Xiao Yi [Aspiration]
The rumors spread along the Scorpion Road like wildfire. Rumors about War with the Devil Bees turned into rumors of the savagery of the Devil Bees, rumors about the siege at Night Devil Fortress into rumors about the heroism of the Cultivators at Night Devil Pass. But among all these rumors, one rumor stood out. A Rumor about an Old Cultivator with an axe defending the pass with a snarl in his voice until the Golden Devils were able to reinforce the Pass and push the conflict into a stalemate.
" And I can tell you all the most detailed news about this rumor, nay truth as long as someone fills this cup " Ignoring the jeers and laughter directed at him, An Shan continued waving his empty wine cup to the packed tavern.
" Come on, for just the price of 1 cup of wine, i'll provide you with a tale that will let you see yourself as one of the heroes of Night Devil Pass! "
" Innkeeper, pour the man a cup, i'm interested in the story. "
" Ah! This brother knows value when he sees it! " Licking his lips, An Shan bowed to the Traveler in thanks and held out his cup for the wine. Just as he was about to raise his cup to his lips, a iron-like grip stopped him from doing so. Looking into the steely expression on the Traveler's face, An Shan let our a burst of nervous laughter and quickly sat his cup on the table before him,
" Haha, how muddleheaded of me, of course i showed tell the tale before i drink the wine! How kind of brother to remind me! "
" It's said that the Devil Bees came across the fortress in the shadow of night. That as the first move, they sent a 100 of the stealthiest QI Condensation cultivators to sneak over the pass and into the fortress to open the gates from within, to save the strength of their Foundation Building and Core Formation Cultivators for the fight with the Golden Devils when they discover with the Sun's rise that Night Devil Fortress had fallen into the hands of the Devil Bees.
The plan should have succeeded, the cultivators of the fortress were not aware of the attack. All estimations had predicted that the earliest the Devil Bees could attack would be in another 20 years. The Hundred Devil Bees sneaked into the fortress and took down the patrols detail by detail, so dedicated to their mission that they were willing to trade their lives to prevent any cries of alarm from the patrols via using a blood array to suppress all alarm. By the time they got to the gate, their numbers had reduced to a mere 10 and were in the process of raising the gates when a slacking cultivator returned to his post and stumbled upon them.
Perhaps they got complacent, or perhaps they thought that so close to success and reaping it's rewards they were no longer willing to die for the mission. Regardless, instead of using their blood array, they just suppressed his cries of alarms so that it could only reached an alley near to the first wall. By rights, that should have been it. The cultivator should have died and the gates should have been open and the Fortress lost. But the Blood Devils did not reckon about Old Druzhi, that old legend.
Old Druzhi was friends with the Commander of the Fortress and frequently drank the night away with him before heading home. Like so many nights before, Old Druzhi was using that alley to return home when the cries caught his attention. And i tell you brothers! He might have been old but his instincts were sharp! Without questioning the cries, he leapt into action with his Axe held high!
Before the Devil Bees could react, he was cleaving into them. Lopping of limbs and heads without effort and lending his barks of Alarm to the coward who did not die with better men. Perhaps the infiltrators had a Lifeslip tied to them, for just as the last one was cut-down, the Devil Bees launched a full attack on the Fortress... "
" What happened next ? " Staring at the crowd of listeners that had surrounded him, An Shan gulped down his Wine in a single go and held it out before him.
" Ah, this is thirsty work brothers, i find it hard to continue with my throat being so dry. " Taking the hint, more then one listener slapped silver on the table and yelled for the innkeeper.
As the wine was poured before him, An Shan raised it to his lips and took a sip before putting it down and continuing with the tale as the crowd got rowdy.
" The attack on the Fortress was repelled without effort by the timely arrival of the other Cultivators awaken by the shouts of alarm. Perhaps the Devil Bees still thought of the Fortress as soft meat for they only committed the Qi condensation cultivators to the first attack. Who could blame the Night Devil Cultivators from feeling Exaltation with the ease they threw the first wave back ? They must have felt like heroes of old as they defended the Wall under the leadership of Old Druzhi.
And why should they not ? They threw the next few attacks back with the same ease after all. But they soon learnt how wrong they were, after the first week the Qi Condensation Cultivators of the 5th Heavenstage started to join the fray sending wave after wave of Devil Bees to swarm at the Night Devil Cultivators as they defended the wall. Despite the increase losses of cultivators, they remained strong for in their defense the Golden Devils had brought forth a Golden Soldier that smite at the bees, driving them back before too many soldiers were killed.
