“All this wealth was accumulated because so many died for it, but you want it all for yourself. So how much nobler than me does that make you, hmm? How much nobler are you?!”
The madame roared her fury in the end, her voice reverberating furiously in the empty cavern. Some dirt and loose pebbles were actually shaken loose, but not one paid any attention to that, given how tense the situation was.
“I took over the position because the former Alliance Head passed it on to me. None of you accepted my authority, and I've never tried to order you around. In fact, I even tried to help you via my position at court whenever you ran into trouble. There were times when you wanted me to take the fall for you.
“I can say with a clear conscience that I haven’t wronged Azure Justice in any way. You betray your alliance head for a sum of silver and turn your backs on morality and justice. What difference is there between you and the trash emperor? Do you realize you’re no longer worthy of the inherent meaning of honest and impartial in ‘Azure’ Justice? I think you’d better change that name.”
Madame Liao flushed hotly from the response; embarrassment flashed across her face, only to turn into satisfied cackling in the next instant.
"You don’t need to try to poke at us with those sorts of words! Our brothers risked their lives to seize the treasure not for ourselves, but for the people! The trash emperor of Great Yan was a bastard, and the trash emperor of Great Zhou isn't any better!
“The earth dragon turning over killed and injured countless numbers of citizens, but the Zhou bastard only knows to set his eyes on the treasure. He didn’t spare a thought for rescue, and dragged his heels for two months after the disaster.
“When he finally sent someone, his ambassador came empty-handed! Was he sending someone to count the bodies? The treasure can’t fall into the hands of a heartless bastard like him! Azure Justice is always worthy of being viewed as honest and impartial! We’ll save this treasure and use it to overthrow the Zhou bastard! As for you, you and your Silver Masks can watch from the underworld just how we do it!”
Qin Yining scoffed coldly. “My, my. What high-falutin’ words. You actually do sound more noble than anyone around.
“I only know the alliance head looks down on a ragtag group like us,” sneered Madame Liao. “The six you sent were all elites, elite dogs for a bastard emperor. They were loyal enough, but at our complete mercy after eating powdered thorn apple flower!” [1]
The princess consort’s eyes widened with horror as she flew into a fury. “You really killed them after drugging them?”
The Silver Masks trusted Azure Justice so much because of her! If that had really happened, then there was no end to her sins!
Madame Liao led her people up to Qin Yining. “I don’t mind telling you—that bunch really was well trained. They fought off the drug very well, so we only managed to kill three at first. The other three that got away kept following the group escorting the treasure, like wolves on the hunt. We wouldn’t have veered off course if it wasn’t for their dogged chasing.
“We didn’t know how much they’d told others, so could only go to you to frame them. We also wanted to see if they’d revealed the treasure location to you.
“Our worst case scenario was that they had indeed leaked the location, but who would’ve thought they would be such a bunch of idiots? When we finally caught the three, we realized they hadn’t told anyone at all.
“Alliance Head, Princess Consort of the First Rank, you understand everything now, don’t you? Now, we just need to kill you to make sure that no one else will know that we possess the treasure, and we won’t have to worry about anyone exposing our identities. We’ll just change our names and wait for the best opportunity.
“Whereas you, you were targeted by the bandits on your way back to the capital, you poor thing. They specialize in robbing and killing the weak. If the prince comes to smoke them out, then why, he’ll have done a good deed for the locals! Wouldn’t you say we’re terribly concerned with the fate of the nation?” Her tone suddenly turned severely and she pointed at the dozen people behind her, “Kill them all!”
“Understood!” The men whooped and hollered as they charged forward.
Qin Yining and Bingtang had long shifted themselves to the back to prevent themselves from getting in the Silver Masks’ way. A wrathful Cao Yuqing burned with the fires of vengeance quite a while ago, while violent auras rose from Jingzhe and the others, ready to avenge their fallen brothers.
No fresh blood would join the Silver Masks anymore, each loss was permanent. They could die in the course of a mission, but they couldn’t die as victims of a petty plot from petty villains!
