We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?-Chapter 390: If You Want My Head—Come!
Qin Jingsu led the army across the open wilds.
Not far ahead was Book Ridge.
If he could cross Book Ridge, perhaps he would still have a single thread of hope.
But Qin Jingsu also knew these feudal lords of Jin were not fools. They would not give him that chance.
Sure enough, it was not long before the pursuers behind caught up again.
And at the foot of the mountains at Book Ridge ahead, many Jin soldiers also appeared.
Mounted on horseback, Qin Jingsu looked forward, then looked back.
Only then did he realize he was already caught in a pincer.
Yet in Qin Jingsu’s eyes there was not the slightest panic, as if he had long since accepted his fate.
“If Your Highness the Crown Prince surrenders here and now, we can preserve Your Highness’s life!”
The Qu Marquis of Jin shouted from before the battle formation.
“No need for nonsense, cough, cough...” Qin Jingsu coughed a few times, wiped the blood at the corner of his mouth, and stared ahead. “When have the sons of Qin ever had a reason to surrender?”
“Then that is truly a pity. For Your Highness, we also have some admiration.” The Qu Marquis shook his head. “Kill!”
The other feudal lords led their armies and charged to slaughter Qin Jingsu.
Qin Jingsu looked straight ahead, raised a hand as well, and roared heavily, “Kill!”
As his words fell, the horse beneath him surged forward, and the great army charged ahead at the same time!
Very quickly, the two armies collided. The cries of slaughter and the clash of weapons spread across the wilderness.
Qin’s army was still as fierce as before, swearing to the death that they would not retreat.
But since the defense of the city began, every soldier’s exhaustion had been enormous.
And during this stretch of being hunted and pursued, Qin Jingsu’s army had not received even a moment of rest. At every moment their nerves were stretched taut.
What was more, the enemy’s numbers were several times Qin Jingsu’s.
“Your Highness, the situation is urgent. We will help Your Highness break out!”
The deputy general at his side, named Huayang, shouted to the Crown Prince, then gathered soldiers to escort Qin Jingsu as they fought toward the flank.
But Qin Jingsu tried many times and still could not break away from Jin’s encirclement.
One after another, Qin’s good sons fell into pools of blood.
Qin Jingsu knew that this time, he truly was going to die.
Yet even knowing he was certain to die, he still swung his sword again and again.
If he could kill one more, then he would kill one more.
“Big Brother... Mother’s belly is getting bigger and bigger. Is Mother about to give birth?”
Inside the Qin imperial palace, the five-year-old Qin Jingyuan lifted his head and asked his big brother with curiosity.
“Yes. Mother should be about to give birth.” The eight-year-old Qin Jingsu smiled and rubbed his younger brother’s head. “Jingyuan, guess—will we have another little brother, or another little sister?”
“A little sister!” Qin Jingyuan answered without hesitation.
“Why are you so sure?” Qin Jingsu asked with a smile.
“Because I want a little sister,” Qin Jingyuan said expectantly.
“Hahahaha, I want a little sister too.” Qin Jingsu pinched his younger brother’s cheek. “Then when little sister is born, we’ll take care of her together.”
“Okay, Big Brother!” 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮
In the second year after their little sister was born.
Qin Jingsu and his second brother sparred with fists and feet in the palace rear courtyard.
Qin Jingsu deliberately suppressed his realm and traded blows back and forth with his younger brother, feeding him punches.
Their little sister, not yet two, squatted to the side and watched curiously, drool continuously spilling from the corner of her mouth.
After two sticks of incense, Qin Jingyuan, who had lost the match, was ridden around like a horse by Qin Siyao.
The three of them played for a long time. Only when he was exhausted did Qin Jingyuan finally lie down on the grass.
Qin Siyao copied her brother and lay down as well.
Qin Jingsu sat beside his little sister.
“Big Brother, lately someone has been telling me about something called ‘the position of Crown Prince.’ Is that position really that important?”
After catching his breath, Qin Jingyuan looked at his big brother and asked curiously.
Hearing his second brother’s question, Qin Jingsu paused slightly. Then his arm reached across their little sister as he rubbed Qin Jingyuan’s head. A trace of killing intent flashed in his eyes, yet he still wore a smile as he asked, “Jingyuan—who told you that?”
“My wet nurse,” Qin Jingyuan answered. “Not long ago, my wet nurse said my talent is outstanding. She said even though I’m young, Qin doesn’t have a rule of always choosing the eldest, and that I could be Crown Prince in the future.”
