Chapter 702
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Chapter 702
Roused by the piercing glare of the too-bright sun, Vithar kicked off the light silken sheets and rolled out of his too-soft bed with axe in hand, lamenting at how these southlander comforts were designed to breed weakness.
The sounds of battle and bloodshed did much to sharpen his mind and invigorate his spirits as he took stock of his surroundings, never taking his safety for granted not even in his private, guarded quarters, but hed slept so deeply in his warm and comfortable bedding that any fool could have bumbled into his oversized tent and Vithar would not have noticed until the knife was already at his throat. Relaxing as the soft bed might be, a hard floor and sturdy quilt was all a true Chieftain needed, and any more was simply inviting calamity. Better to sleep light so the mind would stay active and just warm enough to feel the nights chill, so that ones skin would feel the barest movement of cold air. Were it up to Vithar, he would do away with these foolish trappings and live like a true Chieftain, but Gongsun Qi said these luxuries were only befitting of this Princes Disciple and thus necessary for the sake of face.
A concept Vithar didnt understand no matter how many times the southlanders tried to explain, mostly because they themselves didnt seem to truly understand face either. There was no logical reasoning behind face, which was supposedly a measure of respect independent of strength and prosperity, yet was also somehow linked to them at the same time. Strength demanded one show face, but face itself must be maintained lest it be lost, which was possible even if ones strength remained the same. Southern weakness at work is what it was, their lands so plentiful and lives so easy that they had to invent new reasons to go to war with one another, as if the mere desire to do battle was not enough.
Since accepting Gongsun Qi as his Mentor, Vithar felt that his worthless lessons in face took up far too much of his precious time, but despite those wasted efforts, hed still progressed by leaps and bounds in every metric which mattered. The slender southerner was arrogant, but powerful and knowledgeable, and Vithar used the man even as he knew he himself was being used, though for what purposes, he could not say. Gongsun Qis motivations were a complete mystery to Vithar, but so long as the man didnt demand too much from the tribes, then there were more benefits to be gained than losses incurred, which was really all that mattered in the end.
One weakness Vithar wholly embraced was the concept of cooking, but such menial labour was beneath Gongsun Qis Disciple, so he could only rely on others to cook for him. This was one of the most valuable and most difficult lessons of all, to learn how to trust and rely on others to do what Vithar was accustomed to doing himself. Whether it be preparing his meals, repairing his armour, or even securing a place to sleep, it was crucial to delegate these vital tasks to others for the sake of personal growth. Back home in the frozen wastes, every minute of every hour was dedicated towards ensuring his own personal survival, a goal he could only rely on himself to accomplish. Even Asmani, fond of him as she was, would not sacrifice her own well-being to see him safe and fed, and might well have been the first to slit his throat if he should ever falter and show weakness, so Vithar had no choice but to remain vigilant and guarded at all times.
Here in the southlands however, they took their safety for granted, firmly believing in face, honour, laws, and other nonsensical, made-up concepts to keep their lives intact. Do not trust them without suspicion, Gongsun Qi had lectured. Trust them to act in their own self-interest. Which made sense, assuming one understood how a southerner might think, so while Vithar understood that the cook would be tortured and killed if he were to poison anyone eating his food, the only way to wholly ensure his food was safe for consumption was to force him to sample all of it. Only then did Vithar partake of his breakfast, a massive bowl of flavourful congee, four fried dough fritters each as large as his arm, a savoury rack of venison ribs, a plate of garlic stir-fried bok choi, and a pot of hot, fragrant tea. Delighting in each and every bite even as he pored over the morning reports, Vithar idly wondered how Asmani would react to such a meal, and wished she were here to share it with him.
Another concept he was unfamiliar with, this dining with comrades and companions. Back north, each tribesman ate alone so as not to reveal their hand, for much could be gleaned from knowing if a successful hunter was eating well in preparation for a challenge or saving it for harder times later down the line.Updated from novelbIn.(c)om
Those days were behind him now, behind all the tribes in fact, for there was plenty of food to be had here in the southlands. So much food that the southlanders could afford to give it all away, as they were doing so along the Western Wall so that their weak farmers could remain hidden behind their District walls at all times. Raiding was no longer as worthwhile as itd once been, with many a tribe returning with spare garos and empty saddlebags after clashing with the formidable Death Corps and Royal Guardians defending the Districts. A costly expense considering the farmers no longer worked their fields, weaklings whose only purpose in life was to provide for their betters yet unable to do even this. A waste is what it was, protecting these feeble cowards who were too dumb and deaf to heed their Ancestors and draw strength from their wisdom, but such were the southlander ways. Not only did they waste effort feeding and protecting their weak, they did so at the expense of their Warriors, a conflict Vithar only understood in passing because Gongsun Qi required him to possess passing knowledge of the enemys political situation, information he deemed entirely useless but reviewed nonetheless as he headed out to report for duty.
There were tensions between North, South, and Central, tensions which resulted from a new Chieftain of Chieftains rising up to seize control from the previous one. The southlanders called their Chieftain of Chieftains by many different names, the first being the Legate, and this new one the Commander General, but there was no real difference as far as Vithar could see. Before, the Legate commanded the spears of the Empire, and now, the Commander General was in charge, and regardless of who held power, none of the Imperial tribes were happy. That was how Vithar saw it, and trying to understand more only resulted in more questions, like why didnt anyone just kill the Legate or Commander General if they were displeased with his orders? This led to more useless lessons on the made up concepts of face, honour, and laws, so he soon stopped asking and simply accepted that all southlanders were mad.
Some of the information was useful however, like knowing the guarded Districts had lost the support of their Commander General. Shuai Jiao was displeased to have so many useful Warriors wasted on mere weaklings, but the Legates under-Chieftain, one Consort Zheng Luo, refused to obey any and all orders to station the Death Corps and Royal Guardians elsewhere. Utter foolishness on both sides, but more so on the Commander Generals part, for one should not give orders unless one meant to see them obeyed, and thus far, Consort Zheng Luo remained unharmed and her Warriors left in place. This weakened the Commander Generals authority, and were he a tribal Chieftain, he would have long since been challenged and killed, but the southlanders merely used his weakness as a reason to disobey with minimal consequence. Foolish to play these games of politics with hostile tribes upon their doorstep, but according to Gongsun Qi, politics ran deep in the blood of Central, a fact which made Vithar wary of consuming them.
What Vithar took away from this all was that the enemy was fractured and divided, with the Districts unwilling to support the Citadels and the Citadels unwilling to support the Districts, a flaw he and Gongsun Qi immediately exploited. Once they learned military intervention would be at a minimum, they increased border raids to target civilian convoys while leaving military ones untouched, though how Gongsun Qi differentiated between them was difficult for Vithar to say. Something about papers and permits and other such nonsense, but it was enough to know that the Commander General paid only minimal attention to attacks on civilian convoys, which were far less defended than military ones. For a time, Vithars tribesmen reaped plenty of rewards by going on these raids, until Consort Zheng Luo did something to hide her convoys from Gongsun Qis eyes. As far as Vithar understood it, they werent finding these convoys through the eyes of scouts, but spies passing along information regarding these targets so Vithars under-chieftains could target them. Whatever the means, it was lost to them now, and without knowing where and when their targets would appear, finding a worthwhile target to strike was a matter of luck and timing, but his riders had been returning empty-handed for an entire week now.
