Chapter 13 Suicide

In the heavily guarded shack, A’Shu was anxiously waiting for Liu Xun.

When she was in the same room with him, she felt somehow at ease. Now that she was by herself, panic began to strike her. From time to time, there were ferocious bruisers patrolling around the hut. It was now the fifth day. According to Liu Xun, Wang Shu would release them today.

She tried to think of her elder brother and sister-in-law, who must be busy right now. Her thoughts strayed to Liu Xun, who was always calm and cool-headed. Only then did her mind gradually settled, but suddenly she heard a racket outside.

“…when did no one listen to my words anymore? Get out of my way!” This pissed voice could only be Xu Guang’s. A’Shu dared not forget his gruff and fierce voice.

“The chief leader has prohibited anyone from entering. The deputy leader should not make it difficult for us!”

Immediately afterwards, there were several muffled sounds. The guards fell down on their knees, kowtowing and begging for mercy.

Xu Guang looked up at the sky and sneered three times. His eyes became redder. He said angrily, “Very good. Even myself is not allowed to enter this door! Isn’t he just a newly-conferred prince? He’s not even worth a fart in my Western Hills! Today, I’ll do him good!” He rolled up his sleeves, lifted his legs and threw himself at the gatekeepers.

Xu Guang was born with supernatural power. Even though he was slightly drunk, several young men could not keep him out. He trampled them away and kicked the door open.

Inside the room, A’Shu was shivering in the corner beside the couch. Just now, she noticed that the situation was not right. Knowing that she wouldn’t be able to escape, she took off her jade hairpin and tightly held it in her hand under her sleeve. At this moment, her head was covered with scattered hair, and her apricot eyes were misty. The faint glow on her pale cheeks caused by nervousness only made her look more attractive.

Xu Guang’s eyes seemed to split. He felt the blood rushing all over his body. Heart itching, he strode forward and picked her up. He threw her onto the simple low bed and followed suit.

A beauty was a beauty after all 一a first-class regardless of skin and bones. A’Shu hadn’t groomed well for several days. She could only wipe her cheeks, neck and black hair with a towel pad dipped in a pitiful amount of cold water every day. Regardless, a faint fragrance still lingered. Xu Guang felt dizzy and hot.

As soon as he caught A’Shu’s hands, he pulled her clothes with brute force. He heard a crisp tearing sound as the lotus-colored dress was torn off from her shoulder.

Half of the beauty’s pink shoulder was bared. It was round, exquisitely carved and as smooth as jade, which made people indulge in pleasure without stopping.

Xu Guang was stunned. His eyes became redder. Trembling, he released his grip on A’Shu. His rough huge palm caressed her. Reeking of alcohol, he spat in a rough voice, “Damn, you are too beautiful for that cheap Liu Xun!”

His head pressed down and he was about to bite on that piece of skin when several men outside who had just been knocked around finally recovered. Seeing how bad the situation was, they quickly rose from the ground. One of them ran to report to Wang Shu, while the other two rushed into the room and tried to drive Xu Guang away.

Xu Guang didn’t notice for a while until he was pulled off. He staggered back two steps, and with a roar, he wanted to shake them off. A’Shu took advantage of the reprieve. Disregarding the pain all over her body, she immediately covered the torn clothes with one hand. She held the jade hairpin tightly with the other hand, and strove to stab him.

This stab unexpectedly went straight into his right shoulder socket. Immediately, blood gushed out like stream.

Xu Guang went mad from the pain. Ignoring the wound, he struggled again. Like a trapped animal, he shook the two men off. He strode towards A’Shu, stretched out a bloodstained hand and slapped her on the cheek. “Bitch, how dare you hurt me! Today, I will teach you what I’m capable of!”

He stretched out his hand and swung it down again.

A’Shu was knocked down on the low bed. Her head spun, her cheeks burned and her ears were buzzing. She saw another blow coming but the pain did not arrive. Instead, a slanted hand firmly blocked Xu Guang’s attack. Right after, a wooden spear was pressed accurately against the blood vessels on his neck.

The sharp touch on the side of his neck woke Xu Guang at once. He turned his head and saw Liu Xun.

He stood tall and straight, holding a wooden spear in one hand and grasping Xu Guang’s hand in the other. His face was cold and solemn, so unlike the gentle and sincere appearance of countless days ago. The biting chill in his eyes was particularly terrifying.

Relying on his brute force, Xu Guang tried to wriggle and struggle, but he never expected the elegant Liu Xun to be far more powerful than ordinary people. He could not break away from him at all.

“Second Brother, how can you do such a beastly thing?” Suppressing anger and panic, Wang Shu’s trembling voice came from behind.

Wang Shu stepped forward to his side and slapped him in front of the crowd. Fearfully, he bowed to Liu Xun and said, “May Your Highness punish Wang Shu for his incompetence of restraining his subordinates.”

Xu Guang looked at Wang Shu, who had suddenly become completely submissive. He was shocked and outraged. He stretched out his hand to pull him up. “Why is Elder Brother so weak? If I kill this surnamed Liu today and take this woman by force, who can do anything to me?”

Wang Shu was deeply resentful but this was not the time to lose his temper. He had to strike Xu Guang’s knees, forcing him to kneel down. “The Prince of Xiao’s reinforcements have arrived. There are six thousand of them waiting at the foot of the mountain with iron armors, long swords and six hundred stones of provisions. I have just surrendered to the Prince of Xiao, but here you are, comitting a big mistake!”

Ignoring them, Liu Xun took off his robe and bent down to cover A’Shu. Picking her up in his arms, he strode out of the door.

Before leaving, he looked down at Wang Shu and said indifferently, “Can’t even restrain a single subordinate. Of what use are you all to this orphaned one? Do as you see fit.”

