There are many stories of what happened that night, whether they're sung by opera singers or told by poets. The thing is, no one actually knows the truth behind Daoxu Kingdom's downfall, but humans were talented enough to imagine, assume and talk. Even when they're clever to mask it with sympathy, the worst of people feel intrigued at the misfortunes of others. That is until the ballad is based on their own shame, shaped into a source of entertainment for outsiders to enjoy over a drink. Xuesong was fortunate enough to be placed as their topic of interest. He often overheard them blethering about the only Daoxuian left alive. The young prince who travelled day and night to seek safety. The prince who stole a royal horse and saved himself, leaving his own people to drown in their blood.
People proceeded to sound that the royal family of Daoxu had been wiped out by demons; his mother and father… everyone he ever knew and cared for, gone in one night. But how could that be when the queen, Bai Ting, was the greatest healer in the kingdom, healing even the deadliest diseases. When King Bai Weiming was titled the most skilled martial artist in the world, leading only the strongest and devoted army.
However, the boy understood how vicious these demons can be. Afterall, he's faced them himself. The massacre took place almost a decade ago, yet he recalled that night as if it was only yesterday.
Feet were light above the rich soil of Daoxu's wild fields, fingertips brushing through the crowd of tall grass, his eyes shut and lips curled upwards. Crickets tittered, the scent of wild flowers, ginger and licorice dancing along the cool breeze of spring. The sun had freshly set, allowing the moon and stars to twinkle joyfully throughout the dark roof of their land and seas. When looking up at the prepossessing sky, Xuesong debated what the thousand creatures that lit up their nights would be like, up close and personal. Would they be harmless, like an absent-minded firefly hovering from leaf to leaf? Or would they be hostile, like a humble jellyfish when disturbed?
His six senses return when a frantic screech travelled through the field, as if an animal was begging for aid. Being inherently curious, he blindly followed the yelping of what would most probably be a fox, into the coniferous forest right next to their grassland. The shrieks felt as if acupuncture needles continuously pricked up the nape of his neck, until the mammal was spotted curled up against a shrub of yellow chrysanthemums. It was a young, terribly wounded fox—male, its tousled coat whiter than cotton. Once met with its beady golden eyes, which glistened as it hit the moonrays, the mammal flinched in fear of what this stranger may do. "It's okay," Xuesong impulsively hummed to him, proving that his hands were free of weapons.
The creature's eyes blackened in understanding, eventually finding it safe to relax. Xuesong was now able to focus on the metre long arrow stabbed right through the fox's thigh. It was nearly 5cm deep, making it a miracle how it still lived. Whilst the boy's right hand reached for the arrow, the other laid itself on the animal's head. The fur was rough, similar to horsehair, but its warmth swam up his fingers as he caressed. The least destructive way to remove any weapon was to pull it out in one slow motion, and that was what he did. The fox squirmed and winced, but easily settled once he gently stroked his beautiful snow coat, pressing on the open wound simultaneously. "It's okay. It's over now," an endearing whisper sung from Xuesong's frowning lips.
The young boy exhaled a heavy fret. Just who would've done this?! Beast hunting is not permitted within the kingdom! He needed to report this to the king and queen.
As if plucking a dandelion on a windy day, the fox was carefully lifted in his arms, soon making his way out the forest. The boy was once again in the flower fields, gazing towards Mofa City—heart of the kingdom. Except the picture reflected on his constricted eyes caused every muscle to freeze. Battle horns blew desperately. A wildfire as bright as the sun was engulfing every home in the city. Distant wails of men sent trembles through his bones.
His limbs then moved without control. With the fox fastened in his arms, he ran. He sprinted towards the flames, holding nothing else in his mind. He ran close enough to notice unfamiliar horse riders, wearing thick black armour, clanging at every movement. Filling the sky like black smoke were uncountable creatures, plunging hawk-like attacks on distressed civilians. His jaw locked open since he'd never seen anything like it! Slaughtering people from the ground were depraved soldiers, and slaying from the sky were… DEMONS?!
