Chapter 2: Expedition
Nan Yun... No, it can be said that the four countries of the East, West, South, and North have been like this for generations, and there is no possibility of a queen ascending the throne. 'On the day of annihilation, the queen is born.' What the Fire Clergy interpreted from the jade fragment is the nightmare of the Mu Dynasty for generations.
This is also the earliest known prophecy from the prophecy book.
The jade fragment of annihilation is kept in a high tower. When the prophecy appeared, fifty years later, the Fire Clergy interpreted the new page of the prophecy, witnessing the God of Light appearing with a black sword in hand. With a swing, he cut off the prophecy jade fragment, and with another swing, he slashed towards the earth. Black lightning struck, causing earthquakes, and the country split into five large pieces— the East, West, South, and North, and a small island named 'Time.' After the passing of the great mage, the island was named after him. According to the current naming system of the clergy, Time does not belong to any system. It remains mysterious and legendary to this day.
Since then, the influential figures of Nan Yun who possessed the jade stone utilized the prophecy book to seek fortune and avoid disaster. Those who knew the prophecy book were considered pioneers, foreseeing the future to bring prosperity to the country. As Nan Yun prospered more and more, it became the leader among the four countries. After the country split, the original ruler of Nan Yun ordered the capture of all clergy of various bloodlines from the four countries, bringing them all into Nan Yun for resettlement, except for some collateral relatives.
The Mu Dynasty firmly believed that revealing the prophecy required the lineage of the 'Five-colored Clergy' to continue.
The five-colored rainbow under the seat of the God of Light symbolizes the five-colored official robes— red, blue, green, purple, and yellow— which include the roles of 'fire,' 'water,' 'earth,' and 'wind' among the four clergy positions. The fifth color, yellow, symbolizes the royal family and the lightning of the Mu Dynasty. According to legend, the Mu Dynasty is the only bloodline of the God of Light, but in reality, it has no divine power. The other four clergy have supported the Mu Dynasty in governing for generations, and the five-colored clergy also represent the celestial elements required when the prophecy book is revealed.
The other three countries could not know the specific content revealed after the prophecy book, only knowing the ancient inscription on the old jade fragments passed down from ancient times: 'On the day of annihilation, the queen is born.' Therefore, they immediately put it into practice with bated breath. Throughout history, men from the four countries have had a consensus to prevent women from seeking knowledge, holding power, or freely using money, fearing that one day they might raise a prodigy. For hundreds of years, men have worked tirelessly to prevent the emergence of the Queen of Annihilation. Some girls even disguised themselves as boys from birth until adulthood.
Until the 'Wind Listeners' became the new targets.
According to legend, if one of the five clergy positions, including the Mu Dynasty, were to be severed, there would be celestial anomalies, and the prophecy would be shattered. Although the Wind Clergy has been absent for a long time, there have been no signs of unusual weather, proving that a hundred years later, the Wind Clergy or other successors might still be alive.
A hundred years ago, King Mu Ran of Nan Yun imprisoned and exiled the Wind Listeners to the Isle of Time. After eliminating unnecessary women— those who were infertile— and controlling the population, he sent troops to the island at regular intervals to remove infertile women and provide supplies, ensuring the island's continuous reproduction.
But now, the prophecy has interpreted the words 'wind' and 'ice,' which inevitably caused Mu Xiu a great headache. He ordered all clergy to collect the fragments and powder of the prophecy book. Even though it was quite late, he still convened both the four clergy and collateral bloodlines in the main hall to hear their opinions. "Gentlemen, what do you think?"
"..."
Facing such a situation, Jing Yan, as the leader, surprisingly remained silent, staring straight ahead at Mu Xiu on the high platform with his usual indifferent expression. Just a while ago, there was a raging storm outside, but Jing Yan remained dry and unaffected. Not a single droplet adorned his typically aloof face, which was quite remarkable.
In contrast, the others in the main hall were soaking wet, most of them not even having had the chance to change clothes before being summoned by Mu Xiu.
