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As every last bit of strength left his body and his consciousness faded, he toppled down from the buttress and fell from the tallest city wall in the world. With a loud 'Pong', his body landed heavily in front of Zhan Beiye's horse. As his corpse landed, it bounced up again slightly, stirring up the yellow soil around up.
That moment.
Everyone stayed solemn as they quietly watched the death of the very last general loyal to the dynasty.
Thousands of soldiers, yet, not a sound.
Zhan Beiye slowly looked up the city walls. On top, a young man in black stood there with a mischievous and enthusiastic vibe that was unbefitting of this solemn moment as she showed off the victory sign that belonged to her alone.
Suddenly, his body froze.
On the wall, behind the young man, a guard quietly made his way over and stood beside her.
He stood beside her, such a suitable position. From his gaze to his smile, they perfectly enshrouded her.
His gaze calmly swept across the people below the city walls.
Such a poised, resplendent gaze. It was no doubt, the gaze of a ruler.
Zhan Beiye looked up above the city walls.
Her eyes were initially fixated on him. However, the moment that person appeared, she turned around. Surprised, she commented something, and then he replied something. What followed was that joyful gaze in her eyes, as though all flowers in the wild had bloomed.
That blooming flower that sat above the city walls was spectacular beyond comprehension, beyond the grasp of anyone.
Zhan Beiye suddenly lifted his hand and slowly pressed against his heart.
A gust of wind blew. It was cold, that hole in his heart.
For half a year, his journey back was filled with nothing but danger… escaping secretly… putting up plans and strategies without rest… riding his horse without stopping… the pain of battling miles away… half a year, merely half a year, he had overcome the obstacles and battles in the land of Tiansha. Leading his soldiers, he had conquered cities after cities. He swung his weapon to contend for hegemony, and that weapon had paved the way through the lands of blood and fire and cut through miles of territory… His military had created a miracle, but only he knew that that was the miracle of longing.
He had once ridden the horse for seven days and seven nights without resting, falling down from the horse when he was extremely exhausted. He was afraid of missing the best opportunity and continued even with his injuries. And till today, those injuries were still unhealed and bleeding. He had once single-handedly infiltrated an enemy's camp, almost losing his life there. He even rapidly advanced with his soldiers for three days to be ahead of the enemies, setting ambush and grabbing the best opportunity—his ferocious battle against the heavens, the enemies and time were just so that he could arrive at the capital even a second earlier. His sharp blade had never once changed its direction moving forward—it was always towards her.
And today, the two armies met, and he finally saw her.
Yet, their reunion was as such.
His hand pressed against his heart. He suddenly felt lost. The pain and struggles, the haste and the rush, those anxious attacks, and quick pacing were all so they could meet, like this?
It turned out longing was like needles, stabbing holes in every part of one's body. And the blood that came out from every wound was the blood directly from the heart.
Zhan Beiye finally put down his hand. He heaved a long sigh, turned around and waved his hand in the air.
”Attack!” The horn had signaled the start as the yells mimicked the bloodthirsty beasts that preyed. A forest of weapons was formed as attacks were exchanged, stirring up the stench of blood. Zhan Beiye looked up as he stood in the middle of chaos.
His charcoal black hair blew in the air that black was their battle flag!
The authority over all this territory was nothing compared to the longing he had in his heart. It was all for her. Without the awkward position he was in, the endless assassination attempts or the worries for the safety of his loved ones, he was able to chase her more freely without restraints.
Who said that when Zhangsun Wuji stepped forward, he, Zhan Beiye, had to take a step back?
He refused to have such a reunion, and he refused to lose this battle!
'Who will admit defeat? Who will be defeated? Her smile was like a beautiful flower. The young lady has yet to wed, as long as she hasn't stepped into your Top Sun Palace in the gown, as long as her name hasn't been recorded in your family's book, I, Zhan Beiye, will not admit defeat!
'Zhangsun Wuji, I will definitely be fighting for her!'
Meng Fuyao did not know of the miseries Zhan Beiye currently felt.
Surprised, she looked at Zhangsun Wuji currently donned in the uniform of a guard. ”What are you doing here?” she mouthed.
Zhangsun Wuji smiled calmly. ”In such a critical moment, why not?”
Meng Fuyao laughed, thinking that the critical moment he meant was the fall of the Tiansha dynasty. She did not even think of anything else. Looking over, she saw Minister Kui and those generals originally in charge of defending the city being subdued by the ”Commanders-in-Chief's families”, glaring at her. Seeing that the soldiers everywhere were now all in a mess, she could not help but grin.
But Zhangsun Wuji reminded her, ”The soldiers defending the capital are all elites and have always taken pride in guarding the biggest city. For them to surrender without fighting… it might be tough to convince them…”
With a satisfied and proud grin, she patted his shoulder and said, 'Brother, I will allow you to admire me.”
She stepped forward and announced, ”His Majesty has passed away!”
With this announcement, the soldiers on the city wall that were still resisting turned to look at Meng Fuyao in shock.
Calmly, Meng Fuyao added, ”The palace has fallen, His Majesty has passed, the generals have been executed… What are you all still sacrificing your lives for? Now should be the time to support Prince Lie and those who do, are his officials of great merit. But those who resist…” She pointed to the Black Dragon Army that was still attacking ferociously. ”Otherwise, the thousands of elite soldiers and the weapons would be after you!”Flood dragon or Jiaolong is a polysemous aquatic dragon in Chinese mythology.