It was immediately understood. They were intruders from a kingdom across the Eastern Sea—A kingdom who used magic derived from demons. Energy, cultivated from hate, wrath, greed and vengeance. A kingdom ruled by the master of all evil, whom people whisper as The Devil—King Shen Yishan of Hutian.
But this couldn't have been. Crossing the Eastern Sea meant sailing through Hai-Long's region, the great dragon who protected them. Said to be sleeping on an island within the Middle Ocean, it had been the guardian who shielded humans from Shen Yishan's demons for centuries. So how did they make it to their land??!!!
These bombarding questions halted when a weak whimper sounded from his arms. "Don't worry," the boy cried to the fox, "I won't let you die," and with that unstable promise, he bolted from his position and rushed to the back entrance of Mofa city
Praying the royal soldiers had the civillian's safety under control, Xuesong went straight for the palace to seek the king and queen—his parents. Although the intruders were mainly attacking from the centre of the city, several demons proceeded to hunt around the edge.
He had his back pressed against the brickwall of a slim alleyway when one of them floated right above his head. It wasn't long for it to smell a frightened little boy's presence, pouncing down from the roof to a few feet away from his discoloured face. The little prince sought comfort from the fox, hugging it tighter than he should've. Breathing was no longer a privilege as the monster's piercing red eyes scrutinised his. Ignoring the paralysing cower in his bones, there was something about the demon which intrigued him. Xuesong had never seen one in real life, nonetheless, he still expected something horrendous. This creature however, who hovered menacingly like a predator cornering their prey, was oddly enchanting. "Little boy," hissing words came out of its rotting mouth, giving light to the hundred corroding blades it had as teeth, "You're scent… it is different."
Xuesong's voice box had already dried to a strip of licorice. He wondered why it hadn't attacked him yet. Why did it make the effort to converse with him? What did it mean by his scent being different? Different from what?! From the other civilians it had ingested?!!
The young boy was meant to look around for ways to escape, but his head was forced towards it. He inspected as its steady hand lifted near his precious face. Its claw, painted with dripping vermillion, brushed gently against the soft flesh of the boy, as if the demon was studying its new favourite treasure. "You have a pretty face," the serenade in its voice drastically changed to barbaric growls, "Mind if I take it?"
Xuesong's eyes shut tight as an unbearable burn tore down his cheek, hot fluids dripping excessively to his chin. Just when a helpless mewl finally vented out his throat, the weight from his arms suddenly vanished, allowing his eyes to spring open again. It was a sight to behold—The supposedly-wounded fox had escaped from his grasp and was frantically scratching and biting the demon as if it had gone rabid, making the other screech in pain. Xuesong knew at that moment that this was no ordinary fox, because on its behind revealed eight extra luminescent tails. It too, was a demon; a fox spirit rumoured to feed on the human liver. Yet here the little boy watched with wide, enlightened eyes, as a demon protected him from another who wished to kill.
"YOUR HIGHNESS!" A voice desperately called out to him from behind the alley, knocking the confoundment off his limbs.
It was Li Shuang, his parents' personal guard and general of Daoxu's loyal army. Before his mind could react, Xuesong abrunptly rose from the ground to flee from this terror and straight into his familiar embrace. His enveloping arms tightened around the boy, "Don't be scared. I'll get you out of here," his voice was filled with warmth, but an unstable articulation planted spines in Xuesong's lungs.
He shoved away in panic, only to see thick blood leaking from the guard's lower abdomen. "You're hurt!" At this point, tears flowed involuntarily, then all of the concerns dramatically rushed in, "What about my mother?! My father?! Boqin?!! How are they?!"
Li Shuang's face went paler than it already was, making a fragile heart drop all the way down to his stomach. "It's fine," his arms pulled Xuesong in again, bearded chin scratching against his jaw, "Everything's fine," Li Shuang repeated as if he was trying to convince himself. "The king and queen have ordered me to take you out of the kingdom, and that is what I must do," the explanation was hasty while lifting the boy up from the ground, not wasting any more time.
