Nan XiangWan was too tired to care how upset her younger brother was. She simply went back to her room, washed up, and fell asleep.
There's still no place like home. Her little bedroom may not be as big as her studio at the Seasons Mansion, but it had warmth and family - her parents and little brother.
Plus, her room was full of traces of life, something Nan XiangWan could never get from her glamorous life outside.
She slept very soundly and had all sorts of dreams, about her past life.
Scenes flickered through her mind rapid-fire, like a slideshow compressing centuries of time. Finally it stopped on the last moment of her life.
A pair of eyes. So familiar.
The strategist's eyes.
The strategist always hid his face behind a mask and helmet, even when relaxing in camp. He never removed his armor.
Nan XiangWan used to tease him - was he afraid of dying?
In the end, all she remembered were those eyes.
She wanted to reach out and remove his mask, to finally see just how ugly this guy was to stay covered up all the time.
But she had no strength left. Not that she'd ever admit to having no strength, of course.
She was just giving him some face.
Strangely, for once she saw shock and regret in the strategist's eyes.
A sword tip emerged from her chest, covered in the boiling blood and lifelong loyalty of the Empire's greatest general!
The sword had stabbed through her back and clear through her chest!
That armor of pure black iron was no match for this sword.
This sword...it was enchanted!
Going all out!
Without looking back, Nan XiangWan knew who was behind her - the tall, shining, and sacred Divine Official of the Earth Realm!
Hadn't she said it would be better to take his head off with one stroke?
Strategist, strategist...look at you now. You didn't listen to her.
Saying they couldn't provoke the Divine Official. That the Empire had to endure. That recklessness would cost them even more opportunities.
But was that guy really sent by the gods?
How could a Divine Official's sword be enchanted?
The dying Nan XiangWan laughed, as if she'd won!
See, strategist? She was right!
She knelt on the ground, head drooping limply. Beneath her armor, blood flowed freely.
She closed her eyes, but her lips curved into a smile.
The roaring, fighting, and rage happening right beside her sounded distant and vague.
The Red cloud horse, who had never succeeded in evolving its bloodline, suddenly erupted with power at its master’s death. Its mane fell out and grew back snow white. A horn sprouted from its head - it had become a unicorn!
With a long cry, the transformed Red cloud horse charged through. Its eyes were blood red, ignoring all the slashing blades around it.
The Divine Official's subordinates gaped in shock, greedily eyeing the unicorn.
In the next moment, it rammed its horn against the general's forehead, nudging, begging.
Boundless energy poured out from its body into the general's forehead. It gave up its bloodline, gave up its life, just to save you!
If it can't save you, we'll die together!
By now, the general had no breath left, yet she still smiled.
What those people would never expect...
So what if she died?
A general's will is eternal!
Her death would bring everyone's fury down on them.
The strategist would hide no more. The three great cavalries would vent their towering rage. The Military Law Officer would twist the rules to his advantage...
Her army would be unstoppable!
She may have died, but she had won.
-------------
When Nan XiangWan woke, warm sunlight streamed in the window.
She sat up groggily, massaging her temple.
Oh right, she was home.
The bed was soft, the AC blew gently. In the courtyard pond, a red koi leaped up, splashing water everywhere.
Nan XiangWan still felt it was strange. She often dreamed, but rarely of her past life.
And she’d never known the events after her death before.
The strategist beheaded the Divine Official with one stroke. Her three armies assaulted the Divine Mountain. The Military Law Officer verbally sparred with a high-ranking elder...
They must have won in the end right? Her troops massacred all the Divine Officials!
Overturning the continental order. The Divine Officials who had ruled all nations’ core for thousands of years were no more.
If she’d known her men could be so fierce, Nan XiangWan suddenly felt she should have died earlier!
The Red cloud horse chose suicide after evolving.
This was what Nan XiangWan regretted most. Her little cloud horse had finally become a unicorn, a one in ten thousand chance!
Yet it committed suicide?
It must have been stupid!
...
Getting out of bed, she washed up.
Walking out into the hall, her brother's double doors were wide open. Soft music played from the Bluetooth speaker in his sitting area as he lounged there, cracking melon seeds.
Shells littered the floor!
Nan XiangWan gave a cold humph. “Hmph! He’s going to get smacked again...”
Hearing movement, Nan ChaoYang looked back. “You’re finally awake, you pig! All you can do is sleep!”
Nan XiangWan didn’t react, just stood there with folded arms to watch the show.
Right on cue, Nan Song’s roar sounded from downstairs: “You little punk, you looking to rebel?!”
Nan ChaoYang: “...”
Dad’s hearing really does get keener as he gets older.
Having slept until almost noon, Nan Song and Xin Zi were busy cooking in the kitchen. Nan XiangWan went to take a peek - so much seafood!
Xin Zi: “Almost ready. Brushed your teeth and washed your face?”
A fleck of eye gunk still clung to the corner of Nan XiangWan's eye. “Yeah, didn’t use water though.”
Seeing the eye gunk there, Xin Zi’s expression was strange. “Really?”
Nan XiangWan wiped her face. “Really. Just didn’t use water.”
Finally unable to stand it, Xin Zi gave her daughter a light kick to the butt. “Go back up and wash properly!”
Of course, it was a very gentle kick.
Barely counted as tickling to Nan XiangWan.
She scampered back upstairs. Fine, wash again, wash carefully, wash clean.
Nan ChaoYang laughed loudly. “Got smacked! Got smacked!”
He was so happy to see his sister get hit.
Washing her face with warm water, Nan XiangWan glanced sideways and flicked her finger at Nan ChaoYang.
Splat!
A droplet of water struck Nan ChaoYang right between the eyebrows.
He immediately clutched his forehead, bawling. “Owww! It hurts! Ah! Hurts! Sis hit me!”
Nan XiangWan rolled her eyes and continued washing her face. She even applied a face mask.
Might as well pamper herself while home. This face would make money for her someday.
By the time she finished everything, her parents called from downstairs that lunch was ready. Going down, she saw a table full of dishes - meat, seafood, river food, all her favorites!
Nan ChaoYang was already seated, impatiently grabbing a large crab claw to gnaw on. Then he realized his parents and sister were all looking at him.
After a moment's thought, he placed the crab claw on his sister's plate instead.
The three elders immediately relaxed their expressions, smiling.
As the mistress of the household, Xin Zi said, "Let's eat. Dig in."
Nan ChaoYang huffed and grabbed another crab claw for himself. It's not like he was allowed the first bite anyway!
