De and the others neared the capital city of Dragon Fire. They flew on Hu’s back and De saw the city. It had massive towers—De never knew buildings could get so tall—that stretched towards the sky, and a giant, circular, brick wall that surrounded it. Roads as wide as twenty fat men’s bellies broke out of the city, and the roads after escaping, cut through farmlands, and snaked around cottages. The roads then delved into a large forest—on the outskirts—which surrounded the circular city and disappeared under the shadows of trees. Wow, De thought.
“Dragon Fire City, it’s been a long time. It’s still as impressive as it always is.” De’s father said.
“Don’t get lost in nostalgia, Wei. We have a job to do.” Shan said.
“Of course, but how do you plan on getting in, Shan? Someone’s bound to recognize us at the gates.” De’s father said.
“Let them. The quicker they recognize us, the quicker we can get an audience with the Council.”
“That’s dangerous.” De’s father said.
Shan said nothing.
De’s father sighed. “If that’s how you want to do it, fine.” De’s father looked at De. “De, you’re going to stay back and wait with Hu.”
“No, I’m going.” De said.
“You’re not.” De’s father said.
“It’s okay, Wei. I don’t feel any strong Ki from the capital. De will be fine. I promise to escape with him if anything goes wrong” Hu’s draconic voice echoed ahead.
De’s father sat and the world seemed to stop around De. It felt like a heavy boulder on the edge of rolling sat next to him. “Better keep your promise, Hu.”
“I will.” Hu said.
“Have it your way, De. But stay near Hu and me and be ready to run at a moment’s notice.”
De nodded his head. “I will father.”
De’s father still looked uneasy about De accompanying them, but he gave De a nod.
Hu landed in a farmstead a couple of miles away from the city and transformed back to his bald-headed other form. Then De and the trio of fathers walked onwards towards the city.
The road to the capital—like it looked above—was nice and paved. People farmed at the edges of it and that reminded De of home. After an hour of walking, a large line of people, wagons, and animals stood in front of a huge gate that greeted De and his group. Guards clad in green uniforms, lined with gold buttons, stood ahead of the gate, weapons in their hands. Shan cut the line and walked up to one of the guards. The guard’s face paled and his boots started to shake.
“Gen..General Zhao!? How? I thought you were dead.” The guardsman said.
“I’m not, obviously. Let me in the city, Zhen.”
“Ah…ah… please wait, sir. I have to get the captain.”
“Make it quick, boy. We don’t have all day.”
“We?” The guardsman looked behind Shan and saw De, Hu, and De’s father. “General Niu and General Qing! I’ll make it quick! I’ll be back!” The guardsmen ran off like De ran home in a summer storm.
“Who is he?” De’s father said to Shan.
“He used to be a messenger boy in my army.”
De’s father scratched his chin. “And you recognized him? He must’ve been maybe ten when we left. How time passes us by, huh?”
The guardsman kept his word and returned quickly. With him was a tall, broad-shouldered man who had short brown hair, strong eyes, and a wide chin. He wore the same green as the other guardsmen—perhaps with a few more buttons and a dragon insignia on his chest—and held a long spear.
“Generals, how can I help you.” The captain guard said. Then he spoke to De. “And you must be General Niu’s son. You have his hearty build. May I ask for your name?”
“De.” De said.
“Good to meet you, De. I am Yaozu Xian, captain of the guards stationed at the North Gate.”
“You’re a captain now, huh, Xian?” Shan said. “Get us into the city and let the council know we want to talk.”
“Your wish is my command, sir.” Xian kneeled to Shan.
“Still loyal after all this time?” Shan said.
“I could never disobey the man I swore my life to.”
“Good, I’ll need loyal men like you when I’m back on the battlefield.”
“You’re coming back?” Xian look astonished. He slammed his fist into his palm. “Of course, you’ll have my spear. I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth, sir.” Xian got up and ordered—Zhen, De thought his name was—the original guardsman Shan spoke to. “Zhen, run to the castle and tell Captain Jian that the Blaze of Dragon Fire has returned and that he demands an audience.” Zhen rocked his head up and down then dashed off again.
Xian then yelled for the gates to open, and they were. Inside the walls, De saw colorful buildings that wore greens, golds, and reds with ceramic, triangular roofed, tiled hats. The towers from afar were also no longer so afar. They had the same colors as the other buildings around them but more roofs than De ever thought were needed. Every floor—there was bound to be lots—had a roof attached to it. Further in the distance, while not as tall as the other sky touching towers, an awe-inspiring castle sat and glowed under the sun. Its colors seemed more vibrant, its beauty deeper and richer, and splendor grander than the rest of the city combined. The road Xian led them down—a crowded road—traveled towards the castle. It must have been their destination.
