Chapter 15 Section VII
"What's that sound?" Long Bai groped his way to the west-facing cliff in the dark night.Yu Runsheng and Qi Chu followed closely behind.
The Chenjiadun under the cliff was burning vigorously.The shocking shouts caused by thousands of people united and echoed were coming from the light source.
"Could it be that the camp was attacked by the enemy?" Qi Chu asked nervously.
"No." Yu Runsheng listened carefully. "Although there are battle horns, it is not the sound of orders. The signal soldiers are blowing randomly. There is no murderous look in the soldiers' calls."
Qi Chu looked at Yu Runsheng in admiration. "Then what happened?"
The light of the fire is reflected in the pupils of Runsheng's eyes. "It's a celebration, the imperial army has won."
"Ah!" Qi Chu couldn't help exclaiming softly. "Then...the battle is over!" He and Long Bai stared blankly at each other.
Yu Runsheng nodded.
Ten days later, the 3,000 guards stationed in Chenjiadun by the "Suppression Army" withdrew from the stronghold.
Yu Runsheng had predicted the outcome of the battle long ago, but he didn't know that everything ended so quickly.
That's the end of it all? Killing 70,000 enemies, surrendering 50,000 troops, such a brilliant victory, now should be the time to celebrate. Lu Yingfeng wanted to bid farewell to all of this. --what?What about "remembering military merits", "designating 'Antonghou'", "returning to Beijing to be honored every day"? --what?That guy named Peng came to take over my military power?That bastard who only licks the assholes of old dogs, came to take over my army? ——Great master, I understand.Since he didn't take the opportunity to stand on his own feet, this is the only way to end up... It's a fluke, hey, maybe, if a "rebellion" hat is put on the top, the head will not be saved! ——But nature and man learn from each other, and I have never been different!That's all... so what?So what if the heart and liver are cut out?It's not "he" who is afraid of me, but "them" - the gang of dogs and gangsters... If I knew this, the day I got the soldier talisman, I should be the first to kill this group of people! ... ——I hate that kid surnamed Peng!A wet boy who hasn't accomplished an inch of merit, look at his mother's expression when receiving the military talisman!Pooh!Without me, where would there be half a soldier left for you to receive? ——… No one is more depressed than a marshal who has lost his military power. The attendants were packing for Marshal Lu—no, for "Marquis Antong" Lu Yingfeng. He felt more alone than ever.
Yu Runsheng and other six people sat around the fire in front of the cave. They had the same question in mind: ——How about the days to come? Di Bin sat on the rock, staring at the sickle beside him.It was the first time he had watched the burly man so closely and carefully.The thick body of the sickle head is tightly covered with coarse cloth clothes, revealing the graceful and perfect muscle curve.Nervous sweat oozes from Di Bin's forehead. "What's wrong?" Lian Shou suddenly turned his head.Di Bin's eyes were attracted by the curved black spot on his forehead. "Is your injury healed?" Scythe asked with concern. "Well...almost everything is healed." Di Bin's cheeks became hot. "Is your... surname 'Sickle'?" Scythe shook his head, "I didn't have a name originally. This name was given to me by people in the army. They said that this thing on my head looks like a sickle." He pointed to the black spot on the top of his forehead. "Is that a birthmark?" Sickle shook his head again. "I have no idea." "Where are you from? Where were you born? How did you join the army?" A look of confusion flashed in Sickle's eyes. "I don't even know...can't remember..." "Really?..." Di Bin felt his cheeks getting hotter and hotter. He didn't dare to look at Sickle again, turned his head to Qi Chu on the other side and asked, "What about you? Where is your hometown?" "I..." Qi Chu also had a look of embarrassment on his face. "My hometown is far away...all dead. All my family members...dead..." Tears welled up in his eyes. "Ah..." Di Bin said apologetically, "I'm sorry..." "Both parents are dead..." Qi Chu was still talking to himself. "In prison..." "In prison?" Long Bai asked curiously.But Qi Chu didn't seem to hear. Yu Runsheng, who was sitting silently on the other side, rested his forehead with his hands and lowered his head in thought.Hearing Qi Chu's words, he already roughly guessed his life experience.In this chaotic world of corruption, rich family official Jia was questioned and imprisoned. Tragic incidents happened from time to time.Qi Chu was probably exiled in the army because of this. "Bai Dou, what about you?" Long Bai asked. "I have no relatives in my family except my two older brothers..." Di Bin said calmly. "We were conscripted into the army together, but then I was transferred to the vanguard battalion, and I have never heard from them. Now I don't even know whether they are alive or dead." "Do you want to go home?" Long Bai's eyes showed reluctance.He has been wandering for many