PreludeHigh above, the wind blows from all directions, caressing my cheeks like an old friend's gentle greeting.I am wrapped in the breath of night. Looking down at the city, the colorful neon lights and street lamps shine far brighter than the stars. Their neat arrangement reminds me of the Holy Court's attendants—during every Long Night Season, they lined up just like this, holding bright lamps to illuminate every corner of the forecourt, main hall, and corridor…Nowadays, every city I've visited has a similar night view, lit up by lights. On every festive day, beautiful flowers bloom across the night sky, just like now—what a wonderful day it must be today?Sometimes, memories carry me back to the past, a time so distant it cannot be measured by years.In my memory of Luojia City, the five-colored gems on the Holy Court's palace glimmered brightly under the radiance of the Bright God. Even in the long nights, the torches in people's hands made them shine brilliantly.Yes, and fire. When was it that a hand once held out a torch to me, encouraging me to lift it and move forward in the dark? The face in the firelight was so familiar, smiling—a handsome, confident smile.It was Jianing, it was her! There seemed to be others too—my companions, where are you now? At this very moment, are you shrouded in the same night as me?Above, the crescent moon hangs slanting in the sky, its light as cold as water. I reach out, and it glides gently over my fingertips. Was the ancient Luojia City once cloaked in such a soft silver veil?Night falls too quickly in this world, but dawn comes just as fast—I can already smell it. Time here is nothing like in my kingdom, and that is precisely why I stand here, a miracle. My world, my kingdom, my people have worshipped the Bright God for generations, relying on divine grace to survive and thrive. In my era, the Bright God was like the sun and moon here—and indeed, they were one and the same. The Great Sorcerer, emissary of the Bright God, enshrined the deity atop Rishan Mountain. At the start of each cycle, the Bright God would transform into a massive fireball, soaring into the sky and circling repeatedly, while the earth ushered in the scorching Fire Season.Each time the Bright God completed a circle, a scorch mark would be branded on the stone pillar in front of the Holy Court's main hall, marking a day. As the Bright God's energy waned, its light and heat diminished, leading the earth through the Fire Season, Flower Season, Rainy Season, and Ice Season in turn.Finally, drained of energy, the Bright God would return to the holy altar, revert to its original form, and fall into slumber—ushering in the earth's long Long Night Season. Labor ceased, wars ended, and all conflicts seemed to stop. Everyone huddled by the fire, warming each other, and waited with hope for the next cycle to begin.The Great Sorcerer was the Bright God's emissary, while the ruler of the Rising Sun Kingdom—the leader of the Holy Clan, known as the Holy Lord—was the deity's most loyal servant, governing the earth on the Bright God's behalf.Once, I thought I would have the chance to climb Rishan Mountain with the Great Sorcerer at the end of the Long Night Season, offering my blood to the Bright God to bless the smooth arrival of the new cycle and the prosperity of the Rising Sun. But the Bright God did not grant me that chance.We were abandoned—not so much by the Bright God as by ourselves.In short, the era of the Rising Sun ended in my hands.For countless cycles afterward, I wandered the cosmos in search of my companions, traveling through different time and space, hoping for a miracle.After an unknown period, I set foot on this blue planet again, only to find it was no longer covered entirely by oceans.I was touched by a magical power and stopped my pursuit. My heart told me that my companions might be equally moved. So I began a new search and waited, hoping to reunite with them on this land. That hope has lasted for thousands of years in this world…"The sun is coming up?"It was Rao'er, appearing behind me. She squinted her eyes, spread her arms, and embraced the first ray of morning sun—she loved doing this, saying it felt warm, like being in her mother's arms.Yes, dawn has broken. The street lamps are going out one by one."Did you stand here all night again?" Rao'er walked gently to my side."Yes, before I knew it."I turned my head, and our eyes met. We stared at each other, reading thousands of years of longing in each other's pupils…Then, almost simultaneously, we closed our eyes and took a deep breath. In that instant, everything stopped. I turned to dust, dissolving into the pale morning air.The moon sets, no longer singing for the night.Will the rising sun warm the heart?It is the wind, blowing through your long hair—can it also carry away sorrow?Ahead, is it the end of time and space? There is confusion, and perhaps hidden hope…The Young Clan LeaderTime brushes over a classical face as elegant as the moon, descending upon the Rising Sun Kingdom, blessed by the Bright God.At this moment, the Rising Sun faces a fateful challenge.Moments ago, the new leader of the Holy Clan was chosen in the clan council. This means the Rising Sun Kingdom is about to welcome a new ruler.The news will