With the strong support of the people and Ying-tai’s army, Prince Enlai was able to build and gear up forty galleys in a short amount of time. When the morning of their departure from the bay arrived, the violet flags hung high on top of the ships and the brilliant threads gleamed against the sun. The faithful army that fought with Prince Enlai years ago boarded the ships, their spirits so thrilled it was on the verge of soaring with the gusting wind of the sea.

Far from the bay and in the infinite blue, Duyi noticed the flickering color of violet and pulled out his spy scope to get a clear view on the suspicious commotion stirring from the land of Qi. To his alarm, he shuddered.

“They dare raise their flags against ME?” Duyi hissed between gritted teeth. He clenched his spy scope and whipped around to the newly taken that were to be a part of his collection. “Something happened that should not have happened. Someone gave out!” His eyes were wide and feral as he scanned through the crew on his ship.

“Should we kill the captives, captain?” One of the crew spoke out.

“No. Hand them weapons.” His lips curved into a vile grin as he spoke, “They will fight with us or so help me, with my naked hands, I will squeeze the breath out of anyone who refuses!”

The boy that met with Nuying lifted his head up to Duyi who approached him and dropped a sword by his feet, “Zemin, you will bring me the head of your brothers.”

“You cannot ask me to do that. I’ve been faithful to you all of these years just to maintain the peace between Qi and the pirates. I’ve proven myself plenty of times!”

Duyi wrapped his fingers around Zemin’s throat and hissed, “You will obey all orders given by your captain!”

“To kill my brothers will be to go against all that I’ve suffered for over the years. I’d rather kill myself!” Zemin choked.

Duyi flung him to the ground, breathing heavily. He then knelt close to Zemin and shook his head, “Don’t be a fool, Zemin. They do not see you the same anymore. You are no longer theirs. They will kill you on sight! Now, either you go and fight with us,” Duyi turned his head to the side, “or these little girls will be torn to shreds by my men.”

The men behind them chuckled at the arousing idea and Zemin clenched his jaw as he stared at the young girls who looked at him with eyes of wretched fright. His eyes moved to the sword by his feet and, with a deep breath, he extended his hand to it.

Back at the bay, Prince Enlai was in full armor and ready to board his ship. Ying-tai and his men were nowhere in sight. They’ve abandoned us? He lowered his shoulders then chuckled. Huh. Well, I suppose it wasn’t their fight anyway. Such a petty matter of ours is not worthy enough of Qin. He looked up at his eager-spirit men and just above them was a bird balancing itself on the top of a sail.

Heron? Prince Enlai pondered at the poised frame of the bird.

“Young Prince Enlai!” They cheered for him

“Lord of the roaring sea! He who dances with the voracious waves!”

“Our spirits are full, our swords ready!”

Prince Enlai smiled at them. Our numbers are few, he thought to himself, but if I am to die—as all mortals are bound to—-I will die fighting a good fight.

He lifted his feet to climb his ship but stopped short at the clinking sound of steel. He turned toward the noise and almost shuddered at the surprising sight of the crimson army before him.

“You weren’t thinking of going by yourself were you?” Xia smirked, his one hand resting on his sword. “That’s selfish of you.”

“What are you doing here?” Prince Enlai’s eyes were wide as he stared at Ying-tai, “This is not your fight.”

“When there is a force that disturbs the land that I dwell in, it is in my duty to eliminate it,” Ying-tai stepped forward. “And I have given you my word: to make sure your trust in me remains unwavering.”

Prince Enlai’s chest heaved and he found himself smiling widely, “The great Beast of Battlefields wishes to fight alongside me? Am I dreaming or already dead?” He looked at Ying-tai’s army and let out a breath, “Well, what all do you know about naval warfare?”

“A little here and there,” Ying-tai replied. He grinned, “I’m trusting us in your hands, Prince Enlai of Qi.”

Prince Enlai nodded, his eyes filled with determination, “Prepare to sail.”

The waves rose high at the sweeping movements from the naval fleets. Lined up from one end to another, both fleets sailed toward each other.

“We are outnumbered by at least ten ships,” Prince Enlai estimated. “Our larger ships will head forward to make contact while the lighter and faster ships will break from our line to slide their way around to the rear of the pirate ships.” Both fleets increased their speed as Prince Enlai spoke. “With the correct maneuvering the smaller force could vitally take out some of the opponent’s ships from behind.”

“ENLAI OF QI!!!” Duyi’s roar whirled through the whipping wind. “FATE HAS IT THAT ONE OF US MUST DIE IN ONE OR THE OTHER’S HAND! I WILL NOT LET YOU GET AWAY THIS TIME! WE WILL FINISH OUR LONG AWAITED FIGHT, MY FOE!” Duyi maniacally laughed as he blatantly stood at the head of his ship.

