Outside of Wei City, in a secluded courtyard.
The early morning mist shrouded the small courtyard. As dawn approached, an elegant-looking man stood at the door, looking up at the gray, hazy path. Frost had formed on his clothes. He had been waiting for a long time.
Inside the house sat a group of silent, deadly warriors. They had been personally trained by the crown prince of Dongyue and were as close as brothers.
Six months ago, a general, taking advantage of the crown prince's absence from court, had led a coup, slaughtering everyone of the Chu clan's bloodline overnight, usurping the throne and proclaiming himself the new emperor.
The emperor of Dongyue had the reputation of a wise and benevolent ruler, and his governance was just. He was deeply loved by the people. Many in the populace were dissatisfied with the new emperor and hoped that the crown prince would return to court, purge the traitors and reclaim the throne.
Therefore, as long as the crown prince was alive, the new emperor's throne would be in danger. The emperor had offered a hefty reward to all manner of assassins to hunt down the crown prince, determined to eliminate this threat.
The leader of the warriors took a cloak and draped it over Grand Tutor Zhou’s shoulders. "Sir, please take care of your health."
Grand Tutor Zhou looked worried. "Have your men found any trace of the prince?"
"No one in Wei City has seen the prince. I've sent out more spies. If they find any trace of him, they will return to report to me." The leader and his men had to remain hidden and could not openly search the city.
Grand Tutor Zhou sighed heavily. "Although the prince is young, he is steady and wouldn't leave without a word. He must have encountered some trouble. If anything happens to him—"
The leader interrupted him, trying to comfort him. "Sir, the heavens protect the Prince. Nothing will happen to him."
"That's right." Grand Tutor Zhou smiled bitterly and walked towards the eaves. "The prince is destined to be emperor. Heaven will surely protect him."
As their words fell, Chu Yue, ignoring Chuxuan who had offered to send him back home on his sword, walked down the perilous Violetstage Peak and returned to his temporary residence.
Grand Tutor Zhou hurried out to meet him. Relief washed over him when he saw Chu Yue, but then he noticed the whip marks all over Chu Yue's body. "Your Highness, what happened?"
Chu Yue walked into the bedroom and took off his bloody robe. "Don't worry."
Knowing his personality, Grand Tutor Zhou took out some medicinal ointment and placed it on the table. "Your Highness, please treat your wounds. I'll wait outside."
Chu Yue took off his robe and turned his back. The whip marks on his back were bloody and raw, a horrifying sight. He said, "Prepare your belongings. We'll leave Wei City immediately."
Grand Tutor Zhou's expression turned serious. "Your Highness, have you encountered assassins?"
Chu Yue shook his head and said lightly, "Just a little trouble."
Li Lanxiu didn't seem like someone who would keep his word.
If he could let him go once, he could capture him again.
Grand Tutor Zhou realized the matter was serious and ordered the leader to pack their things. They couldn't stay here any longer.
A short while later, the group disguised themselves as a merchant caravan and set off.
As the day gradually faded into the horizon, Wei City became a blur in the distance. On the desolate rural roads, they occasionally passed a few houses.
The sky was dark, and thick clouds hung in the sky like a sheet of lead. Lightning flashed across the sky and thunder roared.
A storm was coming.
To avoid pursuit, they had chosen secluded paths instead of the main roads.
Chu Yue donned a conical hat, pulled down the brim to cover half of his face and rode in the middle of the group.
Grand Tutor Zhou rode alongside him, hesitant to speak. "Your Highness, there's something I don't know if I should say."
Chu Yue held the reins with one hand and urged his horse forward. "What is there that you cannot say, Sir?"
Grand Tutor Zhou looked at the blood seeping from his arm and lamented, "You are the only remaining bloodline of the Chu family. The millions of people of Dongyue are all hoping for Your Highness to return to the capital, slay the traitorous officials and eliminate the rebel factions. You cannot make any mistakes!"
Grand Tutor Zhou had said these words countless times on their journey. Appointed by the Emperor as the crown prince's Grand Tutor, he had been by Chu Yue's side ever since he was four years old, teaching him to read and write. Their eleven-year relationship was one where he was both a teacher and a father.
It was precisely because of this relationship that Grand Tutor Zhou's entire family had been implicated and executed by the new Emperor, leaving only him alive.
Chu Yue offered no explanation, simply responding, "Very well."
Grand Tutor Zhou, overflowing with scholarly knowledge, continued to lecture, "Throughout history, those who have accomplished great things have not only possessed extraordinary talent but also an unwavering will. Someone who has only one is but a talent."
"Only having both makes one a king!"
"Your Highness is a king of kings. The hardships Your Highness has endured are the destiny of a king, the price one pays to become a king!"
Grand Tutor Zhou, a man of letters, filled with profound knowledge, spoke endlessly, his words flowing like a river. As they walked, he continued to lecture.
A low rumble of thunder sounded, and the first drop of rain splattered onto Chu Yue's sleeve. In an instant, a torrential downpour enveloped them.
All sound was drowned out by the relentless patter of rain.
Suddenly, the caravan ahead came to a halt. A faint metallic clang pierced through the rain, the sound of the guards drawing their swords.
In the distance, a group of shadowy figures stood, blending into the darkness.
