The Legend of Chu Qiao - V1C1
Prologue 1- Major Chu Qiao
Prologue 2- A Storm is coming
Prologue 3- Time's up!
1- Royal Hunt
2- Zhuge, Wei, Mu, Jue, Che... and Yan
3- Fifth Brother
4- Fate is a Bitch!
5- Bloody Heart
6- Bastards
7- Snakes
8- Boundaries
9- Rocks and Plum Blossoms
10- Thank You, Sisters!
11- My name is 'None'
12- The Lantern Festival
13- Liar, liar!
14- The winner is the predator
15- Ambushed by a pervert. Saved by a Prince
Chapter 1
Royal Hunt
Royal Hunt
Xia Empire: Year 770 of the Bai Cang calendar
The Xia Empire was located on the northern bank of the Hong River. The people there were known for their martial arts skills, and their army displayed great bravery. Historically, they have been a nomadic group, traveling in search of water and lush pastures.
As dawn broke, the first long chime from the city's clock resonated magnificently, echoing as if it were far away. The gates of the city slowly opened, accompanied by the sound of the clock and the warm sunlight, signaling the beginning of a new day in Zhen Huang City, governed by the empire's strict authority.
"Go!" a commanding voice called out decisively.
A handsome black horse raised its white hooves and galloped across the snow outside Zhen Huang city, kicking up snowflakes. Its hooves clanged as they hit the ground, leaving ten men behind.
"Yan Shizi[1], you're late!" Zhuge Huai said to them after a hearty laugh while steering his horse forward.
Standing beside him were four teenagers, ranging in age from eleven for the youngest to fourteen for the oldest. All were dressed in ornate brocade and stood behind him with an air of charm and intelligence. At the sound of his voice, they turned in unison to face the approaching man.
Yan Xun reined in his horse with a shout, causing it to rear and neigh loudly before settling on the snowy plain. Clad in azure robes adorned with golden and silver thread, he wore a long white fur coat 0draped over his shoulders.
With a hearty laugh, he exclaimed, "I heard about you, Brother Zhuge. The eighth princess was at my place, and I couldn't leave her unattended. Apologies for making you all wait." His voice was full of vitality, and he smiled with youthful enthusiasm. Only his slightly squinted eyes hinted at a bit of introversion. Despite being only thirteen or fourteen, he carried himself with a grace and poise beyond his years, a mink scarf wrapped around his neck.
"I wasn’t aware you had an appointment with a lovely lady. It appears we’ve interrupted your mood, Your Royal Highness," remarked the prince, stepping forward. Dressed in turquoise, his voice was youthful, suggesting he was no older than twelve or thirteen, with his eyes resembling those of a sly fox. He spoke cheerfully.
Yan Xun chuckled lightly, responding calmly, "Second Prince of Wei, you must be teasing. If you hadn’t caused me to break the princess's glass cup during the state banquet days ago, I wouldn’t have had the pleasure of her company today. Speaking of which, I owe you my gratitude for that chance."
The young prince smiled back, unfazed. He turned to another teen in green robes beside him and said, "See, Mu Yun? I told you His Royal Highness Yan wouldn’t let this slide and would bring it up with me."
Mu Yun raised his eyebrows, retorting, "How many people in this imperial city have endured your antics? His Royal Highness Yan has immense patience. If it were me, I would have stormed over to confront you the night before."
"Are we still competing? If you both want to keep chatting, we might as well head back!" interrupted a teenager in black attire, with a striking yellow bow slung at his waist, clearly his weapon of choice.
Yan Xun seemed to just notice this teenager and promptly dismounted, bowing respectfully. "Oh, the Seventh Highness has arrived. Please forgive my poor eyesight."
Zhao Che glanced sideways at Yan Xun, smirking in acknowledgment of their presence. "My eighth brother and I need to get to the bookstore before dinner; time is tight," he stated directly to Zhuge Huai.
Zhuge Huai laughed and replied, "Now that Royal Highness Che is here, let’s get started."
The prince of Wei clapped his hands eagerly. "What have you prepared for us this time? We want to see it right away."
Zhao Jue remarked, "I see some animal cages over there. You’re not suggesting we go hunting, are you? That’s rather dull. Perhaps that’s why your fourth brother chose not to join us."
