After hours of silence, only one figure remains on the snow-covered plain, the land now blanketed in white as snowfall continues undisturbed. The battlefield—once a place of death and chaos—has become a flurry of orderly activity, as soldiers in white and gold uniforms work to set up camp amidst the fading traces of war.
Not long after, from the eastern forest passage, the sound of hooves breaks the calm. An army wearing the same white-gold uniforms rides out onto the plain in tight formation. At their head, a young man clad in white and blue armour, a streak of silver running through his black hair, dismounts the moment they reach the camp.
From the centre of the camp, an older man steps out to meet him.
The young man frowns, scanning the faces around him. "We won, didn't we?"
The man's expression is grim. "I can't say whether we won or lost."
The young man hands his reins to a nearby soldier and walks beside him. "What do you mean?"
The older man sighs as they enter the heart of the camp. "We held the retreat path and stopped the rebellion from reaching the eastern provinces… but the price was heavy. Our family suffered a serious loss."
The young man's steps slow. "What happened? Where's Uncle? Why didn't he come to meet me?"
The man's face darkens. "The General is injured badly. So, if you ask me…" He pauses, voice low with weight. "We may have survived the battle, but we lost."
Snow continues to fall in silence around them.
The young man halts, shock flashing across his face. "Uncle was injured? How?"
The older man's voice is heavy. "Because of Mani. It was his doing."
The young man frowns deeply. "But according to our intelligence, Mani's strength is on par with Uncle's. How could he injure him?"
The man shakes his head. "Mani did something unexpected—he transformed his inner energy mid-battle."
The young man's eyes narrowed. "He advanced to the Great Samurai Realm?"
The man responds quickly, "No. If he had, none of us would've made it out alive. He calls himself a half-step into the Great Samurai Realm."
The young man mutters, "Half-step... I've heard of that. It's only possible through rare treasures or heaven-defying breakthroughs." He looks over sharply. "But how would Mani acquire such a treasure?"
The older man remains silent.
They enter the central tent. Inside, several healers move quietly around a bed. Bai Ju lies unconscious, his face pale, his breath shallow. Bandages wrap his chest, stained faintly with blood. The young man's gaze fixes on him, his voice tightening.
"I didn't ask… how did Uncle stop Mani?"
The man answers quietly, "He consumed his own blood essence to force Mani back."
The young man stiffens. "He burned his bloodline? That means—Uncle's advance to the Great Samurai Realm will be delayed. Years, maybe…"
Without waiting, he steps forward, grabs a nearby healer gently but firmly. "How much of the ancestor's blood did he lose?"
The healer bows his head. "More than half."
The tent seems to grow colder, as if the falling snow outside has slipped inside with the words. An elderly healer steps forward, his voice low but grim. "Sir, the General has lost eighty per cent of his ancestor's blood."
The young man freezes, the colour draining from his face. Before he can speak, the older officer beside him asks tightly, "Then why is the General still unconscious?"
The elderly healer replies, "We… cannot determine the reason."
The young man's voice rises, sharp with frustration. "If none of you can, then find someone who can! Bring them here!"
The elderly healer bows. "If we had access to Healer Wang, he might be able to diagnose it."
The officer frowns. "Healer Wang is at his residence. It would take at least ten days to bring him here."
Another name is cautiously offered. "What about Healer Gou?"
The healer sighs. "Healer Gou is in Mugenkai, but their gates have been shut."
The young man's gaze snaps toward the officer. "Why would Mugenkai close its gates?"
The officer responds, his voice hard. "Xiang Bo closed them. He claimed the other Great Samurai from neighbouring nations requested it—they don't want to be involved in our kingdom's internal strife."
The young man grits his teeth. "Then we have no choice but to summon Healer Wang."
A quiet voice interrupts. "My lord…"
All eyes turn to a younger healer near the edge of the tent. He continues, hesitantly but clearly, "I know of another healer nearby—said to be as skilled and renowned as Healer Gou."
The young lord straightens. "Who? Bring them here immediately."
The elderly healer answers, "It is a woman known as Fairy Xialing. But no one knows exactly where she lives—only that she resides in one of the villages near Mugenkai."
The officer nods. "Then we'll send scouts to every village around Mugenkai. We'll find her."
The young man wastes no time. "Send the order now."
The officer strides from the tent.
Moments later, the sound of galloping hooves echoes across the snow-covered plain as soldiers ride out from the camp, scattering in all directions, fanning toward every village around Mugenkai in search of the one healer who might save Bai Ju's life.
---
As the sun sets and dusk cloaks the land in shadow, Mani climbs the snow-covered stone steps of a secluded stronghold. The air is sharp and cold, but the guards—clad in black armor, motionless as statues—straighten and salute the moment they see him.
Without acknowledging them, Mani pushes open the heavy doors and steps inside. The stone corridor is dimly lit by torches, the flames flickering in the draft. His footsteps echo as he makes his way toward a large chamber.
Inside, a long table dominates the room. Three figures await him. Two wear garb similar to Mani's—rough, fur-lined clothing adorned with fangs, claws, and animal bones. Their long hair hangs wild to their shoulders. The third man, however, stands in stark contrast—well-groomed, wrapped in layered robes of silk, his hair tied into a precise scholar's bun.
The robed man smiles as Mani enters. "Look, our victorious general has arrived."
Mani sits at the table, his voice low. "I retreated. How does that make me a victor, Mr. Zhen?"
