Arc 1: Kumoshima Hierarchy 2
1104 Words
Chapter 32
The cloak Wei Xingyun wore over his light armor concealed him in the darkness. He stealthy traversed in the forest.
As he heard a faint rustling, a very soft wind hit his arm. Survival instinct struck his whole body and dodged, barely avoiding the blades, leaving cuts on his cloak. Without minutes delay, clashes of metals rang in the forest. Fighting at the speed of the fastest beast, two shadows fiercely collided in the darkness.
The trees obstructing them were cut fiercely. Marks of blades left on the wooden body as the fierceness of the battle immense.
The General was a veteran of the battlefield, strength comparable to the masters, with great experience at war, hands tainted with hundreds or thousands of blood that threatened his country. However, the enemy’s nimble movements and fierce yet swift attacks did not lose to him in comparison.
The enemy threw a blade in his direction. The General ducked to his right. Who would have thought that his enemy long anticipated this and General Wei was not his real target but the tree!
As an experienced General, simple tricks wont work on him.When the enemy realized he could not defeat the other person in terms of stamina, the enemy decisively laid non obvious traps by cutting the surrounding trees carefully without letting on the enemy.
Yet, even when a huge tree fell over, the General still attempted to dodge, the hood of his cloak got pulled off in the process. Only, there was another tree already falling over where he landed.
But before it hit him, he was pulled out of harm’s way and landed on a something.
“Your Highness!”
General Wei’s eyes snapped open upon hearing Ging’s voice. What greeted him was familiar eyes staring back at him.
“Y-Your Highness?” General Wei asked in between panting. “Zhuangjin.”
“Xingyun-ge?”
Wei Xingyun did not speak anymore. His blood flowed with both cold and warmth, mixed feelings flooded in his chest.
______
The path to repairing severed ties had been arduous. But now both of them need each other to stabilize the situation.
When Chunan heard the details of what Prime Minister Idjimo did, he could not help but grit his teeth. “He enjoyed his fill, didn't he?”
“What do you want us to do?”
“Take back the throne for the Prince and eliminate all threats,” He looked at Wei XIngyun, XIngyun-ge, will you cooperate?”
Wei XIngyun knelt in front of him, “I, General Wei, vowed my loyalty to you and you only. Nothing will change.”
Vivid memories from the past overlap in Chunan’s memory. The fifteen year-old Xingyun pledging his loyalty to the First Prince, while the former’s grandfather, General Wei Yanxin, was smiling proudly beside his grandson.
Chunan pulled him up but did not say anything about the other’s oath. “I’ll take back the throne for my brother. Help me, Xingyun-ge.”
“Your Highness, even if you were not going to be the king, I will follow you. Whoever you want to protect, I’ll serve with my life, too.
_________
Prince Yoshimura observed the small lights on the horizon. He ordered his men to extinguish the torches earlier. It's about time to catch their prey.
A clip-clop sound was heard as a horse slowly approached their place. He was surprised to see Aijin and Prince Huaixian mounted on the latter’s horse. The horse was still young hence, even if these two had small builds, it's still kind of amusing to see these two people riding a small horse.
“Your Highness,” both of them greeted Yoshimura before greeting the rest of the surrounding soldiers
“It’s dangerous here. Why did both of you come here?.”
“No one can bring the urgent messages so we volunteered. Anyway, it's not important.” Aijin stated to him, “Prince Zhuangjin and...Kazuyuki went missing.”
“Zhuangjin will be back soon. Your...friend is assigned to handle those about to attack the other end of Silver Rain.”
Aijin maneuvered the horse. She was suspicious if the Prince had anything to do with it. She wanted to lash out. In the end, she tried to calm herself down.
The Second Prince isn’t like that, Aijin.
“But Your Highness, the Inner Minister sent a messenger. Masatomo of the Miyazuya Clan had been*”
“Abd*cted?”
“Yes,“ she eyed the Prince.
He just glanced at her, “His cousin really was hell-bent in getting you. To the point where he wanted to get rid of Kazuyuki. I doubt that Masatomo had no plans of getting rid of me, as well. So don’t look at me like that.”
He called one of his officers and signaled one of his attendants to write his decree. He turned to his officer, “Bring your men and ask the Inner Minister for some clue to find Miyazuya Kazuyuki. Arrest Miyazuya Masatomo for treason, willful acts of damage and prioritizing self interest amidst war.”
The officers were a bit confused about the treason verdict but they would not dare question the Second Prince. They gave their salute and left. The Second Prince turned to Aijin, “Go back now. Let’s talk once this is over.”
“Your Highness,” AIjin called out to him. The Prince halted but did not look back. “Please be safe.”
Without waiting, she made the horse gallop. Prince Huaixian smiled. “Benefactor already had a change of heart?”
“Aren’t you too young to mind other people’s issues?”
“Benefactor, I’m not a toddler.”
“Yes, so study hard and be a good king in the future.”
“But the Prince isn’t bad, is he?”
“Maybe no. He’s just too used to hiding his real thoughts.”
They both did not see the small yet kind smile of the usually cold Prince.
He drew his sword, “It’s about time. We may not be the main force but our position is crucial for the victory of our country.”
Another drum of hooves resonated in the area. Chunan arrived alone, “Your Highness, the theory Kazuyuki gave was right.”
Prince Yoshimura nodded, “Have you found that person?”
“Yes. We can rely on him.”
“Good. Come with me,” Yoshimura summoned Yuu, “You need to stand for Kazuyuki in Silver Rain City. He’s missing.”
“As you wish, Your Highness.”
“Go, we don’t have time.”
- Writer
