Later up the mountains.
Shin and Ten had just gotten done busting Heki's balls, when they realized more people are beginning to fall behind. But Shin had realized that the king was not even beginning to look tired, and then he thought back to the little scrimmage they had in the cave. And he realized there was a lot more to him that he didn't know.
Despite leaving the army and becoming an official, I thought I could still count myself a soldier. But it seems I was too naïve. Growing old is a fearsome thing. But this isn't the time or place to rest. I must persevere. I am the only one who can protect our lord right now. The kid is no good, he's too young to understand and the other men with him hold on allegiance to the king. In the end it all comes down to me.." Shou Bun Kun thought before he realized.
They were surrounded by dozens of mountain people.
Your majesty! Everyone protect our king!" Shou Bun Kun shouted.
Other orders were shouted out until.
Calm down! If they wanted to fight we'd already be dead." Sei said while thinking. " At least most of us would be, the three stronger people in Shin's group don't seem to be surprised by their sudden appearance."
Well this is one hell of a welcoming party, because these guys sure are caring a lot of weapons." Shin said humorously.
Then one stepped forward. He was well built and a tall man with long dark hair arranged in the back. He was wearing nothing but a cloth around his waist with his two big knives tacked at the back of his belt. His face is always hidden by a mask that has a circle around the right eye and on the left five marks in a circle pattern and five spikes coming from the top.
This is our territory. Normally if any of you playing dwellers were to pass into our lands, we would dig out your eyes and throw you down a waterfall. However since you have journey to here to meet our leader we will decide what to do with you after hearing your reasons for coming." The man said, shocking almost everyone.
How do you know we came here to meet your leader." Heki asked.
Our leader knows everything. Young king of Qin! our leader awaits you! We will escort you to our city!" The man said.
If that's the case you should've said it sooner instead of scaring the crap out of us. Come on, let's get going." Shin said walking past, but then he felt someone grab his collar.
As soon as that happened in aura reached him as well, he was dragged back in front of the man and pushed back to the group of people. Then the aura stopped and everything went back to normal.
"Hey what was that for?" Shin said, noticing Gan Tong now giving the man a look that could kill a lesser man.
Unfortunately you are mistaken. We will only bring your king. The rest of you will immediately leave this mountain." The man said while now keeping a closer eye Gan Tong.
And if we refuse." Shin said coldly.
Turn all of you will die. The only one we will allow is your king, the rest of you must leave this mountain at once. Or we will slaughter you all with no mercy.
Are you out of your mind? There's no way we would just give up our king and leave them without protection." Shou Bun Kun said.
Your majesty, we should leave these mountains and think of a different plan." Heki said.
No, our king has given orders that your king must come with us." The man said. " Hurry up, my man do not have much patience."
Then another man walked forward and they said something in their language which made Gan Tong narrow his eyes. Demand and continue to walk forward and was about to grab Sei when Shin punched him I sent him flying.
So let me get this straight you're telling us to leave and that we don't have an option button to leave him here. Since you're going to be an asshole about all of this let me give you your options. Take us to your leader right now or we're going to beat the living shit out of you and still go to see your leader." Shin said releasing his aura and grabbing his sword.
The man shouted something and all the people started running forward causing everyone around the king to begin preparing for battle.
"Stop!"
But everyone stopped what they were about to do I look to the voice that I just shouted.
Put away your weapons. I will do as these people have asked in the company that I'm allowed to meet their leader." Sei said.
Your majesty please reconsider." Heki said
Will carve a path of blood out of here for you we need to please reconsider." Shou Bun Kun said.
It's impossible to escape the mountain folk furthermore we must have their help if we are to retake the throne. I know soldiers are to descend the mountain and await my return at the shrine. That is an order!" Sei said.
Please hurry, king of Qin." The man said.
I'm coming now." Sei said.
"Am I supposed to leave too it feel like since I am a completely independent party and your sword and I should be going." Shin said.
Assault is not required for a meeting and I'm not sure what they think is for this your independent status." Sei said.
Later down the mountain.
They had just stopped for a rest when Heki and Ten started talking, after a minute they stopped, Shin decided to take a nap. But when he lay down he saw Shou Bun Kun about to strike him with his sword so he dodged it, then the man swung again and Shin blocked it with his sword. When the man went to strike a third time Shin kicked out his leg knowing that it was wounded.
