Chapter 300: Sky High, Free for Birds to Fly

This meant that Hong Chenglüe either had to compromise with He Chunhua or follow through on his grand declarations. This put him in a very passive position. However, once He Lingchuan realized this, he felt an even deeper apprehension.

Hong Chenglüe knew his boasts couldn't be proven on the spot, so why did he still seek a face-to-face meeting with He Chunhua? What other arrangements did he have here?

He Lingchuan lowered his head and voiced his concerns. But after only a couple of sentences, He Chunhua nodded, cutting him off, "Alright, I understand."

From his angle, He Lingchuan could see He Chunhua's neck muscles were tightly strained, clearly indicating He Chunhua was not as calm as he appeared.

After a long while, the stone figure spoke again, "Let me see Ajin first."

This request was not excessive. He Chunhua turned his head and gestured with his chin, and the soldiers guarding the carriage door pulled it open.

Inside, the old woman had helped Ajin prop a pillow behind her back, allowing her to lean against the carriage wall. Only then did a spark of life return to Ajin's eyes. "Hong Lang."

"How are you?" The stone figure couldn't help but take two steps towards her. "Did they trouble you?"

"I'm fine, but you're being difficult." Ajin sighed, "It seems I'm dragging you down again."

The stone figure stated firmly, "You have never been a burden to me!"

In broad daylight, before a thousand people, these two were still displaying affection? He Chunhua cleared his throat and said to Ajin, "Madam Miao, don't forget our agreement."

Ajin's surname was Miao. He Chunhua had approached her multiple times over the past two days, asking her to persuade Hong Chenglüe. She had agreed, neither stubborn nor resistant.

Ajin ignored him completely, her eyes fixed on her husband on the peak: "Hong Lang, you don't have to worry about me anymore. From now on, the sky's the limit for birds to fly free!"

As she said this, she smiled at Hong Chenglüe, but black blood trickled from the corner of her mouth.

Hong Chenglüe and He Chunhua paled in shock, almost simultaneously exclaiming, "What are you doing!"

Hong Chenglüe was even more terrified, almost losing his mind: "How is this possible? I specifically took her medicine!"

He Chunhua lunged forward, no longer caring about his image. He forced open Ajin's mouth, seeing her teeth clenched tight, her body trembling uncontrollably, and blood flowing from all seven orifices.

He Lingchuan also rushed over, urgently ordering the Medicine Ape, "Lingguang, save her!"

Lingguang leaped into the carriage, sniffed the scent from Ajin's mouth, and then, pulling a gourd from somewhere, poured water into her mouth. "It's a potent poison called 'Cold Dove Powder,' used by assassins."

The liquid in the gourd was pale yellow, somewhat unpleasant-smelling but very clear.

Ajin's throat muscles were constricted, making swallowing impossible. Lingguang quickly pressed her throat twice with a paw, finally getting the liquid to gurgle down.

She choked, but Lingguang paid no mind, continuing to forcefully pour the liquid.

After about ten breaths, it turned Ajin over and forcefully pressed her abdomen: "Throw it up, quick!"

Ajin vomited profusely.

Lingguang then gave her more medicine for gastric lavage, preparing to induce vomiting again.

At that moment, no miracle cure was as effective as basic methods.

However, this time Ajin only managed to take two sips before she became unresponsive. No amount of pressing or manipulation had any effect.

"It's no use," Lingguang panted. "The poison acts too quickly."

As it administered the medicine, Lingguang could see that the woman's mouth was already corroded. Her more delicate internal organs were undoubtedly worse.

It was no exaggeration to describe this poison as 'killing upon contact with blood'.

In the states of Yuan and Beijia, Cold Dove Powder was known as a specialized 'mouth-sealing' poison.

"Try again!" He Chunhua exclaimed, his face stern. "Find another way!"

