CHONGHUA ONCE PRODUCED two young and promising generals as distinct as the Jing and the Wei,(1) as different as water from flame.

The one like water was named Mo Xi. A lifelong bachelor, he had an icy temperament and an ascetic air. The army had a betting pool regarding when General Mo would sacrifice his chastity, and it had long since grown into a fortune that could make any beggar rich overnight. Mo Xi remained a cornerstone of Chonghua's strength.

The one like fire was named Gu Mang. A perfect gentleman, he had a warm personality and smiled often. If he had owed a sack of army wages for every girl he'd kissed, he doubtless would have lost everything he owned ages ago, down to the clothes on his back. Later on, Gu Mang turned his back on Chonghua and became a commander for an enemy nation.

Before Gu Mang turned traitor, there was a day when he was suddenly possessed by a strange whim. Grabbing a little booklet filled with his own writing, he ran to ask Mo Xi to add a few words.

General Mo's hands were full with military paperwork at the time, so he only asked General Gu, "What's in this?"

"All sorts of things," Gu Mang said cheerfully. "Good food, in- teresting experiences, travel notes, weapon catalogs, and the trifles of life."

Mo Xi accepted the booklet, took up his brush, and dipped it in ink to make his comments.

"I also wrote about you," Gu Mang added with a smile.

Mo Xi's hand stilled as he looked up at Gu Mang. "...What about me?"

"I wrote a little about our past," Gu Mang earnestly replied.

Mo Xi didn't say another word. After staring at Gu Mang for a bit, he lowered those long lashes and expressionlessly inscribed two sharp and icy lines of formal script on the first page.

This book is forbidden. Transgressors will be punished