Chapter 38: Flowers, Roosters, Snakes, and Insects

Chapter 38: Flowers, Roosters, Snakes, and Insects

King of Kucha stared at the letter inside the box, puzzled by Stone Guanyin’s sudden hostility. His fingers paused mid-air as he held the letter, but he quickly regained composure—perhaps too quickly.

“Stone Guanyin? It’s Stone Guanyin!”

In an instant, King of Kucha’s eyes widened, his voice trembling with exaggerated horror. Li Chaofeng could almost feel the chill in his tone.

What an Oscar-worthy performance, Li Chaofeng mused, even fooling his own daughter and wife.

Still, was Stone Guanyin rushing things by stealing the Paradise Star so soon? Couldn’t he have waited until nightfall? Why snatch it the moment it entered the treasure vault?

Li Chaofeng, who had tracked the Paradise Star by scent, found this flashy display of skill baffling. He turned the situation over in his mind: if Wu Qingtian hadn’t blabbed, King of Kucha wouldn’t have discovered the theft until evening. The plot had already veered off course. While Li Chaofeng understood Stone Guanyin’s motives, the story had taken a sharp detour after Chu Liuxiang rescued the Peng Clan’s four sons—and another twist when Li Chaofeng used his nose to save the caravan’s water supply.

He had told Peng Xiao Hu the truth: he’d never intended to save anyone. In the desert, he saw himself as nothing more than a reconnaissance tool. Saving lives was Chu Liuxiang or Hu Tiehua’s job.

As King of Kucha theatrically feigned panic, Li Chaofeng calmly picked up a toothpick, swiftly dismantled a plate of roasted lamb ribs, and began savoring them bite by bite, washing it down with fresh goat’s milk.

King of Kucha offered him wine, but Li Chaofeng declined, citing his youth. A sober martial artist was a novelty for the king, who assumed Peng Xiao Hu had brought along a naive protégé. He didn’t press the issue.

Watching King of Kucha’s over-the-top performance, Li Chaofeng wished he had popcorn. But the moment the king spoke again, his amusement faded.

Realizing his earlier panic had seemed unbecoming, King of Kucha bellowed, “Whoever touched this box last—arrest them!”

The personal maid who had escorted the treasure casket to the vault was dragged forward, trembling. “Your Majesty, I never took my eyes off this box. I locked it away carefully—please believe me!”

King of Kucha’s face twisted with hatred. “Believe you? You expect me to swallow that? Only you handled it on the journey! Are you saying bandits haunt my camp?” He turned to the guards. “Chop off her hands! Let’s see how she steals without them!”

His voice was brutal, but his face betrayed fear. He knew the thief was Stone Guanyin, yet he dared vent his rage only on the maid. The onlookers exchanged glances, their eyes flickering with disdain but saying nothing. After all, punishing a servant in a fit of anger was common enough.

Du Huan looked disappointed—chopping hands was too merciful. Hu Tiehua started to intervene, but Ji Bingyan subtly restrained him with a shake of his head. They were here to uncover Stone Guanyin’s schemes, not meddle in palace affairs.

As guards forced the maid to her knees, Li Chaofeng exhaled sharply, his gaze hardening. With a flick of his finger, the toothpick in his hand embedded itself in the guard’s wrist. The blade never fell.

Peng Xiao Hu nearly jumped out of his skin. Hu Tiehua and Ji Bingyan stared at Li Chaofeng, stunned by his sudden move.

Li Chaofeng’s voice dripped with contempt. “Testing whether I flinch at blood, Your Majesty? If so, I’ll gladly let everyone here see some real carnage. Chopping limbs spills little—decapitation’s far more dramatic.”

King of Kucha flinched, realizing his act had backfired. This young Peng heir had taken offense, and Han tradition frowned on public bloodshed—something about gentlemen avoiding slaughterhouses.

Composing himself, King of Kucha bowed stiffly. “My apologies. I forgot you hail from a land of propriety.” He snapped at the wounded guard, “Take her away—don’t offend our guests.”

The guard obeyed, dragging the maid off. Li Chaofeng narrowed his eyes, silent. He hadn’t intervened out of mercy—only pride.

Hu Tiehua, however, spoke up. “Her hands look delicate. Your Majesty, mind if I keep her to massage my back?”

Li Chaofeng shot him a glare. He’d acted out of disgust; Hu Tiehua genuinely wanted to save her.

King of Kucha shrugged indifferently but nodded at the guard’s questioning look.

Suddenly, the king sighed, feigning sorrow. The mercenaries in his employ ignored him, as did Peng Xiao Hu’s “Seven Tigers.” Realizing his misstep, he forced a smile. “Might I ask your name, young master Peng?”

He addressed Peng Xiao Hu, who hesitated. He didn’t know Li Chaofeng’s real name—Snake Xiaogui was out of the question.

“Peng Xiao She,” Li Chaofeng replied flatly.

Wu Qingtian blurted, “Aren’t you Peng Qi Hu?”

King of Kucha blinked. The Seven Tigers numbered seven—why a snake instead of a tiger?

“Wrong,” Hu Tiehua chimed in. “I’m Peng Wu Hua, he’s Peng Liu Ji. Our eldest is Peng Yi Hu. Seven of us—hence the Seven Tigers.”

Peng Yi Hu nodded helplessly. His savior was clowning around, but what choice did he have?

Snake? Five Flowers? Six Chickens? What nonsense!

“Born in a gambling den?” King of Kucha muttered, suspecting he’d been made a fool.

Before he could react, Du Huan, long ignored by the Pengs, roared, “Cowards!”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end