Chapter Eighty: Captured

Previously, it was mentioned that Li Yiqing had failed to steal the magical treasures. Having just escaped with his life, his heart remained unwilling, so he turned back once more, intent on infiltrating the enemy camp to steal the treasures.

Anxious and impatient, he leapt swiftly towards the enemy camp, drawing near in just a few bounds. The camp appeared as before—dimly lit, with only a few demon soldiers moving about, as if nothing had ever happened.

Li Yiqing was delighted and thought to himself, “Tuoli Bao, oh Tuoli Bao, they say you are clever, but I, Li Yiqing, see you are no more than this! You discovered someone trying to steal your treasures just now, yet you remain so lax and unguarded. Do you not realize I am not easily frightened off? Here I am, back again! This time, I will not leave until I have those treasures in my hands!”

With these thoughts, he moved lightly as a swallow, slipping into the camp with a few agile leaps and vanishing from sight.

This time, he was much more cautious, his form flitting and hiding, sometimes above, sometimes below, always staying in the shadows as he crept closer to where Tuoli Bao resided.

Before long, he arrived near his target and found only a single demon soldier guarding the place, just as before.

Li Yiqing was overjoyed, thinking, “Tuoli Bao, you really are something. After what happened just now, you still dare to be so bold, not even adding a single guard. If your treasures aren't lost, whose could be? Truly a fool!”

With that, he crept up from behind, reached out with both hands, and clamped tightly over the soldier’s mouth. With a twist of his arms—

There was a sharp crack.

The soldier’s neck snapped, and he died instantly.

Li Yiqing laid the demon soldier gently on the ground, pushed open the main door, and slipped inside.

He paid no heed to the sights within the hall; on tiptoe, he hurried straight for the bedchamber.

Outside the bedroom, he deftly pried open the door with his Golden Dragon Grasp, then peeked inside.

Within, Tuoli Bao snored thunderously, deep in sleep.

The magical treasures lay untouched where they had been.

Grinning from ear to ear, Li Yiqing strode forward. He reached out to grasp the Dragon-Binding Rope, but before his hand could touch it, a sudden shout thundered above his head—“Release!”

Startled, Li Yiqing froze. Before he could react, a great net dropped from above, covering him completely.

He was too slow to dodge, and the net enveloped him tightly.

As he struggled, four demon soldiers leapt down from the rafters, each grabbing a corner of the net, circling left and right, binding him fast.

Tuoli Bao rolled from his bed, laughing heartily.

He cursed, “You little wretch, you’ve caused me no end of trouble! Here you are again, trying to steal my treasures—truly courting death! Men! Drag him out and behead him!”

The four demon soldiers shoved and dragged Li Yiqing out the door.

A chill ran through Li Yiqing’s heart. “It’s over. Who would have thought I, Li Yiqing, would die like this today? I am truly unwilling!”

As they pushed him out, two people approached—Xu Zhihui and Miao Junke.

At the sight of Xu Zhihui, Li Yiqing’s eyes burned with hatred. “Ptooey!” He spat a thick mouthful of phlegm and cursed, “You... you... shameless brat, your... your... your father is nearly... nearly angered to death by you!”

He raised his foot to kick him.

A little demon barked, “Move it! Still not behaving at death’s door!” and shoved him hard.

His kick missed its mark.

Li Yiqing was dragged beneath the eaves, ready to be executed.

Inside, Xu Zhihui addressed Tuoli Bao, “Congratulations, Prime Minister! Felicitations! Today you have captured another thief and rendered a great service!”

Hearing this, Li Yiqing cursed silently, “You traitorous wretch! Sycophant! Shameless to the bone!”

He had not finished cursing when Tuoli Bao burst out laughing, “Hero Xu, you certainly have a way with words!”

Xu Zhihui continued, “Prime Minister, to kill this fellow outright would be too merciful. Why not bind him and send him to the capital, Andong? The king will surely reward you handsomely!”

Tuoli Bao hesitated, “There’s sense in what you say, Hero Xu, but this scoundrel is too cunning. He managed to break free last time, even when I had him bound with ox sinew, and he rescued Ye Feng. He’s a real thorn in my side. Better to execute him now and be done with the trouble!”

Xu Zhihui feigned surprise, “Oh! Is that so? I’ve been with him so long and he even fooled me. He’s no simple man! But I have an idea—no matter what skills he has, he won’t escape.”

Tuoli Bao’s tone grew eager, “Out with it, Hero Xu!”

Xu Zhihui reported, “He can be bound and thrown into a large iron chest, then locked from the outside. I guarantee, no matter what tricks he knows, he won’t get free!”

Laughter erupted from within, followed by a sharp command, “Drag the little wretch back in!”

Li Yiqing felt his shoulders released as two demon soldiers yanked him upright and pushed him back inside.

