Rebirth (Bing Hu Chong Sheng)

"Liu Xi?"

After closing the door, Zhuge Yue said to Chu Qiao, "Do you know this person?"

Chu Qiao frowned slightly and replied solemnly, "We might have met once."

"We're leaving now."

Zhuge Yue said decisively, walking over to Chu Qiao and scooping her up in his arms before turning to head out.

"Wait!" Chu Qiao quickly called out. "I only saw him from a distance that one time. I didn't even get a clear look at his face, nor did we speak. And it was many years ago."

Zhuge Yue's brows tightened. Chu Qiao naturally understood his concern and said, "The people outside only see us as ordinary commoners suffering from serious illness. We won't have any chance to receive guests. As long as I'm careful, nothing will happen."

"Is he Liu Mingjun's nephew?"

"Yes."

After pondering for a while, Zhuge Yue slowly said, "The Liu family is considered a prominent household in Xianyang. When I entered Xianyang City that day, I'm not sure if he was among the welcoming party."

Hearing this, Chu Qiao was startled. Zhuge Yue said gravely, "We'd better be cautious. Tomorrow morning I'll go to the market to buy horses, then we'll drive ourselves to Tang Capital."

Chu Qiao nodded. Her current position was rather awkward. Since Liu Xi was Liu Mingjun's nephew, that meant he was also a member of the Great Alliance Society. Being one of their own, if they revealed themselves now, they would naturally be well accommodated and arrangements would be made for their retreat to Yanbei. But because Zhuge Yue was with her, she couldn't let Liu Xi know her identity. Moreover, Liu Mingjun was one of the older generation elders in the Great Alliance - rigid in his thinking and quite dismissive of Yanbei's stance. With Zhuge Yue currently without guards, if Liu Xi harbored malicious intentions...

"Rest first," he said as he placed Chu Qiao on the bed. "I'll have the inn attendant prepare some dishes. What would you like to eat?"

Chu Qiao shook her head. "Anything is fine."

Turning away, Zhuge Yue muttered as he walked, "Not like we have much choice anyway. What decent food could this wretched place possibly have?"

Just as he was about to exit, he suddenly turned back and covered Chu Qiao with the quilt. Seeing Chu Qiao watching him, he looked somewhat awkward, his brows furrowed tightly. Suddenly and without warning, he snapped angrily, "What are you looking at? Hurry up and get better. I don't want to keep dragging you around like stray dogs anymore, hmph!"

Watching the man's figure disappear through the doorway, Chu Qiao felt slightly dazed. Then the corner of her mouth lifted, forming a weak smile.

With the Zhuge family's influence, they probably had contact points and personnel throughout the entire Ximeng Continent. As one of the families controlling the empire's lifeline, they would never have only the visible political power one could see with the naked eye.

How many of this world's covert networks were controlled by the Zhuge family? How many were in the hands of the Wei Clan? How many belonged to Daxia's Zhao Clan? To Biantang's Li Clan? To Huai Song's Nalan Clan? Who could clearly define this?

Chu Qiao knew that behind every great aristocratic family lay a century-long history of family struggle. Even when Zhao Zhengde had swiftly and decisively eradicated the Muhe Clan back then, could he really be certain that the foundation the Muhe Clan had built over a hundred years had completely vanished from Daxia's territory?

The Zhuge family's power was definitely no less than Yan Xun's in the Yanbei plateau. And as one of the empire's legitimate aristocratic families, they possessed political status that Yanbei could never hope to match.Hidden behind those tens of thousands of family troops were the clan members this influential family had subtly placed within the empire over the years—the numerous officials bearing the compound surname Zhuge densely listed in the Ministry of Personnel's registers. These were the paths paved with gold, the loyalties bought by power, the factions bound by interests, and the groups controlled by seized leverage.

Yanbei had openly rebelled, so the entire Yanbei faction stood opposed to the empire. However, one could imagine that if one day the Zhuge family were to rebel, if given time to scheme, if allowed to raise the banner of revolt as prepared as Yanbei had been—what a catastrophic disaster the Zhao Clan would face!

Thus, with the Zhuge family's influence and Zhuge Yue's status within the clan, no matter where he was, if he were to raise his voice and call for support, a large number of clan members and trusted followers would instantly gather around him. As the saying goes, even a cunning rabbit has three burrows—how much more so for a family like the Zhuge? Yet Zhuge Yue clearly had no such intention. He carefully concealed his identity along the way, personally attended to her daily needs, but never made any move to notify his family or wait for his subordinates.

Perhaps he feared that those who came might not be his direct allies, which could lead to Chu Qiao's identity being exposed and then exploited by his family's opponents.

Chu Qiao gave a faint, cold smile, mocking her own evasive self-deception. She understood perfectly well the true reason behind everything that had happened but was unwilling to admit or face it. So, she closed her eyes in avoidance, quietly waiting for time to pass.

Perhaps he simply wished to accompany her in a relatively peaceful environment—where he was not the young master of the Zhuge family, and she did not have to stand behind Yan Xun. Just ordinary people in the mortal world, without opposition, hatred, irreconcilable conflicts, or those inescapable responsibilities of reality.

