Fish Meat – Chapter 132

The First Year of Zhao Wu

The Path of Ten Thousand Directions (11)

With a dagger at her throat, Zhen Wenjun remained unperturbed as she reached up to pull the fallen blanket back over Wei Tingxu.

            

Wei Tingxu was typically very cautious, never falling into deep sleep and always maintaining a degree of alertness. Since arriving in the Liuhuo Kingdom, though she showed no outward signs, Wei Tingxu had been internally tense, resulting in terrible sleep and becoming visibly haggard. Not to mention these past few days, since embarking on the Path of Ten Thousand Directions, through barbarian lands, across seas, and deserts… Wei Tingxu hadn’t slept properly. Zhen Wenjun felt distressed for her, and last night procured some sleep-aiding wine for her to drink, hoping she would get a sound sleep tonight without any worries.

Initially, Wei Tingxu was reluctant to drink: “What if danger strikes? Would you have to carry me on your back and run?”

“Of course I’ll carry you. Zizhuo, just say whether you want to be carried or held – any position my hands and feet can manage, I’ll definitely accommodate you.”

            

Wei Tingxu drank just one cup, her cheeks flushing red, and quickly felt weak and wanted to lie down. Her eyelids kept drooping as she reached out for Zhen Wenjun to hold her. Since she had been able to stand on her own, Zhen Wenjun hadn’t carried her as often, but now could finally see her acting coquettish again.

After carrying Wei Tingxu to bed and sharing some intimate moments, Wei Tingxu began feeling drowsy. Usually one to chat for ages before sleep, today she closed her eyes quickly, hooking her pinky finger with Zhen Wenjun’s as she fell into peaceful sleep – the wine truly worked.

Little did they know this cup of wine came at such an opportune time.

            

Mengda Khan noticed how she tucked in her bedfellow, and more importantly, noticed that she had a bedfellow at all.

“I should kill you with one strike, to vent Mengda Khan’s anger.”

“You’re not Mengda Khan. Who are you?”

            

He withdrew his dagger and left.

Zhen Wenjun followed.

The nights in Liuhuo Kingdom were colder than winter nights in Runing. Zhen Wenjun came out wearing Wei Tingxu’s thick fur coat.

            

“Is it impossible for you to marry him?”

As soon as she came out, Mengda Khan asked straightforwardly.

“As you’ve seen, I already have my beloved.”

            

Mengda Khan laughed mockingly, gazing at the night sky: “How pitiful that he so earnestly wants to marry you and make you the king of Liuhuo Kingdom. Heaven’s will toying with people (meaning destiny’s cruel irony), both with him and me.”

“You’re another person within Mengda Khan’s body.” Indeed, while it was Mengda Khan’s form and appearance, different expressions made him an entirely different person.

“You’re clever, no wonder he likes you.”

            

“What do you mean by Heaven’s will toying with people?” Zhen Wenjun went to the kitchen and brought out a bottle of wine for Mengda Khan. She could sense that this version of Mengda Khan wasn’t weak, harboring deep secrets.

“Why suddenly drink wine?” Mengda Khan asked, holding the wine cup in his hand.

“We people of Da Yu love drinking wine the most. We drink when happy, drink when sad – ‘one drink dissolves a thousand sorrows’.”

            

Seeing Zhen Wenjun casually sitting beside him, Mengda Khan narrowed his eyes and asked, “Aren’t you afraid of me?”

Zhen Wenjun took a sip of wine. The Liuhuo Kingdom’s wine was very watery, incomparable to Da Yu’s fragrant and potent liquor. Zhen Wenjun felt she could drink two large vats without getting drunk.

“What’s there to fear about you?”

            

“I am a person who shouldn’t exist. And… I’ve killed many people.”

“Oh. How many?” Without the expected surprise, Zhen Wenjun’s counter-question was as casual as asking “how much can you drink?”

“I killed six people.”

            

“You killed all of Mengda Khan’s sisters, didn’t you?”

