✦ Chapter 36 – Xiang Yu (7) ✦
「Translator – Creator」
𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝𒋝
[…Eight years have passed since I first raised my army.]
Thirty minutes later, the second half of <Farewell My Concubine> resumed smoothly.
Xiang Yu, relentlessly pursued by Liu Bang, had reached Dongcheng and began his speech.
The Chu army, caught in the encirclement strategy, had been reduced to a mere 800 men.
After falling for the trap of ‘Besieged on All Sides,’ he was left with only 800 soldiers from the Chu army. And with constant pursuit by the Han army, the number dwindled further to a mere 28 soldiers.
[In that time, I have personally fought in 70 battles, slaying all who stood in my path. Every city I attacked fell, and I have conquered the world without a single defeat.]
…Yet, even in this dire situation, the mighty Xiang Yu remained the mighty Xiang Yu.
[Hahaha, Liu Bang! Heaven? Did you say Heaven punished me, finding my tyranny unbearable?]
Xiang Yu laughed heartily, gazing at the Han army swarming towards him like storm clouds.
Thanks to Consort Yu’s sacrifice, he had overcome his inner demons; his eyes were now free from worry. Instead, they held only a sense of emptiness, as if he had come to a profound realization.
[…Yes! You are right! My desperate situation today is not because I lack skill in battle, but because Heaven has forsaken me!]
He looked upon the 28 soldiers who had remained loyal to the very end.
The young hero, who once ruled the world with his sword, made a solemn vow, “[I swear I will return you all to our homeland, Jiangdong! I will display the pinnacle of martial arts, honed over a lifetime, for your sake!]”
“The pinnacle of martial arts, honed over a lifetime?”
“But he only has 28 men left! How can he possibly overcome this?”
“Exactly. Even his trance state and movement techniques won’t be enough.”
The audience watched with apprehension at his seemingly unrealistic declaration.
Despite his fall from grace, Xiang Yu was the protagonist of this web novel-style story, a character the audience had become invested in and cheered for. They all wished for him to overcome this obstacle and reclaim his former glory.
*Shing! Swoosh!*
In front of the tense audience, Xiang Yu drew two more swords.
According to Chinese legend, Xiang Yu possessed three legendary swords during his lifetime: the Longquan Sword, the Taia Sword, and the Gongbu Sword.
According to the Chinese chronicle, Yuejueshu, Xiang Yu possessed three renowned swords in his lifetime.
They were the Longquan (Dragon Heaven Blade), the Tai’a (Great Harmony) Sword, and the Gongbu (Artisan’s Cloth) Sword.
And in the next moment, astonished gasps and cheers erupted from the crowd.
“What?!”
“Wait, what’s happening?”
“The, the swords?!”
Despite being cornered, Xiang Yu’s personal martial prowess had been growing steadily. He had finally achieved the realm of shenjian-heyi (unity of body and sword), becoming one with his swords.
This was the peak level of a martial artist, often referred to as a supreme master in wuxia tales.
Ironically, just when everything had become irretrievable, he reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship attainable only by the greatest of swordsmen.
Having achieved shenjian heyi, mastering the flow of internal qi, he was now capable of performing unimaginable, transcendental feats.
[Sword Control Technique—!!]
*Fwoosh—!!*
*Whoosh! Whizz—!!*
The Tai’a and Gongbu, unlike the Longquan wielded by Xiang Yu himself, began to soar freely through the air, decimating the Han army on their own.
[Aaagh! Retreat! Retreat!]
[The swords! The swords are flying on their own!]
[Xiang Yu! That man is a monster among monsters!]
[Behold—!! I will take the enemy general’s head for you all—!!!]
Xiang Yu roared, charging toward the terrified Han army, his voice like a thunderclap.
The Hegemon-King of Western Chu, a ferocious beast, attacked alongside the flying swords, scattering the enemy ranks. Having slain the enemy general in a single strike, Xiang Yu raised his Dragon Heaven Blade and asked, “[Do you see? Witness the might of this Hegemon-King —!!]”
The answer came not from the extras, but from the audience instead.
“Woohoo! Xiang Yu! Xiang Yu! Xiang Yu!”
“The strength to move mountains! The energy to engulf the world!”
“Even in defeat, a hero remains a hero-!!”
