Chapter 43: Pursuing Her

Chapter 43: Pursuing Her

Bao Dong lay on the straw pile, thinking of the suffering of the past few days, and tears fell uncontrollably.

How was his old father at home?

Would the Imperial Academy, upon learning of this, ... no, they would surely expel him.

And Yang Xuan—during the interrogation by the Imperial Guards, the questions were laced with cunning; they wanted to target Yang Xuan.

"Ah!"

In front of him, a fellow prisoner kicked his shoulder, a cruel glint of mischief on his filthy face, as if tormenting a small animal. "Even I can see it, the Imperial Guards want you to drag someone else down with you. Damn it, you've lost most of your life already, and you still want to protect that man?"

Bao Dong hung his head. Since entering, this man had been tormenting him relentlessly.

But those guards had instructed: no beatings allowed, or he likely wouldn’t survive. Unable to vent his anger through violence, the man found other ways to make Bao Dong miserable—shaming him, cursing him, pushing his spirit to the brink of collapse.

"Just say it!" The prisoner pressed his filthy foot to Bao Dong’s lips. "If you won’t, I’ll make you wash my feet!"

Bao Dong clamped his lips shut.

He thought of lamb’s feet... soft, tender, delicious!

The prisoner grew furious. "Damn it, do you really think I won’t... If I can’t beat you, I’ll make you my plaything!"

He stood and untied his belt.

He was about to urinate on Bao Dong.

A humiliation beyond words!

Bao Dong struggled to lift his head. "My family has money. If you leave me alone, I’ll make you a rich man. If not..."

The prisoner took aim, grinning wickedly. "Even if gods descend today, no one can save you!"

Bang!

The cell door nearby was kicked open with violence.

"Who says so?"

With these words, a youth stepped from the shadows.

"I said so!" The prisoner looked up.

The jailer hurried after the youth, wearing an ingratiating smile.

"Open the door."

Why did that voice sound familiar?

Bao Dong lay there, trying to turn, but his backside throbbed with pain. "Ah! Who is this hero..."

The door swung open.

The youth entered and immediately kicked.

Bang!

The prisoner was sent flying before Bao Dong, rebounding off the wall.

Someone strode over and stomped down.

A crisp crack of bone!

"Ah..."

The prisoner howled in agony.

The man targeted the other leg and stomped again.

"Ah!"

The screams were like a chorus of ghosts; all the prisoners in the cell shrank into corners, no one daring to utter a sound.

"You are...?"

Bao Dong struggled to look up.

The man turned. "I’m here."

In that instant, tears streamed down. Bao Dong, who hadn’t cried until now, choked like a child.

"I didn’t say anything! I swear I didn’t!"

"I know." Yang Xuan lifted him up. The jailer grinned obsequiously. "Commander Yang, let me help..."

"Out!" Yang Xuan carried Bao Dong, step by step, out the door.

The Imperial Guards watched them leave, including Zhou Yan and Huang Li.

"Deputy Zhou..."

Huang Li was nervous. "If this matter is pursued, we..."

Zhou Yan turned, his eyes cold and cruel, a look unfamiliar to Huang Li.

"What do you mean, ‘we’?"

"This matter..." Huang Li trembled.

"Take responsibility—if you do well, I do well. Spread rumors, you suffer, I still do well." Zhou Yan then went to seek his benefactor.

The old man sat beside his desk, with several documents and a cup of tea atop it.

He extended his right hand, liver-spotted and aged, to pick up the cup, steady as a mountain. "Before you even entered, I sensed your dejection and worry. If your emotions are so easily revealed, how can you shoulder great responsibility? How could you lead an army into battle alone?"

Zhou Yan lowered his head.

The old man sighed. "You crave fame—only a matter of promotion could make you so dejected. Speak, what happened?"

Zhou Yan looked up. "The Imperial Guards searched the city; South Zhou’s spies fled, but the Imperial Academy ambushed them—all the spies were killed, and large amounts of gold and silver seized... Grand Marshal, I failed."

The old man sipped tea, swirling it in his mouth before swallowing, his gaze curious. "The Imperial Academy... If Ning Yayu could accomplish this with the Academy, I’ll gouge my own eyes out."

The Academy had been useless for years; its reputation was empty.

Zhou Yan’s eyes showed resentment and venom. "It was the Unruly Commander!"

"Who?" The old man frowned.

Zhou Yan gritted his teeth. "The Unruly Commander of Wannian County... Yang Xuan!"

"How old?"

"About... fifteen or sixteen."

The old man held his cup, then burst out laughing. "You were bested by a youth?"

Zhou Yan stared at him. "I... am incompetent!"

"Do you know what Song Zhen of the Ministry of War said to me?" The old man toyed with his cup. "Song Zhen warned me to keep my claws in check, lest he get itchy and chop them off with one stroke."

He raised his right hand, liver spots densely covering the back.

Bang!

Without warning, he hurled the cup.

It shattered on Zhou Yan’s forehead.

A swelling rose high, but Zhou Yan dared not move.

"You lost to a youth? Incompetent!"

