Can You Conquer The World With Martial Arts?

Huang Huoyu stood on a tall hill, her golden eyes looking down upon Chang'an. So far beyond the horizon did the city stretch that her elevation wasn't enough to see it in its entirety. In her peripheral vision she saw glimpses of sparse groups of martial artists scurrying about like ants outside its walls. They were scouting, or at least attempting to do so, with little success; in countless little skirmishes against the city's forces, they had found no opportunity to break through and glean anything meaningful.

Though those forces belonged to her, she cared little for what they got up to. Her mind was elsewhere.

She felt Liao Lan making her way up the hill, accompanied by many others.

"Master," she bowed, "The monarchs are here."

They joined the disciple, bending their backs out of reverence. Huang Huoyu neither greeted them nor deigned to turn their way. She had no need for her eyes to recognize every martial artist present.

One-Eyed King, Qin Yan.

Five Venoms Devil, Ouyang Chen.

Lady Rose Vine, Sun Jia.

Unrivaled Heroine, Liao Lan.

Gallant Glaive, Guo Xiu.

Mo Xiabo of the Yellow Turban Brotherhood, one of the many warlords who sought to fill the power vacuum left by Huang Huoyu's deeds.

Lightning Flash, Pan Mingli. He wielded a short, thin sword. Many had considered him to have the quickest hands in the jianghu; Huang Huoyu proved that it wasn't so.

Silver Blade, Qiao Hu. A relentlessly handsome man whose hair had turned white at an early age. But he was old now, and it did not seem so outlandish anymore. Back in his day, many supposed that his hair had turned silver as the result of a unique cultivation method. Huang Huoyu discovered that the rumors were true. But even the power gained from such a transformation was not enough to prevent his defeat at her hands.

Two Hearts Beat As One, Ming Gang and his wife, Ming Suying. Even fighting together, their swords could not so much as scratch Huang Huoyu.

Twelve Feet of Steel, Xiang Ru, named half for his lengthy six foot saber and half for his tall body, muscled like iron from head to toe. It was a common folktale among martial artists that only one man in the jianghu could defeat Xiang Ru in a contest of strength - the Invincible Blood Sea. But then he lost again to Huang Huoyu.

Lei Rong of the Kunlun Elders. He had been personally picked out by Huang Huoyu among the twelve council members to represent them, solely because her sense for qi had deemed him to have the most refined cultivation among the bunch. But much like the rest of his peers, Lei Rong spent his tenure as an elder never daring to put his skills to the test.

And finally, there was Zhu Qingge, also known as Light Qingge.

Some of Huang Huoyu's plunder was absent. When she came to collect, some were unwilling. In the end, they chose death before submission. Some were affected deeply by her test of skill, and chose to leave everything behind and flee. One fell to infighting after Huang Huoyu placed his power under question. Three others had been tasked with other duties, and as such were excused from the meeting.

As Huang Huoyu finished her mental tally, she felt a tinge of regret. She had the world's greatest fighting force at her fingertips, and still it seemed meaningless.

Because those who had helped her get this far weren't present.

Zhu Qingge stepped out from the crowd to make a report. She was a short woman with a dainty figure and lithe little fingers. In her youth she had made a name for herself as an untouchable thief, and later in life used her ill-gotten gains to establish her own domain. Of the many sect masters browbeaten into following Huang Huoyu, she was among the few who had done so voluntarily.

Though her attitude mystified the girl when they first met, with Tao Geming's death, she came to realize that the mindsets of those two were similar. They were concerned with little more than materialism and practicality.

Zhu Qingge had many talents beyond the martial. She was a master of disguise, could open any lock without breaking it, and knew how to play almost a dozen instruments, stringed and otherwise. She had developed a way to attack through the sound of a flute... only to discover that it did not measure up to a foe with superior internal energy.

Ever since she joined, Light Qingge had always been eager to demonstrate her talents. She quickly solidified her role as the primary information gatherer of Huang Huoyu's army.

