Yongning Sixth year, this Battle of Four Nations, due to the numerous changes from the participants, the speed of which the sides turned, the peculiarity of the cause, and the devastation of its finale, had a remarkably inky stroke on the northern histories.

The seventh of the Eighth month, Chienye and Fanshwar took chase before the Flying Dragon Gorge. The Za’yii Imperial Army had lost by half. The Chief Commander of the Imperial forces, Suichaoru, and the White Rock Arny’s Left Marshal, Mushalli, both died in battle. Daishüban routed back to the Flying Dragon Gorge while the Ghost Army archers’ arrows plagued like locusts, countless Imperial troops fell off horses, and the four rope bridges all soaked with blood. Yan Feiyu held high the whip in the back, ordering the fire cannons in retaliation, while covering the Imperial Army across the bridge through the tumbles of thick smog. Just as the main charge of the Imperial Army landed, they saw the swallow of a silver light from her palm, and with movements of a phantom cat and flying mouse, in the split of a moment, hacked down the rope bridge.

At this moment, the storm of arrows forced the White Rock Army before the Gully, and seven or eight out of ten did not cross the bridge. When the rope bridge snapped, their escape route had been cut off. Golden crown aloose and face full of soiled blood, Badam saw the vicissitude and the raven jewels near fell out of his gaping eyes. “Uygherban…” he screamed; “That day you pleaded so pitifully to me, begging me to take on Chineye with you. In the end, you are leaving me to my death!”

Daishüban sat on his horse before the opulent canopy. In the smog, his features were hard to discern, and upon these words, he merely laughed. “Litte Brother Prince, the situation today calls for drastic measures. Please forgive the offenses. You’ve fought bravely against the enemy, obstructing the tiger with your flesh and drained every drip of your blood for our mother nation. For this courage, this monarch shall remember. When we appease the chaos later, this monarch shall record you with the prime honor, and shouldn’t take any account of your rebellious treason.”

Badama’s throat girgled with sound. As he lifted his eyes, he saw a blue-caped carriage rolling into appearance behind the Imperial Army, the golden-trimmed curtains already lifted halfway. The beautiful eyes of the person within was directed lovingly towards the opulent canopy.

In that moment it all came to him, and his voice was as withered as death: “So… you did it all for her.”

“This monarch naturally did it for her,” Daishüban gave him a perfunctory smirk, extended over his hand, and gently held onto Emei Chuchu’s slender jade fingers. “Beloved Consort,” he cooed; “it was hard work for you to meet with those treasonous rebels that day!”

Emei Chuchu, her gaze glimmering, spoke softly, “No, your consort didn’t have it hard at all. This consort couldn’t be happier to take care of matters for My Majesty.”

By this point, Yujien had caught up and drew in the reins at the scene. The Left Crown King witnessed the battle by his side, watching the brothers turning against each other, and couldn’t help swaying his hand and signing. Yujien chuckled. “The Crown King has a good relationship with your brother, having governed together for seven years without any problems. It can’t be that you are seeing them kins fighting their own, and sympathizing the pains?”

“Me and Little Crowne have been thick since little, not to be compared with anybody else,” said the Left Crown King, waving his hand. He pointed at Daishüban and then at the Prince Royal, and lamented, “Let alone other things, throwing an entire nation into chaos merely for a woman, it’s really not worth it!”

“Oh? Even such a beautiful femme can’t pique the Crown King’s interest. I wonder who can take the rank of nation ruining beauty?” Shivon chuckled from the side.

The Left Crown King cackled, full of smugness. “One needs to ask the Lord Ghost Sovereign.”

For a split second, the gaze beneath Yujien’s mask was as hard as ice, then shortly recovered to usual. And his topic had a curt shift: “Our humble nation borrowed your soldiers in a hectic, such mind-boggling disorder and nearly lost our order. Your honored national’s Military Affairs was completely unaffected, the swiftness of your efficiencies and the flight of dispatch, the hundred thousand soldiers coming at the turn of our eyes, it was truly sending fuel in the snow. I’ve heard the Crowne King doesn’t drink liquor; later on, when our humble nation calls to convey our gratitude, he must give some face for this cup of thanking wine.”