“One of the advantages I have is you,” Prince Enlai turned to Ying-tai. “I need the help of your men’s talent once we board their ships. I regret to say that many lives may be lost after this.”

Ying-tai looked at Huian who was onboard on another ship and then at Xia who was on one of the smaller ships that were to separate from the line. “My men are always prepared die,” he honestly stated.

“Unit Commander Ying-tai of Qin,” Prince Enlai began, “I can’t express—”

“Do not thank me yet, Prince Enlai,” Ying-tai stopped him. “The battle has not yet begun. Victory is still unapparent and unclaimed.”

Prince Enlai looked at Ying-tai who continued to look on straight ahead at the fast-coming fleet. His brows were deeply furrowed and the clenching muscles by his jawline was visible. His hand gripped his sword as he took in well controlled breaths. His posture was well poised and fear was inexistent in him. So this is the face of The Beast of Battlefields before bloodshed. Prince Enlai turned his eyes toward the direction Ying-tai was staring off to and chuckled to himself, I don’t know whether I should tremble out of fear or inspiration!

“Ready for contact!” Prince Enlai gave notice to his men. He unsheathed his twin swords and wielded them at his side. As the line of ships collided, wooden planks splintered apart as the galleys took hit. When the sea took its respective part in the play and immediately split the two forces in opposite directions, arrows burst from the ships like disturbed wasps from their hives.

“Take cover!” Prince Enlai shouted as he braced himself for retaliation.

High-pitched whistling noises could be heard as the sharp edges of the arrowheads cut through the wind. Ying-tai’s eyes dilated at the swarm of arrows and took movement to unsheathe his sword. Prince Enlai’s brows deeply furrowed and his muscles flexed as he prepared himself for enclosure. In synchrony, Ying-tai and Prince Enlai swung and a bright glimmer of silver that beamed in just one blink whipped through the air. The arrows were withdrawn from their zone in one gusting blow and collapsed into the deep sea beneath them.

“Do not cease fire at all costs!” Duyi screamed. “Direct fire toward the two men at front!”

While other galleys sped ahead and succeeded their collision and boarded the enemy’s ships, Prince Enlai ordered his men for another galley blow. “Speed ahead!”

Ying-tai felt the wind pick up and held a firm ground so as not to topple over from the hit.

“What is he doing?” Duyi snarled. He then grinned, “He’s going to just ram me at my front? Foolishness! To collide with my ship head on; he is seeking death!” Duyi raised his hand, “Give them want they wish! Full speed ahead!”

“Halt your strokes!” Prince Enlai shouted at one side of the ship.

From the sudden surprise, Ying-tai spun his head to Prince Enlai but the look on his face was too sure and true to conjure any doubt in him.

“What?” Duyi raised his brow from the sudden change of movement from Prince Enlai’s ship. It slid to the side and their ships were now dancing alongside each other.

“Your ship may be larger than mine,” Prince Enlai smirked as he spoke to himself, “But sometimes it pays to be smaller…and lighter!”

“Stroke!” Prince Enlai bellowed as he raised his arm. His ship drifted swiftly sideways over the rumbling waves and was soon facing directly behind Duyi’s ship.

Duyi’s eyes widened as he read Prince Enlai’s true intent and he twisted around to face his crew, “DRAW BACK! DRAW BACK!” Seeing that Prince Enlai’s ship was nearing, he cried, “HURRY!”

“We are trying! We can’t move fast enough! The ship is carrying too much! The men! The weapons! And…your treasures!”

Duyi spun back to look at Prince Enlai and he could see him smiling.

“Cease your rowing!” Prince Enlai shouted to one side of the ship.

As soon as Ying-tai felt the ship coast to the side and in its desired position, he heard Prince Enlai cry, “PULL IN YOUR OARS! BRACE FOR CONTACT!”

While Prince Enlai’s ship glided onward, Duyi’s oars were destroyed on one side, rendering them immobile.

Ying-tai grinned at Prince Enlai’s talent and wit. Prince Enlai grinned as he continued to direct his men, “Prepare to turn back and seize the enemy’s ship!”

Duyi’s eyes were wild with fury from the damage Prince Enlai inflicted. As he turned his head, he watched the other opposing ships that slid away from the line deliver their damage from behind as planned.

“Call our back up,” Duyi hissed.

“Yes, sir!” His crew saluted and pulled out firecrackers and shot it up in the sky. The other pirate ships followed the signal and soon the sky above them was filled with a blanket of black smoke.

Ying-tai furrowed his brows at the display, “Did he just…”

“What?!” Prince Enlai enlarged his eyes.

“What’s going on?” The Qi soldiers started to mutter across the ship deck.

CRACK!

Both Ying-tai and Prince Enlai spun their heads around and beheld the sight of their ships receive an unexpected blow from other larger pirate ships that emerged from behind the misty horizon.

