Zi Siwei shook the sand from his boots for the umpteenth time, knocking it against the hardwood of a dead tree to ensure nothing was left inside.

“I can’t believe people can actually live here.” A voice spoke, causing Zi Siwei to raise his head.

A young man looking to be about in his late teens or early twenties met his gaze, his mouth stretched into a thin line, looking at the surrounding dunes with utter apathy and sighing.

“Oh, come now.” Zi Siwei replied. “Apart from the sand getting in my shoes every few hours, it’s not so bad.” He put his boots back on, “Besides, weren’t you saying how it would be nice to get away from Guxi city?”

“That was before I saw how desolate this place is!” The young man retorted. “Seeing sand for miles all around.” He gestured dramatically, “No flowers or growing grass.” He leaned forward in an almost ninety-degree bow, “I’ll go insane.”

Zi Siwei gave an incredulous look and chuckled, clearly amused by his companion’s ‘interpretive dance moves’.

“You’re rather dramatic today. Even more so after we crossed the border.”

The young man smirked, “Well if your only companion is the very serious second young master from one of the branch families of the imperial line, you’ll have to be a bit over the top to get him to chat.”

Zi Siwei returned a slight smile, “Well if your only companion is the very flirty and loud youngest son of the main Bai family, you’ll have to talk anyway because he won’t shut up about a young maiden who recently spurned his affections.”

“Hey! She likes me. She just needs a bit more prodding.”

“Her father threatened to turn you into a human meat stick. She clearly doesn’t like you.”

“Alright, I’ll concede. But that is not a loss for me! For no one can resist the ever powerful and mighty Bai Haoxia.” The young man puffed his chest with pride.

Zi Siwei sighed. Bai Haoxia can be rather annoying and pushy at times, especially when he would spot a beautiful young maiden. But like his namesake, he is one of the bravest cultivators around and a very loyal friend — what woman wouldn’t want that? If only he was more delicate in his approach then maybe…

“We’ve rested long enough, let’s continue our journey.” Zi Siwei announced as he hopped on his sword.

Bai Haoxia did the same and off they went further west, leaving slight dust clouds in their wake.

After a few minutes in the air, Bai Haoxia couldn’t help but ask, “How long until we reach the Taban tribe.”

Zi Siwei thought for a bit, “We still have a day of travel so we will probably arrive by si shi or wu shi.”

Bai Haoxia was a little surprised, “Just like Zi Renshu predicted. He really is too scary.”

“We can’t call him that remember. He’s the Emperor now.”

“Oh right…” Bai Haoxia looked slightly nostalgic, “He is far from us now, isn’t he? Not like the brother we once knew.”

“No.” Zi Siwei replied with conviction, causing Bai Haoxia to turn his head to face him, “He’ll always be our brother even though he is now the head of the cultivation world in Li. The oath we took nearly ten years ago still holds.”

“Mm…”

Knowing that talking about Zi Renshu being the Emperor was a bit of a sore spot for Bai Haoxia, Zi Siwei tried to change the subject.

“I heard that the Huayi women are beautiful. Exotic with big eyes and a healthy glow to their skin.”

“Oh yes!” Bai Haoxia perked up immediately. “The pictures depicted them as dancer-like with willowy figures and I heard from Lord Ma that…lovely...exceptional…” Zi Siwei was no longer listening, glad that the gloomy atmosphere was no longer present.

Ever since Zi Renshu became the Emperor of Li six months ago, Bai Haoxia sometimes has this lonely look in his eyes.

Zi Siwei knew that Bai Haoxia is an emotional man who treasures the present. He doesn’t react to change very well and can respond a little unpredictably.

Zi Renshu wasn’t even supposed to be the Emperor but an untimely accident took the life of his older brother, Zi Huize just a mere month after the death of his father, the first Xiafeng Emperor.

Zi Siwei, Zi Renshu and Bai Haoxia.

They were inseparable but now a grand title with a world of responsibilities put Zi Renshu on a pedestal neither man can reach.

It was lucky that both Bai Haoxia and Zi Siwei were already generals of high rank and prestige serving the previous Emperor so they were still able to be around Zi Renshu. However, propriety and court etiquette prevented them from interacting like they used to.

It was like a glass panel. They could see and gesture but they cannot convey their exact thoughts and feelings.

Zi Siwei wondered why he and Bai Haoxia were sent to escort the Taban priestess to Li. There were official positions present that were meant to escort the Emperor’s consort or concubines to the palace.

Bai Haoxia and Zi Siwei were just generals who are more familiar with combat than diplomatic missions. It was highly unusual to send just two cultivators with military experience to do something so vital as escorting a concubine from the Western plains to Li.

Zi Siwei considers himself an intelligent man. He liked fighting as much as the next guy but he sometimes likes to peruse books of poetry and philosophy. He often debated with the advisors of old, asking about governance and strategy dating back to the Taihelong dynasty that had collapsed just 20 years prior. Even with all that knowledge stored in his head, Zi Siwei couldn’t figure out why the Emperor sent just the two of them to escort the woman.

Three Days Ago

“Your Majesty! We can’t just send two generals to escort the Taban tribe priestess!”

“That’s right! We need to send the envoy as we agreed upon months ago.”

“I still don’t like the fact that we’re allowing a Huayi woman to enter the palace. Have we not learnt the lessons of the past?!”

“Why are you still harping over that?! That was the Crown Prince’s decision made a year ago! Now that he’s gone you DARE to speak up?”

“I’m more worried about how the other sects will receive her. The people are another problem altogether…”

*SLAM*

The cacophony of voices immediately died down.

Not soon after, a chorus of “Forgive me Your Majesty” and “My apologies, this servant was out of turn” could be heard in the antechamber.

It only made the Emperor even more irritated.

“Are we at the fish market bargaining for prices or are we in court debating for the future of this dynasty?”

The Emperor deliberately spoke slowly, turning his head just as slow to look at each minister and courtier dead in the eyes. He was intimidating and unmoving, like a warlord declaring hegemony over his new subjects that he forcefully took over.

Zi Siwei and Bai Haoxia were still kowtowing in front of the dais that held the throne — they couldn’t raise their heads commanded to do so by the Emperor.

They were just given orders to go to the Western plains to the Taban tribe and escort a woman back to Li. The reception to that order was not well-received.

“You may rise.” The Emperor’s solemn voice rang out in the antechamber.

Bai Haoxia and Zi Siwei rose to their feet. The Emperor also got up and handed the two of them written orders with the Emperor’s seal on it. It was just a formality, officially ordering them to escort the woman back to Li on paper.

If anyone tried to kidnap the girl or impersonate the generals, the lack of this document will immediately reveal the perpetrators.

Zi Siwei solemnly accepted the order but internally, was very confused. He glanced at Zi Renshu right into his eyes but got a stony stare in reply.

Figures.

He was unreadable then still unreadable now.

Zi Siwei could only follow orders and take to the skies, all the while wondering what his friend had in mind.

There was one more day to go in their journey to the west but if all goes well, then they would have done their friend a grand favour — even if they didn’t know why they were selected for the task in the first place.