Chapter 455
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Chapter 455
Though travelling by Cloud-Stepping saved a great deal of time, Goujian only ever used it as an option of last resort. While others claimed they found the experience of running through the clouds exhilarating, he never found thrill in the proximity to death and kept a close eye on anyone who did. It was a fundamental requirement considering how his former line of work appealed to the darker elements of society. Though foolish and misguided, his efforts with his Adherents was never about torture and bloodshed, but safeguarding the people of the Empire from the Fathers Taint. The Purge was merely a tool, one used as sparingly as possible, which was why he invested so much effort into gathering intelligence before taking action. Despite his best efforts, the people only ever remembered the death and suffering, but the Purge was a consequence of his failures rather than his sole objective as so many seemed to believe.
Fools and ingrates one and all. Goujian should have never bothered trying to safeguard them from the Truth, for Heaven demanded the best of all its creations, and the best could only be achieved through struggle and conflict. Trials and tribulations, an adage which still held true.
Dismissing his errant thoughts to focus on his movements, he gathered Chi into his left foot and stomped down on the air. Stomach dropping as he sank towards the earth, the sensation lasted for all of an instant before his Chi solidified in the empty space beneath his foot, creating a platform in mid-air which he stepped on and used to vault forward through the clouds. Behind him, the Chi-forged rung crumbled apart beneath his weight and dissipated into nothingness, but a few seconds later as his descent accelerated downwards, he created another such rung beneath his right foot and continued his journey westward, one bounding step at a time. Soaring through the air as the world zipped by underfoot, he marvelled at how much easier he found this now that hed been Blessed by the Heavens and Enlightened to the Truth, able to carry out Lightening, Concealment, Cloud-Stepping, and the handful of other required Chi skills without too much thought. He only concentrated on each step out of ingrained habit, as a failed attempt could send him crashing to the ground in a humiliating debacle. Even if there was no one to witness it, knowing hed erred would be enough to put him in a foul mood for hours, not to mention how he could possibly have Concealed pursuers on his tail who would not miss the opportunity to strike at the much reviled Confessor.
The odds his true identity had been uncovered were slim to none, but Goujian disliked leaving things to chance. In Sinuji, hed been nothing more than a common farrier and he made certain he was well away from the fort before taking to the skies. Sneaking away had been easy enough, he hadnt even needed to Conceal himself as he travelled east for a few hours before turning north, then back west to avoid detection from the Peak Experts gathered in and around Sinuji. No one bothered keeping track of the comings and goings of peasants, so it wouldnt surprise Goujian if his absence went unnoticed by everyone aside from his direct supervisor and perhaps an acquaintance or two.
Foolish for the ruling elite to pay so little attention to commoners, as if they were somehow unable to see, hear, or speak about anything of importance, but it was an oversight Goujian had made use of many times in the past and would continue to do so in the future.
After spending most of the night to get a mere twenty kilometres away from Sinuji, Goujian moved with all haste to find young Gen and advise him against this foolishness. The Uniter treated the boy like a pawn to be disposed of, but Goujian knew Gen would rise to heights never before seen, provided he was given enough time to reach them. Pitting him against Falling Rain at this juncture was too much of a risk, but alas, Goujians suggestions had fallen on deaf ears and his efforts to kill the Imperial puppet had all been met with failure. His frustrations were compounded by the failures of the Society and their allies to act against Falling Rain. Politicians first and warriors second, the leaders of the Society were too feeble and fearful to chop nails and sever iron. Making decisions via committee had to be the most incompetent and inefficient method of leadership hed ever borne witness to, and it was a miracle the Society had risen to the heights it had by doing so. They couldnt even agree to work together and remove a clear and prominent threat, so how theyd survived intact for so many centuries was a mystery beyond Goujians comprehension.
It wasnt as if his was the only hand prodding them to action. His spies and allies both reported there was an unknown Imperial Scion influencing the Societys actions of late, driving them to kill Falling Rain to strike a blow at the Legate, but even this wasnt enough to get them working in unison. They spent precious days bickering about assurances and advantages, compensation and reimbursement, all while Falling Rain played the fool and young Gen drew ever closer. In the end, three Clan Patriarchs had been forced to travel to Sinuji, but even they couldnt spur the majority into action, and only ended up making things worse by firmly dividing the Society on the issue. Now, the dissenters had moved their camps to encircle Falling Rains, making any overt attempt to assassinate him all the more difficult.