The people that elbowed and flooded the street around De made him wonder if any of them were real. He couldn’t fathom that many people existing at one moment on a little road no bigger than Shan’s inn. They passed a plaza where a dragon-headed fountain sprouted water from its maw. Bright stalls ringed it and people gathered around the stalls like a colony of ants to sugar. De didn’t have the same sense of smell that Hu or Shan had, but a barrage of scents still attacked his nose. He smelt many good things and many awful things in which De wondered if the streets functioned as bathrooms as well as roadways. Xian, De’s father, Shan, and Hu walked past the chaos around them and continued onwards while De trailed behind, amazed at his surroundings.
“The city hasn’t changed much.” De’s father said.
“No, it hasn’t, General Niu.” Xian said.
“Just call me, Wei. There’s no need for the formalities.”
“Never. I can never dishonor a hero.”
“Hero, huh?”
“One of the best. The man who charged a thousand by himself and won. You’re more than a hero, you’re a legend. I will treat you as such.”
“If that’s what you want, I won’t stop you. Thank you, I don’t deserve it.” De’s father looked uncomfortable.
“Nonsense. I didn’t serve under you, but I know others who did. They called you the most honest and good man they had ever met. And those men that served under you are the best men I know.”
This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
“You young ones sure know how to make an old man blush.” De’s father said.
“Young one?” Xian laughed. “I’m nearly as old as you.”
“Oh, that you are. You served under, Shan, huh? You have excellent skin. I thought you were my son’s age.” De’s father’s—De prepared and covered his ears—laughter boomed.
The castle became near and a smaller—smaller than the bricks that surrounded the city—wall met De. It was two of him tall, roofed, and perhaps—no it was—more guarded than the wall around the city. Xian took them to a pair of guards—in the same attire as Xian—who stood tall ahead of a gate and who kept their Ki strong. “Did Zhen do his job?” Xian said.
One of the guards nodded. “He did. Come on, follow me, the court has been assembled.” The gate opened and a path forward led to a courtyard. It had green trees, nice benches, animal shaped bushes, and was passed in short order. They talked to another guard—this one stationed in front of the castle door—and were let into the castle but not alone. Xian followed and another gaggle of guardsmen walked alongside.
Vases lined the sides of the entryway and a bright red carpet split the middle. De’s and the other’s footsteps echoed as they moved towards wherever they were supposed to go. Hallways passed and doors as well, De saw butlers and maids clean the place, and they eventually stopped in front of huge doors.
Xian opened them and light hit De’s eyes, blinded him, and dissipated. The light came from a huge window in the back of the now open-doored room. There were two levels, the first, were De and the others were, and the second, were men and women in masks looked down upon their lowers. Each man and woman above wore large, powdered wigs and the nicest robes De had ever seen. De hated them already.
“What are you three doing here? And you dare to summon the council? We have already let you all go once. We will not be so kind this time.” One of the masked people said. It sounded masculine and snotty.
“So, you knew.” De’s father said.
“Of course, we knew. We allowed you three to die and now you come back, why?”
“Change your tone before I rip your throat out, Ping. I can recognize your oily, disgusting voice anywhere.” Shan said. What a man of diplomacy he was. “We have a proposition.”
“You dare ask me for a proposition after you threaten my life!? Who do you think you are, Zhao Shan?”
“You best listen to him.” Hu said.
“Shut up, fucker. I don’t need your help.” Shan said to Hu.
“Shan…” Hu said.
De’s father slammed his hands together and the air, ground, and everyone’s organs in the room shook. It shook Shan’s and Hu’s stare down too. “We’re rejoining the army.” De’s father said.
“Rejoining? What do you bastards have planned?” Ping said.
“We’re going to destroy the Flower Fruit Empire.” Shan said.
“And why would I believe that you three could?”
“Because if you don’t accept my offer while I’m being nice, I’ll kill you and take what I want.” Shan’s Ki heated the air around the room, sweat dripped down De’s face, and the ground became soft and—very concerningly—less groundy and more molten slushy.
“Guards! Arrest them!” Ping screamed.
Before the guards could follow through with their orders, a voice spoke. “Now, now, Ping. Calm yourself. Let’s hear them out on their offer, trying to arrest them would only lead to your death and the death of our fine guards.”
Ping looked at the man beside him and faltered. “Stop! Stand down. The court will hear their words. But keep an eye on them.”
“Wise decision, Ping.” The mysterious stopper of orders said.
“Chao.” Shan said.
“It is I. How are you doing, Shan?” The man who stopped Ping said.
“Do you accept our offer?” Shan said.
“Well, before we do that, I have to ask you all, what do you want? The three of you…” Chao took a look at De “…or maybe the four of you would be useful in the war, but we need to know what we’re trading that for.”
“It isn’t four, just three.” De’s father said.
