“Give it up! You are surrounded!” Xia shouted as he sprinted forward on his horse. It was the morning of their second day traveling when they met the men that inhabited the border. They have been fighting since before the break of dawn. Pheasants broke through the tall grass and crows cawed as they fluttered away from the brawl. The horses of both Qin and the men splintered their way through the heavy dew and splattered them in the air with each heavy thud on the earth. The group of men, persistent in keeping their grounds, continued to spit arrows at Xia and his men who chased them from behind.

“Lieutenant Xia! They’re too fast for us! The armor on our horses is keeping us from catching up with them!” One of the soldiers shouted.

Xia smirked, “Don’t worry. Remember, it is not our goal to catch them.”

From the opposite end, another fleet of cavaliers sprinted toward them.

“Withdraw! Withdraw!” One of the men from the group yelled.

Before they could withdraw in time, Xia’s men dispersed into formation, keeping their heads low in the speed of the chase. The fleet before them mirrored the formation and circled around the group. Not before long, the men were surrounded by the Qin army. With their spears pointed outward, the Qin cavaliers closed in on them.

Xia lifted his eyes from his captives and shouted to Huian who led the fleet before them, “I feel like I’m the one who’s always doing the chasing. Don’t think that just because you’re old I will let you slack off every time, Huian!”

“Eh. You need the practice anyway,” Huian chuckled, his eyes on the captives. “Bind them. We must meet up with Ying-tai as soon as possible.”

When they met up with Ying-tai, his fleet already had their captives lined up with their heads lowered, expecting their lives to end. When Huian and Xia set their captives by Ying-tai’s, his captives whispered to the others, “We’re going to die today.”

“What are you talking about? How weak are your souls? It is not in our code to surrender!”

“Brother, you don’t understand,” one man’s voice shook. He turned his head to Ying-tai, “That is Qin’s Unit Commander. We are upon his army.”

“The Beast of Battlefields?”

“Yes,” the man who informed nodded.

“This can only mean one of two things,” the other man began. “Either we are all going to die here today or everything we know will be dusted off from the face of earth.”

Ying-tai, Huian, and Xia walked toward them. Xia was the first to talk. “We know there are more of you. Where is your leader?”

“What am I to gain from telling you?” The man who received the information hissed.

“Fellow,” Xia knelt on one knee before him, “does it not strike you that you are not yet dead? I know you know who we are. I see it in the fearful eyes of your comrades. We could’ve killed you in that field yet you are here with us. SPEAKING with us.”

“Why don’t you just kill us?” The man who shared the information questioned.

“What use is it for us to kill you?” Huian only questioned him in return. “Knowing you guys, we will only have more of your men come after us if we kill you. It would be an unnecessary nuisance.”

“We won’t say a thing to men who work for corrupted systems, men sworn to oath to slaughter the innocent for the sake of gaining something for themselves!”

“We aren’t that much different thought, are we?” Ying-tai spoke. “You and I.”

“We are very different, Unit Commander Ying-tai of Qin.” The man argued.

“A life lost is a life lost. Who are we to weigh the values of the lives taken?” Ying-tai continued. “Everyone’s hands have become dirtied from the long years of war. What makes yours any cleaner? You may not work under a system, but you still have a code you follow. And that code drives you to do things that shouldn’t be considered humane.”

“Are you deeming yourself righteous?”

“No. What I’m saying is: we are all men who have become slaves of something.”

“I am no slave.”

“Then why do you fight so hard?”

Then man shot Ying-tai a stare. His chest heaved heavily, his mouth opened as he tried to rebuttal.

“How could you possibly understand? You are what they pronounce The Beast of Battlefields. The Demon of War. All you know is annihilation.”

“If that was the case you’d be dead. Just as my lieutenant there said,” he looked over to Xia.

“Just what are your intentions?” The other man uttered.

“Your cooperation,” Xia replied him. “Your large number of men can aid us.”

“Why would we want to help you?”

“In actuality, we never asked,” Huian commented.

The men looked up with wide eyes.

“If we could get a chance to speak with your leader, we could probably come to an agreement,” Huian tried to convince them.

“He will never agree to this. He does not make deals with your kind,” the man who had been using a hateful tone expressed.

“I get it, he doesn’t like soldiers,” Xia commented. “But it is in our good conscience to negotiate before we mindlessly exterminate,” he shrugged at them.

“I’ll take you to him,” the other man offered.

“Brother Fa!”

“You want to risk all of our brothers’ lives, Brother Kang? We are given a chance to live or die at this moment! Also, we will have to see what he says about this first. Don’t make any reckless decisions for his behalf. He hates that,” Brother Fa insist

“Speak for yourself, you coward!” Brother Kang spat.