Zhuge Huai shook his head and spoke in a mysterious tone, "He has a rather peculiar personality. When has he ever participated in our gatherings? But wait and see, I’ve put a lot of effort into today’s plans." He then clapped his hands twice, the sound ringing clear and crisp across the snowy landscape.
In the distance, the fenced arena opened its gates, and Zhuge Huai's followers pushed in large carts. Six large cages lined up in the arena were covered with dirty white cloth, concealing their contents.
Prince Wei was curious and asked, "What is in the cages? Stop keeping us in suspense, Zhuge."
Zhuge Huai chuckled and signaled his men, who uncovered six cages. Each cage held around twenty thin girls, roughly seven or eight years old. The girls wore rough, short gowns with names like ‘Mu,’ ‘Wei,’ ‘Yan,’ and ‘Zhuge’ marked on their chests to identify them as captives. The cages belonging to Zhao Jue and Zhao Che were labeled 'Jue' and 'Che'. These children had been kept in darkness for far too long. When a bright light flooded the cages, they squinted and instinctively huddled together in fright, much like terrified rabbits.
Zhuge Huai explained, "Not long ago, a troop of western merchants visited my house and taught me this game. To add more fun, I plan to have my men open the arena gates and release some wolves. The wolves haven't eaten for a few days and are enraged. We can either shoot the beasts or the slaves in the other cages. Then, we'll see who has the last one remaining alive, and that will be the winner."
Prince Wei clapped and chuckled, "This is interesting; it could be quite fun."
After receiving their orders, his men hurried to open the gates and quickly left the arena. The children collectively shuddered and stood frozen, not daring to move even an inch.
Suddenly, loud howls filled the air as over twenty fierce, large wild wolves stormed into the arena, baring their bloodthirsty teeth, saliva dripping from their mouths, and rushing directly toward the children.
Piercing screams filled the scene. The children, crying and frantic, ran toward the others, huddling together. Simultaneously, sharp arrows flew into the arena from outside, not at the wolves but aimed at the children.
The stench of blood filled the arena, pitiful screams and pleas shooting into the sky. Sharp arrows pierced through the thin shoulders and chests of the children. With fresh blood flowing from them, their frail bodies looked like red flowers blooming. Agitated by the stench of blood, the pack of wolves became more ferocious. A black wolf jumped into the air and bit one of the children right in the neck, snapping it with a bite. Before she could scream, another wolf tore off one of her legs and another bit through her skull. Her white brains and fresh red blood mixed into a mess, spraying over the snow-covered ground.
As dawn broke, the first long chime from the city's clock resonated magnificently, echoing as if it were far away. The gates of the city slowly opened, accompanied by the sound of the clock and the warm sunlight, signaling the beginning of a new day in Zhen Huang City, governed by the empire's strict authority.
"Go!" a commanding voice called out decisively.
A handsome black horse raised its white hooves and galloped across the snow outside Zhen Huang city, kicking up snowflakes. Its hooves clanged as they hit the ground, leaving ten men behind.
"Yan Shizi[1], you're late!" Zhuge Huai said to them after a hearty laugh while steering his horse forward.
Standing beside him were four teenagers, ranging in age from eleven for the youngest to fourteen for the oldest. All were dressed in ornate brocade and stood behind him with an air of charm and intelligence. At the sound of his voice, they turned in unison to face the approaching man.
Yan Xun reined in his horse with a shout, causing it to rear and neigh loudly before settling on the snowy plain. Clad in azure robes adorned with golden and silver thread, he wore a long white fur coat 0draped over his shoulders.
With a hearty laugh, he exclaimed, "I heard about you, Brother Zhuge. The eighth princess was at my place, and I couldn't leave her unattended. Apologies for making you all wait." His voice was full of vitality, and he smiled with youthful enthusiasm. Only his slightly squinted eyes hinted at a bit of introversion. Despite being only thirteen or fourteen, he carried himself with a grace and poise beyond his years, a mink scarf wrapped around his neck.
"I wasn’t aware you had an appointment with a lovely lady. It appears we’ve interrupted your mood, Your Royal Highness," remarked the prince, stepping forward. Dressed in turquoise, his voice was youthful, suggesting he was no older than twelve or thirteen, with his eyes resembling those of a sly fox. He spoke cheerfully.
