Chapter 752
If audio player doesn't work, press Stop then Play button again
Chapter 752
The stifling darkness of the pitch-black mines was unsettling to most, but Siyar felt right at home in the tunnels under Pan Si Xing.
Arm outstretched and fingers brushing against the bedrock walls, he followed the tunnel due west without so much as a whisper. The same could not be said for the six idiots following closely behind. They thought themselves quiet and stealthy, but they might as well have been clanging pots and screaming bloody murder for all the noise they were making. To Siyars vision-sealed senses, their every breath and shuffle rang so loudly in his ears he wondered how it was possible the Enemy had yet to descend upon them with blades drawn. The thud of their boots on hard stone underfoot echoed along the shaft walls in time with the rustle of their pant legs scraping against one another as they moved, all to the beat of the clapping scabbards, creaking leathers, clacking crossbows, and clicking bolts. All problems that were easily fixed mind you, as all you had to do was shift your scabbard, wear better fitted pants, oil your leathers, cradle your crossbow, and line your quiver with a folded up cloth, but these blockheads couldnt even be bothered to stifle their breathing instead of huffing and puffing up a storm. The last part wasnt entirely their fault, as the stale air and rock dust was irritating to say the least, but the same face coverings that protected them from the blowing desert sands proved useful here, provided his soldiers were smart enough to use them.
His soldiers. Siyar didnt much like that, not at all, because it burdened him with obligation and responsibilities hed spent his whole life avoiding. Some men went to great lengths to seize the reins of command, mostly so they could lord themselves over others and feel better about themselves, but he never saw the appeal. Too much work having to tell idiots what to do, like trying to wrangle hogs out of the mud except people were usually dumber. Least hogs knew enough to keep quiet when danger reared its head, but these particular idiots were acting like they wanted the whole city to know they were coming. Stealth specialists is what they called themselves, which would be worth a laugh if Siyar wasnt stuck right in the middle of them. This was the Legates idea, tasking Siyar with the burden of training other soldiers to be quiet and stealthy like him. An impossible demand, because there was no one like him, else he wouldnt be the best at what he did, but there was no explaining that to the half-rat. Im not asking for miracles, was the Legates response to Siyars well-reasoned refusal to his ridiculous demand. Just train them until theyre good enough to sneak past the Khishig guards.
As if that were so easy. Even Siyar had to work at it to avoid most Khishigs notice, as keen a bunch as any, but thats what mountain life did to you. Out in the wilds, it was the danger you dont see that gets you, a lesson the Khishigs learned well else they wouldnt have made it this far in life. Hed have given his left arm for a Bekkie or two here with him, but they were more useful as light cavalry in the grand scheme of things, and Jorani wasnt so terrible a commander as to waste them. Huntsmen from the Protectorate wouldve been Siyars second choice, but they were skilled archers who also couldnt be spared, leaving Siyar to choose from the best of a rotten bunch of farmers and street rats. The only consolation was knowing that the murderous bastard Ravil had a similar lack of success imparting his sneaking skills to the soldiers assigned him, who were now off in a different mine shaft with their own objective to complete. Teaching was just so much harder than Siyar thought itd be, because so much of what he did came as second nature, but when he sat down to write out everything his students needed to know, the list went on and on and on. Things like how to walk on the balls of your feet without straining your calves and keeping your focus wide instead of fixating on your target. Kids stuff really, but somehow, even former sneak thieves like Jinoe and Ronga didnt have the knack for it, leaving Siyar wondering how they survived to adulthood with both hands intact.
Hed seen more skilled thieves lose fingers for less, which just went to show how unfair the Heavens truly were. Better lucky than skilled, thats what Light-Fingered Yu used to say, right up until his luck ran out while fighting Butchers in Sanshu. A damn shame too, because he wouldve made for a better teacher than Siyar. The man could cut a throat and walk away clean before anyone knew what was happening, the target included, but more importantly, he was a silver-tongued devil who knew how to get his point across without needing to yell. Hed have had these soldiers dancing to his tune right quick instead of stumbling along like a herd of drunkards lost in the city streets, but thats just the way things worked out sometimes. It wasnt always the better or more skilled or smarter man who survived to the end, because life was a gamble and sometimes, the dice just refused to roll your way.
Thats how it felt in recent months at least, ever since the Legate tapped Siyar for increased responsibilities. Hed rather risk his neck sneaking into Shuai Jiaos kitchen each and every day than have to deal with the burdens of command, but the Legate was not an easy man to say no to. Not because hed string you up and punish you for refusing, or twist your arm and remind you how much you owed him, but the opposite really. Had Siyar turned him down, then Falling Rain wouldve sighed and accepted it without saying another word, except maybe to ask for a suggestion regarding a replacement. Thing was, Siyar knew this, and he also knew there was no one else who could teach those soldiers. Too much of what the Bekkies did was ingrained into their culture, the culmination of centuries of experience living out in the wilds, so it wasnt always applicable in cities and plains. They were a right sneaky bunch alright, but they only knew how to stay hidden, whereas Siyar was an expert at moving unseen even when walking in plain sight. It might seem similar on the surface, but the two skills were anything but, so Siyar took the bossmans offer despite his better judgment because what other choice did he have?
Somewhere along the way, the scrawny, piss-eyed little upstart had earned Siyars respect, and damn it if he didnt hate the runt for it.
The change in Siyars surroundings was so subtle he doubted anyone else noticed it, but he felt it so keenly he could pinpoint the exact moment when he moved from mine shaft to underground passage. A difference without distinction, some might say, but theyd be wrong and stupid to boot, because it made all the difference in the world. A mine shaft was for working, which meant it followed the ore veins and nothing else, while an underground passage was made specifically to get from one point to another. The walls straightened, the floors were smoothed, the air moved faster due to better ventilation, all of which meant that they were getting close to their destination. Without slowing his pace, he turned to get a better sense of how close his soldiers were behind him, the answer to which was not close enough. The darkness made them anxious, and their anxiety made them stupid and slow, having forgotten all the lessons hed tried to drill into their heads. Tsttt, he hissed, soft as a fluttering eyelash, but to his credit, his soldiers froze in place with only a bare minimum of quiet collisions. Still enough to give them away if there were Defiled abound, which was why hed done it here and now when there was still minimal risk of discovery. Wishing hed picked up the bossmans trick of Sending to multiple people, Siyar turned to his soldiers and whispered, Were out of the mines and into the city proper. Or would be soon enough, but if they couldnt tell that just yet, then all the more reason they should be more careful. You all know the plan, so stay tight and stay quiet.
He could hear the idiots nodding like chickens pecking grains, but Siyars talents didnt extend to seeing in pitch black darkness. Even the Defiled needed clear skies to see at night, but these idiots seemed to think he could see clear as day down here through some magical means. Theyd see just as much as he did, but what they didnt do was pay any mind to their other senses, ones which gave almost as much information as their eyes did in full light. Siyar had taught them all the tricks he could, like moving your feet in semi-circles when walking to sweep for obstacles and counting to hear how far the echoes carried and how long between each interval, but he might as well have been describing colour to the blind. Using the wall to orient himself facing forward once more, Siyar tensed up as Ronga, the soldier directly behind him, blindly groped at his back before looping two fingers into his belt, which was one more than he needed. He hated having to do this, but if he had to lead the blind, then he had to make sure they did it quietly, because everything was fucked if they were discovered before reaching their target. Not entirely true, but close enough for his tastes, as they would need every advantage they could get if they wanted to succeed. Taking Bai Qis head would be a real prize indeed, and Siyar was mildly irked no one came to offer him the job. Some of the most famous killers had tried and failed to assassinate Bai Qi, and Siyar was curious how his skills measured up, though any assassin whose name was well known couldnt be all that good at their job, seeing as how the work was so much easier when you had anonymity to rely on. MuYang knew that well enough, though that man was a damned master of the craft, so good even Siyar had trouble keeping track of him in a crowd. It wasnt a fair comparison though, as the spymaster admitted that most of his skills relied on a prodigious use of Concealment, which was why he saw value in Siyars teachings. It was a strange feeling, instructing Peak Experts and religious fanatics alongside lowly rank and file soldiers, but they were idiots all the same once you took away their Chi. That being said, an idiot of a Peak Expert was still a Peak Expert, and he wouldve loved to have a few in his pocket for this mission, but MuYang and his ilk were off doing their own thing elsewhere.
