Chapter 101: Spare the Life

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When Xu Yaozu heard Ye Feng say that the only way to save Xiao Ling was to bring Hao Meier over, he steeled himself, slipped quietly out of the commander’s tent, and went to the rear camp to fetch her.

As he approached, he heard a woman sobbing from afar.

Xu Yaozu could not help feeling sorrow well up inside him, and two tears rolled down his aged cheeks.

He thought bitterly, “Xiao Ling, you beast! These two poor souls loved one another, and you tore them apart with your own hands. What kind of human being does such a thing?”

But the deed had already been done. Xiao Ling could not be allowed to lose his life because of it.

With that thought, Xu Yaozu lifted the flap of the tent and darted inside.

“Good girl, don’t cry! Hearing you sob makes this old man’s heart ache as well!”

He wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and spoke in a soothing voice.

When Hao Meier saw Xu Yaozu, she hurriedly wiped her tears and asked, “Old General, who are you?”

“Oh? You’re asking about me?”

Xu Yaozu stuck out his enormous belly and thumped his chest.

“I am Xu Yaozu, known throughout the world by the title of Divine Lord of Fire!”

“Oh, old sir, you are Xu Yaozu?”

Hao Meier looked him up and down. Secretly, she thought, “This old fellow is just a chubby old man. There’s nothing remarkable about him at all. How did he acquire such a fearsome reputation?”

She quickly bent at the waist and gave him a formal bow.

“I have long heard of your illustrious name. Please forgive this humble girl for failing to show you proper respect.”

Xu Yaozu hastily reached out to help her up.

“Not at all, not at all. I have merely lived a few years longer than you young people and eaten a few more bowls of rice. The reputation I’ve left behind is nothing but an empty name.”

As he spoke, he studied her closely. Her eyes were swollen and red from weeping, and she looked like a pear blossom beaten by rain—more delicate and alluring than ever.

“Ah! What a pity! What a pity!”

Xu Yaozu shook his head again and again with a long sigh.

“What is such a pity?”

His words were utterly bewildering, and Hao Meier could make neither head nor tail of them.

“What a pity that a young woman as beautiful as you should have been so unappreciated by Di Tailai!”

Xu Yaozu sighed and sighed, shaking his head without pause.

At the mention of her dead lover, Di Tailai, Hao Meier’s grief surged anew, and she burst into loud sobs.

“All right, all right! Look at this old man’s foolish mouth. I truly have no idea how to speak without upsetting you!”

Seeing her cry again, Xu Yaozu repeatedly blamed himself and tried to comfort her.

“Good girl, do you know what Xiao Ling said when he entered the battle formation today and encountered General Di?”

Seeing how deeply she grieved, Xu Yaozu knew she must hate Xiao Ling to the bone. To save him, he began inventing a story without the slightest hesitation.

“He killed my Brother Lei, didn’t he? What good words could possibly come from his mouth?”

At the mention of Xiao Ling, Hao Meier instantly ground her teeth in fury.

“Good girl, let us not speak of killing just yet, all right? First, allow this old man to tell you what happened.”

Xu Yaozu quickly cut her off and continued fabricating the tale.

“Xiao Ling and General Di had known each other for some time. At first, he earnestly tried to persuade General Di to surrender.”

“General Di, I have heard that you and Hao Meier grew up together and have loved one another since childhood. But the ruler of the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom saw how beautiful Hao Meier was and betrothed her to Miao Junke. What sort of creature is Miao Junke? He is short, fat, and ugly. How could he ever be worthy of Hao Meier? Why not surrender instead? Once our rebel army captures the Ten Thousand Demons Netherworld Formation, we can unite you and Hao Meier as husband and wife!”

Xu Yaozu imitated Xiao Ling’s tone as he spoke.

“But General Di refused! He cursed, ‘Xiao Ling, enough with your nonsense! As the saying goes, one servant cannot serve two masters. Do you really think you can make me, Di Tailai, surrender with a few pretty words? Dream on!’ Then he raised his halberd and thrust it at Xiao Ling!”

Xu Yaozu told the story with such vivid detail that it seemed he had witnessed the scene himself.

