Fen Tian and Yan Palace, the Grand Parade Ground.
The Huang Tian Berserker Army was assembled, their ranks neatly aligned. Under the cold wind and bright sun, each soldier stood with unshakable resolve, their eyes fixed on the leader atop the command platform.
Ruo Wen was fully dressed, just as before—sand-colored cloak, tight-fitting earth-grey clothes, weapons at his waist: a knife, a spear, and a sword. He stood there for a full hour without speaking or moving, his cold gaze sweeping over the troops. Only then did he shout, “Do you like it here in Fen Tian?” The commanders answered without hesitation, shouting in unison, “Yes!”
Ruo Wen scoffed. “Are you satisfied? Do you want to keep moving forward?”
At these words, silence fell over the crowd. No one answered, perhaps not wanting to or not knowing how. Though they remained silent, not a single soldier looked around nervously; they all stood firmly, staring at Ruo Wen with eyes full of certainty.
Ruo Wen looked at them, raising his whip to point toward the southern sky. “I’m not satisfied, so I will keep going!” His voice was commanding, carrying an unmatched power that shook the hearts of everyone present. After a brief pause, he roared, “Will you keep following me?”
The parade ground was silent, the words echoing again and again. They all looked up at the madman on the platform, a man who treated all the rules of the world like dirt, as if he would one day destroy heaven and earth itself.
Moments later, the silence was shattered by a chaotic uproar, a flood of responses.
“Leader! There’s nothing left to be curious about in this life, except for one thing—how far we can go with you! And that curiosity won’t be satisfied until we’re dead!”
“Damn right! I’ve done so much in my life I can’t even remember it all, but if I’m going to be struck by lightning, it better be next to you, Leader!”
“Leader! Why even ask? When you’re satisfied, that’s when we’ll feel it’s enough! Wherever you go, we’ll follow! Hell, we even enjoy watching you with women!”
“Pah! Leader, just give the order already!”
Hearing their foul-mouthed loyalty, Ruo Wen felt a surge of nostalgia. Gone was the poetic pretense of Ge Xin Wei. As he looked at these brothers who had fought by his side, that raging passion within him awoke once more.
Stepping forward, he let his sharp gaze sweep over the four thousand men below, shouting, “Listen up! Tomorrow morning, the Huang Tian Berserker Army breaks camp and leaves the borders! If you don’t want to go, you better figure out how to run for your lives now!”
As the echo of his words faded, the ground erupted into a deafening cheer.
* * *
In the spring of the year 332, the Huang Tian Berserker Army left Fen Tian. The only ruler left was Princess Ge Xin Wei. From that point on, Fen Tian underwent a transformation. Laws were enacted, a military academy was established, and Ge Xin Wei redistributed the land. Former defectors from the Ma Sui forces rejoined the Yu clan, sparking a resurgence. Meanwhile, the Berserker Army unleashed chaos, plundering three oases to the south. They killed everyone they encountered, showing no mercy or reason. Twice, displaced refugees united to resist them, only to be utterly defeated. Nearly six thousand people were killed, and atop their pile of bones, the victors reveled in their madness.
Within seven days, despondent poets in the desert were already singing ballads of the bloodthirsty. One song in particular tore at the heart:
“Ruo Wen’s scimitar rises,Father’s blood freezes to dust;Ruo Wen’s sharp sword strikes,Mother’s body buried without remorse;Ruo Wen’s spear roars,A wife stolen with a madman’s grin!The heavens were never just,And the mortal world is never kind.Who dares challenge him,Even gods and ghosts won’t follow!He shatters the throne,Bones scattered without a trace,Facing no foe in his path!”
The lotus flower was truly gone. On her cool right arm, the spot where it once bloomed was now pure white, like flawless jade. Qing Yun gazed at Huang Bei Shuang's arm... She was still asleep, having slept through both day and night. But as long as she was in his arms, it didn’t matter. At that moment, he suddenly realized—even the greatest of kings, lying in such a warm bed, would find it impossible to leave. Just thinking about it made him uncomfortable.
He stared at the spot where the three-petaled lotus once was, like a child, repeating in his mind: The lotus flower is truly gone. He had indeed won the woman he desired.
“Why are you smiling?” Huang Bei Shuang suddenly spoke, her eyes still closed, her voice tired.
Qing Yun sat up and coughed twice before responding, “Your eyes aren’t even open. How do you know I’m smiling? I’m not smiling.”
“Oh.” Huang Bei Shuang mumbled in reply, pulling the blanket over herself and continuing to sleep. It was so warm—though it was already spring’s chill, how could it be so warm? As she thought about this, an unconscious smile crept onto her lips.
Qing Yun sat beside her, watching each change in her expression. Suddenly, he felt a sense of home—a bond of deep understanding, mutual care, something so simple yet so sincere... Thinking this, he gently tucked the blanket around her and quietly got out of bed.
He liked wearing black, preferred clothes embroidered with dragon totems, and favored a longsword, alongside a proud, white horse that could gallop like the wind. All this time, no woman had ever been able to stand beside him as an equal. So every time he turned his head, the space next to him was always empty, with only his own voice echoing back.
Sitting at the table, Qing Yun took a sip of ba jiu (a strong wine), but unusually, it burned his throat, leaving an unsettled fire in his chest. He didn’t know why he couldn’t calm down. Only when he felt uneasy did this happen. But why? He had her heart, her body—this woman was already his. Yet, why was he more restless than ever before? Was it because she was difficult to control? Or was it his excessive desire? He had never known that, as a man, he could become so deeply entangled.
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