“Untie him,” Ying-tai demanded, his eyes watching Brother Fa closely.

“You sure?” Xia was cautious.

Ying-tai looked at Xia which made him lower his shoulders and oblige his orders. Ying-tai then raised his hand to motion Brother Fa to move forward, “Lead us.”

High in the mountains while they neared the base of the brothers’ organization, Ying-tai only had a few men follow him inside the base with Xia and Huian. The rest had been dispersed around the perimeter and on standby incase of any dispute. Blindfolded and unarmed, the two brothers led Ying-tai and the few of his soldiers into the structure where their leader awaited with armed men.

“Don’t let our guard down,” Ying-tai warned Xia and Huian as they approached the men. “These men are men of the pugilist world. Any one of them standing in this room could have the skills equivalent to you and me.”

Xia and Huian nodded, not taking their eyes off of the leader staring down at them.

“I’ve heard of this man who refused to be tied down by any regime. He lived life his own way and nobody was able to change that no matter the many attempts the government tried to bring him in. Some call him a rebel. Some people consider him a humanitarian,” Xia spoke quietly to Huian.

“The reason why nobody is able to detain him is because of all of the hidden dragons associated with him throughout the world.” Huian added.

“Do you think this is why Ying-tai wants him?” Xia asked.

Huian didn’t respond as they were near the presence of the brothers’ leader. When they stood before him, Ying-tai’s men forced the blind folded brothers onto their knees with their heads lowered. The armed men behind their leader jumped forward at the sight of their brothers but were immediately stopped. The leader raised his eyes from the two men being held captive and looked at Ying-tai.

“I have sensed that this day would come: Me meeting with The Beast of Battlefields. I accepted that it would be inevitable.” He then returned his eyes to the two blind folded brothers on the ground, “But I never dreamed that one day my brothers would betray me like this!” He roared at them while the howling wind wailed outside the structure.

“We deserve to die!” Brother Kang remorsefully cried. “Forgive my incompetence! I couldn’t protect your concealment.”

“Brother,” Brother Fa voiced, “Please listen to what needs to be said before you turn us away. I believe it might do us some good.”

“Silence!” The leader of the brothers pounded his fist down. He glared disappointingly to Brother Fa, “Have you not learned from your days on the outside? Men of the regime cannot be negotiated with. They cannot be trusted. All they know is annihilation! We live in a separate world from theirs!”

“Brother, maybe we can stop the struggle,” Brother Fa pled. “Surely there’s more to life than just hiding and fighting.”

“Feh!” The leader scoffed at him. He then lifted his fiery eyes to Ying-tai. They stared at one another for an unbearable, spine chilling moment. As though it was a battle of will, both refused to turn their eyes away from the other.

“We live life quietly away from the regime for we refuse to play their foul games. Why is it that you continuously hunt us like we are some exotic animal?” The leader questioned the unyielding Ying-tai.

“I am not here to hunt you,” Ying-tai replied with assurance, “but to ask your hand to aid us.”

The leader let out a bellowing laugh, making the room tremble. His laughter mimicked the howling wind that scraped through the sides of the high mountain. “You are growing desperate now aren’t you? It is what they say; as the end of war draws near, desperate time calls for desperate measures.” He approached Ying-tai and walked around him, “Man of Qin, you are one of the most powerful states in the country now. What help could I possibly be to you?” He came around and faced Ying-tai. “I thought the great Ying-tai was more strategic than this. To come to me, a no-one’s man, you’ve disappointed me with your desperate pleas.” He turned his head away and stopped in his steps. He lifted his head and smirked, “Ah, yes. Disappointment. You’ve given one of your most respected persons away to your sworn foe.”

Ying-tai’s jaw clenched at the comment and he lifted his eyes to the leader again. Huian and Xia stepped forward.

“Hey, watch your mouth!” Xia spat.

The leader turned around calmly and grinned unapologetically. He lifted his head upward again as though he was in deep thoughts, “Ah, what day is it? Ah yes. It’s been three days since they came to retrieve your princess. I say they’ve arrived at Zhao by now. How must she feel to think that her own country has betrayed her and sent her off to a pack of wolves?”

Huian turned to Ying-tai to find his expression was unchanged. Despite his poise, Huian could sense the bitterness in Ying-tai.

“To lose The Song of Qin…do you not feel remorse, Unit Commander Ying-tai of Qin?”

This made Ying-tai lift his head.

“Unit commander Ying-tai had nothing to do with that!” Xia blurted out angrily at the rude behavior the leader had toward Ying-tai.

“Xiao Tong of Yan,” Ying-tai began. “The general of the faction sent to secure the border of Southern Chu. You watched him hang your wife who was then with child.”

The leader slowly turned to Ying-tai, his fists clenched.

