Who am I?

Yin Pobai sat on the stone steps in his courtyard, a blade of grass he had found somewhere dangling from his mouth.

There was no one outside anymore. With the rebellion erupting so suddenly, everyone had hidden in their homes, too frightened to get through the day in peace.

Yin Pobai was pondering a question.

Who am I?

Now that even the title of Son of Heaven had been abolished, the Emperor's Royal Guards were increasingly a name without substance.

Perhaps His Majesty has long since forgotten me?

He had money to spare and military merits to his name. Starting with his generation, his family could count as minor nobility.

Once he married and had children, his children would surely have a decent future.

But...

Was this how the rest of my life would pass?

He felt the cloth clothes he wore. They were so light, much lighter than armor.

Half a year had passed, and he still wasn't quite used to them.

He recalled his days training in the palace, when he hadn't taken off his armor even to eat or drink.

Their bronze helmets and leather armor had all been newly made. According to His Majesty, it was to give them armor worthy of their status, because they were Royal Guards, and they represented the king.

At first, he had found it rather inconvenient. It was too shiny.

Their strides were already eye-catching. Add gleaming armor, and it was hard not to attract attention.

Later, he had grown accustomed to it. During the fighting in the North Sea, he would have died if not for that armor.

Thinking it over carefully, how could it have been for the king's image? What ruler would deliberately have such distinctive, conspicuous armor made?

It had simply been another layer of protection for their lives.

Where had I put that armor?

Yin Pobai spat the grass onto the ground, stood up, and went back inside to retrieve the armor with a dent in its chest.

He hadn't worn it once since laying down his armor and returning to the fields.

Yin Pobai ran his hands over the armor. His fingers had grown a little thicker, but the feel was still so familiar. There was a bronze tube atop the helmet for inserting decorations such as Hale Bird feathers, symbols of courage and martial prowess.

He put it on with practiced ease. Huh, it was a little too small now.

He had been eating more lately. His brothers were probably much the same; a carefree life made it all too easy to put on weight.

Yin Pobai adjusted his helmet. He had his armor on, but no weapon.

Their weapons had all been confiscated when they retired to farming.

After a moment's thought, Yin Pobai took the Bronze Plow off his ox.

Ordinary households could afford neither an ox nor this Bronze Plow. His family had them only thanks to his military merits.

Now, he was going to earn more merits.

With such a huge fire in the Royal Palace, could the Royal Guards who stayed there manage?

Clad in armor and dragging a plow, Yin Pobai looked rather odd. Just as he stepped outside, he spotted his brother-in-arms next door.

He was dressed exactly the same, except that he held something different: a winnowing basket.

In a muffled voice, Yin Pobai asked, "Wang Da, do you believe in Heaven's mandate?"

Wang Da shook his head, winnowing basket in hand. "We're the Son of Hea-the Human King's Royal Guards. We believe only in His Majesty."

"So do I." Several more doors opened.

Retired Royal Guards emerged, carrying an assortment of farming tools.

What they had in common was that they had gained quite a bit of weight, and their armor looked too small.

Not one of the thirty-odd Royal Guards who had survived the North Sea was missing. Even the guard who had upset his stomach that morning came along on unsteady legs.

Zi Shou's brainwashing had been very successful. With little training, plenty of fine wine and meat, and only one phrase to shout for months, those words had been branded into their bones just like the Overlord Step. What he didn't know was that this was also a lifetime of loyalty.

"Ever since we became Royal Guards, we've never once protected His Majesty!"

Someone voiced that sentiment.

They had indeed rescued Fei Lian in the North Sea, but the man the Royal Guards ought to protect was the reigning King Zhou.

"Guard Yin, this bundle of Heartless Vegetable is for you. No, take the whole cart. I'll have it delivered to your house in a little while." An old woman cautiously opened her door and held out a bunch of Heartless Vegetable, then withdrew it, looking a little embarrassed.

The gap in the doorway widened, and a child of thirteen or fourteen ran out, a broom still in hand. "Guard Yin, are you going to the Royal Palace? I want to go too."

The old woman tugged at the child, then sighed.

Guard Yin had repaired this house, after all.

Another door opened, and a burly man emerged carrying a pestle. "Woman, don't stop me! If not for Guard Yin, the rebels would've beaten me to death at the market just now! I don't know whether King Zhou is good, but I know Guard Yin is!"

Yin Pobai's procession gradually grew longer.

Ever since returning to their hometown, they had been helping the common people without cease.

They were strong, warmhearted, and had money, with military merits to vouch for their character. Whenever a household had a problem, they liked to turn to them for help.

Even if only one in ten of those grateful for their kindness came now, that was still a substantial number.

Yin Pobai continued toward the Royal Palace, only to suddenly discover that the rebels had left it and were running north.

He didn't understand why, but wherever the rebels were, that was where he would be. He continued after them toward the north.

Zi Shou was fleeing, but just after leaving the palace, he encountered Daji, who had chased out from another direction. He had no choice but to take her along as he ran.

His destination was the north gate. There was a Beacon Tower to the north, with an approach so narrow that only one person could pass at a time. If he hid inside, he would face no more than three to five rebels at once. Couldn't he take each one down with a single punch?

He just had to hold out until the Foolishness Value settlement, then mow down a whole row with a burst of bullets.

Soon, Zi Shou reached the Beacon Tower.

Neither the north gate's defending general nor the enemy troops were there. They had probably seen the Royal Palace burning and gone to reinforce it instead. The consorts of the Imperial Harem should be safer now.

Zi Shou held off the enemy alone atop the Beacon Tower. Just as planned, groups of three to five couldn't even get close to him. If he could activate an infinite-stamina cheat, he could use the terrain to wipe out this entire rebel force.

Unfortunately, he couldn't.

Lei Kai was growing anxious. When they passed the north gate earlier, there had been more corpses from his own side. Clearly, the north gate had held. That meant all three gates apart from the South Gate should be able to hold. If he couldn't deal with King Zhou here, everything would be over once those soldiers came to reinforce him.

Lei Kai shouted, "You lawless, foolish tyrant! Surrender at once! If you come down from the Beacon Tower, I guarantee I'll spare the demon consort behind you!"

Zi Shou said nothing and kept fighting. In truth, fighting was simple: all he had to do was shove. No ordinary soldier could withstand his monstrous strength anyway, and with luck, whoever fell would knock down plenty more.

Instead, Daji spoke from behind him. "King Zhou is a hero among men, sovereign of all his ministers, and lord of all his people. How could a mere rebel general like you presume to judge him?"

Lei Kai frowned. To hell with it. If he couldn't capture him alive, he would just kill him. "All troops, fall back! Light the fire!"

Zi Shou's expression changed. Though the Beacon Tower offered an advantage against the enemy, it had no escape route. Once they attacked with fire, they only needed to hold the perimeter, and he would have nowhere to run.

He had thought they wouldn't be so hasty. All would be well if he could drag things out until the early hours. He hadn't expected this fellow to be so impatient.

Had he known, he would have made a show of taking a few cuts and pretended to be on his last legs. That should have bought him a little more time.

The fire had already been lit.

A wisp of smoke drifted before Daji. She pressed her lips together, twisted her fingers in both hands, and lowered her head as she said:

"Your consort has kept something from you for a long time, Your Majesty..."

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