“So that’s how it is...”
Qin Jingsu withdrew his hand and shook his head.
“That position... you can say it’s important, and you can say it isn’t.
“If you become Crown Prince, then in the future you must be like Father—handling documents every day, with no freedom. You must play with people’s hearts, worrying about this and that all day. It’s unbearably heavy.”
“Then Big Brother, how heavy is it?”
Qin Jingyuan asked again. Even their little sister blinked, watching her big brother with curiosity, even though Qin Siyao did not understand most of it at all.
“How heavy is it...”
Qin Jingsu propped himself on the grass and looked at that expanse of blue sky above.
“That weight is hundreds of millions of commoners raising their heads, staring at you tightly, waiting eagerly to hear every single word you say...”
“Father, you summoned your son?”
In the Imperial Study, Qin Jingsu bent at the waist and clasped his hands in a formal bow.
“Yes.” Qin Shengtian nodded, set down the memorial in his hand, and looked at his son. “I heard you gave Jingyuan’s wet nurse a sum of money and then expelled her from the palace?”
“Yes, Father.” Qin Jingsu admitted it.
“Why?”
“That person’s intentions were crooked. For her own selfish desires, she even dared speak to Jingyuan about the Crown Prince. So your son expelled her,” Qin Jingsu answered truthfully.
“A mere wet nurse who dares speak to Jingyuan about such things—her heart truly deserves death.”
Qin Shengtian agreed with Qin Jingsu’s handling.
“But Jingsu—Father asks you. What do you think about the position of Crown Prince?”
“...”
After a moment of silence, Qin Jingsu bent again in a formal bow.
“The position of Crown Prince can only be granted by Father. How could your son dare have other thoughts?”
“You... you... sigh...” Qin Shengtian raised a finger and pointed at his son, sighing. “Jingsu, you’re so young and yet so clever, so meticulous in your thoughts. Sometimes I truly don’t know whether I should cry or laugh...”
“But you’re my son. Do you think I wouldn’t know what you’re thinking?”
Qin Shengtian shook his head.
“You have ability, and you have skill. But your nature is free and unrestrained. You look too lightly on power. You’re not like ordinary royal children at all. For you, the throne—whether you have it or not, what difference is there?
“But Jingsu, many things aren’t something you won’t have just because you don’t want them.
“In this world, there are far too many things that are beyond one’s control.
“I’m saying this—do you understand?”
“Your child... understands.” Qin Jingsu nodded.
“No. You don’t actually understand.” Qin Shengtian shook his head. “Forget it. Let it be. Go back and think on it properly.”
“Yes, Father...”
Qin Jingsu clasped his hands in a formal bow and was about to turn and withdraw.
But very quickly, Qin Shengtian called him back. “Right, Jingsu.”
“Does Father have any instructions?” Qin Jingsu asked.
“Nothing much. Just telling you—when you do things, do them cleanly. Don’t be softhearted.” Qin Shengtian said as he reviewed memorials. “I handled Jingyuan’s wet nurse cleanly. Remember this in the future.”
Qin Jingsu’s mouth parted slightly. His eyes trembled faintly. In the end, he still closed his mouth and bowed. “Yes, Father...”
The year Qin Jingyuan turned sixteen, and Qin Jingsu turned nineteen.
Qin Shengtian summoned the two brothers to the Imperial Study.
After leaving the Imperial Study, Qin Jingyuan said happily to his big brother, “Big Brother, Father allowed us to establish our own residences. Starting today, the two of us must compete properly. I definitely won’t lose to Big Brother. If Big Brother loses then, don’t blame your second brother.”
Seeing his younger brother’s excited expression, Qin Jingsu smiled and nodded. “Alright. Then Big Brother, I... will do my best.”
The day after Xiao Mo destroyed Wei State and returned in triumph.
A guest retainer came to the First Prince’s residence and bowed to the First Prince. “Your Highness, the Second Prince is hosting the Frost King. The Frost King has already taken the Third Princess and gone to report back.”
“Yes.” Qin Jingsu nodded. “I know.”
The guest retainer hesitated, then still spoke. “Your Highness, the Second Prince is trying to draw the Frost King over. And the Frost King was exceptionally promoted by His Majesty after nothing more than the battle of destroying Wei State—raised to the rank of king. Anyone with eyes can see His Majesty wants to draw the Frost King in as a trusted confidant.
“And the Frost King’s capability— even the Flame King praises it without reserve.
