Chapter 22
Band of brothers
The East Mountains, where Ximeng continent resides, are home to vast ranges, perfect sunsets, cruel snowy plains, dark forests, and harsh deserts. Similarly, the people's culture was divided into different clans and tribes, forming factions, defectors, rebels, outliers, outlandish savage fighters, and barbaric warriors. The continent also houses the wisest tribal leaders, powerful spiritual healers, and mystical underground forces such as the underworld league of spies.
The beauty lies in its imperfection, the unpredictability of its people in the absence of a strong regime controlling its borders and gateways to the outside world. The freedom to do all the things he had never done made Yuwen Yue hesitate to return to his homeland. He settled into a simple life, living alone. He never had this kind of freedom, never experienced the true life of ordinary people. He learned to live within his means, having nothing, and applying and testing his principles. He encountered rejections in his new world and became a servant in the heart of a master. This brought him great wisdom. His aristocratic nature was exposed to a broader, more diverse world, which may have broken some of his old codes of conduct, yet Yuwen Yue's character remained intact. As Yuwen Yue delved deeper into this new world, he became like iron, sharpening his blade of knowledge and enriching his experiences like a book worth reading.
It has been one year since the icy lake tragedy, and many changes have taken place, including his lifestyle and the people he works with. However, when it comes to his heart, it remains unchanged. Yuwen Yue never forgot about his Xinger. As the master of the Eyes of God, he is adept at sourcing information. He is a master of spies, effectively disguising himself so that no one suspected he was the missing heir to the Eyes of God. He is full of wisdom and clear strategies, but he learned that such power and position only work when the necessary resources, people, and authority are available.
For now, Yuwen Yue understands how a master must act when resources are limited, blurring lines of defense and discovering more cunning ways to get people to believe in his abilities without tangible rewards or punishments. What he once knew from books has become a deep well of experience. He avoids shortcuts and cheats to evade steep challenges, learning from every step until he knows how to run.
He thought it was time to return and pick up the pieces he left at the frozen lake, building a solid foundation from there. It is autumn, and his journey is long and dangerous. Yuwen Yue loves to write letters, so his room is full of them, not paper snow letters, but ordinary pieces of paper without the Eyes of God's seal. They are simply thank-you notes and farewell statements to his wealthy landlord, who runs the lodge with his son. Yuwen Yue owes them gratitude because they never made him feel inferior or treated him as a slave.
Zuo Zong, the Shaolin temple master, never lets a day go by without seeing his so-called master, though Yuwen Yue never acknowledges him as such. Sometimes it makes him angry, but he also feels lonely when Zuo Zong is absent. Occasionally, Yuwen Yue visits Zuo at the temple to check if he is still alive. The wealthy lords of the East, the peddlers he met and worked with, and the beautiful peasant girls he encountered, none of them were able to replace Xinger in his heart.
He intends not to see these people again because he showed himself to them as a nobody. He plans to quietly leave, becoming somebody when he returns to his family, who disowned him so easily. He is uncertain of the situation that awaits him in Wei, a land of chaos, wars, famine, plunder by Yan Xun, weakened cities, and fortified walls. Despite the uncertainty, Yuwen Yue is ready, his body and mind fully healed and healthy. He chose to leave at night but has to deliver the letters this afternoon. He packed only what he needed, including small weapons like the daggers he bought. The unique bow he made from driftwood and arrows he crafted from Yuwen Parrot's feathers are his treasures. He has only a handful of arrows, very colorful ones, and no sword to protect himself. His night owl will guide him on the journey, and Yuwen Parrot is ready to go too. Like a king without a crown, Yuwen Yue walked out of the lodge and into the streets. Almost finished with his preparations, a man in a humble outfit approached him.
"Master!" Zuo Zong greeted him as usual, surprising Yuwen Yue, but for Yuwen Yue, nothing was a surprise.
In his usual indifferent manner, Yuwen Yue didn't mind Zuo Zong walking beside him.
