“So what if we were to die? How could we plead to the enemy? You useless trash!” The young girl stood upright, and despite her pale complexion, her eyes were crystal clear. Coldly looking on at Yan Xun, she was stark naked, yet she did not show any fear as she continued on with a frigid gaze, “We are believers of Da Tong. To have betrayed Da Tong, you despicable man will die a horrible death!” With that said, she slammed her head on the stone steps. With that, her body halted all motion.

  That was so sudden that none were able to react. Seeing how she had committed suicide, the soldiers rushed up. Stretched out his hand to her nose, one of the soldiers reported, “Your majesty, this girl is still alive.”


  Yan Xun acknowledged him, but he did not say what to do with that girl. For some reason, the gaze that girl gave him was all too familiar. Many memories flooded his mind. Frowning, he observed the bloodied field and suddenly lost his interest. With the swing of his hand, his bodyguards swarmed up. At that moment, one could only hear the screaming, but the sounds soon died down along with those girls.

  “We will continue the hunt for more Da Tong associates. Bring these bodies to feed the dogs,” Yan Xun calmly instructed. The bodyguard was slightly taken aback, before he clarified, “What about the one who is still alive?”


  Alive? Yan Xun’s eyes gleamed. That scene flashed before his eyes. The stubborn eyes of that girl flashed past his memory, as though still looking at him from somewhere, sending his chills.

  “Your Majesty?” Cheng Yuan lightly called out.

  Yan Xun lifted his head, only to see that the entire crowd was looking at him, awaiting his orders. He could not help but frown, and coldly declared, “Drag her along.” With that said, he seemed disinterested and was about to leave.

  “Stop!” General Zhuang bellowed. Striding over, he knelt beside the young girl who had slammed herself onto the stone stairs. He broke down and cried, “Oh, daughter! This father has caused you such misfortune!”


  Back facing him, Yan Xun revealed a tinge of a cold smile. His bodyguards rushed over and held down General Zhuang, with the remaining people dragging the girls off towards the dog houses. In the pristine snow, a trail of crimson could be seen.

  “Yan Xun! You heartless dog! Even if I became a ghost, I would not let you go! You will die a horrible death!” A heartrending shriek sounded from behind. Hearing that, the bodyguards swiftly kicked General Zhuang’s mouth, sending his teeth flying.

  Yan Xun was completely undisturbed, as he continued to walk. Behind him, there were countless officials who were trembling in fear. Yan Xun carefreely broke into a cold smile that seemed to be colder than absolute zero. If even living was such pain that he would rather die, why would he even bother about how horribly he would die?

  As the winds bellowed onto his coat, his coat opened up like a pair of heavy wings. With a whoosh, it spread out like a humongous bird, shocking even the eagles which had flown past.

  The lands of Yan Bei were still mostly barren, and this winter seemed to be particularly long. The weather turned cold again, as freezing winds swept past the lands, bringing about the clanking of the armor of the messengers. Along the Jinzi Gate, the sounds traveled deep into the Shuofang Palace. In the empty Shuiyao Palace, there was only silence. With the pillars standing still, and the veils slightly swaying in the wind, the candle lights flickered in the wind, with some already burnt out, yet none dared to step up to relight them.

  A man sat in the shadow, with one hand holding his forehead as though he had already fallen asleep. He looked so lonely, even as his well defined featured looked ever so handsome. Yet, under the light, one could see that in his sideburns, there were already strands of white hair. With the backlight, one could catch an occasional flash of silver.

  The gigantic kitchen table that was comparable to a normal civilian’s bedroom was decorated with a sumptuous feast. There was a braised wild duck with scallion, anchovies fin soup, diced wild rabbit, stir-fried frog, sautéed sliced pigeon with coriander, and a multitude of other dishes. Yet, this entire table filled with so many sumptuous dishes was completely untouched, and even oil in the the warm soup seemed to start to solidifying and formed a thin layer, with only coldness left.