At these words, Mengda Khan’s eyes sharpened, clearly struck by the truth.

“If you hadn’t killed his sisters and eliminated all legitimate heirs to the throne, you as a man would have no possibility of becoming king. The State Preceptor was merely your tool to deceive Mengda Khan. The State Preceptor is innocent; the real murderer is you.”

            

Gulp, gulp, gulp.

Mengda Khan drained the entire cup of wine in one breath, casually sprawling with legs stretched out on the stone steps.

“I am called Atuo, the Atuo who killed all of Liuhuo Kingdom’s heirs.”

            

“Which ‘tuo’ character?”

“The ‘tuo’ from ‘tuoli’ (脫離 – meaning ‘to break away’ or ‘separate’).” You already know I killed so many people, why aren’t you afraid of me?”

“If we’re counting, I’ve killed a thousand times more than you.”

            

“A thousand times… talking big comes without effort to you”

“On the battlefield, one encounter at a narrow path, one ambush or one surprise attack can cause thousands to lose their lives. What’s so difficult about killing a thousand or ten thousand? I’m different from you – you surely remember how those six people looked when they died by your hand, but I only remember the feeling of killing my first person. The rest, when recalled, are just exhaustingly similar scenes of blood and carnage.”

Although Atuo hadn’t killed as many people, when he saw the bodies of those six people, including the previous king of Liuhuo Kingdom, a flash of weariness did cross his mind. Where was the beginning, and how could one truly find liberation?

            

“How did it feel when you killed your first person?” Atuo sat down as well.

“He was my half-brother, same father but different mothers.”

“Your brother… you must have been in great pain then.”

            

“Pain? How could that be possible? I felt exhilarated, unprecedentedly exhilarated.”

“…”

“By blood we were siblings, but he despised me, and I hated him. When I was young, I thought killing someone would be especially difficult and guilt-ridden, but when I ended his life with my own hands, completely terminating all his future possibilities, I felt joy to the point of madness.”

            

“…You’re a demon.”

“You’re right, I am. Later, I participated in several battles, killing more and more people. I discovered I felt no guilt about taking lives, and even enjoyed the pleasure of controlling others’ life and death.”

Atuo quietly edged away.

            

“So in the end, you’re the one who’s afraid of me.” Zhen Wenjun laughed heartily and stared intently at Atuo, until he got the creeps. Just as he was about to speak, unexpectedly, Zhen Wenjun suddenly said,

“There’s another person.”

“What?”

            

“In Mengda Khan’s body, besides you, there’s another person.”

Atuo stood up with a swoosh.

“The one who killed those six people wasn’t actually you, was it? That person is completely different from you and Mengda Khan. He’s the true guardian of Liuhuo Kingdom, and he’s the one who killed everyone who discovered Liuhuo Kingdom’s whereabouts… The eight escapes from Liuhuo Kingdom weren’t simply running away from home, most times it was the third person who received news and led troops to fight, right? But not wanting Mengda Khan to know, he would disappear at appropriate times, letting Mengda Khan think he just frequently lost his memory.”

            

“How did you know?”

“He was the one who wanted to kill me today, but for some unknown reason, suddenly changed into you.” Zhen Wenjun wanted another drink, not realizing when the wine bottle had emptied. Liuhuo Kingdom’s wine really couldn’t hold up.

Atuo’s originally round eyes gradually grew heavy, and with just this slight change in gaze, his expression became completely different, transforming into another person.

            

“Because that fool Mengda Khan disagreed, so Atuo appeared to stop me. He’s still thinking about marrying you.”

“You’re the third person?”

“I am the King of Liuhuo Kingdom, Yi Kun.”

            

Zhen Wenjun had never personally seen what soul separation syndrome was actually like. When first hearing about it, she always thought it was a trick – anyone who could act could play multiple roles, as was common in theater troupes. Today, finally having the chance to witness it firsthand, she understood it was completely different. These were three entirely different personalities, even their appearances and voices weren’t quite the same – their personalities determined the changes in their facial features, with obvious distinctions.

