Wei Huan came to his senses by the furious beating of the drums. The man instantly woke up, jumping up from his chair. Jin Yu Ming, who was nearby, reacted the same way, only his chair hit the floor. Both men were patrolling the city walls until late at night, watching the lights of the enemy camp like two eagles, but a few hours before dawn, their trusted captains chased them away to go and get some rest. they insisted that the best warriors should get at least a little sleep before the glorious day. The treacherous human flaw – fatigue should not have affected their reaction and combat abilities in case any unforeseen moment comes.
Wei Huan rushed to the door of the watchtower where they had spent their short hours of sleep, throwing it open. A terrifying picture, as if of the gaping Diyu Abyss, appeared before his eyes. Rotten houses caught fire one after another, consuming the dwellings with hungry flame. The bright shine of the hissing fire was reflected in the pools of blood spilling across the dirty streets.
Yu Ming's voice, breaking from anger and amazement, was echoing the heartbreaking screams of people being burned alive and pierced through with sharpened swords.
– How?! – he roared. – How?!
Wei Huan forced himself to avert his eyes from the madness going on within the city walls. The bloody hands hanging from them left dirty stains, sliding down in barely noticeable drops.
– The Southern Army invaded the city. The enemy came unnoticed. – Trying to keep his emotions under control, Huan said firmly. – The patrol was killed.
– I asked – how?! – the man's knuckles turned white, fiercely squeezing the hilt of the sword. – We have placed our troops everywhere!
Wei Huan pursed his lips but did not answer. They didn't have time to focus on the details now. The man pulled out his sword and pointed it towards the city gates.
– We need to get people out of the city immediately! Gather everyone at hand and break through to the gates! Hurry!
Jin Yu Ming was about to respond with a nod, but he froze, realizing that the general was sending him there alone. An ill feeling begged the man to disobey the order.
– What are you going to do?
– Save the Emperor.
– Wei Huan, open your eyes! Almost the entire southern army concentrated its forces at the palace, the capital of...
– Captain Jin! – the general barked, whose angry gaze riveted him to the spot. – Were my words unclear? Retreat to the gate! Immediately!
The radiance of dark eyes, reflecting the writhing clouds of smoke like snakes, pierced Yu Ming through and through. Determined, unyielding, unchanging.
– Don't you dare die, General.
That was the last thing the captain said before he took off, cutting his way through the remaining enemy soldiers in the rear. Wei Huan also wasted no time in rushing toward the palace visible in the distance. His trusty sword flashed murderously, clashing with other people's weapons, tearing soft flesh and cutting off the enemy's limbs. thought the general himself could not get rid of thoughts. He knew he should have remained cool and focused, but... He was thinking about the Emperor, about people dying, about carefully concocted plans that were destroyed like a house of cards. He was cursing about the naive illusion created by the mere chance of peace and his stupidity. He felt ashamed and guilty.
He knew he should have pierced Chong Zhange's heart in a fair fight long ago.
However, the thing he desired most was: to find and save Yu Bing Han.
***
Plumes of smoke obscured the view, and the heat was felt on the skin even from a distance.
Screams, noise, the clanging of swords, falling boards, and neighing horses – everything mixed into a single cacophony, through which Wei Huan stubbornly fought his way. His sword was completely stained in scarlet. Dirty stains were layered on patches of wounded skin, and his once clean uniform turned into unkempt rags.
Huan stepped over the corpses falling at his feet, looking only at the final goal of his relentless path.
A beam collapsed nearby, and a child's cry, filled with hysteria, seemed so familiar to the man that he could distinguish it even through the roar of the flame. Many people were dying around: old people, children, young maidens, and youths who had just entered their prime age, but Wei Huan could not help them all. He just shouted with all his might and drove the people he came across to the central gate.
Alien faces, all in despair with hopeless expressions, flashed past him. They would be forever imprinted into his memory. His ears were filled with their screams, and there was no chance that a familiar voice would reach him through the whirlpool of groans. But it happened.
Wei Huan stopped abruptly, turning his head towards one of the many destroyed houses. The fire had not yet reached it, but was gradually creeping closer like a venomous, hissing snake.
There, desperately clinging to a heavy wooden board, a fragile silhouette could be seen. The boy, whose wounded hands left marks on the surface, was sobbing loudly but courageously did not stop his desperate attempts to break through the hurdle.
