The Raging Tides volunteers came from the northwest to reinforce General Wang Qing; only fifteen reached the b…
The Raging Tides volunteers came from the northwest to reinforce General Wang Qing; only fifteen reached the banks of the Hutuo River.
That night, everyone started a fire amidst the ruins of the Ruinstead Village, drinking from the wine gourds they had carried the whole way. Kang Min had somehow caught some wild game, and Wei Qing roasted it over the fire for everyone to eat with their wine. Fat dripped into the flames with a sizzle, while Senior Brother Shen Yuan performed a spear dance by the campfire, his shadow moving like a soaring dragon. Ye Qingxing and Lu Pingfeng leaned against the bounty board to watch, while Wei Xiao and Tang Yu sat on river stones clapping their hands. Fan Chang'an was as restless as ever, eager to trade a few moves with Senior Brother Shen Yuan...
The Marshal sat alone on a half-collapsed roof, clutching his wine gourd, humming a tune from beyond Jade Gate Pass toward the dark, distant river.
The wine has gone round, the voices have faded. The biting river wind carries the embers of war into our faces.
It is time for us to move.