Wang Shu looked at Xu Guang with complicated eyes, struggling and hesitating.

After conversing with Liu Xun earlier, he only felt that he was a rare master with strategic and astute mind. Given the current situation, if they continue to live as outlaws for a long time, they would sooner or later be mowed down by the surrounding warlord regimes. Liu Xun was willing to put aside the past grudges and accept the Red Turbans. How could such a good thing be spoiled by Xu Guang?

Xu Guang wasn’t aware of this. He was only furious when he heard that Wang Shu had defected. “How can Elder Brother make this choice? In recent years of several disasters, it was those tyrannical aristocrats who forced us commoners to a dead end. Now, it’s easy to live here. Why do we have to bow to them?”

Wang Shu urgently advised, “Second Brother, how can one be a bandit all his life? Most of our brothers were only forced to make this living. If we follow the Prince of Xiao, we will be able to earn a decent living in the future. We can kill the enemy in the battle and have food and money when we return. Who doesn’t yearn for such a day?” In a low voice, he explained the advantages and disadvantages that Liu Xun had just evaluated. After listening, Xu Guang’s rejection and incomprehension gradually transformed into shock, and finally turned into remorse and self-reproach.

Sobering up, his regret escalated as he looked at his brothers waiting to get the food. Only then did he realize that he had jeopardized the whole Red Turbans because of his whim.

The reinforcement must have come from the surrounding areas of Shexian. If they were to meet the iron armors and long swords head on, the bandits might be destroyed before they get the food.

With a bleak face, he said in a gloomy voice, “Elder Brother, what shall I do to salvage this matter?”

Wang Shu sighed, “You saved my life once. As an elder brother, I should be responsible for you. I will ask the Prince of Xiao for a pardon later.”

After speaking, he got up and left first.

Xu Guang looked at his departing back. He touched the wound on his shoulder that had just stopped bleeding and felt the pain. Hesitating again and again, he finally made up his mind. He suddenly got up and followed.

……

When the Red Turbans came down the mountain, Liu Xun had already returned to his army with A’Shu in his arms and carefully sent her into the carriage.

Zhao You’s eyes turned red at the sight of his younger sister’s disheveled appearance. He drew out his sword and cut off the thick trunk of a tree on the side. He demanded angrily at the group of Red Turbans, “You villains dare to bully my younger sister! Who on earth did it? Give me a name!”

Even though Liu Ji and others did not like Lady Zhao, they were similarly indignant. They pulled out their swords one after another. Lady Zhao was the Princess Consort of Xiao. To bully her was to challenge the Prince of Xiao’s authority.

Meeting the six thousand fully armed soldiers was very frightening. The Red Turbans was composed of refugees and had never been in a battle before. Everyone was anxious and afraid to speak.

Wang Shu was about to take the responsibility, but Xu Guang stepped ahead of him. He knelt down in front of the crowd with a plop and said in a deep voice, “Due to the effects of the alcohol, my mind was muddled. Fortunately, I was stopped by the Prince and my elder brother. Otherwise, a great disaster would have happened. I know my crime. Please deal with me according to the military law.”

Liu Xun’s face was expressionless. He looked down at Xu Guang and made a gesture to Liu Ji.

Liu Ji understood and threw out a knife. The edge of the knife made a rough and ghostly sound against the side of the rock. He said coldly, “The offender disrespected the military discipline and must be executed according to the military law.”

Everyone held their breath and looked at Xu Guang in unison. Xu Guang was a little stunned. Panic stabbed his heart. Just now, he was only showing off his bravado, thinking that a helping hand would reach out in time. At most, he would only be beaten and reprimanded. He never expected that the consequences would be so heavy.

He stared at Liu Xun in a daze, trying to see a slight softening on his blank face. However, he was shocked by those extremely cold and unfeeling eyes. He dared not move any more.

Wang Shu was also startled. He thought that their surrender would provide them some leniency, but now it looked like there was no room to save the situation.

Remembering Xu Guang’s life-saving kindness, Wang Shu gritted his teeth and knelt down. “Your Highness, Xu Guang once saved my life. Today, he made a mistake. I can’t escape the responsibility. I’m willing to be punished for him!”

He was a simple and righteous man who had always been ready to rally for the sake of the Red Turbans. Seeing their leader like this, the refugees also begged Liu Xun for mercy.

However, Xu Guang was also a brave man. He couldn’t stand this kind of agitation the most. When he saw people pleading for mercy, he was very embarrassed. His heart was even more suffocated. Impulsively, he stood up and took the wooden spear from one side. With fierce round eyes, he cried out, “Everyone, Xu Guang’s crime should not be borne by others. Isn’t it just one life? I was desperate in my early years, but this year, I have already lived a life with the Red Turbans. Now, this life will return to Heaven!”

After speaking, he took his life with the wooden spear.

Suddenly, blood splattered. His mouth foamed with thick red liquid. His massive body made a dull sound as it fell down.

Silence reigned all around. Everyone was shaken as they looked at Xu Guang, who died suddenly.

Liu Xun’s face looked a little weary. After ordering people to carry Xu Guang’s body, he looked around and declared with dignity, “Today, you will be under the command of Liu Xun. The six hundred stones of food will be used as military provision. All the crimes you have committed in the past will be written off. In the future, if Liu Xun is present, no one will ever go hungry.” His tone suddenly turned sharp, “However, since you follow Liu Xun, you must also strictly observe military discipline. Today, let Xu Guang serve as a warning. I hope you will keep this in mind.”

In this way, leniency and severity were balanced. The Red Turbans had never seen such a personage before. They could not help but be overwhelmed by the majesty of the Prince of Xiao.

Without touching a single drop of blood, Liu Xun secured additional ten thousand troops under his belt.