“If you say it so then it so, Wei. But my point still stands. What do you three want in exchange for your help.”
“Help me find my daughter.” Shan said.
“And my son.” Hu said.
“Daughter? Son? A lot of time has passed, huh? Fine. We’ll do what we can as long as you three fight the Flower Fruit Empire.”
“But Chao…” Ping began to say.
Chao ignored Ping’s complaints. “Men and women of the court, do you stand with me?” Everyone besides Ping nodded.
“Have it your way, Chao. Don’t regret it later.” Zian walked off and disappeared from De’s eyes.
“Sorry about, Ping. He’ll come around.”
“The deal’s done. I don’t care if Ping’s in on it or not.” Shan said.
“I suppose you’re right, Shan.” Chao said. “Xian, lead these four men to my western villa. It will be there home as they stay in the city.”
“Yes, sir!” Xian saluted.
Before Xian could lead them away, Hu spoke. “Chao, how long until you send us to the battlefield? I want to bring my wife here.”
Chao looked exalted and a tad shaken by Hu’s words. “Will Yue join the war effort? We can use her help. Only if she wants to of course.” Chao added the last words in a hurry, in a panic. The other council members seemed much the same as Chao, hints of fear and excitement painted on their faces. Why? Yue was the kindest woman De knew. She had a smile that melted mountains, concern that made a man felt listened, and an attitude that lit the darkness. Her, a great warrior? De couldn’t see it.
“No, she’ll never step foot on a battlefield again.” Hu’s Ki spiked and nobody challenged his words. Everyone took a step back. “But she will help run the search for my boy and Hu’s daughter as I’m gone. I expect you to make her the head of the hunt, Chao.”
“It will be done.”
“Good.”
“You have a week before our next expedition towards the border, is that enough time, Hu?”
“More than enough, thank you.”
“Is everything settled?” Chao said. When no one responded, he spoke. “Good, Xian, show them the way now.” The good captain guard led De and his group out of the castle and back onto the streets.
The walk to Councilman Chao’s villa—besides the odd city smells and the odd city things—was uneventful. It was a silent trek across—to De—unknown lands and unknown people. That was until Xian broke the silence.
“You’re as commanding as you always were, sir.” Xian said to Shan.
“It’s nothing much.” Shan’s heart sidestepped and avoided the words that came out of his mouth. His eyes were distant and De knew where his heart laid, Liu and wherever under the sky she was.
Xian didn’t seem to notice and continued his one-sided conversation. “Your Ki is as strong as always. I remember that time you forced an entire army from Spring Blossom to retreat with your Ki alone. It was magnificent.”
“It was just a small division.” Shan said.
“Nonsense, it had to be at least fifty-thousand men. The way they ran, it was like a wave of deer dashing away from a tiger.”
Shan grunted in reply. This continued all the way to Chao’s villa. Xian would talk about Shan’s old battlefield days and Shan would reply uninterestedly. The entire time, Xian didn’t seem to notice his general’s spiritual absence from the conversation.
The villa—red and black walled, surrounded by trees, tall, and colorful—had the sound of running water under a spring breeze. It smelt like it too. The scents of the city—urine, grilling meat, dirty crowds, and the general stink and excitement—left his nose. It saddened De, although the city stank, he preferred it over the false face the rich kept over their homes. Less people mingled and joked around, no one bumped shoulders and started fights, and the atmosphere felt absolutely starved.
“This is Councilmen Chao’s western villa.” Xian said.
“It’s nice.” De’s father said.
“It is. Let me show you around.” Xian said and led them inside the villa walls.
The courtyard met the group first. It was nice, quiet, clean, and it smelled of bloomed flowers. Past the entrance door into the villa, furniture—the nicest De had ever seen—spread across the rooms. De tried one of the couches and his behind never felt so good. The villa also had a dining table that sat more people than De knew, naked statutes of men and women that looked more real than actual people, pots of planted bamboos, more fireplaces than anybody would ever need, and art—some pieces were terrible, they looked like children drew them, but they had a strange allure, De found himself staring at them—hung on the walls. After a walk around the villa, Xian showed them their rooms. De’s bed—bigger than a small, lovely, and perfectly delightful home—stared at him. It called him. It’s honeyed, passionate look of soft pillows and delightful rest almost got him.
“I shall leave you all now. I still have a job to do as the captain guard.” Xian said.
“Thank you, Xian. I appreciate everything you have done today.” De’s father said.
“No need to thank me. I am only repaying a small debt to what you three have done for the empire.” Xian saluted Hu, Shan, and De’s father.
“The debt is paid. Thank you again for today. We shall see each other soon.” De’s father said.
“I thank you as well, Xian.” Hu said.
“Let us know if the Council tires to do anything stupid.” Shan said.
Xian nodded and smiled. “Of course, General Zhao.” Xian saluted one last time and left.
