Tired. Let It All Fall Apart
Without a cheat, Shen Rong would have run in the opposite direction from the enemy soldiers too. The problem was, he now had the map of all Shuangshen Mountain, and it showed that the path beneath his feet was the right one. But if you put him and Xiao Yuanyao side by side and asked a crowd to choose, even a fool would know to follow the man who looked more reliable. Shen Rong might even be abandoned for going the other way, left to fend for himself in these remote mountains.
Back in his own world, the farthest Shen Rong had ever gone was the parcel station downstairs. Even then, his neighbors had complained about him countless times for hauling steel rods and metal sheets home.
He was tired.
Really.
Let it all burn.
Shen Rong stared blankly into space and sat down on the half-collapsed earthen altar beside him.
The others gradually came to a halt. Xiao Yuanyao frowned. “You’re not coming?”
Shen Rong scratched his right leg with his left. “Go on ahead. I’ll wait here.”
Zhao Guo gaped. “What? Y-you’re not coming with us?”
“Mm-hm.”
Zhao Guo looked stunned. “Does that mean the moment we leave, you’ll ride the clouds back up to heaven?”
“…”
“It’s not that. I just have a feeling the route you picked won’t be easy.” He could only hint at it. He couldn’t outright contradict the big shot in charge of the group. “Why don’t you go ahead and try it? Maybe you really will find your way out.”
Yeah, right.
Even if Xiao Yuanyao could get down the mountain that way, the others would probably be half-dead by the time they made it.
Hugging his toolbox, Shen Rong gestured for them to do as they pleased.
It was a good plan. He wasn’t going to put up a fight or stop them. Given Xiao Yuanyao’s abilities, Shen Rong figured he’d realize before long that the path was wrong. Maybe he’d come back here. But Shen Rong had overlooked one thing.
This was 1348, a thoroughly feudal society.
There was no such thing as science here. When ordinary people faced danger or a problem they couldn’t solve, the first thing they did was pray to the gods. From emperors offering sacrifices to Heaven to common folk worshipping the Kitchen God, it was as if kneeling before an altar was enough to make every wish come true.
In short, in this chaotic age, even the toughest people had to stop and take a look when faced with something that seemed supernatural.
And then Shen Rong realized that no one was leaving after all.
The man at the head of the group, Xiao Yuanyao, turned around and suddenly asked, “You know the right way?”
Shen Rong blinked but didn’t deny it.
Zhao Shu and Zhao Guo hurried over. “Y-you really know which way to go?”
Shen Rong’s eyes shifted. He put on an air of mystery. “If you trust me, follow me. I guarantee I can get you out in two hours. If you don’t, you can follow Zhao Da’s route. I won’t leave on my own. I’ll wait here for you to come back.”
There was a chance.
Shen Rong figured he had to try. Maybe he really could steer them back on course.
Then perhaps Xiao Yuanyao would keep him around as a human map, instead of sending him to some county town to find work.
Sure enough, Xiao Yuanyao said, “Wait here. I’ll go take a look.”
“I’ll go with you,” Zhao Shu said.
Xiao Yuanyao stopped him. “I’m fast. I’ll scout the way and be right back.”
Zhao Guo grabbed Zhao Shu and murmured, “The squad leader means for us to keep an eye on that man…”
Zhao Shu paused, then stepped back.
Shen Rong had said he’d wait for them, but would he really stay? There were too many swindlers in this world, and the man’s origins were unknown. The squad leader didn’t trust him.
Xiao Yuanyao glanced at Shen Rong, ducked, and swiftly disappeared behind the bodhisattva statue.
The sky gradually darkened. Somewhere in the distance, a beast let out a strange roar. Before long, everything fell silent, save for the chirping of insects.
The people around him breathed unevenly. Only after spending several hours in this era did Shen Rong finally get a chance to sit quietly and take in his surroundings.
There seemed to be a dead man behind the temple door, his neck twisted to one side, his hands sprawled at his sides.
Shen Rong glanced over and quickly looked away, gripping the handle of his toolbox.
The man had died inside the temple, probably killed by one of his companions. Shen Rong wondered who had done the deed. He swallowed hard.
Zhao Guo immediately asked, “Want some water?”
“…You have any?”
“No.”
“…” Then why ask!
Zhao Shu said out of nowhere, “The squad leader has the waterskin, but there probably isn’t much left.”
Everyone except Zhao Shu and Zhao Guo looked despondent, as if they’d reached the end of the road.
