Prologue

"I thought we were friends…" Ling stammered as Huai Shan walked down the throne.

Huai Shan looked at Ling. His eyes flashed across a shimmer of sadness. But in an instant, his expression changed to the same old coldness.

"You were." He said.

Ling didn't understand that if he was Huai Shan's friend, why on earth would he order his troops to surround him.

"Leave us." Huai Shan ordered and the soldiers backed away and left in an instant.

"Come sit by me." Huai Shan said as he sat at the foot of the throne. Gulping, Ling walked up the stairs heading to the throne without hesitation. He had been fighting side by side with Huai Shan for over half his life. In other words, his life was Huai Shan's. if he wanted it, Ling could give it back to him without hesitation.

Ling sat at a step lower at the foot of the throne. Huai Shan smiled faintly.

He'd never suspected the loyalty of Ling. Never. He even entrusted Ling with all of his secrets and yes, Ling has proven to be a faithful friend.

But he was now at crossroads.

The road to becoming an emperor is lonely and full of hardships. Having a friend by side was literally a gift from the gods. But right now. A friend is also a pivotal point to overthrow his reign. His Shan Dynasty.

"How long has it been since the two of us sat like this? Alone." Huai Shan asked as he brought out a jar of wine. Pouring a bowl for Ling and himself, Huai Shan stared into the skies.

"Its been long," Ling answered. "About half a year. During our last campaign to gain control of this place."

Huai Shan nodded his head and laughed out loud. Ling looked at his emperor. There was a saying, accompanying an emperor is like accompanying a tiger. He could never guess Huai Shan's true intentions. Never during the past, not even now.

"Have you ever hated me?" Huai Shan stopped laughing and asked as he took a sip of the wine.

Ling stood up to kneel when Huai Shan handed him another bowl of wine.

"Cease formalities. Just take this as a normal talk between friends."

Ling sat down again and took over the bowl of wine.

"No. I have never hated you." Ling answered as he took a sip as well. Ling was never good at drinking wine. He even vomited during his first try and was always the first one to get drunk during celebrations. "You are the one true emperor that I have decided to devote my life in serving with. I do not regret my choice even up to this day. No matter what you do. No matter what you decide."

The meaning behind his words was clear enough. Huai Shan smiled and gulped down the whole bowl of wine.

"Ah~" he let out a satisfied sigh. "Refill please."

Ling stood up and helped Huai Shan refill his bowl of wine.

"What will you tell your children about me?" Huai Shan asked. "Or others. My story. My legacy."

Ling paused. He knew that this was an important question regarding his fate. Gritting his teeth, Ling answered.

"The truth."

The hall fell silent. Ling could even start to feel the chilling sensation climbing up his spine. It only subsided when Huai Shan opened his mouth.

"The world needs to know. The truth." Gulping down another bowl of wine, he handed the bowl to Ling, who poured him more wine without the need of order.

"The records left down, our military journals. All those stuff are a bunch of fakes. Fantasied, I would say. You are an eagle my friend. You shouldn't be caged. Your cries should echo the valleys of Qingyun. Fly higher than the peak of Yutong. Go further than our borders of Guilu. There, my friend, lies your true destiny."

Ling stared at Huai Shan, not sure how to answer that.

"I have prepared a carriage for you at the hut by the east gate. Go, my friend. And never come back. May the gods bless you on your journey."

Ling started to breath heavily. He did not understand the motions of Huai Shan.

"GO. And never come back. You get my meaning." Huai Shan gulped down another bowl of wine and raised his voice.

Ling stood up.

In front of his eyes no longer sat the man who rose from being a nobody to the Golden Emperor now that started the golden age. Instead, was the young man whom he met during his time in the bamboo forest running away from the slave traders.

Tears started to swell up in his eyes. He stepped a step up towards Huai Shan and knelt by his feet. Huai Shan refused to look at him and poured himself another bowl of wine.

"My emperor." Ling started sobbing. He then paused. No words could come out from his mouth. He had too much to say. But he had no time given. Finally Ling cried out. Not like a boy. But as a man who have finally lost the most important man in his life. His meaning of living.

"GO." Huai Shan raised his voice again. Louder this time. "Before I change my mind."

Ling kowtowed Huai Shan. Voice trembling, he finally uttered one sentence. "Take care, Huai Shan."

Huai Shan looked at Ling but he didn't answer. It was only until when Ling stumbled out of the throne room in tears when he finally dropped his wine bowl and let loose a long sigh.

"Farewell… Old friend."