Inside the study, Second-in-Command Bi Datong glanced at his prosthetic hand, a flash of cold malice crossing his eyes before vanishing.

“Second Brother.”

Sixth-in-Command Gao He lowered his voice: “The brothers are all waiting for you to make a decision…”

Bi Datong said, “What decision am I supposed to make? The one who calls the shots in Yanshan Camp is Big Brother. Whatever decision you want made, go ask him.”

Gao He said, “Second Brother, stop sulking. At a time like this, we brothers have to be of one mind and one effort. Old Seven disappeared for over a year and suddenly turned up again — who knows what trouble that might bring.”

“Actually… I know.”

Fourth-in-Command Wu Xionqi said this with an uncomfortable expression. Everyone’s gaze immediately turned to him, and all those staring eyes made his skin crawl.

More than a year ago, Wu Xionqi had been firmly in the camp of First-in-Command Yu Chaozong, standing steadfastly at his side, even leading men to rush out and save him. But then, who could have predicted the enormous upheaval that followed?

Prince Wu had not attacked Yanshan Camp, and Prince Yu had sent his men. Prince Yu’s men spoke plainly and offered direct promises, and this set many in the stronghold to thinking.

If one could don a general’s armor, who would willingly remain an outlaw?

Prince Yu’s men said that every chief and every leader in the stronghold, so long as they immediately submitted to Prince Yu’s banner when he made his move, would be granted the rank of general. Moreover, it would be the merit of helping a dragon ascend the throne — those who were chiefs in this mountain stronghold might even be enfeoffed as Dukes one day.

These men were born commoners. Had it not been for these turbulent times, had they not become leaders of rebel forces, how could any of them ever have imagined becoming a Duke?

Big Brother Yu Chaozong stubbornly refused to be brought under imperial sanction, because he understood all too clearly: once a force like Yanshan Camp joined Prince Yu, they could only be cannon fodder. When it came to actual fighting, Yanshan Camp would be the ones charging at the front and dying.

Prince Yu’s regular garrison troops would naturally stand behind Yanshan Camp, cheering them on with great fanfare — and that would be the extent of it.

If they were truly brought to heel, Yanshan Camp’s tens of thousands of men, every single brother, would be nothing but stepping stones on Prince Yu’s road to the throne.

But besides Third Brother, no one fully believed his words. Second-in-Command Bi Datong argued: right now Prince Yu only has a few tens of thousands of men under him — if our tens of thousands join him, we become the backbone. First, Prince Yu would never be so reckless as to use these tens of thousands of battle-hardened soldiers as cannon fodder. Second, with our strength so formidable, can we not make demands of Prince Yu?

Because of these arguments, the majority shifted to stand with Bi Datong.

More importantly, throughout that year, rebel forces from other regions had been arriving to pledge allegiance in dribs and drabs. Each contingent was not large — only two or three thousand men — but they appeared genuinely elite.

By the time Yu Chaozong sensed something was wrong, it was already too late. The incoming pledged forces had grown to thirty or forty thousand men, a number that actually exceeded Yanshan Camp’s original forces.

And this had all been arranged by Prince Yu long in advance.

Bi Datong, serving as Prince Yu’s inside man, had played an enormous role in this. Under his orchestration, Yanshan Camp’s original seven chiefs had grown to thirteen, with six newly appointed chiefs — all, of course, from Bi Datong’s side.

This way, Yu Chaozong, who had always preferred collective decision-making, found that fairness had completely slipped away from him.

He had never been comfortable ruling with an iron fist; he always consulted his brothers on everything. Now with thirteen chiefs, except for Third Brother who remained on his side, even Fourth Brother had defected to Bi Datong in pursuit of a generalship. He no longer had the power to sway decisions.

Of course, Fourth Brother had not yet shown his hand openly — he was now Bi Datong’s planted man at Yu Chaozong’s side.

So when Wu Xionqi said he knew, every eye turned to him.

Wu Xionqi felt a pang of guilt, sensing he was betraying Big Brother Yu Chaozong. But by now he had no other choice, for Big Brother still stubbornly refused to submit to Prince Yu’s recruitment.

If they didn’t follow Prince Yu, they would always be outlaws. And who wanted to wear the name of outlaw for the rest of their life?

None of these men thought they could become emperors. Being recognized by the imperial court as a general would be more than enough glory for their families.

If Prince Yu truly ascended the throne, they would all transform overnight into nobles of the court. With this shortcut available, the path of fighting and bloodshed against the imperial forces held little appeal for anyone.

Fourth-in-Command Wu Xionqi said: “Actually, Old Seven was sent by Big Brother to Jizhou City to protect the young man who saved him — he’s been in Jizhou all along.”

“That makes sense.”

Bi Datong nodded: “Over a year ago, Old Seven’s subordinates came back from outside. By chance, Old Six’s men were on watch duty and intercepted them at the foot of the mountain. No matter what they were asked, they refused to say anything, only that they needed to see Yu Chaozong. And then Old Six’s men were heavy-handed — they killed every last one of them.”

Sixth-in-Command Gao He said apologetically: “Fifth Brother told me before he went down the mountain that it was on your orders, Second Brother — anyone returning from outside, regardless of who, was to be killed without exception. If I’d known those were Old Seven’s people coming back with a message, I would have kept one alive to question — that way we might even have saved Fifth Brother.”

“So Old Seven must know about what happened to Fifth Brother.”

Bi Datong looked at Fourth Brother: “You rushed over here to tell me that Old Seven has returned, and that we’re all about to be exposed?”

Fourth Brother nodded: “Yes… Big Brother just gave the order that he’d see no one — he wanted to drink with Old Seven until they were both thoroughly drunk. I reckon Old Seven has things he needs to tell him.”