I know you've injured your leg, old man, what the hell." Shin said.
Captain, just what are you doing?" Heki asked.
"Go Shin, it pains me to admit it right now but you are more useful than me and protecting the king. Go and chase after him, please." Shou Bun Kun said.
Do you think the captain would Laura's head to someone other than the king and for all intensive purposes a slave boy at that." Heki thought.
You don't need to bow your head, old man. I was planning on going after him to begin with. We have a deal. It's my part of the deal to protect him, plus if he dies on me I'm not getting this whole thing is just going to be bad."
I see then hurry up and go you fool." Shou Bun Kun said.
I'm only taking two people with me from your group, traveling with a large group is going to get a spot immediately." Shin said, looking over to Gan Tong.
Understood it will be me and Qu Ying. He knows the mountains well. Hou Bie, head down Li Yan should be at the shrine soon if not already explain everything to him and tell him not to come up." Gan Tong said, removing his armor and handing it to the man who stepped up to receive it.
Qu Ying did The same and when they both nodded to Shin that they were ready he turned back around.
You should go down and take it easy at the shrine. See y'all." Shin said to Shou Bun Kun.
Ah, me too." Ten said.
Shin." Shou Bun Kun said.
What do you want make it quick?" Shin said
I'm sorry about Hyou, it wasn't meant to happen like this forgive me. I leave the king to you." Shou Bun Kun said.
Gotcha." Shin said.
A bit later
Shin was climbing up the mountain with his group and some of the footing came loose and sprayed down on a couple of them.
What the heck is Heki doing here?" Shin asked, noticing the man.
The captain asked me to come. He figured y'all could use all the help you can get." Heki said.
Whatever but you better hurry up or we're leaving you behind." Shin said.
Screw it, don't underestimate the soldiers." Heki said, taking off his armor.
With Sei
The man from earlier was looking down over the mountain.
Four No five people. One of them is that brave kid from before. You got some pretty interesting retainers." The man said while thinking. "I think, one of them is the former First Vassal of Shi Ba Saku and from how he reacted when I grabbed the boy that must be the rumored young child who has never left the city. Which is clearly a lie which means they have been hiding it when he does. The King will wanna know as soon as we get back."
The man then said something in a different language and a group of mountain men split off from the group and started heading back down.
So how exactly are we going to rescue Sei." Ten asked.
Well that's if we have to rescue him. But I've already thought of how we're going to get in to even be there if he needs to be rescued. Since all those guys wear those weird masks all we need to do is steal some for ourselves, then well paint ourselves in some of those patterns that we saw not being exact and we should blend in enough to get at least to the city. Then we'll figure out which masks we need to steal to get ourselves into the quarry within close proximity of the king's area, then we should be able to sneak into there. after that we should be close enough to him to rescue and if need be. If we don't need to then we won't reveal ourselves will just head down the mountain before he does or we'll watch to make sure that he makes it down the mountain whichever is necessary." Shin said, then looked over to Ten. "Come to think of it, those guys didn't seem to react at all to seeing you."
There are many different tribes among the mountain folk. Ten probably just belongs to a different tribe." Heki said. " More importantly, Shin's mask idea could work. Right now we're heading towards the mountain folks' capital city. And to be honest it's probably not going to be anything amazing. Judging from their primitive clothing and tools, their living standards are probably not high. Even the mountain leader city is probably just a gathering of small huts. If we were to compare it to Qin it would be on the same level as a large village. For such an unfortified village I'll be easy to break out with the king so long as we manage to infiltrate them successfully."
Ten then looked at Shin and saw a bunch of mountain people behind him.
"So as long as we don't lose the tracks that should be a piece of cake." Shin then released his aura when he saw Ten with a scared look.
The next day at Ou Ki's place in the capital
General Ou Ki. Orders from chancellor Jie have arrived sir. You are to take command of Kankoku Gate." A messenger said.
Reject it, tell him that defensive battles do not suit my personality. It seems like he's finally started preparation for an all out war with Chancellor Lu Buwei. Finally things have started moving, past this it will be extremely difficult for the King to retake his throne." Ou Ki said thinking back to hell Shou Bun Kun, hadtold him that the king would surpass King Sho. " King Ei Sei, truly he can be considered to be a king of misfortune. How will you be able to surpass king Sho, Who is known as the God of War? That would be something I would like to see."
