Martial King's Retired Life

Che Gulu didn’t stop for anyone, but the interruption sabotaged the confrontational atmosphere Xun Feng built up.

“… Rumour has it that the master of Ironhead Palace possesses a splendid Beijiang steed called Startan. He must’ve switched horses.”

“Is that… within the rules?”

“Drugging horses, people, and kicking them for that matter, aren’t permitted. I assume he raised those points to make a case against switching horses. It’s not asking for too much if you consider what he went through. Nonetheless… that horse is too fast.” Xun Feng turned to Su Xiao. “Constable Su, how about a temporary truce?”

“Agreed.”

They both had no doubts that Che Gulu would catch up to Tang Ye and Bai Yumo in no time at all, which would inexorably lead to another intense contest.

“Leaving already? Am I so unworthy?”

Xun Feng and Su Xiao only just noticed the small horse struggling behind them. The trio fighting before felt sorry for the horse, which was a feeling amplified when they saw the sloppily-dressed man atop it.

“I didn’t feel it when I drugged them, but I feel sorry for them now that I’m seeing the consequences,” expressed Ling Shaoxuan.

“I feel the same way.”

The rider yawned. “Why are you still here when you drugged the horses?”

Su Xiao stopped himself as he went to fire a retort for he was alarmed, and his two former nemeses felt the same warning.

“Elder Bai, are you here for revenge?” questioned Xun Feng.

“Revenge? No.” Bai Ju looked as though he had a hard time keeping himself awake. “Gulu is my eldest nephew. I only joined on request to make up the numbers. A children’s game is a children’s game at the end of the day, right?”

“Your magnanimity is something we ought to learn. You are absolutely right.” Xun Feng was arguably the most vigilant he had ever looked.

Bai Ju nodded. “Gulu’s not bad as a fighter. I have no reason to complain if he’s willing to fight one on one, agreed?”

Xun Feng nodded. “You… are correct.”

Bai Ju nodded again. “Hurting the horses is no big deal, either, right?”

Xun Feng chose silence, while Ling Shaoxuan caved in to the pressure and responded, “You are correct.”

“No, I’m not.” Bai Ju shook his head.

“Pfft!”

Ling Shaoxuan flew past Su Xiao, leaving a trail of crimson pearls in the air, some of which landed on Su Xiao’s face. Only after the fact did Su Xiao realise the swordsman behind Xun Feng was already on elsewhere on the ground. Even with Su Xiao’s ability to see Che Gulu’s arrows in slow motion to intercept them, he couldn’t keep up with the movements just now.

Bai Ju yawned and then cast his gaze Su Xiao bound. “You’re the one who shot down Gulu’s arrows?”

“… Yes.”

“Not bad. Not bad.”

Su Xiao went to open his mouth, but a mind-numbing pain spread from his chest, shutting down his control over his limbs as he went airborne. He broke through a tree trunk several metres away, but he didn’t end up a bloody mess as Ling Shaoxuan did. Su Xiao managed to crawl to his feet notwithstanding the pain. Only after wobbling a few times, he sprayed a fountain of blood and then collapsed again. He didn’t even get to see how he was crushed.

“Not bad. I intended to erase your training. Your internal progress is admirable. It’s rare for someone of your age to have made such progress.” Bai Ju shifted his line of sight to Xun Feng. “Shall I skip the drivel?”

The two remained still as a hot breeze blew past.

The small horse neighed, prompting Bai Ju to stroke its head. “Impressive,” he remarked with a smile. “I’m very impressed you dodged my whip.”

Xun Feng placed his hands together in prayer as a gesture of appreciation.

“I should’ve expected Liaoliao’s disciple to be capable of as much. Get lost now.”

Xun Feng let out a long pent-up exhale once Bai Ju was no longer in sight. He headed towards Su Xiao following some musing, but then he halted in his tracks when he heard Su Xiao moan and exhale before opening his eyes. He sat up in one go despite there still being blood around his mouth and then looked up at Xun Feng. Su Xiao asked, “I passed out?”

Xun Feng needed a moment to process what he just witnessed, then nodded. “Indeed.”

Judging from the look in Su Xiao’s eyes, he wasn’t harmed seriously at all, which was a testament to his progress in his internal discipline. That being said, he was injured without a shadow of doubt.

“Hey, Ling Shaoxuan! How are you?” yelled Xun Feng.

Su Xiao supported Ling Shaoxuan’s head in his head. “Hey, hey, don’t die on me! Can you hear me? How do you treat wounds this bad?”

Xun Feng froze on the spot as he watched Su Xiao show concern for a foe he was fighting to the death not long ago.

“Hey, Monk!”

“H-huh? Oh, yeah?”

“Come check him. Is he going to die? I can’t stop the bleeding. Bring your horse over. He needs to see a doctor urgently.”

“… We can’t transport him by horse; it’ll exacerbate his injuries. Carry one side, and I’ll carry the other. Try to not touch his wound. We’ll carry him back.”

“Glad you have a solution. Let’s go!” Su Xiao looked up to see Xun Feng standing still. “Why are you just standing there?‘

Xun Feng looked at Su Xiao, down to Ling Shaoxuan, then shook his head, smiled helplessly and sighed. “Amitabha. Coming now.”

Glossary

Startan – Made up name