Chapter 59
Blacklisted Empire
Two horses stood outside the Xuili main gate. Viper waved her red jade pass, and the Xuili guards eventually opened the gate to welcome their General. Viper warned the guard on duty not to spread the news, threatening severe punishment if they did.
The duty guard, trembling with fear, nodded as goosebumps crawled across his skin. The two horses slowly walked forward until they reached the General's Quarters.
After a year since General Chu's disappearance during Yuan Song's breach and abduction, the Yanbei General returned to the perimeters of Xuili Mountain. She rested her tired soul and reflected on her true self.
This time, when Chu Qiao rediscovered who she really was, she remained under their secret custody.
Chu Qiao let time pass, about a year after that night when she nearly lost her life while uncovering her past memories and Viper came to save her.
Facing the cold and calm waters of the river in Xuili Mountain, Chu Qiao asked Viper, "Why did you hold one piece of the Higanbana flower?"
Viper squinted and replied, "Because if I hadn't cut my wrist to save your nearly lifeless body, you would have been lost forever. That flower on your back would have grown until it consumed your mortal self and turned you to dust…"
Viper paused, stepped beside Chu Qiao, threw a stone into the river, and continued, "If that had happened, red Higanbana flowers would have grown where you last saw each other's faces, and the frozen lake where you parted would have turned into a field of Higanbana flowers. They would grow and remain there forever, marking the place where love died. In your next life, your paths would never cross again."
Chu Qiao realized, "Such a sad story. I'm glad you came and saved me."
Viper, looking at the calm river, did not tell the secret princess that underworld spies are forbidden from transfusing their blood. Doing so weakens their powers, strips them of their immortality, and turns them human, capable of dying.
This was the fate of Trailkoya, who sacrificed himself, spilling his blood to save Chu Qiao, the leader of the Wind and Cloud Decree. Trailkoya lost his godlike powers, became human, and eventually died at the hands of Yuwen Hao.
Underworld spies regain the full extent of their powers upon the setting of the moonrise in the darkest skies.
Yuwen Yue rode in a palanquin carried by eight men. Thick canvas curtains covered the windows at the back and sides, while a thin veil hung in front of him, partially obscuring His Highness's face. His face was further concealed by a heavy metal mask. He was making his first official royal visit to the King of the distant eastern tribes to settle disputes along their borders.
The distant eastern tribe had been reported slaughtering smaller tribes and becoming barbaric, setting fire to villages where peaceful tribes suffered heavy losses, and innocent blood was shed.
Zuo and Yue Qi flanked him on the left and right, completing his envoy. Their presence had enabled him to win battles across Ximeng's vast lands, uniting people of different tongues and tribes.
A year had passed since he left the Wei-Liang borders, where he had unexpectedly reunited with his mother's brother, Master Xie Tai Shan.
This reunion filled in the missing pieces of Yuwen Yue's story, revealing how he came to the Yuwen household. It also uncovered a long-forgotten connection between Yue Qi and Zuo Zong, who were like blood brothers.
Yuwen Yue became one of the happiest men, as many aspects of his life came into clarity, except for his still-gloomy heart.
He even saw his cenotaph surrounded by plum flowers, incense, and tea candles offered by the people of Wei, which warmed his heart.
Yuwen Yue also heard various stories, some good and some bad. However, the people, unaware of the Fourth Young Master's face, didn't realize they were speaking directly to him.
He stayed at the Wei-Liang border for nearly three months, enjoying his uncle's company. Together, they fished, bred birds, shared bonfire nights, trekked the snowy mountains, and simply enjoyed their time together, like a father and son reunited.
No amount of joyful tears could express the emotions shared between these two souls who met at the perfect time. His uncle was the only family member from his mother's side, and they even practiced each other's martial arts. Yuwen Yue remained there, hoping for a sign of his wife, but every night, he could only wish upon a star.
Master Xie also revealed that Chu Qiao had stayed with him and left behind the Cangwu bird. Yuwen Yue could not have been happier to reunite with the bird that had been his spark of hope during his darkest nights.
The Yuwen parrot had also bred a family of five baby parrots next to their mother.
Yue Qi asked Master Xie if he could take one of the parrots, but Zuo, not being an animal lover, declined. Instead, Zuo taught the three men how to meditate in the Buddhist way, though Master Xie, a Daoist, sometimes objected.
Yue Qi grew up in the household of Mohist Masters, often making fun of his brother. Yuwen Yue was also raised and taught by Mohist Masters. He remained cold and distant, though he was later introduced to the teachings of Confucius in the Woolong Mountains.
This occurred after the frozen lake tragedy. From time to time, Yuwen Yue would offer sage advice.
Yuwen Yue declined the King's rulership for valid reasons, explaining to his father that he had not yet proven to the palace ministers that he deserved the position. Unlike the other princes of Qinghai, Yuwen Yue was in no rush to claim the throne. Instead, he chose to retain his status as crown prince, the heir to the Qinghai throne.
General Bali turned to Princess Zama and handed her a paper snow. After a few moments of staring at the letters, the princess watched as the words began to fade. Tears filled her eyes, and she gazed at the palace walls, helpless and overwhelmed, her defenses frozen and shattered.
Since the night of the tributary hunt, Prince Zaru had been left in Xuili Mountain as a prisoner of war and was later transferred to the Yan Palace prison grounds, while two of his blackguard spies were imprisoned underground.
