Promise and Betrayal: A Mo Dao Zu Shi (the Untamed) Story

Chapter 16

The army continues its lumbering march up the mountain. The day is cold and brisk, winter well on its way. A cold north wind blows away the last of the autumn leaves, leaving the mud frozen. But as each hour passes, the temperature rises, the warm wind off the volcano combating the biting cold of the north. We are caught between two seasons, just as we are caught between two dynasties. We march up the mountain to end the Wen Clan's once and for all, but another will take its place. As much as the successor may call itself better than the Wen Clan, power is power. Only time will tell which way the gentry families will fall, but change will happen. And I will be ready when it does. I always am.

We make slow progress. Each day passes with more uphill climbing, more grumbling soldiers, more precious time wasted in transit. No reports have come in detailing the Wen Clan's movements, so the war council can only assume no news is good news. We worry for the cultivators' welfare, yet we can do nothing for them except encourage them to walk faster, which accomplishes little. Still, our progress continues.

Three days after my conversation with Lan Xichen, the ambush of the training platform is announced. It is time for the heirs to take back their swords. We gather to assemble our force, then decide how best to lead the charge. We agree to forgo subtlety; they will fall, and we will relish whatever fighting we do.

We throw open the gate to the steps, the four of us leading, the promise of bloodshed echoed on all of our faces. Even Lan Zhan's expression is dark, the anger clear on his features. The guards, barraged with a combination of surprise, our fury, and our might, have no choice but to flee. I feel a bit of contempt leak into my gaze, contempt for these feeble guards and their presumptuous overlords.

The next perimeter of guards resists. They brandish their swords, flimsy determination showing in their eyes, but even without our swords, the four of us dispose of them easily. Our forces need not even lift their weapons. I dodge some sloppy atacks, easily sidestepping the ones that are more skilled. A kick there, a punch here, and they are on the ground. We continue in this fashion up the steps, and eventually, Lan Zhan and I, having practiced hand-to-hand combat the most, gain a considerable lead on the others. Soon, we are far enough to be isolated from our forces. But we have reached the final staircase.

We exchange a look, mine full of arrogant excitement, his full of dark fury, before we ascend the steps. As we reach the top, I piece the iron wall that separates my emotions and my actions. No need to hide them here; these guards are powerless to stop us, regardless of their skill.

The guards in question laugh boisterously, their mirth echoing of alcohol. I hear snippets of "caught the bastards", "desperate" and "don't even have swords". At their remarks, cold anger crystallizes in my eyes, ice over the fire of my arrogance, piercing cold after the burn.

"Were you saying something?" I say to them as we reach the crest of the stairs. "Something about...desperation?" I give them a conceited eyebrow raise, pretending to look for any desperation. "Funny. Where did you say it was? Wait..." I point at the guards that litter the staircase. "There?"

The guards turn to us, recognition flooding their eyes. A Twin Jade of the Lan Clan, Lan Zhan. And the notorious dual wielder, Xiao Shelan. One of them scrambles to his feet, grasping for his sword. "You—"

Lan Zhan cuts him off. He walks over, staring him down. "Where is Wei Wuxian?" he barks. The guard tears his gaze away, shaking now. He flicks his gaze to me, and I am struck with a flash of familiarity.

"Who?" he says, tentatively peering at Lan Zhan. "I don't..."

"Where did you take Wei Wuxian?" Lan Zhan says, his voice dangerously low. "Tell me where you have hidden him."