Chapter 61: Heaven and Earth as Witness

March 24th, night.

Northern foot of Chongyin Mountain.

Tonight was the first night back in Wu territory.

After resting for the night, they would head southeast tomorrow morning toward Huaifeng Prefecture, Fengzhou, Great Wu.

Fengzhou was located on the southwestern border of Great Wu, adjacent to Southern Zhao, and Huaifeng Prefecture was the transit point for grain and supplies for this southern expedition.

Heavy troops were stationed within the city.

It was a natural gathering place after the Wu Army’s’strategic shift,’ and Ding Suian’s group also had to head to Huaifeng to gather and return to their units.

That night, the group’s mood could hardly be described as calm.

Regardless of the reason, everyone’s hands were stained with the blood of the Immortal Master of the State Religion.

Last night, while they were in the mountains, the enclosed environment provided by the surrounding peaks still gave them a sense of security.

But after returning to their units in Huaifeng tomorrow, they would lose both the sense of trust brought by external survival pressure and the mutual supervision that only existed when they were tightly huddled together.

They were all somewhat worried that someone among them might have a loose tongue or be unable to withstand the pressure and reveal the matter.

The flickering campfire cast light and shadow across their faces.

“Brother Ding, judging by your accent, are you also from Central Heaven?”

Ever since last night, Huang Wulang had been particularly interested in Ding Suian and specifically sat on the same fallen deadwood as him.

“Yes, Chilao Alley in the south of the city. What about you, Brother Huang?”

“Me? Hahaha…”

After a loud laugh, Huang Wulang didn’t continue.

Seeing this, Ding Suian didn’t ask further, but Huang Wulang looked at the campfire, pondered for a moment, and said sincerely, “Brother Suian, I first owe you for saving my life, and over the past few days, I feel we share a similar Vitality. I shouldn’t be coy or secretive, but when I followed the army on the southern expedition, I promised my elders at home that my name would not be revealed before returning home.”

Hearing this, how could Ding Suian not know that this Huang Wulang was likely a scion of the nobility?

If he wouldn’t say, then so be it.

Unexpectedly, Huang Wulang continued, “My surname is Chen, and my courtesy name is Fuchen. As for my full name, I won’t say it for now. I hope you can forgive me.”

“Brother Fuchen, you’re being too formal. My courtesy name is Yuanxi.”

Ding Suian hadn’t reacted yet, but Lin Dafu on the other side heard this and stared intently at Huang Wulang—that is, Chen Fuchen’s face.

His expression was slightly excited.

Seeing Chen Fuchen reveal his surname and courtesy name, Third Young Master Gao and Second Sister Li cupped their fists to the group and introduced themselves as if meeting anew.

“Gao Gan, the third in my family. You can call me Sanlang.”

“Li Meimei… haha, please don’t laugh. What Third Young Master Gao said before was correct. Because two elder brothers died young, my mother gave me a feminine double-name to ensure my safety…”

Because of Li Meimei’s words, the group smiled, and the atmosphere relaxed considerably.

Ding Suian smiled and said, “Beauty beyond compare, in virtue and in deed. Meimei doubled, a distinguished crown.”

Li Meimei looked at Ding Suian in surprise. This didn’t sound like something a soldier who hadn’t studied much could say offhand.

Just then, the campfire in the middle of them grew dim, and Ding Suian held a small wooden stick to poke the fire.

Coincidentally, Chen Fuchen had the same idea.

Each holding a stick, they reached out at the same time, then froze together. They looked at each other and couldn’t help but laugh.

Sitting directly opposite, Li Meimei saw their perfectly synchronized movements and let out a surprised “Eh?”, then said, “Third Young Master Gao, look, Fuchen and Yuanxi’s build and demeanor are quite similar. How strange!”

The speaker was casual, but the listener was mindful.

Lin Dafu, who had been holding it in for a long time, suddenly slapped his thigh and said excitedly, “Since we are comrades who have faced life and death together, why don’t the six of us become sworn siblings?”

“…”

This Old Lin, why does he always come up with things on a whim?