– Shu-er, – the name escaped from dry lips. – Shu-er!
The general quickly changed his direction, looking at the boy who turned to him with eyes full of shame and guilt. He couldn't save everyone. He let everyone down. But this moment gave him a meager chance to preserve the little for which he doomedly continued to fight. He will not leave aside this poor boy whose smile he swore to protect.
– Gege! Wei-gege! – Hao Shu cried even louder, falling to his knees exhausted. – My sister... my sister! She is blocked in the house!
– Everything will be fine, Shu-er, I'm here. Everything will be fine.
Huang's breathing was labored, his tongue slurred, and his words were confused with each other, but he tried his best to speak confidently and reassuringly.
– We'll get your sister out, and you'll head straight to the central gate. The warriors will protect you.
The man, with a deft movement of his hand, hid the sword in its sheath. He gritted his teeth clutching the beam with his hands. The soggy mud made it difficult to move, as did the pieces of destroyed houses lying underfoot. His eyes watered from the rising smoke, and swollen veins appeared on his palms, but Wei Huan was gradually moving the log without using spiritual force. The risk of touching the already fragile structure was too high. It might have collapsed on the child inside.
Having caught his breath, Hao Shu rose to his feet again and without hesitation rushed to help. Due to his small, but still efforts, it became easier for Huan to hold the beam. Finally, the man jerked the hurdle away from the passage and without hesitation squeezed into the opened space, disappearing into the house.
Hao Shu remained standing on the street, crumpling his dirty robe with little fingers and biting his lips painfully. His sworn older brother appeared after several extremely long moments, during which all sorts of frightening thoughts flashed through the boy's head. An unconscious girl was lying in the general's arms. Small, fragile, with sickly gray skin and short hair the color of withered wheat. Her pale lips were pressed tightly together, and beads of sweat were visible on her forehead.
– Sister! – Hao Shu rushed to Wei Huan. – Big brother, she...
– She's alive but feverish, – the man gently ran his palm through his tangled hair. – Shu-er, you have to take her to the main gate. – Huan's dark eyes looked into the frightened face. – You both have to get there. Can you handle it?
– I... – the boy sniffled, his shoulders shaking. – I don't know... I don't understand... big brother, what happened?
A sharp pain pierced Wei Huan's heart, causing his gaze to dim, but for the sake of Hao Shu, he remained calm.
– Stupidity breeds mistakes. Naivety strengthens them. What's done is done. Now we must preserve at least what remains.
Huan carefully moved the girl from his arms to Hao Shu's back. Under his gaze, the boy picked up his sister more comfortably, and then quietly asked:
– Elder brother, haven't you become one of the Gods?
Huan's eyes widened in surprise. He was unable to contain this emotion within himself, truly not expecting the rumors to reach Hao Shu's ears. He didn't have time to answer, because the boy continued.
– Then can you tell why the Eight allowed all this? Haven't we already suffered enough? What do they want us do? How much... how much blood must be shed for our pain to reach their hearts? Are we so unworthy of even that short life, which for them is like a fleeting sigh?
– Shu-er...
The child shook his head as if asking not to tell him anything... not to treat him like an unintelligent baby, calming him down with uncertain phrases.
– I don't blame you, big brother. I see how desperately you try, – he smiled tiredly. – I'll gladly hold my faith in such a Diety until the end of time.
Hao Shu gasped as he was pulled into an embrace. The warm breath touching his shoulder was intermittent, and the strong hands were protective but careful. Wei Huan did not show his face, desperately gritting his teeth and fighting the lump rising in his throat.
– Run, Shu-er, – a gusty whisper rang out. – Run along empty streets, look for hidden corners and paths that are known by no one but you. Run and never look back.
Uncontrollable tears rolled down Hao Shu's cheeks as he asked his last question in a hoarse voice:
– Will we meet Again?
Wei Huan exhaled sharply through clenched teeth, carefully moving away from the boy to wipe away the tears from his cheeks. The child needed fragile hope and Huan could not take it away.
– Of course, we will, – the smile turned out forced, but necessary for both of them. – I have your talisman. It will protect me and lead back to you.
Wei Huan's warm voice and his gentle hand touching his dark hair brought the boy no relief. A shiver ran through Hao Shu's entire body, causing his shoulders to tremble and his eyes to sparkle with overwhelming emotions.