Soon as Siyar figured out External Chi, Concealment was gonna be the first skill he worked on, sure as sure, but until such a time, hed just have to be sneakier than the opposition.
A double tug on his belt told Siyar that Ronga was ready to set out, a signal he wouldnt have given before receiving the same signal from the man behind him, and so on and so forth. Moving out with right foot first, Siyar set out at a slow and steady pace and kept to it while everyone else struggled to match him, which was a little like trying to pick out an individual bird call amidst a symphony of squawking. It only took ten steps for them to fall into the right rhythm, but for Siyar, those ten steps took more mental effort than carrying on a conversation with Kimi for a day and a night, which was really saying something. The woman used to hate talking, which was one of the things Siyar liked about her most, a no-nonsense sort of girl who knew what she wanted and didnt dance around the subject, but that changed somewhere along the way and now she couldnt stop talking. Not that he minded it all that much, since she had a devilish voice he liked knowing more about her, like where shed come from and how she got here. The girl still had family in Sanshu, a mother and two sisters, and shed been hinting at heading back to see them after all this was said and done. Why she was being so shy about it, Siyar couldnt say, but she always mentioned going back without ever making any plans, and it always led to a lull in the conversation as if she expected something from him. Hed tried encouraging her to go and asking if she needed a loan or anything, but that only made her angry, which made about as much sense as trying to get milk from a bull.
Madness is what it was, but that was nothing compared to the fact that he was glad Kimi still stuck around after it all. Hed gone full domestic now, which wasnt the worst thing in the world, but not something hed ever have expected from himself. A part of him wished she were here by his side right now, but she wasnt one for sneaking. Had a vicious right swing though, and handled her spear like a real noble now, with all the twirls and flourishes youd expect. In a straight up match without Aura, shed clean him out right quick, but that was about to be expected given how little he cared for fighting fair. That was just stupid, taking even odds against death, but the world was filled with idiots. Hell, Siyar had hitched his wagon to maybe the biggest idiot of them all if this was the metric to measure by, but Falling Rain had his Path, and Siyar had his.
The right tool for the right job, is how Brigadier Hongji put it when he filled the vanguard in on the plan, which was fitting indeed, because they needed killing to be done quietly, which was right up Siyars alley.
First, he had to get his soldiers in place though, which was turning out to be a trial and a half. The minutes passed slowly as he made his way down the passageway as quiet as could be, but it wasnt quiet enough. The mining shafts ran deep, but this passage was dangerously close to the surface and only getting closer. Though theyd long since fallen out of use, there was a time when every building in Pan Si Xing had a cellar connected to these tunnels so that miners could make the long trek to the mines without having to brave the elements above. More importantly, any mined products could also be carted back to the warehouses without having to hire Warriors to guard against rebels or bandits, though from what Siyar could tell, the people of the West had more use for rice and bread than salt and diamonds.
According to the locals, once the mines dried up, the tunnel entrances were sealed and boarded up since there was no need for them any longer, and leaving them open was all but inviting criminals and rodents to raid their purses and larders. That was almost six-hundred years ago, well beyond the lifespan of any locals, which was good since it meant Bai Qi probably didnt know about the tunnels either. He likely knew of some of the more obvious exits and would have guards watching those, but these underground mineshafts and passageways came together to form an entire under-city that an army could get lost in, meaning there was no way the Enemy could know of and watch each and every exit.
With his hand still brushing the wall, Siyar made his way past hundreds of openings that could have lead him right out into the city or the cellar of any number of occupied buildings, but Brigadier Hongji had pinpointed the exact location he wanted Siyar to come out of. Though he had to backtrack five times and carefully carve his way through three barricaded doorways to get there, he found his target easily enough. According to the maps theyd brought and the information the locals provided, the door in front of Siyar should lead up and out into an old alleyway that was blocked on both ends, which the locals only knew about because the local children liked to come here and hide. No doubt the Defiled werent all too keen on letting their slaves play in the streets, so the chances of them discovering this exit was minimal at best, but Siyar wasnt taking any chances. Using his Honed blade, he slowly but surely carved an opening into the door, wincing as the flat surface of his blade scraped against the clay bricks used to barricade the door shut. When the first ray of moonlight broke through the surface to illuminate the tunnel underneath, Siyar held his breath and listened for a full minute before daring to put his eye up to the opening. Even though dawn was still the better part of four hours away, the Westerners were rich in oil and kept their streets lit up all night to accommodate the fact that most of them slept through the days to avoid the worst of the heat. Seeing and hearing nothing that would dissuade him from continuing his efforts, Siyar set to work carefully widening the opening while his soldiers held a cloth underneath him to catch the stones and sand before they could land on the hard floor below and make even more of a din than he already was.
It wasnt the safest way to infiltrate the city, not by Siyars standards, but this was the only way for his soldiers to make it this far in without being detected. He couldve made it in if he was alone, but there wasnt much one man could do in the grand scheme of things. Besides, even if they were discovered, tunnel fighting benefited the Imperials more than the Defiled since the natural choke-points prevented the Enemy from surrounding and overwhelming them through sheer numbers. Granted, this meant his six-man squad might survive a few minutes instead of getting slaughtered outright the moment they were discovered, but hed take any advantage he could get.
Freezing in his tracks, Siyar signalled his people to silence just as they were depositing their latest load of sand and stone to the side. The whisper of footsteps sounded overhead, close enough that they might hear the clatter of sand and stone, but thankfully, Ronga was paying attention and stopped pouring, but just a hairs breath too late. Just as he righted the cloth and froze in place, one last pebble came tumbling out and was thrown up into the air. Time slowed as it traced an arc though the moonlight, and Siyar reached out to grab it, catching the errant projectile in mid air to keep it from clattering against the ground or floor.
Then, his foot slipped on a layer of sand and scraped across the stone steps in a near deafening din.
Everyone in the tunnels collectively held their breaths as the footsteps continued overhead, and Siyar prayed the passerby was a slave rather than a Defiled or Chosen who might overhear and feel compelled to investigate. Hell, even a commoner mightve heard that, for the footsteps were so close he could reach out and grab a leg if it wasnt for the wall and floor in the way. Thankfully, the passerby came and left without pause or hesitation, but still Siyar did not relax. Fingers clenched around the hilt of his sword, he listened to the footsteps fade into the distance and counted to a hundred before tentatively accepting that they probably hadnt been discovered.
Yes... Siyar.
A ghost of a smile flashed across her sunken features, and Siyars heart sank to see it. Now listen here. You keep your head down, Winoa, you hear me? Hed already said too much when he mentioned the cellar, but he had to be sure she would listen. Dont you do nothing stupid, got it? You go to the mines, you do what you normally do, nothing more, nothing less. All you need to do is survive.
By your will, Siyar.
Despite her agreement, he could see she wasnt so easily swayed, but there was nothing more he could do about it. Just... survive. Be safe. The West has resisted long enough. Time for others to pick up the slack. Damn it, any more and he was going to give away the entire plan, but thankfully, Winoa asked no questions. Instead, she woke the sleeping slaves in the room and ushered them out quietly before they had a chance to speak to Siyar and his soldiers, but every last one of them bowed or saluted as they passed. With nothing else to do besides stand there, Siyar returned their greetings as best he could, then waited as the Defiled started shouting and the slaves filed out of the inn to make room for the next shift to sleep.