It was Vithars opinion that sending raiding parties so deep behind enemy lines was no longer worth the risk, especially after more than one party never returned to report. Others spoke of trapped convoys manned by Warriors masquerading as weaklings, supported by Concealed groups of Royal Guardians mounted atop their ferocious, black-maned lions. Vithar had seen their work firsthand in the battle of JiangHu and respected their strength, as any Chieftain who brought home a lions mane pelt had instantly become a Chieftain of note. There was also the possibility that some of Vithars raiders had simply thrown off the shackles of duty and obligation to strike deeper into the southlands on their own, which was more probable than having each and every rider captured or killed before they could make it back to safety. Whatever the reason for their disappearance, losing so many riders reflected poorly on Vithar and the under-Chieftains had taken notice. Much like how the Commander General had lost the confidence of his underlings by issuing orders which were not obeyed, Vithar would lose the confidence of his under-Chieftains if he sent too many of them to their deaths. Many were already unsatisfied serving under a Warrior weaker than themselves, but the Uniters support kept Vithars head intact, as did his willingness to speak plainly of his motives. Neither the Uniter nor the Commander General had their tribes best interests in mind, so Vithar was there to ensure their plans did not bring all their tribes to ruin. A simple enough explanation to accept, especially considering how many of them had died to make it even this far.
Best of all, each Chieftain was still the voice of their tribe, and Vithar merely the one who coordinated all their collective efforts and passed along the Uniters demands. In short, even though he had the lofty title of Chieftain of Chieftains, Vithar was seen as a mere mouthpiece, no different from that fool Gen. Grating as this might be, Vithar saw it as an opportunity to learn his rivals' weaknesses while affording himself time to grow and surpass them in personal strength. There would come a day when he became strong enough to seize the title of Prime Champion of the outer lands through his own merits, and by that time, the tribes will have grown accustomed to heeding his commands. Whats more, according to Gongsun Qi, having Vithar to relay orders made many of the under-chieftains more receptive to following through, since they saw him as one of their own, more so than any southlander at least. An unexpected benefit, but one Vithar understood more than most, for no true Chieftain would allow those under their command to shed blood without benefit, not like these southlanders who had tribesmen aplenty to waste.
To this effect, Vithar approached Gongsun Qis command tent with the aim of calling off the days raids, but the southlander General would not hear of it. Todays raids be more important than any which have come before, Gongsun Qi explained, his rugged features drawn in an expression of frustration as he pointed at his map. Look carefully and tell me what you see.
There was no need to look at the map, as Vithar had seen it briefly on his way in and knew where the riders were to be deployed. You intend to strike at the districts themselves, sending blooded tribesmen to work in concert and overrun the defenders. This serves no purpose.
So you say, but does this be true?
Gongsun Qis expression was unreadable, but Vithar knew this meant his answer bore more thought, so he turned to study the map in more detail. At first glance, his earlier answer appeared to be correct, but the longer he looked, the less sure he became. Your deployment is not optimal, he declared, the first time hed felt that Gongsun Qis plan was truly lacking. The numbers you have sent against each District are not enough to take them, not easily and without support, even for the blooded and true. If you mean to augment the attack with Chosen cavalry or Transcendents, then the military will not stand idly by, which would then trap my riders between the Citadel and the Districts, dooming them to inevitable death.
You be correct, Disciple, Gongsun Qi replied, nodding in approval. So then what do you think is my true intent?
That these movements are a falsehood. Pointing at three Districts in particular, Vithar added, And these be the true targets. The forces dispatched are more than enough to raze them and return safely.
Good, good. Beaming from ear to ear, Gongsun Qis pearly white teeth stood out against his rugged, sun-baked complexion. You arrived at the conclusion this Prince hoped you would, but your answer still be incorrect. Gesturing at the Districts outlined on the map, the smiling Warrior shook his head. The Districts are tempting targets indeed, and our foes will move to protect them, but we face an enemy divided. Shuai Jiao will undoubtedly divine our target, but lacks the reasoning why. The Legates Imperial Consort be a crafty woman, more cunning than most, and has concealed the delivery of many a convoy to these three target Districts. Their warehouses should now hold enough grain and meat to feed Centrals ailing farmers for weeks, which is why your riders have returned empty handed for so many days in a row.
They found no convoys because there were none to find, Vithar concluded, spitting to convey his displeasure. His tribesmen tracked false trails which lacked quarry to kill, cheated by Consort Zheng Luos duplicitous deceptions. In all likelihood, the convoys that had been raided were bait to draw the eye away, so that her fully-laden convoys could make it through unscathed.
I must speak with the Uniter, Monk Vyakhya began, his shaky tone clearly conveying his struggle to remain calm. He must be informed of what has happened, for a calamity awaits us all if not soon addressed.
Beside him, the metallic Transcendent stirred as its twisted expression took on a cast of even more despair and dejection, a feat Vithar had not thought possible until he saw it for himself. There were tears in Gens no, the Transcendents eyes, as if hed seen all the darkest horrors a mind could ever experience a thousand times over and somehow still retained his sanity despite opening his mouth wide to scream a keening wail of silent terror. There was too much life in his features to overlook with ease, too much similarity to the man he once was, and Vithar could not help but see the young, talented, arrogant boy standing before him rather than the vessel hed become.
As for the other Transcendent, he too retained many of Goujians features, but in a set of three that made him just inhuman enough to overlook. Following the metallic Transcendents failure to speak, the Sanguine Transcendent opened its mouths and spoke with three voices, none of which were similar or synced together. The Uniter, its voice impossibly deep to start with before transition into a high-pitched squeal to complete its delivery, Knows all.
Clearly taken aback by the Uniters ability to speak out loud using the Transcendents voice, the Wisdom took a moment to gather his thoughts, a moment in which Vithar was unable to tear his thoughts away from the shockingly human textures of the Transcendents mouth. The teeth, tongue, and even the lips looked no different than they had in life, a disturbing resemblance which made the Confessors fate seem all the more terrifying. There were some tribes which venerated their Transcendents and worshipped them like the Ancestors given flesh, but Vithars tribe saw them for the failed gambit that they were, a broken attempt at creation which bore no true life at all.
Clearly, the Wisdom shared Vithars aversion to the Transcendents, but the old monk was much stronger than he appeared. Collecting himself with a single breath, Vyakhya launched himself into a tale which Vithar could hardly follow, much less believe, one which began with a monk Ascending to Divinity and ended with the Devourer bending the Energy of the Heavens to his whims. An impossible feat as far as Vithar understood things, but judging by his frantic accounting of events, one the Wisdom wholeheartedly believed the Devourer had accomplished. Given time to learn and left unchecked, Vyakhya concluded, his eyes wide and cheeks scarlet, The Devourer will soon master his skills and wield the power of a True Divinity with none of the restrictions! Can you imagine what such a being could accomplish here in the mortal world? He could be rid of us all in a single thought, and this is the least of our worries. What if he seeks to do more than unmake us, but reshape us to his liking? We would not only be powerless to resist, but also unaware of the changes even as they take place.
Thankfully, the Uniter finally stepped in to silence the Wisdom, raising the Transcendents bloody hand to place a finger over Vyakhyas lips, the movement so fast Vithar didnt even see it stir. Calm yourself, the deep voice said, offset by two more voices in the background that twisted the sounds in unpleasant ways. Even if such a thing were possible, the secrets of Heaven are not so easily unlocked. The Devourer is formidable, but still no match for a failed Divinity, much less a true one. As he is, a Peak Expert could defeat him, given the right circumstances, hardly the calamity you so claim.
Yet here upon this battlefield sits everything he requires to hasten his progress towards the Dao, Monk Vyakhya retorted, losing even the illusion of calm and composure. Whats more, it took this monk three days to arrive here, even with the support of these two abominations beside me, and every minute was spent in fear that he was already too late. With both Rakshasa and Kukku at his beck and call, the boy could be here in a matter of hours, if not sooner, and who knows how far his insidious Talent will propel him along his Path.
There is nothing here for the Devourer to steal. Calm neutrality resonated from the Transcendents whispered voice, but again, the underlying tones from the other two mouths warped his inflection to one of dissonant discomfort. Not once this Sovereigns troops take the field.