– Run! – the timbre of the man's voice became stiff. – And live, Hao Shu. Live as your heart tells you.
A strong palm slightly pushed the thin body away, forcing him to take a few steps forward. Hao Shu wanted to turn around, but he did not dare to violate the order of the only person who had become close to him and only continued to listen to the rustle of other people's clothes, the clang of a drawn sword, and the retreating steps.
– Don't lose faith in this world. Even if it seems that it is unworthy. Live. Live against all odds.
Hao Shu closed his eyes tightly, unable to hold back a sharp sigh. Wei Huan's last words dissolved in the groans of the dying Empire. The flames soared upward, but they could not reach the distant Sky.
Well, let it be. Let the Gods forget about them. It didn't matter anything. What did was that one single person continued moving forward, protecting the remnants of the world clinging to fading hope.
And Hao Shu swore: he would live, he would value, he would love. He swore, no matter what, he would protect this world forgotten by Heavens, for which Wei Huan was fighting so desperately.
***
The long staircase, strewn with the corpses of soldiers, appeared before Huan's eyes as a bloody river exuding the stench of death. His gaze managed to catch on the twisted bodies, on whose faces both agony and horror are frozen.
The comrades with whom he had fought shoulder to shoulder lied there: tortured, disfigured. Rage filled the general's body, streams of spiritual energy emited from his palms. He had not used his powers for a long time, but now he was ready to waste them dry.
Having heard the sounds of battle coming from the central square of the Imperial Palace, Huan made the first step. Only to freeze a moment later, clutching his sword till his knuckles turned white.
The spiritual energy that escaped from the inside of the Palace spread around, falling on the soldiers who were unprepared for this. Wei Huan stood strong, knowing full well that such destruction was not caused by just a skilled sword. He continued watching.
As the bulky front door slowly opened, a tall silhouette came into view.
A blood-stained Southern army uniform, a heavy weapon on the belt, and piercing hawk eyes. Fury bubbled like seething waters in the general's chest because of the mere sight of an indifferent enemy invading the places dear to his heart.
Chong Zhange's overwhelming presence caused the soldiers on both sides to fall to their knees like limp dolls. The blood and tears streamed out of their eyes and mouths. Lives wasted easily and simply as always.
The Commander-In-Chief stepped over the soldiers, inexorably moving towards the stairs. Soon, Wei Huan could fully see the other man's figure. He tried to keep his eyes on Chong Zhange's face, but something clenched in his left hand involuntarily attracted his gaze. Understanding flashed through his head like a released arrow, causing the accumulating rage to instantly subside, being replaced by emptiness and noise filling my head.
The roaring beast inside Wei Huan froze along with the "master", not understanding how to react. This hesitation became a mistake for the warrior – he lost the only opportunity for a surprise attack because the general of the southern troops noticed him. A satisfied smile finally appeared on his impassive face, and his hand, as if mockingly, slowly stretched out, showing off the "trophy."
– The Emperor of the Northern Lands has fallen! – the voice boomed with undisguised satisfaction. – The Celestial Empire now belongs to the South!
Chong Zhange's voice came to Wei Huan muffled and unclear, as if the general was trying to catch the words while under thick water, making out what was said only from his moving lips. His gaze glared at the enemy's hand, with which he was clutching black, bloody hair. The pale skin, rolled eyes, and open mouth of the defeated man.
Wei Huan wanted to howl like a wounded wolf, admitting absolute and undeniable defeat. The Emperor's severed head was slowly swaying, leaving a puddle of viscous substance under Chong Zhange's feet.
He was late.
Again.
He failed his duty to defend... Did not have time. Again. Again.
Again.
A sharp flash that pierced Wei Huan's entire body made him take off, instantly covering the rest of the stairs. The frozen beast turned into a wounded monster, ready to bite and tear until its last breath.
Taunted, desperate, mortal.
Hatred filled all of Huan, becoming his only nature. Grief and guilt burned away in an all-consuming anger, leaving nothing but the desire for revenge and incineration.
A blow filled with a wild roar struck Chong Zhange, aiming to hit his neck, but encountering resistance caused by his lightning-fast reaction. The clashing swords caused a shock wave that left noticeable holes in the palace walls. The Emperor's head was thrown aside with the ease of unnecessary junk. Chong Zhange's eyes burned with mockery.
