Chapter 763
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Chapter 763
In forty years of military service, Binesi had never seen such bullshit before.
When Lieutenant General Akanai revealed her bold and daring gambit to kill Bai Qi, Mataram YuGan, and Mao Jianghong, Binesis heart had soared to see her taking command in a room full of Living Legends. Ever since he was but a boy, the Chief Provost of the Khishigs had long since been a local hero of the Saints Tribulations Mountains, but beyond the mountains, no one even knew her name. Now, she was a Living Legend herself, and Binese could not describe how how gratifying it was to see someone of similar origins rise up so high in the world. Though he took issue with her stubborn naming conventions and lacklustre national spirit, he respected the work she did for the community and her personal strength immensely. Joining the army had been his own personal challenge, for he dreamed of surpassing her in strength and reputation so that the estranged children of the mountains would have a more patriotic hero to look up to, but alas, the Heavens were not so kind.
Immovable Binesi, the Empire called him, a Warrior who could hold his own against the supremely talented, but lacked the ability to surpass them. The title grated on him in his younger years, but as he grew older and wiser, he came to accept his place as the demarcating line between common Peak Experts and those rare talents destined to surpass them. This wasnt to say he was willing to rest on his laurels and give up his dreams of reaching the peak, but rather he no longer defined himself by his progress, lacking or otherwise. The Martial Path had long since fallen off from being his first priority, and now was not even in his top three, for he had a loving wife and two wonderful sons in his life whom he cherished and adored. With these three blessings from Heaven, his lacking talents and stalled progress took a back seat to finding the perfect pink lotus to bring home for Asanes garden pond or bringing his boys to camp out in the woods. Looking back on it now, Binesi pitied his younger self for living solely for strength, and thanked the Mother Above for Her charitable compassion in showing him the proper way forward.Follow current novels on novelb((in).(com)
Not along the Martial Path, but in life itself, for a solitary existence was synonymous with a sorrowful one, so lacking in love and kinship.
That being said, he was still a soldier and Martial Warrior, which meant he had his pride and ambition, muted and dulled though they might be. His heart still soared at the prospect of taking to the field of battle once again, for Lieutenant General Akanai had set them a most arduous challenge, and he for one did not intend to let her down. So imagine Binesis disappointment when Colonel General Nian Zu brought him aside and entrusted him with keeping the little Legate safe in Meng Sha, thereby denying him the chance to shine on the battlefield once more. It was vital work to be sure, for the little Legate had proven himself time and time again in more ways than one, but he also had more than enough protectors without needing to borrow any soldiers from the Colonel General. Unfortunately, the argument fell on deaf ears as Binesi knew it would, for his presence at the little Legates side had as much to do with political theatre as it did with actual concern for the boys safety. Shuai Jiao had long since revealed himself for the cunning politician he truly was, the same as the rest of his brethren hailing from their snake-pit of a province. If Colonel General Nian Zu were to leave the little Legate without a representative from his camp, then Shuai Jiao would take that to mean the two of them had fallen out and act accordingly.
Even in the midst of an all-out offensive against the Enemy, the faithless Central politicians couldnt be trusted not to sink their fangs into another mans sheep, and the little Legate had the fattest flock this side of the East. Even a damn dog knew not to forget favours and violate justice, but the snakes of Central harboured no gratitude for the man whod done so much to safeguard their province. For this reason alone, the Grasping Vine bore the brunt of Binesis displeasure, but as the days stretched into weeks and nothing changed in Meng Sha, he could not help but resent Colonel General Nian Zu and the little Legate both. Only a bit mind you, but how could he not? Binesi was but one of the Famed Fifty, for Mothers sake, and any one of them could have served as the Colonel Generals token soldier, but Binesi got stuck babysitting just because he hailed from the same region as the Little Legate, as if that mattered one whit to the insular Bekhai.
As for the little Legate himself, how many times could one man fall comatose? Not without reason of course, as he did fine work securing four harbours and saving Baatar from certain death, but Binesi couldnt understand why the boy needed weeks of sleep to recover from overtaxing his Core, much less days. More than a month had already passed since the little Legate first fell unconscious, and he remained unconscious long enough for Lieutenant General Akanai to roll the dice and emerge victorious. Though all three targets successfully evaded death, the Enemy paid a dear price in manpower and territory to keep their generals alive. After four bitter days of non-stop battle, Colonel General Nian Zu marched into the city of Shi Bei at the head of his army after forcing the insidious traitor Mao Jianghong to flee with his tail between his legs. Now, the easternmost city of the Western Province was back under Imperial control and quickly being fortified by the Spring and Autumn Consortium, a most heartening victory celebrated by people all across the Empire.
And after two years of just barely scraping by while enduring the relentless Enemy onslaught, this landmark victory was exactly what the Empire needed. First Meng Sha, now Shi Bei, the Legates foolish, but well-intentioned ambition to retake the West was off to a rousing start.
The Lieutenant General herself also found success in her endeavours, slaughtering an untold number of Defiled pursuers after running roughshod over the defenders of Tian Zangli and leaving naught but blood and ashes in her wake. A textbook raid carried out with the utmost efficiency, or so Binesis sons claimed to have heard Quyen Huong publicly acknowledge, which spoke volumes to how impressed the chauvinistic Southern Marshal must have truly been. Though they ultimately failed to take Mataram YuGans head, the fault did not lay with Akanai, for even after razing one city and moving to threaten three more, the traitor Patriarch refused to come out of whatever hole he was hiding in. Neither did Mataram YuChun for that matter, who Binesi yearned to fight on the field of battle to determine who was the better spearman between the two of them, but they had not been fated to meet just yet. For all intents and purposes, the Mataram Clan had seemingly gone into hiding, likely to prepare for a counter-offensive to retake the harbours. That explained their absence from recent affairs, for their forces had most likely been too far out of place when Akanais attack arrived. This much was expected and even presumed, as it was the reason the plan had a chance to succeed in the first place. Though built with the utmost of haste, Meng Shas sturdy walls and lofty towers of iron and concrete would not be easily overrun, while the remaining harbours were largely inconsequential, so even if the Enemy had proceeded with their attack on the harbours, they would have played right into Lieutenant General Akanais hands.
There were already rumours abound of how she might well be promoted to Colonel General for her valiant efforts here in the West. If true, it would simultaneously make her the first woman, half-beast, and Imperial Defence Officer to hold the highest military rank in all the outer provinces, beholden only to the Emperor himself and His Royal General, whose name was a mystery to everyone outside the Imperial Clan. Binesi hoped the rumours were true, if only so he could share in her unheard of accomplishment by virtue of proximity, but she was more than deserving of the honour. To think he once dreamed of surpassing such an incredible Warrior, the foolish dreams of a young man who knew not the heights of Heaven.
As for Lieutenant General Baatar, some would say his contribution to the war efforts surpassed even those of his heroic Mentor and Mother, and that he too was a contender for the rank of Colonel General. The mission in Pan Si Xing was the most dangerous and least likely to succeed for reasons that should be obvious. Not to look down on the Bloody Fanged Wolf, who had already been an established Peak Expert by the time Binesi Developed his Domain, but Baatar was tasked with killing the fearsome and formidable Bai Qi, a Colonel General who had already fought two of his famed peers and emerged with the upper hand. Even Akanai herself was unable to claim his head, yet she sent her Disciple to do so in her stead. Not only that, she also sent him out with a paltry hundred-thousand troops, a force comprised of disciplined elites to be sure, but a meagre number of soldiers considering the monumental task at hand. And yet, despite all the odds stacked against him, Baatar was not only able to clash with the Lord of Martial Peace in single combat and leave with his head still attached, he almost succeeded in taking the Defiled Commander Generals life.
Four years ago, Baatar had been a mere Captain of the Imperial Defence Force, and now he was a Lieutenant General standing closer to the pinnacle of Martial might than some Colonel Generals and Living Legends. Perhaps there would come a day soon when the North had three Colonel Generals, and Binesis pride soared to see his fellow mountain-dwellers succeed.
