Chapter 2 (1/2)
Chapter 2: Salvation
One should die on the sands of the battlefield, fighting for one’s country and honor! What need is there for one’s body to be returned with pomp and circ.u.mstance?
“You destroyed my Western Que, killed my royal father, and still dare dream that I would fall at your feet?” Jun Huang’s laugh was a cold bark. She swayed on her feet for a second, and quick as thought, lunged towards Emperor Zhou. Her sword screamed through the air as she stabbed straight at him.
The emperor hadn’t thought that Jun Huang would still have strength left in her after taking the blow from the concealed weapon. In that crucial moment, he yanked Jun Yu, who’d been standing next to the emperor, in front of him to take the blow. Blades go only where they are commanded, and Jun Huang’s full strike cut deeply into Jun Yu’s arm.
“Ah!” A ghastly scream ripped through the air as Emperor Zhou saw Jun Yu’s arm hacked off. He lifted a foot and kicked ruthlessly at Jun Huang. Pain exploded from her abdomen and she lost her grip on her sword, flying backwards through the air as she spewed out a mouthful of blood.
“I’ll give you one last chance.” The emperor’s expression was dark. “Surrender, or die!”
The cliff was behind her. Jun Huang wiped off the blood on her lip with a swipe of her hand and threw her head back in a laugh. “Surrender?” She painfully clambered to her feet, her face a mocking parody of the emperor. She was one person against thousands of cavalry, but not a hint of fear could be found on her face. Her tiny figure seemed to glow with a heroic air that towered to the skies that made it difficult for someone to look directly at her. Framed against the sky and the earth, her expression and posture could only be described with one word… brilliance.
The light in Emperor Zhou’s eyes suddenly dimmed. He’d always dismissed the saying that one who possessed the blood phoenix would have the world, but he’d finally found an inkling of understanding in that moment. “But what about a dead blood phoenix?!” His expression was dark as he clenched his fist to give the order. Spears in hand, his men surged towards Jun Huang like an unending wave.
I was born a citizen of Western Que, and I will die a ghost of Western Que! As if she’d let herself fall into enemy hands even in death! “Although I die here, my vengeance for the crimes against my family and home will never abate!” Jun Huang’s words, along with her laughter, was heartbreaking to hear. With that last threat left ringing through the air, she turned on a single foot and leaped off the cliff without the slightest hesitation.
Emperor Zhou’s expression changed drastically. He charged right up to the edge of the cliff, but Jun Huang had already been swallowed up the darkness of the abyss. Seemingly bottomless, there seemed to be no way that Jun Huang would possibly survive!
Meanwhile, outside the capital of Western Que.
A troop of cavalry quickened their paces and flew towards the direction of the Western Que capital.
“Report!” A scout quickly galloped towards the rear with an urgent report. “We’ve discovered the armies of Eastern Wu ten kilometers ahead! There are roughly five thousand men advancing on our position!”
“Eastern Wu is retreating?” The leading general asked in a low voice, “Western Que has fallen, is there news of its princess?”
“No sign of a prisoner carriage, no prisoners of war!” the scout replied swiftly.
The general remained silent for a moment and suddenly gave the order, “All troops lay in wait, we await the enemy!”
The two armies clashed together and gave birth to rivers of blood.
“How goes counting the prisoners?” The heavily armored general’s footsteps were sure and strong.