“You watched him commit that murder all because you didn’t want to give yourself up. To what end will you keep hiding? To what end will you keep the innocent dying? To what end?!” Ying-tai fearlessly challenged him. “Do you not feel remorse?”

The leader flung toward Ying-tai in a split second in which Ying-tai swiftly retaliated as if he was expecting it. Ying-tai unsheathed his sword halfway and blocked the blow that came toward his chest. The blade quivered from the blow but Ying-tai’s stance stood resolute. Ying-tai made his move in pulse with the leader and they both struck each other in a single rhythm and set each other ten paces back.

The people around the room felt the waving pressure of the clout and stepped back with cautious eyes. One of the pugilist men began to touch the handle of his sword and gripped it with trembling hands. Huian stared at him till he caught his eyes. He shook his head, telling the pugilist man they were all on dangerous grounds. Fortunately, he obeyed the eyes of Huian and released the hold he had on his sword.

At this point, Ying-tai had his sword fully sheathed and in position.

“Nobody has spoken of my wife since that night,” the leader said in almost a whisper through clenched teeth. He glared at Ying-tai, “Your heart must be as cold as steel.”

He flew toward Ying-tai with his spear and their blades swiveled so quick the eyes of the men couldn’t keep up with the rhythm Ying-tai and the pugilist leader were in. No matter how much the leader lunged toward Ying-tai, Ying-tai only seemed to dance with his spear. The leader pulled his spear back and then plunged the point toward Ying-tai’s feet. Ying-tai leapt into the air lightly as he pressed his sword against the shaft of the spear for leverage.

He landed his feet on top of the leader’s spear and flicked his sword against the leader and sent him back five paces. Ying-tai flipped himself backward and landed back onto the ground to his side and carefully studied the pugilist leader for his next move. The leader threw his spear toward Ying-tai who twisted to the side to avoid contact, making the spear pierce into the wall behind him. At this exact second, the leader charged toward Ying-tai at full speed with a sword in hand.

Sensing the change in wind while his eyes were still on the spear in the wall, Ying-tai widened his eyes and prepared himself to dodge the second strike. Watching the reflection from the blade of the spear and measuring the necessary angles of his next motion, Ying-tai promptly threw his sword toward the same wall the spear was in. The pommel of the sword ricocheted and the point of the sword darted immediately toward the leader who was just a few paces behind Ying-tai.

Surprised by this act, the pugilist leader drew his sword back so he could hinder the strike Ying-tai sent him. As the pugilist leader began to swipe his sword toward the blade flying his way, Ying-tai made his move and whipped out his crimson sash and wrapped it around the grip of his airborne sword. He yanked his weapon back into his hand and pointed it toward the leader’s head that was still flying toward him.

A deception? The leader realized.

“Brother He!” His men cried out.

The leader lifted his head and before his eye met with the point of Ying-tai’s sword, he twisted back and drew himself away with a fast-paced beating heart. Back on his side, he looked at Ying-tai, his chest heaving. Ying-tai already had his sword sheathed and his back was turned to him.

“Sir He,” Ying-tai said in a low voice, “I will not force you to join hands with me. But do know that one of the seven regimes will win. And when that day comes, when the world is ruled under one regime, you will still be hiding from them. What I offer you is a world where you could roam as a free man. But if you so decline my offer and insist to stand by the sideline to watch innocent people die, when the world is under my feat I will not claim to know you. For what you are doing is too cowardly for my taste.” Ying-tai stepped out of the structure with Huian, Xia and his other men following closely behind. As they descended from the peak of the mountain, Brother He watched till the crimson silk on Ying-tai’s back disappeared.

“Brother He,” his brothers called unto him. “What will we do?”

Brother He sighed, “I fear the pugilist world will not be a hidden world much longer.”

Returning to regular grounds, Huian thought about Princess Xiu Juan. It had almost been four days since Zhao came to retrieve her. Certainly enough she’s already arrived inside Zhao. He turned to Ying-tai, “Ying-tai—”

“We will return to the mountains for his answer in three days,” Ying-tai began.

Huian only nodded at this, “To have the pugilist world with us would be an advantage. Just don’t be disappointed if he declines your offer. He’s done it before to a lot of men of the regime.”

After quietly walking through the vast forest with pillars of sunrays, Xia looked up at Ying-tai, “Empress Xiu Juan is in Zhao by now, isn’t she?”

Not seeming to express anything, Ying-tai replied blankly, “Yes.”

Huian and Xia looked at one another, and then back at Ying-tai.

“I bet she must’ve been a beautiful bride,” Xia sighed.

“Yes, Qin must have mourned,” Huian nodded.

They returned to walking quietly until Ying-tai took in a deep breath and spoke, “I had a dream the other night.”

Huian and Xia looked up at Ying-tai.

