The next day, very early in the morning, Zhangsun Shan and Qui Si had been summoned to a large field located within the palace for training.
They came alongside a few individuals.
Mui Li stood at the center of the field, there was lightening on his sword.
Directly beside him were two men, they were slightly taller than him and were both bald, they both wore long black robes.
"I don't understand why the first thing that had to happen to me when I woke was to see a face this sickening" Zhangsun Shan says in his direction with a smirk.
Mui Li was annoyed at the remark but he kept it hidden.
There were about seven children before him, each was dressed in white garments as was customary for every protege under the emperor's palace.
All the children were very young as the oldest amongst them was 13, though Zhangsun Shan and Qui Si were obviously the youngest.
"Krigo is a technique which is manifested as a result of unifying your spirit with your mind thereby amassing spiritual and powerful energy which can be generated through your body" Mui Like says as he stretches out his right arm, immediately, a wave escapes from it and destroy a wooden structure to smithereens which was about fifteen feet towards his right side, there were also other wooden structures beside it.
As the students saw the demonstrations, they were each amazed except for Zhangsun Shan of course who looked unimpressed.
"Really, is this really what I left the dream where I was doing absolutely nothing for, I have seen Rui Hongcha do far better than that without even trying" Zhangsun Shan says aloud, annoyance visibly written all over his face.
Mui Li couldn't endure it anymore as he looked over at the white-haired kid
"Well, why don't you give it a try, the basics of Krigo involves a lot of focus and concentration to learn, one which would take years for anyone to learn."
"Speak for yourself," Zhangsun Shan says as he looks over at the remaining practice dummies which remained
"You said I just needed to unify my spirit and mind but that wasn't all that there was to it, before I got here, I saw you taking a deep breath, you were trying to calm down and clear your mind of all unnecessary thoughts meaning this isn't an exercise that can be done with unnecessary emotions, you also put out your arm in a particular pose, seeing as how you retracted your arm, it was really uncomfortable for you meaning it wasn't optional, it's necessary for that attack so it could work" Zhangsun Shan smiles as he looked at Mui Li.
Mui Li was amazed, his haughty expression completely gone.
"With all that said, let me show you the difference between a god and a mortal" Zhangsun Shan ends as he points his left arm to the remaining dummies, he destroyed all of them to crisp.
All the remaining children were impressed beyond words as they ran over to Zhangsun Shan carrying him overhead and hailing him happily.
Mui Li looked at the child, he bit his lower lip, he was obviously pained.
The emperor was at the window of his chambers looking at all that was going on, the chambers were located about seventy feet away from the training pitch and it was high up in the building, he stood a few meters away from his bed, on it laid two naked young women who were sleeping, the emperor too was also naked and he was physically fit, he had the build-up of a warrior with long black hair, he was actually handsome.
"This kid, Zhangsun Shan is really something, learning the basics of Krigo from just one demonstration, just as much as he might prove useful, he can also be our greatest threat" the emperor ends as he looks over at Qui Si
"She might be the only leash we have for this mad dog yet, in order to ensure that the validity of this leash is always secure, I might have to make a few plans" the emperor ends his statement with a devious grin.
Five years had passed, Zhangsun Shan had grown in height and matured, at age 15, he was now the strongest Krigo user in the entire kingdom, he had learned every secret art and technique known under the sun, neglecting that, he had also introduced a concept called anatomy.
With this, Zhangsun Shan was able to enable the doctors to understand the human body more and therefore find ways to treat it.
He had brought about the concepts of muscles, blood, tendons and so many body components as they were unknown in that era to all of the people.
In every field that Zhangsun Shan was involved in, he was always at the top, well, it didn't come easy to him, Zhangsun Shan was always training, usually, the average Krigo user had to train for seven hours in a day but Zhangsun Shan would train for 21 hours and use 3 hours on research creating even more techniques that he taught his peers.
Qui Si on the other had grown into a beautiful teen but she was still at best; an average Krigo warrior.
It wasn't her fault as she didn't stick to her rigorous training as she always snuck out of the palace to help those who felt were less privileged.
