Chapter 51 - The Grand Escape
Fox Xiaoxian's second life on earth was incarnated as a human girl named Linghu Xian. When she was six years old, her family suffered a sudden change. At the tender age of 6, Linghu Xian had to personally kill a villain who attempted to commit violence against her adoptive mother and later accidentally discovered that she was a fox spirit in her previous life. To hide her identity and protect her foster mother and brother, she had to erase their memories. Then, she sold herself to the Ouyang family to become the personal maid of the young master Ouyang. To her surprise, Ouyang Zhong, the young master, is Ni Zhong's reincarnation; even more unexpectedly, Ouyang Zhong has been in love with her for many years.
The emotions of these two people are entangled in the hatred of the country and family feuds. In the face of foreign invasion and demonic evils, Linghu Xian finally chose to use her life to protect her cherished, beloved, and compassionate Ouyang Zhong and the countless people of Zhongming Kingdom. When she was 14 years old, Linghu Xian recovered her memories of her past life and her magical skills and set herself on fire as a candle to purify her body of the poisonous demonic qi to avoid falling into the devil's path; on the other hand, she used her flesh as fuel to turn into a firewall that stretched for hundreds of miles and was several feet high, blocking the Dingling's army from invading the country of Zhongming and slaughtering hundreds of thousands of people in Beiwang City.
The flaming wall made by Linghu Xian burned for a whole month. They are desperately trying to go up; however, whether it is man or beast or Yu Sun's remaining disciples and grandchildren of those spider monsters, as long as they are close to the wall of fire, they will be scorched by the heat wave. If they touch it, they will be instantly ashes and smoke. Dingling's army tried their best to extinguish the wall of fire, but no matter whether they poured water on it or buried it with earth, the fire remained.
Because of the firewall, the millions of Dingling's army could not move an inch, so they had to camp 20 miles away from the firewall and wait for the fire to subside and go out naturally. Why so far away from twenty miles? Because the fire is too hot, the nearby water sources evaporate, and around five miles are scorched earth, grass, and nothing. Dingling King Tuoba Zhe heard about his eldest son Tuoba Cheng's body in the fire and would like to find him, but unfortunately, not only can not see him, and even close to the wall of fire are unlikely to have to give up right as a son held a cremation, with his flesh and blood for the whole tribe of Dingling to the heavens and the earth to do the sacrifice.
Linghu Xian had bought precious time for Beiwang City and the entire Zhongming Kingdom to escape. However, as Tuoba Cheng and the Nanji Immortal had said, she could stop the Dingling tribe's momentary invasion by her means. However, other tribes, countries, and sects would still compete for power and strife in the future. War and chaos were the main themes of this world.
That night, Ouyang Zhong went crazy and returned to Beiwang City to report the news. He grabbed Hussar General Wei Kongji's shoulder as if he was obsessed and yelled at him with a speedy speech:
"Linghu Xian has turned into a wall of fire. She told us to run, run! Quickly--run--!" As soon as the words fell, a mouthful of bruised blood tumbled out of Ouyang Zhong's chest, then his eyes rolled over, and he fell hard to the ground, unable to wake up no matter what.
People thought he was crazy, but Wei Kongji knew that his words would not be false and that Linghu Xian had sacrificed himself for the sake of the whole city. Wei Kongji knew what was at stake and rushed to gather all the city's generals in batches and groups to help the people of Beiwang City evacuate quickly within two days. The whole town moved to the south, trying to gather with some of the Wei family army and Ouyang army that stayed behind in Zongcheng to care for each other and defend against foreign enemies.
This time, the whole city's soldiers and people once again work together to complete the migration; no one questions the loyalty of Linghu Xian, and no one no longer criticizes the bravery of Ouyang Zhong; Linghu Xian and Ouyang Zhong as the life-saving heroes of the 400,000 soldiers and people of Beiwang City. Ouyang Zhong was unconscious with a high fever. He always clutched the sword and peach kernel whistle left by Linghu Xian in his hand, and people couldn't even break them. Wei Kongji ordered the army doctor to care for Ouyang Zhong in the carriage and cure him.