Had Goujian known hed be picking up a stone to smash his own foot, he wouldve left the Society well alone, or perhaps even assassinated the Patriarchs on their way to Sinuji and left evidence to incriminate the Bekhai.
And as if the situation were not dire enough, now Mao Jianghong was refusing to dispatch more Wraiths to assist Goujian in his endeavours. The Uniters Divinity ally, a haggard mole-rat Ancestral Beast who refused to give a name, had refused to send more of her babies after the first wave died in Sinuji, and now Goujian had no Wraiths to work with either. Since his three Oath-Bound Adherents had been annexed by Chun Yimu Junior and ordered to guard Falling Rain, it was now impossible for Goujians remaining Adherents to get close to the boy even in disguise, which left him precious few options.
Looking back at it now, Goujian felt he had been too concerned about hidden protectors and alerting the Imperial Clan of his presence. Instead, he should have gathered all his forces and struck at Falling Rain in strength. Even after so much probing, he still had yet to discern the depths of the boys protectors or his true strength, so perhaps it would have been better to roll the dice on a single strike and hope his forces could overwhelm Falling Rains protectors before they could save him. Alas, Goujian was never one to gamble and the chances of quietly assassinating the Imperial stooge was lost to him now. Though he did his best to conceal his true motives by sending attacks against other officers in Sinuji, he was also one to never underestimate his opponents. In all likelihood, the forces behind Rain were on their guard after so many attempts on his life and had likely sent for reinforcements, which meant the time for politics and hidden daggers was over and done with.
Still, all was not lost, and though he worried young Gen would not accept this new course of action, Goujians tools of persuasion were not limited to the blade and hook alone...
Offering a martial salute as he brought his mount in line, Goujian greeted young Gen with a smile. So good to see you here, young warrior. A fine army weve assembled here, one fit to run roughshod over the misguided fools of Sinuji and perhaps even raze the burgeoning citadels themselves.
Though young Gen acted indifferent to the praise, Goujian could tell he was pleased. A fine army indeed, though it irks me Im not in command. He wants to speak with you when we make camp. Narrowing his eyes, he continued, But enough small talk. What news of Falling Rain? He still lives, yes?
Pretending not to notice the nine Transcendents closing in around him, Goujian replied, He does. With no need to feign disappointment, he added, This old man failed to take the pretenders life.
Good, Gen snarled, his teeth bared in a grin as he almost imperceptibly ordered the Transcendents to stand down. Had Goujian succeeded, it seemed young Gen had intended to vent his frustrations by killing the bearer of bad news. Not a man to stomach disappointment, yet another fact to keep in mind for the future. Falling Rain is mine to kill, and mine alone, Gen declared, sitting tall in his stylized, silver and green plate armour, a unique set which had been custom tailored for the radiant young hero. In a mere three days, I will ride at the head of the army as we come upon Sinuji, and then I shall challenge him to single combat. Let all in Sinuji bear witness to my might as I slaughter their Number One Talent with ease.
If only things would be so simple, but the Will of Heavens warned Goujian of impending danger should Gen follow this course of action. Why the boy refused to heed Heavens guidance, Goujian couldnt say, but it seemed like the young warrior was too obsessed with Falling Rain to care. He had already tried telling young Gen of his suspicions, but alas, the boy was too headstrong to listen to wiser heads, which meant convincing him otherwise would require a more subtle approach. After a few minutes of banal conversation, Goujian bid the boy farewell and fell back to speak with Yuanyin and the army Commander, though who that might be, Goujian wasnt sure. Out loud, he spoke of happiness at their reunion and inquired about his disciples progress, but whenever he sensed the telltale signs of Sending, he transmitted his orders to Yuanyin. Drink and make merry with young Gen while plying him with tales of great heroes and overwhelming victories. At the same time, stress the importance of morale in battle and how great generals have used it in history. Tell him stories of the other young talents of Sinuji, of Situ Jia Zian, Han BoShui, Wu Gam, Quyen Dienne, and most importantly, Falling Rains lover and betrothed, Du Min Yan.