Zuo Zong asked, "Master, how's the weather, and what's that you're carrying?"
"I'm not carrying anything," Yuwen Yue replied, hiding something inside his clothes.
"I see," Zuo Zong said with a hint of sadness. Something felt off to him as he looked down and continued walking quietly alongside Yuwen Yue.
Yuwen Yue felt the pressure in the air, sensing that he needed to explain. As Zuo Zong fell unusually silent, like Yuwen Yue's parrot, Yuwen Yue took something from his pocket and handed it to him: "Zuo Zong, I want you to have this."
Yuwen Yue gave him the only handkerchief he had left from before the frozen lake incident, a sentimental keepsake from his Xinger.
Zuo Zong had never seen anything like it. The white, soft, high-grade fabric was immaculate and expensive-looking. When he opened the handkerchief, he saw Chinese characters embroidered in gold thread, revealing the true name of the owner. His eyes widened, as if he had seen a ghost, and he thought, "I was right!"
Yuwen Yue noticed that Zuo Zong had lost his sense of distance, simply staring at the handkerchief as Yuwen Yue walked away, leaving him behind.
Yuwen Yue expected this to happen. He gave the handkerchief to the temple master to reveal that he had to return to his duties, as his vacation had extended too long. It was also meant to help Zuo understand where he was going, something that would become clear after his departure. Yuwen Yue planned to sneak out that night, leaving a short note for Zuo Zong. He was the last recipient of Yuwen Yue's letters, which he would deliver while everyone was asleep. As always, he left without goodbyes, just gone.
At nightfall, Yuwen Yue set off for the Shaolin temple to deliver the note to his closest friend, whom he saw as a brother, though Zuo Zong might not have felt the same. Despite Yuwen Yue's aristocratic mannerisms, he still had a soft spot beneath the surface.
As he approached the temple, Yuwen Yue encountered traps planted around its perimeter. Dressed in his neat, powder-blue peasant clothes, he gracefully navigated the traps, his superb martial arts on full display. After a few minutes of tumbling, jumping, and leaping, Yuwen Yue dusted himself off, confident that the job was done. But just then, a more playful master appeared, waiting for him. Zuo Zong stepped forward, picked up something Yuwen Yue had dropped, and read it quietly before saying, "Impressive." He clapped his hands, but Yuwen Yue responded with a cold glare, his brows wrinkled.
Zuo Zong, now angry, said, "Master, you can't leave me here. You can't pass this road. It's either you kill me or take me with you." His determination was clear.
Zuo Zong adopted his usual fighting stance, ready for martial arts. Yuwen Yue had no intention of killing anyone that night, he just wanted a peaceful escape, but Zuo Zong forced him into a fight. They sparred, with Yuwen Yue controlling the amateur battle. Over time, Zuo Zong had become much better, thanks to their practice sessions during free time. Suddenly, Zuo Zong stopped, stepped back, and kowtowed, saying, "Master, do you think I don't deserve to be your follower?"
Yuwen Yue raised his eyebrows but felt mercy in his heart. Zuo Zong's words stirred memories of the master-servant mindset, but Yuwen Yue refused to cling to his aristocratic status. He knelt to halt Zuo Zong's kowtow gesture. Zuo Zong, still in his early twenties, was immature, but his attitude was promising enough to earn Yuwen Yue's trust. Looking him in the eyes, Yuwen Yue said, "I cannot guarantee a good life ahead, but you may come with me if you wish."
It seemed Zuo Zong had touched a soft spot in Yuwen Yue's heart, and Zuo Zong was now ready, just like his master. What surprised Yuwen Yue next was the sight of the savage fighters from the lodge, each with packed bags, approaching him one by one.
"If Zuo Zong goes, so does the swift dagger warrior from the tribes of the Far East," said one, throwing a twin dagger that sliced leaves from a nearby tree.
"I too," said the rapid blade warrior from the tribes of Wu, bowing with his sword in front of Yuwen Yue.
