SS CH31

Before Gu Xiao could see clearly, another staff swept toward his face, carrying a fierce wind. He jerked his head aside to dodge, enduring the pain as he raised his left hand. He flicked his finger against the attacker’s wrist, letting his internal force explode right at the joint. The man’s grip went entirely limp, allowing Gu Xiao to wrench the eyebrow-height staff from his hands.

However, the two boats ahead had already spun around, cutting off his path of retreat. Close-quarters combat made it impossible to draw a bow, and the three vessels quickly linked into a triangular formation. Gu Xiao felt his vision blur as six long ropes shot through the air, lined with willow-leaf daggers that left bloody gashes the moment they grazed flesh. Not daring to underestimate them, Gu Xiao tapped his foot against the deck and soared into the air like a wild swan. The six ropes crossed and tangled beneath his feet. The six black-robed men gripping them also leapt up, using the knot beneath Gu Xiao’s feet as a pivot to leap back and forth. Within a few breaths, they had bound him in mid-air like a zongzi!

One of them barked coldly, “Strangle!”

The willow-leaf daggers had already sliced shallow cuts into Gu Xiao’s skin. If they pulled any harder, it would be no different from the slow torment of death by a thousand cuts. At the exact instant the man finished speaking, Gu Xiao spotted a gap and hurled the staff in his hand, striking one of the attackers squarely on the head. The force from that direction immediately slackened. Before the others could exert their strength, Gu Xiao let out a sharp cry, slashing his long knife outward while forcing his body to plunge downward like a heavy stone!

As the force of his descent collided with the upward trajectory of his blade, several deep gashes tore open across Gu Xiao’s body, ripping away shreds of flesh. Nevertheless, he managed to break free. Wasting no time on prolonged combat, he grabbed the ropes and swung them with all his might, hurling away one of the black-robed men who hadn’t let go in time.

Gu Xiao had always understood that a single pair of fists was no match for four hands. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that the three targets were about to run past the hill. Griting his teeth, he braced himself to take a direct palm strike, using the impact to propel himself across the water. Pushing his Flying Swan Technique to its absolute limit, his feet seemed to ride the wind, landing right in front of the trio within a few bounds.

Before his pursuers could catch up, and even before he could steady his stance, Gu Xiao swung his long knife in a fluid arc. Utilizing the momentum of his rapid shifting, he unleashed the first form of the Flying Swan Knife Style: “Swimming Dragon.”

“Graceful as a startled swan, vigorous as a swimming dragon.” This was the foundational opening technique of the entire style. It was swift and ferocious, striking like a raging dragon thrashing its tail to crush everything in its path, making it perfect for resisting attacks from all directions. In an instant, his entire right arm was jarred numb, yet his knife steadily blocked the iron hook in the man’s hand. As their strengths locked in combat, Gu Xiao refused to waste his energy on a test of raw power. He loosened his grip slightly, allowing the iron hook to send his blade flying into the air. In that exact split second, his left fingers aligned like a blade, striking straight into the man’s Juque acupoint.

The second form of the style, “Startling Thunder,” was a piercing technique designed to break through a broad surface at a single point, making it ideal for cutting through a heavy siege. However, Gu Xiao was still young and lacked the keen eyesight required to spot every tiny opening in the heat of battle. Thus, he had adapted this form into a finger strike specifically to use as a hidden follow-up to target critical joint acupoints.

The Juque is one of the lethal acupoints of the human body. Driven by this explosive finger force, the man’s internal energy detonated right at the spot. He had intended to use the opening to slit Gu Xiao’s throat, but just as his hook grazed Gu Xiao’s neck, the meridians of his heart were shattered inch by inch.

The iron hook had come within a hair’s breadth of slicing the flesh of his neck. Having just cheated death at the gates of hell, Gu Xiao felt a surge of adrenaline and excitement rather than lingering fear. Narrowing his eyes, he heard the whistling of wind behind his ears. He ripped off his outer robe and flung it into the air, and a volley of arrows instantly shot the garment full of holes like a hornet’s nest.

Knowing that the rest of the pursuers would arrive any second, Gu Xiao looked up and saw the woman holding an Emei piercer against the young boy’s throat. Letting out a cold laugh, he reached into his shirt, pulled out an object, and hurled it forward. It burst through the air like a sudden downpour of pear blossoms!

In that desperate moment, the woman was already rattled by the gruesome death of her companion. Stunned by the sudden barrage of hidden weapons, she lost her composure and instinctively pulled the boy in front of her as a shield. The objects pelted the boy all over his body!

