Ming Yuan never expected such a swift reaction. He had thought that Su Jiong's sword was only drawn to threaten the commander. But now, amidst the cold echo of the metal, a bitter truth revealed itself before his eyes.
A moment later, Jue Yan, without hesitation, drew his blade from the sheath. The gleam of the steel was like the flash of lightning before a storm. His muscles tensed, and his eyes burned like two molten embers of fury, ready to react to any move from the enemies.
Ming Yuan, with a bitter doubt, shifted his gaze between Jue Yan and his naked sword. In the blink of an eye, chaotic and fearful thoughts flashed through his mind. "Damn… drawing a sword in the palace is a crime! What should I do now?!"
When Su Jiong drew his blade, Ming Yuan didn't feel fear creep into his heart. He knew well that if Su Jiong violated all the laws of the palace, or even the country, there would still be those who would support him and prevent his punishment.
But what about him? What about Jue Yan?
There was no turning back. Ming Yuan had come this far, and now, in this perilous struggle, retreat no longer held any meaning. He exhaled slowly and silently placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
The guards, who had been uncertain just moments ago, now had no doubt that they were standing against clear enemies. The sound of metal sliding against the sheath filled the air. Those with spears raised their sharp, gleaming tips toward Su Jiong, while those wielding swords took slow steps, tightening the encirclement.
The shadows of their armor and helmets twisted like waves of steel under the sunlight. The air around them smelled of iron and metal, and the sound of the soldiers' heavy breathing echoed in the tense silence.
At that moment, the heavy creak of the hall's door echoed through the space. A tall man, wearing a multi-layered robe with long sleeves, stepped out. He wore a large hat, and his sparse beard, which glistened in the faint light, suggested a high-ranking official. Curiously, he extended his gaze outward, puzzled by the unusual sounds he had heard.
But what he saw sent a shiver down his spine—the half-dead commander lying directly at his feet. His eyes locked on the officers who stood in the midst of the guards' encirclement. Fear coursed through his veins like poison. Hastily, he slammed the door behind him and rushed toward the man standing in the courtyard, in front of the prince's disciplinary seat. Lowering his voice, he whispered something into his ear. With every word spoken, the lines on the man's face hardened and deepened.
At last, the man listening held his breath and muttered under his breath, "Don't tell anyone… let everything proceed as it should."
Su Jiong knew well that soon, all the officials behind that door would find out about his presence. However, waiting for them wasn't in his nature. He wasn't prey waiting to be caught in a trap; he was the one who brought the storm to the heart of the enemy.
His gaze fell like a sharp blade upon the guards. A profound silence surged in his eyes, a silence more powerful than a thousand words. Then, without making any unnecessary movements, his lips moved only for Ming Yuan and Jue Yan: "Listen carefully, no one must get hurt. Jue Yan, sheath your sword. If anyone dies here, we won't escape its consequences."
His words were calm but firm. Ming Yuan, whose heart was pounding with worry, let out a breath of relief upon hearing this. His fingers, which had already tightened around the hilt of his sword, loosened slightly.
But his heart couldn't take it, and with a sharp retort, he said:
"Then why did you draw your sword in the first place?!"
Su Jiong immediately replied:
"Because I wanted to make them a little afraid."
Then, without hesitation, he stepped forward and sheathed his sword. Jue Yan, with a hesitant look, followed suit and after a moment, sheathed his gleaming blade.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the field, the commander of the guards, still lying on the ground, slammed his trembling hands on the cold stone floor in an attempt to find support to rise. His breaths were labored, but in them, there was nothing but rage and hatred.
His eyes burned like two glowing coals, fixed on Su Jiong's face, and with a voice filled with pain and humiliation, he howled:
"Do you think now that you've surrendered, it matters?! You've attacked a government official! This Is treason! Arrest them!"
Poor fool, he had thought that Su Jiong and Jue Yan, by sheathing their swords, had finally surrendered. Little did he know that this stillness wasn't out of submission but was part of the storm yet to come.
The guards Immediately took a step forward. Their faces were resolute, their movements synchronized, and their spears gleamed, deadly.
The encirclement tightened, leaving no room for escape.
Su Jiong took a deep breath. He could feel the deadly cold of the spears, mere inches from his skin. But on his face, there was no fear, nor anxiety.
Slowly, he took a step back. The shadows of the spears, flashing faintly in the dim light, closed in around him, Jue Yan, and Ming Yuan. Their breaths grew heavy. The commander's eyes burned with rage, as though the thirst for revenge had made him forget the pain of his wounds.
"Arrest them!"
