A Falling Spirit and the Call of Strangers
Sizzle! Hiss! Buckets of water continuously splashed against the charred, smoldering wood. Thick plumes of white smoke billowed like mountains into the dark night sky. Amidst the chaos, a group of men in practical traveler's clothes worked tirelessly to extinguish the remaining fires around Zhao Long's hut.
Though they wore no gleaming armor, their swift, highly disciplined, and coordinated movements made it glaringly obvious that they were no ordinary merchants or wanderers.
Zhao Long swayed on his feet amidst the soot and ash. The broken piece of firewood slipped from his grasp, dropping onto the damp, blackened earth. The gash on his flank sent waves of excruciating pain through his body, causing his vision to blur and warp.
The sheer willpower that had kept him standing all night finally snapped. The tall, muscular youth slowly collapsed toward the ground.
"Grandfather..." Zhao Long murmured, his voice hoarse and broken, his eyes struggling to look toward the ruined hut. "Is... Grandfather... safe...?"
That final, selfless question faded as his eyelids grew impossibly heavy. His consciousness plummeted into darkness. But before his body could crash against the cold, wet soil, two pairs of slender hands darted forward, catching him just in time.
Lin Ying and Princess Lao Ying each supported one side of the unconscious young man. Lin Ying stared at Zhao Long's pale face, her eyes trembling. An indescribable wave of guilt gnawed at her heart. 'You foolishly honest man... on the verge of death, yet you still worry about others,' she thought, tightening her grip to keep him steady.
Wei Qing, standing a short distance away, slid his massive Roaring Tiger Broadsword back into its scabbard. He scratched his head, his signature playful arrogance returning.
"Holy heavens! Well, I'll be damned! This kid is as tough as bedrock," Wei Qing laughed, though his voice carried genuine admiration. "Almost turned into a roasted pig, and he's still fretting over his old grandpa. Truly impressive! If it were me, I would have been screaming for wine to numb the pain by now."
He shrugged and walked over to help the two women. "Here, here, let me help you ladies carry him inside. Maybe my handsome face will help him feel a bit better."
"Shut your mouth, Wei Qing!" Princess Lao Ying snapped, her eyes glaring daggers. "You're the one who battered him half to death, and you still have the nerve to crack jokes?!"
Meanwhile, Crown Prince Liu Tian turned to his subordinates, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Quickly! Fetch the village physician. Tell him that if he saves this man, I will reward him handsomely! And summon our own traveling physician. Have him prepare the finest medicinal herbs we have."
Near the doorway, Zhuge Qing stepped forward to support Grandfather Zhao, who stood with tears welling in his eyes. The young strategist gently squeezed the old man's shoulder to comfort him. "Elder, do not worry... Your grandson has a destiny harder than iron. He will be absolutely fine. Please, come inside and rest."
The imperial guards quickly dispersed to extinguish the final embers. The veil of night reclaimed the Cloud-Mist Valley, leaving behind only the lingering scent of smoke and the profound secrets about to be unveiled within the ruined hut.
The Dim Hut's Vow and the Awakened Truth
Inside the soot-stained main hall, flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows of these extraordinary figures across the decaying walls. The disguised imperial guards took up defensive positions outside the doors, ensuring that the ensuing conversation would remain an absolute secret.
Zhuge Qing took a step forward, clasping his hands in a respectful, formal salute to Grandfather Zhao. "Elder... I deeply apologize for arriving at such a late hour and bringing this chaos to your door. I am Zhuge Qing, the Grand Strategist of the Han Dynasty... and the man standing beside me is Liu Tian, the current Crown Prince of the realm."
Upon hearing those titles, Grandfather Zhao jolted violently. His clouded eyes widened in sheer terror. His frail, aging body immediately tried to scramble off the wooden cot to grovel on the floor, driven by the ingrained instincts of a commoner.
"The... The Crown Prince?! Oh, Heavens! I am but a blind, ignorant woodsman! I had no idea that supreme figures such as yourselves would travel to this forgotten place. Please forgive me for my lack of proper reception!"
"Elder, please, you must not do that!" Liu Tian quickly stepped forward, firmly but gently catching the old man's shoulders to stop him from kneeling. "Tonight, I am not a noble Crown Prince. I am simply a man searching for the 'comrade' my imperial grandfather entrusted to us... Please, sit."
Guided back to his seat, Grandfather Zhao fell silent. His heart hammered violently against his ribs. 'The comrade his grandfather entrusted? The Zhao Clan... Do they know the secret of the Zhao Clan? How is that possible? I have hidden here for twenty years and never breathed a word to a living soul!'
The old man tried to force a facade, suppressing his panic. He feigned a look of complete bewilderment and spoke with a trembling voice.
