Le Luoluo's face froze with fright:
"The sovereign of all birds? Father, are you saying he is..."
The Old Chief said calmly:
"I said nothing. I have simply always believed that nothing under heaven is impossible. Earlier, when I asked you what you thought of Wang Yang, you gave me a long list. If I were answering that question, I would say only this-his depths are unfathomable. In all my years, no one but him has ever given me that feeling. That is why I called the exceptional qualities you listed ordinary. For someone whose depths are unfathomable, any number of exceptional qualities would be nothing remarkable. Weren't you wondering who devised the plan to open the Barbarian Route? If my guess is right, the man who drew up this strategy was Wang Yang!"
Startled, Le Luoluo said uncertainly:
"Surely not? Wang Yang may be an extraordinary talent and a member of the Langya Wang, but he is young, after all. Would he qualify to take part in a matter of national policy like this?"
The Old Chief seemed not to have heard his son. His gaze grew distant, his thoughts unreadable. After a long while, he slowly spoke:
"He did not merely take part. This should be his own strategy. Even if others helped with the planning, he was its chief architect."
Le Luoluo found that even harder to believe. "How do you know, Father?"
The Old Chief slowly shifted his gaze toward the water jar beside the bed, his Adam's apple bobbing. Le Luoluo hurried to pour him some water, carefully supporting the back of his father's neck as he brought the bamboo tube to his lips.
As though facing a formidable enemy, the Old Chief took two sips. His body went slack, as if the effort had