be announced throughout the kingdom. Chieftains of all tribes and lords of vassal states will gather in Luojia City, the seat of the Holy Court. In the main hall of the Holy Court—Ziri Hall—they will join the Holy Court officials in questioning and debating the new Holy Clan leader, then express their stance on the legitimacy of ascending to the Holy Lord's throne. This is what is known as the Court Council.Nominally, the Court Council plays a decisive role in the Holy Lord's succession. In reality, however, the Holy Clan holds absolute power in the Rising Sun. For a long time, the Holy Clan leader has held all authority and acted arbitrarily, making the Court Council a mere formality—nothing more than a show of pretense.Yet, passing the Court Council does not mean the Holy Lord's royal power is recognized. There is still a crucial step—though a ritualistic procedure, it is extremely important:The Great Sorcerer, fulfilling the duty of the Bright God's emissary, will climb Rishan Mountain to pray for divine guidance. The Great Sorcerer must obtain a Bright Stone from the holy altar, perfectly sized to inlay into the Sword of Authority, and bring it back to the Holy Court. During the Holy Lord's coronation ceremony, the sorcerer will personally inlay the stone into the Sword of Authority—a symbol of royal power—representing the Bright God's blessing and protection for the successor.Only at that moment is the Holy Lord's royal power truly confirmed.The entire process from the Court Council to the Great Sorcerer's authorization constitutes the Holy Lord's coronation ceremony. Every Holy Lord must complete this process to ascend from Holy Clan leader to the highest position in Ziri Hall.This coronation is scheduled for the Flower Season of this cycle. Barring any accidents, the new Holy Clan leader will officially govern the Rising Sun, commanding thirty-six tribes and twelve vassal states, and serving as the nominal suzerain of the two tributary states—Yumo and Xiling.The Flower Season is the most beautiful time in the Rising Sun. The turquoise lake smiles at the patchwork of blooming hope in the fields, where every blade of grass seems to blossom and every leaf hums a melodious song…By the window, Luojia stares into the distance. The window's shadow falls on her face, and the dimples at her lips flicker faintly. As she turns, she draws the orange curtain shut, and a ray of light slips through the gap, falling on her shoulders—thin, childlike shoulders.Without attendants, Luojia walks to the mirror alone. She ties up her long hair, puts on her armor, slips on her ring, and hangs her short sword—every movement is neat and decisive. Then she stands quietly before the mirror.In the dimly lit room, she cannot see her reflection clearly. Because of the darkness, the person in the mirror might not even be herself. This is only her fourteenth Flower Season.Luojia touches her right ear—her brother's earring is still there. She reaches for her neck, where a necklace engraved with the Holy Clan's coat of arms rests. Her hand accidentally brushes the cold metal on her chest, and she knows that from this moment on, her heart must grow and be strong.Step by step, Luojia walks firmly up the long steps leading to Ziri Hall. She knows the main gate of the Holy Court is already open, and the participants of the Court Council are filing in. On either side of the road to Ziri Hall, the elaborately dressed attendants have been replaced by the Holy Court's guards—clad in battle gear, holding sharp weapons, their faces hidden behind golden helmets, motionless as two rows of golden statues.Luojia's steps are slow, as if the three-hundred-step path to royal power before her will take a lifetime to traverse. Since the sudden death of Holy Lord Sanyin and his eldest son Luoyi, the fate of this young girl has shifted abruptly, stretching toward an unknown direction.The tragedy happened so suddenly that the entire Rising Sun Kingdom was shocked. People were filled with doubts about the father and son's deaths, and rumors spread like wildfire—some even implicating the Great Sorcerer and the Holy Lord's wife. But no matter how many rumors there were, they could not penetrate the high walls of the Holy Court. Since the news was announced, the calm order within the Holy Court and the unity of the entire Holy Clan left no room for speculation, turning rumors into falsehoods that gradually faded away outside the court walls.The Holy Clan's rules clearly stipulate the order of succession for the clan leader: the previous leader's sons, then brothers, daughters, and sisters. If none of these exist, the respected elders of the clan have the right to select candidates from young noblemen closely related to the previous leader during the clan council.Yet the Holy Clan has always been prosperous, with nearly every Holy Lord fathering numerous children—until Moyu's reign.
Sayan was an only son, yet he left behind three children: his eldest son, Luoyi, had reached adulthood and was once the undisputed heir to the clan leader. His eldest daughter, Luojia, was still a minor, and his youngest daughter, Luoti, had just been born. The sudden deaths of Sayan and Luoyi undoubtedly made Luojia the first in line for the clan leadership.