“Xia!” Ying-tai cried out as he watched the ship that Xia boarded sink.

“No!” Huian shuddered.

In the midst of the catastrophe that stirred around them, the pirate ships that were still mobile shot their harpoons and hooked onto Duyi’s ship and pulled him away to a low-risk zone.

“He’s getting away!” Prince Enlai’s men shouted. “After him!” He ordered. He could hear Duyi’s despicable laugh as he coasted away. “Come back here and fight me, coward!”

“Oh, I’ll give you something to fight, young prince!” Duyi bellowed. He lowered his face, his peering eyes bulging from excitement, “And it will be a fight worthy for you.”

Enemies began to hang onto their ship and climb on like leeches.

“Protect the ship!” The Qi soldiers shouted.

“Prince Enlai! You must protect what you have here! You cannot afford to lose your ship. If you fail your fight here you will never get to your main target!” The men earnestly suggested.

“Rrraaahhh!” Prince Enlai roared and began to swat the enemies away. He leapt upward and spun like a whirl wind as he slashed his opponents down. Ying-tai was swinging his sword alongside him and made his opponents plummet to the ground with one strike.

“There’s a lot of them,” Ying-tai frowned and pressed his back against Prince Enlai’s.

“It’s like disturbing a wasp’s nest,” Prince Enlai breathed in heavily as he sharply eyed the masked pirates that slowly approached them. Their hands trembled as they raised their weapons. “Tch. Amateurs.”

“Young Prince,” a voice too gentle for a grown man sounded, “please forgive me.”

Ying-tai and Prince Enlai’s eyes widened immediately, “What?”

“Aaaaaaaah!!!” The person screamed as they charged clumsily toward the two men.

Ying-tai raised his sword, ready to slash the charging opponent but Prince Enlai intervened and propelled Yingtai’s rising hit downward.

“Prince Enlai?” Yingtai turned his head to him.

Prince Enlai lifted his hand up and, with the back end of his sword, he sent a clout to the person’s head and knocked them out cold. The cloth that was wrapped around their head uncoiled and revealed a soft-featured face woman.

“A woman?” Prince Enlai breathed heavily.

“A very young woman,” Ying-tai’s heart pounded harder. He pieced the quandary state together and scanned their opponents again. “It’s no wonder their attacks were so hesitant.”

“He’s using my people against me,” Prince Enlai’s voice was slightly trembling. “He WAS abducting Qi civilians and now he’s using them as pawns to slaughter me.”

“Hiyah!!!” The opponents continued onward.

Prince Enlai raised his head, “No! Wait!”

Ying-tai stepped forward and clubbed each person in the head. As he did so he managed to lay them on the ground so as not to hurt themselves as they fell. Quick on his feet, Prince Enlai hurriedly followed Ying-tai’s movement and stabilized the situation.

“Stop!” Prince Enlai cried out, “Do not resist me! I came to find you! I am here to help you!”

A slender frame stood before Prince Enlai and it was clear that they were in terrible dismay, “If he manages to defeat you and comes retrieve us and find that we aspired to go against him, he will kill us all. And our families.”

“They’re too strong,” another one cried. “Duyi has other ships equipped with weapons.”

“Believe in me,” Prince Enlai urged. “I am to take you back home. Whatever it costs I will not let you go back to that monster!”

“Please go home! You are losing! Your ships are sinking and your men are dying!” A young woman cried. “I’ve finally been unchained from the dark just to keep him from touching my family at land. He may do what he wants to me, but I will not let him do what he does to me to anyone else! I won’t risk it! I won’t risk the chance!” She shuddered. “Please understand,” she wept.

Pain struck Ying-tai’s eyes. He gripped his sword so tightly his knuckles turned white.

“It’s horrible. A lot of them are young girls. Some too young. That’s because they find them more useful. Trade. Pleasure. Whatever you can think of. The men are used as slaves and treated like dogs and then tossed overboard when their strength and will has run dry,” a young man spoke.

“You think he’s going to stop?” Prince Enlai yelled at them. “You think that he will stop going to land to handpick his collectables? Even if he claims to never step foot into Qi soil again, other people will be hurt! Other families will be damaged! More spirits will be forced broken by that sick bastard!” Prince Enlai clenched his twin swords in his hands. He looked at his unrelenting ships that were slowly getting destroyed by the ships Duyi summoned. Embers sparked in the gray air like fireworks and vanished into a silver line of smoke when they pressed the surface of the hostile sea. “My will does not waver. One must have faith. Faith, even as small as a seed, can say to a tree to uproot itself from the ground and be planted in the sea! Nothing will dare be impossible!”

Ying-tai raised his brows at Prince Enlai’s quote and smiled. Indeed. Faith. He turned to the captives, “The potential to break your chains does not lie in another person’s will but your own.”

