Muster the Troops for Departure

At the third quarter of the Tiger Hour, Taiyi opened his eyes.

The bedchamber was pitch-dark, with only a faint sliver of moonlight filtering through the window and casting blurred shadows of the latticework across the floor. He did not light a lamp. He simply lay on the couch, staring at the carved patterns of stars on the vaulted ceiling. The stars were inlaid with luminous jade, glowing faintly in the darkness like a real night sky.

He could not sleep.

They would depart tomorrow—though calling it a "campaign" was perhaps overstating it. He was merely taking three thousand demon soldiers to the foot of Buzhou Mountain for a look around and to probe the Witch Race's strength. But when it fell to Eastern Emperor Taiyi, it could not simply be "a look around." He had to show force, show authority, and let those Witch Race brutes know that the Heavenly Court had its eyes on them.

But Taiyi knew perfectly well that this trip was not only for that.

He turned over and pressed a hand to his chest. Through his clothes, he could feel the outlines of the two jade pendants—the Golden Crow and the eagle, lying side by side over his heart, warm against his skin. Di Jun's words from that night echoed in his ears once more. "No matter what happens, remember—your brother is here."

His brother was here.

But some roads could only be walked alone.

He sat up and placed his bare feet on the icy floor. Walking to the window, he pushed it open. The night wind immediately rushed in, carrying the damp chill of the sea of clouds. Outside was still completely dark, save for the scattered lights of the night-patrol demon soldiers' torches drifting amid the clouds in the distance.

It was time to prepare.

He returned to the couch without lighting a lamp and took a set of light armor from a hidden compartment by the faint moonlight. The armor was forged from black iron, its surface carved with sun patterns. It was icy beneath his fingers, but after he touched it for a while, a hint of warmth seeped through. It had been forged from black iron mother ore mined from the depths of the Sun Star, tempered with Golden Crow True Fire, and resonated with his bloodline.

He put it on piece by piece.

When the breastplate clicked into place, it gave a crisp snap. Bracers, greaves, knee guards... With every piece he fastened, the restlessness in his heart eased a little. By the time he secured the final shoulder guard, his entire bearing had changed. He was no longer Taiyi, the man who lay awake at night. He was the Eastern Emperor, the undefeated Eastern Emperor Taiyi of the Demon Race.

He walked to the bronze mirror.

The reflection was blurry, but those eyes shone with frightening brilliance. Deep within his golden pupils, a trace of dark red flickered in and out of sight. It was the Chaos True Sun Fire circulating within him. He stared into the mirror for a while, then suddenly curled his lips into a smile.

It was a cold, arrogant smile—the smile Eastern Emperor Taiyi ought to wear.

"Time to get to work," he murmured.

When he pushed open the door, the Tiger Hour had only just passed. The corridor was empty, filled only with the echo of his footsteps. When the Demon Guard on duty saw him emerge, he immediately straightened. "Your Majesty."

"Where is Fei Lian?"

"Waiting for you at the parade ground."

"Mm."

Taiyi said no more and headed straight for the parade ground. His pace was not quick, but every step was firm. His black iron war boots struck the jade floor with steady, heavy thuds.

The parade ground lay on the western side of the Heavenly Court, a cloud platform spanning ten li in every direction. By the time Taiyi arrived, the horizon had only begun to pale. Gray light shone upon the dark mass of formations below.

Three thousand demon soldiers stood in thirty units of one hundred, their ranks perfectly ordered. Not a sound could be heard.

There was only the flutter of flags in the wind and the occasional metallic scrape of armor. Every demon soldier wore standardized blue-black scale armor, carried a standard long saber on his back, and had a bow and crossbow at his waist. Half-masks covered their faces, revealing only their eyes—some excited, some tense, some calm.

Fei Lian stood below the command platform. Seeing Taiyi arrive, he bowed. "Your Majesty."

"Are they all here?" Taiyi asked.

"They are." Fei Lian handed over a roster. "As you ordered, all three thousand are elite troops from the Wind Division. The ten centurions are all early Golden Immortals, their deputies have reached the peak of the Heavenly Immortal realm, and the ordinary soldiers are at least mid-stage Heavenly Immortals."