That was perhaps the plan. For even the most blind could see that the daily attack was taking it's toll on the Golden Devils, the lack of rest forcing them to burn their life for Qi to maintain the Golden Soldier. At the start of the 2nd week, the Devil Bees struck! They sent out a huge wave of Bees that toke on the form of skull that swallowed the Sun, and despite the best efforts of the Golden Devils, the Golden Soldier fell.
With that, despite the efforts of Old Druzhi, the first wall fell in the mere span of 3 days and before even a night of rest the Night Devil Cultivators stood on the 2nd wall and faced the foe again. Who could blamed them for feeling Despair at the sight before them ? A wall had been lost and despite the sacrifice of their brothers, the Qi Condensation Devil Bees seemed as numerous as ever while the Foundation Building and Core Formation cultivators did not even deign to make an appearance ?
But Old Druzhi, old Druzhi. Ah he was wise in the ways of war. Stepping in front of the gate, he challenged the Devil Bees to a duel wagering himself for a day of rest each time. 7 times he fought, 7 times he won and 7 days did he buy before the Devil Bees grew wise and refused his duels. The 7 days he bought was enough for the others to rest, to recover and to resigned themselves to die facing the Devil Bees... "
" Ahem- " Before he could say anything, An Shan found wine poured into his Cup and Jars placed on his table.
" Ah hah, i see my tale is of great interest to everyone, in that case perhaps some sliver so i can continue on my way home... " A bag of silver landed with a thud just after An Shan made his new request, looking at the hat wearing Traveler who had tossed it, he cupped his hands in thanks.
" Now where was I ? Ah, yes. Old Druzhi had brought them 7 days. On the 8th day, the Devil Bees attached, all their Qi Condensation Cultivators attacking without respite ignoring the losses they took as the Wall launched wave after wave of Glass Spears, as the Night Devil Cultivators threw them back. On the 9th day, the Devil Bees brought a monstrosity. A creature of blood and darkness that struck directly at the wall, each of it's strikes causing the wall to tremble and threaten to fall.
Alas that the Glass Spears were not able to hurt it, alas that the creature was not made of flesh but shadows and could recover from each attack. Old Druzhi, though he had a solution, he brought forth a Devil Qi Pill and asked for volunteers to eat it. He claimed that the pill would agitate the Qi within the cultivator and blow him up, such a blast would have destroyed the Beast utterly. Ah, if only the coward was more brave, more willing to make up for his cowardice and volunteered himself, the Night Devil Commander would not have lost his daughter.
As the pill was laid froth, she took it within her grasp and swallowed it before anyone could stop her. Without a trace of fear she strode to the prepared machine and flung herself at the beast, soaring bright as the pill started to do it's devilish work. At the peak of her flight, she hit the beast and with a flash as bright as the sun burned at it with all her Qi.
Alas that her sacrifice was for naught for as the sun faded once more, the Beast still stood. Perhaps she had underestimated the value of her presence to the Night Devil Cultivators, for within 6 days of her death the Wall fell with the Night Devil Commander on it.
Things were bleak as the Night Devil Cultivators stood on the 3rd wall and yet they must have felt a sense of Renewed Hope. For they had stalled the Devil Bees for a month by now and the beacons for aid were lit. Surely help must come soon? They fought on the Wall with lightened hearts and the serenity of those who no longer feared Death and so they held the Wall for 2 weeks before it fell. "
" Ah- " Just as he cleared his throat, the clinking of sliver and the thumps of jar interrupted An Shan, now covering his table entirely with Wine jars and Silver pouches. Giving a sheepish smile, An Shan took a sip of wine, kept the money pouches and continued.
" At the 4th Wall i'm sure Desperation must have struck at their core. The Fortress has held for almost 2 months and yet not a single reinforcement nor a single wagon of supplies have arrived, could the nation be that unready for war? Was the time bought by the Night Devil Cultivators that dear? They could not know, they could only hope. No more for them the serenity of the previous wall, now Despair filled their veins grudging each and every single death as they sought to sell their deaths as dearly as possible.
Ah, i tell you friends. There were true heroes on that wall. At the suggestion of Old Druzhi, they volunteered to faced the Devil Bees in duels betting their bodies and souls for time. They took advantage of the Blood Path's greed and wagered every inch of flesh and spirit as a prize to the victor of a duel and how could a blood path cultivator give up the opportunity to absorb both the soul and flesh of a willing sacrifice ?
