Chapter Thirty-Three: Life Is a Play, and We Compete to Outdo One Another in Acting

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Once the order to close the gates was issued, all the commoners who had been preparing to come out and watch the spectacle immediately dropped to their knees and kowtowed. Their eyes turned toward the scene in perfect unison.

The middle-aged man seated at the tea stall also wore a startled expression.

“Khan, I never expected that boy to be a man from the military,” the young man beside him reminded him.

“Hmm. Qiao Dafang suddenly sent men here. Could he have discovered our plan?”

“Hard to say. Let’s go. We shouldn’t linger here either. Return and tell everyone that the plan is postponed.”

Chen An took a step forward. The imposing aura of a man returned from the battlefield emerged without restraint, instantly enveloping the trembling Feng Qing.

Feng Qing’s face grew even paler. He shook violently, and as Chen An drew closer, he could only steel himself and ask, “What are you going to do?”

“Do? I represent the Tiger Battalion. You struck at my dignity, which means you struck at the dignity of the Tiger Battalion. To strike at the Tiger Battalion is to strike at the dignity of the frontier army.”

Chen An cast a charge of staggering weight upon him.

“To oppose the frontier army is to challenge the authority of the throne. For such a crime…”

“Oh, heavens!”

Feng Qing’s legs gave way, and he collapsed to his knees.

“Fool Wu, Xiao Gui, take every one of the troublemakers back with you!”

“Yes, sir.”

Feng Qing was no longer the arrogant young master he had been at the start. As the son of a powerful family, his only remaining card was now his family’s influence.

“My father is Feng Sen!”

“Feng Sen?”

Seeing Chen An pause for a moment, Feng Qing assumed his words had taken effect and hurriedly declared, “Afraid now, are you? That’s right, I’m telling you—if you dare take me away, my father will never forgive you!”

“Hah!”

Chen An’s mocking laughter utterly extinguished the last trace of hope in Feng Qing’s heart.

“Feng Qing is merely a man living in idleness at home. How could he presume to interfere with my troops? Besides, there are so many witnesses here. If I let you go, wouldn’t that confirm the charge that I’m colluding with the local gentry?”

The moment he said this, thunderous applause erupted from the crowd.

He was not merely punishing the body, but destroying the spirit.

Chen An even lowered his head and leaned close to Feng Qing’s ear, speaking softly.

“Boy, I was only trying to flush out the rabbits while beating the grass, warning the hidden tiger, and establishing my authority by killing one example. I never expected you to charge straight into the line of fire.”

“What exactly do you want?” Feng Qing snarled. “My family is not to be trifled with.”

“I know.” Chen An smiled faintly. “But the very family I want to provoke is yours.”

“Men! Take him away!”

After dealing with Feng Sen’s son, Chen An walked over to Zhang Juzhong and Yingying. His gaze lingered on Yingying’s face for a moment. He was somewhat surprised, though the feeling vanished almost instantly.

Zhang Juzhong hurriedly said, “Brother, thank you for saving our lives.”

Chen An did not answer. He merely regarded Zhang Juzhong with interest.

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Yingying had merely been the opportunity.

Zhang Juzhong was the true reason Chen An had chosen to intervene.

“Mr. Zhang, you flatter me. I came to You Mountain Pass for the express purpose of guarding the city and protecting the people.”

In truth, Zhang Juzhong did not know what Chen An’s motives were. Still, since Chen An had saved him, it was only proper to offer his thanks.

“We husband and wife will remember your kindness forever.”

Yingying likewise inclined herself slightly, displaying her gentle courtesy.

“I still have military duties to attend to, so I won’t keep you.”

Chen An glanced toward Feng Qing.

Feng Qing’s face immediately flushed with shame. He wished he could find a hole and crawl into it.

Just as Zhang Juzhong was about to leave with Yingying, Chen An suddenly spoke.

“May I ask where Miss Yingying is from? Northern Europe or Western Europe?”

Yingying froze for a moment before replying, “Commander, I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean.”

