Chapter Seven: Devouring the Earth (Part Two)

The slave sent to summon Moon Worship returned to report that the chief's maid refused to let her disturb. Thus, Bu Jingxian went himself; the maid at the door recognized him at once, hurriedly bowed in respect, and did not dare block his way, allowing him to push open the door and enter.

Moon Worship was clad in a silk robe embroidered with golden phoenixes, admiring herself before the bronze mirror.

“Trying on the phoenix robe again?” When their residence was first completed, Moon Worship had privately crafted this phoenix robe, urging Bu Jingxian to declare himself king. Yet Bu Jingxian dissuaded her from such untimely ambition. Moon Worship agreed, but every so often she donned the robe in her room, gazing at herself in the mirror—a rare glimpse of childishness that Bu Jingxian seldom saw in her.

“Just checking if it needs any alterations. One day, I’ll wear it as queen.”

“That day’s far off yet.” Bu Jingxian laughed, “The armies outside the city are assembled, just waiting for my future queen to depart.”

“Oh? They came quickly.” Only then did Moon Worship remove the phoenix robe, carefully folding it and locking it away, while Bu Jingxian helped her into the ceremonial attire of the Evening Glow Chief. “All because the White Wolf Tribe mistakenly took one of our cattle, and you use that as a pretext to wage war—how shameless.”

“In this land, the strong prey upon the weak. Everyone knows we simply want to fight them; any excuse will do. All the tribes survive in such an environment. Though they resent being oppressed, they see it as the natural order.”

Once dressed, the two walked hand in hand toward the city tower.

Star Worship was already waiting; below the tower, blades gleamed as they were drawn in unison and raised high.

The tribal warriors shouted in chorus, “Luo Bi, unmatched in courage and strength, invincible in battle! The White Wolf Tribe has violated the Evening Glow Clan; they shall be destroyed!”

The cries reverberated beneath the clear sky.

At first, such scenes made Star Worship want to cover her ears, but gradually she grew accustomed. Watching her husband clad in black armor, a bright red cape billowing in the wind, overseeing the troops and directing strategy, she felt a deep pride and satisfaction. Darkness is water, black is water; thus, the warriors' armor was all black.

Star Worship had not liked black, but seeing the plains filled with warriors in black armor, imagining that wherever this black tide passed, the enemy would scatter and weep, she suddenly thought that if the mountains and rivers were covered with such armor, it would be a splendid painting.

“Any who aid or harbor the White Wolf Tribe shall be destroyed!”

Tens of thousands of soldiers shouted as one, “Any who aid or harbor the White Wolf Tribe shall be destroyed!”

Ten great drums thundered atop the walls, horns blared in unison. Fifty thousand cavalry turned their horses and galloped out.

Bu Jingxian saluted Moon Worship and Star Worship in turn.

“Thank you, ladies, for guarding our home.”

Star Worship hurriedly asked, “You won’t march with the army again?”

Bu Jingxian winked and laughed. “Since people say I am worth ten thousand men, I ought to make myself their most elite force. I’ll go alone to the Dawn Tribe; if they send troops to aid the White Wolf, I’ll burn their settlement and slay their warriors.”

“Be careful. Shouldn’t the Zhao siblings accompany you?” Star Worship still feared for his safety.

“They’re capable enough now to act on their own; following me would waste their talents. Besides, only Zhao Ji can restrain that reckless Ghostbane at critical moments.” Bu Jingxian reassured her, “No need to worry. At best, I’ll return in two months; at worst, three. When I return, you’ll see how I turn fifty thousand cavalry into two hundred thousand, and return in triumph.”

Moon Worship also saluted. “We will manage the household; Luo Bi need not worry. North Shadow City awaits your victorious return.”

Bu Jingxian whistled; a dark-maned thousand-mile steed galloped to the city gates, and he leapt down from the walls. Under the gaze of the officers atop the tower, he vanished swiftly at the edge of the grasslands.

Black banners fluttered atop the walls of North Shadow City, soldiers standing in ranks.