In the mountains with Shin
Shin and his group were being led up the mountain, Heki, Ten, and Qu Ying had been tied up, him and Gan Tong were still free but being watched. They had taken their swords but outside of that it had been a surprisingly simple process of climbing the mountain. Heki had mentioned that it was a good sign that they hadn't been killed yet because it would mean that they would probably be meeting up with the king again.
After that the trail started to get extremely dangerous, it seemed that every time they crossed a ridge or walked up a mountain the path would get thinner and thinner. Until they came around one ridge and finally saw it was a city built in the damn mountains it was nothing like a village. They were passing under the mountain bridges connecting the mountain peaks and openings to each other. Houses are fully built up and roads once you pass a gate.
A bit later they were in our medium sized cell dug into the mountains, apparently some of the guys head said they would get their weapons back at the most convenient time. Ten and Heki had been trying to escape when the big guy Shin knocked out came and pointed to a pile of skulls next to the cell telling everyone exactly what would happen if they didn't stop.
Later that night
All this reminds me of the Kenjuu." Heki said after a bit of conversation.
Kenjuu," Ten and Shin asked.
"520 years ago the Zhou dynasty had been in reign for 280 years but he was overthrown by rebellion orchestrated by one of its princes. However it said that the main army of the prince was of mountain tribe dwellers known as the Kenjuu. It's rumored that the Kenjuu's Ferocity and strength is what shattered Zhou's armies and broke their cities." Heki said. "The loss of the king of Zhou in this event would lead to China descending into what would be known as the spring and autumn period. I have been finding it hard to believe that an entire country would fall to some primitive barbarians, but after coming here and seeing this and starting to believe it."
"To see if this mountain city would be extremely difficult it's a natural Fort. When you consider the knowledge and skill required to design and build something like this, the strength of the mountain dwellers is the real thing." Gan Tong said with a smirk.
Just imagine if there were more of these cities that we didn't know existed, not only would we have to worry about the other states, suddenly we have a huge step behind us to just thinking about it sends chills down my back." Heki said.
Then came a bunch of mountain people who decided to start playing games with them except for these games included they were a sharp spears and trying to stick them into their bodies, well all except Gan Tong Who they seem to be purposefully voiding at all cost. Having decided they had enough spears and one pull out a bow and just as he was releasing it when the big guy from earlier smacked the group of men away with his huge club made of stone. When the guys tried to retaliate he just swung again and knocked the rest away, the leader of the group from earlier arrived and told them that the king had ordered that they be protected. He also explained that there were some hard feelings between the mountain people and the plain landers as he called them and that the bigger guy respected shin for managing to break his mask and that there was a high chance that they would be executed the next day.
The next day Sei was in front of a marvelous looking palace, when he went inside it was pretty empty until he came to the throne room where there was a roll of guards on each side of them as he sat down in front of the king.
I'm the 31st King Of Qin, Ei Sei." Sei said.
I am the ruler of this mountain, Yo Tan Wa." The person said.
Ei Sei king of Qin A king with no power authority, you're thrown stolen by your brother. With very few lawyer vassals to aid you, being forced to run and hide like a mouse, and then to meet me you even climbed a mountain yourself. What is your reason for coming here?" Yo Tan Wa said.
I wish for you to assist me in retaking the throne." Sei said.
This caused a ruckus in the room from the guards.
I'm afraid you have come to the wrong person. The reason I had you brought here was that you may stand trial." Yo Tan Wa said.
For what am I standing trial?" Sei said.
400 years ago Bokukou extended a hand of friendship to our ancestors. They truly believed they were seeing the advent of a new age, an age of friendship and a new world of wide borders. But as soon as he died We realized it was just a dream. Those that had come down to live with the plains folk begin to return to the mountain. But that didn't stop the string of unbelievable tragedies that continues to occur. To appease the spirits of our ancestors we shall cut off your head as an offering so that they may rest in peace. Do you have anything to say for yourself?" Yo Tan Wa said.
We are to blame for your losses. As a representative of Qin, I sincerely apologize to your people for all the atrocities we have committed. However I do not believe that is reason enough for you to require my execution." Sei said.
How is that so?" Yo Tan Wa asks.
