Chapter 138: Schemes (1)

Kong Sheng turned his head away. He knew there was no room left to negotiate with Nie Chuchen. This woman was as fierce as fire; she was liable to turn hostile at the slightest provocation. Furthermore, her temperament was straightforward and blunt, making any attempt at bargaining with her entirely unrealistic.

Kong Sheng smiled at Nangong Wang and said, "If you kill me, you will never get the prized horse. That is the first point. If I do not return down the mountain, my attendants will certainly report this to the imperial troops at the Jiangbei base. I am an official of the imperial court serving under the Prince of Guo; once the main army arrives, this tiny speck of land that is Chemen Mountain will surely be razed to the ground! As for which path to take, Master Nangong, you must weigh that for yourself."

Nangong Wang furrowed his brows, staring coldly at Kong Sheng, and fell silent.

Kong Sheng’s threat was laid out in the open, neither exaggerated nor fabricated. In fact, ever since Nangong Wang saw Nie Chuchen bring Kong Sheng back to the mountain alone, he had realized the many perils involved.

The reason the Chemen Mountain stronghold could remain here in peace, housing hundreds of bandits, was simply because the local government was a mere facade and the Prince of Guo across the river either had no time to spare or simply disdained to pay them any heed. If they were to provoke the Jiangbei imperial forces and bring a large army down upon them for a cleanup, the annihilation of Chemen Mountain would happen in the blink of an eye.

In this regard, Kong Sheng was not wrong.

But to release Kong Sheng just like that...? Not to mention that Nie Chuchen would never agree, even if she did, Nangong Wang himself felt it was inappropriate: Kong Sheng was an imperial official; if they released him, who knew if he would return with an army to seek revenge?

While Nangong Wang was sparring with Kong Sheng in wit and words, Nie Chuchen, who had been waiting for a long time, finally lost her patience. Unable to restrain herself any longer, she lashed out, "Enough of this noisy prattle! Someone, drag this wretch out and tie him to the flagpole! Let this leader end his life with a single arrow!"

Meng Zan shouted his assent from outside the hall. Leading several bandits, he rushed in with an aggressive air, pushing and shoving Kong Sheng out of the hall and binding him tightly to the flagpole located over a hundred paces across from the mountain stronghold’s assembly hall.

The cold wind whistled, brushing against his face like a blade. In the depths of winter, Chemen Mountain, being close to the north of the river, was frigid. Kong Sheng exhaled a breath, watching it mist into the air; he estimated the temperature to be around minus one or two degrees.

Bound tightly to the flagpole, Kong Sheng was surrounded by bandits in cotton robes, their arms tucked into their sleeves and their expressions hostile. Their whispers and discussions were endless, faintly drifting into his ears.

Kong Sheng strained his neck to look up at the overcast, gloomy sky, a touch of faint melancholy and despair flickering in his eyes.

***

In the end, he had overlooked a detail. He had calculated against Nangong Wang, but forgotten the crucial point: in the Chemen Mountain stronghold, Nangong Wang was not the one in charge. Nie Chuchen was an impulsive woman who did not play by the rules; what Nangong Wang feared, she might not care about at all.

Nie Chuchen strode out of the hall, wearing a black cloak and holding a longbow, radiating a murderous aura. Nangong Wang followed her out with a helpless and embarrassed expression, though a flicker of flame—whether real or imagined—danced in his eyes.

Nie Chuchen walked over and stood before Kong Sheng, letting the cold wind whip her cloak. Her beautiful face held a hidden intent to kill. "Little thief Kong Sheng, I will give you one last chance. Hand over the prized horse, and I will spare your life!"

Kong Sheng looked back at her, his expression calm. "The horse has already been taken to the Jiangbei army. I am afraid I must disappoint you."

Nie Chuchen flew into a rage. "Little thief, you are courting death!"