On the side, the Water Clergy, Cang Hai, clad in armor and a blue cloak, saw Jing Yan's silence and took a step forward to stand beside him, bowing respectfully. "Your Majesty, I believe it is necessary to recall the remaining Wind Listeners for monitoring and control. Since they cannot be absent from the clergy positions, they should not remain on the island."
"What about the ice?" Mu Xiu asked.
"I believe the ice pertains to the Yan clan of the North Pole. With Princess Mu Ying present, there is no need to worry," Cang Hai replied.
Although Cang Hai, of Thousand Faces, was the Water Clergy, he did not wear a blue robe but instead appeared in the guise of a general with a cloak. Compared to the polite demeanor of the other clergy, he exuded a more warrior-like aura. However, his facial features were handsome and gentle; if one ignored the armor, they might mistake him for a mere civilian official. His neatly combed short hair adhered to his cheekbones due to the rain, accentuating his exquisite facial contours. The wet shirt clung to his skin, revealing the clear texture of his body.
"Are you suggesting they are planning a rebellion?" Mu Xiu unconsciously gripped the armrest of the throne tightly. He recalled what his father had said at the time—over a hundred people had been expelled. Although occasional merchant ships passed through, only women were strictly controlled as crew members. For a hundred years, no men other than military personnel and administrative officials had set foot on Time.
If the Wind Listeners bore children with soldiers, they would be strictly monitored. Any births had to be reported to the court, and life and death were strictly controlled.
"The day of the world's end, the birth of the queen..." Mu Xiu's mind was once again filled with this prophecy, sending shivers down his spine.
"Your Majesty, even with strict inspections nowadays, many women disguise themselves as men when they go out. It's difficult to inspect merchant ships thoroughly, and we can't guarantee that there are no real men disguised among the women coming ashore. Please grant permission for me and Thousand Faces to investigate together," Cang Hai said, as his brother, Cang Yan, who was also clad in armor like him and shared the same lineage as the Water Clergy, stood beside him, seeking Mu Xiu's approval.
Cang Yan's temperament was gentler than Cang Hai's, with a hint of femininity. He appeared like a slender civil official in armor, with neatly tied long hair, displaying a charming demeanor. Who would have imagined that he now succeeded Cang Hai in managing Thousand Faces' assassination squad?
"Does anyone else have any objections?" Mu Xiu rested his hand on his forehead, his fingers leaving several more creases on his already wrinkled forehead.
"Your Majesty, I have no objections," spoke Siji Dou, the deputy to the Earth Clergy among the Four Clergy. She was also the only woman present at the scene. Like her master, she wore a large hat and cloak year-round, making it difficult to catch a glimpse of her true appearance. Her voice sounded like that of a young woman of about twenty. "But I suggest that we also search for other Wind Listeners' bloodlines in our own country and other nations. As Brother Cang Hai said, no matter how tight the security on merchant ships, it's not as strict as on warships. We can't guarantee that no Wind Listener has escaped..."
"There's no way," Siji Dou's words were abruptly interrupted by the long silence from Jing Yan. "At that time, I personally set up the barrier, and it's impossible for any Wind Listener to leave."
"What kind of barrier?" Siji Dou asked.
The fact that the barrier could last for a hundred years made Siji Dou genuinely impressed.
On the side, the Deputy to the Fire Clergy, Qing Yan, also dressed in a red robe, chuckled at the sound. His mischievous reddish-brown eyes curved like crescent moons as he answered in place of Jing Yan, "The barrier set by Lord Jing Yan is similar to a pit, inside which a group of hungry tigers is kept. They wait for the Wind Listeners to trigger the barrier and fall into the pit... to be eaten by them." Finishing his words, Qing Yan looked at Siji Dou, expecting her to show fear, but Siji Dou just smiled behind her mask, revealing only her mouth, and said, "I really hope to meet them."
Mu Xiu sighed deeply, his headache growing. "Alright, Cang Hai, Yan Yan, take Sheng Hua with you," Mo Xiu pointed to the petite figure in the corner, who had remained silent throughout the meeting. Sheng Hua was the Earth Clergy's disciple and also Siji Dou's master.
The next day, Cang Hai, Yan Yan, and Sheng Hua, accompanied by a small army of dozens, set sail for Time Island.
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