When it came time to move out, the Defiled were none too gentle with Winoa and her ilk, and as Siyar stood and listened to the abuse they heaped upon the poor people of the West, it took every bit of self control he had not to charge down there and kill every last Defiled in sight. Instead, he counted his breaths and waited as Winoas people left and a new group of slaves arrived to lay their weary heads to rest. These ones took Siyars presence in stride as easily as Winoa, merely acknowledging them without making a scene which spoke volumes to their grit and proved the bossman right. The Father had no hold over the hearts of the valiant, and slaves and commoners though they might be, Siyar had never seen anyone more valiant than the people of the West.
The West still resists, he whispered, offering everyone a salute as he led his soldiers out to do what theyd come here to do. Sprinting down the stairs without so much as a creak, Siyar threw himself at the gathered Defiled and struck before they even knew their foes were upon them. His Spiritual Sword sang and his daggers flashed through the air as the world blurred around him in a haze of blood and gore. There was no burning fury, no mindless rage, only cold, violent wrath come to exact vengeance upon the Enemy. Death was too kind to them, but he delivered to his foes nonetheless, because to do less would only bring the Westerners more pain and suffering. Though he was not wholly confident the Imperial Army would succeed here today, when the last body fell and Siyars bloody work done, there were twelve Defiled who would never raise a hand against the West ever again, which was better than nothing.
Fuckin hell... ye did all this without makin a peep?
Rongas whispered exclamation sounded off like a cannon in Siyars ears as he returned to his senses once more. His soldiers were still on the stairs, watching him with wide-eyed respect and more than a little fear, but Siyar wasnt one to preen. Daylights burning, he hissed, flicking his sword clean of blood before retrieving his thrown daggers, each one embedded in the throat or eye of a Defiled tribesman. Now that was some fine throwing, except he didnt remember how it all went down, or how he managed to kill twelve tribesmen on his own without his soldiers hearing it. That didnt matter though, because Siyar had a mission to complete and a burning desire to kill more Defiled. As his soldiers did what they could to clean up the carnage and keep watch on their surroundings, Siyar brought Ronga down into the cellar and started knocking on the walls and listening for a response. When one finally came, he waited to the count of three before driving his Honed sword into the wall, while Ronga did the same a few metres away. Eager as he was to get on with the bloodshed, Siyar still took it slow and steady so as not to make too much noise, and soon enough, he and the people on the other side had opened up a hole in the wall large enough for everyone to come through.
Clasping his fist in a military salute, Siyar greeted the Officer who stepped through. Welcome to Pan Xi Sing, Major Zian, he whispered, eager to move onto the next phase. The building is secure and my men are watching the streets. The slaves upstairs are aware of our presence, but they have yet to give us away.
Not ideal, but we work with what were given. Striding out in his Runic Armour and looking like a true Dragon among men, the noble young hero marched out into the cellar with his zealous soldiers behind him. In your opinion, will the enslaved westerners prove a hindrance to our plans?
Depends. Struggling to decide what to say, Siyar settled on the truth. Theyre burning for a fight, Ill say that much. When the bloodshed starts, I wouldnt count on them following orders and leaving through the tunnels, not if they see a chance to pay back whats owed.
All we can do is offer them the choice, Major Zian replied, sounding far more mature than his years. If they choose to fight, then who are we to deny them the opportunity? Is that clear?
For a moment, Siyar thought the Major was talking to him, and he had no idea why he felt the need to clarify, but then, an old man appeared out of thin air, one wearing robes bearing the Situ sigil. A Peak Expert then, but one with a foot in the grave, his face half slack as if hed suffered a stroke and a back so hunched his shoulders were almost higher than his head. Yes yes, Ill refrain from heavy handed tactics to drive the slaves into the tunnels. Ill lose no sleep over Defiled killing Defiled.
They aint Defiled. As the old man turned his full attention upon Siyar, he suddenly didnt seem all that old anymore, but it was too late to back down now. Theyre citizens of the Empire, Siyar insisted, matching the old mans glare with his blackest stare. After all they been through, they deserve that much at least.
For long seconds, the old man said nothing, but then the slackness in his face disappeared as he straightened his back and stretched. Oh how far the clan has fallen, the old man said, huffing a sad sigh as he completed his transformation that somehow left him looking exactly the same, but stronger and more vital, a Warrior through and through. When even a damned bandit dares show such disrespect before I, Situ Chi Gan. Drawing a longsword from the scabbard slung across his back, one Siyar hadnt noticed until now, Chi Gan brandished it casually about in a fierce and precise pattern that came dangerously close to Siyars neck. But, the elder added, before Siyar had time to decide if he wanted to kill the old man or appease him, I suppose you are correct. The people of the West have done well to endure this long, so perhaps their continued survival will not lead to the Empires doom as I feared.
His tone was rife with sarcasm, but shouts rose up from outside the inn, before Siyar had a chance to reply. Shame, he said, turning to lead the way up once he realized the shouts were not directed towards them. Seems like one of our friends slipped up and got spotted, so guess well have to pick this up later. Not the best case scenario, but not the worst either as Major Zian rattled off his orders. Theirs wasnt the only retinue that made it into the city unchallenged, so while whichever luckless bastard was dealing with the alerted Defiled no doubt swarming to meet them in battle, the other units would have ample time to move into position.
The plan was in motion, but it was still too early to know if it would end in victory or defeat. A shame the bossman wasnt around, because then he would feel a damn sight better about their chances, but so long as his friends and retinue were present, then Falling Rain was most certainly here in spirit.
Which Siyar supposed would have to do.
Chapter Meme 1
Chapter Meme 2
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
Chapter 752
The stifling darkness of the pitch-black mines was unsettling to most, but Siyar felt right at home in the tunnels under Pan Si Xing.
Arm outstretched and fingers brushing against the bedrock walls, he followed the tunnel due west without so much as a whisper. The same could not be said for the six idiots following closely behind. They thought themselves quiet and stealthy, but they might as well have been clanging pots and screaming bloody murder for all the noise they were making. To Siyars vision-sealed senses, their every breath and shuffle rang so loudly in his ears he wondered how it was possible the Enemy had yet to descend upon them with blades drawn. The thud of their boots on hard stone underfoot echoed along the shaft walls in time with the rustle of their pant legs scraping against one another as they moved, all to the beat of the clapping scabbards, creaking leathers, clacking crossbows, and clicking bolts. All problems that were easily fixed mind you, as all you had to do was shift your scabbard, wear better fitted pants, oil your leathers, cradle your crossbow, and line your quiver with a folded up cloth, but these blockheads couldnt even be bothered to stifle their breathing instead of huffing and puffing up a storm. The last part wasnt entirely their fault, as the stale air and rock dust was irritating to say the least, but the same face coverings that protected them from the blowing desert sands proved useful here, provided his soldiers were smart enough to use them.
His soldiers. Siyar didnt much like that, not at all, because it burdened him with obligation and responsibilities hed spent his whole life avoiding. Some men went to great lengths to seize the reins of command, mostly so they could lord themselves over others and feel better about themselves, but he never saw the appeal. Too much work having to tell idiots what to do, like trying to wrangle hogs out of the mud except people were usually dumber. Least hogs knew enough to keep quiet when danger reared its head, but these particular idiots were acting like they wanted the whole city to know they were coming. Stealth specialists is what they called themselves, which would be worth a laugh if Siyar wasnt stuck right in the middle of them. This was the Legates idea, tasking Siyar with the burden of training other soldiers to be quiet and stealthy like him. An impossible demand, because there was no one like him, else he wouldnt be the best at what he did, but there was no explaining that to the half-rat. Im not asking for miracles, was the Legates response to Siyars well-reasoned refusal to his ridiculous demand. Just train them until theyre good enough to sneak past the Khishig guards.
