"Why, why did things turn out this way?!"
Outside the tent.
A man's wail rose; it was Xiao Lie, who had just emerged from Qin Shuai's tent.
His face was grim, unable to believe what he had just heard.
Let's rewind to a moment ago.
Xiao Lie was originally training troops on the parade ground when he suddenly heard someone say that Qin Shuai's father had already arrived outside the city. He quickly ordered the soldiers to go out and welcome him.
He and Pan Yue led ten thousand soldiers out of the Sword Pavilion, and from a distance, they saw their Qin Shuai chatting and laughing with several old men at the city gate.
So the soldiers hurried closer, their ten thousand strong presence as imposing as a hundred thousand-strong army. They approached Qin Xia, knelt on one knee, and shouted in unison, "Greetings, Qin Shuai, greetings, Father of Qin!"
The shortest old man among them saw them, and his face instantly changed. Hearing the shout, he was so frightened he sat on the ground. Fortunately, Qin Xia was quick-witted and hugged the old man, comforting him, "Father, don't panic, these are all my soldiers."
The old man's brothers beside him gasped at the sight of these well-equipped soldiers. One whispered into their eldest brother's ear, "Qin Mu, when did your son get so many men under him? How can a group of defeated soldiers like us come here to demand troops and power..."
"Don't make a sound." Qin Mu composed himself, lightly patting his old companion beside him. He grabbed Qin Xia's arm, stood up, and smiled, "Not bad, kid! You used to bury yourself in farming, covered in dirt, but who knew Heaven would actually grant you some good fortune today! Not bad, these soldiers all look good!"
Qin Mu's words made the soldiers under Qin Xia frown, and the entire atmosphere instantly grew cold.
Seeing this, Qin Xia quickly said, "Father, you flatter me." But he narrowed his eyes, looking at his father. What exactly did these people mean? Why did they bypass Giant Deer and come directly to the Sword Pavilion?
He suppressed his doubts, helped his father up, and smiled. Seeing how disheveled these people looked, it was better to bring them into the camp first.
The soldiers parted to either side, and Qin Xia led his father into the military camp. The generals behind the old man also looked at these soldiers with haughty expressions, showing no signs of timidity.
As they passed through the barracks, Qin Mu deliberately pulled his son's hand and chatted about his son's embarrassing childhood stories, while Qin Xia just smiled apologetically, making no response.
Entering the tent, Xiao Lie quickly sent someone to bring food. The new wheat sent from Giant Deer City, along with some vegetables and fresh meat, was all prepared by the chef, who had to swing the shovel vigorously to make such a large amount.
When these people saw the food, their eyes gleamed with gold. Their previous haughtiness vanished without a trace. Qin Mu rushed forward first, followed closely by the remaining soldiers. This scene made Qin Xia and the others break out in a cold sweat.
How long had these people not eaten? They were like a swarm of locusts! In the blink of an eye, a table full of delicacies was all in their bellies.
After eating and drinking their fill, Qin Mu burped and laughed, leaning over the table. Now feeling thirsty, he called out to his son, "Good son, bring some wine for me and your uncles! Why are you so ill-mannered? You're so dull; you must learn properly by my side in the future."
"Bring the wine." Qin Xia could only instruct Pan Yue to fetch the wine. Then Qin Mu demanded that Qin Xia come and sit. Xiao Lie, standing nearby, had already clenched his fists.
This was clearly Qin Shuai's tent; what did these people mean by making Qin Shuai sit in the guest seat?
Even if you are Qin Shuai's father, as a defeated general, why are you so aggressive instead of being more humble?
He grabbed Qin Xia's wrist, about to speak, but unexpectedly, his Qin Shuai turned back and shook his head at him, "General Xiao, what is the meaning of this? It's fine for me to sit with my younger brothers and sisters; after all, we haven't seen each other for a long time, so it's good to catch up."
"Qin Shuai, this..."
"My son, this subordinate of yours is too ignorant!" Qin Mu took in their actions, surprised that a mere subordinate dared to obstruct his orders.
At this moment, all the generals' gazes turned to Xiao Lie. These people originally thought they could scare this fellow away, but the subordinate in Qin Mu's mouth glared, and a strong murderous aura surged forth!
Instantly, everyone present broke out in a cold sweat. But Qin Mu, not wanting to lose face, forced himself to appear spirited, slammed the table, and pointed at Xiao Lie, "You dare to glare at me? Don't you know I am the commander of the rebel army!"
"Father, calm your anger." Qin Xia stepped forward, shielding Xiao Lie behind him, "This person is not a subordinate; he is a fierce general under your son."
"Fierce general?" Qin Mu sized him up and snorted, "Even the bravest general is useless without respect for hierarchy. My son, we are going to achieve great things in the future. Such a person can only be a chiliarch. Wouldn't it be better if I sent a few of your uncles to be your generals?"
"As for this fierce general, our father and son are reunited, and uncles and nephews are acknowledging each other. What is an outsider doing here? You wait outside."
And so, Xiao Lie appeared outside the tent.
He never expected that after Qin Shuai's father fled here, the first thing he would do was try to sideline Qin Shuai!
Xiao Lie felt a 悶 tight feeling in his chest. What should he do?
