"Well done, Novice Jinfeng. Your part in the capture of this national traitor will not go unrewarded."

The words dripped with the oily arrogance and gleeful condescension of a chubby-cheeked child who'd thought he'd won, but Jinfeng paid no mind to the silkpants illuminated by Dancing Lights. Instead she focused on his keeper, his supposed Mentor whose skills were wasted spending most his days cleaning up after his impetuous and frankly idiotic ward. "Major Mu Bai," she began, cupping her fist and bowing her head in a warrior's salute as deserving of his station. "Lowly Novice Superior Jinfeng requests clarification. Was this operation sanctioned by Elder Chang Sang? If so, was he aware that this lowly one was operating here under the orders of General Zhu Yuanzhang?"

The living legend Mu Bai stood with hands folded behind his back and eyes narrowed like always. Though wearing the same greatcoat as every other Vanguard present, he possessed a stern yet lofty appearance as if he had moved beyond the mundane inanities of the world, but suffered through them all the same out of loyalty and devotion to Elder Chang Sang. Why else would one of the greatest Sword Saints of the Republic lower himself to look after a deplorable silk pants like the little Prince Chang Gong? It was right there in his name, Prince Gong, a poetic and graceful name ill-fitting for a man so lacking in culture and refinement, one who was only a few months younger than Jinfeng yet exhibited less maturity than Hu Sheng, a boy of thirteen. It showed in how Prince Gong scowled, so petulant and full of fury over being ignored, but even he knew better than to speak before his Mentor had his say. Jinfeng had greeted the man with the courtesy of a warrior and made an inquiry in official, military style, meaning that if Prince Gong were to interrupt, he would be in violation of military code of conduct and Jinfeng would have reason to write him up.

She was a Novice Superior after all, first among all Novices save for perhaps the Firstborn, whose actual military rank had never truly been defined, but would surely not be low considering his skills, accomplishments, and connections. Meanwhile, Prince Gong had no real rank and no authority of his own save for the threat of calling his father to come sort things out for him. Though this cadre was his to command, officially, it was a division commanded by Major Mu Bai. Deplorable is what that was, but without a backer of equal influence, it was always best to tread lightly around the Little Prince. Jinfeng cared nothing for that today though, for his arrival here had ruined all of her hard work and might well turn the Firstborn against the Republic forevermore.

Just a little more time, that's all Jinfeng needed to convince the Firstborn to return to the south alongside her and sit down with the General. Now though? Judging by the dark scowl etched across his furious features as he swaggered out of the wagon with hands up and palms empty, she would be lucky to convince him not to kill everyone present. A curious thing that, seeing him posed in apparent surrender yet fearing for the lives of her comrades all the same. Largely because they were taking him far too lightly, leaving only two of Prince Gong's toady Novices to guard him, Tina, Chrissy, and Aunty Rachael. Two Novices were just barely enough to keep Tina alone in check, much less the rest of their party, and Jinfeng would've place four guards a piece on the Firstborn and his milk mother alone.

And for Chrissy? Jinfeng would have looked after the girl herself. Not just because the Firstborn was fiercely protective of the silver-haired Aberrant, but because she might well be the greatest threat present. The others could be threatened or coerced into compliance, but Chrissy was a flighty soul who largely did as she pleased with little to no care for the consequences. Her family had failed to teach her how to focus and control her strength, so while there was little to be feared from a well-built campfire, one that was haphazardly thrown together could spark a forest fire at any given moment.

Prince Gong cared not for the details however, only that he believed he'd somehow gotten one over on Jinfeng and the General both by 'capturing' the Firstborn. Who clearly understood Qinese, or at least more than he let on. It was subtle, but Jinfeng had been watching him closely out of the corner of her eye, and she saw how his head turned ever so slightly towards Prince Gong when he heard himself referred to as a traitor. Major Mu Bai noticed too, and picked up on the flare of anger and promise of pain radiating from the Firstborn. A threat the Sword Saint did not take lightly, as he moved his hands out from behind his back to rest lightly over his belt instead, with one hand holding his scabbard and the other ready to draw in an instant should the Firstborn make a move towards his ward.

And arrogant fool that he was, the Firstborn bared his toothy grin at the Sword Saint in direct challenge while utterly unaware of the other man's reputation. Not that it would change anything, or so Jinfeng suspected, because the Firstborn was not one to bow his head. Nor was he a fool without eyes, which he narrowed in thought while studying the Sword Saint and picking him out as the threat he was, a man capable of defeating even Sifu Zhang who was stood off to side with palms pressed together and head lowered in prayer over the corpses of their ancestors alongside the rest of Jinfeng's cadre who were clearly under heavy guard.

Not her entire cadre though. Most notably Ao Tian, who was stood right by Prince Gong's side like the little toady he'd become, a sight which would surely break his Sifu's heart. The Eight Eyed Swordsman considered himself Mu Bai's greatest rival, though he was merely one of many, so to see his prized pupil bend the knee to join hands with Mu Bai's backer Elder Chang Sang would bring him much sorrow.

