Author Angel Chua

Adapted from Princess Agents drama series and original novel by Xiao Xiang Dong'er – Chu Qiao Chuan Biography

Survival of Mounties (05.28.2021 edited)

It is almost dawn, and Chu Qiao on her usual coldness threw some spring water to the young lieutenant's face, and suddenly Ge Qi woke up like he was in a spring body of water looking like drowned.

He was startled with the woman on a bloody open hood in front of him, he suddenly stood up and looking for his dagger he turned his back.

Viper on his back standing so tall, her right hand patting her folded whip into her left palm and looking so fierce towards him. Chu Qiao does not want the young man to get defensive, she said: "At Ease."

Finally, when Ge Qi heard the voice of a woman confirmed, he asked: "Are you back? General Chu Qiao of Xiuli army?"

Chu Qiao suddenly felt like music to her ears, and she replied: "I am Chu Qiao, the lost general of Xiuli army if you prefer to call me that."

The man dropped to his knees and said: "Long live General, we have been searching for you for a year now. We thought you were dead at the lake. Seeing you today, I will thank the Qians (heavens) for granting you alive and well."

Ge Qi on his tears and joy bowed his head to the ground, and Chu Qiao came close to lift his head and said: Now can you show me the troops of Xiuli army?

Yes, General and Ge Qi about to stand when Chu Qiao said: Before we go on another trip have yourself a hearty meal first.

Viper showed Ge Qi the cooked food, and Ge Qi's eyes opened wide in his delayed hunger he did not think twice to eat. He Xiao asked for food from Yanbei's granary and food storehouse and sent their horse saddlebag full of rice grains, meat and other Yanbei provisions such as medicines, light and cold weapons, the extra scabbard of swords and some garments.

While Ge Qi is eating Chu Qiao took the young lieutenant's right foot and gave the first aid on one of the bacteria infected wound on his foot. Chu Qiao washed it first with spring water and then wiped it with a white cloth, put some balm and then a bandage.

Ge Qi is looking through the beautiful face of Chu Qiao then his eyes still in tears, but his mouth is full of food, he bowed and said: "Thank you, General Chu. I am ashamed to show myself in this condition, but I am grateful that you are here."

Chu Qiao said: "Stop thanking me, and finish your meal and let's meet the troops."

Chu Qiao feels new, and at the same time old at these things, she cannot believe she once was a General of a dying army.

She is somewhat feeling so lost, angry and between merciful and cold for whoever caused this difficulty to this Xiuli army which she even wore one of their General uniforms and feels not worthy of it.

After few moments, the three were walking through a barren landscape grassy plain and then a forest, Chu Qiao asked for a pit stop and told Ge Qi he can change one of the garments He Xiao provided. Ge Qi gladly nodded and went to a nearby lake.

He took a bath and changed his clothes while Viper and Chu Qiao was sitting and nipping the stalk of long grass and did not bother to look at him.

Ge Qi on his new garment looks so handsome and young in his years. His eyes full of brightness and life, and no more of the slipshod look he had last night.

Chu Qiao went to her horse and took one of her arms and gave Ge Qi a new sword, she said: "I didn't bring it all, but we have enough for the troops, He Xiao reserved for all of you. Take this."

Ge Qi still feeling overwhelmed said: "I even forgot what is a sword looks like. Thank You General"

Chu Qiao gave him a smile and said: "You will now then not only remember it but feel its protection."

And Ge Qi tested it by putting some swordplay show, and Chu Qiao and Viper clapped at him and Ge Qi honoring his audience he suddenly bowed in front of them like he was doing a curtain call when suddenly an arrow from nowhere was shot at his back.

Viper runs towards the forest to catch the culprit while Chu Qiao came to pick Ge Qi and she said: "At ease, I got you."

Ge Qi feeling tired he looked up to Chu Qiao's calm and beautiful eyes he said: "I am glad I saw the real beauty of Xiuli army, our general who defended and fought for us and never left us in spite of our mistakes. Now I can say General Chu never abandoned us, and she is with me today at this moment of my life."

"Sshhh.." hushed by Chu Qiao and said: "Do not speak those words yet, you are young and this arrow of your back we will take it out and bring you back to your troops."