In modern wuxia, where power creep was rampant, sword control techniques were relatively overlooked. However, for the people of this world, unfamiliar with the wuxia genre, it was a dazzling and awe-inspiring display.
“Xiang Yu! Xiang Yu! Xiang Yu! Xiang Yu!”
Seeing is believing, as they say. The audience’s spirits, which had dampened with the bleak outlook, soared once more.
*Slash, swoosh—!!*
Xiang Yu and his 28 remaining soldiers relentlessly cut through the Han forces.
After nine skirmishes, the Han army had lost nine generals and nearly 1,000 soldiers, while the Chu army had suffered only two casualties.
…And finally, they reached the Wu River, the boundary between the Central Plains and Jiangdong.
[Hegemon-King! Return to Jiangdong and bide your time!]
[That’s right! If we burn all the ships after crossing the Wu River, the Han army won’t be able to pursue us!]
[The Hegemon-King is a hero ordained by Heaven! If you gather your strength and rise again, we can surely defeat Liu Bang!]
Emboldened by their leaders’ supernatural martial display, the soldiers urged him to fight once more. The audience echoed their sentiments, cheering ardently.
“That’s right! Don’t give up, Hegemon-King of Western Chu!”
“It’s not over yet! Return to your homeland and rebuild your strength!”
“You’ve regained your senses thanks to Consort Yu. Reflect on your mistakes and fight anew!”
[…No, I cannot.]
However, Xiang Yu only shook his head slowly.
Turning to the audience, Balthazar, playing the role of the Hegemon-King, spoke in a bitter voice.
[Of the 8,000 sons of Jiangdong who raised their arms with me, only 26 remain. How can I return home and face our people with such disgrace?]
“What? No way! The soldiers are okay with it, so why don’t you start over in your homeland?”
“You just mastered the sword control technique! Don’t give up and fight Liu Bang again!”
The romantic yet rash decision of the Hegemon-King stirred the audience, who began shouting their support.
But Xiang Yu’s mind was made up.
[If I return to Jiangdong, our homeland will be engulfed in war! Today, I will fulfill my destiny by sending you all back home!]
[H-Hegemon-King! But…]
[Silence! Do you dare defy my command? Board the boats immediately! I, Xiang Yu, will hold back the Han forces!]
[Sob, Hegemon-King!]
The 26 surviving soldiers finally boarded the boats and crossed the Wu River.
Along with Wu zhui, the finest steed entrusted to them by Xiang Yu, they departed, leaving their leader behind.
However, just as the boats reached the middle of the river…
*Neigh—!!*
*Splash!*
The black horse, watching his master disappear into the distance, let out a mournful cry and leaped into the river without hesitation.
“What?!”
“Wu Zhui!”
Splashing wildly, the horse swam desperately, trying to return to its master. Yet, even the swiftest steed that could gallop like the wind couldn’t overcome the powerful current.
Eventually, Wi Zhui sank helplessly into the depths.
[Ah, Wu Zhui!]
Watching his beloved horse vanish beneath the surface, Xiang Yu cried out.
[Indeed! You were a dragon born in the form of a horse! You have merely returned to your true form. There is no need for sorrow!]
“Sob! To think I’d live to see the day where a mere animal’s death would break my heart like this.”
“Phantom is truly a genius. He can even make the death of a horse so poignant.”
But there was no time to mourn the death of Wu Zhui.
[There he is! The traitor Xiang Yu is over there!]
[Form the Arhat Formation! We cannot let him escape!]
The relentless Han army, having pursued the Chu forces tirelessly, had finally arrived at the Wu River; the soldiers, clad in red, swarmed like clouds, while their banners fluttered menacingly.
Xiang Yu sneered at the sight of the Han banners.
[I’ve heard the rumors. King Liu Bang has placed a bounty of 1,000 gold and a fief of 10,000 households on my head?]
Lifting the blood-soaked Longquan Sword, he let out a thunderous roar, “[Fine! Who among you will claim the reward?! Step forward, those who covet Xiang Yu’s head—!!]”
As expected, no one dared to step forward.
Even if the reward was tempting, wealth and glory meant nothing if one lost their life. No soldier or commander was fearless before Xiang Yu’s undeniable might. Even when cornered, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu remained a living legend.