Only after truly seeing it could one understand how many wonders existed in the world. This person called Yi Kun looked completely different from the men of Liuhuo Kingdom; his royal aura could be sensed in just two short sentences.

“Are you willing to be this king?”

            

“I am already the king, the king of Liuhuo Kingdom, and one day I will conquer all directions and become the king of your Da Yu as well!” Yi Kun laughed heartily, “How hypocritical these Liuhuo Kingdom people are, only letting men become king after all women are dead, putting on false airs about elevating men’s status. Hmph, I will let the whole world know that whatever women can do, men can do too!” Yi Kun pointed at Zhen Wenjun, “I will make you understand what true power is. Mengda Khan doesn’t deserve this body. If he wavers again, I will kill him and take possession of this body.”

“Soul separation syndrome is truly one’s inner demon.”

Yi Kun left, and as Zhen Wenjun stood pondering for a moment, about to return to the room, Wei Tingxu came out.

            

“Mengda Khan’s upbringing gave him too much pressure, causing him to develop uncontrollable inner demons.”

The night sky had few clouds, making the moon appear especially large and bright. Under the moonlight, Wei Tingxu gained an air of mystery: “When he can’t suppress his inner demons, he’s likely to be devoured by them. Yi Kun is right; Mengda Khan has no control over Yi Kun. Not just Yi Kun – even Atuo has more power than Mengda Khan. Mengda Khan is very likely to be consumed bit by bit by the two of them.”

“To think such miraculous things exist in the world…” Zhen Wenjun sighed softly, looking in the direction Yi Kun had left.

            

“Not just these, there are many more strange and wonderful things beyond imagination. Only by truly traveling the world can one know. Wenjun…” Wei Tingxu straightened her back, and Zhen Wenjun, knowing she was tired, quickly went forward to carry her.

“What’s wrong, can’t even the sleeping wine give you a good rest?” The night was too quiet, and Wei Tingxu’s surrounding cold aura made Zhen Wenjun unconsciously lower her voice.

Wei Tingxu smiled faintly: “When you’re not by my side, I can always sense it immediately.”

            

“Let me take you back to sleep.”

The two returned to the room and lay down, but Wei Tingxu couldn’t fall asleep.

“Like thorns in my back, how can I sleep peacefully?”

            

“Is Zizhuo worried about the trading rights?”

Wei Tingxu, resting her head on her arm, nodded slightly.

It was only after their intimacy that Zhen Wenjun learned how Wei Tingxu, who always planned behind the curtain, managed to be without a drop of leakage. It was through endless nights of sleepless contemplation, exhausting both mind and spirit, forgetting food and tea while repeatedly analyzing, that she achieved such perfection. Wei Tingxu was human after all, just more intelligent and more persistent than most.

            

“Counting the days, it’s nearly year-end, we’ve been away from Da Yu for ten months…” Wei Tingxu’s fingers lightly hooked onto Zhen Wenjun’s inner garment, “Who knows what changes await in Runing when we return.”

“Time passes like a white colt through a crack” (classical idiom meaning time flies swiftly), if Wei Tingxu hadn’t mentioned it, Zhen Wenjun wouldn’t have remembered the passage of time. In a blink, nearly a year had passed, and Da Yu would be welcoming the new year.

“Does Zizhuo miss home?”

            

“I’m thinking about Her Majesty fighting alone now, likely facing many new enemies. I just want to quickly open the Path of Ten Thousand Directions and return to Runing to ease Her Majesty’s worries.”

Zhen Wenjun secretly smiled at her own pettiness. How could Zizhuo, who had traveled all of Da Yu in her youth, be someone who’d be homesick over distance? Her ambitions were grand, and couldn’t be confined to ordinary people’s limitations.

Wei Tingxu, seeming to feel her previous words were too harsh and distant, added: “Besides, Wenjun, you’re by my side. Wherever we are together is our home.”

