The Legend of Su Kuang By Piao Deng - Chapter 08
Chapter 8 « Prequel: Breaking the Formation · Dragon’s Roar » (8)
8. Narrow Escape Encounter
Seven Lines of Chanting
Northern clouds tread the vast sky
Startled, breaking the river’s wave and shadow
Strategy and plans unfold
Sunken boats and lingering sorrow
Hesitation Order
Su Kuang sat in the driver’s seat, gently shaking his head in sorrow: « Catching the thief is catching the thief, but losing the phoenix’s dawn, the enemy is fierce, the sword lies in the enemy’s hands, how can we not be ashamed? Ah, the situation is urgent, we must hurry and chase after them. »
Feng Xidan secretly pulled the curtain aside to observe from a distance, unable to hide her embarrassment: « If the enemy knows we are here, won’t they be even more cautious? Should we really risk exposing ourselves to catch them? »
« Cheers. » Su Kuang held the wine pouch, gulped down the wine, and then tossed it to Feng Xi, saying, « Here. »
Feng Xi threw away the wine pouch and said, « A little wound, it’s better to drink wine. »
Su Kuang chuckled, « Tsk tsk, fresh wound, how can you just rub it and tear it apart? Take this chance to drink some wine, otherwise, you won’t get to drink it. »
Feng Xi shook her head, « Send this to Fifth Master as a lecture, you shouldn’t waste good wine on a small wound, or else you might suddenly get worse and escape. »
Heh heh heh. » Su Kuang suppressed a cold laugh, « No way, a little wound, a little wine, a little memorial arch.
Feng Xi slowly lay back, obediently swallowing a pill, and said coldly, « Who the hell is defiling the memorial arch? »
Su Kuang frowned, cracked his knuckles, and said, « This is a matter of the officials. Feng Xi, you just need to focus on your own affairs and not get involved. If you interfere, you’ll only bring trouble upon yourself. »
Feng Xi lifted the collar of her chestnut-colored robe, covering her face, « I’m just afraid of causing a mess, enough, enough, Su Kuang, you’ve done enough, rest for a moment, then we’ll continue shouting later. »
Su Kuang shook his head, turned the reins, but in the end did not speak. He looked at the wild trail ahead, cracked his whip fiercely, « Giddy up! Giddy up, go! » The horse seemed to both admire and regret.
Suddenly, the steed under the reins let out a sharp neigh, ears twitching, as if startled by the wild path ahead.
The two horses galloped swiftly, their hooves pounding the ground. Feng Xi’s horse leapt forward, while Su Kuang’s horse slowed, staring at the noisy dust and chaos, his expression filled with anger.
« Feng Xi, wait! » Su Kuang frowned.
Although Feng Xi’s words were teasing, his mouth was tightly closed, and his right hand clenched into a fist in an instant, only to finally relax——the iron armor of the front-line troops shone, the rolling banners fluttered against the tall grass, waves surged like a storm, giant waves soared into the air, fierce and roaring.
The Huaxia army was vast and numerous, with many units, stationed north of the Chu River in Beiting, forming a protective barrier, guarding Beiting.
Feng Xi had long heard of the Chu River and Beiting; Otuo was a place where the northern barbarians’ weapons were often broken, and both the court and officials were frugal, ministers were thrifty, and the military was cautious. Only the Chu River garrison was steadfast in defense, resisting the repeated invasions of the two barbarian tribes. Although the generals were not outstanding, and the military achievements were not remarkable, the two tribes were gradually promoted and eventually became the main force defending Beiting. Their appearance was strange and peculiar, with rough and disorderly beards, resembling garlic cloves from Chu, so they were jokingly called « Chu Garlic Beards, » and the dignified Beiting soldiers loudly shouted « Garlic Beards. »
Beiting has long been guarded by the Yan family, with Fengxi leading the defense. Although the southern regions were plagued by war and disaster, Fengxi took the initiative to lead the first charge, strengthening defenses and uniting the people of Beiting in a spirit of mutual aid. The Chu River’s banks were fortified, decisively preventing bandits from colluding and causing chaos. With the support of the five armies, Fengxi’s leadership was clearly demonstrated, and the troops were disciplined and orderly. Despite the hardships, Fengxi still deeply respected the Chu generals, strictly forbidding any disturbance to the local governance. Fengxi and the Chu River’s prestige grew prominently, gradually earning the reputation of the « Twin Guardians of the Frontier. »
In the vast desert, the iron hooves of the Northern Court trampled all the way to Dada Lake?
