Chapter 40 (1/2)

This is a great chapter to pick back up on my Lost You Forever translations, which stalled not because I wanted to stop or didn’t enjoy the story anyso busy with real life to find the hours and hours of free tis Zhuan Xu and Xiao Yao face-to-face with the onlyhow ood of the world and howthe saht person

The war between Gao Xing and Xuan Yuan turns out to be an elaborate side show tothe Grand E up to don hundreds of years ago It’s also wonderful that the kids generation finally learn the whole truth about the past, but sadly that doesn’t make their complicated future any easier a road left to journey There’s still a lot of LYF awesoain!

Chapter 40 – The World is But One Fanated in conflict for ten days around the Li Sui region when Ru Su suddenly launched aLian to engage Yu Jiang in battle

Even though the two kingdo had intentionally avoided head on skire had never directly battled an old friend on the battle field Yu Jiang thought he would be fighting Ju Mang this ti One was surprised and the other was prepared, one felt guilty and the other angry, Yu Jiang was caught off guard while Qing Liang attacked with fervor The victory was deterht flank ar as hie of Zhuan Xu yet loved to transform into the form of a little boy He looked playful and innocent but was in truth sche the reserved stoic Yu Jiang then it would be like encountering a tiger asn’tlet loose his bag of tricks and ed to severely wound Xian

With their coht flank ar attack on Xian and al dove into the attackto save her Ru So’s real plan was never to kill Xian, he wanted to use Xian to lure Yu Jiang into the

Nor was in an irrational frenzy to save Xian and co into the ed to rescue her but was even ravely injured than her

Ru So’s central flank ar ordered all his troops to retreat with his two commanders severely injured and Zhuan Xu also at the army base

This retreat lost the Xuan Yuan forces three castle holdings, the first tas taken back by Gao Xing but the third castle Feng Long abandoned because it was impossible to hold doithout ample food supplies inside and a low castle wall

Zhuan Xu remained cal Long grit his teeth and didn’t care anyht he was useless, he ordered all the troops back to Luo Yang Castle with the adage that as long as thefirewood in the future to burn

This was the worst Xuan Yuan defeat since the war began, withnearly dying The Xuan Yuan arains and attrition but with this major loss it was like the last three year’s worth of victories evaporated If the three earlier defeats were added to the tally, then Xuan Yuan lost a total of five years worth of gains

This victory led to Ru So’s nah the vast wilderness and Zhuan Xu ordered all of Ru So’s battle strategy to be collected and studied Why was Ru So willing to lose and never use any of the Yi He tribe soldiers? Why use Ju Mang against Xian? Everyonewar

Feng Long was spittingabout Ru So, but there was nothing else he could do as a defeat reht Zhuan Xu would be furious with hi to suffer a crushi+ng defeat He’s like a priceless sword that hasn’t been fully unsheathed Only after a huge defeat will his true power be revealed Who knew Ru So saw hi have that opportunity and once he gave hi blow Yu Jiang got lucky to come out of this alive, and this will teach him that once he has made a choice then he cannot hesitate otherwise he doesn’t just dooruoofy jokes, not aserious Hard to believe he’s this hard to deal with”

Zhuan Xu laughed “He is also a disciple of Master, if Ru So is easy to deal with then the Grand E thought to himself, His majesty is also the Grand Emperor’s disciple so ould win out in a match between His majesty and Ru So?

Zhuan Xu knehat he was thinking “I’m different than Ru So so there is no way to compare My Grandfather and Master both trained doh official, in peace to serve and in war to protect”

Feng Long laughed “Your ht by both Emperors then clearly Your majesty would win in any cohed “You better stop learning fros topuffed his chest out “I’e”

Zhuan Xu laughed and said nothing Feng Long and Xing Yue were twins, she seehtful while he was slow and brutish, but in truth the real intelligence laid with Feng Long He knehen to take a step forward and when to step back Xing Yue didn’t knohen to press and when to give

Feng Long asked “When does YourMountain? I’ you back but this is a war zone and I worry about your safety”

Zhuan Xu said “I was planning to go back but I feel soer”

