Ready.

In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed. All of Chang’an was now adorned in silver, wrapped in thick snow. Though the deep drifts brought much inconvenience to the city's inhabitants, they could not dampen the delight of its children. When the sun was at its height, frost often blinded the eyes, causing even greater trouble.

Yongle Lane was home mostly to high officials and nobles, and the bustle never ceased. Servants were busy sweeping snow from the courtyards. At the General’s residence, Changsun Qian had not yet returned from duty; Gao Qingyun teased the young Changsun Hongfei while chatting with Yuchi Yiyi about neighborhood affairs. As they spoke, Changsun Zhi pushed open the door and entered.

“Has Lord Du left?” Gao Qingyun asked, a hint of puzzlement in her voice.

“Father,” Yuchi Yiyi rose and bowed respectfully.

Changsun Zhi, smiling, took Changsun Hongfei from Gao Qingyun’s arms before replying, “The Sage’s moods have been unpredictable lately. Today, Censor Liu offended him and was imprisoned. Advisor Wei Zheng spoke a few words too many and incurred the Sage’s wrath as well. Lord Du sought me to ask the reason, but I know it myself!” Changsun Zhi started with a cheerful face, but as he spoke, his expression grew solemn, and at last he could not help but sigh.

Just then, a servant arrived to report: Gao Yuan had come to deliver an imperial message from the Sage. Changsun Zhi hurriedly handed Changsun Hongfei back to Gao Qingyun and departed.

By now, after half a year, Changsun Hongfei had determined that he was living in the Tang Dynasty—though some things differed greatly from the Tang he knew. But there was no hurry; after all, he was merely a baby just learning to crawl.

Upon entering the palace, Changsun Zhi noticed that he was heading not to the usual Hall of Han Yuan for official business, but to the Hall of Chengxiang, where the Sage typically rested. At the door to Chengxiang Hall, Gao Yuan said, “Heavenly Strategy General, please.” With that, he made a gesture of invitation.

Changsun Zhi saw that Gao Yuan did not accompany him inside, nor were there any palace maids or guards nearby. He realized that the matters to be discussed or arranged would be anything but ordinary.

The Hall of Chengxiang lived up to its name: all manner of floral scents drifted into the nose without effort. Its doors and windows were wide open. By the windows, several pots of golden-edged wintersweet bloomed in profusion, and in the corner, lilies and oncidiums vied for beauty on their solitary stands.

Yu Lianzhou emerged from the corner.

“Greetings, Heavenly Strategy General. The Sage awaits you; please follow me.” Yu Lianzhou’s demeanor was exceedingly humble, his words tinged with servility.

Changsun Zhi was taken aback at the sight of Yu Lianzhou, but he recognized him instantly, for that face, mottled like rotten flesh, was unforgettable.

Following Yu Lianzhou, he entered a room where candles burned brightly beside a bookshelf. The Sage, Li Ji’an, sat facing General Commander Liu Renwu.

“Changsun Zhi, at your service, Your Majesty.”

“No need for ceremony, Changsun—please sit. Yu, you too.”

“As you command,” the two replied in unison. Liu Renwu also rose to salute Changsun Zhi, and the three took their seats.

Changsun Zhi sat in the position of honor, Yu Lianzhou at the far end, and Liu Renwu in the middle.

“Yu, you may speak,” Li Ji’an said as soon as they were seated, revealing his urgency.

After listening to the three, Changsun Zhi understood the reason: the two had practiced cultivation for two months without issue, but the Sage had failed to make progress. Yu Lianzhou suggested selecting one hundred men from the army who could sense qi; if all cultivated together, perhaps the Sage, immersed among them, could be guided to sense qi as well.

Changsun Zhi was astonished by the tale, and looked again at Yu Lianzhou. Sensing his gaze, Yu Lianzhou returned a smile, but it was the kind of smile that chilled the bones.

After the group left the hall, Yu Lianzhou bowed to Liu Renwu and Changsun Zhi. “For the coming year, I shall rely much on you two generals!”

Though Yu Lianzhou’s form of address was unconventional, neither man minded. “No trouble—our duty is to serve the Sage. Tomorrow, Officer Yu may come to my Golden Guard to instruct the method. What do you think, General Changsun?” Liu Renwu said.

The title “Officer” had been specially created by Li Ji’an for Yu Lianzhou’s convenience—a new position, Dao Xuan Guard, within the Outlaws, led by Yu Lianzhou and reporting directly to the Sage.