They raised their brow at him and breathed heavily, eyes stretched open, “You…”

“Ying-tai!” Xia’s voice was in the air. He swung from a rope and dove downward before them.

“Crimson silk!” They all gasped in fear and prepared to abandon ship.

“There’s no need to fear!” Prince Enlai assured them.

“No need to fear?” They cried. “The man that flew from the sky just called your companion Ying-tai! We thought his silk was just stained with blood but he is none other than The Red Death God!”

“Oooy! Ying-tai!” Huian’s voice came from their left. He leapt up into the ship and headed toward them with a few of other Qin soldiers.

“And that old man just verified it loud and clear!” They pointed and shuddered away.

“Who are you calling old man?” Huian furrowed his brows as he neared Ying-tai and Prince Enlai, his armor clinking with each move.

“You don’t have to fear anything if you have faith in someone,” Ying-tai spoke. “I knew we were outnumbered by Duyi’s ships and that we would also not be able to bring enough men to match his numbers. But with my men, my spirit did not waver to that,” he looked at Xia and Huian.

“You can say that again,” Xia chimed in. “I wasn’t expecting the opposing back-up force Duyi summoned! But hey, I seized seven ships!”

“What?” The group of captives before them gasped.

“Ten,” Huian smirked.

“Lies!” Xia approached the chuckling Huian.

“Seems like they were good at sailing but their martial arts were only subpar,” Huian mentioned. “Which is why we had the upper hand.” He turned to Prince Enlai, “I give my compliments on your state’s talent in navy affairs, Prince Enlai.”

“My faith in them is unfailing,” Ying-tai continued and confidently smiled with bright eyes, “and for that they return such gesture by several fold."

Prince Enlai exhaled and grinned at his people that were held captive by Duyi, “Ah, and which is why I have put my faith in him.”

“Oh, which reminds me,” Xia chuckled as he turned to Prince Enlai, “With all of the smoke OUR back up force couldn’t locate us.”

“Back up?” Prince Enlai questioned, confused.

“Yeah! I freaked out because I thought they were enemy ships and almost attacked them, ahahaha!” Xia chuckled and waved to behind them.

Ying-tai turned around first to get a look. Prince Enlai breathed in heavily and could hear his heart pounding hard against his chest through all the shattering noise.

It can’t be. Can it? Prince Enlai turned his head and there, ripping through the smoke with the violet flags raised high, was the Qi navy force.

“Ooooy, Young Prince Enlai!” A voice came from the front galley. It was General Peizhi. “Stirring up delicious trouble again, huh? Just like old times!”

Prince Enlai let out a chuckle and shouted, “As expected from me, huh, General Peizhi?” He couldn’t believe his eyes.

Even Huian’s eyes widened at the incredible sight he held before him. “The navy that kingdoms across the country fear to meet at sea! Is it odd of me to say I’m glad I’m not fighting against it but with it?”

Xia sniffed the air, “Ey, is this fear I smell?”

Huian raised his hand and clobbered Xia’s head with his knuckles.

“Where were these ships?” Ying-tai wondered in awe.

“My father hid them away in the coves where even I wouldn’t be able to find them. I don’t remember the last time they’ve seen daylight,” Prince Enlai’s eyes glimmered. “Beauties, are they not?”

Ying-tai smirked and glanced over at Prince Enlai.

“You owe me,” General Peizhi shouted from above them. “Both of you boys! The emperor declared that I come and aid you!”

“Father?” Prince Enlai was in disbelief.

“Yes! He said to bring the children of Qi back home where their rightful place is! And he said to hurry with it!”

“That old man,” Prince Enlai found himself chuckling.

“Your command is my wish, Crown Prince Enlai of Qi!” General Peizhi bowed his head to him.

Prince Enlai nodded, thrilled. “Go and aid the other ships! Leave Duyi’s to me!”

“Sir, yes, sir!”

“Duyi has the rest of captives on his ship. We have to make haste or else he’ll send more off to get killed or kill them himself.” One young man revealed.

Prince Enlai twisted around and eyed Duyi’s ship being pulled away. “After him.”

“Yes, your highness!” His men shouted.

Prince Enlai looked at his people of Qi that were taken captive, “I’m taking all of you home.”

They looked at each other and then dropped to their knees, “Can it really be! Our daybreak is near!”

“With all of these civilians here, we can’t risk getting too near Duyi’s ship,” Ying-tai cautioned. “They could either get severely injured or killed.”

“What’s your plan?” Prince Enlai was open to suggestion.

Ying-tai studied the two ships that were hauling Duyi’s and took note of the harpoons that were hooked onto the crippled ship.

“We can use ropes to tie him down and use it to get to him. I heard your people declare that you dance with the voracious waves,” Ying-tai mentioned.

“Yes,” Prince Enlai answered.

“You are familiar with the art of Buoyant Shuffling.”