The stories of Baatars battle with Bai Qi were the talk of the Empire, for few would have ever believed the Bloody Fanged Wolf a match for the Prince of Barbarity. Oh how Binesi would have loved to have seen the battle first-hand, and he envied those fortunate enough to bear witness to such a momentous event. A rare sight to see, two evenly matched Peak Experts battling it out blade to blade with their lives on the line, and while no mere words could ever do it justice, those soldiers who were present in Pan Si Xing never went thirsty so long as they were willing to share their perspective of the action. Baatar himself was currently in Shi Bei, alongside the majority of his surviving forces and the rescued civilians to boot, but many of the wounded and recovering soldiers had been shipped to Meng Sha for recovery, where they were welcomed as heroes with open arms.
As such, Binesi spent many a night buying drinks for the victorious conquerors who took Pan Si Xing and sent the traitor general fleeing with so paltry a force, and from what he could gather, the fighting had been fierce and furious indeed. Already he could see a glut of dramas just over the horizon, and while many would focus on Baatars valiant efforts and Bai Qis shocking reveals of his powerful hidden cards, there was no lack of heroes to focus on. The married Exarches Bralton and Erien proved themselves yet again by racking up an impressive kill count of forty-three Demons in a single battle, a new and impressive record for them to boast of. Lawgiver Won Gwang of Central was unable to match them in raw statistics alone, but it seemed like every soldier Binesi spoke to only had praise for the man who spent his time on the battlefield lending support to those most in need. Situ Jia Yangs reputation went up yet another notch, because even after Bai Qi personally scorned him, the Howling Dragon set to work and killed eighteen Demons and an untold number of Enemy Peak Experts over the course of the battle. The man single-handedly attracted so much of the Enemys ire, the Wraiths were prioritizing him over Baatar whenever they could, for he had a knack for spotting the Concealed assassins that few could match.
There were also lesser talents to take note of, like Major Rustrams concentrated push into the city centre which resulted in a slaughter of the Enemy Chosen, a feat which was celebrated by all, to say nothing of Tam Taewoongs feat of holding the market district to impede the Enemys ability to move through the city. Hangman Jorani was praised for bearing the brunt of the Enemys initial response, as he led them on a merry chase through the winding streets of Pan Si Xing and left naught but chaos and death in his wake. Though no duellist or Demon Slayer, the half-rat excelled at cutting down chaff with his Spiritual Weapon, a rope that somehow served as both whip and chain capable of reaping the lives of unarmoured opponents like wheat before the scythe. Any Champion or Chieftain capable of avoiding death at Joranis hands was quickly dispatched by one of the abundant young Talents emerging from the little Legates retinue, which meant their forces were utterly unmatched on the streets of Pan Si Xing until the Demons and Peak Experts took the field. Whether it be the disciplined, foul-mouthed Wang Bao, the wedded half-dogs Ral and Chey, or the taciturn Lang Yi whose spear would one day pierce the Heavens, the Warriors of Falling Rains retinue made their names known in Pan Si Xing as the next generation of Peak Experts.
Not without cost of course, one paid for in blood and tears. They were back in the city now, which meant their numbers must have taken a mauling else Lieutenant General Akanai would not have sent them away. There was a reckoning coming, and the Imperials would need every able soldier available if they wanted to hold Shi Bei for an entire month, but all Binesi could do was offer his hopes and prayers from Meng Sha.
The coming tribulation should not take away from the heroics in Pan Si Xing however, and while the Peak Experts that had been present in the city spoke often of a formidable hidden tiger named Siyar who dispatched three Demons with a single blow each, in Binesis eyes, the most impressive young talent to stand out was Situ Jia Zian. Killing seven Demons in a single battle might seem unimpressive in comparison to other, more established heroes, but the young man was only twenty-seven and still a few years away from becoming a Peak Expert, yet already a more capable Demon Slayer than most. As anyone who faced them could tell you, killing most Demons wasnt too difficult. Any Peak Expert worth their salt could deliver the final blow; the tricky part was surviving to tell the tale. Demons were inhuman monstrosities that could shrug off wounds which would cripple or incapacitate a human foe, to say nothing of the caustic Ichor coursing through their veins in place of blood, and many a Peak Expert had died after dealing a death-blow to their Demonic foes. A tale as old as the Enemy itself, for a Warrior to lower their guard in their moment of vigilance only to fall victim to the Demons final counter-attack or the resulting spray of Ichor, yet now, there was an up and coming young Warrior who could slay Demons with the best of them.
Lu An Jing would have been proud of his son, which was exactly what Binesi told him when Zian and his retinue arrived in Meng Sha, a gesture the young man obviously appreciated.
Not so terrible a sin except when his parents, Teacher, and grandmother had to step in and shoulder the Heavens just to fulfill the grand promises he made with minimal consultation.
It was the little Legates idea to retake the West, and worthy though his ambition might be, hed largely left Akanai, Baatar, and Taduk to clean up his mess. Irresponsible is what it was, and while he worked harder than any youth Binesi had ever seen, he still couldnt bring himself to like the brat for this and many other reasons. The boy had a big mouth and a habit of getting in over his head, only for his powerful backers to swoop in and save him from a mess of his own making, and it seemed like he would not learn his lesson until someone died for his mistakes. It was one thing for Akanai and Baatar to act, for they were Warriors and soldiers to their core, but every time the Medical Saint acted out, he risked reprisal from the Enemy who no doubt knew the unnatural storms were the work of an Imperial Divinity.
In short, Falling Rain was a silk-pants of the highest order, and while he was not entirely undeserving of praise, he fell far short of the magnificent and magnanimous Chosen Son of the Mother that the people of the Empire had made him out to be.
It didnt help that Binesi was still stuck watching the boy even now as Bai Qis forces marched Westward in a bid to retake Shi Bei. Though the fighting had yet to break out, both sides had been hard at work building up their forces in preparation. It would only be a matters of days now before the massive army of Chosen and Defiled reached the recently liberated city, and Binesi wished he was there with Colonel General Nian Zu instead of here in Meng Sha watching the comatose Falling Rain go for a swim in the bay. Yes, a swim. With his pets and wives at his side, as if they were here for a beach vacation instead of fighting a war for the fate of the Western Province itself.
Two weeks had passed since the charming and adorable Mei Lin first brought her husband out into the bay, without clearing it with Binesi, mind you. Had he known in advance, he would never have allowed it, and hed almost gone apoplectic with rage when he heard what transpired in his absence. As fate would have it, the first day Mei Lin set out into the water with her comatose husband in tow was the same day Binesi traded shifts with Naaran. Ostensibly because the older Warrior was having trouble sleeping and was hoping a double shift would bore him enough to fall asleep standing, but Binesi suspected the amber-eyed grandfather had been put up to it by Mei Lin. Sweet and lovable though she might be, the Medical Saints daughter was not above using her charms to get her way, and the darling half-hare had almost everyone wrapped around her little finger, including the majority of Binesis guards who failed to alert him the moment the little Legates body entered the water.
Fools, one and all, having forgotten how the little Legate almost lost his life when a herd of sharks scented blood in the waters of Nan Pings bay. The Azure Sea was far from safe, for who knew what dangers lurked within its deep and unfathomable depths, but once little Mei Lin had gone out once with her husband and returned safely unharmed, there was no argument Binesi could make that would change her mind. Worse, he didnt dare use force to keep the little Legate landlocked, for the Medical Saint was a doting father and had tasked a fearsome Peak Expert to guard his daughter, a nameless, unsociable woman who punched her way out of a megalodon from inside of its stomach. As such, Binesi was helpless to stop little Mei Lin from bringing her husband and pets out into the water each morning, and the little Legates other two wives joined them after they arrived back in Meng Sha. All he could do was station a handful of ships further out in the water and place Peak Experts on each one to warn him of any incoming danger.