Hu—for his wife—left a short bit after. The rest of the day, De did nothing but lay around, because inside the spacious villa, there was nothing to do but stare at naked statues. De dreaded his future, what was he going to do when his father and the rest left? The boredom would kill him. Xian came back later in the night with food. De ate roasted, fatty, sell an ox for duck, delicious, fluffy, spicy, fired rice, and dumplings that tasted okay. With a full stomach, De went and collapsed on his bed.
When his slumber began, De entered the dark dream space from before. “Again?”
“Welcome, De.” The dark voice said.
“What do you want?” De said.
“What do you think about the war?”
“That’s what you want? To know my opinion on the war?”
“As of right now, yes.”
“Fine. I don’t know how to feel about the war. I didn’t even know wars were real. I thought they only happened in the stories.”
“They are real, and lives will be lost.”
“I’m stuck in the city. I can’t do anything.”
“You can do a lot. You just don’t know it yet. But no, you are not yet ready. Soon though, soon you shall be ready and then we will talk again.”
“Then what was the point of this conversation?” De said.
The formless voice didn’t reply and De returned to his normal dreams.
Over the next couple of days—like the first day—De did nothing. He grew tired of nothing, so he got up and explored. He first walked around the parts near the villa and in a total surprise to no one, found nothing. Only houses and butlers and maids and boredom. The owners of the villas were either too good for the outside world or they hated the boredom too. De gave up on the neighborhood of villas and went to the plaza he saw the first day he got to Dragon Fire city.
In front of the dragon-headed fountain, merchants were out and yelling and people were out and crowding. It felt alive, it felt dirty, and De loved it.
De was in the middle of admiring the fountain when a voice—shrill and defeated—spoke to him. “Young man, can you spare a coin for this old beggar?” De turned his head and an old man looked back at him. He had balding and wispy white hair, a crooked smile, a large and bent nose with long strands of nasal hair coming out of it, eyes at mismatched levels, and more wrinkles than wrinkles should appear. He was an ugly man.
De’s father had given him a pouch of coins the day before and De gave three coins away to the old beggar.
“Thank you, kind sir.” The man grasped De’s coin-held hand and showed off a yellow smile.
De didn’t know if it was sanitary to have his hand be grasped by the old beggar but he didn’t stop the old man.
“Don’t mention it. I’m glad to help.” De said and nodded his head and began to walk away. Before he could, the old beggar spoke again.
“What’s a kind man like you doing in a city like this?”
“What do you mean? Anybody would have done what I did.”
“No, they wouldn’t. Your kindness is not common.”
“Back in my village it is, I’m sad to hear that a city with so many people can be so cruel. Here, have another.” De flipped another gold coin to the old man. “Did you have anything to eat? I can buy you something.”
The old man caught the gold coin with more speed than De would expect out of his old body and spoke. “Praise the heavens! Praise them! Praise them for I have met you today. But no, I do not need anything to eat. I cannot take any more of your charity. These coins you have given me are more than enough.”
“Are you sure?” De asked.
“I am sure. Thank you.”
“If you’re sure, then I guess there’s nothing I could do about it. Have a good day.” De would buy the man some food anyway. He turned around and began to walk away. As he did, something entered his pockets, fingers maybe. De looked behind him and the beggar sat where he was before and smiled. It must’ve been his imagination. De walked off and didn’t give it a second thought.
At a colorful stand—where the smell of grilled meat covered the air—De stood in front of a smiling man who held two skewers of meat.
“That’ll be two gold, sir.” The man with the skewers said.
“Okay.” De checked his pocket where his pouch of coins was and found nothing. That was weird. Maybe he left it in his other pocket. He checked his other pocket and again, nothing.
“Sir?”
“Sorry, That’s strange. Did I drop it?”
“I’m sorry, sir, but if you don’t have the money, I’m going to have to ask you to leave. There’s a line behind you.”
De turned around and like the vendor said, there was a large line behind him. “Sorry, I understand.” De said and left. Where in the world did my pouch go? De thought to himself. He retraced his steps in his mind and blanked. Where could he have lost it at? Then an old, destitute man who had a yellow smile popped in his head. The beggar, De thought.
He sighed and walked back to the fountain and of course, the old beggar was gone. De accepted his losses and went back to the villa. That’s what I get for trusting city folk, De thought.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
It wasn’t Meixiu’s best work, but thankfully, the huge man was a kind idiot. She opened her new pouch of coins and took a look. Fifty gold coins looked back. Why was that big idiot carrying so much money? Who cared? It was Meixiu’s money now. She released her Ki and the disguise of an old, ugly beggar fell off her. In the beggar’s place, a brown haired, brown eyed, and cute enough woman stood. Meixiu smiled to herself, how am I going to spend this?