That's how Chang Gong was able to capture Jinfeng's cadre no doubt, because the traitorous Ao Tian had led him right to them. She would deal with him in her own time, but for now, she refused to even give him so much as a glance as she waited for Major Mu Bai's response, which he would not give until the Firstborn was suitably quelled and subdued. It would take some time though, because the Firstborn was nothing if not defiant. A contrary man who was likely to do exactly what you didn't want him to for no reason than to be difficult, which was why he outwardly dismissed the Major and focused in on Prince Gong instead, having marked him as the weak link in the group like a bushstalker spotting a lone quail deer. It was a remarkably apt comparison, with the Firstborn on the hunt despite being beset by threats on all sides while the naïve and idiotic Prince Gong was unaware his life had been marked by a killer without peer among his age group.

One whose right hand was currently fully intact under his dark leather glove, meaning he'd cast his Spell between waking up and getting out of the wagon with no one the wiser. Jinfeng had counted the seconds carefully and knew he had time enough to cast two Spells, though only barely and no more, so she hoped that was the only Spell he'd gotten off under the noses of Prince Gong's toadies. If not? Well, even a Sword Saint could do naught but dodge when faced with a readied Fireball, and while he alone would have little to no trouble avoiding the area of effect, Mu Bai was tasked with Prince Gong's safety, a duty the stern Sword Saint did not take lightly.

More proof of Ao Tian's treachery, as the loyal members of Jinfeng's cadre would have kept the details of the Firstborn's prowess to themselves. Each and every one of them was indebted to the General who ensured they were housed, fed, and trained while taking a personal interest in their development to help them not only meet standards, but exceed them. He was the one who convinced Sifu Zhang to finally take Jinfeng as his disciple, and arranged for an experienced handler to oversee both Hu Die and Hu Sheng so the siblings could remain together after the death of their father. Many a Novice in Jinfeng's cadre had similarly benefitted from the General's attention to detail, even if it was a simple as a word of advice or encouragement out on the training field. The faithless dog Ao Tian had benefitted most, as he had only been taken in by the Eight-Eyed Swordsman because the General arranged for Ao Tian to perform his sword dance for the Sword Saint, a fact he no doubt had long forgotten about or overlooked in his hubris.

Yes, Jinfeng knew him well enough to know Ao Tian harboured delusions of grandeur, no doubt thinking he would progress faster while learning from Major Mu Bai. Fool that he was, it never occurred to him that strength meant little when it came to teaching, and the Eight-Eyed Swordsman had many promising pupils besides Ao Tian, whilst Major Mu Bai had none. In fact, his sole pupil was Pring Gong, who was famed for his foul temper and laughable incompetence, one fact which alone should have been enough for the turncoat to know he would be better off staying faithful to Jinfeng, his Sifu, and the General instead of selling himself to Prince Gong and Elder Chang Sang.

That's what this was all about, an internal power struggle between the Elder and the General. Anyone with eyes could see that Elder Chang Sang had ambitions beyond his station, and he would hate to see the General mend fences with the Firstborn and further expand his power base with such a promising youngster. Even if the Firstborn's reputation proved false, which Jinfeng believed was fully deserved and even perhaps understated to some extent, by virtue of being blood related to the General and most senior Novice of a new generation meant Elder Chang Sang would do anything to keep the two men apart. This act of aggression might well have done it too, because it was clear from the Firstborn dark looks that he thought this a ploy on her part, and he was not quick to forgive or forget.

Hence why Jinfeng held her tongue and didn't warn Prince Gong or Major Mu Bai about the Firstborn's right hand. Though it pained her to place her countrymen in danger, the risk was minimal. The fact that they were aware of the possibility of a Fireball and Prince Gong was stood there scowling at her refusal to acknowledge his presence rather than quaking in his boots meant there were countermeasures in place, so she kept her fists cupped and head lowered while waiting for the Major's response.

"Whatever mission the General gave you is no longer of any consequence," came the reply, spoken in a casual, almost cavalier tone as if Major Mu Bai were speaking of the weather as opposed to matters of national harmony without taking his eyes off of the Firstborn. "The Council has issued a warrant of arrest for one Zhu Hao Wei. Failure to report and dereliction of duty."

Jinfeng's stomach flopped in her stomach, and she could not help but glance at her Sifu who was still stood with head bowed and palms pressed in prayer. There would be no help from him then, for a Battle Monk was sworn to divest themselves from worldly matters, whether it be wealth, power, fame, or politics. Though Jinfeng was training to do the same, she was the lone piece on the board that the General could field at present, so she had no choice but to step into these murky waters and fight for whatever advantage she could seize. She started by requesting to see the warrant of arrest, which Prince Gong brandished like a trophy before him like a child playing keep away, so she simply held both hands out in suppliance while refusing to raise her head to look at him directly and waited for his patience to wear thin.

Or Major Mu Bai's patience, as this was still the badlands at the edge of the Divide, so they could not afford to stand around idle all night. The Major said nothing, just growled, and in no time at all, the warrant appeared in Jinfeng's hands with Prince Gong only daring to take a minor advantage by squeezing her fingers ever so slightly. "Happy New Years, Jinfeng," he said with what he likely believed was a charming smile, but the practiced look had been polished to a mirror finish and reflected nothing but his dark intentions. "May all your wishes come true."

