met free Chapter 18 Father's Love is as Solid as a Mountain
Chapter 18 Father's Love is as Solid as a Mountain
The rear army camp, the commander's tent of the Marquis of the North.
The charcoal brazier crackled and popped, and Chong Houhu's face was grim as his fingers unconsciously tapped out an unsettling sound. Chong Yingbiao paced back and forth in the tent like a trapped beast, his face a mixture of anger, fear, and disbelief.
"He's back... he actually came back." Chong Yingbiao stopped abruptly. "Father, that Qiu Yin is a good-for-nothing too, he couldn't even handle Zhang Kui. What do we do now? We..."
"Shut up!"
Chong Houhu slammed his hand on the table, causing the wine cup to tip over and spill its murky liquid. "What's the use of complaining? Qiu Yin's failure, though unexpected, is also understandable. What's the point of saying all this now?"
Chong Yingbiao was startled by his father's sudden outburst of anger, shrinking back slightly, but still unwilling to give up, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes: "Then...then let's go all the way, we'll send our trusted assassins to set up an ambush, using magic-breaking crossbows, we don't believe he..."
"Idiot!" Chong Houhu stood up angrily, walked around the table, and gave his son a hard flick on the forehead. "Use your pig brain! Even the Xuanlang Demon King of the Celestial Immortal Realm, with his ambush troops, died at his hands. What use are your assassins? If they fail, they'll just be giving his enemy a handle to use against you. You're just asking for death."
Chong Yingbiao rubbed his throbbing head and muttered, "This won't work, that won't work, are we just going to stand by and watch him ride roughshod over us?"
Chong Houhu took a deep breath, suppressing his agitation, and sat down again, his eyes flashing as he considered a solution. After a moment, a resolute glint appeared in his eyes.
"Biao'er, pack your things immediately, take your most trusted guards, leave the camp right away, and return to Chaoge." Chong Houhu's voice became unusually calm.
"Back to Chaoge? Now? Why?" Chong Yingbiao was taken aback, not understanding.
"The reason is to prepare a birthday gift for His Majesty. Although His Majesty's birthday is still several months away, preparing in advance shows loyalty," Chong Houhu said calmly, then his tone became extremely serious. "But you must remember, after leaving the camp, take a detour to Caozhou to pay your respects to your uncle, Marquis Chong Heihu of Caozhou."
"Chong Heihu?" Chong Yingbiao's face showed obvious resistance and reluctance. "Father, you want me to beg that guy who betrayed the family? He failed to win the title of Marquis of the North from you back then, and left in a huff. He has long since disowned us as relatives. Wouldn't it be humiliating for me to go to him?"
"You worthless wretch!" Chong Houhu glared at him angrily, "Times have changed. It's hard to say what happened back then. But your uncle is skilled in extraordinary arts, a disciple of a master of the Jie Sect, and has deep roots in Caozhou. Even Wen Zhong has to give him some face. You have no choice but to go and seek refuge with your uncle. For the sake of that blood ties, he might protect you."
Chong Yingbiao then understood his father's deeper meaning; this was to arrange a way out for him. "Dad, then... what about you?"
"As the Marquis of the North and the deputy commander of the army, how can I leave so easily?" Chong Houhu waved his hand, a hint of weariness on his face. "As long as you are safe and sound, I have my own way of dealing with it. Remember, when you get to Caozhou, put away your arrogance and be extremely respectful to your uncle. No matter what, you must ask for his forgiveness and shelter."
Just as Chong Yingbiao was about to say something more, a commotion and shouts from the guards suddenly came from outside the tent.
"General Zhang, the Marquis is in the middle of a meeting; you cannot force your way in."
"Get out of the way! I have urgent business to report to the Marquis of the North. Can you afford to delay military operations?"
Before he could finish speaking, the tent flap was suddenly flung open with a "whoosh".
A biting wind instantly rushed into the tent, causing the charcoal fire to flicker.
Zhang Kui's tall figure appeared at the doorway, his armor still covered in unmelted snow. His sharp eyes swept across the tent, and the murderous aura he deliberately drew upon pressed down on Chong Houhu and his son.
Chong Yingbiao instinctively took a step back, then reacted and shouted sternly, "Zhang Kui, how dare you! Entering the commander's tent without permission, what is your punishment?"
Several of Chong Houhu's personal guards rushed in after him, their swords half-drawn, staring nervously at Zhang Kui.
Zhang Kui completely ignored Chong Yingbiao and his guards, fixing his gaze directly on Chong Houhu behind the desk. He clasped his hands in a salute, his voice loud yet carrying an unquestionable tone: "This humble general, Zhang Kui, has come to report to Your Excellency. There is also urgent military intelligence concerning Your Excellency's reputation, which must be reported privately. All other personnel are requested to leave."
"You!" Chong Yingbiao had never been so slighted before. He was so angry that his face turned red and he was about to draw his sword.