But this did not settle right on the young prince's chest. "Li Shuang! Put me down! I need to get to my family!" He bawled until his lungs tore, attempting to shove away.
It was useless. The king and queen's personal guard had been trained to fight and protect with his life since birth, whilst Bai Xuesong was just a skinny 11 year old boy who would rather play than learn the proper way to hold a sword.
Following behind the pair was a barbarity of humans being eaten alive by demons, or decapitated by the men in black armour. This sight easily electrocuted a little boy, letting him dangle within Li Shaung's grip like a wooden doll. The amount of red was blinding, so he could only shut his eyes and embrace tighter. The clanging of steel and shrieking of civilians still ripped into his eardrums, painting the horrid scene even when his sight was blocked.
Eventually, he was placed onto a white horse armoured with iron chains. "This is your mother's royal horse. It will take you to the west border where you'll enter Jixin. You need to find a man named Tian Wenfei. He will take care of you," Li Shuang grabbed the prince's trembling hands and forced them to hold on to the reins, "Hold on tight so you don't fall off."
This was all mad!! He didn't know how to ride a horse, not to mention how his twig-like legs couldn't even reach the stirrups!! Xuesong squeezed Li Shuang's hands as hard as he could to prevent him from departing, and he studied as the other's expression gradually quivered into despair. The guard then looked down, hiding the tears that fell from his bloodshot eyes, "It's been an honour serving you, Your Highness," it finally hit.
The heat in his veins drained out as he dug his dirt-filled nails into Li Shuang's hands. Not sparing the boy he raised for 11 years another glance, the reins were flicked with a 'yah!' and the prince jerked forward as the steed moved. The speed of the horse caused his organs to tumble like pebbles in a river, his stomach nearly catapulting out his throat. Grasping the rope firmly, his neck was painfully stiff as Xuesong turned to see his caregiver one last time, only to spring to its original position when the scene was witnessed.
his lungs stopped breathing as his jaw clenched, trying to reassure himself that the limbs of Li Shuang did not just rip apart from his torso, his excruciating scream mixing with the other victims, echoing past the walls of Mofa City.
Their cries and gore haunted the child until he reached the Jixin border, long after daylight returned, where a youngman in fern silk greeted him with a sword pointed at the centre of his throat.
That's it. That's the story of Daoxu's downfall from the eyes of a survivor. There wasn't much to tell, hence people were eager to make stories of their own. Even when that 11 year old prince shouted to their faces, "They're still alive!! My mother is Bai Ting, the Divine Healer! My father is Bai Weiming, the world's greatest martial arts master! How could they die?!!" They only responded with ridicule or sympathy, saying that this poor boy was traumatised and had gone mental.
A decade later, and that boy's doing great! Well… He's grown into an idiot of a man who'd still rather run off to play with the horses than work on his sword skills. Prince Bai Xuesong; The good-for-nothing—music to his ears.
Even with the inherited pride of a royal blood, Xuesong really didn't mind them naming him as such, because at the end of the day, he still preferred this title over 'The Sole Survivor of Daoxu'.
"YOU LITTLE BRAT!!" An oldman's voice scratched through the sounds of flute and zither, making the majority of the customers focus on the pair.
As for Xuesong, the second that tone and rasp was recognised, he rose from his seat the same way his hairs stood up on his skin. Then as if in a routine, he impulsively threw a cup of liquor at the oldman with a cowardly greeting, "Grandpa Liu," he placed his hands before himself as a shield, stumbling backwards with a sweaty grin.
"Who are you calling grandpa?!" He easily caught and even managed to chuck the cup back at the good-for-nothing.