Thats where they were now, with Binesi watching the little Legate float face-up in the water, bobbing in place and never sinking beneath the waves despite a startling lack of support from his wives. The three women kept an eye on him for sure, as theirs was not a marriage of alliance or convenience, but rather true love on all accounts. It was clear the little Legate loved each of his wives dearly and they loved him in turn, which made their lack of concern for him all the more baffling for Binesi to behold. Sure, the little Legate was Blessed by Water and could immerse himself in the sea for an indeterminate and possibly infinite amount of time, but there was no guarantee that his Chi skill would work while he was unconscious from using too much Chi. Whats more, it wasnt as if they were unaware of the danger, for thrice now the quins had warned them of predators drawn to their movements, and each time resulted in a mad scramble to get the little Legate away to safety. Well, at least Mila and Yan had scrambled; Mei Lin simply pouted over the unnecessary end to their games and huffed about how her hubby needed more time in the water.
Which was just ridiculous, and even Mila and Yan knew it, but everyone commiserated with the sweet half-hare because no one wanted to upset her with the truth.
Day in and day out, this was Binesis life now, watching the little Legate as he bobbed up and down with the waves in the Azure Sea. Perhaps this was a form of treatment devised by the Medical Saint, or maybe it was just little Mei Lins way of consoling herself over her husbands pitiful state, but Binesi had to admit that the little Legate looked in good health these days. When his coma first came upon him, he looked like death warmed over, with a pallid and sickly complexion to go along with the pinched, troubled expression that had already etched itself into his features. Somewhere along the way however, his skin had taken on a healthier glow and hed lost that subtle frown and replaced it with a more serene expression, not quite the slack senselessness of a sleeping fool but more of a tranquil, meditative look. Whats more, rather than deteriorate from lack of use, his physique was still as chiselled and muscular as ever, a slim, wiry figure that was deceptively dense and hid a surprising amount of strength and endurance. Did the boy get taller too? Difficult to tell, laying shirtless as he was, but his swimming pants were looking a little shorter than appropriate of late, though that might just be the style these days.
The boys fat quin Mafu popped up from underwater to deposit his pups on the little Legates chest, which the beast saw as a safe place to leave his brood so that he could resume hunting again. The young quins could not be considered small anymore, each one being larger than the boys rabbits and weighing at least forty kilos apiece. While the rational part of Binesis mind panicked and insisted that the comatose Legate was about to drown, he stood in place on the beach and didnt move because hed already made a fool of himself once before, and would not make the same mistake again. There was some force at work keeping the little Legate afloat, either an unconscious Chi working he powered himself or more likely the work of the Divine Turtle swimming nearby. Now there was a sight to bring joy to the heart as the Divine Turtle cut through the waves as if they werent even there while carrying a shellful of quin pups along with her. Every now and then she stopped to check in on the little Legate and trade out the quin pups so each would get a turn, leading Binesi to wonder just what the boy did in a past life to deserve so very many Blessings from Heaven.
While it was widely accepted that the Mother Above didnt favour all Her children equally, there had to be some limits as to how much attention one man could monopolize, else it just wasnt fair...
And therein lay the crux of Binesis issues with the little Legate, something he only realized just now. He, Immovable Binesi, a Warrior of almost sixty years who claimed hed long since come to terms with his lacking talents, was jealous of a young boy who didnt have a single hair on his chin or chest. Ridiculous is what it was, and he scoffed at his own inadequacy, but a part of him also felt his resentment was justified. Falling Rain was more than just talented, he was in a category unto himself, a young Warrior who accomplished so very many miracles it was difficult to judge where he sat upon the scale of strength. Almost at the level of a Divinity in some ways, considering how he single-handedly dismantled the half-badger pirate Huanhuzis fleet, yet simultaneously less than some Peak Experts, for he had issues using certain Chi skills on command and was prone to losing focus in the midst of combat. The boy could Heal like the Medical Saint and Demonstrate the Forms as if he started practising while he was still in the womb, when in truth he had less than a full decade of experience behind him.
So in light of all this, Binesis jealousy was hardly unjustified, though it still felt a little silly to begrudge a man for his talents. At least the little Legate was suitably humble most of the time, though he had his moments of unintentional braggadocio, usually in the form of disbelief that anyone could have issues with something he thought was easier than breathing.
A horn sounded at the front gates, a low, booming warning which was soon echoed by every tower along the wall, and Binesi shot up into the air for a better look. What he saw shook him to the core before igniting his blood, and he quickly returned to the beach and Sent warnings to the girls still swimming in the water. Time to go, was the message, delivered in terse and succinct tones that would brook no argument, though little Mei Lin would undoubtedly try. The Defiled are attacking.
Perhaps the Mother Above hadnt wholly forgotten Binesi, for She had sent him everything his heart desired. Not only was this a chance to test himself in combat once again, but his brief glimpse of the oncoming Enemy army emerging from Concealment had shown him a plethora of banners bearing the Mataram Clan Sigil, which meant he might well have the opportunity to cross spears with YuChun of the Ten-thousand spears and see which of them was the stronger spearman.
Grandmother had always warned Binesi to be careful what he wished for, but he had no regrets. The Enemy would break upon the walls of Meng Sha, and this time, he would be the one hoisting free drinks and regaling others with the tales of his heroics.
Say what you will about wife and family, but there were a few simple pleasures in life which could only be found at the bottom of a liquor bowl while surrounded by strangers.
Chapter Meme
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Chapter 763
In forty years of military service, Binesi had never seen such bullshit before.
When Lieutenant General Akanai revealed her bold and daring gambit to kill Bai Qi, Mataram YuGan, and Mao Jianghong, Binesis heart had soared to see her taking command in a room full of Living Legends. Ever since he was but a boy, the Chief Provost of the Khishigs had long since been a local hero of the Saints Tribulations Mountains, but beyond the mountains, no one even knew her name. Now, she was a Living Legend herself, and Binese could not describe how how gratifying it was to see someone of similar origins rise up so high in the world. Though he took issue with her stubborn naming conventions and lacklustre national spirit, he respected the work she did for the community and her personal strength immensely. Joining the army had been his own personal challenge, for he dreamed of surpassing her in strength and reputation so that the estranged children of the mountains would have a more patriotic hero to look up to, but alas, the Heavens were not so kind.
Immovable Binesi, the Empire called him, a Warrior who could hold his own against the supremely talented, but lacked the ability to surpass them. The title grated on him in his younger years, but as he grew older and wiser, he came to accept his place as the demarcating line between common Peak Experts and those rare talents destined to surpass them. This wasnt to say he was willing to rest on his laurels and give up his dreams of reaching the peak, but rather he no longer defined himself by his progress, lacking or otherwise. The Martial Path had long since fallen off from being his first priority, and now was not even in his top three, for he had a loving wife and two wonderful sons in his life whom he cherished and adored. With these three blessings from Heaven, his lacking talents and stalled progress took a back seat to finding the perfect pink lotus to bring home for Asanes garden pond or bringing his boys to camp out in the woods. Looking back on it now, Binesi pitied his younger self for living solely for strength, and thanked the Mother Above for Her charitable compassion in showing him the proper way forward.Follow current novels on novelb((in).(com)
Not along the Martial Path, but in life itself, for a solitary existence was synonymous with a sorrowful one, so lacking in love and kinship.
That being said, he was still a soldier and Martial Warrior, which meant he had his pride and ambition, muted and dulled though they might be. His heart still soared at the prospect of taking to the field of battle once again, for Lieutenant General Akanai had set them a most arduous challenge, and he for one did not intend to let her down. So imagine Binesis disappointment when Colonel General Nian Zu brought him aside and entrusted him with keeping the little Legate safe in Meng Sha, thereby denying him the chance to shine on the battlefield once more. It was vital work to be sure, for the little Legate had proven himself time and time again in more ways than one, but he also had more than enough protectors without needing to borrow any soldiers from the Colonel General. Unfortunately, the argument fell on deaf ears as Binesi knew it would, for his presence at the little Legates side had as much to do with political theatre as it did with actual concern for the boys safety. Shuai Jiao had long since revealed himself for the cunning politician he truly was, the same as the rest of his brethren hailing from their snake-pit of a province. If Colonel General Nian Zu were to leave the little Legate without a representative from his camp, then Shuai Jiao would take that to mean the two of them had fallen out and act accordingly.