– General Wei, – the malicious notes were heard in the man's voice. – They say you use spiritual power only in the fiercest battles and on the most hated of enemies. I'm flattered.
Wei Huan did not react, continuing to throw strike after strike. His movements were chaotic and unrestrained, reflected in every swing of his energy-filled sword.
Chong Zhange behaved much more calmly and calculatingly, easily defending himself from targeted attacks. He was amused by this whole situation, including the general of the northern troops, who was aware of reality, but continued to desperately defend those pitiful grains of preserved pride for the sake of the slain Emperor.
The ensuing battle was nothing more than the last outburst of emotions in a lost war. General Wei wanted blood and this fueled his deadly fuse, causing the lit fuse to burn desperately and brightly. It did not weaken but only became more inflamed.
Chong Zhange's smile faded. Generals of equal strength were not inferior to each other, but Huan's pressure came as a surprise to the inscrutable Zhange.
Overflowing with spiritual power, Wei Huan threw the struggling man away, sending a blast of pure energy into his chest. A hoarse sigh was heard as drops of blood flowed down his white lips, which Chong Zhange did not wipe away. He chuckled. It turned out that the admiring tales of the northern general's pent-up strength were not mere embellishments for the benefit of the Imperial Court. However, this was still not enough. Moreover, it was useless. For feelings should never take control of the mind.
Wei Huan swayed, trying to keep his balance. It became increasingly difficult to stand on the ground firmly. The colors blurred before, the ringing in the ears split his head in half, and the taste of iron was felt in his throat. He hadn't used his spiritual power for a long time; this outburst was fueled solely by raging emotions, but now emotions left him due to great fatigue.
The decisive blow must have been struck as soon as possible, otherwise, this battle would have a predictable outcome.
The reflection of the first rays of the rising sun flashed in the steel blade as Wei Huan concentratedly redirected the qi from his palms into the sword, completely enveloping it like a water surface. Chong Zhange also did not waste any time, hastily healing his internal wounds. But for some reason, the man did not attack.
Huan made no wonder about the enemy's mistake. He set himself the only goal – to deliver a crushing blow.
Unfortunately, a voice suddenly heard from behind, stopped him from doing this.
– A-Wei!
This voice Wei Huan would recognize anytime and anywhere. A precious voice. He was so afraid he would never enjoy its silvery chime again.
Yu Bing Han, with anxiety on his face, hurriedly approached the center of the square. He seemed to be fine: no wounds or serious injuries, just a few drops of blood had dried on his snow-white face. Like a true Diety, he looked unacceptably beautiful among the reigning darkness and cruelty of the unfolding war.
Wei Huan felt like a heavy stone had been lifted from his heart. There was no doubt about the Counselor's intelligence; the general was sure that he would be able to hide and escape, but... how good. Oh Heavens, how good it was to see him being safe and sound.
– A-Yu, don't come closer! – shouted the general, taking a step to the side, as if trying to protect Bing Han from a possible unexpected attack. – It's dangerous. Run quickly!
The stubborn young man, however, shook his head furiously, hastily pulling out a pack of talismans from the deep sleeves of his hanfu.
– I will help you!
– A-Yu!
Not bothering to listen to the straining voice, the Counselor easily tossed the pieces of paper he had painted in his hand, sending a spark of spiritual energy into them.
He could not compare with Huan either in strength or level of cultivation, but over the years of painstaking training, he discovered that he could make high-quality talismans and formations. Now they were floating under the feet and above the heads of the fighting generals, radiating the warm gold light.
Wei Huan had no idea what exactly Bing Han had created, but his confidence in victory increased manifold.
– Thank you, A-Yu, – Wei Huan's weak smile was sincere. – It's time to end this.
He turned his gaze to Chong Zhange, completely concentrating on it. The fuse given by the support and presence of Yu Bing Han caused the fading flame to flare up again. It was a fleeting spark struck at the last moment, but Huan had enough.
Spiritual energy reminded of itself with light blue flashes sliding along the sword. The murderous desire gave way to cold-blooded determination.
However, Chong Zhange, who looked back, remained impartial. A disdainful expression appeared on his face again, as if he had suddenly lost interest in the fight. Wei Huan was not going to tolerate such an attitude. This murderer does not deserve military honors or the glory of a conqueror. There is no way he will escape his fate.
