Chapter Seven: His Highness

The sun rose and set over Liujia Village, its afterglow lingering atop the mountain peaks before slipping away. On the morning of the third day, a young boy herding cattle passed by and witnessed a scene so horrifying it would haunt his nightmares for ten days and nights.

Soon after, the Imperial Border Army, nearly driven mad by the mysterious disappearance of an elite unit, arrived, only to discover this gruesome execution ground. These soldiers, usually fearless and unruly, found themselves gripped by terror at the sight of their comrades subjected to such cruelty. Yet, following that fear came a surge of anger.

They rushed forward, intent on rescuing their comrades who had bled dry and were frozen like sculptures. At that moment, a messenger came racing in, delivering an order none of them could accept.

"Everything here must remain as it is!"

The soldiers, blinded by fury, were about to ignore this command. But as the first man reached to pull out a stake, an arrow pierced his hand.

"I said everything must remain untouched," the messenger declared, lowering his bow.

"A prince is coming," he added calmly, though his voice quivered faintly.

In the Empire of Sturt, the most formidable force was the imperial army that once conquered the world. Yet, there were beings even more powerful than the strongest soldiers—such as the princes.

On the second day after the discovery of Liujia Village, the legendary prince arrived at last. His black boots stepped onto the frost-covered earth, but none could see his face. Hundreds of soldiers maintaining order here knelt before him in unison, hands clasped to the ground, foreheads pressed low.

The prince, accustomed to such displays, walked forward alone, inspecting every fallen body, then entered the village to examine the cruel works of art within. Finally, he emerged again, gently massaging his temples, sighing softly.

"I have some questions. Bring the slave trader here."

Trembling, Donne was brought forth. He knelt without hesitation, never daring to raise his head.

"I've read your report," the prince said quietly. "But I need you to repeat what happened that day."

"What did the boy named Su Ziye look like?"

Donne had never imagined he would be swept into a storm far greater than he could comprehend. Now, he could only recount what he had already said countless times to the nobleman before him.

This was a record compiled through repeated interrogations, aided by intricate memory restoration techniques, making the events of the past days Donne's most vivid recollections. The prince listened silently, then posed a second question: "What about the slave girl? Where did she come from? What is her name?"

"She was handed to me by Officer Su. She has no name," Donne replied, shivering. "She was very fierce."

"Is she from this village?" the prince pressed.

"I don't know," Donne answered.

"How many times have they done this sort of thing?" The prince smiled, his expression cold.

Donne was so frightened by the smile he hastened to deny, "I'm just a businessman. I wouldn't dare ask the soldiers about their affairs."

The prince nodded, then turned to the kneeling soldiers. "Now, I have a question for you."

"Those who died here were an entire combat squad of the Imperial Border Army—two hundred and seventy men."

"These two hundred and seventy disappeared overnight, officers and soldiers alike, without informing their superiors, only to end up here."

"And they were slaughtered in this manner, utterly humiliated, without resistance. I want to know, what kind of dark magic was used against them?"

"Or have you become so incompetent that you only dare wield your blades against women and children?"

Not a single soldier dared speak, even though the prince's tone held little anger.

"Let me give you a hypothetical," he continued. "If someone appeared at your garrison that night, using my name to order you to mobilize and attack, would you obey?"

As the prince spoke, many sharp minds pictured the scene and shivered.

"But Your Highness, you would never do such a thing," the officer in charge said quietly.

"Indeed. But the empire does not have only one prince," he sighed. "I believe I've caught your trail. But why did you choose to expose yourself?"

He spoke to himself, then smiled at those before him. "My foolish brother not only brought this combat squad here, he even asked for detailed accounts of each person's role in the massacre."

As he spoke, he displayed a pale golden diamond-shaped token. "Though I never cared for my foolish, cunning brother, I do admire his methods."

No one dared contradict him, especially as they guessed the identity of the so-called murderer.

"All Imperial Border Army members must be thoroughly investigated. I give you three days to confess. After three days, any who remain silent will find themselves nailed here by my own hand," the prince said, smiling.

After he spoke, the officer in charge shuffled forward two steps on his knees, his voice bitter as he addressed the prince.

"Do you think I can't fill this valley with bodies?" the prince's smile was icy, his golden eyes shining as he gazed calmly at his subordinates.

"If I could, I'd have no choice but to begin a slaughter."

"The invincible army that won countless battles under the First Emperor is now reduced to swaggering before a band of 'bandits'?"

"In some ways, I must thank my foolish brother."

With that, he crushed the pale golden token in his hand.

...

...

Hundreds of miles away, amid snow-covered mountains, Su Ziye sat on a stone, resting his head on his hand as he gazed at the snowy landscape. Suddenly, he burst into laughter, shaking the snow from the trees.

"What are you laughing at?" came a muffled voice from beneath the snow.

It was Liu Ru, buried beneath the snow by Su Ziye, apparently for quite some time.

"I'm laughing because my 'dear' brother has finally found the trail I left for him," Su Ziye said lightly. "He's been lofty for so long, but now he must be furious at the surprise I've left him."

"Brother?" Liu Ru asked curiously. "You have a brother?"

"Unless you think I sprang from a crack in a stone?" Su Ziye retorted.

"Is your brother very powerful?" Liu Ru pressed. "Is he as formidable as you?"

"That's hard to say. He is a few years older, after all." Su Ziye smiled. "He's always wanted to find me and take me back."

"But unfortunately," Su Ziye looked at Liu Ru before him, "until I want him to find me, he never will."