Even in the midst of an all-out offensive against the Enemy, the faithless Central politicians couldnt be trusted not to sink their fangs into another mans sheep, and the little Legate had the fattest flock this side of the East. Even a damn dog knew not to forget favours and violate justice, but the snakes of Central harboured no gratitude for the man whod done so much to safeguard their province. For this reason alone, the Grasping Vine bore the brunt of Binesis displeasure, but as the days stretched into weeks and nothing changed in Meng Sha, he could not help but resent Colonel General Nian Zu and the little Legate both. Only a bit mind you, but how could he not? Binesi was but one of the Famed Fifty, for Mothers sake, and any one of them could have served as the Colonel Generals token soldier, but Binesi got stuck babysitting just because he hailed from the same region as the Little Legate, as if that mattered one whit to the insular Bekhai.
As for the little Legate himself, how many times could one man fall comatose? Not without reason of course, as he did fine work securing four harbours and saving Baatar from certain death, but Binesi couldnt understand why the boy needed weeks of sleep to recover from overtaxing his Core, much less days. More than a month had already passed since the little Legate first fell unconscious, and he remained unconscious long enough for Lieutenant General Akanai to roll the dice and emerge victorious. Though all three targets successfully evaded death, the Enemy paid a dear price in manpower and territory to keep their generals alive. After four bitter days of non-stop battle, Colonel General Nian Zu marched into the city of Shi Bei at the head of his army after forcing the insidious traitor Mao Jianghong to flee with his tail between his legs. Now, the easternmost city of the Western Province was back under Imperial control and quickly being fortified by the Spring and Autumn Consortium, a most heartening victory celebrated by people all across the Empire.
And after two years of just barely scraping by while enduring the relentless Enemy onslaught, this landmark victory was exactly what the Empire needed. First Meng Sha, now Shi Bei, the Legates foolish, but well-intentioned ambition to retake the West was off to a rousing start.
The Lieutenant General herself also found success in her endeavours, slaughtering an untold number of Defiled pursuers after running roughshod over the defenders of Tian Zangli and leaving naught but blood and ashes in her wake. A textbook raid carried out with the utmost efficiency, or so Binesis sons claimed to have heard Quyen Huong publicly acknowledge, which spoke volumes to how impressed the chauvinistic Southern Marshal must have truly been. Though they ultimately failed to take Mataram YuGans head, the fault did not lay with Akanai, for even after razing one city and moving to threaten three more, the traitor Patriarch refused to come out of whatever hole he was hiding in. Neither did Mataram YuChun for that matter, who Binesi yearned to fight on the field of battle to determine who was the better spearman between the two of them, but they had not been fated to meet just yet. For all intents and purposes, the Mataram Clan had seemingly gone into hiding, likely to prepare for a counter-offensive to retake the harbours. That explained their absence from recent affairs, for their forces had most likely been too far out of place when Akanais attack arrived. This much was expected and even presumed, as it was the reason the plan had a chance to succeed in the first place. Though built with the utmost of haste, Meng Shas sturdy walls and lofty towers of iron and concrete would not be easily overrun, while the remaining harbours were largely inconsequential, so even if the Enemy had proceeded with their attack on the harbours, they would have played right into Lieutenant General Akanais hands.
There were already rumours abound of how she might well be promoted to Colonel General for her valiant efforts here in the West. If true, it would simultaneously make her the first woman, half-beast, and Imperial Defence Officer to hold the highest military rank in all the outer provinces, beholden only to the Emperor himself and His Royal General, whose name was a mystery to everyone outside the Imperial Clan. Binesi hoped the rumours were true, if only so he could share in her unheard of accomplishment by virtue of proximity, but she was more than deserving of the honour. To think he once dreamed of surpassing such an incredible Warrior, the foolish dreams of a young man who knew not the heights of Heaven.
As for Lieutenant General Baatar, some would say his contribution to the war efforts surpassed even those of his heroic Mentor and Mother, and that he too was a contender for the rank of Colonel General. The mission in Pan Si Xing was the most dangerous and least likely to succeed for reasons that should be obvious. Not to look down on the Bloody Fanged Wolf, who had already been an established Peak Expert by the time Binesi Developed his Domain, but Baatar was tasked with killing the fearsome and formidable Bai Qi, a Colonel General who had already fought two of his famed peers and emerged with the upper hand. Even Akanai herself was unable to claim his head, yet she sent her Disciple to do so in her stead. Not only that, she also sent him out with a paltry hundred-thousand troops, a force comprised of disciplined elites to be sure, but a meagre number of soldiers considering the monumental task at hand. And yet, despite all the odds stacked against him, Baatar was not only able to clash with the Lord of Martial Peace in single combat and leave with his head still attached, he almost succeeded in taking the Defiled Commander Generals life.
Four years ago, Baatar had been a mere Captain of the Imperial Defence Force, and now he was a Lieutenant General standing closer to the pinnacle of Martial might than some Colonel Generals and Living Legends. Perhaps there would come a day soon when the North had three Colonel Generals, and Binesis pride soared to see his fellow mountain-dwellers succeed.
The stories of Baatars battle with Bai Qi were the talk of the Empire, for few would have ever believed the Bloody Fanged Wolf a match for the Prince of Barbarity. Oh how Binesi would have loved to have seen the battle first-hand, and he envied those fortunate enough to bear witness to such a momentous event. A rare sight to see, two evenly matched Peak Experts battling it out blade to blade with their lives on the line, and while no mere words could ever do it justice, those soldiers who were present in Pan Si Xing never went thirsty so long as they were willing to share their perspective of the action. Baatar himself was currently in Shi Bei, alongside the majority of his surviving forces and the rescued civilians to boot, but many of the wounded and recovering soldiers had been shipped to Meng Sha for recovery, where they were welcomed as heroes with open arms.
As such, Binesi spent many a night buying drinks for the victorious conquerors who took Pan Si Xing and sent the traitor general fleeing with so paltry a force, and from what he could gather, the fighting had been fierce and furious indeed. Already he could see a glut of dramas just over the horizon, and while many would focus on Baatars valiant efforts and Bai Qis shocking reveals of his powerful hidden cards, there was no lack of heroes to focus on. The married Exarches Bralton and Erien proved themselves yet again by racking up an impressive kill count of forty-three Demons in a single battle, a new and impressive record for them to boast of. Lawgiver Won Gwang of Central was unable to match them in raw statistics alone, but it seemed like every soldier Binesi spoke to only had praise for the man who spent his time on the battlefield lending support to those most in need. Situ Jia Yangs reputation went up yet another notch, because even after Bai Qi personally scorned him, the Howling Dragon set to work and killed eighteen Demons and an untold number of Enemy Peak Experts over the course of the battle. The man single-handedly attracted so much of the Enemys ire, the Wraiths were prioritizing him over Baatar whenever they could, for he had a knack for spotting the Concealed assassins that few could match.
There were also lesser talents to take note of, like Major Rustrams concentrated push into the city centre which resulted in a slaughter of the Enemy Chosen, a feat which was celebrated by all, to say nothing of Tam Taewoongs feat of holding the market district to impede the Enemys ability to move through the city. Hangman Jorani was praised for bearing the brunt of the Enemys initial response, as he led them on a merry chase through the winding streets of Pan Si Xing and left naught but chaos and death in his wake. Though no duellist or Demon Slayer, the half-rat excelled at cutting down chaff with his Spiritual Weapon, a rope that somehow served as both whip and chain capable of reaping the lives of unarmoured opponents like wheat before the scythe. Any Champion or Chieftain capable of avoiding death at Joranis hands was quickly dispatched by one of the abundant young Talents emerging from the little Legates retinue, which meant their forces were utterly unmatched on the streets of Pan Si Xing until the Demons and Peak Experts took the field. Whether it be the disciplined, foul-mouthed Wang Bao, the wedded half-dogs Ral and Chey, or the taciturn Lang Yi whose spear would one day pierce the Heavens, the Warriors of Falling Rains retinue made their names known in Pan Si Xing as the next generation of Peak Experts.