Sixth Brother said: “Why not just cut it clean and take Old Seven out?”

Bi Datong snorted: “Take him out? We’re already too late for that. Whatever needed to be said, he’s already said it all to Yu Chaozong by now. Yu Chaozong already forced me to lose a hand over that old matter — now that he knows what we’ve done, it won’t just be losing a hand. It’ll be losing a life.”

He pointed to himself: “Mine.”

Then he pointed at the others: “Yours.”

The color drained from everyone’s faces. They all looked to Bi Datong, waiting for him to continue.

“Brothers, we have truly reached a moment of life and death.”

Bi Datong sat down, took a sip of tea, and spoke unhurriedly: “You all know perfectly well — Yu Chaozong plays at benevolence and righteousness, talks about trusting his brothers, but then turns around and sends Old Seven to deal with Old Five.”

He looked at Wu Xionqi: “If Yu Chaozong finds out you’re with us, you’ll be next — and you’ll be ahead of me in line.”

Wu Xionqi instinctively stepped back a half-step, his heartbeat quickening.

“Second Brother.”

Sixth-in-Command Gao He said: “The brothers are all waiting for your order. One word from you and we storm Big Brother’s camp right now.”

Bi Datong snorted: “Nonsense! Yu Chaozong has too many tricks. Back then he placed his stronghold in the most defensible position of all. Even if we had five times his numbers, breaking through would be no easy task — and the fighting would leave both sides crippled. We’d have barely any men left, and what would we say to Prince Yu’s side then?”

Gao He pressed anxiously: “Second Brother, then what’s your plan?”

Bi Datong thought for a moment and said: “Even though it’s too late to eliminate Old Seven now — he’s most likely already told Yu Chaozong everything — this person still needs to be removed. He is Yu Chaozong’s devoted warrior. His martial skill is such that not one of us here is his match. So removing Old Seven first is like cutting off one of Yu Chaozong’s arms.”

He looked at Wu Xionqi: “Fourth Brother, I have a plan — it’s just a matter of whether you have the nerve for it.”

Wu Xionqi was terrified out of his mind, still dwelling on what Bi Datong had just said — that Big Brother would kill, and would kill him, Wu Xionqi, first. Already burdened with guilt, he was now scared half to death.

He hesitated, then said: “Second Brother… you… just give the order.”

Bi Datong said: “Yu Chaozong and Old Seven don’t have their guard fully up against you yet — they don’t yet know you’ve defected to our side. So this task still has to fall to you.”

He stepped in front of Wu Xionqi and said: “Old Seven in particular — he’s just returned and knows nothing of how things stand. Tomorrow, go see Old Seven. Tell him you want to show him what the stronghold looks like these days. He won’t suspect anything. Then we’ll lay an ambush and kill him.”

Sixth-in-Command Gao He said: “Brilliant! As long as Old Seven is eliminated, it’ll be much easier to deal with Big Brother.”

Bi Datong said: “Once Old Seven is dead, you run to Yu Chaozong and tell him Old Seven has met with an accident. Given how much Yu Chaozong cares for Old Seven, he’ll surely leave his camp to go see. The moment he steps out, he too will die without fail.”

Wu Xionqi swallowed hard, his face white as paper.

He didn’t dare give his agreement, because that inner threshold was truly too hard to cross.

“Fourth Brother!”

Sixth-in-Command Gao He stepped over, grabbed Fourth Brother’s arm and said: “Think about it — if you don’t act, Big Brother will kill you. You’re choosing to honor the bonds of brotherhood right now, but will he honor them for you?”

Wu Xionqi hesitated for a long while, and in the end, he gritted his teeth and nodded: “Then I’ll go try and see if I can lure Old Seven out. But… but I refuse to strike the blow myself!”

Bi Datong said: “Don’t worry — leave the actual killing to us. I know you’re a man of principle and you don’t want to kill Old Seven. As long as you can get him out here, killing him won’t be difficult. Even with his formidable martial skill, can he withstand a thousand armored soldiers?”

He turned and gave instructions: “In the interest of fairness, so that no one is suspicious of the others, when you go back, each of you select a hundred skilled fighters from your own camp — men of absolute loyalty. Once selected, all of them are to answer to my command.”

“Understood!”

Gao He answered first. The remaining six chiefs, having been placed there by Prince Yu specifically to help Bi Datong eliminate Yu Chaozong, naturally had no objections.

At the same time, at the foot of Yanshan.

Li Diudiu and the others were hiding behind a large boulder, nervously watching ahead, terrified of being spotted. They were barely daring to breathe.

Yet they waited and waited, and nothing happened.

Li Diudiu looked at his master: “Does this actually work?”

The Daoist Changmei lowered his voice: “Do you need to ask? Back when we used to catch birds, wasn’t it always like this? As long as some wild creature comes to eat, we pull the rope, the basket drops, and what can’t we catch?”

“Old… old old… old old old…”

Yu Jiuling suddenly began to stutter, pointing ahead: “A tiger!”

Everyone looked. Sure enough, a magnificent, great tiger was strolling slowly out of the forest. The regal air of its gaze as it surveyed the surroundings instantly terrified the whole group into clamping their hands over their own mouths.

Yu Jiuling lowered his voice, speaking through the gaps of his fingers.

“Daoist, that basket of yours… will it work?”

Changmei stuttered in reply: “It should… it should…”

Yu Jiuling said: “If we’d known we’d be trapping something this big, you should have pasted a talisman on the basket, Daoist.”

Just at that moment, the divine eagle — which had been lazily sprawled at Li Diudiu’s side — stood up.

More than a year had passed, and the divine eagle had grown.

But grown as it had, it was still a pig at heart.

—