While the clan rules legitimized Luojia's succession, it did not mean the path would be smooth. After all, the leader of the Holy Clan ruled the Rising Sun Kingdom, and in the kingdom's history, there had never been a female ruler—let alone an underage girl.
Would the clansmen accept her? The clan council was the first hurdle. Would the Rising Sun Kingdom accept her? Although the thirty-six clans were far weaker than the Holy Clan, would the other thirty-five clan leaders swear allegiance to a child ruler? The Twelve Vassal States had been forced to submit under the iron hooves of successive Holy Lords who expanded the kingdom's borders—would they bow to a young girl?
Then there were the Yumo Kingdom and the Xiling Kingdom, two independent realms flanking the Rising Sun Kingdom. On the surface, they acknowledged the Rising Sun as their suzerain, but secretly they had always competed fiercely. The Yumo, in particular, inhabited a harsh land but were a warlike people. They had fought several large-scale wars with the Rising Sun in history and continued to stir up trouble along the border even after submitting. Additionally, though Sayan had no biological brothers, he had several cousins from his uncle's line—who could guarantee none of them coveted the Holy Lord's throne?
Luojia's path to the throne was strewn with thorns…
At this moment, all eyes turned to Luojia's mother, the Holy Queen, Sheng (Pingliao) Wan, whose childhood name was Mei Qiu. Known as the most beautiful woman in the Rising Sun Kingdom, would her wisdom match her beauty? Many waited with bated breath.
However, the reality disappointed everyone. After the tragedy, instead of emerging from her grief as expected, Mei Qiu withdrew even further, so much so that few people—save for Sayan's personal attendants—saw her again. People began to suspect there was more to the story, and various rumors about Mei Qiu spread.
But these doubts and speculations soon faded, for another woman in the Holy Court stepped forward at the right moment: she was Sayan's stepmother, Mei Qiu's maternal aunt, Sheng (Pingliao) Luren.
The Pingliao and Shanghua clans were the two most noble bloodlines of the Holy Clan, descending from a pair of brothers. In the distant past, before the founding of the Rising Sun Kingdom, the Holy Clan was jointly ruled by these two brothers and their descendants for generations. It was not until one generation, when the young lord of the Shanghua clan married the only daughter of the Pingliao clan leader. After the Pingliao leader's death, the Holy Clan saw its first sole ruler—and it was in that generation that Shanghua revised the clan rules, making their line the only legitimate rulers of the Holy Clan.
Since then, while the Pingliao clan retained their noble status within the clan, they were no longer eligible for the highest power. The Holy Clan, and later the Rising Sun Kingdom, were entirely controlled by the Shanghua family. Yet, men of the Shanghua clan seemed inherently drawn to women of the Pingliao clan—and it was this that led Luren to become Sayan's stepmother.
The Rising Sun's legal code had no provisions on marriage, as each clan had long established its own customs. Among the thirty-six clans, only the Holy Clan and the Buyi Clan enforced monogamy. Sayan was just old enough to remember when his birth mother passed away; he was raised by Luren, who even chose his wife for him. To Sayan, Luren's role was far more than that of a stepmother—though that was secondary.
Before ascending the throne, Sayan's father had been wounded in battle against the Yumo, leaving him with a chronic illness that plagued him for years. History gave Luren a chance to shine: she stepped out of the inner palace and began sharing the Holy Lord's responsibilities. Her wisdom and courage quickly won over the entire Holy Court, including her husband and stepson. Under her leadership, the Rising Sun launched its largest and most decisive campaign against the Yumo. It was this defeat that forced the Yumo to submit, and no formal wars broke out between the two kingdoms thereafter. The commander of the Rising Sun's forces in that campaign was Luren's uncle.
For generations, the Pingliao clan had been noble but powerless, with no one holding positions of real authority in the Holy Court. But that changed with Luren. The military talents of Pingliao men, suppressed and overlooked for generations, began to emerge. Even now, many key positions in the Holy Court's military were held by members of the Pingliao clan—including the defense of Rising Sun City. And this was not all.
The Pingliao clan was now both extremely noble and powerful.
Naturally, this was all thanks to Luren's support.
