Legend of Fu Yao

Zhan Beiye contemplated… And contemplated, pacing around the room as he contemplated without being able to escape.

He repeatedly thought, under what circumstances would they reunite? In the palace hall? On the streets? Or the original residence? In what ways would they meet? Would she welcome him with a smile, or would he rush forward, smiling?

There were even a couple of times where he woke up in cold sweat, determined to fight his way back to the capital, only to be stopped by his subordinates—that night, he had dreamed that she was dead, kneeling down on the floor with blood all over. She attempted to draw something on the ground with the blood, then, collapsed.

He did not fall back asleep, sitting in the courtyard, hugging his knees as he watched the moon till sunrise.

In another dream, he dreamt that she disappeared and did not wait for him at the capital. He woke up and stared blankly at the wall. Perhaps, this was something that she could possibly do. Then, would he look for her after attacking the capital? Or would he just not attack?

The next day, he saw the Black Wind Calvary knights and saw the single-arm Ji Yu. He once again resumed his journey. A man had a man’s responsibility. Some things could not be up to him and his whims.

Now… After a long six months, he finally saw her. The moment he saw her, he felt that his longing for her amounted to nothing. The longing that tormented him day and night, compared to this moment, was as thin as a piece of paper. Seeing her was like being struck by lighting and like looking at her made him want to rush over without a care. Her figure, to him, was an oasis to a soldier dying of thirst in a desert. He had to go over even if it meant climbing; regardless of death.

And so, he really went over, waving his golden spear, between the rain of arrows and the clashing of swords.

But Meng Fuyao gently put her thumb up.

She welcomed that person that was far away, yet one could still feel his burning gaze as he lifted his index and middle finger, forming a scissor.

“Victory!”

Zhan Beiye stopped and looked at her in shock. At this point, Meng Fuyao had already turned her back to him as she watched Xie Yu force the families of the commander-in-chief up.

Those weak women and young men were tied up and pushed onto the city wall by the guards.

Xie Yu grabbed a woman, lifted his shield, and yelled, “Zhan Beiye, these are the families of the two Commanders-in-Chief, Jin Yan, Ming Lun!”

The ferociously attacking soldiers abruptly stopped their attack. They turned back in fear as Zhan Beiye’s face turned black, slowly raising his hand up.

Xie Yu’s lips curled up as he leaned out and shouted, “The two commanders-in-chief have followed you from the very beginning. They accompanied you through battles thousands of miles away. For you, they abandoned the riches they could have enjoyed, and instead, they have their blood splattered on the grounds you’ve fought. Now that their families are here on the city walls, if you dare to order an attack, I will immediately finish them off. I’ll let you guys from the north understand that this renegade that you guys have given your loyalty to is nothing but a cold, emotionless traitor!”

The yells gradually stopped. The cold wind blew as the fire torch lit like the stars in the sky. Everyone’s eyes were directed to the center of the crowd, the silent and handsome man.

Thousands of soldiers remained silent as they waited for one to make his tough choice.

Xie Yu held a sword against a woman’s throat and commanded, “Retreat!”

Zhan Beiye, with his gaze of steel, stared straight at Xie Yu.

Xie Yu remained unmoved as he tightened his grip around the sword.

“Retreat! Tie up yourself and come up! Otherwise, you’ll be a sinner in everyone’s eyes!”

Zhan Beiye slowly raised his head and looked at the city walls. His black robe fluttered with the wind as his handsome face resembled a jade sculpture under the blazing sun. With unswerving determination, he looked at the weak men and women on the city walls, looked at the calm Meng Fuyao, and finally, slowly, took a step back.

This step back was of great significance!

Joy and excitement could be reflected in Xie Yu’s eyes.

Sha!

The gleam of light reflected off the sword.

It was as though a white flood dragon ¹ had descended from the skies above to the human realm to have its fill of human blood!

A silver flash suddenly came out of the “weak girl from the commander-in-chief’s family”. The flash was sharp, fierce, and quick as it very swiftly and accurately shot through the middle of Xie Yu’s forehead.

Blood slowly dripped down from his forehead, forming a steady stream of blood falling on the ground. The body of Xie Yu remained forever frozen on the walls of the city.

His final feelings of joy had forever stopped at the instant where Zhan Beiye had taken a step back. His expression right before his death was a mixture of shock and joy, resulting in an odd smile.

He slowly let go and took one last glance at the person.

Meng Fuyao.

That young lad placed one of his hand on the walls as he smiled at him in the calmest, serene way possible, while his guards stood behind him.

That gaze, he finally understood everything before he died.

In the end… they lost…

Their dynasty… had ended.

This was the last thought Xie Yu had before his death.

As every last bit of strength left his body and his consciousness faded, he toppled down from the buttress and fell from the tallest city wall in the world. With a loud ‘Pong’, his body landed heavily in front of Zhan Beiye’s horse. As his corpse landed, it bounced up again slightly, stirring up the yellow soil around up.

That moment.

Everyone stayed solemn as they quietly watched the death of the very last general loyal to the dynasty.