A subtle crinkle showed between the Left Crown King’s brows. He waved his hand and refused, “That is… unnecessary.” He then nudged his mouth at Yujien and heckled. “Your Lordship need not to be so humble; though this little king hasn’t learned much of business, I understand the meaning of the words ‘fair trade.’”

Yujien looked towards the Fanshwar soldiers shouting at the heavens behind his back. “Value for its worth?” His tone flicked lightly, seeming bantering and serious.

“More so than anything.” The Left Crown King also gave a smile half-true and -false.

The others didn’t understand a word of their conversation. The Crown King amusedly curled his finger around the earring, calling before the lines, “Prince Royal, why should you sell your life for such a brother who treats you this way? Relieve your spear and mail, come surrender!”

Badama seemed to haven’t heard a single word, his bloating bloody eyes only fixed on the conjoined hands on the opposite side, mumbling, “Chuchu, you wouldn’t, wouldn’t conspire with others to hurt me! He forced you, right?”

“You’re one sentimental one, got too much feelings born in you,” Yan Feiyu hissed coldly. And came a cannon boom. A large section of the precipice where the White Rocks Army was standing collapsed and hundreds of soldiers fell into the canyon. The army instantly fell into turmoil.

Daishüban’s smirk darkened. “Forced her? You ask her, who was the one that suggested removing you by the root?”

Badama froze entirely, and turning his neck extremely slowly, looked towards Emei Chuchu.

The battle was hot before the lines. After the boiling plumes, the scene across seemed to have changed. Emei Chuchu sat airily in the carriage, passed him a trifling gaze through the gold-trimmed curtains, and soon took out a small ivory comb and started to lightly brush her long hair.

Badama’s innards suddenly hollowed, his heart was falling down a dark well into an ice cavern. Under this blazing sun, his body felt freezing cold. “Chuchu, Chuchu, I don’t believe it! Come! I want you to tell me with your own lips!”

Emei Chuchu’s gaze was still parked between the fragrant tails and dark threads. Hearing these words, she didn’t even lift her head, and casually plucked the lacquer shine ends of her hair. “What do you want to hear me say?”

These words were soft without edge, like a teeny poppy flower stroking the canals of the ears. But the iciness of the tone was declaring the truth.

Badama clenched tight his jaws, his eyes nearly tearing blood, screaming, “It really… really was you. You… Why are you doing this to me?”

Emei Chuchu lifted her enthralling, clear eyes. Her gaze seemed to contain some lament. “So what if you know?”

“You tell me! I’m discontent!” said Badama, his voice shivering.

“Little Brother Prince, if you only had been a little more reserved, this monarch wouldn’t bear to treat you this way. Beloved Consort, let’s go!” said Daishüban, regretfully.

Her raven hair swaying, Emei Chuchu sweetly bowed her neck. “Yes, my King.”

Badama abandoned the troops in turmoil behind him, caught up a step, and cried, “Chuchu, where are you going? Don’t go with him!”

Yan Feiyu’s bright arrow was already pointed at his chest, seeing him mad and lunatical, the hand holding the bow had a pause. “You are a fucking male, but so cringy and annoying! Burble another word, I’ll snap off another one of your arms!”

The sound of flapping swings suddenly rose, but it was Iantu and a number of other commanders and elders spreading the eagle wing cloaks, splaying their wings in flight, attempting to abandon the army in escape.

Before the Ghost Army pulled their bows, Yan Feiyu already showed her disgust, lighted her arrows and shot towards the ones in the air. The cloaks ignited instantly upon flame, and with many shouts and cries, the numbers all dropped into the chasm, none surviving.

“This Commander Yan is a woman, but the decisiveness and brutality of her hand does not fall behind any man,” remarked Guo Wuliang, moved.

“The descendent of great warriors, naturally not to be compared with the common sort,” Yujien spoke slowly, his eyes looking forward. But soon he raised his voice, “Prince Royal, your elder brother is dishonorable and blind to character, for that you cannot be blamed. If you have the intention to clean your house, our previous alliance is still valid.”