As if that were so easy. Even Siyar had to work at it to avoid most Khishigs notice, as keen a bunch as any, but thats what mountain life did to you. Out in the wilds, it was the danger you dont see that gets you, a lesson the Khishigs learned well else they wouldnt have made it this far in life. Hed have given his left arm for a Bekkie or two here with him, but they were more useful as light cavalry in the grand scheme of things, and Jorani wasnt so terrible a commander as to waste them. Huntsmen from the Protectorate wouldve been Siyars second choice, but they were skilled archers who also couldnt be spared, leaving Siyar to choose from the best of a rotten bunch of farmers and street rats. The only consolation was knowing that the murderous bastard Ravil had a similar lack of success imparting his sneaking skills to the soldiers assigned him, who were now off in a different mine shaft with their own objective to complete. Teaching was just so much harder than Siyar thought itd be, because so much of what he did came as second nature, but when he sat down to write out everything his students needed to know, the list went on and on and on. Things like how to walk on the balls of your feet without straining your calves and keeping your focus wide instead of fixating on your target. Kids stuff really, but somehow, even former sneak thieves like Jinoe and Ronga didnt have the knack for it, leaving Siyar wondering how they survived to adulthood with both hands intact.
Hed seen more skilled thieves lose fingers for less, which just went to show how unfair the Heavens truly were. Better lucky than skilled, thats what Light-Fingered Yu used to say, right up until his luck ran out while fighting Butchers in Sanshu. A damn shame too, because he wouldve made for a better teacher than Siyar. The man could cut a throat and walk away clean before anyone knew what was happening, the target included, but more importantly, he was a silver-tongued devil who knew how to get his point across without needing to yell. Hed have had these soldiers dancing to his tune right quick instead of stumbling along like a herd of drunkards lost in the city streets, but thats just the way things worked out sometimes. It wasnt always the better or more skilled or smarter man who survived to the end, because life was a gamble and sometimes, the dice just refused to roll your way.
Thats how it felt in recent months at least, ever since the Legate tapped Siyar for increased responsibilities. Hed rather risk his neck sneaking into Shuai Jiaos kitchen each and every day than have to deal with the burdens of command, but the Legate was not an easy man to say no to. Not because hed string you up and punish you for refusing, or twist your arm and remind you how much you owed him, but the opposite really. Had Siyar turned him down, then Falling Rain wouldve sighed and accepted it without saying another word, except maybe to ask for a suggestion regarding a replacement. Thing was, Siyar knew this, and he also knew there was no one else who could teach those soldiers. Too much of what the Bekkies did was ingrained into their culture, the culmination of centuries of experience living out in the wilds, so it wasnt always applicable in cities and plains. They were a right sneaky bunch alright, but they only knew how to stay hidden, whereas Siyar was an expert at moving unseen even when walking in plain sight. It might seem similar on the surface, but the two skills were anything but, so Siyar took the bossmans offer despite his better judgment because what other choice did he have?
Somewhere along the way, the scrawny, piss-eyed little upstart had earned Siyars respect, and damn it if he didnt hate the runt for it.
The change in Siyars surroundings was so subtle he doubted anyone else noticed it, but he felt it so keenly he could pinpoint the exact moment when he moved from mine shaft to underground passage. A difference without distinction, some might say, but theyd be wrong and stupid to boot, because it made all the difference in the world. A mine shaft was for working, which meant it followed the ore veins and nothing else, while an underground passage was made specifically to get from one point to another. The walls straightened, the floors were smoothed, the air moved faster due to better ventilation, all of which meant that they were getting close to their destination. Without slowing his pace, he turned to get a better sense of how close his soldiers were behind him, the answer to which was not close enough. The darkness made them anxious, and their anxiety made them stupid and slow, having forgotten all the lessons hed tried to drill into their heads. Tsttt, he hissed, soft as a fluttering eyelash, but to his credit, his soldiers froze in place with only a bare minimum of quiet collisions. Still enough to give them away if there were Defiled abound, which was why hed done it here and now when there was still minimal risk of discovery. Wishing hed picked up the bossmans trick of Sending to multiple people, Siyar turned to his soldiers and whispered, Were out of the mines and into the city proper. Or would be soon enough, but if they couldnt tell that just yet, then all the more reason they should be more careful. You all know the plan, so stay tight and stay quiet.
He could hear the idiots nodding like chickens pecking grains, but Siyars talents didnt extend to seeing in pitch black darkness. Even the Defiled needed clear skies to see at night, but these idiots seemed to think he could see clear as day down here through some magical means. Theyd see just as much as he did, but what they didnt do was pay any mind to their other senses, ones which gave almost as much information as their eyes did in full light. Siyar had taught them all the tricks he could, like moving your feet in semi-circles when walking to sweep for obstacles and counting to hear how far the echoes carried and how long between each interval, but he might as well have been describing colour to the blind. Using the wall to orient himself facing forward once more, Siyar tensed up as Ronga, the soldier directly behind him, blindly groped at his back before looping two fingers into his belt, which was one more than he needed. He hated having to do this, but if he had to lead the blind, then he had to make sure they did it quietly, because everything was fucked if they were discovered before reaching their target. Not entirely true, but close enough for his tastes, as they would need every advantage they could get if they wanted to succeed. Taking Bai Qis head would be a real prize indeed, and Siyar was mildly irked no one came to offer him the job. Some of the most famous killers had tried and failed to assassinate Bai Qi, and Siyar was curious how his skills measured up, though any assassin whose name was well known couldnt be all that good at their job, seeing as how the work was so much easier when you had anonymity to rely on. MuYang knew that well enough, though that man was a damned master of the craft, so good even Siyar had trouble keeping track of him in a crowd. It wasnt a fair comparison though, as the spymaster admitted that most of his skills relied on a prodigious use of Concealment, which was why he saw value in Siyars teachings. It was a strange feeling, instructing Peak Experts and religious fanatics alongside lowly rank and file soldiers, but they were idiots all the same once you took away their Chi. That being said, an idiot of a Peak Expert was still a Peak Expert, and he wouldve loved to have a few in his pocket for this mission, but MuYang and his ilk were off doing their own thing elsewhere.
Soon as Siyar figured out External Chi, Concealment was gonna be the first skill he worked on, sure as sure, but until such a time, hed just have to be sneakier than the opposition.
A double tug on his belt told Siyar that Ronga was ready to set out, a signal he wouldnt have given before receiving the same signal from the man behind him, and so on and so forth. Moving out with right foot first, Siyar set out at a slow and steady pace and kept to it while everyone else struggled to match him, which was a little like trying to pick out an individual bird call amidst a symphony of squawking. It only took ten steps for them to fall into the right rhythm, but for Siyar, those ten steps took more mental effort than carrying on a conversation with Kimi for a day and a night, which was really saying something. The woman used to hate talking, which was one of the things Siyar liked about her most, a no-nonsense sort of girl who knew what she wanted and didnt dance around the subject, but that changed somewhere along the way and now she couldnt stop talking. Not that he minded it all that much, since she had a devilish voice he liked knowing more about her, like where shed come from and how she got here. The girl still had family in Sanshu, a mother and two sisters, and shed been hinting at heading back to see them after all this was said and done. Why she was being so shy about it, Siyar couldnt say, but she always mentioned going back without ever making any plans, and it always led to a lull in the conversation as if she expected something from him. Hed tried encouraging her to go and asking if she needed a loan or anything, but that only made her angry, which made about as much sense as trying to get milk from a bull.
Madness is what it was, but that was nothing compared to the fact that he was glad Kimi still stuck around after it all. Hed gone full domestic now, which wasnt the worst thing in the world, but not something hed ever have expected from himself. A part of him wished she were here by his side right now, but she wasnt one for sneaking. Had a vicious right swing though, and handled her spear like a real noble now, with all the twirls and flourishes youd expect. In a straight up match without Aura, shed clean him out right quick, but that was about to be expected given how little he cared for fighting fair. That was just stupid, taking even odds against death, but the world was filled with idiots. Hell, Siyar had hitched his wagon to maybe the biggest idiot of them all if this was the metric to measure by, but Falling Rain had his Path, and Siyar had his.
The right tool for the right job, is how Brigadier Hongji put it when he filled the vanguard in on the plan, which was fitting indeed, because they needed killing to be done quietly, which was right up Siyars alley.
