At the height of its reign, the LAN Dynasty shone like a jewel in the crown of the East—its lands vast, its people prosperous, and its borders secure. The kingdom, once torn by internal strife and the endless echoes of war, finally knew peace. The scars left behind by years of rebellion, bloodshed, and betrayal had begun to heal under the wise and united rule of King Lan and Queen.
After countless sacrifices, the royal couple had achieved what many thought impossible: stability.
The streets of the capital bustled with life. Markets thrived, scholars debated in tea houses, and children laughed without fear of the drums of war. Even the harsh winds that once carried the scent of blood now bore whispers of poetry and celebration. From noble to peasant, every citizen of LAN felt a rare sense of hope blossom in their hearts.
But peace, as history has proven time and time again, is the most fragile illusion of all.
The calm shattered like glass when a chilling decree echoed across the lands:
The Crown Prince of Mount Xia had declared war on the LAN Dynasty.
Within days, the western borders—once a peaceful frontier—transformed into a battlefield. The proud Western City, a vital stronghold of LAN, was the first to feel the fire of war. Smoke darkened its skies. The clash of blades and cries of betrayal filled its streets.
Even more devastating was the treason that followed. Local officials, blinded by greed, and powerful merchants with no loyalty to the crown, sided with Mount Xia. For wealth. For power. For survival.
When this treachery reached the capital, the King's fury was silent—but swift.
He summoned his most feared warrior.
A man both respected and feared across the realm.
A living legend whose name made even traitors tremble:
General Guo Zian.
They called him the Killer General. Not only for his merciless execution of enemies but for his chilling presence. With razor-sharp eyes and a silence colder than death, Guo Zian didn't need to raise his voice—his aura alone could silence a room.
It wasn't that he was heartless.
It was that he had buried his heart long ago, somewhere on a blood-soaked battlefield.
With unshakable loyalty, he accepted the imperial decree without hesitation. In a matter of hours, he departed the capital, flanked by his most trusted men: WanHeng and Yan Zhu.
Wan Heng, the strategist with a blade as sharp as his mind.
Yan Zhu, a silent shadow whose loyalty was matched only by his deadly skill.
Together, they were a force as unyielding as the mountains.
As Guo Zian approached the Western City, the destruction became clear. Smoke rose in the distance. The ground was littered with signs of conflict. Yet the most shocking discovery awaited him not on the battlefield—but deep within the woods bordering a river near the city.