General’s Gown

Chapter 70 The Storm Puts a Strong Grass To The Test Part 7 

Yan Changqing’s eyes suddenly darkened. His internal organs seemed to be rolled into densely erected sharp ice blades in an instant, and the severe pain tearing his muscles made him almost fall over, but Yan Changqing immediately supported the ground with his arms. His pale fingers were deeply buckled, entering the dirty soil under him. He gritted his teeth and held back without saying a word. 

Limbs and bones were excruciating with pain. 

“Sir!” Wei Jin shouted in a heart-wrenching voice, finally breaking free from the bondage, and kneeling in front of Yan Changqing with a plop.

But the shouting, the surrounding noise, and the cursing that reached Yan Changqing’s ears had become very weak. 

It was so painful that he couldn’t hear or see anything at all. He only felt a drop of cold liquid dripping down from his hair, forehead and arms, and he didn’t know if it was water, sweat, or blood. 

This kind of pain was like peeling one’s skin, it was enough to destroy anyone’s willpower. But at this moment, Yan Changqing still had a firm thought in his mind. 

Can’t admit defeat! 

Never admit defeat! ! ! 

“Get out! Get out!” 

Yan Changqing slowly closed his eyes amid the intensifying cursing. 

He knew that at this moment, in the land under him, the gravel soil that supported the entire city was slowly collapsing. 

How long can Qinchuan City last?

If he was really driven out of the city as a Drought Demon, then his plan to move the city would definitely not be able to proceed. How many people in Qinchuan will be engulfed by the next tragic collapse? 

The people in front of them, whether they were deceived and instigated by a few wealthy businessmen, whether they were ignorant and cruel, or whether they were guilty of crime did not deserve to die. 

What’s more, behind them, there were more innocent old people and young children waiting to be fed. They should not pay with their own lives for the ignorance and impulse of these people. 

As a General of a country, who is responsible for the lives of thousands of people, he should worry about the country and forget his family, and sacrifice his life to relieve the hardship. 

So, he can’t fall down now! 

Yan Changqing suddenly opened his eyes. 

In front of him, the suspicious, resentful, crazy crowd suddenly stopped. 

Everyone’s eyes widened in surprise, forgetting the swearing and shouting. 

Yan Changqing stood up very slowly. 

His back looked so thin, soaked all over, and obviously in a very sorry state, but when he slowly stood up, everyone felt a sense of pride from him, an incomparable fortitude and determination. 

Everyone was stunned, only Wei Jin, who was closest, saw that Yan Changqing’s hand, which was hidden under his sleeve, was clenched so tightly that blood was oozing out of his palm, and it was shaking so violently, it was almost convulsing. If not forcing himself through pain, how could he do it? 

Richman Zhang obviously did not expect that Yan Changqing would be able to stand up again, and his face was surprised and became even more gloomy. He took a step forward, waved his sleeves, and a cold light suddenly appeared – 

But this time, Yan Changqing never gave him another chance. 

“Ah!” With a scream, Richman Zhang was hit on both knees and fell to the ground. Before he could dodge the Taoist priest in front of him, a large basin of ice water was poured on him.

Yan Changqing gasped slightly, raised his hand and threw him aside.

With a bang, Richman Zhang’s iron rod fell to the ground. On the iron rod, there was a circle of protruding spikes, stained with blood. 

Richman Zhang used such an iron rod to attack Yan Changqing’s leg, forcing him to kneel. 

But now, he suffered the consequences, and Yan Changqing cracked his kneecap with this iron rod. 

Everyone opened their mouths and looked at Richmann Zhang who was rolling on the ground in pain, and looked at Yan Changqing next to him. After a while, a small, hesitant voice suddenly popped out from the crowd: 

“Didn’t you say that the Drought Demon is afraid of water, he… he how……?” 

He Li had been kneeling on the ground in a daze, at this moment looking at Yan Changqing who was standing with his teeth gritted, he finally understood his intention. He suddenly pushed aside the crowd, pointed at Yan Changqing, and said with a trembling voice: 

“Yes, didn’t you say that Drought Demons are afraid of water? But as you can see, Lord Yan stood up, he is not afraid of water at all! He is not a Drought Demon!” 

He picked up the iron rod of the rich man and held it up, so that everyone could see the iron rod dripping with blood. 

“You can see clearly that it’s Richman Zhang who was lying to you! He wanted to blackmail for more land compensation, so he came to make trouble!” 

Everyone was silent. Richman Zhang was splashed with ice water and shivered from the cold, and the severe pain in his knees made him roll all over the floor. He bared his teeth and grinned like a ghost, in a much more sorry state than Yan Changqing. 

If it asked who resembled a Drought Demon more at this moment, Richman Zhang at this time was obviously more like it. 

“…Could it be that Richman Zhang lied to us? Look at the stick in his hand…” Another hesitant voice.

“I think so too. You can see that Lord Yan is covered in water and didn’t say a word. He doesn’t seem to be afraid. The reason why he knelt down is because of that harmful iron rod…” 

The voices became louder and louder. 

“I’ll said he wasn’t… look, you had to push me to come, look…” 

“Wasn’t the richman telling the truth…” 

“Since he’s not a Drought Demon, then the notice, it’s all true? Qinchuan City can’t be saved?” 

“Hey, in my opinion, we should hurry back and pack the bedding! Life is most important!” 

The crowd hesitated, then the people at the back began to disperse. 

“I don’t believe it! I don’t believe it!” In the crowd, Doctor Song, who had just spoken out, rushed out. He stared at Yan Changqing’s face, his eyes full of unwillingness, and his voice was sharp and rough, like a rusty sword: “Impossible! I know your symptoms, you can’t be not afraid of water!” 