Taiyi accepted the roster without looking at it, then casually tossed it onto the table. He climbed the command platform and slowly swept his gaze over the three thousand faces below.

Silence.

Even the wind seemed to have weakened.

"Do you know where we're going?" Taiyi asked. His voice was not loud, yet every man heard it clearly.

"Buzhou Mountain!" all three thousand answered as one.

"Do you know what we're going there to do?"

"Scout the enemy!"

"Wrong," Taiyi said.

The formation fell silent for an instant.

Taiyi stepped down from the command platform and walked slowly along the ranks. His war boots struck the cloudstone with dull echoes. He stopped in the middle of the third row and looked at a young demon soldier in front of him.

The young man looked barely past twenty—though one could not judge a demon's age by his face. He stood perfectly straight, but his grip on his saber was tight enough to turn his knuckles white.

"You," Taiyi said, pointing at him. "Tell me, what are we going to Buzhou Mountain for?"

The young demon soldier froze, then quickly puffed out his chest. "Reporting to Your Majesty! To investigate the Witch Race's movements and determine their true strength!"

"And then?"

"And then... report back to the Heavenly Court and formulate a response!"

"Wrong again." Taiyi shook his head.

He turned and returned to the command platform, facing three thousand pairs of puzzled eyes.

"We are not going to Buzhou Mountain to investigate them, nor are we going there to probe their strength."

"We are going to tell them—"

He paused. Then his voice abruptly rose, like a blade leaving its sheath.

"To tell them that the Heavenly Court is watching them. To tell them that the Demon Race is not asleep. To tell them that if they want to make trouble, they'd better first weigh whether they have what it takes!"

His voice reverberated above the parade ground.

The eyes of the three thousand demon soldiers lit up. Their suppressed excitement began to burn, spark by spark.

"So," Taiyi continued, his voice calming again, "this trip is not a war. But we must carry ourselves like we're going to war. Keep your formations neat, your presence strong, and your eyes fierce. Let those brutes know at a glance—this is not a group they can afford to provoke."

His gaze swept across the entire field.

"Do you understand?"

"Understood!" all three thousand roared.

"Good." Taiyi nodded. "Fei Lian."

"Here."

"You will lead the troops ahead and establish camp fifty li outside Buzhou Mountain. Set up sentries and lay down formations. Wait for me there."

"Yes!"

Fei Lian bowed, turned, and swept up a hand. The three thousand demon soldiers instantly sprang into motion, transforming into three thousand blue-black streaks that shot into the sky. They gathered into a dark cloud overhead and swept toward the South Heaven Gate. Their movements were clean, decisive, and terrifyingly orderly.

Taiyi watched the dark cloud vanish at the edge of the sea of clouds before withdrawing his gaze. He did not leave immediately, instead remaining on the command platform for a while longer. The morning light gradually brightened. Golden sunlight pierced the clouds and spilled across the parade ground, making the blue-black cloudstone gleam.

It was time to go to Tanggu Valley.

Tanggu Valley lay in the southeastern corner of the Heavenly Court, a valley surrounded by the Fusang Forest. Natural hot springs filled the valley, their steam rising constantly, keeping the place warm as spring throughout the year. The ten Golden Crows were raised here—though they were not exactly little anymore. They had all taken human form, but their temperaments were still much like children's.

When Taiyi arrived, the valley was lively.

Before he even entered the forest, he heard chattering voices and the splashing of water. Passing through the Fusang Forest, his view suddenly opened up. Nine Golden Crows were splashing around in the hot spring pool, sending water flying everywhere. The tenth and youngest, Lu Ya, was squatting on a large rock by the pool with his chin propped on his hands, boredom written all over his little face.

"Uncle!"

Lu Ya spotted Taiyi first. He jumped down from the rock and came running over barefoot, his feet pattering against the ground. He wore only a thin short shirt, more than half of it soaked through. His hair was dripping wet as well.

Taiyi reached out and held him by the shoulder, not allowing him to pounce. His armor was hard, and he was afraid of hurting the child.

"Why aren't you playing with them?" he asked.