At this moment, the White Rock Army had already lost by half, the bodies piled and more and more dropped their weapons in surrender. Badama stood at the edge of the precipice, the muscles on his face dark green and twisted. He bellowed three long laughs. “Yujien Tianhung, how could this Prince suffer your protection?” he said, leveled the golden trident, his black cloak flapping, and leaped into the chasm.

Yujien Tianhung didn’t expect him to be so unyielding, spurred his steed forth a step and immediately reined in. “Doesn’t even know he was being used, still a fool in death.” He swung his lance and charged into the chaotic battle.

~

Through the Battle of Flying Dragon Gorge, Za’yii lost the Prince Royal and could be said to be the champion having lost a head. Since, the Za’yii Imperial Army turtled behind the Flying Dragon Gorge and refused to meet battle. The Bi’ro forces lost their ally and struggled on with difficulty. Buhasch and Scybuch led thirty thousand strong against the Chienye and Fanshwar’s allied heavy cavalry. It was insects defending against a tree trunk, impossible to budge. The two commanders exhausted hundreds of tactics to cover Lio Whu’s escape to the Urla riverbanks, finally succumbing and perished in battle. And Lio Whu was left with only Timurepach, this one top commander by his side, exhausted and struggling to swing a blade, ordering the less than five thousand remaining Bi’ro troops, holding off left and right, their defeat just in sight. It was the height of steppes’ rain season, the Urla River water deluged, the river widened, and blocked off their escape route. Lio Whu routed by the waterside, seeing the tumbling tides, the waves curling to a man’s height. It was too late to construct float bridges, and he couldn’t help holding his forehead to a long lament. The Chienye forces were right behind his back. He wheeled the horse around, and said to Yujien, “Lord Ghost Sovereign, this humble one has one matter unclear, and shall not die without closure. That day, the Crowne King received our gifts and returned a message, agreeing to support my side. Why did Fanshwar not only go back on their word, they instead sent out heavy forces to support Chienye? Before this humble one’s death, can you please tell me the trick?”

Yujien stood before the army on his horse, and silently grazed over his longbow.

“Since General Lio Whu is so willing to learn, it’s not too late to find out the details when you go down to the grave.”

Lio Whu backed a step to the waterside, the rear hooves of his ride already sinking into the sandy sludge. “The General can’t even sympathize with one about to die, I wonder what sort of unsightly methods you have used?” His gaze fell on the Left Crown King, his words still full of magnetism. “The Crown King fights feed with the wolf, might you find the poison of backlash down the road.”

The Left Crown King chuckled smugly, the golden light glinting off his ear. “I and Lord Ghost Sovereign have the friendship of sharing… drinks, and the understanding of confidantes, all your sweet words are useless.” He huffed his nostrils, then suddenly took off an item from his inner layers and tossed it to Yujien.

This item had two pointy ends, the color of buddha hand’s coral red, the tassels meticulously made; it was a fragrant smoked pouch.

And his gurgling voice said, “Much thanks to the Lord Ghost Sovereign’s lovely allowance; in this haste, this humble king has not anything great in return and shall offer this borrowed flower to the Buddha, and beg your pardon.”

The veins beneath Yujien’s crown popped. He opened his palm and caught it. The pouch strings had snapped, leaving only a few strands of threads swaying in the watery air.

Lio Whu’s eyes were toned through thick and smoke; upon the scene, he instantly understood. “And what had I thought, so it was… Master Fan gifting Xi Shi to Wu¹, Emperor Yuan of Han sending the beauty beyond the frontier².” The muscles below his eyes stirred, and suddenly, he let out a roaring laugh: “Yujian Tianhung, I’d said to others, you title as the Ghost Sovereign and see sentiments as nothingness. And seeing it today, what ungrateful faithlessness — outright heartless! It’s not in vain for this one to lose in your hand.” The golden horns blared rapidly, and the Bi’ro troops splayed out the tips. Face in the color of blood, Timurepach rose high a long glaive, taking the last stance.

“Strike!” Yujien pronounced mildly.

Yet as his long glaive struck out, the strength undiminished, it was sweeping towards the dark blade guard beside Lio Whu. The guard leaped up from the saddle upon the force, and with fingers like claws, suddenly caught Lio Whu’s back and hurled with the momentum, throwing him far into the heart of the river, and threw himself into the water.