Ge Qi said: "I just wanted to thank you General, whatever happens, I am happy to finally see your face even if it meant I will die at any moment on this insidious roads."

A cold wind blew upon them and Chu Qiao in a slip of time slowly remembered Feng Mian. The sunny and faithful servant of the Yanbei prince, she was holding Feng Mian the way she is holding Ge Qi right now.

Those memories came back to her like many grains of sand of time filling her bank of memories, Chu Qiao shed a tear and then looked at Ge Qi who is slipping out of his breath. The arrow was shot accurately at the back and may have been inserted in the walls of his heart, and only a skillful healer can take it out without damaging the walls of his heart.

Chu Qiao hushed him and said: "You will live, you are too young to die like this, this is not your story's end."

Viper came back and caught the enemy archer when suddenly she saw Ge Qi and Viper said: "No you cannot die like this. No! No!"

Viper on her anger strangled the enemy archer but has not interrogated it yet, so she did not kill it. Chu Qiao looking at the enemy she said: "If he dies, I will send your soul to the underworld." The enemy archer suddenly felt some goosebumps in his skin and became scared of what Chu Qiao said.

Viper said to the enemy archer and told them: "kneel and lie down your head to the ground!" and the enemy archer obeyed. In this position, the enemy cannot run or even move around, as his hands and feet were tied.

Viper came closer to Chu Qiao who is holding Ge Qi and said: "Mimi Gongzhu, if you are willing, you can use your Hing Ba Na, as the leader of Wind and cloud decree you can use your powers but the consequence is unknown. I cannot define it to you, but the last time was, it swept all of your memories. Are you willing or not to lose a part of the mortal self to save this young man?"

Chu Qiao hasn't regained back her full memories, and yet here she is again, will have to give away a part of herself to save this young man.

Chu Qiao looking at Ge Qi although they just met last night, she already felt she was close to him, long ago, once upon a time, like Feng Mian on her memories one of those moments, she wants to do something but couldn't.

This time she decided and told Viper: "I shall do it."

She gently lied down Ge Qi's head as his eyes still closed and aching.

Chu Qiao stood up and slowly took off her bloody hood and fell on the ground.

Then on her Xiuli general's uniform once again she took it off leaving only her white inner garment revealed a skinny and delicate body, her face is calm and looked so empty, devoid of any sense of feeling and her flower tattoo at her back once again trickling on fire, she once again felt that painful inscription in her back but before closing her eyes, Viper told her: "Mimi Gongzhu you know where to come back, at this time at this place I trust you."

…..

And once again Chu Qiao used her Hing Ba Na, the willingness to accept or not, the consequences of using her powers to bring back the dead to life is for her to cross the Higanbana flowers of forgotten rivers that belong to the underworld and has the ability to alter the course of time and destiny of the person.

What happened in this part…

Like in a trance of a white dream, an unblinding light came to a soul of a young man walking at the field of flowers, and he looked at it and said: I never saw this place before, but its sweet scent entices me to walk further. And then he looked up and saw the whole field full of flowers.

The wind blew on his face, and again he looked down he saw a very, very narrow path enough only to receive his footsteps as if its the only way he must walk on and follow.

As the fragrance of the flowers grew, so is his senses pushing him to continue. He walked endlessly until he saw a very old man on his black hood at the river shore is also a small boat and misty calm river.

The young man is looking for what is on the other side but cannot see it only clouds of darkness and mists no one ever lived to tell.

He cannot also speak to ask the old man, it seems he is only limited to what he can do, and that is just to accept the old man's hand.

He came closer, and the old man offered his hand.

Somewhere between darkness and light, Chu Qiao arrived at the underworld using her indigo scarf covering her face, she is walking so beautiful, and on her, every step is a plum blossom of flower dropping on the underworld ground, and the scent grew its aroma calming the spies and other underworld elements.

She was like parading to a group of powerful spies, these spies are a spirit like that inherited a human body and soul.

Somewhat in between a hybrid human and you may call them the angels of light and darkness.

It is indescribable.

They all bowed to the princess as the plum blossoms drop at her path, she continued to walk on her eyes closed.

She suddenly sensed time stopped as the tattoo on her back began to come out of her back and be gone from her body.