Half areceived a secretYi tribes indicated they wanted to surrender and defect to join the Xuan Yuan kingdo was shocked and handed the missive to Zhuan Xu who read it “You send the reply and act disbelieving in your response and be haughty”

Feng Long did as ordered and wrote a response

A few days later theLong in person before handing the letter over

Feng Long er in his tent and Zhuan Xu transfor Feng Long continued to act haughty and disbelieving, coldly asking “I’m not purposely suspicious but this is so unexpected it’s hard to believe If Xuan Yuan already took over half of Gao Xing territory and surrender was near then the two tribes capitulating would be understandable But right now Xuan Yuan just suffered a crushi+ng battle defeat, ould the Bai Hu and Chang Yi tribes surrender at this time? If the explanation doesn’t make sense then it’s clearly nefarious!”

TheYi tribe Elder Liu When Feng Long was an adult and his grandfather needed the Jin Tian family to make him a weapon, he went to ask Elder Liu for a favor since the Chang Yi tribe was connect inLong had to call hi was startled and quickly stood up, exchanging a glance to“Grandfather Liu, why are you here in person? Hurry and sit down!”

Elder Liu was very pleased with Feng Long’s polite propriety and smiled “This is an important matter and your suspicion is understandable Rather than try and explain in writing I calanced at the guards in the tent and Feng Long assured hi said in here would be confidential Elder Liu hesitated before explaining “The Chang Yi tribe and the Chi Sui clan were connected in randfather even took in so Yi tribeYi tribe, and how the Chang Yi tribe and the Qing Long tribe conflict happened”

“I heard bits here and there”

“The former Grand Emperor’s wife the Empress, theLong tribe She died in childbirth giving birth and ent so were chosen to enter the palace The former Grand Emperor really liked theave birth to four sons My younger auntie the consort gave birth to two sons and two daughters Both daughters married into the Bai Hu tribe The two princes wives also came from the Bai Hu tribe LikelyLong tribe continued to believe that they were plotting to kill then Eldest Prince Shao Hao Fro Yi tribes were at odds with each other It’s hard to believe now since it happened so long ago, but the former Grand Emperor really didn’t like his eldest prince, the currently Grand E My older auntie told me that the former Grand Emperor had actually decided to name the second prince as the Crown Prince heir but then suddenly a coup happened in the palace Second Prince Yen Long and the Grand Eon Bone Prison while the current Grand Emperor ascended the throne A few years later the former Grand Emperor mysteriously died and both my aunties committed suicide Second Prince was stripped of his Godly rank and vanished The other five princes were either banished or locked up and they couldn’t accept that so they aligned with the Chang Yi and Bai Hu tribes to launch a rebellion This is what is now remembered by the world as the Five Princes Revolt”

Elder Liu’s eyes misted with tears and sadness “Later all five princes were killed, including their wives and children”

Feng Long said “This happened hundreds of years ago, I don’t understand why it has to do with today’s ?”

“The last hundreds of years, it appears all four Gao Xing tribes were equal in rank and position but the Grand E and Yi He tribes The Grand Emperor has only one princess who is spoiled and untalented, she cannot be relied on to acco and Yi He tribe’s support, the Grand Emperor actually wants to na still looked confused

Elder Liu angrily continued “The Qing Long and Yi Hi tribes and their sneaky plans! They want Ru So to become the princess’s husband The princess is useless and the Grand E fast Once he passes then Gao Xing would belong to Ru So who ca to fall into the hands of the Qing Long tribe and at such tie, it’s better to seek greener pastures now”

Feng Long said “I heard about that but the Grand Ereed yet Why don’t the two tribes continue to object?”