Yuanyin nodded along, though Goujian saw the question in his eye and explained, Small steps to guide young Gen towards the proper decision. Convince him of the need to make Falling Rains death more dramatic, for the legendary duels in history heralded the end of a battle, not the beginning. Persuade him to let the army crush Sinuji first, to ravage their defences and trample over their hopes, then once they are at his mercy, he can offer them a chance at life by proposing a duel between young talents. It will allow us to showcase our own talents, and you can even profess a desire to test your own skills. Tell him of how glorious it will be to kill Falling Rains allies, friends, and lover right in front of his eyes, before culminating in a grand duel to the death between the Emissary of Earths Fire and the Number One Talent of the Empire.
As they rode side by side, Mentor and Disciple shared their thoughts on how to best convince young Gen to take a different course of action. If Falling Rain survived the initial battle, then his protectors would no doubt bring him away, as losing their pawn would set the Imperial agenda back too far. Best if Rain disappeared before the battle was even fought, which was why Goujian left the Imperial scouts hed come across during his travels untouched. While giving a competent commander like Colonel Hongji so much time to prepare would cost them dearly, Goujian would much rather lose this entire army of Chosen and Defiled than see young Gen slain before his time.
All of this seemed a little extreme to avoid a single Falling Rain, which was how Goujian stumbled across a question he had yet to ask. While he had his reservations about young Gen facing Falling Rain in single combat, those were merely suspicions without confirmation, which begged the question: why were the Heavens so opposed to this duel of young talents? If he didnt know better, Goujian almost suspected the Heavens were afraid of Falling Rain, but that was an absurd notion.
...
Wasnt it?
Chapter Meme
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Chapter 455
Though travelling by Cloud-Stepping saved a great deal of time, Goujian only ever used it as an option of last resort. While others claimed they found the experience of running through the clouds exhilarating, he never found thrill in the proximity to death and kept a close eye on anyone who did. It was a fundamental requirement considering how his former line of work appealed to the darker elements of society. Though foolish and misguided, his efforts with his Adherents was never about torture and bloodshed, but safeguarding the people of the Empire from the Fathers Taint. The Purge was merely a tool, one used as sparingly as possible, which was why he invested so much effort into gathering intelligence before taking action. Despite his best efforts, the people only ever remembered the death and suffering, but the Purge was a consequence of his failures rather than his sole objective as so many seemed to believe.
Fools and ingrates one and all. Goujian should have never bothered trying to safeguard them from the Truth, for Heaven demanded the best of all its creations, and the best could only be achieved through struggle and conflict. Trials and tribulations, an adage which still held true.
Dismissing his errant thoughts to focus on his movements, he gathered Chi into his left foot and stomped down on the air. Stomach dropping as he sank towards the earth, the sensation lasted for all of an instant before his Chi solidified in the empty space beneath his foot, creating a platform in mid-air which he stepped on and used to vault forward through the clouds. Behind him, the Chi-forged rung crumbled apart beneath his weight and dissipated into nothingness, but a few seconds later as his descent accelerated downwards, he created another such rung beneath his right foot and continued his journey westward, one bounding step at a time. Soaring through the air as the world zipped by underfoot, he marvelled at how much easier he found this now that hed been Blessed by the Heavens and Enlightened to the Truth, able to carry out Lightening, Concealment, Cloud-Stepping, and the handful of other required Chi skills without too much thought. He only concentrated on each step out of ingrained habit, as a failed attempt could send him crashing to the ground in a humiliating debacle. Even if there was no one to witness it, knowing hed erred would be enough to put him in a foul mood for hours, not to mention how he could possibly have Concealed pursuers on his tail who would not miss the opportunity to strike at the much reviled Confessor.
The odds his true identity had been uncovered were slim to none, but Goujian disliked leaving things to chance. In Sinuji, hed been nothing more than a common farrier and he made certain he was well away from the fort before taking to the skies. Sneaking away had been easy enough, he hadnt even needed to Conceal himself as he travelled east for a few hours before turning north, then back west to avoid detection from the Peak Experts gathered in and around Sinuji. No one bothered keeping track of the comings and goings of peasants, so it wouldnt surprise Goujian if his absence went unnoticed by everyone aside from his direct supervisor and perhaps an acquaintance or two.
Foolish for the ruling elite to pay so little attention to commoners, as if they were somehow unable to see, hear, or speak about anything of importance, but it was an oversight Goujian had made use of many times in the past and would continue to do so in the future.
