Bai Qingyan stepped forward to help Bai Qingyu up, and gestured for Wei Zhong to help Wang Dong rise as well.
She brushed the fallen snow from Bai Qingyu’s shoulders, her reddened eyes smiling as she said to Wang Dong: “That you could return alive is already Heaven’s blessing. I know… all of you have done everything possible to protect A’Yu. I should be thanking you! Thank you all… for risking your lives to protect him! For bringing A’Yu back! For giving the Bai family… for giving my mother and me hope!”
Wang Dong was already choked with emotion beyond words. They had finally… finally come home!
She gripped Bai Qingyu’s hand tightly, her voice filled with concern: “Didn’t I tell you to return to the capital to oversee the situation? Why did you come here?”
“Elder Sister, rest assured. I’ve already had Uncle Ping escort the Rong-Di King back to the capital. With Grand Commandant Lu, Uncle, and Mother there, the capital won’t fall into chaos or danger. I was just worried about Elder Sister, so I disobeyed orders and brought people here.” Bai Qingyu’s gaze fell on Bai Qingyan’s abdomen. “Right now, nothing is more important than Elder Sister’s and the child’s safety.”
She raised her hand to touch Bai Qingyu’s black hair, her fingers brushing against the cold silver mask on his cheek as she choked out: “Later, have Physician Hong examine you. Perhaps he can treat your injuries.”
Today is the four-nation alliance. A’Yu will accompany Elder Sister first, and when we return, A’Yu will go see Physician Hong.” Bai Qingyu didn’t tell Bai Qingyan that he held no hope for the burns on his face. Being able to live… being able to come home was already very good.
Dressed in military attire and deerskin boots, Bai Jinzhi strode heroically into the courtyard to report to Bai Qingyan that everything was ready. Just entering the courtyard, she saw her eldest sister standing under the corridor and called out cheerfully: “Eldest Sister…”
Seeing that upright figure in the black cloak turn around, even though it was only half a face, Bai Jinzhi’s eyes widened enormously. When she was in Great Liang, she knew Fifth Brother was still alive, but she hadn’t expected to see him here!
“Fifth Brother!” Bai Jinzhi called out in disbelief, and seeing the gentle smile between Bai Qingyu’s brows, tears immediately burst from her eyes. She ran quickly toward Bai Qingyu, nearly slipping on the snow as she shouted, “Fifth Brother! Fifth Brother!”
Bai Qingyu caught Bai Jinzhi, who had nearly slipped. The young girl was already in tears, gripping her fifth brother’s arms tightly, lowering her blurred vision to repeatedly touch her brother’s arms with her hands. Not knowing whether she was crying or laughing, she looked up at her recovered brother, and before she could speak, she burst into wails.
A living, breathing Fifth Brother, not in a dream… truly a living, breathing Fifth Brother, with no missing limbs, Fifth Brother… had returned safely!
“Fifth Brother! Fifth Brother! Fifth Brother…” Bai Jinzhi seemed to have lost the ability to speak, repeatedly calling “Fifth Brother” as she threw herself into her brother’s embrace, crying loudly while unable to help pounding her brother’s chest with her fists. “Fifth Brother, why did you only come back now? Why did you only come back now?”
Bai Qingyan’s brows and eyes held a smile as she exhaled a long breath, watching Bai Qingyu gently stroking Bai Jinzhi’s hair but hesitating to speak words of comfort, understanding that Bai Qingyu was afraid his voice would frighten Bai Jinzhi.
When Physician Hong received news that Fifth Young Master Bai Qingyu had come to Pingyang City, the procession heading to the alliance location had already departed.
Physician Hong stood atop the city wall with reddened eyes, watching the dragon-like winding procession disappearing into the distant white snow. His fingers gripped the bricks of the city wall tightly as he exhaled a long breath, mist rising from his lips. In his heart, he thanked Heaven for allowing the Fifth Young Master to return, while greedily hoping that more of the Bai family’s young generals could come back.
·
As the host of this alliance, Tianfeng had arrived early, setting up tents and preparing banquets and dances.
A disciple of Tianfeng’s Grand Shaman accompanied Sa’er Khan, dressed in Tianfeng’s national attire, standing outside the great tent, looking up at the eagle circling and crying in the flying snow above.
Sa’er Khan wore the white robes with gold trim befitting a Tianfeng ruler. In Tianfeng, white was the most sacred color, only worn by royalty. He rotated the red ruby ring on his finger that symbolized power and nobility, his heavy brows lowered over drooping eyelids, lost in thought.
“Your Majesty, rest assured. The heavenly god surely stands with our Tianfeng, for there are no more devout believers in the gods than our Tianfeng people!” the Grand Shaman’s disciple said to Sa’er Khan.
“Originally, the Grand Shaman said… Xiliang’s fate was exhausted; the heavenly god had abandoned Xiliang, no longer protecting Xiliang. Only then did we bring our elephant army here. Later, the Grand Shaman received divine punishment…” Sa’er Khan raised his eyes, his brownish pupils like a deep, unfathomable pool. “I’m wondering… if we kill the master the gods chose for this land, will it also bring punishment to Tianfeng?”
The Grand Shaman’s disciple looked at Sa’er Khan’s expression and remained silent for a long while before bowing to him, then saying: “The gods chose eagles as masters of the sky, the gods chose lions as masters of the grasslands, but… the fiercest eagle king not only preys on cattle and sheep on the grasslands, but sometimes also treats the lions chosen by the gods as masters of the grasslands as food to hunt.”
Sa’er Khan turned to look at the Grand Shaman’s disciple: “You mean you disagree with the Grand Shaman’s concern about divine retribution?”
The Grand Shaman’s disciple shook his head: “My King, what I mean is… even if the gods chose a master for this land, you are also the master the gods chose for Tianfeng. If you kill the master the gods chose for this land, it might anger the heavenly god, but it’s also possible the heavenly god won’t punish Tianfeng.”
Sa’er Khan’s frown deepened, not feeling that the disciple’s words could resolve his doubts. The Grand Shaman’s disciple bowed to Sa’er Khan again: “Your Majesty, forgive me. I don’t yet have the Grand Shaman’s ability to constantly hear divine oracles, and can only provide some analysis for Your Majesty.”
“The gods… stand with the strong.” Sa’er Khan looked up at the eagle still circling in the sky, squinting… After a long while, he said, “Our Tianfeng will surely be the eagle!”
The Grand Shaman’s disciple remained silent, only lowering his head without speaking. He had already heard Sa’er Khan’s determination in his words—he still intended to kill the master the gods had chosen for this land.
The eagle circling endlessly in the sky suddenly let out a long, sharp cry…
The Grand Shaman’s disciple looked toward the north and quickly called: “Your Majesty!”
Sa’er Khan turned his head to see the Grand Shaman’s disciple pointing northward.
In the vast expanse of flying snow, at the endless horizon, a black line suddenly appeared, slowly approaching the four-nation alliance location. Soon Sa’er Khan could see the man riding at the front on a tall horse… wearing a half-mask and military attire, his cloak billowing in the wind and snow.