Turning around, Feng Xi and Su Kuang both stood side by side, calm and composed, sitting upright with a majestic and imposing presence, like the mighty Chu River. On the left side of the Chu River, there were seven or eight fierce beasts, both of them seemingly breathing fire, resembling red peaks—who could they be?
Su Kuang silently cursed Dan Feng a thousand times. Since Dan Feng insisted on the imperial court’s order to suppress the bandits and demanded crossing the Chu River, he had been loyal and brave, refusing to sit idly by and watch the situation deteriorate—indeed, the bandits in the northern frontier were gaining strength. If a bloody battle broke out in Beiting, it would inevitably lead to the destruction of the city.
Xiao Yu tugged at Feng Xi’s sleeve, jumping excitedly and giggling as she greeted him, then respectfully raised her hand in a salute: “Greetings, Su Kuang, please welcome Chu Xunjun!”
Chu Xunhe despised the old records, but the old records stubbornly stuck to the old ways. Without a word of greeting, he simply responded with a “hmm.” His eyes swept around, but when he saw Feng Xi closely following Su Kuang, his brows furrowed. He waved his hand to order the troops to halt, then shouted sharply. The horse galloped swiftly, the reins pulled tight, and his sudden stop revealed his authority.
Su Kuang pretended to be bashful, continuing to giggle: « I have long admired the martial prowess of Wuwei, and today I am fortunate enough to meet you, which brings me great comfort. Hehe, your great achievements bring happiness to the nation, and may it last forever— »
« Ah, ah! » Chu Kuanghe took off his helmet with a sigh, scratched his half-bald head, and said, « Dan Feng, you slippery-tongued fellow, are you really my brother? »
Dan Feng’s face blushed slightly: « Ah, Brother Su, you really are a rare and outstanding person. »
Su Kuang was unexpectedly the younger brother of Tie Ao. The Chu River slightly revealed its majestic presence, and Su Kuang paused for a moment, avoiding tedious formalities. The Chu River then said to Feng Xi, « Su Kuang, please step back. »
Yes, yes, yes… » Su Kuang bowed deeply, « Your majesty is mighty, indeed—
Chu Henei patiently said, « Don’t be anxious— »
Su Kuang finally straightened his waist: « Your Majesty is mighty and awe-inspiring, I deeply respect you, but I must say, I cannot comply. »
Chu He was furious that Su Kuang actually dared to defy the order, shouting angrily: « What did you say? »
Su Kuang remained respectful and steadfast, staring intently without the slightest hesitation: « I serve the court loyally and must act according to proper principles. The court has jurisdiction; privately, Feng Xi promised early on to cooperate, to jointly suppress banditry and maintain order. I dare not disobey. »
Chu Huhe said: « You are just a reckless hunter, how dare you speak lightly of the bandit troubles in the northern frontier? »
Su Kuang lowered his head for a long time, swaying his neck from side to side, then bent down to look at his feet—his eyes were dim and blurry, talking and talking, what should he do?
