Chapter Forty-Four: The Wager Between Sikong and Qingyun

Yaksha Lady Without Pop-Ups

Kai Ming watched them depart, then quickly put away her smile, her mood sinking into gloom. Claiming to be acquainted with Qing Yun was nothing but a ruse for Gouzi; in truth, they barely knew each other, having exchanged only a few words. She had already lost a good friend once. Yes, seeing Chang Geng gravely wounded was akin to witnessing Mu die before her eyes—an uncanny association she could not suppress.

She tied the old cloth pouch at her waist and walked toward the prone Xiao Hei. He had regained consciousness, and the scene he witnessed lingered in his eyes, which now darted about, watching her keenly.

"Do you have anything you'd like to say?" Kai Ming pulled the cloth from his mouth. He coughed several times before returning to normal.

"Foolish woman," he snorted coldly.

Kai Ming frowned. "Is that all you have to say?"

"You let Chang Geng go, now none of us can escape."

Kai Ming was silent. "I know."

Xiao Hei glared at her. "Why play the hero? If you die here, you'll be nothing but an anonymous corpse, not even a gravestone!"

"I know." She quickly stuffed the cloth back in his mouth and smiled. "Your words are useless; I don't want to hear any more."

Xiao Hei protested and struggled to free his hands.

"Don't move. If the Nangong soldiers find us, I can't guarantee what will happen to you." At these words, Xiao Hei became much more docile.

A clever man, she thought, hauling him up and pushing him to walk ahead. Dragging such a burden, she had no idea what to do next.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Nangong soldiers soon located the missing cavalryman, surrounding him in alarm. "Someone attacked our men!"

The cavalryman rubbed his head as he regained consciousness, his first words, "Am I not dead?"

"You're alive and well," came a voice from nearby. The infantry parted, and a man walked out slowly, dressed in snow-white robes, his gaze half smiling, half serious—it was Qing Yun.

"Why?" the cavalryman asked, puzzled. "Why didn't you kill me?"

"No one knows," Qing Yun replied, surveying him casually. "Check yourself—are you missing anything?"

The cavalryman hurriedly checked himself—armor intact, weapons present, ah yes, "My horse is gone. I ended up here because the horse stumbled and I was ambushed."

Qing Yun's eyes flashed, his expression suddenly stern. "Seal off all entrances immediately—no one is to enter or leave!"

The soldiers obeyed and quickly departed.

"What happened?" A red warhorse arrived, and Sikong swept a sharp glance at Qing Yun. "The strategist is here too?"

Qing Yun smiled respectfully. "Yes."

The cavalryman hastily reported to Sikong, "Commander, soldiers from the Central Palace attacked me and stole my horse!"

Sikong's face changed slightly; after a brief thought, he ordered, "Seal all major roads and entrances at once!"

His subordinate received the order but couldn't help saying, "Commander, the strategist already followed your instructions."

"Is that so?" Sikong cast him a sidelong glance. "The strategist always manages to be a step ahead of me."

"I wouldn't dare," Qing Yun replied with a gentle smile. "I am but a weak scholar, how could I presume before the commander?"

Sikong merely snorted, evidently dissatisfied.

Qing Yun shook his head. Sikong was admirable in every way but stubborn, always insisting on rivalry. His eyes inadvertently swept across the ground, catching sight of something brightly colored, immediately drawing his attention.

He brushed aside the obstructing soldiers, reached out with slender fingers, and delicately picked up the object from beside the cavalryman's foot. The crowd watched his actions with curiosity.

Sikong was interrogating the cavalryman, "Did you see clearly if it was soldiers from the Central Palace?"

The cavalryman scratched his head. "Not very clear. But I was chasing two soldiers from the Central Palace to this spot..."

"No need to ask him." Qing Yun opened the mud-stained item and, seeing the contents, couldn't help but laugh. "I've already deduced who did it."

Sikong's gaze sharpened. "Strategist, are you clairvoyant?"

Qing Yun reached into the mud and pulled out several tufts of hair, waving them at Sikong. "It was the one who plucked the hair from Windchaser."

Seeing the vibrant red hairs, burning like flames, Sikong's rage exploded. "I want them dead and unburied!"

Qing Yun quickly interjected, "Commander, do not be angry. I have a way to lure her into a trap."

Sikong's expression was icy. "Is it only you who has methods? You think I can't catch her myself?"

Qing Yun smiled faintly. "If so, why not make a wager with me?"

"A wager?" Sikong's eyes flickered. "What kind of wager?"

"Let's see who catches the feather-plucking soldier first." Qing Yun shook the fragrant pouch in his hand, now just a muddy bag. "If I catch her first, you must grant me a considerable favor."

"A favor?" Sikong eyed him suspiciously, but Qing Yun remained calm and smiling. "What trickery are you up to? If it's a wager, as long as it doesn't violate military discipline or involve murder or arson, I'll agree."

