The Silent Throne The dawn broke over the Valley of Liwen like a whispered warning. Pale light seeped through the jagged cliffs, illuminating the scattered encampments of soldiers who had slept under the thin canvas of fear and habit. The air was sharp, tinged with the scent of iron and dew, and the distant sound of the river carried a hollow rhythm, as if even nature itself awaited the coming storm. On the highest hill overlooking the valley stood a solitary figure tall, broad-shouldered, and immovable as the mountains themselves. His armor, black as midnight with silver engravings that caught the early sun, bore the marks of countless battles. The helmet, resting under one arm, revealed a face as stern as carved stone. This was Su Yu, the general who had never lost a battle, the man whose name alone sent whispers through the lands both in awe and dread. Su Yu’s eyes, dark and unyielding, scanned the horizon. Beyond the ridge, the neighboring villages had begun to stir. Word had

Chapter Three: Shadows in the CitadelThe victory in the valley had barely cooled before the walls of Liwen’s citadel began to hum with whispers. Soldiers returned from the battlefield, their armor dented, their faces streaked with grime, their hands still trembling from the weight of survival. Yet within the stone corridors of the citadel, another war brewed one that no sword could fight.Su Yu walked through the hallways alone, the clatter of his boots echoing off the ancient stones. The banners of Liwen hung limply above him, their colors dulled by smoke and blood. Even in triumph, there was tension. The nobles of the court had gathered, murmuring in hushed tones, their eyes flicking toward him with a mix of fear, respect, and something darker jealousy.It had begun: the succession struggle.Word had spread that the old king’s condition had worsened. Some courtiers whispered that he would die within days, leaving the throne empty and the realm vulnerable. Others, bolder in their am

The Battle of the Black ValleyThe night before the battle, Liwen held its breath.From the citadel walls, the valley stretched out like a sleeping giant: wide plains, jagged ridges, and trenches filled with oil that glimmered faintly under the moon. Torches burned along the ramparts, their light trembling in the wind. Below, soldiers whispered prayers, sharpened blades, and looked to the heavens for courage.Su Yu stood among them, helmet tucked beneath his arm. He felt the chill of the wind, the smell of rain and iron, and the weight of history pressing against his shoulders. Every man and woman here would look to him at dawn. Every life, every future of Liwen, hung on his command.Lieutenant Mei approached quietly, her armor fastened tight. “Scouts confirm movement in the north,” she said. “Ten thousand, perhaps more. They’ll reach the valley by sunrise.”Su Yu nodded. “Then we greet them with fire and thunder.”He turned toward his troops, his voice carrying clear across the valle

The Day of CrownsDawn came quietly to the capital, pale light sliding over tiled roofs and temple spires. The air was heavy with incense and expectation. Banners of mourning were replaced overnight with gold and crimson the colors of rebirth.Today, Liwen would crown its new ruler.Today, peace would either begin or die.From the palace balcony, Su Yu surveyed the preparations below. The courtyard swarmed with nobles, soldiers, and foreign envoys. Trumpets called from the east gate, echoing against marble walls. But beneath the celebration ran an uneasy current too many eyes watching, too many hands concealed within robes.Lieutenant Mei joined him, adjusting her shoulder guard.“Security is doubled,” she said. “Still something feels wrong.”Su Yu nodded once. “It always does before the first arrow.”They exchanged a look that needed no words. He had fought wars where thousands clashed, yet this a ceremony in silk and gold felt more dangerous than any battlefield.The throne hall sh

The Black Wolf’s ShadowDawn came pale and brittle, light filtering through the fog that draped Liwen’s eastern walls. Su Yu stood at the edge of the battlements, the chill wind tugging at the red cords of his armor. Behind him, the palace bells marked the hour low, deliberate, like a heartbeat measuring the kingdom’s patience.He had read the message three times.Ten provinces march under one new lord.The handwriting was precise, the seal broken in haste. Whoever this Black Wolf was, he moved with purpose and knowledge.Lieutenant Mei climbed the steps carrying a small wooden box. “From the border scouts,” she said. “Found at a burnt outpost.”Su Yu lifted the lid. Inside lay a strip of black fur braided with iron rings the old insignia of the Tessa vanguard, an army that had vanished years ago.“So the ghosts return,” he murmured.Mei frowned. “General, is it true what they whisper? That you once fought beside their leader?”Su Yu’s gaze never left the horizon. “Once. But the man