She ignored his empty platitudes and drew back to call forth a Dancing Light so that she could read without having to move closer to his side. The fool was illuminated by no less than three such lights, so if he was going to broadcast their location to every Yao Guai within 20 li, then there was no reason for her to care about remaining concealed in the darkness either. Small wonder the Yao Guai had been so agitated in days past. Despite his lacking abilities, Prince Gong was both ambitious and greedy, so he would not have cared to sit idle while waiting for Jinfeng and the Firstborn to walk into his carefully laid trap. In fact, she was rather surprised he hadn't marched his cadre right up to the mesa to lay siege and demand the Firstborn's surrender, which he might well have done if not for Ao Tian's betrayal. Little was known of the Firstborn's true skills after all, to say nothing of his milk mother, so even Major Mu Bai might well have underestimated the Firstborn's party.

Hence why he gave in to what Jinfeng imagined was Prince Gong's tantrum and allowed him to hunt so close to the Divide. Unlike her cadre which was equipped with only standard Republic-issue gear, the Prince's cadre was subsidized by his father's deep pockets and far-reaching connections which allowed him the luxury of equipping his personal toadies with Soviet-made semi-automatic rifles. A dozen at least from what she could see, to say nothing of the heavy weapons mounted on the sides of the three heavily laden armoured, six-horse carriages which made up the bulk of his convoy. Scorching Beam cannons from the looks of it, weapons that would emit a brief ray of heat that could do immense amounts of damage in an exceedingly limited 10-meter range. With the proper Metamagicks however, that brief, short ranged ray could turn into a true beam weapon that extended out to twice or even thrice the standard range, one that could be sustained for as long as the Core could hold up under the stress of so much Aether being moved through it.

The convoy had three such weapons, one affixed to each armoured wagon. They were prohibitively expensive to produce, costly to use and maintain, highly immobile, short ranged, and prone to over-heating while denying you the ability to field a forward line of Vanguard to hold back the hordes of Yao Guai, but there was no denying their effectiveness. With one such weapon and the Sword Saint for support, Jinfeng could have made her way through the badlands with nigh impunity, so she could only imagine the chaos Prince Gong would have caused with three. Small wonder the Yao Guai had been so active of late, though she noted he'd taken a few casualties and had many injured with him too. Some of those dead and injured belonged to Jinfeng's cadre, as there were three more absent soldiers since they'd parted ways, no doubt having falling in battle thanks to Prince Gong's reckless and haphazard plans. She would see them avenged and take her pound of flesh from the Prince, assuming the Firstborn and his furious bull left something for her to take. The small white calf had been left to his own devices alongside the rest of the Firstborn's draft animals and was furiously snorting and pawing at the ground in frighteningly adorable threat.

A mistake that, to pay no mind to the calf-sized bull just because of his cute and fluffy appearance. The bull was a killer of men and a Magical Beast to boot, so even if Prince Gong's cadre could bring their guns to bear, it wouldn't be fast enough to stop the bull from killing a handful of men. Only his exceptional training kept him in check, as Jinfeng noted how the bull kept glancing at the Firstborn and waiting for the signal to let loose the floodgates of pain and violence both.

A signal the Firstborn did not give, as he stood there with hands held up in front of his family. Looking remarkably calm no less, which came as something of a surprise, since he had not shown much restraint in the days they'd travelled together. Good to see that he could, but Jinfeng needed to speak to him before his uncharacteristic self-control came to an end and he acted on whatever foolish plan he had in his head.

"All is in order with the arrest warrant," Jinfeng declared, as if there were ever any doubt, though she noted it was only signed by Elder Chang Sang, and lacked the three requisite signatures that would make it legally binding. Which was done on purpose no doubt, so that someone clever might think they hold all the advantages due to the flawed documents, only to be taken by surprise when the 'official' copy appeared with all the signatures intact when challenged in court. This was not only a trap, but a way out for the Elder should matters turn sour, as he could now easily claim a mistake had been made and the arrest warrant was merely a draft that some overzealous clerk dispatched without checking carefully. Prince Gong was a worthless layabout, but Elder Chang Sang was a careful and meticulous man capable of weaving plans within plans like a spider seated atop his web, plans which ensnared even the General at times. Ironic given the General's family history, but subtlety and deception was a learned skill, not something passed down through bloodlines, so it should hardly come as any surprise.

Her next statement however caught both Prince Gong and Major Mu Bai off-guard. "As a registered soldier of the Vanguard, Zhu Hao Wei is entitled to official representation so that he can be made aware of the severity of the charges laid against him and his options hence forth. A hefty responsibility which falls to this lowly Novice Superior, as I am the highest-ranking soldier present who is not involved with his arrest." She allowed them both a second to take in the news as she straightened up to meet the Major's eyes, no longer a fawning subordinate but an adversary in this political conflict who would speak for the General in his absence. It was difficult not to smile when Major Mu Bai's surprise turned to respect and approval, and harder still when Prince Gong's face went red with apoplectic fury.

