# Chapter 55: Promise
Zhijun was recaptured overnight. He Mingpei was furious to hear the urgent letter from Chu Mu: Yuanliao's Wei Zhen Army attacked like wolves and tigers. Our forces have retreated to Paicheng with heavy losses.
He Mingpei was incensed: The Wei Zhen Army drove Guangda back so that he couldn't advance another step toward Dengguo, all because of a Cheng Zhongshan! But Guangda is impatient and reckless, while Chu Mu is steady and composed, well-versed in military strategy. Shounian may be young, but he's Yongzhao's number one divine warrior. With a million-strong army behind them, how could they possibly fail to defeat a single "ghost god invincible"? How could Yuanliao's forces have taken Zhijun so easily? Most likely they launched a sneak attack at night, catching those two off guard and forcing them to retreat.
With this thought, He Mingpei smiled: In a few more days, those two will surely retake Zhijun.
But days passed without any good news. Instead, an alarming report arrived: Yongzhao's forces suffered over a hundred thousand casualties. Losing Paicheng was bad enough, but now they've retreated a thousand miles, holing up in Liule City. Fortunately, Yuanliao's army stopped pressing the attack, content to just face them outside the city walls.
Even Chu Mu had lost his usual composure. The message requesting reinforcements contained a line that made He Mingpei's face go pale—Shounian was struck by a blade and had to rest in bed.
Several senior generals paled at the word "blade wound." Someone couldn't help but exclaim: "It's Xia Mancheng!"
Military Strategist Feng Zhao furrowed his brow. "Your Majesty, Xia Mancheng hasn't led any campaigns in nearly half a year. Rumors have spread throughout the kingdoms, saying Xia Mancheng schemed to seize power and was placed under house arrest by the Yuanliao King. Now that Wei Zhen Army fights like ravenous beasts—I'm afraid that demon has returned!"
He Mingpei snorted darkly. Before he could question this, Feng Zhao continued: "Your Majesty, Xia Mancheng has never suffered a defeat. With their support from Dudong, we will find it nearly impossible to advance even an inch."
General Kong Fang, one of Yongzhao's senior commanders, grew agitated at Feng Zhao's words. "Then according to Military Strategist Feng, you're suggesting we advise the two princes to cower like turtles in Liule?"
Feng Zhao shook his head. "If that were an option, I'd gladly suggest it! I've heard Xia Mancheng is impatient and hot-tempered, always striking first. He's stubborn and self-willed, never bringing any military advisors or strategists to battle. He charges ahead with only his two blades,嗜血如命—drunk on blood. Your Majesty, there are two paths before us. One is to advise the two princes to retreat. We would not only have to surrender Liule, but also Kegu, pulling all our forces out of Dudong..."
He Mingpei's eyes went wide. "How could we possibly agree to that?"
Feng Zhao forced a bitter smile. "Then, Your Majesty, we must mobilize all our troops immediately to rescue them—a final showdown!"
He Mingpei glowered. "Surely you're being dramatic, Military Strategist Feng?"
"Not at all!" Feng Zhao's expression was grave. "If we don't act quickly, I'm afraid the two princes' lives will be in danger!"
After hearing this, He Mingpei and the others dared not delay. They hastily led the million-strong army stationed at Kegu toward Liule.
They rode without rest, armor never removed. When they finally arrived at Liule, they found that while Tang Shounian's blade wound wasn't serious, it was clear the strikes had been aimed at vital points. If not for Shounian's superb martial arts, allowing him to dodge each blow, he would have died multiple times! When asked about the Yuanliao commanding general who had wounded him, Shounian blurted out: "He was quite handsome, actually."
Everyone fell silent.
Chu Mu slapped the back of his foolish head. "Who asked about his appearance!"
Shounian frowned. "Fourth Brother, you saw him too. He really was very good-looking!"
Everyone gaped. In their hearts, they all thought: This proud young prince must have suffered his first crushing defeat. He's lost his mind.
Before He Mingpei could offer a word of comfort, someone outside the city walls was shouting challenges!
Everyone climbed to the city tower to observe. Yuanliao's army had already formed ranks. Several mighty generals in crimson armor sat astride their horses below the walls.
Chu Mu whispered, "Second Brother, those are Wei Zhen Army's Right Vice Generals—Wu Lianheng, Vanguard General Gao Xuan, Deputy Sect General Wei Sihu, and from the Wutao Army, Elite Vanguard General Chang Jinlu..."
"Why don't we see Dudong's forces?"
Only then did Chu Mu remember they were standing on Dudong's territory. But for the past several days, he hadn't seen a single Dudong flag with its blue patterns. In every direction, there were only Yuanliao's crimson and gold banners.
He Mingpei dropped the subject. "They're only a few hundred thousand strong. Open the gates and engage them immediately!"
Chu Mu's face filled with alarm. "He Second Brother, absolutely not! Xia Mancheng and Cheng Zhongshan haven't shown their faces yet!"
He Mingpei shot him a withering glance. Internally, he was furious: When did this boy become such a coward!
Feng Zhao also urged caution beside him. "Your Majesty, it would be wise to be cautious."
He Mingpei nodded, then assigned several of his best generals to descend the tower and engage the enemy.
But the Yuanliao generals stationed below the walls proved extraordinarily skilled. Wu Lianheng fought two opponents at once in a frenzy of blades. Wei Sihu cut down his adversary in just two or three moves, then wheeled his horse to aid Gao Xuan. After a short engagement, several of the generals He Mingpei had sent were killed. The survivors fled in狼狈 into the city. The Yuanliao army celebrated their overwhelming victory, their war cries shaking the heavens. Yongzhao's military prestige suffered a devastating blow.
