"All kneel to the Royal decree!" The Messenger spoke as he held up a golden scroll causing the commoners to kneel in fear and respect. "General Gellis Vamoria is to summon the Woodland Legion and march to the eastern border to combat the Ghoul Horde of the Sky Splitting Empire!"
Gellis walked to the royal messenger and accepted the scroll with a bow before the messenger sped off. Gellis turned to look at his family then gave them a nonchalant shrug before attempting for the third time to eat dinner.
I stared at my father. His eyes were steeped in worry, not for the family or me, but for the men and women under his command. Of course, it was only natural for a commander to feel worried even when they had complete confidence in the abilities of their subordinates. However, this worry was an indicator that my father actually valued the lives of the people that served under him.
Though we lived in the Mortal World, it was still chock full of cultivators. The talentless that were rejected by sects, the failures who were kicked out of sects, and people who cultivated just to conquer weak Mortal World territory.
Even though my father has diligently cultivated the Woodland Legion with the resources that the Mortal World has to offer, occasionally using resources from the family treasure, it's still the Mortal World. As a result, the quality of enemies is low yet high at the same time.
His highest-ranking officer, Hu Yin, is now a third-stage Houtian expert. Against the Ghoul Horde of the Sky Splitting Empire that neighbors the Dark Water Kingdom to the East, I'm unsure if my father's Legion could hold out.
Besides the humans, only a low-grade bastardized bloodline like the Ghouls would exist in the Mortal World. However, those Ghouls had innately strong bodies, and they feasted on any and everything without fear of death. Lastly, their feasting aided their body cultivation.
"Orym…" My father called out to me.
I had no idea what he was planning on saying, but I took the initiative and interrupted him by saying, "Everything is according to plan. Don't get cold feet on me now."
My father didn't say a word as he walked past me. But I'm sure he knew what I was thinking. With the exceptional increase of power, I'll need to temper myself or risk destroying the foundation I worked so hard to build. Over these years, I became a martial artist and weapon specialist. I'm nearing the peak of my visual sense, and the battlefield isn't a bad place to unlock my sixth sense.
But for some odd reason, I remembered a saying: When it rains, it pours.
That can be said for bad luck and good luck. Good luck is that I have my war. Bad luck came when Officer Blackheart arrived during dinner and informed us that General Qin was dead and that he couldn't poach a single grassland legionnaire. He then added that the General's Second wife had taken command of his legion while the General's first wife and eldest daughter had sought out the Situ Clan for asylum.
"Haiz! Fate is definitely playing tricks on me!" I shouted as I hit the table.
My father laughed at me as he shooed Officer Blackheart away.
"Wait!" I called out, and the man froze.
"You've been operating for two years...You cleared Sissy Qin, and we took her father hostage of General Qin. So let me ask, why did Sissy become so bold?" I asked, and all the eyes at the table focused on Officer Blackheart.
I could hear his heartbeat pounding.
"Look, Blackheart, I'm going to ask you few questions. Fei Rong will go check on the status of Mark Qin. You have until the time she comes back to answer truthfully and expeditiously. If you fail, your head will roll. Starting...now."
Fei Rong vanished from her seat without a sound.
"Son, Blackheart--"
"Dad, listen." I interrupted him. The use of my sense was habitual. I heard everything all of the time.
My father stopped speaking, and his eyes widen as he heard the drum in Blackheart's chest. "Officer Blackheart, answer my son."
"They're coming for him..." Blackheart stammered, "Friend of General Qin is the Enemy of Sissy Qin. She knows about Fei Rong's dealings with the King. She's we have her father, the town...the town is surrounded. No one in the Qin Clan liked the General..."
I looked to my parents, and they stretched their soul sense to cover the town.
"Ironwood and Dove Clans are already engaged," said Mina.
"He's gone!" Feri Rong shouted when she returned.
"Their full force is approaching the barracks and our taste," Gellis added.
Shing! Thud!
My mother reappeared behind Blackheart, and his head fell to the floor before his body collapsed.
"Fei Rong help the Ironwoods. Mother gets to the Barracks. Dad..."
"We'll handle the clan." He interrupted. I gave him a firm nod, and the group scattered.
"People of the Vamoria Clan!" Gellis's voice entered everyone's mind. "We have been betrayed. Prepare to fight and hold nothing back. We must kill every one of our enemies tonight!"
"Woodland Legion!" Mina's voice entered the minds of Legionnaires, " Wake up and prepare for battle. The Qin Clan has come like thieves in the night to kill us. Your General is occupied, so follow my lead, and please keep up!"
