The general's decision

Qiang Mao trotted slowly through the impoverished small villages that marked the trail to the border roads. The place was deserted and there was not even a vendor on the streets. Until he reached the snow-covered mountains. The gray and cold day, he could not prevent the borders of his men from arriving before the end of the full moon.

The general watched the few people who still found themselves in the alleys running like rats among garbage, until he reached the snow-covered mountains leaving the destroyed village behind. The gray and cold day, he could not prevent the borders of his men from arriving before the end of the full moon.

The official escort was around the king. The trip was calm and only at the beginning. It would be four days with almost no rest, since the king was visibly ill and would not last many hours on the horse's back and everything would fall on him.

The sound of the waters notifying a nearby stream cheered the general's ears. Soon the troops stopped at the signal of the general and everyone got off the horses to fill their pots, while the king entered the palanquin, tired of the few hours he rode.

A ruined old man ... thought Qiang Mao.

For a few moments, he regretted what he had promised the noble consort hours earlier. All the peace he knew that morning would go down from today, but if it were to get the position he so longed for he would be capable of anything. Even to betray the king he protected so much with his life. What would a living old man be worth if he himself would lose what he most wanted? Finally, there would be the woman who dreamed so much.

Qiang Mao guided his men to the bank of the stream and left only five to escort the king's palanquin.

- General, those five will not be able to protect the king in case something happens. - Qiang Mao smiled mentally at his soldier's statement. It was exactly what he predicted.

- I faithfully believe in the skills of my men. Why do you think I am the general? - while everyone smiled at the calm that were found in the vicinity of the cold mountain in winter, Qiang Mao felt his heart flutter when he noticed the fast movement of the men in black who seemed to fly over the long trees. Only the most sensitive men in his army felt the horrifying presence of the assassins passing by and heading towards the king's Palanquin, which was now a considerable distance away. The day seemed to lose its cool and ten men ran out to the place where the majesty was.

Qiang Mao chased after him without much haste leaving the rest behind.

The place was still intact, except for the five men in his army escorting the king's palanquin and the group of people dressed in black with masked faces advancing fiercely.

"Don't rush, we don't know who they are," the general shouted at his men.

- General, the king! - One of his allies pointed at the palanquin and he promptly broke the siege that prevented him from reaching his protégé and went up to where the king was. As soon as he opened the doors, Kong Naran was amazed. The man was white, like wax.

- Don't worry majesty. I will protect your life with mine. - Qiang Mao spoke already drawing his sword to fight the men who were advancing on him and suddenly everything was foggy.

Blood flowed down the enemies' swords and their men were unable to bear it. The killers were extremely skilled, but he was more. Qiang Mao drew his sword and jumped from the palanquin, killing at least two men with a single frontal strike. He had to maintain the pose until the height of the day came. The plan could not fail. His only function was to maintain the theater until the main killer appeared.

Then, everything became colder and gray when the glow of the golden sword appeared between them, cutting off everyone's view; Qiang Mao sighed in relief and dropped the sword in a schematic movement. Almost all of his men who arrived there were dead, only two remained standing and these two were shaking with fear of the newcomer. The presence of the figure in black with the golden sword that dripped blood was overwhelming and seemed to suck their lives out with just a single stroke. The hooded figure sheathed the golden sword moved from the place and walked slowly over to the two men of the king who still stood.

This is the perfect time to deliver the final blow, thought Qiang Mao.

The man with the hood and mask that partially covered his face raised the blade and hit his two men who stood in his way. As soon as the two fell dead, a pool of blood formed around them. It was possible to see the heads of the two individuals turning purple and the red fluid of both joining in one like a river. Then, Qiang Mao smiled at his partner who still held a golden sword raised and turned to the king who was hiding until now.The man with the hood and mask that partially covered his face lifted the blade and hit his two men who hindered his path. As soon as the two fell dead, a pool of blood formed around them. It was possible to see the heads of the two individuals turning purple and the red fluid of both joining in one like a river. Then, Qiang Mao he smiled at his partner who still held a golden sword raised and turned to the king who was hiding until now.

