Beyond the Heavens

𝟏 ➙ ❝A second letter, a new problem❞

BEYOND THE HEAVENS

CHAPTER 1: A SECOND LETTER, A NEW PROBLEM

Almost eighteen years have passed since the birth of Princess Lin Su, during which the Kingdom of Lixin has undergone various changes. Now, the once imminent threat of drought had become a distant memory.

However, people haven't forgotten what happened almost two decades ago. The people of the Lixin Kingdom still remembered how, with the birth of Princess Lin Su, heavy rain poured down on them, lasting for three weeks and resulting in the replenishment of the Rong River, saving all the residents from drought. Back then, the rumor about the birth of the heir was left behind, and the expression "bringer of bad luck" was replaced with "the miracle of the Lixin Kingdom" or "the savior of all." Even now, whenever Princess Lin Su appeared before the residents, they didn't try to hide their gratitude, bowing their heads in respect. The Princess had earned their trust and respect by her mere existence.

Every year, on the day of Lin Su's birthday, King Chen held a grand banquet, inviting all the other royal families to join and celebrate. The day had become a festival for the Kingdom of Lixin, and in addition to the banquet, the Queen prioritized a ceremony to thank the god Zhu Shen for the miracle in their lives. Since childhood, Queen Lin Mei had guided Princess Lin Su to pray and worship the god Zhu Shen. However, for some unknown reason, every time Lin Su saw the statue of the god Zhu Shen in the Royal Palace Temple, she would hide behind everyone, as if she were afraid.

In reality, the Princess felt only intimidated by the imposing height of the statue but was also curious to know the true story behind the god Zhu Shen.

As she grew older, she started reading books about the gods revered by each of the seven kingdoms. However, there wasn't much information about the god Zhu Shen in the books in the Royal Palace Library, and most of them focused on prayers and rituals, providing nothing about his past. Lin Su tried other methods, asking her parents, then her personal maids, palace servants, and so on, but in vain. No one knew anything specific about the history and past of the god Zhu Shen. At the age of fourteen, she began to wonder why people prayed to this god about whom they didn't know much, but she didn't dare voice this question. Part of her felt guilty because she had been informed of the miracle that happened on the day of her birth, thanks to the god Zhu Shen, so she hadn't dared to think about it since. Even if her mind ventured in that direction, she forcibly stopped herself and focused on other topics.

A week and a half before the grand celebration of Princess Lin Su, the Royal Palace was in absolute chaos. Although preparations for this grand celebration had started two months ago, a few issues had arisen out of nowhere.

"Your Majesty, the Kingdom of Jinxue has sent a second letter." Quan Yi stopped, with his head bowed, at the base of the stairs in front of the throne, then waited for King Chen's signal to approach.

King Chen sighed deeply, then ordered Quan Yi to come closer. Once the letter was in his hands, the man hesitated before opening it, as he already knew what he was about to read. As his eyes scanned the contents of the letter, the crease between his eyebrows deepened, and his hands clenched slightly around the thin sheet.

It wasn't a secret that the Kingdom of Jinxue was trying to force an alliance with the Kingdom of Lixin through a marriage with Prince Hua San. Three months ago, King Hua Kang of the Kingdom of Jinxue sent a similar letter, requesting the hand of Princess Lin Su for his eldest son, Prince Hua San. However, in the absence of a response from the Kingdom of Lixin, King Chen did not expect King Hua Kang to insist and send another letter. While the initial lack of a response wouldn't have caused significant issues, its repetition would signify a disrespect towards the Kingdom of Jinxue. King Chen was now facing a tense situation.

He had informed his daughter from the moment he received the first letter regarding a potential marriage with Prince Hua San and listened attentively to her response.

"Father, I am sincere when I say that I don't feel ready to take this step in the near future. I still have much to learn, I want to ensure the prosperity of all the residents wholeheartedly, and I continue to train to lead the Royal Army and the Kingdom of Lixin in a few years. Also, as far as I remember, that Prince Hua San is known for his violent behavior and the countless people he has cruelly killed. I would accept anyone else, but please, don't let this marriage happen. Don't let the Kingdom of Lixin fall into his hands, Father!"

His daughter's words continued to resonate in his mind. The Princess was well aware of the current military situation of all the kingdoms. Currently, tensions existed between the Kingdoms of Jinxue and the Kingdom of Xianzou over a strip of territory situated between the two nations. Both kingdoms claimed ownership of that piece of land, yet neither had dared to initiate a war at the moment. Since negotiations with the other uninvolved kingdoms had likely failed, King Hua Kang needed another kingdom to support him militarily from the shadows in case of any armed conflict with the Kingdom of Xianzou. The only option left was the Kingdom of Lixin, and King Hua Kang was trying to make this alliance possible by insisting on a marriage between Princess Lin Su and his eldest son.

And King Chen was well aware of that situation.

"Quan Yi," King Chen's imposing voice broke the silence, echoing throughout the Consultation Chamber.

"This subject awaits Your Majesty's orders," Quan Yi responded, bowing his head even more.

King Chen took a longer pause before sighing and speaking again. "Find my daughter and bring her here. Urgently."