The command still lingered in the air when the first guard charged toward them. Before his spear could pose any threat, Su Jiong took a long step forward and struck the guard's wrist with the full force of his sword sheath. The bone snapped, and the spear was wrenched from his fingers as the man let out a short cry of pain. Before he could regain his balance, Su Jiong spun once more and, using the blunt end of the sheath, aimed for the guard's knees. With a groan, the man fell to the ground, though he remained conscious.
At that moment, two more guards lunged toward Jue Yan. The first attempted a swift strike, trying to knock him to the ground with the butt of his spear. But Jue Yan, having anticipated the move, nimbly dodged it. He locked his hand around the hilt of his sword sheath and, at the perfect moment, struck with a powerful blow to the guard's stomach from the side. The man, unprepared for such a forceful hit, gasped for air and staggered back. This gave Jue Yan the opportunity to strike his foot sharply against the back of the guard's knee. The guard lost his balance, groaning in pain as he collapsed to the ground.
Ming Yuan, who always relied on his physical strength in battle, chose to use his hands and feet rather than the sword sheath. One of the guards, having crept up behind him, attacked with a sword ready to strike. But Ming Yuan was faster. With a sudden twist, he grabbed the man's arm with both hands and, with a sharp pull, disarmed him. Then, he drove his elbow into the man's stomach, causing him to bend backward with a pained groan. Ming Yuan pressed forward and, with a precise palm strike, hit the guard's temple. The man, his vision blurred, lost his balance and dropped to his knees.
Even though their opponents were falling one by one, the wave of attacks did not cease. One of the guards, seeing an opening, charged at Su Jiong without waiting for orders. Anger sparkled in his eyes, but in the blink of an eye, Su Jiong sidestepped the attack and, with a swift motion, drove his fist into the man's side. The guard's breath was knocked from him, and, struggling to maintain his footing, his knees buckled beneath him.
Jue Yan, still catching his breath, glanced behind him. Only five guards remained, and they attacked more cautiously now. They had realized that if they charged recklessly, they would meet the same fate as their fallen comrades. Yet the captain of the guards, his teeth clenched and his eyes burning with fury, still lay on the ground, his muffled shouts encouraging his men to continue the fight.
"That's enough!"
Su Jiong's voice, firm and calm, cut through the noise of the battlefield. He extended his hand and gripped the hilt of his sword. Jue Yan and Ming Yuan, panting heavily, exchanged a glance before, like Su Jiong, they held their weapons in a ready position, but refrained from attacking.
The remaining guards, still able to stand, hesitated, glancing at each other. This was not the battle they had expected. There had been no bloodshed, no massacre. They still breathed, though the pain coursed through their muscles and bones.
Amidst the silence, Su Jiong took a step forward and said, "We don't want to fight you! Step aside, you're just wasting our time with this!"
The guards did not attack again, but the commander, wounded and enraged, limped forward. His steps were uneven. He clutched his left side with his hand, and his face contorted with pain. His breaths were heavy, filled with hatred. With a voice that trembled slightly from the agony, he shouted, "You attacked the palace guards! This is a crime, this Is treason! You must be arrested!"
His eyes were half-closed from the intensity of his pain as he drew his sword with all his might. The blade gleamed in the daylight, its tip pointed at Su Jiong. The veins on the commander's neck stood out in fury, and his breaths came through his clenched teeth.
"To kill a traitor is an honor!"
Ming Yuan immediately stepped forward and shouted, "Idiot! Sheathe your sword! Do you know who you're drawing your sword against?!"
The commander snarled, "Traitor, traitor! It doesn't matter if you're a peasant or a noble! You fools attacked the palace guards. You either surrender... "
Suddenly, his tone sharpened, and the last words came out with such venom and hatred that they pierced the air, "…or you die!"
Su Jiong suddenly burst into laughter. It was not a laugh of joy, but one of derision and mockery. He tilted his head slightly and fixed his gaze on the commander, like a hunter enjoying the futile struggle of its prey. With a smirk, he said, "You want to kill us?!"
He glanced at Ming Yuan and Jue Yan, then pointed at himself, but this time with a heavier emphasis, repeating the same phrase: "You want to kill us?! Did your soldiers manage to do anything that you could?!"
He spread his arms wide, as though to show that not a single scratch marred his body. His voice carried a tone of disdain and challenge, "Look for yourself! No wounds, no scratches, nothing on my body. You attacked and got beaten. When you're this useless, you'd better shut your mouth and step aside. Right now!"
The commander's face turned even redder with rage. His fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His breaths were heavy and erratic, as if a storm was brewing Inside him. He narrowed his eyes and, with a gaze that boiled with both fury and disdain, fixed them on Su jiong. For a moment, a silence fell—one that held more tension than any scream could convey.
