Return to Phoenix Cry Village

The old village chief led the villagers onward day and night. When they were tired, they found a temporary place to rest, and when they were hungry, they had brought dry rations and water. Their journey had gone smoothly enough. The villagers had already left the mountains, and since they had no choice but to relocate, they could only accept it. Still, these villagers and their ancestors had lived in the mountains for generations, and they were having a little trouble adjusting to life away from them. Would it really be better than life in the village?

"I heard you can't hunt on the plains. If the city lord's recruiting soldiers catch you, they'll drag you off to build the city walls?"

"I also heard that once we get there, we'll have to make a living farming, and all our hunting tools will be confiscated. We'll have to hand over grain to the city lord every year, too!"

"The city lord must be a very important official, right?"

The villagers, who had lived far from society, chatted among themselves as they traveled. They had no idea what the world beyond the mountains was like. What they knew of it came from what they had heard when they went to Mang Village to barter for grain. They knew far too little...

"Don't worry. When the old village chief and I went looking for a place to settle, we met the garrison commander of Sunset City. He was very kind, and he was the one who arranged a place for us to stay!"

"Oh, that's good, then. Listening to them, I was getting scared to come here!"

Everyone chimed in at once. The unknown brought a touch of unease with it.

"Everyone, now that we've come out, don't dwell on it too much. Since we're here, let's make ourselves at home. Everything will get better," the old village chief said from his stretcher, comforting them.

"Father, this is my first time leaving the mountains! You can't even see where this place ends, and the road is so wide! Hee-hee, it's wonderful." On her first trip away from home, Xiao Ke'er was completely captivated by the unfamiliar sights. She walked in the middle of the group, looking left and right and stopping now and then to smell the flowers by the road. She missed her home in the mountains, of course, but more importantly, being with her father, her big brother, and... Brother Fan was best of all.

"Ke'er, you must be tired. If you are, give your bundle to your big brother. Let him carry it for a while." Xiao Changlin gave his daughter a doting look.

Xiao Feng: "..."

Xiao Feng was pushing a wheelbarrow piled so high with herbs from the medicine shop that he couldn't see the road. Several bundles also hung from his body, practically wrapping him up like a zongzi. He gripped the wheelbarrow and huffed and puffed with exhaustion.

"Father, I'm not tired. You're the one getting tired holding the wheelbarrow. You should give your bundle to big brother instead. He's young and doesn't mind getting tired, hee-hee!"

Ye Fan was pushing a cart too, with all sorts of things hanging from him. Yet he was probably having the easiest time of anyone there. The power of the earth lay deep within his muscles and bones, the Spring of Life watered his meridians, and the Water Spirit Art circulated ceaselessly. He didn't have a single drop of sweat on him, his breathing was even, and he showed no sign of fatigue.

"Little Fan, take a break. I'll push the cart!"

"Father, I'm not tired. Look, I haven't even broken a sweat. Don't worry, Father, this is nothing to me!"

"Let's rest in the shade of those trees ahead and regain some strength before we go on!" The old village chief looked up at the sun and addressed the villagers.

Xiao Feng: "Finally, we can rest! I'm exhausted! Phew..."

The villagers took a short break in the shade, eating dried meat and dry rations to regain their strength. They had been walking for so long without seeing a single soul on the road!

As soon as he had set the wheelbarrow down securely, Xiao Feng sprawled on the ground, gasping for breath. Having never been hunting, he was having a little trouble keeping up.

Xiao Ke'er wasn't idle. She took down a beast-hide waterskin and went over to her big brother. "Here!" Xiao Feng glanced at his sister, sat up, took the waterskin, and drank.

Gulp, gulp.

"Phew... I never realized the water from the mountains was so sweet."

Xiao Ke'er took some dried meat from a bundle and handed it to her big brother. "Here, you should eat this. Save the dry rations for Father!" Xiao Feng handed the waterskin back to her, took the dried meat, and promptly lay down again to chew on it.

Ye Fan found a place to sit as well. His mother handed him a waterskin, and he took a big gulp. In truth, he didn't need water. The Spring of Life continually nourished his body through his meridians, keeping it in good condition. He drank only to conceal this and keep others from noticing anything amiss.

The Wu Kingdom's army was now only three days' journey from Cloud Mountain Fortress! Cloud Mountain Fortress was the last pass between the Wu Kingdom and the Qian Kingdom. Beyond the fortress, Wuling City in the Qian Kingdom could be seen in the distance.