"A comrade? Your Highness must have mistaken me for someone else..." Grandfather Zhao offered a dry, hollow smile. "I am merely an old woodcutter living deep in the forest. My grandson is just a nameless hunter. Why would supreme lords journey to such a remote, deep valley just to meet a peasant with absolutely nothing to his name?"
Zhuge Qing offered a faint, profound smile—a smile that made Grandfather Zhao feel as if his very soul was being laid bare.
"Elder... do you truly believe that a commoner could train a young boy to swing a wooden pole like a dancing White Dragon?" The strategist locked eyes with the old man, his gaze piercing through the deception. "The secrets you have buried beneath the ashes for twenty years might blind the rest of the world, but they cannot escape the eyes of the Zhuge Clan... General of the Zhao Army."
That final title struck Grandfather Zhao like a physical blow. He froze completely. The faux ignorance in his eyes shattered, replaced by a sharp, battle-hardened glint. He stared at the young strategist for a long moment before letting out a heavy sigh, surrendering to the man's terrifying intellect.
"The brilliance of the Zhuge Clan... it is just as terrifying as the legends claim," Grandfather Zhao muttered, nodding slowly. "Since you could see through to his very bones just by watching my grandson execute a few stances, there is no reason for me to keep up this act."
The old man pushed himself up and walked over to a hidden compartment beneath the floorboards near the wall, concealed under a pile of straw. He pulled out a faded, weathered cloth bundle and placed it on the table in the center of the room. As the cloth was slowly unfolded, a chilling silver light spilled outward. The "Nine-Heavens Silver Vambrace" gleamed majestically under the candlelight.
Zhuge Qing stumbled a step backward, his usually calm face turning pale with shock. "This is... How is this possible?! I thought it was lost to the flames twenty years ago!"
However, the strategist quickly furrowed his brows. "Elder... legend dictates that the Nine-Heavens Silver Vambraces are a pair. Why is there only one here? Where is the other piece?"
Grandfather Zhao fell silent, a profound sorrow filling his eyes. "Before Zhao Wen breathed his last, he told me... he entrusted the other piece to a certain 'V.I.P.' To ensure that the legacy of the White Dragon would never be entirely wiped out."
Zhuge Qing stared at the silver armguard, his eyes turning deep and calculating. "One piece here... the other piece with someone else in the realm. How meticulously cautious." He gently folded the cloth back over the relic. "Do not worry, Elder. I will keep this safe, and I already have a counter-measure prepared... I will send your grandson into the army as a nameless, lowly recruit. We will hide him from the eyes of the corrupt officials until he is ready to claim the 'Nine-Heavens Spear' at Kuntan Valley. When that day comes... this dragon will spread its wings and cast a shadow over the entire earth!"
Tears streamed down Grandfather Zhao's face as he listened. "If this is the will of the Heavens... then I entrust my grandson's life into your hands."
The Vow of Truth and the Dragon-Cloaking Scheme
Silence reclaimed the hall after the crucial legacy was secured on the table. Grandfather Zhao looked at the silver vambrace with mournful eyes. He sighed deeply, his voice trembling yet firm.
"Lord Strategist, Your Highness... I know your intellect is unparalleled, but a heavy worry still weighs on my heart." The old man forced his emotions down. "On the day Zhao Wen proudly sacrificed himself to protect the last bloodline of his clan... he fought until his dying breath just so my grandson could live as a commoner. He never wanted this child to bear the weight of vengeance or become a tool for slaughter, just as he once was."
The old man looked directly into Zhuge Qing's eyes. "The Zhao Clan has already been branded as traitors. If my grandson enters Chang'an and this secret leaks, how will you protect him? I refuse to watch him walk to the execution grounds simply because you desire to reclaim the throne."
Zhuge Qing clasped his hands in a highly respectful salute. "Elder, I understand your pain perfectly... But look at the reality of tonight. Even hidden in the deepest woods, the Heavens dragged him out to fight a supreme general with a piece of firewood. If you bury his peerless talent in the mud, you are not protecting him... you are destroying everything his father traded his life for."
The strategist lowered his voice, turning it razor-sharp. "As for his safety, I have engineered a flawless scheme. I will enlist him as a nameless recruit, with no family name or background recorded. The more ordinary he appears, the safer he will be."
"But those corrupt officials have eyes like hawks..." Grandfather Zhao remained anxious.
"That is why I will lay a trap within a trap," Zhuge Qing said, his eyes flashing with brilliance. "I will release false rumors up North, claiming the White Dragon Heir has appeared at the borders. The enemy will chase a phantom, while the true dragon grows silently right under their noses in Chang'an."