After spending most of the night to get a mere twenty kilometres away from Sinuji, Goujian moved with all haste to find young Gen and advise him against this foolishness. The Uniter treated the boy like a pawn to be disposed of, but Goujian knew Gen would rise to heights never before seen, provided he was given enough time to reach them. Pitting him against Falling Rain at this juncture was too much of a risk, but alas, Goujians suggestions had fallen on deaf ears and his efforts to kill the Imperial puppet had all been met with failure. His frustrations were compounded by the failures of the Society and their allies to act against Falling Rain. Politicians first and warriors second, the leaders of the Society were too feeble and fearful to chop nails and sever iron. Making decisions via committee had to be the most incompetent and inefficient method of leadership hed ever borne witness to, and it was a miracle the Society had risen to the heights it had by doing so. They couldnt even agree to work together and remove a clear and prominent threat, so how theyd survived intact for so many centuries was a mystery beyond Goujians comprehension.
It wasnt as if his was the only hand prodding them to action. His spies and allies both reported there was an unknown Imperial Scion influencing the Societys actions of late, driving them to kill Falling Rain to strike a blow at the Legate, but even this wasnt enough to get them working in unison. They spent precious days bickering about assurances and advantages, compensation and reimbursement, all while Falling Rain played the fool and young Gen drew ever closer. In the end, three Clan Patriarchs had been forced to travel to Sinuji, but even they couldnt spur the majority into action, and only ended up making things worse by firmly dividing the Society on the issue. Now, the dissenters had moved their camps to encircle Falling Rains, making any overt attempt to assassinate him all the more difficult.
Had Goujian known hed be picking up a stone to smash his own foot, he wouldve left the Society well alone, or perhaps even assassinated the Patriarchs on their way to Sinuji and left evidence to incriminate the Bekhai.
And as if the situation were not dire enough, now Mao Jianghong was refusing to dispatch more Wraiths to assist Goujian in his endeavours. The Uniters Divinity ally, a haggard mole-rat Ancestral Beast who refused to give a name, had refused to send more of her babies after the first wave died in Sinuji, and now Goujian had no Wraiths to work with either. Since his three Oath-Bound Adherents had been annexed by Chun Yimu Junior and ordered to guard Falling Rain, it was now impossible for Goujians remaining Adherents to get close to the boy even in disguise, which left him precious few options.
Looking back at it now, Goujian felt he had been too concerned about hidden protectors and alerting the Imperial Clan of his presence. Instead, he should have gathered all his forces and struck at Falling Rain in strength. Even after so much probing, he still had yet to discern the depths of the boys protectors or his true strength, so perhaps it would have been better to roll the dice on a single strike and hope his forces could overwhelm Falling Rains protectors before they could save him. Alas, Goujian was never one to gamble and the chances of quietly assassinating the Imperial stooge was lost to him now. Though he did his best to conceal his true motives by sending attacks against other officers in Sinuji, he was also one to never underestimate his opponents. In all likelihood, the forces behind Rain were on their guard after so many attempts on his life and had likely sent for reinforcements, which meant the time for politics and hidden daggers was over and done with.
Still, all was not lost, and though he worried young Gen would not accept this new course of action, Goujians tools of persuasion were not limited to the blade and hook alone...
Offering a martial salute as he brought his mount in line, Goujian greeted young Gen with a smile. So good to see you here, young warrior. A fine army weve assembled here, one fit to run roughshod over the misguided fools of Sinuji and perhaps even raze the burgeoning citadels themselves.
Though young Gen acted indifferent to the praise, Goujian could tell he was pleased. A fine army indeed, though it irks me Im not in command. He wants to speak with you when we make camp. Narrowing his eyes, he continued, But enough small talk. What news of Falling Rain? He still lives, yes?
Pretending not to notice the nine Transcendents closing in around him, Goujian replied, He does. With no need to feign disappointment, he added, This old man failed to take the pretenders life.
Good, Gen snarled, his teeth bared in a grin as he almost imperceptibly ordered the Transcendents to stand down. Had Goujian succeeded, it seemed young Gen had intended to vent his frustrations by killing the bearer of bad news. Not a man to stomach disappointment, yet another fact to keep in mind for the future. Falling Rain is mine to kill, and mine alone, Gen declared, sitting tall in his stylized, silver and green plate armour, a unique set which had been custom tailored for the radiant young hero. In a mere three days, I will ride at the head of the army as we come upon Sinuji, and then I shall challenge him to single combat. Let all in Sinuji bear witness to my might as I slaughter their Number One Talent with ease.
