The sound of the Changya Cavalry drawing near had grown unmistakable. Hidden in the shadows, they surrounded the little wooden house.
The candles inside burned brightly, but their light could not reach the cavalry outside the courtyard.
The man pushed open the door with a sword in hand. He wore ordinary gray homespun clothes, and was tall and broad-shouldered, with a strong build. Usually, he presented himself as a rough country bumpkin, though now and then he seemed simple and honest.
The people of Cuilin Village often talked about the man who lived alone with his daughter. But he was a decent fellow who had helped the villagers many times, so they were happy to spend time with him, bringing him vegetables and fruit or helping tend his fields.
Gongsun Qi had been living quite well here lately, but peaceful, beautiful days always had an end.
The enemy was concealed within the Yin-Yang Technique: Swallowing Shadows. Gongsun Qi stared at the dense darkness before him. He could not see his foes, but he could sense their positions and strength.
The Six Kingdoms Signal Smoke streaked across the sky in brilliant colors, dotted with fluorescent sparks. It was beautiful, but the message it carried was perilous.
"Gongsun Qi," a stern voice came from the darkness. "Traitor of Yan! If you surrender without a fight today, perhaps the general will spare your life."
The sword in Gongsun Qi's hand had a rolled edge. Its blade gleamed white, though it looked rather dull and not particularly useful. Beyond that, it bore the heavy air of an old relic, as if the years had worn it down and left behind countless traces to stir the heart.
A sword so covered in the scars of time did not look very intimidating.
But in Gongsun Qi's