After returning from the graves, Xin Yi remained in Rouhui for another half month. Wu Yu’s side had become quiet, the initial thunderous threats yielding no rain. It was unclear if Chou Deyao had taken his warning to heart, but he too remained silent. The trade routes were stable, and though Ji Baiyue sent messengers several times, Xin Yi did not leave. Bai Jiu, on the other hand, sent several shipments of seasonal fresh fruit, never once pressing him to return.
Xin Yi actually wanted to make a detour to Shanyin, as nearly everything he found inexplicable was linked to that place; he could not find peace otherwise. Unfortunately, even though he had left the capital, he could not cross into that territory. The Emperor still held a chain around his neck. He had not even officially succeeded to his title yet; how could he go wherever he pleased?
On this particular day, Xin Yi and Meng Chen went hunting in the woods about a dozen miles outside Rouhui. Xu Qingniang was not only skilled in medicine but also an exceptional cook, particularly with wild game. Having tasted her cooking, Xin Yi could not resist his appetite and went out with Meng Chen to gather ingredients. Of course, he also intended to scout the terrain along the border.
"These woods connect to the wild hills." Meng Chen halted his horse at the sparse edge of the forest. Beyond lay vast grasslands, rising into a modest mountain that served as a natural, if somewhat half-hearted, fence. Past that mountain was the wasteland sandwiched between Dayuan and Da Lan, and a few dozen miles further lay Wanze.
It was mid-June, and the weather was sweltering, though the approaching dusk made it more bearable. Xin Yi tugged at his collar, watching the orange-red sunset cast long shadows behind the mountain, painting the world in a burning crimson. He wanted to catch a glimpse of Kanaan Mountain, the peak that had carried his father’s generation, but he could only see a few drifting clouds. He asked, "Is Kanaan Mountain like this as well?"
Meng Chen rested his hand on his blade and shook his head. "These wild hills don't even come close. Calling this a mountain is just for convenience; it's a mere grassy slope. How can it compare to Kanaan? The 'Iron Wings Reaching the Sky' are as high as the walls of a giant city—a true natural chasm." He pointed toward the horizon. "Great eagles forever circle Kanaan Mountain. It is a sight you won't find here."
Xin Yi had never seen it; he had only seen that bird of prey circling the capital in winter. He did not pursue the topic, instead lifting the bundle of rabbits tied securely to his saddle. "Let’s go. If we get back before dark, we can eat meat tonight."
The mention of meat immediately snapped Meng Chen out of his reverie, and he turned back with Xin Yi. The two chatted idly as they rode. After a few miles, a group of riders suddenly burst onto the path ahead. Their powerful horses galloped fast, flanking a carriage that was also hurtling forward. Meng Chen spotted their blades at a glance; he gripped the hilt of Baizhan at his waist and pulled his horse alongside Xin Yi. The two steered their mounts to the side to clear the way.
As Xin Yi reined in his horse, the lead man brushed past them. In that flash of movement, Xin Yi thought he heard the sound of a bell.
"Young Lord?" Seeing him sitting motionless on his horse after the group passed, Meng Chen whispered, "Those people just now had a powerful aura. They didn't seem like ordinary folk."
This was Rouhui, guarded by Xu Hu’s garrison—a genuine regular army. It was impossible for bandits or outlaws to appear in the vicinity. Yet these were all unfamiliar faces, and they were not part of the garrison. Every one of them was armed; they were likely dangerous.
The two continued their return journey. Just as their horses began a light trot and Meng Chen was about to say more, he saw Xin Yi’s expression shift violently. Xin Yi suddenly wheeled his horse around to give chase.
"Uncle Meng, find General Xu! Bring men and follow me!"
Meng Chen was startled. "Young Lord!"
Chiye had already vanished into a cloud of dust.
Xin Yi’s mind raced as he rode. That was definitely the sound of a bell; he hadn't hallucinated. It was Xu Qingniang’s bell. She was with that group!
Chiye was incredibly fast. In just a few moments, he could see the riders in the distance. The sky had grown dim. The carriage, squeezed in the middle of the group, was being forced along at a breakneck pace, jolting and swaying as if it might fall apart at any moment.
Xin Yi pulled the reins, and Chiye slowed its pace. He maintained his distance, following them until the riders plunged into the woods before the wild hills, clearly intending to cut through the forest to reach the mountains. As soon as they entered the trees, Xin Yi squeezed his legs, and Chiye broke into a gallop. He leaned low over the horse's back as he followed them into the forest. The light was fading, the foliage was dense, and the sound of hooves was no longer as clear as before.
The lead man suddenly reined in his horse, and his followers halted abruptly. A loud *thud* came from inside the carriage, as if something had slammed against the wall.
"Eagle Eye."
The voice was low and muffled, but as soon as the command was given, a man rode forward. He flipped off his horse and climbed a nearby tall tree like a monkey, ascending to a high point with a clear view. He scanned the wild hills and gave a reassuring signal to those below. At that moment, a series of *bangs* erupted from the carriage; someone was slamming their head against the wooden wall.
The lead man acted as if he heard nothing and raised his whip again. The troop continued through the forest. After a while, the leader suddenly looked back into the gloom, his voice rising. "Eagle Eye!"