Elder Liu explained “We did object and initiallyone victory after another and his na bandied about the vast wilderness, now all the officials and even the co the princess The Bai Hu and Chang Yi tribe voices have been pushed aside”

Feng Long finally understood why the two tribes really did want to surrender and leave Gao Xing “Grandfather Liu, letYi and Bai Hu tribes ether are still part of the kingdo would shake the very core of Gao Xing What does Grandfather Liu really want to acco pressed “Please be completely candid, that why I can understand and report back to the Black Eritted his teeth and declared “If we help the Black E, then ant the Black E Yi tribes as territorial kings and also divide up the Qing Long and Yi He territories to us”

Even though Feng Long had mentally prepared for this he was still stunned The Bai Hu and Chang Yi tribes actually wanted to banish the Gao Xing royal fa land forever No wonder they chose to surrender to achieve this

Feng Long collected hi ive a reply in 5 days”

Elder Liu was relieved to hear a ti behind Feng Long shooting angry glares Feng Long knehat Elder Liu said affected the life and death of two tribes and needed to explain “These two guards were provided to me by His majesty so even if they are not here they will hear it later from His majesty”

Elder Liu didn’t press further with this assurance and was escorted out by Feng Long personally

After Elder Liu was gone, Feng Long looked at Zhuan Xu and saw hi just occupied

Feng Long didn’t dare intrude so quietly stood to the aside After so took out the map jewel and injected power inside so the map of the vast wilderness was projected in the tent Zhuan Xu stared at the Gao Xing territory and asked “What do you think?”

Feng Long excitedly replied “A great deal! If Jing heard this he would say on big! If we didn’t have the help of the Bai Hu and Chang Yi tribes, even after Xuan Yuan won the war Your majesty will naturally have to divide up the land in reward to various fas So if the Bai Hu and Chang Yi tribes joined Xuan Yuan now, ood for both sides, the only downside is that I don’t get to fight as ree then you won’t get your portion”

Feng Long laughed “Who says?” Feng Long pointed at the map “Here, here, and here, the territories that I’ve already conquered happen to be adjacent to Chi Sui Give those to me is perfect, any lanced at Feng Long “You asked for the best spots”

Feng Long was sheepish “If Your ave me territory less ideal, then it’ll look bad on Your majesty as well”

Zhuan Xu s direct, he actually liked Feng Long’s candor and open attitude The point of the entire world was to share with the world If a good territory was given to a good subordinate to ood for Zhuan Xu as well

Feng Long probed “Does Your ree to this offer?”

“No rush, wait until the 5th day”

Feng Long understood that Zhuan Xu had decided to agree but wanted to cool their heels for 5 days Feng Long was so relieved he picked Zhuan Xu early on

Five days later Feng Long responded to Elder Liu and asked both tribe elders to come personally to hear the Emperor’s reply

Both elders were thrilled to see the Black Emperor personally, and to discuss this matter with them, it made them even more certain that they wanted to surrender to Xuan Yuan

After negotiation, Zhuan Xu accepted their des and allow their future generations to live on Gao Xing land perree never to inter-marry and their descendantsthe blood oath, the two elders kneeled to the ground with their head bowed to swear fealty to Zhuan Xu Elder Liu asked if both sides needed to send their troops now to fight alongside the Xuan Yuan ar added “You both just need to announce to the world that the Bai Hu and Chang Yi tribes have left Gao Xing and joined the Xuan Yuan kingdom and will now follow the Black Easted “All you need from us is that?” Both expected the Black Emperor to ask to use their arured the Black Emperor wouldn’t care to lose their soldiers since they were not Xuan Yuan forces

Zhuan Xu said “Just do this is all I need From now on your people are Xuan Yuan people but they were all Gao Xing born To have the brethren is difficult so if I don’t need to use therateful “Yes! We will i the entire world that the Chang Yi and Bai Hu tribes now belong to the Xuan Yuan kingdom”

Zhuan Xu “I’ll wait for it”

The next day the Bai Hu and Chang Yi tribes officially broke frodoh the vast wilderness in shock The Bai Hu and Chang Yi ancestors followed the Gao Xing fadom Even now the stories of loyalty and valor froh the land, but with this the friendshi+p and ties for ten thousand years was shattered in one blow

The world sighed but also eagerly watched the next ht to i Yi forces but with the Xuan Yuan ar north ready to send reinforceh battle If the Grand E then it would mean he weakly accepted the traitorous desertion of the Bai Hu and Chang Yi tribes

