As the name suggests, Yixian Gorge is a breathtaking canyon flanked by towering cliffs. The Yuncang River cascades through this chasm, plunging straight down to the plain below and nourishing countless lives along its banks.
Standing on the grassy plain near the gorge, Li Mufan gazed at the spectacular waterfall, the water tumbling hundreds of meters to the ground. Lost in thought, he was momentarily entranced by the beauty and power of nature.
"Your Majesty, all the fallen soldiers have been buried," Fan Qingyue's voice broke through his reverie.
Snapping back to reality, he turned to her. "How are they?"
"Thanks to the medicine brought by Brother Aqiang, many of our comrades are recovering. Unfortunately, eighteen were beyond help..." she replied, her tone somber.
Li Mufan nodded gravely. "I understand. Please inform everyone to gather here."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After a brief moment, Li Mufan found himself facing the more than two hundred soldiers standing before him. He took a deep breath, the weight of their loss heavy on his heart. "I started with a thousand brothers in the Sequoia Guard Battalion. After the chaos in the palace, only 230 remain. Seven of you are left... What virtue or ability do I possess that compels you to risk your lives for each other like this?"
At his words, Liu Long dropped to one knee, his voice resolute. "Your Majesty, there's no need to blame yourself. It is our duty to protect you. We consider it an honor to sacrifice for you!"
Looking at Liu Long and the brave soldiers of the Guard Battalion, Li Mufan sighed softly. "I appreciate your intentions, but I am no longer your king…"
"Your Majesty…" The murmurs of shock rippled through the gathered soldiers as they knelt before him, disbelief etched on their faces.
"Don't be discouraged, Your Majesty!" Zhang Tie called out, his voice strong. "Even if we fall, we will fight back to the royal city and help you reclaim your throne!"
A chorus of voices echoed in agreement. "Your Majesty, please think twice!"
Li Mufan looked at his kneeling soldiers, his heart swelling with emotion, and his eyes misting with unshed tears.
Liu Long, sensing the weight of the moment, urged, "If Your Majesty relinquishes the throne, we cannot stay here any longer!"
The soldiers rallied once more, their voices rising. "Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
Silence hung in the air, heavy and thick, as time stretched on. Finally, Li Mufan spoke, his voice steady yet filled with deep emotion. "I, Li Mufan, am grateful for your loyalty, but my status as king has ended. I will not speak of it again. From now on, if you don't mind, you may call me Young Master. There's no need for salutes."
The soldiers exchanged hesitant glances. Liu Long and Zhang Tie opened their mouths to protest, but Li Mufan raised a hand, silencing them. "This matter is settled. We will not dwell on our previous identities. Please, get up."
When the soldiers remained unmoving, Li Mufan shot a fierce glance at Liu Long.
Liu Long trembled slightly at the intensity of his gaze but quickly complied. "Thank you, Your Majesty…"
A united chorus rang out, "Thank you, Your Majesty…"
Li Mufan couldn't help but smile bitterly. It wasn't that he didn't want to be king, but this identity was too precarious. If word got out, the Sun and Moon Kingdom would pursue him mercilessly. Even the Yunqin Empire, which had deemed him a dead man, wouldn't let him escape. For now, maintaining a low profile seemed wise; once he regained strength, claiming his throne would be far easier.
Shaking his head with a wry smile, he shifted the mood. "Liu Long, lead the soldiers in paying respects to our eighteen fallen brothers."
"Yes!" Liu Long responded, turning to address the troops. "Form up!"
The soldiers, their expressions now resolute, quickly organized into four lines, recalling the training they had undergone together.
"Military salute!"
"Swish!"
In unison, they raised their swords high, honoring the eighteen tombs nestled by the riverside.
A haunting bugle call, unique to military camps, echoed around them—not a call to arms but a mournful lament, a final farewell to their comrades.
The somber notes reverberated through the air above Yixian Gorge, drawing tears from the eyes of the soldiers. Li Mufan stepped forward, his heart heavy, as he approached the graves of the eighteen heroes. In a voice thick with emotion, he vowed, "I, Li Mufan, cannot lead you to victory in life, and I will not allow you to be forgotten in death."
Receiving a bouquet of white flowers from Fan Qingyue, he walked slowly to each tomb, placing the flowers tenderly before them, honoring the sacrifice and bravery of those who had given everything.