At the same time, Gu Xiao closed the distance, bringing his long knife down in a heavy vertical strike that split her fairly glamorous face into a grotesque mask.

“Dear warrior…” The boy had not yet recovered from the sudden shock. The tiny objects that had struck him had stung sharply but possessed no lethal force. Looking closer, he realized they were nothing but a handful of wet melon seeds.

Gu Xiao caught his breath for a moment: “Don’t call me warrior. Call me hero, thank you!”

There was no time for further talk. The twelve black-robed men from the boats had already caught up. Gu Xiao shielded the boy as they fought and retreated, until the boy suddenly cried out, “There’s no way out!”

Gu Xiao looked back. The edge of the hill led to a dead end; below lay a steep cliff and a raging, torrential river. He finally couldn’t help but curse: “…Motherfunder!”

Did every young hero just starting out in the Jianghu have to jump off a cliff or a river?!

However, forced to fight twelve opponents while protecting a liability, Gu Xiao wouldn’t choose to stand his ground unless his brain was entirely waterlogged. Taking a deep breath as he parried an incoming sword, he asked rapidly, “Can you hold your breath?”

The boy’s only response was a helpless shake of his head.

“This is going to be the death of me…” Driving back an encroaching assassin with a slash of his knife, Gu Xiao spun around, scooped up the boy, and leapt down the cliff. The incoming blades practically shaved his back, managing only to sever a few strands of hair whipped up by the wind.

The two plunged rapidly like stones through the roaring, cascading waterfall. The thunderous sound of rushing water drowned out all screams and shouts. Gu Xiao had no time to check on the boy’s reaction; his pupils contracted as he stared fixedly at the rapidly approaching surface. He suddenly hurled his long knife downward. The blade pierced the wind and cut through the spray, embedding itself deeply into a rock protruding from the water.

Simultaneously, he twisted his body sharply while holding the boy, planting his toes firmly on the hilt of the knife. The residual force from breaking their fall shattered the blade completely, and only then did he lose his balance, tumbling wildly into the river along with the boy.

The massive impact of the water felt as though it would crush his chest and squeeze out every last drop of air. The raging current cascading from above battered their flesh and blood, pulling and thrashing every limb and bone. Keeping the boy secured in his arms, Gu Xiao coughed up a mouthful of blood, though it was instantly washed away by the torrent, leaving no trace behind.

Fortunately, the desperate thugs above lacked the courage to take such a gamble. Furthermore, the pitch-black darkness made it the perfect time to stage an escape.

Digging his fingers into the submerged river rocks, the boy dragged himself and Gu Xiao out of the water with great difficulty. Gu Xiao caught his breath, his hands trembling as he pulled out his glass mirror to check their bearings, realizing they had been carried a considerable distance downriver.

A mountain forest lined the shore. However, being close to the northern lands, the vegetation was sparse, and autumn had rendered the scenery barren and withered. Two people walking into it would be as conspicuous as rabbits exposed on open ground.

Yet, there was no other path left to take.

He dragged the boy ashore. The moment his feet touched solid ground, the last of his strength vanished, leaving his limbs as limp as noodles. He practically crawled into the woods.

Pushing forward on sheer willpower, the trees gradually grew denser. Only then did the two collapse onto the ground, gasping for air. Before Gu Xiao could steady his breathing, the water began to sting his open wounds, causing him to wince and hiss in pain. He reached with trembling hands for his medicine bottle, only to find his pockets empty—the small vial had likely been washed away by the river.

Sighing at his misfortune, Gu Xiao finally pulled his mind from the frantic adrenaline of battle and realized that he had killed people. Since descending the mountain, he had injured many, but he had never truly taken a life. Even at the wilderness inn, he had merely shattered a wooden pillar to delay the owner. Though the knife in his hand was formidable, it had never been used to kill.

After all, he was still a youth. Who could truly view human life like grass or slaughter men as easily as livestock?

But tonight, he had killed three people. In the heat of the moment, he hadn’t thought much of it, but looking back, the shock far outweighed the fear.

As he sat there in a daze, a voice suddenly drifted from his side: “Many thanks to this… hero.”

Gu Xiao snapped out of his thoughts, finally getting a chance to look at the youth beside him. Under the faint starlight, he could vaguely discern the silhouette of a young adolescent. His voice carried the typical raspy quality of his age, but his tone was exceptionally polite.