            

Hearing these words, Zhen Wenjun’s heart ached, and she nearly shed tears.

She turned and held Wei Tingxu tightly in her arms, tears silently welling in her eyes, quietly dripping into the pillow.

“My father and mother died early… Fortunately, I met Zizhuo, who gave me a home. Leave the Liuhuo Kingdom matter to me, you need not worry anymore.”

            

Mengda Khan was hurriedly preparing for the grand wedding ceremony precisely because he knew that enemies “watching like tigers” (meaning to watch fiercely, waiting for an opportunity) in the shadows would appear again.

The Kelayi weren’t just a small band of dozens of thieves; they were the most feared warrior tribe in the desert, making people lose their gall at the mere mention of their name. For years, the Kelayi had been roaming in Ku’erjianshi, searching for the legendary treasure-filled Liuhuo Kingdom.

Unexpectedly, they really found it.

            

Many wanted to witness Liuhuo Kingdom’s splendor, but besides the numerous dangers on the path through the desert’s heart, more lethal was the Kelayi’s slaughter. For the naturally brutal Kelayi, although they hadn’t yet conquered Liuhuo Kingdom, they already considered its treasures their own, and would cut anyone who coveted them to pieces.

Mengda Khan’s eighth escape from home only encountered a small Kelayi scout team. Both Mengda Khan and all of Liuhuo Kingdom knew that after being defeated last time, the Kelayi had been nurturing their strength for so long, they could launch another invasion at any time.

Mengda Khan wanted to complete the grand wedding before the Kelayi’s major invasion. Once Zhen Wenjun was made king, he could peacefully hide behind and admire his spouse’s heroic stance in repelling enemies. Although some said he personally repelled the Kelayi before, Mengda Khan didn’t believe it, wouldn’t believe it no matter what.

            

How could it be possible, I’m just an ignorant little princess. Don’t believe it, it wasn’t me.

Unfortunately, his luck was poor. The wedding date had been set hastily, and before Zhen Wenjun could even try on her wedding attire, the Kelayi army once again arrived at the foot of the city, launching a frenzied attack, putting forth all their strength to conquer Liuhuo Kingdom in one go.

Mengda Khan was terrified. The State Preceptor first sent out the palace guards to fight, but within less than an hour, they were completely slaughtered by the Kelayi. Knowing the situation was dire, the State Preceptor dared not send more soldiers to their death, so they sealed the city gates and only poured oil below, continuously shooting flaming arrows, hoping to force the Kelayi to retreat.

            

The Kelayi army approached playfully, causing Liuhuo Kingdom’s archers to nervously shoot a large volley of arrows, then the Kelayi would turn and flee, never truly intending to invade. After each volley was exhausted, they would return. The headache was that no one knew which attempt would be the Kelayi’s real attack, so they had to remain vigilant. If they didn’t, the war elephants might actually ram the gates. Those elephants had boundless strength, needing only ten strikes to shatter the city gates. If the Kelayi truly broke into the city, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Having seen through Liuhuo Kingdom’s fear, the Kelayi leader repeatedly advanced and retreated without restraint, wastefully depleting their arrows. Although the flaming arrows landing on oil could create temporary fire walls, this was still the desert – the Kelayi only needed to kick some sand to quickly extinguish the flames.

“This isn’t a good strategy at all; this isn’t how to fight a war.”

            

No one noticed when Zhen Wenjun had climbed the city wall and appeared behind the State Preceptor.

“In your opinion, what should we do now?” The State Preceptor knew Zhen Wenjun was exceptionally skilled in both military tactics and individual combat. With the gates about to be breached, Zhen Wenjun was their only hope, and the State Preceptor adopted a respectful tone.

“Don’t waste military resources needlessly; hold the gates firmly. If they truly intend to attack, they would be ‘twisted as one rope’ (meaning united in purpose), with an attacking momentum completely different from now. State Preceptor, are you afraid of the elephants breaching the city? But look how slowly the elephant herd moves – the time it takes them to reach the gates is enough for you to prepare. Most importantly…” Zhen Wenjun looked around the wall at the soldiers without fighting spirit. Though they held weapons, their hearts were filled with fear and anxiety. Forget about the gates being breached – if the Kelayi came any closer or made their threats more convincing, these soldiers would immediately throw away their armor and weapons and flee.

