Phoenix In The Mist

Chapter 10: Li Shang

He wore a rich forest green Chang Shan which complemented his tan skin. Although the sleeves and leggings were baggy, the crossed lapels molded to his broad chest. His feet was shod with supple leather boots, and a dark belt bore a midnight sheath engraved with a roaring silver Shi Zi*.

The height difference between the two of us was obvious. I was not considered short, but yet he was at least a good head taller than me, his lithe figure towering over me. Despite his stature, he moved with an innate grace that bespoke many years of training.

Half of his black hair was tied up into a bun. The rest of it hung down his back in a thin curtain, wisps of it curling over his shoulder. This hairstyle often signified a high ranking official, but what was he? He wore no medals, no indication of his rank. A glance at his lightly stubbled face gave no clue either. He was fresh faced, his pressed lips revealed nothing but vexation as he took in the scene around him.

His eyes! They were a sight to behold. Inky black, as dark as midnight, with silver flakes in them, much like stars shining in the night sky. Those sparks now gleamed, twinkling with barely suppressed anger.

An apple came flying towards us, but as fast as an adder, he snatched it out from mid-air and glared at it.

"What's the meaning of this!" He roared. It echoed around the tent, and everyone went silent at the sound of it. The only thing that could be heard was the crackling of the fire upon which the rest of the stew simmered.

Yet that voice was only a light tenor. Years of hardship and command had not yet roughened it to a deep baritone. I peered at his face again. He couldn't be older than twenty. So young, but that air of authority rang out, making grown men pause.

He lobbed the apple onto the ground. "All of you are grown men, some old enough to have children! You're the sons of the Gifted families, and yet you behave like unschooled peasants?" His voice quieted, his tone disappointed. "I am ashamed of all of you."

"He did it! That gou zai zi ** caused this!" Ju Yao spat in my direction. The burn marks on his forearm was being treated by Ling Jia, faint green ribbons of light flowing from his hands to the wound. Chien Po, the mountain of a man, glared daggers at me, no doubt wishing all sorts of bloody retribution on the person who hurt his friend.

Those eyes traversed the entirety of the mess tent, and landed on Ju Yao. "You mean to tell me he somehow convinced all the men here to participate in a food fight?"

"Yes!" exclaimed Ju Yao, then perhaps realising the ludicrousness of his assertion, "No, he didn't...what I mean to say is that he started the fight first!"

The official raised an eyebrow. "Is that how you talk to your superior?"

"You're nothing but a mere boy," Ju Yao sneered, "Not fit to..."

A fearful looking Ling Jia whispered in his ear.

Ju Yao's face reddened. He collapsed to his knees in a kowtow***. "Forgive me, your highness! I did not mean to - "

"Enough!" the Crown Prince - for it was the Heir to the imperial throne - thundered. "I do not care how young I look. I do not care how young any of your future ranking officers look. You will respect the authority they have been given over you! Do you hear me?"

Ju Yao pressed his forehead deeper into the dirt in acquiescence.

The Prince scowled. "Here, in this training camp, I will not be addressed as 'your Highness'. My rank as your commander is 'Jian Zhang'. You will address me as Li Jian Zhang, is that clear?"

A series of yesses chorused around the enclosed tent.

"All of you will clean this mess up, or you can forget about having dinner tonight. You have half an hour. I expect you to be done and to report at the training ground at the southern part of camp, near the rock face. Line up in your contingents, and I expect everyone to be there, including those in their tents. Inspection shall take place once all the Jun Shi have reported the attendance." His gaze flickered back to the still kneeling Ju Yao, and his voice went lethally soft. "I will not entertain any accusations unless they can be backed up. You will be punished in front of the contingents later."