Chapter Twenty: Pursuit of Death

"That’s... that’s because..." she stammered, "a natural reaction."

"A natural reaction?" Su remarked, his voice thick with seduction. "Is it just a natural reaction?"

Kai Ming forced herself to snap awake—what time was this for Su to be teasing her? She shifted her body forward, trying to escape the stove behind her, but Su’s hand pressed harder on her abdomen, holding her in place.

"What are you doing!" Kai Ming, both ashamed and angry, slapped his arm encircling her. "Is now really the time for this?"

Su panted heavily, his hands snaking up to her ample chest. With difficulty, he said, "What can I do? Kai Ming, I want you..."

Kai Ming froze for a moment, but when his broad palms began to wander, she gave a short humph, raised her elbow, and struck him in the ribs. The blow was neither light nor heavy but just enough to extinguish the fire Su had lit.

Su grunted, stopped his movements, and forced a bitter smile. "You're truly merciless."

"Take your claws back!" Her face flushed and angry, yet with Su's chains wrapped around her, there was simply no way to dodge.

Su watched her, wordlessly rewrapping the chain over her head. As he lowered it, he caught her off guard and planted a quick kiss on her lips.

Kai Ming’s expression changed instantly. Su darted away, laughing gleefully over his shoulder, "Nice figure—just the right places are big, and the right places are small!"

Furious, Kai Ming raised her fist and chased after him.

Just as Su had said, though the escort officer still made some bland remarks, he no longer deliberately made things difficult. The next day, Su was visibly more relaxed.

"Just one more day. By tomorrow night, we'll be at the border," Su whispered to her. "There’ll be meat and wine, and we can have a comfortable bath."

"Can you shut up?" Kai Ming was nearly drooling at his words. "You bring up food and drink when we have none!"

"Ah, I forgot—you’re a drunkard. I shouldn’t have mentioned wine in front of you," he chuckled.

"Slow down a bit. You're still injured. If you walk too fast, you’ll tear your wounds," Kai Ming shot him a glare.

Only then did Su seem to remember his injuries. He frowned. "The wound hasn’t healed. After that beating from those brats yesterday, it feels torn again—it hurts."

"No matter how sturdy you are, you need to take care of yourself."

Su looked at her in surprise. "Kai Ming, you sound just like my mother did."

She glanced sideways at him. "Then call me Mother; I wouldn’t mind taking you as a godson."

"Mother? That won’t do," Su grinned cheekily. "I’d rather call you wife!"

"Go to hell!" She raised her fist, but seeing his wounds, she reluctantly lowered it, merely glaring at him twice with frustration.

As the two were laughing, the lead escort stood atop a mound, scanning the distance. "Anyone coming to meet us from the pass?"

"What?" Su paused at the question.

"A great cloud of dust," the man muttered, still looking around.

Impatient, Su pushed past him and his expression turned grave as his gaze fell upon the sight. Kai Ming strained to see into the distance. At the edge of the plain, beyond a distant hill, a massive cloud of dust rose, blotting out the sky. Dark dots gradually appeared from the dust, growing larger and closer until they could be seen clearly without climbing higher.

Several horses, several figures clad in black, their faces stiff, each wielding a steel blade.

Kai Ming’s heart pounded—she had seen people in black before, once when they carried out an assassination; now, seeing them again, did it portend disaster?

The escort officer, seeing their grim approach, sensed trouble. "What’s going on?"

Su quickly surveyed their surroundings—the open hills offered only a few shallow pits and low mounds, no cover anywhere. He shouted, "Find somewhere to hide! Those people are coming for us!"

The prisoners, already trembling with fear, scattered in panic at his shout, chaos erupting.

Two horses arrived first, and without a word, their riders began hacking at the fleeing prisoners. Blood spattered, bodies fell.

The escort officer was dumbstruck. "Why are they killing people?" He caught a glimpse of a face, his spirits lifted. "They’re from the Dai family of Ziyu Palace! They wouldn’t kill us!"

Su grabbed him by the collar. "Are you sure? The Dai family?!"

His face fierce, the escort officer nodded desperately. "I’ve drunk with him before..."

"You’re in trouble," Su let him go. "If these people were masked, maybe you could escape. But their faces are uncovered—they’re not only here for the prisoners but won’t spare the escorts either!"

"What?" the man stammered, "but we know each other..."

"That makes it worse!" Su sneered. "Have you ever seen a killer leave his face uncovered while murdering? This is a purge!"

The officer finally understood. Usually so arrogant, he was now shaking uncontrollably.

"Hurry! Unlock my shackles—maybe we still have a chance to escape!" Su shouted, but the officer shook like a leaf, muttering, "It’s over, all over, we’re all going to die here!"