Weapons clanged and sparks flew in the cavern. The alliance had patently sent expert fighters this time; the dozen of them actually managed to fight the five Silver Masks to a standstill.
As pitched battle raged, the thunderous chorus of footsteps shook the air. Men clad in Dragon Rider armor charged into the cavern.
“Hoi! What have we here?” shouted their leader. “What nonsense about the princess consort being sick? She’s here for the treasure! Pang is a traitor through and through! Brothers, take them all!”
The soldiers rushed forward without another word.
* * *
1. A type of narcotic that would knock out the user.
Chapter 463: Life or Death (I)
Qin Yining’s pupils contracted violently. She knew there would be trials ahead, but never did she expect to become the mantis stalking the cicada, while Li Qitian played the role of the oriole, lurking behind them undetected!
She’d claimed she was returning to the capital to rest and recover, but not only was she not en route, Dragon Riders had found her inside a cavern of treasure chests while facing off Azure Justice.
It would be very difficult to explain what had brought her here.
She could say that Azure Justice had set a trap for her, but would Li Qitian believe her? Even if that were the truth, he was more than likely to believe what he wanted to believe. Her being in danger meant Pang Xiao’s hands were tied as well!
Standing in the wide space of the cavern, all she could hear was the ringing of weapons clashing and the angry shouts of men fighting.
Spacious as it was, the cavern could only hold so many people, and the entrance was blocked off by imperial reinforcements. There wouldn’t be enough space to accommodate them all if they pressed in closer, much less provide ample space for battle between Azure Justice and the Silver Masks!
The two factions had been fighting each other to the death—but now, they had a common enemy.
However, it seemed that Li Qitian had sent the elite of the elite. Not only did the dragon Riders have exceptional martial arts skills, their formation gave them the upper hand at eight people per squad.
If one squad was losing, the second squad would come forward to take their place; if the second squad fell back, the third squad would replace them and continue charging without mercy.
This rotational strategy served the Dragon Riders well, what with their high stamina. Azure Justice and Silver Masks had already expended much of their energy in combat earlier—they were no match for these tactics.
Qin Yining watched the entrance where the Dragon Riders stood guard. An eight-person squad that had just fallen back was resting while cheering on their comrades. If this continued, her side would likely suffer a crushing defeat and be captured alive by Li Qitian and his men.
If she was taken in for questioning, it wouldn’t be a question of whether Pang Xiao and her father would be dragged down with her or not—Li Qitian wouldn’t hesitate to frame Pang Xiao with high treason!
Qin Yining clutched Bingtang’s hand tightly as Jiyun and Cao Yuqing fought with everything they had to protect her. They were sorely outmatched in numbers and skill. It wasn’t long before half of the Azure Justice had fallen under the blades of the Dragon Riders. Even the Silver Masks were sustaining injuries from the skirmish.
<
br /> The two girls squatted down and held each other, shrinking into a corner against the chests and cavern wall.
“Bingtang.” Qin Yining gripped Bingtang’s hand, anxious words spilling from her lips. “We won’t be able to hold out if this continues. This might be it for us.”
“Your Highness, I-I-I'm not scared!” Bingtang trembled uncontrollably from the stench of blood and murderous cries of the battleground. Yet even as her voice betrayed her, she shielded Qin Yining with her fragile, tiny body as a final line of defense.
Qin Yining’s eyes burned—even in the darkness, she didn’t miss the tears that welled up in her maid’s eyes.
“Silly girl.” The princess consort sniffled a few times before lowering her voice. “Hide yourself behind the chests while everything’s a mess.”
“I won’t......”
“Let me finish: Azure Justice most likely didn’t notice your presence, disorderly as they are. You don’t know how to fight, nor do you pose any sort of threat. What’s more, they were fighting the Silver Masks when the Dragon Riders arrived, which makes it all the more likely they didn’t notice you. I am the princess consort, so it’s useless for me to try and hide. They might not even harm me—at most, they’d imprison me so they can blackmail His Highness or convict me of some crime. Whatever happens, staying with me won’t end well for you.