            

She told her thoughts to the State Preceptor, who didn’t understand: “Why is this? Are their rewards not enough? They’re all extremely wealthy, owning golden houses in the country, why would they abandon the city?”

“Because they don’t know what the outside world looks like, don’t know what kind of enemy they’re facing, and don’t know the disparity between our forces. This uncertainty is a major taboo. ‘Know yourself and know your enemy, and you’ll win a hundred battles’ (famous strategic principle from Sun Tzu), but your soldiers, though they have golden houses in the country, don’t know what the oasis beyond the desert looks like, nor do they know that removing heavy armor would make them more agile against enemies.”

The State Preceptor sighed helplessly, apparently also at a loss: “Once, the Path of Ten Thousand Directions indeed made Liuhuo Kingdom famous, and we had the grand sight of ten thousand nations coming to pay tribute. However, too many coveted Liuhuo Kingdom’s vast wealth, and wolves and tigers appeared in competition. They wanted to devour Liuhuo Kingdom! To kill all its citizens! So subsequent kings chose to close the country, cutting off all external communication. This indeed brought several decades of peace.”

            

“Did the initial tributary nations include people from the Central Plains?”

“Yes, all nations connected by the Path of Ten Thousand Directions yearned for Liuhuo Kingdom.”

“No wonder you know so many languages.”

            

The State Preceptor gave a bitter laugh: “What use is it? As you said, after years of isolation without external contact, we have no idea what the outside world is like now. Our armor remains the same as before the isolation, because without war we became complacent and didn’t know how to advance – it’s the same in all aspects.”

“It’s not too late to recognize these shortcomings.” Zhen Wenjun said, “A victor must not only know themselves and their enemy but understand this principle: Those united in purpose from top to bottom will prevail. You must let your soldiers know who and what they’re fighting for. For their king, and more importantly, to defend this city for their parents and loved ones. If they’re loose and directionless, not knowing their purpose here, forget about the Kelayi army – even my hundred-plus men could slaughter them until not a piece of armor remains. If the king personally commands the battlefield, the Liuhuo Kingdom army’s morale will surely surge.”

The State Preceptor understood! She immediately returned to the city and dragged Mengda Khan out from where he was hiding in the palace kitchen.

            

“How did you know I was here!”

“You always hide here.”

“Where are you dragging me! Let go!”

            

“Your Majesty, this is when your subjects, your country needs you! Quickly come with me to the city wall to command the army!”

“What! Command? How could I possibly do that! I won’t go!” Mengda Khan’s whole body fell backward, almost lying on the ground.

The State Preceptor couldn’t stand his tantrum and had guards forcibly carry him to the city wall.

            

From far away, Zhen Wenjun could hear crying and shouting; looking back, it was indeed Mengda Khan.

Mengda Khan was being held up by several guards, like a pitiful chick, both pathetic and laughable.

How could they forget… this ancestor was truly a timid ghost, without any royal bearing. If he could speak like Yi Kun about becoming Da Yu’s king, he probably wouldn’t be hiding, requiring others to “invite” him out.

            

“My lady! My lady, you’re here!” Seeing Zhen Wenjun’s commanding presence as she stood with hands behind her back, Mengda Khan instantly broke into smiles through tears, no longer needing to be carried, and quite willingly ran to Zhen Wenjun’s side, “Are you here to take me to our grand wedding?”

“No,” Zhen Wenjun said, “I instigated the State Preceptor to drag you here.”

Mengda Khan’s expression changed, and he gave a docile and pitiful “oh.”

