The Sinking Elite
The great trends of the world are ever-changing, like the shifting sands and the ebb and flow of the sea. Nowadays, the Thirty-Six Provinces are divided by the Great Wall, with the North and South standing opposed. To the South lies the orthodox Han dynasty of Liang, ruling over the Central Plains, while to the North lies the kingdom of Danzhi established by the nomadic people known as the Huqi.
Unfortunately, the seventeen provinces north of the Great Wall were once the heartland of the Central Plains, celebrated in countless poems by literati. However, decades ago, the territory fell into the hands of the Huqi.
Despite the vast difference in military strength between the soldiers of Liang and the Huqi nomads, the Great Wall acts as a formidable barrier. Moreover, the Huqi are not adept at naval warfare, so both sides have coexisted relatively peacefully over the years. However, unforeseen circumstances have arisen. This year, the turbulent waters of the Great Wall, normally calm, have encountered a rare harsh winter, causing the rivers passing through Liangzhou and Yuzhou to freeze.
This turn of events has greatly pleased the Huqi, who swiftly marched southward across the usually impassable Great Wall. Within just ten days, they captured Liangzhou Prefecture and over a dozen counties under its jurisdiction. Another ten days saw them annexing much of Yuzhou, marching straight towards the Southern capital.
Such worldly turmoil is nothing new to He Simu, a demon of over four hundred years, who has witnessed countless upheavals. Whether it’s an era of peace and prosperity or one of chaos and bloodshed, it makes little difference to her. Her interest lies solely in one thing: feasting on the dying.
As a picky eater among demons, she only indulges in those on the brink of death, avoiding those who perish from illness. Thus, her dining options are limited to the most common sight on the battlefield.
Wherever there is war, it’s like the beginning of a feast to her, and she eagerly rushes to partake.
She had some business to attend to originally, missing out when the Huqi dealt heavy blows to the Liang army, conquering two provinces in succession. However, when her affairs were nearly settled, the seemingly triumphant Huqi suffered a severe defeat in Liangzhou, ambushed by the Liang army. They were even unable to rendezvous with the Danzhi army from Yuzhou and were driven back north of the Great Wall.
Perhaps unwilling to let go of what they had gained, the Huqi razed Liangzhou to the ground as they retreated. Half of its population fell to the slaughter, a scene He Simu had witnessed before.
Leaning on her chin and toying with the jade pendant in her hand, He Simu waited for the youngster lying on the bed to awaken.
With the governor of Liangzhou slain by the Huqi, the governor’s mansion lay empty. He Simu, after fainting, was placed in a courtyard within the mansion. She had just regained consciousness after a day of unconsciousness.
The young general was also thoughtful, following her instructions to rescue the child from the pile of corpses and settling them in the same courtyard as her. However, despite sleeping for a long time, the child showed no signs of waking up.
There were two knocks at the door, but before He Simu could respond, the door was forcefully pushed open, indicating the impatience of the visitor.
A female warrior clad in bright armour strode in. Her high ponytail was tied with a purple ribbon, her sharp eyes and demeanour exuding a masculine aura. She placed a food box on the table without much ado, her tone neutral.
“Awake? The physician has seen to you and your brother. You both suffered from exhaustion but are otherwise unharmed. Once your brother wakes, you may leave the mansion.”
Leave the mansion?
He Simu hadn’t yet inquired about the young general’s situation. How could she lose interest in this newfound amusement so quickly?
He Simu grasped the hand of the female warrior, wearing an admiring expression typical of a young girl, and spoke fluently, “Sister, you are so valiant and resolute, able to lead troops despite being a woman. I admire you greatly. May I ask for your name?”
The female warrior looked down at He Simu, her sharp eyes containing a hint of fierceness, and replied briefly, “Meng Wan.”
She didn’t inquire about He Simu’s name, her expression cold and eager to end the conversation as the lamplight flickered.
However, He Simu didn’t give her the chance. She held Meng Wan’s sleeve tightly, her demeanour unchanged as she spoke, “Nice to meet you. I’m called He Xiaoxiao. My brother and I are currently weak and wish to rest in the mansion for a few more days. Could you please inform the general and accommodate us? Oh, by the way, may I know the name of the general who saved me today?”
Meng Wan narrowed her eyes, already sharp but now even sharper, resembling blades. She slowly lowered her head to meet He Simu’s gaze, as if trying to peel away her facade to see her true self. He Simu met her gaze with a smile, unflinching.
“You’re not right,” Meng Wan said.
“Oh? What’s not right?”
“Nothing is right. The massacre in Liangzhou, your brother unconscious, and yet you show no fear?”
He Simu turned her head slightly, calmly responding, “How does Miss Meng know I’m not afraid? This is as afraid as I get. Besides, after surviving the hellish massacre in Liangzhou, with the arrival of the general today, shouldn’t we feel even more at ease?”
Meng Wan grabbed He Simu’s wrist, her voice lowering, “My instincts have never been wrong. You’re not a good person. Why did you approach our general? Are you… affiliated with Duke Pei?”
…Huh? Duke Pei?
He Simu was momentarily puzzled, then chuckled, “What are you talking about, sister? What Duke Pei? I’ve never even heard of such a thing.”
Although she hadn’t spoken a single truthful word since the beginning, this statement was indeed genuine.
What connection did she have with high-ranking officials?