One by one they went to their deaths, the Devil Bees growing more and more excited as their winners got stronger, and so they bought yet another month. At the end, all that was left was the Coward and Old Druzhi, and so together they stepped forth to faced the foe.
Perhaps it was Old Druzhi, perhaps it was the death of his comrades, some even say that perhaps it was the death of the Commander's daughter who he loved. But the Coward found his courage that day, back to back with Old Druzhi he fought till a ring of foes piled up among them and the air crackled with the shouts of chants calling for his death. Unknown to the Coward, Old Druzhi was hurt. He had been hurt since the 3rd wall where he cleaved a Foundation Building Cultivator that attempted to seize the wall as they were retreating in twain and received a wound from the foe's death throes.
It was a small wound that Old Druzhi received, yet as the days passed it grew darker and Old Druzhi grew weaker. And now, at the end Old Druzhi fell, with his hand still gripping his axe and burying it within the chest of a Devil Bee that came too close. Resigned to face the end with his new-found courage, the Coward stood over Old Druzhi and readied himself to sell his life dear when the sound of battle horns split the air.
In the distance, at the mouth of the pass an army presented itself waving the banners of Hua and charging into the back of the besieging army with a roar. Relieved at the sight, the coward dropped his sword and readied himself for the vengeance of the Devil Bees at being thwarted. To his surprise, death did not came and looking around he found himself surrounded by Golden Shields as Golden Devil clansmen leapt forth from the walls of the fortress and crushed the Devil Bees against the Hua Army.
Feeling a slight tug on his foot, the Coward looked down and found Old Druzhi breathing out his last words. What were they no one can say, only that the Coward took Old Druzhi's body away from the Fortress and disappeared without a trace... "
" And that is the end of the tale! Alas i cannot drink all these wine by myself, so come i invite all of you to partake of it and rise a cup to the Heroes of Night Devil Pass and to Old Druzhi. WASSAIL "
As the tavern broke into cheers and toasts for Old Druzhi and the Heroes of Night Devil Pass, An Shan made his way to the door and left. Making his way to his horse, he was surprised by a request to stop.
" I noticed that towards the end, you seemed to have told the story with the emotions of the Coward. " as An Shan froze with shock at the ease in which his deepest secret was uncovered, the Traveler continued speaking.
" I care not for why you choose to conceal yourself. Only tell me this, what was Druzhi's last words? He was a member of my Clan and i would seek to fulfill it. "
" He.. He asked me to bring his bones home, to bury it with his wife and comrades in the catacombs of the Golden Devils " An Shan's reply knocked the wind from the Traveler's sails, and the traveler seemed to shrink in presence.
" I..I see. It looks like i will have to leave it to you then. Take this token and show it at the first toll both you come across and tell them Druzhi's last words. His last words mean that he wanted you to preside over the burial and my token will help you in getting your news heard in this time of war. " So saying, the Traveler tossed a token to An Shan before strolling over to a waiting Jade Qilin and mounted it with a single leap before adjusting his hat and riding out of town.
Perhaps it was a trick of fate, but as a gust of wind suddenly blew, it bought the muttered words of the Traveler right to An Shan's ears.
" Rest well Senior, i'll avenge you as soon as i can. Stand Strong my Clan, i'll be back as soon as i can... "
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Done. I know the timespan in the tale doesn't match up with the time stated in the update. But that's part of the reason why i choose to have it spoken as a tale and not a history, as a tale it can be treated that the timespan and certain actions were exaggerated to sell the narrative so to speak. So it didn't last that long and the Druss expy didn't really do every single thing ascribed to him in the tale.
I hoped to have hit like maybe 40% of Legend's epicness with this version of the events in-quest.
Also, here the Regnak and Virae expy did not get a happy ending. An Shan lost everything and Virae is still dead.
@occipitallobe while i hope that the Fate Bonus from this can go to Xiao Yi, i understand if it can't since the contents is not about him. In such a case, can the bonus go to help the rolls for the war ?
P.S: Hope that i managed to phrase it vague enough that this could take place either before Xiao Yi entered the realm or after it. If he survived, it can be interpreted as him hearing it and making his way back asap. If he died in there, it can be treated as him trying to get as much resource as he can before returning and his impatience caused his death.
I kind of want to call the title of this Legend, but even i think that's too much lol.
