A Tear Frozen in Time

Her Broken Heart

In his study and surrounded by his full staff of advisers, Guotin listened half heartedly to their report on what had occured throughout his realm over the past two weeks.  It seemed to him, that these men had so little to do, that their report contained nothing but gossip from the maids and what his beasts ate for breakfast.

"The meat they are being given is insufficient my lord.  They grow hungry again before their next meal is due and unfortunately several have been injured when they turned on each other." His second adviser informed him most seriously.

"Then increase their diet." he replied with a tinge of annoyance.  The entire world was preparing for war, yet all they could come up with was minor domestic disturbances.

"My Lord.  With a war coming, food is being rashioned across the darklands.  One beast meal is already enough to feed a family for a week." he replied only to quickly dip his head at the sudden flash of warning in those normally soft brown eyes of his.

"The beasts are just as much a integral part of our army as the men.  Increase their diet and lower the rashions for those who already have farms and produce for themselves!" he commanded in a tone that left no more room for argument.

"Yes My Lord." the reply came from the entire group before the last man stood to give his report, one that Guotin purposely wanted left until last seeing as it was the most important and why the Queen of Qing Qiu was in his domain.

"Movement within the Bell of East Emperor has been steadily growing stronger My Lord." he began.  "Though Qing Cang is not showing any signs of breaking through, the Bell itself has begun to crack on one side and his hell fire is now seeping into the Ruoshui River." he said softly and respectfully while remaining standing with his head bowed.

All reports from this adviser was kept brief and to the point being a man of very few words.  In fact Jiu Li was his most trusted adviser and therefore his most senior in rank under himself.  And having been given the task of keeping track of Qing Cang along with the Ghost Tribe, his report on them was even shorter, seeing as both surviving children did not seem to be doing anything at all in regards to their fathers imminent return not to mention preparing for war despite the efforts the rest of the world were putting into stopping him.

"Do you have an idea of when he will break through?" Guotin asked with a quick look about the room.  He had sixteen advisers and all of them held special quailities and talents unique to them, but above all, he trusted each of them having grown up with them all, and having proven their loyalties to the people which he placed far more value in rather rather than their respect for him, he trusted whatever they said to be nothing but the truth.

"From the information we have managed to garner from the Ghost Trines soldiers who are still aligned to Qing Cang, they are expecting it to be within the next two weeks.  The crack in the Bell is not yet wide enough for him to break through, but he is definitely gaining in strength.  In fact, from what I have learned, his energy recently spiked as if from an outside influence, but as yet, none seem to know where it came from."

"I see.   And what of the Princess.  She was his favourite was she not?  Could she have assisted him?  Because we all know that Li Jing is estranged from his father, so its unlikely to have come from him." he asked quietly as his mind began to dwell on a little piece of gossip that he himself had heard.

"She has been in the Mortal Realm for centuries.  She normally stays in one place for a short time before moving on, but she rarely ever returns to the Ghost Lands unless she is summoned." 

"And what of Li Yuan?  I know he was sent to the Arctic Prisons after a power struggle for the throne erupted after Qing Cangs death, but I have yet to hear any more from him." he asked.