Jue Yan glanced at Su Jiong out of the corner of his eye. Such provocative words from him were unexpected, yet not entirely surprising. He guessed that Su Jiong aimed to pour more salt into the commander's wounds, to draw him further into conflict. But why? The answer, though elusive, quickly came to Ming Yuan's mind. Su Jiong intended to stir up chaos. He wanted to showcase his power and skill, and when he stepped into the discussion hall, not a single official would dare to stand against him. He wasn't just after a victory; he wanted to instill fear in everyone's hearts.
Unable to bear the humiliation any longer, the commander, with all the strength left in his body, began to charge forward. His body was on the verge of collapse from pain and exhaustion, but his rage and wounded pride gave him new strength. Su Jiong's degrading words burned within him like fire, making him forget all his aches and weaknesses. He had only one thought in his mind—revenge, to drive the blade of his sword into the heart or belly of this insolent boy.
With an enraged roar, he thrust his blade ahead and charged. His speed, even in such a state, was remarkable. The deadly gleam in his eyes revealed his determination.
Jue Yan instinctively reached for his own sword, but before he could even draw it halfway, Su Jiong leaped forward with an unimaginable speed.
Ming Yuan's eyes widened in shock. Su Jiong was throwing himself into danger! He had jumped directly into the path of the enemy's blade, as though challenging death itself. But he wasn't crazy—he was Su Jiong.
Just moments before the blade could strike him, he suddenly spun his body, like a whirlwind changing its course. This movement caused the commander to lose his balance. In an instant, the commander's hands became ensnared in Su Jiong's grip, and with overwhelming strength, Su Jiong locked the commander's arms.
An unbearable pressure engulfed the commander's body, as though trapped in the claws of a monster. His fingers weakened, sweat dripped from his forehead, and the blade slipped from his trembling fingers, falling to the ground with a dry sound. His gaze was filled with disbelief, his breath caught in his throat. But before he could beg, Su Jiong's quiet, chilling voice echoed in his ear:
"Never threaten me again. Got it?!"
The commander tried to move, struggled, but his hands were numb from the immense pressure. He couldn't even turn his head, couldn't do anything at all.
Could it be more humiliating than this?
Suddenly, Su Jiong released him—but not gently. With a sudden and calculated move, he delivered a powerful kick to his backside, so forcefully that the commander was hurled pitifully to the other side of the courtyard.
A heavy silence filled the air.
Su Jiong took a step forward. His gaze passed through the faces of the guards, who now had fear and respect intertwined in their eyes. He shouted in a clear voice:
"Is there a problem?!"
No one dared respond. Some of the guards lowered their heads, some even held their breath, as if fearing that any wrong reaction would provoke Su Jiong's wrath.
Su Jiong didn't even need to fight anymore; his victory was reflected in this silence. Without wasting any time, he turned and moved toward the gate. Jue Yan and Ming Yuan followed by his side, not speaking a word.
When he reached out to push the door open, he felt an unexpected resistance. The door was locked from the inside. His eyes narrowed. He took a few steps back and stood next to Ming Yuan and Jue Yan. A brief silence passed. Then, with a tone that carried an underlying command, he said, "I need your help!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Jue Yan was ready. But Ming Yuan hesitated for a moment. He hadn't expected such a request from Su Jiong. He furrowed his brows and became lost in thought. "Interesting…" he muttered under his breath, "it's rare for Su Jiong to ask for help!" But before long, his expression changed to one of understanding, and he nodded.
Without a word, Su Jiong pointed toward the door with his chin. No explanation was necessary. Both Jue Yan and Ming Yuan understood exactly what needed to be done. Then, the three of them, under the dark and hostile gazes of the guards who silently stared at them, approached the doorway. The half-closed eyelids and deep frowns of the guards revealed their malicious intentions. But the three did not hesitate. Together, with relentless force, they kicked the door.
Boom!
With a heavy blow, the wooden door was torn from its hinges and fell with a jagged crack. The splintered pieces of wood scattered in all directions. The deafening sound echoed like thunder through the air and reverberated into the hall. Many eyes turned, wide in shock, toward the door. Some of the officials, who had been at ease just moments ago, suddenly rose in fear. A few were so terrified that their mouths hung open in an attempt to scream, yet no sound escaped.
A shadow of terror gripped their hearts.
Some, in their panic, thought that the rebels from the northern borders had stormed the palace. Others, in their minds, ran through plans for an imminent coup. But when Su Jiong's figure emerged from the dust and wreckage, many realized that the truth was something entirely different.
