Alhazard, Are You Insane? (4)
The Great Sage paid no heed to the startled guests in the outdoor banquet hall and continued speaking.
"During the western expedition, Alhazard made rain fall from a clear sky. Everyone gathered here has either heard the tale or witnessed it firsthand. These Blood Jiangshi before you will now recreate that feat through martial arts."
The banquet hall erupted into commotion once more at the Great Sage's words. As yin and yang energies filled the space between the male and female Blood Jiangshi, the others formed a circle around them.
"Each of these Blood Jiangshi possesses inner energy corresponding to the extremes of yin and yang, as well as the five elements—fire, water, wood, metal, and earth. First, the extreme yang and fire energies will boil the water energy to generate vast amounts of steam—"
A hulking Blood Jiangshi of extreme yang stood beside one whose entire body was dyed crimson. The latter extended its palm just as the others had, unleashing its technique. On the opposite side, a slender and refined-looking Blood Jiangshi approached the extreme yin one and likewise radiated its inner energy through its palm. As the Great Sage had described, the water and fire energies met, and steam began to form rapidly in the air.
"The key is to use the extreme yin energy to push the generated steam upward. Meanwhile, the extreme yang and fire energies must continuously heat the area below, sending both steam and hot air rising. Naturally, the hot air ascends while the cold air descends, creating thermal balance—"
The Great Sage raised both index fingers and traced circles in the air to illustrate the circulation, though only a handful truly understood. Moments later, the continuous infusion of inner energy proved worthwhile as clouds began to form in the sky above. Those who had watched from the start stared in shock at the growing clouds.
"The clouds that form so suddenly, and the rain that pours from them—that is a downpour."
The moment the words left his mouth, the Great Sage approached the Blood Jiangshi and extended his own palm, pouring pure natural mana into the formation. The clouds overhead instantly darkened into storm clouds and unleashed rain.
"Rain… It's actually raining. He made it rain with martial arts!"
"Heavens… How can a mere human command the weather? Only immortals should possess such power…"
Causing rain through human power carried immense weight in an agrarian Eastern society. In an era where drought was blamed on an emperor's lack of virtue—enough to shake the throne itself—no one in the hall dared slight the Great Sage any longer. Instead, several envoys from arid desert regions or lands with scant rainfall approached him with desperate eyes.
"Great Sage, please forgive our earlier rudeness. Our eyes were clouded and we failed to recognize you."
"Would you grant the Gudu Desert Tribe a chance to atone? If you could spare a moment to visit our tribe…"
"Nonsense! What is there to see in such a desert that you would trouble the Great Sage? Rather, Great Sage, about the Blood Jiangshi you just demonstrated—"
"How dare you! I was speaking with the Great Sage first!"
"What?! You barbarian scum, how dare you—!"
As crowds swarmed the Great Sage, coveting the secret of creating Blood Jiangshi and the power to summon rain, their flattery soon turned to quarrels. Sensing the need to intervene, the Great Sage made a declaration.
"Hear me! The ability to create Blood Jiangshi and recreate Western magic through martial arts was made possible solely by the full support of His Imperial Majesty the Khan Emperor. I shall wield these powers only for His Majesty. Should you have any requests, you must first obtain His Majesty's permission!"
With that, the Great Sage departed the outdoor banquet hall alongside the seven Blood Jiangshi. The Khan Emperor's mood soared. Already, his authority had begun to waver after two failed western campaigns, yet the Great Sage had credited him with these earth-shaking achievements. The assembled scholars wielded considerable influence across the Eastern Empire. Now they lavished praise upon the Great Sage's accomplishments while desperately pleading with the Khan Emperor for his generosity. The Emperor felt his power restored to its former strength.
After several days of quelling the uproar from the banquet, the Khan Emperor sought out the Great Sage. The sage was, as always, immersed in research with his Blood Jiangshi in a corner of the palace the Emperor himself had provided. Marveling at the man's unwavering dedication, the Khan Emperor spoke.
"Great Sage, thanks to you I have received great acclaim. Your contributions are no small matter. I wish to reward your merits. Speak if there is anything you desire."
The Great Sage bowed his head humbly and made his request.
"Then, Khan Emperor, might you grant me the corpses of the imperial archers who fell during the previous western expedition so that I may turn them into Blood Jiangshi?"
"…My elite troops?"
Even the Khan Emperor could not hide his shock at the unexpected words. But as the meaning sank in, he cried out in fury.
"How dare you! Do you mean to dishonor the deaths of those who ruled the world at my side!?"
"That is not my intent, Your Majesty. If research into 'Dispelling Magic' proceeds smoothly, it will surely be completed within a few years. Though it may be presumptuous, I assume Your Majesty plans to launch another western campaign at that time?"
The Great Sage had struck at the Emperor's true intentions. The Khan Emperor fell silent for a moment before nodding slowly.
"Indeed. I am planning a third western expedition."
As expected, the Great Sage nodded and continued.
"If the archers who tragically fell in the first and second campaigns were given another chance to fight, I am certain they would gladly stand by Your Majesty's side once more—even as Blood Jiangshi."
The Khan Emperor felt something stir within his chest. How many elite soldiers had perished pointlessly, ensnared by Alhazard's schemes during the first and second expeditions? Without doubt, those fallen troops had been the empire's finest—forged through countless battles during the unification of the East. To an emperor who had long lamented their deaths, the Great Sage's proposal was an irresistible temptation.
After prolonged deliberation, the Khan Emperor ultimately accepted. It was not merely longing for his old comrades that swayed him. Using the dead as soldiers was a strategy employed since ancient times in both East and West. The question had always been whether such revived soldiers could prove effective in battle. In the world of King's Crown, where martial arts, sorcery, and exorcism existed, they had never been particularly useful. But Blood Jiangshi were different. If they could wield martial arts, the Khan Emperor's resurrected archers might become as strong as—or perhaps even stronger than—they had been in life.
From that day forward, for several years, the stench of rotting corpses lingered in one corner of the palace. And after many years… the time finally came.
Out of hundreds of thousands of archers, only ten thousand corpses remained intact enough to be revived as Blood Jiangshi. Yet each one was undeniably a monster stronger than it had been in life. The Emperor gazed down from a high platform at his resurrected army, tears of emotion streaming down his face. The ministers beside him, equally awed by the magnificent sight, raised their voices in praise of the Khan Emperor's name.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"
"With them, the western expedition will surely succeed!"
Amidst them all, the Great Sage wore a faint, knowing smile that no one noticed…