Chapter 503

Chapter 503

Though a hard-fought battle had only just taken place around Fort Sinuji, the familiar clamour of marching boots and bellowing Officers set Songs mind at ease, for she was once again within her element. A bouquet of blood, bile, and burnt flesh filled the air with a foul, metallic tang which set Luo-Luo and her handmaidens to gagging, but Lin-Lin paid no mind to the unpleasant stench as she ran off with the Healers to aid the beleaguered medical Army staff. The Bekhai aid would be most welcome, because wherever Song turned, she saw dented helmets, notched breastplates, and bandaged faces a plenty, and those were the lucky individuals who made it through todays battle relatively unscathed. At the very least, they were still healthy and fit enough to move about, unlike the injured souls they ferried over to the hospital tents by stretcher or the unfortunate corpses piled upon the burgeoning funeral pyres.

A heavy toll to pay, but such was life, a struggle from beginning to end. Clear Temple, the first poem in the Classics of Poetry, alluded to such a fate which awaited them all.

Solemn is the Clear Temple

Reverent are its illustrious adherents

Dignified are the gathered officers

Adhering to the virtues of Nobility

Praising our Mother in Heaven

They Hurry swiftly into the temple

Greatly illustrious, greatly dignified

She safeguards Her children forevermore

Reverence, dignity, and nobility mattered not, because in the end, all humans would share the same fate. The solemn Clear Temple was death, and only in death would humanity know true safety and dignity, resting in the arms of the Mother above, or at least thats how Song interpreted the poem. Whether one was a dignified Officer or reverent adherent, the Mother loved them all the same, regardless of status or ability. A message obviously lost to most, but a touching one, considering itd been written by a former Magistrate whilst laying on his deathbed.

But even death is only a brief respite from the endless trials and tribulations of life...

Or perhaps Song was completely wrong. Perhaps there was a Clear Temple somewhere in the Empire, and the poem was simply describing the Magistrates visit. Poetry was more difficult to interpret than music or painting, though she found dance the most incomprehensible of all...

Knowing the half-hare was well protected, Song left Luo-Luo with the pets and followed Niece Alsantset to help the exhausted soldiers with their labour, guiding Erdene around with a borrowed cart to carry away the fallen. Stuck at Rains side for the duration of the battle, she was fresh and well-rested despite the long days of travel, and she worked in silence alongside the other Khishigs on the walls, where their kind intentions were welcomed with mixed reactions from the battered soldiers of Sinuji. Some were genuinely grateful, but most seemed suspicious or even downright resentful of the Bekhai presence, despite the fact that the fort might well have fallen without Niece Alsantsets four-thousand plus cavalry force to aid them.

The soldiers resentment was not without reason since Rains arrival in Sinuji heralded disasters to come. The last time he was here, a massive Defiled force gathered to lay siege to the fort, the largest Enemy force to take the field since the Western Province fell, and it was obvious theyd come for Rain. Now, not only were these soldiers worried about Emissary Gen returning at the head of an even larger army to finish the job, there were also rumours of a feud between Rain and an Imperial Scion, which meant the soldiers of Sinuji might soon become collateral damage in games of Imperial politics.

The lives of the many outweigh the needs of a few. Broken as he was, Falling Rain was being selfish by clinging to life now that matters had come so far...

No, the fault lay with Yang Jixing and the Legate. Rain was merely a victim and his death would solve nothing. Burying her errant thoughts, Song focused on the task at hand, piling corpses onto Erdenes creaking cart until it was full before bringing them away to the blazing pyres. The dead lay thick on the walls and she was soon caked in gore from her diligent efforts, but atrocious as the horrors of war might be, she hardly batted an eye while digging through piles of the dead to separate Imperial heroes from Defiled savages. They looked so similar in death, she soon began to wonder why it even mattered.

Who cared if they burned on an Imperial pyre or a Defiled one? Why even burn them at all? They were dead, their souls destined for the Clear Temple, so what did they care about their mortal remains?Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

There was no honour or glory to be found here, but this came as no surprise. Battle was her aspiration, the Peak of the Martial Path her lofty ambition, and death part and parcel of it all, including the unsavoury and unsettling aspects the bards and playwrights never cared to delve into. Still, it was strange how the mind worked, always wanting what it could not have. When Rain took injury in Sinuji little over three months ago, Song worried it would be years before she returned to the battlefield once more, but while she was grateful to be here, there was little joy or excitement in her heart. This conflict was a righteous one, yet another chapter in the unending war between the Fathers foul minions and the Mothers children, and though she counted herself honoured to wield her blade in the Mothers Holy name, she found she no longer ached for the thrill of battle. Though she spent the last several months yearning to revisit the front lines, now that she was here and experiencing it all again firsthand, she found she missed the peaceful, serene view from her fifth-story window, looking out over the green and white sea of frost-dusted grass while the rising sun cast an orange glow over the skies above.