First, he had to get his soldiers in place though, which was turning out to be a trial and a half. The minutes passed slowly as he made his way down the passageway as quiet as could be, but it wasnt quiet enough. The mining shafts ran deep, but this passage was dangerously close to the surface and only getting closer. Though theyd long since fallen out of use, there was a time when every building in Pan Si Xing had a cellar connected to these tunnels so that miners could make the long trek to the mines without having to brave the elements above. More importantly, any mined products could also be carted back to the warehouses without having to hire Warriors to guard against rebels or bandits, though from what Siyar could tell, the people of the West had more use for rice and bread than salt and diamonds.
According to the locals, once the mines dried up, the tunnel entrances were sealed and boarded up since there was no need for them any longer, and leaving them open was all but inviting criminals and rodents to raid their purses and larders. That was almost six-hundred years ago, well beyond the lifespan of any locals, which was good since it meant Bai Qi probably didnt know about the tunnels either. He likely knew of some of the more obvious exits and would have guards watching those, but these underground mineshafts and passageways came together to form an entire under-city that an army could get lost in, meaning there was no way the Enemy could know of and watch each and every exit.
With his hand still brushing the wall, Siyar made his way past hundreds of openings that could have lead him right out into the city or the cellar of any number of occupied buildings, but Brigadier Hongji had pinpointed the exact location he wanted Siyar to come out of. Though he had to backtrack five times and carefully carve his way through three barricaded doorways to get there, he found his target easily enough. According to the maps theyd brought and the information the locals provided, the door in front of Siyar should lead up and out into an old alleyway that was blocked on both ends, which the locals only knew about because the local children liked to come here and hide. No doubt the Defiled werent all too keen on letting their slaves play in the streets, so the chances of them discovering this exit was minimal at best, but Siyar wasnt taking any chances. Using his Honed blade, he slowly but surely carved an opening into the door, wincing as the flat surface of his blade scraped against the clay bricks used to barricade the door shut. When the first ray of moonlight broke through the surface to illuminate the tunnel underneath, Siyar held his breath and listened for a full minute before daring to put his eye up to the opening. Even though dawn was still the better part of four hours away, the Westerners were rich in oil and kept their streets lit up all night to accommodate the fact that most of them slept through the days to avoid the worst of the heat. Seeing and hearing nothing that would dissuade him from continuing his efforts, Siyar set to work carefully widening the opening while his soldiers held a cloth underneath him to catch the stones and sand before they could land on the hard floor below and make even more of a din than he already was.
It wasnt the safest way to infiltrate the city, not by Siyars standards, but this was the only way for his soldiers to make it this far in without being detected. He couldve made it in if he was alone, but there wasnt much one man could do in the grand scheme of things. Besides, even if they were discovered, tunnel fighting benefited the Imperials more than the Defiled since the natural choke-points prevented the Enemy from surrounding and overwhelming them through sheer numbers. Granted, this meant his six-man squad might survive a few minutes instead of getting slaughtered outright the moment they were discovered, but hed take any advantage he could get.
Freezing in his tracks, Siyar signalled his people to silence just as they were depositing their latest load of sand and stone to the side. The whisper of footsteps sounded overhead, close enough that they might hear the clatter of sand and stone, but thankfully, Ronga was paying attention and stopped pouring, but just a hairs breath too late. Just as he righted the cloth and froze in place, one last pebble came tumbling out and was thrown up into the air. Time slowed as it traced an arc though the moonlight, and Siyar reached out to grab it, catching the errant projectile in mid air to keep it from clattering against the ground or floor.
Then, his foot slipped on a layer of sand and scraped across the stone steps in a near deafening din.
Everyone in the tunnels collectively held their breaths as the footsteps continued overhead, and Siyar prayed the passerby was a slave rather than a Defiled or Chosen who might overhear and feel compelled to investigate. Hell, even a commoner mightve heard that, for the footsteps were so close he could reach out and grab a leg if it wasnt for the wall and floor in the way. Thankfully, the passerby came and left without pause or hesitation, but still Siyar did not relax. Fingers clenched around the hilt of his sword, he listened to the footsteps fade into the distance and counted to a hundred before tentatively accepting that they probably hadnt been discovered.
Yes... Siyar.
A ghost of a smile flashed across her sunken features, and Siyars heart sank to see it. Now listen here. You keep your head down, Winoa, you hear me? Hed already said too much when he mentioned the cellar, but he had to be sure she would listen. Dont you do nothing stupid, got it? You go to the mines, you do what you normally do, nothing more, nothing less. All you need to do is survive.
By your will, Siyar.
Despite her agreement, he could see she wasnt so easily swayed, but there was nothing more he could do about it. Just... survive. Be safe. The West has resisted long enough. Time for others to pick up the slack. Damn it, any more and he was going to give away the entire plan, but thankfully, Winoa asked no questions. Instead, she woke the sleeping slaves in the room and ushered them out quietly before they had a chance to speak to Siyar and his soldiers, but every last one of them bowed or saluted as they passed. With nothing else to do besides stand there, Siyar returned their greetings as best he could, then waited as the Defiled started shouting and the slaves filed out of the inn to make room for the next shift to sleep.
When it came time to move out, the Defiled were none too gentle with Winoa and her ilk, and as Siyar stood and listened to the abuse they heaped upon the poor people of the West, it took every bit of self control he had not to charge down there and kill every last Defiled in sight. Instead, he counted his breaths and waited as Winoas people left and a new group of slaves arrived to lay their weary heads to rest. These ones took Siyars presence in stride as easily as Winoa, merely acknowledging them without making a scene which spoke volumes to their grit and proved the bossman right. The Father had no hold over the hearts of the valiant, and slaves and commoners though they might be, Siyar had never seen anyone more valiant than the people of the West.
The West still resists, he whispered, offering everyone a salute as he led his soldiers out to do what theyd come here to do. Sprinting down the stairs without so much as a creak, Siyar threw himself at the gathered Defiled and struck before they even knew their foes were upon them. His Spiritual Sword sang and his daggers flashed through the air as the world blurred around him in a haze of blood and gore. There was no burning fury, no mindless rage, only cold, violent wrath come to exact vengeance upon the Enemy. Death was too kind to them, but he delivered to his foes nonetheless, because to do less would only bring the Westerners more pain and suffering. Though he was not wholly confident the Imperial Army would succeed here today, when the last body fell and Siyars bloody work done, there were twelve Defiled who would never raise a hand against the West ever again, which was better than nothing.
Fuckin hell... ye did all this without makin a peep?
Rongas whispered exclamation sounded off like a cannon in Siyars ears as he returned to his senses once more. His soldiers were still on the stairs, watching him with wide-eyed respect and more than a little fear, but Siyar wasnt one to preen. Daylights burning, he hissed, flicking his sword clean of blood before retrieving his thrown daggers, each one embedded in the throat or eye of a Defiled tribesman. Now that was some fine throwing, except he didnt remember how it all went down, or how he managed to kill twelve tribesmen on his own without his soldiers hearing it. That didnt matter though, because Siyar had a mission to complete and a burning desire to kill more Defiled. As his soldiers did what they could to clean up the carnage and keep watch on their surroundings, Siyar brought Ronga down into the cellar and started knocking on the walls and listening for a response. When one finally came, he waited to the count of three before driving his Honed sword into the wall, while Ronga did the same a few metres away. Eager as he was to get on with the bloodshed, Siyar still took it slow and steady so as not to make too much noise, and soon enough, he and the people on the other side had opened up a hole in the wall large enough for everyone to come through.
Clasping his fist in a military salute, Siyar greeted the Officer who stepped through. Welcome to Pan Xi Sing, Major Zian, he whispered, eager to move onto the next phase. The building is secure and my men are watching the streets. The slaves upstairs are aware of our presence, but they have yet to give us away.
Not ideal, but we work with what were given. Striding out in his Runic Armour and looking like a true Dragon among men, the noble young hero marched out into the cellar with his zealous soldiers behind him. In your opinion, will the enslaved westerners prove a hindrance to our plans?