"Me too," added the flashing spear warrior from the tribes of Shi, jumping towards Yuwen Yue, planting his spear into the ground, and bowing his head.
A junior Shaolin monk leaped from behind and said, "You'll need a staff warrior at your service, young master," bowing deeply.
More followed, offering their service. Yuwen Yue realized that if he made enemies with them tonight, even a former master of spies like him could be defeated by their skill. It wasn't wise to refuse these warriors, all bowing before him. Yuwen Yue had shown only a seed of kindness, but it had grown into a field of warriors, ready to embark on an adventure with him as their leader.
Yuwen Yue didn't have many options left, so he accepted his fate. With the right kind of leader, these warriors would experience the time of their lives. Although Yuwen Yue couldn't predict what lay ahead, it was wise to bring a band of brothers with talents. Zuo Zong, skilled in espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and assassination, not to mention kung fu, would be his trusted ally in both governmental and personal matters.
Yuwen Yue knelt down to meet their bowed heads and placed his right hand over his left chest, loudly declaring, "I cannot promise you a bed of roses. What lies ahead are thistles and thorns, but I am loyal to a few and ruled by no one."
The warriors suddenly erupted in joy, hugging each other. As Yuwen Yue stood up, they encircled him, tossing their hands in the air as if they had already won a battle, the battle to gain Yuwen Yue as their leader. That night, over fifty men joined Yuwen Yue's journey back to his homeland, each following him even though he had nothing to offer.
These warriors followed a leader with no arms, no horses, and no food. On the treacherous and uncertain roads, they grew closer, becoming like brothers. Yuwen Yue, an advanced planner and thinker, organized ranks within his "walking cavalry", men without horses, honor, or material wealth, but with courage and talent for defending or attacking. They were men ready to die at any moment. Yuwen Yue gathered their weapons and shared their possessions. They called themselves a "band of brothers," and Yuwen Yue, their "Master Brother."
Yuwen Yue created a banner creed, and each warrior tied a handkerchief to their arm. They cut a small wound and scarred it to form the ancient Chinese character 越, which means "Yuè", to exceed, climb over, surpass, and accommodate more. While everyone else's wound was on their right arm, Yuwen Yue, being the Master Brother, bore his wound on his left arm, near the scar from a past chest wound. Some said he chose the left arm near his heart to remind himself of what he told his brothers that day: that he is loyal only to a few and ruled by no one. Zuo Zong, his close companion, shared the same creed on his left arm to follow his Master Brother.
Zuo Zong was in charge of tactical movements, with five brothers assigned to accompany him on spying missions. The swift dagger warrior had five men under his command, the rapid blade warrior had ten, the flashing spear warrior had ten, and the stick (or staff) warrior, a Shaolin junior monk, was given five men. This junior monk was once strangled by Yuwen Yue, warned not to speak about Zuo Zong and their fight on Cloud Mountain, where Zuo had almost fallen. Yuwen Yue promoted the young monk, who called himself the "stick warrior" because he still needed to grow. Yuwen Yue told him that when he matured, he would be called the "staff warrior." He was the youngest of the ranking junior brothers and close to Zuo Zong. The rest of the men were called the "cold warriors," and Yuwen Yue had yet to assign them a ranking brother. Yuwen Yue trained some of these men to handle bows and arrows. Though they weren't all skilled with these weapons, he told them, "It cannot be learned; it can only be felt."
Yuwen Yue pointed at his pulse, closed his eyes, and listened to the cold hunting wind. He extended his left arm straight, his right arm bent at an angle, and a squeaky sound came from the bowstring as he pulled it back. He released the heavy feathered arrow at the tick of his pulse. Opening his eyes, he saw the arrow had hit its target, a huge kingbird on the ground.
The cold warriors rushed to inspect the eagle, expecting it to be dead, but to their surprise, it wasn't wounded. The arrow's pointed tip had detached in the air, leaving the bird unharmed. The Yuwen Parrot in its cage tweeted, "Master Brother, great! Master Brother!" No one knew how Yuwen Yue had done it. Only the Master Brother had such advanced skill and the ability to decide whether to hunt and kill or hunt to heal.
