When it came time to move out, Ran Kaitou who was too busy managing the civilians to even realize that his superiors had disappear, so the migration was not delayed in the slightest by Zhang’s disappearance.
Zhang, the beauties, and their subordinates on the other hand had disappeared and were nowhere to be seen. In the dead of night Zhang, his wives and every single man and woman that were under their command vanished without a trace.
Civilians were placed in the center while the five aristocratic families split up their forces and took up the rear and front guard. Ran Kaitou’s men were stationed on the sides to ensure that if someone attacked or some unwanted situation arises, the civilians would be safe.
As the journey began thousands of carts and many more pairs of feet, headed for the southern region of the province. Although no one knew what would happen during this journey, one thing was certain, due to how many people were moving, lush fields turned into trampled roads, and paths were cut through dense forest. The very these people tread will reshape the landscape.
“Uncle do you think this is a wise choice?” Su Rou asked Kuai Lan as she took one last look at the place that she had been calling home for many years.
“What defines a good choice, what defines a choice and what defines a wise choice, is something one does not know until the very end. But there is one thing I know and that is the time we spend contemplating on our choices is better spent on other things.” Kuai Lan replied with a smile.
“But if this fails then it might be the end of us and our families.” Su Rou said in a uncalm voice.
“That is where you are wrong my niece, if one is clever enough then they can get away with anything. Regardless of the outcome, as long as we are clever enough we can make it out of anything.” Kuai Lan said in a reassuring tone.
“Then let’s hope we are clever enough, uncle. Or at the very least let’s hope that our accomplices are.” Su Rou said with a slight smile.
“Our men should have arrived at their destination by now, all we have to do now is wait for the signal.” Kuai Lan said looking into the distance.
Although no one noticed, a good portion of men from the Su and Kuai families had disappeared late in the night just like Zhang’s men. Due to the number of people in the expedition and how chaotic things were, a thousand or so people disappearing wasn’t very noticeable.
“Countless years ago, before the Sai Empire was formed, and when the land that would be called the Warring States Region, was controlled by two rival kingdoms. A war that was said to end all wars, occurred here. But when this war occurred the Qilin’s pass was known as Mt. Wutai.” Zhang said.
“Of course this name would change after a certain event occurred here. On a day much like today, the two rival armies that controlled the land met face to face. Rows upon rows of spears and swords stood in line as the two armies prepared to engage in combat. One on side of the battle field a newly crowned king stood in front of loyal soldiers, while on the other side of the battlefield a newly crowned queen stood in front of her loyal soldiers, both wait for the other to make a move. Battles such as this one had occurred countless times, although both sides pledged that each battle would be the battle where they annihilate their enemy and unite the land, no matter how hard they fought the two sides were too evenly matched for a victor to arise.”
“For many generations the two kingdoms fought and killed countless people, but this battle would mark the end of the war. No one knows which side initiated the war, but countless arrows blotted out the sky and the flumes from the burned corpses were said to raise all the way to the heavens.”
“Kill them all! I’ll offer their blood to my royal father who is looking at us from heaven! The newly crowned king roared. The previous king had recently fallen in battle; however, he did not fall alone. That is because upon his death he had taken down the king of the other kingdom also”
“Once the two previous kings had fallen in battle, their two only children, one a young man and the other a young woman filled their places.”
“On the opposite side of the battlefield the newly crowned queen was cutting down every enemy in her path. The objective of the two armies were to capture Mt. Wutai, whoever captured this mountain could erect a fortress on it, which would give them a strategic location to invade the other kingdom.”
“Both sides had long before deemed that this battle would be perhaps the bloodiest battle that would occur in the entire war, but none of them would be prepared for what happened. The opposing armies interlocked and mixed with each other in bloody combat but this all stopped with a blinding light shone through the dark clouds that loomed over head. All of the killing and fighting ceased as everyone’s attention was focused to the skies. From behind the curtain of clouds an inky black Qilin descended.”
“Foolish humans who plague the earth and no naught but violence. If you wish for violence I will show you violence that you’ve never seen before. The Qilin said.”
“After saying the words it did, a beam of white light shot out of its mouth and rained down upon the soldiers below. Not even moments had passed before thousands of soldiers were burnt to dust, the armies were decimated and the terms ally and enemy no longer applied.”
However, the smile on her face turned to a frown as she caught sight of Zhang approaching from behind Tao Qian, with swords in hand. A smile was on his face as he looked not at Tao Qian but Lingqi.
“You want to compete with me?” She muttered as a smile once more crept onto her face and a pair of large needles were withdrawn from her interspatial ring.