Depends. Struggling to decide what to say, Siyar settled on the truth. Theyre burning for a fight, Ill say that much. When the bloodshed starts, I wouldnt count on them following orders and leaving through the tunnels, not if they see a chance to pay back whats owed.
All we can do is offer them the choice, Major Zian replied, sounding far more mature than his years. If they choose to fight, then who are we to deny them the opportunity? Is that clear?
For a moment, Siyar thought the Major was talking to him, and he had no idea why he felt the need to clarify, but then, an old man appeared out of thin air, one wearing robes bearing the Situ sigil. A Peak Expert then, but one with a foot in the grave, his face half slack as if hed suffered a stroke and a back so hunched his shoulders were almost higher than his head. Yes yes, Ill refrain from heavy handed tactics to drive the slaves into the tunnels. Ill lose no sleep over Defiled killing Defiled.
They aint Defiled. As the old man turned his full attention upon Siyar, he suddenly didnt seem all that old anymore, but it was too late to back down now. Theyre citizens of the Empire, Siyar insisted, matching the old mans glare with his blackest stare. After all they been through, they deserve that much at least.
For long seconds, the old man said nothing, but then the slackness in his face disappeared as he straightened his back and stretched. Oh how far the clan has fallen, the old man said, huffing a sad sigh as he completed his transformation that somehow left him looking exactly the same, but stronger and more vital, a Warrior through and through. When even a damned bandit dares show such disrespect before I, Situ Chi Gan. Drawing a longsword from the scabbard slung across his back, one Siyar hadnt noticed until now, Chi Gan brandished it casually about in a fierce and precise pattern that came dangerously close to Siyars neck. But, the elder added, before Siyar had time to decide if he wanted to kill the old man or appease him, I suppose you are correct. The people of the West have done well to endure this long, so perhaps their continued survival will not lead to the Empires doom as I feared.
His tone was rife with sarcasm, but shouts rose up from outside the inn, before Siyar had a chance to reply. Shame, he said, turning to lead the way up once he realized the shouts were not directed towards them. Seems like one of our friends slipped up and got spotted, so guess well have to pick this up later. Not the best case scenario, but not the worst either as Major Zian rattled off his orders. Theirs wasnt the only retinue that made it into the city unchallenged, so while whichever luckless bastard was dealing with the alerted Defiled no doubt swarming to meet them in battle, the other units would have ample time to move into position.
The plan was in motion, but it was still too early to know if it would end in victory or defeat. A shame the bossman wasnt around, because then he would feel a damn sight better about their chances, but so long as his friends and retinue were present, then Falling Rain was most certainly here in spirit.
Which Siyar supposed would have to do.
Chapter Meme 1
Chapter Meme 2
Chapter 752The stifling darkness of the pitch-black mines was unsettling to most, but Siyar felt right at home in the tunnels under Pan Si Xing.Arm outstretched and fingers brushing against the bedrock walls, he followed the tunnel due west without so much as a whisper. The same could not be said for the six idiots following closely behind. They thought themselves quiet and stealthy, but they might as well have been clanging pots and screaming bloody murder for all the noise they were making. To Siyars vision-sealed senses, their every breath and shuffle rang so loudly in his ears he wondered how it was possible the Enemy had yet to descend upon them with blades drawn. The thud of their boots on hard stone underfoot echoed along the shaft walls in time with the rustle of their pant legs scraping against one another as they moved, all to the beat of the clapping scabbards, creaking leathers, clacking crossbows, and clicking bolts. All problems that were easily fixed mind you, as all you had to do was shift your scabbard, wear better fitted pants, oil your leathers, cradle your crossbow, and line your quiver with a folded up cloth, but these blockheads couldnt even be bothered to stifle their breathing instead of huffing and puffing up a storm. The last part wasnt entirely their fault, as the stale air and rock dust was irritating to say the least, but the same face coverings that protected them from the blowing desert sands proved useful here, provided his soldiers were smart enough to use them.His soldiers. Siyar didnt much like that, not at all, because it burdened him with obligation and responsibilities hed spent his whole life avoiding. Some men went to great lengths to seize the reins of command, mostly so they could lord themselves over others and feel better about themselves, but he never saw the appeal. Too much work having to tell idiots what to do, like trying to wrangle hogs out of the mud except people were usually dumber. Least hogs knew enough to keep quiet when danger reared its head, but these particular idiots were acting like they wanted the whole city to know they were coming. Stealth specialists is what they called themselves, which would be worth a laugh if Siyar wasnt stuck right in the middle of them. This was the Legates idea, tasking Siyar with the burden of training other soldiers to be quiet and stealthy like him. An impossible demand, because there was no one like him, else he wouldnt be the best at what he did, but there was no explaining that to the half-rat. Im not asking for miracles, was the Legates response to Siyars well-reasoned refusal to his ridiculous demand. Just train them until theyre good enough to sneak past the Khishig guards.As if that were so easy. Even Siyar had to work at it to avoid most Khishigs notice, as keen a bunch as any, but thats what mountain life did to you. Out in the wilds, it was the danger you dont see that gets you, a lesson the Khishigs learned well else they wouldnt have made it this far in life. Hed have given his left arm for a Bekkie or two here with him, but they were more useful as light cavalry in the grand scheme of things, and Jorani wasnt so terrible a commander as to waste them. Huntsmen from the Protectorate wouldve been Siyars second choice, but they were skilled archers who also couldnt be spared, leaving Siyar to choose from the best of a rotten bunch of farmers and street rats. The only consolation was knowing that the murderous bastard Ravil had a similar lack of success imparting his sneaking skills to the soldiers assigned him, who were now off in a different mine shaft with their own objective to complete. Teaching was just so much harder than Siyar thought itd be, because so much of what he did came as second nature, but when he sat down to write out everything his students needed to know, the list went on and on and on. Things like how to walk on the balls of your feet without straining your calves and keeping your focus wide instead of fixating on your target. Kids stuff really, but somehow, even former sneak thieves like Jinoe and Ronga didnt have the knack for it, leaving Siyar wondering how they survived to adulthood with both hands intact.Hed seen more skilled thieves lose fingers for less, which just went to show how unfair the Heavens truly were. Better lucky than skilled, thats what Light-Fingered Yu used to say, right up until his luck ran out while fighting Butchers in Sanshu. A damn shame too, because he wouldve made for a better teacher than Siyar. The man could cut a throat and walk away clean before anyone knew what was happening, the target included, but more importantly, he was a silver-tongued devil who knew how to get his point across without needing to yell. Hed have had these soldiers dancing to his tune right quick instead of stumbling along like a herd of drunkards lost in the city streets, but thats just the way things worked out sometimes. It wasnt always the better or more skilled or smarter man who survived to the end, because life was a gamble and sometimes, the dice just refused to roll your way.Thats how it felt in recent months at least, ever since the Legate tapped Siyar for increased responsibilities. Hed rather risk his neck sneaking into Shuai Jiaos kitchen each and every day than have to deal with the burdens of command, but the Legate was not an easy man to say no to. Not because hed string you up and punish you for refusing, or twist your arm and remind you how much you owed him, but the opposite really. Had Siyar turned him down, then Falling Rain wouldve sighed and accepted it without saying another word, except maybe to ask for a suggestion regarding a replacement. Thing was, Siyar knew this, and he also knew there was no one else who could teach those soldiers. Too much of what the Bekkies did was ingrained into their culture, the culmination of centuries of experience living out in the wilds, so it wasnt always applicable in cities and plains. They were a right sneaky bunch alright, but they only knew how to stay hidden, whereas Siyar was an expert at moving unseen even when walking in plain sight. It might seem similar on the surface, but the two skills were anything but, so Siyar took the bossmans offer despite his better judgment because what other choice did he have?Somewhere along the way, the scrawny, piss-eyed little upstart had earned Siyars respect, and damn it if he didnt hate the runt for it.The change in Siyars surroundings was so subtle he doubted anyone else noticed it, but he felt it so keenly he could pinpoint the exact moment when he moved from mine shaft to underground passage. A difference without distinction, some might say, but theyd be