The sight of Xu Zhihui filled Li Yiqing with fury. He cursed, “You... you... Xu—you... you... are nothing! You... you... betray your country, and now you’re here again with your devilish schemes, harming your own people. Have you no shame?!”

He turned his wrath on Tuoli Bao, “Old... old... old demon! If you want to kill me, do it! If you want to chop, chop! Make it quick! Don’t torment me with your tricks—I’m not afraid!”

Tuoli Bao pointed at him, “You wretch, facing death and still unruly! Gag him!”

Two demon soldiers stuffed a filthy, foul rag into Li Yiqing’s mouth. He could only grunt miserably, unable to speak, disgusted to the point of retching, but unable to spit it out.

Two more demon soldiers brought in a rusty iron chest, threw Li Yiqing inside, and sealed it tightly.

A loud “click”—a heavy iron lock snapped shut from outside.

Li Yiqing was in dire straits now. He could not stretch his limbs; after a while, his arms, legs, waist, and back—his whole body—went numb, sore, and swollen.

It itched, but he could not scratch.

The air inside was stifling; his face and neck reddened, and soon he lost consciousness.

Who knows how long passed before—

“Click!”

The lid opened. Light flooded in, fresh air rushed over him, and Li Yiqing awoke instantly.

Opening his eyes, he saw Xu Zhihui standing before him.

Fury boiled up—he lowered his head and butted fiercely.

But Xu Zhihui, prepared, dodged aside.

“Brother Li, I’m here to save you. Don’t make a sound!” Xu Zhihui cupped his fists.

He reached over and yanked the rag from Li Yiqing’s mouth.

Li Yiqing gasped, finally able to breathe.

Xu Zhihui began untying the ropes at Li Yiqing’s back.

Li Yiqing thought, “If I believe Xu Zhihui still wants to save me, I’m a fool!” Seeing Xu Zhihui’s exposed shoulder, he lunged and bit down hard.

But this time, Xu Zhihui did not resist.

Li Yiqing felt his teeth sink deep into flesh, the taste of salt and blood flooding his mouth.

At the same time, Xu Zhihui’s hands, working at the knots, trembled.

He was clearly enduring the pain without fighting back.

Could he really be here to save him?

“Xu... Xu... Xu Zhihui, why... why... why should I believe you?!” Li Yiqing released his bite and questioned angrily.

Xu Zhihui froze, motionless as a statue.

A moment later, he resumed his work, hands moving faster, silently untying the ropes.

“Let’s go. Tuoli Bao is drunk in the main hall, his treasures are still in the bedchamber—this is the perfect time. Hurry and steal them!” Xu Zhihui urged.

“Xu... Xu... Xu Zhihui, what... what... what’s your game? Another trick?! Haven’t you caused enough harm already? Now you want to harm me again!” Li Yiqing glared, raised his fist, and struck hard.

Bang!

He caught Xu Zhihui square on the cheek, sending him staggering back two steps, nearly toppling to the floor.

Xu Zhihui straightened, wiped blood from his mouth, and said bitterly, “Brother Li, I know I was wrong. If you think I deserve it, beat me as you wish! But there’s no time now—steal the treasures and go. I, Xu Zhihui, will repay you in my next life!”

Li Yiqing was stunned, hardly believing his ears.

What was this? Xu Zhihui admitting his errors? Had he truly awakened? Was the sun rising in the west?

The narrative must pause here—had Xu Zhihui truly repented? Was he genuinely saving Li Yiqing?

Indeed, Xu Zhihui had awakened! What had brought about this change? Two days prior, when persuading Xu Yaozu to surrender, Xu Yaozu revealed the truth of his parentage, delivering a profound shock. Xu Zhihui never imagined he was not Xu Yaozu’s biological son. Yet Xu Yaozu had cherished him more than any real son, spoiling him since childhood, which bred his selfishness.

What’s more, his true parents had been slain by demon soldiers, and he had been working for those very demons, betraying his ancestors and roots. In addition, the demon soldiers looked down on him, never treating him as an equal.

As the saying goes: “The human heart compares to another like dung to gold.”

This lesson opened Xu Zhihui’s eyes, so today he deceived Tuoli Bao and rescued Li Yiqing.

But Li Yiqing did not know this, still believing Xu Zhihui was the same as before, and dared not trust him.

Seeing Li Yiqing’s continued suspicion, Xu Zhihui declared, “If that’s the case, come with me. I’ll lead you to the treasures myself. If there’s any trickery, you can kill me with your own hand!”

With that, he dashed out.

Li Yiqing’s heart stirred. He followed with three quick leaps, catching up to Xu Zhihui. “You... you... brat, you think you can shake me off? Not a chance!”

Thus, the two once again plunged into danger, setting out for a third attempt to steal the magical treasures!