Epigraph:
Wise people makes plenty of mistakes and learns a lot of lessons from it.
The emperor had finally arrived in his room and he intended to get some rest from his long journey. But at the same time, he had also expected from the shadow that he saw earlier to come in and report to him his findings. Just as he is about to sit in his bed, he heard the voice of his trusted shadow who is named is He Ling.
"Your Highness, is the lady worthy of keeping around as your guard?" his shadow said and he did not bother hiding the disdain he felt in his tone towards the idea.
He Ling is like the right hand of the emperor. He has been with the emperor's side before the young emperor ascended in his throne. This shadow simply did not know why the emperor has agreed for the lady to be his bodyguard. The emperor has never trusted anyone before except his shadows and this is why He Ling becomes confused of the emperor's approval to the stranger's proposal earlier. This shadow even thought if his emperor is somewhat bewitched? After all the beauty of the lady is bewitching and his emperor is already on his right age to indulge or appreciate such fine appearance.
The emperor on the other hand, completely understands where He Ling's doubt and confusion come from but if only he had a way to find out what his shadow is thinking right now, he will definitely punish him.
This dependable shadow of him has just arrived from his errands. He had give instructions to He Ling to confirm if the letter they had received from their spy that they placed in Qing Empire is true. He Ling had been out of the He Empire and traveled to their neighboring empire. The shadow did not know what has happened inside the He Empire for several days therefore the emperor did not rebuke him. He plainly looks at He Ling's anxious face and calmly asked him,
"Have you heard about White Death?"
The emperor observed He Ling's reaction secretly and noticed that the man in front of him although there is no change in his facial expression, he is slightly hesitant to answer the question.
"Yo-your... Ma-Majesty, This... This name is not something that we, shadow warriors speak casually. As I have wandered to the other regions in the past, I have naturally heard various stories about how great and skillful the person is but I have not encountered this person yet your highness. I heard that they called this person with such title because of her way of fighting.
Rumors said that there is no hidden agenda when this person executes the enemies. White is used to describe the straightforwardness of this person. Clear fight and clean death. Some people have also called this person White Death because of the symbolism of the color white. Pureness. The purity of this person's intention is feared especially in the intention of killing, your majesty." He Ling said using his cautious tone. The emperor could also hear a bit of tremor in this shadow's voice.
"How terrifying do you think is this person?" the emperor continued asking question to his shadow.
"Based on what I have heard your majesty, this person is very terrifying when provoked." his shadow answered with still a slight tremble in his tone.
The emperor hands the letter from the barbarians and He Ling opened it quickly. He saw his shadow reads the letter with full of interest.
"Your majesty! This is true? The barbarians...White Death has helped you with the barbarians? But how? How are you able to get such the help of this kind of person? " the shadow stuttered and could not help but simultaneously asked the questions in his mind loudly. He could not believe that there will come a day that they gain assistance from a terrifying figure like White Death.
"The lady is White Death." the emperor directly stated. He Ling was even more shocked and speechless for several seconds from the emperor's revelation. He immediately cleared his throat as he almost coughed from his own saliva.
"May I boldly ask how did you find out that the lady is the White Death your majesty? the shadow whispered.
"Because she is wearing a white dress." the emperor answered him and the shadow's eyes widen by the simplicity of the idea.
"Your majesty, anyone can wear a white dress! Even the ordinary civilians sometimes wear a white dress." the shadow protested. Beads of sweats started to appear in He Ling's forehead.
"That's true. Have you heard of White Death's weapon?" the emperor asked him again.
"The weapon? Now that you asked your majesty, I believe that there are no rumors surrounding about this person's weapon that I have heard in the past. I remember some people say that this person can kill dozens of people in a blink of an eye but they have not talked anything about the weapon this person uses." The shadow said while accounting his memory.
"Then in the future, you will surely see the weapon." the emperor vaguely stated.
"Have you perhaps seen the weapon your majesty?" The shadow inquired back. He is still struggling to believe that the lady he saw is White Death.
"Yes, the lady showed it to me." the emperor answered casually.
"But your majesty, it is beyond human logic if we call each people wearing a white dress as White Death!" the shadow uttered his thoughts loudly. Frustration is now evident in his tone.
"When you are away, my second brother died under her hands. I have witnessed his death." the emperor stated to finally silence the doubts in his shadow's heart. He Ling was silent for a long time. Is it really just the dress? He secretly asked himself.
"Who would have thought? I never expected that White Death has such looks your majesty. The people outside are indeed full of surprises." He Ling finally mumbled feeling at lost.
"What looks?" the emperor probed the shadow's words.
"From what I saw earlier, she looks so innocent your majesty... even so fragile. This is also probably one of the reasons why other people called her White Death, after all the color white symbolizes innocence. A death from the hand of a person who looks innocent. This is also reasonable. Really reasonable." the shadow analyzes loudly while trying to convince himself.
"Looks can be deceiving. No matter what, I cannot pass the opportunity to have her as my aid." the emperor lectured his shadow with firmness in his tone. He also remembers the elder's warning before about not being deceived by her demure appearance.
"You have higher vision and you attracts skillful and competent people your majesty. The heavens are on your side." the shadow complimented the young emperor. He Mo just shrugged his shoulder and finally asked his shadow about his journey in Qing Empire.
"What have you gathered during your errands?" the emperor asked He Ling with more seriousness in his tone.
"Your majesty, the report from our spy is accurate. The Qing Empire indeed is envious to us. In fact I hurriedly come back here when I learned that their rotten emperor will send the second princess of his empire here to unite us and get our territory in the name of marriage. I found out that few days from now this princess will arrived here as a gift from their kingdom to congratulate you your majesty on the victory against the barbarians. We must arrange some preparations! Please offer your instructions about this matter your highness." He Ling told the emperor all the things he had discovered.
"Very good! Since the Qing Empire wants to cause trouble in my peaceful empire I shall see their capabilities. Tall trees attracts strong winds. Our success had gotten some unnecessary attention but this is also good, this is a proof that we are sailing higher. The arrival of this princess in my empire is also not a bad timing to me. In fact I can use this princess as an excuse later on, when the lady from the Sword Cultivator Clan asks to me some wishes. He Ling, go investigate if the General Xia and General Tang's eldest sons have someone in their heart. Report to me immediately." After the emperor gives instructions to his shadow he finally clears his mind.
Since the Qing Empire wants to attack him, he could not help but slightly laugh. The old is bullying the young, but who will be the prosperous person in the end? The emperor finally lays his body in his large bed comfortably. As he closes his eyes, a figure appears in his mind. A bodyguard is definitely not a suitable position for this figure but he will agree to this arrangement for the mean time. The thought slips his mind, before he went to sleep.