The emperor was fond of over-taxing some poor villages.
Qui Si was always there to send the soldiers packing as most weren't even versed in the art of Krigo so she would easily overpower them.
She would also venture into farms, helping farmers with problems such as wild boars and any other creature which wreaked havoc on their plantation fields.
Qui Si soon became popular and known as the 'Angelic Warrior' while Zhangsun Shan who defended the empire and always won his every war against opposition countries was called 'The one-handed devil.'
Zhangsun Shan was laughing merrily, he sat in a bar, two ladies sat on his two legs, they were both beautiful, one had long black hair while the other had golden hair.
There were many other men who were there, they raised up their cups high, Zhangsun Shan was just returning from a victory, he single-handedly destroyed an entire kingdom, though Krigo was an art known worldwide yet every Krigo user who ever faced Zhangsun Shan never ever had to face any Krigo user again as it was their end.
"Zhangsun Shan" came a deep gruff voice, Zhangsun Shan empties the cup he was drinking, looking over in the direction of the voice, he sees two men dressed in red robes, the one which was common for the empire soldiers to wear.
"What brings you here?" Zhangsun Shan says in their direction.
"The imperial court" the other of the two men begins
"They have summoned you, you are to be congratulated on your victory."
Zhangsun Shan grins as he pushes the girls away from his laps and stands to his full height, he was now about six foot tall, he had started spotting a new hairstyle which he cut short and caused it to brush his forehead, he had dyed the tips of the hair with green dye-making him look very attractive, he had also invented hair products, from when he entered the palace, he had made so many inventions to help the royals, the high-class people, middle class and even the paupers.
Zhangsun Shan grins as he moves towards the soldiers
"Wait there, mortals shall not lead a God," he tells them as he passes them.
The imperial court was supposed to be controlled by a few royal members and a personal representative of the people but that wasn't the case; the truth of it all that it was one person who controlled the entire imperial court; the emperor; Xi Hing.
Zhangsun Shan knew exactly what was going to happen, it was obvious, from the first time he had entered the palace, Xi Hing had planned on using Qui Si as a leash on him so he could bend him into doing whatever he pleased, now Xi Hing would fear that he would no longer treasure Qui Si as before as he was seen as a hero throughout the nation so he could easily get any girl that he wanted.
Xi Hing would make him get married to Qui Si so he could use her against him and one couldn't refuse his request as it was the same as refusing from the imperial order which spelled treason to any offender.
It was just as Zhangsun Shan predicted, when he arrived in the court, the first person he saw was Qui Si, she wasn't standing too far from the entrance, he stood at the far end of the room close to the entrance before he was a long road table with four seats at each side and only one chair at the top, every seat was occupied with various men and women, the only person Zhangsun Shan could recognize amongst all that sat were Xi Hing; the emperor, and Mui Li.
Xi Hing sat at the top of the table on what looked like a palace while Mui Li sat directly beside him.
"Zhangsun Shan" the emperor begins aloud
"You must be wondering why you are called" he continues as he points over to Qui Si
"As a reward for all your exploits, this beautiful maiden shall be your wife."
"Now then, Zhangsun Shan," the emperor thinks to himself
"You can't refuse a gift from me else it will be considered treason, you have already had enough exploits to make other nations terrified of us so killing you now isn't going to completely devastate me but using you for a while longer is optimal but I have to ensure that the mad dog still has it's a leash on, I can't expect it to go all wild and crazy, that will cause unnecessary problems," Xi Hing thinks to himself putting on his most devious smile.
"Xi Hing" Zhangsun Shan thinks to himself
"You think by giving me this girl for a wife, you have completely won but well, the joke's on you, Qui Si has been going out of her way to protect many villages from your villainous rules and now that we two are identified together, if I decide to start a rebellion now, I would have the support of about 67% of your entire kingdom and that's not neglecting that many of the soldiers which are Krigo users and are fond of me, you can't possibly hope to beat one such as dignified as I in a game of wits, I always win" looking over at the emperor, Zhangsun Shan smiles as he nods his head
"Yes, I accept the gift, your majesty.