“Jiyun has already joined the fight and attracted their attention. It’s too late for her, but not for you. We left home together, so it won’t do if we all perish here.
“Bingtang, you must hide. As soon as the skirmish ends, don’t wait for them to haul away the chests. Follow the sound of water and hide in that corner. You might even find a way out.”
Bingtang’s face was covered in tears and she shook her head furiously. “I can’t leave you! I’ve been your maid ever since you took me under your wing from the Prince of Ning, yet you treat me as if I were your little sister. I know you’re my mistress, but I see you as my sister too! I don’t have any other family! I don’t want to be without you!”
Qin Yining’s heart ached terribly at her words. Only by clenching her teeth tightly and taking a deep breath did she manage to keep her own tears from falling as well.
“Bingtang, I can’t get away from this. There are so many people who have their eyes on me. Everyone else can run away, but not me. If it were within my power, I would have everyone here get out so they won’t have to needlessly throw their lives away, but that’s not possible.
“Therefore, we must cut our losses while we can, even if it's just one person who makes it out of here. If someone manages to escape, at least that person can bring a message to the prince and tell him to be prepared.
“Right now, his thoughts are on disaster relief. He’s even provided funds out of his own pocket. And yet, those who distrust him have sent people to spy on him. They’ve gone so far as to intercept me. If he’s unaware that something has gone wrong on my end, how is he to protect himself from what is to come?”
Bingtang continued to weep amid the thundering roars of the battleground. Just then, a Dragon Rider lacerated Cao Yuqing’s arm with a slash of his blade.
Seeing this, the maid cried out in alarm, her tears pouring even harder than before. Even Cao Yuqing was getting injured—what about the people she couldn’t see?
The enemy was far stronger than they were. Qin Yining’s intent could not be more clear: if even Bingtang couldn’t bring word to Pang Xiao, wouldn’t that leave him defenseless against those conspiring against him?
“Alright. I, I will definitely let His Highness know what has happened.”
Qin Yining patted Bingtang on the head. “Above all, you must live,” she murmured. “Don’t throw your life away.”
“I understand.” Bingtang wiped away tears and snot, sniffling as she nodded.
The battle had reached a climax. Azure Justice was down to half their original number; the Silver Masks were under immense pressure as their opponents pressed closer. Jiyun and Cao Yuqing were already injured.
Suddenly, someone knocked over the lantern that Azure Justice had brought with them, extinguishing the only source of light within the cavern. It was too dim for anyone to immediately adjust to the darkness, leaving them all temporarily blinded. Qin Yining promptly pushed Bingtang, indicating for her to hide.
The girl had already figured out her escape route—she clambered over the chests and hid in the pocket of space between the boxes and the cavern walls.
The skirmish paused for but a moment before it resumed.
Qin Yining pressed herself against the corner, but out of nowhere, a sword nicked her shoulder. She cried out and fell to the ground, feeling as if she had been set on fire.
Cao Yuqing had an acute sense of hearing and instantly noticed Qin Yining had been injured, but she didn’t dare call for her. Qin Yining might be giving away her location if she answered. All she could do was double down on the enemy’s advances.
The Dragon Riders guarding the entrance prepared a torch and lit a new lantern. The cavern was now bright enough for everyone on the battleground to see each other.
The Silver Masks were wounded and bleeding, yet their eyes shone brightly with determination and the murderous intent of angered, feral wolves.
Chapter 464: Life or Death (II)
Azure Justice was in much worse shape. Having never received special training, they had no experience with developing an indomitable will. They gathered together in collective pursuit of profit, so when surrounded on all sides by highly trained soldiers, the desire to retreat blossomed in many of them.
Once the notion to withdraw occurred at such an important juncture, their fighting spirit dissolved as well. Add to that injuries suffered from the previous fight, that left only two loyal followers at Madame Liao’s side who could barely hang on. The rest were either injured or dead.