Not without cost of course, one paid for in blood and tears. They were back in the city now, which meant their numbers must have taken a mauling else Lieutenant General Akanai would not have sent them away. There was a reckoning coming, and the Imperials would need every able soldier available if they wanted to hold Shi Bei for an entire month, but all Binesi could do was offer his hopes and prayers from Meng Sha.
The coming tribulation should not take away from the heroics in Pan Si Xing however, and while the Peak Experts that had been present in the city spoke often of a formidable hidden tiger named Siyar who dispatched three Demons with a single blow each, in Binesis eyes, the most impressive young talent to stand out was Situ Jia Zian. Killing seven Demons in a single battle might seem unimpressive in comparison to other, more established heroes, but the young man was only twenty-seven and still a few years away from becoming a Peak Expert, yet already a more capable Demon Slayer than most. As anyone who faced them could tell you, killing most Demons wasnt too difficult. Any Peak Expert worth their salt could deliver the final blow; the tricky part was surviving to tell the tale. Demons were inhuman monstrosities that could shrug off wounds which would cripple or incapacitate a human foe, to say nothing of the caustic Ichor coursing through their veins in place of blood, and many a Peak Expert had died after dealing a death-blow to their Demonic foes. A tale as old as the Enemy itself, for a Warrior to lower their guard in their moment of vigilance only to fall victim to the Demons final counter-attack or the resulting spray of Ichor, yet now, there was an up and coming young Warrior who could slay Demons with the best of them.
Lu An Jing would have been proud of his son, which was exactly what Binesi told him when Zian and his retinue arrived in Meng Sha, a gesture the young man obviously appreciated.
Not so terrible a sin except when his parents, Teacher, and grandmother had to step in and shoulder the Heavens just to fulfill the grand promises he made with minimal consultation.
It was the little Legates idea to retake the West, and worthy though his ambition might be, hed largely left Akanai, Baatar, and Taduk to clean up his mess. Irresponsible is what it was, and while he worked harder than any youth Binesi had ever seen, he still couldnt bring himself to like the brat for this and many other reasons. The boy had a big mouth and a habit of getting in over his head, only for his powerful backers to swoop in and save him from a mess of his own making, and it seemed like he would not learn his lesson until someone died for his mistakes. It was one thing for Akanai and Baatar to act, for they were Warriors and soldiers to their core, but every time the Medical Saint acted out, he risked reprisal from the Enemy who no doubt knew the unnatural storms were the work of an Imperial Divinity.
In short, Falling Rain was a silk-pants of the highest order, and while he was not entirely undeserving of praise, he fell far short of the magnificent and magnanimous Chosen Son of the Mother that the people of the Empire had made him out to be.
It didnt help that Binesi was still stuck watching the boy even now as Bai Qis forces marched Westward in a bid to retake Shi Bei. Though the fighting had yet to break out, both sides had been hard at work building up their forces in preparation. It would only be a matters of days now before the massive army of Chosen and Defiled reached the recently liberated city, and Binesi wished he was there with Colonel General Nian Zu instead of here in Meng Sha watching the comatose Falling Rain go for a swim in the bay. Yes, a swim. With his pets and wives at his side, as if they were here for a beach vacation instead of fighting a war for the fate of the Western Province itself.
Two weeks had passed since the charming and adorable Mei Lin first brought her husband out into the bay, without clearing it with Binesi, mind you. Had he known in advance, he would never have allowed it, and hed almost gone apoplectic with rage when he heard what transpired in his absence. As fate would have it, the first day Mei Lin set out into the water with her comatose husband in tow was the same day Binesi traded shifts with Naaran. Ostensibly because the older Warrior was having trouble sleeping and was hoping a double shift would bore him enough to fall asleep standing, but Binesi suspected the amber-eyed grandfather had been put up to it by Mei Lin. Sweet and lovable though she might be, the Medical Saints daughter was not above using her charms to get her way, and the darling half-hare had almost everyone wrapped around her little finger, including the majority of Binesis guards who failed to alert him the moment the little Legates body entered the water.
Fools, one and all, having forgotten how the little Legate almost lost his life when a herd of sharks scented blood in the waters of Nan Pings bay. The Azure Sea was far from safe, for who knew what dangers lurked within its deep and unfathomable depths, but once little Mei Lin had gone out once with her husband and returned safely unharmed, there was no argument Binesi could make that would change her mind. Worse, he didnt dare use force to keep the little Legate landlocked, for the Medical Saint was a doting father and had tasked a fearsome Peak Expert to guard his daughter, a nameless, unsociable woman who punched her way out of a megalodon from inside of its stomach. As such, Binesi was helpless to stop little Mei Lin from bringing her husband and pets out into the water each morning, and the little Legates other two wives joined them after they arrived back in Meng Sha. All he could do was station a handful of ships further out in the water and place Peak Experts on each one to warn him of any incoming danger.
Thats where they were now, with Binesi watching the little Legate float face-up in the water, bobbing in place and never sinking beneath the waves despite a startling lack of support from his wives. The three women kept an eye on him for sure, as theirs was not a marriage of alliance or convenience, but rather true love on all accounts. It was clear the little Legate loved each of his wives dearly and they loved him in turn, which made their lack of concern for him all the more baffling for Binesi to behold. Sure, the little Legate was Blessed by Water and could immerse himself in the sea for an indeterminate and possibly infinite amount of time, but there was no guarantee that his Chi skill would work while he was unconscious from using too much Chi. Whats more, it wasnt as if they were unaware of the danger, for thrice now the quins had warned them of predators drawn to their movements, and each time resulted in a mad scramble to get the little Legate away to safety. Well, at least Mila and Yan had scrambled; Mei Lin simply pouted over the unnecessary end to their games and huffed about how her hubby needed more time in the water.
Which was just ridiculous, and even Mila and Yan knew it, but everyone commiserated with the sweet half-hare because no one wanted to upset her with the truth.
Day in and day out, this was Binesis life now, watching the little Legate as he bobbed up and down with the waves in the Azure Sea. Perhaps this was a form of treatment devised by the Medical Saint, or maybe it was just little Mei Lins way of consoling herself over her husbands pitiful state, but Binesi had to admit that the little Legate looked in good health these days. When his coma first came upon him, he looked like death warmed over, with a pallid and sickly complexion to go along with the pinched, troubled expression that had already etched itself into his features. Somewhere along the way however, his skin had taken on a healthier glow and hed lost that subtle frown and replaced it with a more serene expression, not quite the slack senselessness of a sleeping fool but more of a tranquil, meditative look. Whats more, rather than deteriorate from lack of use, his physique was still as chiselled and muscular as ever, a slim, wiry figure that was deceptively dense and hid a surprising amount of strength and endurance. Did the boy get taller too? Difficult to tell, laying shirtless as he was, but his swimming pants were looking a little shorter than appropriate of late, though that might just be the style these days.
The boys fat quin Mafu popped up from underwater to deposit his pups on the little Legates chest, which the beast saw as a safe place to leave his brood so that he could resume hunting again. The young quins could not be considered small anymore, each one being larger than the boys rabbits and weighing at least forty kilos apiece. While the rational part of Binesis mind panicked and insisted that the comatose Legate was about to drown, he stood in place on the beach and didnt move because hed already made a fool of himself once before, and would not make the same mistake again. There was some force at work keeping the little Legate afloat, either an unconscious Chi working he powered himself or more likely the work of the Divine Turtle swimming nearby. Now there was a sight to bring joy to the heart as the Divine Turtle cut through the waves as if they werent even there while carrying a shellful of quin pups along with her. Every now and then she stopped to check in on the little Legate and trade out the quin pups so each would get a turn, leading Binesi to wonder just what the boy did in a past life to deserve so very many Blessings from Heaven.