Yan Changqing took a deep breath and looked at him silently.

And behind him, the hesitant and skeptical crowd. 

Wei Jin suddenly realized what Yan Changqing was going to do, and wanted to stop him, but it was too late, and his shout was caught in his throat. Yan Changqing suddenly snatched the copper basin from the Taoist priest’s hand and poured a full basin of ice water on himself head-on. 

Dr. Song widened his eyes and looked at Yan Changqing in disbelief. After a while, he shuddered and said, “Impossible…impossible…you are clear…you are clearly… ” 

The cold air was cold, but his eyes were still clear, cold and black and his back was still straight like a lone pine in the wind and snow, which did not lose its charm in the slightest. 

He gritted his teeth and said nothing. 

Except for Wei Jin, no one knew. No one could see the severe pain Yan Changqing was enduring at this time. It had exceeded the limit that ordinary people can endure. Even Wei Jin didn’t understand what was it that was supporting him, so he didn’t fall down.

Dr. Song shook his head and stepped back, his expression as if he had seen a ghost: “Impossible, impossible…” 

“He Li!” Yan Changqing shouted in a low voice, his whole body trembling slightly imperceptibly. 

“This lowly official is here!” He Li kneeled down with tears in his eyes. 

“What is the crime of those who confuse the public and disturb the hearts of the people?!” Yan Changqing said every word like a knife stabbed into the hearts of this mob. 

“100 rods and being driven out of the city!” 

Dr. Song, Richman Zhang, and a few who were leading the trouble were immediately startled and wanted to run away. However, the soldiers who finally came to their senses immediately surrounded them. They twisted their arms and dragged them down. 

Screams crying of one’s father and mother, mixed with the dull sound of flesh and blood, impacted the eardrums of everyone present. 

Every commoner knew that if you received a hundred rods, even if you don’t die, you will be a crippled person for the rest of your life. 

After being silent for a long time, the crowd exploded again, but this time it was no longer aimed at Yan Changqing, but at each other. 

“It’s all you, it’s you who made me throw the eggs, you b*stard! I’ll beat you to death!” 

“I told you not to come, but now it’s over! It’s over!”

“It isn’t related to me, not at all, sir. You have to distinguish right from wrong!” 

… 

A group of people who were clearly fighting the same enemy just now began to abuse, fight, and accuse each other. It was noisy, full of pushing and shoving. 

And more people were cowering, their legs shaking, trying to run. 

The soldiers of the government knew that they had made a big mistake just now, and they were eager to make a contribution. They quickly surrounded everyone and drew out their swords. The leader smiled cautiously, and leaned in front of Yan Changqing: “Lord, look, how should we deal with their sins?”

Yan Changqing slowly swept through the crowd, and everyone who came into contact with his eyes immediately lowered their heads in shame, some even trembling cowardly, kneeling down and begging for mercy. 

What an ugly, ignorant, and ridiculous group of people this was. 

Yan Changqing’s heart suddenly filled with a strong sense of exhaustion. This kind of exhaustion was even more suffocating than the bone-piercing pain. 

He closed his eyes and didn’t want to look anymore. 

“Let’s go.” 

Ignoring everyone’s surprised and happy eyes, Yan Changqing turned around and left with the help of Wei Jin. 

No one noticed, just as Yan Changqing turned around, a bright red slowly flowed down from the corners of his pale lips. 

Wei Jin was horrified and was about to open his mouth, but Yan Changqing shook his head calmly and pulled on his hood. 

One step at a time, they never looked back. 

Until the door slowly closed, isolating all the noise and bringing in overwhelming darkness. The string that was trembling and tensed with all its strength finally snapped at this moment. 

Yan Changqing suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood and fell silently. 

Like a tired black eagle, like a star about to fall. 

———————————– 

After the whirlwind, it was a repeated, long and terrifying nightmare. 

Yan Changqing returned to Baicang Mountain again, and he was the only one in the vast expanse of ice and snow.

Cold, very cold. The cold wind pierced through his every pore, and he could barely move. His long eyelashes were covered with frost. However, at this moment, the white snow under his feet suddenly undulated and swayed, turning into tens of thousands of white wolves with fierce eyes. 

All the white wolves rushed towards Yan Changqing at the same time, he didn’t have time to dodge at all, and was drowned in an instant. Flesh and blood were constantly being bitten, but he did not die immediately, but struggled in endless pain. The dream kept repeating, and he fell into severe pain that he could not break free again and again. 

He couldn’t count how many times, until finally, at the moment when he finally couldn’t help crying out in pain, a very familiar figure suddenly appeared in front of his eyes. 

Helian Rongchuan’s ochre-colored robes rattled in the strong wind, like a dark flame. His handsome and uninhibited face was dazzling and warm in the wind and snow. 

Helian Rongchuan ran towards him without hesitation. And he spread his arms. 

The two of them hugged each other tightly in the ice and snow, as if there were only the two of them in the vastness of the sky. 

Yan Changqing slowly raised his eyes and looked at Helian Rongchuan’s tea-brown eyes. In these deep eyes, he seemed to see the warm spring, the green grass was as fluffy as a blanket, and the willow leaves were yellow. Everything was so warm, the long-lost peace of mind. 

It was as if all the pain had disappeared. As if all the humiliation had never happened. 

In the dream, Helian Rongchuan smiled faintly: “I’m here. Don’t be afraid.” 

Yan Changqing silently reached out and stroked Helian Rongchuan’s cheek. He was about to open his mouth, but was suddenly stunned by what happened in front of him. 

Helian Rongchuan had a sharp blade in his chest. 

And this sharp blade actually pierced through Yan Changqing’s chest!