…And when no one mustered the courage to confront Xiang Yu,
[Archers! To the front!]
In the end, Liu Bang himself, accompanied by numerous archers, took charge.
[Ready the crossbows! Fire at my command!]
The soldiers loaded their arrows and aimed their crossbows in disciplined unison at the command of their leader.
Standing silently amidst his guards, Liu Bang exchanged a meaningful gaze with Xiang Yu. Though they had once been sworn brothers, united in their goal to overthrow the Qin Dynasty, now they faced each other as mortal enemies. The tragic futility of their brotherhood weighed heavily in the air.
[A sound of laughter over the great seas, ~♪]
[raising the tides towards its two shores. ~♪]
From the back of the stage, the elven musicians began playing the zither and bamboo flute. At the same time, they sang in unison, performing a song composed by Phantom and Professor Gaby.
[Drifting and rolling in the waves of life, ~♪]
[only the present is worth worrying about. ~♪]
[The Heavens laughed, ~♪]
[raising tides in the mortal world. ~♪]
[Winning and losing is fate ~♪]
[that only heaven can decide. ~♬]
It was “A Sound of Laughter Over the Vast Sea,” the theme song from the 1990s wuxia film, The Swordsman; the lyrics, beautifully capturing Xiang Yu’s transition from Hegemon-King to defeated warrior, resonated deeply with the audience.
And as the elven musicians’ mournful melody faded…
[…Kill him.]
With a subtle, bitter smile, Liu Bang gave the order.
*Twang! Whizz!*
*Whoosh—!!*
A barrage of arrows, portrayed through lighting and special effects, flew towards Xiang Yu. The sky turned black with the sheer number of arrows, obscuring the blue.
Watching this scene, Balthazar, playing the role of Xiang Yu, calmly closed his eyes.
…And thus, in a way that paid homage to the ending of Zhang Yimou’s 2002 wuxia film, <Hero>, the Hegemon-King of Western Chu met his ultimate fate.
✧❅✦❅✧
“Alright, good work everyone!”
“You all did great! Let’s keep up the good work for the remaining performances, haha!”
The actors gathered backstage, clearing the stage and removing their makeup after the curtain call.
Everyone was all smiles, celebrating the successful performance.
Naturally, the most praise was directed towards me, the lead actor.
And, of course, towards Senior Rosalyn, who had performed alongside me with exceptional skill.
“You did a fantastic job, Balthazar. Your acting has improved even since the first part.”
Isabella, the theater manager, patted my shoulder, her face beaming with satisfaction.
A renowned actress in her own right, she smiled and said jokingly, “Professor Gaby was right, you seem to have a natural talent for this. What do you say? Interested in pursuing acting as a side gig? We always welcome young and talented individuals like you.”
“Haha, thank you. But I’ll have to decline.”
I was only after the A+ for the midterm; I had no intention of starting an acting career. Being a playwright was more than enough to bring me wealth and fame.
“U-Umm… Balthazar.”
Poke. Poke.
Someone poked my shoulder gently.
It was Senior Rosalyn, who had been surrounded by other actors, receiving compliments just moments ago.
“What’s wrong, Senior? Is something the matter?”
“Ah, about what you mentioned before the performance… that is, the revised script…”
…Oh. That.
Just as I feared, she hadn’t received the final revision.
Initially, during the second revision, there was no intimate scene between Xiang Yu and Consort Yu. It had simply been a scene of the Hegemon-King holding his lover’s body and mourning, but I’d revised it to portray their farewell more poignantly.
As the playwright, I had decided on the revision, then returned to the dorms to change. After that, I rushed back in time for the performance, pretending to receive the revisions while applying my makeup.
I had asked someone to inform Senior Rosalyn of these final changes before the performance.
‘Guess there was a communication breakdown as the opening was imminent.’
“I’m really sorry, Senior. I must have startled you by suddenly getting so close. I had no idea you hadn’t received the final revisions.”
“………..…”
“Umm, Senior? Are you very angry? I’m truly sorry.”
How furious could she be to have her cheeks flushed so red?
Though we were on friendly terms, she was still a Duke’s daughter, unmarried and noble. In this era, purity and propriety were crucial for a noblewoman. It’s understandable that sudden physical contact from a man could feel like an affront.