A sharp cry escaped from Huan's very core as the man rushed towards the calmly standing southern general, swinging at him with one decisive, final blow. Blue crackling charges are reflected in the dark eyes, demonstrating the full range of emotions experienced by the man. He put all the grief, guilt, and anger into his final strike.
A stream of unprecedented powerful energy hit the palace square, splitting the stone covering, destroying the majestic columns, and cutting the nearest trees. Due to the high wind, bright puddles of blood splashed into ugly blots and discarded human bodies piled up in heaps on top of each other. The unabated fire devoured the remains of the capital, and clouds of dust and smoke settled on the formation circles.
Wei Huan clutched his trusty sword with a trembling hand and looked into the ambers of mocking eyes of Chong Zhange. The man was shrouded in a thick protective barrier. And a raised weapon had completely protected the general's chest.
However, this was not the main issue. The thing was that the tip of Wei Huan's sword did not even reach the barrier. No matter how desperately he tried, he never achieved his goal. For at the last, most desperate and important moment, his legs stopped moving. They froze like chilled wax, chaining him to his place with some unprecedented force.
The golden glow enveloping the ankles was impossible to miss. However, Wei Huan did not want to lower his gaze. He didn't want to confirm the terrible idea. He didn't want to be convinced of the emerging guesses.
He felt a deep confusion. An icy horror chained his entire body, piercing right through the heart.
– Why…
Wei Huan's barely audible whisper was mixed with his sharp sigh and the squelching sound of blood escaping from his mouth. He could no longer take his eyes off the tip of the spiritual spear. His blood covered the golden glow of the weapon and was falling on the land with heavy drops.
The pierced fan, carefully kept near the heart, was violently torn out with the stab and now was hanging on the tip of the spear. Stringed, torn, soaked in blood, so fragile. A miserable sight.
Wei Huan wanted to reach out to it: to pick up, to cleanse, and hide again from the cruelty of the world, but he didn't have time.
That day time had turned against him.
A sharp jerk of the spear made the man stagger back, releasing the sword from his weakened fingers. The spiritual weapon was slowly pulled back, tearing the skin and entrails into shreds. The snow-white fan fell from its tip and plopped into the pool of blood that had streamed under the man's feet.
The red liquor was gushing from a hole in the chest that had been pierced through.
Such pain was unbearable, but Huan fell to his knees only when the spear finally left his body. Gray skin and breaking cold sweat showed that his end was close. The blurred eyes caught a leisurely movement nearby and the ears heard the soft rustle of fabric.
A cold palm touched Wei Huan's cheek, forcing him to look into the face of his murderer.
Yu Bing Han's eyes were shining like they had never shone before. His soft smile turned into a happy grin, stretching the corners of his lips. Despite the frightening appearance, the man did not lose his grace and his inherent coquetry. He covered his mouth with his hand, saying with a breath:
– I won... I won! – his ringing voice chimed in silver, like a nightingale song. – Oh, A-Wei, I really did it!
Wei Huan's lips could barely move, every word brought unbearable pain, but he had to ask. To ask a single question, because at that very moment, his heart was groaning and slowing down not because of the wound made by the spear.
– Yu Bing Han... – blood filled the man's throat again, escaping with every strenuous attempt to utter at least one meaningful word. – Why? – tears ran down the cheeks, turning into bloody trails. – Why?
Bing Han's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly as he tilted his head to the side, continuing to caress the general's chalk-white cheek. His fragile image blurred before Wei Huan's eyes.
The world faded... Darkened...
The man heard his heartbeat slow down. Everything was getting quieter.
Life was rapidly leaving Wei Huan's body, but even with his last breath: betrayed, broken, humiliated... he made one more attempt in his desire to live.
He prayed to the Gods.
The Ones, watching him.
The Ones, chosen him as an equal to take a place among them.
The Ones, in whom he believed for so long and continued to cherish hope, even when the roots of doubt sprouted in his heart.
The Ones, who had the opportunity to judge what had just happened, and maintain at least the illusion of a kept balance.
The Ones, who never answered.
Until the very last moment, Wei Huan speechlessly prayed to the Gods.
But the Gods remained silent.
As was Yu Bing Han.
This final breakdown was the last emotion that Wei Huan experienced while still alive.
Wei Huan, a devoted son of the celestial Empire and a talented general of the Imperial Army, passed away, looking with dull, lifeless eyes into the endless sky...