            

“You didn’t want to come.” Zhen Wenjun pointed out, also remembering Yi Kun’s words that day – if he wavered again, he would kill him. Looking carefully now, Mengda Khan was indeed someone full of hesitation and indecision. He was extremely easily moved and influenced, with dramatic emotional fluctuations. Being fragile and sensitive yet born into a royal family, he was destined to bear responsibilities that ordinary people couldn’t bear.

How could he not develop inner demons.

Zhen Wenjun brought him to the edge of the wall, pointing at the Kelayi army below: “Do you have the courage to fight them?”

            

“No.” Mengda Khan answered straightforwardly.

“Would you be willing to fight them for your subjects?”

Mengda Khan trembled, his face covered in sweat.

            

“I’m willing…” he said shakily, “but I don’t think I can do it.”

“You know yourself well.”

“Stop making fun of me. Ah…” Mengda Khan shed tears and sweat, “Who made me be born into a royal family? Who made the previous king leave a dying wish for men to have the same rights as women? If I remained like a traditional man, I wouldn’t be worthy of being a man. Only men who are skilled in civil matters to stabilize the nation and martial arts to pacify the realm can be role models for all men of Liuhuo Kingdom… I’m unwilling but must proceed, this must be my destiny. I don’t want to hold a sword or kill people, but I have no choice, I can only do this. So, I…” He looked back at the State Preceptor and his soldiers, utterly helpless.

            

Wei Tingxu, escorted by Xiaohua, also arrived on the city wall, seeing Mengda Khan cautiously grip the long sword. The sword was extremely sharp, capable of cutting Mengda Khan’s delicate skin with the slightest mistake. He struggled to raise the sword, looking quite awkward and laughable, like a child who had wandered onto a battlefield.

Just as he was about to command the army to fight the Kelayi with his delicate voice, Zhen Wenjun deftly snatched the sword with one hand.

Mengda Khan: “How…”

            

Zhen Wenjun looked at the sword, speaking as if to herself: “Yi Kun, I understand why you were so confident now.”

“Who?”

“Let me ask you,” Zhen Wenjun changed the subject, addressing Mengda Khan, “Does the royal title forced upon you now make you feel suffocated?”

            

Mengda Khan wanted to acknowledge it straightforwardly, but thinking of his deceased royal sister, he couldn’t speak.

“Don’t be polite, speak directly. If I help you repel the Kelayi now, would you be willing? Would you feel ashamed?”

Mengda Khan was absolutely ecstatic: “I’m willing, I’m willing! Not ashamed at all!”

            

“In that case, I’ll fulfill your wish. You may go, leave this to me.”

Mengda Khan picked up his skirts to leave, but the State Preceptor called out:

“Your Majesty cannot leave! If Your Majesty leaves, all men in the country will follow your example and think men should only hide behind women! Thus, equal rights will remain a distant dream!”

            

That’s right, there’s still this matter… Mengda Khan looked sadly toward Zhen Wenjun.

“So-called equal rights doesn’t mean that all men in Liuhuo Kingdom must become as formidable as women to achieve equality,” Zhen Wenjun said. “Those who want to pursue commerce should do commerce, those who want to enter politics should enter politics, and if some wish to protect their home and country, that’s also possible. If they don’t want to do any of these things and only wish to stay at home being a lovely little princess, no one should point fingers or force them to become someone else. Doing what one likes and becoming who one wants to be – this is what makes the fairest nation. Otherwise, there can be no talk of equal rights at all.”

The State Preceptor was stunned by Zhen Wenjun’s words, and Mengda Khan was also dazed.

            

Wei Tingxu smiled with gratification hearing Zhen Wenjun speak such words.

Xiaohua looked down at Wei Tingxu, noticing that these past few days, Wei Tingxu’s emotions had become increasingly easy to read.

“Alright, you stay here, I’ll go deal with the Kelayi.”

            

Just as Zhen Wenjun was about to leave with the sword, Mengda Khan burst into tears, clutching her tightly:

“What you said is so right! I just want to become yours! Let me marry you! This is what I want to do most!”

Zhen Wenjun: “…”

            

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