Ouyang Zhong, lying in the carriage, kept dreaming. In his dream, he returned to the familiar courtyard where he lived in the Ouyang Family Residence. He once again saw the flourishing begonia tree in the courtyard; the fiery red begonia was in full bloom, swaying with the wind under the sunlight; the fragrance of the flowers was overflowing, and some petals fell and were blown up by the wind. Linghu Xian was wearing that moonlight-white jacket, dancing with a short sword in her hand, while Ouyang Zhong was sitting on the side, accompanying her on the zither, softly chanting:
Throw me a papaya, and I will repay you with an agar jelly.
I will never be able to repay you for your kindness!
I'll take a peach in return for an agaric jade.
I'll never forget it, but I'll always think it's good!
I'll take the plum for the agar jelly.
I won't be able to repay you, but I'll always consider you a good person!
This is the song of life belonging to them, connecting each other's hearts more throughout their lives.
After the song, Ouyang Zhong gently called out to Linghu Xian. Linghu Xian stopped, turned back, and smiled at Ouyang Zhong. They looked at each other with only each other in their eyes. Just when Ouyang Zhong was intoxicated in this moment of love, the fox, fresh but like a painting, gradually ignited and disappeared, and the blooming begonias also lit a blazing fire; the fire seemed to be a begonia flower, and the air scattered sparks spattered like the usual red and white petals flying up with the wind swaying in the wind.
Ouyang Zhong felt that everything around him suddenly lost color except for the burning begonias. There was only darkness in all directions. Ouyang Zhong panicked and ran around, calling out the name Linghu Xian, but there was no echo. He suddenly felt freezing, gently breathing frost; he wanted to get close to the burning begonias to seek warmth, but once close, he was burned by the flames. After several attempts to get close, he was about to freeze, so he no longer cared to jump up, tightly embracing the tree trunk as if embracing Linghu Xian. Ouyang Zhong was no longer willing to let anyone or anything separate them. Ouyang Zhong's whole body was ablaze. Although the pain was abnormal, he was still unwilling to let go, allowing the flames to surround him and set himself on fire.
The pain and despair that had been pent up in Ouyang Zhong's chest for a long time turned into tears that gushed out from his eye sockets, flowing down the corners of his eyes and his cheeks in a steady stream, pouring onto the trunk of the tree that he was holding in his arms, and flowing into the roots of the tree at his feet. The fire grew smaller, gradually extinguished by Ouyang Zhong's tears. Ouyang Zhong felt that what he was holding in his hands was no longer a tree trunk but a natural person, and that was the Linghu Xian he had missed for so long. Ouyang Zhong's tears gradually extinguished the fire on Linghu Xian's body, and she also embraced Ouyang Zhong affectionately. Two people who love each other are finally no longer separated. Oh, Ouyang Zhong finally remembered, the person in front of her was not only Linghu Xian; they had already known each other for three lifetimes when she was the little fox demon Fox Xiaoxian when she was Hu Cangcang, and also in this life, Linghu Xian, their destinies were always entangled together.
Ouyang Zhong wanted to take a good look at Fox Xiaoxian in front of him. He thought she had come back. He could feel her presence but couldn't see her face no matter what. In an instant, Ouyang Zhong realized that Linghu Xian, who was cradled in his hands, was gone, and so was the begonia tree. Anxious and anxious, he shouted out Linghu Xian's name while waking up from his nightmare.
"Xian!" Ouyang Zhong shouted and sat up.
The old military doctor beside him sighed and said, "General Ouyang, you can finally wake up, just now holding the old man's feet while crying and shouting. One moment, it was Linghu Xian; the other, it was Fox Xiaoxian. I don't know how many people you met in this dream." Said the old military doctor, touching his forehead, then taking the kettle and handing it to Ouyang Zhong. "You know this fever is finally back. I accompanied you in this car for four or five days. You have a high fever that does not go down, and then so burned down you should be dead. Fortunately, your lucky life in the ghost gate door turned a circle, finally, or life should not escape."
Ouyang Zhong took the kettle and gently touched his face, which was full of water, not knowing whether it was tears or sweat. He thanked the military doctor for his kindness in saving and caring for him, then secretly laughed, "A name is just a title. It's just a person since the beginning, only she's no longer there."