wrong and stupid to boot, because it made all the difference in the world. A mine shaft was for working, which meant it followed the ore veins and nothing else, while an underground passage was made specifically to get from one point to another. The walls straightened, the floors were smoothed, the air moved faster due to better ventilation, all of which meant that they were getting close to their destination. Without slowing his pace, he turned to get a better sense of how close his soldiers were behind him, the answer to which was not close enough. The darkness made them anxious, and their anxiety made them stupid and slow, having forgotten all the lessons hed tried to drill into their heads. Tsttt, he hissed, soft as a fluttering eyelash, but to his credit, his soldiers froze in place with only a bare minimum of quiet collisions. Still enough to give them away if there were Defiled abound, which was why hed done it here and now when there was still minimal risk of discovery. Wishing hed picked up the bossmans trick of Sending to multiple people, Siyar turned to his soldiers and whispered, Were out of the mines and into the city proper. Or would be soon enough, but if they couldnt tell that just yet, then all the more reason they should be more careful. You all know the plan, so stay tight and stay quiet.He could hear the idiots nodding like chickens pecking grains, but Siyars talents didnt extend to seeing in pitch black darkness. Even the Defiled needed clear skies to see at night, but these idiots seemed to think he could see clear as day down here through some magical means. Theyd see just as much as he did, but what they didnt do was pay any mind to their other senses, ones which gave almost as much information as their eyes did in full light. Siyar had taught them all the tricks he could, like moving your feet in semi-circles when walking to sweep for obstacles and counting to hear how far the echoes carried and how long between each interval, but he might as well have been describing colour to the blind. Using the wall to orient himself facing forward once more, Siyar tensed up as Ronga, the soldier directly behind him, blindly groped at his back before looping two fingers into his belt, which was one more than he needed. He hated having to do this, but if he had to lead the blind, then he had to make sure they did it quietly, because everything was fucked if they were discovered before reaching their target. Not entirely true, but close enough for his tastes, as they would need every advantage they could get if they wanted to succeed. Taking Bai Qis head would be a real prize indeed, and Siyar was mildly irked no one came to offer him the job. Some of the most famous killers had tried and failed to assassinate Bai Qi, and Siyar was curious how his skills measured up, though any assassin whose name was well known couldnt be all that good at their job, seeing as how the work was so much easier when you had anonymity to rely on. MuYang knew that well enough, though that man was a damned master of the craft, so good even Siyar had trouble keeping track of him in a crowd. It wasnt a fair comparison though, as the spymaster admitted that most of his skills relied on a prodigious use of Concealment, which was why he saw value in Siyars teachings. It was a strange feeling, instructing Peak Experts and religious fanatics alongside lowly rank and file soldiers, but they were idiots all the same once you took away their Chi. That being said, an idiot of a Peak Expert was still a Peak Expert, and he wouldve loved to have a few in his pocket for this mission, but MuYang and his ilk were off doing their own thing elsewhere.Soon as Siyar figured out External Chi, Concealment was gonna be the first skill he worked on, sure as sure, but until such a time, hed just have to be sneakier than the opposition.A double tug on his belt told Siyar that Ronga was ready to set out, a signal he wouldnt have given before receiving the same signal from the man behind him, and so on and so forth. Moving out with right foot first, Siyar set out at a slow and steady pace and kept to it while everyone else struggled to match him, which was a little like trying to pick out an individual bird call amidst a symphony of squawking. It only took ten steps for them to fall into the right rhythm, but for Siyar, those ten steps took more mental effort than carrying on a conversation with Kimi for a day and a night, which was really saying something. The woman used to hate talking, which was one of the things Siyar liked about her most, a no-nonsense sort of girl who knew what she wanted and didnt dance around the subject, but that changed somewhere along the way and now she couldnt stop talking. Not that he minded it all that much, since she had a devilish voice he liked knowing more about her, like where shed come from and how she got here. The girl still had family in Sanshu, a mother and two sisters, and shed been hinting at heading back to see them after all this was said and done. Why she was being so shy about it, Siyar couldnt say, but she always mentioned going back without ever making any plans, and it always led to a lull in the conversation as if she expected something from him. Hed tried encouraging her to go and asking if she needed a loan or anything, but that only made her angry, which made about as much sense as trying to get milk from a bull.Madness is what it was, but that was nothing compared to the fact that he was glad Kimi still stuck around after it all. Hed gone full domestic now, which wasnt the worst thing in the world, but not something hed ever have expected from himself. A part of him wished she were here by his side right now, but she wasnt one for sneaking. Had a vicious right swing though, and handled her spear like a real noble now, with all the twirls and flourishes youd expect. In a straight up match without Aura, shed clean him out right quick, but that was about to be expected given how little he cared for fighting fair. That was just stupid, taking even odds against death, but the world was filled with idiots. Hell, Siyar had hitched his wagon to maybe the biggest idiot of them all if this was the metric to measure by, but Falling Rain had his Path, and Siyar had his.The right tool for the right job, is how Brigadier Hongji put it when he filled the vanguard in on the plan, which was fitting indeed, because they needed killing to be done quietly, which was right up Siyars alley.First, he had to get his soldiers in place though, which was turning out to be a trial and a half. The minutes passed slowly as he made his way down the passageway as quiet as could be, but it wasnt quiet enough. The mining shafts ran deep, but this passage was dangerously close to the surface and only getting closer. Though theyd long since fallen out of use, there was a time when every building in Pan Si Xing had a cellar connected to these tunnels so that miners could make the long trek to the mines without having to brave the elements above. More importantly, any mined products could also be carted back to the warehouses without having to hire Warriors to guard against rebels or bandits, though from what Siyar could tell, the people of the West had more use for rice and bread than salt and diamonds.According to the locals, once the mines dried up, the tunnel entrances were sealed and boarded up since there was no need for them any longer, and leaving them open was all but inviting criminals and rodents to raid their purses and larders. That was almost six-hundred years ago, well beyond the lifespan of any locals, which was good since it meant Bai Qi probably didnt know about the tunnels either. He likely knew of some of the more obvious exits and would have guards watching those, but these underground mineshafts and passageways came together to form an entire under-city that an army could get lost in, meaning there was no way the Enemy could know of and watch each and every exit.With his hand still brushing the wall, Siyar made his way past hundreds of openings that could have lead him right out into the city or the cellar of any number of occupied buildings, but Brigadier Hongji had pinpointed the exact location he wanted Siyar to come out of. Though he had to backtrack five times and carefully carve his way through three barricaded doorways to get there, he found his target easily enough. According to the maps theyd brought and the information the locals provided, the door in front of Siyar should lead up and out into an old alleyway that was blocked on both ends, which the locals only knew about because the local children liked to come here and hide. No doubt the Defiled werent all too keen on letting their slaves play in the streets, so the chances of them discovering this exit was minimal at best, but Siyar wasnt taking any chances. Using his Honed blade, he slowly but surely carved an opening into the door, wincing as the flat surface of his blade scraped against the clay bricks used to barricade the door shut. When the first ray of moonlight broke through the surface to illuminate the tunnel underneath, Siyar held his breath and listened for a full minute before daring to put his eye up to the opening. Even though dawn was still the better part of four hours away, the Westerners were rich in oil and kept their streets lit up all night to accommodate the fact that most of them slept through the days to avoid the worst of the heat. Seeing and hearing nothing that would dissuade him from continuing his efforts, Siyar set to work carefully widening the opening while his soldiers held a cloth underneath him to catch the stones and sand before they could land on the hard floor below and make even more of a din than he already was.It wasnt the safest way to infiltrate the city, not by Siyars standards, but this was the only way for his soldiers