Chapter Nine: Moon-Howling Tides

"Oh my, which little lass is bad-mouthing the Senior Brother again?"

A voice like a booming bell erupted. It was Meng Kai, also known as Meng Juehai, who stood bare-chested with a torso as sturdy as a bronze tower. He had clearly just returned from listening to music.

Duan Hongyan beamed, her face as radiant as a blooming flower. "Senior Brother, you’re back?" She and Meng Kai had spent a long time together, often riding horses and brandishing swords side by side on the battlefield; their relationship was truly inseparable.

"The performance today wasn't some base or vulgar tune, but the song and dance of the Hegemon-King of Western Chu. That Hegemon-King had such spirit! At Julu City, he fought the grandson of Wang Jian, Wang Li, for three hundred rounds. With a mighty shout, he wielded a spear as thick as a rice bowl and plucked the Great Qin’s Marquis of Tongwu right off the city ramparts..."

Zhu Wen shook his head. "I heard stories of the Chu-Han Contention from my father when I was a child. He knew the first four historical records by heart, and there is no such tale of Xiang Yu spearing Wang Li at Julu. I suspect the performer intentionally adapted the story of how our Alliance Leader slew the Demon Lord Qiao Beiming at Mount Yuhuang to please the Leader."

"Oh, pish-tosh! As long as it’s entertaining, why be so pedantic? We aren't scholars writing history books," Meng Kai said, giving Zhu Wen’s shoulder a fierce pat. Instead of drinking tea, he lifted the wine gourd at his waist and took a deep swig.

Meng Kai was the only one in the camp who ignored Huang Chao’s prohibition on alcohol. As Huang Chao’s head disciple, he was well-loved by his master, and because he fought with unparalleled bravery and never let his drinking interfere with his duties, no one dared to say anything, leaving him free to keep his wine close at all times.

"Hey, come to think of it, that female performer playing Consort Yu was truly stunning—delicate features and a voice as melodious as an oriole in the third month. She sang so well that it was..."

Just as Meng Kai was shouting and slapping his thigh in his drunken state, he suddenly noticed Duan Hongyan looking at him with a playful, teasing expression, her eyes shimmering with a mischievous glint.

"Junior Sister... this... I was just speaking casually, just casually," Meng Kai stammered, feeling awkward. "That performer is nothing more than a common wild flower; how could she compare to you, a rare, precious orchid from the Heavenly Mountains?"

"I haven't even said anything yet. Isn't that explanation a bit redundant?" Duan Hongyan rolled her eyes at him.

She turned to Meng Kai and said, "Senior Brother Meng, I just remembered: after Marshal Xue set up his trebuchet formation, you insisted on charging one more time. Fortunately, the Youngest Junior Brother talked you out of it. Otherwise, our cavalry would never have withstood the losses."

Meng Kai couldn't help but feel a mix of amusement and frustration. They say a woman's heart is as deep as the ocean floor—he had praised the beauty of a performer in Wang Xianzhi’s camp right in front of her, and now she was holding a grudge and trying to expose his shortcomings.

"I just wasn't willing to retreat like that. Now that I think about it, since Qi Ke'rang had arrived in person, it would have been hard for us to gain any advantage."

Zhu Wen hurriedly smoothed things over. "We martial artists don't often see trebuchets. I, too, heard my father speak of the *Mozi* when I was young, so I knew of their power. Those were war machines from a thousand years ago; today’s technology is even more terrifying. It’s understandable that the Senior Brother got carried away in the heat of battle."

He then added to Meng Kai, "It’s not a bad thing that you went to listen to the opera at Alliance Leader Wang’s camp; it shows that our two factions are close. However, that place is a mix of all sorts of people, and some are not worth deep associations."

Meng Kai scratched his head. "Junior Brother, are you talking about Qin Yan and Liu Hanhong? I heard about them pointing their blades at you that day. But I feel they were just standing on the other side of the fence at the time; they are men of character, and we’ve shared drinks before."

He continued, "My only wish in this life is to befriend the heroes of the world and drink the finest wines. Why be so calculating in this life?"

His words carried a natural, heroic fervor.

Zhu Wen could only shrug. "I can't help it; I’m not as broad-minded as you, Senior Brother. I tend to hold grudges."

Meng Kai said, "Speaking of which, the siege-work techniques of Marshal Xue, Qi Ke'rang, are truly not to be underestimated. Master said that when the Marshal defeated the twenty-thousand-strong Tibetan army years ago, he was referring to the Battle of Shanzhou during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong."

He spoke of the story of how Marshal Xue "guarded Shanzhou with a single horse and slaughtered the Stone Fortress to win his purple robes," gesturing wildly and speaking with such enthusiasm that he didn't seem to care at all about boosting the enemy's morale while diminishing his own.

Meng Kai had an extroverted personality and was always talkative. Zhu Wen watched with rapt attention, nodding and humming in acknowledgment.

Men of character like Meng Kai held great respect for heroes like Qi Ke'rang. Furthermore, in the Battle of Shanzhou, Qi Ke'rang had served under the great hero Zhang Yichao, who had reclaimed Xiliang. Due to simple nationalistic sentiments, the common people held him in high esteem.

Zhu Wen suddenly wore a playful smile. "I know a little about this too, but since it happened in the distant land of Xiliang, few people know the details so well. How did you come to know them, Senior Brother?"

Meng Kai, being straightforward, blurted out, "I once..." He caught himself after three words and changed his tone. "I have a friend who used to listen to music in the pleasure houses, where the courtesans sang of the Marshal’s heroic deeds. I am close with that person and heard it from him."

It was common knowledge that Qi Ke'rang was exceptionally handsome and gifted in both civil and martial arts, making him a favorite among the ladies of the pleasure houses.

Duan Hongyan narrowed her eyes, her expression turning playful. "You have a friend? Are you sure you aren't talking about yourself?"

Without a sound, her hand grabbed a patch of tender flesh at Meng Kai’s waist and twisted hard. His expression distorted instantly, and he looked as though he were about to cry; the grip was clearly quite painful.

"Junior Sister, have mercy! It really... isn't... ahhh!"

Zhu Wen stepped in and used a subtle technique to push away Duan Hongyan’s arm. "Alright, I see that the Senior Brother has an upright air; he’s not the type to dally in flowers and willows. It was merely listening to music with a friend. Junior Sister, there's no need to take it to heart."

Meng Kai gave him a grateful look. "Junior Brother truly understands me."

Duan Hongyan puffed out her cheeks, still looking indignant.

Zhu Wen changed the subject. "Junior Sister, you really have quite a lot of strength. Archery requires arm power, which is no wonder you hit your mark every time and cut down enemies like grass. I just don't know if you are skilled in close-quarters combat?"

Before the youngest junior sister could answer, Meng Kai spoke up: "Her? She’s afraid of pain, so she usually avoids close combat, though that’s not necessarily..."

Duan Hongyan shot him a sudden glare, silencing him. "Since the Marshal is skilled in siege engines, we must first guard against tunnel tactics. Although the Master will surely think of this, I still need to advise him to pay close attention to the matter."

Zhu Wen nodded. "The soil around Songzhou is soft, making it perfect for digging tunnels."

Meanwhile, inside the Taining Army’s command tent, Qi Ke'rang and Yan Lingkong were sitting on opposite sides of a catalpa wood chessboard.

After a moment of contemplation, Qi Ke'rang smiled slightly. With a movement as quick as a rabbit, he dropped a stone onto the board. To Yan Lingkong’s astonishment, he had slaughtered a major dragon of his pieces.

"My turn. The tide is about to roar at the moon."