Chapter 721

Chapter 721

In all his years of military service, Nian Zu could only remember a handful of days in which hed been more miserable than today.

His poor mood had only a little to do with the festivities themselves, though sitting under an awning for the better part of two hours listening to young Rain recite the names of fallen soldiers did little to improve Nian Zus ill humour. Part of his misery was due to the fact that a good number of those names were familiar to him, and another part due to the fact that he didnt recognize the majority of them. Though Central trained soldiers had borne the brunt of the casualties here in the Citadel, they were still loyal soldiers of the Empire who gave their lives for a good cause, and Nian Zu felt guilty for not knowing who they were. It didnt matter if it didnt make sense, it was how he felt and hed be damned if he tried to change it.

Rain wanted to call this marker The Tombstone of Heroes, a fanciful title that would do what the monument was intended to do, make the living feel better about possibly dying for a good cause while contributing nothing to the dead or their surviving families. Which was the point after all, as young Rain had so bluntly pointed out. The ceremonies we hold for the dead are not for their sake, he said, so poignant and jaded for one so young. The dead are beyond caring. Funerals, vigils, memorials, and the like are all for the living, so that we might ease the pain of their passing.

And as it turned out, the boy was right, as he so often was. Though Nian Zu knew of the plan for a military dedication beforehand, he worried that all it would do was thin out the crowd as the common people lost interest in his long-winded litany. Better to have the monument engraved beforehand and then reveal it to the audience, but again, his worries were for naught. The crowd stood still and silent out of respect for the fallen, listening with bated breath while Rain listed off the names of the fallen, each one engraved into stone to honour their sacrifice instead of disregarding these heroes as dead and gone. The docks were so quiet you could hear individuals mourning as well as others consoling them for their loss. This was another reason why young Rain insisted on reading the names out loud, because so many of those in the audience were illiterate, and therefore would have no way to tell if any one particular name was actually on the monument. Most soldiers serving along the Western Wall brought their families with them, a practice which was widely encouraged to minimize the chance of desertion and defection. Thus, so long as their family members were present and listening, they would know for certain that their loved ones name had made it onto the monument, a deed which meant more to them than Nian Zu understood.

Perhaps it was because he had nothing of Du Yis to remember him by, no keepsakes or letters to reminisce over. The nature of their relationship had demanded they leave no trace behind, so any personal correspondences were carefully worded to keep things aboveboard, and even then Du Yi insisted they burn any and all unofficial letters once they were read and memorized. A paranoid man, but his efforts paid off in the end, for right up until the day he died, there was not a single soul, not even the daughter he raised and loved with all his heart, who knew that Shing Du Yi loved Situ Nian Zu. A secret well kept, but only now did Nian Zu realize how much he wouldve liked to have something from which to remember the man he loved.

Except he did have something to remember Du Yi by, all the way back at the Northern Wall. That too had been arranged by young Rain to honour the man, an unmarked roadside shrine housing a beautiful, unmarked urn, a monument to an unknown father who died saving his daughter.

That was Du Yis resting place, his name left off because the Shing Clan had been exterminated to the last man, woman, and child by order of the Emperor, their property seized and accomplishments struck from the history books, all because they had the audacity to cover up the death of a drunk Imperial Scion who took a tumble off a balcony. For revealing this, Du Yi was given the dubious honour of a clean death, and his name left intact on some list somewhere of all the Marshals of the North, a poor reward for a man who dedicated his life in service of the greater good. Nian Zu had only heard about it from Yuzhen and others who knew Du Yi well, but he had yet to visit it himself. He could lie and say it was because he was a busy man with much to worry about, and that hed been away from the Northern Wall for almost two years now, but the truth was, hed avoided going there because he could not afford to be seen weeping over another mans ashes.

This realization more than anything soured Nian Zus mood for weddings and festivities, because for the first time in his hundred years, he resented the Empire which he served so long, for it had taken away the sole light of his life.