Across town, Fei Rong had arrived, but no one saw her as she rode the wind and slaughter the Grassland Legionnaires. Her speared killed everything it touched without remorse. The field began to thin, and Ironwoods began to push the Grassland Legionnaires.
When they attempted to run, low-grade array flags appeared and sealed off the area. Finally, Fei Rong appeared above the sky and ordered the Ironwood Clan to kill them all.
Meanwhile, the Woodland Legion scrambled to and fro as they managed to form behind my mother. Then a light entered the sky, and the night was beaten back as the fake sun illuminated the land.
In the sky, three Houtian experts were leading a few units of Legionnaires from the Qin family. When the light touched their face revealing them, they stopped. My mother squinted as the black fog around the units was peculiar and threatening. If she wasn't there, the Woodland Legion would have been slaughter, as the black fog rendered the enemy invisible to the senses for Houtian and below.
Thankfully my mother's cultivation was being suppressed. In reality...well.
"Ahhhhh!" The blood-curdling screams of the Grassland Legion filled the night as my mother's little fake sun burst into small specs and rained down on our enemies. The moment it made contact, the black fog disappeared, and the enemy burst into flames.
"Clean up the stragglers!" Mina ordered, ripping the Woodland Legion from their state of shock.
Finally, I stood on the rough next to my father as he seemed underwhelmed by the entire situation. As I said before, the Mortal World is simply pre-game preparation.
"You want to see something cool?" he asked me with a childlike smile.
"Of course."
He formed three hand seals, and the areas surrounding the Vamoria clan began to explode. The death screams of hundreds echoed. Bodies flew to the sky as big flashes erupted here and there.
"When did you place those traps?" I asked.
"Ehh? They've been there since we got the place. I was so paranoid that I put them everywhere. I'm just glad I finally got to use them." My father chuckled.
"Here, boy. You've worked hard for us. If everything goes right, we'll be back in the Cultivation with steady force to march our way to the top." My father spoke as a small wine bottle appeared.
I graciously accepted as alcohol was one of the things that I missed dearly. We father and son and sat drinking wine as we watched the fireworks. My father used his soul sense to locate people, then destroyed him.
In a way, this attack was a blessing in disguise. Witnessing the hidden might of Fei Rong and my parents scorched any seed of betrayal in our subordinates.
The next day, while Sissy Qin was awaiting her father's return and word of victory, Fei Rong appeared and flattened the Qin Clan. Meanwhile, my parents were getting Martial Heart Oaths and Blood contracts from our loyalists, while those who refused were getting pushed out of town.
We lost two hundred Legionars that day, but two hundred legionnaires also lost had their cultivation crippled.
Our Clan Elders also took Mark Qin to the capital and had him confess to the murder of General Qin and the attempt to destroy White Tiger Town to weaken the kingdom. All ended well, but the King was now paranoid and cautious of the Vamoria Clan, so he made a drastic order on the fly.
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I sat in my courtyard with Fei Rong. The beautiful flaming-haired woman gracefully poured me a cup of tea with a deep green hue. The hot liquid emitted a light snake formed of steam.
"Thank you for allowing me to join you, young master. I usually spend time with Nimue." Said Fei Rong. I could hear and distinctly recognize the subservient tone in her voice.
"Who did you serve? My mother or father?" I asked nonchalantly.
"Your mother, before she joined your father in the main house." Said Fei Rong.
"Hmm. But you're a valued member of the house now. Not a maidservant. You also cared for me in my younger years. Please, call me Orym, Auntie Rong." I gave her a warm smile, and she gifted me one in return.
"So, which Dao do you plan to comprehend?"
"The spear and wind. As you know. People must go through intent and concepts before they can achieve Dao. The concept of wind and Spear intent have been with me a while now. If I can achieve perfection with the help of Dao leaves, then there's a possibility of achieving the Dao of wind and spear someday." Fei Rong explained.
"Do you think my father will take me to the battlefield with him?" I asked. "We've been planning this for a long time. But the man can be sentimental at times. I worry that he might get cold feet."
Fei Rong exhaled as she put the pot of tea in the middle of the table. "I don't know. You're father and mother had you when they were fifteen. I'm a year older than your mother. And the level of cultivation we're at now is the same level we were back then. We are giants amongst ants. But you and Nimue are far below what we were at that age, and it's because of a lot of factors. And it's because of your level that he might say no. But rest assured, we all want to leave the Mortal World, and your plan allows us to do just that."