Burning for four or five days without waking up, Ouyang Zhong, lying on the carriage, followed the vast fleeing army south of Beiwang City. On the way, some old, weak women and children couldn't go on, so they chose to stay behind in the nearby villages or flee to the deep forests to hide. Wei Kongji didn't stop them; he was also aware of people's destinies; he didn't have enough ability to preserve everyone, so he could only choose to respect their own will. Great General Wei let these people take basic food and warm clothing with them, and from then on, they fled on their own, no longer under his control.
The population was a crucial asset for both the army and the country, but in this state of exile, the old, weak, sick, and disabled would indeed drag down the others, as well as add to the burden and slow down the entire fleeing army. Comparing the two sides, Wei Kongji could only make this seemingly heartless decision.
Ouyang Zhong, who had just recovered from a severe illness, clad in a thin coat, strolled among the crowd. His face is emaciated, thin, and far from the original majestic, bullying spirit, but there is a sense of vicissitudes of life after the robbery. He felt that with the death of Linghu Xian, a part of his body also burned out with the fire.
The old military doctor hurriedly caught up with him while rambling, ''I say, my General Ouyang, you should return to the carriage and lie down! You're running out into the wind when you don't have a fever. If you were to burn up again, even the Greatest Immortal wouldn't be able to save you."
Wei Kongji was not far ahead of them, and when he heard the word "Ouyang," he pulled on the reins and turned back toward them. He looked at Ouyang Zhong, who was already sick and sighed slightly. Then he rolled over and dismounted, dismissed the military doctor, took off his cloak, put it on Ouyang Zhong, and personally accompanied Ouyang Zhong as he strolled forward.
The two of them walked for a long time without saying a word. This battle did not really start before they chose to abandon the city to escape. For the soldiers, this is a shame, but for the protection of these ordinary people, this is the right way. Wei Kongji understands that at this time, Ouyang Zhong has not yet come out of the mourning of the death of Linghu Xian, so he can only accompany this young man silently.
Ouyang Zhong was younger than Wei Kongji's eldest son, and in Wei Kongji's eyes, Ouyang Zhong was indeed a junior. Still, the relationship between them did not seem to be one of elders and juniors, superiors and subordinates, or generals and nobles, but rather one of camaraderie that transcended their identities, which was established between them at an unknown time. Ouyang Zhong often felt that Wei Kongji was more like his own father, elder brother, and teacher. They worked together to rebel against the Elder Princess of Nanling. They plotted together to force the palace to push down the Old Monarch and break up the conspiracy of the demons, and they worked together to rescue the soldiers and people of Beiwang City. At this time, they have to start scheming again how the following road should continue.
Ouyang Zhong spoke slowly and in a hoarse voice, "General Wei, the young ruler, should have arrived at the southern capital with my father by now, where they will set up the new capital and hold the enthronement ceremony. When I traveled north from Zongcheng, I took my men and women soldiers to deliver the news to several northern states and counties in several directions. We are estimated to be able to rendezvous with the fleeing people from these states and counties."
Wei Kongji patted his shoulder and told him to take a break from talking. Wei Kongji told Ouyang Zhong, "I know you have your heart set on the country's affairs, but you must also take care of your health now. I've already arranged for a few of my subordinate generals to handle those things. Indeed, quite a few officials from the neighboring states, counties, and townships have already brought their people over to join us, but there are just too many of these people, and it's not a solution to keep running away. I'll turn around and discuss with everyone what we should do next.
My Bro Ouyang, Linghu ... The night she finally left the barracks to find Tuoba Cheng, I had a few casual conversations with her. I can see the love between the two of you, and I regret that you can not be lovers. But I must say, no matter how much she forced you to leave, saying that she wanted to break off relations with you and so on, she only had you in her heart from the beginning to the end. It's just that she didn't know it at that time."
That day, Linghu Xian decided to leave the city with Xuan Mo early the next morning to find Tuoba Cheng to negotiate with. It was already late, so Wei Kongji wanted to organize a banquet to send off Linghu Xian and Xuan Mo. Xuan Mo knew that General Wei had something he wanted to tell Linghu Xian, so he left the banquet early so that Linghu Xian and General Wei could have a few more drinks alone.