The strategist emphasized his next, critical point. "And most importantly... the 'White Dragon Vanguard' that I have secretly assembled... they do not answer to the command tokens of the corrupt court. They will only bow to the one who wears this silver vambrace and wields the Nine-Heavens Spear! Once your grandson is ready to soar, even if the whole world learns the truth, absolutely no one will be able to touch him."
Liu Tian nodded resolutely. "I stake my honor as the Crown Prince on this, Elder... Your grandson will be safe. And he alone will choose his own path when the truth is finally revealed."
Grandfather Zhao sat in stunned silence for a long moment before slowly closing his eyes. Tears of overwhelming relief cascaded down his wrinkled cheeks.
"If this is the will of the Heavens... then I place his life in your hands."
Healing Among the Ashes and the Ties of Cloud-Mist Valley
With the secret pact etched into the hearts of the three men, the stifling tension in the room finally eased. Crown Prince Liu Tian shifted slightly and signaled over his shoulder toward the ajar door. A middle-aged man in pristine, plain silk robes stepped in soundlessly, carrying a carved wooden box containing premium medicines and silver needles.
"Elder, this is the Imperial Physician who travels with me," Liu Tian said, his voice softening. "You have suffered through smoke and exhaustion all night. Let him tend to your meridians."
Grandfather Zhao looked at the physician, who began checking his pulse, with a polite, deferential nod. He then glanced at Zhuge Qing, who was meticulously wrapping the Zhao Clan's legacy to secure it.
"Rest well and recover your strength, Elder," Zhuge Qing said, gently patting the old man's shoulder. "As for your grandson... I will personally check on his condition. You have nothing to worry about."
While peace was being restored in the main hall, a small commotion erupted outside the hut. Rushed, heavy footsteps crunched over the broken wood, accompanied by loud, panicked panting.
"Let me go! Who do you think you are?! This is Old Zhao's house! What happened to my friend?!"
A familiar, frantic voice shattered the quiet. Two imperial guards in traveler's clothes blocked the wooden gate like immovable stone walls. The starlight reflected the lethal glare in the guards' eyes, causing the old man who was being held by the arms to go weak in the knees. It was Physician Chen, the village doctor, clutching his worn medicine bag, his beard trembling in sheer panic.
"Release him... You are the village physician, correct? Please, calm yourself." Liu Tian stepped out onto the porch, raising a hand to call off the guards.
Physician Chen froze instantly. His panicked eyes morphed into profound awe as he felt the crushing, majestic aura of the noble standing before him.
"I am the one who sent men to fetch you," Liu Tian said with an imposing yet gracious tone. "Elder Zhao is safe. However, there is a young man severely injured in the inner room. I must trouble you to tend to him."
"Ah Long?! Oh... I knew tonight was an ill omen!" Knowing it was his dear friend's grandson, Physician Chen threw his fear out the window. He rushed hastily into the familiar house. The moment he crossed the threshold, however, he was stunned to see guards standing as still as statues, strictly monitoring every corner.
Zhuge Qing led Physician Chen to the inner room where the unconscious young man lay. Upon entering, Physician Chen saw Lin Ying, her face etched with worry as she wiped the patient's face with a damp cloth.
"Ye Nian! You're here too?!" Physician Chen exclaimed, rushing to the bedside. "Thank goodness you're alright. I was worried sick."
However, when Physician Chen shifted his gaze to the other side of the bed, he froze yet again. He saw another woman—Princess Lao Ying—helping to support the injured man. She was so breathtakingly beautiful and radiated such a supreme, royal elegance that the humble hemp clothes and the rustic room around her seemed instantly dull by comparison.
"Uhh... Ye Nian," Physician Chen whispered, staring at the Princess in bewilderment. "Who is this lady? Her skin, her clothes... she doesn't look like anyone from around here. Where did she come from?!"
Lin Ying looked up, her eyes still carrying a lingering sadness. "She arrived with those young masters outside, Physician Chen... Please, tend to his wounds. He has lost so much blood."
Physician Chen shook his head to clear his confusion and immediately inspected the gash on Zhao Long's flank. "This is deep... If it were anyone else losing this much blood, they'd be meeting their ancestors by now. But Ah Long is as sturdy as a wild ox from chopping wood his whole life."
As Physician Chen began cleaning the wound and applying a poultice of fresh herbs, Zhuge Qing leaned against the doorframe, observing the scene with a profound gaze. He saw the stark contrast between the simple, deadly beauty of Lin Ying and the supreme, royal elegance of Princess Lao Ying, both gathered together for the sake of one young man.
'You are a dragon blessed with profound destiny indeed...' Zhuge Qing thought to himself, his grip tightening around the bundled legacy of the Zhao Clan.
The scent of fresh medicinal herbs mingled with the lingering odor of smoke
—a clear sign of the new beginning that was rapidly approaching.