5 When Would the World’s Atrocities End? (1/2)

Tiantang City, the capital of the Empire of Yutang. If a city were the crown jewel of a country, then Tiantang City would be the heart of the entire Tianxuan Continent. The city boasted a population of around 3 million citizens, with walls strong and high enough to deter even the most fervent of marauders. Fortified crenellations and numerous arrow slits made it a defender's dream and an attacking party's nightmare.

At this moment, funeral music could be heard drifting on the wind in a quiet melancholy; denizens from every corner had come out, forming a long queue that headed towards the center of Tiantang City, where the Tiantang Square was located.

The square was acknowledged as the largest square in the city within the Tianxuan Continent. Built under the supervision and commission of the Empire of Yutang's founding emperor, it served as the militia's training field, but on occasions such as these, was made avail to the general public.

The founding emperor had once said, “All the warriors who train in this square - now, and in the future - will forever be heaven’s guests, even when they have perished in the battlefield. Their brave souls shall never be forgotten, and will live on for eternity!” Thus, in the very early days, it was called “Heaven’s1 Square”. As the years rolled by, it gradually came to be referred to as Tiantang Square. The original name of the city, “Wu An City” was also slowly replaced and became Tiantang City.

A mass of bodies poured into Tiantang Square. Everyone was either wearing white flowers or had a strip of black silk crepe tied around their arm. In their hands, they carried either fresh flowers or candles, amongst other items for a memorial, their faces expressing the deepest respect and honor.

Today was not just any memorial. Today, the entire nation came together in remembrance of the sacrifices that these noble souls had made, especially those by the Nine Supremes. The Nine Supremes were the most unlikely combination of heroes, with names akin to a mystery. Nine mystical paragons, they were nameless and without faces, yet everyone knew that they were the Empire of Yutang's best-kept secret, its patron saints. The Nine Supremes had always been involved in the largest and most critical wars in the Empire’s history. Each time they appeared, a battle doomed to be lost would take a blessed and unexpected turn. Just their very presence was assurance of victory on the battlefield!

The ninth of the third month last year – a date that the Empire of Yutang’s people would never forget.

That was the day that they had lost the Nine Supremes.

The Nine Supremes had led 800 warriors to execute a secret mission when they were ambushed and killed at Tianxuan Cliff. There had been no survivors among the 809 brave individuals who partook in the mission.

It had been an undertaking of the highest secrecy, but somehow, news of it had leaked out, resulting in the deaths of the Empire’s finest. The Empire of Yutang had thrown all of its vast resources to hunt down the culprit for over a year now, with little to show for its efforts.

In the square, many generals and veterans looked towards the center of Tiantang Square with tears welling in their eyes. There, nine tall monuments stood proudly side by side – resembling the towering legends that they were built in memoriam after. These brothers had fought together when they were alive, and even in death, they would still stand steadfastly together. Ragged sobs could be heard from the crowd northwest of the square, where the veterans were bunched together. Having survived the wars by paying the price of limbs and longevity, these old and crippled warriors who could barely walk, stood up to pay tribute. Even those who had lost their legs sat upright; facing their heroes and saviors with their hearts brimming with reverence. A vision of the Nine Supremes charging through the battlefield appeared before them; valiant, brave and inspiring all at once.

Dragons of soil thrash the earth, burying their enemies; as the Supreme Earth demonstrates his might.

Flames spout high and mighty, as the Supreme Flame arrives.

Turbulent waves churn the sea, as the Supreme Water moves.

Wind, cloud, thunder and lightning split the tranquil sky, as the Supreme Wind, Supreme Cloud, and Supreme Thunder manifests themselves.

The Nine Supremes!

These were the litanies engrained in the monuments of the Nine Supremes. Those who had come to the square would stare long and hard at them, both saddened and agonized by the majesty of those words.

Borderless earth rages like dragons – Supreme Earth.

Refined gold in his hands, the pack caves in – Supreme Gold.

Monstrous waves, churning majestically across the world – Supreme Water.

Towering wood, standing indestructible – Supreme Wood.

Rising flames of invincible victory – Supreme Flame.

Thunder roars, intimidating the world – Supreme Thunder.

Blood of the heroes, adversities await – Supreme Blood.

The wind in the vast sky, justice with the kind – Supreme Wind.

Heart of the Nine Supremes, clouds that could sink the heavens – Supreme Cloud!

The names of the Nine Supremes were carved onto the monuments; briefly, the sight of nine masked heroes standing tall before powerful enemies, while calmly saying, “Rally forth!” seemed to greet everyone’s eyes again. The throng of people stood upright in front of each memorial, looking at them in tribute, with their heads raised high. There was an unusually large crowd that gathered in front of Supreme Cloud and Supreme Earth’s monuments. Supreme Earth, the leader of the Nine Supremes, had been the eldest. Supreme Cloud, on the other hand, had been the youngest of the Nine Supremes but was also the brain and heart of the team.

…

The sun rose in slow cadence.

Before long, the emperor arrived, surrounded by his bureaucrats, signaling the official start of the ceremony.

Yun Yang stood silently in the corner, just another observer in the multitude of people.

“Young master, do you need me to go over with you?”

“There’s no need.” Yun Yang shook his head.

“This… Now your…”

“There’s no need.”

“As you wish, young master.” Lao Mei’s voice was tinged with disappointment.

Yun Yang had rejected Lao Mei’s company, not because he knew he would embarrass himself by being overwhelmed by emotions, but because he did not want anyone to know his true identity as one of the Nine Supremes! Until he had avenged his brothers, he did not deserve to announce his mantle to the world. Besides, the enemy was all too powerful, and knowledge of his true nature would put him at significant risk.

He stood in silence, watching the nine monuments with heartache and longing in his eyes.

Brothers, I am here.

I’m here to see all of you.

It was as if he was invisible, standing quietly in the dark.

The smell of candles and incense filled the air; the emperor read the funeral oration in an agonized voice, as quiet sobs came from the people.

Yun Yang stood far away, his body ramrod straight and eyes dark as the night. People walked past him, but none of them seemed to realize that there was someone who was alive and breathing, standing in the shadows. The Cloud Veil was a spell unique to the Supreme Cloud of the Nine Supremes, one that rendered him invisible, a formless soul. He stood there silently and motionless; the breeze blew against his dark purple robes, while an air of loneliness swept over him.

Dusk came creeping in.

The ceremony had long ended.

Fresh flowers covered the ground, the smell of candles wafted to the heavens. Warm blood drenched the space in front of the Nine Supremes’ memorial; the crimson red belonged to Wu Wenyuan and his cohort.

The crowd bore no hint of sympathy for them, no tears of remorse towards their kin, even after witnessing the bodies being mutilated further after the execution.

Old Marshal Qiu Jianhan had kept a straight face throughout the event.