years and has long since lost his home. Di Bin thought for a while, then slowly shook his head. Qi Chu and Long Bai knew that they had at least one companion, and they had gratified smiles on their faces. "Then where are we going?" Qi Chu asked. Everyone fell silent. Ge Yuansheng had been looking up at the clear starry sky, and now he lowered his face to look at Yu Runsheng. The eyes of the other four people also unconsciously focused on Runsheng, as if he was the only one in the world who could give them the most important answer in life. Yu Runsheng still rested his forehead with his hands, his eyes hidden in the shadows. Five people were waiting silently.The crackling of firewood was clearly audible. Yu Runsheng stood up abruptly, and walked into the cave with everyone's worried eyes on his back. When Yu Runsheng came out, he was holding a large bottle of sorghum wine in his left hand, and under his right armpit was a roll of striped tiger skin, which was stripped from the tiger carcass thrown at Di Bin by the scythe that day.When Di Bin was sick and bored, he mended the arrow holes and knife edges in the tiger skin. Yu Runsheng chose a waist-high boulder outside the entrance of the cave, spread the tiger skin on it, and gently placed the wine bottle in the center of the tiger skin, and pulled out the cork on the bottle mouth. Yu Runsheng turned his head and glanced at the other five people, with a strange look in his eyes.Qi Chu was so frightened that he shivered. Yu Runsheng's eyes finally fell on Ge Yuansheng. "Give me 'Killing Weed'." Ge Yuansheng stood up, took off the gray cloth bag on his waist, untied the cloth, and handed the short knife "killing grass" with the scabbard inside to Yu Runsheng without hesitation. Yu Runsheng understood that Ge Yuansheng had given his life to himself. Yu Runsheng held the handle with his right hand, and crisply pulled out the two-foot cold blade of "killing grass". ——What Yu Runsheng was going to say next, the six people present - including Yu Runsheng himself - would never forget it for the rest of their lives.However, it was many years later that they really understood the significance of these words to their lives and even to history. "It's time to go down the mountain. But the sky is big and the earth is big, where are we going?" He pointed "killing grass" to the sky. "The sky has long abandoned us." He raised "killing grass" to his eyes.The knife light shone on his pale and thin face, reflecting a terrifying halo, which made the other five feel that Yu Runsheng's face was covered with a sacred atmosphere. "For the past few days—since I knew the war was over—I have been thinking: I have lived for twenty-five years, what have I gained today? I have killed people, and I have been hunted down. I have faced Death, knowing how cruel this world is. But apart from knowing this, Yu Runsheng has nothing—except you. You five men who drink rainwater and eat tiger meat with me are closer and more reliable than blood relatives .I'm so glad I got to know you." The five stood awe-inspiring, their eyes bloodshot with excitement. Yu Runsheng put down the scabbard, clenched his left hand into a fist, and "killed grass" with his right hand gently cut a shallow knife edge on the inside of his left forearm. The first drop of blood fell into the wine bottle on the tiger's skin and turned into a cloud.The clear ticking sound shook everyone's heartstrings. "Please become sworn brothers with me. Swear to live and die together." Except for Ge Yuansheng who was unable to speak and was gnashing his teeth, Long Bai, Qi Chu, Lian Shou, and Di Bin shouted at the same time: "Boss Yu!"
That's the end of it all? Killing 70,000 enemies, surrendering 50,000 troops, such a brilliant victory, now should be the time to celebrate. Lu Yingfeng wanted to bid farewell to all of this. --what?What about "remembering military merits", "designating 'Antonghou'", "returning to Beijing to be honored every day"? --what?That guy named Peng came to take over my military power?That bastard who only licks the assholes of old dogs, came to take over my army? ——Great master, I understand.Since he didn't take the opportunity to stand on his own feet, this is the only way to end up... It's a fluke, hey, maybe, if a "rebellion" hat is put on the top, the head will not be saved! ——But nature and man learn from each other, and I have never been different!That's all... so what?So what if the heart and liver are cut out?It's not "he" who is afraid of me, but "them" - the gang of dogs and gangsters... If I knew this, the day I got the soldier talisman, I should be the first to kill this group of people! ... ——I hate that kid surnamed Peng!A wet boy who hasn't accomplished an inch of merit, look at his mother's expression when receiving the military talisman!Pooh!Without me, where would there be half a soldier left for you to receive? ——… No one is more depressed than a marshal who has lost his military power. The attendants were packing for Marshal Lu—no, for "Marquis Antong" Lu Yingfeng. He felt more alone than ever.
