614: Chapter 25 Longkui, Longyang

A thousand years ago, in the Jiang Kingdom, a meteor fell from the sky.

Guard: "Your Majesty, a helmet has been discovered."

King of Jiang: "The child is about to be born. Could this... be an auspicious omen?"

Attendant: "Your Majesty, the prince has been born! The prince has been born!"

King of Jiang: "Excellent! Return to the palace!"

...

Jiang Kingdom Palace.

King of Jiang: "My lady, you have suffered."

Queen of Jiang: "It was no hardship. Your Majesty, the moment the prince was born, the sun appeared."

King of Jiang: "In that case, he shall be called 'Long Yang'. He is the hope of mine and the Jiang Kingdom."

...

Jiang Kingdom Palace. Long Kui and Long Yang rode scooters, sliding all the way down the steps.

Long Kui: "Hehehe, hehehe..."

Long Yang: "Yeah—whoa—"

Long Kui: "Royal Brother, we haven't played like this in a long time."

Long Yang: "Indeed, it has been a long time."

...

Long Kui: "Royal Brother, are you finished?"

Long Yang: "I am finished."

Long Kui: "A broad-sleeved flowing immortal skirt?!"

Long Yang: "Do you like it?"

Long Kui: "Yes, thank you, Royal Brother."

...

Long Yang: "Long Kui... Father has always told me that if one wishes to stay away from the battlefield, one must first face it bravely. Therefore, I have practiced martial arts since childhood, longing for the day when I can fight alongside Father and return in triumph, allowing all the common people of the world to live happy and peaceful lives."

Long Yang: "But I have slowly come to realize that war is endless, for human desire knows no bounds."

Long Yang: "Even if I exhaust all my strength and pay a heavy price, I can only trade it for temporary peace."

Long Kui: "The country is in a troubled autumn. Long Kui cannot relieve Royal Brother's worries. Long Kui is truly useless."

Long Yang: "Little sister, this has nothing to do with you. Let Royal Brother bear it all."

...

Jiang Kingdom Palace. The Queen of Jiang is gravely ill.

Long Kui: "Mother!"

Long Yang: "Mother!"

Queen of Jiang: "Let me up. I must finish the embroidery so that the Qi Kingdom will send troops to help us."

Long Yang: "Mother, please rest well. It won't be too late to do it when you feel better in a few days."

Queen of Jiang: "I know I don't have many days left. I will not recover."

Long Yang: "Mother, if... if you must leave, then please go in peace. I will take good care of Father and Long Kui."

Queen of Jiang: "I am not leaving."

Long Yang: "Mother, you are too exhausted. I beg you, please be good to yourself. Protecting the home and country is our duty as men."

Queen of Jiang: "Your father has suffered too much. The only thing I can do for him now is to finish that embroidery. Then the Qi Kingdom will be willing to help us, and the Jiang Kingdom will be saved. Let me up..."

Long Yang: "Mother, Mother, wait! I—I—I heard the sound of triumph!"

Queen of Jiang: "Really?"

Long Yang: "Mother, it is true. Father... If Father truly returns in triumph, the Qi Kingdom won't need to send troops. Then you won't need to do the embroidery, right?"

Queen of Jiang: "Will he? Will your father really return in triumph? Why, I didn't hear it."

Long Kui: "I didn't hear it either."

Long Yang: "It is true, I heard it. Mother, I will go check now. Please wait here peacefully and wait for my return."

Queen of Jiang: "Very well."

Long Yang waved the banner adorned with bells in the rain.

Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling...

Long Kui: "Mother, the sound of triumph is ringing. Can you hear it?"

Queen of Jiang: "Wonderful! Wonderful! Victory! Victory! Your Majesty, we don't need to rely on anyone. I don't have to worry anymore..."

Long Kui: "Mother, Mother, Mother—"

Attendants and palace maids nearby: "Queen—"

...

Not long after, the King of Jiang returned with his men, only to find the Queen of Jiang's fresh grave.

King of Jiang: "My lady, please forgive me for failing to provide you with a peaceful life."

King of Jiang: "With my lady gone, what is the meaning of me protecting the country?"

King of Jiang: "What is the meaning?!"

...

Jiang Kingdom Palace.

Long Yang: "Father."

King of Jiang: "Come here. This sword has followed me into battle for many years; today, I present it to you. Someone, come here."

An attendant brought over a helmet.

King of Jiang: "Long Yang, I accidentally obtained this helmet on the day you were born. Its appearance brought the long-lost sound of triumph. Today, I entrust it to you, letting it become one with your life. When you wear it, you must also bring back victory."

...

The military training ground.

Long Yang: "Why have you come here?"

Long Kui: "Royal Brother, Long Kui wants to go with you."

Long Yang: "This is going to war. No nonsense."

Long Kui: "Do not leave Long Kui behind."

Long Yang: "Go back quickly and take good care of Father."

Long Kui: "No, Long Kui is not as strong as Mother. Long Kui cannot live without Royal Brother. Long Kui is willing to bleed with Royal Brother and die together. Long Kui does not want to stay in the palace alone."

Long Yang: "I will say this one last time: Go back!"

Long Kui: "No... ah..."

Long Yang: "Escort the Princess back to the palace."

...

Beside the sword-casting pool in the Jiang Kingdom Palace.

Long Yang: "Legend has it that once the Demon Sword appears, the country will change color, the universe will be reversed, and the crisis of the Jiang Kingdom will surely be resolved."

Sword-casting alchemist: "Casting the Demon Sword requires the coordination of solar terms, timing, and celestial phenomena, and it must not be interrupted. Before the sword is forged, we must not let the city fall."

Long Yang: "How long will it take?"

Sword-casting alchemist: "One hundred and eighty-three days."

Long Yang: "Very well. During these one hundred and eighty-three days, I will spare no cost to defend the Jiang capital."

One hundred and eighty-three days later.

Long Yang: "How much longer?"

Sword-casting alchemist: "It can be done at any time, but one important thing is missing."

Long Yang: "What thing?"

Sword-casting alchemist: "The flesh and blood of the Crown Prince's closest kin. Only by casting this flesh and blood into the sword-casting furnace can the true Demon Sword be refined."

Long Yang: "Can mine be used?"

Sword-casting alchemist: "This sword is extremely Yin; it cannot withstand masculine blood."

Long Yang: "Why didn't you tell me sooner?!"

Sword-casting alchemist: "This is why emperors of past generations sealed away the method of casting the Demon Sword."

...

Long Kui: "Royal Brother, Royal Brother, let Long Kui's flesh and blood be used to cast the sword."

Long Yang: "Absolutely not."

Long Kui: "Why? We are flesh and blood. I am your own sister; I am the only person in the world qualified to jump down for you."

Long Yang: "I am telling you, from now on, I am no longer your Royal Brother. We have no relationship whatsoever."

Long Kui: "Royal Brother..."

Long Yang: "Without that sword, I can still annihilate the enemy army!"

Long Yang: "You cannot jump. Right now, you are not qualified."

...

An attendant handed Long Kui a letter: "Your Highness, this is what the Crown Prince left for you."

Long Kui took the letter and opened it.

[Long Kui, the end has finally arrived. Even though I do not want to fight, going to the battlefield for one final battle is unavoidable. I hope you can live well. No matter what happens, no matter where you are, you must be strong. You must take this bag of sunflower seeds, which represent radiance and vitality, to the place where you will live.]

[Promise me that when I find you, it will be filled with sunflowers.]

...

Before the sword-casting furnace.

Long Kui jumped down: "Royal Brother, we shall meet again in the next life."