“If the Frost King is truly drawn over by the Second Prince...”
“This.”
“I know. I have my measure in this matter. You may withdraw first.” Qin Jingsu said slowly.
The guest retainer still wanted to say something, but seeing the First Prince’s calm expression, he finally left it alone and only answered, “Yes, Your Highness...”
“Right.” Just as the guest retainer was about to leave the study, Qin Jingsu lifted his head. “Prepare the carriage, and bring that Snow-Treading horse of excellent quality.”
The guest retainer immediately understood the First Prince’s intent and said with joy, “Yes! Your Highness!”
After the guest retainer left, Qin Jingsu stood up, walked to the doorway, sighed, and murmured into the night, “Second Brother... for that position, you even used Third Sister to draw Xiao Mo over. Is that truly what you wanted?
“Third Sister is pure, but she isn’t stupid.
“You’re her brother, so she trusts you like this...”
About ten years later.
One day, Qin Jingsu strode into the Imperial Study and bowed deeply to his father, his tone suppressing anger. “Your son Jingsu greets Father!”
“What is it? So urgent—and it sounds like you’re full of fire.” Qin Shengtian said slowly as he flipped through the book scroll in his hands.
“Your son has something he wishes to ask Father for instruction.” Qin Jingsu said respectfully.
Only then did Qin Shengtian lift his head and glance at his son. “Speak.”
“Your son has heard that Second Brother will form a marriage alliance with Jin. This is no small matter. I ask Father to reconsider!” Qin Jingsu bent even lower at the waist.
Qin Shengtian lifted his head, looked at his son, and frowned. “Tell me your reasons.”
“First. In these years, Jin has used the strategy of befriending the distant and attacking the near, constantly expanding its territory. The ruler of Jin’s wolfish ambition—everyone in the world knows it.
“Second. The King of Jin cherishes his eldest daughter like a pearl in his palm. And in these years, Jin has had endless friction with Qin. For them to suddenly seek a marriage alliance now—if something is abnormal, there must be a demon.”
“You make sense.” Qin Shengtian nodded. “But this marriage, I also asked Jingyuan. Jingyuan agreed himself.”
“...” Qin Jingsu’s brows knit. “I will go persuade Second Brother.”
“No need.”
Qin Shengtian shook his head.
“You’re thinking too much. It’s Jin’s princess marrying out; it isn’t my son marrying in.
“Right now, both Jin and Qin need time.
“Binding Qin and Jin in good relations is the best method.
“Even if things fall apart in the end, it will only mean Jingyuan gained a wife. There’s no loss.
“In short, you don’t need to manage this, and you can’t manage it. Just do your work properly. Go.”
“Father...”
“Go!”
“Yes, Father...”
“Your Highness the Crown Prince! King Jing has betrayed the state!”
While Qin Jingsu was handling affairs, a guest retainer ran into Qin Jingsu’s study and shouted.
“What did you say? Who betrayed?” Qin Jingsu stood frozen in place, blankly.
“Your Highness! The Second Prince has betrayed the state! Luzhou has already fallen!” The guest retainer repeated.
Outside Huai Mountain Pass, after Qin Jingsu defended the city for four months, he looked rather fatigued.
But the situation was also developing in a better direction.
As long as he held on, at most two more months, the Jin army’s morale—after so long without success—would surely fall to the lowest point.
At that time, he truly could counterattack!
But right then, the imperial capital delivered to Qin Jingsu a letter as well as several million pills.
On it were only a few simple lines:
“These pills can neutralize the miasma of Black Beast Forest for five hours. You must quickly set an ambush in the valley of Black Beast Forest and wait for the Jin army to come. Jingyuan will cut off their rear for you! Remember! Do not fail Jingyuan’s painstaking plan!”
Looking at this short letter, Qin Jingsu was very happy—happy that his younger brother had not betrayed them.
But Qin Jingsu also knew that if Jingyuan acted this way, it would be nine deaths and one life.
Xiao Mo, Qin Jingsu, and the others returned to the capital in a great victory. After Qin Shengtian bestowed rewards, Qin Jingsu did not immediately leave the imperial palace.
He forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart and demanded of his father, “Father—about Jingyuan—did you already know from the start?”
“Yes.” Qin Shengtian answered without concealment.
Qin Jingsu drew a deep breath and said, “So in Father’s heart, as long as it is for Qin’s hegemony, anything can be sacrificed? Including your own son!”
“That’s right!”
Qin Shengtian stared straight into his son’s eyes.