Fortunately, Xuesong ducked in time, but unfortunately, the glass shattered into several thick shards. Looking down at the disaster, his innocent eyes frowned as it directed at the owner of this lovely restaurant. There, the bulky man slouched, in his neat and simple grey silk robes, arms crossed loosely over his broad chest. The restaurant owner looked upset… Not at his broken belonging, but at the good-for-nothing who, once again, was ruining his business. Nevertheless, Xuesong forced out the tension with a pitiful apology, "I am SO sorry."
"BAI XUESONG!!" Grandpa Liu's thumb and index finger eventually found their favourite spot to twist, which was Bai Xuesong's left ear, "You're gonna hear this from Master Tian!!" While dragging the boy out through the entrance like a donkey on a leash, he tossed a lustrous rock of silver at the owner, putting an end to this commotion.
The customers resumed with their meals and conversation, while someone's ear was stretched like raw noodles, all the way to Tian Wenfei's mansion. His poor left ear already numbed, eyes quivering as they neared the main gate, where a single guard stood at post. Since it's still early in the afternoon, all of Master Tian's disciples should be training in the courtyard right about now. Which meant, once they go through this gate, Xuesong shall be thrown into a pit of humiliation. His body instantly protested, wiggling free from Grandpa Liu's grasp. "Hehehe," the apples of his cheeks lifted in innocence, "Grandpa Liu~" The boy began to take slow steps back, but the oldman was swift to secure his limbs with a magic trick he liked to call, pig snatcher, except Bai Xuesong was now the pig.
The golden zither-like strings tightened against his flesh, "Ah! This is—"
"Hmph! You think you're the only one who could cast petty tricks?" He gritted his yellow teeth to a smirk, "Now behave! Master Tian seeks your attendance."
Master Tian specially asked for Bai Xuesong's presence?? What did this mean???
Literally led by a leash, the gate was opened once the guard recognised their faces, allowing the pair to walk into a spacious yard of cement.
Tian Wenfei preferred his home to be convenient rather than aesthetically beautiful, which the romantic Xuesong found disappointing. Back in Mofa City, vibrant flowers could be spotted at every corner you turned, making the entire kingdom swarmed with an endearing fragrance. On the other hand, the Jixin City was known for their riches in various minerals, such as coal and iron. This was why Jixin was home to the strongest weaponry. With this reputation, Tian Wenfei built his school to make sure even scholars could learn to wield a sword. Xuesong was an exception of course, for the coward didn't dare cut another's flesh with any blade. This was probably why he's always been disliked by Tian Wenfei, from the moment they met at the border 10 years ago.
Even 'till now, he looked down on the boy with that dark, narrow glare, his longsword never leaving his hand. Xuesong's unannounced arrival didn't hinder the other students however, as a man and woman stood within the centre of the duel ring, posing menacingly towards each other. They were about to spar.
On the right side was Jin Feng, who had both his feet firmly pressed against the cement, his knees bending to a perfect 90 degree angle. His dominant arm shot forward with the other arched behind him like a cobra snake. Both palms were open to demonstrate the delicacy of martial arts, drawing a beguiling silhouette. And his face… Cold as ice. His opponent had a more flexible approach, with her steady hands shielded before her face. Studying that flamboyant expression, she was recognised as Wu Ying, a rather playful pupil. This particular student never respected perfectionism in Kung Fu, thus treated every competition as a game—Both were exceptional fighters.
Bai Xuesong had always been appalled by the sound emitted when iron swords collided against each other. Except the sword fight today was about to proceed with no swords; just pure martial arts. Hence his heart pumped in suspense.
The dance was beautifully performed. As Jin Feng advanced with a sharp hit, Wu Ying swerved her hands to a counterattack. This attractive pattern continued without rest, the man puffing with ambition, the lady smiling in enjoyment. Their arms attacked like hungry snakes, their feet hovered like cranes in shallow water. It was not until Wu Ying lost her balance due to poor stance that Jin Feng was able to kick her out of the ring. "And Jin Feng wins!" Another student announced with applause.