  Two dancers who were wearing peach-colored silk clothes and silver bells tied to their hands and wrists had been kneeling on the ground for over six hours. Even with the outstanding beauty of their blue eyes and white skin, they dared not lift up their heads, merely trembling.

  This day was the new year celebration. Unlike the bustling of the Xia Palace, Shuofang Palace was immersed in a deadly silence. The dishes that the chefs spent all their heart cooking were left alone, with only the night breeze occasionally bringing away a waft of the smell of the delicacies.

  When AhJing entered, his footsteps were a tad heavy, and woke the sleeping man. With a light flick of his eyebrow, Yan Xun gradually opened his eyes. Illuminated by the flickering of the light, his face seemed rather pale.

  “Your Majesty,” AhJing knelt on the ground, and quietly declared, “Lord Feng sent a letter.”


  Yan Xun seemed to have been drinking. The cup tipped over, spilling its content over his clothes, with the aroma of the alcohol quickly diffusing through the air. He took the letter and calmly read it. His brows were slightly furrowed as always, with his eyes completely calm.

  Before Yan Xun, there was an extra chair with an extra set of utensils prepared. AhJing knew who he was waiting for, yet that person might never come back.

  As the hourglass started to drain out, Yan Xun gradually lifted his head. It was merely a dozen words, yet it took forever for Yan Xun to read finish. It was as though Yan Xun was trying to forever engrave those words into his heart. After a long while, he placed the latter on the table, and used the wine bottle to hold it down. He then picked up the silver chopsticks, and slowly started to eat.

  “Your Majesty,” AhJing frowned, before suggesting, “the food is already cold. Should this subordinate request them to cook more?”


  Yan Xun did not speak, but merely waved his hand indicating for AhJing to step back. AhJing continued to anxiously caution Yan Xun, “Your Majesty, you have been feeling unwell recently. The doctors said that we should avoid eating such cold food.”


  Yan Xun completely ignored him, as he continued to eat, carefully savoring every single bite. The dancers who were kneeling on the ground quickly stood up. Numb from kneeling on the ground for so long, she almost fell down, yet she still hurriedly started to pass the dishes that were out of reach to Yan Xun. The candle flames dripped down one by one, like a dripping blood. The wind bells gave out crisp sounds from outside, melodic and serene.

  He merely sat there and quietly ate. What was rare was that he had been able to eat all the food that the dancers had passed over to him. With the candlelight shining on him, a long shadow was cast on the obsidian floor. AhJing felt a sense of sadness, as he suddenly recalled how Chu Qiao’s first meal after waking up was eaten in an equally peaceful and calm manner, so slowly as well. It was as though every movement was filled with pain.

  AhJing’s eyes started to tear up. He did not understand. How could they be able to withstand such tough days, along with such sadness and pain, yet when they had already reached their goal, they fall out? How could they reach the state they are today? Yet he did not dare to ask, as he merely stood there like an idiot.

  “Cough cough…… The man sitting before the feast started to cough. At first ,it was a rather light cough, but it grew louder, and echoed in the vacant palace, filled with fatigue.

  he dancer was shocked stiff as she quickly whipped out her handkerchief and passed it over to Yan Xun. The other dancer started to pour a cup of wine for him with her hand trembling.

  After receiving the handkerchief, Yan Xun covered his mouth, and arched over like a lobster.

  ne of the dancers shrieked out in fear. Yan Xun turned over his head and looked at her with an exceedingly cold gaze. She immediately froze in her tracks, and lowered her head, unable to look up at him any longer.

  “Your Majesty, have you caught a cold? This subordinate will call a doctor now.”


  “That would be unnecessary.” Yan Xun’s voice was filled with a tinge of fatigue, yet he acted in his usual manner, cold and not wasting a single word.

  Pour the wine., Hh calmly ordered.

  The dancerr,who was slightly further away from him ,cautiously lifted her head, and even though even her voice was trembling, she gathered her courage to talk back, “Your Majesty, you are not feeling well……Please do not drink.”


