[To Become a River of Stars] Dong Xiange - Chapter 8

“Shiliu!”

Seeing that Shiliu had been captured, He Chong immediately moved to fly after them. But the fat official, clutching his stomach beside him, began to moan and groan, repeatedly saying, “Quick, save this official! If anything happens to me, you won’t be able to explain it.”

Among the disciples who had descended the mountain this time, He Chong was not the oldest in age, but his seniority and abilities subtly placed him in charge. The group of fellow disciples around him looked at him somewhat helplessly. Indeed, the Supervisor was an official, and there had always been some friction between him and their Zhenyi Sect. If something really happened to him, it would be a major trouble.

But Shiliu had grown up with him since childhood—how could he just abandon her? He Chong was burning with anxiety, but he could only hurriedly assign a few junior disciples to go down the mountain to find a doctor. The others were to stay behind, bandage and tend to the Supervisor, while he alone gave chase.

He Chong moved swiftly, and before long, he saw in the distance a path of light tracing the edge of the dark, dense forest. Torches pierced the silence, and the sound of hoofbeats faintly startled the birds in the mountains, causing crows and sparrows to take flight from the woods from time to time. Their cries only added to the ominous atmosphere.

He Chong took a shortcut along the mountain wall, flipping like a sparrow hawk and landing right in the center of the procession.

He saw Shiliu stumbling along behind the young man’s horse. The young man showed no mercy, proceeding at a normal pace. Shiliu struggled to keep up, her feet covered in mud, her hands bound tightly by the red thread, which dug deeply into her skin, leaving red marks in no time.

He Chong’s heart clenched with worry. Shiliu was much younger than the rest of them. Ever since their master had picked her up and brought her to the mountain, the few senior brothers had treasured this little “junior brother.” Although they often teased her, they had never let her truly suffer.

“Hold on!” He quickly stepped in front of the young man’s horse. The guards beside him immediately drew their swords, appearing highly vigilant, but the young man raised his hand slightly to stop them.

“What do you want?” he asked, not paying much attention to He Chong. Instead, it was Shiliu behind him who, though panting and silent, showed clear anxiety on her face.

“I wish to make a deal with you,” He Chong said, not looking at Shiliu but keeping his eyes fixed on the young man.

The young man let out a mocking laugh and said sharply, “What day is it today? Every stray cat and dog wants to make a trade with me.”

“This humble Daoist knows his status is lowly, as far beneath you as the clouds are from the mud. Yet, even a massive mountain elephant may struggle to crush a single ant. Sometimes, a swarm of ants can make even a mountain elephant restless.” He Chong faced the torches and drawn swords, speaking in a calm but clear voice, his tone frank and unwavering.

“Quite the boast,” the young man said with a laugh.

“This humble Daoist only means to say that even lowly Daoists like me and Shiliu may possess something you desire, Prince Ding.”

Shiliu’s eyes widened. Although she had guessed that someone acting so arrogantly in the northern frontier could only be that noble person, why did her senior brother have to point it out…

Prince Ding’s eyes narrowed slightly, adding a hint of fierceness to his handsome face. His fingers twitched, as if he were about to strike out at any moment.

“This humble Daoist came here regarding the matter of the Heavenly Dog. This matter is of great importance, reaching even the Emperor’s ears, which is why the Zhenyi Sect was sent to investigate. It is absolutely confidential. What the Heavenly Dog is and what it implies—I believe you understand naturally as well.”

“After all that talk, it’s just for this useless one behind me, isn’t it?” Prince Ding studied him for a moment, not addressing the implications in He Chong’s words. Instead, he seemed amused and taunted both of them.

“If you could show mercy to Shiliu after the curse is lifted, you might also be forging a favorable connection for yourself.” He Chong gripped his left thumb with his right hand, clasped his fists, and bowed deeply, lowering his head in a posture of utmost humility.

Prince Ding, however, did not respond. He merely looked down at the Daoist from his horse, allowing him to remain bowed. His gaze was cold and devoid of warmth, pressing heavily on He Chong’s bent spine, thickening the mountain mist in the early dawn.

“Senior Brother!” Shiliu couldn’t bear to watch and called out urgently. Throughout the night’s upheavals, no matter how turbulent her emotions, she had mostly maintained a cold expression. Now, however, her anxiety was barely concealed.

Prince Ding tilted his head slightly. His hair was jet black, his eyebrows like distant bows, his eyes bright as stars. Now, the corner of his eyebrow lifted slightly, a glint of light flashing in his eyes as he smiled faintly.

This was getting interesting.

“First, investigate that Heavenly Dog thoroughly, then come back to bother me. When the time comes, returning this fool to you isn’t entirely impossible.” He looked back at the Daoist still bowing deeply before him, concealing the faint interest in his eyes, and spoke in a clear voice.

This meant there was room for negotiation. He Chong secretly breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and stepped aside to make way.

The procession began to move again. Prince Ding didn’t spare him another glance, urging his horse forward. Shiliu, however, exchanged a look with him. Her face was full of anxiety, but he gave a slight nod, reassuring her.

The matter of the Heavenly Dog was indeed top secret, but they had unfortunately crossed paths with Prince Ding. That fool of a Supervisor had already revealed his official status, making it impossible to conceal their identities any longer.

They had been sent by the Emperor, while Prince Ding was a local feudal lord. A noble killing wandering Daoists was one thing, but a feudal lord killing envoys dispatched by the Emperor was an entirely different matter.

Since they had been discovered, it was better to outright reveal Prince Ding’s identity. This would add a layer of restraint, making it harder for him to act recklessly, and Shiliu would have a better chance of survival.

He Chong watched the departing procession with deep concern until the torchlight disappeared around the mountain cliff. Finally, steeling himself, he turned back.

But at that moment, He Chong did not know that Prince Ding’s willingness to relent was not out of fear of the Emperor. To a madman like him, there were only two kinds of things in the world: those that interested him and those that did not.

The former, he would inevitably claim as his own until he grew bored; the latter, even if the world turned upside down before his eyes, would not earn so much as a glance from him.