In the gloom of the cavern, Qin Yining’s bloodstained back came into clear view. The leader of the Dragon Riders roared, “Look sharp, everyone! The emperor's orders are to take the princess consort alive! We won’t be able to complete our mission if she dies!”
“Understood!” The men shouted back.
Jingzhe and the others were caught up in battle frenzy. Their attacks grew ever more reckless and desperate when they saw their mistress injured. They would do anything possible to carve out a path for her.
People like them lived on the edge of a blade to begin with. If it hadn’t been for Qin Yining saving them when they’d accidentally injured an official’s son, and then using Li Qitian’s obsession with the treasure to keep all of the Silver Masks safe, Jingzhe alone would’ve been brutally interrogated many times, to say nothing of the others.
Though their relationship was that of mistress and servant, Qin Yining had always shielded and protected them, and saved Jingzhe’s life in particular. Now that the enemies were numerous and strong, and they few and weak, they wouldn’t stand for their mistress losing her life in front of them. Momentary carelessness had already led to her back injury. This was the line in the sand, the enemy would cross it over their dead bodies!
Of one mind with Jingzhe, Cao Yuqing, Xiaoxue, Xiaoman, and Dahan flared with intense battle spirit and grimly threw themselves into the fray.
Cao Yuqing specifically felt this even more than the others. She loved Qin Huaiyuan more than life itself, and she didn’t think that he was such a lump of wood that he wouldn’t perceive any of her sentiments at all. He’d undoubtedly sent her to protect Qin Yining because he believed she would do everything in her power to protect his only daughter.
If anything happened to Qin Yining while in her care, Cao Yuqing would rather die than face Qin Huaiyuan again! She could die or never see him again, but she couldn't stand to see him sad.
Qin Huaiyuan had only this one child, and it’d been such a long and hard road for Qin Yining to return to his side. Cao Yuqing knew full well how important this daughter was to him, and how much he loved her.
E
ven setting him aside, Cao Yuqing herself wouldn’t bear for anything to happen to the girl. Qin Yining hadn’t returned home all that long before being dragged into trouble after trouble. If she did fall to their enemies, Cao Yuqing didn’t dare imagine how heartbroken Qin Huaiyuan would be.
My life is cheap and meaningless to begin with, so why should I drift along and live in disgrace? Qin Yining is suffering right in front of me!
The guard captain hacked and slashed with ferocious gusto, forcibly hewing a way to the princess consort’s side. She grabbed the girl’s arm and shoved Qin Yining behind her. “Don’t worry, Auntie Cao will protect you!”
Pain darkened the scene in front of Qin Yining eyes and her lips were ghastly white from lack of blood. She shook and shivered, but she grimly hung on and nodded. “Don’t worry, I’m not afraid. They won’t kill me, so leave while you all can!”
“What kind of nonsense is that? What good are any of us for if we leave you to them?”
“Your Highness, we swear to protect you to our deaths!” roared Jingzhe and the others.
The Dragon Riders threw their heads back with laughter to see this and jeered, “This is the only bit of time left in your pathetic little lives. Make good use of it! Say your goodbyes, you won’t be able to run your mouths later when you fall to our blades!”
The provocation inspired the other soldiers resting at the mouth of the cavern to howl with laughter. Their raucous braying reverberated in the enclosed space, making the hearts of their enemies tremble from enormous fear and pressure.
Ji Zeyu had trained his Dragon Riders personally. Given the prince consort’s reputation being on par with Pang Xiao’s, it was easy to imagine that his men would be on the same level as the Valiant Tigers. Whether it came to individual skill and strategy or psychological attacks, these men deftly employed it all.
In the face of their enemies’ absolute advantage in strength and the mental barrage, even someone as coolly composed and unafraid of death as Qin Yining shrank back and hesitated a bit. Perhaps she really wouldn’t make it out of here alive.
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