"You would speak on behalf this traitor?" Pointing at the Firstborn was almost enough to get Prince Gong killed, as the other man was primed and readied for violence. Jinfeng subtly signaled for the Firstborn to wait, a signal she knew he saw when he exhaled and settled back and lowered his hands to take a stance of feigned relaxation. Utterly unaware of how close he'd come to death, Prince Gong advanced a single step until her upraised palm slammed home into his chest, not hard enough to hurt him, but enough to show that she could have. It was not enough to dissuade him from continuing however, only to halt his advance. "He is a foreign devil in all but appearance, a renegade who has disavowed the Republic and will be punished accordingly."

"The charges laid against Zhu Hao Wei are severe," Jinfeng agreed, giving ground only so that she could advance even further with her next statement. "However, they are still only charges pending judgement before a Magistrate." Jinfeng had asked to see the warrant just to be sure, but luckily even Elder Gong Sang wasn't so foolish as to summarily pass judgement on the General's only living relative on the Frontier. There was conflict, and then there was open warfare, and there was no doubt in anyone's mind that it would be the latter if anyone dared to touch the General's reverse scale, and some of his erstwhile opponents might even see fit to join hands with him in this, if only to bring down Elder Gong Sang. "As such," she continued, feeling rather pleased at herself for having seen through the flaw in their plan, "Zhu Hao Wei is currently still a registered soldier of the Vanguard and must be treated as such. As his reluctant but official representative, I will see to it that this is done, or I will register a complaint with your commanding officer for failure to comply with military regulations."

Finally allowing herself the barest hint of a smile, she met Prince Gong's eyes for the first time since his arrival and let her contempt and disdain show through. "First and foremost, I would like to speak to the accused in private, as is his right."

"Be quick about it, Novice Superior Jinfeng," Major Mu Bai replied, speaking over Prince Gong's stuttered incoherence as he choked on his anger and helplessness and adding to her delight to know the Sword Saint found her name worth remembering. "We cannot linger long, for danger lurks in every shadow of these dark and accursed lands."

That said, the Sword Saint gestured for Prince Gong to follow him away while keeping an eye on the Firstborn, and the spoiled silkpants did not dare dally lest Jinfeng follow through on her threat to report him to high command. Though his father sat upon the Council of Elders, he was but one of a dozen Elders, and he had plenty of adversaries who would gleefully sanction Prince Gong if given half a chance. Though arrogant and without shame, he knew his limits and worked within them for the most part, but this time Jinfeng suspected he'd overstepped. Approaching the Firstborn took more than a little courage as she steeled herself for his wrath, but he said nothing while still glaring at Prince Gong as he and the Major retreated.

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"Hi Jinfeng." Greeting her with a tired little wave, Chrissy stood wrapped in her mother's embrace and seemingly unaware of the severity of the situation, here to greet the guests but clearly too tired to put her best foot forward.

"No need to greet her Chrissy," the Firstborn declared, while Jinfeng waved at Chrissy in turn and gave her the barest hint of a smile. That was all the Aberrant needed though, as she was an observant one when she cared to be, and the returned greeting was enough to satisfy her for now. As for the Firstborn, he was not so easily contented, as he broke his glare away from Prince Gong to fix it upon her instead. "She ain't no guest and most certainly ain't a friend. She a faithless, graceless, two-timing, double-crossing, backstabbing rat who done betrayed our trust and led us right into a trap, so no more friendly greetings for her, understand?"

"…No." It was a treat to see the Firstborn taken aback, but he recovered quickly by ignoring the matter and leaving it to his milk mother to explain things to Chrissy, whispering quietly in her ear in a sweet and tender display of love and concern. He did the silver-haired Aberrant a disservice, dismissing her thoughts like that, because if he stopped to ask her why, then perhaps he would learn why Chrissy did not consider Jinfeng's actions to be a betrayal. Though not so wise to the ways of the world, Chrissy could read people and emotions as easily as turning a hand, and she could see that Jinfeng was furious with this turn of events, even if she outwardly appeared calm and cold as always.

A fact the Firstborn might well be aware of, now that Jinfeng thought about it, because he was surprisingly cordial aside from the name calling. "So you gonna tell me what all this is about then?" he asked, scowling something fierce while appearing standoffish, but she'd seen him in a rage and knew this was merely a show. If he didn't already know or at least suspect she was on his side, he would have reacted in an entirely different manner, which only went to show that he understood his native tongue well enough. He still made her explain it in English all the same, perhaps for the benefit of his family or to make sure he wasn't missing out on some nuance or detail he might well have overlooked.

So after telling him everything she'd discussed with Major Mu Bai, she summed it all up as best she could. "The General is often at odds with the Council of Elders," she began, crinkling her nose in disgust at the inefficiency of it all. "He adheres to the old ways, whereas the Council represents the new, and while both sides seek to uplift the Republic as a whole, they are unable to agree upon the means and methods to do so. A ship cannot be guided by more than one hand if they are not all working in tandem, so they butt heads while the winds of fate and karma carries us wherever it will. Elder Chang Sang in particular is at odds with the General, as he is an ambitious man who seeks to elevate his son's standing to secure a dynasty that will last the ages. Your return to the Vanguard threatens that, as would your place at the General's side, for even without your skills or reputation, your status alone would be enough to rally many supporters over to the General's side. Most of all, Elder Chang Sang is loathe to allow the General even the barest hit of a victory, so he acts out against you merely to counteract the General's plans, making you are little more than… incidental casualty."