It went on air and on a spiral like the movement it formed the appearance of a Higanbana flower.

Suddenly she was in the forgotten river.

The ancient man was surprised to see her, but he bowed and accepted the Higanbana flower.

The flower suspended in front of him and showed his sad, droopy eyes full of wrinkled lines a sign of aging.

Then Chu Qiao suddenly closed her eyes, he took the hand of the young man and the man gave it away when all of a sudden another unblinding light flashed in front of the young man's eyes and like an eternity he went out of his sight.

Suddenly, sand dunes and endless deserts, Chu Qiao must find her path.

In between her consciousness and subconsciousness she knows where the trail is.

It is not her first, she is more confident and knows the way, this time, and she continued to walk, feeling lost her empty stares, her memories faded in time in exchange for a life.

Like the lyrics in a song, so is her mantra.

"Look at the state we're in, this docile apathy, we fight and stumble aimlessly."

"We broke our promises one too many times when hope is a ghost, fear survives."

"I am just gonna sit here, I am just gonna stay here for a while, need to catch my breath here, What do we do now."

"Look at the empty stares of once mighty men, fallen and fragile so unsure. Who do we look to now, how can we trust again, when hope is a ghost, fear survives."

This is the price of being the secret princess, gaining access to secret pathways and other secret dimensions, her mortal body suspended on earth while her soul journeys through a thousand deserts.

Descends through hell but not lost.

No sense of time until she finds her way and can free herself on this beautiful curse of her powers at the expense of losing her memories is harrowing and beyond every human soul reach.

Ge Qi suddenly awakened and as if he has just been asleep for hours when it's already been a week and he is back at Xiuli army post at Xiuli mountain.

He woke up and felt some mild pain in his back and one of the Xiuli medic corpsman met his eyes, and he said: Where is General Chu?

The military medic corpsman on his kind eyes met his and said gently: What are you talking about?

Suddenly another young Xiuli lieutenant Wu Danyu, from the right Du Wei troops of Xiuli army. It was just in time when he came in and spoke to the corpsman to give the young lieutenant Ge Qi sometime to find himself. Maybe the effects of the medicines treated under his wounds are making him hallucinate. He observed his wounds healed faster than usual. How did this happen?"

No one can explain but the most important thing is, the young lieutenant Ge Qi is alive.

Ge Qi feeling comfortable on his comrade Wu Danyu said: "I know I am not crazy yet but I saw General Chu with a girl, whose lips is like hell and she has a long whip. Ge Qi rose up from his bed to tell more stories."

Wu Danyu recalling this past few days, cannot tell what Ge Qi is talking all about. He went closer to Ge Qi and hold his two shoulders and let him lie down to rest he said: "Alright, we will talk about it more after you are healed completely.

For the meantime, you need more rest for yourself and get back to your two feet okay?"

Wu Danyu smiled at him and pat him on his shoulder. Ge Qi sensed no one believes him, he just closed his eyes and reminisce his last scenes with General Chu.

A rewind of a week ago…

Viper took his magical whip and recited some oracles, the whip became a gold whip and flew on air and suddenly with some light floating on air suspended in time then on Viper's closed eyes the whip slowly went to the Ge Qi's back and gently took out the arrow with some of its light closing the wounds.

His body was dead for a time, but then he came to live and breathe again.

The enemy archer did not see whatever was happening because Viper prayed and took out the sight in his eyes and freed him afterward. He lived but has to live blind for the rest of his life.

It was the ransom payment for making them use their powers, and her Mimi Gongzhu descending to hell and find herself back to the crepuscular light.

Viper was low in energy when he finally put Ge Qi on one of their horses and whispered to the horse ears and let the horse smell the map He Xiao gave them. The Horse suddenly went on a fast run and suddenly gone.

The horse arrived at the Xiuli detachment Mountie's army gate, and the military guards were astonished when they saw Ge Qi.

Immediately they took Ge Qi and the saddlebags. But the horse turned around and went back to where its master was. Some of the guards ran and went to find the horse.

Their horses are unmatched taking those malnourished looking horses.

Viper on her low energy suddenly passed out in the forest with Chu Qiao still lying unconscious from the ground. The horse came by and smelled his master Viper.