"Death?" Kong Sheng suddenly burst into wild laughter. "Since I dared to come here, do you think I fear death? You little vixen, stop threatening me! Do as you will—kill me or carve me up, it makes no difference!"

*You only die once, what is there to be afraid of?* That fierce, stubborn grit within him surged to the surface. Kong Sheng cast aside his gentle, refined demeanor and unleashed a string of curses. This only infuriated Nie Chuchen further. She stepped back, drew her bow into a full moon, and aimed the arrow at Kong Sheng’s throat.

Kong Sheng spat on the ground, raised his chin, and stared coldly at her.

At this point, he had completely lost the patience and confidence to negotiate with her. He knew clearly that this was different from before; his path in the Great Tang would likely end here. A ruthless, hardened outlaw like Nie Chuchen saw killing as a daily routine; once she turned hostile, she would show no mercy, and her threats were no idle words.

As for Mu Changfeng, Wu Xian, and Wu Jie, they were hidden at a location not far away as per his orders, but even if they had the heart to save him, it was beyond their reach.

Nangong Wang let out a heavy sigh. He bowed to Nie Chuchen and said, "Junior Sister, could you grant this senior brother a small favor and let me go over to speak with him?"

Nie Chuchen’s delicate lips twitched, and she nodded slightly, lowering her bow.

***

Nangong Wang walked over with fluid grace and stood before Kong Sheng, saying regretfully, "Young Master Kong, while there is life, there is hope. It is truly a pity to throw away your life for a mere horse. Listen to my advice: hand over the horse, and I will ensure you leave the mountain safely."

"For a mere horse, you would not hesitate to execute an imperial official. That is truly the height of arrogance, recklessness, and greed. Nangong Wang, listen to my advice as well: do not lose the greater for the lesser. When the army comes to encircle and annihilate you, it will be too late for regrets!" Kong Sheng sneered.

Nangong Wang took a deep breath. "Since you will not listen, then I have said all I can. My junior sister is as fierce as fire and cannot tolerate a single grain of sand in her eyes. Since she is determined to kill you, I cannot stop her. Before we part, if you have any last words or final wishes, tell me, and I will fulfill them one by one. Let this be the final favor of our acquaintance."

Kong Sheng looked at Nangong Wang with clear eyes, his thoughts racing, a thousand emotions surging in his heart. After a brief pause, he smiled faintly at Nangong Wang and nodded. "Master, your kindness is deeply appreciated."

"There are two things I must trouble you with."

"My sword was forged and gifted to me by a soulmate. I ask that you send someone to take it to Jiangning and deliver it to Miss Xue Ruo at the residence of Prefect Yang. Tell her that Kong Sheng’s life was cut short, and I can no longer fulfill our two-year promise. I have failed her deep devotion."

As he spoke, Kong Sheng slowly closed his eyes, and two clear tears rolled down his cheeks. A man does not shed tears easily, only when he has reached the depths of sorrow. In that moment, the bright and affectionate face of Yang Xueruo appeared in his mind; her gentle laughter still echoed in his ears, yet now, they were separated by life and death.

"Meetings and partings are fleeting; this regret is endless. This year’s blossoms are brighter than last year’s, yet it is a pity that next year’s will be even better, though I know not with whom I shall share them." Kong Sheng sighed softly. "Please tell Miss Xueruo for me: this life is at an end. If there is a next life, I wish to hold her hand, grow old with her, and never be parted again."

Nangong Wang was deeply moved, sighing repeatedly. He was a man who understood the depths of love, having mourned his late wife for years, unable to let go. Hearing Kong Sheng’s parting message, his emotions were stirred. He bowed low and said, word by word, "Rest assured, Young Master. I will deliver your dying words to Miss Yang without omitting a single one!"

Nie Chuchen stood not far away, taking in every word of the conversation between Kong Sheng and Nangong Wang. A flicker of complex emotion crossed her beautiful face, and the fierce, hard lines of her expression gradually softened.