“Don’t mention it.” Gu Xiao bent one leg, asking curiously, “What is your name?”

The boy’s throat grew tight with a barrage of unspoken words. He choked for a moment before asking in disbelief, “You don’t know who I am?”

Gu Xiao rolled his eyes, though the pitch-black darkness hid it from view.

The boy fell silent for a moment: “Then why did you risk your life to rescue me from the Soul Burial Palace?”

“Entrusted by someone, loyal to their cause,” Gu Xiao sighed. “A kid who looks exactly like a meatball—and practically is one—begged me with tears streaming down his face to save his brother, who had been captured by bad guys and was about to be thrown into a cooking pot. So, I came.”

The boy froze, and then a look of overjoyed relief washed over his face: “…A’Yao?”

“Looks like I got the right person.” Gu Xiao looked at him. “So, how should I address the meatball’s older brother?”

“…My name is Chu Xun.”

The boy’s answer was direct and entirely honest, but it made Gu Xiao fall silent. He had never heard of Chu Yao, but he had certainly heard of Chu Xun.

The imperial family of the Great Chu used the name of the state as their surname. The current Emperor had nine princes, among whom the First Prince, who had been appointed as the Crown Prince, had passed away early from an illness. He left behind his eldest legitimate son as the Imperial Eldest Grandson, who was deeply cherished by the Emperor and bestowed with a name meaning ‘fine jade’—Chu Xun.

Since he had already harbored suspicions, Gu Xiao did not panic. He merely felt a calm sense of realization, followed immediately by an ominous premonition.

“There are traitors within the imperial court cooperating with martial arts factions to smuggle weapons and gunpowder. They are assassinating key figures everywhere to keep local garrison officials preoccupied and unable to reinforce the north. However, seeing that the northern war remains at a standstill, these desperate outlaws used inside intelligence from the traitors to locate A’Yao and me while we were traveling in disguise. They intended to take us to the front lines to hand us over to the rebel king to threaten the generals guarding the pass.” Though young, Chu Xun spoke with great clarity and order, displaying a calm intelligence that far exceeded a typical twelve or thirteen-year-old. “I seized an opportunity to let A’Yao run away, hoping he could deliver this news to the outside.”

Though it was a hasty decision made in an emergency, there had been no better alternative at the time.

It’s a pity the meatball only grew fat and didn’t grow a brain… Gu Xiao kept that thought to himself, opting for a gentler phrasing: “Unfortunately, he is too small to understand your intention. He could only run around like a headless fly, hoping to find someone to save you.”

Chu Xun let out a bitter smile: “Regardless, being able to escape the clutches of the Soul Burial Palace is already a massive stroke of luck.”

“It’s too early to breathe a sigh of relief.” Gu Xiao picked up a branch and scratched a few lines on the ground. “Targeting members of the imperial family means they are wagering their heads. This time, they will turn into leeches that won’t let go of us.”

Chu Xun: “I cannot fall into their hands, otherwise the consequences will be catastrophic.”

Gu Xiao understood perfectly. Chu Xun introducing himself with his real name wasn’t out of gratitude for saving his life; it was simply because he had no other choice. He desperately needed someone who could protect him until he reached safety. Whether out of fear of death or for the greater good, both Chu Xun and Chu Yao had to remain safe, otherwise the fallout would be unimaginable.

This youth born of the imperial palace had tied his own life to the fate of the nation and handed it over to a stranger like him. He wasn’t gambling on human sentimentality, but on moral duty and righteousness.

If Gu Xiao accepted, it would be akin to bearing a burden of a thousand pounds, making every step forward incredibly difficult, where a single misstep could lead to a swift death.

But if he refused…

He remained silent for a long time, and Chu Xun waited quietly. After a good while, Gu Xiao finally spoke: “Where do you want to go?”

“…First to find A’Yao, and then as far away from the north as possible.” A wave of relief washed over Chu Xun’s heart as he strained to recall his memories. “In Yuzhou City, which isn’t far from Mianfeng City, the commanding general, Lord Lu, is a trusted confidant of my Ninth Imperial Uncle. He has always been close to the people and deeply patriotic; he should be trustworthy. If Hero Gu can deliver my brother and me to Lord Lu, we will have no further worries, and I will surely reward you handsomely in the future!”

Gu Xiao twitched the corner of his mouth. With such a massive weight suddenly dropped onto his shoulders, he couldn’t bring himself to smile.