Chapter 46: Ashes of Regret Beneath the City Walls
In this moment, in this time and space—
Yu Xiaogang's fate could only be described as both tragic and unjust.
He hadn't committed any crime. All he did was come to Wuhun City, hoping to learn the secret behind twin martial spirits. He didn't even finish the cup of tea he left behind.
Yet in the end, he met a death so cruel that even fate itself seemed heartless.
Qin Chuan couldn't help but feel sorrow.
He wanted to collect Yu Xiaogang's remains, place him in a coffin, and bury him properly.
Qian Renxue, standing beside him, remained unsurprised.
Her orders were issued swiftly.
The Royal Knights turned their horses around and headed back toward Wuhun City.
Fortunately, they hadn't gone far. Within a short while, the convoy came to a halt at the foot of the city.
Qin Chuan and Qian Renxue stood side by side at the shaft of the carriage, their eyes fixed on the harrowing scene atop Wuhun City's gate tower.
There, hanging by a rope tied tightly around his neck, was a legless corpse—Yu Xiaogang's.
The body dangled from the high wall, dry, thin, and weathered. Clearly, he had suffered unimaginable torment before his death.
The lifeless form gently swayed in the wind, brushing now and then against the rough surface of the stone wall.
"Put it down," Qian Renxue ordered the soldiers of Wuhun City below. Her voice was calm but firm.
"The debt is settled once the person is dead. There's no need to continue tormenting him like this."
But the soldiers looked at each other, none daring to make a move.
This was an order from the Pope's Palace. They didn't have the authority—or the courage—to disobey.
The Pope must've had her own reasons.
"They can't act on their own. Let's not make it difficult for them," Qin Chuan said softly, shaking his head.
He understood all too well the weight of Bibi Dong's authority within Wuhun City.
And so, he took matters into his own hands.
With a sudden motion, a pair of radiant white wings burst open from his back. Each feather shimmered with light, infused with soul power that seemed almost ethereal.
His wings beat gently, soul power rippling out like mist as he rose into the air.
The guards at the gate tower didn't stop him—they knew better.
Qin Chuan hovered before the hanging body, extended a hand, and severed the rope with a precise wave of soul power.
He slowly descended, cradling the remains.
But just as he landed, a disheveled figure rushed toward him like a madwoman.
"Move… get out of the way…"
"…Xiaogang… Xiaogang…"
The figure shoved Qin Chuan aside, but he didn't resist.
She collapsed to her knees, clutching the body tightly in her arms, her entire frame trembling as she sobbed uncontrollably.
"Who are you?" Qian Renxue's eyes narrowed.
She didn't like seeing anyone push Qin Chuan. Her voice turned icy.
"Seize her!" she ordered the Royal Knights.
But Qin Chuan raised a hand to stop them.
"Wait," he said calmly.
He turned and shook his head at Qian Renxue, his expression more solemn than before.
He recognized the woman.
It was Liu Erlong.
And not far behind her, walking slowly and hunched with age, was a familiar figure—Flender, who was supposed to have already returned with the academy.
Flender bowed deeply.
"Flender greets His Highness the Crown Prince… and His Majesty Qin Chuan."
He looked old—far older than before. Wrinkles lined his face, and his voice was hoarse.
"What's the matter with you?" Qian Renxue asked coldly. "Why didn't you return to the Empire with the rest of your team?"
She showed no sympathy.
After all, according to Qin Chuan, Shrek Academy would be a threat to her in the future.
She had no reason to be soft.
Flender sighed bitterly.
"Reporting to Your Highness… I stayed to accompany Erlong."
He began to explain everything.
After the incident at Wuhun Mountain, Liu Erlong became emotionally unstable upon discovering that Pope Bibi Dong was the very woman Yu Xiaogang had spoken of all these years.
Flender wanted to bring her back to Tiandou City.
But Liu Erlong refused.
She insisted on seeing Yu Xiaogang—no matter the cost.
And so, she stayed.
Flender, unable to leave her alone in such a state, stayed as well. But days turned into weeks.
Then, several days ago, they saw the Pope return to Wuhun Mountain, visibly furious.
Not long after, Yu Xiaogang's mutilated corpse was carried down from the mountain.
His legs were gone.
His face twisted in pain even in death.
Liu Erlong broke completely.
She attacked a cardinal in a desperate attempt to retrieve the body but was heavily wounded by a Platinum Bishop.
Flender, too old and drained to intervene, could only drag her away.
But Liu Erlong would not give up.
She followed the guards all the way to the gates of Wuhun City.
There, she watched—helplessly—as Yu Xiaogang's remains were strung up on the wall for the world to see.
Sun.
Rain.
Wind.
Everything.
All she could do was cry… and wait.
Over and over again.
And finally—today—her waiting ended.
The convoy's return. The voice that rang out: "The debt is settled when the person is dead."
It wasn't just anyone.
It was Xue Qinghe, Crown Prince of the Tiandou royal family.
The very one who had ordered Shrek Academy to be disbanded after returning to the Empire.
Yet Liu Erlong couldn't find it in her to hate him anymore.
All she felt now… was gratitude.
She clung to Yu Xiaogang's body, sobbing violently.
Qin Chuan and Qian Renxue listened in silence.
Neither spoke.
"Your Highness," Flender's voice trembled with emotion. "When we return to the Empire, I will disband Shrek Academy. Please… please don't punish Erlong."
His old eyes shimmered with tears. His stooped back seemed like it would never straighten again.
"It was our fault. Shrek Academy misjudged too many things…"
"We brought this upon ourselves. But we shouldn't have dragged Erlong into this."
Shrek Academy was, in the end, a humble school.
Out of just seven students, two turned out to be enemy spies, and one was a 100,000-year-old soul beast in human form.
Perhaps their destruction had long been decided by fate.
But they shouldn't have come to Tiandou. If they were meant to perish, let it have happened in Barak Kingdom.
Flender's selfish ambition had brought them here.
And now, Lanba Academy, and Liu Erlong, were paying the price.
He felt nothing but guilt.
Qian Renxue's gaze sharpened.
"We'll discuss all of this when we return. What must be disbanded must be disbanded. That is non-negotiable," she said sternly. "The dignity of the royal family cannot be compromised."
Then, she added in a softer tone, "Bring her. And the body. We'll take them with us."
Flender leaned down and gently spoke to Liu Erlong.
Her cries slowly quieted.
Casting one final, hateful glance at the gate tower, Liu Erlong placed Yu Xiaogang's corpse down and turned around.
She bowed deeply to Qin Chuan and Qian Renxue.
"Liu Erlong… thanks Your Majesty… for allowing me…"
"…one last moment to see him again."
Her voice cracked. Tears streamed down her face once more.
"Take the body," Qin Chuan said softly.
Yu Xiaogang's death had more to do with him than anyone knew.
Now, hearing Liu Erlong's gratitude, he could only feel a bitter heaviness in his chest.
"…No."
"I want to bury Xiaogang here…"
Liu Erlong's voice rang out again—clear, yet hollow.
And just like that, silence fell over them all.
The wind stirred.
But the cries of grief had already seeped deep into the stone of Wuhun City.