Viper was just looking at her horse with half-opened eyes. Suddenly drifted to sleep.

The next day, Viper feeling more restored with her Chi flow, she pulled her Mimi Gongzhu in a safe place still near the forest.

Chu Qiao's body is cold and looks like the same thing happened her palms were slightly burned. Chu Qiao was sweetly sleeping under the moss of the forest, with the birds singing on the air, another day to become quiet and let some time pass. Of how long?

Viper can only hope not so long unlike when she rescued her at the frozen lake it took many weeks before Chu Qiao recovered and got back on her two feet.

The young lieutenant Ge Qi was able to recover, and now he is back to his usual duty, and Xiuli army went back to its normal operations.

Wu Danyu has often visited his recovering comrade and have some chat about what happened in the past. Xiuli army surviving on its edge became a sturdy fortress for Yanbei in the Meilin border pass.

Ge Qi started to talk and said: After Xiaoqi cavalry's bloodbath war with the firefox of Yanbei, they put Beishou city and Hong Chuan city on fire and captured the Xiuli army. We were once a prisoner of war until Prince Yuan Che converted Xiuli army to become a subordinate of Wei's Xiaoqi's army.

Xuili's bitter past were once under the original Xiuli General Lui Ziye, that later committed suicide rather than serve Prince Yuan Che.

The General's hope became bleak after he learned the news that all of Yan royal family except for hostage prince Yan Xun has been executed in the Shen Jin Gong. On his strategic purpose, Prince Yuan Che appointed He Xiao who was the only one left capable of holding the military leadership of the Xiuli army.

Did you remember the first time we met General Chu?

Wu Danyu responded and said: "We met the general on her fine casual archer outfit, a beautiful lad where anyone would underestimate her abilities.

We met General Chu on the military grounds of Xioaqi camp after the Wei emperor bestowed her the decree that was disseminated to the entire Xiaoqi camp:

"To govern the world with civilization and suppress rebellion with the military. The commanders and generals are ridgepoles of the nation and the mainstays of the government. So, I would like to promote talented persons only based on their ability not their background. The lady named Chu Qiao is well-educated and trained in military exercises is both virtuous and talented. She treats her Lord with loyalty, serves the emperor with honesty and acts like Mu Lan, she becomes a good model. She is assigned to be the Coach of Arrow in the Xiaoqi camp. I hope you can die on the battlefield, forget selfishness in the interest of the public and not disappoint my expectation."

Ge Qi looking far continued: "I can still remember our first encounter with her, on the ground were the Vice Commander He Xiao, a thick rope is at his neck and his hands were tied, consuming all the rhetoric accusations of our Commander-in-Chief Xue Zhelig.

It is promised to execute him for encouraging and plotting rebellion among our troops, I am also rebutting in between them at that time and looking for two Commanders to reconcile.

Wu Danyu his mind traveling back in time said: "I can recall those events vividly. The order has been passed on and our deputy is about to be executed when General Chu came and you asked for an excuse for the deputy that he didn't mean to arouse any plot of rebellion and you were so brave at that time."

Ge Qi answered: "You gave the second motion and asked Commander Xue to forgive him as well. Now that is foolhardy looking at your face trying to convince a commander but seriously are we ready for our necks to be cut at that time?"

Ge Qi flashed a beam of a smile in his face.

Wu Danyu smiled back at him and said: "Did you still remember why General He Xiao always fights Commander Xue Zhelig?"

Ge Qi slightly laugh and answered: "Because Deputy General always talks of going back home to Yanbei?"

"ha…ha…ha..as petty and trivial as it is, they accuse He Xiao, our Deputy General is shaking the Xiuli army's morale"

Wu Danyu on a silent laugh continued to laugh more.

Ge Qi added: "I also recall how did General Chu defend General He Xiao that day."

Wu Danyu said: "General Chu asked for a piece of evidence then report it first and Commander Xue noted, there is no need for the General to know and that he is just cleaning the house. General Chu responded to him that the soldier he wants to kill is not just someone or an ordinary person but a Vice Commander of Xioaqi camp and the General of Xiuli troop who is responsible for Chang'an City safety. General Chu even advised him to report to Prince Yuan Che first or to General Yuwen which made the Commander's face drop to the ground."

