The Snow Emperor and the Little Plum

Chapter 17

Cries echoed in the night as thunder rushed over the sky as to announce the incoming peril. Blood descended upon the ground coloring it crimson as bodies adorned every corner of the city. Laughter echoed as men and women in horrendous forms ripped through the people of the city with delight in their eyes.

The people prayed to their ancestors but only the turbulent sky answered them with rain and roars. No one dared to utter their discontent but their thought soon turned to their Emperor. Pleading that he would send them aid.

*****

A loud yawn echoed in the office as Yecao Cao stretched his stiff limbs. How long did he have to sit here? He peered at the Emperor who had to spend the passing three hours ignoring him while he worked through the documents.

The Shaofu had spent just about the same amount of time pandering the grumpy Zhiji trying to distract him with a game of Go. He had taken up the white stones as they often were for veterans and allowed Yecao Cao the control of the black stones which gave him the ability to move first. Yecao Cao laid another black stone and noticed the frown growing deeper on Lin Hai's face. The poor man had for some reason assumed that he was an amateur. His distraught looked revealed that he sincerely regretted that mistake.

"You are truly good, Xiao Mei. I have to forfeit," said Lin Hai finally with a sigh.

"I have to spend a lot of time lately playing with the Wang Yu," Yecao Cao said and bowed to Lin Hai who did the same.

"Oh, Wang Yu is undefeated in this game of strategy. Did you ever win?" asked Lin Hai as he studied the board.

"Wang Yu is a genius. Don't compare him to this plum," muttered the Emperor and peered at Yecao Cao who shrugged.

"Why should I tell? Neither of you would believe me if I said I have defeated the Wang Yu. Just ask him."

The Emperor rolled his eyes and muttered something muffled while Yecao Cao let out yet another yawn.

"Why am I even here? I spent the last few days by your side doing nothing," muttered he.

"I want to make the appearance of spending time with you to keep up the illusion of you being my favorite," The Emperor replied without looking at him. He had a strange expression on his face as he read a document carrying the sigil of Sichuan. Disbelief? The expression caught Yecao Cao's attention and he leaned forward.

"Anything interesting happening?"

"Define interesting."

"Anything that doesn't involve me staring at your face."

Lin Hai coughed to try to mask his chuckle while the Emperor rolled his eyes. "You are too outspoken. How your family has survived is beyond me.

"So? Anything interesting?"

"Sichuan has sent a request for aid."

Lin Hai sat up straight. "Why? the San family rarely lowers themselves to ask for help."

"The San family... That's the family that Lin Hai has connections to," thought Yecao Cao with a frown. The governing family of Sichuan and one of the three great families.

"The local villages have been attacked by the Yaoguai sect," the Emperor said with a grim look on his face. The Mo of the Yaoguai sect were demons, exiled to the lands of Diyu beyond the mountains of Yuánjiao. The mountains were guarded by the Zhang sect who kept the demons at bay.

"Why are they calling on us? This is the matters of the Zhang sect, not Tian," Yecao Cao said with a frown.

"The Zhang sect cannot handle this on their own. The force is too large and is lead by the demon Emperor himself, Hei Yaoshi."