The man who should have stepped forward did not move. The leader called again, and a horse trotted out of the darkness—its back was empty. A ruthless glint appeared in the leader's eyes as he hissed, "Who is it!"
Commotion broke out among the ranks as they looked at each other in suspicion, their horses treading restlessly. A whistle sounded from nowhere, and the riderless horse suddenly reared and whinnied, charging through the group and throwing them into total chaos.
The leader’s blade was already halfway out of its sheath when he felt a sudden weight on his horse. A gust of wind hit his back, making his hair stand on end. He threw himself forward, barely dodging an elbow strike. But the person behind him was relentless, grabbing his shoulder and wrenching him backward. The man tried to draw his sword, but the intruder anticipated the move, striking the hilt with a horizontal palm and slamming the half-drawn blade back into its scabbard. The man swung a fist back, only to have it firmly blocked. His horse reared in panic, and he was kicked off, rolling onto the ground.
Xin Yi turned his horse toward the carriage, leaping from his saddle onto the vehicle and scrambling along the edge to the door. He smashed the door open. It was pitch black inside. Xu Qingniang lay slumped to the side, her head covered in blood. Xin Yi hauled her up and slung her over his back. He gave a sharp whistle, and Chiye immediately galloped over. Xin Yi vaulted onto the horse with the woman.
As Chiye bolted, the man Xin Yi had unhorsed recovered. "Catch him!"
The disordered troop barely managed to regroup, charging after Xin Yi in a swarm. Chiye burst out of the woods in one breath, but when Xin Yi looked up, he realized he was heading toward the wild hills! At this point, turning back was impossible. He could only steady Xu Qingniang behind him and ride forward as the pursuers closed in.
Xu Qingniang suddenly moved. Xin Yi urged the horse on, saying, "Xu—"
The cold chill of a blade brushed past his nape!
Xin Yi immediately sensed something was wrong. He reached back with one hand to seize the person's wrist, but the opponent slipped away with an eerie agility. Xin Yi raised his arm to block, parrying every vital strike. During the struggle, a long saber slashed toward him from the front. Trapped between two attackers, Xin Yi delivered a powerful kick to the head of the horse in front of him, causing the saber to graze past harmlessly. The person behind him took the opportunity to strike; Xin Yi felt a sharp pain as a dagger found its mark. He pressed against the horse's back to flip around, catching the next blade with his bare palm while his other hand smashed a fist into the opponent's face, kicking them off the horse!
He hadn't expected this trick and had charged in blindly!
Xin Yi wanted to give himself a slap on Uncle Meng's behalf, but the situation allowed no time for self-reflection. Amidst the jolting ride, his palm was slick with thick blood, but he wiped it carelessly on his clothes, having no time to feel the pain.
The sound of bells mingled with the thundering hooves and shouts. Xin Yi’s eyes swept over the pursuing troop and saw two people riding a single horse at the very back. Xu Qingniang was there!
He swung himself back into the saddle and pulled the reins, making Chiye pull a sharp turn. This time, Xin Yi didn't hide or dodge. He charged straight at them with ferocious momentum, his eyes filled with a murderous aura as if he were leading ten thousand troops.
Fearing a trap, the leader signaled his men to scatter and drew his sword to meet Xin Yi head-on. Both men were like unsheathed blades, desperate to cut the other down. The leader leveled his sword, and as Chiye reached him, he let out a low shout and swung. The expected clash of steel never happened; Xin Yi ducked low, charging right under the sweeping blade.
In the confusion, he snatched a saber from one of the men he brushed past. The horse at the very rear was already treading anxiously as Chiye charged toward it. Before the rider could steady the mount, Xin Yi was upon them. He leaped from Chiye onto the other horse, slamming the hilt of his saber into the rider's neck and knocking him off. He grabbed the figure wrapped in a cloak behind the man. Peeling back the fabric, he saw Xu Qingniang’s face. She was bound tightly with ropes, and her bells jingled. Only then did he feel a sense of relief. He moved her from that horse to Chiye and dove back into the forest.
Torches began to flicker ahead. Xin Yi heard the sound of Meng Chen’s horse approaching and heard Xu Hu shout, "Young Lord!"
Branches whipped against his head and face as Xin Yi burst out of the woods, running straight into Meng Chen. He exhaled sharply and said in a low voice, "Keep the leader. As for the rest..." He paused before saying, "Leave no one alive!"
Meng Chen asked, "Who are they?"
Xin Yi wiped the dirt from his face, but forgot the blood on his hand, smearing it across his features. He gritted his teeth. "They are Dayuan people!"
He had known they were Dayuan since he took out the first scout, "Eagle Eye"; the man's collar was made of Dayuan fabric. Why would Dayuan kidnap Xu Qingniang now? If she were taken and Xu Hu was coerced, what would he do if Dayuan demanded he open the gates of Rouhui?
Xu Hu arrived, and the garrison troops immediately gave chase. The cleanup was left to them. Seeing Xin Yi covered in blood, Meng Chen turned pale. "Are you hurt?"