Dan Feng hurriedly reminded, « Su… Brother Su! »
Su Kuang seemed to understand the situation along the river, his voice surging like a torrent: « I dare to boldly ask, please arrange the troops, the soldiers have not yet completely suppressed the bandits. »
Chu Kunhe barely endured, finally bursting out in anger: « You scoundrel! If you dare to touch the iron armor again, I’ll crush you into minced meat—get lost! »
Su Kuang murmured: « Go away, go away, send it away, go away and throw it away, Feng Xi, oh Feng Xi, the darkness is deep and the heart is unclear. »
Feng Xi finally couldn’t bear it anymore and said softly: « Ah, recently the desert is vast, the smoke of war rises, I actually… hehe, am a bit scared. »
Chu Huohe glared fiercely: « Who dares to threaten me? »
Feng Xi patted Su Kuang’s shoulder: “Well done, you’ve captured the bandit leader from the northern border. This victory is swift and decisive. Congratulations.”
Chu He glanced at Feng Xi, then looked at Su Kuang. Unexpectedly, his tense face relaxed. After more than twenty years, he still seemed as deep and calm as ever. He rubbed his head and waved his hand, shouting, “Alright, everyone, stand down!”
The soldiers were ready to fight, and the phoenix’s radiance illuminated the sky.
Su Kuang’s figure swayed, barely able to block the attack. Feng Xi firmly grabbed his shoulder, the cold hardness of her fingers pressing into his flesh, and said, “Are you trying to provoke me? Su Kuang, we’re clear now, so don’t look for trouble.” After speaking, she tightened the bindings on his wrists and stopped him from moving, then turned away.
Dan Feng wanted to keep Su Kuang, but Su Kuang waved him away and left. As he walked away, Su Kuang frowned, his brow furrowed deeply, as if he was facing an extremely difficult decision.
After the decisive battle was over, the sound of hooves echoed continuously. Although the Beiting army was orderly and solemn, their speed was swift and fierce, like a blazing fire. Long Qing raised his whip and shouted, « Su Kuang—Feng Xi, charge? »
Su Kuang was delighted. Long Qing seemed to have arrived half an hour earlier. Afraid that the situation would get out of hand, he crossed his arms and blocked Long Qing’s path: “Miss Long, please wait—”
Long Qing coldly said: « Feng Xi is gone? How did she suddenly disappear? Why did she end up in Beiting? »
Su Kuang said bitterly, « Ah, the clouds are gathering, and misfortune may come at any moment… »
Long Qing lazily urged, « Hurry up, we don’t have much time, keep chasing— »
Su Kuang panicked, closed his eyes tightly and shouted, « Miss Long, please wait a moment! If you go any further, you might step on something dangerous! »
Long Qing laughed heartily, pulled the reins, and stepped on Su Kuang’s head. Su Kuang was so frightened that he quickly rolled away to dodge the hoof. In this awkward moment, Long Qing and the bandits all laughed loudly together.
Su Kuang’s face was covered in gray dust, his eyes sharp and fierce. He leapt forward, his left foot stepping firmly on the ground, using the momentum to spring ahead. He actually sprinted towards the broken bridge, landing steadily, his gaze clear and bright. His extraordinary skills were on full display, making it impossible for the bandits to mock him.
Su Kuang raised his hand and said, « Long Qing, wield the knife, Feng Xi will cover the rear! »
Long Qing hesitated for a moment, then finally stopped and said, « Why? »
Su Kuang leaned close and whispered a few words, his face resolute.
Long Qing bit her lip tightly: « Why… should I trust you? »
Su Kuang said bitterly: « Just a few hundred taels, is it really worth sending me off like this? Are you trying to cheat me? Damn… this is ridiculous… »
Long Qing sat nearby, watching as Su Kuang’s tone grew increasingly low. She couldn’t help but lean in closer, getting nearer to him. Suddenly, Su Kuang’s face flushed, and he laughed heartily, feeling extremely pleased. Despite the situation, he was eager to seize the opportunity and take the lead.
Long Qing was shocked and angry, covering her cheek and dazed for a moment, then gritted her teeth and ordered, « Set up camp, send someone to gather news about Su Kuang… For now, let’s rely on the old ways. »
Feng Xi’s expression darkened as she coldly pinched and snapped the ropes strand by strand.