Zhuan Xu was also waiting for the Grand E to keep it a secret so he made it publicly known he was there to survey the troops and also watch response fro

Two days later the Grand E Yi tribes, not using Ru So’s ar to personally lead forces to punish the traitors

Now the world watched to see what the Black E the forces everyone expected the Bai Hu and Chang Yi tribes to lose But they now followed the Black Emperor so he needed to send back up to help them otherwise in the future no one will ever dare surrender to Xuan Yuan

A giant war catastrophe was loo over the entire vast wilderness and everyone waited anxiously

Zhuan Xu’s broere furrowed and didn’t allow anyone to bother hi in the direction of Five Gods Mountain

Right before war broke out, news spread that the leading general of the Gao Xing forces had changed – just as the Grand Emperor donned his battle ared ride, he suddenly collapsed due to a leg injury

Princess Gao Xing Yi took her father’s place and donned her battle armor to head to war

Perhaps it was due to the injured Grand Eo to war for his people, or perhaps nooo to battle in her father’s place, the Gao Xing people turned eventhe for the Princess to vanquish them completely But all the leaders of the various clans and fa Princess would defeat the Bai Hu and Chang Yi tribes then the sun would be rising froht as much because he didn’tthen Ru So also did nothing with his troops

Xiao Yao didn’t have the patience to see on or lost, she heard the Grand Eed ride she immediately set off for Five Gods Mountain She didn’t care that the Grand Ee in and see him!

Zhuan Xu pleaded “Don’t be so i to war in place of father” sounds really familiar? Ah Nian was raised by Master hio to war for him?”

Xiao Yao hollered “I don’t care! I don’t care about your strategy and or his sche to do with me! All I know is that he raised me, loved me, and used his life to protect me! Zhuan Xu, I don’t have the power to stop you fro to see hiht with her

Zhuan Xu gave up “Fine, fine, fine! I don’t care so you go!”

He glanced at Jing who said “Your majesty needn’t worry, I’ll acco’s winged ride with hi from view He wasn’t sure why but his heart hurt and in an ied ride and chased after theht up to theht as well go all the way!

Xiao Yao stared quizzically “Are you sending us off? You can’t be following us all the way to Five Gods Mountain, are you?”

Zhuan Xu retorted “Together!”

“You go back!” The two kingdouess the Grand Emperor and orried about Zhuan Xu’s safety

“Just be silent!” Zhuan Xu’s tone of voice was still harsh but his expression ar En Palace recognizes you”

“Stop nagging, I knohat to do” Even though it was a rash decision Zhuan Xu still had confidence he could safely get back But seeing Xiao Yao worried about hi on Five Gods Mountain, neither Xiao Yao nor Zhuan Xu couldrequest an audience with the Grand E’s position as the Tu Shan clan leader was very useful, even though the Grand Emperor was ill the servant still went to announce hie arrived to take them to the top

Led by the servant, the three arrived at the Grand E Pavilion Xiao Yao’s heart sank, in the past the Grand Emperor did all official business from Cao Hui Court but noas so ill he needed to see them in his private residence

They walked inside and saw the Grand E, his hair all white and the wrinkles clearly visible on his forehead and eyes Xiao Yao and Jing saw hi in Chi Sui but Zhuan Xu had not seen the Grand E with Xiao Yao back to Xuan Yuan Mountain He heard that the Grand Emperor ounded and ill but his o Back then the Grand E as a mountain vista while noas like a toppled hillside

Zhuan Xu was so startled he forgot to properly greet the Grand E of how to smooth it over when the Grand Emperor waved his hand and all the servants left the residence leaving only the four of them inside The Grand Emperor stared at Zhuan Xu and said “Zhuan Xu?”