Chen An shook his head. “Never mind, then…”

A cool breeze brushed the mountain ridge.

Feng Qing had gone a full day without eating. Raised in luxury from childhood, he now felt nothing but dizziness and numbness.

From noon to dusk, and from dusk deep into the night.

At last, through his star-filled vision, Feng Qing heard a voice so familiar that he could never mistake it.

“Feng Sen, patriarch of the Feng family of You Mountain Pass, has come to offer provisions to the army!”

“Father!”

Feng Qing shouted excitedly from inside the military tent.

What he had not expected was that Feng Sen did not even glance at him. He walked straight into Chen An’s tent.

“Reporting to the commander, Feng Sen of You Mountain Pass requests an audience.”

“Enter.”

At Chen An’s clear command, the tent flap was lifted.

Feng Sen entered with his hands clasped and said with utmost respect, “I hope today’s affair has not caused you too much trouble, Commander Chen.”

Chen An inclined himself slightly in return, courteous and restrained.

“Master Feng, you jest. I am merely a soldier, and my actions today may have been somewhat rash. If I have damaged your reputation, I ask that you forgive me.”

“You give me far too much credit, Commander Chen.”

The battlefield was a place of war; the world of human relations was no less a field of slaughter.

Feng Sen had evidently not expected Chen An to be so courteous.

“Everyone says that Commander Chen is a young prodigy. Having met you today, I see the reputation is well deserved. May I ask where your family hails from? Who are the members of your household?”

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“The wind begins at the tip of a duckweed leaf, and waves rise from the faintest ripple.”

Chen An answered in riddles.

“I was born to humble circumstances, unlike Young Master Feng. Nor do I possess the bold confidence to proclaim, ‘My father is Feng Sen.’ Put that way, I must admit it is rather embarrassing.”

Feng Sen’s aged face reddened. After holding back for a long while, he slowly replied, “Your words leave us utterly ashamed. I have failed in disciplining my son.”

The false courtesies of the occasion were swiftly exchanged. The true probing and contest had only just begun.

“Commander Chen, if only I had possessed your youthful ambition, perhaps this old man would have had far fewer worries.”

Feng Sen tested the waters. “May I ask what secret lies behind your success?”

“There is no secret. But I do know a saying. I wonder whether it counts.”

“Please, enlighten me.”

“The martial world is not governed by endless fighting and killing. More often, it is governed by human relationships and worldly wisdom.”

Chen An spoke softly as he toyed with the wine cup in his hand.

Feng Sen paused, then immediately said, “Commander Chen, might we speak somewhere more private?”

“There is no one else here. The Tiger Battalion bears the surname Chen.”

The next moment, Chen An rose cooperatively, picked up the warm teapot, and slowly poured tea over the bowls and chopsticks before Feng Sen.

Feng Sen understood at once.

“In that case, let us speak frankly.”

Two silver banknotes slipped from Feng Sen’s sleeve.

“These are five thousand taels, a welcoming gift,” Feng Sen said with a smile.

“Five thousand taels?” Chen An feigned surprise. “That is quite a sum. I’m afraid I’ve put you to considerable expense.”

“I am too weak to carry a burden on my shoulders or lift anything with my hands, but the sincerity of my heart can be witnessed by heaven and earth. Naturally, I am delighted to contribute to the great endeavor of defending the frontier!”

Seeing that Chen An was in a reasonably good mood, Feng Sen finally voiced what he had come to say.

“Commander Chen, my son is young and offended you. I hope Your Excellency will be magnanimous and forgive him this once. On another day, I will certainly have him come to your door and offer his apology.”

Feng Sen’s performance was undeniably masterful.

Before long, he had begun weeping copiously.

With even greater experience, Chen An tucked the banknotes into his robe and comforted him.

“It is nothing. Your devotion to your son has moved me deeply, Master Feng.”

Lifting the tent flap, Chen An shouted toward Zhang Xiaojing outside:

“Release him!”