Xin Yi’s mind was still on Dayuan; he simply shook his head. Meng Chen saw blood dripping from his palm and immediately turned to call for the army physician, shouting angrily, "I should have been the one to do this! The Young Lord had no weapon. If—" His face was grim. "If the Prince were alive, he would surely give you a thrashing!"
The corners of Xin Yi’s mouth twitched into a faint smile.
Back in Rouhui, Xin Yi’s wounds were bandaged. The three of them gathered around a map in the room. Meng Chen pointed to the wild hills.
"Entering from here is the hardest point. Even if Chagetai doesn't understand that, Arsleng certainly would. Besides, even if they succeeded, Xu Hu couldn't open Rouhui alone."
Xu Hu nodded, looking tense. "The Yan Wang’s manor isn't in charge now. Half the authority over the garrison is held by the Imperial Court. Forget taking my wife—even if they took me, it wouldn't work!"
"Not necessarily," Xin Yi mused. "It’s precisely because they understand this that they chose the hardest point. Previously, the North Yang Army was as solid as iron with strict discipline because there was only the Yan Wang’s manor leading them. Even if General Xu were killed, someone would quickly take his place. But now, the command is split. If the commanding general meets with an accident, the question of who takes charge must first be sent to the capital via official reports. It goes up layer by layer until someone with sufficient rank makes a decision. The time wasted on the road would be enough for Rouhui to be overwhelmed."
"Then wouldn't it be easier for them to attack from Shangjin?" Meng Chen couldn't help but ask. "Shangjin has become a trade hub, and the North Yang Army there is fragmented. Passing through would be effortless."
Xin Yi’s dimples appeared briefly. "That is the road for making money; it cannot be blocked. Besides, given the personal relationship between Chagetai and the Crown Prince, there might be some deal between them."
"A deal?" Xu Hu was stunned. "What kind of deal?"
"I don't know." Xin Yi’s finger traced circles over the location of Shangjin. He frowned and shook his head. "Perhaps a trade of troops, or perhaps a trade of land."
Meng Chen stood up abruptly, enraged. "The Crown Prince of a great nation would actually trade troops with the barbarians of Dayuan?!"
Xin Yi sighed, leaning back in his chair and rocking slightly. It was precisely because he was still the Crown Prince that he had to make such a deal. But why so soon? According to what he and Bai Jiu had guessed, it should have been delayed for a few more years. Because the Crown Prince had not yet secured military power in North Yang, even if he gained Shangjin, it was only an extra layer of future military funding. If he let Chagetai act now, even if the Emperor died, how would he drive these wolves and tigers back later?
Perhaps they had dropped the pretense? Chagetai was no fool. When two ambitious men played at being civil, whose rules could truly bind the other?
Yet Xin Yi still felt something was off. No matter how difficult the North Yang Army was to mobilize, it was still the North Yang Army. Re-merging them during wartime was not a pipe dream. As long as Dayuan’s sabers reached the Emperor’s throat, he could regroup not just the North Yang Army, but the provincial troops from all over Da Lan.
Thinking of the provincial troops, Xin Yi suddenly sat upright. The Crown Prince had no soldiers, but the Prince of Tang did.
The piece of wood in Bai Jiu’s fingers turned slowly as his carving knife meticulously shaped the curves of hair. Only one lamp was lit in the room, placed by his hand. His narrow eyes were focused intently on the small wooden figure.
A lantern appeared under the eaves, and Old Qu’s low voice called from outside the door. "My Lord."
Bai Jiu gave a soft grunt of acknowledgment.
Old Qu said, "A letter has arrived from North Yang."
Bai Jiu’s hand paused. He finished the last few strokes and stroked the face of the little wooden figure with a hint of lingering affection before saying, "Come in and speak."
Old Qu entered, placed a letter and a small box on the desk, and withdrew. Bai Jiu opened the letter first. Seeing Xin Yi’s handwriting, the tension in his lips relaxed. The letter spoke of trivial matters in Rouhui and praised Xu Qingniang’s cooking. Finally, it mentioned that the box contained something for him.
Bai Jiu read the letter three times before slowly putting it away. He opened the box to find several packets of flower seeds, a smooth and beautiful pebble, and a wolf’s tooth shaped like a crescent moon. Bai Jiu rubbed each item in his hand. When he reached the bottom, he found a folded slip of paper.
He opened it. There were only three words written upon it.
The Prince of Tang.
Bai Jiu’s narrow eyes darkened, squinting slightly amidst the flickering candlelight.
***
Glossary:
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
大苑 | Dayuan | A neighboring kingdom/ethnic group, often at odds with Da Lan.
大岚 | Da Lan | The empire where the story takes place.
宛泽 | Wanze | A geographical location near the border.
赤业 | Chiye | Xin Yi's horse (Red Karma).
百战 | Baizhan | Meng Chen's blade (Hundred Battles).
察合台 | Chagetai | A leader/figure of Dayuan.
阿尔斯楞 | Arsleng | A figure of Dayuan.
唐王 | Prince of Tang | A high-ranking royal/prince mentioned as a potential threat.
鹰目 | Eagle Eye | A codename or title for a scout/specialist.
