Volume One – The Frontier of Chen Kingdom, The Marquis’s Rebellious Path to Immortality Chapter 2 – Blackwind Pass

Blackwind Pass—a ruined, battered little city, perched against the mountains, clinging to the cliffs. Here, there was no law; it was more like a blood-soaked purgatory. Before the gates lay scattered remains—shattered limbs and corpses, both human and beast—and everywhere, the dark stains of blood not yet washed away, and scorched patches of earth, all exuding a stench of decay.

Withered vines, charred trees, dusk crows; broken walls, ruined ramparts, and bones—that was the scene before them.

A troop of thirty cavalrymen approached slowly from outside Blackwind Pass. They were none other than the company of the Rebel Marquis, Chen Yu, who had intervened earlier on Greenwood River.

At their head rode three youths. Two of them were the green-robed boys from before: the taller was Jing Zhe, the other Xue Han. Between them rode a young noble in splendid attire—he was Chen Yu, the Rebel Marquis of the Chen Kingdom, sword-browed and star-eyed, his face like carved jade, bearing himself with gentle grace—a true gentleman, warm as fine jade.

Though the three called themselves sworn brothers, their stations in life could not have been more different. Chen Yu was the Eighth Prince of the Chen Kingdom, born to nobility. Jing Zhe and Xue Han, by contrast, were orphans from the city’s slums.

Yet, for all the gulf between their origins, it did nothing to diminish the sincerity of their brotherhood.

“Third Brother, so this is your fief?” Jing Zhe eyed Blackwind Pass, unable to keep from teasing. “Doesn’t look like much, does it? Ha!”

Chen Yu merely shrugged, utterly unconcerned. “Who cares…” he replied offhandedly.

“Haha, well said.” A sudden fire flashed in Jing Zhe’s eyes, his excitement barely contained. “Blackwind Pass is only our beginning. Our future lies ahead.”

If one looked closely, it was plain that Jing Zhe’s gaze was not fixed on Blackwind Pass, but rather on the Heavenbreaker Mountains beyond—and perhaps, even farther still.

“We’ve already sniffed out the situation here,” Xue Han said calmly. “Blackwind Pass is no easy bone to chew.” Though his words sounded wary, his tone betrayed no real concern.

“If it’s too tough to chew, then we simply won’t chew it,” Chen Yu joked.

“Haha, exactly! Now that we’re here, no army—no matter how great—can stop our steps,” Jing Zhe declared resolutely.

…

The brashness of their words did not bring discontent to the black-armored soldiers behind them; instead, it stirred excitement and reverence. This was thanks to the bloodstains upon their armor—a testament to their journey.

All thirty had followed the three from the capital, fighting and bleeding their way to Blackwind Pass. Perhaps, at first, they had harbored scorn or contempt for these young men. But as they pressed forward, witnessing strategy, resourcefulness, and valor time and again, their hearts were shaken anew with every encounter. Now, all that remained in them was awe and obedience toward these three young lords.

—

“Xia You, you call them out.” The noble youth Chen Yu ordered the black-armored vanguard at his side.

“At your command,” Xia You replied, urging his horse forward, eyes cold yet steady.

On the city walls, the defenders had already spotted Chen Yu’s party, and took up defensive stances as though facing mortal enemies.

“Who goes there? Halt!” one of the guards atop the wall shouted at Xia You.

“I am Xia You, vanguard under the Rebel Marquis of Chen,” Xia You called in a deep voice. “We are here to take charge of Blackwind Pass. Open the gates and receive us at once!”

The soldiers on the walls stiffened, watching Chen Yu and his company with mounting tension. The commander’s brow furrowed, but he quickly responded, “What proof do you have?”

“We bear an imperial decree and the city seal,” Xia You answered.

“Very well, but I must verify their authenticity.”

“How dare you!” Xia You’s voice turned murderous. “The Marquis’s seal is not for the likes of you to examine. Open the gates at once!”

“No one enters without proof. Else, death to all intruders,” the commander ordered.

At this, the garrison readied for battle.

The sight sent Xia You’s anger soaring, but just as he was about to explode, Chen Yu’s voice floated over, calm and unhurried: “Xia You, give them the decree and the seal.”

“Yes, my lord.” Though he did not understand, Xia You would not disobey. He called up to the wall, “The imperial decree is here—who will come to receive it?”

The commander’s brow tightened further, but he had no choice but to send a soldier down to collect the decree and seal.

Thus, Chen Yu’s group could only wait in silence.

…

“Third Brother, this really is the back of beyond—so remote they even dare question your father’s imperial decree,” Jing Zhe grumbled with a hint of amusement.

—

The other black-armored soldiers were already used to scenes like this; each simply kept his eyes down, pretending to hear nothing.

“Haha, but isn’t this just to our advantage?” Chen Yu said with a grin.

“That’s true. If not for this, I’d never have wanted to come to such a godforsaken place,” Jing Zhe shrugged.

“Third Brother, you think the officials here might actually refuse to recognize your family’s imperial edict?” Xue Han could not help but tease.

The black-armored soldiers, though silent, all thought inwardly: Impossible, surely?

What surprised them even more was that Chen Yu, the future lord of Blackwind Pass, answered with even greater nonchalance: “It hardly matters. Perhaps it’ll be troublesome, but for what we mean to do, Blackwind Pass must change.”

“Well said,” Jing Zhe agreed seriously. “As our teacher said, we’re no longer children—we can’t waste any more time.”

Chen Yu and Xue Han nodded solemnly, their eyes bright with desire and resolve.

Xia You and the rest, for their part, grew more bewildered the more they listened.

On the road here, the soldiers had heard bits and pieces—enough to grasp that Chen Yu and his brothers had come to Blackwind Pass to lay some grand plan, something so important that Chen Yu was willing to forsake his status as prince and accept the lesser title of marquis.

Now, hearing them proclaim that even at their coming-of-age, they could not idle away any longer, the soldiers were left all the more at a loss.

And as for the “teacher” the three kept mentioning, they were all filled with curiosity. What sort of man could have instilled such ideas in these youths, driving them to such unfathomable actions?

Of course, these were only the private musings of Xia You and his fellows. As Chen Yu’s subordinates—and soldiers of the Chen Kingdom—they would never dare pry further.