Most were labor slaves. The tribes were not accustomed to the recruit-and-pay system of the Seven Powers, instead operating like a responsibility contracting system: when needed, tribal warriors all joined in; after the battle, spoils were distributed according to merit among the tribes. This actually cost North Shadow City more, but it was the traditional method of the Black Wolf Tribe, not easily changed.

Nine out of ten soldiers in North Shadow City were third-class slaves; few tribal warriors were willing to serve as squad leaders.

Though Moon Worship stayed in the city, she managed countless affairs. The farming system was still unsettled; cultivating land remained a headache. The tribes did not want to turn the grasslands into fields, lacking the habit of growing grain for food—their staple was beef and mutton. Forcing them was impractical; such key issues required considering public acceptance.

This would greatly affect future development. Only when large-scale farming took root, and tribes saw the advantages at harvest, would they voluntarily imitate and participate. Mere cattle and sheep could never supply the future army’s provisions. This was the root of the Black Wolf Tribe’s chronic shortage of supplies in war.

Moon Worship was so anxious she wished she could raze the mountains behind North Shadow City for farmland!

Peace had barely settled across the realm when Ling Luo, for the second time, served as Zheng’s envoy to Chu. This time, his destination was the Chu capital. Both Zheng and Chu citizens felt reassured by this; with peace, Zheng’s envoy need not fear the long journey to visit Chu’s capital.

Ling Luo’s official mission was the biennial Divine Martial Tournament, but secretly he was tasked with forging an alliance with Chu and negotiating for joint military action.

The King of Zheng was furious at Korea’s aid to the Black Wolf army, and equally incensed at the Wei-Yan coalition’s attacks. Korea should have been struck first, but attacking Korea might bring Black Wolf reinforcements, so the king intended to ally with Chu and jointly advance against Wei and Yan.

This time, the Princess of Heavenly Music did not accompany Ling Luo, being occupied with matters of the Divine Martial Tournament.

Martial Lord Autumn Leaf brought July along. The two first indulged in food and drink upon arrival in Chu’s capital.

At first, July was captivated by Chu’s scenery, but uncomfortable with the capital’s women’s bold and revealing attire. It was said Chu’s capital was open-minded; July only now realized how true.

Hardly any women dressed as she did, tightly wrapped and covered.

“Autumn Leaf, look! That woman’s skirt leaves half her hips exposed! My heavens, how can she dare go out like that?”

Autumn Leaf merely said she was making a fuss. She herself had visited Chu with Zheng Feixian in earlier years and was used to such sights. She gestured, “This is nothing. In the past, when I came with my master, there were plenty of Chu women on the streets wearing only a bellyband and a strip of gauze at the waist, barely as wide as a palm.”

“Heavens! Aren’t they afraid no one will marry them?” July stared in disbelief.

“The less they wear, the more men like it. Don’t you know men everywhere yearn for a visit to Chu’s capital? There’s even a saying: ‘A trip to Chu’s capital without indulgence is wasted as a guest.’”

“These women have no shame!”

As they strolled through the streets, they saw exactly the bellybands and gauze Autumn Leaf had mentioned. Autumn Leaf wanted to buy some, even began to remove her outer robe for a fitting, declaring, “Watch me change in public and outshine all Chu’s women!”

July feared she might really strip, hurriedly grabbed her outer robe and wrapped it around her, scolding, “If you dare undress, I’ll tell everyone you got drunk and ran naked through Chu’s streets!”

Autumn Leaf burst out laughing.

A stranger nearby interjected, “This young lady has a fine figure; what harm in letting others feast their eyes? Why stop her?”

July then realized that many men had gathered around, watching Autumn Leaf. She swept her sleeve, glaring fiercely at them.

“What are you staring at!”

The crowd dispersed, whispering about the woman’s ferocity.

“Just teasing you. I like July best—how could I bear to undress for others?”

“Go away!” July scolded her for madness. Autumn Leaf laughed, unconcerned. “Here in Chu, men love men, and women love women—there’s plenty of both.”

“If you act up again tonight, I’ll strip you and throw you into the pond!”