The terrace was still. Dust motes floated in the morning light. Broken swords and shattered muskets lay scattered across the stone floor. The guards had retreated to the edges, their weapons lowered but their eyes wide.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxSkAxXY9r
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Emperor Hongxi sat on his throne, his face pale but recovering. Beside him, Tao Zhongwen stood with his staff planted on the ground, the green fire extinguished but his knuckles white on the wood.
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"Master Liang Wei." His voice was still shaky, but he forced strength into it. "Wait."76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsPJVcuxJq
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Liang Wei did not turn. "I have heard enough, Your Majesty. The general goes free. The small teachers are released. That was our agreement."
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"I haven’t even spoken about anything yet,” starts the emperor.
“You don’t have to speak , I can already tell that bullshit is what you will speak of next! All that in attempt to not honor our agreement.”
“Agreements can be expanded," the emperor said. He glanced at Tao Zhongwen. The sorcerer nodded almost imperceptibly.
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Liang Wei turned slowly. His face was calm, but his eyes were wary. "Expanded how?"
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The emperor leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "I have a proposition for you. A journey. A pilgrimage, if you will."
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"To where?"
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"To the Arabian Peninsula."
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Liang Wei's eyebrows rose. "Arabia? Why would I go there?"
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Tao Zhongwen stepped forward. His voice was smooth and measured. "The Caliph of that region has sent word through merchants. He seeks a teacher of martial arts. His armies are strong, but they face two enemies: the Romans from the north and the Vikings from the west. Their steel is good, but their hand‑to‑hand combat is crude. They break against shield walls and die beneath arrows. The Caliph believes that Chinese martial arts could turn the tide."
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Liang Wei folded his arms. "And why should I care about foreign wars?"
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The emperor smiled. "Because the Caliph is willing to pay. Generously. Gold. Silver. Silk. Weapons. And..." He paused, his smile widening. "Women. Many women. Beautiful women from three continents."
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Behind Liang Wei, General Feng Jian shifted uncomfortably. The emperor's smirk was unmistakable.
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Liang Wei's face did not change. "Women are not important. Foreign affairs are not my concern. My knowledge is for Chinese people. My art is for Chinese hands. I will not teach barbarians to fight like dragons."
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The emperor's smile faded. "You are stubborn, teacher. I admire that. But I am not asking."
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"Then what are you doing?"
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"I am giving you a choice." The emperor stood. He walked around his throne, his robes dragging on the stone. "You can go to Arabia. You can train the Caliph's soldiers. You can take his gold and his weapons and his women. You will be far from here, far from my empire, far from my problems."
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"And if I refuse?"
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The emperor stopped. He turned to face Liang Wei. His eyes were hard.
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"If you refuse, I will sign a decree before sunset. A full ban on martial arts. Every school closed. Every teacher arrested. Every student who resists will be executed. I will also send my army into every village, every town, every city. They will hunt down anyone who has ever thrown a punch or kicked a leg. I will make the practice of martial arts a crime punishable by death."
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Liang Wei's jaw tightened. "You would kill your own people?"
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"I would protect my throne." The emperor's voice rose. "You know that you cannot protect everyone. You are one man. I have an army. They are everywhere, waiting for a signal. One word from me, and the blood begins to flow."
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The terrace fell silent. Even the guards held their breath.
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Liang Wei stared at the emperor. His hands, still at his sides, curled into fists. Then, slowly, they relaxed.
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"You leave me no choice," he said quietly.
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"I leave you a choice," the emperor corrected. "A generous one. Go to Arabia. Teach foreigners. Take their wealth. Leave my empire in peace."
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Liang Wei was silent for a long moment. He looked at General Feng, still standing in the doorway. He looked at the broken swords on the floor. He looked at the terrified guards, the trembling courtiers, the smug sorcerer.
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"One condition," he said finally.
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The emperor raised an eyebrow. "Name it."