« Stop playing tricks! » Danfeng said coldly, slowly reaching out, twisting Fengxi’s left shoulder joint, then stretching out to twist the right shoulder.
Feng Xi endured the pain: « As a respectable constable, I must not abuse my power to carry out private punishments; I must uphold the law with iron resolve. »
Dan Feng was furious, his voice trembling with anger, « How dare you humiliate me? »
Feng Xi said slowly, « I’m afraid Tie Ao might not necessarily be so simple. Wouldn’t he definitely call Su Kuang ‘Brother Su’? Ah ha, if so, then he must abide by the court’s rules. Tie Ao is probably afraid of losing face, so he is willing to accept it. »
Dan Feng blushed red, Su Kuang was seriously ill, and Tie Ao had taken him in when he was young, but he had not accepted him for a long time, harboring deep resentment. Now, he wanted to wait until the situation stabilized before making a move.
Feng Xi’s sharp reasoning took effect, and he said, « If he is really guilty, he should wear the official uniform, hold the order, and record the confession. He must not be subjected to private torture to force a confession. Heh heh, do you think I would allow such a thing in this district? »
Dan Feng stomped his foot hard: « Damn it! » Turning around abruptly, his face was ashen.
Feng Xi clenched her teeth, her right hand trembling, crushing the rope binding her arm, enduring the pain as she supported her left hand, which had dislocated at the shoulder. The red peak of Danfeng shifted in an instant, the distance between them closing rapidly, the rope binding her arm tightening with force, she held her breath, waiting for Danfeng to move again.
The sound of chains clinking rang out, and Danfeng unexpectedly changed clothes, holding the seal in his hand, coldly saying, « What do you want? »
Feng Xi lowered her head and said, « You guessed wrong. Iron Fan would never accept it, but he would definitely keep his promise, afraid that… »
Danfeng glared fiercely, « Afraid of what? »
Feng Xi slowly raised her hand: « You really are foolish. » Both hands moved simultaneously, the broken ropes on her legs wrapping around Dan Feng’s ribs on the left and right. Dan Feng hurriedly dodged, but Feng Xi quickly snapped the remaining ropes and, with a flick of her fingers, struck the Xuanji acupoint on Dan Feng’s chest with her right hand.
Danfeng’s face was filled with anger, Fengxi lowered his voice and said teasingly, “Come on, don’t underestimate the heroes of the northern frontier—”
“Enough!” Su Kuang pressed his voice low and shouted, “What nonsense are you babbling?”
Fengxi looked around, seeing the guards lying on the ground, and the guards serving, Su Kuang smiled.
“Look, see how I do it.” Fengxi then peeled off his outer robe, put on Danfeng’s guard uniform, leaned against the corner of the wall, leapt lightly, and gave Su Kuang a thumbs-up.
Ah, the sky is clear, the dragon is calm, and Long Qing is going crazy.
« Long Qing? » Feng Xi looked at Su Kuang in surprise, familiar with the deep kiss.
Su Kuang did not notice at all: « The answer is five strokes, relying on the left, the right side is the eighth sister’s camp. »
« Hmph. » Feng Xi sneered coldly, but unexpectedly miscalculated Su Kuang’s plan, and Su Kuang’s move was not as bad as she had thought.
« Order! » The soldiers responded quickly, each taking up their positions. Su Feng’s two figures moved mysteriously, shouting loudly.
Su Kuang’s shadow flickered twice, his left hand swung twice, and the second hand quickly raised a palm to meet it. They shouted loudly, Su Kuang’s figure suddenly twisted and passed through the two strikes, their elbows collided, and both fell to the ground. After a moment of exertion, there was a half-second sound, the air rippled, and Feng Xi still stood firmly, his palm sealing the acupuncture points. The left hand barely pulled out half a blade, and the right hand bit his lip, bleeding profusely.