A grudge he would nurse on another day, but in light of all these revelations regarding his lost love, Nian Zu was thoroughly irked by the fact that this was the third wedding hed attended with young Rain as the groom, while he himself had been denied even one. By choice, of course, for during the prime of his life, Nian Zu could have had his pick of any eligible woman in the Empire to take as his wife. The only issue was that he never did much enjoy the company of women. It wasnt just that he didnt find them sexually attractive, he also could never make heads or tails of women as a whole. Men were just so much easier to understand and be around, but women might as well have been an entirely different species and all but impossible for him to connect with. Over the last year, he spent much of his efforts in an attempt to form some sort of familial bond with Yuzhen, and though they both tried their damnedest to make things work, there was still a barrier between them that he could not entirely describe. Their relationship was one of friendship and mutual respect, but nothing more in spite of how much effort they both put in, with rules they both had yet to wholly understand.

For example, she would share the most sordid details about the happenings within her bedroom, assuming Nian Zu was interested simply because he enjoyed the company of men, and once even asked him to share some of his personal experiences. He had no interest in either listening or sharing, and when Yuzhen continued with the subject over his objections, he was horrified to learn that this sort of topic was commonplace among women, who for some insane reason saw fit to share the most intimate details of their relationships with one another. She wanted to share everything, right down to his size and favourite position, and thought it entirely natural to do so while expecting Nian Zu to never mention it to Gerel at all.

Inconceivable is what it was. How was Nian Zu supposed to look at the young man the same way again, knowing what he knew now?

Then there was the matter of Nian Zu repeatedly inviting Yuzhen to join him and Gerel in training, a means to get closer to the girl and spend more time together, but she always made excuses about how she didnt want to interrupt their manly bonding moments. Nonsense is what it was, what manly bonding was there to be had? All they did was spar and offer advice to one another, and that was that. Nian Zu barely knew the first thing about Gerel besides the obvious. He was deeply devoted to his wife, fiercely loyal to his people, and a deeply disturbed man who loved bloodshed just a little too much. Though this was the sum total of Nian Zus information on Gerel, it was enough for him to trust the young man with Yuzhens life as well as his own.

That was how it was between men. You didnt need to know a mans likes, dislikes, and every other detail of their life in order to have friendship and camaraderie. All you needed to do was get along, but for some strange reason, this just wasnt enough for women. There had to be more, had to know more, and share more, but Nian Zu was a private man and had been all his life, so he could not bring himself to meet Yuzhens high expectations.

But he tried, and would try again, and when he inevitably failed, he would keep trying until he either got it right or Yuzhen no longer cared to ask. Even the thought of such a day coming to pass filled his heart with grief, his chest aching as he studied the lovely young girl sitting beside him in her dazzling formal dress. Du Yi had always favoured wearing his robes of Office during events like this, and hed always looked quite fetching in them, but Yuzhen was a fiend for fashion and always spearheading the latest trends, mostly because she took great delight in riding the razor-thin margin between stylish and scandalous. Todays affair was a traditional dress, albeit more form fitting than the ones Nian Zu remembered from his youth, a short sleeved, blue silk affair embroidered with white plum blossoms that contrasted beautifully with her golden blonde hair and seamlessly blended into the long slits running down both sides of her skirt to reveal the pale, unblemished flesh beneath. There was a time when women kept those slits buttoned all the way down to keep their thighs, calves, and ankles hidden away from sight, but ever since young Mila, Yan, and Li Song took to the stage for a martial exhibit some two years ago wearing dresses similar to Yuzhens, itd somehow become acceptable for ladies of high birth to show off their legs as much as possible.

Not that he was complaining. Even he, a man lacking any and all attraction to the fairer sex found it all very tastefully seductive, and wondered if there would ever come a time when male fashion followed suit. If not legs, maybe chest and abdomens, with men leaving their robes unclasped to show off their toned upper torsos...