Just then, Pan Yue walked over with soldiers carrying wine jars. Seeing Xiao Lie standing outside the tent, he teased, "Why aren't you inside with Qin Shuai? What are you doing standing outside like a fool?"
Xiao Lie looked at the wine jars in Pan Yue's hands and sneered. Seeing his brother about to go in, he stopped him first and recounted everything that had happened.
"What!" Weichi Pan Yue exclaimed loudly after hearing it. Fortunately, Xiao Lie was quick and clapped a hand over his mouth.
"Quiet!" He turned to look at the tent, saw that no one inside had noticed their commotion, and then let out a long breath, continuing, "Have the soldiers take the wine jars in. Let's talk somewhere else."
Inside the tent, the brazier burned fiercely.
Qin Mu and his brothers, seeing the wine arrive, eagerly opened the jars and drank heartily. Once they were comfortably drunk, they began to chat and boast, wildly discussing their future plans.
One of them said to Qin Mu, "Big brother, when you become emperor in the future, and our great nephew becomes a general, what worries could this world possibly hold!"
"Exactly! Our great nephew leads troops with divine might, and with us brothers helping, wouldn't that make us invincible in the world!"
Qin Mu couldn't stop laughing after hearing this. He raised his wine cup and offered it to Qin Xia, shouting, "Why aren't you toasting your uncles? In the future, let them lead your troops, and I guarantee you'll be victorious in every battle!"
However, no one took the wine cup he held up. Qin Mu was stunned. He looked closely and saw Qin Xia, with a smiling face, asking his siblings beside him, "Third brother, third sister, where's our mother?"
At these words, the entire drinking party instantly fell silent. The boy was about to speak when Qin Mu suddenly slapped him across the face, roaring, "Your elder brother told you to speak, why are you being so timid? Both of you are nothing like your elder brother, making me worry. Get out, all of you!"
The children's cries replaced the merriment. After his younger siblings ran off, Qin Xia, with a cold face, turned back to his father and continued to ask, "Dad, where's my mother?"
The raised wine cup began to tremble uncontrollably. A person nearby quickly stood up, smiling, and hastily advised, "Nephew, what is this..."
Before the person could finish speaking, Qin Xia directly punched him, sending him flying. This sudden blow sobered everyone up. Several people quickly stood up, wanting to check if the person was alright, but Qin Xia immediately shouted, "He's not dead. I held back. Otherwise, there would be a puddle of flesh on the ground right now."
"Nephew, you..." Another one seeking death just opened his mouth, but he was immediately scared speechless by a single glance from Qin Xia.
"I'm asking one last time, where is my mother?" Qin Xia's voice was filled with endless rage.
Seeing this, Qin Mu was about to throw the cup in his hand at Qin Xia, but just as he raised his hand, Qin Xia grabbed it. The cup was directly crushed by this fellow, and the shards dug into his palm, causing excruciating pain.
Wine mixed with blood spilled down. Qin Mu looked at Qin Xia's bloodshot eyes, and the fear in his heart continuously rose. He had made countless excuses in his mind before, but now he couldn't utter a single word.
One of his foolish brothers behind him actually dared to step forward and punch Qin Xia in the back. His son turned to look at his old companion.
His old companion pointed at Qin Xia and cursed, "You unfilial son, how dare you treat your father like this! Quickly, apologize to my elder brother..."
Blood splattered on that guy's head. At this moment, everyone was so terrified they immediately knelt on the ground. With a casual wave of his hand, Qin Xia had smashed a person's head.
At this moment, what these ruffians thought about was no longer controlling Qin Xia's army, no longer being ennobled as marquises or chancellors. Each person had only one thought in their mind: to survive!
The brazier was extinguished by the airflow generated by Qin Xia's wave, and a biting chill entered the tent. Qin Xia's icy question descended once again.
"I don't want to ask one last time. Honestly, my patience has run out. Now, who can tell me, where is my mother?"
All these people looked at Qin Mu, but they only saw their usually majestic elder brother, now with wet pants, prostrate on the ground, continuously muttering, "Don't kill me! Qin Xia, no matter what, I am still your father!"
However, his submission had no effect. The killing intent in Qin Xia's eyes remained undiminished. Qin Mu understood that the man before him was waiting for an answer.
But once that answer was heard by him, he too would surely have his head smashed, just like that poor wretch just now!
Qin Xia looked at the silent man before him. At this moment, besides disappointment, a layer of sorrow deepened in his heart. This man before him had not changed at all. He was the one who beat the yamen runner to death with a hoe, but he was also the one who often drank and caroused, completely neglecting his family.
Everyone has two sides. One cannot forget the bad simply because they see the good. Since he could kick his own children off the cart during their escape, then abandoning his wife did not seem impossible.
Silence continued in the tent. Those kneeling on the ground looked at the man who held their lives in his hands, illuminated by the moonlight streaming in.
Qin Xia gritted his teeth and asked the last question, "Is mother still alive?"
Only silence answered him...
(Mother's Day is approaching, and I feel what I wrote is a bit of a dampener! However, in the warhammer world, a normal death is already very good. I wish all mothers freedom from illness, good health, and longevity, and I hope everyone's lives are harmonious, so their mothers don't have to worry!)