Such an opportunity might come only once in their entire lives.

Chu Qiao slowly closed her eyes, hoping to fall asleep quickly. Some thoughts were too dangerous to entertain; she understood everything but could not respond.

They lived in this world, each with their own path to walk. From the very beginning, they had stood at two separate starting points. Over eight years, they had only grown further apart. One must remain calm and rational.

Chu Qiao felt utterly exhausted and soon drifted into a light sleep, her eyelids heavy as if weighed down by a thousand pounds. Before falling asleep, she laughed mockingly at herself—why overthink things? At the very least, for now, she still couldn't draw a clear line with him.

By the time Zhuge Yue returned, Chu Qiao was already deep in slumber. The air carried her soft breaths and the faint fragrance unique to a young woman. Zhuge Yue held a large tray laden with bowls, dishes, and a pot of wine.

After setting out the meal, he sat by the table and poured a cup of wine.

The shop was small, but its dishes were delicious. Even with the lids on, a rich aroma continuously wafted out, teasing the nostrils. The wine was mellow, clear and translucent, yet intensely fragrant. A single sip warmed his entire body.

The setting sun blazed crimson, casting its rays upon him and stretching a long silhouette across the floor.He remained seated, slowly drinking his wine as the sun gradually sank behind the mountains. Lanterns were lit along the streets, bustling with activity and noise. After a while, the market finally dispersed, and the entire city grew quiet. Under the pitch-black sky, everyone had fallen into slumber—only he remained, without lighting a lamp, without speaking, sitting silently in the darkness like a statue. Only the movement of his arm between the wine pot and the cup revealed that he was a living person.

Chu Qiao woke in the deep of the night, her head throbbing as if struck by a thousand hammers. Half-asleep, she wanted a drink of water but immediately noticed the shadowy figure in the darkness.

Her first instinct was to reach for the dagger on her calf. Even in such a weakened state, she sprang up explosively, swift as a nimble leopard.

However, she quickly came to her senses. She lowered the dagger in a daze, staring at the man in the darkness, and asked in confusion, "Zhuge Yue?"

"Hmm," came a faint, nasal reply. The man seemed to have drunk a lot; the room was heavy with the smell of alcohol.

"Want some water?"

Chu Qiao nodded, then immediately realized he couldn’t see her in the dark. Just as she was about to speak, a cup of water was brought to her lips.

"Drink. It’s not poisoned."

She took the cup. The water was warm, even slightly hot to the touch. Though the cup was small, she held it with both hands. After taking a sip, she licked her dry lips. Her voice was hoarse from sleep as she asked softly, "Why haven’t you lit a lamp?"

The room was so quiet that she could even hear the gurgle of strong liquor passing through the man’s throat. After a long silence, a faint voice finally replied, "It’s fine like this."

Chu Qiao asked earnestly, "Zhuge Yue, when will you finally call me Chu Qiao?"

The man snorted coldly, "In your dreams."

"You’re just too stubborn," she said. Then, as if mocking herself, she added, "Actually, I’m just like you—I’m stubborn too. So once I’ve made up my mind about something, I won’t change it."

Zhuge Yue remained silent. Chu Qiao seemed to be in high spirits tonight. Her voice was soft, tinged with the weakness of illness, as she continued, "You know, you’re not really a bad person. Sure, you’re a bit reclusive, your methods are cruel, you lack compassion, and, well, you’re annoying when you scowl. But aside from that, there’s nothing much else. In this world, who isn’t cruel? Whose hands aren’t stained with blood? That’s just how it is—if you don’t devour others, they’ll devour you. By now, I’ve lost count of how many lives I’ve taken."

"Zhuge Yue, do you remember how many you’ve killed?"

Before he could answer, she replied to her own question, "You probably keep track. You’re a general, even on the battlefield, you’re the strategist. The people you’ve killed with your own hands are mostly just servants who offended you. But I’ve lost count. In the past six months, the number of people I’ve killed exceeds the number of people I’ve spoken to in my entire life. Every time I raise my blade, a head falls. The blood from their necks is always scalding hot, splashing onto my face like burning embers.""In the northwest region, they gave me a nickname—Blood Rakshasa. The governor of Yao Province, named... named Qi something, even had a stone statue of me made and erected at the city gate, ordering everyone entering the city to spit on it once, otherwise they wouldn't be allowed in. During my recent days of fleeing, aside from the government troops chasing me, I also had to carefully avoid the common people. After escaping from Zhenhuang, I was once injured and saved by an elderly couple. They were already over eighty years old, a very kind and gentle old couple. They treated my wounds and even killed their only old hen to make nourishing soup for me, without questioning my origins. They probably thought I had been robbed by bandits and kept urging me to report to the authorities."

"But the next day, the old man went to town to buy medicine for me and returned with a drastically changed expression. I didn't know what had happened at the time. However, that night, they secretly took sickles and rushed into my room, both frantically slashing wildly at the bed. I knew their son had been conscripted by Emperor Xia many years ago to join General Meng's army in the campaign against Yanbei, and later died on the Yanbei plateau."