How nice it would have been to fall asleep on the ledge, and perhaps never wake again...

No, not at all. The Legate recently provided me with a miraculous elixir which did wonders for my health, and I am exceedingly grateful for his generosity. Delivered with the enthusiasm of a wooden puppet, Rain certainly didnt sound exceedingly grateful, but Song couldnt fault him for it since the Legates actions were akin to fattening the goose for the slaughter. Had they taken this trips two weeks prior, Rain might have died on the way here, but now he was just healthy enough to travel yet still utterly weak and helpless. Switching topics with the grace of a donkey, Rain said, Anyways, thank you for meeting with me. I wanted to greet my new superior officers and say... well, you know about my dilemma, correct?

Rumours and gossip mostly. The most popular stories say you offended an Imperial Scion over a woman and have now been sent here to die.

...Surprisingly accurate. Leaving a pause to let his words sink in, Rain soon continued, So yea. A word to the wise, if -

Hmm, let me guess. Taewoongs tone took on a hint of steel as his knuckles tightened around his armrest, and Song shifted closer to Rains side just in case. If I betray you, then pain and unpleasantness await me and everyone I hold dear. Close enough?

Ha. No. Not even close. Undaunted by Taewoongs sudden hostility, Rain chuckled and asked, Oh Mother in Heaven, is that why no one else would meet with me? Because they think I want to threaten them?

Then why are you here?

To tell you to do whatever you need to do. Shrugging, Rain explained, Youre here to fight the Defiled, not meddle in politics. Hell, youve been here longer than most, and even stayed during the new years festivities when you didnt have to. Youre a soldier first, and I respect that, so if youre bribed, take the money and Ill pay you double to do nothing, but if you or your loved ones are threatened, then theres nothing I can do to help, so go along with their wishes and Ill handle whatever may come. Clearing his throat, he added, Or I wont and Ill die. Either way, you do what you think is necessary to keep your people safe, and Ill understand. No hard feelings.

His piece said, Rain reached over the table to shake hands, but for long seconds, Taewoong sat utterly still and stared in shocked silence. After a long sigh, he took Rains hand and clasped it tight. You are a strange, strange man.

I get that a lot.

Their meeting done, Rain bade their stunned host farewell and left with Song at his side. Waiting until they were out of the camp, she took Rains hand and Sent, It would have been wiser to threaten him. Now he will think you and the Bekhai weak and fangless.

Unable to Send, Rain answered out loud while interlacing their fingers as he did with everyone who held his hand, a habit she didnt quite understand or hate. Maybe, but I meant every word. Let them do what they will. I am Falling Rain, the Undying, and I wont threaten innocents to keep myself safe. Even if he leaves me isolated on the wall, Im confident Dastan and the others can hold out until help arrives, so whats the worst that could happen?

Despite his frail body shivering from the nights chill, Rain spoke with the confidence of a warrior born, and if truth be told, his words filled Song with warmth and pride. His actions were still stupid beyond belief, but if he died here, he would die a good man. Still... What if his family is captured and hes forced to openly murder you and bear the punishment himself to secure their safety?

...Not gonna lie, that particular scenario did not occur to me. Would they really do something like that?

An idiot, but a noble idiot, so she would stand by his side with saber in hand to help him handle whatever may come.

Wondering which of the bunnies she should bring back to snuggle, Song was jolted out of her thoughts as monk Happy appeared out of thin air and grabbed her by the shoulders the moment she dismounted from Erdene. His frowning face frightening to behold and not at all suitable given his appellation, she didnt dare move a muscle while he leaned this way and that, studying her with intense severity right up until Rain stepped in and forcibly separated them, or rather monk Happy allowed himself to be separated. Whats going on? Rain demanded, standing protectively in front of Song. Why you being so handsy?

A thousand apologies, Khishig Song. This monk was so surprised he forgot himself. Wiping away his frown, monk Happy erected a Sound Barrier only moments after the Abbot appeared, then the two monks fell into a silent exchange, their gazes filled with wonder and disbelief as their eyes moved from Song to Rain and back again.

Smoothing his robes which did nothing to the wrinkled cloth, the Abbot cleared his throat and said, Junior Brother, this monk does not begrudge you your secrets, but some questions are too important to be left unasked. Are you certain you can no longer Devour or Cleanse Spectres from Tainted individuals?

...Pretty sure Id notice if my Core wasnt shattered, but yea.

Then... Pointing at Song, the Abbot asked, How did you Cleanse her?

Trading glances with Rain, she saw her confusion mirrored in his eyes as they simultaneously asked, What?

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