"Collateral damage," the Firstborn supplied, and Jinfeng filed away the term for future use. Drawing air in from between his teeth with an aggravating squelch, the Firstborn spit in Prince Gong's general direction in an act of blatant disrespect, one even the foolish silkpants could not miss. The Prince's round cheeks darkened a few shades of red, and then went even darker when the Firstborn flashed his hateful sneer. "So the little hoggi wants to bring me in then? Drag me back to the Republic to put on a show and say he done bagged the Yellow Devil?" Not 'the Firstborn', which was surprising to say the least, and telling that he didn't think of himself as such, but he was not making conversation. He was simply stating facts out loud as he so often did, making it appear as if he was thinking but in truth had already made up his mind and was just waiting for the proper timing. "Well, he'll have to work a whole lot harder to earn that glory, and I ain't gonna make it so easy."

"I beg of you: be patient," Jinfeng interjected, worried the Firstborn would do something stupid and get himself killed. The General would be furious and devote his full efforts to punishing the party responsible, but Major Mu Bai would not hesitate to strike the Firstborn down if he proved a threat to his ward, even if it ultimately cost him his life. That was the sort of man the Sword Saint was, one who upheld duty and loyalty above all else, which was why Ao Tian was a fool to think he could get into the man's good graces by betraying his comrades and commander. "They have no intention to harm you, nor will they harm your people. As soon as we are done here, I will speak with the Major and negotiate for the release of your family and ask Sifu Zhang to see them home safely. As for you, you will be treated with the respect and courtesy as your station demands, and as soon as the General is made aware of your predicament, he will take action and see that you are released forthwith."

Possibly with only a minor punishment, something along the lines of ten public lashes or some other token of disgrace, but the Firstborn could easily erase his shame by simply displaying his skills for all to see. A single mission was all it would take to catapult him to fame, for there were not so many Novices capable of casting Third Order Spells, and fewer still with the speed, accuracy, precision, and commanding presence to match. Though they spent no time together, Jinfeng saw in him the very shadow of the General, steel discipline containing blazing hot fury that few would dare risk, and it would not take much for the people of the Republic to take notice.

It was not ideal, the circumstances they'd found themselves in, but Jinfeng suspected Elder Chang Sang had erred greatly here tonight. In seeking to drive a wedge between the General and the Firstborn, he'd made a direct enemy of the latter, and unlike the former, the Firstborn was more than willing to kill his countrymen, as evidenced by the corpses of their ancestors that Jinfeng had brought along.

Or it would have been a mistake, if not for the Firstborn's hubris. "One problem though," he said, raising his voice for all to hear, and the Vanguard of both cadres took notice. Not all understood English, and fewer still were able to parse his thick accent, but those who could quietly translated for the rest to hear. Raising a hand to his hat while lowering his head to gesture at the ground, Jinfeng felt the faint hum of an Artifact powering on, one so subtle she might well have imagined it, but one she took note of all the same. Nothing happened though, so she breathed easy as the Firstborn continued, "You see this dirt beneath my boots?" The question was directed towards Prince Gong stood less than ten metres away as the ruddy-cheeked silk pants tried to play it cool while keeping an ear out to Ao Tian at his side who was translating for him. "This here dirt under us is from the badlands, which last I checked, was Accorded Neutral Territory. These lands ain't claimed by any government, so I ain't beholden to any government's laws, not out here. Means that under the Accords, the Qin Military got no authority to arrest me, a law-abiding Freeholding landowner of the United Federation of American States, so if you think I'm just gonna roll over and play ball, then you got another thing coming."

Jinfeng had to work hard not to bury her hands in her face while Prince Gong was busy catching up. As soon as Ao Tian was done translating though, the silkpants laughed for all to hear, while the soldiers present all whispered among themselves and not to the Firstborn's benefit. "You all heard him," the Prince said, his arrogant sneer seeming a pale imitation of the Firstborn's that fell far short. "He does not recognize the Republic's authority, denies that the Frontier belongs to us and us alone. This is the great General Zhu's flesh and blood, his so-called Imperial Dragon who will lead the Republic to conquer these lands and drive out the foreign devils who infest it. A man who dresses like a foreign devil himself and surrounds himself with round-eyed women as if his own people are not good enough."

The last was directed at Jinfeng, because the Prince was fool enough to believe Jinfeng was smitten with the Firstborn, when nothing could be further from the truth. She paid him no mind however, as she was busy trying to come up with some way to salvage something from all this, but the Firstborn gave her no time to think. "AN-GLISH," he shouted, raising his voice as if being louder would make him easier to understand. "DO. YOU. SPEAK. IT? ME NO SPEAK CHING CHONG DING DONG RING-A-LING QINESE."