“Dream?” Huian repeated.

“Yes,” Ying-tai lowered his wistful eyes. “I saw the emperor. Then for a moment…Grand Princess Xiu Juan.”

Xia gasped silently, his mouth opened.

“But,” Ying-tai continued, “One thing I didn’t understand.”

“What is it?” Huian asked.

“There was a fish. The Emperor told me about it from a dream he had before he passed. At first it was healthy, and then it turned famished and vile. Then…” he paused, “Grand Princess Xiu Juan, as though she were the heron in The Emperor’s dream, handed the fish to me like I was the other heron in his same dream.”

“Then what happened?” Huian asked.

“Once she handed the fish to me, she said, ‘brother.’” Ying-tai turned to Huian.

“Brother?” Xia was puzzled.

Huian thought, “Maybe she meant you? Like she was calling you ‘brother’?”

“You really think that’s it?” Ying-tai wanted to be assured.

“I don’t really know,” Huian returned his eyes to Ying-tai. “It was your dream. The Emperor must’ve wanted to give you a message. I think it’s really up to you to interpret it,” Huian smiled at him.

“I suppose what you say is right,” Ying-tai nodded.

“And Ying-tai,” Huian started. Ying-tai turned to him, “It’s not Grand Princess Xiu Juan anymore. She’s an Empress now. You can call her what you want around us, but do make it a habit to address her as Empress in front of others so they don’t create theories.”

Ying-tai’s eyes widened at his own slip up and he nodded as he lowered his head. “Sorry…I just…”

Xia patted his back, “It’s okay. You don’t have to explain yourself.”

Huian and Xia smiled at him and walked ahead of him while he stood behind and thought to himself. He raised his head and looked at the glimmering sun ray that bled its way through the thick leaves above him. He closed his eyes, clenched his fists together, and took in a deep breath. A nostalgic, sweet smell whiffed by him and Ying-tai shot his eyes open and spun around only to find a lone plum blossom tree on his right shedding its petals.

It was time for Ying-tai and his men to return to Brother He for his answer as it had already been three days since they met. When they reached the top of the mountain, they were surprised when they were invited inside the Structure of Principals where Brother He awaited him. He was sitting on his seat when they arrived and soon stood at the sight of Ying-tai. He offered them a seat where a hot kettle of tea and fruits were set for them. The room was impressive and Ying-tai was rather awed by how they honored their leaders as their characters were carved onto the stone walls and they seemed to look down unto them with the sun that beamed down into the magnificent room.

“You came as you promised,” Brother He’s voice vibrated. “And you came without a puffed up chest like a peacock. You have no intentions of intimidating me right now?”

“What need is there for intimidation? I am a guest in your domain,” Ying-tai replied.

Brother He watched Ying-tai as he sat down at his seat with Huian and Xia. Brother He put his cup down and took in a deep breath. He, then, opened his lips to speak, “If I give you the answer you want, you will honor your promise?”

“As I said, you and your men will be free men,” Ying-tai assured as he watched a hooded lady with a dark sheer silk across her face pour him his cup of tea. “Those of the pugilist world will no longer be hunted.”

“Will I be considered your enemy if I decline?” Brother He asked without looking up from his cup of tea. The thread of steam drifted toward Ying-tai.

“I have no reason to make you my enemy,” Ying-tai nodded his head to the lady who poured him his tea. He lifted his head and straightened his back, “I have enough enemies as it is.”

Brother He looked at Ying-tai.

“It would just be as if we never crossed paths. Even if I hear your pleas, I will not come to you. Even if you are the only person I see when I die, I will not reach out to you,” Ying-tai continued. “You used to fight for those who want to resist the government. You were a man with beliefs. A man of capabilities. But now it’s different. I can’t bear the fact that you will just watch civilians die to keep this pugilist world of yours safe and quiet.” Ying-tai turned to look at Brother He, “With all the power you have, I want you to do something worthwhile.”

“And that something worthwhile…Is that giving you proud victories or making the world yours?” Brother He questioned.

“It’s to make men like you and I stop fighting. The war has worn us and has worn the earth.” Ying-tai paused and lowered his eyes, “…Our loved ones deserve to have a heart at ease; to know that we will never have to leave again with the risk of never to return .” He stopped and went quiet. As he lifted his arm up, Huian raised his eyes and watched Ying-tai gently adjust his collar by his chest.

“Unit Commander Ying-tai of Qin,” Brother He leaned forward in a relaxing manner, “Do you have someone as such?”

Ying-tai, well composed, only smiled, “We all do, don’t we? That’s why we’re all here ready to give up our lives.”

“Yes, you’re right,” Brother He nodded as he took another sip of his tea. “Despite of how much your argument makes sense to me, the war has worn me out. Just like you said. I no longer want to fight.”