Those who knew him well understood that wherever Su Jiong was mentioned, a storm of trouble was sure to follow.
Su Jiong stepped forward. His boots struck the ground with an iron-clad sound, like a hammer striking an anvil. No one spoke.
The officials, known for their constant gossip and malicious talk, seemed to have lost their tongues this time. It was as though silence was the only course of action that had come to their minds at this moment.
In the midst of this deadly silence, a young man knelt on a one-meter-high platform in the center of the courtyard.
Su Yao.
He wore a white robe, though it had lost its luster. His face, once reminiscent of moonlight, now appeared wilted and pale. His eyes were hollow, filled with the marks of sleepless nights and sorrow. His hands rested motionless on his knees, and his back was hunched like a tree broken under the weight of rain. He waited for his judgment to be carried out.
Through the broken door and the fear on the officials faces, one thing was clear to Su Jiong: To these ruthless politicians, it didn't matter what would come next. It didn't matter what the truth was. The only thing that mattered was the downfall of Su Yao's pride and reputation.
But Su Jiong would never allow that to happen.
Su Jiong's face twisted with fury. His brows were furrowed as if he was on the brink of exploding at any moment.
His fingers interlaced, and his jaw clenched tightly. A wave of hatred surged within him, a fire of anger that could only have one outcome: the blood of these corrupt individuals would spill!
If there had been even the slightest hope left for the future, without a doubt, he would have drawn his sword and cut them all down. But now… he had to remain calm. He had to control his anger. He had to wait like a tiger lying in ambush, biding his time for the right moment.
Jue Yan, feeling himself surrounded by a sea of eyes and judgments, could feel his heart pounding in his chest as if it were about to leap out. He had never been in such a situation—standing before the country's leaders, the tribe chiefs, and the nobles of the court, all of whom, both friend and foe, had gathered here.
Ming Yuan, too, was disgusted by being trapped in this whirlwind of gazes. He preferred to close his eyes to everyone around him and stared at the floor of the place of discipline. Perhaps, this way, enduring these moments would be easier for him. But suddenly, the silence was broken.
A voice rose from the crowd, sharp and threatening, filled with contempt and anger:
"What's going on here?! Who is this rebel who kicked down the door like an animal?!"
Suddenly, as if a dam had broken, voices rose one after another.
"Lord Su?! What are you doing here?!"
"This young man has no right to be here!"
"Lord Su… you are not allowed to be here! Leave at once!"
But Su Jiong, indifferent to these shouts, moved toward the place of discipline.
His gaze fell on a tall man standing in the first row of officials—the same one who had just moments ago signaled one of the clerks to silence the crowd and let things proceed as usual.
Su Jiong stopped.
His eyes fixed on the man; a hunter's gaze upon prey, waiting for the moment to sink his claws Into it.
The man, aware of Su Jiong's intense and burning gaze, turned around. A forced smile appeared on his lips, but underneath it, anxiety was evident in his face, betraying him.
Like the other officials, he wore a multi-layered robe with long sleeves, and a large, heavy hat adorned his head. The years had left their mark on his face—he was at least twenty years older than Su Jiong—but still, he bowed respectfully and, with a tone full of deceit, said, "Lord Su… I am shocked to see you! Why have you come here?!"
His voice was like silk, but his eyes were like a poisoned dagger hidden beneath the mask of this deceitful appearance.
Su Jiong, without even blinking, smirked. Then, while staring phoenix-like at Su Yao, he said in a cold, firm tone, "I came to take my cousin away."
Guosu Tribe: An Opportunity or a Threat?
The Guosu Tribe was the largest and most influential tribe in the country of Beichi. A tribe with a population exceeding three million, which accounted for nearly a quarter of the nation's total population. For centuries, this tribe had played a fundamental role in the political and military structure of Beichi. The Guosu was made up of four main branches:
Jin Guosu in the west of Beichi
Yuan Guosu in the north
Han Guosu in the southeast
Yan Guosu in the east
This division had one primary goal: to dominate the country's borders. The Guosu's presence on all four sides of Beichi acted as a major obstacle to the military influence of other tribes.
For the past three centuries, power in Beichi had been held by the elders of this tribe. However, with the rise of the Su clan and the establishment of a new dynasty, a fundamental change occurred in the governance structure. The Guosu elders decided to entrust the leadership of the tribe to someone outside the royal family in order to prevent the king from becoming a tyrant. Nevertheless, this power balance did not last long.
During the reign of Prince Su Shen, the father of Su Jiong, the Guosu elders' political outlook began to shift. The decision that had been made in the past to control the concentration of power gradually faded, and eventually, the leadership of the Guosu tribe was handed back to a member of the royal family (namely Su Shen).