Yet, what made this woman extraordinary was her ability to let go. When the Holy Lord died, Sayan was still a year away from adulthood; it was Luren who led him by the hand to the Holy Lord's throne. As soon as his coming-of-age ceremony was over, she immediately abdicated her power, supporting him silently from behind the scenes. This not only earned her the respect of Sayan, the clansmen, and the entire Rising Sun Kingdom but also ensured that the political power the Pingliao clan had gained remained intact—and even strengthened—under the new ruler.
Once Sayan was fully capable of shouldering the responsibility of governing the Rising Sun Kingdom, Luren disappeared completely from the Holy Court. It was said that she wanted to travel and see the mountains and rivers of the Rising Sun while she was still in good health.
This time, with the sudden crisis in the Holy Court, Luren's reappearance undoubtedly gave the entire clan a sense of stability.
Thus, the unity of the Holy Clan buried the many rumors about the Holy Lord's death. The clan council smoothly approved Luojia's succession. The news was announced to the entire kingdom immediately, and preparations for the new Holy Lord's coronation began. On the surface, everything seemed to be proceeding in an orderly manner…
Uncle.
At the end of the long steps, a maid's figure flashed around the corner. Luojia immediately caught her eye, but in the blink of an eye, the maid was gone.
Luojia composed herself, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but lift slightly. She tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword, her steps lighter than before.
In the main hall, Luojia looked up at the throne. The magnificent palace, the cinnabar-red steps—they stood tall and majestic, radiating authority. Luojia's small figure was so mismatched with all this, and she felt her own insignificance every moment.
The light of the Bright God streamed through the cracks of the two huge stone doors, shining directly on the ruby at the top of the Holy Lord's throne, refracting colorful rays of light.
The Holy Clan's tapirs dragged the stone doors open with a deep, rumbling sound. Slowly, the two stone doors swung wide, and bright light flooded the entire hall in an instant. Luojia tilted her head, closing her eyes slightly, and the golden armor on her body shone like a mirror in the radiance.
In the hall, the attendees filed in one by one according to their status and rank. No one spoke; even their footsteps were so light they barely made a sound.
Luojia watched quietly until the last person stepped through the door, the "thud! thud!" of their footsteps echoing through the hall.
In the distance, at the center of the open door, he stood tall and straight. The bright light shone on his back, and his chestnut hair fluttered gently in the wind. The corners of his mouth turned up in a confident smile, his eyes as firm as two sharp swords piercing through the barrier of time to gaze at Luojia's childish face.
In Luojia's memory, when had she looked into these eyes before? Only then, there had been something else in those pupils—an indescribable, vague emotion.
But at this moment, he stood there, at the intersection of wind and light, clad in silver-gray armor and a fiery red cloak, like a god of war. His shoulders exuded a strength as if he could guard that door for her forever.
"Un—cle!" A long-lost smile involuntarily spread across Luojia's face.
...
On the border between the Rising Sun Kingdom and the Yumo Kingdom, a cloud carriage pulled by four Holy Clan tapirs raced along, kicking up clouds of dust. Lishu was sitting on a large boulder, carving a bamboo sword.
The cloud carriage stopped in front of him, and a woman draped in a green veil stepped down. Lishu looked up, and her eyes—clear as autumn water—gazed at him gracefully.
"It's been a long time, Lishu," the woman said, her voice gentle and calm.
"Yes, how long has it been? When did we meet last?" Lishu smiled. "Sister, why have you come suddenly? Could something have happened in the Holy Court?"
"If anyone doesn't know, I certainly do," the woman replied, taking a step forward and touching the boulder Lishu was sitting on. "Your men are so diligent—haven't you heard yet?"
"My news should still be on the way," Lishu said, glancing out of the corner of his eye at several owls circling in the distance. "Not as fast as my sister."
The woman's expression turned serious, her voice lowering. "I just lost my husband and son."
Lishu froze for a moment, then sneered. "Murder?"
"No!" the woman said sharply. "In any case, don't jump to conclusions."
"If there's no accident, why have you come to see me?" Lishu bowed his head and continued carving the bamboo.
The woman sighed. "One was my husband, the other my own brother—and they were at odds until the end."
"Now he's dead!" Lishu stopped his dagger. "But why Luoyi?"
"Isn't this what you wanted?"
"What I hated was Sayan!"
"But you never liked Luoyi either—because he was Sayan's son. I remember you always doted on Luojia, often lifting her onto your shoulders to play and teaching her to wield a sword. But you never even glanced at Luoyi. In your heart, he was always going to be Sayan's heir—and thus your enemy and obstacle."
