LORD SHIENGI

ARC I — THE FALL OF LORD SHIENGI

CHAPTER ONE — THE LORD OF XIANLUO

The first thing Shiengi heard that morning was the sound of steel striking steel.

CLANG!

The sound echoed across the eastern training courtyard of the royal palace.

Again.

CLANG!

Shiengi blocked another strike, twisted his wrist, and sent his opponent’s sword spinning across the courtyard.

The young soldier stared at his empty hand.

A few soldiers laughed.

Shiengi lowered his sword.

“You’re dead.”

The soldier swallowed.

“I know, my lord.”

“Then why are you still standing?”

The soldier quickly dropped to one knee.

Shiengi smiled.

“Better.”

The courtyard erupted in laughter.

At twenty-four, Lord Shiengi had already become one of the most respected warriors in the Kingdom of Xianluo.

He was also the youngest man ever to hold the title of Supreme Commander of the Royal Vanguard.

The position made him responsible for the kingdom’s elite soldiers, the protection of the royal family, and the defense of Xianluo’s borders.

But despite his title, Shiengi had never allowed power to make him arrogant.

He walked among soldiers as though he were one of them.

He trained with them.

Ate with them.

And when they failed, he trained them again.

At the edge of the courtyard, a young man leaned against a pillar, watching with an amused expression.

“You’re enjoying yourself.”

Shiengi turned.

There stood King Sheng Xue.

He was dressed in dark royal robes, though his sleeves had been rolled slightly as if he intended to join the training.

Shiengi sheathed his sword.

“You’re late.”

“I’m the king.”

“So?”

Sheng Xue smiled.

“So I am allowed to be late.”

“That’s exactly the problem with kings.”

The soldiers tried desperately not to laugh.

Sheng Xue looked at them.

“Anyone who laughs is cleaning the eastern barracks tonight.”

The courtyard immediately became silent.

Shiengi laughed.

“Still abusing your authority?”

“Only when necessary.”

The two men stared at each other for a moment.

Then Sheng Xue smiled.

Shiengi smiled back.

To everyone watching, they were king and lord.

But to each other, they were simply the two boys who had grown up together.

Their friendship had begun almost twenty years earlier.

Shiengi’s father, Lord Jian Shien, had been Supreme General under Sheng Xue’s father, King Sheng Rui.

The two families had spent years inside the same palace.

Shiengi and Sheng Xue had trained together since childhood.

They had fought over food.

Stolen horses.

Escaped lessons.

Been punished together.

And when Sheng Xue eventually became king after his father’s death, there had never been any question about who would stand beside him.

Shiengi.

His closest friend.

His shield.

His commander.

His brother in everything except blood.

Sheng Xue walked toward him.

“You promised my mother you would eat breakfast with us.”

Shiengi sighed.

“I forgot.”

“My mother hasn’t.”

“That’s worse.”

Sheng Xue laughed.

“Come.”

They began walking toward the palace.

As they passed through the courtyard, soldiers bowed.

“Your Majesty.”

“My Lord.”

Shiengi acknowledged them with a nod.

But halfway through the corridor, Sheng Xue stopped.

“You haven’t been sleeping.”

Shiengi looked at him.

“I sleep.”

“Three hours isn’t sleeping.”

“Sometimes four.”

“Shiengi.”

Shiengi smiled.

“I have soldiers to train.”

“You have an entire army beneath you. Let them train themselves occasionally.”

“That’s how armies become weak.”

Sheng Xue shook his head.

“You haven’t changed.”

“Neither have you.”

They continued walking.

Neither noticed the elderly man standing at the far end of the corridor.

Elder Qian Rong.

He watched them disappear around the corner.

His expression was unreadable.

Beside him stood another elder.

“Still together,” the man whispered.

Qian Rong’s eyes narrowed.

“For now.”

Breakfast was served in the royal dining hall.

Queen Lian Yue, Sheng Xue’s mother, sat at the head of the table.

Beside her sat Shiengi’s mother, Lady Meilin.

And at the opposite side was Shiengi’s father, Lord Jian Shien.

Though older now, Jian Shien still carried himself like a soldier.

His shoulders were broad.

His back straight.

A scar crossed the left side of his face.

He looked at his son.

“You were late.”

Shiengi sat down.

“I was training.”

“You were fighting.”

“There’s a difference?”

His father frowned.

His mother smiled.

“You sound exactly like your father.”

Jian Shien grunted.

“That isn’t necessarily a compliment.”

“It is from me.”

Sheng Xue laughed.

For a while, the room was warm.

Peaceful.

Family.

But beyond the palace walls, Xianluo was changing.

The kingdom had experienced strange incidents for several weeks.

Caravans had disappeared.

Border patrols had been attacked.

Several officials had been found dead.

Nobody knew who was responsible.

And fear had begun spreading through the capital.

Eventually, the conversation reached the dining table.

Queen Lian Yue’s expression became serious.

“Another attack happened last night.”

Sheng Xue put down his cup.

“Where?”

“The western district.”

Shiengi’s father frowned.

“How many?”

“Seven soldiers.”

Silence.

Shiengi looked at Sheng Xue.

“Any survivors?”

“One.”

“What did he see?”

Queen Lian Yue shook her head.

“He claims the attacker disappeared into darkness.”

Shiengi leaned back.

“That doesn’t tell us much.”

His father looked at him.

“Perhaps not.”

Then Shiengi felt something.

A faint vibration beneath his skin.

His hand tightened around his cup.

His mother noticed immediately.

“Shiengi?”

He looked at her.

“I’m fine.”

She didn’t believe him.

She knew what that sensation meant.

Heaven’s Vein.

The ancient power flowing through Shiengi’s blood.

A power that had made his family legendary.

And feared.

Shiengi’s father spoke quietly.

“Did it happen again?”

Shiengi hesitated.

“Only for a moment.”

Sheng Xue looked between them.

“What happened?”

Meilin answered before her husband could.

“Nothing.”

Shiengi’s father looked at her.

She gave him a warning glance.

Sheng Xue noticed.

But before he could ask another question, the doors burst open.

A soldier rushed inside.

“My King!”

Everyone stood.

The soldier dropped to one knee.

“Another attack.”

Sheng Xue’s expression hardened.

“Where?”

“The northern district.”

Shiengi was already reaching for his sword.

“How many?”

“We don’t know.”

Sheng Xue looked at him.

Shiengi looked back.

No words were necessary.

They had fought together too many times.

Sheng Xue turned toward the guards.

“Prepare the Royal Vanguard.”

Shiengi stepped forward.

“I’ll lead them.”

Jian Shien stood.

“Be careful.”

Shiengi nodded.

His mother caught his hand before he left.

Her eyes were unusually worried.

“Come back.”

Shiengi smiled.

“I always do.”

He didn’t know how much those words would come to mean.

Because before the day ended, the first crack would appear in everything he believed.