Chapter 57 - II
Pei Xing secured the restraints on Baili Qing, then turned him over and retrieved the blueprint and the silver bell he had given to Shi Yi. After spotting the bell, Pei Xing’s demeanor shifted dramatically, and his eyes flashed with a murderous glint. One hand seized Baili Qing by the throat.
“What did you do to him?!”
Shi Yi blinked at the side, didn’t understand why Pei Xing suddenly furious.
Baili Qing laughed a few times, not afraid at all, and added to fuel the fire.
“A beautiful shuanger all alone with me, what do you think I did? He tasted quite good; even better than those others I’ve been with. Haha… his moaning was truly delightful.”
Pei Xing’s grip tightened suddenly. Veins bulged from his wrists, and he was overcome with the urge to tear Baili Qing apart. The mere thought of a torment inflicted upon the person he held dearest boiled his blood.
Hearing Baili Qing’s words, Shi Yi’s eyes widened in shock. He pointed at Baili Qing and yelled, “You scumbag! Stop spewing nonsense!”
Shi Yi clung to Pei Xing once more and assured him, “Don’t listen to him. I’m alright; he didn’t force me. His intention was to capture me and have me draw design drafts for Nanyi.”
Pei Xing didn’t feel very good when he heard what Shi Yi said. He was so anxious about Shi Yi; he was afraid he would be humiliated and prepared to kill someone.
When Shi Yi saw Pei Xing ignoring him, he slapped his back and jumped up at him, “Old dog Pei, you didn’t believe me. Do you think I would be bouncing around like this if I had suffered? Why are you so rash?”
Pei Xing’s heart had been seething with rage, and he expected Shi Yi to have been humiliated. However, now that he realized Shi Yi was unharmed, his temper dissipated.
He hugged Shi Yi and coughed lightly, “You suddenly called me ‘Lao Gong’. I’ve never heard you call me that before. Are you sure you are not wronged?”
Shi Yi didn’t expect it was the reason. His ears turned red and he puffed his cheeks, “I was so excited for you. Why would I be wronged if I called you that? According to your logic if I call you ‘Lao Gong’, I would be bullied?”
When Pei Xing heard that call, the fire in his heart was gone without a trace. He looked at Shi Yi who was jumping up and down, he didn’t seem to be hurt. He gave him a passionate kiss.
Grinning, Pei Xing whispered to Shi Yi, “You can shout ‘Lao Gong’ more often in the future.”
Shi Yi glared at him, his face slightly red, and mumbled, “I got carried away. You’re telling me to shout ‘Lao Gong’ in a place like this, aren’t you asking for trouble? I don’t want to.”
Upon hearing Shi Yi’s hesitation, Pei Xing couldn’t suppress his laughter. He felt a weight lift from his chest as he watched Shi Yi act so cheerfully.
He embraced Shi Yi and kissed him tenderly, whispering, “You can shout it whenever you want.”
With a red face, Shi Yi couldn’t help but utter the words softly, “Lao Gong…”
Pei Xing laughed heartily, casting a glance at Baili Qing who was giving them a disdainful look. He hoisted the man up by his clothes, flung him onto a horse, and took Shi Yi to the desolate village. Shi Yi led the way to the house they stayed in yesterday.
As for Baili Qing’s horse, it had played a pivotal role in enabling Pei Xing to traverse such a long distance to find Shi Yi. However, due to its involvement in the chase, Pei Xing had to put it a rest there and it was going to be their dinner.
.
Once they arrived at the house, Pei Xing rummaged through it and retrieved an animal rope. He secured Baili Qing tightly once again and tied him up in the yard. Pei Xing then bled the war horse that made him do the unthinkable searching day and night for Shi Yi.
Veins throbbed on Baili Qing’s forehead as he unleashed a barrage of curses, directed at their ancestors back to the eighteenth generation. Shi Yi promptly grabbed a rag and gagged Baili Qing, and suddenly, everything went quiet.
The dog was in uneasy situation. After blurting out nonsense about Shi Yi, finally the shuanger took a shoe that he wore and slapped twice with a force to the man, “Explain what happened earlier, or I’ll roast your horse.”
Baili Qing whimpered twice, then glared at them defiantly. After a moment of silence, he closed his eyes and nodded.
Shi Yi removed the gag from his mouth.
“I didn’t lay a finger on him, nor did I force him. I had planned to bring him back to Nanyi, make him a princess, and then train him slowly. I didn’t expect you to catch him. You can let me go now.” Baili Qing tried to negotiate.
Pei Xing sneered and jabbed him three more times. Talking shit!
With a quick and vigilant response, Shi Yi promptly blocked Baili Qing’s mouth before he could unleash a new round of curses. Turning to Pei Xing, he spoke gently, “He didn’t harm me or force me. He wanted to capture me and bring me back to Nanyi for my designs.”
Pei Xing, wiping away the ash on his face, spoke slowly, “Do you know why there are no inhabitants in this village?”
Shi Yi shook his head, his eyes reflecting his confusion.
“A few months ago, when Qin Yue set out on a military campaign, the Nanyi army devastated Nanzhou City. They carried out massacres, arson, rape, and torture along their path northward. Several villages along the way were not spared. This village is one of them.” Pei Xing held Shi Yi’s hand and continued with trembling hands, “The leader of that campaign was Baili Qing, the third prince of Nanyi. If I’m not mistaken, this man is Baili Qing.”
Shi Yi’s face turned pale. Although he had never experienced such brutal massacres himself, he had seen such scenes in historical dramas. He knew that reality often surpassed the brutality depicted in those dramas.
“Darling, consider this. Why would he disguise himself as a disaster victim and infiltrate Zhongzhou to reach Xiangshan Village?”
“He wants to launch an attack on Zhongzhou!”
Shi Yi suddenly realized this, and his fear intensified. He thought about his eldest brother and Xiao Bao still being in Zhongzhou, as well as the people of Xiangshan Village. The thought sent shivers down their spines.
“We can’t let him go!!” Shi Yi clenched his teeth and glanced at the horse, “Let’s cook his horse too!!”