It Is Better To Have A Daughter . . .
If the enemy wished to persist in battle, they were now compelled to navigate a circuitous route around the newly formed mountains. To circumvent this natural obstruction, they would need to travel for tens of thousands of miles—an endeavor beyond their means.
Should they attempt a direct assault, the presence of the iron-clad castle meant that a mere five thousand defenders would suffice.
As the saying goes, "One man guards the pass, and ten thousand are unable to get through."
Even if their adversaries sought to assassinate the commander, they would still need to traverse this formidable passage. All their strategic plans seemed powerless in the face of this miraculous phenomenon.
As for scaling the mountains—such a notion was sheer folly. The peaks were shrouded in an eerie mist, their summits vanishing into the heavens. It was entirely possible that they would perish from the bitter cold long before reaching the mountain's apex.
"Fuck!"
The South Barbarians' camps reverberated with curses, their soldiers seething with anger.
"What in the hell is this? Is it even real?!" A general, his eyes aflame with rage, muttered his disbelief. Moments later, he collapsed from his horse, blood spewing from his mouth as he succumbed to his fury.
...
General Lan, the father of Lan Lang-Lang, emerged from his tent wrapped in a thick quilt. He was taken aback by the sight before him. His jaw dropped, dislocating upon impact with the ground. He struggled to reset it, his voice trembling as he inquired, "Wh-what... is this?"
His surrounding guards, dumbfounded, could only think, "How on earth should we know?"
Hence, none of them offered an answer to General Lan's bewildered question.
Over the course of a single snowy night, the unimaginable had transpired.
"Mountains from the heavens? Are the gods intervening?"
"How... How on earth did these mountains appear?" General Lan, Lan Yue-Lou, marveled at the towering peaks before him. He scratched his head, puzzled. "If mountains had fallen from the sky, it would have surely triggered an earthquake. Such colossal mountains plummeting to the earth should have resulted in the deaths of all our troops... Yet it happened in silence, leaving no trace. How?"
"General, could it be an illusion? Perhaps it's fake," ventured one of his closest guards.
General Lan, still on horseback and swathed in his quilt, approached the mountains. He extended his hand and tentatively touched their surface, muttering, "It must be an illusion. It has to be fake... It's fake... Oh, to hell with it, it's real..."
His nearby guards exchanged wordless glances.
Lan Luo-Yue, his anger tinged with excitement, stammered, "The gods are... are... truly not b-b-blessing me... Wh-what... What is this... Where the hell did... did these mountains come from... With these m-m-mountains, I could defend against the enemy single-handedly. Yet now Su... Su Di... Su Ding-Guo, that pr... pro...prick, is here to take the easy job... I'm so m-m-mad!"
The guards gazed at one another, their faces bearing expressions of speechless astonishment.
Indeed, it was true. Had they foreseen this astonishing turn of events, only a fraction of their forces would have been required to repel the enemy with ease. It was an unimaginable advantage they now possessed.
However, the question lingered: How could anyone have possibly predicted such an occurrence?
In truth, none were aware that without Su Ding-Guo's presence, these mountains would have remained non-existent.
Prince Hua-Yang was blessed with an exceptional daughter, and it was her mere presence that had brought them this extraordinary stroke of luck.
After the battle, when General Lan discovered the truth, he sighed and mused, "It appears that... having... having a daughter... might be better."
The catalyst for all of this was, in fact, a few words uttered by Su Ye-Yue earlier on.
"My father must be facing tremendous challenges in this battle," Su Ye-Yue remarked, her eyes welling up with tears.
"Yue-Er, please listen," Meng Huai-Qing began. "I cannot grant your request. Even if I were to lower my celestial status for your sake and intervene in the affairs of the mortal realm, the release of my immense power and energy might lead to the entire land's collapse. Such a lower-tiered realm can scarcely contain my overwhelming abilities," she explained, her brows furrowing in deep thought.
"But my father is in grave danger," Su Ye-Yue pleaded. "As I depart from him, this might be our final meeting. How can I simply abandon him and leave?"
"Yet, there truly is nothing I can do..." Meng Huai-Qing sighed in helplessness.
"It doesn't require your direct involvement in the battle. I was simply thinking that if there were a passage, right there, it would make an enormous difference. Currently, it's a flat expanse, leaving no terrain to bolster my father's defenses. Hence, they must confront the enemy head-on, resulting in needless casualties," Su Ye-Yue remarked, gazing at Meng Huai-Qing with hope-filled eyes.
"Oh, that's easy. You're truly an intelligent girl. You're undoubtedly worthy of being my disciple. Well done," Meng Huai-Qing praised Su Ye-Yue, delighted by her wisdom.
And so, the mountains materialized overnight, along with the unexpected appearance of the passage.
It appeared that having a daughter was indeed more advantageous than having a son.
General Lan's son was scarcely capable of achieving anything meaningful, spending his days idly with his delinquent peers.
On the other hand, Su Ding-Guo had a daughter who proved to be an invaluable asset. Even more remarkable was the fact that her tears held the power to effect change.
...
Prince Hua-Yang regarded his daughter and her mentor with mixed emotions. He was reluctant to part with her, but he found solace in the knowledge that she had an exceptional mentor by her side.