“General Lio Whu plays the act to the finale, even insisting on imitating Master Qu plunging into the river³ in the end, hasn’t he got any pride?” Yujien jeered. As he spoke, three black arrows flew from the string. The dark blade guard excelled in the aquatics; the person was as slippery as a fish in the water. He easily blocked off two arrows, but the third was unavoidable. The dark blade cracked with a clack, the man sank into the river, and a wisp of blood floated onto the surface.

When Lio Whu fell into the water, he immediately shrugged off his outer robes and revealed an inner grey layer. He dived into the bottom of the river and followed the stream down, and could be traced no more. From the distance, in came his graceful voice, “Lord Ghost Sovereign springs in success today, but when the green grave⁴ sink into the river later, I’m afraid you’ll have regrets.”

~

Through the Battle of Urla River, the three Achs of Bi’ro perished in service to their country, the Ingenious General Bi’ro escaped in disgrace, and none of the thirty thousand warriors survived. In this tumultuous Battle of Four Nations, he was one move amiss and lost it all. When the news came around, the Bi’ro King Aser held his chest and wept with anguish, and the nation mourned. The beauty of Yujian Tianhung’s alliance strategy was sublime, turning the clouds and storm in the moment. And this battle gained him several more chapters on his legends of shock and terror.

That night, before they made camp and fire, the Left Crown King already rushed by to bid his leave. His face ticked with an unscratchable itch, unwilling to wait a moment longer. The Chienye commanders respectively sent him away for ten li and finally sat down by the Urla riverbanks to a joyous celebration of victory. Though Shivon was old, his enthusiasm didn’t fall short of any young man. Before the mutton leg was done, he was volunteering to search along the riverbanks. Yujien sat primly by the fire, somewhat distracted. “Do not pursue the desperate enemy,” said Yujien. “Total annihilation of the Bi’ro army, only short of this Old Fox. The chief evil unvanquished really takes away the bang! When did he get that skin on him? How is it so strong?” grumbled a Li Ignis Division commander. “That is a specially made white shark skin from the Southern Sea. It swims in the water as a bird in the sky,” whispered a yellow bony soldier from the Spring Sun Battalion. “Good lord, no wonder! The Old Fox grew up by the Snow Fluff Lake. He knew us drylanders couldn’t swim,” exclaimed Dawron, and praised; “You know a lot. It seems you Captain Qu’s got crouching dragons and hidden lions, quite some talents.” The soldier blushed. “This humble one hasn’t got any other talents, just memory’s bit better than the others. Captain Qu’s kindness to me is as great as a mountain. This humble one shall follow Captain for the rest of my life,” he professed. And after a momentary pause, he added, “Captain Qu is superb in the water. If he is here, and along with this humble one’s combined chase, we might capture that Bi’ro general.” Uighshön and Cher Bien at once started to cough, glaring at him to shut up. People of the steppes survived by the waters, and revered the rivers as gods, evening praying and saying their gratitude for taking their daily uses of water. And to enter the water with body parts beyond the knees was considered a great disrespect. This little soldier blabbed with a loose tongue, such light words, and revealed the matter of Captain Qu secretly going into the river. Dawron touched his mask awkwardly and stole a glance at Yujien, found that he seemed unheard, and fell rest-assured. “Nonsense! When your Captain Qu comes back and hears you talking off your cuffs, see how he’s going to give you a beating!”

The soldier listened and his eyes turned fervent. “When is our captain coming back?” he pursued.

When this question was brought up, the greater half of the Spring Sun Battalion peeled their ears over, and, fearfully and expectantly, directed their gaze towards their Lord Commander beyond the flaming light.

But Guo Wuliang interrupted from the side, “Today, I noted the Crown King carrying a tinge of hesitation. Is it because the Crowne King had promised to help Lio Whu? They rule the nation together; how would they resolve this divergence?”

“How would they resolve it? I do not know. But this passing favor will allow areas of maneuver later on,” Yujien voiced lazily. He yawned, obviously wry with these unsightly schemes.

Shivon chewed on the meaning of his words and dropped pensive, “Fanshwar will never let down their guard against us.” And with the words, they fed on soup and rations. The vigorous battle of the day was especially tiring, and all rose and entered the yurts for rest.