Thousands of soldiers, yet, not a sound.

Zhan Beiye slowly looked up the city walls. On top, a young man in black stood there with a mischievous and enthusiastic vibe that was unbefitting of this solemn moment as she showed off the victory sign that belonged to her alone.

Suddenly, his body froze.

On the wall, behind the young man, a guard quietly made his way over and stood beside her.

He stood beside her, such a suitable position. From his gaze to his smile, they perfectly enshrouded her.

His gaze calmly swept across the people below the city walls.

Such a poised, resplendent gaze. It was no doubt, the gaze of a ruler.

Zhan Beiye looked up above the city walls.

Her eyes were initially fixated on him. However, the moment that person appeared, she turned around. Surprised, she commented something, and then he replied something. What followed was that joyful gaze in her eyes, as though all flowers in the wild had bloomed.

That blooming flower that sat above the city walls was spectacular beyond comprehension, beyond the grasp of anyone.

Zhan Beiye suddenly lifted his hand and slowly pressed against his heart.

A gust of wind blew. It was cold, that hole in his heart.

For half a year, his journey back was filled with nothing but danger… escaping secretly… putting up plans and strategies without rest… riding his horse without stopping… the pain of battling miles away… half a year, merely half a year, he had overcome the obstacles and battles in the land of Tiansha. Leading his soldiers, he had conquered cities after cities. He swung his weapon to contend for hegemony, and that weapon had paved the way through the lands of blood and fire and cut through miles of territory… His military had created a miracle, but only he knew that that was the miracle of longing.

He had once ridden the horse for seven days and seven nights without resting, falling down from the horse when he was extremely exhausted. He was afraid of missing the best opportunity and continued even with his injuries. And till today, those injuries were still unhealed and bleeding. He had once single-handedly infiltrated an enemy’s camp, almost losing his life there. He even rapidly advanced with his soldiers for three days to be ahead of the enemies, setting ambush and grabbing the best opportunity—his ferocious battle against the heavens, the enemies and time were just so that he could arrive at the capital even a second earlier. His sharp blade had never once changed its direction moving forward—it was always towards her.

And today, the two armies met, and he finally saw her.

Yet, their reunion was as such.

His hand pressed against his heart. He suddenly felt lost. The pain and struggles, the haste and the rush, those anxious attacks, and quick pacing were all so they could meet, like this?

It turned out longing was like needles, stabbing holes in every part of one’s body. And the blood that came out from every wound was the blood directly from the heart.

Zhan Beiye finally put down his hand. He heaved a long sigh, turned around and waved his hand in the air.

“Attack!” The horn had signaled the start as the yells mimicked the bloodthirsty beasts that preyed. A forest of weapons was formed as attacks were exchanged, stirring up the stench of blood. Zhan Beiye looked up as he stood in the middle of chaos.

His charcoal black hair blew in the air that black was their battle flag!

The authority over all this territory was nothing compared to the longing he had in his heart. It was all for her. Without the awkward position he was in, the endless assassination attempts or the worries for the safety of his loved ones, he was able to chase her more freely without restraints.

Who said that when Zhangsun Wuji stepped forward, he, Zhan Beiye, had to take a step back?

He refused to have such a reunion, and he refused to lose this battle!

‘Who will admit defeat? Who will be defeated? Her smile was like a beautiful flower. The young lady has yet to wed, as long as she hasn’t stepped into your Top Sun Palace in the gown, as long as her name hasn’t been recorded in your family’s book, I, Zhan Beiye, will not admit defeat!

‘Zhangsun Wuji, I will definitely be fighting for her!’

Meng Fuyao did not know of the miseries Zhan Beiye currently felt.

Surprised, she looked at Zhangsun Wuji currently donned in the uniform of a guard. “What are you doing here?” she mouthed.

Zhangsun Wuji smiled calmly. “In such a critical moment, why not?”

Meng Fuyao laughed, thinking that the critical moment he meant was the fall of the Tiansha dynasty. She did not even think of anything else. Looking over, she saw Minister Kui and those generals originally in charge of defending the city being subdued by the “Commanders-in-Chief’s families”, glaring at her. Seeing that the soldiers everywhere were now all in a mess, she could not help but grin.

But Zhangsun Wuji reminded her, “The soldiers defending the capital are all elites and have always taken pride in guarding the biggest city. For them to surrender without fighting… it might be tough to convince them…”

With a satisfied and proud grin, she patted his shoulder and said, ‘Brother, I will allow you to admire me.”

She stepped forward and announced, “His Majesty has passed away!”

With this announcement, the soldiers on the city wall that were still resisting turned to look at Meng Fuyao in shock.

Calmly, Meng Fuyao added, “The palace has fallen, His Majesty has passed, the generals have been executed… What are you all still sacrificing your lives for? Now should be the time to support Prince Lie and those who do, are his officials of great merit. But those who resist…” She pointed to the Black Dragon Army that was still attacking ferociously. “Otherwise, the thousands of elite soldiers and the weapons would be after you!”