While it was widely accepted that the Mother Above didnt favour all Her children equally, there had to be some limits as to how much attention one man could monopolize, else it just wasnt fair...
And therein lay the crux of Binesis issues with the little Legate, something he only realized just now. He, Immovable Binesi, a Warrior of almost sixty years who claimed hed long since come to terms with his lacking talents, was jealous of a young boy who didnt have a single hair on his chin or chest. Ridiculous is what it was, and he scoffed at his own inadequacy, but a part of him also felt his resentment was justified. Falling Rain was more than just talented, he was in a category unto himself, a young Warrior who accomplished so very many miracles it was difficult to judge where he sat upon the scale of strength. Almost at the level of a Divinity in some ways, considering how he single-handedly dismantled the half-badger pirate Huanhuzis fleet, yet simultaneously less than some Peak Experts, for he had issues using certain Chi skills on command and was prone to losing focus in the midst of combat. The boy could Heal like the Medical Saint and Demonstrate the Forms as if he started practising while he was still in the womb, when in truth he had less than a full decade of experience behind him.
So in light of all this, Binesis jealousy was hardly unjustified, though it still felt a little silly to begrudge a man for his talents. At least the little Legate was suitably humble most of the time, though he had his moments of unintentional braggadocio, usually in the form of disbelief that anyone could have issues with something he thought was easier than breathing.
A horn sounded at the front gates, a low, booming warning which was soon echoed by every tower along the wall, and Binesi shot up into the air for a better look. What he saw shook him to the core before igniting his blood, and he quickly returned to the beach and Sent warnings to the girls still swimming in the water. Time to go, was the message, delivered in terse and succinct tones that would brook no argument, though little Mei Lin would undoubtedly try. The Defiled are attacking.
Perhaps the Mother Above hadnt wholly forgotten Binesi, for She had sent him everything his heart desired. Not only was this a chance to test himself in combat once again, but his brief glimpse of the oncoming Enemy army emerging from Concealment had shown him a plethora of banners bearing the Mataram Clan Sigil, which meant he might well have the opportunity to cross spears with YuChun of the Ten-thousand spears and see which of them was the stronger spearman.
Grandmother had always warned Binesi to be careful what he wished for, but he had no regrets. The Enemy would break upon the walls of Meng Sha, and this time, he would be the one hoisting free drinks and regaling others with the tales of his heroics.
Say what you will about wife and family, but there were a few simple pleasures in life which could only be found at the bottom of a liquor bowl while surrounded by strangers.
Chapter Meme
Chapter 763In forty years of military service, Binesi had never seen such bullshit before.When Lieutenant General Akanai revealed her bold and daring gambit to kill Bai Qi, Mataram YuGan, and Mao Jianghong, Binesis heart had soared to see her taking command in a room full of Living Legends. Ever since he was but a boy, the Chief Provost of the Khishigs had long since been a local hero of the Saints Tribulations Mountains, but beyond the mountains, no one even knew her name. Now, she was a Living Legend herself, and Binese could not describe how how gratifying it was to see someone of similar origins rise up so high in the world. Though he took issue with her stubborn naming conventions and lacklustre national spirit, he respected the work she did for the community and her personal strength immensely. Joining the army had been his own personal challenge, for he dreamed of surpassing her in strength and reputation so that the estranged children of the mountains would have a more patriotic hero to look up to, but alas, the Heavens were not so kind.Immovable Binesi, the Empire called him, a Warrior who could hold his own against the supremely talented, but lacked the ability to surpass them. The title grated on him in his younger years, but as he grew older and wiser, he came to accept his place as the demarcating line between common Peak Experts and those rare talents destined to surpass them. This wasnt to say he was willing to rest on his laurels and give up his dreams of reaching the peak, but rather he no longer defined himself by his progress, lacking or otherwise. The Martial Path had long since fallen off from being his first priority, and now was not even in his top three, for he had a loving wife and two wonderful sons in his life whom he cherished and adored. With these three blessings from Heaven, his lacking talents and stalled progress took a back seat to finding the perfect pink lotus to bring home for Asanes garden pond or bringing his boys to camp out in the woods. Looking back on it now, Binesi pitied his younger self for living solely for strength, and thanked the Mother Above for Her charitable compassion in showing him the proper way forward.Follow current novels on novelbin.comNot along the Martial Path, but in life itself, for a solitary existence was synonymous with a sorrowful one, so lacking in love and kinship.That being said, he was still a soldier and Martial Warrior, which meant he had his pride and ambition, muted and dulled though they might be. His heart still soared at the prospect of taking to the field of battle once again, for Lieutenant General Akanai had set them a most arduous challenge, and he for one did not intend to let her down. So imagine Binesis disappointment when Colonel General Nian Zu brought him aside and entrusted him with keeping the little Legate safe in Meng Sha, thereby denying him the chance to shine on the battlefield once more. It was vital work to be sure, for the little Legate had proven himself time and time again in more ways than one, but he also had more than enough protectors without needing to borrow any soldiers from the Colonel General. Unfortunately, the argument fell on deaf ears as Binesi knew it would, for his presence at the little Legates side had as much to do with political theatre as it did with actual concern for the boys safety. Shuai Jiao had long since revealed himself for the cunning politician he truly was, the same as the rest of his brethren hailing from their snake-pit of a province. If Colonel General Nian Zu were to leave the little Legate without a representative from his camp, then Shuai Jiao would take that to mean the two of them had fallen out and act accordingly.Even in the midst of an all-out offensive against the Enemy, the faithless Central politicians couldnt be trusted not to sink their fangs into another mans sheep, and the little Legate had the fattest flock this side of the East. Even a damn dog knew not to forget favours and violate justice, but the snakes of Central harboured no gratitude for the man whod done so much to safeguard their province. For this reason alone, the Grasping Vine bore the brunt of Binesis displeasure, but as the days stretched into weeks and nothing changed in Meng Sha, he could not help but resent Colonel General Nian Zu and the little Legate both. Only a bit mind you, but how could he not? Binesi was but one of the Famed Fifty, for Mothers sake, and any one of them could have served as the Colonel Generals token soldier, but Binesi got stuck babysitting just because he hailed from the same region as the Little Legate, as if that mattered one whit to the insular Bekhai.As for the little Legate himself, how many times could one man fall comatose? Not without reason of course, as he did fine work securing four harbours and saving Baatar from certain death, but Binesi couldnt understand why the boy needed weeks of sleep to recover from overtaxing his Core, much less days. More than a month had already passed since the little Legate first fell unconscious, and he remained unconscious long enough for Lieutenant General Akanai to roll the dice and emerge victorious. Though all three targets successfully evaded death, the Enemy paid a dear price in manpower and territory to keep their generals alive. After four bitter days of non-stop battle, Colonel General Nian Zu marched into the city of Shi Bei at the head of his army after forcing the insidious traitor Mao Jianghong to flee with his tail between his legs. Now, the easternmost city of the Western Province was back under Imperial control and quickly being fortified by the Spring and Autumn Consortium, a most heartening victory celebrated by people all across the Empire.And after two years of just barely scraping by while enduring the relentless Enemy onslaught, this landmark victory was exactly what the Empire needed. First Meng Sha, now Shi Bei, the Legates foolish, but well-intentioned ambition to retake the West was off to a rousing start.The Lieutenant General herself also found success in her endeavours, slaughtering an untold number of Defiled pursuers after running roughshod over the defenders of Tian Zangli and leaving naught but blood and ashes in her wake. A textbook raid carried out with the utmost efficiency, or so Binesis sons claimed to have heard Quyen Huong publicly acknowledge, which spoke volumes to how impressed the chauvinistic Southern Marshal must have truly been. Though they ultimately failed to take Mataram YuGans head, the fault did not lay with Akanai, for even after razing one city and moving to threaten three more, the