What troops? Monk Vyakhyas retort was delivered with a sneer, one so full of fear and contempt it seemed like the old bag of bones had lost it. Your Transcendents? They are but lambs to the slaughter before the Devourer, or have you forgotten what he did in Sinuji?
Yes and no. Grinning in shockingly human-like glee, the Sanguine Transcendent opened its eyes and Vithar saw nothing human within those dark, emotionless orbs. Base Transcendents have no defence against them, but the Heavens are upon this Sovereigns side. Even before discovering the Devourers bothersome Talent, this Sovereigns preparations had already been made to counter it, a fortuitous twist of fate if there ever were one. Turning to Gongsun Qi, the Transcendent declared, Begin the attack. Show the Empire true despair and deliver unto them a devastating defeat, but leave one in ten alive to tell the tale.
By your command, Gongsun Qi replied, cupping his hands in a salute before marching out of the tent, and Vithar followed him out soon after. Barking out orders as he went, Gongsun Qi led them north until they were firmly outside of the encampment, with a clear field before them and the Citadel walls to the east. Here, Vithar had a perfect view of the rubble upon which once sat the outer walls, as well as the backs of the attacking Chosen and tribesmen further down attempting to take the secondary walls. Turning to Vithar, Gongsun Qi smiled his contrasting smile once more and said, Earlier, you asked what forces be encamped here, and now, this Prince shall show you.
And so, with a wave of his hand, the field shimmered and disappeared, hidden beneath the boots and bodies of thousands upon thousands of dark-armoured soldiers, ones who were clearly different from the Chosen.
No, not armoured soldiers, but Transcendents, or so Vithar would have said if not for the all-too-human eyes staring out from behind their helmets. Upon further inspection, he saw there were bits of identifiable flesh protruding from expected places, fingers poking out from under gauntlets or flesh revealed beneath cleverly attached plates. Their armour was identical to the armoured Transcendents the Uniter used to protect his underlings, the same ones that accompanied Gen everywhere until recently, but these ones were being worn by living, breathing humans, ones with features unfamiliar to Vithar.
No, not worn, for upon further inspection, he realized these humans were fused with their Trancendents, flesh and armour connected and intertwined until one could not see where flesh ended and metal began. Whats more, there were identifiable features about them, with half-bristleboars, half-mammoths, and other half-breeds aplenty, judging from the distinct hairstyles, tusks, antlers, and other bestial characteristics present amidst the armoured soldiers. Many others wore cloth armbands bearing the characters Ma-Ta-Ram upon their biceps, indicating they heralded from the clan of the same name, all of whom were gathered behind another figure whose back bore a banner with the Clan name and crest, a spear piercing the heavens embroidered in black and gold. However, there was one figure who stood out without even trying, radiating a powerful presence unlike anything Vithar had ever seen before, not even from Gongsun Qi or the metallic Transcendent of despair.
Amber eyes stared out from behind the Transcendent armour as he made his way over to them, eyes that almost glowed with power when they met Vithars gaze. Only for an instant, but in that instant, it felt as if all his weaknesses had been exposed and laid bare, subjecting him to death a thousand times in the blink of an eye without needing to move a single muscle. Even the Ancestors were unable to stand before his attentions, falling silent as they hid within Vithars mortal frame and emanated fear and loathing like never before. Then the amber-eyed Warriors gaze moved on, leaving Vithar in a cold sweat while acknowledging Gongsun Qi with the slightest of nods and the barest show of respect. Contrary to his prideful nature, Gongsun Qi merely nodded in response, even inclining his back ever so slightly in an almost involuntary bow. The time be nigh, he said, lacking his customary airs and pretension. The targets are worn and spent, so their death is all but certain, but it would be best if we joined hands together to kill them.
Very well. The amber-eyed Warriors raspy voice was seldom used, as evidenced by how he turned towards his banner-bearing Mataram comrade. Come, Mataram Clan Patriarch, he said, and then without further preamble, they were off, Cloud-Stepping towards the Citadel to slaughter all in their path. Not just Amber Eyes and the Mataram Patriarch, but every single one of the thousands of armoured Warriors around them, each one darting off into the distance faster than Vithar could follow. Gongsun Qi left with them as well, leaving Vithar with a Sending to remind him of his duties, duties which seemed utterly frivolous considering the overwhelming strength those Transcendent Warriors just displayed.
No... one could not grow complacent just because victory seemed at hand, for nothing was certain until all your foes lay dead on the ground before you. There must be good reason for Gongsun Qis caution, else he would have long since revealed these Transcendent troops and overrun the Citadel in the first day. With this in mind, Vithar hurried away to do his part and command his army, his heart unsettled and mind a flutter. Perhaps it was the despairing presence of the Metallic Transcendent, or the unsettling timbre of the Sanguine Transcendents voice, or perhaps it was the Wisdoms tale of Falling Rains prowess or the unsettling effect the half-Transcendent Warriors had upon the Ancestors, but whatever the reason, Vithar was less confident of victory than he should be, and so he would do everything in his power to stave off defeat.
For he would not have the heavy burden of defeat foisted upon his shoulders if the worst should come to pass. No, that burden would rest firmly with another, or Vithar might as well take his own life here and now.
Surrender, the Ancestors whispered, And you need not fear anything ever again.
Similar offers had been made many a time before, lies one and all, but for the first time in living memory, Vithar was sorely tempted to accept.
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Chapter 702
Roused by the piercing glare of the too-bright sun, Vithar kicked off the light silken sheets and rolled out of his too-soft bed with axe in hand, lamenting at how these southlander comforts were designed to breed weakness.
The sounds of battle and bloodshed did much to sharpen his mind and invigorate his spirits as he took stock of his surroundings, never taking his safety for granted not even in his private, guarded quarters, but hed slept so deeply in his warm and comfortable bedding that any fool could have bumbled into his oversized tent and Vithar would not have noticed until the knife was already at his throat. Relaxing as the soft bed might be, a hard floor and sturdy quilt was all a true Chieftain needed, and any more was simply inviting calamity. Better to sleep light so the mind would stay active and just warm enough to feel the nights chill, so that ones skin would feel the barest movement of cold air. Were it up to Vithar, he would do away with these foolish trappings and live like a true Chieftain, but Gongsun Qi said these luxuries were only befitting of this Princes Disciple and thus necessary for the sake of face.
A concept Vithar didnt understand no matter how many times the southlanders tried to explain, mostly because they themselves didnt seem to truly understand face either. There was no logical reasoning behind face, which was supposedly a measure of respect independent of strength and prosperity, yet was also somehow linked to them at the same time. Strength demanded one show face, but face itself must be maintained lest it be lost, which was possible even if ones strength remained the same. Southern weakness at work is what it was, their lands so plentiful and lives so easy that they had to invent new reasons to go to war with one another, as if the mere desire to do battle was not enough.
Since accepting Gongsun Qi as his Mentor, Vithar felt that his worthless lessons in face took up far too much of his precious time, but despite those wasted efforts, hed still progressed by leaps and bounds in every metric which mattered. The slender southerner was arrogant, but powerful and knowledgeable, and Vithar used the man even as he knew he himself was being used, though for what purposes, he could not say. Gongsun Qis motivations were a complete mystery to Vithar, but so long as the man didnt demand too much from the tribes, then there were more benefits to be gained than losses incurred, which was really all that mattered in the end.
One weakness Vithar wholly embraced was the concept of cooking, but such menial labour was beneath Gongsun Qis Disciple, so he could only rely on others to cook for him. This was one of the most valuable and most difficult lessons of all, to learn how to trust and rely on others to do what Vithar was accustomed to doing himself. Whether it be preparing his meals, repairing his armour, or even securing a place to sleep, it was crucial to delegate these vital tasks to others for the sake of personal growth. Back home in the frozen wastes, every minute of every hour was dedicated towards ensuring his own personal survival, a goal he could only rely on himself to accomplish. Even Asmani, fond of him as she was, would not sacrifice her own well-being to see him safe and fed, and might well have been the first to slit his throat if he should ever falter and show weakness, so Vithar had no choice but to remain vigilant and guarded at all times.