Chu Qiao's expression was cold as she sneered, "So I killed them. They were too impulsive; I couldn't break free at all, so I killed them."

"Hypocritical righteousness," a cold voice suddenly interjected. Zhuge Yue, still seated, remarked with a mocking smile, "With your skills, subduing two elderly people would be effortless. You were just afraid they'd report you to the authorities, yet you insist on finding such a disgusting excuse for yourself."

"I'm not making excuses," Chu Qiao retorted calmly without anger. "I was severely injured at the time—an arrow had pierced through my thigh, and I couldn't move at all. I only had two choices: kill them or let them kill me."

Zhuge Yue chuckled dismissively, "Xing'er, how is what you did any different from me?"

"Yes, I used to think that way too at first," Chu Qiao said gravely. "But later, I changed my mind. Back when General Meng went to wage war in Yanbei, it was an invasion, a massacre, an unjust trampling. Their son joined the army to invade someone else's homeland—shouldn't the victims be allowed to fight back? In that battle, Yanbei suffered countless casualties. Whether civilians or the Yanbei Army, all forces faced brutal purges. Yanbei's losses were far greater than those in Daxia. And I did nothing wrong by them. I recuperated at their place and offered compensation, but they harbored ill intentions toward me simply because of hatred that wasn't mine to bear. Should I have waited passively to be killed? I kill, but I do not kill indiscriminately. I sympathize with civilians, but I am no saint."Chu Qiao's voice gradually grew resolute as she spoke word by word: "The war between Yanbei and Daxia is inevitable and will be protracted. But all those who fall in this war will not have died in vain. They are fighting for justice and freedom. One day, a new nation will rise on the land of Hongchuan—a nation that embraces freedom and equality, governed by law and peace. Never again will there be wanton slaughter and inhuman cruelty as before. For this day, everything I have done is worthwhile."

"Haha!" Zhuge Yue suddenly burst into wild laughter, his tone icy. "Xing'er, I've always held you in high regard, but I never expected you to spout such absurdities. Freedom and equality? Law and peace? What, have you become a follower of the Great Alliance Society too? Are you starting to indulge in those illusory dreams of utopia?"

"No, I haven't. I am very clear-headed. I know that as long as interests exist in this world, true equality will never be achieved. But we can make things better, take slow steps forward." Chu Qiao looked steadily at Zhuge Yue and said solemnly, "At the very least, there will never again be the kind of arbitrary killing, abuse, and treating people like dogs that we saw in the Zhuge residence!"

"Do you really think Yan Xun can achieve all this?" Zhuge Yue raised an eyebrow slightly, his smile dripping with disdain. "Or do you believe those old men of the Great Alliance Society will truly be as selfless as their slogans claim? Those who have tasted power will not easily let go of what they have gained. Even if Yan Xun overthrows Daxia and ascends the throne one day, it will merely be the replacement of one dynasty by another, not the end of an era. Xing'er, if you cannot accept the fact that Yan Xun is driven by ambition for dominance, it would be better to say he seeks revenge—that at least sounds more palatable. Don't place such a grand, righteous crown upon his head, making him sound like a saint or a Buddha. It's truly nauseating."

Chu Qiao's expression shifted slightly, but after a long pause, she replied with unwavering conviction, "I believe in him."

Zhuge Yue frowned, his gaze fixed intently on her.

"I believe he will not disappoint me." Chu Qiao smiled faintly. "I will stand by his side, assist him, and watch him accomplish this great undertaking with his own hands. Zhuge Yue, just wait and see."

At that moment, it was as if a lamp had ignited in the darkness, its piercing light flooding the shadows. Zhuge Yue suddenly realized that this woman before him was actually quite fragile and naive, yet he no longer felt like mocking her stubbornness.

He only wanted to ask, "If one day he truly disappoints you, what will you do then?"

But he did not voice the question. It felt cruel—yes, utterly cruel.

This girl was not yet seventeen. What were his own younger sisters doing at this age? What were the noble young ladies of Zhenhuang City doing? Applying makeup, enjoying outings and flower-viewing, discussing the talented young men of various prominent families, or perhaps, behind closed doors, indulging in decadent affairs with secret lovers on lavish beds...

And she? For so many years, she had weathered storms of blood and violence, all for the sake of this one belief. Without power, influence, family, or connections—this might very well be her only hope for survival."Fine, Xing'er, I'll watch. I'll watch to see if that man can ultimately fulfill your wishes."

"If that day truly comes, I, Zhuge Yue, am willing to squander my entire fortune and set off a million fireworks to celebrate your heart's desire being realized!"

"Yanbei," Zhuge Yue tilted his head back and downed a cup of strong liquor. The fiery liquid burned his throat like a blade scraping across it. The man gazed westward, silently thinking to himself, "I'm watching you."

——————Transition——————

This is a transitional chapter. Dong'er will continue writing and will try to update another chapter tonight, though it might be very late. No need to wait up—there will definitely be a new chapter by morning.