If only things would be so simple, but the Will of Heavens warned Goujian of impending danger should Gen follow this course of action. Why the boy refused to heed Heavens guidance, Goujian couldnt say, but it seemed like the young warrior was too obsessed with Falling Rain to care. He had already tried telling young Gen of his suspicions, but alas, the boy was too headstrong to listen to wiser heads, which meant convincing him otherwise would require a more subtle approach. After a few minutes of banal conversation, Goujian bid the boy farewell and fell back to speak with Yuanyin and the army Commander, though who that might be, Goujian wasnt sure. Out loud, he spoke of happiness at their reunion and inquired about his disciples progress, but whenever he sensed the telltale signs of Sending, he transmitted his orders to Yuanyin. Drink and make merry with young Gen while plying him with tales of great heroes and overwhelming victories. At the same time, stress the importance of morale in battle and how great generals have used it in history. Tell him stories of the other young talents of Sinuji, of Situ Jia Zian, Han BoShui, Wu Gam, Quyen Dienne, and most importantly, Falling Rains lover and betrothed, Du Min Yan.
Yuanyin nodded along, though Goujian saw the question in his eye and explained, Small steps to guide young Gen towards the proper decision. Convince him of the need to make Falling Rains death more dramatic, for the legendary duels in history heralded the end of a battle, not the beginning. Persuade him to let the army crush Sinuji first, to ravage their defences and trample over their hopes, then once they are at his mercy, he can offer them a chance at life by proposing a duel between young talents. It will allow us to showcase our own talents, and you can even profess a desire to test your own skills. Tell him of how glorious it will be to kill Falling Rains allies, friends, and lover right in front of his eyes, before culminating in a grand duel to the death between the Emissary of Earths Fire and the Number One Talent of the Empire.
As they rode side by side, Mentor and Disciple shared their thoughts on how to best convince young Gen to take a different course of action. If Falling Rain survived the initial battle, then his protectors would no doubt bring him away, as losing their pawn would set the Imperial agenda back too far. Best if Rain disappeared before the battle was even fought, which was why Goujian left the Imperial scouts hed come across during his travels untouched. While giving a competent commander like Colonel Hongji so much time to prepare would cost them dearly, Goujian would much rather lose this entire army of Chosen and Defiled than see young Gen slain before his time.
All of this seemed a little extreme to avoid a single Falling Rain, which was how Goujian stumbled across a question he had yet to ask. While he had his reservations about young Gen facing Falling Rain in single combat, those were merely suspicions without confirmation, which begged the question: why were the Heavens so opposed to this duel of young talents? If he didnt know better, Goujian almost suspected the Heavens were afraid of Falling Rain, but that was an absurd notion.
...
Wasnt it?
Chapter Meme
Chapter 455Though travelling by Cloud-Stepping saved a great deal of time, Goujian only ever used it as an option of last resort. While others claimed they found the experience of running through the clouds exhilarating, he never found thrill in the proximity to death and kept a close eye on anyone who did. It was a fundamental requirement considering how his former line of work appealed to the darker elements of society. Though foolish and misguided, his efforts with his Adherents was never about torture and bloodshed, but safeguarding the people of the Empire from the Fathers Taint. The Purge was merely a tool, one used as sparingly as possible, which was why he invested so much effort into gathering intelligence before taking action. Despite his best efforts, the people only ever remembered the death and suffering, but the Purge was a consequence of his failures rather than his sole objective as so many seemed to believe.Fools and ingrates one and all. Goujian should have never bothered trying to safeguard them from the Truth, for Heaven demanded the best of all its creations, and the best could only be achieved through struggle and conflict. Trials and tribulations, an adage which still held true.Dismissing his errant thoughts to focus on his movements, he gathered Chi into his left foot and stomped down on the air. Stomach dropping as he sank towards the earth, the sensation lasted for all of an instant before his Chi solidified in the empty space beneath his foot, creating a platform in mid-air which he stepped on and used to vault forward through the clouds. Behind him, the Chi-forged rung crumbled apart beneath his weight and dissipated into nothingness, but a few seconds later as his descent accelerated downwards, he created another such rung beneath his right foot and continued his journey westward, one bounding step at a time. Soaring through the air as the