Here in the southlands however, they took their safety for granted, firmly believing in face, honour, laws, and other nonsensical, made-up concepts to keep their lives intact. Do not trust them without suspicion, Gongsun Qi had lectured. Trust them to act in their own self-interest. Which made sense, assuming one understood how a southerner might think, so while Vithar understood that the cook would be tortured and killed if he were to poison anyone eating his food, the only way to wholly ensure his food was safe for consumption was to force him to sample all of it. Only then did Vithar partake of his breakfast, a massive bowl of flavourful congee, four fried dough fritters each as large as his arm, a savoury rack of venison ribs, a plate of garlic stir-fried bok choi, and a pot of hot, fragrant tea. Delighting in each and every bite even as he pored over the morning reports, Vithar idly wondered how Asmani would react to such a meal, and wished she were here to share it with him.
Another concept he was unfamiliar with, this dining with comrades and companions. Back north, each tribesman ate alone so as not to reveal their hand, for much could be gleaned from knowing if a successful hunter was eating well in preparation for a challenge or saving it for harder times later down the line.Updated from novelbIn.(c)om
Those days were behind him now, behind all the tribes in fact, for there was plenty of food to be had here in the southlands. So much food that the southlanders could afford to give it all away, as they were doing so along the Western Wall so that their weak farmers could remain hidden behind their District walls at all times. Raiding was no longer as worthwhile as itd once been, with many a tribe returning with spare garos and empty saddlebags after clashing with the formidable Death Corps and Royal Guardians defending the Districts. A costly expense considering the farmers no longer worked their fields, weaklings whose only purpose in life was to provide for their betters yet unable to do even this. A waste is what it was, protecting these feeble cowards who were too dumb and deaf to heed their Ancestors and draw strength from their wisdom, but such were the southlander ways. Not only did they waste effort feeding and protecting their weak, they did so at the expense of their Warriors, a conflict Vithar only understood in passing because Gongsun Qi required him to possess passing knowledge of the enemys political situation, information he deemed entirely useless but reviewed nonetheless as he headed out to report for duty.
There were tensions between North, South, and Central, tensions which resulted from a new Chieftain of Chieftains rising up to seize control from the previous one. The southlanders called their Chieftain of Chieftains by many different names, the first being the Legate, and this new one the Commander General, but there was no real difference as far as Vithar could see. Before, the Legate commanded the spears of the Empire, and now, the Commander General was in charge, and regardless of who held power, none of the Imperial tribes were happy. That was how Vithar saw it, and trying to understand more only resulted in more questions, like why didnt anyone just kill the Legate or Commander General if they were displeased with his orders? This led to more useless lessons on the made up concepts of face, honour, and laws, so he soon stopped asking and simply accepted that all southlanders were mad.
Some of the information was useful however, like knowing the guarded Districts had lost the support of their Commander General. Shuai Jiao was displeased to have so many useful Warriors wasted on mere weaklings, but the Legates under-Chieftain, one Consort Zheng Luo, refused to obey any and all orders to station the Death Corps and Royal Guardians elsewhere. Utter foolishness on both sides, but more so on the Commander Generals part, for one should not give orders unless one meant to see them obeyed, and thus far, Consort Zheng Luo remained unharmed and her Warriors left in place. This weakened the Commander Generals authority, and were he a tribal Chieftain, he would have long since been challenged and killed, but the southlanders merely used his weakness as a reason to disobey with minimal consequence. Foolish to play these games of politics with hostile tribes upon their doorstep, but according to Gongsun Qi, politics ran deep in the blood of Central, a fact which made Vithar wary of consuming them.
What Vithar took away from this all was that the enemy was fractured and divided, with the Districts unwilling to support the Citadels and the Citadels unwilling to support the Districts, a flaw he and Gongsun Qi immediately exploited. Once they learned military intervention would be at a minimum, they increased border raids to target civilian convoys while leaving military ones untouched, though how Gongsun Qi differentiated between them was difficult for Vithar to say. Something about papers and permits and other such nonsense, but it was enough to know that the Commander General paid only minimal attention to attacks on civilian convoys, which were far less defended than military ones. For a time, Vithars tribesmen reaped plenty of rewards by going on these raids, until Consort Zheng Luo did something to hide her convoys from Gongsun Qis eyes. As far as Vithar understood it, they werent finding these convoys through the eyes of scouts, but spies passing along information regarding these targets so Vithars under-chieftains could target them. Whatever the means, it was lost to them now, and without knowing where and when their targets would appear, finding a worthwhile target to strike was a matter of luck and timing, but his riders had been returning empty-handed for an entire week now.
It was Vithars opinion that sending raiding parties so deep behind enemy lines was no longer worth the risk, especially after more than one party never returned to report. Others spoke of trapped convoys manned by Warriors masquerading as weaklings, supported by Concealed groups of Royal Guardians mounted atop their ferocious, black-maned lions. Vithar had seen their work firsthand in the battle of JiangHu and respected their strength, as any Chieftain who brought home a lions mane pelt had instantly become a Chieftain of note. There was also the possibility that some of Vithars raiders had simply thrown off the shackles of duty and obligation to strike deeper into the southlands on their own, which was more probable than having each and every rider captured or killed before they could make it back to safety. Whatever the reason for their disappearance, losing so many riders reflected poorly on Vithar and the under-Chieftains had taken notice. Much like how the Commander General had lost the confidence of his underlings by issuing orders which were not obeyed, Vithar would lose the confidence of his under-Chieftains if he sent too many of them to their deaths. Many were already unsatisfied serving under a Warrior weaker than themselves, but the Uniters support kept Vithars head intact, as did his willingness to speak plainly of his motives. Neither the Uniter nor the Commander General had their tribes best interests in mind, so Vithar was there to ensure their plans did not bring all their tribes to ruin. A simple enough explanation to accept, especially considering how many of them had died to make it even this far.
Best of all, each Chieftain was still the voice of their tribe, and Vithar merely the one who coordinated all their collective efforts and passed along the Uniters demands. In short, even though he had the lofty title of Chieftain of Chieftains, Vithar was seen as a mere mouthpiece, no different from that fool Gen. Grating as this might be, Vithar saw it as an opportunity to learn his rivals' weaknesses while affording himself time to grow and surpass them in personal strength. There would come a day when he became strong enough to seize the title of Prime Champion of the outer lands through his own merits, and by that time, the tribes will have grown accustomed to heeding his commands. Whats more, according to Gongsun Qi, having Vithar to relay orders made many of the under-chieftains more receptive to following through, since they saw him as one of their own, more so than any southlander at least. An unexpected benefit, but one Vithar understood more than most, for no true Chieftain would allow those under their command to shed blood without benefit, not like these southlanders who had tribesmen aplenty to waste.
To this effect, Vithar approached Gongsun Qis command tent with the aim of calling off the days raids, but the southlander General would not hear of it. Todays raids be more important than any which have come before, Gongsun Qi explained, his rugged features drawn in an expression of frustration as he pointed at his map. Look carefully and tell me what you see.
There was no need to look at the map, as Vithar had seen it briefly on his way in and knew where the riders were to be deployed. You intend to strike at the districts themselves, sending blooded tribesmen to work in concert and overrun the defenders. This serves no purpose.
So you say, but does this be true?
Gongsun Qis expression was unreadable, but Vithar knew this meant his answer bore more thought, so he turned to study the map in more detail. At first glance, his earlier answer appeared to be correct, but the longer he looked, the less sure he became. Your deployment is not optimal, he declared, the first time hed felt that Gongsun Qis plan was truly lacking. The numbers you have sent against each District are not enough to take them, not easily and without support, even for the blooded and true. If you mean to augment the attack with Chosen cavalry or Transcendents, then the military will not stand idly by, which would then trap my riders between the Citadel and the Districts, dooming them to inevitable death.
