YEAR 191 AC
"He took several camps all by himself!"
"Master, he is too powerful; there is nothing we can do!"
As a historian, he visited many battlefields, both before and after the battles had ended. It was his task to write down everything that happened, all of the facts, leaving nothing out, but that was a rule not all historians followed.
He believed in this dying world that it was he and only he who wrote the true history, and it would be his history that the masses would read when he and everyone who walked these lands would be just soil for the earth.
That was the main reason he had been allowed in such an illustrious setting; whilst everyone else was focused on the war, it was only he who focused on history.
"The tales of Lu Bu remind me of another story from the Warring States era." Yuan Shu was a member of the House of Yuan. A family that had been loyal to the ruling dynasty for centuries, many thought he was still a loyalist, but this old historian knew.
He could see the ambition radiating from the man, the greed in his eyes for more power and wealth. But now was not the time for a man's ambition; this was about a rising star who was currently proving himself to be a God amongst the battlefield.
"Yes, Lu Bu, they say he has the power of Xiang Yu."
"Such a chaotic time sounds like the drums for exceptional warriors. I even hear they're two under the command of Liu Bei."
"Yet, neither are Jing Zhe (Sei Chou)." The name set a cold chill through the room, because who did not know of that name? A man who, even after so many years past still shook the world.
….
GENERAL CHOU HAKU POV
General Chou Haku led the army chasing after the Yan retreat all the way to the walls of Hau City. As he moved closer, the sounds of fighting grew louder.
Looking forward, he could see a youth leading from the front against the Wei army as he cut a bloody path through their siege lines. It could only be Sei Chou, the youth was dressed in armour just a little more ornate than the soldiers around him, hair tied into a bun and covered in blood. General Chou Haku could see him cleaving and cutting through the Yan army and realised none of it was the boy's own.
In his mind, an image came to the fore, it was one of a fearsome man who both scared and awed Chou Haku. The last Great Heaven of Zhao, Ren Pa. The image seemed to overlap with the youths; Chou Haku didn't know if he should laugh or cry that someone so young would be leading suicidal charges in the name of Zhao.
Still, General Chou Haku was a veteran who could change gears quickly, "BEGIN! ATTACK AND PAY THOSE YAN BACK TENFOLD FOR THE HUMILIATION OF YESTERDAY!" After chasing after the Yan for so long, it was all his soldiers needed to hear, as they charged out like demons released from the gates of the underworld.
Still, Chou Haku continued to look towards where Sei Chou was fighting; more and more, the General was reminded of Great Heaven Ren Pa, a legend, one of the three pillars who held up Zhao's military.
To his dying breath, Chou Haku would believe what he saw next, the aura shrouding and clinging to Sei Chou and just how powerful it was.
"Dear heavens, this boy has the sam-" The rumbling of cavalry drowned out his words, and for a moment General Chou Haku worried that Chi Ketsu had managed to catch him in a trap.
Yet, as he looked, he could see Zhao flags and not only that, the flags of the youngster called Sei Chou's subordinates barrelling towards the Zhao flanks and cleaving their way through.
Everything has been in the palm of his hand.
….
GREAT GENERAL CHI KETSU POV
This was supposed to be an easy taking, just another battleground for him to showcase his immense skill. A war to display the might of his King, army and Yan. That they were not weak and feeble, that the sands of time had not caught up with him.
So how?! How does it turn out like this?!! How did a battle with him and his army, being overwhelming favourites, turn on its head?!
Chi Ketsu had long talks with Gaku Ki, regarding changing the tides of battle, finding small margins to make your army win when the enemy is overconfident, and what he was currently witnessing was as if Gaku Ki's method of war was being showcased one last time.
He saw the troops streaming from both sides and smashing into his army, ripping shreds and cutting through his troops. Though the Zhao had all the momentum, Chi Ketsu knew there was still a possibility for a retreat or even something better. They needed to focus the majority of their troops on a single point of breakthrough and escape the encirclement.
From there, Chi Ketsu could still win this battle, just as the Great General of Yan turned his head to give out orders, the damned Sei Chou, who had turned out to be a thorn in his side this whole battle, decided to charge directly towards him.
"Den Shu!" He called the leader of his personal bodyguard unit, "Go forward and halt that brat's momentum! Give me enough time so I can focus on Chou Haku!" His voice was strained, and all of the noise around was causing him to shout. He caught the affirmation shout from Den Shu, and that was all he needed.
Now, he had the breathing room to focus on crushing Chou Haku. He set up a choke point, one that would both slow and kill the Zhao army to our rear, 'Once more breathing room.' His mind whispered to him, just as he was about to look back, there was yelling, shouting and cheering from just over his shoulder.
