Chapter 43: Severing the Arm to Save the Body

Yaksha Lady

Little Black let out a sinister laugh. “Since Nangong’s soldiers failed to kill you, I’ll have to do it myself.”

All at once, Kaiming realized that both times they had been discovered by Nangong’s men, it was Little Black who had made a noise—he had deliberately drawn the enemy’s attention.

“A reason? Give me a reason!” Chang Geng, heedless of the blood gushing from his wounds, rasped hoarsely, “Is it because you want to kill me and hand me over to Nangong for a reward—betray me for your own gain?”

Little Black threw his head back in wild laughter. “You underestimate me, Commander Chang Geng. Though that’s part of it.” He laughed so hard that tears streamed down his face. “But the main reason… is for my brother!”

“Your brother?” Kaiming stared at him, stunned. Wasn’t that the soldier who had gone missing after his first battle? Was it because his brother disappeared while serving in the Fourteenth Squad that Little Black turned his hatred toward Chang Geng?

“You’re mistaken,” Kaiming said with difficulty, trying to persuade him. Her mind raced, but her thoughts were a tangled mess—she couldn’t think of anything to say.

Dogzi spoke up timidly, “Little Black, your brother’s death had nothing to do with the commander, you know how it is on the battlefield…”

“What do you know?” Little Black’s eyes flared with rage. “If my brother hadn’t been flogged dozens of times by that villain right before the battle, how could he have died out there?”

Hearing this, Chang Geng scrutinized Little Black, recalling the vague features of that soldier. He snorted coldly. “If that soldier hadn’t tried to run away like a coward, I wouldn’t have needed to whip him!”

“That was because he’d just received a letter—our mother was gravely ill, on her deathbed!” Little Black roared. “Don’t you have a mother? Is there not an ounce of compassion in you?”

“On the battlefield, even fathers and sons can’t claim kinship—there’s no room for sentimentality!” Chang Geng replied coldly. Kaiming’s heart twisted at his words. Was this truly the nature of war? No room for compassion, for human bonds.

“If you kill me now, so be it,” Chang Geng sighed. “Nangong is offering a great reward for my capture. If you turn me in, perhaps you’ll find a way to survive.”

“That’s exactly what I was thinking!” Little Black’s face twisted into a cruel grin, sending chills into Kaiming and Dogzi’s hearts.

“Rest easy on your final journey!” Little Black’s steel blade gleamed with cold, deadly light as he raised it high.

Kaiming, ignoring everything else, stepped in front of Chang Geng. “No! You can’t kill the commander!”

“If you get in my way, you’ll die with him!” Little Black, consumed entirely by vengeance, no longer cared about old friendships. His bloodshot eyes glared as he swung his blade at them without hesitation.

Kaiming’s heart clenched painfully, but she did not budge. She was gambling that Little Black would not be so heartless—after all, he was once her comrade, the one who had saved her life.

“You’re mad! Move!” Chang Geng shouted hoarsely behind her, desperately trying to push her aside, but it was too late.

The steel blade, whistling through the air, was about to strike her when, all at once, it lost its force. Little Black grunted, collapsing like a puppet with its strings cut, crumpling to the ground. Behind him stood Dogzi, pale-faced and trembling, gripping his spear so tightly he could barely remain upright.

“Dogzi!” Kaiming called softly. He had intervened at the last moment and saved them.

“I had no choice!” Dogzi stammered, tossing the spear aside. “Little Black had lost his mind—he would have killed even you. I had to knock him out.”

“You did well.” Only now did Chang Geng seem to feel his pain; biting his lip, he nearly fainted.

“Commander!” Kaiming hurried to support him and called to Dogzi.

Dogzi snapped out of his shock and quickly rummaged through his pack for ointment. Together, they smeared medicine on Chang Geng’s wounds and wrapped him in bandages. Still, the blood soaked through, staining them a deep red.

“Your old wounds aren’t even healed, and now you have new ones,” Kaiming sighed softly. Chang Geng had no strength to reply; his face was ashen, and he slumped against a tree, unable to move.

“We truly owe you this time, Dogzi,” Kaiming said gratefully, squeezing Dogzi’s hand and making him blush. “From now on, will you listen to me?”

Dogzi blinked in surprise. “Kaiming, what’s your plan?”

“At this rate, none of us will escape,” she replied, glancing at Chang Geng, who was breathing faintly with his eyes closed. “But the commander must survive. And so must you.”

Dogzi looked at her in confusion. She continued, “So, we have to split up.”

“Split up? You mean…”

“I’ll draw the pursuers away. You take Commander Chang Geng and escape by another path—just like General Dayin did.” She revealed her plan; there was no other way.

“But Kaiming, it’s too dangerous! You’ll die!” Dogzi protested anxiously.

“If we go on like this, we’ll die anyway!” Kaiming gave a bitter smile. “Do you think I’m some sort of hero? I’m just as afraid of dying as you. There’s simply no other way.”

Dogzi fell silent; indeed, their situation was hopeless.

“Don’t do anything foolish,” Chang Geng murmured, his eyes half-closed. “There’s no way we’ll escape. We don’t even have horses. Only by handing me over will you have a chance to survive.”

“Horses… yes…” She paused, leaned close and whispered a few words to Dogzi, who looked at her in surprise. “Will this work?”