You be correct, Disciple, Gongsun Qi replied, nodding in approval. So then what do you think is my true intent?
That these movements are a falsehood. Pointing at three Districts in particular, Vithar added, And these be the true targets. The forces dispatched are more than enough to raze them and return safely.
Good, good. Beaming from ear to ear, Gongsun Qis pearly white teeth stood out against his rugged, sun-baked complexion. You arrived at the conclusion this Prince hoped you would, but your answer still be incorrect. Gesturing at the Districts outlined on the map, the smiling Warrior shook his head. The Districts are tempting targets indeed, and our foes will move to protect them, but we face an enemy divided. Shuai Jiao will undoubtedly divine our target, but lacks the reasoning why. The Legates Imperial Consort be a crafty woman, more cunning than most, and has concealed the delivery of many a convoy to these three target Districts. Their warehouses should now hold enough grain and meat to feed Centrals ailing farmers for weeks, which is why your riders have returned empty handed for so many days in a row.
They found no convoys because there were none to find, Vithar concluded, spitting to convey his displeasure. His tribesmen tracked false trails which lacked quarry to kill, cheated by Consort Zheng Luos duplicitous deceptions. In all likelihood, the convoys that had been raided were bait to draw the eye away, so that her fully-laden convoys could make it through unscathed.
I must speak with the Uniter, Monk Vyakhya began, his shaky tone clearly conveying his struggle to remain calm. He must be informed of what has happened, for a calamity awaits us all if not soon addressed.
Beside him, the metallic Transcendent stirred as its twisted expression took on a cast of even more despair and dejection, a feat Vithar had not thought possible until he saw it for himself. There were tears in Gens no, the Transcendents eyes, as if hed seen all the darkest horrors a mind could ever experience a thousand times over and somehow still retained his sanity despite opening his mouth wide to scream a keening wail of silent terror. There was too much life in his features to overlook with ease, too much similarity to the man he once was, and Vithar could not help but see the young, talented, arrogant boy standing before him rather than the vessel hed become.
As for the other Transcendent, he too retained many of Goujians features, but in a set of three that made him just inhuman enough to overlook. Following the metallic Transcendents failure to speak, the Sanguine Transcendent opened its mouths and spoke with three voices, none of which were similar or synced together. The Uniter, its voice impossibly deep to start with before transition into a high-pitched squeal to complete its delivery, Knows all.
Clearly taken aback by the Uniters ability to speak out loud using the Transcendents voice, the Wisdom took a moment to gather his thoughts, a moment in which Vithar was unable to tear his thoughts away from the shockingly human textures of the Transcendents mouth. The teeth, tongue, and even the lips looked no different than they had in life, a disturbing resemblance which made the Confessors fate seem all the more terrifying. There were some tribes which venerated their Transcendents and worshipped them like the Ancestors given flesh, but Vithars tribe saw them for the failed gambit that they were, a broken attempt at creation which bore no true life at all.
Clearly, the Wisdom shared Vithars aversion to the Transcendents, but the old monk was much stronger than he appeared. Collecting himself with a single breath, Vyakhya launched himself into a tale which Vithar could hardly follow, much less believe, one which began with a monk Ascending to Divinity and ended with the Devourer bending the Energy of the Heavens to his whims. An impossible feat as far as Vithar understood things, but judging by his frantic accounting of events, one the Wisdom wholeheartedly believed the Devourer had accomplished. Given time to learn and left unchecked, Vyakhya concluded, his eyes wide and cheeks scarlet, The Devourer will soon master his skills and wield the power of a True Divinity with none of the restrictions! Can you imagine what such a being could accomplish here in the mortal world? He could be rid of us all in a single thought, and this is the least of our worries. What if he seeks to do more than unmake us, but reshape us to his liking? We would not only be powerless to resist, but also unaware of the changes even as they take place.
Thankfully, the Uniter finally stepped in to silence the Wisdom, raising the Transcendents bloody hand to place a finger over Vyakhyas lips, the movement so fast Vithar didnt even see it stir. Calm yourself, the deep voice said, offset by two more voices in the background that twisted the sounds in unpleasant ways. Even if such a thing were possible, the secrets of Heaven are not so easily unlocked. The Devourer is formidable, but still no match for a failed Divinity, much less a true one. As he is, a Peak Expert could defeat him, given the right circumstances, hardly the calamity you so claim.
Yet here upon this battlefield sits everything he requires to hasten his progress towards the Dao, Monk Vyakhya retorted, losing even the illusion of calm and composure. Whats more, it took this monk three days to arrive here, even with the support of these two abominations beside me, and every minute was spent in fear that he was already too late. With both Rakshasa and Kukku at his beck and call, the boy could be here in a matter of hours, if not sooner, and who knows how far his insidious Talent will propel him along his Path.
There is nothing here for the Devourer to steal. Calm neutrality resonated from the Transcendents whispered voice, but again, the underlying tones from the other two mouths warped his inflection to one of dissonant discomfort. Not once this Sovereigns troops take the field.
What troops? Monk Vyakhyas retort was delivered with a sneer, one so full of fear and contempt it seemed like the old bag of bones had lost it. Your Transcendents? They are but lambs to the slaughter before the Devourer, or have you forgotten what he did in Sinuji?
Yes and no. Grinning in shockingly human-like glee, the Sanguine Transcendent opened its eyes and Vithar saw nothing human within those dark, emotionless orbs. Base Transcendents have no defence against them, but the Heavens are upon this Sovereigns side. Even before discovering the Devourers bothersome Talent, this Sovereigns preparations had already been made to counter it, a fortuitous twist of fate if there ever were one. Turning to Gongsun Qi, the Transcendent declared, Begin the attack. Show the Empire true despair and deliver unto them a devastating defeat, but leave one in ten alive to tell the tale.
By your command, Gongsun Qi replied, cupping his hands in a salute before marching out of the tent, and Vithar followed him out soon after. Barking out orders as he went, Gongsun Qi led them north until they were firmly outside of the encampment, with a clear field before them and the Citadel walls to the east. Here, Vithar had a perfect view of the rubble upon which once sat the outer walls, as well as the backs of the attacking Chosen and tribesmen further down attempting to take the secondary walls. Turning to Vithar, Gongsun Qi smiled his contrasting smile once more and said, Earlier, you asked what forces be encamped here, and now, this Prince shall show you.
And so, with a wave of his hand, the field shimmered and disappeared, hidden beneath the boots and bodies of thousands upon thousands of dark-armoured soldiers, ones who were clearly different from the Chosen.
No, not armoured soldiers, but Transcendents, or so Vithar would have said if not for the all-too-human eyes staring out from behind their helmets. Upon further inspection, he saw there were bits of identifiable flesh protruding from expected places, fingers poking out from under gauntlets or flesh revealed beneath cleverly attached plates. Their armour was identical to the armoured Transcendents the Uniter used to protect his underlings, the same ones that accompanied Gen everywhere until recently, but these ones were being worn by living, breathing humans, ones with features unfamiliar to Vithar.
No, not worn, for upon further inspection, he realized these humans were fused with their Trancendents, flesh and armour connected and intertwined until one could not see where flesh ended and metal began. Whats more, there were identifiable features about them, with half-bristleboars, half-mammoths, and other half-breeds aplenty, judging from the distinct hairstyles, tusks, antlers, and other bestial characteristics present amidst the armoured soldiers. Many others wore cloth armbands bearing the characters Ma-Ta-Ram upon their biceps, indicating they heralded from the clan of the same name, all of whom were gathered behind another figure whose back bore a banner with the Clan name and crest, a spear piercing the heavens embroidered in black and gold. However, there was one figure who stood out without even trying, radiating a powerful presence unlike anything Vithar had ever seen before, not even from Gongsun Qi or the metallic Transcendent of despair.