The duo had gotten married and they had quite a lot of well-wishers who were so happy for them, many of them included the childhood soldiers which were trained alongside them from childhood.
Seven years had passed, Zhangsun Shan was very busy that year trying to vanquish all neighboring kingdoms while Qui Si continued what she loved doing best, saving and helping people.
Zhangsun Shan smiled at himself, he had been able to gather most of the Krigo users in the kingdom to be at his side in other to overthrow the imperial court which was directly controlled by Xi Hing himself.
"So when do we make our jump," Jumong Shen asks, he was almost as tall as Zhangsun Shan, they had both met when Zhangsun Shan was ten years old, he was also a protege who wanted to learn Krigo, he had long red hair and was very handsome.
"Soon, I am going to have a chat with the emperor," Zhangsun Shan tells him as he leaves him and walks towards the throne room.
Xi Hing sat on his throne, he still looked as young as he did twelve years ago, almost as if he never aged.
"For an impostor, you sure do have a lot of confidence, I wonder how the whole kingdom would be once I expose your secret" Zhangsun Shan tells him.
"What do you mean?" He asks sharply.
"Don't try and pretend like you don't know, your elder brother and sisters were in line to rule this kingdom but you bribed the members of the imperial court at that time to enable you to kill them, then after that, you killed off every member of the imperial court and reinstated a new one, one which you knew you could bend to your every wish" Zhangsun Shan smiles at him, he had always dressed differently from the soldiers, wearing a white samurai clothing with a blue colorful design at his hem.
"Don't think I also don't know that you have been plotting ever since the moment you got here to overthrow me" Xi Hing says aloud.
"Duhhhh," Zhangsun Shan says with an unimpressed look like stop stating the obvious
"Even a monkey would see that coming, what god would want to serve under a mortal.
"Well then" Xi Hing smiles at him as he taps his fingers, almost immediately, Mui Li reappears from behind the emperor, he held Qui Si roughly and raised a sword to her neck
"How do you feel about this?"
Zhangsun Shan grits his teeth, how had they gotten their hands on his beloved, he was sure she would have been in another village helping its inhabitants
"Damn you, Mui Li" Zhangsun Shan thinks bitterly to himself.
"For the last twelve years ever since I let you two brats into here" Xi Hing grins as he gets up from his throne
"I realized all the soldiers I sent to collect my stipend were always coming back with bruises and injuries and reports of a Krigo user which they all said was female, and there was only one female who was versed in swordsmanship and the art of Krigo" Xi Hing grins as he touches Mui Li's face lightly
"You, I could have captured and charged you for treason a long time ago but I wanted your boyfriend there..." Xi Hing says pointing over to Zhangsun Shan
"...to completely decimate all my enemies before I finally destroy the two of you" Xi Hing turns towards Zhangsun Shan with a predatory look
"I see you have stirred some hearts against me, your first correction shall be to destroy the little rebel group that you have put against me, do you understand?"
"Ooh, were you saying something," Zhangsun Shan says yawning
"I lost you at the part when you were at blah blah blah."
As he said that, Mui Li raises his weapon as if to cut off Qui Si who was crying profusely
"I am sorry," she says aloud.
"I was just jesting, can't someone play with you again" Zhangsun Shan grins as he looks over at Xi Hing who wore a gravely serious expression
"I mean, I know how much you appreciate good comedy, you have the best sense of humor here."
"You have lived in my palace for twelve years, have you ever seen me smile?" the emperor asks.
"Wait, so you are not smiling," Zhangsun Shan says with a fake surprised expression which looked really genuine
"I thought your face was just incapable of making happy faces as all you have done since you were born was of the greatest evil and respite so your face knows no joy same for your actions."
"The longer you stand there and jest, the more you make me want to see how exciting it would be for me to slit her throat," Mui Li says aloud.
"Don't cry" Zhangsun Shan grins as he moves away to the entrance.
"Good, everything is going just as I planned, after he has returned from killing every disloyal Krigo user in town, we kill him," Xi Hing says aloud ignoring his last statement.