Yuwen Yue picked up the kingbird eagle, placing it on his left arm. The bird's claws gripped his arm tightly, it was heavy, with a wingspan that may have stretched three meters across. Yuwen Yue carefully examined its left thigh, and the bird squawked softly before testing its wings and attempting to fly again.
The cold warriors admired the scene, commenting, "What a sight." Yuwen Yue, wearing his powder-blue peasant clothes, a sleeveless V-neck exposing the muscles in his arms, stood tall with his dark eyes and perfectly shaped brows. His god-like aura commanded respect, even in his simple attire.
These cold warriors endured Yuwen Yue's grueling training sessions, similar to those he had gone through with Yue Qi, his seventh Yue, and his maidservant Xinger. He shared some of the Yuwen household's secret skills: "The Pulse" and "The Palm."
Counting the days and nights, the band of brothers traveled far under the scorching heat of sand dunes and deserts. They set up their tents each nightfall and packed them up during the day, continuing their journey toward the western mountains. They hunted for food as practice during the day while others prepared it. Though it seemed nothing was handed to them easily, and they had to earn everything through hard work, they rested each night with heads full of knowledge and wisdom.
The band of brothers came from different backgrounds, warriors from the Far East and western tribes, including Manchu (Jin tribes) warriors, Han Chinese warriors, and Mongol elements. Without a leader who could unite these diverse cultures, their talents would have been impossible to utilize.
After several days and nights, they passed through the Great Wall of China. Yuwen Yue observed that it was built but appeared not yet fully fortified and completed. It was the first time they crossed an unfinished part of the wall facing the sea. This location, at the southern foot of the Yanbei Mountains and facing the northern Bohei Sea, became their pit stop for a few days. They set up their mobile tents, created bonfires, and dug firepits along the shore.
Yuwen Yue discovered that some of his Han warrior brothers were skilled at swimming and fishing. They knew how to build fishnets and create bait, teaching Yuwen Yue how to survive at sea. The band of brothers stayed here longer than in the other mountains and deserts they had crossed. Their Mongol brothers dried some of the fresh catch in the sun for a few days, sprinkling it with Himalayan salts. They taught their companions how to preserve the catch, creating long-lasting salty dried fish, shrimps, octopus, seaweed, and squid.
"Master, it seems you're busy," Zuo Zong said as he entered Yuwen Yue's tent, holding a tray of food with grilled salmon, freshly caught from the sea.
Yuwen Yue, seated on a carpet in a Buddha-like position before a small table, appeared cold as his writing was interrupted. Zuo Zong placed the grilled fish in front of him. Yuwen Yue inhaled the delicious aroma and began to feel hungry, so he set his writing aside. Zuo Zong sat across from him. After glancing at what Yuwen Yue had been writing, Zuo Zong asked, "Master, did you notice the unfinished wall here?"
Yuwen Yue immediately started talking about military principles and strategy. He said, "This will be a stronghold in the future, a foothold to behold, where the East ends and the path to the south of the Yanbei Mountains begins."
Zuo Zong, unaware of what Yuwen Yue had experienced in the Yanbei Mountains, remained in the dark about what had happened at the frozen lake. Their current location was close to that area, both near and far. Zuo Zong, being an intelligent spy, would sooner or later uncover the tragic story of Xinger, the very reason his master had gone to the icy lake. The news of Yuwen Yue's disappearance and the false report of his death had circulated widely. Zuo knew this was fake news, and he also knew Yuwen Yue was aware of it, which is why he was returning to the Yuwen household.
Yuwen Yue broke the moment, saying, "What a good smell," as he looked at the fish. He picked up his chopsticks, his eyes filled with hunger. Zuo Zong smiled at him and said, "Ciao."
It was a beautiful afternoon. The skies were clea
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