world zipped by underfoot, he marvelled at how much easier he found this now that hed been Blessed by the Heavens and Enlightened to the Truth, able to carry out Lightening, Concealment, Cloud-Stepping, and the handful of other required Chi skills without too much thought. He only concentrated on each step out of ingrained habit, as a failed attempt could send him crashing to the ground in a humiliating debacle. Even if there was no one to witness it, knowing hed erred would be enough to put him in a foul mood for hours, not to mention how he could possibly have Concealed pursuers on his tail who would not miss the opportunity to strike at the much reviled Confessor.The odds his true identity had been uncovered were slim to none, but Goujian disliked leaving things to chance. In Sinuji, hed been nothing more than a common farrier and he made certain he was well away from the fort before taking to the skies. Sneaking away had been easy enough, he hadnt even needed to Conceal himself as he travelled east for a few hours before turning north, then back west to avoid detection from the Peak Experts gathered in and around Sinuji. No one bothered keeping track of the comings and goings of peasants, so it wouldnt surprise Goujian if his absence went unnoticed by everyone aside from his direct supervisor and perhaps an acquaintance or two.Foolish for the ruling elite to pay so little attention to commoners, as if they were somehow unable to see, hear, or speak about anything of importance, but it was an oversight Goujian had made use of many times in the past and would continue to do so in the future.After spending most of the night to get a mere twenty kilometres away from Sinuji, Goujian moved with all haste to find young Gen and advise him against this foolishness. The Uniter treated the boy like a pawn to be disposed of, but Goujian knew Gen would rise to heights never before seen, provided he was given enough time to reach them. Pitting him against Falling Rain at this juncture was too much of a risk, but alas, Goujians suggestions had fallen on deaf ears and his efforts to kill the Imperial puppet had all been met with failure. His frustrations were compounded by the failures of the Society and their allies to act against Falling Rain. Politicians first and warriors second, the leaders of the Society were too feeble and fearful to chop nails and sever iron. Making decisions via committee had to be the most incompetent and inefficient method of leadership hed ever borne witness to, and it was a miracle the Society had risen to the heights it had by doing so. They couldnt even agree to work together and remove a clear and prominent threat, so how theyd survived intact for so many centuries was a mystery beyond Goujians comprehension.It wasnt as if his was the only hand prodding them to action. His spies and allies both reported there was an unknown Imperial Scion influencing the Societys actions of late, driving them to kill Falling Rain to strike a blow at the Legate, but even this wasnt enough to get them working in unison. They spent precious days bickering about assurances and advantages, compensation and reimbursement, all while Falling Rain played the fool and young Gen drew ever closer. In the end, three Clan Patriarchs had been forced to travel to Sinuji, but even they couldnt spur the majority into action, and only ended up making things worse by firmly dividing the Society on the issue. Now, the dissenters had moved their camps to encircle Falling Rains, making any overt attempt to assassinate him all the more difficult.Had Goujian known hed be picking up a stone to smash his own foot, he wouldve left the Society well alone, or perhaps even assassinated the Patriarchs on their way to Sinuji and left evidence to incriminate the Bekhai.And as if the situation were not dire enough, now Mao Jianghong was refusing to dispatch more Wraiths to assist Goujian in his endeavours. The Uniters Divinity ally, a haggard mole-rat Ancestral Beast who refused to give a name, had refused to send more of her babies after the first wave died in Sinuji, and now Goujian had no Wraiths to work with either. Since his three Oath-Bound Adherents had been annexed by Chun Yimu Junior and ordered to guard Falling Rain, it was now impossible for Goujians remaining Adherents to get close to the boy even in disguise, which left him precious few options.Looking back at it now, Goujian felt he had been too concerned about hidden protectors and alerting the Imperial Clan of his presence. Instead, he should have gathered all his forces and struck at Falling Rain in strength. Even after so much probing, he still had yet to discern the depths of the boys protectors or his true strength, so perhaps it would have been better to roll the dice on a single strike and hope his forces could overwhelm Falling Rains protectors before they could save him. Alas, Goujian was never one to gamble and the chances of quietly assassinating the Imperial stooge was lost to him now. Though he did his best to conceal his true motives by sending attacks against other officers in Sinuji, he was also one to never underestimate