Amid the ancient cypress forest of Qiaoshan, Roy sat atop his steed, Wu Zhui, holding Yu Ji in his arms. She sat sideways in front of him, her slender waist embraced by his arm, the fragrance of her raven-black hair filling his senses. Roy occasionally nuzzled her delicate cheek, teasing her until she blushed, their intimacy palpable.
"You carry the load…"
Roy was in high spirits, humming a tune familiar to every modern Chinese.
Having identified the issue with human order, Roy felt at ease. At the very least, he now knew what he needed to do next, rather than floundering aimlessly like before, merely drifting along with the currents of history without any real purpose.
"I'm leading the horse..."
A voice both bewitching and pure came from ahead of the black steed. Like an oriole singing amidst secluded orchids in a valley, her tone was crisp yet tender, bringing comfort to both body and soul to those who heard it.
Ahead of the black horse carrying Roy and Yu Ji, Tamamo-no-Mae was holding the reins, harmonizing with Roy's loud singing. The little fox's flushed cheeks and excited demeanor showed she didn't mind this menial task of leading the horse at all.
Hearing Tamamo-no-Mae's melodious voice and seeing her lively smile lifted Roy's spirits even more. This fox was truly a ray of sunshine—just looking at her could dispel all gloom and melancholy.
"Tamamo, you really don't need to keep guarding the mausoleum anymore?" Roy asked with a smile, admiring the graceful silhouette of the fox maiden as she led the horse forward.
"I stopped five hundred years ago! For centuries I've been trying to sever my tails, and now I've finally succeeded. Of course I can leave now."
"...Besides, the artifacts in the Yellow Emperor's mausoleum have already been stolen. Guarding it serves no purpose now. No matter what, I, Tamamo, have kept watch over the Yellow Emperor's tomb for two thousand years!" Tamamo declared proudly, as if those two millennia of vigil were her greatest honor.
Roy had expected her to be furious about the theft under her watch, but Tamamo showed no anger whatsoever. Apparently, what mattered to her was the act of guarding itself, not the treasures within.
"Then why are you following us?" Yu Ji, nestled in Roy's arms, interjected with slight displeasure.
"I don't know anyone else here except you, Yu. Who else would I follow? Migu~" Tamamo turned her head to flash Yu Ji a cute expression.
"We're not that close," Yu Ji muttered, but seeing Tamamo's thick-skinned, unshakable demeanor, she knew words were useless. Though not as extreme as her differentiated counterpart Daji, this fox still did as she pleased without caring what others thought.
With a resigned sigh, Yu Ji gave up. Having a fox spirit tagging along was putting quite the pressure on her.
"Aren't you worried about people seeing your ears and tail?" Roy asked, eyeing Tamamo's adorable fox ears and eight fluffy tails.
"Illusions are my specialty! I'm a curse master, after all. Such trivial matters can be solved with a quick migu-migu~" As she spoke, magical energy stirred around her. Whispering an incantation, her ears and tails instantly became invisible to others.
While Roy had rushed to reach the Yellow Emperor's mausoleum, the return journey was leisurely—sightseeing through mountains and waters, occasionally teasing a flustered Yu Ji or playing along with the cheerful fox. For a time, Roy nearly forgot his original mission entirely.
...
The group made their way back to the military camp. Roy had been missing for some time, but nothing major had occurred in the army. With the fall of the Qin Dynasty, the various warlords now trembled before Roy, the Overlord of Western Chu, not daring to provoke any trouble. Before his departure, Roy had even used the excuse of a confidential military operation, which only heightened the tension. Naturally, no one would dare stir up trouble in his absence.
From Zhuolu to Xianyang, when they arrived at Hangu Pass, it had already been occupied by Liu Ji. The general guarding the pass had received Liu Ji's orders in advance and, upon seeing Roy's army, immediately allowed them through.
As the army entered Hangu Pass, Roy finally arrived at the heartland of the former Qin state—the most prosperous region of the Central Plains, Guanzhong.
At this time, Guanzhong had not yet suffered from soil erosion. For a long time to come, it would remain the capital region of successive dynasties. It was only after the Tang Dynasty, which rose from the chaos of the late Sui period and established its golden age in Guanzhong, that soil erosion became increasingly severe. The land lost its fertility, and later dynasties began building their capitals elsewhere.
Thus, the so-called "dragon veins" were closely tied to the relationship between humanity and nature. The destruction of the land caused by excessive human exploitation and deforestation also disrupted these veins.
When Roy returned to the army, the generals and soldiers noticed that he had brought back yet another peerless beauty—a stunning young woman whose allure rivaled that of Lady Yu. Beneath her youthful appearance lay an innate sensuality that could ignite the deepest flames of desire in any man with just a glance.
The two beauties were polar opposites—one preferred solitude, rarely leaving the residence or showing her face, while the other was endlessly curious, wandering through the military camp day after day. Every time the soldiers caught sight of her, chaos ensued.
People could only envy the Overlord of Western Chu for his good fortune, wondering where he had found such captivating women. Even Xi Shi, the beauty Fan Li once presented to the King of Wu, could hardly compare.
But no one batted an eye at the presence of multiple women around the Overlord. In these times, monogamy was not the norm, and given Roy's status, even a harem of three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two consorts would have been seen as perfectly natural.
After returning from the Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor, Roy's life settled back into routine. Sometimes, he wouldn't leave his tent for an entire day. No one knew what he was doing, but the men would exchange knowing smiles—with Lady Yu and the beauty who called herself "Jade" by his side, the Overlord's days must have been filled with indulgence.
Besides, with the Qin Dynasty now destroyed and no immediate threats looming, no one could begrudge the Overlord a little relaxation.
But Fan Zeng knew better. Though Roy spent his leisure time listening to Lady Yu's zither or enjoying the enchanting dances and songs of "Jade," most of his days were spent deep in thought, far from the debauchery others imagined.
"Master Fan, where does the army march next?"
Roy, lost in contemplation about the Mausoleum of the First Emperor, asked the question absentmindedly.
Fan Zeng, who had been sitting quietly below, answered promptly, "…Reporting to the Overlord, ahead lies Xinfeng—Hongmen!"
"Hongmen…"
Roy finally raised his head upon hearing these words.