Bone Painting Coroner

CONTENT WARNING: BLOOD & GORE & ANIMAL ABUSE

The caged wolves cried and wailed just like babies.

The fiercer they howled, the louder those perverse brutes laughed. All of them were tall and sturdy, with rough and broad features. Compared to Jing Rong’s group, they looked just like a bunch of northerners facing a group of southerners.

Amongst them were some that carried a large sabre over their shoulders, some with a large stick as a torch, and others still gnawing on a hunk of wolf meat. They seemed to lack a single shred of fear towards this group of people that had suddenly appeared. Their savage appearance was evident.

Their burly leader suddenly pointed his sabre at Jing Rong, “Get lost if you don’t want to die.” His voice rang out loud and clear. It was obvious that he had no regard for Jing Rong.

You may be arrogant now, but later you will cry. Jing Rong’s proud, eagle-like brows raised up high with killing intent. However, he looked towards the people who were tied up and signalled to the guards by his side. “Release those people.”

The guards obeyed and stepped forward to slice the ropes on those people away. However, just as the blades touched the ropes, one of the brutes stepped forward and started waving his torch around, forcing the guard to step back two metres.

At that same moment, Jing Rong lifted the sword in his hands and struck towards that brute’s torch, splitting it into two. The burning end of the torch fell onto the ground with a flurry of sparks, startling the brute. He was left with the useless half of a torch, and glared fiercely at Jing Rong.

The guard took advantage of that moment and immediately cut away the ropes on those people. They quickly kneeled on the ground and kowtowed in thanks. “Thank you to all the young masters.”

“Thank you…” They had tears in their eyes.

Jing Rong said, “Quickly get your snow wolves and leave.”

“Many thanks, Young Master...”

The four of them scrambled to open the cages and led the remaining snow wolves out. As the snow wolves were released, they wanted to leap towards the gang of brutes but were quickly led away by the wolf breeders instead, dreading another mishap.

As the people led away the snow wolves that they had caught with great difficulty, the brutes were furious and wanted to chase after them, but were stopped by Mo Ruo. The sword in his hands pointed straight at the throat of one of the brutes. “You’d better behave if you want to stay alive.”

Anyone would be anxious with a sword at their throat. That brute stayed motionless but looked at him with hate and clenched his fist with such force that his arm muscles bulged out.

When he saw that, the leader of the brutes angrily spat out a wad of saliva on the ground and yelled out, “Brothers, all of you buckle up! We’re going all in now. Kill them all!”

The minute that order was given, the people behind him raised their sabres and torches, letting out a series of hoots and howls that sounded just like the howling of wolves. Then, they rushed towards Jing Rong’s group. The spectacle was going out of control!

Jing Rong lifted his sword and pierced into the throat of a brute, killing him with a single strike. “You brutes that are worse than animals dare to fight and kill within our Great Lin?!”

The two groups started fighting and killing. The scene was extremely bloody. The air was filled with not just the stench of blood from the wolves, but also humans.

...

Meanwhile, Ji Yunshu was filled with apprehension. She worried that they would be in trouble as her hands grew damp with cold sweat.

One of the guards noticed and consoled her, “Teacher Ji, don’t worry. His Highness will be fine.”

“But I don’t know what’s happening with them.”

“His Highness has impressive skills, and he has Young Master Mo, Guard Lang, and Shi Ziran by his side. Please be at ease and have a rest if you’re tired.”

She shook her head. She was not at all in the mood to rest. She picked up a piece of firewood and started poking at the fire just like Jing Rong had done earlier. She sighed deeply.

Suddenly, Ah! A burst of pain pierced her abdomen as if a knife had sliced her flesh. That branch also fell from her fingertips. Why would this happen?

The guard was worried when he saw that and stepped forward to take a closer look. “Teacher Ji, what’s wrong?”

Her lips turned pale and cold sweat covered her entire body. She could only curl around her knees and press against her stomach, burying her head.

“Teacher Ji?” Everyone crowded around her.

Someone panicked. “This… just what is happening?”

Ji Yunshu just sat there motionlessly, her pale, bloodless face tucked in between her knees as she clenched her teeth tightly against the pain.

The guards were all anxious and terrified, asking after her condition nonstop.

However, Ji Yunshu seemed to have slowly lost awareness of her surroundings. Her head buzzed with pain, drawing out everything that the people around her said.

It was only after about the time to drink a cup of tea had passed, that the pain from her abdomen gradually disappeared, and she slowly regained awareness. She took a deep breath and slowly raised her head. The first thing she saw were the faces of the guards around her, that had turned green with anxiety. “Teacher Ji, what’s wrong with you?”

She shook her head. “I’m fine.”

“Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

She continued, “Don’t worry about me, I’m really fine. Maybe… my guts have knotted together.”

Huh? Guts knotted? This was the first time they had heard of guts being knotted together. They stared for a moment longer, still worried. “Teacher Ji, it’s good that you’re fine.” They then boiled some hot water for her.

After drinking the water, she really did feel much better. Who knows, maybe my guts really did knot together.

Everyone only relaxed again when they saw that she really was feeling better now. Someone stepped forward to ask, “Teacher Ji, what is guts knotting together? How can people’s guts be tied into a knot?”

This… how should she explain it? She’d better just smile and not speak.

However, just as their hearts settled down, their heart rates were forced up again.

Suddenly, a bunch of people clad in armor rushed out of the woods. They carried long swords in the hands and their expressions were solemn and stern as they completely surrounding Ji Yunshu and the guards.

In reaction the guards also got up and drew their swords, surrounding Ji Yunshu in a protective circle. Shi Zijin, who had been shadowing her in secret, had also emerged.

Wen Xian and Zhao Huai had also been monitoring the situation in the shadows. Zhao Huai was prepared to leap out and mount a rescue but was stopped by Wen Xian. “Why did you pull me back? Didn’t you see that the Little Heir is in danger?”

“Observe the situation first.”

“What situation?”

Wen Xian looked over calmly and told him, “Take a good look. These people don’t have any malicious intent.”

“Eh?” Zhao Huai tamped down on his own impulsiveness and took a critical eye to the situation.

The armor-clad people scattered to two sides in a flurry, leaving an open path where one person walked out. This person looked kindly and did not seem to have malicious intent.

Not only did that person have no intent to harm Ji Yunshu, but he stepped forward with a respectful bow instead. “Apologies for disturbing Teacher Ji. We are under orders to fetch you; please come along with us.”

Under orders? Ji Yunshu remained wary and backed off a few steps. She didn’t know whose orders these were. Jing Yi’s? Or the Emperor’s?