“Yes.” Prince Enlai had an idea of Ying-tai’s intentions and grinned slightly. “But, that doesn’t mean I can confidently walk on water!”

“That’s enough for me,” Ying-tai responded as he studied their targeted ship. “We just need to get close enough to them.”

The wind picked up and pressed against the sail of their ship while the men below rowed unceasingly.

“We’re catching up!” Xia shouted before an arrow whizzed past his ear. “Shit!”

“Take cover!” Prince Enlai yelled.

“Go below deck!” Ying-tai instructed as he deflected each attack that dropped onto them.

In addition to the wind-splitting arrows, other pirates that caught up to them began to climb on and attacked everyone on board. “Huian! Take care of the civilians! The rest of us got this here!” Ying-tai ordered.

“Roger that!” Huian soared over the pirates who persisted reaching out for him.

“DRAW BACK OR WE’LL KILL EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM!” Duyi screamed.

“He’s panicking,” Ying-tai informed as he fatally immobilized the sunburnt pirates that jumped before him. “He might just start butchering anyone up.”

“The other ships with the rest of our men are still trying to catch up,” Xia observed as he fought. “We’re too short on time to try to stall!”

“Keep full speed ahead!” Prince Enlai was determined. A measly pirate approached him in which Prince Enlai responded by clubbing him in the face with the flat surface of his sword.“We just need to get closer.”

“Xia!”

“I’m a little distracted by poor hygienic men right now!” Xia responded to Ying-tai’s voice.

“You think you can make the shot toward Duyi’s ship?”

Xia swung one bursting blow and knocked the men before him off their feet to plummet to the ground. He turned to quickly glance at the Duyi’s ship, “Uh, we need to get a little closer!”

“How much closer?” Prince Enlai yelled over the roaring men.

“Just….a…little…bit!” Xia replied as he swung one rounding kick after another.

“Faster, men!” Prince Enlai pled. “Just a little more!”

The wind gusted across the deck of the ship while the sails above them howled at such pace and the waves crashed unforgivingly below them. Every now and then, the men would take a quick glance at their distance between them and the other ship.

“Now, Xia?!” Ying-tai shouted loudly, growing impatient.

“YES, NOW!” Xia confirmed. “Start your way to the head of the ship!”

Ying-tai and Prince Enlai finished their final swing against their opponents before spinning around and sprinting. Xia kicked up two ropes, looped and knotted it around two of his arrows as he ran and vaulted over hindrances. He spun and leapt upward from a pirate that jabbed his spear at him and soon received a retaliating kick that knocked him into darkness. Xia sprinted and positioned his arrow onto his bow and aimed at the mast of Duyi’s ship.

“Can he make the shot? It seems far stretched,” Prince Enlai wondered.

“I think we can trust him,” Ying-tai smiled confidently. “He is the instructor of Qin’s archery and long range combat.”

Prince Enlai looked at Ying-tai in astonishment, “Haha! No kidding!”

Right before reaching the head of the ship, Ying-tai signaled, “Now, Xia!”

Whip!

Whip!

Both arrows flew before them at once and soared across the sea.

Thud!

Thud!

Duyi shot his head upward and saw the arrows that penetrated through the mast of his ship. “Cut down the ropes! Cut down the ropes!” He screamed at his men who scurried to climb the mast to cut the ropes loose while Zemin watched in awe. He turned to look at Xia who returned to his own fight.

“How did he manage to make that shot?” He wondered. “These men aren’t ordinary men.”

Ying-tai and Prince Enlai made a sharp turn and leapt overboard and onto the ropes. Swords wielded by their side, they bolted toward Duyi’s ship.

“The lord of the roaring sea rises! He who dances with the voracious waves alongside The Great Beast of Battlefields!” The Qi soldiers chanted after them. “Victory is in your grasp!”

Zemin’s chest heaved at the sight of the two men advancing toward them who deflected all arrows and men that leapt in their way. “I’ve waited for this day,” he exhaled heavily.

“After them!” Duyi pointed his sword.

Duyi’s crew slung their harpoons into the air and onto the other ship and swung their way over to Ying-tai and Prince Enlai. But the drastic difference in talent made it unfair to the enemy as it were comparable to that of grasshoppers facing a two swallows.

“What are you all doing? Can’t you see they are getting close? Do whatever it costs to kill those TWO men!” Duyi screeched.

Swish! Tang!

A fire lit arrow burst before Prince Enlai’s blade and the red embers erupted like a firecracker. He took a misstep and slid off the rope and felt himself drop.

Fuck! I’m falling! Prince Enlai shot his eyes open when he felt a hand snatch his. He immediately looked up, “Ying-tai! You saved me!”

“The sun has not yet set! We got a battle to finish, your highness!” Ying-tai called to him.