* * *

The Princess was at the Royal Army Training Ground, observing the soldiers who trained ceaselessly from early morning until almost noon. She watched attentively as the morning training unfolded, partly to analyze the progress of the soldiers and partly to see if she could anticipate their next moves.

She had studied martial arts and swordsmanship for years but hadn't truly showcased her talent and the lessons learned through hard work and sweat under the guidance of Commander Tian Jun. King Chen had not allowed her to train with the soldiers of the Royal Army, but seven years ago, at her constant requests, the King had allowed her to train and learn everything about martial arts and sword handling under the guidance of the Commander of the Royal Army, Tian Jun.

Commander Tian Jun was an old friend of King Chen. Tian Jun was not originally from the Kingdom of Lixin. He came from a common family of the Mozhong Kingdom, located in the northern part of the territory of the seven kingdoms. Four decades ago, during the Hunting Festival held in the Kingdom of Mozhong, where princes and young people from all seven kingdoms participated, Tian Jun had ranked third, capturing a total of twenty-one animals, while Prince Chen at that time had taken second place with a total of twenty-six captured animals. Seeing Tian Jun's potential, King Lin Heng of the Kingdom of Lixin took advantage of the fact that King Song Lei of the Kingdom of Mozhong owed him a sum of money and instead, he requested that Tian Jun come to his kingdom.

Thus, Tian Jun arrived in the Kingdom of Lixin, where he underwent rigorous and strict training under King Lin Heng for three more years until he was promoted to the position of Royal Bodyguard to Prince Chen. He spent a few more years in that role, training side by side with Lin Chen, with whom he had befriended. Then, a rebellion erupted within the Kingdom of Lixin triggered by several dismissals of royal advisors. Tian Jun distinguished himself in those tense moments, defending King Lin Heng from an assassination attempt organized by the dismissed royal advisors, taking an arrow in the chest. Royal Bodyguards, along with Prince Chen and a few soldiers of the Royal Army, captured and killed the traitors at King Lin Heng's orders. After his recovery, Tian Jun was promoted to the role of Commander of the Royal Army.

Seeing her from a distance, Commander Tian Jun made his way through the soldiers in training, then climbed the steps to where Princess Lin Su stood observing the morning drills. Once by her side, Tian Jun bowed his head, as he always did to show his respect for the Princess, and raised it a few seconds later.

Commander Tian Jun possessed an impressive height along with well-defined muscles acquired through rigorous training, having an intimidating yet perfectly balanced posture. From a distance, any opponent would easily notice that this body of his provided Tian Jun a significant advantage - he could combine his brute strength with his astonishing agility and speed in a dangerously captivating manner. His body and mind worked in tandem, posing a challenge to any opponent. It was a deadly combination. His long, black hair tied in a high ponytail slightly lifted his temples, making his usually stern expression even more frightening. His sky-blue eyes could be gentle, but in certain moments, they emitted a chilling coldness that would scare anyone who crossed his gaze. His armor, which was now uncovered by the cloak he usually wore – probably due to the high temperatures – highlighted his muscular arms even more.

"Your Highness, how are you feeling? I apologize for not being able to visit you these days. I've heard from the Royal Physician that your foot is recovering slowly." Commander Tian Jun initiated the conversation, leaning casually on the long sword he had been training with until a moment ago.

Lin Su greeted him with a smile and relaxed in return. "I'm glad to see you, shifu¹! My foot is getting better day by day. I have a few more days of rest, and then I can resume training."

Her words were accompanied by a note of optimism, which Tian Jun noticed.

A few days ago, while dismounting from her new horse gifted by her father on the occasion of her approaching birthday, Lin Su had landed on one foot in an awkward position. Subsequently, she experienced significant pain in her ankle, making it difficult for her to walk properly on that foot. The Royal Physician applied appropriate treatment since then, recommending her to refrain from participating in training to allow her foot to heal.

"I'm sure you'll recover quickly." Tian Jun was confident in his words, as every time the Princess fell ill or got injured during training, her recovery was remarkably fast, even surprising the royal physician.

Lin Su smiled widely and then turned back to analyze the morning training. Given the high temperatures, she had decided to forgo the cloak she usually wore and her training attire – especially now, when physical activity was prohibited. Instead, she dressed in a light blue hanfu² that was pleasing to the eyes. Her long, black hair inherited from both her parents was left free in the wind, adorned with a simple orchid flower.

In spite of her mother's attempts to persuade her to wear more adornments and dress in hanfu more often, the Princess favored the training attire she had grown accustomed to over the past few years. For her, trousers were the most comfortable.

Meanwhile, one of the soldiers caught Lin Su's attention. The boy, seemingly of the same age as her, engaged in combat with a man close to Commander Tian Jun's age. His long, black hair tied in a high ponytail swirled with his agile body as he dodged his opponent's strikes. The boy was not short; on the contrary, he was quite tall and appeared well-trained. His training attire differed from that of his opponent, with a slightly worn armor revealing a thin blouse punctured in a few places and old, dirty trousers. His boots seemed too large and worn, yet this didn't hinder his movements at all. His strikes were hard and swift, and his defense even better. He was unarmed with a sword, relying on a pair of tightly clenched fists that darted at astonishing speed toward his opponent. The other soldier, on the other hand, was armed with a sword and desperately sought a moment of vulnerability of the boy to attack.

