Ruowen! As you sit astride your fierce wild horse, is your heart still surging with uncontrollable passion? Is that majestic palace you’re gazing at deeply truly the endpoint for your desire’s release? Who’s there, who could it be, that might soothe your restless heart?
Ruowen! A fateful connection is heaven’s decree.
Killing without restraint, doing as you please, do you know that one day, you’ll have to pay it all back?
You don’t know, you don’t know!
A burst of bright red clouds appeared on the horizon, looking somewhat strange, exuding a hazy, bewitching light, as if about to bring forth some extraordinary beast. Occasionally, golden lightning cut through the sky in streaks, spitting out wisps of white vapor! Who could be there? Eyes open, watching the shocking changes in this desert world’s cycle, the love and hate of the desert’s children. It’s just that this world isn’t something anyone can see clearly, because it’s so fallen, so desolate, like a dying old man, left with only a faint breath, displaying a final radiance! There’s no one there, only the murmurs and chants of memory!
“Officer! Let us into the city! We won’t cause trouble, just let us in! Please, officer!”
“We want to enter the city, let us in!”
“Honored officer, this is a small token of our appreciation. Please be accommodating and let my family into the city!”
This was the checkpoint of Maika, the border city of Guhe. A large number of foreign refugees had swarmed here, all wanting to enter the city. Now, all the officials in the Guhe palace were worried—
Currently, including Maika, three of Guhe’s border cities have many foreign refugees forcibly entering. After entering, there had been multiple incidents of riots and looting, forcing Guhe to close its borders. But how long could this border closure policy last? As long as the border unrest remained unresolved, Guhe would be in peril.
“Your Majesty! Masui has sent a request for aid for the third time. How should we respond?”
In the great hall of Guhe’s Guangyin Palace, the court officials were anxious. The neighboring country of Masui was in an unprecedented crisis, and Guhe was connected to it on the left and right, front and back. In the tug-of-war of the five nations’ power, Guhe and Masui, two relatively weaker countries, had always been bound by mutual interests. If one side fell, the other would surely suffer a heavy blow.
King Gucha of Guhe remained silent for a long time before asking, “What are the opinions of my ministers? The last rescue of the border fortress has already caused Guhe heavy losses. This time…”
From his words, one could tell that Gucha was a man without depth or decisiveness. However, his ministers were also at a loss at this moment. What to do? What could be done?
The Huang Tian Kuang Battalion.
Just thinking of this name made their chests tighten. They didn’t know what was happening in the North that allowed such a dangerous army to kill its way to the South. Now, the capital of Masui was surrounded, all underground water sources were under their control, and fifteen border towns of Masui had all fallen. And all this was done by a mere four thousand men.
According to intelligence reports, this Huang Tian Kuang Battalion was just a group of bandits from the North Desert before. But now, who could say they were just bandits? Could bandits lay siege to a city? Could bandits defeat Masui’s twenty thousand national troops so thoroughly? No, they were not bandits!
“Your Majesty, in this minister’s opinion, we should quickly establish contact with Yunpei. As long as we can join forces with Nazhan’s Red Robe Cavalry, eliminating these four thousand rogues shouldn’t be a problem,” an elderly minister offered a sensible suggestion.
But another said, “That’s a good plan, but the messenger must reach Yunpei within three days. Otherwise, Masui will surely fall, and Guhe will be in imminent danger. Moreover, who should we send? Once they leave the city, their fate will be in heaven’s hands.”
After these words, everyone fell silent again. At least no one would voluntarily take on this dangerous task. Thinking this, everyone secretly prayed not to be pushed onto this volcano. Suddenly, they heard a bold voice, “I’ll go!”
Everyone looked towards the voice. It was Zhanbei, the captain of the palace guard. With a tiger’s back and bear’s waist, he strode in with determined eyes. Walking to the king, he knelt with a thud, “Your Majesty! Although Zhanbei is just a warrior, I know the importance of serving the country regardless of danger! Please send me to Yunpei!”