That being said, Nian Zu was not the only one who appreciated Yuzhens choice of dress, as there was many a man fixated on her beauty in the crowd. Even the most vigilant of guards couldnt help but steal a glance every now and then, though they quickly looked away once they noticed Gerels piercing and protective glare. The man was simply seething with jealousy and Yuzhen absolutely loved teasing him about it as she ignored his existence to make friendly conversation with the other men around them, a fact Nian Zu wouldve never really noticed if not for her love of sharing sordid details. Also dressed in the latest fashions, Gerels high-collared, blue-silk shirt hugged his muscular frame so tightly his rippling muscles threatened to burst out if he breathed just a little too deeply, but the overall effect was every bit as eye catching as Yuzhens dress. Rather than plum blossoms, Gerels shirt was embroidered with sinuous dragons soaring above the clouds, a none-too-subtle allusion to his prodigious talents. Yuzhens idea most likely, as Gerel was not one to flaunt his Martial skills, but the girl was not one to leave a piece unused in the grand game of politics. The dragons were a reminder to all that as a Peak Expert in his mid-thirties, there was a significant chance for Gerel to one day reach the apex of the Martial Path, rising beyond a mere Peak Expert to become a Divinity, a pinnacle existence able to match Ancestral Beasts in sheer destructive power.

And so Yuzhens enemies should tread lightly, lest she harbour resentment for the future and one day dispatch her Divinity of a husband to settle old grudges.

That was the idea at least, but aside from the most adept of players in the political game, few cared to think so far ahead into the future. Most were incapable of thinking more than a few minutes ahead, as evidenced by the slew of men who continued to steal glances at Yuzhen despite Gerels growing aggravation, as he didnt need to be a Divinity to kill most of the men here in an open and fair duel. Though merely a young Peak Expert, he was still strong enough to easily dispatch anyone under forty years of age, and well connected enough to do so without having to worry about consequences, so Yuzhens admirers were quite literally risking their lives for a peek at her thighs. In fairness, she was doing a fine job of tempting them by arching her back to show off her ample cleavage or repeatedly crossing and uncrossing her legs to cause her skirt to shift dangerously about, and the glint in her eyes told Nian Zu she knew exactly what effect she was having on the men around her, Gerel included.

Were they alone, Nian Zu wouldve quietly pretended not to notice the bizarre couples antics, but alas, there were too many other people present to feign ignorance. Southern Marshal Quyen Huongs repeated scoffs were clearly meant to convey his disdain for Yuzhens company, but Nanda Bayin, the chosen successor to the rank of Colonel General sat in between the Southern and Northern Marshals, was either feigning ignorance or so captivated by Yuzhens beauty that he had yet to notice his superiors subtle derision. Likely the latter, given how Quyen Huong hand picked this lustful toad to fill the void left by Tiger Slayer Tran Hoangs untimely death, which was against everything the rank of Colonel General was meant to represent. Marshals were not supposed to appoint their Colonel Generals, because while civil officers worked hand in hand with military command, there were many aspects to their relationship that were antagonistic in nature. This was the reason why Marshals held the authority to grant any military rank to anyone they pleased short of Colonel Generals, who could only be appointed by the Emperor Himself. Granted, the Marshals usually had some say in the nomination process, but their word held less weight than that of a Lieutenant and Major Generals.

In fact, to avoid the appearance of favouritism and curry favour with his Society backers, Du Yi had vocally opposed Nian Zus promotion to Colonel General all those years ago, but his loyal comrades had rallied around him and the Emperor saw fit to grant him the highest rank in all the lands.

Finding a team of Cloud-Stepping Warriors to pit against them was no easy task, but young Rain had plenty of volunteers eager to try their luck once he promised a sizable reward of a thousand gold per player to any team able to defeat him. The first group to try was a mishmash of various well-known youths, older than Rains group and veterans one and all, but the young Legates team ran roughshod over their opponents in an overwhelming display of skill, speed, teamwork, and talent. Having devised the rules himself, Rain held the upper hand as he was the only one who had time to put together a plan of action, and he used this to great effect. Since it was all but impossible to carry the ball using the rod and Cloud-Step away, passing was the best way to move the ball forwards, and the Bekhai skills in archery served them well here. While their opponents converged on the ball itself, Rain and his teammates focused on passing and intercepting the ball as they moved across the wooden logs with remarkable ease, never once faltering in their offensive or defensive efforts. Eventually, Rains team scored eleven goals to their opponents three, all of which were lucky throws on unguarded goal posts. That was the other key to Rains victory, the fact that even though a goal keeper was allowed to use their body to block the ball whilst standing on the netted platforms, there was no rule forcing them to remain there. Thus, his team always outnumbered their opponents in every engagement, an advantage which proved well-worth the risk more often than not.

