A new storm was emerging within the royal capital, as an army specially designated to hunt down the traitors marched through the melancholy-struck lanes. A downpour emerged from the heavens as they marched to Lingbi.
The king just enjoyed this extravagant view from the castle, the brisk wind brushing against his body. But something felt odd, a certain question crept into the king's mind, and it slipped out of his mouth...
"Will Zenshi sit still?"
Before his minister, the king muttered this question. The minister stood silent. A traitorous silence that alarmed the king.
In a moment, the king knew something was odd from the beginning.
SFX: SLNG!!!
The king dodged the knife in an instant. Ziro stood behind him, the knife in his hand, his very own minister.
"Ziro, whose brain was behind this?" asked the king.
"My king, did you truly think that you couldn't be outplayed?"
The message in those words was clear...
There is someone else who is capable of this dangerous manipulation...
"It's Hia, eh?" asked the king.
"That is where you always lose my majesty, because your head is too small...." The minister gave a sarcastic reply.
"It's Wan Heian"
*******************
The dragon gates of the royal capital opened, and the army fled out like a chaotic waterfall, heading towards Lingbi with the sole aim of hunting down the traitors.
SFX: CRUUUNNGGG!!! NEIGH!!
The dust flew in the air and, like a black line, the cavalry headed through hazel plains, followed by the infantry.
The leader of a random 100-man unit noticed someone standing on the bridge, above the gate. His eyes rolled as he observed and analysed the figure...
"Wait...he isn't wearing armour?..."
The man was pondering deeply about that view...he was startled upon seeing the outfit of that man...
"A bounty hunter!!!" he shouted.
His scream echoed throughout the unit and even to the cavalry in the front.
"Bounty Hunter!!??", the unit commander asked, and observed the bridge, the realisation struck him. However, the whole army had already gone past the gate.
The gates began to close, and the desperate commander ordered half of the army to return to the capital.
"Commander from the front!!" shouted a soldier.
He turned to the front only to see two men approaching on their horses.
"Commander, they are Zen Shi and Wan Heian!!!", informed a soldier.
The commander observed the gate again and grasped the plot in an instant. Zen Shi and Wan Heian were heading for the gate.
"Listen, my soldiers!!! They are trying to enter the capital before the gate closes!! Kill them!!" He ordered.
The soldiers unleashed their arrows and swords, ready to engage the two.
SFX: CLING
Wan Heian unheathed his twin sword, and Zenshi unleased Kagutsuchi.
"Heian, you are one hell of a strategist", complimented Zen Shi.
"This is what I came up with that instant master", replied Wan.
"Wan Heaiiiiaanann!!! Zensssshhiii!!!", roared the commander of the cavalry.
Zenshi went on ahead, faster with his horse. Kagustsuchi started to burn with Ki.
SFX: FOOOOH
Zen Shi observed the sky and inhaled the fresh air, saying...
"First Hell"
The soldiers swung their swords to kill Zenshi. Zenshi didn't budge an inch, his eyes followed their swords, and in an instant, blood sprayed like rain.
SFX: CRUUUSSSHHH!!
Kagustushi had already torn the flesh, decomposing their bodies into blood. Bathed in blood, Zen Shi continued to head to the main gate, slashing them all like a landslide engulfing a village.
"Stop Zen Shi!!", the commander ordered.
More of the cavalry rushed to slash Zenshi, unravelling spears, swords and glaives, they all went for him.
It was all futile...
Glavies broke, swords got shipped, and spears were destroyed. The arrows couldn't penetrate Zen Shi's armour.
"Where is Wan Heian!!!??", the commander muttered.
He turned back and saw Wan Heading towards the gate. He was almost there.
"Infantry fire!!", he ordered.
The men in the infantry led their bows and aimed. They released the arrows, which headed towards Wan, cutting through the air. The sharp arrows pursued him like wild hyenas.
SFX: WHOOOMM
"What the hell is happening?" The commander couldn't believe his eyes. The sand started rising above due to the wind.
"The sun!! Where... It's at the centre"
The Da Kar plains had a special characteristic, and that was its North Dragon wind that occurs during the summer when the sun reaches the centre of the sky. The sand would rise with the wind, penetrating through the bodies of humans and killing them.
"My soldiers!! The Dragon is coming!!"
The sand crushes the whole army, sinking them one by one, like a snake engulfing a frog. They lost their sight and got separated in different directions. Only one stood amidst that wind, Zen Shi. Looking at the sky, the sand slowly rushed through his skin.
*****************
Wan headed for the gate, clenched his headband and tightened it. Wei stood on the bridge and smiled, seeing his leader. Without any glitch, he passed through the gate before it closed.
"Leader, I knew that you had planned everything", he said.
On the horse, Wan Heian headed towards the capital. In an instant, he noticed that something was wrong. He saw it, the archers standing on he cliffs. Heian didn't budge an inch as he held Ao and Ohirume tight.
He unleashed the arrows from his horse, Wan Heian, stood up, and balanced himself, hitting away all the arrows with his twin swords. No arrow could touch him; the humiliated archers tried their best with their skill, but Heian's impenetrable force rotated them in a spiral defeat.
"What is he??!!" shouted the lead archer.
Heian had successfully passed through the rokugo passage, entering the main city of the capital. Several assassins assaulted him with razor-sharp daggers.
However...
SFX: SLASSSHHH!!!
Ohirume slashed through all of them, and Ao decapitated their heads. He held both the swords in front of him, and before him, on top of the hill, stood the castle. From its balcony he felt his gaze, it was none other than Han Sui Yan's gaze.