Ying-tai lifted his head to Brother He.

“I apologize that I have to decline your offer,” Brother He lowered his head and Ying-tai looked away.

Xia, his eyes full of disappointment, turned to Ying-tai who was still well composed. “Ying-tai, he’s not serious is he?” He whispered. “This is so cowardly of him!”

Ying-tai only nodded at Brother He’s reply, “I understand.” He stood up and bowed lowly to Brother He while Huian and Xia followed the gesture. Before they even reached the door, one of Brother He’s followers burst into the room with warned eyes.

“Brother He! They’re here! They’ve brought an army!” He waved his hands as he announced.

Brother He stood from his seat, “Brother Ye! Get a hold of yourself! Who is here?”

“The emerald army!”

Brother He widened his eyes but kept calm. He sighed, “So they come to annihilate us for dismissing them.”

“The emerald army?” Xia turned to Huian. “As in the Yan?”

“I would say so,” Huian nodded while his eyes were still on Brother He.

Ying-tai turned to Brother He, “Looks like someone did not handle rejection well. What luck is it of ours to be caught in between your quarrel.”

Brother He glared at Ying-tai, “You act as though I planned for this to happen. I don’t remember asking you to help fight my battle anyway.”

“I never said I was,” Ying-tai countered.

After a moment of silence between them, a roaring voice loomed from outside. “He of Zhenzhu Mountain! We have you surrounded! Per his majesty of Yan, if you will not join us we will eliminate you and your kind!”

Brother He’s eyes were placed on the door. Though he was twice the size of Ying-tai and stood with a figure so intimidating, his eyes expressed the weariness of his spirit.

“Brother He! Run! Leave us and save yourself and the rest of the brothers!” Several voices of his men cried out to him.

Brother He gripped his sword then turned to Ying-tai, “Excuse my departure from you. If you are leaving, you and your men should leave now. Otherwise you’ll be trapped in this chaos. I appreciate that someone like you thought to summon upon a man like me for help and I apologize for disappointing you for denying your wish as you have traveled long and far.”

Ying-tai exhaled heavily and kept his lips sealed as he watched Brother He part from him.

“He bids his farewell as a dead man would,” Huian commented.

Brother Kang picked up his weapon, “Well, I suppose it’s time to end this boring conversation and party!” Before stepping foot outside the doorway, he looked at Ying-tai, “As Brother He said, feel free to excuse yourself anytime. Just don’t get killed in the middle of it.” Brother Kang then gave Xia a dirty look and sneered at him, “Or you could feel free to watch how a man gets the job done.”

“Job done?! We were able to capture you. You were our captive. I already know how to ‘get the job done—’” Xia snapped but Huian cut him short.

“Xia, that’s enough,” Huian placed his hand on his shoulder. Xia bit his lips and glared after Brother Kang.

Outside, Brother He approached the Yan army who had their weapons ready to lick flesh and blood. The Yan general was on his horse and wore a helmet that had a mask that covered his face.

“Well, look who it is,” the Yan general cynically greeted. “The Lord of Pugilist Men.”

“I no longer go by that title,” Brother He corrected.

Then Yan general inhaled heavily through his teeth as he lifted his head up to view the sky above him. He tilted his head and continued to speak to Brother He, “But the power, Sir He! Imagine what you and my emperor could’ve achieved together! The respect we could’ve gained!”

“You mean the fear you would invoke,” Brother He spoke up. “I would have none of it. All of you men of the regime are sick minded and I will not be a part of that.”

“How did you become so weak?!” The Yan general snarled with his fist in the air. “I would think that the hatred in your heart would convince you otherwise!”

“Why would I let myself get so twisted?” Brother He stood firmly on his ground.

The Yan general chuckled at him for a moment. Then he leaned forward and questioned Brother He, “Why not?” He raised his hand and lifted the mask that covered his face. As he unveiled himself, Brother He’s eyes widened and the grip on his sword was so hard his hand became numb.

“Xiao Tong of Yan!” Brother He’s deep voice trembled as he bitterly glared at General Xiao Tong.

General Xiao Tong raised both of his arms and smiled down at Brother He, “Don’t get mad at me brother. You didn’t come out when I called upon you ten years ago. So, you know, it was practically your fault.” Then he exhaled heavily as he thought to himself, “But, feh! Think of it this way: I got rid of your distraction. Oh sorry! I mean distractions! I almost forgot that woman was with child!” He laughed. “Now you could be the man you once were! So you…should… thank…Me!” He mocked as he pointed his hand outward to Brother He then to himself.

“You fucking bastard!” Brother He unsheathed his sword and leapt forward at General Xiao Tong as he continued to laugh and flew from his horse. At this moment, the invitation for bloodshed was given.