General Chen Haoran and Senior Minister Sima Heru were also leading 150,000 soldiers to the front.

"General Chen, Generals Yan and Guo may reach the border fortress in another two or three days. Our army must pick up its pace if we are to join forces with them."

"Join forces? Why should we? Those two generals are so eager to earn merit that they've forced a rapid march, heedless of their exhausted men and horses and their shortage of provisions and supplies. Do they really think the Qian Kingdom is a soft persimmon? The might of our Wu Emperor bears down on all under heaven and beyond. He personally led campaigns several times and still couldn't crush the Qian Kingdom completely. Yet those two generals in the twilight of their lives think they can take a Qian border city with so few troops? They're simply talking in their sleep."

"General Chen, you're mistaken. Though our Wu Emperor failed to win a complete victory on his last personal campaign, he wore the Qian Kingdom's old emperor down, and the man died of despair not long afterward. The new emperor has only just ascended the throne, so his footing is bound to be unsteady. The kingdom has also been through the chaos of the princes' struggle for power, and its strength must have suffered greatly. If we join forces with the two old generals, we'll surely sweep aside every enemy like rotten wood. This is a once-in-an-age achievement!"

"Senior Minister Sima, you think they'll join forces to attack the Qian Kingdom? Haha, you don't know them well enough. If I'm not mistaken, Generals Yan and Guo will divide their forces at Cloud Mountain Fortress and each attack a Qian city, regardless of the cost, in pursuit of a swift victory. Alas, that is a grave taboo in warfare..."

"If things are truly as you say, General Chen, then our army should hurry all the more to stop the two old generals from dividing their forces!"

"Brother Sima, it isn't that I'm narrow-minded and care nothing for the lives of the two generals and their 400,000 troops. Those two old generals have spent their lives on horseback and won glorious military achievements. Apart from the reigning Wu Emperor, who would dare stand in their way? They won't be persuaded, they won't..."

"Brother Chen, is there really nothing we can do?"

"Brother Sima, since we already address each other as brothers, I may as well speak plainly. Though the Qian Kingdom has been through turmoil, the new Qian Emperor is truly a rare match for our Wu Emperor. His suppression of this rebellion was enough to show that he is both wise and brave, and decisive in matters of life and death. There are still people of great talent among the Qian Kingdom's officials. We sent out our troops too hastily this time. I have a plan. Though it won't defeat the enemy, it can at least keep more of our soldiers out of peril."

"Oh, Brother Chen, if you have a plan, why haven't you told me? The lives of 400,000 troops hang by a thread!"

"Haha, Brother Sima, if I gave you 50,000 troops and had you force-march, how long would it take you to catch the two old generals?"

"Two days at most."

"Would you dare stake your head on a military pledge?"

"Why wouldn't I? Give me two days. If I, Sima Heru, fail to catch the two old generals, you may take my head!"

"Good. Sima Heru, hear your orders. I command you to lead 50,000 elite troops on a forced march and reach Cloud Mountain Fortress before Generals Yan and Guo divide their forces. Stop the two old generals from splitting up and make camp there. I will lead the remaining 100,000 soldiers and protect the provisions and supplies. Once our forces are united, we'll discuss the grand plan for attacking Qian! This is a matter of great importance. Brother Sima, please lead your troops out at once."

"This subordinate accepts his orders!"

"Left Vanguard, bring a squad and follow me. Leave the baggage behind and travel light! We must intercept the two old generals before they reach Cloud Mountain Fortress!"

"Yes, sir!"

A group of soldiers left their baggage behind and raced off!

"Brother Sima, I hope you can persuade the two old generals!"

"Old village chief, at this pace, we can reach Phoenix Cry Village before sunset tomorrow. This journey has really been hard to bear."

"Yes, we're finally almost there. Everyone has worked hard traveling these past few days. Let's find a suitable place to rest our feet!"

The villagers cheered at his words. They were finally almost there! After days on the road, their feet had long since blistered and bled, and their muscles and bones ached terribly. Every one of them cried out about their suffering.

Xiao Ke'er was having a hard time too. Xiao Changlin and Ye Fan had long since taken her bundles from her. Although she carried nothing at all, her feet could no longer keep up, and every step was agonizing. Father Ye had wanted her to ride in the wheelbarrow, but how could the stubborn Xiao Ke'er agree? She had forced herself to keep going until now.

"Oh, I can finally rest my feet..." Xiao Ke'er said, her face full of exhaustion.