He Mingpei's expression darkened. He dispatched another wave of even more skilled generals to descend the tower and engage the enemy.
Zhongshan lifted the tent flap and entered Mancheng's quarters. He found Mancheng already dressed in full armor, blades at his side, but sitting motionless on the rug, lost in thought.
"What's wrong with you?" Zhongshan asked.
Mancheng remained seated, looking at Zhongshan with a faint smile. "Zhongshan, tomorrow seems to be your birthday."
Zhongshan paused, then couldn't help but laugh. "Who would remember something like that?" He walked over and patted Mancheng's head. "They're already fighting! This time, the Wei Zhen Army can let loose and hack the Yongzhao forces to pieces. Even if we can't kill He Mingpei, we'll make him too afraid to march south for the next ten years!"
"Zhongshan! I can't manage what happens ten years from now." Mancheng said softly, "We've lost track of time, living day after day with our eyes closed. We're about to turn twenty-four!"
A pang of desolation struck Zhongshan's heart. Mancheng continued: "My life... I have less than six years left."
Zhongshan smoothed the slight furrow between Mancheng's brows with his fingers. He wanted to offer comfort but didn't know how to do so without making him afraid.
"Zhongshan, when I first told you about this, I still had twelve years left, right?"
Zhongshan nodded.
"In the blink of an eye, I've wasted half of that!" Mancheng sighed, yet a tender smile crept across his brow. "I won't waste any more. Zhongshan, this is the last time."
The two gazed at each other in silence.
Zhongshan's eyes were filled with pity. At last, unable to contain himself, he leaned forward and embraced Mancheng, his voice hoarse yet gentle: "Mancheng, staying by his side—how can there possibly be a 'last time'! Mancheng, let me take you away. Go wherever you want to play! Even if you only have six years left, that's still over two thousand days! I'll be by your side. For these two thousand days, I won't let you feel sad for a single moment. Okay?"
Mancheng's voice trembled. "You fool! What about after those two thousand days? When I'm dead, what will you have?"
"Didn't we make a promise?" Zhongshan stared at him intently. "I swear—even in the next world, I will never let you be alone! I'll be with you!"
Mancheng leaned against his shoulder, tears welling in his eyes.
Zhongshan, you fool! This time, this last time—it's not his promise to me. It's my promise to you.
But I want to help him one more time! Help him one last time!
After a long while, Mancheng whispered, "Zhongshan, I've made him a promise..."
Zhongshan, don't be impatient. I will definitely go with you! Wait for me! Wait for me one last time!
Zhongshan managed a smile, but the anguish in his eyes was impossible to hide.
Mancheng removed the prayer beads from his wrist and pressed them into Zhongshan's hand. "Zhongshan, it was always yours to begin with. Wear it."
Zhongshan was stunned: Mancheng, what do you mean? Are you saying we should part on good terms? Zhongshan, I never said I love you. I never put any pressure on you. Can we just keep treating this as a game and continue? Mancheng, I won't ask anything more of you. Don't cut me off, okay?
Seeing the desperate pleading in Zhongshan's eyes—so helpless, like a puppy about to be abandoned by its master—Mancheng smiled. "Zhongshan!" Before Zhongshan could beg, Mancheng cut in with a teasing tone. "What kind of expression is that? I'm just lending it to you for a couple of days. Once we've driven back the Yongzhao army, you'll give it back to me!"
Zhongshan didn't understand what he meant. He could only obediently take the beads and put them on, his face full of worry.
Mancheng smiled and, without offering any words of comfort, simply leaned in and kissed him softly.
This kiss held a touch of小心翼翼—careful and tender—melting away all base desires. It was as innocent as a first kiss, as pure as a first love.
Let the thunder of killing and shouting outside rage to the heavens. I truly wish this moment could stop, so my Zhongshan could stay this close to me forever, gazing at me with such warmth.
Zhongshan, you foolish boy, do you know there are happy days ahead waiting for you?
Once we've crushed the Yongzhao army, we'll leave all this chaos behind. We'll start from where our love began, and we'll begin again.
Zhongshan didn't know the sweetness and deep affection hidden in this kiss of Mancheng's. He thought it was merely comfort, and only then did he relax, his heart settling.
The two lingered in their kiss, reluctant to part.
Zhongshan glimpsed a trace of happiness in Mancheng's eyes, yet he still didn't dare guess his own place in Mancheng's heart.
Mancheng lowered his gaze, holding Zhongshan's hand gently. "Let's go."
Zhongshan nodded, smiling gently as he always did, speaking that same phrase he'd said thousands of times: "Be careful."
Mancheng's throat tightened. The words "You be careful too" wouldn't quite come out.
Zhongshan, I don't dare promise you anything again. The last time I promised you, I went back on my word. Looking into your eyes, my heart ached even more than yours.
Once we've driven back the Yongzhao army, I'll take the initiative to say to you: Zhongshan, let's not go back to Yuanliao.
When you hear that, what expression will you make?
What expression will you make when you hear me say I love you?
I won't disappoint you again! Wait for me! Wait for me one last time. After that, I will be yours.
Zhongshan swung onto his horse's back and looked back at Mancheng. Mancheng's lips moved slightly, parting and closing. Though he couldn't hear what Mancheng said, Zhongshan's eyes instantly grew red. He knew Mancheng was saying, "Be careful." He quickly turned his head away, not wanting Mancheng to see the tears in his eyes, and urged his horse out of the camp.
Mancheng followed behind, watching his retreating figure with a slight smile.
Zhongshan, I gave you those prayer beads. They'll protect you. This is the last time. You must be careful.