Huian listened to the calamity coming from outside the Structure of Principals. As the sound of the hoof steps came closer, the ground began to shake underneath them. Huian turned to Ying-tai, “Are we really going to leave them here?”

“General Xiao Tong of Yan will stop at nothing. He will kill each and every one of them,” Xia mentioned. He raised his sword, “He had the nerve to come face Sir He once again and with that sick, disrespectful manner. I don’t want that asshole to get away. Someone ought to teach him a lesson.”

Ying-tai turned to look at Huian, Xia, and his men, “This is not our battle—“

“It’s the Yan army, Ying-tai,” Xia interrupted him. “We are fighting them. It is part of our job to cleanse the world of them. So, we’re not fighting Sir He’s fight. We just happened to cross paths with an enemy that’s our own as well.” Xia walked up closer to Ying-tai, “Come on. Think of it that way.”

Ying-tai couldn’t argue with Xia’s logic and only smirked at it. He took one look at his eager men then turned to face the door. “Well then, let’s go join this party!”

“Yes!” His men roared with their weapons up and ready.

Brother He’s rage was uncontrollable and could be read by how he swung his sword. He fought like a blinded tiger that wildly jabbed at whatever his fangs could reach. When they neared the edge of the mountain, General Xiao Tong stopped Brother He from coming closer.

“Uh uh. I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he warned with a sick grin on his face. “You see, I didn’t plan to come here to lose.” He pointed his finger at Brother He’s brothers who were tied up and kneeling by the edge of the mountain.

“You coward,” Brother He hissed at General Xiao Tong. “Why won’t you fight me like a man!”

“I’m trying to show you that distractions are bad. And I want you to see how weak of a man you’ve become!” General Xiao Tong’s voice became dourer as he soared toward Brother He and cut his left shoulder.

Brother he jumped back and placed his right hand on his shoulder and then looked at his hand to see the amount of blood that seeped through.

“Brother He!” His brothers yelled.

“Let’s play a game,” General Xiao Tong suggested.

“What?” Brother He scorned.

“If I cut you three times, your brothers will be dropped ten thousand meters yonder and meet the surprise waiting for them below. But if you cut me three times, I will release them and fight you like the man you want me to. Just you and me. No one involved.”

Brother He looked at his brothers and then back to General Xiao Tong, “You will keep your word?”

“I am a man of oath,” General Xiao Tong bowed his head while his eyes stuck on Brother He.

Brother He stood in his stance and studied General Xiao Tong. Then in a flashing instant, General Xiao Tong darted forward with his sword toward Brother He’s chest but he was fast enough to block the blow with his own blade. Brother He pummeled him back five paces and took his turn to try to inflict a cut onto General Xiao Tong’s flesh. He swung his sword and snaked it under General Xiao Tong’s blade and toward his chin. Brother He changed his hold on his sword and then twisted his flexible blade upward, crafting the first cut by General Xiao Tong’s jaw.

“Good!” Brother He’s men cheered.

“Your tricks have always intrigued me,” General Xiao Tong grinned as he wiped the blood off of his jaw. He flew forward in a whirling method, his sword dancing like a drill. Brother He stepped back and jumped when the sword was in his close presence. He clashed his sword against the drilling sword as he flew upward to let General Xiao Tong glide underneath him. When Brother He landed back onto his feet, before he could turn to face his opponent, General Xiao Tong jumped back at him and pierced his blade into his left arm in which Brother He flicked it off from his flesh immediately with his sword.

“One to one,” General Xiao Tong smirked.

Brother He only furrowed his brow and proceeded toward him relentlessly. As they fought, General Xiao Tong noticed Brother He’s strikes were now quicker and harder. His old skills were emerging from their long concealment and this made General Xiao Tong’s blood rush.

“Yes! That’s it!” He praised.

Before they knew it, they were tied two to two.

“One more and you’ll let my brothers go,” Brother He affirmed.

General Xiao Tong opened his arms wide, “Of course. But not if I get you first.” As soon as he spoke those words, he dashed toward Brother He and clashed swords with him. They twisted and turned, leapt and danced their way to inflict the final pain. They kicked each other away in sync and each flew back ten paces. Not wanting to stall a moment, both men pointed their swords outward and soared at one another instantly, not caring about death’s watch. As their swords met and slid against each other, neither Brother He nor General Xiao Tong backed down and kept their momentum going. With their unyielding will, each man’s sword met with the other’s flesh and ended the duel as it was the final cut crafted. They stood looking at each other for a moment, chests heaving.

“That’s three,” Brother He breathed heavily.

General Xiao Tong grinned, “Yes. As it is for me.” He lifted two fingers up for a signal then lowered it.