Su Kuang secretly admired and respectfully stretched out five fingers, thinking to himself: « I am ashamed before Fifth Master. »
Although the situation was urgent, suddenly he carefully examined the surroundings, wary of exposing any traces. Having been trained for a long time, he was cautious and quickly fled the camp.
The closer to the Chu River, the more violent the Chu River became. The soldiers guarding the camp were restless, and the patrolling guards were even more uneasy.
In the dead of night, the camp was extremely quiet, and even the faintest footsteps could be heard clearly. Suddenly, a loud shout rang out: « Alarm—alarm— » The tone was sharp and piercing, instantly breaking the silence into chaos.
Su Kuang frowned: « Why is Long Qing resorting to such clichés? These petty tricks are outdated and only make things worse! »
In the past, during the Northern Court’s strict discipline, rumors were baseless, and no one dared to speak recklessly, always maintaining order.
Suddenly, two guards shouted loudly: « The marshal has been assassinated— » The words seemed unbelievable, causing panic and confusion as shadows darted about, and chaos began to spread.
At North Point, the firecrackers exploded fiercely, unexpectedly igniting a blazing fire. The smoke and flames rose high, the sound of boots and armor clashing filled the air chaotically, horses neighed, and soldiers grabbed their weapons and buckets, coming and going in an endless stream. The camp was bustling with activity.
The culprit is escaping—
Shouting loudly, the eight soldiers shouted in unison:
Clatter—
Run away, chase, chase!
Suddenly, the official announced: « The emperor has passed away— »
Su Kuang’s face suddenly turned cold, his voice low and angry: “You rebellious traitors!”
Feng Xi sneered disdainfully: “The emperor’s affairs are none of our concern, and besides, what does it matter to us who the emperor is? According to Prince Luoyang, the emperor’s demise is only a matter of time.”
“Humph!” Su Kuang swung his palm, Feng Xi countered with a flying single elbow, taking the offensive with a fierce momentum, his voice low: “Isn’t this just a fight to the death?”
Su Kuang’s face turned cold: « Damn it! »
Su Kuang was furious, privately cursing. The Chu River flowed quietly, the soldiers were stationed, and no matter how reckless the enemy dared to be, they couldn’t cause trouble. Feeling frustrated and angry, Long Qing shouted loudly, flailing wildly, and took advantage of the chaos to escape. Su Kuang then sarcastically mocked Long Qing’s clichéd mistakes, but Long Qing seemed to shout nonsense and act wildly, the more he pretended, the more ridiculous he became:
« Look, the Bodhisattva has manifested— »
« Master Su Kuang is here—— »
Thunder——Rain——
North wind and thunder, come quickly!
« Spy— »
Xuan Zhi, you abandoned your post!
The camp was in chaos as the soldiers shouted. The tents were in disarray, clothes scattered, and the troops rushed about in confusion. Some were scouting the surroundings, others were dressing, lighting fires, or maintaining order. The noise was overwhelming—flames crackled, horses neighed, water was poured, weapons clashed, officers shouted reprimands, and soldiers hurled sarcastic insults. The soldiers’ mouths were busy, and the northern camp was stirred into turmoil by the commotion.
« Chaos everywhere, everyone stay calm! » The officer hurriedly scolded Su Feng and the others, then quickly left.
A soldier rushed over to report breathlessly: « Sir… the enemy… is escaping… »
The officer’s head was spinning, his ears ringing as he glared at the soldier: « Stop spreading rumors and causing panic, hold your position, maintain order! »
The soldier was dizzy and confused, mumbling: « I… I really don’t understand, how could this be a rumor? »
Feng Xi carefully controlled the acupuncture points, releasing a powerful energy. She left the camp and walked several dozen steps, then suddenly stopped, her eyes sharp and alert.