  Yan Xun slightly tilted his head, and in his eyes ,one could see the frozen world within him.

  he other dancer stared at her in fear of being also faulted by Yan Xun.

  ven though all eyes were on her, she still courageously continued, “Your Majesty, drinking is bad for your health.”


  ausing, she continued, “Not only is drinking bad for health, it woillalso create problems. Only incompetent people wrink to avoid their problems.”


  A crisp sound rang out in Yan Xun’s head. Slightly taken aback, Yan Xun’s thoughts sped up, and ttraveledback in time. After a slight deliberation, Yan Xun ultimately nodded, and ordered, “Alright, go and make some tea for me.”


  That dancer was a6 to 17 -ears -ld, and happily, she nodded. With her white waist revealed in her clothing, she seemed like a smooth and flexible little fish as she cantered off to make some tea.

  The palace sank into silence yet again. Yan Xun turned to AhJing and calmly said, “You may leave.”


  AhJing hesitated out of worry, as he lightly asked again, “Your Majesty, do you really not need the doctor?”


  “There is no need.” Yan Xun calmly shook his head, completely calm as though nothing had happened.

  AhJing’s eyes swept past the letter that was addressed for Yan Xun, and a few words jumped into his eyes. He was slightly shocked, and quickly bowed, before lightly greeting Yan Xun, “Your Majesty, rest early.”


  Without any further reply, AhJing turned around and walked off in the empty palace. There were swaying of the silk veils hanging in the palace, with carvings of a colorful bird on the pillars. On the bird there were two women, one was dressed in a feminine silk gown, with her stomach bulging, clearly being pregnant, and the other one was wn a battle dress holding a battle axe. Those were the twin goddess of Yan Bei.

  “Your Majesty, drink some tea. Kya!” The shriek of the dancer suddenly resounded. It sounded as though she was about to cry, as she continued, “This servant deserves to die. I wet the letter!”


  “It is nothing.” A deep voice replied hto er, with further instructions, “Throw it away.”
……

  Moved into Zhuge Yue’s residence in Xian Yang…… an no longer carry out surveillance, hadvebeen discovered…… hJing thought about those words that he had coincidentally saw,as a bitter feeling seemed to come from the direction of Xian Yang, dominating the Shuofang Palace in Yan Bei.

  As the heavy palace doors were opened by the servants, he stepped out. In the quietness of the dark night, the civilians had lost all their interest to celebrate the occasion. War, excessive taxes, forced labour, death, blood. All these loomed over the entire highlands. Mister Wu had died. General Xiuli had ran away. That only made this iron fisted rule seem even more cold. The fear of death had numbed the people’s senses, as they could only live on carefully after abandoning their previous hopes and dreams.

  Only after walking past 9ninegates was AhJing finally able to retrieve his sword.

  efore the gates, there was a scene of gore. A few bodies were casually placed at the corner of the palace. The corpses were filled with stabs of the spear, and had been stabbed into mush.

  The servants were currently loading a few bodies onto a small cart, as they rushed the driver, “Quickly, bring them away. By the time the sky is bright, the officials will come.”


  “What had happened?” AhJing asked.

  “They are the remnants of Da Tong.” One soldier who had originally been trained in Da Tong did not have any reservations in speaking so bluntly, as he continued to elaborate, “This was the second wave today. After Master Zhuang had died, they became even more crazy. They dare to even attack us so openly.”


  AhJing gradually frowned. He was pretty confident that they were not crazy, and this was probably more of a suicide in despair. The main leader of Da Tong had all been killed by His Majesty. Such a long lasting organization that could not be wiped out for so many years had fallen to their ally.

  “Be careful. Stay on guard.”


  “Do not worry, General.”


  One of the guards smiled and said, “We were trained by Master Chu herself. As long as we guard this gates, we will not even let a mosquito in.”