Yan Xun chuckled lightly, responding calmly, "Second Prince of Wei, you must be teasing. If you hadn’t caused me to break the princess's glass cup during the state banquet days ago, I wouldn’t have had the pleasure of her company today. Speaking of which, I owe you my gratitude for that chance."
The young prince smiled back, unfazed. He turned to another teen in green robes beside him and said, "See, Mu Yun? I told you His Royal Highness Yan wouldn’t let this slide and would bring it up with me."
Mu Yun raised his eyebrows, retorting, "How many people in this imperial city have endured your antics? His Royal Highness Yan has immense patience. If it were me, I would have stormed over to confront you the night before."
"Are we still competing? If you both want to keep chatting, we might as well head back!" interrupted a teenager in black attire, with a striking yellow bow slung at his waist, clearly his weapon of choice.
Yan Xun seemed to just notice this teenager and promptly dismounted, bowing respectfully. "Oh, the Seventh Highness has arrived. Please forgive my poor eyesight."
Zhao Che glanced sideways at Yan Xun, smirking in acknowledgment of their presence. "My eighth brother and I need to get to the bookstore before dinner; time is tight," he stated directly to Zhuge Huai.
Zhuge Huai laughed and replied, "Now that Royal Highness Che is here, let’s get started."
The prince of Wei clapped his hands eagerly. "What have you prepared for us this time? We want to see it right away."
Zhao Jue remarked, "I see some animal cages over there. You’re not suggesting we go hunting, are you? That’s rather dull. Perhaps that’s why your fourth brother chose not to join us."
Zhuge Huai shook his head and spoke in a mysterious tone, "He has a rather peculiar personality. When has he ever participated in our gatherings? But wait and see, I’ve put a lot of effort into today’s plans." He then clapped his hands twice, the sound ringing clear and crisp across the snowy landscape.
In the distance, the fenced arena opened its gates, and Zhuge Huai's followers pushed in large carts. Six large cages lined up in the arena were covered with dirty white cloth, concealing their contents.
Prince Wei was curious and asked, "What is in the cages? Stop keeping us in suspense, Zhuge."
Zhuge Huai chuckled and signaled his men, who uncovered six cages. Each cage held around twenty thin girls, roughly seven or eight years old. The girls wore rough, short gowns with names like ‘Mu,’ ‘Wei,’ ‘Yan,’ and ‘Zhuge’ marked on their chests to identify them as captives. The cages belonging to Zhao Jue and Zhao Che were labeled 'Jue' and 'Che'. These children had been kept in darkness for far too long. When a bright light flooded the cages, they squinted and instinctively huddled together in fright, much like terrified rabbits.
Zhuge Huai explained, "Not long ago, a troop of western merchants visited my house and taught me this game. To add more fun, I plan to have my men open the arena gates and release some wolves. The wolves haven't eaten for a few days and are enraged. We can either shoot the beasts or the slaves in the other cages. Then, we'll see who has the last one remaining alive, and that will be the winner."
Prince Wei clapped and chuckled, "This is interesting; it could be quite fun."
After receiving their orders, his men hurried to open the gates and quickly left the arena. The children collectively shuddered and stood frozen, not daring to move even an inch.
Suddenly, loud howls filled the air as over twenty fierce, large wild wolves stormed into the arena, baring their bloodthirsty teeth, saliva dripping from their mouths, and rushing directly toward the children.
Piercing screams filled the scene. The children, crying and frantic, ran toward the others, huddling together. Simultaneously, sharp arrows flew into the arena from outside, not at the wolves but aimed at the children.
The stench of blood filled the arena, pitiful screams and pleas shooting into the sky. Sharp arrows pierced through the thin shoulders and chests of the children. With fresh blood flowing from them, their frail bodies looked like red flowers blooming. Agitated by the stench of blood, the pack of wolves became more ferocious. A black wolf jumped into the air and bit one of the children right in the neck, snapping it with a bite. Before she could scream, another wolf tore off one of her legs and another bit through her skull. Her white brains and fresh red blood mixed into a mess, spraying over the snow-covered ground.
