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Meng Fuyao pressed her lips together as she opened the small box. The box opened to reveal a snow-white pill that was the size of a thumb, emitting a pleasant scent. While Meng Fuyao was not able to decipher the contents of the pill, she was certain that this was extremely valuable. She turned to the direction Shadow Blade had left, touching her earlobes as she stared into the sky, dazed. After a long time, a soft sigh escaped from her lips.

Xuanyuan, Zhaoning era, December 21st. Winter was bitter and harsh, rendering even the smallest drop of moisture into ice. The mountains along the borders of Xuanyuan and Dahan were covered in snow. Silence remained the wall between the strict, stringent borders of the two countries.

Somehow, this winter was exceptionally cold. The heavy snowfall last night raised the white ground, drowning whatever is left of summer. Every household closed their doors as they huddled up near a fire source, allowing the wilful snow to flatten the ground.

In the early morning, the nascent rays hit the earth's white canvas, painting soft shade of reds, whites, and silvers.

A few muddy footsteps were added onto the canvas as the snow crunched noisily under their feet like sugar cubes. The tranquil silence was abruptly broken by their chatters.

”My gosh, can't believe I have to get out of the house to guard the gates in this weather!”

”They are just afraid that the Dahan army might attack us. But it's just false bravado, their emperor is still here.”

”Well, with this hellish weather, even the enemies are snuggled up in their tents with their fireplace burning. Battle? How?”

”I swear the army doesn't treat us as people!”

This chaotic commentary of theirs destroyed the idyllic wintry morning. A platoon from Xuanyuan dragged themselves across the snow sluggishly as their swords rattled boisterously. Today, they were in charge of patrolling the border.

The platoon that was well accustomed to warmth could not take the cold weather. They all were wrapped in thick winter clothes to fend off the cold, but this outfit of theirs, stuffed full of cotton, made their arms stick out straight like a carrot. Forget about drawing their swords, it was even a challenge trying to reach their own butt.

The leader of the platoon climbed up a small hill lazily. He glanced across the gloomy, sober army camp on the other side of the river as he announced with a huff, ”Only a ghost would come out in this weather! Not even a single movement! Let's go back!”

They all turned back happily. But suddenly, the last soldier asked, ”Hm, what's that sound?”

He turned back and came face to face with a group in red armor across the river, galloping on their horses.

That group of soldiers ”galloped” in the thick snow with bows in hand. With such a scene displayed in front of him, that soldier laughed heartily and remarked, ”Haha, look at that idiot hunting in this weather!”

The rest laughed along. Suddenly, the keen leader pointed out, ”Eh, which army is this? Dahan's soldiers wear black armor.”

”Who cares which army he's from. It has nothing to do with us.” The platoon turned back and suddenly saw one of the soldiers in red draw his bow. In front of his horse, a rabbit was frantically running for its life, running across the surface of the icy river, towards this platoon.

The leader laughed excitedly. ”What a fat rabbit! Since it's made its way here, let's make it into a good meal!”

He drew his bow, shooting right through the rabbit's heart. As the rest of his soldiers applauded his remarkable skills, the leader declared proudly, ”This is but a rabbit. During the battle at…”

He suddenly went silent.

The laughter stopped immediately.

With widened eyes, the soldiers' eyes focused on a red arrow now through the leader's chest.

The leader slowly looked down as he saw the arrow in his chest tremble ever so slightly. As the cruel winter wind blew on, that arrow was icy cold. His blood was boiling hot. But that warmth was the last signs of life. Very soon, he would be as cold as the snow on the floor.

He collapsed, with his eyes opened. His crimson red blood-spattered onto white canvas, giving the painting a new shade of red.

At the corner of his eye, before he collapsed, he saw the man who shot him. With his cold calm eyes, he had shot him with one hand; the other hand remained paralyzed under his sleeve.

He enunciated each word clearly:

”You. Killed. King Han's. Rabbit.”

”You killed King Han's rabbit.”

The most ridiculous reason to start a battle in the entire history of the Five Regions Continent.

This declaration spread like wildfire in the Five Region Continent, bringing back the already popular King Han as the topic of every conversation once more.

Even many years after that, many still used this declaration as a synonym for a challenge—I want to punch you! Why? You killed my rabbit!