This decision, which defied all logic, sparked a wave of protests. Many of the elders saw this move as a source of division and discord within the su family, which indeed proved to be the case.
The outcome of this decision was nothing but conflict and animosity. The long-standing enmity between Su Jiong, the rightful heir to lead the Guosu tribe following his father, and the current king of Beichi, stemmed directly from this event. Now, one might ask: if the Guosu elders had agreed to this decision, why did the king at the time, Su Jiong's grandfather, approve of it? The answer lies in the reasoning of the king back then; he believed that by granting the leadership of the tribe to his eldest son, Su Shen, the power of the country and the tribe would once again merge, making Beichi an unbeatable power.
However, no one anticipated that after Su Shen's appointment as the head of the Guosu tribe, he would suddenly lose his life. This event paved the way for his younger brother to ascend the throne. On the other hand, the Guosu elders recognized Su Jiong, Su Shen's eldest son, as the rightful heir to the tribe.
This sudden change complicated the power dynamics significantly. If the tribe and the kingdom were meant to merge, one of two scenarios had to occur: either Su Jiong would become both the head of the tribe and the king, or the reigning king would take over the leadership of the Guosu. However, neither of these happened.
The new king made several attempts to take control of the tribe, but the Guosu elders steadfastly resisted him, and as a result, the rift between the royal family and the tribe's elders deepened with each passing day. The outcome was that Beichi found itself caught in the consequences of this dispute...
Love Affairs and Corruption Among the Nobility.
Among the aristocrats and nobility, not marrying, marrying late, or even marrying early was never seen as a sign of moral integrity or abstaining from indulgence. Young aristocrats, filled with wealth and power, constantly sought new experiences, surrendering themselves to endless pleasures. Multiple relationships with different women were nothing more than an accepted custom among the upper class. Those immersed in luxury were always in search of new ways to satisfy their desires, often crossing the boundaries of morality In the process.
However, this was not a universal rule. Among this sea of corruption, there were a few men who preserved their dignity and status. But the truth was that their number seemed insignificant. Even Su Jiong, Ming Yuan, and Jue Yan occasionally found their way to these brothels to fulfill their sexual needs.
None of them were saints, and they saw no obligation to suppress their desires. Their power and influence were tied to their martial and political skills, not to asceticism or piety.
Of the three, Ming Yuan was the most mischievous and indulged in pleasures more than the others. Su Jiong, with his cold and detached demeanor, had little interest in indulging with women, except on rare occasions. Jue Yan, too, became anxious in the presence of women and often lost control, thus submitting to them rather than playing an active role in the game.
Yet, while these three were lovers of pleasure, they were not willing to descend into corruption. For instance, one night when Su Jiong visited one of these brothels, he witnessed with his own eyes an aristocrat from the Shu family entering a room with several young women and indulging in pleasure until dawn.
However, this was not the worst thing he saw. On another occasion, Su Jiong saw an older nobleman forcing a young servant boy to service him. The boy, who had no experience in such matters, was coerced into complying with the old man's demands, receiving a hefty sum in return.
Su Jiong, angered by such behavior, decided never to attend such gatherings again. From then on, if he ever visited these brothels, it was only to rent a room and spend the night.
However, shortly after, he completely abandoned these places, as he heard that one of the nobles had died from an unknown disease transmitted exclusively through sexual relations. Su Jiong, who never wished for his death to be linked with such a fate, warned Ming Yuan and Jue Yan to be cautious as well.
And so, a time came when these three young men seemingly decided to suppress their desires. But... truly suppress them?! Can you believe that? Which young man could suppress his sexual urges forever? Only the devout and the eunuchs did such things, and even they did not do it by choice! The truth was, no man, not even the most pious, could last more than a few months without satisfying his needs.
Thus, time passed in this manner. But before you pass judgment, remember: in that era, which noble and virtuous girl would lose her virginity before marriage? Such a thing was rare. As a result, finding a sexual partner outside the realm of the brothel women was almost impossible.
So, although Su Jiong often appeared cold and serious, don't think for a moment that he had forgotten the pleasures of life. All it took was to catch him in private, when he was alone with a girl in a room! But let's not linger too long on this subject. This is neither a romance nor an indulgent tale. We are all polite and optimistic people here, so it's best to return to the heart of the story...
I would be very happy if you could join me in expanding this story by sharing your thoughts and questions. Any feedback or suggestions you provide will greatly contribute to the progress of this work. If you're enjoying the story, please add it to your list of favourite and support me. I truly appreciate your support.