·········⋆༺𓆩❀𓆪༻⋆·········
The screams continued without end. The pain in her shoulder was unbearable, and her eyelids felt as though they weighed a ton. Arrows pierced Jing Yue Er's body, and she was roughly nailed to the ground. Her breathing was shallow. But her brows were tightly furrowed, growing more so. A hungry wolf inched closer, its menacing gaze fixed directly on this child. Its foul saliva hung from the side of its mouth. Stretching longer and longer, it dripped onto the child's face with a plop.
Out of nowhere, as if God's gaze had fallen upon this tragedy on earth, just as the wolf's teeth were on her, she remained silent and focused. It was not the courage and bravado a child should have. Instinctively, her hands shot out and closed the wolf's jaws. Raising her head, she tore off the wolf's tongue, which had been hanging out.
A piercing scream suddenly echoed, drawing everyone's gaze to the child tearing out the wolf's tongue. They were so stunned that they forgot to shoot their arrows.
Zhao Jue was the first to react. Seeing the large 'Jue' on her chest, he chuckled and pulled his bow, shooting an arrow right into the wolf's throat.
The wolf fell to the ground with a cry. The tragedy in the arena was still ongoing; all the other wolves were right on the heels of the children, most eating. Bodies were lying all over the arena, and dismembered limbs of children were strewn everywhere. Heart-wrenching screams and cries filled their ears.
Jing Yue Er stood up shakily, her eyes wide with disbelief. Torn clothes clung to her body, her hair was disheveled, and her pale face was streaked with blood. Cold winds swept past her with a flurry, making her appear as fragile as a delicate blade of grass.
Suddenly, a sharp arrow hissed through the air toward her. Jing Yue Er swiftly leapt back with grace, narrowly avoiding a deadly shot, but due to her weakened state, the arrow grazed her calf. Fresh blood trickled down her leg.
Prince Wei beamed with joy and nocked another arrow, releasing it once more.
Zhao Jue raised his eyebrows and muttered a cold groan. He drew his bow and shot an arrow straight into Prince Wei’s arrow.
A wolf shadowed her every move, but its foul smell betrayed it. Sensing danger, Jing Yue Er didn’t pause to check her wounded calf and instead sprinted directly toward Zhao Jue.
This man had saved her twice in such a short span. Though her mind was foggy, she chose the most strategic direction to run.
In just a few moments, an arrow was fired at her, hitting the ground sharply right before her foot. The child was stunned and came to a halt. She frowned and lifted her head, gazing at the teenager dressed in black on the red horse, her expression one of confusion.
Zhao Jue groaned at her in disdain, giving her a sweeping gaze and shooting an arrow through the back of another child.
That child was barely between five and six years old. She screamed and fell to the ground, her blood staining the 'Yan' on her back red, and was torn apart by the wolves in no time.
Time passed so quickly, yet so slowly. The children stood where they were, dazed. Suddenly, she bit her lips and turned quickly. Her speed was unbelievably quick, as if her injured legs did not affect her agility. A wolf was chasing right behind her and pounced viciously. She escaped with a centimeter to spare, barely making it.
A pile of wooden rods and hay for the horses was at a corner of the arena. The child picked up a rod. Without turning her head, she pounded the rod onto the waist of one of the wolves that was sneaking up on another child.
The wolf howled and darted to a corner, obviously heavily injured.
"Come here! All of you, come here!" she shouted while she bent down and picked up two stones, hitting them together. With a spark, the hay caught fire with a roar. The child lit her rod on fire and raised the torch. She ran all over the arena, chasing away the pack of wolves that were attacking the children. While doing that, she continued shouting, "All of you, come here! All of you, come here!"
Children of all ages ran towards Jing Yue Er as they wailed, all of them injured. Wolves bit some; some were shot with arrows. After the onslaught, there were barely twenty children left alive.
[1] For easier reading, you may refer to the list of characters.
Main name Yan Xun. Yan is his family name; Shizi means “Lion.” Yan Xun’s clan emblem is the Lion, and his father is called the King Lion. He is a prince of Yan Bei, part of the Xia empire. Yan Shizi can be translated as the Yan Lion Cub, referring to his princely title. In 770, Yan Xun was 13.
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