“It’s me” Zhuan Xu walked towards the Grand Emperor and transformed his face back

The Grand E of a way to force you to come see me, who knew you came on your own”

Zhuan Xu kneeled down before the Grand Emperor “Master, why are you like this?” Within the residence, with Master so ill, he didn’t keep a single servant or guard indicating how much he still saw Zhuan Xu as his disciple without any need to guard against hirown up, of course I’ll grow old, and will one day die”

Zhuan Xu felt his heart twist and his eyes mist He lowered his head until he co his face “Xiao Yao’s ood now If she’s here then Master you will get better soon”

Xiao Yao kneeled down beside Zhuan Xu “Your majesty, please let me treat you”

The Grand Emperor handed his wrist to Xiao Yao and she took his pulse and then checked his leg injury Afterwards Xiao Yao said “Hishas very good doctors and countless good medicine If His majesty rested properly and healed then he would be ued by eht sorrowful, unable to sleep properly That is why the illness hasn’t healed and instead has only gotten worse If His ht in her throat and she couldn’t say it out loud

Zhuan Xu was shocked “Fretting every day and sorrowful every night?” Was Xiao Yao really describing Master?

The Grand E to say, he could conceal it from everyone but could not hide it fro on his face but his body reflected his true feelings

Zhuan Xu said “Master, I can understand fretting every day, but I don’t understand being sorrowful every night!”

The Grand E in the position where you have lost the right to feel sad It’s not that we don’t feel sad, it’s that we control and suppress our feelings deep inside our hearts” The Grand Emperor smiled wryly “Unfortunately when I was injured, the sadness I’ve suppressed my entire life was released and has become like a runaway horse can’t control”

Zhuan Xu’s eyes reflected his understanding and he sadly replied “I understand now”

The Grand Emperor appeared exhausted and closed his eyes, but when both Xiao Yao and Zhuan Xu thought he had fallen asleep his voice rang out “Every night I will dream, one piece after another So Yang walks in s Yi, they are both still little boys, just the sa They call e!”, one asks me to teach him swordplay, the other asks me to teach him the zither I sometimes dream of my father, when I was born et her face so he often drew her portrait for arden to learn the different types of peach blossoo back to sleep I sat up on the pallet and recited the various peach blossoreen blossom, white peach, beauty peach…over a hundred different peach blossootten and turns out I still remember it all”

The Grand Emperor continued “Those dreams are all very happy, and when I dream them I don’t want to wake up because I know the reality behind those dreaone So died inin horror in a fiery inferno ‘Shao Hao gege, why didn’t you coround entirely covered in blood and ed in a circle as I stand in the center and they are all ly pushes me onto the throne and asks ‘You want it? You can have it!’ He takes off his crown and robe and hands it to me, then he ripes his skin and flesh and hands it to me, he’s just a fleshless skeleton and he still reaches out his bony hand and asks ‘You want it? You can have it!’”

Zhuan Xu, Xiao Yao, and Jing listened in collective horror, unable to le sound, as if a skeleton really was before the forth his skin and flesh in his hands while asking with a smile “You want it? You can have it!”

The Grand Emperor covered his eyes “The world pities that I don’t have a son but they don’t know that I arateful and relieved not to have a son I’m afraid my son will be like me, if he’s like ’s voice rang out and cut short the Grand Emperor

The Grand E fros Likely Xiao Yao and Zhuan Xu were so close to hi as the outsider remained the most coolheaded He handed the Grand Eently said “Your majesty, please drink some tea!”

The Grand Eained clarity but his ss he did, he could not tell others and others dare not hear it

The Grand E An had Ah Nian she couldn’t bear any more children, and I didn’t plan to take anysince kneould only have two daughters

Xiao Yao bit her lip while staring at the Grand Emperor

The Grand Emperor reached out his hand “Xiao Yao, I reht you would sit in front of the court steps with your eyes staring ahead until you saw me Then you would happily run towards me and into my arms That was the happiest part ofelse, but because I was your Dad I loved and coddled you because you were hter, even if I didn’t promise your mom or if I didn’t know your uncles, I would still have loved and treated you the same Don’t be mad at the cold way I’ve pushed you away, I just didn’t want you to feel torn between Zhuan Xu and ripped the Grand Eain “I know…I understood it deep down…I wasn’t angry at you”

“Not angry? Then why all this “Yourto remind me of what I did”

“I was a little er”