Chapter Seventy: Listen to Me!

Thanks to his superb acting skills, Jiang Yuan managed to muddle through the crisis. The group returned to the military camp without incident, but as soon as they arrived, they found that the entire army had already assembled in neat ranks outside the camp, awaiting their return.

This puzzled Wen Zhong. Could it be that word of their triumphant return had already reached the camp? That didn’t seem likely—even the swiftest news couldn’t have arrived this fast.

He called out to E Lai, who stood at the very front of the formation, “General E Lai, what’s going on here?”

Hearing the Grand Preceptor’s voice, E Lai thought for a moment he was hallucinating. But when he turned around, he saw it truly was the Grand Preceptor himself. He was at a loss—wasn’t the Grand Preceptor supposed to have fallen victim to the sorcery of the Corpse Fiend Tribe, trapped and cursed? How was he now standing before him, alive and well?

“Your subordinate greets the Grand Preceptor! I never imagined you would break through the siege so quickly—your safe return fills us with immense joy!” E Lai responded happily.

Wen Zhong eyed E Lai’s demeanor. It seemed they truly hadn’t known in advance that he had been rescued and returned victorious. So why had they assembled?

“Why has the army been drawn up in formation?” Wen Zhong asked with a frown. Under normal circumstances, unless he gave the order, E Lai did not have the authority to muster so many troops at once.

E Lai hesitated, then replied, “Weren’t you trapped by the Corpse Fiend Tribe, Grand Preceptor?”

“I was indeed trapped by them, but tell me, how did you know about it?” Wen Zhong’s frown deepened.

E Lai answered honestly, “General Yu Qing brought me the news—wasn’t it you who sent him back to report?”

At this, Wen Zhong flew into a rage. Yu Qing was his disciple; he’d been worried when he couldn’t find him, but hadn’t expected that the boy had slipped away from battle and run back to call for reinforcements!

“Guards! Bring Yu Qing here at once!” Wen Zhong thundered.

The other soldiers looked at each other in confusion. If it hadn’t been for Yu Qing, they wouldn’t have learned that the Grand Preceptor was trapped. Why was the Grand Preceptor so furious?

“What are you waiting for? Bring Yu Qing here!” E Lai barked at the men. He knew that at times like this, it was best not to cross the Grand Preceptor in his wrath.

Soon, a handsome young man was escorted forward by two soldiers.

Although he was being forcefully brought before Wen Zhong, the youth’s face showed not a trace of fear. He stood calm, as if he had expected this moment all along.

Wen Zhong glared at Yu Qing, his face dark with anger. “Yu Qing, do you know your crime?!”

“Grand Preceptor, what crime have I committed?” Yu Qing met Wen Zhong’s gaze unflinchingly.

Wen Zhong was his master, but at this moment, he could not address him as such—military protocol had its own rules. Under normal circumstances, Wen Zhong’s fury would have left him anxious, but this time, Yu Qing truly believed he had done no wrong.

Seeing his disciple so stubborn and unrepentant, Wen Zhong immediately drew his double whips and lashed Yu Qing hard.

Yu Qing winced at the pain but made no sound, refusing to admit any guilt.

“Cowardice and desertion in the face of battle—running back to fetch reinforcements—this is a grave military offense! How have I taught you all these years? Without the commander’s order, no one is permitted to retreat, not even a single step!”

“You ungrateful disciple! What have you learned from me all these years?” Wen Zhong was beside himself with rage.

Yu Qing met Wen Zhong’s eyes calmly and said quietly, “I did not act out of cowardice. My actions were for the sake of the thousands of soldiers who accompanied you to the Corpse Fiend Tribe.”

“If I had not returned to report, those thousands would have been wiped out.”

“Nonsense! Do you think I would endanger their lives?” Wen Zhong’s eyes blazed as he lashed Yu Qing again.

Yu Qing stifled a groan, still stubbornly refusing to beg for mercy.

“The Grand Preceptor was cursed by the Corpse Fiend Tribe. Thousands of soldiers were trapped on the cliffs. If I hadn’t returned, the consequences would have been unimaginable.”

“Yet here I am, alive and well! Look at those behind me—did any of them flee like you?” Wen Zhong rained down blows on Yu Qing.

“When I took you as my disciple, I never imagined you’d turn out to be such a coward!” Wen Zhong ground his teeth.

“Guards! Drag Yu Qing out and execute him! Our great Shang army has no place for cowards! Desertion is punishable by death—let this serve as a warning to all!”

Hearing himself denounced again and again as a coward, Yu Qing could bear it no longer. Tears welled up in his eyes as he shouted at Wen Zhong, “I am not a coward! I just couldn’t bear to see thousands of our men slaughtered, or you, Grand Preceptor, fall like that!”

With that, Yu Qing suddenly stood upright, stripped off his armor and tunic, and exposed his bare torso.

The sight shocked everyone present—not only was he covered in the wounds of battle, but there was also the unmistakable mark of death upon him!

His body was covered in corpse blotches identical to those Wen Zhong himself had borne. This could only mean that Yu Qing too had fallen victim to the Corpse Fiend Tribe’s deadly curse.

Wen Zhong looked on in confusion. When had Yu Qing been cursed? Could it be that Yu Qing had shielded him from part of the curse? No wonder the tribe’s all-out malediction hadn’t felt so overwhelming to him.

If that were the case, then his earlier actions and words had been unjust.

A young man who knew he was doomed, forcing his cursed and decaying body through the enemy’s gauntlet, suffering grievous wounds, all just to reduce the toll of war—how could he truly deserve punishment?

Wen Zhong’s tone softened, though it remained stern. “Military law is military law—there is no room for doubt. I take back what I said about you being a coward, but your transgression must still be punished.”

Hearing himself forgiven, Yu Qing let go of his resentment and smiled freely. “I accept whatever punishment you see fit, Grand Preceptor. Disobeying orders and deserting in battle is a capital offense.”

Since the curse would kill him anyway, it would be better to die by his master’s hand and uphold military discipline.

Wen Zhong was deeply moved. This was indeed the disciple he had chosen. Of course, he was loath to kill him. But since Yu Qing had given him this way out, he couldn’t refuse. Now, he hoped someone would have the sense to plead for mercy, giving him an excuse to spare Yu Qing.

“Very good! Worthy to be my disciple. Guards, drag him away—execute him!” the Grand Preceptor ordered.

Everyone was bewildered. After all that had happened, would they really execute Yu Qing?

E Lai was unsure whether he should obey. If they really killed Yu Qing, it would surely wound the army’s morale.

Wen Zhong himself grew anxious—why wasn’t anyone speaking up for his disciple? Couldn’t someone say something, give him an excuse to pardon the boy?

For a moment, the entire camp was silent.

At last, a weak cough broke the stillness. Jiang Yuan dismounted from the ink qilin and, accompanied by Zhang Kui, slowly approached the Grand Preceptor and said with a faint smile, “Grand Preceptor, might I offer a suggestion? There are extenuating circumstances here—why not let this matter rest? Yu Qing has atoned for his actions.”

“If he hadn’t brought word, I would never have known of your plight, and the outcome could have been disastrous.”

Who would have thought that in the end, it would fall to him—the “wounded invalid”—to resolve this awkward standoff? Well, as always, some things simply had to be done by oneself.