Consider the 400 years that have passed since the time of Bokukou, and the history stretching as far back as 1000 years before his time. dynasties and states. Nationality, culture, religion. Do you really think that not a single drop of blood was shed in history whenever all of these different ideas clashed? Do you really believe that hatred and content accumulating through generations and generations of differences will disappear so easily? Look back through human history it is obvious that to achieve something like that would be exceedingly difficult. To believe that he would be able to bring peace to centuries of strife would have been far too naïve." Sei said.
Are you saying our ancestors were naïve fools for believing in a dream only to be betrayed?" Yo Tan Wa said.
I did not mean that. My point is that this deep resentment between our people is not something that can be resolved by simply cutting off my head." Sei said.
So you're arguing that it's pointless to just kill you? So we should instead be aiming to kill your entire country?" Yo Tan Wa asked.
Instead of revenge there's still many more important things to accomplish." Sei said.
Look at you so smug and reassuring. Do you think you're so clever? It seems like you need to have a taste of some pain, the pain felt by our people, the pain of losing a comrade. Who is the cut off the heads of these men in front of your eyes and teach you the meaning of true despair." Yo Tan Wa said as Heki, Ten, and Qu Ying came out in stocks and Shin sat down next to him, with Gan Tong standing behind them.
Just what exactly are you doing here and why aren't you tied up like them?"Sei said.
A helpful side effect of being the Lord of a group of absolute bad asses from what I can gather. Definitely did not go to plan which if it did we wouldn't have actually been here per say we just would've been invisible until the meeting was over or we had to get involved." Shin said.
Do it." Yo Tan Wa said then A mountain man started to swing down on Ten.
There is no need for that. We're both well aware of the pain of losing someone." Sei said. " O leader of the mountain, if a king were to draw their sword and hatred in their country would be destroyed in a spiral of resentment. If you are truly a king then you should use your sword to open a pass to that people may live." Sei said.
What do you mean?" Yo Tan Wa asked.
It's precisely because there's a distinction between plains folk and the mountain dwellers that conflict arises. This has been the cause for hundreds of years, so it seems like an obvious fact." Shin said think back to one of the stories Hyou told him.
China it self is the same. From your point of you it doesn't seem as if we're always fighting and stealing land from each other despite being plains folk?" Sei said. " hey S fighting intensifies walls are constructed at borders to reinforce the notion that everyone inside is an ally with everyone outside is an enemy. Certainly there are the occasional missionaries such as Bokukou who manages to broker a peace, but in the end it just turns out to be a temporary measure." Sei says.
Wait a minute, what do you mean? Even if it is temporary, temporary piece is an amazing thing. What did you ask for?" Shin said looking over at Sei.
The complete removal of all state borders." Sei said.
Removal of borders." Shin said to himself think about it.
Oh king of Qin, have a good look around you. Do you think there's even a single state who would submit to your terms?" Yo Tan Wa asked.
If they do not then we will achieve it with force. As befitting of the warring states era." Sei said.
Sounds like the exact opposite of a "path that allows people to live"." Yo Tan Wa said.
No. This era of endless warfare has continued for 500 years, there's no reason he cannot do so for another 500. I will draw my sword so that those who would have perished in the next 500 years of meaningless warfare may live." Sei said.
What does this have to do with us climbing up a dangerous ass mountain." Shin said.
I'm speaking of my mission." Sei says.
I thought your mission was to get back the throne from your brother. All you came to do was ask for troops in taking back your throne." Shin said curiously.
The throne is merely the first step on my path." Sei said.
Your path. Oh I see what you mean but what exactly is this path?" Shin asked.
I will become the first King to unify all of China and I have come to meet the leader of the mountains to achieve this!" Sei said.
By destroying every single state and uniting them under Qin." Shin said.
Correct." Sei said.
But that's impossible, no one in the last 500 years war during the Zhou or Shang dynasties before he managed to achieve that." Heki said.
But that's exactly what I plan to do! If I unify the entire land under one flag all the petty squabbles between states will cease. All the citizens of the land will be able to see in the world with brighter horizons." Sei said.
Just cause Yo Tan Wa to remember something in the past.
Yo Tan Wa was standing over a mountain.
Why do we not invade the Qin?" Yo Tan Wa asked two older figures behind him.
As expected of Yo Tan Wa-Sama." The one with a darker mask said.
Ambitious words indeed!" The one with A lighter mask add on.
However the time is not yet ripe. To be able to conquer the Qin we must buy at our time and gather more strength." The two continued, while thinking. "That and we must wait for the six great generals to die off, especially the one on our border."