traitor Patriarch refused to come out of whatever hole he was hiding in. Neither did Mataram YuChun for that matter, who Binesi yearned to fight on the field of battle to determine who was the better spearman between the two of them, but they had not been fated to meet just yet. For all intents and purposes, the Mataram Clan had seemingly gone into hiding, likely to prepare for a counter-offensive to retake the harbours. That explained their absence from recent affairs, for their forces had most likely been too far out of place when Akanais attack arrived. This much was expected and even presumed, as it was the reason the plan had a chance to succeed in the first place. Though built with the utmost of haste, Meng Shas sturdy walls and lofty towers of iron and concrete would not be easily overrun, while the remaining harbours were largely inconsequential, so even if the Enemy had proceeded with their attack on the harbours, they would have played right into Lieutenant General Akanais hands.There were already rumours abound of how she might well be promoted to Colonel General for her valiant efforts here in the West. If true, it would simultaneously make her the first woman, half-beast, and Imperial Defence Officer to hold the highest military rank in all the outer provinces, beholden only to the Emperor himself and His Royal General, whose name was a mystery to everyone outside the Imperial Clan. Binesi hoped the rumours were true, if only so he could share in her unheard of accomplishment by virtue of proximity, but she was more than deserving of the honour. To think he once dreamed of surpassing such an incredible Warrior, the foolish dreams of a young man who knew not the heights of Heaven.As for Lieutenant General Baatar, some would say his contribution to the war efforts surpassed even those of his heroic Mentor and Mother, and that he too was a contender for the rank of Colonel General. The mission in Pan Si Xing was the most dangerous and least likely to succeed for reasons that should be obvious. Not to look down on the Bloody Fanged Wolf, who had already been an established Peak Expert by the time Binesi Developed his Domain, but Baatar was tasked with killing the fearsome and formidable Bai Qi, a Colonel General who had already fought two of his famed peers and emerged with the upper hand. Even Akanai herself was unable to claim his head, yet she sent her Disciple to do so in her stead. Not only that, she also sent him out with a paltry hundred-thousand troops, a force comprised of disciplined elites to be sure, but a meagre number of soldiers considering the monumental task at hand. And yet, despite all the odds stacked against him, Baatar was not only able to clash with the Lord of Martial Peace in single combat and leave with his head still attached, he almost succeeded in taking the Defiled Commander Generals life.Four years ago, Baatar had been a mere Captain of the Imperial Defence Force, and now he was a Lieutenant General standing closer to the pinnacle of Martial might than some Colonel Generals and Living Legends. Perhaps there would come a day soon when the North had three Colonel Generals, and Binesis pride soared to see his fellow mountain-dwellers succeed.The stories of Baatars battle with Bai Qi were the talk of the Empire, for few would have ever believed the Bloody Fanged Wolf a match for the Prince of Barbarity. Oh how Binesi would have loved to have seen the battle first-hand, and he envied those fortunate enough to bear witness to such a momentous event. A rare sight to see, two evenly matched Peak Experts battling it out blade to blade with their lives on the line, and while no mere words could ever do it justice, those soldiers who were present in Pan Si Xing never went thirsty so long as they were willing to share their perspective of the action. Baatar himself was currently in Shi Bei, alongside the majority of his surviving forces and the rescued civilians to boot, but many of the wounded and recovering soldiers had been shipped to Meng Sha for recovery, where they were welcomed as heroes with open arms.As such, Binesi spent many a night buying drinks for the victorious conquerors who took Pan Si Xing and sent the traitor general fleeing with so paltry a force, and from what he could gather, the fighting had been fierce and furious indeed. Already he could see a glut of dramas just over the horizon, and while many would focus on Baatars valiant efforts and Bai Qis shocking reveals of his powerful hidden cards, there was no lack of heroes to focus on. The married Exarches Bralton and Erien proved themselves yet again by racking up an impressive kill count of forty-three Demons in a single battle, a new and impressive record for them to boast of. Lawgiver Won Gwang of Central was unable to match them in raw statistics alone, but it seemed like every soldier Binesi spoke to only had praise for the man who spent his time on the battlefield lending support to those most in need. Situ Jia Yangs reputation went up yet another notch, because even after Bai Qi personally scorned him, the Howling Dragon set to work and killed eighteen Demons and an untold number of Enemy Peak Experts over the course of the battle. The man single-handedly attracted so much of the Enemys ire, the Wraiths were prioritizing him over Baatar whenever they could, for he had a knack for spotting the Concealed assassins that few could match.There were also lesser talents to take note of, like Major Rustrams concentrated push into the city centre which resulted in a slaughter of the Enemy Chosen, a feat which was celebrated by all, to say nothing of Tam Taewoongs feat of holding the market district to impede the Enemys ability to move through the city. Hangman Jorani was praised for bearing the brunt of the Enemys initial response, as he led them on a merry chase through the winding streets of Pan Si Xing and left naught but chaos and death in his wake. Though no duellist or Demon Slayer, the half-rat excelled at cutting down chaff with his Spiritual Weapon, a rope that somehow served as both whip and chain capable of reaping the lives of unarmoured opponents like wheat before the scythe. Any Champion or Chieftain capable of avoiding death at Joranis hands was quickly dispatched by one of the abundant young Talents emerging from the little Legates retinue, which meant their forces were utterly unmatched on the streets of Pan Si Xing until the Demons and Peak Experts took the field. Whether it be the disciplined, foul-mouthed Wang Bao, the wedded half-dogs Ral and Chey, or the taciturn Lang Yi whose spear would one day pierce the Heavens, the Warriors of Falling Rains retinue made their names known in Pan Si Xing as the next generation of Peak Experts.Not without cost of course, one paid for in blood and tears. They were back in the city now, which meant their numbers must have taken a mauling else Lieutenant General Akanai would not have sent them away. There was a reckoning coming, and the Imperials would need every able soldier available if they wanted to hold Shi Bei for an entire month, but all Binesi could do was offer his hopes and prayers from Meng Sha.The coming tribulation should not take away from the heroics in Pan Si Xing however, and while the Peak Experts that had been present in the city spoke often of a formidable hidden tiger named Siyar who dispatched three Demons with a single blow each, in Binesis eyes, the most impressive young talent to stand out was Situ Jia Zian. Killing seven Demons in a single battle might seem unimpressive in comparison to other, more established heroes, but the young man was only twenty-seven and still a few years away from becoming a Peak Expert, yet already a more capable Demon Slayer than most. As anyone who faced them could tell you, killing most Demons wasnt too difficult. Any Peak Expert worth their salt could deliver the final blow; the tricky part was surviving to tell the tale. Demons were inhuman monstrosities that could shrug off wounds which would cripple or incapacitate a human foe, to say nothing of the caustic Ichor coursing through their veins in place of blood, and many a Peak Expert had died after dealing a death-blow to their Demonic foes. A tale as old as the Enemy itself, for a Warrior to lower their guard in their moment of vigilance only to fall victim to the Demons final counter-attack or the resulting spray of Ichor, yet now, there was an up and coming young Warrior who could slay Demons with the best of them.Lu An Jing would have been proud of his son, which was exactly what Binesi told him when Zian and his retinue arrived in Meng Sha, a gesture the young man obviously appreciated.Not so terrible a sin except when his parents, Teacher, and grandmother had to step in and shoulder the Heavens just to fulfill the grand promises he made with minimal consultation.It was the little Legates idea to retake the West, and worthy though his ambition might be, hed largely left Akanai, Baatar, and Taduk to clean up his mess. Irresponsible is what it was, and while he worked harder than any youth Binesi had ever seen, he still couldnt bring himself to like the brat for this and many other reasons. The boy had a big mouth and a habit of getting in over his head, only for his powerful backers to swoop in and save him from a mess of his own making, and it seemed like he would not learn his lesson until someone died for his mistakes. It was one thing for Akanai and Baatar to act, for they were Warriors and soldiers to their core, but every time the Medical Saint acted out, he risked reprisal from the Enemy who no doubt knew the unnatural storms were the work of an Imperial Divinity.In