Thinking about ZiLi, Hong Xu felt both angry and worried. Even if they were quarreling, there should be limits. What if he encountered a ferocious beast after recklessly entering the dense forest? The thought of the bloody scene of ZiLi being attacked by a tiger made Hong Xu shiver.
That little brat, just wait until I catch him. I will spank him until his butt blooms! Hong Xu cursed inwardly.
He ordered everyone to assemble immediately and enter the dense forest on the back mountain to conduct a thorough search, turning the hunt into a rescue mission. Shouts, hoofbeats, and barking dogs echoed through the woods. The usually tranquil forest was thrown into an uproar by their intrusion, sending birds into flight and foxes scurrying for cover, while timid animals cowered in their burrows, not daring to move.
As the search area gradually shrank, there was still no trace of ZiLi. Beneath the weight of Hong Xu’s growing fury, the guards around him kept their heads down trembling with fear, afraid that the slightest mistake would make them the target of the Emperor’s wrath. Inwardly, they could not help grumbling about that insignificant Prince of Bei Ling who just had to go and cause trouble.
“Reporting to Your Majesty!” A guard rode over and presented an arrow. “This subject found this on a tree trunk.”
Hong Xu took it, turning the arrowhead over, and to his shock saw the characters ‘WanQi’ engraved on it. His expression turned grave at once. “Summon General WanQi!”
“Reporting to Your Majesty,” the guard who had been summoned back said cautiously, “General WanQi has also vanished without a trace!”
“What is going on?”
“This subject has already inquired, General WanQi did not enter the forest for the hunt. According to his guards, he left alone during the earlier competition, and they are now also searching for the General’s whereabouts!”
Hong Xu’s heart sank upon hearing this. “Immediately dispatch more people to search for the Prince of Bei Ling, General WanQi, and Prince Qing. No one returns until they are found!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, a patch of blood was found on the grass ahead!”
The bloodstains were a dark red, splattered across the leaves and soil, extending about five steps before the trail vanished. Around it were chaotic hoofprints, trampling the otherwise intact grassland into a messy, devastated patch. Judging from the scene, it seemed the injured person had remained on horseback, engaging in a prolonged pursuit or circling struggle with another rider.
“Is it human blood?” Hong Xu asked the kneeling guard in a deep voice.
“It is, Your Majesty!”
Hong Xu’s grip on the reins immediately tightened. “Someone, hurry back to the Palace and bring the ‘Holder of Panacea’ to take a look. If he refuses, tie him up and bring him by force.”
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 108 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
Who exactly is injured? And why are they injured? Was it an attack by beasts? Or…… Thinking of the feathered arrow that had embedded itself into the tree trunk, Hong Xu grew even more restless and uneasy.The search area was expanded once again. They had already ventured deep into the heart of the dense forest. Under normal circumstances, they would not enter this dangerous region to hunt, because compared to the outer areas, far more hidden threats lurked here, capable of striking without warning.
Suddenly, a cry of alarm came from ahead.
“What happened?” Hong Xu asked.
“A tiger was spotted ahead. It might go berserk and harm you, Your Majesty. Please, Your Majesty, return to the Palace first!” a general came forward and said.
“We are the Son of Heaven. To turn back just because We have encountered a mere beast, does the general take Us for a cowardly rat?”
“This subject dares not.” The general bowed.
“Advance, let us take a look!” Everyone protected Hong Xu as they rode forward.
***
On a flat area of the mountain hollow, a nearly full-grown white tiger with golden-blue eyes glared at a black horse opposite it. The black horse remained completely still, its dark, gleaming eyes staring back in warning at the restless tiger.The tiger and the horse were confronting each other with intense focus, completely ignoring the sounds coming from the onlookers. Both were waiting for the perfect moment to strike, each ready to deliver a fatal blow to the other.
Seeing the black horse, Hong Xu’s heart was thrown into chaos. If my baby’s horse is here, then where is my baby?
At that moment, the black horse shifted slightly. Seizing the opening, the white tiger crouched low, then suddenly pushed off with its hind legs, baring its fangs as it lunged for the black horse’s neck.
Everyone held their breath as the tiger pounced with full force and the black horse remained motionless. Just as it seemed the horse would be killed, it suddenly reared up. The white tiger, having missed its target, faltered in confusion. In the next instant, it felt a searing pain at the back of its head. Realizing too late that the horse’s iron hammer like forehooves had struck its head, the tiger collapsed with a loud ‘thud’. The crowd could not help but cheer loudly at the black horse’s tactic of luring the enemy into a trap.
The guards rushed forward, securely tying up the dazed white tiger. Qu Zi raised its hooves, shaking off the people around it, circled Hong Xu once, then suddenly veered off and broke into a wild gallop.
Hong Xu immediately spurred his horse after it. Seeing this, the others cracked their whips and followed in pursuit.