Mr. Zhen waves a hand casually. "You completed the Fourth Prince's objective. You halted Bai Ju's advance and forced him to reveal his bloodline strength. That's a victory."
He turns toward the head of the table. "Isn't that right, Commander Hui?"
Commander Hui Ban says nothing. His eyes remain closed, as if meditating.
But the silence doesn't last.
From beside him, Talok speaks—his voice like a growl, his eyes sharp beneath his heavy brow. "Mr. Zhen, we've fulfilled our promise. It's time for you to fulfil yours."
The room falls into a tense silence. The cold pressing against their skin no longer comes from the snow outside, but from the weight of the words left unspoken.
Yet Mr. Zhen remains unfazed by Talok's pointed glare.
"Didn't we already fulfil our part of the bargain when we gave Mani the Skyfire Fruit?" he says smoothly, folding his hands on the table. "He used it to clash with Bai Ju, just as we agreed."
Mani lets out a quiet scoff. "The price you paid was far from enough," he mutters. "After advancing to the half-step Great Samurai realm with the Skyfire Fruit, I discovered the fire it left in my meridians must first be subdued. Until then, I cannot break through any further."
Mr. Zhen's expression doesn't falter. There's no embarrassment—only the calm confidence of a man who came prepared. "And yet you now stand stronger than before. That, too, was part of the deal," he says with a thin smile. "Besides, once your rebellion is called off in the Fourth Prince's name, you won't need to fight for another decade. Peace will buy you time to resolve your inner fire."
He pauses, eyes shifting briefly to Commander Hui, who remains silent at the head of the table.
"And as promised," Mr. Zhen adds, his voice smooth as silk, "the Fourth Prince will deliver the Lion Crown—once Commander Hui steps into the capital and formally surrenders before the imperial court."
The words land like a weight, and even the torches on the wall seem to flicker more dimly as silence returns.
At last, Hui Ban speaks—his voice low, calm, but edged with steel. "Mr. Zhen, I cannot call off the rebellion even if I wanted to. This movement is not mine alone to control." He raises his eyes toward the others. "Give me a week. I will discuss it with the other generals. Then, I will give you your answer."
Mr. Zhen nods slowly, the faintest smile playing on his lips. "Then I pray you choose wisely. Otherwise…" He doesn't finish the sentence, only turns, his robe whispering across the floor as he strides toward the door.
The heavy wooden door shuts behind him with a final *bang*.
Talok stands abruptly, his chair scraping back across the floor. He slams a fist onto the table, the sound sharp and echoing through the stone room.
"Impudent! Do they think we're fools? They believe we don't see the trap they've set once the Commander enters the capital."
Mani raises an eyebrow. "What do you mean? Is there some scheme behind it?"
Talok's voice is grim. "Once the Commander enters the capital, he'll be like a turtle trapped in a jar—unable to decide life or death for himself. The Owani have suppressed our Snow Mountain Tribes for centuries. Do you really think they'll allow us to establish a separate prefecture?"
Mani's brows draw together in concern. "Then what do we do?"
Hui Ban, silent until now, speaks with calm resolve. "I am preparing to break through to the Third Turn of the Great Samurai Realm. If I succeed, we'll have the strength to negotiate with the Owani court from a position of power."
Mani's eyes widen with hope. "Commander, if you succeed, everything will change."
Talok nods, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "If you advance to the Great Samurai Realm, you'll likely step straight into the Second Turn."
Mani says, " I still need to suppress the fire within you. At my current pace, it will take a decade."
Hui Ban gestures to Talok. "Give it to him."
Mani blinks, confused. "Give me what?"
Talok reaches into his inner robe and takes out a silver-colored fruit. It gleams faintly, its surface smooth like polished metal.
"Silver Spirit Fruit," Talok announces.
Hui Ban meets Mani's gaze. "You can't suppress the flame because your spirit is too weak. This fruit will refine your spirit, allowing you to comprehend the fire, master it, and advance into the Great Samurai Realm."
Mani stares at the fruit in awe, then reaches out and takes it with reverence and anticipation shining in his eyes.
---
Zhen Qi descends the snow-covered steps and climbs into the carriage waiting at the bottom. Inside, he sits opposite a woman draped in a fur-lined cloak, her expression calm but sharp.
The woman speaks first. "What did Hui Ban say?"
Zhen Qi exhales, brushing snow from his shoulders. "He asked for a week."
She hums thoughtfully. "He's stalling. Likely buying time."
Zhen Qi narrows his eyes. "Let him. Time won't change the damage they've done. After what happened to the Bai family, they'll have to pay a price."
The woman leans forward slightly. "Speaking of the Bai family—Bai Ju is unconscious."
Zhen Qi blinks. "What? Do they have any treatment plan?"
"They're searching for a healer named Fairy Xialing. And they've also sent soldiers back to bring a healer from their homeland."
Zhen Qi's expression hardens. "Send our men. Delay them for a week. Bai Ju must not wake up before then."
The woman studies him. "Why?"
"Because he burned his ancestral blood. If he doesn't recover at least a portion within a week, he'll never restore it. Even if he somehow advances to the Great Samurai Realm… he'll never reach the Three-Turn Realm."
A smile forms on the woman's lips. "Understood. I'll send the message now."
As the carriage rolls forward across the snow-covered landscape, a pigeon bursts into the air from a hidden compartment, a small scroll tied to its leg, vanishing swiftly into the winter sky.