High-ranking officials weren’t particularly delicious. She is unlike the Court Master, Yan Ke, who specifically targeted officials in power.
Meng Wan clearly didn’t believe her words. She released He Simu’s wrist, her tone harsh, “I don’t care what your intentions are, but give up now! Our young master has an illustrious background and remarkable talent. It’s his sincerity and lack of defences that make scoundrels like you attempt to harm him, almost ruining his future! We’re not in the court now, but on the battlefield. Even if I have to risk my life, I won’t let you harm a single hair on our young master’s head!”
Meng Wan’s passionate speech left He Simu somewhat speechless, feeling like she had been unjustly accused.
However, Meng Wan’s words reminded her of the hands that handed her the handkerchief, with neatly trimmed and fair, yet scarred fingers.
They seemed more suited for holding a pen than for the battlefield.
Considering Meng Wan called the young general “young master,” it seemed they had known each other before he became a general.
“Listening to you, it seems the general has it pretty tough?”
“Stop pretending…”
Just as Meng Wan was about to speak, a clear rumble of hunger emanated. Both turned to see the little boy on the adjacent bed, who had awakened at some point and was now focused on the food box between them.
Xue Chenying, who had slept for a day and a night, was awakened by the aroma of the food.
He Simu watched the boy voraciously devouring his dinner and comforted him, “Take your time, no one is going to take it from you. You said you’re eight years old, called…”
“Xue… Chenying…” The boy’s mouth was full of food, making his words unclear.
“Ah, then I’ll call you Chenying.”
“Okay… Sister, who are you… Where’s my dad?”
He Simu thought for a moment, unwilling to interrupt his enjoyment of the meal, and said, “I’m called He Xiaoxiao. As for your dad, you finish eating first, and then I’ll tell you.”
Chenying nodded, his small face buried in the bowl again.
He Simu propped her chin, thinking that this kid had no guard up at all, being so close to his food.
Meng Wan was busy with military affairs and left after her stern words, leaving a few people to watch over the courtyard. Chenying, solely focused on his meal, immediately ran to the table as soon as Meng Wan left, asking He Simu if he could eat the food.
So now, he was burying himself in his meal, while He Simu watched his gleaming eyes, absentmindedly asking, “Is it fragrant? Is it delicious?”
“Fragrant! Delicious!” Chenying’s mouth was full, and he glanced at He Simu, who was picking at her food, saying, “Sister… don’t you like it?”
“Ah… it’s neither like nor dislike…” He Simu responded absently, like she was completing a task, picking at the food in her bowl.
Being a demon, taste didn’t matter to her. Human flesh and soul fire weren’t particularly delicious; they just filled her stomach.
Looking at it this way, being a demon was quite bleak.
Chenying finally filled his stomach. He set down the bowl and let out a loud belch, blinking his big eyes at He Simu.
“Thank you, Miss Xiaoxiao. I’m full now. Where’s my dad?”
He Simu scrutinized him. The boy wore rough clothes with many crude patches, indicating a very poor family background. And those rough stitches on the patches might have been sewn by his father. If that were the case, his mother was likely deceased.
Though thin and weak, the boy had a decent appearance with a round face and round eyes, somewhat adorable.
“Other than your father, do you have any other relatives in this world? Mother, grandparents, aunts, uncles?” He Simu asked.
Chenying shook his head honestly, lowering his head and saying, “Most of the relatives at home are gone. It’s just me and my father.”
He Simu rubbed her forehead. This kid seemed to have a complete soul fire, so why did he have such bad luck to lack it now?
“Do you remember what happened before you fainted?”
Chenying paused, seeming to resist recalling those scenes, the colour draining from his face. He grabbed He Simu’s hand and said, “Bad people… bad people kept killing… my dad… my dad, he was stabbed in the stomach… he bled a lot…”
It seemed he remembered.
He Simu let him hold her hand and shake it, calmly and seriously saying, “Your dad has passed away. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to bury him.”
Upon hearing the words “passed away,” Chenying’s eyes widened instantly, then he pursed his lips, tears streaming down his face in panic and distress.
“Really? Sister, please think of a way… Can my dad come back to life? My dad was cut by a sickle before, a big wound on his leg, he bled a lot… but later the doctor came… and he stopped bleeding… he could even work in the fields… My mom used to say that a little injury is okay… everyone has their stumbles…”
The more flustered the child became, the more he spoke, crying and speaking, as if his mouth couldn’t be controlled and words poured out. From his father to his mother, then to his grandparents and great-grandparents, it seemed he was desperately searching for any evidence that his father could survive being stabbed in the stomach.
He Simu just watched him quietly, not speaking or moving, just watching him cry breathlessly, incoherently, his voice getting smaller and smaller.
Finally, Chenying stopped talking, took a deep breath, and hoarsely asked, “My dad said… people can’t come back to life, is that true?”
This time, He Simu finally spoke. She nodded and said, “Yes, it’s true.”
Chenying’s eyes trembled, and he stopped crying, just looking lost.
“Then who are you, sister?”
“Your father showed me kindness by sharing his meal with me. Since you have no relatives, I’ll take care of you for a while and find a good family for you.”
Chenying shook his head weakly, then nodded. For no apparent reason, he whispered, “My dad said I always cry, and I don’t look like a man at all.” He Simu patted his head and said, “When my parents passed away, I caused a huge scene. If crying makes you less of a man, then I must have been even less manly than you.”
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