Maybe it was the temple’s eerie chill at night, but Zhao Guo couldn’t help speaking up. “We set out with four squads, and now only five of us are left. If Chen Liu hadn’t been hit by that poisoned arrow, the squad leader wouldn’t have had to… Forget it. We don’t even know how we’ll explain this when we get back.”
Shen Rong listened in silence. Hit by a poisoned arrow? Was that the dead man? So Xiao Yuanyao had killed him?
“What’s there to explain?” Zhao Shu said. “Making it back alive is explanation enough. Those cowards wouldn’t come out themselves, but insisted on sending Da… Z-Zhao Da and us infantrymen out to scout. They were obviously sending us to our deaths.”
Zhao Guo protested, “Our Da… I mean, Brother Zhao is tough as nails!”
“…”
All right, give it up. What’s with all the ‘Da’ this and ‘Da’ that? You’re really treating Xiao Yuanyao as if he were Zhao Da now.
“You two…”
Zhao Shu and Zhao Guo whipped around. Their faces were so alike, there was no doubt they were brothers.
Taking in their rough skin and slightly world-weary expressions, Shen Rong ventured, “How old are you this year?”
Zhao Guo pointed to himself with his thumb. “Nineteen.”
Zhao Shu nodded. “Me too.”
Only nineteen? Why did they look so prematurely aged? More like twenty-nine!
“Are you twins?”
“Yeah. Can’t you tell?” Zhao Shu and Zhao Guo asked.
“I can, I can. I just didn’t expect you to be only a year older than me. So Zhao Da can’t be a triplet with you, right?”
The Zhao brothers were at a loss. Zhao Guo quickly improvised, “Our eldest brother isn’t. We’re rough-looking, but our eldest was born with a heroic bearing. He’s a year older than us, twenty this year.” The squad leader really was twenty, so they weren’t exactly lying.
Only twenty! When would Xiao Yuanyao ever make it out of the newbie village?
Thinking of all those people in ancient times who didn’t claim the throne until they were in their forties, fifties, or even seventies, Shen Rong felt his vision go black.
If only he’d asked when Xiao Yuanyao would become emperor before No. 521 went into dormancy. At least then he’d have something to look forward to… Anyway, there was no way he was saying that embarrassing startup password!
Shen Rong’s gaze was hopeless. He was thirsty, hungry, itchy, and a little cold.
People fleeing for their lives didn’t have much to say. After a few words, everyone fell silent. After who knew how long, a sound came from the back door. The Zhao brothers sprang to their feet, about to go over, when Xiao Yuanyao came through the door, looking travel-worn.
“Squad leader!”
Xiao Yuanyao grunted and walked straight to Shen Rong.
He stood over eight feet tall, broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted, and long-legged. Looking up at him from close range, Shen Rong could even make out the short stubble that had appeared on Xiao Yuanyao’s chin after a night on the road, and catch a faint trace of blood that seemed to cling to him.
The danger radiating off him made Shen Rong shrink back without meaning to.
The next moment, Xiao Yuanyao lowered his eyes and clasped his hands in salute. “I failed to recognize your abilities earlier. The temple’s entrance faces the sun, and its rear faces the river. If we took my route, our wounded and depleted group would be walking straight into another dead end. We’re willing to follow your route, honored benefactor. Once we’ve fought our way to safety, we’ll repay you.”
Shen Rong froze.
Xiao Yuanyao looked up. There was no shadow of gloom or humiliation in his eyes at having to bow his head to someone younger. His expression was composed, with a deep, smoldering intensity beneath it. Only then did Shen Rong notice that Xiao Yuanyao’s brows were like mountains and his gaze steady as a bell. The corners of his eyes curved slightly inward, but their outer edges swept upward. Though he’d been on the road all night, there was no sign of labored breathing, only sweat at his temples.
In that moment, Xiao Yuanyao embodied the ability to bend, adapt, and turn back when lost.
What terrifying willpower and stamina. No wonder he could rise from nothing and become emperor.
Shen Rong shuddered inwardly. He couldn’t let Xiao Yuanyao bow to him. He hurried to his feet, sidestepped him, and headed for the door.
“If you trust me, then follow me…”
His forehead suddenly bumped into a scorching palm. Xiao Yuanyao drew his hand back, then shifted Shen Rong a step to the left.
“Honored benefactor, watch the doorframe.”
“…”
Damn it! If he’d known he’d be transported into another world, he would’ve lifted weights every day. Then he wouldn’t be getting handled like a lump of cotton. He should’ve gotten laser eye surgery too, and made a double-edged blade to show Xiao Yuanyao he was a real man!
Damn it!
“Let’s go!”
Rong: [Angry][Bursting into tears][Jealous]