There were multiple screams of agony reverberating around the walls shortly after Zhangsun Shan exited the palace
"AHHHHRGGGGH" "YEEEEEHHHH" "AAAAHHHHHH."
"What about the girl?" Mui Li asks.
"I have always had a thing for her since I saw her but she wasn't developed but now that she is..." Xi Hing says as he stretches his right arm as if to touch her left boob, just as he was about to lay his hand on her.
An arrow embedded in fire flew towards his head but he catches it effortlessly.
He looks behind and standing there was Zhangsun Shan along with hundreds of Krigo users each holding various weapons.
"This is impossible, I heard screams" Xi Hing shouts aloud and as he was speaking, he could still hear the blood-curling screaming of men being butchered but yet they were still in front of him, what was happening.
"Ooh you did" Zhangsun Shan mocks as he unsheathes his sword
"Martial arts style: screams of the ancient warriors undo"
Just as he had said that all the screams stopped
"You should know me by now, I am always one step ahead of you, speaking of which?"
Just as he said that he felt a presence suddenly behind him, he jumps backward, it was Zhangsun Shan, he had unsheathed his sword, Qui Si was by his side safe while Mui Li laid on the ground unconscious.
Xi Hing looked over at the person he thought was Zhangsun Shan, the fake Zhangsun Shan he saw instantly transforms into Jumong Shen.
Jumong Shen must have used a transformation skill while Zhangsun Shan must have used a stealth skill to get close to him.
"You must really think you have the edge" Xi Hing smiles at him.
"With the way things are going, I am pretty sure I have the edge" Zhangsun Shan smiles at him.
"Well then, think again," Xi Hing says as he tears his robes, he was in a golden chain mail but it was surging with Krigo energy that was beyond anything anyone had ever seen
"For every of our Baselda's enemy that you killed, I absorbed their essence into this ancient armor, just like how no one can wield Rui Hongcha's weapon, none can wield this as I obtained it from a completely different dimension, one which you shall never leave to see."
Basilea was the name of the entire kingdom that Xi Hing ruled.
"Owwwww" Zhangsun Shan yawned loudly
"Were you saying something, I lost you at the part when you were at blah blah blah."
"Martial arts style, beyond light speed" Jumong Shen shouts aloud as his entire body becomes cloaked in white light, before he could move from his position, he found Xi Hing behind him, he held a heart, Jumong Shen looked in his chest and saw a massive hole, he looked back at Zhangsun Shan before collapsing to his death.
Zhangsun Shan was amazed, that was a technique which enabled his user to go at speeds far surpassing light speed, Jumong Shen was a warrior who sorely focused on speed, he had worked on it so much to the extent that he could go hundred times light speed but now he was dead.
Zhangsun Shan was obviously faster than Jumong Shen but he knew he didn't stand a chance against whatever Xi Hing was now.
"Despite all my scheming, victory was so close but yet, I had failed to account for one thing" Zhangsun Shan grits his teeth as he sheathes his weapon
"Darling," he says to her
"We have to run."
Xi Hing was drunk in power as he ran across the Krigo users destroying and squashing them like ants causing them to beg for their lives but obviously, he wouldn't spare them causing screams of pain and agony to reverberate around the palace walls, he didn't appear to use any Kirgo based skill or technique but he was far too strong and fast for any Krigo user to handle, he had killed every Krigo user there, there were broken bones, splattered blood and dead bodies lying on the ground, he looked at the position where he saw Zhangsun Shan and Qui Si earlier on but they had gone.
Xi Hing dashes as fast as he could towards the wall, he destroys it easily as he falls and lands down below on his feet, as he lands, he destroys a radius of 34m ground while still causing cracks on the walls of the castle, there were about seven soldiers there standing away from where he had landed, they had gotten alert and fearful as they had seen him, they were trained in the art of Krigo.
"Zhangsun Shan and Qui Si, traitors of this kingdom have escaped, after them, they must have taken the forest to escape as there are usually no soldiers there and knowing the one-handed devil, he would like to draw as less attention as possible, find them and bring me their heads" he commands.
As he said that, all the soldiers ran towards the forest.