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“General Di then brandished his halberd and attacked Xiao Ling. Xiao Ling had no choice but to fight back. As they exchanged blows, he kept calling him ‘General Di’ and ‘Hero Di,’ pleading with Di Tailai to surrender. But Di Tailai would not yield. Xiao Ling had no other option and finally countered with his spear. Who could have imagined that one miscalculated stroke would send General Di tumbling from his horse and cost him his life?”

When Hao Meier heard this, she began to howl in grief.

“Brother Lei, what a terrible death you suffered! You were such a fool! Brother Lei, why did you give your life for the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom? When did that kingdom ever treat us as human beings? It does not matter that you are dead—but what of your unborn child? What of the child in my womb?”

Her tears poured down like rain, and she wept until she could scarcely breathe.

Yet Xu Yaozu was secretly delighted by her lamentations.

Why?

Because he had discovered that Hao Meier was not as unshakable as she appeared. She had her own concerns and weaknesses—and her unborn child was one of them.

He thought to himself, “So, Hao Meier, you have your own fears after all! Now that I know this, it will be much easier to deal with you. I have no doubt that you will fall into my trap.”

He quickly clasped his hands and said, “Good girl, it is a great pity that General Di died. More tragic still, another man may soon lose his life because of him!”

Hao Meier stared at him in alarm.

“Who else is going to die?”

“Our General Xiao Ling. Our marshal has shown your people every possible kindness. He has already decreed, ‘The human-demon clans have suffered endless oppression in the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom. Their opposition to us is forced upon them by circumstance. Under no circumstances are they to be killed; they may only be captured alive, and preferably persuaded to surrender.’ But today, General Xiao accidentally killed General Di, and the marshal has ordered him taken beyond the Meridian Gate and beheaded before the army!”

When Hao Meier heard this, she cursed bitterly.

“Good! I wish I could devour his flesh and strip the skin from his body!”

Xu Yaozu frowned slightly and reproached her.

“Child, when will vengeance ever end? This battle has already taken the life of one man you loved. Why sacrifice another as well? General Xiao is, in truth, much like you—a human-demon, born into the same miserable circumstances. Why cling so fiercely to this grudge?”

Hao Meier immediately grew wary. Her brows rose sharply, her almond-shaped eyes widened, and she shouted, “Old General Xu, what are you saying? Why have you come here? Is that man Xiao about to be beheaded, and after failing to persuade your marshal, have you come especially to ask me to plead for him? Dream on! I will never do it!”

Her refusal was as firm as iron, leaving no room for negotiation.

Xu Yaozu was instantly put in an awkward position.

But he had been born shameless.

He clasped his hands and bowed.

“Good girl, you are mistaken. What will revenge accomplish? Can General Di be brought back to life? If Xiao Ling is truly beheaded because of this, will there be a single person in the Great Xia Kingdom who does not resent you? You may not care, but once your child is born, he or she will be burdened by endless blame and condemnation. You should know that Xiao Ling is a renowned hero of our rebel army. If he truly dies young because of this matter, the people’s accusations will drown you and your child!”

Having said this, Xu Yaozu gave a brief salute.

“Farewell!”

Then he turned and walked away.

Those few words left Hao Meier standing there in a daze.

A fierce struggle raged within her heart.

He was right.

Every word Old Hero Xu had spoken made sense. Brother Lei’s death had been entirely his own doing; no one else could be blamed. The care Marshal Mu Rong had shown to people like them could not go unacknowledged. A person’s dignity had to be earned, and they too ought to consider the marshal’s position. They could not allow him to needlessly sacrifice more soldiers. For the sake of her child, she should accumulate this measure of hidden virtue and save General Xiao’s life.

With that thought, she called out loudly, “Old General Xu, wait! I, Hao Meier, am willing to plead with Marshal Mu Rong and ask him to spare Xiao Ling’s life!”

Xu Yaozu turned around in delighted surprise.

“You truly mean it?”

Hao Meier nodded.

“I do. Hao Meier never speaks falsely.”

Xu Yaozu nodded repeatedly, his face filled with approval.

“Good girl, you truly understand the greater cause. Ling’er can be saved!”

Then he glanced at the sky. The sun was already high overhead, and his face instantly turned pale with fright. Grabbing Hao Meier by the hand, he ran.

“Quickly, quickly! The hour of execution is almost upon us. If we arrive too late, his head will fall, and there will be no saving him!”