Hong Chenglüe was on the verge of compromising, and his plan was about to succeed. If Ajin died at this critical juncture, his trump card against Hong Chenglüe would be gone, and he would instead create a deep-seated enmity!

At that moment, he was furious, wondering why his subordinates hadn't thoroughly searched the paralyzed woman.

Had they lowered their guard just because she was disabled?

Lingguang tried several more methods, but Ajin remained motionless. He Lingchuan checked her pulse; it was gone.

"Father, she's dead."

As Ajin's poison took effect, the stone figure also charged forward frantically.

However, it was merely a mouthpiece, without much defensive capability. After a barrage from the surrounding soldiers, it quickly shattered into a pile of stones.

He Chunhua suppressed his chaotic thoughts and sharply ordered, "Seize Hong Chenglüe, quickly!"

A mortal enmity had been forged; he absolutely could not be allowed to leave this place alive.

Zeng Feixiong let out a whistle, and the nearby soldiers no longer hid. They leaped out of cover and charged towards the small peak.

He Chunhua's eyes darted, and he roared at Hong Chenglüe, "She's not dead! Your wife has been saved!"

With over ten zhang distance and many people blocking the view around the carriage, he didn't believe Hong Chenglüe could clearly see that Ajin was dead.

As long as Hong Chenglüe was uncertain, there was a chance to turn the situation around.

Hong Chenglüe, having seen black blood trickle from his wife's mouth through the stone figure, was utterly terrified, almost losing his mind, and instinctively moved to jump down.

Dong Rui grabbed his shoulder firmly: "Are you mad! You'll be walking straight into a trap!"

Hong Chenglüe violently shook him off, but unexpectedly, a giant claw reached out from the side and gripped his arm tightly. Hong Chenglüe couldn't immediately break free: "Let go! She's poisoned!"

It was the Ghost Ape, having revealed its true form, helping its master stop Hong Chenglüe. However, Hong Chenglüe's strength was immense, and the Ghost Ape, being injured itself, could only barely hold him back by using all its might.

Dong Rui shouted into Hong Chenglüe's ear: "Calm down! She willingly took the poison because she didn't want you to die!"

The word "die" was deafening. Hong Chenglüe froze, as if remembering something, and suddenly stopped struggling.

By this time, the stone figure had been shattered, and the Yuan army surged forward, rushing towards them. Nearby archers had already drawn their bows and nocked arrows.

"There's no time, we need to go!" Dong Rui waved his hand, and the monstrous bird behind him manifested. Its enormous body could easily carry two people for a short flight.

Hong Chenglüe stared intently at the nearby carriage, his eyes red and his breathing ragged.

Dong Rui leaped onto the bird's back, urging continuously: "Go! Hurry, hurry, go!"

If they didn't leave now, it would be too late.

Hong Chenglüe, almost grinding his teeth to dust, turned his head and leaped onto the bird's back. The Ghost Ape transformed back into a small monkey and jumped into Dong Rui's arms.

The monstrous bird flapped its wings, taking to the sky just before over a dozen arrows could reach it.

Then, Hong Chenglüe heard He Chunhua's shout, and the muscles in his cheeks involuntarily twitched.

Fearing Hong Chenglüe might act foolishly out of anger and distress, Dong Rui quickly said, "He's trying to trick you, don't believe him!"

Hong Chenglüe's voice sounded as if it came from an ice cellar: "That's Cold Dove Powder, an incurable poison!"

He had distributed this very drug to Beijia's secret agents before; he recognized it instantly!

It also had another name, 'Ten Breaths Soul Snatcher Powder,' so Ajin was now...

Dong Rui, sitting in front, couldn't help but shiver. He could distinctly feel the fury of the man behind him, practically erupting.

Suddenly, Hong Chenglüe unslung the longbow from his back, nocked an arrow, and shot.

He wasn't aiming at He Chunhua, but at the ground—

specifically, the sandy ground beneath the charging Yuan soldiers.