We? Prince Enlai held his breath at Ying-tai and then smiled at him. He was in mid-swing, his hand clutching the rope above them. With all of his might, Ying-tai lunged Prince Enlai forward with the help of momentum and he soared through the air. Prince Enlai bounced off the rope one final time before readying himself for impact. He landed with a gusting wind and stood tall before Duyi. Ying-tai landed shortly after him and firmly held his sword by his side. Zemin stepped back a few paces.

“Crimson silk?” Zemin was confused.

“Why is the Qin army here?” The cries of pirates were heard from all sides and distances.

“Qin army?” Zemin grew goosebumps from both fear and excitement.

“Prince Enlai,” Duyi shook with anger, “Last time, you brought your father’s whole navy against me and crippled my force. Now you’ve brought with you a Demon?”

“A worthy companion for a hellish battle, huh?” Prince Enlai smirked. His expression then turned stern, “I’ll give you a chance to surrender, Duyi.”

“Don’t make me laugh,” Duyi hissed.

“Look around you. The battle’s been won. And it is not your victory.” Prince Enlai’s ships were nearing in.

“I’ve worked for all of this! I won’t give it up!” Duyi barked.

“You didn’t work for any of it,” Ying-tai shook his head at him with deeply furrowed brows. “You took it from others. You caused more bloodshed than necessary.”

“As if we are any different!” Duyi took a step toward Ying-tai. He pointed his weapon at Ying-tai and tilted his head in a menacing manner, “You make it rain blood in battlefields from what I hear, you bloodthirsty demon.”

“You’re right,” Ying-tai faced him. “I do make it rain blood. But with blood of men such as yours. Not innocent children.”

“You son of a bitch!” Duyi charged toward Ying-tai but Prince Enlai stopped him with a blow that sent him back five paces.

“Ack! Men! Charge! Slaughter ‘em!” Duyi got onto his knees. “Their laws don’t even apply to us!”

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Prince Enlai warned. “Your ship is now surrounded by the regime. Attacking us gives us the right to sever your heads. You won’t last five minutes if you were to fight against us.”

“Zemin! Kill ‘em!” Duyi screamed at him.

Zemin looked at Duyi for a long while. Then he took a good look at the burning ships around him. Knowing well who had won and with assurance in his heart at last, he dropped his weapon onto the floor.

Thud.

“Zemin!” Duyi’s eyes shot wide open.

The crew, themselves, had a stunned expression on their face.

“No,” Zemin rejected Duyi. “It is done.”

The crew looked at each other and they, too, dropped their weapons to the floor and the thudding sound shook across the deck of the ship.

“What are you doing?” Duyi shuddered at the unbelievable sight he was holding.

“Surrendering,” they replied. “It’s as Zemin has said. It is done.”

“What…do..you…mean?” Duyi glared.

“I was the one who gave out,” Zemin confessed.

Ying-tai and Prince Enlai’s eyes grew big.

“I went to visit a courtesan and she told me stories of how the prince invited a great man into his kingdom. This great man was said to be invincible and feared. He’s known as a beast. A demon. A god. But to the prince, he is a friend,” Zemin looked at Prince Enlai. “The prince is a good man. I know this because he tried to save me once. Victory was in his hands but he was stopped. By his own people! I watched them row away as I was chained!” Zemin’s cheeks were soon streaked with tears. He turned to Ying-tai, “When I heard of him, I had to take a chance! I knew he would be able to help the prince! And I was right! I’ve waited for this day to come again.” He smiled brightly for the first time in years.

Duyi rose to his feet and dashed toward Zemin.

“Watch out!” Ying-tai yelled out and leapt in front of Zemin.

Prince Enlai dashed forward and tackled Duyi away before he could inflict a scratch on Zemin. He pinned Duyi against the bulwark, the end of one of his twin swords under his chin.

“Their lives will never be the same,” Duyi snickered. He turned to look at Zemin and the others on the deck. “The trauma they received will change them forever.”

“No,” Ying-tai stepped forward. “They will live on while your legacy ends here. Yes, their lives will forever change from this. But forests recognize fire as means to nourish. You did not destroy their spirits. You’ve created warriors and from your ashes they will flourish.”

Duyi furrowed his fists and screeched a wretched cry, keeping his eyes on Ying-tai as Prince Enlai raised his sword to end his life.

The thickness of the smoke in the air began to thin as the volume of the warring cries began to lessen. Everyone stared at Prince Enlai’s back and didn’t dare make a noise.

A bright light seeped through the gray clouds and Zemin squinted his eyes when he turned his head to it. “The setting sun,” he toned.

Prince Enlai turned to the warmth that continued to beam brighter. Among the collapsing canvas of gray, violet flags rose across the sea and, alongside them, crimson silk swayed in the wind. High above the scene, a heron brushed the smoke to the side with its wings as it soared before them.