Chong Houhu stared intently at Zhang Kui, his gaze complex and unreadable. Judging from the way Zhang Kui barged in and his words, "This concerns the Marquis's reputation," his worst premonition had come true; Zhang Kui likely already had leverage over him.
"All of you, step back. Without my order, no one is to approach within a hundred paces of the main tent." Chong Houhu waved his hand at his personal guards, his tone indifferent.
The guards had no choice but to sheath their swords, bow, and retreat.
But Chong Yingbiao remained rooted to the spot, looking at his father with a mixture of anxiety and anger.
Chong Houhu glanced at him, a hint of barely perceptible anxiety and urging flashing deep in his eyes, but his tone remained calm: "You go out too. Go immediately... to the things I told you to do before the 'preparation'." He deliberately emphasized the word "preparation".
Chong Yingbiao was jolted awake, instantly understanding his father's meaning—he was being told to leave immediately. He glanced at his father, whose face was calm but whose eyes were deep, and finally lowered his head, quickly walking out of the tent.
The tent flaps were drawn, cutting off the wind, snow, and light outside, leaving only the flickering firelight from the charcoal brazier inside.
Chong Houhu broke the silence first, forcing a stiff smile as he tried to gain the upper hand: "General Zhang has had a long and arduous journey and has rendered great service. I, the Marquis..."
Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Kui raised his hand to interrupt him.
Zhang Kui took two steps forward, walked to the charcoal brazier, stretched out his hands, and casually warmed them by the fire. His voice was icy: "My lord, there's no need for formalities. Black Wind Gorge has beautiful scenery, but the wind and snow are quite strong, and there are many wolves, especially the cunning ones. I almost didn't make it back."
Chong Houhu's smile froze instantly, and his heart sank. These words were practically a direct statement.
By barging in this way, Zhang Kui wanted to tell Chong Houhu directly that pretense was pointless.
Chong Houhu seemed to have lost all his energy; his shoulders slumped, and the majesty and scheming on his face vanished, replaced by a profound weariness. He slowly stood up, walked around the table, and stood before Zhang Kui.
Under Zhang Kui's slightly surprised gaze, the powerful Marquis of the North slowly and deeply bowed to him.
Then, Chong Houhu raised his head, his face devoid of any pleading expression, and uttered a sentence that completely stunned Zhang Kui:
"General Zhang, things have come to this, what more can I say? I am willing to give my life to atone for the crime of framing you, and I only hope that you will show mercy and spare my son Ying Biao. I, Chong Houhu, will bear all the blame, and it has nothing to do with him."
Zhang Kui was truly stunned. He had anticipated that Chong Houhu would try to argue, fly into a rage, or even attempt violence, but he hadn't expected that the other party would confess so readily and offer to commit suicide in order to save his son!
At this moment, Zhang Kui looked at the ruthless man before him, who seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, and a complex emotion inexplicably arose in his heart. Chong Houhu was a despicable person, jealous of talent, ruthless, and unscrupulous in his pursuit of power, but at this moment, as a father, he was undoubtedly touching.
Even a tiger won't eat its cubs. Chong Houhu may not be a good person, but at this moment, he is just a father.
Zhang Kui remained silent for a moment, then asked in a deep voice, "Why?"
Chong Houhu smiled with relief: "I know my sins are grave and I cannot escape punishment. But that's how the world is; if you don't move forward, you fall behind. Right now, I only want to save my son's life and preserve a bloodline for my Chong family. I have been managing the northern lands for many years and have some connections in the court. Perhaps Your Majesty... will consider our past relationship and not pursue the matter further."
Zhang Kui stared at Chong Houhu without saying a word for a long time.
Chong Houhu's profound paternal love for his son resonated with Zhang Kui, who also valued family.
After a long silence, Zhang Kui slowly spoke, his voice low and deep: "My lord, can this crime be atoned with death?"
Chong Houhu closed his eyes, his facial muscles twitching slightly: "I... was blinded by greed and deserve to die. I only beg the general to consider that Ying Biao was not fully aware of this and that the worst consequences did not occur, and to give him a way out."
Zhang Kui fell silent again. The firelight from the charcoal brazier danced in his eyes.
Finally, he turned around and walked out of the tent.
He stopped at the tent flap, not turning around, and simply said, "This is a one-time exception. Besides, I don't want to see you and your son again in this Northern Navy camp..."
"Why?" Chong Houhu asked in surprise.
"Thank yourself, all I did was release a father who loves his child."
After saying that, he lifted the tent flap, strode away, and disappeared into the wind and snow.
Inside the tent, Chong Houhu seemed to have all his strength drained away. He staggered and had to grab onto a nearby table to steady himself. He looked in the direction Zhang Kui had left, a complex expression on his face that seemed to be both crying and laughing.
He knew that this ordeal... was over.