/warnings for violence
“Xi, Xi Hejun, you[1] mean....?”
Mo Xi gritted his teeth in fury, this action showcased his fair face, although it was handsome, it was also terrifying enough to induce panic. His body stature was wide and tall, allowing him to tower over and sweep past the bystanders[2], that knife piercing stare landed on Gu Mang, yet moved away quickly for some unfathomable reason.
“Xi Hejun….?”
Murong Lian also glanced over from the corner of his eyes, “Yo, Xi Hejun, you were fine just now, what made you mad?”
Mo Xi composed his face, he saw Gu Mang being surrounded and bullied, his heart filled with hatred from an unknown origin. If just now he could not bear and shouted “stop”, perhaps he could have found it hard to explain. Fortunately, he was able to control himself and not make a sound, and continued bearing it for a short time, gritting his teeth and slowly replying.
“......drinking until confusion, befuddlement and seeking sexual pleasure in the above hall.” “……”
“....”
“Everyone here holds an important position in the government. However they are only capable of such despicable ruse,” He lectured, “What a scandal”
“Xi Hejun, what do you mean by this?” Murong Lian spoke amidst the bystander’s silence.
He was originally lying down, but had stood up saying, “Gu Mang is a traitor, and those present are influential officials, it nothing more than influential officials playing with a traitor, how is that lacking in decorum or despicable.”
He took a sip of Adrift In Dreams[3], continuing “Xi Hejun, himself is extremely fastidious, don’t tell me that he has to micromanage his subordinates to find joy? Not to mention, this is the Leisurely Moon Mansion. Gu Mang is under me, the ones present today are my guests. Even if the amount of credit you have claimed is not small, you should also understand what it means to look at the master before you beat the dog[4]?”
This sentence was not good applied to the others, except Gu Mang, as it literally diminished the rest to Murong Lian’s dogs.
Unfortunately this crowd was heavily inebriated, even if they were sober, Murong Lian was also the reigning Junshang’s[5] *Tang-Ge*, even if they had borrowed ten times the courage, they also would not dare to say no in the face of Murong Lian’s power.
However, Mo Xi did not fall for that, folding his arms coldly replying
“Murong Lian, the government and officials did not swear loyalty to you but Chonghua Junshang. I do not wish to listen to such talk of comparing these army and government officials as your dogs again. ”
He looked straight into Murong Lian eyes “Conduct yourself with dignity”
“You----!” Despite how the brevity of Mo Xi’s words, however they bore the weight of a *1000 jun*, stabbing into Murong Lian stomach like a pair of swords. The first point, presently in the Chonghua Military the most useful person was surnamed Mo, compared to him Murong Lian himself was also an official in the military, and his rank was not as high as Mo Xi, Chonghua’s *military rules were like mountains*, even if he was nobility, if he really provoked Mo Xi, he could still be punished in an instant.
The second point was that Murong Lian’s words were out of line.
This was even more lethal, as it was said that Murong Lian’s father had participated in power struggles for the throne, fortunately due to the magnanimity of the emperor, his and his siblings were still untouched, however the people in the Murong clan were still cautious, the 2 words “emperor’s power” was not something they dared to touch
Murong Lian’s face changed color, only barely regaining his composure after quite some time.
“Fine. Fine.” The corner of his lips lifted to a cold smile, “Mo Xi, you have guts.”
He stared into Mo Xi’s eyes, after a while, suddenly raising his hand, several rays of light sprang out of his palm with a hissing sound and a blood red whip was summoned, with a swish, it cut through the air, kicking up a cloud of dust.
“The words I uttered just now can be taken as a slip of my tongue.” Murong Lian held the soft whip and circled Mo Xi slowly once, eyes brimming in resentment “Xi Hejun rules are severe and his control exacting, today I considered to learn.”
“Then….”
He stopped, his eyes reflecting the magical shine of his whip.
“Then I will have to learn how to teach these stupid slaves to stop too!” His tone dropped, his red spiritual whip gliding out like a snake striking at the few anxioious and frightened slaves at the corner!! “Ah----!”
“Zhushang, Zhushang s angry ah---wuwu---”
Pained cries begging for mercy reached his ears, Mo Xi’s eye color changed slightly and became more profound
Even though he held a honorable condition, however the northern border army under him were once commoners that Gu Mang had spent effort to bring to the army, they were destitute but honest, and many were born of slaves.
After the earlier years of becoming Gu Mang’s friend, he fought together with them, he keenly understood their difficulties, this was also why even though he was off noble birth, he had never visited a prostitute, never captured or humiliated someone with a lower social standing than him.
That year after he was stabbed by Gu Mang, in order to put an end to traitors such as Gu Mang, he ordered that the 70000 scattered survivors of the Bastard Army to prohibit any Chonghua slaves from practicing magic.
It was him that dragged his sick recovering body and knelt in the snow day and night, to beg for Gu Mang’s squad not to be involved due to their association with him and be eradicate and not to take the right to practice magic from the slaves.
