slop bucket" had eaten too much earlier, and the constant galloping had jostled her stomach. The food had risen to her throat.
She might've swallowed it back down, but then Chu Wenruo hugged and shook her... like squeezing a tube of toothpaste, it all came out.
Chen Kuang: "..."
Heavenly Steed: "..."
Chu Wenruo froze, then awkwardly cradled the now weak and dazed little princess, quickly wiping her mouth and gently patting her chest to help her breathe.
The deadly serious atmosphere just now was instantly broken. Things felt oddly lighter.
Chen Kuang couldn't help but smirk. He nearly laughed.
Shen Xingzhu looked at him in mild surprise, her voice soft: "You can still laugh? You're a strange one."
Chen Kuang's grin grew wider. He raised his voice and said cheerfully:
"Does the immortal think I should cry, since death is imminent?"
Shen Xingzhu frowned slightly, then turned her gaze toward the mother and daughter.
Chu Wenruo's heart clenched, and she stiffened, forcing a harsh tone:
"Your Mysterious Divine Path Sect has always upheld the virtue of ending war, yet you now involve yourself in Zhou and Liang's conflict and act as a lackey for tyranny. Are you not afraid of being scorned and condemned by the world?!"
Unfortunately, even angry, the noble Lady of Liang still had a naturally gentle voice. Her indignation came off more like a snow-white Persian cat baring its teeth than a threat.
To everyone's surprise, Shen Xingzhu nodded calmly and said:
"You are right. Thus, tonight's matters concern only him. You and your daughter are uninvolved."
"I will not stop you. After I kill him, you are free to leave."
"With Li Hongling and Wei Su dead, and the Black Armor Army scattered, you have a fine mount. If you're careful, escaping Liang won't be difficult."
This war was drawing to a close. Shen Xingzhu never cared who won or who lost.
Whether Chu Wenruo died or lived, whether she was rescued or not, it was a matter between Zhou and Liang. Shen Xingzhu had no interest in interfering.
She was here for one reason only: to kill Chen Kuang.
Chu Wenruo was stunned and looked at Chen Kuang.
He nodded and said gently, "She's right. She's only here for me."
He winked at her. "In a moment, I'll slap the horse's flank. You hold tight to the reins and ride straight ahead. Don't look back."
He pointed toward a distant patch of forest.
"Ever been outside the capital? Head for that forest. Thirty li past it is Jishao Prefecture."
"The prefecture has lots of rivers. Ask someone where the Wild Ferry Crossing is. Oh, and cover your face, someone might get ideas seeing a beauty like you."
His expression was calm, but every word carried the unmistakable tone of a man giving his last words.
Chu Wenruo's eyes reddened. She gripped his sleeve tightly and choked out:
"I... I won't go."
"The kingdom is gone. My home is gone. How do you expect a helpless woman like me to survive with a child?"
Chen Kuang was speechless. In the prison, she had shown defiance and courage.
But now that she saw he might die, she was throwing a tantrum?
Was this... her way of acting spoiled?
Shen Xingzhu listened quietly. In the distance, a tremendous boom rang out.
Starlight clashed with sword-rain in the sky. A storm of energy swept across thousands of li, flattening trees, shaking heaven and earth. Stars fell from the night sky, a breathtaking sight.
Above the imperial city, a translucent barrier appeared, shielding the people within from the worst of it.
It was the last trace of the kingdom's protective formation.
But it only held briefly, then shattered completely.
Luckily, it lessened the impact.
Chen Kuang exhaled in relief.
"Neighhh!"
The Xuantian horse reared in fright, shaking its head violently until Chen Kuang calmed it.
Even Shen Xingzhu's expression shifted slightly. She bowed solemnly toward the distant battlefield.
She looked at Chen Kuang and spoke softly:
"Huo Hengxuan... and the Eastern Saint have perished together."
Tonight, three Saints had died.
No matter what came next, this night would be etched into the annals of history.
Chen Kuang sighed, shrugged, and said, "Well, I guess my last trump card is gone. Looks like I'll just have to bow my neck and await the blade."
But Shen Xingzhu didn't move.
She simply stared at him, frowning.
Chen Kuang tilted his head. "Why don't you make your move, Immortal?"
She said nothing.
He laughed, answering himself: "Once bitten, twice shy. You think I'm being too cooperative, so I must be up to something."
He shook his head. "Do I look like the cunning type? Would I really scheme?"
"Of course..."
"I wouldn't."
"This time, let's do it in the open."
Chen Kuang raised his right hand.
Upon it, the marks of thirteen life tokens gleamed, bound to him in spirit and life.
"Immortal... do you know that within this city... lie the buried Mountain-Crushing Thunder bombs that Li Hongling left behind?"