Brother He’s eye widened with terror and twisted his head toward his brothers, “NOOOO!”

“Brother He!” His brothers cried as they were about to be pushed off the mountain.

At this exact moment, General Xiao Tong yanked his sword from Brother He’s flesh and admired the blood that oozed out. “Don’t worry. You’ll see them soon enough,” he said with murderous eyes as he lifted his blade to Brother He.

“You gave me your word!” Brother He yelled.

General Xiao Tong shrugged, “When has life ever been fair to you?” He kicked Brother He’s sword from his hand and sent it swiveling on the hard ground behind him. Before he could jab his weapon toward Brother He, he heard arrows whistling in the air and piercing into flesh of men.

“Ummf!”

“Ahhhh!”

“Uuurraaaah!”

He turned his head to his men that had Brother He’s brothers hostage and at the sight he widened his eyes that were filled with dread, “Wh—what’s happening?”

Each and every one of his men were getting slain by flying arrows. They had not even got the chance to touch the brothers by the edge of the mountain. He followed the direction the arrows were being shot from and a saw a flicker of red.

Afraid of the worst, he shot Brother He a nasty stare, inflicted a deep cut into his leg and shouted, “Who is this defense you armed up with?”

Brother He, now on one knee with his right hand on his tattered shoulder, looked at the flying arrows and shook his head, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“My men are being swatted down like flies!” General Xiao Tong was now screaming. He positioned his sword toward Brother He’s head, “I told you, I did not come here to lose. Let’s end this swiftly.”

There was a sudden change of the wind as if it halted its movement to make way for someone. The shade of red was much clearer now for it was hovering above General Xiao Tong’s head. It was as though time slowed down for him to lift up his head to see who was before him. Soaring over Brother He’s body, the man’s eyes that emulated the eyes of a tiger pierced through him with greater might than the sword that went through his chest. Time picked up again and General Xiao Tong lowered his eyes to the cold blade inside his chest then up to the guard of the sword where the man’s hand was still gripping onto tightly.

This is He’s sword, General Xiao Tong recognized. He flailed his sword in effort to strike away the opponent in which he flew back and grabbed Brother He with him. General Xiao Tong lifted his head up and took a good look at the man who perforated him. His eyes shot open wide, “That shade of red. You—You are a warrior of Qin!” He examined his armor, “But you are no foot soldier. A general?” General Xiao Tong examined his face and then he began to chuckle, “No. No. I can’t believe it!” He gripped the sword in his chest and attempted to stand. “Y-you must be no one other than the renowned Unit Commander Ying-tai of Qin.”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Ying-tai advised in a low voice.

General Xiao Tong glared at him, “You are in no place to tell me what to do---”

“As a matter of fact,” Ying-tai interrupted him, “I do. You see, I placed the blade only centimeters away from your heart. If you pull it out, it’s only a matter of seconds before you bleed dry.” Ying-tai knelt to General Xiao Tong’s level and caught his eye, “With the blade left there, it is actually stopping you from bleeding to death. Think of it as me doing you a favor, General Xiao Tong of Yan.”

Brother He stared at Ying-tai with large eyes, “The art that comes from the dark pugilist world: Death’s Lair. Such an iniquitous art, it forces those who are inflicted with this technique to kill themselves by pulling the sword out of their chest and let their heart bleed empty to quickly greet death, otherwise they’ll carry the unbearable slow poisoning death that burrows inside their chest.” He stood on his feet, “How did you come across this technique?”

“When you are often surrounded by wickedness you pick up dirty tricks here and there,” Ying-tai smirked.

“But this technique takes years of studying. Years of diligent practice. Years of dedication.” Brother He examined the sword in General Xiao Tong’s chest, “How did you master it at such a young age with such accuracy?”

“Unit Commander Ying-tai of Qin is a demon who has been running through death’s many fields since he could wield a sword. That’s how he got his name: Demon of War. It’s no surprise this art comes through him so easily,” General Xiao Tong choked through his chuckle.

Ying-tai turned to Brother He, “Sir He, it’s time to go.”

General Xiao Tong got on his feet and roared, “He’s not going anywhere with you, Demon of War!” He whipped his sash around Brother He and dragged him towards the depths below.

Ying-tai’s hand snapped toward Brother He’s arm and snatched it and felt himself getting dragged with them. He placed a firm stand on his ground and fought against the tugging force but he could only do so much. General Xiao Tong jumped off the edge and yanked Brother He to follow him. Ying-tai placed his foot on a stump right by the edge of the cliff and kept his firm hold onto Brother He. Down below, they could both hear General Xiao Tong’s cynical laugh.

“Let go or you’ll die as well!” Brother He was scolding Ying-tai.

“No!” Ying-tai refused.