Suddenly, Tie Ao’s cold voice rang out sharply: « Lord Feng Wu, what are you doing here! »
Feng Xi’s face turned pale, and Su Kuang’s face was grim; suddenly, he knelt down trembling: « I… deserve this punishment! »
Feng Xi’s eyes suddenly shone brightly; the cold Tie Ao actually came all the way from the northern frontier, daring not to linger. He patted Su Kuang’s shoulder and swiftly flew away.
Tie Ao coldly asked, « What happened? » Hearing this, Su Kuang hurriedly blocked the way, « I… beg you to listen to me! »
Did Feng Xi fall? Unable to block, blinking, the shadow flickered, the iron armor was rusty and old, the sound of clashing, as if staring at the bones beneath the skin. Although Su Kuang was very scared, his skin beneath the flesh was numb, cold sweat dripping down, staggering, and the two knees collapsed to the ground.
Tie Ao said seriously: « Brother Chu, no matter what happens, don’t be afraid. »
Wearing armor, Chu He walked steadily and said: « The enemy has already fled. Damn iron, just a bunch of cowards, humph— »
Su Kuang was secretly shocked, realizing that Chu River had set up a trap, and he guessed that Feng Xi was actually helping Long Qing, secretly feeling relieved.
In a moment, the camp was brought back to order by the officers, and the surrounding soldiers lit their torches and formed ranks. Many knelt around Su Kuang, the firelight reflecting off their iron armor, giving off a chilling aura.
Tie Ao coughed and said, « Are you really going to do this? Is that okay? »
Su Kuang dared not show a playful face, lowering his head and speaking softly: « Brother, the northern barbarians are watching us closely. If we send troops to the northern border to suppress the bandits, killing a thousand enemies but losing eight hundred, I fear… the pain will be great, the hatred deep, and the city will be destroyed. Moreover, with Feng Xi’s forces scattered, the bandits in the northern frontier will surely each take control of a camp, gathering scattered bandits into a force, which will only bring more harm to the people. Therefore— »
« Nonsense! » Chu Kuanghe waved his arm and firmly said, « In the era of the Great Tang, how dare the Northern barbarians act recklessly? If they dare, the North will soon be pacified, and then we will turn south? »
Su Kuang looked up in shock: « Ah— »
Chu Kuang took a few steps forward, slightly lowering his head, closing in on Su Kuang, « Hey, Su Kuang, you’re so quiet, aren’t you afraid of being lonely? »
Su Kuang smiled faintly, « Lonely? I’m used to it, not afraid of loneliness. »
« Bah! » Chu Kuohe spat angrily: « Tie Ao, you old bastard! »
Su Kuang spoke softly, and Chu He replied with a smile, « The enemy attacks suddenly; I fear our supplies won’t last. We must hold steady, or else we will be left isolated! »
Su Kuang finally led the troops north to suppress the bandits. This was a thorough and complete cleansing, which explained why Chu He was so confident in sending soldiers to the campaign.
Qing Yue interrupted sharply, « You are mistaken. We are not just suppressing bandits; are bandits born from nowhere? If it weren’t for harsh governance and fierce oppression, would the good people turn to banditry? Your northern campaign depends on continuous supplies, but the northern frontier is bitterly cold and barren. To avoid chaos among the herders, we suppress bandits, but is it really just about suppression? »
Chu Kuanghe was shocked: « What happened? »
The fortress was surrounded by flames, drifting like a soaring phoenix: « The prisoner Feng Wu, captured in the five steps, is held tightly. Su Kuang, gather five thousand troops immediately and send reinforcements at once, do not delay— »
After finishing, he suddenly vanished into the smoke.
Su Kuang was stunned. Although Feng Xi was clearly framing him, even though he had five thousand taels of gold and could easily bribe the officials, he still endured the harsh interrogation and physical torture without confessing.
Suddenly, I clenched my fists and slammed them down, cursing: « Damn Feng Xi! Always meddling and causing trouble, stirring up jealousy everywhere! »