“As long as it is for Qin’s hegemony, everything can be sacrificed!
“Soldiers on the battlefield can die—so why can’t Jingyuan die?!
“Even I—why can’t I die?
“Just because he is my child?!
“No!
“Precisely because he is my son, he must die with greater value!”
Qin Jingsu clenched his fists tightly, his nails already digging into flesh.
Qin Shengtian stood up, walked to his son’s side, and patted his shoulder. “Jingsu, you are too kind. But as a ruler, you cannot have a kind heart.”
“Not bad—Third Sister’s cooking has improved again.”
The day before setting out to war, the First Prince went to the Frost King’s residence to freeload a meal.
But because Xiao Mo had gone out on business, it became a meal shared only between brother and sister.
“After cooking for so long, if my skill doesn’t improve, wouldn’t that be ridiculous?” Qin Siyao smiled faintly.
But soon, as if she thought of something, the young girl lowered her head. A trace of loss flashed in her eyes. “It’s a pity that Second Brother will never get to eat the food I make again.”
“...” Hearing his sister’s words, Qin Jingsu lowered his head as well.
“Listen to what you’re saying.” Realizing her slip, Qin Siyao hurriedly lifted her head, raised her cup, and said with a smile, “Siyao helps Big Brother break formations and kill enemies, and return in triumph as soon as possible!”
“Then I’ll borrow Third Sister’s auspicious words.” Qin Jingsu raised his cup and clinked it with Third Sister.
“Third Sister—Big Brother is saying, if... if Big Brother doesn’t come back...”
“There is no ‘if.’” Qin Siyao gripped her sleeve, looked at her big brother seriously. “Big Brother will definitely come back!”
Qin Jingsu’s expression paused, then he smiled.
“Alright.
“Then Big Brother...
“will definitely come back.”
On the small plain, the slaughter was still continuing.
As the soldiers around him fell one by one, fewer and fewer remained at Qin Jingsu’s side—until, in the end, only Qin Jingsu himself was left.
The Immortal Realm Palace Consecrator from the imperial palace who had been protecting Qin Jingsu was encircled by two Immortal Realm cultivators and three Jade-Pu Realm cultivators, and had already fled while wounded.
Toward Palace Consecrators like that, Qin Jingsu had never placed much hope in the first place.
Qin Jingsu did not know how many times he had swung his sword. He did not know how many people he had killed.
He only knew that his spiritual power was nearly exhausted, the tiger’s mouth of his sword hand had split open, and both hands trembled uncontrollably from fatigue.
The last Qin soldier fell before Qin Jingsu’s eyes. Jin’s soldiers surged like a tide, weapons in hand, gradually surrounding Qin Jingsu.
“Hah...”
Qin Jingsu lifted his head and looked at the white clouds drifting lazily across the sky.
In his vision, the figures of Father and Mother, Second Brother and Third Sister could not help but appear.
“Father, Mother—your child is unfilial. I will make you, white-haired, send off the black-haired.”
“Second Brother... Big Brother is coming to see you soon...”
“Third Sister, I’m sorry. Big Brother has no way to fulfill the promise to you. From now on, Big Brother can’t protect you anymore. You will meet many things. You will be forced to grow up. From now on... you will have to work hard.
“But don’t worry. Xiao Mo is a good man. He will stay by your side.”
Word by word, Qin Jingsu spoke as if to family far beyond the horizon—leaving his final last words.
“The First Prince truly will not surrender?”
The Qu Marquis and the other feudal lords rode forward, frowning as they asked Qin Jingsu.
Qin Jingsu drew his gaze back from the sky and only smiled. “Two hundred thousand sons of Qin died on the battlefield, and not one surrendered. How do you think I would?”
“Sigh...” The Qu Marquis shook his head and looked at this fine man with respect. “Does the First Prince have any last words?”
“I do.” Qin Jingsu’s lips curled. He pointed his sword at them and said loudly, “Tell your King of Jin—this Crown Prince will be waiting for him beneath the Yellow Springs!”
The feudal lords of Jin heard it. Their brows furrowed. Some even wanted to step forward and behead the man immediately, but the Qu Marquis raised a hand and pressed them down.
“What are you all standing there for? Is this war over?”
Qin Jingsu planted a spear in the ground with one hand and met them with a long sword in the other. His voice, bolstered by spiritual power, spread across the wilderness!
“You ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) brats of Jin!
“Those who want this Crown Prince’s head—
“come!”