Three more teams tried their luck before the Warriors of the Empire started taking their Legates game seriously, for each team had forced Rain to reveal a few more of his hidden tiles and uncovered the true depths hidden within the sport. Only the rod could be used to stop the ball, and touching it with any part of ones body meant control was forfeited to the opponent, so whenever Rains team was unable to progress, they would simply whip the ball at the closest unsuspecting opponent and bounce the ball off their bodies so that they might start anew from their side. Then there was the fact that no one thought to bounce the ball off a floating log to make an unexpected pass or goal, or how one could throw the rod to intercept the ball so another player could catch it, or how one could simply target and break their opponents rod, forcing them to return to the bridge to retrieve a new one, as well as half a dozen other devious schemes young Rain put to the test over the course of those games.

Not even the Azure Ascendants, a team led by a former Lieutenant Colonel and made up of multiple infamous bandits could defeat young Rains team in this game. They could only force him to reveal yet another powerful hidden tile, wherein he used his Blessing of Water to propel the logs in any direction he liked. Oh how the crowd laughed when he simply glided away from a devious trap set by Lord of Thunder Lei Gong, only to carry himself and the ball right up to the net. Even Gerel and Yuzhen took part in the fun alongside a team of their peers, though young Rain showed no face to his older, talented tribesman as he repeatedly moved the logs out from under Gerels feet, an act which had Nian Zu howling with laughter. The man was far too uptight most of the time, and a cool dunk was just what he needed, though he would never admit as much to Yuzhen.

Despite all of Rains Water-Blessed shenanigans, Gerel and Yuzhens team came closest to defeating him, but even they were unable to secure a victory once Charok revealed his true skills and started scoring points without ever leaving his goal post from across the lake. Fiery Eyes, the Bekhai called him, on account of his unparalleled vision and uncanny aim, which as it turned out was Rains final hidden tile that helped him secure a victory in their closest game yet. All in all, the games were played in good fun and everyone left in high spirits, even after Rains team emerged undefeated against all comers, though he had the good graces to donate the promised prizes to help pay for the blood price for the fallen soldiers. His mood much improved, Nian Zu clapped the soggy yet smouldering Gerel on the back and gave him a big grin, which only further darkened the surly mans disposition and set his wife to laughing.

All in all, a successful display of young Rains talents, though not what anyone expected. Not only did he flaunt his ability to Cloud Step and manipulate Water Chi, he also proved himself able enough to engage in friendly clashes against Peak Experts. More importantly, he demonstrated his tactical acumen by running figurative circles around his more skilled opponents. As a Warrior, his skills were so undeniably impressive that there was no doubt he stood at the forefront of humanity in terms of raw talent alone, but now, hed proven he was also a competent leader and cunning tactician, qualities he would need to lead the Empire to victory.

Even Nian Zu had to admit he had his doubts when the boy declared his intention to drive the Enemy out of the Western Province, but as the date for the counter offensive drew near and his brilliant plans started coming together, Nian Zu felt a spark of hope forming in his heart, one he ruthlessly suppressed so as not to let his expectations get out of hand.

Such a shame, Nanda Bayin exclaimed, shaking his head as he watched young Rain play a few rounds with sweet Mei Lin, who leaped across the logs with more grace and agility than most of the contestants today. The Legate is so talented at so young an age, yet insists on planting his seed in barren fields. A great man such as him should have many wives yes, but also many children to ensure his talents are passed onto the next generation if the worst should come to pass. Such is his duty, else the Mother will soon run out of suitable sons to take up arms against the Enemy.

Oh? Lips pursed in a smile which Nian Zu could only describe as a diplomatic scowl, Yuzhen shrugged off the Southern Officers statement and said, No matter. If the Mother lacks sons, there are still many daughters for her to call upon.

