Dawn's glow gradually warmed, and the layered clouds slowly parted.
The sun rose above the coast, and only then did summer show a hint of its true face.
A figure in azure robes streaked across the high sky, as though flying within the blazing sun.
"Who goes there—"
Yan Guangyou, commander of the city gate guards, called out more and more softly.
Of course, he recognized the former Marquis of Wu'an.
This tall, upright man seemed to have stepped out of the blazing sun—when the former Marquis of Wu'an had gone to River Viewing Terrace at nineteen, he too had ridden a date-red steed like blazing flames, proudly departing through these very gates.
"Beholding him, one knew he would claim the foremost title."
Naturally, he had only heard his elders speak of it. He had not even enlisted back then.
In recent years, among those from Qi who joined the army, if they did not revere "Wu'an," then they revered "Champion." As exemplars of being granted marquisates in their youth, these two were practically worshipped as gods. One had risen from common birth, building everything with his own hands, foremost among the youth of all states in military merit. The other, though born into a top-tier noble house, had established his own branch and earned a marquisate through military merit.
Portraits of these two were sometimes even brought home to ward off misfortune. Whenever war came, people would deliberately offer them a bow.
Now both of them had left the country, but though they had left, their names had not—merely taking a thirty-year turn through Great Void Pavilion. Those who understood, understood.
The people of Qi, especially soldiers in the army, generally regarded them as one of their own.
"My name is Jiang Wang. I am from Star Moon Plain.