The heron from before? Prince Enlai raised his brows. He watched it drift by their ship and then hover over Ying-tai before taking off west into the setting sun.

“A male heron,” Ying-tai smiled.

“Eh?” Prince Enlai turned to Ying-tai. “How can you tell?”

“I’ve seen enough to know,” Ying-tai kept his eyes on the heron who effortlessly glided his wings over the rippling wind. “Magnificent birds they are. They represent patience, longevity, and good fortune.”

“Huh,” Prince Enlai looked at Ying-tai and then at the heron; both who were present at the start of the battle and at the end. He grinned warmly, “Good fortune, you say.”

“Shall we go home?” Ying-tai broke Prince Enlai’s trance.

Prince Enlai turned to look at everyone’s face and smiled benevolently, “Let us all return home.”

The waves crashed hard against the wet and pressed sand when they returned to land. When the lost people of Qi finally set foot onto their soil, they dropped onto their knees and kissed the sand they had clenched in their hands.

“The soldiers have returned! Both the Qi and Qin!” People scurried over in a rush.

“There are others with them!”

Many stopped in their tracks when they saw the worn faces that were saved from the pirates.

“Can that be…?” A woman’s voice squeaked.

Dai squeezed through the crowd to get a clear sight of the view and his eyes widened, “The lost children!”

“Mother! Father!” A young woman ran and trampled her way through the sand to her parents. She collapsed onto her knees before them and raised her face to them, “It’s me. Your daughter, Ai. I was taken from you five years ago!”

“Ai?” The couple extended their trembling hands out to her. Their eyes immediately welled up and they cried out her name loud enough for the heavens to hear. “OH, WHAT A JOYOUS DAY!”

More children ran to their parents, many unrecognizable from the years and damage the pirates inflicted onto them.

“My child! Oh, what you’ve endured!”

Dai continued to walk through the rejoicing crowd that intensely embraced the return of their dear ones. He looked around frantically, his chest heaving, and almost rammed his head into Prince Enlai who stood by Ying-tai.

“You did it,” he smiled through glimmering eyes.

“It wouldn’t have happened if you never came forward,” Ying-tai kindly replied.

“It was your braveness that made this happen,” Prince Enlai acknowledged his courage. “I can definitely see where he gets it from.”

Dai’s lips quivered, “W-what?”

From behind Ying-tai and Prince Enlai, Zemin came forth and stood before his father. Though he was still young, he was much taller than him.

“Longwei?” Dai could barley speak.

Prince Enlai raised his brow to Ying-tai, “Longwei?”

“I’m home father,” Longwei held back his tears. He bent down to his knees and pressed his head onto the sand. “Forgive me,” he cried. “I took so long and made you wait. I’ve done many horrible things during my time away. I…I’ve returned a sinner! Will you take such a wretched person back?”

Dai looked down at his son. He bent down to his level and took a hold of his thin shoulders. Dai’s lips curved as his own shoulders shook, “Anyone who turns away their child is no parent! What you’ve done was not your fault. You did what you had to just to survive another day.” Dai’s cheeks were streaked with tears, “Knowing that you were still alive outweighed everything. Even sin itself! Your mother would have wanted to see this day.”

“Would have?” Longwei lifted his head and furrowed his brows, puzzled. His voice cracked as grief filled his eyes, “How long has it been?”

Dai bit his lips before continuing, “Just this past spring.”

Longwei sobbed, “You mean I was just one season short?”

Silence took over for Dai and his son to take their long awaited embrace. Prince Enlai turned to Ying-tai before scanning the bay and watched other family members reconcile. Others, though, were deprived of such likelihood as many of the taken became one with the sea. Longwei remembered each name and face of those he met under the unfortunate circumstance and he, himself, delivered the grievous news to the families. The abysmal-fallen faces of the parents burned into Prince Enlai’s mind and he couldn’t help but feel stung by their bereavement.

“There are still more pirates that roam in the seas and there will always be more. And there were too many souls that were not able to return,” Prince Enlai said, his chest heaving. “Is this really okay? To leave it at this, is it really okay?”

Ying-tai took in the moment and exhaled, “You closed a big case, Prince Enlai. This is groundbreaking.” He smiled lightly at the returning husbands and children, “You were able to bring families together again. Even if there were many that didn’t return, you brought the end to their sufferings.”

Prince Enlai lifted his gaze to Ying-tai.

Ying-tai closed his eyes “Closure. Oftentimes, that’s all the human heart really needs.”

As Prince Enlai was considering Ying-tai’s words, Longwei turned to the two men and poised himself before bowing lowly to them, “You have my deepest gratitude. I will never be able to repay such heroic deed you have done for all of us.”

“There’s no need to thank us for we are no heroes,” Prince Enlai began.