Rosalyn then mumbled something under her breath.
“… I’m not.”
“Huh?”
“I’m not angry. It’s just… I…”
Senior Rosalyn trailed off, her expression ambiguous and hard to read. Her usually serene emerald eyes now flickered with confusion.
The way she covered her mouth with the silk sleeve of her costume reminded me of a graceful dancer from the East.
“Sorry.”
After standing there hesitantly for a while, she closed her eyes tightly. Then she turned around and dashed away.
“L-Let’s talk later. See you later, Balthazar.”
“W-Wait, Senior?”
I was left standing there, dumbfounded.
Sorry? Sorry for what? I was the one who should be apologizing.
But that was our dear Rosalyn. Always considerate of others, even when she was the one who’d been put in an awkward position.
✧❅✦❅✧
Rosalyn’s cheeks burned, flushed a bright crimson.
Touching her cheeks, she walked with hurried, unsteady steps.
Of course, they hadn’t actually kissed.
Just before their lips met, he’d covered his face with his sleeve, stopping just in time.
They had maintained that agonizingly close distance, awkwardly waiting for the curtain to fall.
“…………”
Even so, she couldn’t forget the scent of Balthazar’s fig perfume lingering at her nose.
And the memory of their lips, almost touching.
She couldn’t help but wonder what it would have felt like if they had actually met.
‘It was just acting.’
Balthazar was simply following the script.
So why was her heart pounding like this?
Why did the sight of her usually friendly junior suddenly make her feel hot all over?
A young woman’s innocent first kiss, something she had never given to any man…
…It felt as if he had romantically stolen it from her.
“Ugh…”
It was a new and overwhelming feeling—embarrassing, thrilling, and sweet all at once.
Consumed by this unfamiliar “fever,” she wandered past the grand curtain.
“Excuse me, sir? I’m sorry, but the auditorium is closed!”
Suddenly, a staff member’s voice called out from beyond the stage.
It seemed someone had remained in the theater even after the end of <Farewell My Concubine>.
Curiosity piqued, Rosalyn peeked out from behind the red curtain.
And a figure came into view.
A person with a sword strapped to their back, their yellow eyes gleaming like a hawk from beneath their hood.
“Sir? The play is over! We would appreciate it if you could leave!”
“………..…”
The hooded swordsman ignored the staff member’s repeated requests, remaining motionless.
It was clear that the stranger had been deeply moved by Phantom’s <Farewell My Concubine>.
‘Well, I felt the same when I first watched Admiral Lee.’
The creativity that leaves a strong yet delicate impression, the immersive power that blurs the line between reality and fiction, and the noble narrative that reminded her of her father, who was demoted to the North.
She had been so enthralled that she’d neglected her meals and skipped classes, spending all her free time at the Killgrewber Theater Company.
Perhaps this hooded figure was also lingering due to a similar emotional resonance.
“Senior Rosalyn? What are you doing?”
“Eek! B-Balthazar?!”
Startled by her junior’s sudden appearance, Rosalyn jumped.
Balthazar still hadn’t removed his Xiang Yu makeup.
For some reason, he looked especially handsome and dashing today.
“Who’s out there? Why are you hiding…?”
“Ah, no! It’s nothing. There’s just… a guest who’s still here…”
“A guest who hasn’t left?”
“Y-Yes. Over there.”
Rosalyn stammered, forcing a smile, trying to appear nonchalant.
But in reality, she felt as if she were suffocating, her breath caught in her throat.
Standing side-by-side with Balthazar, who was still in his Xiang Yu costume while she was dressed as Consort Yu, the strange emotions she’d experienced moments ago came rushing back like a hurricane.
“…………”
Just then, the swordsman in the audience locked eyes with Balthazar.
Their gaze, as sharp as a hawk’s, swept over the actor playing Xiang Yu.
And in the next instant…
“Huh? He’s just leaving.”
“I-I guess so?”
The hooded swordsman abruptly stood up and disappeared just like that.
The person walked with a staggering, unsteady gait, as if reeling from a profound shock, their steps erratic.
Translator’s Notes :-
Here is the youtube link of the song => https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gLkF6KpGWU&ab_channel=ESYeo
— End of Chapter —
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