to make it this far in without being detected. He couldve made it in if he was alone, but there wasnt much one man could do in the grand scheme of things. Besides, even if they were discovered, tunnel fighting benefited the Imperials more than the Defiled since the natural choke-points prevented the Enemy from surrounding and overwhelming them through sheer numbers. Granted, this meant his six-man squad might survive a few minutes instead of getting slaughtered outright the moment they were discovered, but hed take any advantage he could get.Freezing in his tracks, Siyar signalled his people to silence just as they were depositing their latest load of sand and stone to the side. The whisper of footsteps sounded overhead, close enough that they might hear the clatter of sand and stone, but thankfully, Ronga was paying attention and stopped pouring, but just a hairs breath too late. Just as he righted the cloth and froze in place, one last pebble came tumbling out and was thrown up into the air. Time slowed as it traced an arc though the moonlight, and Siyar reached out to grab it, catching the errant projectile in mid air to keep it from clattering against the ground or floor.Then, his foot slipped on a layer of sand and scraped across the stone steps in a near deafening din.Everyone in the tunnels collectively held their breaths as the footsteps continued overhead, and Siyar prayed the passerby was a slave rather than a Defiled or Chosen who might overhear and feel compelled to investigate. Hell, even a commoner mightve heard that, for the footsteps were so close he could reach out and grab a leg if it wasnt for the wall and floor in the way. Thankfully, the passerby came and left without pause or hesitation, but still Siyar did not relax. Fingers clenched around the hilt of his sword, he listened to the footsteps fade into the distance and counted to a hundred before tentatively accepting that they probably hadnt been discovered.Yes... Siyar.A ghost of a smile flashed across her sunken features, and Siyars heart sank to see it. Now listen here. You keep your head down, Winoa, you hear me? Hed already said too much when he mentioned the cellar, but he had to be sure she would listen. Dont you do nothing stupid, got it? You go to the mines, you do what you normally do, nothing more, nothing less. All you need to do is survive.By your will, Siyar.Despite her agreement, he could see she wasnt so easily swayed, but there was nothing more he could do about it. Just... survive. Be safe. The West has resisted long enough. Time for others to pick up the slack. Damn it, any more and he was going to give away the entire plan, but thankfully, Winoa asked no questions. Instead, she woke the sleeping slaves in the room and ushered them out quietly before they had a chance to speak to Siyar and his soldiers, but every last one of them bowed or saluted as they passed. With nothing else to do besides stand there, Siyar returned their greetings as best he could, then waited as the Defiled started shouting and the slaves filed out of the inn to make room for the next shift to sleep.When it came time to move out, the Defiled were none too gentle with Winoa and her ilk, and as Siyar stood and listened to the abuse they heaped upon the poor people of the West, it took every bit of self control he had not to charge down there and kill every last Defiled in sight. Instead, he counted his breaths and waited as Winoas people left and a new group of slaves arrived to lay their weary heads to rest. These ones took Siyars presence in stride as easily as Winoa, merely acknowledging them without making a scene which spoke volumes to their grit and proved the bossman right. The Father had no hold over the hearts of the valiant, and slaves and commoners though they might be, Siyar had never seen anyone more valiant than the people of the West.The West still resists, he whispered, offering everyone a salute as he led his soldiers out to do what theyd come here to do. Sprinting down the stairs without so much as a creak, Siyar threw himself at the gathered Defiled and struck before they even knew their foes were upon them. His Spiritual Sword sang and his daggers flashed through the air as the world blurred around him in a haze of blood and gore. There was no burning fury, no mindless rage, only cold, violent wrath come to exact vengeance upon the Enemy. Death was too kind to them, but he delivered to his foes nonetheless, because to do less would only bring the Westerners more pain and suffering. Though he was not wholly confident the Imperial Army would succeed here today, when the last body fell and Siyars bloody work done, there were twelve Defiled who would never raise a hand against the West ever again, which was better than nothing.Fuckin hell... ye did all this without makin a peep?Rongas whispered exclamation sounded off like a cannon in Siyars ears as he returned to his senses once more. His soldiers were still on the stairs, watching him with wide-eyed respect and more than a little fear, but Siyar wasnt one to preen. Daylights burning, he hissed, flicking his sword clean of blood before retrieving his thrown daggers, each one embedded in the throat or eye of a Defiled tribesman. Now that was some fine throwing, except he didnt remember how it all went down, or how he managed to kill twelve tribesmen on his own without his soldiers hearing it. That didnt matter though, because Siyar had a mission to complete and a burning desire to kill more Defiled. As his soldiers did what they could to clean up the carnage and keep watch on their surroundings, Siyar brought Ronga down into the cellar and started knocking on the walls and listening for a response. When one finally came, he waited to the count of three before driving his Honed sword into the wall, while Ronga did the same a few metres away. Eager as he was to get on with the bloodshed, Siyar still took it slow and steady so as not to make too much noise, and soon enough, he and the people on the other side had opened up a hole in the wall large enough for everyone to come through.Clasping his fist in a military salute, Siyar greeted the Officer who stepped through. Welcome to Pan Xi Sing, Major Zian, he whispered, eager to move onto the next phase. The building is secure and my men are watching the streets. The slaves upstairs are aware of our presence, but they have yet to give us away.Not ideal, but we work with what were given. Striding out in his Runic Armour and looking like a true Dragon among men, the noble young hero marched out into the cellar with his zealous soldiers behind him. In your opinion, will the enslaved westerners prove a hindrance to our plans?Depends. Struggling to decide what to say, Siyar settled on the truth. Theyre burning for a fight, Ill say that much. When the bloodshed starts, I wouldnt count on them following orders and leaving through the tunnels, not if they see a chance to pay back whats owed.All we can do is offer them the choice, Major Zian replied, sounding far more mature than his years. If they choose to fight, then who are we to deny them the opportunity? Is that clear?For a moment, Siyar thought the Major was talking to him, and he had no idea why he felt the need to clarify, but then, an old man appeared out of thin air, one wearing robes bearing the Situ sigil. A Peak Expert then, but one with a foot in the grave, his face half slack as if hed suffered a stroke and a back so hunched his shoulders were almost higher than his head. Yes yes, Ill refrain from heavy handed tactics to drive the slaves into the tunnels. Ill lose no sleep over Defiled killing Defiled.They aint Defiled. As the old man turned his full attention upon Siyar, he suddenly didnt seem all that old anymore, but it was too late to back down now. Theyre citizens of the Empire, Siyar insisted, matching the old mans glare with his blackest stare. After all they been through, they deserve that much at least.For long seconds, the old man said nothing, but then the slackness in his face disappeared as he straightened his back and stretched. Oh how far the clan has fallen, the old man said, huffing a sad sigh as he completed his transformation that somehow left him looking exactly the same, but stronger and more vital, a Warrior through and through. When even a damned bandit dares show such disrespect before I, Situ Chi Gan. Drawing a longsword from the scabbard slung across his back, one Siyar hadnt noticed until now, Chi Gan brandished it casually about in a fierce and precise pattern that came dangerously close to Siyars neck. But, the elder added, before Siyar had time to decide if he wanted to kill the old man or appease him, I suppose you are correct. The people of the West have done well to endure this long, so perhaps their continued survival will not lead to the Empires doom as I feared.His tone was rife with sarcasm, but shouts rose up from outside the inn, before Siyar had a chance to reply. Shame, he said, turning to lead the way up once he realized the shouts were not directed towards them. Seems like one of our friends slipped up and got spotted, so guess well have to pick this up later. Not the best case scenario, but not the worst either as Major Zian rattled off his orders. Theirs wasnt the only retinue that made it into the city unchallenged, so while whichever luckless bastard was dealing with the alerted Defiled no doubt swarming to meet them in battle, the other units would have ample time to move into position.The plan was in motion, but it was still too early to know if it would end in victory or defeat. A shame the bossman wasnt around, because then he would feel a damn sight better about their chances, but so long as his friends and retinue were present, then Falling Rain was most certainly here in spirit.Which Siyar supposed would have to do.Chapter Meme 1Chapter Meme 2