All of Tian Wenfei's disciples hollered in excitement, but the gentle Bai Xuesong only giggled softly with the widest smile, holding the thrill in his chest. He surveyed how Jin Feng's first instinct was to face Master Tian, bowing respectfully in modest victory. The student's eyes were filled with a desire for affirmation. On the other hand, Wu Ying had a shameless grin plastered across her face, clapping along with the others in mockery. "Well played, Jin Gongzi," she congratulated quite tauntingly.
Her opponent only rolled his eyes, "You wanna know why you lost?" He asked in seriousness.
She never lost that hinted pompous smirk, "Let me guess. The position of my feet was off by two degrees."
"Correct," Jin Feng was able to share that same arrogant grin, but less obvious.
The female student only chuckled, "Good thing we weren't allowed to use our qi, or I would've kicked your ass like I always did."
"Don't be a sore loser," he remained indifferent, "My technique obviously dominates yours."
Xuesong's bottom lip dropped. They were sparring without the use of qi?? What did this mean? He turned to Tian Wenfei, who easily shifted his solemn eyes towards his blurred disciple. No words were exchanged, but it's smoothly understood that this fight was meant specifically to test a student who lacked vital energy; that student being Bai Xuesong.
The young Daoxu prince was born with an energy deficiency due to a deformity of blocked meridians. Which meant his birth was a tragedy, being the only son of two legendary masters. This was why 'Your Highness' was never implied with automatic respect, but more of sarcasm for being useless. From the very beginning, he was a disappointment of a prince. A boy who could never grow to be a real man. A good-for-nothing.
Was he aware of this? Absolutely. But oblivious he remained.
Grandpa Liu had removed the boy's restraints, allowing his skinny legs to wander backwards with a wide-eyed frown. The oldman grunted, more forcing than encouraging poor Xuesong into the fighting ring, "Well what are you waiting for boy?! Go on then."
He now faced Jin Feng, where his competitor's eyes glared like daggers, along with the rest of the students crowding around them. From the opponent's slanted grin, to his lifted brows, Xuesong perceived he was looked down upon. "Do you want me to go easy on you?" Jin Feng let out a disdainful scoff.
The timid boy could only glue his lips shut, his suspenseful heart continuously knocking against his lungs. "Kick his ass, Your Highness!" Wu Ying snarled from within the audience.
Xuesong's eyes quickly recognized Jin Feng's cobra-like stance. Aware of his opponent's heavy relevance to the right technique, his attacking style could also be predicted beforehand. This thought process was immediate to the son of the world's greatest warrior, but his insecure expression allowed Jin Feng to underestimate. Even Bai Xuesong himself felt uncertain as he mimicked the other's pose, but who would've thought that this fight would end in less than two minutes. Ending with Jin Feng scowling at his feet, which sumbled outside the drawn circle.
The student's cheered like a frantic bird flock, and the prince could only stare at his opponent's scornful eyes. Wu Ying hopped beside him, shaking his shoulders in hyper excitement, "I knew you would me!" She snorted joyfully, then looked at the defeated student in condescendence, "Good technique my ass! His Highness not only kicked your ass, but made sure it was flattened to the point nothing's there! AHAHAHA."
"I–" Xuesong simply stuttered at the result.
He had never won a fight before due to his lack of vital energy, but even this victory felt awfully superficial. As the Daoxu king's only son, he was trained to strengthen his martial arts without the use of qi. So it's no mystery how he claimed victory this time, but it's the truth that Jin Feng would have beaten him to a pulp if this was a regular exam. He glanced at Tian Wenfei with shame shaded under his brows, whilst his master apathetically turned the other way and ambled indoors.
So he slouched at the centre of the courtyard, eyes shifting from person to person, each and every one of them a witness of his pathetic-ness. In front of the promising students was a man who could only win a fight if power and weapons were dismissed—A 20 year old prince who abandoned his kingdom, resulting in the sole survivor of Daoxu.