Chapter 06 Part 04 - Number One Fighter (1/2)
Chapter 06 Part 04 - Number one Fighter
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September 16th, City of Di Du and a night of stormy rains, an unwelcomed guest suddenly arrived at ZiChuan Ning’s mansion.
The newcomer asked ZiChuan Ning candidly: “Is this where Xiu lives?”
ZiChuan Ning stared alarmingly at the newcomer. She was a graceful and mature woman. The way she called ZiChuan Xiu directly by his first name, ZiChuan Ning couldn’t help but ask: “What business do you have with him…”
“Well. I’m his former lover. I’m here to get him to pay for the child support and the damages he caused to my youth.”
The tea cup in ZiChuan Ning’s hand splattered over the floor.
Seeing ZiChuan Ning’s paled expression, the newcomer smiled bluntly and said: “Just kidding. But you really need to work on your sense of humor!”
Before ZiChuan Ning’s heart rate and surprised look could return to normal, the newcomer had already put down her tea cup. She asked respectfully: “You must be Lady Ning?”
“Coming here at such late hour without prior notice, I suppose it was quite presumptuous of me. I’m Far Eastern Army Deputy Commander – Lin Bing. I’m here on urgent business with Sir ZiChuan Xiu. Would you let him know?”
ZiChuan Ning exhaled in relief, but the calm only lasted for a second before Lin Bing sent her right back to h.e.l.l with her next set of words: “This time, I’m here on official business. The child support and everything else he owe me, will have to wait.”
……
ZiChuan Ning got up and told the servants to wake ZiChuan Xiu up while muttering to herself: “Now I finally understand why the people of Far East wanted to rebel…”
The moment ZiChuan Xiu saw Lin Bing, he instinctively straightened his back and saluted. Back when he was still serving in the Far Eastern Army, he had always paid extra respect to his candid and joyful female commanding officer.
Lin Bing returned the gesture: “I wouldn’t dare, Sir Xiu. We are of the same rank; we are both Deputy Commanders. You don’t have to be so modest.”
Even though on paper they both held the same rank, there was a big difference between the two. Lin Bing was a Deputy Commander with real power. She commanded over hundred thousand troops and was put in charge of million people’s welfares. She was literally a va.s.sal lord. In comparison, a Deputy Commander like ZiChuan Xiu had to worry every month whether he would get paid or not.
ZiChuan Xiu replied sincerely: “No matter where or when, you are always my commanding Officer.”
Lin Bing clapped loudly: “You didn’t forget your past, that is good!” She went straight to the point: “I need you to help me save Luo Bo. He is in big trouble!”
During the Far Eastern Rebellion, Luo Bo and Lin Bing had to fight off nearly a million rebels with their weakened and wounded Army at Fort Warren. They waited desperately for reinforcement’s arrival, to the point they were about to take their own lives in order to preserve the family honour. Finally, the reinforcement came in the form of Stirling’s Central Army, but with them also came the Military Investigation Squad from the Ministry of Supervision. Bunch cold-hearted and atrocious army officers sought to investigate the cause for Battle of Red Lake’s defeat. In order to not implicate anyone else, Far Eastern Army Staff Officer – Luo Bo took all the blames upon himself.
Despite several officers’ complains and many soldiers’ protests, the Judicial officers still dragged the heavily wounded Luo Bo from bed and put him in chains, escorting him to Di Du for Court Martial.
Naturally, Lin Bing followed their footsteps closely and arrived in Di Du as well, hoping to exonerate Luo Bo. However, since the death of Commander Ge Ying Xing, the Far Eastern Army branch had lost its most important and respected spokesperson to represent them in the heart of the decision making, the High Command.
Lin Bing continued infuriated: “Right now, the Far Eastern Army is like a b.a.s.t.a.r.d child. No one cares, and everyone thinks they can bully us!”
Especially after they found out that it was Supreme Commander – Luo Ming Hai who was behind the accusation, no one wanted to help.
After exhausting all her options, Lin Bing suddenly remembered, Luo Bo had a subordinate, who was always after his drinks, serving as a Deputy Commander here in Di Du. Even though she heard he wasn’t doing so well for himself either, she had no other alternatives, might as well give it a try…
ZiChuan Xiu’s had a serious look on his face. Luo Bo was his direct commanding officer while he served in the Far East. Back then, when Yang Ming Hua wanted him dead, it was Luo Bo, Ge Ying Xing and other officers of the Far Eastern Army who protected him, a naïve child in his teens. The reason that he could rise up from an exiled convict to the high rank of Banner Master within six years, other than his own merits, Luo Bo’s patronage was also an important factor.
In other words, other than Commander – Ge Ying Xing who recently pa.s.sed away, he owed the most of what he had to Luo Bo.
ZiChuan Xiu answered resolutely: “I owe everything I have to Sir Luo Bo. I will do everything in my power to secure for his release!”