In a flash of lightning, Chu Yue saw countless black-clothed assassins surrounding them from all directions, their eyes gleaming like those of wolves.
Unlike the assassins they had encountered before, this team was highly trained. They stood motionless in the pouring rain, like ghosts blocking their path.
"Whoever brings me the prince's head will be rewarded with thirty thousand taels of gold!"
A hoarse voice pierced through the storm, shattering the silence.
Black-clothed assassins attacked from all sides, their swords flashing in the downpour.
The clash of metal made a sharp and piercing sound. In an instant, pieces of flesh flew, and agonizing screams filled the air.
The commander was surrounded by several assassins and fought valiantly, his long sword whirling like the wind. But, outnumbered, he was struck in the chest and severely wounded.
Chu Yue's expression was cold. Having trained in martial arts since childhood, he was no weak scholar. He drew his sword and severed an assassin's head.
Then he leaned back on his horse, dodging an incoming blow. Kicking his heels into the horse's flanks, he charged forward several paces before turning around and catching the assassin off guard.
Grand Tutor Zhou fought off the assassins while calling out to the commander. One by one, the guards fell, and a look of determination flashed in his eyes.
"Your Highness, Grand Tutor, go!"
The mortally wounded commander, blood gushing from his chest, continued to protect Chu Yue. He managed to fend off several assassins and shouted for them to leave.
Chu Yue narrowed his eyes and kicked the rear of the horse in front of him, sending Grand Tutor Zhou galloping away.
He followed closely, fighting his way out of the encirclement. Several guards covered their retreat, fighting desperately.
Chu Yue glanced back. The battle behind him was fierce. His close companions were fighting a bloody battle in the rain. Their fallen bodies were washed by the rain, and blood mixed with mud flowed across the ground.
For a great reward, there would always be men willing to be brave. Thirty thousand taels of gold might be insignificant to cultivators, but it was an enormous temptation for ordinary people.
More black-clothed assassins poured in, their horses kicking up mud as they galloped. The steady thud of hooves was urgent and overwhelming.
Like hunting dogs, the assassins clung to them relentlessly.
The two men raced through the pouring rain, feeling as if the dark night would never end.
In the distance, a dilapidated temple roof emerged from beneath the branches of a tree. A red lantern hung beneath the eaves, lit brightly and oddly conspicuous in the dimness.
Suddenly, Grand Tutor Zhou's horse stumbled, struck by a flying arrow. Its front leg buckled, and he was thrown from the saddle.
Chu Yue jerked the reins and turned his horse, rushing back to Grand Tutor Zhou. "Sir!"
Grand Tutor Zhou rolled in the mud, then got to his feet, picking up his sword. He turned and roared, "Your Highness! Run!"
In that instant, the assassins caught up, and Grand Tutor Zhou was surrounded. An assassin plunged a dagger into his abdomen, and blood sprayed out.
With his last ounce of strength, he lunged at one of the assassins, pinning him to the ground.
"Third, one must be ruthless, both to oneself and to others. Only by being ruthless can one truly become a king!"
"Your Highness, live on!"
Grand Tutor Zhou's voice echoed through the rain.
Chu Yue's eyes widened in fury, his breathing growing ragged. He fought the urge to turn back and join the fray, instead urging his horse forward toward the temple with the lantern.
Rain mixed with blood dripped down his sharp jawline. A deep, angry red welled up in his eyes, and faint red lines spread across his cheeks, curving like snakes and meeting at his brow in a mysterious, ancient symbol.
As his rage intensified, the symbol grew clearer, radiating a strange red light. It seemed to throb with life.
In this moment, consumed by grief over Grand Tutor Zhou's death, he was oblivious to his own transformation.
A peculiar hunger gnawed at him from within, as if he hadn't eaten in days. Upon reaching the temple, he dismounted and the hunger intensified. It was as if a dormant power was awakening, demanding to be fed.
Dizzy and unsteady, he stumbled a few steps before collapsing into the mud.
Pain from his old and new wounds shot through him, jolting him back to his senses. The mysterious symbols on his face quickly faded, and he clambered out of the mud, a sorry sight, and stumbled into the temple.
The temple was brightly lit with rows of candles. The lotus pedestal, meant for a deity, was empty except for one person.
Dressed in pristine white robes, the figure sat high above, a peacock feather dangling from their black hair and an iron fan clutched in their hand. They seemed to look down upon all with a sense of superiority.
Their exposed skin was as white as flawless jade, but their face was covered by a grotesque, eerie mask. Their chin was slightly raised, and a faint, reddish mark marred the skin of their neck, like a love bite.
At first sight, Chu Yue turned and fled without hesitation.
Li Lanshou, seated on the altar, chuckled lightly. "Hey, do you want me to save you?"
A horde of black-clothed assassins stormed into the temple courtyard, seeming wary of the masked stranger who had appeared in the desolate wilderness on such a stormy night. They did not dare enter the temple.
Their eyes were fixed on Chu Yue.
With wolves ahead and tigers behind him, Chu Yue had no choice. He closed his eyes, calming his inner turmoil. Then, opening them again, he spoke calmly but firmly. "What's the price?"
Surprised by Chu Yue's unexpected intelligence, Li Lanshou sized him up like a cat toying with its prey. His eyes danced. "You," he said, "will be my slave."
***
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