There had been no news of whether Prince Zaru was still alive. However, in the letter Princess Zama received, written as an ode, it was mentioned:
Forced to walk under the enemy's painful ground
Tormented beneath the blazing sun
I eat like a mouse trapped in a cat's snare
Drinking the enemy's eternal wrath
Yet day and night, I remain cold and forgotten
Wishing death would come, but it eludes me like the morning mist
Let my name be forgotten, for I am a disgrace to the blood of heroes
Who fought for the Great Summer's fall.
"I can't wait any longer," Princess Zama said in a voice filled with anger and melancholy. "It has been a year, and we've done nothing. The 7th prince of Wei must act. As one of their protectorate states, a trade must be opened. We must learn what the Rebel King wants and see if we can negotiate."
General Bali responded, "The blackguards successfully planted bombs around the Meilin border pass, but I'm not sure why the demolition plan failed."
Dressed in her tribal Hanfu, with her beautiful, melancholic eyes, Princess Zama replied, "On the night we spied on Xiao Yu and Crown Prince Xiao Ce, I saw the blood-red eyes of a spy. Do you know what that means?"
General Bali's face grew tense. "The underworld spies are active again?"
Princess Zama stepped outside the palace courtyard, gazing at the dark sky and moon. "When I was young, my father took me to a faraway kingdom. We stayed there for months, and I saw a camp of extraordinary children with different powers. I fought one of them in a bow and arrow competition, and I lost because they cracked my arm. I was humiliated, and everyone laughed at me because I couldn't win against the girl with the sand drizzle powers.
"Suddenly, another girl came forward. I saw her back, marked with a red flower tattoo, and everyone fell silent. Even those who had bullied me didn't dare to challenge her. She took my arm, and the pain vanished. She encouraged me to try again, and I hit the mark. After that, everyone respected me. But when I went to find her, she was gone, and I never saw her again."
"So, the underworld spies truly exist, Your Highness?" General Bali asked.
"Yes, General. They are real, but it's nearly impossible to trace them. They leave no evidence, and when they strike, it's either them or their target who dies," Princess Zama explained.
"Do you mean the underworld spies are protecting Yanbei?" General Bali questioned further.
"Just like Luo He, the leader of the Wind and Cloud Decree, who died for it."
"I've heard that story before," General Bali said thoughtfully. "Luo He was hanged in the Wei garrison prison. The underworld spies tried to rescue her, but was it her daughter who came to save her?"
"That's the mystery I've been trying to understand for years. Her daughter did come, but it was too late. Zhan Ziyu, the leader of the Afterlife camp, ambushed Luo He. Her daughter fought valiantly, but the battle was fierce. I was there that day. It was autumn, and I remember the air was heavy with power. The rain wouldn't stop, and suddenly, thunder and gravity seemed to defy the laws of nature. The raindrops froze in midair, as though time itself had halted. Sharp ice floated before crashing to the ground, striking everyone, but no one died. The Afterlife camp spies learned a lesson that day they will never forget, including their leader, Zhan Ziyu, who was paralyzed."
Princess Zama's gaze returned to the moon.
"Did someone save you from the rain of sharp ice, Your Highness?" General Bali asked.
"Do you mean the Kungfu of ice? Yes, Zaru did," Zama replied, her voice filled with emotion as she thought of her brother, whose fate remained unknown.
"What do you plan to do now, Your Highness?" General Bali asked, trying to anticipate her next move.
"I'm planning to ask for a staged fight," Zama answered resolutely.
"That's a gamble, Your Highness," General Bali warned.
"In exchange for Zaru, I will do it," Zama declared, her mind made up.
"And if you lose?" General Bali pressed, considering the risks.
"I won't lose. If the Shen Jin Emperor supports me, we can deploy the black seal inside Yanbei," Zama replied confidently, revealing her strategy.
"Are you suggesting that we..." General Bali started, but Zama silenced him with a gesture.
"I will see my brother, even if it costs me my life," she said with steely determination.
"It's a zero chance of getting back alive," General Bali said, concerned.
"Not if I have the underworld spy who saved me before. This will be the perfect opportunity to expose them. I know they are watching me, and for some reason, they don't harm me when they do," Zama replied, sounding certain.
"When do we begin?" General Bali asked.
"We will start this fight under the winter's moon, when human strength is at its weakest, and the Blackguards' powers are at their peak. The underworld spies will break free from their shadows. We shall see who will stand until the last breath," Zama said, her eyes fixed on the crescent moon above.
Zama turned to her bodyguard and said, "Shi Da, take this letter to the Shen Jin Emperor."
Then she faced General Bali and added, "Uncle General, please keep this a secret. I hope you will persuade Father to agree while we wait for their response."
The blackguard spies had to pause their black seal plan when Prince Zaru was taken hostage, causing a delay. As a result, it did not prevent the union between Yanbei and the Liang state.
Meanwhile, the Shen Jin Emperor changed his course of action. He lifted the black seal, relying instead on the capture of Yan Xun's Tiger General, Chu Qiao. The Emperor believed Chu Qiao would eventually ascend to Wei's throne.
For the Emperor, this situation deepened the already painful wound Yan Xun had inflicted upon him.
Yan Xun decided that death would be too merciful for Prince Zaru. Instead, he subjected him to corporal punishment. One day, Yan Xun gave the townsfolk of Yanbei a spectacle to witness in the middle of the giant soccer courtyard. The Black Prince Zaru was forced to crawl on his knees, his head tied to the prime war horse of Yanbei.
The Black Prince endured excruciating pain as the skin on his knees was stripped away, leaving raw flesh exposed to the dirty, grassy ground. Every citizen of Yanbei mocked him, spat on him, and ridiculed him until his face became unrecognizable in the filth. Eventually, the Prince passed out from the pain and humiliation.
Yan Xun ordered his servants to drag him back to Yan's garrison prison.
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