Edict of Peace 1
Chapter 1 Li Guanyi
“Quick, quick!”
“Faster!”
A pitch-black warhorse galloped frantically through the moonless night, shattering the curtain of rain ahead. Li Guanyi vaguely regained consciousness, as if waking from a long dream. The blurry glow of a computer screen lingered in his vision, then a sharp pain pierced his chest, feeling as if he’d plunged into an icy abyss, shivering with agony.
He immediately realized his body had shrunk, almost to the size of an infant.
A woman, riding a fast horse, carried him, fleeing desperately. The clouds parted, revealing the moon. He strained his head, peering through the clothes covering him, and saw something in the distance, causing him to involuntarily shudder.
In the far distance, a group of soldiers in ancient armor silently reined in their horses.
The tall warhorses, nearly seven feet high, exhaled white breath that shook the leaves. The cavalrymen were clad in full iron armor, their helmets concealing their faces. The armor on the right side had hanging sleeves with a delicate white cloud pattern.
An imposing silence descended. The clouds gathered again, leaving only faint starlight. The rain poured down, splashing off their armor in fine droplets. Under the starlight, a faint glow seemed to envelop them.
Fully armored cavalry.
“Chen Kingdom’s night-riding cavalry.”
Li Guanyi heard a voice in his ear, only to have it shattered by a piercing sound. He saw the image of a white tiger flash before his eyes, feeling himself suddenly thrown upwards. The next moment, the galloping warhorse’s legs were severed by a brilliant flash of light.
Amidst a terrifying neigh, the woman holding him tumbled from the horse.
Holding the infant, she rolled, turning her back to the heavily armored cavalrymen who had drawn their bows.
“Lĭnú’ér…” (A term of endearment, similar to “Little Cat”)
Thousands of arrows tore through the air.
They fell.
*Clang!*
“Little apothecary, come back to yourself.”
Tenth year of Tianqi, inside the largest pharmacy in Guanyicheng, Chen Kingdom.
An old man used his finger to tap rhythmically on the table, as if deflecting the thousands of arrows. Li Guanyi snapped out of his reverie, slowly raising his head. Sunlight fell on his face. An old woman was ordering several herbs. Li Guanyi offered an apologetic smile and responded.
He took the prescription and turned to open the medicine cabinet.
Seeing that the young apothecary finally began to prepare the medicine, the old woman stopped urging him. With the characteristic scrutiny of an elder, she sized up the boy. Thirteen years old, taller than most boys his age. Though his face was somewhat pale, his brows were clear, and his eyes bright.
Furthermore, he was reputed to be very skilled in calculations and medicine. Hmm, hmm.
A good child.
Too bad his family lacked a strong young man, only a sickly aunt.
Such a pity…
But still, a good prospect to “promote” to other young ladies.
What was his name again… Li Yi?
Or Li Da?
The old woman pondered.
Unaware that he was silently being added to the old woman’s list of eligible bachelors, which was shared at the big locust tree at the crossroads, Li Guanyi quickly prepared the medicine, calculated the price, and handed it over, with the warm smile typical of a young man.
The smile was truly captivating. The old woman raised the boy’s ranking in her mental “recommended boys” list and remembered his name.
Similar to Zhang San, Li Si, Zheng Er, Wang Wu.
Li Yi.
But something set him apart from those ordinary names.
Li Guanyi.
Yes, Li Guanyi, a good child.
The old woman took the medicine, smilingly inquired about any betrothal arrangements, obtaining the information she desired, and then left contentedly. As the old woman pushed open the carved wooden door, sunlight spread out before her, illuminating the cobblestone pavement, bustling with people.
The wheels of carriages rolled rapidly along the streets, following well-worn ruts. Curtains fluttered in the wind, revealing seated scholars or elegantly dressed women, holding delicate fans to their lips.
According to the calculations of the great Emperor of Zhongzhou, this was the tenth year of Tianqi.
However, nobody cared about that now.
The land had been divided for three hundred years.
Chen Kingdom occupied the Jiangnan region of the Eastern Continent – a land of abundant resources and beauty, with a rich culture, beautiful women, and stunning scenery.
Though it had been defeated by Xuan Kingdom more than a decade ago in a fierce battle,
it still boasted the famed General Xiao Wuliang, whose seven-man cavalry charge had shaken the world.
Guanyicheng was very close to the Chen Kingdom capital, Jiangzhou—a day’s ride away—making it lively and prosperous. Li Guanyi withdrew his gaze from the outside scenery, rubbing his temples. Perhaps it was the warmth of the autumn afternoon sun that made him feel so lethargic.
He reminisced about the events of ten years ago.
It was time for his shift change. Li Guanyi slowly went to the back room of the pharmacy, taking off his thick, green robe. Seeing no one around, he loosened his inner garment to look inside. On his chest, there was a small tripod-like brand only he could see, covered in a pattern of bronze Kui dragons (mythical creatures), fish, and birds. Inside the tripod, a crimson light flowed.
Around his heart, black lines converged, like writhing venomous snakes circling a bonfire, creating a stark contrast with his snow-white skin. The sight was shocking and unsettling, reminiscent of ancient blood sacrifices from the barbaric lands of the far past.
Ancient, crude.
Barbaric and bloody.
It was poison, a powerful poison, or perhaps a form of witchcraft.
This was the aftereffect of the incident ten years ago. The poison had triggered the bronze tripod, allowing him, as a two-year-old infant, to awaken with the consciousness of an adult. The bronze tripod suppressed the poison, although it still flared up occasionally, causing him such excruciating pain that he longed to die, yet he somehow survived.
Lately, however, the poison’s attacks were becoming more frequent.
For ten years, his aunt had taken him to see various doctors, but none had found a cure. It seemed he would die from the agonizing pain before reaching adulthood.
Li Guanyi’s face darkened.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside.
Li Guanyi looked again at the jade liquid in the tripod, which was almost full.
Even though he knew it wouldn’t suddenly surge, he couldn’t help but look again.
He could only hope that the bronze tripod, which had suppressed the poison for ten years, would change once the jade liquid was full—ideally, completely eliminating the poison. He had finally figured out how the jade liquid accumulated in the tripod a month and a half ago.
The noise outside grew louder. Li Guanyi frowned, wondering if customers had arrived at this hour. He changed his clothes, hung his green satchel around his waist, with a water gourd attached, and stepped out, lifting the curtain and saying, “Uncle Chen, what…”
His voice trailed off.
BOOM!!!
A dull sound seemed to seize everyone’s throats.
The three martial artists employed by the pharmacy were thrown like broken sacks against the wall next to Li Guanyi, falling heavily, spitting blood, their faces pale, their eyes filled with terror.
“!!!”
The pharmacy door was kicked in. The shattered ornate door crashed against the wall.
A burly man, wearing a hero’s headband and a parrot-green robe, with an iron belt around his waist and a waist knife hanging from it, strode forward aggressively. He grabbed the collar of the young Li Guanyi, who was crouching beside the injured men, lifting him into the air. His fierce eyes swept across the room, as he roared:
“How dare you harbor a wanted criminal!!!”
“Don’t you want to live?!”
Li Guanyi, lifted in the air, struggled to breathe, his face flushed. He saw a young scholar outside, mounted on a fine steed. The young man, with a sword at his waist, calmly looked at the boy whose throat was being squeezed, suffocating. His right sleeve was dark ink, with a pattern of delicate cloud-like designs.
Just like that moonless rainy night ten years ago.
(End of Chapter)
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