Amber eyes stared out from behind the Transcendent armour as he made his way over to them, eyes that almost glowed with power when they met Vithars gaze. Only for an instant, but in that instant, it felt as if all his weaknesses had been exposed and laid bare, subjecting him to death a thousand times in the blink of an eye without needing to move a single muscle. Even the Ancestors were unable to stand before his attentions, falling silent as they hid within Vithars mortal frame and emanated fear and loathing like never before. Then the amber-eyed Warriors gaze moved on, leaving Vithar in a cold sweat while acknowledging Gongsun Qi with the slightest of nods and the barest show of respect. Contrary to his prideful nature, Gongsun Qi merely nodded in response, even inclining his back ever so slightly in an almost involuntary bow. The time be nigh, he said, lacking his customary airs and pretension. The targets are worn and spent, so their death is all but certain, but it would be best if we joined hands together to kill them.
Very well. The amber-eyed Warriors raspy voice was seldom used, as evidenced by how he turned towards his banner-bearing Mataram comrade. Come, Mataram Clan Patriarch, he said, and then without further preamble, they were off, Cloud-Stepping towards the Citadel to slaughter all in their path. Not just Amber Eyes and the Mataram Patriarch, but every single one of the thousands of armoured Warriors around them, each one darting off into the distance faster than Vithar could follow. Gongsun Qi left with them as well, leaving Vithar with a Sending to remind him of his duties, duties which seemed utterly frivolous considering the overwhelming strength those Transcendent Warriors just displayed.
No... one could not grow complacent just because victory seemed at hand, for nothing was certain until all your foes lay dead on the ground before you. There must be good reason for Gongsun Qis caution, else he would have long since revealed these Transcendent troops and overrun the Citadel in the first day. With this in mind, Vithar hurried away to do his part and command his army, his heart unsettled and mind a flutter. Perhaps it was the despairing presence of the Metallic Transcendent, or the unsettling timbre of the Sanguine Transcendents voice, or perhaps it was the Wisdoms tale of Falling Rains prowess or the unsettling effect the half-Transcendent Warriors had upon the Ancestors, but whatever the reason, Vithar was less confident of victory than he should be, and so he would do everything in his power to stave off defeat.
For he would not have the heavy burden of defeat foisted upon his shoulders if the worst should come to pass. No, that burden would rest firmly with another, or Vithar might as well take his own life here and now.
Surrender, the Ancestors whispered, And you need not fear anything ever again.
Similar offers had been made many a time before, lies one and all, but for the first time in living memory, Vithar was sorely tempted to accept.
Chapter Meme
Chapter 702Roused by the piercing glare of the too-bright sun, Vithar kicked off the light silken sheets and rolled out of his too-soft bed with axe in hand, lamenting at how these southlander comforts were designed to breed weakness.The sounds of battle and bloodshed did much to sharpen his mind and invigorate his spirits as he took stock of his surroundings, never taking his safety for granted not even in his private, guarded quarters, but hed slept so deeply in his warm and comfortable bedding that any fool could have bumbled into his oversized tent and Vithar would not have noticed until the knife was already at his throat. Relaxing as the soft bed might be, a hard floor and sturdy quilt was all a true Chieftain needed, and any more was simply inviting calamity. Better to sleep light so the mind would stay active and just warm enough to feel the nights chill, so that ones skin would feel the barest movement of cold air. Were it up to Vithar, he would do away with these foolish trappings and live like a true Chieftain, but Gongsun Qi said these luxuries were only befitting of this Princes Disciple and thus necessary for the sake of face.A concept Vithar didnt understand no matter how many times the southlanders tried to explain, mostly because they themselves didnt seem to truly understand face either. There was no logical reasoning behind face, which was supposedly a measure of respect independent of strength and prosperity, yet was also somehow linked to them at the same time. Strength demanded one show face, but face itself must be maintained lest it be lost, which was possible even if ones strength remained the same. Southern weakness at work is what it was, their lands so plentiful and lives so easy that they had to invent new reasons to go to war with one another, as if the mere desire to do battle was not enough.Since accepting Gongsun Qi as his Mentor, Vithar felt that his worthless lessons in face took up far too much of his precious time, but despite those wasted efforts, hed still progressed by leaps and bounds in every metric which mattered. The slender southerner was arrogant, but powerful and knowledgeable, and Vithar used the man even as he knew he himself was being used, though for what purposes, he could not say. Gongsun Qis motivations were a complete mystery to Vithar, but so long as the man didnt demand too much from the tribes, then there were more benefits to be gained than losses incurred, which was really all that mattered in the end.One weakness Vithar wholly embraced was the concept of cooking, but such menial labour was beneath Gongsun Qis Disciple, so he could only rely on others to cook for him. This was one of the most valuable and most difficult lessons of all, to learn how to trust and rely on others to do what Vithar was accustomed to doing himself. Whether it be preparing his meals, repairing his armour, or even securing a place to sleep, it was crucial to delegate these vital tasks to others for the sake of personal growth. Back home in the frozen wastes, every minute of every hour was dedicated towards ensuring his own personal survival, a goal he could only rely on himself to accomplish. Even Asmani, fond of him as she was, would not sacrifice her own well-being to see him safe and fed, and might well have been the first to slit his throat if he should ever falter and show weakness, so Vithar had no choice but to remain vigilant and guarded at all times.Here in the southlands however, they took their safety for granted, firmly believing in face, honour, laws, and other nonsensical, made-up concepts to keep their lives intact. Do not trust them without suspicion, Gongsun Qi had lectured. Trust them to act in their own self-interest. Which made sense, assuming one understood how a southerner might think, so while Vithar understood that the cook would be tortured and killed if he were to poison anyone eating his food, the only way to wholly ensure his food was safe for consumption was to force him to sample all of it. Only then did Vithar partake of his breakfast, a massive bowl of flavourful congee, four fried dough fritters each as large as his arm, a savoury rack of venison ribs, a plate of garlic stir-fried bok choi, and a pot of hot, fragrant tea. Delighting in each and every bite even as he pored over the morning reports, Vithar idly wondered how Asmani would react to such a meal, and wished she were here to share it with him.Another concept he was unfamiliar with, this dining with comrades and companions. Back north, each tribesman ate alone so as not to reveal their hand, for much could be gleaned from knowing if a successful hunter was eating well in preparation for a challenge or saving it for harder times later down the line.Updated from novelbIn.comThose days were behind him now, behind all the tribes in fact, for there was plenty of food to be had here in the southlands. So much food that the southlanders could afford to give it all away, as they were doing so along the Western Wall so that their weak farmers could remain hidden behind their District walls at all times. Raiding was no longer as worthwhile as itd once been, with many a tribe returning with spare garos and empty saddlebags after clashing with the formidable Death Corps and Royal Guardians defending the Districts. A costly expense considering the farmers no longer worked their fields, weaklings whose only purpose in life was to provide for their betters yet unable to do even this. A waste is what it was, protecting these feeble cowards who were too dumb and deaf to heed their Ancestors and draw strength from their wisdom, but such were the southlander ways. Not only did they waste effort feeding and protecting their weak, they did so at the expense of their Warriors, a conflict Vithar only understood in passing because Gongsun Qi required him to possess passing knowledge of the enemys political situation, information he deemed entirely useless but reviewed nonetheless as he headed out to report for duty.There were tensions between North, South, and Central, tensions which resulted from a new Chieftain of Chieftains rising up to seize control from the previous one. The southlanders called their Chieftain of Chieftains by many different names, the first being the Legate, and this new one the Commander General, but there was no real difference as far as Vithar could see. Before, the Legate commanded the spears of the Empire, and now, the Commander General was in charge, and regardless of who held power, none of the Imperial tribes were