Kapitel 29: Duty

The last of those unassuming little paper packages was pressed in place. White powder scattered on the ground around them before trailing off to the next package's resting place, creating a complicated web that wove across the steeply rising edge of the valley, only faintly visible in the dim light of the light globes the soldiers held. Fei Li motioned for his soldiers to withdraw, taking a moment to slowly walk alongside that pattern like lace laid over the rising earth. Finally, he himself withdrew to the distance they'd determined to be safe, behind the cover of a rocky outcrop. Xi Ming stepped out of the shadows to stand by his side, bow and arrow in hand. As he handed it over, he seemed to be troubled, his brows tightly knit and a frown at his lips.

"General…" he began quietly and Fei Li figured he wanted to ask if they should really do this. But Xi Ming had never questioned him before and he still couldn't bring himself to, the words dying in his throat.

"Tell me, Lieutenant Xi…" Fei Li spoke with a patient tone, his expression as unreadable as ever, not portraying any of his inner turmoil. He seemed calm, half of his face hidden in the shadows cast by the light orb that sat wedged in the rock beside them, looking down as he took the items from Xi Ming. He then set about dipping the head of the arrow in the pot of flammable liquid that sat beside the light orb. "Can you think of another way? Our only other option would be to fight our way out." Fei Li's gaze rose to the figures further in the distance, their crouched positions only just visible in the dim glow of their orbs. "We'd likely lose many men attempting that. Even if we called in emergency reinforcements, a disadvantage like that wouldn't bode well for the rest of this war."

Xi Ming looked more troubled as he looked from the men in the distance to the arrow held in Fei Li's hand. "General Fei… It isn't that I don't understand the reasoning behind your decision, it's just…"

Fei Li looked back to the direction of the valley wall, now hidden within the darkness before he closed his eyes. "Xi Ming, tell me. What is it we're here for?" Although it sounded like this question was for Xi Ming, in truth, it was for himself.

"To conquer the South," Xi Ming replied obediently.

"That's right," Fei Li responded hollowly. "Our duty is to win this war."

Although his expression still wasn't good, Xi Ming bowed his head slightly. "I understand, General."

Fei Li only opened his eyes again when he suppressed the unease he felt, when the twisting in his stomach finally settled, when his nerves finally calmed and the slight trembling of his hands that threatened to ruin his aim was gone. He lit the arrow tip with conviction, drawing back the bowstring as he lined up his aim. Xi Ming only watched as he crouched, his back pressed against the rock before them. There was a moment of nothing but silence, where everything seemed to still and time dragged on abnormally long. Then Fei Li released the arrow, sending it whizzing into the darkness. The Northern army archers that were hidden in the cover of the outcrop followed suit, their arrows forming streaks of light through the air before embedding into the powdered earth. There was a crackling sound that slowly increased in volume as the lines of white powder caught fire.

Fei Li crouched behind cover, sparing a glance to the man crouched beside him. Xi Ming seemed to be lost in his thoughts, so much so that he seemed to have forgotten his instructions, his troubled expression only just visible in the shadows of the night. He was only shaken from his thoughts as Fei Li reached out, grabbing his hands and raising them to cover his ears. He stared at Fei Li, wide eyed with surprise, but Fei Li then released him, pressing his own hands over his ears, staring vacantly ahead as he counted in his head.

The crackling sound continued to increase in volume. Then there was a resounding boom, the valley filling with a sudden burst of light and sprays of debris shooting out above their heads where the cover of the rock didn't reach. This was followed by another, and then another, the ground shaking with each explosion. This continued until finally, the land could be heard cracking and rumbling, splitting apart and collapsing in a wave with a sound that was nearly deafening.

When there was at last only silence, Fei Li let his hands fall from his ears, remaining crouched as he stared ahead with a blank look on his face. Xi Ming waited for a moment but when Fei Li remained like this, he eventually worked up the courage to nudge the other's arm. "General Fei… Are you… okay?"

Fei Li nodded once as he stood up, brushing the dirt that had settled on his clothes. He didn't meet Xi Ming's gaze as he turned away. "Let's go."

---

Lu Qinyi sat, staring fixedly at the map spread out on the desk below him, one hand pressed to his mouth, curled tightly into a fist, the fingers of the other digging into the surface of the desk to give him something to anchor himself with. Yang Xun sat across from him, his leg shaking to release his anxious energy. Finally, Zhao Mei lifted the flap of the tent and entered, seeming a bit disheveled but unharmed and her usual calm self.

A bit of the tension left both men as they saw her but Lu Qinyi was still visibly on edge as he turned to ask her "How is it?"

Zhao Mei accepted the cup of water Yang Xun offered, sitting down before she answered. "That's the last of our soldiers cleared from the rubble. The land has settled, although it's unstable there's no more danger. I've had my subordinates report in, the Northern army has retreated back around here." She tapped on the map laid out in front of them. She then looked at Yang Xun, "The soldiers, where are they now?"

"I've had them tended to, the wounded are being treated as we speak and the dead are being buried. Thanks to you Zhao Mei, the casualties weren't that many."

"Our soldiers weren't the only casualties," Lu Qinyi muttered bitterly as he stared down at the map.

Yang Xun's brows furrowed at this as he hastily turned to Zhao Mei, who wore a grim expression as she slowly moved her finger to point on the map. "The explosion collapsed this part of the valley, creating a landslide that provided the North with a clearing to escape through." Yang Xun knew this part already but he still listened silently. Zhao Mei slid her finger a bit further. "This is where the landslide would have reached. Do you know what's there?"

"Thats…" But Yang Xun trailed off, feeling a bit choked as he didn't dare finish that sentence. Instead, Lu Qinyi finished it for him.

"There is a village there. You would remember it, we visited it during our training at the border. We played a drinking game with the locals. We lost and ended up drinking too much so some of the locals helped us get back afterwards," Lu Qinyi explained quietly with a cold expression but there was a tinge to his voice and his fingertips dug further against the wood.

A myriad of emotions flashed over Yang Xun's face and his voice was a bit strained as he responded "I remember."

Zhao Mei stared down at the map. "I can't be certain how far the damage would have reached but I'm certain the town was caught up in it."

There was a long silence before Lu Qinyi stood abruptly, turning to exit the tent.

"Where are you going?" Yang Xun called after him.

He turned back to look at them. "To have a look."

"You can't do that, General Lu. There's nothing you can do." Zhao Mei reasoned but Lu Qinyi simply turned away, lifting the fabric out of his way.

"Even if nothing can be done, I want to see it with my own eyes. I won't be long."

Yang Xun was quick to follow after him. "General. I'm coming."

Zhao Mei sighed before she stood up, following slowly after the two men, ensuring that the soldiers were left with clear instructions before she accompanied them.