As he contemplated the passage and the mountains, Prince Hua-Yang realized that these extraordinary phenomena paled in significance compared to the impending departure of his beloved daughter.
In the dimly lit room, Su Ding-Guo stood resolute, clad in his armor, facing his beloved daughter, Su Ye-Yue. There was a hint of moisture in his eyes as he sniffled and sighed deeply. He desperately wanted to convey his emotions, but the words seemed to elude him.
He remained rooted in place, his gaze unwavering as it rested upon his daughter.
After a prolonged silence, he finally found his voice. "I never expected a goddess to grace our humble abode," he began, his voice filled with genuine warmth. "Yue-Er, do not fret. Stay with your master, dedicate yourself to your learning, and do not concern yourself with our family. As long as I am here, everything will be just fine."
Tears streamed down Su Ye-Yue's face, rendering her nearly speechless. She held onto her father tightly, her sobs punctuating the room. "Father... Father..."
Su Ding-Guo's eyes welled with tears, and he clenched his teeth. "Go now, do not make a scene," he gently admonished.
In swift strides, he approached Meng Huai-Qing, his demeanor firm. "Master," he began, "I am relieved that my daughter will be under your tutelage. If she errs, scold her, punish her—do as you see fit. She is now in your care."
Meng Huai-Qing responded with a warm smile. "Your generosity knows no bounds, General. It is a responsibility I will gladly shoulder."
Su Ding-Guo nodded gravely and added, "Please."
He stood tall, saluting Meng Huai-Qing with the utmost formality.
The gesture surprised Meng Huai-Qing, and her eyes sparkled with admiration. It was clear that Su Ding-Guo was a noble and honorable man, and the sight of him, a renowned general, offering a soldier's salute spoke volumes.
Meanwhile, Su Ye-Yue continued to weep silently, her heart heavy with emotion.
Su Ding-Guo held his daughter close, sighing deeply. "I take solace in knowing that you have a bright future ahead. However, I cannot help but feel remorse for Cha Eun Xiao, for I have broken our marital oath."
Meng Huai-Qing interjected, "They held a wedding and exchanged gifts before our departure."
Su Ding-Guo offered a bitter smile and shook his head. "You and I both understand the true meaning behind it. Let us cherish the beautiful illusion."
Meng Huai-Qing regarded him with a newfound respect. [Su Ye-Yue's father is truly an exceptional individual, a cut above the rest.]
...
Meanwhile, in the capital, Cha Eun Xiao had returned to the House of Ye, but the night had already fallen.
His countenance bore the weight of profound contemplation, and the jade pendant around his neck seemed to have grown impossibly heavy.
Images replayed relentlessly in his mind. At times, he saw a resplendent lady in white, her eyes filled with bitterness as she gritted her teeth and exclaimed, "Cha Eun Xiao, I detest you!"
In other moments, it was Su Ye-Yue gazing at him, tears brimming with trust as she asked, "Xiao Xiao, you will come to find me, won't you? You will marry me, won't you?"
Then, he saw the lady in white, her heartache palpable as she was turned away, two teardrops falling to the ground.
Next, it was Su Ye-Yue, vanishing before his eyes, her departure marked by two tears suspended in mid-air.
In yet another scene, Su Ye-Yue stood resolute before him, confronting an oncoming sword with icy glimmers. She opened her arms, wearing a determined expression. "Today, we shall meet our end together. I am your wife!"
These turbulent emotions continued to haunt him, relentlessly gnawing at his heart.
Emotions of shame and helplessness surged within Cha-Eun Xiao as he grappled with the feeling of being unable to protect those he held dear. It was a weighty burden that pressed upon his heart, and he longed for the solace of alcohol to ease his troubled mind.
Upon returning home, Cha-Eun Xiao wasted no time and made his way to Song Jue's room. He stood at the doorway, his voice tinged with weariness as he made an unusual request. "Uncle Song, would you mind sharing a few drinks with me?" he inquired softly.
Song Jue was taken aback by the request. He had believed that Cha-Eun Xiao would never dare to touch alcohol again after the incident that had transpired during their last drinking session. For a time, Cha-Eun Xiao had harbored a fiery aversion to liquor, and the mere mention of it would incite his anger. As a result, alcohol had become somewhat taboo within the Cha Clan household.
Yet here was Cha-Eun Xiao, seemingly eager to partake in a drinking session. Song Jue observed the heavy despondency in his nephew's demeanor, sensing that he had been confronted with something profoundly distressing. With a sigh, Song Jue agreed, "I will join you for a drink, if that's what you wish."
At this moment, Cha-Eun Xiao's sole desire was to drown his sorrows in alcohol, and the presence of the experienced drinker Song Jue made him the ideal companion for such an endeavor.
The kitchen had thoughtfully prepared a sumptuous spread of dishes to accompany the anticipated drinking session. Uncle and nephew settled into their seats, facing each other at the dining table.
Song Jue wore a knowing smile as he addressed Cha-Eun Xiao. "Xiao Xiao, I presume this isn't the same liquor that caused you trouble last time, is it?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.