In the grand hall of the Forbidden City in Beijing, news of the recent events reached Emperor Pan Geng. Prime Minister Li Si, a man of wisdom and cunningness, approached the emperor with an urgent matter.
"Your Majesty," Li Si began, bowing respectfully, "I bring news of great importance. During the pirate raid in the Jiang River, the stormblade and the twin talons emerged as new heroes of the Wulin.
Emperor Pan Geng raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "The Stormblade and Twin Talons, you say? What news do you bring about them, Li Si?"
"The pirate confederation has become a significant threat to our coastal regions, as you are aware of it. However, these young heroes have successfully defeated a branch of the pirates confideration, glorifying their name among the people," Li Si reported, his voice steady.
"And which branch of the pirates did they vanquish?" The emperor inquired, leaning forward slightly.
"The lowest branch of the confederation, Your Majesty," Li Si replied, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Emperor Pan Geng chuckled, "How amusing! And yet, they receive such prominence for this feat. Why is that?"
Li Si's expression grew more serious. "Your Majesty, they are merely fifteen years old and have soldified their name in the empire."
The emperor's eyes widened in surprise. "Fifteen years old? Such strength at such a young age. They are the same age as my own son." He paused, considering the implications. "Tell me, Li Si, who do you think is stronger: the Stormblade or my son?"
Li Si bowed his head, choosing his words carefully. "Your Majesty, it is unfair to compare your son with the stormblade . Your son has gone into seclusion for training, guided by the finest masters and provided with the best resources. His talent is unmatched."
The emperor nodded thoughtfully. "You believe he will be the strongest in the plains and beyond?"
Li Si met the Emperor's gaze. "With all the advantages and his innate talent, I am confident that your son will surpass all others."
Emperor Pan Geng smiled, a glint of pride in his eyes. "Very well, Li Si. Let us keep an eye on these younglings. Their journey may just be beginning, but the future holds many possibilities. I want them under my command."
"Indeed, Your Majesty," Li Si agreed. "We must remain vigilant and support those who show promise, for they must become our trust-worthy vassals in the future."
The emperor nodded, his mind already working through the potential strategies to make them work for them. "You speak wisely, Li Si. Ensure that our scouts keep a watchful eye on the Stormblade and Twin Talons. Report to me any further developments."
"As you command, Your Majesty," Li Si said, bowing deeply.
Emperor Pan Geng leaned back on his throne, contemplating the news. The young heroes, the Stormblade and Twin Talons, had caught his attention.
The emperor's daughter, Princess Měiyù, was also present; her curiosity was piqued by the conversation.
"Father," Princess Měiyù began, her voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and disdain, "what do you think this Stormblade is like? Do you think he looks good and can rival my brother?."
The emperor's expression remained thoughtful. "You seem to be quite interested in him but Your fiancé is already decided," he said, his tone firm. "You can marry a prince from neighboring empires or a high-ranking sect leader's son. We must strengthen our ties and have strong allies backing us. Besides, a country peasant marrying a princess would bring us unfathomable amout of shame."
Princess Měiyù's eyes flashed with defiance. "I am not interested in marrying men I have never seen. I am more intrigued by the girl called "Twin Talons". I want to meet her," she said with a mischievous smile. Isn't her name Yawen?
The emperor knew his daughter's intentions well. Her interest in Twin Talons was not born out of admiration but rather a desire to belittle a girl who had outshined her. He sighed inwardly, recognizing his daughter's narcissistic tendencies.
"You will surely meet them one day," the emperor replied calmly. "Soon, the new generation of warriors are coming here, so prepare to greet them as they are around the same age as you. They shall lead the Wulin in the future and rise to powerful positions. They must be respected, no matter what."
Princess Měiyù scoffed, her arrogance evident. "Why should we even treat them as our equals, Father? They are inferior to us and expendable. After all, we have Heaven's mandate as well as the throne."
The emperor's expression darkened, and he leaned forward, his voice cold with fury. "You are an utter fool if you think that Heaven will always favor us. Remember, power does not lie in the throne or the crown. I want this dynasty to last for thousands of years and etch my name in history. You, my children, shall succeed me and your children after you. Now begone!"
His harsh tone echoed through the hall, leaving a stunned silence in its wake. Princess Měiyù, taken aback by her father's rebuke, bowed her head and retreated from the throne room, her pride wounded.