“The rest of the slaves in the army have not committed any acts of treason, why must Junshang make their heads roll to the ground?”
Junshang raged: “Now they have yet to commit treason, but does that mean that they never will?! They were all brought over by Gu Mang! A bunch of traitors! Xi Hejun, have you forgotten the pain of your healed wound?”
The wound had yet to heal. The bandages wrapped around his chest seeped blood.
He could only remember, once when Gu Mang was young, they had both sat on a pile of hay, biting apples with a crunching sound, laughing at him. “In the 20 countries of Jiuzhou, only the five countries under Chonghua grant us who were born of slaves the right to pursue cultivation. If there were more next time, it would be good.” “Even though is currently no slave at Chonghua that is an official, if Chonghua still lets us practice cultivation, there would be a chance.” “I want to be outstanding, all of us want to be outstanding.”
“Only hoping that the person sitting on the throne is willing to look at us….”
Mo Xi closed his eyes saying “Junshang please grant me authority over the 70000 scattered survivors.”
Junshang laughed mockingly “Let you a pure blooded noble go and lead Gu Mang’s group of army riffraff? How would you lead them? Would they even follow you? Not to mention, how can you alone guarantee that this pack of tigers and wolves will not be like their old master and point their spears at Chonghua Palace!”
Mo Xi stared straight into Junshang’s eyes, saying “I am willing to swear the Heavenly Calamity Vow”
Junshang was shocked “....what did you say?!”
“I am willing to swear the Heavenly Calamity Vow” “……”
“....”
The Heavenly Calamity Vow was indelible and could only be sworn once in a person’s lifetime and took 10 years of the person’s life as part of the agreement. If this vow was broken, a calamity would befall from the heavens and annihilate the oath breaker. Even if the vow was not broken, the 10 years of their life would never be regained
Due to this strict and severe set of standards, very little people in the world would swear the Heavenly Calamity Vow.
But Mo Xi did. He swore this vow using 10 years of his life, swearing to never let these squad of slaves revolt, swore that he would always be loyal to the emperor and Chonghua. Only to prevent innocent bloodshed resulting from Gu Mang’s betrayal. Only to preserve the rights of slaves to practice cultivation in Chonghua. His sacrifice was something few knew about, people only knew that the king was suddenly inspired to hand the reins of the Bastard Army over to a pure blooded noble. When he first led, the Bastard Army secretly called him “Step-Commander”, scolded him for being strict, cold of being noble birth, who did not understand their suffering.
However none of them knew the price this noble gentleman who “did not understand their suffering” paid to let them continue living and to let people who were of similar upbringing as Gu Mang have an opportunity to rise,
10 years of his life and a lifetime promise.
--This “Step-Commander” with his heart stabbed was trapped in between.Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't. Actually what he did all that he could do. It was only that no one knew.
However for this incident, Murong Lian knew the most, as he was beside Junshang at that time. He saw with his own eyes how Mo Xi begged for mercy on behalf of these slaves and he personally heard Mo Xi swear the vow on the snowy ground during snowfall. He knew that Mo Xi sympathized with these slaves.
Hence when Mo Xi made him unhappy, he could not vent it on the country's imperial commander in chief , hence he targeted and humiliated the powerless slaves whipping them till their blood scattered and their pained cries filled the air. Murong Lian laughed heartily, his pale beautiful face warped by drug addiction and rejection. He laughed while whipping “Slaves will forever be slaves, from birth their body is filled with filthy blood, what do they mean by opportunity to rise?” “……” ”....”
Yue Chenqing whispered at the side “‘Adrift in dreams’ is really scary, when I return I will tell my older brothers to never smoke it, it was only a sentence, nothing more, how did Wang Shujun become so crazy.” Murong Lian had not finished venting his anger on the slaves, out of the corner of his eye he glimpsed Gu Mang standing at the side. As his old master, all these years he had observed Mo Xi’s interactions with him. Even though he lacked evidence however he felt that there was something unusual between Mo Xi and Gu Mang.
As he thought now, Murong Lian’s emotions stirred, suddenly a vicious idea formed in his head, he immediately redirected the spiritual whip which now curled towards Gu Mang!
Pitiful Gu Mang did not react, Murong Lian’s whip wrapped around his waist, without a warning hooking him and easily depositing him in front of Murong Lian.
Murong Lian pinched his chin with one hand and forced him to turn to Mo Xi. His long and narrow phoenix eyes full of malice “Come come come, Gu Mang, look at the person in front of you, do you recognize him?” Gu Mang blinked his eyes and grasped some brutal vigilance.
”It is fine if you have forgotten, let me tell you, actually that same year even though you left it unsaid, I still saw it---even though your mouth called me master, however internally you still wanted to betray the Murong clan, turn over and *kneel over like a dog* for Mo Da Gongzi” Mo Xi’s face sunk “Murong Lian what makes you so mad?” “How am I mad? Today I have met with Xi Hejun after so long but yet I did not prepare a gift. What about this, let me try to test his intentions, if he wants to follow you than my calculations are accurate and I will part with something I cherish, is that fine?” Murong Lian asked grabbing Gu Mang’s shoulders and leaning on him.