Lishu let out a dry laugh. "Yes, everyone says I'm ambitious. Fine, I admit it! To Sayan, I was the real obstacle, so he kicked me far away to this godforsaken place, guarding the Yumo and acting as his gatekeeper. Now he's dead, but rest assured—whoever takes charge in the Holy Court, I, Lishu, will stay here and continue to guard the gate obediently. I won't interfere in anyone's business."
"Do you think it was Sayan's idea to send you to the border?" the woman took a deep breath. "It was my proposal. I told Sayan that you were too arrogant—sending you here would temper your temper, defend against the Yumo, and let him have some peace of mind."
Lishu stared at the woman, looking her up and down for a long time. "Are you really Mei Qiu? A member of the Pingliao clan—my own sister?"
"Lishu, I just lost my husband and son. I'm in a terrible mood, but I didn't come here to argue with you. Listen carefully—I'll only say this once."
"You are my only brother and the leader of the Pingliao clan. If Shanghua hadn't altered the clan rules back then, you would have a share of the Rising Sun Kingdom today. For generations, the Pingliao clan has endured grievances and submitted to injustice, retaining noble status in the Holy Court but no real power.
In your generation, you are ambitious, determined to change things and revitalize the Pingliao clan. Thanks to the support of Aunt Luren, the Pingliao clan has gradually gained real power in the Holy Court—and this has given you even more hope.
Of course, I am a daughter of the Pingliao clan and your own sister. Would I not wish for the prosperity of our family and for you to achieve your dreams? But Sayan was the rightful Holy Lord, and the Shanghua clan's power remains formidable.
And you—young and impetuous, your intentions too obvious. Sayan never said anything openly, but secretly he had already begun planning to weaken the Pingliao clan. I'm sure you can guess what more drastic measures he might have had in mind. I had no other choice but to get you out of his sight as soon as possible, so he would no longer feel threatened by you—even forget you existed.
So I went to see Aunt Luren. That's why you were suddenly sent to the border, and not a single person in the clan spoke up for you. I admit, you've been wronged all these years. But now look—the Pingliao clan's power in the Holy Court has grown stronger by the day, and we can now compete with the Shanghua clan on equal terms.
And you have trained an elite army. The curved border with the Yumo has been forged into an iron wall by you, wrapping around the Rising Sun's lands like half a bow. This only proves that your heart has never been at peace.
Although you are far away now, as soon as you step into Rising Sun City, no one in the Pingliao clan will deny you as their leader. Now you truly have the strength to stand tall and speak your mind. Think about it—was your sister trying to harm you?"
Lishu listened silently, stabbing his dagger fiercely into a crack in the rock.
After a moment, he looked up, his eyes fixed on the distance. "Sister, are you telling me to return to the Holy Court and seize the Holy Lord's throne?"
"You are going back," Mei Qiu replied calmly, "but the Holy Lord will be Luojia."
"Why?"
"Because the clan rules dictate it."
"Clan rules can be changed—didn't Shanghua change them back then?"
"But they haven't been changed yet! And you can't change them overnight. Aunt Luren has already taken charge of the situation. Barring any accidents, Luojia will have succeeded as clan leader by the time you return to the Holy Court."
Lishu was about to argue, but Mei Qiu cut him off. "Luojia's succession is the most legitimate. If not Luojia, then Luoti—not you, no matter how you look at blood ties. Yes, the Pingliao clan now has enough military power to rival the Shanghua clan, and you command heavy troops capable of surrounding the Rising Sun Kingdom. But do you believe that once your 'half bow' launches a full-scale attack, the Yumo Kingdom behind you won't seize the opportunity to attack? They are experts at taking advantage of others' misfortunes."
Lishu said nothing, pondering Mei Qiu's words.
Mei Qiu paused, then continued. "I've already lost my son—I don't want anything to happen to my daughter. Luojia is still young, and I don't want to push her into the spotlight. But the Rising Sun Kingdom can't afford chaos—it would only let those with ulterior motives exploit the situation. Luojia's succession is legitimate under the clan rules, but who actually holds the power depends on each person's ability. Surely you have the confidence for that? After all, Luojia is just a girl—and you were the one who doted on her the most, who knows her temperament best. If things continue like this, just be patient a little longer—won't you get what you want?"
At this, the corners of Lishu's mouth couldn't help but lift.
"Sister, has Luojia grown more beautiful now? She was just a little tyke when I left."
"Then come back and see for yourself."
Watching the dust kicked up by the cloud carriage, Lishu let out a long breath. He looked up, squinting at the fiery Bright God above…