happy. That was how Vithar saw it, and trying to understand more only resulted in more questions, like why didnt anyone just kill the Legate or Commander General if they were displeased with his orders? This led to more useless lessons on the made up concepts of face, honour, and laws, so he soon stopped asking and simply accepted that all southlanders were mad.Some of the information was useful however, like knowing the guarded Districts had lost the support of their Commander General. Shuai Jiao was displeased to have so many useful Warriors wasted on mere weaklings, but the Legates under-Chieftain, one Consort Zheng Luo, refused to obey any and all orders to station the Death Corps and Royal Guardians elsewhere. Utter foolishness on both sides, but more so on the Commander Generals part, for one should not give orders unless one meant to see them obeyed, and thus far, Consort Zheng Luo remained unharmed and her Warriors left in place. This weakened the Commander Generals authority, and were he a tribal Chieftain, he would have long since been challenged and killed, but the southlanders merely used his weakness as a reason to disobey with minimal consequence. Foolish to play these games of politics with hostile tribes upon their doorstep, but according to Gongsun Qi, politics ran deep in the blood of Central, a fact which made Vithar wary of consuming them.What Vithar took away from this all was that the enemy was fractured and divided, with the Districts unwilling to support the Citadels and the Citadels unwilling to support the Districts, a flaw he and Gongsun Qi immediately exploited. Once they learned military intervention would be at a minimum, they increased border raids to target civilian convoys while leaving military ones untouched, though how Gongsun Qi differentiated between them was difficult for Vithar to say. Something about papers and permits and other such nonsense, but it was enough to know that the Commander General paid only minimal attention to attacks on civilian convoys, which were far less defended than military ones. For a time, Vithars tribesmen reaped plenty of rewards by going on these raids, until Consort Zheng Luo did something to hide her convoys from Gongsun Qis eyes. As far as Vithar understood it, they werent finding these convoys through the eyes of scouts, but spies passing along information regarding these targets so Vithars under-chieftains could target them. Whatever the means, it was lost to them now, and without knowing where and when their targets would appear, finding a worthwhile target to strike was a matter of luck and timing, but his riders had been returning empty-handed for an entire week now.It was Vithars opinion that sending raiding parties so deep behind enemy lines was no longer worth the risk, especially after more than one party never returned to report. Others spoke of trapped convoys manned by Warriors masquerading as weaklings, supported by Concealed groups of Royal Guardians mounted atop their ferocious, black-maned lions. Vithar had seen their work firsthand in the battle of JiangHu and respected their strength, as any Chieftain who brought home a lions mane pelt had instantly become a Chieftain of note. There was also the possibility that some of Vithars raiders had simply thrown off the shackles of duty and obligation to strike deeper into the southlands on their own, which was more probable than having each and every rider captured or killed before they could make it back to safety. Whatever the reason for their disappearance, losing so many riders reflected poorly on Vithar and the under-Chieftains had taken notice. Much like how the Commander General had lost the confidence of his underlings by issuing orders which were not obeyed, Vithar would lose the confidence of his under-Chieftains if he sent too many of them to their deaths. Many were already unsatisfied serving under a Warrior weaker than themselves, but the Uniters support kept Vithars head intact, as did his willingness to speak plainly of his motives. Neither the Uniter nor the Commander General had their tribes best interests in mind, so Vithar was there to ensure their plans did not bring all their tribes to ruin. A simple enough explanation to accept, especially considering how many of them had died to make it even this far.Best of all, each Chieftain was still the voice of their tribe, and Vithar merely the one who coordinated all their collective efforts and passed along the Uniters demands. In short, even though he had the lofty title of Chieftain of Chieftains, Vithar was seen as a mere mouthpiece, no different from that fool Gen. Grating as this might be, Vithar saw it as an opportunity to learn his rivals' weaknesses while affording himself time to grow and surpass them in personal strength. There would come a day when he became strong enough to seize the title of Prime Champion of the outer lands through his own merits, and by that time, the tribes will have grown accustomed to heeding his commands. Whats more, according to Gongsun Qi, having Vithar to relay orders made many of the under-chieftains more receptive to following through, since they saw him as one of their own, more so than any southlander at least. An unexpected benefit, but one Vithar understood more than most, for no true Chieftain would allow those under their command to shed blood without benefit, not like these southlanders who had tribesmen aplenty to waste.To this effect, Vithar approached Gongsun Qis command tent with the aim of calling off the days raids, but the southlander General would not hear of it. Todays raids be more important than any which have come before, Gongsun Qi explained, his rugged features drawn in an expression of frustration as he pointed at his map. Look carefully and tell me what you see.There was no need to look at the map, as Vithar had seen it briefly on his way in and knew where the riders were to be deployed. You intend to strike at the districts themselves, sending blooded tribesmen to work in concert and overrun the defenders. This serves no purpose.So you say, but does this be true?Gongsun Qis expression was unreadable, but Vithar knew this meant his answer bore more thought, so he turned to study the map in more detail. At first glance, his earlier answer appeared to be correct, but the longer he looked, the less sure he became. Your deployment is not optimal, he declared, the first time hed felt that Gongsun Qis plan was truly lacking. The numbers you have sent against each District are not enough to take them, not easily and without support, even for the blooded and true. If you mean to augment the attack with Chosen cavalry or Transcendents, then the military will not stand idly by, which would then trap my riders between the Citadel and the Districts, dooming them to inevitable death.You be correct, Disciple, Gongsun Qi replied, nodding in approval. So then what do you think is my true intent?That these movements are a falsehood. Pointing at three Districts in particular, Vithar added, And these be the true targets. The forces dispatched are more than enough to raze them and return safely.Good, good. Beaming from ear to ear, Gongsun Qis pearly white teeth stood out against his rugged, sun-baked complexion. You arrived at the conclusion this Prince hoped you would, but your answer still be incorrect. Gesturing at the Districts outlined on the map, the smiling Warrior shook his head. The Districts are tempting targets indeed, and our foes will move to protect them, but we face an enemy divided. Shuai Jiao will undoubtedly divine our target, but lacks the reasoning why. The Legates Imperial Consort be a crafty woman, more cunning than most, and has concealed the delivery of many a convoy to these three target Districts. Their warehouses should now hold enough grain and meat to feed Centrals ailing farmers for weeks, which is why your riders have returned empty handed for so many days in a row.They found no convoys because there were none to find, Vithar concluded, spitting to convey his displeasure. His tribesmen tracked false trails which lacked quarry to kill, cheated by Consort Zheng Luos duplicitous deceptions. In all likelihood, the convoys that had been raided were bait to draw the eye away, so that her fully-laden convoys could make it through unscathed.I must speak with the Uniter, Monk Vyakhya began, his shaky tone clearly conveying his struggle to remain calm. He must be informed of what has happened, for a calamity awaits us all if not soon addressed.Beside him, the metallic Transcendent stirred as its twisted expression took on a cast of even more despair and dejection, a feat Vithar had not thought possible until he saw it for himself. There were tears in Gens no, the Transcendents eyes, as if hed seen all the darkest horrors a mind could ever experience a thousand times over and somehow still retained his sanity despite opening his mouth wide to scream a keening wail of silent terror. There was too much life in his features to overlook with ease, too much similarity to the man he once was, and Vithar could not help but see the young, talented, arrogant boy standing before him rather than the vessel hed become.As for the other Transcendent, he too retained many of Goujians features, but in a set of three that made him just inhuman enough to overlook. Following the metallic Transcendents failure to speak, the Sanguine Transcendent opened its mouths and spoke with three voices, none of which were similar or synced together. The Uniter, its voice impossibly deep to start with