short, Falling Rain was a silk-pants of the highest order, and while he was not entirely undeserving of praise, he fell far short of the magnificent and magnanimous Chosen Son of the Mother that the people of the Empire had made him out to be.It didnt help that Binesi was still stuck watching the boy even now as Bai Qis forces marched Westward in a bid to retake Shi Bei. Though the fighting had yet to break out, both sides had been hard at work building up their forces in preparation. It would only be a matters of days now before the massive army of Chosen and Defiled reached the recently liberated city, and Binesi wished he was there with Colonel General Nian Zu instead of here in Meng Sha watching the comatose Falling Rain go for a swim in the bay. Yes, a swim. With his pets and wives at his side, as if they were here for a beach vacation instead of fighting a war for the fate of the Western Province itself.Two weeks had passed since the charming and adorable Mei Lin first brought her husband out into the bay, without clearing it with Binesi, mind you. Had he known in advance, he would never have allowed it, and hed almost gone apoplectic with rage when he heard what transpired in his absence. As fate would have it, the first day Mei Lin set out into the water with her comatose husband in tow was the same day Binesi traded shifts with Naaran. Ostensibly because the older Warrior was having trouble sleeping and was hoping a double shift would bore him enough to fall asleep standing, but Binesi suspected the amber-eyed grandfather had been put up to it by Mei Lin. Sweet and lovable though she might be, the Medical Saints daughter was not above using her charms to get her way, and the darling half-hare had almost everyone wrapped around her little finger, including the majority of Binesis guards who failed to alert him the moment the little Legates body entered the water.Fools, one and all, having forgotten how the little Legate almost lost his life when a herd of sharks scented blood in the waters of Nan Pings bay. The Azure Sea was far from safe, for who knew what dangers lurked within its deep and unfathomable depths, but once little Mei Lin had gone out once with her husband and returned safely unharmed, there was no argument Binesi could make that would change her mind. Worse, he didnt dare use force to keep the little Legate landlocked, for the Medical Saint was a doting father and had tasked a fearsome Peak Expert to guard his daughter, a nameless, unsociable woman who punched her way out of a megalodon from inside of its stomach. As such, Binesi was helpless to stop little Mei Lin from bringing her husband and pets out into the water each morning, and the little Legates other two wives joined them after they arrived back in Meng Sha. All he could do was station a handful of ships further out in the water and place Peak Experts on each one to warn him of any incoming danger.Thats where they were now, with Binesi watching the little Legate float face-up in the water, bobbing in place and never sinking beneath the waves despite a startling lack of support from his wives. The three women kept an eye on him for sure, as theirs was not a marriage of alliance or convenience, but rather true love on all accounts. It was clear the little Legate loved each of his wives dearly and they loved him in turn, which made their lack of concern for him all the more baffling for Binesi to behold. Sure, the little Legate was Blessed by Water and could immerse himself in the sea for an indeterminate and possibly infinite amount of time, but there was no guarantee that his Chi skill would work while he was unconscious from using too much Chi. Whats more, it wasnt as if they were unaware of the danger, for thrice now the quins had warned them of predators drawn to their movements, and each time resulted in a mad scramble to get the little Legate away to safety. Well, at least Mila and Yan had scrambled; Mei Lin simply pouted over the unnecessary end to their games and huffed about how her hubby needed more time in the water.Which was just ridiculous, and even Mila and Yan knew it, but everyone commiserated with the sweet half-hare because no one wanted to upset her with the truth.Day in and day out, this was Binesis life now, watching the little Legate as he bobbed up and down with the waves in the Azure Sea. Perhaps this was a form of treatment devised by the Medical Saint, or maybe it was just little Mei Lins way of consoling herself over her husbands pitiful state, but Binesi had to admit that the little Legate looked in good health these days. When his coma first came upon him, he looked like death warmed over, with a pallid and sickly complexion to go along with the pinched, troubled expression that had already etched itself into his features. Somewhere along the way however, his skin had taken on a healthier glow and hed lost that subtle frown and replaced it with a more serene expression, not quite the slack senselessness of a sleeping fool but more of a tranquil, meditative look. Whats more, rather than deteriorate from lack of use, his physique was still as chiselled and muscular as ever, a slim, wiry figure that was deceptively dense and hid a surprising amount of strength and endurance. Did the boy get taller too? Difficult to tell, laying shirtless as he was, but his swimming pants were looking a little shorter than appropriate of late, though that might just be the style these days.The boys fat quin Mafu popped up from underwater to deposit his pups on the little Legates chest, which the beast saw as a safe place to leave his brood so that he could resume hunting again. The young quins could not be considered small anymore, each one being larger than the boys rabbits and weighing at least forty kilos apiece. While the rational part of Binesis mind panicked and insisted that the comatose Legate was about to drown, he stood in place on the beach and didnt move because hed already made a fool of himself once before, and would not make the same mistake again. There was some force at work keeping the little Legate afloat, either an unconscious Chi working he powered himself or more likely the work of the Divine Turtle swimming nearby. Now there was a sight to bring joy to the heart as the Divine Turtle cut through the waves as if they werent even there while carrying a shellful of quin pups along with her. Every now and then she stopped to check in on the little Legate and trade out the quin pups so each would get a turn, leading Binesi to wonder just what the boy did in a past life to deserve so very many Blessings from Heaven.While it was widely accepted that the Mother Above didnt favour all Her children equally, there had to be some limits as to how much attention one man could monopolize, else it just wasnt fair...And therein lay the crux of Binesis issues with the little Legate, something he only realized just now. He, Immovable Binesi, a Warrior of almost sixty years who claimed hed long since come to terms with his lacking talents, was jealous of a young boy who didnt have a single hair on his chin or chest. Ridiculous is what it was, and he scoffed at his own inadequacy, but a part of him also felt his resentment was justified. Falling Rain was more than just talented, he was in a category unto himself, a young Warrior who accomplished so very many miracles it was difficult to judge where he sat upon the scale of strength. Almost at the level of a Divinity in some ways, considering how he single-handedly dismantled the half-badger pirate Huanhuzis fleet, yet simultaneously less than some Peak Experts, for he had issues using certain Chi skills on command and was prone to losing focus in the midst of combat. The boy could Heal like the Medical Saint and Demonstrate the Forms as if he started practising while he was still in the womb, when in truth he had less than a full decade of experience behind him.So in light of all this, Binesis jealousy was hardly unjustified, though it still felt a little silly to begrudge a man for his talents. At least the little Legate was suitably humble most of the time, though he had his moments of unintentional braggadocio, usually in the form of disbelief that anyone could have issues with something he thought was easier than breathing.A horn sounded at the front gates, a low, booming warning which was soon echoed by every tower along the wall, and Binesi shot up into the air for a better look. What he saw shook him to the core before igniting his blood, and he quickly returned to the beach and Sent warnings to the girls still swimming in the water. Time to go, was the message, delivered in terse and succinct tones that would brook no argument, though little Mei Lin would undoubtedly try. The Defiled are attacking.Perhaps the Mother Above hadnt wholly forgotten Binesi, for She had sent him everything his heart desired. Not only was this a chance to test himself in combat once again, but his brief glimpse of the oncoming Enemy army emerging from Concealment had shown him a plethora of banners bearing the Mataram Clan Sigil, which meant he might well have the opportunity to cross spears with YuChun of the Ten-thousand spears and see which of them was the stronger spearman.Grandmother had always warned Binesi to be careful what he wished for, but he had no regrets. The Enemy would break upon the walls of Meng Sha, and this time, he would be the one hoisting free drinks and regaling others with the tales of his heroics.Say what you will about wife and family, but there were a few simple pleasures in life which could only be found at the bottom of a liquor bowl while surrounded by strangers.Chapter Meme