***
“Cough, cough――” ZiLi clutched his chest, coughing up blood as he staggered backward unsteadily.Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 108 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
Behind him lay a mountain gorge so deep that its bottom could not be seen. Before him stood an enemy driven into a bloodthirsty frenzy.ZiLi was drenched in cold sweat, leaning against a large rock to support his body that was on the verge of collapse. “……General WanQi…… I know, no matter what I say now…… you will think I am lying. But please think about it…… if I were really the one who hired the assassin, why would I let the assassin openly kidnap someone and shout out something that would expose my identity?”
“Shut up, you wicked wretch!” WanQi PengWei’s eyes were bloodshot as he kept his bow tightly aimed at ZiLi. “You slaughtered my son, and with the Emperor shielding you and helping you evade punishment, I, WanQi, could swallow this shameful grievance as my unfilial son was guilty and deserved to be punished. But my poor grandson, not even six years old yet, what enmity did he ever have with you? Why did you hire assassins again to strangle him to death while still alive!”
“I didn’t!” ZiLi hurriedly defended himself. In his agitation, a sharp, unbearable pain flared again in his chest. That strike had truly been vicious!
WanQi PengWei abruptly pulled a piece of paper from his robes and flung it down in front of ZiLi. “This was left beside my grandson’s body. It is the joint petition, I, this old man, submitted with more than a dozen court officials after refusing to accept the Ministry of Justice’s final ruling on my son’s case, demanding that you, this wicked demon, be beheaded in public! You must have caught wind of it, which is why you had my grandson killed, to warn this old man!” WanQi PengWei roared. “I concealed his death and did not held a funeral precisely for this day, to personally kill you, you wicked being, and avenge my son, my grandson, and the Hong dynasty’s throne!”
The arrow left the bowstring, its arrowhead glinting with a bluish light as it shot straight toward ZiLi’s chest, aiming for a vital point. At the critical moment, a feathered arrow suddenly flew in from the side. With a sharp ‘clang’, the two arrows struck each other and fell to the ground.
WanQi PengWei roared and leaped forward, grabbing ZiLi and holding him in front of him.
Hong Xu suppressed the lingering fear in his heart and looked at WanQi PengWei, who seemed close to hysteria. “General, is it worth the trouble? You are a senior of virtue and prestige in the Imperial court. Do you want to ruin your reputation because of a momentary lapse in judgment?”
“My WanQi family is about to be destroyed. What use is reputation to me now!” WanQi PengWei’s emotions grew even more agitated.
The people who arrived shortly afterward were all shocked when they saw the scene before them.
“If you let him go, We will hold no past actions against you!”
The hand gripping his throat tightened even further. ZiLi, already in a semi unconscious state, instinctively opened his mouth to gasp for air. Watching ZiLi’s ashen, bloodless face, Hong Xu felt a sharp pang of distress.
Please read His Majesty's Hostage Chapter 108 on Project Bezemwagen :-)
“Stand back, or this old man will snap his neck right now!” a sharp bark forced everyone’s steps to a halt. WanQi PengWei dragged ZiLi back toward the edge of the gorge. The mountain wind whipped at them, making their figures sway precariously. The sight of such a mutual destruction stance sent chills through everyone present.“General WanQi,” someone from the crowd stepped forward, “Listen to me, Li. Sacrificing your life for that insignificant male pet is really not worth it.” That man called Li held the same rank as WanQi PengWei in the court, and they were also on fairly close terms in private.
“Yes, General! Even if you do not think of yourself, you should at least think of your wife, who has shared your hardships together for decades. She has already lost her son, if you abandon her as well, how utterly miserable and alone she would be!”
“General, there are over a hundred people in your household. Does the General intend to have them all buried with that mere male pet as well?”
Hong Xu no longer cared whether the pleas were genuine or not. He silently watched as WanQi PengWei gradually calmed down, weighing and considering. Seeing him waver, everyone worked hard to persuade him.
At that moment, a sudden gale howled through the air, accompanied by a thunderous roar. A colossal beast with deep blue wings and razor sharp claws abruptly rose from the gorge behind them.
“Aaah――Lin, Lin Long!” someone stammered, pointing at the massive beast coiling in the air.
Everyone was stunned. Hong Xu, however, tried to take advantage of that split second of distraction to rush toward WanQi PengWei and seize ZiLi. Unexpectedly, WanQi PengWei was exceptionally alert. The moment Hong Xu made his move, he immediately tightened his grip on ZiLi’s throat again, and the situation was back to where it started.
“Stop!” WanQi PengWei went out of control again. “Trying to deceive this old man? It’s not that easy! Today, he must die!” he roared. With that roar, and his eyes bloodshot, WanQi PengWei suddenly tightened his grip around ZiLi and leapt backward off the edge……
I am really sorry everyone, but my hiatus ended up lasting longer than I had hoped (◡﹏◡✿)
And, this chapter has ended on a literal cliffhanger (´∀｀;)
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