Ah I meant no offence. Waving his hand in a lackadaisical manner, it was clear Nanda was not one for politics, as he continued to explain himself despite Yuzhens narrowed eyes and Marshal Quyens subtle cough suggesting he shut his mouth. But a mans holy duty is to fight, while a womans holy duty is to bear the soldiers of the next generation. Only then can we continue to struggle against the Fathers minions most foul. Since half-beasts are unable to bear children, it is a clear sign of the Mothers disfavour, and as such, a marriage with one is akin to... Awkwardly gesturing at Yuzhen, Nanda finally realized hed overstepped as Gerels handsome features twisted into a furious grimace, but the Southern Warrior would not be cowed by a young, Northern upstart.

And Mother forbid it, Yuzhen looked like she intended to let her husband fight the man for her own entertainment...

Stifling a sigh, Nian Zu stepped in to pull Gerel back, and to his surprise, the man only resisted a little. Facing the Southern Warrior, Nian Zu drew himself up to his full height and said, I have spent my life in service to the Empire, but I have never married, nor have I sired any children. Would you claim that I have failed my holy duty?

This one would not dare. Though his words were deferential due to their difference in rank, Nandas attitude was anything but. A shame though, for the son of Situ Nian Zu would be a formidable talent indeed. A tiger father will not beget a dog son, but there will come a day when the old tiger can hunt no longer.

Impudent bastard...

Come now, let bygones be bygones. Interjecting himself into the conversation with a long sip of tea, Shuai Jiao offered a solemn smile that lacked any and all warmth. As Colonel General Nanda said, he meant no offence. It is merely a difference in perspective, one we must look past if we are to unite in harmony. Is that not what the Legate always says?

Of course, Yuzhen purred, stepping in before Nian Zu could even consider doing anything unwise. No offence taken. It is true, I cannot bear children, but just as I was raised by a father unrelated by blood, I mean to adopt an orphan to raise as my child once matters have settled down here. Turning to Nian Zu, she smiled sweetly in a manner that was anything but and added, And you sir... how could anyone accuse you of failing your duty for not siring a child of your own? Why even Commander General Shuai Jiao has no heirs to speak of, and General Nanda surely holds you both in the highest regards.

A clever rejoinder, pointing out that even though Central and South might have allied against the North in this political struggle for power, there would eventually come a time when they would clash as well. There was more nuance to the conversation as well, including her outright refusal to call Nanda Colonel General, but that was about all that Nian Zu picked up on. The girl exchanged a few more words with the Commander General before withdrawing from their company, bringing Gerel and Nian Zu along with her. There was nothing else to be said, nothing of note at least, for even though Rain was working tirelessly to unite the provinces together, the absence of pressure from the lacking Defiled offensive was proving detrimental to his cause.

Strange to think that the second greatest threat to the Empire came from within, but such was the nature of power. Du Yi once said that those who sought power were not deserving of it, and those deserving did not seek it. A wise man he was, and Nian Zu was lost without him, but as he followed Yuzhen away and watched her scheme her schemes, he was reminded that he had yet another memento to remember Du Yi by.

For Yuzhen was Du Yis daughter in every way that counted, and though Nian Zu would never presume to call himself her father, he was Du Yis husband in heart and in spirit, if not in fact. He didnt need a ceremonial vow and validation from an audience to know that he and Du Yi had loved one another dearly, a thought which eased away a heavy burden Nian Zu didnt even know hed been carrying. His steps steady and spirits light, Nian Zu took a deep breath and let go of all his lingering sorrow, for all it did was darken the happy memories he still had.

They lived, they loved, and they made merry together for many decades before Du Yis passing, and for Nian Zu, this much was enough. Now it was time to let go of the past and look forward to the future, perhaps even playing the part of doting grandfather to Yuzhens future child. Grandfather Nian Zu, now there was a title he never expected to bear, and a significant one at that, but when he imagined what it would be like, he could not help but smile.

Such was life, trials and tribulations, but not without reprieve or reward.

Chapter Meme