"It's boring." Lu Ya curled his lips. "All they know is how to have water fights. So childish."

It was rather amusing to hear that from a child who looked seven or eight years old. Taiyi rubbed his wet hair. "Then what do you think is fun?"

"Cultivation." Lu Ya's eyes brightened. "Uncle, I've already practiced the Golden Crow Swoops Through the Sky you taught me last time to the third level! Look, look—"

He was about to demonstrate, but Taiyi stopped him. "Wait. Change your clothes first. You'll catch a chill if you stay wet."

"Oh." Lu Ya obediently answered and ran back to a little hut nearby. A moment later, he came back wearing a dry short shirt, his hair towel-dried until it was only half damp.

Taiyi found a flat rock beside the pool and sat down. He patted the space beside him. "Come on. Show me."

Lu Ya nodded excitedly, stepped back a few paces, and planted his feet. Taking a deep breath, he formed a hand seal.

A faint golden glow rose around his body. Unlike Taiyi's True Sun Fire, it was not scorching or tyrannical, but gentler, like sunlight at dawn. The golden light grew brighter, and Lu Ya's body swayed—

Whoosh!

A streak of golden light shot into the sky, tracing a graceful arc through the air. It turned, circled, dove, then soared back up. The movements were still somewhat clumsy, and his turns a little stiff, but his agility and speed already bore the beginnings of the Golden Crow clan's divine flight art.

The golden light finally withdrew, and Lu Ya landed steadily where he had begun. His little face was flushed with excitement as he looked at Taiyi with sparkling eyes. "How was that?"

"Not bad," Taiyi evaluated. "Your turns aren't smooth enough, and you pull back too abruptly when diving. But... for the third level, this is quite good."

Lu Ya smiled so broadly that his eyes curved into crescents. He hurried over and sat beside Taiyi. "Uncle, I heard them say you're going to Buzhou Mountain?"

"Mm."

"Take me with you." Lu Ya looked up at him. "I can fly really fast now, and I can fight too. Really! I sparred with Third Brother, and he couldn't even beat me!"

In the hot spring pool, the "Third Brother" he had named was underwater. Hearing that, he poked his head out and spat a mouthful of water. "Pah! I was going easy on you!"

"Who asked you to go easy on me?" Lu Ya made a face at the pool.

Watching them squabble, the tension Taiyi had carried over the expedition eased slightly. He reached out and rubbed Lu Ya's hair. "What you need to do now is cultivate well and grow up properly. Your uncle is here, and your father is here. It isn't your turn to worry about fighting yet."

"But..." Lu Ya wanted to say something more.

"No buts." Taiyi cut him off, his tone turning stern. "Lu Ya, you are a Golden Crow, an innate divine being born from the Sun Star. Your road is still long. There is no need to rush."

Lu Ya fell silent. He lowered his head and picked at the cracks in the rock with his fingers.

Taiyi watched him, watched the child's young profile, and a complicated emotion suddenly surged within him. He knew Lu Ya's future—or rather, he knew Lu Ya's future in the original "script." Ten Suns Across the Sky, Houyi Shoots the Suns, nine elder brothers dying tragic deaths, leaving only the youngest to escape by chance. From then on, Lu Ya would carry the blood feud of the Blood Sea, living a lonely and obsessive life.

But things were different now.

Since he was here, since he wore Eastern Emperor Taiyi's skin, he had to protect these children's lives.

"Lu Ya," Taiyi said, his voice softening, "when I return, I'll check your progress. If you can practice Golden Crow Swoops Through the Sky to the fourth level, I'll teach you a new move—True Sun Fire Manifestation. Do you want to learn?"

Lu Ya abruptly raised his head, and his eyes lit up again. "I do!"

"Then train hard."

"Mm!" Lu Ya nodded heavily.

Taiyi stood, preparing to leave. After taking two steps, he stopped again and took something from his robes—a palm-sized Golden Crow figurine carved from Warm Jade of the Sun. The workmanship was not particularly refined, but it had captured the Golden Crow's spirit perfectly, making it seem almost alive.