Without Qu Fongning to shepherd the hoard, Uighshön and Cher Bien’s gang instantly brought out twelve hundred thousand measures of energy, and stirred the whole of the waterside into revelry. Yujien sat in deep contemplation by the fire, taking no notice of any people or sound.

Footsteps sounded in his back. It was Guo Wuliang returning. His eyes were also very tired, but still sat down by Yujien’s side. He sat with him for a while and said, suddenly, “Tian-ge, that child isn’t coming back, right?”

Under the flamelight, Yujien was as posed as steel, moving not a slight. The fire took on moisture and a diminishing drift, and cast his mask all the ghastlier, the fangs insidious and eerie, blurred and ambiguous.

After a long while, he finally looked towards the river and started mildly, “Oh?”

Guo Wuliang gazed deeply at his profile, full of concern. “Tian-ge, I know somewhat of the Southern anecdotes. The Left Crown King’s Longyang fetish is not a secret. When you gave the order that day, and the way he looked…. These matter together, even if I dare not believe it, I have to.”

Yujien had a moment, pushed the mask up his crown, and the resolute lips shifted, “I have forgotten, your mother was a southerner.”

“Yeah,” said Guo Wuliang, sorrowful. He looked towards his hand and saw the coral buddha hand smoked pouch placed neatly on his lap, and couldn’t help his nose prickling. “This… is his?”

“No,” said Yujien. And without seeing a motion of his arm, he already tossed the pouch out of his hand. A gentle slap of wave, it was lost to the white currents.

His eyes were remote, as if beyond a thousand mountains. Guo Wuliang didn’t dare to remark out of my bounds, followed the tuft of red traveling further and further, and said quietly, “Tian-ge, you in fact couldn’t let go either, why… must you be so hard on yourself?”

Yujien’s temples jumped very faintly beneath the mask, and his voice also took on some iron: “… Guoliang, you’re wrong.”

“I hope I’m wrong,” signed Guo Wuliang. He waved away the moths before the flames, and said to himself, “If the Crown King sent a thousand over to point the ways for a safe retreat, gold threads and fine silk suffuse for gratitude; if he extended thirty thousand troops to resolve the besiegement, select one of medicine, weaving, salt and coal, or fireworks can make for gratitude. But he came with a hundred thousand and vanquished the three sides. That was the full might of a nation, a gratitude that can’t be repaid in a lifetime. It looks like the Crown King had ironed his will to… keep him by Umei Lake.”

Yujien chuckled, ever so lightly. “Can’t be repaid, and can’t afford to repay.”

“Then…” Guo Wuliang was baffled, and regarded him hesitantly.

The smile dissipated from Yujien’s eyes, leaving only the hue of thick darkness. “Can’t afford to repay, then don’t repay it.”

The meaning of these words couldn’t be clearer. Hearing this, Guo Wuliang was shaken aback, felt waves of chilling shivers in his jaw, and couldn’t respond with any words.

And he heard Yujien enquire, “What you said earlier… How did he look at the time?

He tried to suppress his palpitations. “A form as lifeless as a withered trunk, a heart as dead as ash. Tian-ge, that child has… a sincere heart for you.”

Yujien paused for a moment, and said, “Yeah? You’re one to see clearly.”

Guo Wuliang bit hard on his jaw, thinking: “How couldn’t I see? After A’lan died, I saw this look in the mirror, on the water, in other’s eyes…thousands and thousands of times.”

Sound of splashing water behind their backs. Gerrgu had pulled Wind Chaser over and was brushing its long mane by the water.

His figure was strong as a tower. His dark-tanned arm worked back and forth around the horse’s belly, complimenting Wind Chaser to be even more light and snowy, nearly riding away to the moon.

Gerrgu held an especially soft and pure white brush, brushing it and talking to it.

“Wind Chaser, Wind Chaser, when is your owner coming home? After tonight, he’ll be eighteen!”

Guo Wuliang felt a pang in his heart, lifted his eyes, and saw, in the inky blue sky, a jewel of perfect round moon cast its limitless radiance upon the silvery steppes.

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