before transition into a high-pitched squeal to complete its delivery, Knows all.Clearly taken aback by the Uniters ability to speak out loud using the Transcendents voice, the Wisdom took a moment to gather his thoughts, a moment in which Vithar was unable to tear his thoughts away from the shockingly human textures of the Transcendents mouth. The teeth, tongue, and even the lips looked no different than they had in life, a disturbing resemblance which made the Confessors fate seem all the more terrifying. There were some tribes which venerated their Transcendents and worshipped them like the Ancestors given flesh, but Vithars tribe saw them for the failed gambit that they were, a broken attempt at creation which bore no true life at all.Clearly, the Wisdom shared Vithars aversion to the Transcendents, but the old monk was much stronger than he appeared. Collecting himself with a single breath, Vyakhya launched himself into a tale which Vithar could hardly follow, much less believe, one which began with a monk Ascending to Divinity and ended with the Devourer bending the Energy of the Heavens to his whims. An impossible feat as far as Vithar understood things, but judging by his frantic accounting of events, one the Wisdom wholeheartedly believed the Devourer had accomplished. Given time to learn and left unchecked, Vyakhya concluded, his eyes wide and cheeks scarlet, The Devourer will soon master his skills and wield the power of a True Divinity with none of the restrictions! Can you imagine what such a being could accomplish here in the mortal world? He could be rid of us all in a single thought, and this is the least of our worries. What if he seeks to do more than unmake us, but reshape us to his liking? We would not only be powerless to resist, but also unaware of the changes even as they take place.Thankfully, the Uniter finally stepped in to silence the Wisdom, raising the Transcendents bloody hand to place a finger over Vyakhyas lips, the movement so fast Vithar didnt even see it stir. Calm yourself, the deep voice said, offset by two more voices in the background that twisted the sounds in unpleasant ways. Even if such a thing were possible, the secrets of Heaven are not so easily unlocked. The Devourer is formidable, but still no match for a failed Divinity, much less a true one. As he is, a Peak Expert could defeat him, given the right circumstances, hardly the calamity you so claim.Yet here upon this battlefield sits everything he requires to hasten his progress towards the Dao, Monk Vyakhya retorted, losing even the illusion of calm and composure. Whats more, it took this monk three days to arrive here, even with the support of these two abominations beside me, and every minute was spent in fear that he was already too late. With both Rakshasa and Kukku at his beck and call, the boy could be here in a matter of hours, if not sooner, and who knows how far his insidious Talent will propel him along his Path.There is nothing here for the Devourer to steal. Calm neutrality resonated from the Transcendents whispered voice, but again, the underlying tones from the other two mouths warped his inflection to one of dissonant discomfort. Not once this Sovereigns troops take the field.What troops? Monk Vyakhyas retort was delivered with a sneer, one so full of fear and contempt it seemed like the old bag of bones had lost it. Your Transcendents? They are but lambs to the slaughter before the Devourer, or have you forgotten what he did in Sinuji?Yes and no. Grinning in shockingly human-like glee, the Sanguine Transcendent opened its eyes and Vithar saw nothing human within those dark, emotionless orbs. Base Transcendents have no defence against them, but the Heavens are upon this Sovereigns side. Even before discovering the Devourers bothersome Talent, this Sovereigns preparations had already been made to counter it, a fortuitous twist of fate if there ever were one. Turning to Gongsun Qi, the Transcendent declared, Begin the attack. Show the Empire true despair and deliver unto them a devastating defeat, but leave one in ten alive to tell the tale.By your command, Gongsun Qi replied, cupping his hands in a salute before marching out of the tent, and Vithar followed him out soon after. Barking out orders as he went, Gongsun Qi led them north until they were firmly outside of the encampment, with a clear field before them and the Citadel walls to the east. Here, Vithar had a perfect view of the rubble upon which once sat the outer walls, as well as the backs of the attacking Chosen and tribesmen further down attempting to take the secondary walls. Turning to Vithar, Gongsun Qi smiled his contrasting smile once more and said, Earlier, you asked what forces be encamped here, and now, this Prince shall show you.And so, with a wave of his hand, the field shimmered and disappeared, hidden beneath the boots and bodies of thousands upon thousands of dark-armoured soldiers, ones who were clearly different from the Chosen.No, not armoured soldiers, but Transcendents, or so Vithar would have said if not for the all-too-human eyes staring out from behind their helmets. Upon further inspection, he saw there were bits of identifiable flesh protruding from expected places, fingers poking out from under gauntlets or flesh revealed beneath cleverly attached plates. Their armour was identical to the armoured Transcendents the Uniter used to protect his underlings, the same ones that accompanied Gen everywhere until recently, but these ones were being worn by living, breathing humans, ones with features unfamiliar to Vithar.No, not worn, for upon further inspection, he realized these humans were fused with their Trancendents, flesh and armour connected and intertwined until one could not see where flesh ended and metal began. Whats more, there were identifiable features about them, with half-bristleboars, half-mammoths, and other half-breeds aplenty, judging from the distinct hairstyles, tusks, antlers, and other bestial characteristics present amidst the armoured soldiers. Many others wore cloth armbands bearing the characters Ma-Ta-Ram upon their biceps, indicating they heralded from the clan of the same name, all of whom were gathered behind another figure whose back bore a banner with the Clan name and crest, a spear piercing the heavens embroidered in black and gold. However, there was one figure who stood out without even trying, radiating a powerful presence unlike anything Vithar had ever seen before, not even from Gongsun Qi or the metallic Transcendent of despair.Amber eyes stared out from behind the Transcendent armour as he made his way over to them, eyes that almost glowed with power when they met Vithars gaze. Only for an instant, but in that instant, it felt as if all his weaknesses had been exposed and laid bare, subjecting him to death a thousand times in the blink of an eye without needing to move a single muscle. Even the Ancestors were unable to stand before his attentions, falling silent as they hid within Vithars mortal frame and emanated fear and loathing like never before. Then the amber-eyed Warriors gaze moved on, leaving Vithar in a cold sweat while acknowledging Gongsun Qi with the slightest of nods and the barest show of respect. Contrary to his prideful nature, Gongsun Qi merely nodded in response, even inclining his back ever so slightly in an almost involuntary bow. The time be nigh, he said, lacking his customary airs and pretension. The targets are worn and spent, so their death is all but certain, but it would be best if we joined hands together to kill them.Very well. The amber-eyed Warriors raspy voice was seldom used, as evidenced by how he turned towards his banner-bearing Mataram comrade. Come, Mataram Clan Patriarch, he said, and then without further preamble, they were off, Cloud-Stepping towards the Citadel to slaughter all in their path. Not just Amber Eyes and the Mataram Patriarch, but every single one of the thousands of armoured Warriors around them, each one darting off into the distance faster than Vithar could follow. Gongsun Qi left with them as well, leaving Vithar with a Sending to remind him of his duties, duties which seemed utterly frivolous considering the overwhelming strength those Transcendent Warriors just displayed.No... one could not grow complacent just because victory seemed at hand, for nothing was certain until all your foes lay dead on the ground before you. There must be good reason for Gongsun Qis caution, else he would have long since revealed these Transcendent troops and overrun the Citadel in the first day. With this in mind, Vithar hurried away to do his part and command his army, his heart unsettled and mind a flutter. Perhaps it was the despairing presence of the Metallic Transcendent, or the unsettling timbre of the Sanguine Transcendents voice, or perhaps it was the Wisdoms tale of Falling Rains prowess or the unsettling effect the half-Transcendent Warriors had upon the Ancestors, but whatever the reason, Vithar was less confident of victory than he should be, and so he would do everything in his power to stave off defeat.For he would not have the heavy burden of defeat foisted upon his shoulders if the worst should come to pass. No, that burden would rest firmly with another, or Vithar might as well take his own life here and now.Surrender, the Ancestors whispered, And you need not fear anything ever again.Similar offers had been made many a time before, lies one and all, but for the first time in living memory, Vithar was sorely tempted to accept.Chapter Meme