Yu Runsheng and other six people sat around the fire in front of the cave. They had the same question in mind: ——How about the days to come? Di Bin sat on the rock, staring at the sickle beside him.It was the first time he had watched the burly man so closely and carefully.The thick body of the sickle head is tightly covered with coarse cloth clothes, revealing the graceful and perfect muscle curve.Nervous sweat oozes from Di Bin's forehead. "What's wrong?" Lian Shou suddenly turned his head.Di Bin's eyes were attracted by the curved black spot on his forehead. "Is your injury healed?" Scythe asked with concern. "Well...almost everything is healed." Di Bin's cheeks became hot. "Is your... surname 'Sickle'?" Scythe shook his head, "I didn't have a name originally. This name was given to me by people in the army. They said that this thing on my head looks like a sickle." He pointed to the black spot on the top of his forehead. "Is that a birthmark?" Sickle shook his head again. "I have no idea." "Where are you from? Where were you born? How did you join the army?" A look of confusion flashed in Sickle's eyes. "I don't even know...can't remember..." "Really?..." Di Bin felt his cheeks getting hotter and hotter. He didn't dare to look at Sickle again, turned his head to Qi Chu on the other side and asked, "What about you? Where is your hometown?" "I..." Qi Chu also had a look of embarrassment on his face. "My hometown is far away...all dead. All my family members...dead..." Tears welled up in his eyes. "Ah..." Di Bin said apologetically, "I'm sorry..." "Both parents are dead..." Qi Chu was still talking to himself. "In prison..." "In prison?" Long Bai asked curiously.But Qi Chu didn't seem to hear. Yu Runsheng, who was sitting silently on the other side, rested his forehead with his hands and lowered his head in thought.Hearing Qi Chu's words, he already roughly guessed his life experience.In this chaotic world of corruption, rich family official Jia was questioned and imprisoned. Tragic incidents happened from time to time.Qi Chu was probably exiled in the army because of this. "Bai Dou, what about you?" Long Bai asked. "I have no relatives in my family except my two older brothers..." Di Bin said calmly. "We were conscripted into the army together, but then I was transferred to the vanguard battalion, and I have never heard from them. Now I don't even know whether they are alive or dead." "Do you want to go home?" Long Bai's eyes showed reluctance.He has been wandering for many years and has long since lost his home. Di Bin thought for a while, then slowly shook his head. Qi Chu and Long Bai knew that they had at least one companion, and they had gratified smiles on their faces. "Then where are we going?" Qi Chu asked. Everyone fell silent. Ge Yuansheng had been looking up at the clear starry sky, and now he lowered his face to look at Yu Runsheng. The eyes of the other four people also unconsciously focused on Runsheng, as if he was the only one in the world who could give them the most important answer in life. Yu Runsheng still rested his forehead with his hands, his eyes hidden in the shadows. Five people were waiting silently.The crackling of firewood was clearly audible. Yu Runsheng stood up abruptly, and walked into the cave with everyone's worried eyes on his back. When Yu Runsheng came out, he was holding a large bottle of sorghum wine in his left hand, and under his right armpit was a roll of striped tiger skin, which was stripped from the tiger carcass thrown at Di Bin by the scythe that day.When Di Bin was sick and bored, he mended the arrow holes and knife edges in the tiger skin. Yu Runsheng chose a waist-high boulder outside the entrance of the cave, spread the tiger skin on it, and gently placed the wine bottle in the center of the tiger skin, and pulled out the cork on the bottle mouth. Yu Runsheng turned his head and glanced at the other five people, with a strange look in his eyes.Qi Chu was so frightened that he shivered. Yu Runsheng's eyes finally fell on Ge Yuansheng. "Give me 'Killing Weed'." Ge Yuansheng stood up, took off the gray cloth bag on his waist, untied the cloth, and handed the short knife "killing grass" with the scabbard inside to Yu Runsheng without hesitation. Yu Runsheng understood that Ge Yuansheng had given his life to himself. Yu Runsheng held the handle with his right hand, and crisply pulled out the two-foot cold blade of "killing grass". ——What Yu Runsheng was going to say next, the six people present - including Yu Runsheng himself - would never forget it for the rest of their lives.However, it was many years later that they really understood the significance of these words to their lives and even to history. "It's time to go down the mountain. But the sky is big and the earth is big, where are we going?" He pointed "killing grass" to the sky. "The sky has long abandoned us." He raised "killing grass" to his eyes.The knife light shone on his pale and thin face, reflecting a terrifying halo, which made the other five feel that Yu Runsheng's face was covered with a sacred atmosphere. "For the past few days—since I knew the war was over—I have been thinking: I have lived for twenty-five years, what have I gained today? I have killed people, and I have been hunted down. I have faced Death, knowing how cruel this world is. But apart from knowing this, Yu Runsheng has nothing—except you. You five men who drink rainwater and eat tiger meat with me are closer and more reliable than blood relatives .I'm so glad I got to know you." The five stood awe-inspiring, their eyes bloodshot with excitement. Yu Runsheng put down the scabbard, clenched his left hand into a fist, and "killed grass" with his right hand gently cut a shallow knife edge on the inside of his left forearm. The first drop of blood fell into the wine bottle on the tiger's skin and turned into a cloud.The clear ticking sound shook everyone's heartstrings. "Please become sworn brothers with me. Swear to live and die together." Except for Ge Yuansheng who was unable to speak and was gnashing his teeth, Long Bai, Qi Chu, Lian Shou, and Di Bin shouted at the same time: "Boss Yu!"