"Thank you, Commander." Qing Yun bowed slightly.

"Thank me?!" Sikong turned his horse, snorting. "You haven't succeeded yet! Let me be clear, if I find her first, I'll tear her apart!"

Qing Yun smiled awkwardly, watching him gallop away, sighing softly, "Kai Ming, you'd best pray the heavens help me find you first."

Kai Ming sneezed for no apparent reason, feeling a sudden chill. Thinking of the old cloth pouch at her waist, she quickly untied it. Upon opening, she found several lumps of cold rice. Though unappetizing, hunger gnawed at her belly. Sitting cross-legged, she began to eat, noticing Xiao Hei watching her.

She yanked the cloth from his mouth. Xiao Hei glared at her indignantly, "Why bind me? Just kill me outright!"

"Why do you say that?" Kai Ming smiled. "You saved my life, how could I kill you?"

"Fine, then untie my hands!"

Kai Ming ignored him, finishing her rice ball with grunts, then walked over, grabbed another and stuffed it into his open mouth. "Hungry, aren't you? The belly doesn't lie!"

Indeed, Xiao Hei's stomach growled like a drum. Embarrassed, his mouth full of rice, he could only glare at her.

Suddenly, she heard something. She raised a finger for silence, listening intently to the commotion outside—the sound of boots, chaotic and loud, shouts and horse hooves.

"Not good!" she exclaimed, quickly dragging Xiao Hei up and sprinting forward. The sounds grew closer, and she could hear Nangong soldiers shouting.

"Damn!" She pushed Xiao Hei into the grass, whispering, "Don't make a sound; I'll come back for you!" Then she dashed off.

No sooner had she moved than the Nangong soldiers began shouting, "There! I see him!"

Kai Ming picked up speed, determined not to let Xiao Hei fall into their hands, hoping to draw the pursuers elsewhere. The thought had barely formed when she realized her mistake—Nangong had cavalry.

Stunned, she saw a blaze of red flame surging toward her through the cold rain. She cursed inwardly, dropped to the ground, rolled into a dirt pit, aching from the fall but dared not make a sound. She covered herself with leaves, leaving only her eyes to observe.

Four red hooves suddenly halted above her head, less than a foot away. Having lost their target, Sikong reined in the horse and looked about in confusion.

How could it be? The figure they had seen moments ago had vanished without a trace.

The hooves paced near her head, and Kai Ming's eyes followed them, not daring to breathe.

Just as she felt she might suffocate, a Nangong soldier's words saved her life: "Commander, he's over here!"

The hooves turned away, spraying mud that nearly blinded her. She quickly lowered her head, thinking: Who did the soldiers find—Xiao Hei?!

Alarmed, she poked out half her head to look more closely.

The man the soldiers dragged from the grass was none other than Xiao Hei, whom she had just hidden. How could he be so careless? Now that Xiao Hei was caught, what should she do?

As she pondered, another set of footsteps approached—Qing Yun leading a group of men.

Sikong looked triumphant. "Strategist, I caught him first. Admit your loss!"

"Oh?" Qing Yun smiled lightly. "Commander, are you certain it's him?"

"Isn't he a Central Palace soldier?" Sikong angrily dismounted, raised his whip, and fiercely lifted Xiao Hei's chin. "Was it you who attacked my soldiers? Was it you who plucked my Windchaser's beautiful hair?"

Xiao Hei stammered, "I—I don't know what you mean, sir."

"Don't play dumb!" Sikong, enraged, drew his guard's sword and pressed it to Xiao Hei's neck. "Explain yourself! You attacked my soldiers and stole my horse. Are you saying it wasn't you?"

"It's not him," Qing Yun said calmly. "Look at his hands—they're still bound behind his back. If the marks are deep, then he was tied up for a long time. How could someone so tightly bound do anything so strenuous?"

Sikong cut the bindings, and sure enough, the marks on Xiao Hei's wrists were deep purple. Furious, Sikong asked, "If it's not you, then who?"

"You're referring to the horse thief?" Xiao Hei's eyes darted, ingratiating. "I know who stole the horse—my fellow soldiers."

"Where are they?!" Sikong grabbed his collar and shouted.

Xiao Hei nervously replied, "Gouzi and Commander Chang Geng escaped, but I know Kai Ming's whereabouts."

Sikong's shout soared. Qing Yun's face changed upon hearing this.

"She pushed me into the grass earlier—she must still be nearby. Search this area..." Before he finished, Sikong had already ordered, "Everyone move out! Dig three feet if you must, but find her!"

Kai Ming heard everything clearly, cursing Xiao Hei for betraying her. She should have buried him bound. Now regret was useless; she tried to think of ways to delay, knowing the soldiers would not search for so long.

The soldiers began their search. Sikong looked at Qing Yun, "The wager isn't over yet—whoever finds her wins."

Qing Yun responded with an embarrassed smile.