Reborn To Be The Imperial Consort [BL]

Chapter 193: Swaying Jasmine — XVII

(It’s 2am. Will edit this tomorrow.)

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987 AD, during the twenty-eighth year of the QiangHe Emperor’s reign, with the torrent of rain spelling the end of the second month, came the end of a gruesome reality.

The bloody war between the Heavenly Demon Cult and its sworn enemy Xiajin Yao came to an abrupt end following the execution of the Clan Head Yao. The execution was, however, a generously used term for it.

In the height of the tension simmering from the broken ceasefire, at the end second month, the Heavenly Demon himself marched to the Xiajin Yao’s capital with an army so great, the earth shook with every step they took forward. Blood flowed through the roads they passed by, a river infallible and red, gushing in every crack and crevice of the ground.

The civilians went unharmed, hidden behind the closed door and windows bolted shut. "Harm not the helpless and weak," a motto the Heavenly Demon Cult had seemingly adopted for the war. Once their stolen land was reclaimed and the captives set free and aided, a horde of unstoppable men invaded the sprawling palace of the clan that once was.

No man left alive, no man left behind. The women were given a choice, either choose an honorable death or be exiled. Those ruled by honour chose deaths on their own terms, those without—exiled to different regions.

As for children, those young still were put with other civilians to be raised, those younger still, were taken in by the Cult, for they were at an age when hate and resentment had yet to take root.

The Head of Xiajin Yao was executed without fanfare, surrounded and watched by the very masses he tormented, as he was slaughtered like common livestock under the Heavenly Demon’s blade.

...

One day before the capitol invasion.

The winds howled, crying to the thawing cold as if in warning of the bloodshed that was to be brought forth. The ground shook as the men marched forward, their synchronised thumping steps the only sound besides the crunching of fallen leaves underfoot. Even the nature around their path was deathly still, as though — it too — held its breath in wait for their departure.

Leading at the forefront, riding on a tall, majestic warsteed was the Heavenly Demon, Cheon WuHui, with his back steel straight. His face a pensive mirror, brows drawn tight, lips set in a taut line. His gaze, fixed forward, was undecipherable, long crimson hair pulled up and secure. The lines of his visage were hard and solemn, features sharp and chiseled, the very air about him bled danger.

Those around him, whether riding beside, or two steps back, dared not speak, afraid even to breathe too loud and draw his ire upon themselves.

The horses sniffed, making a noise or two once in a while. No sound, however, was nearly enough to break the man out of his sombre mind.

It was only natural, though. No man worth a taeil, would be carefree if he received the news of his homestead set ablaze by the enemy who had managed to sneak past the defences. Though not much had been razed to ground, and the perpetrator killed, it was a wound on Cheon WuHui’s pride and a blow to his weakness—

His, still in recovery, daughter Cheon Yerin.

Cheon WuHui finally turned his gaze away from the path before himself to the steed he rode, hands tight on its reins. The night the messenger came running to his tent, pallid and sweating, was still fresh on his mind.

[’The cult was set on fire,’ said he, kneeling before the Heavenly Demon in absolute terror, ’Two siheyuan and one pagoda were set ablaze by the enemy infiltrators.’

Cheon WuHui’s fingers tightened on the brush in his hand, looking away from the paper he was working on, he turned to the kneeling messenger. ’What became of the infiltrators?’

So long as they were captured and put to death, he would be at peace.

’The infiltrators were captured immediately and thrown in the dungeons, now awaiting death.’

Good. Cheon WuHui nodded slightly, displeasure still roaring under his flesh. The infiltration succeeded at all was the glaring issue, the defenses would need some reworking once he returned.

’Casualties?’

The messenger was kowtowing now, his body tense as a string pulled tight under the pressure of Heavenly Demon’s bone-chilling aura. ’None, My Lord.’ He swallowed, shaking akin to a twig in the storm. "However—"

Immediately, the pressure in the tent lowered, causing the man to choke on his own saliva. ’One of the siheyuan burnt down— burnt down was— was... The one— Young Lady— ark!"