Qiang Mao, for a few seconds, felt sorry for the cowardly king, not even to defend his honor and his people. He was just a man who deserved to die.

The general opened the palanquin and saw the king sitting frightened by the sound of swords that had once been furious, but now the sounds had ceased.

- Were the enemies destroyed? - Kong Naran II asked, craning his neck to watch outside the hiding.

- One more to go, Majesty. - Qiang Mao took the black arrow out of his clothes and smiled when he saw the king's eyes widen for him in fright. The noble consort had to pay very well for that gesture of betrayal he was making. She could lose her position, even her life, if someone suspected what he was about to do.

However, what good would it do to go back now, since everyone is gone? There was no turning back time. Naran would finally start a new era and he would receive his final reward.

Moreover, in a certain move, Qiang Mao hit the king's abdomen. The cold hands of the general drowned out the man's cry. Who covered his mouth smiling as he watched the black robe be marked by the red liquid.

- A man should be content only with the woman who lives in his heart, My King. When the greed of filling your bed with many women's skirts blinds your eyes, the man's body perishes and this was the cause of your end. - Qiang Mao sank the arrow further without reaching vital points. The poison present in the sharp blade of the arrow would do its job slowly and painfully. The king began to froth at the mouth like an animal being slaughtered and before he could be hit by anything else, he held the general's hands tightly while staring into his dark eyes smiling like a lion.

- Why? - the king asked, almost disappearing and finally managed to free himself in the clutches of Qiang Mao and leave the Palanquin crawling away from there. However, a black cloak came into view and as soon as he looked up, he saw a man with a golden mask that covered half of his face, probably a murderer like the general. - Because? What did I do to you? I appointed you general of my army when you held your late father's sword. I… - the words started to diminish from his lips while the pain already cut his body. The whole area of his stomach started to burn like fire, a dark liquid was expelled through his nose and mouth.

- Majesty, are you about to die and do you still refuse to acknowledge your sin? - Ask the noble consort when she leaves for the next life; she knows why you are leaving. - Kong Naran lost control of his breathing and the blood from his body began to drain on the dirt floor just as his life was going like the wind. His body trembled three times before he lost consciousness.

"I thought ..." Naran tried to stammer out a few words. However, the pain spread to the rest of the body. - Your father would be ashamed of you!

Naran II always knew that one day he would see his beloved Tai'Ner, but not that he would go so quickly. The sound of birds singing was the last thing he heard and his last thought was Mei Yang. His foolish daughter would now have strong enemies to fight, enemies that he could not even perceive.

The State of Naran lost its esteemed king.

Qiang Mao looked at his accomplice and all the dead present. Soon the rest of the men who stayed behind would be there and they had to be quick to clear the crime scene.

The general, in a quick and desperate gesture, tore the sleeve of his shirt and the hooded man hit his arm with the golden sword, doing a little damage.

- I will let the master know that everything went well! - Qiang Mao heard that man speak. His voice was thick and shivered. - I will wait for your return.

- And my reward? I ... - Qiang Mao tried to finish his speech, but the pain in his arm seemed to cut his thoughts. Whatever he had on that sword was not normal. His body seemed to boil with each passing second.

- Wait for the master - The figure soon disappeared among the giant trees that surrounded the place. Qiang Mao was still cursing in pain when the rest of the men started arriving and it was too late. The king was dead with an arrow in his heart, and the killers were far away by now.

- We were ambushed! - Qiang Mao screamed in pain and concealment. - King! See how the king is doing! - The soldiers quickly crossed the small space covered with bloodied bodies and searched the palanquin where the king's body was already dead. All the soldiers knelt around the King in fright.

- General, Your Majesty ... - the soldier failed to complete, however Qiang Mao already knew what had happened.