"Shifu, who is that boy?" her voice, laden with curiosity, drew Tian Jun's attention, and he shifted his gaze toward the direction the Princess was watching.

Commander Tian Jun smiled, then redirected his attention to her.

"A few days ago, while your foot was being tended to by the Royal Physician, there were recruitments for the Royal Army. Some sons of the kingdom's residents tried their luck in the elimination stage, and only thirty managed to proceed. Now those thirty young ones are training with the soldiers, but the training they undergo is slightly different. As you saw, the boy is not armed."

"So, you're teaching them to defend themselves first, putting them in a situation to defend without weapons," she murmured, keeping her gaze on the unfolding battle. "Shifu, isn't it too risky?"

"It is indeed risky, but a soldier must know how to fight in any situation. You went through the same training. Remember how you gained the upper hand, Your Highness?"

Lin Su pondered for a moment, recalling her first training of this kind. "Of course! I fought until I managed to get hold of the sword you had."

When she was fifteen, Lin Su had gone through such training for the first time. Unlike the soldiers of the Royal Army, she had succeeded in just a few moves in finding an opportunity to disarm Tian Jun and take possession of the weapon. Going through the same training separately from the Princess at that time, the soldiers not only encountered difficulties in defense – some of them getting injured, but also challenges in disarming their opponents. None of the soldiers in defense managed to disarm the other on the first attempt. In the subsequent training sessions, even Lin Su found it increasingly challenging to snatch the sword from Tian Jun's hands because he adapted quickly to her new movements. However, over time, this type of training became quite easy for the Princess, prompting Tian Jun to add additional small obstacles.

"Your Highness, do you think these thirty new, untrained soldiers in military matters will consider disarming their opponent?" Tian Jun asked, then continued. "They are all sons of the kingdom's residents, young, and have never been seriously trained. They have never experienced a danger significant enough to know how to react when defenseless. Therefore, none of them is currently thinking about disarming the opponent but finding a perfect moment to abandon the fight and run or apply a definitive strike to end the battle. However skilled they are in unarmed combat, our soldiers will not lose the fight. They are far too well-prepared to let a blow defeat them."

Commander Tian Jun's explanation made sense, considering Lin Su had grown up witnessing the strictness and harshness of the Royal Army's training. However, as she observed the movements of the particular boy and the calm expression on his face, she found it hard to believe that the boy did not intend to disarm his opponent.

"I believe that boy doesn't want to flee from the fight. On the contrary, I think he is aiming for the perfect moment to disarm his opponent."

Tian Jun listened to the Princess's words, then, for the second time, shifted his gaze to the boy. His critical eyes analyzed the situation below, and to his surprise, he realized that Lin Su was right. The boy's posture did not resemble that of the other twenty-nine new recruits; it looked more like that of an experienced soldier. In less than a few seconds, under the watchful eyes of the Commander and the Princess, the boy managed to deliver a blow to his opponent's knee, causing him to lose balance and release the sword he had held tightly. The boy caught the sword just before it touched the ground, then quickly turned and placed it at his opponent's throat, finally stopping the fight.

But it wasn't the boy's victory that piqued the Princess's curiosity; it was the calmness with which he fought in a disadvantaged position.

"Shifu, I want to meet that boy!" Lin Su exclaimed suddenly, her voice filled with enthusiasm, then attempted to descend the stairs to reach the field. However, upon turning, she noticed Quan Yi approaching rapidly. "Elder Quan, is something wrong?"

Quan Yi, a small-statured man who had never wielded a sword, had focused on the affairs of the Lixin Kingdom since his youth, learning politics and managing internal matters of the Royal Palace. Thirty years ago, Quan Yi became a Royal Advisor, but his work extended beyond that role. Quan Yi was the right hand of King Chen and one of the wisest Royal Administrators. He knew everything that moved within the Kingdom, from the affairs in the Royal Kitchen to the newborns of the Kingdom, and his oversight extended even to the Royal Army. King Chen, younger by a few years than Quan Yi, held great respect for him and listened attentively to his advice. If there was a person in this Kingdom whom King Chen trusted greatly, apart from his own family, it was Quan Yi.

Quan Yi bowed, first acknowledging the Princess, and then the Commander Tian Jun. Tian Jun reciprocated the gesture, inclining his head.

"His Majesty urgently requests your presence, Your Highness!" Quan Yi's voice didn't betray the severity of the issue behind her father's summons, but Lin Su knew that something happened. She had the ability to read the atmosphere in just a few moments, so seeing the expression on the man's face, she realized there was a rather serious problem. Moreover, her father wouldn't use the term "urgent" without a good reason.

The Princess bid farewell to Commander Tian Jun, then followed Quan Yi and the other two Royal Bodyguards who had been behind her during the entire time spent in the Royal Army Training Ground.

Footnotes:

¹Shifu or ** (chinese) means "master" or "teacher".

²Traditional Chinese attire consisting of a blouse with wide sleeves and a long skirt.