“That will do. I must also send word to the military offices of the provinces to prepare, which will take some time,” Changsun Zhi replied.

“Then, I shall take my leave.”

After the two nodded, Yu Lianzhou departed.

“General Liu, do you know why the Sage is so obsessed with this cultivation? Can you shed some light?” Changsun Zhi inquired.

Liu Renwu pondered for a moment before lowering his voice. “To be frank, I have heard that this practice may prolong life.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

“Yu Lianzhou wouldn’t dare deceive the Sage; it must be true.”

“But it all seems a bit too rushed.”

“The Sage’s wishes are not ours to question. Orders from above, we simply follow.”

“Yes, you’re right, General Liu.”

The two then went their separate ways, unaware that the Sage’s days were numbered—hence his urgency.

Back at his residence, Changsun Zhi was preparing a handwritten letter in his study. Gao Qingyun entered, carrying Changsun Hongfei, followed by a maid with a tray of jujube, wolfberry, and pigeon soup.

“Grandfather, have some soup to ward off the cold,” she said, directing the maid to place it by the desk.

“Good.” Changsun Zhi set down his brush and smiled, then took up a spoon and began to drink.

“You may go,” Gao Qingyun told the maid, who bowed and left the study.

“Grandfather, you went straight to the study as soon as you returned—are we going to war again?” Gao Qingyun asked, worried.

Changsun Zhi paused, then smiled and pointed to his own leg. “Look at me—do you think they’d send me to fight?”

Though it was said in jest, Gao Qingyun knew it was not about war, and felt reassured. It was no wonder she thought so, given the tense situation at the borders recently.

“Then why?” she pressed.

Changsun Zhi explained the matter. Gao Qingyun was astonished. “Could it be a scam?”

“Likely not, and even if it were, it would merely waste some time.” Changsun Zhi laughed heartily.

Changsun Hongfei, listening, thought to himself, “Immortal cultivation—this is surely it. Control over objects, longevity—what else could it be? This world is intriguing. As a transmigrant, I should be a genius, and with my privileged status, surely I can find someone to teach me these arts? Just thinking about it makes my heart race.”

Another month passed thus. Rumors often circulated at court that the Sage was forming a new military system, first selecting men from the guards, then from provincial armies, but the process was strict and no one was chosen. The new system seemed to vanish, and officials dismissed it as a passing fancy.

A year passed, and the so-called hundred men had not been found. Eighteen were selected from the Sixteen Guards, fifty-six from provincial military offices—a total of seventy-four. Out of more than six hundred thousand, only seventy-four could cultivate, showing how difficult it was.

Now, those seventy-four assembled on the training ground, each standing a step apart. Yu Lianzhou stood before them. Li Ji’an sat below the field, Changsun Zhi and Liu Renwu flanking him, Imperial Guards lining the edges.

The seventy-four wore different armor: iron for the guards, leather for the provincial troops. Though it was the dead of winter, the soldiers of Tang kept their backs straight and their belts taut.

“You are the elite of Tang—seventy-four chosen from six hundred thousand.” Yu Lianzhou used his own spiritual power to amplify his voice, so it rang clear in every ear.

Hearing this, pride shone on their faces, but not a sound escaped their lips.

“What you practice will greatly benefit the Sage, improving his constitution. In a moment, you must gather the spiritual energy you sense throughout your bodies. It may grow uncomfortable over time, but for the Sage’s sake, you must endure—do not disappoint him.” Yu Lianzhou wished to be more rousing, but his abilities could only take him so far.

“Loyalty to the Sage! Loyalty to Tang!” As soon as Yu Lianzhou finished, all the soldiers shouted in unison, their voices perfectly aligned.

Yu Lianzhou left the field and bowed to Li Ji’an. “Your Majesty, it is ready.”

Li Ji’an nodded, rose, and walked to the field with Yu Lianzhou following. The soldiers tried to contain their excitement, gazes unwavering as they watched Li Ji’an approach. He was excited, too, with a mixture of anxiety and nervousness.

As Li Ji’an passed, the soldiers opened a path three zhang wide and bowed. Once he had gone by, they rose and returned to their places.

At the center, everyone sat cross-legged. Finally, Li Ji’an did so as well.

“Begin,” Li Ji’an declared, his voice empowered by spiritual energy.