“You mustn’t say that. Because to them,” Longwei turned his head to the people they saved, “you are their saving grace who’ve broken their binding chains.” He returned his eyes to Ying-tai and Prince Enlai, “And you’ve returned all of our identities. You’ve granted me the blessing to hear my name be spoken again.”

“Longwei,” Prince Enlai smiled as he called him by his true name. “A great name for a great man.”

Ying-tai and Prince Enlai walked together by the beach and etched into their memory the long awaited moment.

“At last,” Prince Enlai sighed, “a proper finale.”

“Ying-tai! Brother!” A voice came from the crowd that immediately moved to the side.

“Princess Yanmei,” Ying-tai greeted warmly.

“I see I’m the last of her worry,” Prince Enlai chuckled as he patted Ying-tai’s back before heading toward Princess Yanmei. “Sister—” he started to greet.

Princess Yanmei only nodded her head once at Prince Enlai before hastily brushing past him to get to Ying-tai. She stood in front of him wide-eyed and with her hand over her heaving chest.

When Huian and Xia walked to Ying-tai’s side, he casted his kind eyes down to her and bowed his head lowly, “We’ve returned, Princess Yanmei.”

In almost the exact moment, Princess Yanmei extended her arms out and wrapped them around Ying-tai tightly, catching him by surprise.

Ying-tai was flustered, “Ah, Princess—”

“Welcome back, Ying-tai,” Princess Yanmei voiced, holding back her tears.

“You were that worried?” Ying-tai smiled as he pulled her away from him. “Her highness is too kind.”

She kept her gaze locked on his face until Xia cleared his throat. “Ah, Princess. Everyone is watching.”

Embarrassed from acting upon her emotions, she stepped back, flustered. Before she could say more, Prince Enlai spoke.

“The palace must be angry.”

Princess Yanmei spun to him, “No, not at all! Father wants to see your return. I’ve never seen him in so much pain.”

“Father wishes to see me?” Prince Enlai raised his brow. “But I am a criminal.”

Princess Yanmei smiled and shook her head at his comment. “Return home, brother.”

Prince Enlai’s eyes grew bigger and he let out a heavy exhale.

“Yes,” Ying-tai urged as Prince Enlai turned to him, “Return home.”

The grand room was unbearably silent when Princess Yanmei, Prince Enlai, and Ying-tai entered. Emperor Fengge sternly kept his eyes on them as they approached him, his lips not yet daring to be unsealed.

As Prince Enlai knelt down before him, he lowered his head and addressed, “Father—”

Emperor Fengge rose on his feet and everyone in the room fell onto their knees. He made his way down the dais and shuffled through his heavy attire toward Prince Enlai.

“I understand if you are unwilling to forgive me,” Prince Enlai continued.

Emperor Fengge proceeded toward him. The grand room was so quiet the sound of of his silk dragging against the floor could be heard clearly.

“I’ll accept my punishment,” Prince Enlai shut his eyes as Emperor Fengge hovered over him.

Emperor Fengge raised his hand and immediately his royal advisor shuddered, “Your highness!”

Prince Enlai felt a gentle hand on his head and flinched from the unexpected act. He then felt the hand tremble.

“What kind of king am I to punish the righteous?” Emperor Fengge’s voice quivered, “Especially to desert his own son?”

Prince Enlai bit his lips and fought to hold his composure.

“A king who is incomprehensive to what is good and evil is not a king at all, let alone a human being.” A tear dripped onto his cheek, “And a father who does not have faith in his son has failed greatly in his duty as a parent.”

Prince Enlai pressed his head onto the floor, “Father! Do not dishonor yourself! I have failed you as a son for not following your words!”

Emperor Fengge rose Prince Enlai to his feet. “You have grown into so much more than what I could dream of for myself,” he held onto Prince Enlai’s arms, “and I couldn’t be prouder.”

Prince Enlai’s eyes grew large.

“Your bravery and will to safeguard the empire will not go unrewarded and absently praised,” Emperor Fengge began. He turned to Ying-tai and smiled. After returning his gaze back to Prince Enlai, he took in a deep breath and returned to his seat. “Take note,” he toned and the royal advisor by him immediately positioned himself before him, “Three days from now Qi will celebrate the return of the Grand Princess Yanmei and its lost children. It will also be the day in which marks Prince Enlai’s succession to the throne!”

The grand room gusted with gasps and filled with gaped mouths while Ying-tai smiled approvingly and Princess Yanmei beamed.

“And also,” Emperor Fengge placed his eyes on Ying-tai, “to commemorate and pay tribute to a brother in arm. I shall grant the request you wait for.”

Ying-tai bowed lowly at this, “I am humbled and eternally grateful. Your highness’s magnanimity shall be heard in the heavens.”

Prince Enlai turned to Ying-tai, his eyes gleaming with merry. He knelt before his father and saluted, “We are humbled and eternally grateful! Your grace shall live on through my triumphs!”