The old man shook his sleeve, a horsewhip appeared in his hand.

"Ah!"

"Ah!"

Zhou Yan’s screams echoed through the room.

Later, news of Zhou Yan’s whipping reached Song Zhen.

"Two piles of dog dung, their stench matches perfectly!"

Song Zhen’s comment made many laugh, including those at the Imperial Academy.

They were now at the Bao household.

Bao Dong’s father appeared warmly welcoming, but when faced with his beaten, bedridden son, he only scolded.

"This little beast, I’ll break his legs one day." Bao Cai’s face blazed with anger, but he quickly turned and smiled at An Ziyu. "Dean An, can this little beast... return to his studies?"

An Ziyu nodded. "Rest assured."

"He’s badly injured." The physician Wang had come too; after examining, he said, "He’ll need two or three months to recover."

Bao Dong panicked. "If so, my studies will be delayed!"

But Yang Xuan knew what troubled him most was his business with the Elixir of Spring.

An Ziyu instructed, "Go fetch Zhou Ning."

Zhou Ning?

Yang Xuan recalled seeing her once in the Academy.

He felt some shame—Zhou Ning was already an assistant instructor at eighteen, while he was fifteen and still living the precarious life of a rebel.

When footsteps sounded, Yang Xuan looked back.

Fair skin, jet-black hair, tortoiseshell glasses perched on her nose, a hint of coldness in her expression, yet an aura of purity.

"Greetings, Assistant Zhou."

Yang Xuan didn’t know her role, but guessed it would help Bao Dong’s recovery.

An Ziyu smiled. "Zhou Ning is here, and Bao Dong’s backside is a mess; take a look."

Bao Dong gave An Ziyu a plaintive look. "Dean, can’t you send someone else?"

To have a beautiful assistant instructor with a sacred aura examine his backside—he was... somewhat expectant.

"Can he be carried?" Zhou Ning’s voice was calm.

"He can," Yang Xuan replied, "but..."

"I understand." Zhou Ning cut him off.

"Step back," An Ziyu ordered.

Zhou Ning stood by the bed and closed her eyes.

Her hands slowly turned, forming shapes before her chest, her fingers flickering like lotus petals... She appeared solemn, exuding an even greater sense of purity.

Yang Xuan felt himself relax completely, a profound tranquility making him sleepy.

"Ha..."

Bao Dong was already snoring.

Yang Xuan forced himself awake, watching as Zhou Ning finished, her two fair, slender hands folded together, resembling a respectful gesture—a send-off.

Was she inviting a spirit?

"Done."

Zhou Ning turned, her bright eyes behind crystal lenses meeting Yang Xuan’s gaze.

"Ah..."

Behind him, everyone covered their mouths, a chorus of yawns.

Yang Xuan was unaffected, which made Zhou Ning glance at him again before leaving.

"Brush, ink, paper, inkstone!"

Bao Cai hurried to prepare.

Zhou Ning wrote swiftly; her red lips parted. "Apply the first prescription externally, take the second internally. Follow this, and in ten days he can walk."

"Ten... ten days?" Bao Cai glanced at Physician Wang—who had earlier said at least two months.

Physician Wang stroked his beard, vexed. "And if he can't?"

Zhou Ning looked at An Ziyu. "I’ll be leaving."

She ignored Physician Wang entirely.

An Ziyu smiled. "She’s the youngest assistant instructor at the Imperial Academy. Do you know why she was appointed at eighteen? Because she’s the first to master the secret art of Spring Wind and Rain, and she excels in medicine."

Nearby, Vermilion Bird whispered, "The perfect support—pursue her!"

"What does 'pursue' mean?" Yang Xuan was already out of the bedroom.

"It means chasing the girl!"

Leaving the Bao household, Yang Xuan rode slowly, pondering business.

If he only had to support a few kittens at home, he’d have enough money. But he was planning rebellion...

Yang Xuan smiled wryly.

"Commander Yang!"

Yang Xuan paused, recognizing the voice.

On the street to his right, Huang Li wore a sycophantic smile, bowing low.

Yang Xuan rode to the intersection, looking down at him.

"What is it?"

Huang Li fawned, "There was some misunderstanding before. Please forgive me, Commander Yang. I’ve prepared..."

Yang Xuan shook his head. "I told you—I want justice."

A fierce light flashed in Huang Li’s eyes. "Commander Yang, don’t push me too far. I know you live in Yongning Ward at Chen Qu..."

"My lord."

Jia Ren ran over, breathless.

"How goes it?" Yang Xuan asked.

Jia Ren glanced at Huang Li, a look that made Huang Li think of a fox pitying a tiger’s prey—a hint of sympathy, but mostly schadenfreude.

"This man has plenty of gold and silver at home—about three hundred thousand coins by my estimate..."

Yang Xuan turned his horse.

"Did you send the news to the Censorate?"

Jia Ren nodded. "I did."

Thud!

Behind them, Huang Li knelt, tears streaming.

"Commander Yang, spare me, spare me..."

Yang Xuan gave Jia Ren an approving look. "Well done."

A few words echoed in his mind.

—Thieves at dawn!