Turning back, he caught the sight of what could only be Den Shu, his body soaring through the air and crashing straight into the ground in front of him. Looking back up at the battered, bruised and dead figure of his bodyguard, it was only Chi Ketsu's experience that kept him from gasping.
Then there were the boy's eyes, Sei Chou's dark black eyes and the horrific smirk on his face. He needed to get out; there was no hope for his troops. The accursed Sei Chou had cut through his troops and nearly managed to get face-to-face with him. 'There were 15,000! HOW?!' The rest of Chi Ketu's guards threw themselves directly in front of Sei Chou, and that was the moment he gave up and ran.
The sounds of his guards being slaughtered and butchered, all he could do was throw his flag to the ground, clench his teeth and keep going without looking back. 'I cannot die here. I am a Great General of Yan, the man who stood tall even with Gaku Ki's betrayal. Yan relies on me.'
"OUUUOOOO!!!" The Zhao morale was continuing to rise, and Chi Ketsu knew just who was the reason behind their cheers, their raised morale and who was leading the Zhao in this moment. He had been fooled, "Sound the retreat! Sound the retreat!" He shouted it was the last thing he could do for his men.
They charged at a weak point; the rest who were still caught in the encirclement were to be left to the mercy of Zhao, for not being fast enough. It was a shameful act, he knew, he understood it, but could only stomach the act bitterly.
"GREAT GENERAL CHI KETSU IS DEAD!!! SURRENDER NOW!!"
"GREAT GENERAL CHI KETSU IS DEAD!!!"
"GREAT GENERAL CHI KETSU IS DEAD!!"
"SURRENDER NOW!!!"
Zhao continued to proclaim his death even as he retreated, but he didn't look back and continued to escape with his detachment changing his armour in the time between. 3,000 men were all he had to accompany him, and Chi Ketsu made sure to blend in with the numbers.
He had lost. He knew the feeling, but not like this.
After darkness, there's always the light. He could see it. Feel it. Touch it. The next time his name was called to invade Zhao once more, he would scorch the earth and leave nothing left.
A last look over his shoulder to remember the visage of the one whom he wished to tear to pieces. The one who made him taste the bitterness of defeat. As he turned, he could no longer see the damned boy. As he turned to look back forwards, something caught his eye, and he looked at one of the nearby hills. He saw a lone person sitting on a warhorse watching his army. 'NO, he's watching me.' "How did h-" Great General Chi Ketsu recognised the person, and kicked his horse into a gallop.
"ARROW GREAT GENERAL!!!"
'Wha-' The thought could not finish as something punched into his back, throwing him from his horse. The cold, damp earth smashed into his face as he fell. Who knocked me from my horse!' The pain was sharp, thundering through his whole body.
He tried to scream once more, but vicious red only flowed out of his mouth as he did, blood coughed up from his mouth as he tried anything to scream. The tiredness hit and seemed to drag him down, from his arms to his legs, head and even his eyelids. He could only look up to see his men, the tears in their eyes as they cried over him.
'It seems my time is up.' The realisation hit him hard, the troops he had trained with and nurtured for years. All of it was gone, and any hope of Yan standing great was gone with it.
The darkness came in from the sides of his eyes and started to envelop him. 'The next era will belong to that man. I hope he does it and becomes the Greatest General ever to exist. It would only be right for the person who defeated me. Ah, I want to see it test myself against him once more, control the battlefield once more.'
With only his thoughts known to himself, the Great General Chi Ketsu, a man who stood tall with Gaku Ki and defended Yan for decades, died in battle, killed by Sei Chou, who showed the whole of China just a glimpse of his military ability.
Upon hearing this, Kantan and all seven capitals across the central plains were shocked. They had heard of Sei Chou's name previously, but Rin Shou Jo had previously played down his students' accomplishments.
Now, without the Great Heaven's information control, the whole of China was going to pay special attention to the young commander.
CHAPTER: DONE
AN: For this chapter, I used the start to give a glimpse of how people in the future view Sei Chou (Jing Zhe, his actual name since he is Chinese). That is why the Year is 192 AC. The start is meant to mirror how people view the likes of Lu Bu, Guan Yu, Ousen, Cao Cao and so on and so forth.
In the latter chapters, I will be adding these kinds of snippets.
Thank you guys, for reading and commenting on chapters. I hope in 2026 you continue to read and comment even more. I'm new to writing, and I know I can improve; give me pointers that I can improve on.
For now, peace out and happy new year, everyone! I hope your 2026 is 100x better than your 2025!