Which most certainly did not endear him to anyone present, and even Major Mu Bai's famously neutral features cracked to form a frown. The Firstborn appeared mighty pleased to see it however, standing there with his hands on his belt by his obviously empty holsters, likely out of habit more than anything else. Odd that he wore it to sleep, but out here in the badlands, it was perhaps the right move even if he set his guns aside for the night. A gun in hand was of limited use if you had no spare ammunition for it, and his belt contained all the ammunition he would need to bring down an army of Yao Guai. Or the combined members of these cadres, assuming they all stood still and let him gun them down.

Most might, all things considered, even those serving under Prince Gong, because they knew full well that Elder Chang Sang could not shelter them from the General's wrath even if he cared to. By dying here, at least their families would be spared, and while the Firstborn acted like he knew he was safe from reprisal, Jinfeng suspected it was nothing but sheer arrogance. All the same, he moved to hover his right hand over his obviously empty holster as if making ready to draw, while his left hand hovered out in front of his belly in preparation to fan-fire his non-existent revolver. "Now that you're really listening," he said, grinning like a bloodthirsty devil yearning to slake his hunger. "I'mma tell you this one time. Get thee gone from my camp, else I will defend myself using lethal force as is my right under the Accords." Almost as an afterthought, the Firstborn narrowed his eyes at Prince Gong and added, "I'mma shoot you first fatty, so you best think long and hard about what you gonna do next."

Fool that he was, Ao Tian translated everything the Firstborn said word for word, which earned him a scathing look of rebuke from his new master. While the Sword Saint took the Firstborn's threat at face value, Prince Gong dismissed them entirely as he stepped around his Sifu with an ugly sneer. "Know your place, fool," he said, pushing past the Sword Saint's attempts to maneuver in front of his ward without moving his hand too far from his weapon. "You are surrounded, outnumbered, and without a weapon in hand, and yet you believe you can threaten me? Do you know who I am? You are nothing before me, and if you do not learn your place, then I will teach you the meaning of regret. You and your mewling, round-eyed women who the General will do nothing to protect."

Jinfeng's suspicions were proven correct. In that moment, she saw the Firstborn's rage and knew that not only did he understand everything they were saying, they'd all erred in thinking he'd react with anything besides violence. He was a soldier first, and they had made themselves his enemy, so what else could they possibly expect? Jinfeng wanted to stop him, moved to do just that, but he was far too quick and much more cunning than any of them gave him credit for. There was no hesitation in his response, no warning besides what he'd already given, only decisive action as he drew and fired in a single, practiced motion. Not one Bolt, not two, but three Bolts in quick succession as he brought his left hand down to work the hammer of his shiny silver revolver which shimmered into existence in his grip as the Invisibility Spell unravelled around it.

Three sharp hisses sound out into the empty night, each one overlaid atop its predecessor so well it almost sounded like a single shot. It was not however, as evidenced by Major Mu Bai's failure to stop all three Bolts. His sword flashed in the warm glow of the Dancing Lights and sparked as it impacted against the leading Bolt, but there were two more just behind it that squeezed past his sword as he recoiled from the impact. Of those two remaining Bolts, only one was needed as they both slammed home into Prince Gong's chest and threw his body back into Ao Tian, but the Firstborn was not yet done. The click of his hammer sounded once more as he sidestepped around Jinfeng and turned the barrel of his weapon towards the Sword Saint Mu Bai, who's eyes widened in apparent alarm as he brought his weapon back around to defend himself now that his ward had already been shot.

Only for history to repeat itself as the Firstborn fan-fired again, rattling off three rapid fire shots of which the Sword Saint could only block one. The second and third shots slammed home into Major Mu Bai and pushed him back a full meter at the very least, with his heels digging a furrow through the dry dirt as he grunted and doubled over in pain while stabbing the point of his unmarked sword into the ground. A lesser man would've fallen to his knees even with a Warrior's Ward to protect him, but the Sword Saint was a soldier with few peers, a man even the General respected and tried to win over to his side.

The Firstborn though? He cared nothing for the lives of his countrymen, because he did not see them as fellow comrades, cared nothing for his brothers, sisters, uncles, and aunts of the Republic. He saw only enemies, and he was not a man to suffer them lightly. Though his revolver had been emptied, he was not done just yet as he raised his left arm to the sky with his beaded bracelet aglow with Aether as he began casting a quickened Fireball. "Incendo," he intoned, with all the fury and gravitas of the Devil he'd become, one who Jinfeng feared would kill her just for interfering.

She did so all the same though, tackling him with both arms and wrenching him off his feet, only to despair as he carried on without so much as batting an eye. "Magna," he continued, pumping his fist back and about to shoot forth with the third syllable, one he almost uttered before she slammed him down into the ground.

And yet for all her efforts, he completed the Spell all the same with a groaned utterance of, "Invoko." The rapid swell of Aetheric flows settled in tightly around him, a knot of pulsing energy contained within his fist and his furious gaze which he turned upon her in a rage. He'd readied the Spell, seizing control in the moment and snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, a point he promptly hammered home by headbutting her in the face.