“Trust me just this once.” She quickly drew off her belt and tied Little Black’s hands behind his back, stuffing his mouth as well. She piled branches and leaves over Chang Geng and Little Black, camouflaging them to resemble an unremarkable thicket. She whispered to Chang Geng, “Forgive me, Commander.”

She signaled Dogzi to gag Chang Geng as well. He opened his eyes, glaring at her in anger.

“You might be unable to move, but I can’t guarantee you won’t sacrifice yourself to save us as soon as we leave. Forgive me for this. Little Black acted on impulse—please, don’t hold it against him.”

Chang Geng could not speak or move, only gazed at her with flickering eyes.

She beckoned Dogzi, who followed her away without another word.

Soon, they spotted Nangong’s soldiers ahead. Kaiming picked up a stone and hurled it far into the undergrowth, causing a loud noise.

The soldiers shouted and rushed toward the sound. Kaiming gestured to Dogzi, and together they crept away. But before they had gone far, they ran into another patrol. It seemed the forest was teeming with enemy troops.

Kaiming sighed almost inaudibly. Her eyes swept over the end of the column, and suddenly her eyes lit up—a cavalryman was ambling through the woods, not as if on patrol but as if out for a stroll.

The horse was robust and sturdy—perfect for their needs. Kaiming’s gaze was fixed on the animal. Thinking quickly, she repeated her earlier trick, throwing a stone to the right. As the infantrymen dashed off in pursuit of the sound, she leapt into view just long enough for the cavalryman to spot her.

As she expected, he eagerly turned his horse and chased after her. Kaiming ran; though the horse was swift, the tangled forest slowed it enough for her to vanish from sight.

The cavalryman slowed, glancing warily around the unnaturally silent woods. As he hesitated, wondering whether to turn back, his horse suddenly stumbled and fell with a crash, pitching him to the ground.

He was well-trained: as he hit the ground, he rolled and sprang to his feet, shouting angrily, “Coward! Only know how to ambush—come out and face me!”

He never finished; a heavy blow struck the back of his head, and he collapsed.

Kaiming laughed, brandishing her knife handle. “If you know you’re marching to your death, who would come out? How foolish you are!”

“Kaiming, come quickly!” Dogzi knelt by the horse’s forelegs, checking them and sighing in relief to find them uninjured. He had worried that striking the horse’s legs would harm it, but all had gone as planned.

“Let’s go before he wakes up!”

Dogzi glanced at the unconscious cavalryman, hesitating. “Shouldn’t we kill him? If he tells Nangong, they’ll know what we’re up to.”

“By the time they know, we’ll be long gone,” Kaiming replied indifferently. “Forget him—we need to run!”

With that, Dogzi whistled at their ill-gotten horse, and together, dodging and doubling back, they returned to their hiding spot.

They pulled aside the branches concealing Chang Geng and Little Black, and quickly lifted Chang Geng onto the horse. Dogzi gritted his teeth. “Kaiming, you ride with the commander. I’ll divert the pursuers.”

“Is this the time for heroics?” Kaiming glared at him. “Didn’t we already agree?”

“But I’m a man!” Dogzi puffed up his chest. “I can’t let a woman take the risk…”

Kaiming rapped him on the head. “Didn’t the commander say there’s no family on the battlefield—so why differentiate between men and women? Idiot! Nangong has Qingyun—I know him a little. Worst case, I’ll beg for mercy; he won’t do anything to me. You, though—if you go, you’ll die for sure!”

Dogzi thought this over and nodded, then hesitated again, uncertain.

“There’s no time for doubts—the enemy will be on us any second!” Kaiming grabbed Dogzi by the waist, hoisting him onto the horse. The jostling made Chang Geng groan, his body leaning against Dogzi for support.

Kaiming looked at the two of them and spoke softly, “The commander is badly wounded, and I know nothing of medicine. You must look after him—do you understand?”

Dogzi held Chang Geng steady and nodded in silence. Chang Geng mustered his strength to pull the gag from his mouth; turning to Kaiming, his eyes burned with anger.

“If you don’t come back, I’ll hate you for the rest of my life…” he said haltingly. “I won’t… let a woman soldier… save me while I… live on in disgrace…”

Kaiming smiled, warmth and a trace of sorrow in her heart. She stepped forward, gently clasping Chang Geng’s bloodstained hand, feeling his body tremble.

“Commander, you can rest assured,” she said.

“Why?…” Chang Geng murmured, “Why do this?…”

Kaiming released his hand, patted Dogzi’s arm, and said calmly, “I’ve already lost a good friend once. I cannot… lose another…”

“A friend?” he echoed, bewildered, his eyes growing hazy as his body slumped heavier against Dogzi.

Sensing Chang Geng’s worsening state, Dogzi quickly steadied him and looked at Kaiming. “We really must go now.” Kaiming nodded firmly.

Dogzi thought for a moment, then untied a worn cloth pouch from his belt and tossed it to her. “There’s some dried food inside—eat well, you’ll need your strength.”

Kaiming took it and smiled at him from her heart.

At that moment, Dogzi realized that the smile of this female soldier, though marred by dirt and filthy clothes, was radiant beyond anything he’d ever seen. Regret welled up inside him, tears shone in his eyes, and with a tragic resolve, he spurred his horse and rode away.