"This is for you." He handed the figurine to Lu Ya. "Wear it. If you miss me, look at it."

Lu Ya accepted the figurine and gripped it tightly in his palm. The jade was warm. Pressed against his hand, its warmth traveled all the way into his heart.

"Uncle," he said, looking up with reddened eyes, "come back early."

"I know."

Taiyi did not linger. He turned and walked out of Tanggu Valley. When he emerged from the Fusang Forest, he looked back once. Lu Ya was still standing atop the large rock by the pool, clutching the jade figurine and watching him eagerly.

Taiyi raised a hand and waved.

Then he turned away and did not look back again.

Outside the South Heaven Gate, Fei Lian was already waiting.

When Taiyi arrived, he bowed. "Your Majesty, the three thousand demon soldiers have reached the outskirts of Buzhou Mountain and are establishing camp and defenses. As ordered, the camp has been set in a valley fifty li away. It is well hidden, easy to defend, and difficult to attack."

"Mm." Taiyi nodded. "Any news from Bai Ze?"

"Lord Bai Ze just sent a message." Fei Lian handed him a jade slip. "On the Witch Race's side, thirty thousand troops from the Houtu Tribe have indeed moved to the western foothills of Buzhou Mountain, while twenty thousand elite troops from the Gonggong Tribe have appeared along the Eastern Sea. But... something is strange."

"What is it?"

"Their movements are very slow," Fei Lian said. "It doesn't look like emergency preparations for war. It seems more like... a routine rotation? But a rotation at a time like this doesn't make sense either."

Taiyi accepted the jade slip and swept it with his divine sense. It contained intelligence compiled by Bai Ze, detailing the recent movements of the Witch Race tribes. Just as Fei Lian had said, there had been troop movements, but the pace was sluggish. It did not look like they were preparing for war.

"Either they aren't ready yet." Taiyi put away the jade slip. "Or... they have another scheme."

"Which do you think it is, Your Majesty?"

"We'll know once we get there," Taiyi said. "Let's go."

The two transformed into streaks of light and shot into the sky, racing toward Buzhou Mountain. The wind howled past their ears, while the sea of clouds rapidly fell away beneath them. Taiyi flew at the front, his golden rainbow tearing through the sky like a sharp sword aimed directly at the divine mountain that held up heaven and earth.

After flying for roughly an hour, the outline of Buzhou Mountain appeared on the horizon ahead.

It was tall. Far too tall.

The mountain rose from the earth and pierced the heavens, its upper half concealed within the clouds and impossible to see clearly. It was blue-black, its surface blanketed in snow that reflected dazzling light beneath the sun. At its foot stretched vast primeval forests, followed by grasslands and hills—the lands where the Witch Race had lived for generations.

Taiyi descended and slowed down.

Fei Lian caught up and pointed southeast. "The camp is over there."

Taiyi followed his gesture. About fifty li away lay a hidden valley, its entrance concealed by dense ancient forest and almost invisible from the sky. The vague outlines of tents could be seen inside, along with faint fluctuations of formations—the concealment formations set by the Wind Division.

"We're not going to the camp yet," Taiyi said. "We'll circle Buzhou Mountain first."

"Your Majesty?" Fei Lian was startled.

"Let's assess the situation," Taiyi explained. "Three thousand men setting up camp make plenty of noise. The Witch Race cannot possibly have noticed nothing. Yet they have shown no reaction. That isn't right. Either they haven't found us, or they have, but they don't care."

He narrowed his eyes at the vast forest below Buzhou Mountain.

"I'm more inclined toward the latter."

The two changed direction and slowly flew along Buzhou Mountain's perimeter. Taiyi spread out his divine sense, covering a radius of a hundred li. Forests, rivers, hills, grasslands... every blade of grass and every tree became clear in his perception.

Then he sensed it.

There was activity in a dense forest roughly thirty li away. Not beasts, but people—or rather, Witches. Around twenty of them were busy around a fallen giant beast. They appeared to be hunting.

A Witch Race hunting party.

A cold smile curled across Taiyi's lips.

"Come on," he said. "Let's go say hello."

The golden rainbow turned and dove toward the dense forest.