Pain blossomed as she reeled back with a gasp, her hands going to her nose to stem the flood of crimson flowing out from between broken bones. The Firstborn had no tender mercy for her, no reservations at all as he roughly shoved her aside and jumped to his feet, pointing his fingers at the Sword Saint, and Jinfeng knew his mind had been made and there would be a great slaughter here today. There was nothing she could do to stop it, nothing she could do to protect her countrymen, but she tried all the same as she cried out, "Please don't!"

And miracle that it was, the Firstborn listened, showing restraint as he held his powerful Spell in reserve. Now there was an image that would haunt her for the rest of her days, the sight of the Yellow Devil illuminated in the darkness as his hands thrummed with the controlled chaos of a Fireball aimed directly at half the Vanguard present. Rather than sparing their lives, it looked as if he'd stopped himself short because he wanted all to understand his fury and know that their lives were all in his hands, because while all this was going on, he'd been utilizing his Mage Hands to activate his own mounted weapon, one which hissed as it came to life atop its pneumatic stand and pivoted about to threaten the vast bulk of the Vanguard.

Then and only then did Jinfeng realize his family was nowhere to be seen, having disappeared in the chaos of all that'd happened. No, before then even, as she managed to piece it all together, all the whispered talks and quiet glances shared between the Firstborn and the three women. That's why he'd come out with hands raised, to ensure no one would open fire on his family, and Jinfeng suspected that by the time he lowered his hands to his belt, his loved ones had already moved to safety under a cloak of Invisibility while leaving behind an Illusion of themselves standing idly behind him.

Because he would not risk his loved ones, would do anything for them, and would wreak bloody havoc on any who dared to threaten them. A shame that Prince Gong was still alive, protected by the same Warrior's Ward on Major Mu Bai, but weathering his grievous injuries with far less grace as he screamed like a stuck pig and cried for his mother. Ao Tian crouched beside his injured benefactor, hands working to stem the bleeding will wide eyed with open apprehension, and not a single other person dared to move, or even breathe too loudly in the Firstborn's presence.

And what a commanding presence it was as he loomed over them all, not in height but in demeanour as he graced them all with his demonic grin under the protection of his massive, short ranged Banishing Wave Cannon. There'd been reports of the weapon in use up north in Pleasant Dunes, but even more telling was the first-hand reports from Vanguard scouts who'd seen the Firstborn use it in recent years, clearing away whole hordes of Yao Guai with a single shot which would do well for him here. Though any one person could raise their weapon or cast a Spell to stop him, not a single one dared, and Jinfeng knew it was not just fear of reprisal which stayed their hand. Nor it the promise of the General's rage which kept everyone in check; it was the Firstborn's fury, which was terrible and awe-inspiring to behold as he stood there encased in dark shadows while illuminated by light enough to reveal the bright whites of his bared teeth and the crimson red of Jinfeng's blood splattered across his face.

"Toss your weapons aside," the Firstborn said, his words slow and clear as could be. "Interlace your fingers behind your head. Get down on your knees, lie face down in the dirt, and I won't kill y'all dead here and now."

Difficult to say who moved first, but Jinfeng would not blame them. Nor would she blame the others who followed suit, for she could feel power surging through the Firstborn, and more to the point, the power surging out in the darkness as his milk mother stood ready to unleash her wrath upon them as well. Like Jinfeng had pointed out earlier, Prince Gong and Major Mu Bai had underestimated the Firstborn's party, and in truth, so did she, for she had not even suspected them capable enough of coordinating their Spells well enough to vanish right in front of everyone's eyes. Even with the Firstborn working to distract them, it should not have escaped Major Mu Bai's notice, though Jinfeng noticed Sifu Zhang had not followed the Firstborn's instructions and had the faintest hint of a smile poking out from beneath the beard of thin tendrils gracing his upper lip and chin.

Perhaps he'd noticed and said nothing, no doubt because it was not his place to speak. This was a matter of politics after all, so he would not act even if the Firstborn killed them all, nor would he avenge Jinfeng if she got herself killed by meddling in mundane matters. That was how the order of Battle Monks were, a faction apart from the Republic yet entrusted with its safety and prosperity all the same. The faction of Sword Saints tried to do the same, but they were scattered in disharmony as they each worked for their own masters, some undeserving of their loyalty like Elder Chang Sang and Major Mu Bai.

Who similarly refused to lay down in the dirt, but the Firstborn did not make an issue of it. Instead, he withdrew his pointing left hand and set to reloading his silver revolver while his Mage Hands kept the Cannon trained on the Major and Prince Gong. Who was still weeping and groaning like the disgrace he was, while Jinfeng had managed to stem the bleeding and reseat her possibly broken nose. Unpleasant as it was, she would heal well enough with the help of Spells and meditation, as Quickened Healing was part and parcel of becoming a Battle Monk. The same could not be said of Prince Gong however, who might well succumb to his injuries on their way back to the Republic, but he was lucky enough that the Firstborn didn't finish him off where he lay and was content to leave them be.