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"I will go. But I do not go alone. I take my servants. My guards. And the general." He pointed at Feng Jian. "He comes with me."
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The emperor's eyes narrowed. "The general is a traitor."
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"The general is a soldier who refused to bow to a tyrant. He comes with me, or I do not go."
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The emperor looked at Tao Zhongwen. The sorcerer shrugged. "One general more or less. He will be far away. What harm can he do in Arabia?"
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The emperor nodded slowly. "Agreed. The general goes with you. Anyone else?"
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"My household. My personal staff."
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"Fine." The emperor waved a hand. "Is that all?"
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The emperor then smirked. "What of your family, teacher? You never speak of them. Do you have a wife? Children?"76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbxvGOZTt3
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Liang Wei's face was stone. "I stayed chaste to reach this level of cultivation. I have no wife. No children. My parents and siblings died centuries ago. I outlived them all."
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The smirk faded from the emperor's face. The guards exchanged uneasy glances. General Feng stared at Liang Wei with new respect.
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"I am not a man," Liang Wei continued. "Not anymore. I am something else. Something older. And I will outlive everyone in this room." His eyes moved slowly across the terrace, pausing on each face. Then they stopped on Tao Zhongwen. "Including you, witch."
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Tao Zhongwen's eyes flashed. His staff glowed red at the tip – a deep, burning crimson. The air around him grew hot. His irises shifted from brown to glowing red, like embers in a fire. His grip on the staff tightened until the wood creaked.
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For a moment, it seemed he would strike.
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But he did not. He took a breath. Then another. The red glow faded. His eyes returned to their natural color. The staff's tip cooled.
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He smiled – a thin, dangerous smile. "You are bold, teacher. But boldness is not wisdom. I will remember your words."
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Liang Wei did not flinch. "I am sure you will."
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The emperor cleared his throat. "Then it is settled. You will leave for Arabia. You will train the Caliph's soldiers. You will take the general and your household. And you will not return until I send for you."
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"One more thing," Liang Wei said. "I need two days."
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"Two days? For what?"
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"To tell my subordinates. My students. The citizens who look to me." Liang Wei's voice was firm. "If I vanish without word, they will think I have been exiled. They will riot. They will rebel. Is that what you want?"
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The emperor frowned. "You threaten me again?"
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"I warn you. There is a difference." Liang Wei stepped closer to the throne. "Two days. I will announce that I am going on a pilgrimage to spread the art. I will tell them it is my choice. They will believe me. There will be no riots. No rebellion. Just peace."
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The emperor looked at Tao Zhongwen. The sorcerer nodded slowly.
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"Two days," the emperor said. "Not one hour more. After that, you board a ship and sail west. If you are still in my empire on the third day, the ban begins."
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Liang Wei smiled. "We understand each other."
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He turned and walked toward the doorway. The guards parted before him like water before a stone.
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At the threshold, he paused. He looked at General Feng. "You are free, General. For now. Gather what you need. We leave in two days."
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General Feng bowed – a deep bow, full of gratitude. "Thank you, Master Liang Wei. I will not forget this."
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Liang Wei stepped through the doorway and descended the stairs to the square below. The crowd parted for him, whispering, pointing, staring.
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Behind him, on the terrace, Emperor Hongxi sat back on his throne. He was sweating. His hands trembled.
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"Two days," he muttered. "Then he is gone."
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Tao Zhongwen stared at the doorway where Liang Wei had disappeared. His staff still hummed with faint heat.
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"Two days," the sorcerer echoed. "And then we burn his schools to the ground."
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The emperor looked at him. "That was not our agreement."
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"Agreements change, Your Majesty. You taught me that."
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The emperor said nothing. He simply watched the empty doorway and wondered if he had made a deal with a ghost.
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Below, in the square, Liang Wei walked through the crowd. His face was calm. His steps were steady.
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But his heart was heavy.
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He had two days to say goodbye to a world he might never see again.76Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLKE9MZQRg
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