Lin Bing was stunned by ZiChuan Xiu’s determined gaze, and a wave of warmth washed over her. She had gone through so many of them over the last couple of days, and each time, she was kept at arm’s length. Every time she asked for help, she was met with a wall of excuses:
“Well… about that; let me think about it.”
“Believe in the High Command and the Headmaster. They will not put an innocent man in jail! He will be released soon, I’m sure.”
Some gave her the sarcastic remark: “Three hundred thousand casualties. If Luo Bo is not the one responsible, are you the one responsible? You should worry about yourself first!”
And some even ridiculed her: “Who is Luo Bo to you? Why are you trying so hard to save an old fart…?” then followed their sentence with a lewd gaze, a.s.sessing Lin Bing’s captivating figure. One even came in close: “Deputy Commander Lin, I feel we should get to know each other… As long as you are willing, I promise to help Luo…” Before he could finish, Lin Bing’s two inch heels was already planted in his face.
Over the past few days, this was the first time she was given such determined affirmation. Even though it came from a powerless and insignificant Deputy Commander, it provided her with a great deal of moral support.
ZiChuan Xiu and ZiChuan Ning both looked surprised at the watery sparkles filling Lin Bing’s eyes. ZiChuan Xiu asked confused: “Sir, you…”
He didn’t know the right word to say.
As a fellow woman, even though ZiChuan Ning didn’t know the reason behind it all, she understood very well how Lin Bing had to be feeling right now. She quickly interrupted her brother’s line of questioning by handing her the handkerchief.
Lin Bing took the handkerchief and dried her eyes, quickly regaining her composure: “I’m sorry. I got something in my eye.”
ZiChuan Xiu and ZiChuan Ning both nodded, accepting her clumsy excuse.
Lin Bing continued on the subject: “Xiu, Luo Bo was not wrong about you. Sir Ge Ying Xing was not wrong about you. He had such high hopes for you.” When she mentioned the name of the deceased Far Eastern Army Commander, in her eyes there was more than just nostalgic admiration for the man, but also the look of an unexplainable sense of sadness. ZiChuan Xiu thought to himself: Lin Bing and Ge Ying Xing were probably more than just comrades in arms…”
“When Sir Ge Ying Xing died, I was with him the whole time. He once mentioned your name. He said that you were the only one who could bring peace and prosperity to House ZiChuan for the next hundred years.” ZiChuan Xiu was feeling flattered, but he responded modestly: “Sir Ge Ying Xing was too kind, I’m hardly that capable.” However, his big satisfied smile had betrayed his intentions, not to mention he kept making eye gestures, hinting at ZiChuan Ning: Do you see how great I am?
Lin Bing nodded: “I also thought it was impossible, perhaps Sir Ge Ying Xing’s mind had dulled by then.”
ZiChuan Ning burst out in laughter.
“He also said, after his death, Yang Ming Hua might be truly out of control. He was afraid that none of you would be able to stop him. He said if such day comes, I was to give you this box. He wants you to find the master of this box, and kill Yang Ming Hua! That was his words. I didn’t understand what he meant, but he said you would.”
Lin Bing handed him a small black ornate box, with a Golden Pansy flower carved on top. It was obviously an antique. Two hundred years ago, the Empire of Light used the Golden Pansy flower as their national symbol.
ZiChuan Xiu accepted the gift earnestly with both hands. He was awed. Even at the final moment of Ge Ying Xing’s life, he was still worried for the future of House ZiChuan, and how to preserve its eternal glory. How does one even speak of such unwavering loyalty!
Yet, the world often moved in a way we least expected. The outcome of Di Du’s rebellion, ZiChuan Shen Xing’s surprising victory and Yang Ming Hua’s quick demise were events even the wise Ge Ying Xing could not have predicted.
After Lin Bing left, unable to restrain her curiosity any longer, ZiChuan Ning quickly got hold of ZiChuan Xiu and bombarded him with a series of questions: “Brother, who did Sir Ge Xing Ying tell you to look for? When Yang Ming Hua was the most powerful man in House ZiChuan, who could have killed him so easily? This box, it is an antique right? Who does it belong to?”
ZiChuan Xiu carefully put away the box. Unable to dodge her questions, he finally relented and responded with a few words: “Duke Zuo Jia Ming.”
ZiChuan Ning inhaled deeply, feeling the chill filling her longs. She kept her mouth shut.
……
Every generation had its heroes; each directed the flow of its time.
Over the long history of the war ridden continent of Western River, many incredible warriors and heroes were born.
In the Militaristic Society of House ZiChuan, every generation had its “Number one fighter”. For example Lei Xun held the t.i.tle not so long ago. In some sense, the trio, ZiChuan Xiu, Stirling, Di Lin who killed Lei Xun together, now shared one third of the t.i.tle “Number one fighter”.
Contemporarily, the arch rival of House ZiChuan for the last hundreds of years, House Liu Feng also had its “Number one fighter.”