“I have already considered how I am going to conduct this test. Thus I am telling you---”
“Murong Lian!” Murong Lian was heavily intoxicated by ‘Adrift in dreams’, he stuck his finger out and stuck it to his lip swaying “shh, don’t get angry, listen to me finish. The interesting part is near” As he said he lowered his head and sweetly asked Gu Mang “Gu Shuai, listen well I am going to give you two choices.”
“To be honest, I have always found your face disgusting and wanted to destroy it. But if you can help me take this person.” He pointed to Mo Xi drunkenly “If you can help me take an arm from this person.”
Moving close to the side of Gu Mang’s ear, using a whisper that everyone could hear “I will spare you.”
When those words were finished the heavily drunk people at the side were shocked half to sobriety and openned their eyes in surprise, staring at the three of them. “What did Wang Shujun just say?” “He wants Commander Mo’s arm?” Yue Chenqing patted his forehead,muttering “I should not have came”, before shouting “Wang Shujun, Older Brother Murong! You had too much ‘adrift in dream’! Your brain is still not sober! Where are the medicines to help you sober up, I will take it here!” However Murong Lian paid him no attention, he hung at Gu Mang who did not know what to do, grinning and laughing “How is it Gu Mang, are you going to.”
At his last words, the spiritual whip in his palm had turned into a cold bright dagger.
Hanging beside Gu Mang’s face.
“Either you remove his arm or I scar your face with one stroke of my knife __ Isn’t your brain damaged? I want to see what decision you would make”
Mo Xi’s heart shivered.
Murong Lian was never drunk! It was obvious that with Gu Mang’s current abilities he was harmless. even if he had managed to obtain that dagger he would not manage to injure him . Murong Lian’s actions were only meant to ascertain if Gu Mang had really lost his memories and to see what place he held in Gu Mang’s heart.
“I will count to three” The dagger closed in on Gu Mang’s face, if it went closer by one more *cun*, blood would be seen.
Gu Mang did not utter a word, it almost seemed as though he leaned to one side to observe the blade apathetically. “一。”
“One.”
Mo Xi’s blood involuntarily flowed rapidly. He really did want to stop Murong Lians’ actions. However from another angle, he was unable to stand not knowing, what would Gu Mang do?
In fact Mo Xi once had such suspicions, he had once thought that Gu Mang’s brain damage was untrue. If Gu Mang’s brain was really damaged, his animistic instincts, would have made him hesitate. If his subconscious really thought that he was a wolf like what Li Wei said than between harming someone and self defense, there was no need to doubt that the wolf would pick the latter.
In that case why didn’t Gu Mang make any moves to attack? The atmosphere became heavier.
Murong Lian was laughing, Yue Chenqing was shouting, everyone else was persuading, the fumes from adrift in dreams curling around the house. Gu Mang’s past expressions, smiling brightly, tranquil, deep concern and cold flashed by Mo Xi’s eyes.
Ordinary clear dreams floated up:
“Long time no see, Mo shidi, can I sit beside you?”
”Do you want to rot together with me?”
“I will really kill you...” All these memories rushed pass his eyes like a waterfall clamoring, at the end it was suddenly broken by Murong Lian’s voice, dragging him back to reality. Only at this very moment, Gu Mang’s usually tranquil face betrayed the slightest wrinkles on is brow. “二——”
“Two----”
Unexpectedly Gu Mang did not move.
Why didn’t he choose to save himself?! Wasn’t he all about survival of the fittest? What’s more he used to treat him so viciously, even using a bayonet to stab him, he should, should, ”Three” “Stop” Mo Xi reacted suddenly, electricity sparking from his palm, a spell swiftly emerging from his palm directed to Murong Lian’s dagger!
Too late...
The dagger shining on Gu Mang’s face stabbed, fresh blood splashed. Suddenly Mo Xi opened his eyes
Lazy's Translation Notes:
[1]You: 您(nin) is a more courteous form of you as opposed to 你(ni) allowing him to tower over and sweep past the bystanders: the word used was implying how he behaved arrogantly due to his higher social position
[2]Adrift in dreams: 浮生若梦 is a type of weed Murong Lian smokes
[3]Leisurely Moon Mansion: 望舒府
[4]Look at the master before you beat the dog: 打狗也要看主人吧, it means that before you hit someone you should see if the person has an influential backer or has friends that can beat you up.
[5]Junshang: 君上 emperor
[6]Tang-Ge:堂哥older male patrilineal cousin
[7]Thousand Jun: 千钧 about equivalent 18,000 kg/39683.207pounds
[8]Military rules were like mountains: 军法如山 means that the military laws were as immovable as mountains subordinates had to follow orders with no resistance
[8]Kneel over like a dog: 趴下来当狗 It's very humiliating for someone to be equated as a dog in any fashion, because of associations in Chinese culture.
[9]Cun: 寸 3.33cm
[10]Shidi: 师弟Junior Martial Brother