Su was furious. The dust was growing thicker, more men in black arriving, and the escort officer was utterly useless.

A flash of light—suddenly a bloody gash opened in the officer’s throat, his eyes wide, lips moving wordlessly. Ah Kuang appeared behind him, a blood-stained blade in hand. He kicked the officer’s body, fished out a large key.

"You didn’t have to kill him," Su sighed as he looked at the body.

"It’s an emergency," Ah Kuang replied, quickly unlocking Su’s shackles. Su immediately searched for Kai Ming, but there was nothing but churned-up dust; she was nowhere to be seen.

"Kai Ming!" he shouted her name, drawing out the last syllable.

Through the chaos of hooves and screams, Kai Ming thought she heard someone calling her—again and again. She started, realizing it was Su!

From the moment the first body fell and blood splattered across her, her legs gave way and she knelt involuntarily. The other prisoners rushed past, but none escaped. She couldn't get up or run; all she could hear was wailing and slaughter. She collapsed, covering her face, panic so overwhelming her mind went blank.

God, if I could, I’d trade everything just to go home. The surrounding sounds faded, the world seemed to contain only her, kneeling and praying. In her muddled state, she heard her name being called, faint but insistent: "Kai Ming!"

It was Su! The world snapped back into focus, the noise returned. She forced her eyes open, struggled to her feet, and staggered toward the sound. She had barely moved when hoofbeats thundered behind her and a death’s-head blade swung straight for her skull.

She stood there, frozen.

The blade was nearly upon her when a sharp cry rang out. The rider seemed to be struck by something and fell from his horse with a groan, the steed galloping away. The blade slipped from his hand, nicking a few strands of her hair as it passed.

Startled, she looked at the fallen man. An arrow had pierced his throat, nailing him to the ground, the shaft still quivering.

Kai Ming gasped—such skill, such strength—could it be her? She spun around and saw four dark red horse legs stepping leisurely toward her. A cascade of red mane, and atop the black horse sat a beautiful woman—General Da Yin herself.

Da Yin shot her a brief glance, drew her bow, and fired three arrows in quick succession into the dust cloud, each finding its mark with deadly accuracy.

The remaining men in black dared not linger and fled. Da Yin waved, and armored soldiers behind her gave chase.

Dust drifted behind Kai Ming as she nearly collapsed to her knees. She remembered the first time she saw Da Yin—she had knelt then, just as now, gazing up at her in awe, like dust worshipping an ancient tree.

A trace of a cold smile flickered on Da Yin’s face as she drew her last arrow and aimed it at Kai Ming. Kai Ming felt nothing, simply stared dumbly at the gleaming arrowhead, glinting with the chill of death.

The arrow whistled toward her. It seemed as if time slowed—the arrowhead grazed her cheek, leaving a thin, elegant line of blood, and shot past her.

A scream sounded behind her. The wind whipped her hair, and she broke out in a cold sweat.

She turned and saw a man in black, only a step away, his steel blade falling as an arrow protruded from his forehead—dead before he hit the ground.

Da Yin saved me? Wasn’t she here to kill me? Kai Ming looked at her, unable to untangle the confusion. Had something gone wrong from the very start?

"Zheng Wen sent me to protect his son," Da Yin said coldly. "Where is he?"

Su? Kai Ming jolted and hurriedly searched for the voice calling her. The wind swept away the blood-soaked dust, revealing a ground littered with corpses that she struggled to cross.

Da Yin remained on horseback, watching her coolly. "You’re a soldier, aren’t you? You must learn to grow accustomed to slaughter. If you don’t kill, you’ll be killed."

Kai Ming gritted her teeth, unable to speak.

"Kai Ming!" came a joyful cry. Just a few meters away, Su stood, his face lit with the relief of survival. He spread his arms wide, exclaiming, "You’re alive! You’re alive!"

Kai Ming’s smile blossomed from the heart—Su was the one she was happiest to see. She could already feel that warm embrace, the strength of his arms holding her.

Her eyes stung with tears she struggled to hold back. She wiped them away with the back of her hand and hurried toward Su.

Suddenly, Da Yin called from behind. Kai Ming’s footsteps halted at the same moment as Da Yin’s voice. Both women noticed something was wrong with Su.

Su’s arms were still outstretched, his smile fixed, but his expression froze. His body shuddered as if struck by a powerful force.

A moment later, Su looked down in disbelief at his chest, where a dark red stain slowly spread, growing into a circle, droplets falling to the ground. Kai Ming felt as if her heart were squeezed tight, her breath stolen—she stared, mouth agape, unable to move.

Su’s eyes rolled, trying to look behind him. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He caught a glimpse of a face—calm, emotionless.

"Ah Kuang?" he murmured, incredulous. "Why?"