"Ahh… Well, we should get on with it then." I spoke as I held my cup out, then put it to my lips to take in every drop with a single gulp.
My mind instantly went numb, and my senses exploded. Across from me, I witness Fei Rong's pupils turn to pinpoints. She then stood up and drew her spear. Likewise, I drew my double-bladed polearm, and together we faced off in the courtyard.
What we shared wasn't a battle but a lesson in the Dao we wished to pursue. Our weapons collided, and we exchanged blows as our comprehension deepened. Two days passed, and the rainy season came. Fei Rong was the first to fall to the lotus position and breakthrough to Perfection in her concept and intent.
I moved through my martial techniques as I knocked on the door of Higher Attainment in Martial intent and Intermediate Attainment of Polearm intent. But I just wasn't ready. So, looking over to Fei Rong, I left her to her meditation as I went to my room to pack. When I was finished, I intercepted my father at the gate as he prepared to lead his legion.
Arriving next to him, I suddenly noticed he was holding the reins in his right hand. He gave me a silent nod, and I quickly moved to mount the mare. Then, as a legion, we made haste to the eastern border.
The first week of the wet season was one for the record books, as the rain fell in gallons, only breaking for brief moments. So when the black-armored olive green robbed warriors of the Woodland Legion arrived at the eastern border, I was astounded when we were welcomed by none other than Situ Ren and his daughter, Situ Qing.
QingQing had become even more beautiful. I could barely recognize her, but I could remember her heartbeat anywhere. I lost count of the number of times I told her to relax around me. Yet, even on the battlefield, her heart flutters.
Her soft peach lips were on display without the veil, along with her jade-like skin and light brown eyes. Now sixteen years old, this kingdom toppling beauty sat on a warhorse after two and a half years of me trying to convince her otherwise. However, during all of that convincing, the connection we formed was undeniably deep and authentic.
"Qing Qing…" I spoke, and the girl blushed. "The detoxification pills have been treating you well."
"My name is Linqiu." she lied.
"How'd you know I was talking to you? I could have been greeting the horse." I teased, and she frowned.
"How'd you know it was me? Father said he barely recognize me when I broke into the second stage Martial Foundation." She spoke.
"Your heart's all erratic again. And even in armor, you smell of sunkissed lilies."
Situ Ren began to laugh as my father lightly chuckled. Our fathers then led the way into camp as we trailed behind with the Woodland Legion in tow. As QingQing and I had a nonessential conversation, I could still clearly make out the small conversations of the people who saw us. I knew rumors would surely spread as this was the first time Situ Qing and I had been together in front of her family's legion, yet interaction was fluid and obviously intimate. I knew then more trouble was coming if I didn't get ahead of it.
If I were the king and two of my top generals were possibly merging to become one house, I would also be worried. Especially when my third top General has just died. I always wanted to partner with General Qin as a marriage alliance is too unstable. A friend once told me that Alliances of money and common interest last longer because love is intangible and the heart is fickle. All in all, the heart drives people to do stupid shit, so keep love out of business.
One of the many reasons my father liked Situ Ren, and my mother loved Situ Qing is because they wore their hearts on their sleeve. Though they knew how to be decisive, their high aptitude for emotion was all too clear. Family meant a lot to the Situs, and the only reason Situ Ren is at the eastern border is fifty percent Royal decree, while the remainder is because he sees a future where Situ Qing and I are married. But, in the end, fate has a way of fucking my plans up. I'm down an ally, and when I met Situ Qing, I told her that I wouldn't propose to her until after we had some sort of connection.
I sigh internally, but what could I do? I need to have a solid force before going to the Cultivation World, let alone attempt to rob three kingdoms and three empires without drawing the wrong kind of attention to my family.
"Uncle Situ…" I suddenly called out, "We should go to the command tent now. Officer Hu Yin can manage the legion."
Sometime later, my father and I stood in a tent with the Situ family. " Does the King know that you've come to our clan in hopes of marriage?"
"It's none of his concern." Situ Ren replied.
I chuckled. "You're Legion rooster must be true to the letter. Ours, however, will be proven false once the battle starts. The King will have two options, kill us or offer his daughter for marriage to keep the Vamoria Clan close and away from you. Considering the stunt, the wife of General Qin just pulled. Also, the Nightshade Family's daughter is nothing compared to QingQing, and accepting the offer will be a disservice to our years of friendship. And If your men start rumors after today…."
"War…" Said Situ Ren. "I've said it once, but I'll say it again. You've raised a sharp boy, General Vamoria."