A young servant named Wei, caught in a moment of inadvertent laughter, froze as the princess's sharp gaze fell upon him. His cheeks paled, realizing the gravity of his mistake. Before he could stammer an apology, Princess Měiyù's voice cut through the air like a whip.
"Why are you laughing?" she demanded, her tone laced with icy contempt.
Wei trembled, his eyes wide with fear. "I wasn't laughing, Princess," he stammered, his voice barely audible as he bowed deeply, his forehead touching the ground.
The princess's anger flared at his perceived insolence. "Lying to me?" she snapped. "Guards!"
Within moments, several guards appeared at her command, their expressions grim as they awaited her orders.
"Take him away," Princess Měiyù commanded, her voice filled with rage and command. "Sentence him to 100 lashings, followed by roughing up his face. He needs to learn respect."
The guards exchanged uneasy glances but dared not defy the princess's orders. They seized Wei roughly by the arms, ignoring his pleas for mercy as they dragged him away.
The palace corridors fell silent again, whispers spreading like wildfire among the servants and courtiers who witnessed the scene. Princess Měiyù continued on her way, her steps measured and proud.
After the talk with the princess, the emperor turned to Li Si and said
"We must ensure that the new generation of martial fighters is welcomed with the respect they deserve. They represent the future of our empire, and it is imperative that we cultivate their loyalty and strength."
The emperor gave the order for everyone to leave the hall.
The emperor's memories surged like a turbulent river, each recollection vivid and haunting. As he reclined on his throne, the grandeur of the imperial hall faded into the background, replaced by the chilling echo of his past.
The torchlight flickered, casting elongated shadows that danced across the polished marble floor, mimicking the uncertainty that had plagued his soul ever since that fateful night. His mind wandered back, not to the opulence surrounding him, but to a time fifteen years earlier, when he stood at the pinnacle of power as Prime Minister to Emperor Qin Shi Huang.
Qin Shi Huang, a titan whose iron will had forged the Qin dynasty into an eastern superpower by uniting warring kingdoms, But with his unearthly ambitions came a host of enemies, and amidst the intrigue and whispers of betrayal, the emperor had made a choice that would forever stain his conscience.
"I still remember the day," he whispered to himself, the words barely audible against the grandeur of the hall. "When I stabbed him in the back..."
The memory was a dagger in his mind, sharp and relentless. He recalled the trust Qin Shi Huang had placed in him, treating him not just as a loyal subject but as a brother. And yet, ambition and fear had twisted his loyalties, leading him down a path of treachery that now haunted him.
"Blood traitor," the emperor muttered, his voice trembling with regret. Those words, hurled at him in the final moments of the emperor's life, echoed through the corridors of time. They were a curse he could not shake, a reminder of his ultimate betrayal.
"And his last words..." The emperor's eyes closed involuntarily, his breath catching in his throat. "Vengeance shall be mine."
The promise of vengeance, uttered with the weight of a dying emperor's wrath, had become a specter in the emperor's life. It haunted his dreams, lurking in the shadows of his subconscious like a relentless predator. Every night around 2 AM, the darkness would close in, and he would awaken in a cold sweat, the echoes of those chilling words reverberating through his mind.
In the imperial hall, surrounded by splendor that now seemed hollow, the emperor's thoughts turned to the price of power. The cost of ambition had been steep—friendship betrayed, a brotherly bond shattered, and a soul burdened with fear. Yet, despite the passage of years and the veneer of authority he now wore, he knew that the debt remained unpaid.
As he leaned back on his throne, the emperor's gaze shifted from the intricately carved ceiling to the shadows dancing at his feet. The flickering torchlight painted a tapestry of remorse and regret, but amidst the darkness, a resolve began to stir.
"Vengeance shall be mine," he repeated, the words now a solemn oath. In that moment, he vowed to confront the ghosts of his past and to face the consequences of his actions—even if it meant confronting the very depths of his soul.
The emperor, once a trusted advisor turned betrayer, now stood at the precipice of a decision that would define his legacy. And in the stillness of that moment, as the torches flickered and the shadows danced, he knew that the future ahead would be something he could no longer evade.
He thought about those words: "Vengence shall be mine." He made sure that he killed everyone closely related to Emperor Qin and comforted himself by saying that a dying man's last words should not bother me, but he always wondered how the vengeance would be taken.
For in the heart of every betrayal lies the seed of vengeance, waiting to bloom.