The two of them hurried to the commander’s tent and asked the soldiers to announce Hao Meier’s arrival to Marshal Mu Rong.

When Mu Rong Yan heard that Hao Meier had come, she immediately called out, “Let her enter!”

Ye Feng, standing nearby, secretly laughed.

“Father, you really are something. You actually managed to bring Hao Meier here. Under heaven, there is probably no one else capable of accomplishing such a difficult feat!”

Hao Meier strode into the tent first.

Xu Yaozu followed close behind. When he saw Ye Feng, he gave him a smug smile.

The moment Hao Meier saw Mu Rong Yan, she knelt on the ground.

“Marshal Mu Rong, I was ignorant earlier and offended you in many ways. Please forgive me.”

Mu Rong Yan smiled warmly and reached out to help her up.

“There is no need for formalities. The ignorant are not to blame, the ignorant are not to blame!”

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“I was misled by the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom into opposing the rebel army. It was truly an unforgivable crime. Yet Marshal Mu Rong, you put aside our former grievances and spared me punishment. I am deeply uneasy and ashamed.”

After rising, Hao Meier clasped her hands and repeatedly apologized.

“We are all sisters here. There is no need to be so formal.”

Mu Rong Yan took Hao Meier’s hand, displaying great warmth and affection.

“Sit! Sit!”

She pulled Hao Meier down to sit beside her.

Once seated, Hao Meier clasped her hands again.

“Elder Sister Mu Rong, since you call me your sister, I shall not be overly formal either. Please allow me to address you as Sister.”

Mu Rong Yan nodded.

“The entire army is filled with men. Meeting a younger sister today must be fate. Why do we not share a room tonight and talk through the night?”

Hao Meier was deeply moved. She waved her hands repeatedly.

“Sister has treated me with such kindness. What have I done to deserve your affection?”

Mu Rong Yan put an arm around her shoulders and laughed sweetly.

“What are you saying? If you do not object, why do we not become sworn sisters tonight?”

The two women grew increasingly affectionate as they spoke, behaving as though they truly were sisters.

The generals beneath the tent stared blankly at the two beautiful women laughing together.

Only Xu Yaozu was hopping anxiously from foot to foot, repeatedly signaling to Hao Meier with his eyes.

When Hao Meier saw him, her heart gave a sudden jolt. She realized with dismay that she had forgotten the purpose of her visit. She quickly clasped her fists and spoke frankly.

“Little Sister has a favor to ask. I sincerely beg Elder Sister to grant it.”

Mu Rong Yan readily agreed.

“Good sister, tell me what it is. If it lies within my power, how could I refuse you?”

Hao Meier said, “Enemies should be reconciled, not kept at odds. I have come to ask Marshal Mu Rong to release Xiao Ling and spare him execution.”

“This…”

Mu Rong Yan froze.

What? Hao Meier was no longer seeking revenge for the death of her beloved? How could that be possible?

She shook her head repeatedly in disbelief.

After pondering the matter again and again without finding an answer, she glanced around at the generals beneath the tent. Then she caught sight of Xu Yaozu smiling knowingly at her, and suddenly understood.

She scolded him inwardly.

“Master, Master, how could you deceive her into coming here? She is all alone and has suffered so much. How could you bear to do this to her?”

She had half a mind to refuse. Then she thought of Xiao Ling waiting beyond the Meridian Gate.

He was her own sworn brother.

If she had not needed to soothe Hao Meier’s grief at losing her husband, she truly would never have had the heart to execute him.

After hesitating for a long while, she finally made up her mind.

Enough. She might as well pretend to be ignorant and give Xiao Ling a chance to live. He could still serve on the battlefield in the future and slay more demon soldiers.

With that thought, she clasped her hands and replied, “Good girl, since you have spoken, this marshal can hardly refuse you.”

Then she turned her head and called out, “Guards! Bring Xiao Ling here!”

Xu Yaozu and several of the generals were instantly beaming with delight. Before the soldier could leave to deliver the order, they had already dashed out of the tent.

In the distance, they saw the executioner raising a huge ghost-headed blade high into the air, preparing to bring it down upon a disheveled prisoner dressed only in a thin garment.

They immediately panicked and shouted in unison:

“Stay your blade!”

Whether Xiao Ling was saved or not will be revealed in the next chapter.