"Thank you. I've become fond of your daughter as well." My father replied.
I could see the worry in Situ Ren's and QingQing's face. "It's a matter for tomorrow, but I thought you should be aware of the possibilities."
Leaving the tent, I could feel my father's curiosity. "Son, let me tell you something about lost love. Your grandfather was afflicted by it, and he tried to alleviate his sorrow by cultivating and breaking through realms, although he knew his talent would only take him so far. Now, I'm not saying you should settle for shity fate. I'm saying that it's a hard road to go against the heavens, and sometimes the risk and expense outweigh the reward. Your grandfather didn't understand this, and his impulses destroyed our clan."
"I understand, father," I replied and genuinely committed his words of wisdom to heart.
"If you understand, I won't intervene. So, what are you planning now?"
I thought about it for a moment. Honestly, I've been thinking about it for a while. My parents fled the higher realm to save me. Granted, the clan was destroyed, but they had decided to save me before they learned of the impending doom.
To save me, their cultivation has stalled, and they have kneeled before ants. To seat them in their rightful place, returning to the world of cultivation is a must. To do that, two things are needed, Nimue and I need enough strength to protect ourselves and we need an army with undying loyalty to the Vamoria Clan. The best way to achieve the second requirement is apparently to marry Situ Qing and cultivate both Legions. After all, with a treasury as big as the one the Vamoria clan has, it wouldn't be a problem at all.
"I'm going to marry Situ Qing," I told him.
My father stopped walking and looked at me with hard eyes. "Is this what you want to do?"
"It's not about me." I unintentionally misled him, "We can't stay here forever. The qi is worse than cow dung. Just breathing puts more toxins in our body than anyone in the cultivator world will ever have to experience. You and Mother will never breakthrough here because experts at your level don't exist here. If the wrong existence notices us, then we're finished."
"Son...none of that matters as long as you--"
"No! No! It matters to me. As your son, I am grateful, and I want you to have a life as wonderful as the one you sacrifice to provide for me. As a man, I want to repay you for giving up your world to save me. I can't have my parents bowing to ants so that I live comfortably protected from old monsters. You've given me books and resources from the moment I could walk and talk. "Orym" "Ten-thousand skills" Maneuvering for my parents is one of them. Let me do this."
In my heart, memories of losing Suyin and failing her parents resurfaced. However, over the years that I lived as Orym Vamoria, I have come to love my parents and my sister. I lost miserably in my last life, and though I didn't care much for this life, I've come to value it, and I refuse to fail in this life.
"Why her? You can join a sect. We can slowly take over then expand like we planned. If this mortal world is so bad, why tie yourself to a woman that's a product of generations of 'cow dung'? If it's about the mountain legion, We can find you a Sect Master's daughter." He asked. I know he was just worried me. And I never outright told him my thought on Situ Qing since the last time he asked.
It was a tough thing for me to admit aloud. "If I'm honest, I like the girl... I don't know when but things started to become less painful when she's around."
My father's shoulders relaxed, and he exhaled in relieves as if a ton of worries had just vanished. "Good, that's how it should be."
"Yeah..." I agreed and took a moment of silence.
"So, with our treasury. No! Right now, with our knowledge, we can take these two legions, the Ironwood Clan, and the Primrose Family, to new heights. Right now, it's a walk in the park. But as we climb the steps of life--"
"We have the treasury to fall back on as well as the opportunities the world has to offer. And unlike a clan, we're an army of fighters." My father interjected.
He had never been a proactive man. He's told me that himself. But I saw the change in him as he raised me. The disparity of being in the Deep South and the worry that the need to hide will lengthen our stay because the environment isn't fit for cultivation. Not to mention his own cultivation has stalled. Mother doesn't care much, but during the higher levels of cultivation, breathing this much toxicity daily was having an effect. I could see it, and suppressed deep within my father was a hunger for change.
"Let's go slaughter an empire...then take back what's ours. Not what grandfather lost. I'm talking about everything. Who better to lead an army to the top than a descendant of the cursed ancestor?"
My father smiled at me with a competitive glint in his eyes as he said, "Let's go do that…."
My father stopped and gestured for me to turn around. When I did, I saw my best friend and his fiance arrive on horseback. My father patted my shoulder as he said, "Don't forget about your own wants and needs. It's good to have goals, ambition, and the focus to see it through. But that boy, Situ Qing, Nimue, the people around you are here to willingly and happily share your burden. So it's okay to be happy, Orym."
"Haiz! I know. I just think too much sometimes. I promise to think less." I replied.