his opponents. In all likelihood, the forces behind Rain were on their guard after so many attempts on his life and had likely sent for reinforcements, which meant the time for politics and hidden daggers was over and done with.Still, all was not lost, and though he worried young Gen would not accept this new course of action, Goujians tools of persuasion were not limited to the blade and hook alone...Offering a martial salute as he brought his mount in line, Goujian greeted young Gen with a smile. So good to see you here, young warrior. A fine army weve assembled here, one fit to run roughshod over the misguided fools of Sinuji and perhaps even raze the burgeoning citadels themselves.Though young Gen acted indifferent to the praise, Goujian could tell he was pleased. A fine army indeed, though it irks me Im not in command. He wants to speak with you when we make camp. Narrowing his eyes, he continued, But enough small talk. What news of Falling Rain? He still lives, yes?Pretending not to notice the nine Transcendents closing in around him, Goujian replied, He does. With no need to feign disappointment, he added, This old man failed to take the pretenders life.Good, Gen snarled, his teeth bared in a grin as he almost imperceptibly ordered the Transcendents to stand down. Had Goujian succeeded, it seemed young Gen had intended to vent his frustrations by killing the bearer of bad news. Not a man to stomach disappointment, yet another fact to keep in mind for the future. Falling Rain is mine to kill, and mine alone, Gen declared, sitting tall in his stylized, silver and green plate armour, a unique set which had been custom tailored for the radiant young hero. In a mere three days, I will ride at the head of the army as we come upon Sinuji, and then I shall challenge him to single combat. Let all in Sinuji bear witness to my might as I slaughter their Number One Talent with ease.If only things would be so simple, but the Will of Heavens warned Goujian of impending danger should Gen follow this course of action. Why the boy refused to heed Heavens guidance, Goujian couldnt say, but it seemed like the young warrior was too obsessed with Falling Rain to care. He had already tried telling young Gen of his suspicions, but alas, the boy was too headstrong to listen to wiser heads, which meant convincing him otherwise would require a more subtle approach. After a few minutes of banal conversation, Goujian bid the boy farewell and fell back to speak with Yuanyin and the army Commander, though who that might be, Goujian wasnt sure. Out loud, he spoke of happiness at their reunion and inquired about his disciples progress, but whenever he sensed the telltale signs of Sending, he transmitted his orders to Yuanyin. Drink and make merry with young Gen while plying him with tales of great heroes and overwhelming victories. At the same time, stress the importance of morale in battle and how great generals have used it in history. Tell him stories of the other young talents of Sinuji, of Situ Jia Zian, Han BoShui, Wu Gam, Quyen Dienne, and most importantly, Falling Rains lover and betrothed, Du Min Yan.Yuanyin nodded along, though Goujian saw the question in his eye and explained, Small steps to guide young Gen towards the proper decision. Convince him of the need to make Falling Rains death more dramatic, for the legendary duels in history heralded the end of a battle, not the beginning. Persuade him to let the army crush Sinuji first, to ravage their defences and trample over their hopes, then once they are at his mercy, he can offer them a chance at life by proposing a duel between young talents. It will allow us to showcase our own talents, and you can even profess a desire to test your own skills. Tell him of how glorious it will be to kill Falling Rains allies, friends, and lover right in front of his eyes, before culminating in a grand duel to the death between the Emissary of Earths Fire and the Number One Talent of the Empire.As they rode side by side, Mentor and Disciple shared their thoughts on how to best convince young Gen to take a different course of action. If Falling Rain survived the initial battle, then his protectors would no doubt bring him away, as losing their pawn would set the Imperial agenda back too far. Best if Rain disappeared before the battle was even fought, which was why Goujian left the Imperial scouts hed come across during his travels untouched. While giving a competent commander like Colonel Hongji so much time to prepare would cost them dearly, Goujian would much rather lose this entire army of Chosen and Defiled than see young Gen slain before his time.All of this seemed a little extreme to avoid a single Falling Rain, which was how Goujian stumbled across a question he had yet to ask. While he had his reservations about young Gen facing Falling Rain in single combat, those were merely suspicions without confirmation, which begged the question: why were the Heavens so opposed to this duel of young talents? If he didnt know better, Goujian almost suspected the Heavens were afraid of Falling Rain, but that was an absurd notion....Wasnt it?Chapter Meme