"They have spies and martial artists patrolling all over." She explained. "Infiltrating was a challenge. I cannot estimate the total number of their forces. However, I found out that they are training an elite force in secret, of about a thousand or so. I got lucky enough to take a close look, and I must say, every warrior in that army is quite skilled. Speaking frankly, a force like that could crush any kingdom that I know of. Including any one of ours."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Her words stirred a subtle tremor among the experts.

"You must be exaggerating." Liao Lan broke the uneasy silence with a smile. "How could they possibly have a force like that? And why wouldn't they have used it until now, to expand their holdings?"

"They aren't made up of just local talent. I recognized a number of them. I know them personally. They must have taken on many mercenaries just for this war."

Xiang Ru snorted. "Since when do numbers make any difference? They're relying on tactics from centuries ago."

Guo Xiu asked, "How skilled are we talking here? Can you compare them to anyone famous?"

Zhu Qingge began to list off name after name until finally, some began to click with her listeners.

"Patriotic Mountain?" Qiao Hu seemed shocked. "Hey may be no match for me in single combat, but you say they have a thousand like him?"

Qin Yan smirked. "And here I was wondering why we were all being mobilized against some puny little Chang'an. Lady Huang must have foreseen this."

It was then that Sun Jia suddenly stepped forward. "Is it really necessary to go through with this, lady Huang? The Jade Princess is a very reasonable woman. I'm sure if the two of you just had a chat, you would both come out of it quite pleased. She can always work out a compromise that satisfies everyone. Lady Wu just has that kind of air about her, you know? And she's very clever. I can preside over the talks. I've always been on good terms with lady Wu..."

"If master was seeking your advice, she'd let you know." Liao Lan smugly announced. "Have you really lost your nerve over lady Zhu's findings? How about you quiver in fear in silence?"

Lady Rose Vine ground her teeth in rage. As Huang Huoyu's direct disciple, Liao Lan outranked her. Even if Sun Jia wished to bicker, she could not do so right in front of her master.

As a matter of fact, Liao Lan outranked everyone present. But seldom was this authority ever levied by her against anyone but Sun Jia. When it came to martial ability, Liao Lan was not an equal for most of those present; she knew better than to draw their ire over matters of mere status.

"Don't worry, lady Sun." Qin Yan pitched in with a smile. "If the going gets tough, none of those so-called elites could hope to catch you."

"What are you insinuating? I'm not afraid of them!" She exclaimed, indignant. "And of course I would not retreat from a battle!"

"Stay close to me, and you won't have to fear a thing."

"Now what is that supposed to mean? You think I can't take care of myself?"

His grin now stretching almost ear to ear, Qin Yan continued. "We'll be facing such overwhelming odds, surrounded on all sides. I'd really like it if lady Sun could keep an eye on my back in all the chaos. In return, I'd be happy to return the favor. In fact, how about we practice our teamwork a little before we set out? Perhaps we could even ask lady Ming to give us a few pointers?"

Ming Gang was instantly incensed by his remarks. "I think I can teach you a lesson myself."

Ming Suying subtly placed a hand on her own sword. She was no less hostile than her husband.

"If there will be nothing else," Ouyang Chen's forceful monotone cut through the tensions like a knife. "Then I'd like to be excused."

Lei Rong of the Kunlun Sect bowed and stepped forward. "I would like to report on our progress first. All is proceeding according to our initial projections. Our troops should be ready to launch a full scale assault on the city in just two more days. However, in light of lady Zhu's findings, I suggest that we round up our own elites to counteract their-"

"No need."

Huang Huoyu's soft utterance drew the eyes of the monarchs.

"We're all here, aren't we? Let's head out."

Shock filled their faces.

"You mean now? With just the thirteen of us?"

She did not reply to Mo Xiabo's question.

"Guo Xiu." She said. "Do you have something for me?"

The Gallant Glaive stepped forward, reverently presenting her with a bundle of silk.

Wrapped within was a white mask. Huang Huoyu donned it. Only then did she turn to face her subordinates.

Jagged crimson lines contoured the outline of a vicious grin. Thin slits hid her golden gaze. Yet whenever her eyes ran over those present, they all felt it, like daggers upon their necks.

"Go."

The hill cleared out in the blink of an eye.

...