Not without a parting message however, one he directed at Major Mu Bai. "You tell anyone who cares to listen," the Firstborn said, keeping a respectful distance from the Sword Saint while his bull brought the wagon around and herded the horses off towards the north. "My daddy? He wasn't no traitor. For long as I can remember, he was always talking about how he wanted to help you all. To show his people what they was missing out on, toiling under the Republic like you do. To bring them the freedom and independence they'd all given up long ago, and refused to reclaim on their own. He didn't want no bad blood between us, wanted us all working together to build a better future for all, because he loved his people, if not his country."

Taking a deep breath, the Firstborn exhaled with a rumbling growl like a dragon preparing its fiery breath. "Me though?" he said, flashing his smile that was not a smile, but bared fangs in threat. "I got no love fer you and yours, and no care for what ye do. You want to be little soldiers of the Republic? Then you do you, but leave me out of it. Since it seems like you can't, then this here is the first and last warning I'll ever give you and yours. I spot another Qink round these parts, and I'll shoot them dead on sight. Don't care if they out here in Accorded Neutral Territory doin' their own thing, or they just travellin' from point A to point B. They cross my path, and they're good as dead, so best y'all steer clear. This here neutral territory ain't neutral for you no more. It's mine, so stay the fuck out, or I'll bury you here same as the last bunch."

And that was all. He had no parting words for Jinfeng, not even sparing so much as a glance to see if she was alright. He simply hopped onto the back of his wagon and kept silent vigil over them as his bull brought him and his carriage with the Mage Hands and Cannon overhead away into the darkness. There would be no reconciling with him this year, no meeting with the General and mending of broken bonds just yet, and the failure frustrated Jinfeng to no end. She'd been so close to convincing him to return home with her, because he himself had been ready or perhaps even eager to reunite with his people and his family. From what she'd overheard, it did not sound like the Federation had put on a ruse, but had in fact Exiled him from town in a shameful display of intolerance, and he was hurting for it. Difficult for a man to live where he was not welcome, and were it not for Prince Gong and his father's meddling ambitions, then they might well have brought the Firstborn home to where he belonged.

Now though? Now that future might never come to pass, for instead of bringing the Imperial Dragon home to roost, they'd unleashed the Yellow Devil's rage upon them all, and Jinfeng could not help but mourn what could have been. Such was life however, for not all tribulations were meant to be overcome, not in the moment at least. There would come a day when the Firstborn returned to them, for the General would always welcome him with open arms, even if it cost him much to do so. Something the Firstborn did not seem to understand, even though both men were birds of a feather who valued family above all else.

"You should not have meddled," Sifu Zhang said, striding over and offering to set her nose for her, which she accepted with grace and trepidation. He did not have a gentle hand, but some things were best done quickly, even if the pain it brought was near crippling. She did not cry out however, refused to disgrace herself like Prince Gong, who was still mewling like a child as the others tended to his wounds. "Had you remained apart, their fury would be focused on the Firstborn, but now you will bear the brunt of their criticisms for offering aid to one such as he."

"You Divined that this would happen?" Jinfeng asked, so in awe of her Sifu's mastery of the Classics of Changes, but he merely smiled his soft smile and shook his head.

"Silly child," he replied gesturing at the Firstborn's wagon off in the distance, and pausing as they heard him set off a series of booming shots, twelve deafening cracks of thunder that would bring Yao Guai down on them all soon enough. Sifu blinked, taken aback by the Firstborn's ruthless nature, but he took it in stride with a shake of his head and continued, "You were there yourself. You saw how that boy out there, at the tender age of twelve, rebuked the General himself and stood ready to fight and die against overwhelming odds. Six years have passed since then, and time has done nothing to soften him, only forge him into an even stauncher and more steadfast warrior than before. He is not one to yield, so a clash between the Imperial Dragon and a pretender like Prince Gong could have only ended in conflict, an outcome you need not the Classics to see."

The memory was still fresh in Jinfeng mind, seeing a child only a day older than her stand fast before the General. It was not his blood that made him so brave, for the Firstborn did not see his uncle standing across from him, but one of the greatest soldiers of the Republic, and even then he did not blink. Courage yes, but stubbornness too, as it showed that even in death, the Firstborn would not yield. A quality to admire and guard against too, for the tall oak breaks before the strong winds, while the graceful willow bends and survives.

As would she, so that she might overcome the trials awaiting her ahead, her and the Firstborn both. "Ready up," she said, giving orders to her cadre as was her right, because even Major Mu Bai could not counteract her commands without a writ of order from High Command. "We return home in victory with the bodies of our ancestors, who have waited long enough to rest peacefully within the tomb of heroes." That was all she said, a statement of fact that outlined this failure as Prince Gong's and his alone, for she had no part in alienating the Firstborn. It was a small victory snatched from the jaws of defeat, but it would have to do, for there could be no victory when facing the Firstborn, not now while his ire was still red hot. There might still be opportunity for reconciliation in the future, but only time would tell, and Jinfeng was far from optimistic.

Because like she noted earlier, the Firstborn was nothing if not defiant, and not even the Heavens could sway him from his course.

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