General Wei's daughter and Linghu Xian's age are similar; looking at Linghu Xian is like looking at their own daughter. After three rounds of wine, I see this little girl doll will die for the whole city. These real soldiers can only wait in place, waiting for her side of the news, and then decide whether to meet the war or retreat, which makes a battlefield 20 years of middle-aged man heart is not a taste.
On the contrary, Linghu Foxxin comforted Wei Kongji: "Great General, you don't have to feel sorry for my daughter; I am still thrilled to do what I can for all of us and to fight for the maximum benefit with the minimum battle loss. I also ask the Great General to look at the big picture and wait for my side to find a way to stall the Dingling Clan; although I haven't figured out exactly what I should do, I can always improvise."
General Wei asked, "Child, do you have any unfinished business? Is there anything I can do for you on your behalf?"
Linghu Xian thought for a moment and said, "Years ago, my adoptive mother and brother had a spell cast on them by me to forget some things, and then left Zongcheng. I also sold myself into slavery to the Ouyang family, and now that I'm finally out of slavery, I want to find them. After all, they're the only ones considered my relatives."
Wei Kongji heard this. His complexion darkened, turning the wine cup in his hand, hesitant to say ah. Then, I heard Linghu Xian continue to say, "There is ... Ouyang Zhong. I left him a letter. I will trust Red Flame to find him and tell him the words in his heart. I have no destiny with him, but at least we meet and know each other. I have nothing to be unaware of. If there is an afterlife, I hope we can be together, be husband and wife, or be relatives for a lifetime. However, this is just an extravagant hope. This life is still unknown. How can we talk about the next life?" Linghu Xian drank the wine from her cup in one go, arched her hand, and bowed to General Wei, who hurriedly got up and bowed to her. After that, Wei Kongji could never see Linghu Xian again until he heard of her death.
Wei Kongji told Ouyang Zhong about that night and then told him that Linghu Xian's foster mother was captured by the spies sent by Tuoba Cheng, presumably to use her to blackmail Linghu Xian into submission, and Linghu Xian's older brother, Linghu Jian, was in the barracks. He also told him that General Wei would take good care of him in the future.
Shen time has passed, and the sky is darkening. People began to prepare for camping and cooking. Wei Kongji passed his horse to his attendant for care and then accompanied Ouyang Zhong to sit down and rest by a thirsty stream. Ouyang Zhong recognizes this as the place where he learned to carry water, and while he still remembers Linghu Foxxin's face and smile, he is left alone with his grief.
Wei Kongji lowered his voice as much as possible and said to Ouyang Zhong: "My Bro Ouyang, I actually have something I've wanted to ask for a long time, but I've always been in the way due to the current situation. But now you and I both know that Zhongming Kingdom's fortunes are in decline, and inside and outside the court are in crisis. If we only count on the ministers to assist the four-year-old ruler in ascending to the throne and assuming power, we will not be able to cope with those tigers and wolves. Therefore, do you want to set up your family and take charge of the kingdom?
That night, Linghu Xian entrusted me to care for you and help you in the future. She hopes you will soar in this life and be safe forever. It's not an empty phrase. She thought of it with me. We both believe that compared to the previous king or the newly established king now, the only one who can bear this burden for the entire Zhongming Kingdom royal family is you, who can bring the people out of the foreign invasion in this chaotic world and revive the former glory of Zhongming Kingdom.
Please don't reply immediately, but consider the pros and cons carefully. We need not just the name of a country but a genuinely stable, affluent, peaceful, and happy place to live and work. To resist the outside world, we must first secure the inside, not to mention that today, both internally and externally, the Zhongming Kingdom is in chaos. Peace and stability are the most important things for the sake of these people and for our future generations.
I am a soldier and a rough man. I only know how to fight, can't manipulate politics, and can't rule the country. Linghu Xian entrusted you to me. I can't fail her last wish."
After Wei Kongji finished saying this, he patted Ouyang Zhong's shoulder and left immediately.
Ouyang Zhong sat alone by the stream. A bright and clear moon hung slowly and leisurely in the blue night sky, its light wrapping around the young man whose thoughts were in turmoil. He took out the bright red peach kernel whistle and muttered, "This, is it really what you want me to do?"