Snap. Crack.

The moment his daughter was mentioned, the brush in his hands and the table he was working on, crumbled.

’What became of her?’ Asked Cheon WuHui, the frost in his voice was cold enough to kill, eyes downright murderous. ’What of Our daughter?’

The messenger’s lips parted as he emitted a pained groan, bones feeling brittle in face of absolute power. ’Young Lady Cheon’s courtyard was set on fire’ —the ground beneath them began to crack under the sheer force of the Heavenly Demon’s restraint— ’but! But she was rescued from the fire and escaped unscathed.’

Hearing that, Cheon WuHui unclenched his fist, letting the dust of the crushed brush slip on the ground. ’... Who saved Young Lady Cheon?’

’That,’ the messenger began hesitantly, unsure how to phrase his words, ’she was rescued by an... An outsider. He— he was in Doctor Li’s entourage before. White hair, blue eyes, weak presence. My Lord, he jumped into the blazing sea of flames to s-save the Young Lady.’

Hands pushed in his wide sleeves, Cheon WuHui exhaled quietly, though it was as if air had been punched out of his chest. Bai Huiqi, the name echoed in his mind as his fingers caressed the letter stored in his sleeve.

After a long silence, the Heavenly Demon waved a hand to dismiss the messenger. The murderous rage in his heart returned in full force; only, this time carrying with it the venomous need for revenge.

Leaning heavily against the pillar holding the tent up, the Heavenly Demon’s eyes fluttered shut, concealing the dark gleam of ruthlessness behind them.

They stole the Cult’s lands, killed and held his people captives. Now tried to burn down his Cult and kill his daughter, and hurt Bai Huiqi in the process.

The very object of his vested interest.

Slowly, Cheon WuHui opened his eyes, a chilling darkness flashed in those carmine irises. Leaning forward, elbows braced on his thighs and head bowed, the man spoke, his voice low and baritone, laced with a velvet poison.

’Xiajin Hong, you will pay for this. I,’ the Heavenly Demon paused for a brief contemplative second, ’will have your head.’

...]

"My Lord," breaking through the oppressive silence, came a voice, pulling beside the vanguards on his steed, "dare I suggest something?"

The Heavenly Demon cast a sidelong glance towards the speaker, Liu Mingyun wearing a human face mask. "Whatever would it be, Commander?"

Liu Mingyun’s lips curled into a sardonic smile. "The enemy ranks must be full of Masters, I reckon they will be a hindrance to a swift victory."

"Indeed, they will be. What do you suggest?"

Liu Mingyun turned to look ahead, something undecipherable flashing in his eyes. "We ought to remove them before we reach the capitol."

Cheon WuHui hummed in a low tone. "We shall be there in three hours."

It was a difficult but not impossible task to accomplish, killing every master in the enemy ranks within these three hours. An extremely dangerous mission, not to mention. The question was:

Who would do it?

Cheon WuHui’s scrutinizing gaze roved over the warriors in his own ranks. An elite team of them would certainly be able to do it.

"Heavenly Demon?"

"Yes, commander?"

"..." Liu Mingyun’s jaw tensed at his cadence. "I shall go ahead alone."

Somewhere behind them, the Crown Prince heard the sound of someone choking on their own spit. His smile strained in exasperation.

"Shall you?" Cheon WuHui raised an eyebrow. "Last time you face one master alone, you disappeared for months without a trace."

Liu Mingyun’s gaze hardened, smile turning a little stiffer. It had alluded him too. He could not possibly be so weak. He knew it, all that needed to be done was a test.

"I shall decide that for myself, My Lord."

"If so, then the commander may go forth."

"Thank you, My Lord."

And so, the Crown Prince was gone the very next moment, leaving the army in dust with ease.

Cheon WuHui watched the youth gallop away, equal parts exasperated and amused. The Crown Prince was quite a swift man, huh?