Xia, while fighting the other Yan soldiers with Brother Kang, turned his head to find Ying-tai holding on to Brother He who was hanging from the edge. His heart began to race at the sight of the men struggling at the edge of the mountain and shouted after his Unit Commander, “Ying-tai!”

Huian was nowhere in sight as he was fighting on the other side of the mountain. Xia made his move quickly and soared over the Yan soldiers while he cried out to one of his men, “Bow and arrow!” Brother Kang soon followed Xia in panic as soon as he caught on with what was going on. The majority of the Yan soldiers began to follow them like flies. Known for being quick and agile with his feet, Xia jumped over and spun past each Yan soldier who attempted to stop him. Brother Kang caught up and started to swat away the Yan soldiers keeping Xia from proceeding.

“They won’t hold for long,” Brother Kang told Xia. He looked at the bow and arrow Xia had. “You go and I’ll hold them off.”

“Thank you,” Xia nodded and ran full speed ahead, leaving the Yan soldiers far behind to catch up.

“I won’t make it in time,” Xia told himself while observing Ying-tai and the two men down below. Still running, he looked behind him and saw the Yan soldiers were still on coming. He lifted his bow and drew his arrow. He sprinted to the edge of the cliff and got a clear view of the man holding them down. He squinted one eye. I got one shot! He thought to himself. He could feel the footsteps of the soldiers coming closer and their voices getting nearer. The pressure was onto him. The wind was not in his favor and the men were so far away it was hard to get a clear shot especially when they were also swaying wildly.

Don’t fail, Xia, he meditated, you’re the instructor of Qin’s Long Range Combat and Archery. You’ve never missed a shot. You won’t miss now! When Xia finally got his measurements, the timing of the men’s swaying, and the wind accounted for, he drew his arrow back further and cried, “God be my strength!” With that, the arrow split from him and soared away.

While Ying-tai watched General Xiao Tong swing carelessly and laugh cynically below them, an arrow darted before his eyes and pierced through the general’s skull while it was swinging to the left . It penetrated from one ear through the other. His animated body immediately stopped and his head slumped back slowly. He loosened his grip and let go of the sash pulling Brother He.

Ying-tai grinned, “Xia.” He turned toward the direction the arrow flew from and saw Xia waving at them proudly before returning to his own fight.

“Why didn’t you let go?” Brother He looked up at Ying-tai awestruck.

“You got to help me here. You are twice my size and I can only hold on for so long,” Ying-tai grunted.

Brother He turned to look for leverage then raised his left arm and grabbed a firm hold of a protruding stone and pulled himself upward. He slipped once but Ying-tai had his steadfast grip on him and continued to help him up.

“Come on!” Ying-tai encouraged as he pulled him up.

Brother He used whatever adrenaline he had left to pull himself up and roared when he finally had more than half of his body on the edge and pushed himself over. Ying-tai fell back to catch his breath and wiped the sweat off his face. The brothers that were held captive finally got themselves untied and ran toward their leader.

“Brother He! Brother He! Are you okay? Brother He!” They cried to him and tried to get him up.

“Let him lay down for a bit. The places where Xiao Tong of Yan cut him…his nerves will take a very long while to recuperate. That is if it will at all,” Ying-tai informed. He got up and brushed the dirt off his sleeve and looked at his men fight off the remaining Yan soldiers.

“This was not your battle,” Brother He said softly. “Why did you fight so hard for me?”

Ying-tai took in a deep breath, “When all a man wants is peace, I will not deny them from that.” He picked up Brother He’s sword and turned to hand it to him, “From what I see, you and I are not that different.”

Brother He looked up at Ying-tai and received his sword back, “Not that different?”

“Protecting the one thing that gives you peace,” Ying-tai put in plain words.

Brother He’s eyes widened. He looked at his brothers and then he lowered his head as he understood, “I see.”

When the fight was done and cleared, the patched up Brother He watched Ying-tai lead his men down the mountain. He did not turn to look back once.

“Shall we prepare our men for his return?” Brother Kang asked Brother He.

“I’ll get the weapons ready and call our other brothers for back up—” Brother Yun said as he was about to leave.

Brother He raised his hand to stop them. He stood quiet for a long moment with his brothers and watched the last shade of red leave his mountain. He took in the sweet smell of the cool breeze that brushed against him:

See! The man who bears the red silk on his bare back

Brother He began to recite to the brothers.

First to give me my peace, I turned him to backtrack

Have I lost myself to night I’ve become its part?

War burnt Brotherhood and left us its fogged memoirs

It came to the point that when we came face to face

Oh, I did not recognize him in such a way

So, I sent a good man away into the dark!

Hear! I sent a good man away into the dark!

Not too long after, the sound of raindrops drummed against the leaves, through the mountains and through the grasslands.