"Can you recall how did the face of Commander Xue turned sour and wants to hurt someone but could not do it?" said Ge Qi.

"Yes, I cannot forget that square face of him, ha..ha..ha.." Wu Danyu laughs out loud.

Suddenly a loud knock was heard, and the Xiuli guards reported that someone outside is waiting for the gate to be opened.

Ge Qi asked: Who are they?

The junior Xiuli guard said: "We cannot see their faces, but they gave us, this.."

Ge Qi was astonished and said: "My dagger! Wu Danyu, I am not crazy it is General Chu and the whipping girl."

Wu Danyu on his curious brow he said: "Are you sure about this? Let's go to the watchtower and look at them."

Ge Qi and Wu Danyu went to the gate's watchtower and saw in the distance two figures on their black hood riding in two healthy and sturdy brown horses.

The Xiuli guard on their side exclaimed: Lieutenant, that is the horse who brought you into this gates and then run away so fast that our horses were no match.

Ge Qi feeling excited he shouted below: "Let them pass!"

And suddenly a cracking sound was heard opening the Xiuli Mounties gate and let the two pass.

Chu Qiao on her black hood in the outside but bloody hood in the inside likewise Viper has the same hood as bloody as hell her lips, we're back to their normal state.

As if none of that hell happened a week after their moment of showing the power that a human soul could not even comprehend.

Ge Qi and Wu Danyu went down and bowed their heads to Chu Qiao whose only lips like soft pink cotton candy, and her eyes are covered with the black hood and behind her is Viper.

Their presence made an impression and attracted the Xiuli armies to come near and flock to them in a circle formation, waiting for that moment of revelation that one could only rely to look on either of the following: "one, an angelic like soft pink cotton lips and the other one, a dark villain wine like lips. Like light and darkness, both arrived at their camp."

Chu Qiao head down feeling the weak Chi and energies all around her she slowly let her black hood fell on perfect drapes on her neck, revealing the dark, bloody inside color of her black hood made her face even more fierce, and everybody was astonished and recognized her.

Ge Qi was quietly expecting this moment and finally happened.

"It's the lost General Chu, she came back" the words of clamor between the military men that surrounded them. While Viper did not show her face and she became mysterious and did not plan to meet all of them today.

Ge Qi shouted: "Yes, it is General Chu. The General who saved me from the deadly arrow and who also transported the provisions to our camp."

The crowd suddenly went noisy and bowed their heads, their knees on the dirty ground, on their muddy boots, their dirty Yanbei uniforms, worn out helmets, spent shields, fading breastplates, out of swords, and tattered Xiuli flags.

The Xiuli Army, once renowned Firefox of Yanbei is now living like a dog, in its worse condition greeted Chu Qiao's eyes.

Some men got old, on their ripped and battered uniforms they continued to stand the fight, some men cried, others just wanted to get a closer glimpse of their General Chu. They thank the Qians for sending General Chu back to their cradle and swear to never leave her side again.

Chu Qiao should have been feeling strange as her memories were given away to the wind of no turning back, but this time she remembers vividly, those faces around her, those tears of joy, the music of victory being played all around, to her this is the world she really feels alive and real.

This place is the only thing where her heart beats so fast and feels the need of the people, their hopelessness turned to joy, their faith together is renewed.

Chu Qiao at the moment saw her dream world, where everyone will be free, no more slaves and no more fight or wars, only stars that shine and its people living in ultimate peace. She finally said to them in a hushed tone:

"This is my faith!"

Chu Qiao walked in slow motion everyone moved to the side and let her pass. Chu Qiao saw the disfigured Xiuli flag at the corner, she went and took it and then walked towards the middle of the camp.

All eyes on her, Chu Qiao's face fierce but calm, Viper just stood and waited for Chu Qiao at the center, and Chu Qiao's back was Ge Qi and Wu Danyu who followed her when all of a sudden she raised the big Xiuli flag and then planted its pole on the middle ground.

Wind blowing, the trees gave up their long wait of fall, the leaves were flying on air, Chu Qiao on her might and power she nailed the Xiuli flag, a vibration all over the place by the force she gave was felt by everyone and they all shouted on air: "This is my faith!"