The Imperial Plaza was swept by a biting wind, the scene grim and solemn.
Tang Li, the God of War and Commander of the three armies of the Phoenix Empire, had rebelled, and he and his family and cronies were to be executed today.
Because Tang Li had held a high position for a long time and enjoyed leading from the front in battle, achieving brilliant military merits and gaining many loyal followers, the Imperial Military Committee deliberated and decided to execute him and his family using the most ancient method: Fire Punishment, broadcasting the event live to all the military and civilians of the entire nation to serve as a warning to others.
It was rumored that this method of death was extremely spectacular; the prisoner would struggle painfully inside a cage, yet could never escape the sturdy prison, finally turning into charcoal and vanishing into ash under everyone's witness.
The vast plaza was packed shoulder-to-shoulder, everyone wore solemn expressions, straining to direct their gaze toward the temporarily erected high platform.
The high platform was piled high with dry firewood, and upon the firewood rested cages crafted from the latest chromic gold material developed by the Empire's Science and Technology Research Institute.
This metal could not be cleaved by blades, nor melted by fire; even the newest model of laser weapon would require a considerable amount of Time to cut through it.
The cage belonging to the principal offender, Tang Li, was placed in the very center, the tallest and most conspicuous.
Of course, its sturdiness was tens or even hundreds of times greater than those of the accomplices.
Inside the cage, Tang Li’s limbs were firmly secured by chains forged from chromic gold; only his Head could turn.
There was no wailing, no plea for help, because he knew all of it had lost its Meaning.
He only looked with deep affection and reluctance toward his wife, and the child barely three days old held in his wife's arms.
Yes, they would not spare even a child.
If the roots are not removed when cutting weeds, they will grow again with the Spring Breeze.
“I’m sorry!”
“I’m sorry!”
“I’m sorry!”
Tang Li’s throat had long been poisoned mute; he could not utter any sound, but his wife could discern what he wanted to say from his lip movements.
His wife, Chen Yan, looked withered, tears filling her eyes, shaking her head desperately; she conveyed to her husband that it was alright, it was alright, they were a family, and they would die together.
However, despite all her efforts, all that emerged were indistinct whimpering sounds.
Unable to communicate through words, even saying goodbye was a luxury.
Fortunately, they did not need to say goodbye; ten years of marriage, twenty years of companionship, had long since made their spirits one; a single glance could express everything.
“The time has come, apply the punishment!”
The black-clad, black-masked inspector shouted loudly, and immediately a dozen strong men holding torches converged from all directions, igniting the firewood beneath the cages from every side.
Boom!
The dry firewood, mixed with accelerant, burned rapidly, and the raging flames instantly engulfed one massive chromic gold cage after another.
Chen Yan held the child and desperately leaned toward her husband Tang Li’s embrace, closer, and closer...
Her husband’s embrace was the safest and warmest place in the world.
It was before, and it still was now!
At the foot of the Green Mountain, in a farmhouse Small Courtyard.
A man dressed in plain clothes sat in the courtyard, holding a delicate, doll-like infant in his arms. The infant was wrapped in a huge Black Cloak, its small body unable to move much, only able to use its beautiful eyes to observe the man before him and everything around.
The man’s expression was melancholic, his face ashen, with a deep tear track near his eye.
After an unknown amount of Time, he suddenly picked up the wine bottle from the nearby low table and poured himself a full, large cup of wine.
Lifting the cup, he poured a drop into the infant’s mouth and said, “From today onward, we are a family. Come, young man, let’s celebrate.”
The strong liquor burned his throat, causing the infant’s little face to turn bright red as it burst into loud cries.
The man ignored it, draining the remaining wine in the cup, and sang hoarsely to the Spring Breeze and Bright Moon before him: “The General’s body is scarred from a hundred battles. Looking back toward the river crossing, ten thousand miles away, old friends are forever gone.”
“The wind over Yi River is cold and bleak, the assembled officials are white as snow. Truly the brave warrior’s sorrowful song is not yet finished. Even the birds cry, knowing such hatred, I presume they weep tears that flow like blood.”
“Who will join me in getting drunk under the Bright Moon!”
From inside the house came a woman’s long-suppressed sobbing.
It sounded like a harmony!