We should seek peace with them instead." Yo Tan Wa said.
What are you talking about? There's no way we could achieve peace with the despicable Qin. Who's not speak lately of these things, Yo Tan Wa sama. Everyone is celebrating for the first time in 100 years a leader that is worthy of leading the mountain folk has finally been born." The men said. "They all have high hopes that you will be able to bring peace to the ancestors in vengeance to Qin."
But elders, as we slowly fortify our walls in the mountains year after year I just feel our world getting smaller and smaller. Whether it be through war or peace all I want is to broaden our world with wider horizons." Yo Tan Wa said.
In reality the two said elders had just walked into the room.
Just what are you still debating about, O leader? This is the perfect moment we've been waiting for to settle our grudges. There is no need for further deliberation. That being said there is no more familiar with the crimes committed by Qin than us elders. Please allow us to be the ones that pass judgment on them. We should peel off the skin of the Kings head and let him dry in the sun and, as for the rest of them, mince them up and feed them to the pigs." The elders said, than one of them spoke in their language which caused the mountain man from earlier to start swinging at Ten again.
Qu Ying." Shin said.
Then said man appeared out of nowhere and kicked the mountain men in the face knocking him into the elder with a lighter mask. This caused the second elder to say something else in the room to be filled with more mountain people and the others to move in defense of their king.
You're just as unpredictable as Bajio described, Lord of 12. What will you do next." Yo Tan Wa said.
Nothing really, since you refused to help us will just have to leave and look for some help elsewhere." Shin said.
Do you fool, do you really think you'll be able to lead the mountain in one piece!?" The elder underneath the body said.
Ying." Shin said, and the man stepped on the body, putting pressure on the older man stopping him from talking more. "Well we could steal some swords and go on a rampage, But you seem to have a few guys who aren't too keen on fighting either. hey hey Gramps how about we use you as a hostage to get out of here."
Shin then stopped smiling and looked at the person on the throne with the most serious face that Sei and the others had seen, which got a particularly interesting reaction from Gan Tong.
"Hey old man with the big ass mask! I was going to stay out of this but you're really starting to annoy me. You've been going on about some complicated crap for a while now, so keep it simple he needs help because he's in a tough spot so why don't you just think of it as helping out a dude and lending him a hand." Shin said.
Don't get ahead of yourself, lowly monkey. you're only here to get drawn and quartered to settle the grudges of our ancestors." The man under the body said.
Qu Ying, please shut him up. I don't know why he's allowed to talk and interrupt conversations happening between kings in the first place. I might not know about much but I know more than you would think, it's just my choice when I feel the need to use it, and I know that that is very frowned upon. And as far as your grudge would you shut up about that already. If anything the biggest regret of your ancestors would be how their dream was just an illusion. if you were really thinking about you guys who died then you will be trying to turn the dream into reality." Shin said with all playfulness gone in his appearance and speech, and with a very familiar fire in his eyes, from what Gan Tong saw.
This silenced and paused the room for a good moment.
Well done Shin." Sei thought before saying. "O leader of the mountain. Yo Tan Wa. As you can see I am a powerless King with no authority or influence. However my goal of unifying China is not merely empty words, it's most certainly my path. Join with me and I will show you a world larger than you want your ancestors dreamed of. Revive the alliance between the mountain folk and the Qin from 400 years ago. Lend me your strength."
I have one question for you king of Qin. we are a savage people and do not settle for half measures. We may very well turn your palace into a sea of blood while we're taking the throne. Is that fine with you?" Yo Tan Wa asked.
That's exactly how my throne was taken from me. Do you think I would hesitate to do the same?" Sei said after the shock had worn down.
No my Lord stop you can't ancestors!" The man said.
Silence! Do not mention anything of grudges or vengeance in my presence ever again!" Yo Tan Wa then she Took off her mask revealing a woman underneath. "Listen well everyone! Yo Tan Wa of the mountain trance has joined with Ei Sei the King of Qin and the Lord of 12 in an alliance of unprecedented solidarity! We will immediately depart to reclaim the usurped throne! Gather all the soldiers from the nearby mountains! prepare yourselves for a battle to the death. Our goal is the Royal capital, Kanyou!" Yo Tan Wa said.
Not much later an army was riding down the mountain towards the summer villa, and Shin was riding on a particularly wild horse and everyone except for him knew why.