Hong Chenglüe fired a volley of arrows, and with three distinct "whoosh" sounds, each arrow buried itself more than a foot into the ground. Besides the soft sandy ground, this also demonstrated the immense strength of his arms.

Then, this wide, flat area of ground exploded. The explosion was earth-shattering, sending sand and stones flying. The rising dust cloud reached four or five zhang high.

Over twenty Yuan soldiers, leading the charge, were instantly enveloped in the dust, their fates unknown.

There was an ambush underground! Those following immediately halted, daring not to charge forward.

Besides, their target was now in the sky; what was the point of infantry advancing further?

The explosives that the Xunzhou people had acquired from the abandoned mine once again proved useful.

With skilled archers below, the monstrous bird dared not linger. It flew higher and higher, using the billowing smoke from the explosion as cover, and soon disappeared into the dark clouds.

He Chunhua looked up, staring at its disappearing form, knowing that Hong Chenglüe was also staring back at him.

The hatred and malevolence in that gaze felt like thorns in his back.

It wasn't until the monstrous bird vanished into the clouds that He Chunhua coldly ordered, "Withdraw troops, return to camp!"

The remaining soldiers immediately stepped forward to clear the battlefield and attend to the wounded.

On the way back to camp, the chilling aura emanating from He Chunhua made everyone avoid him as much as possible.

As soon as they reached the camp, He Lingchuan slipped away under the pretext of aiding the wounded.

His father was seething with rage; why invite trouble?

The recent explosion had killed three Yuan soldiers, severely wounded seven, and lightly injured twenty-one. Lingguang also went to help with the treatment. At this point, a soldier approached He Lingchuan to ask how to handle the woman's corpse.

The troops had brought the carriage back, which contained Ajin's body and the old woman, who was trembling with fear.

He Lingchuan sighed. "Leave her to me."

He left the carriage under the guard of his personal attendants. Just as he was about to return to his tent, he saw Zhao Pan approaching him.

"How did the trip to Hundred Phoenix Valley go?" Zhao Pan asked. Seeing He Lingchuan's expression and the troops' morale, his heart sank. "No agreement?"

Although he disapproved of He Chunhua's methods, he still hoped Hong Chenglüe would leave Xia Province.

"No. Ajin poisoned herself and died, right in front of Hong Chenglüe."

Zhao Pan was greatly shocked: "What!"

Without asking He Lingchuan further, he quickly went to find He Chunhua.

About an hour later, He Lingchuan heard that several soldiers had been dragged out and flogged forty times. As for the old woman who served Ajin, her head was simply cut off.

Those soldiers were likely the ones previously assigned to monitor Ajin but failed to discover she had hidden poison, which was a dereliction of duty.

As for the old woman's death... that was He Chunhua's misplaced rage.

He Lingchuan also heard the sounds of an argument coming from the main tent.

Who else could be arguing there but He Chunhua and Zhao Pan?

At such a time, He Lingchuan naturally wouldn't approach the enraged Commander He; that would be asking for trouble.

As a result, he successfully kept a low profile until the beginning of the Hai hour (9 PM), when He Chunhua seemed to finally remember him and sent someone to summon him.

When He Lingchuan entered He Chunhua's tent, he saw that the desk and chairs were overturned, clearly the work of the tent's occupant.

No one dared to right them, indicating that Commander He was still fuming.

He could only brace himself, walk in, and call out, "Father."

He Chunhua, who had been standing with his hands behind his back and his back to He Lingchuan, turned around at the sound: "You saw Ajin a few days ago, did you not notice her resolve to die?"

"No, she was very polite to her son," He Lingchuan replied, naturally not admitting anything. "She didn't seem like someone contemplating suicide."

He Chunhua flicked his sleeve. "You have no discernment whatsoever!"

He Lingchuan thought to himself: *You're no different. You spoke with her at least three or four times, yet you didn't notice anything unusual, did you?*

Ajin had deceived everyone.