Zhanbei’s words became a lifeline for the other officials, who quickly agreed. Even Gucha breathed a sigh of relief, finally taking the first step. Without much discussion, they hastily arranged for Zhanbei to be sent as an envoy to Yunpei.
Guhe, though one of the five nations, was not strong militarily. It had always been primarily a commercial state, maintaining close trade relations with major countries, independent states, and fallen cities. Among the five great nations, Guhe, like Masui, was wealthy but lacked a strong national consciousness. The division between nobility and commoners was very clear, leading to a weakened national foundation. Therefore, whenever faced with foreign policy issues, the two countries would join forces, managing to maintain an undefeated position among the five nations.
But…
Guhe, oh Guhe!
A ruler of a nation, without the ability to stabilize the country, how can he be called a king?
Ministers of a court, without the ability to assist in governance, how can they be called ministers?
Who says that capable people in the world come from obscurity,
Who says that war heroes are recorded on stone tablets?
Alas…
In the end, it’s just passionate blood and two kinds of fatigue,
In the end, it’s just a fire of war and two flavors of experience!
Zhanbei returned home to see his elderly mother busy making a fire to cook, her frail figure bustling about. His heart ached, not knowing if he would ever return home once he left the city. But he believed this was his first step towards achieving merit and rising above others. Though chaotic times were dangerous, they were also full of opportunities, which he must seize.
Thinking of this, he made up his mind and walked to his mother’s side, saying, “Mother! I’m leaving the city!”
Zhanbei’s old mother trembled, her wrinkled eyes suddenly filled with bitter tears. Her withered hands shook as she grabbed Zhanbei’s sleeve, “Son! Are you… are you abandoning your old mother? Do you know how chaotic it is outside? Son! What great deed are you trying to accomplish?” From her words, it seemed that Zhanbei had always been ambitious, hoping to make a name for himself.
Zhanbei smiled, helping his mother sit at the table before replying, “Mother! I will return, don’t worry. When I come back, I’ll have achieved great merit! We won’t have to suffer discrimination or live in such poverty anymore.”
Zhanbei’s mother looked at her son helplessly, knowing that once he made up his mind, he wouldn’t change it. She sighed, her throat still choked with sobs, “I’ll go make dinner! At least eat this meal before you leave!” Her swaying figure began busying herself by the stove again, creating a scene that brought a lump to one’s throat when contrasted with the earthen yellow walls.
Since ancient times, heroic sons and daughters have been unfilial. As a mother, what can she do but helplessly hold onto her sorrow?
…
That night.
Stars like snow-dyed specks seemed to teeter under the pitch-black sky. The streets were deserted, with only occasional ghostly shadows passing by, no one making a sound. At this moment, a figure quietly emerged from the city gate of Kamai. With a broad frame, carrying a long, large black bow on his back, and a sack full of well-feathered arrows. This person walked steadily, moving swiftly. Once outside the gate, he slowly turned back to look at Kamai City one last time, his gaze faintly glowing with fire, “Mother! Wait for my return!” He seemed to murmur as if in a dream, and an instant, he flew off, heading straight out of the city. Indeed, this was Zhanbei, the Maika ambassador who had just bid farewell to his mother, carrying King Gucha’s letter.
He ran without rest, not daring to stop for even a moment. In this desert night, under the cool moon, the deep blue sky was like an abyss, illuminating one dune after another like waves of the sea, rising and falling, gradually engulfing everything. At this time, the slightest carelessness could easily lead to hallucinations, trapping night travelers!
He kept running and running. Suddenly, his eyes caught glimpses of flickering starlight. His heart jumped – could it be Ruowen’s troops had discovered him? Slowing down, Zhanbei carefully observed the flickering figures by the fire. There seemed to be soft singing; it probably wasn’t Ruowen. Just as he thought this, he saw a large yellow flag rising high above the firelight, boldly printed with a white crown. Not good. Zhanbei’s body involuntarily shook. He quickly nocked an arrow to his longbow, his whole body swooping low to investigate, his spirit highly alert.