Haven’t you already guessed my relationship with Lin Hansu?

But his suggestion tempted everyone. After all, with the killing of the Immortal Master of the State Religion hanging over them, becoming sworn siblings would act as an extra layer of insurance.

Even Li Baicheng looked at Chen Fuchen and Ding Suian.

Conversely, no one paid attention to the proposer, Lin Dafu. At this moment, everyone unanimously thought that as long as Ding Suian and Chen Fuchen agreed, this could happen!

As for Lin Dafu, that cowardly, spineless old geezer, he was just an extra.

Chen Fuchen looked at Ding Suian with a smile. “Yuanxi, what do you think?”

Over there, seeing that Xiao Ding didn’t immediately agree, Lin Dafu quickly got up, grabbed him, and walked toward a bamboo grove, while looking back and saying, “Xiao Ding and I will go cut some bamboo tubes! Brother Fuchen, you guys prepare the incense altar first.”

Before they had gone far, Lin Dafu said impatiently, “Xiao Ding, don’t miss out on this fortune! Can’t you see they have significant backgrounds? Chen! Chen is the national surname! A good wind helps one reach the heights. If not for my keen eyes, you would have missed it!”

“Is Commander Lin doing this for me, or do you want to swear brotherhood with him yourself?”

“…” Lin Dafu felt awkward, then said indignantly, “At my age, what prospects do I have? It’s all for you! If Consort Su hadn’t asked me to look after you…”

“Commander Lin, I understand what you’re saying. But, don’t you already know about me and the Princess…”

Without waiting for Ding Suian to finish, Lin Dafu waved his hand grandly. “People of the Jianghu don’t care about such things! From now on, we’ll each have our own relationships!”

“…”

That works too?

Night, the hour of the Pig.

A crescent moon hung in the eastern sky.

With no incense altar, the earth served as the altar.

With no incense sticks, branches served as incense.

Zhao Yan, who had been playing alone in the distance because she feared the fire, saw the group busy and hurried over.

Learning they were going to play a game of swearing brotherhood, she grabbed Ding Suian’s arm and clamored, “Nunu wants to too, Nunu wants to too…”

Lin Dafu trotted over and glared. “This is men’s business, why are you joining in the fun!”

“Ang~”

Seeing him being mean to her, Zhao Yan let out a low growl from her throat and bared her small teeth at Lin Dafu.

Beside them, Chen Fuchen laughed and said readily, “My sister-in-law has looked after us a lot on the way, and she was fearless when saving us at the ancient temple. She’s a heroine who rivals any man! Let’s count her in!”

“Heh, Brother Fuchen, that’s what I meant too. I was just joking with my sister-in-law just now, hahaha.”

Lin Dafu enthusiastically walked toward Chen Fuchen.

Ding Suian: “…”

He calls her sister-in-law, and you damn well call her sister-in-law too.

Is that appropriate!

Subsequently, they determined their order.

The fifty-five-year-old old geezer Lin Dafu undoubtedly became the eldest.

The thirty-one-year-old Commander of the Black Tortoise Army’s First Battalion, Li Baicheng, was second.

Twenty-three-year-old Chen Fuchen was third.

Twenty-one-year-old Gao Gan, Third Young Master Gao, was fourth.

Li Meimei, the same age as Gao Gan but born a few months later, was fifth.

Nineteen-year-old Ding Suian became the sixth.

Zhao Yan was the youngest, the Seventh Sister.

To be honest, Ding Suian was not very satisfied with this ranking.

After all, in his hometown, “you’re an Old Six” didn’t seem like a compliment.

The ordering ended.

The seven of them took turns pricking their fingers, using clear water as wine and bamboo tubes as cups.

With the moon and stars overhead, they faced Central Heaven, the Imperial Capital.

An exceptionally excited Lin Dafu took the lead in kneeling, his voice particularly loud. “Today, I, Lin Dafu of Yezhou…”

“…Li Baicheng of Yingzhou…”

“…Chen Fuchen of Central Heaven…”

“…Gao Gan of Huanyang…”

“…Li Meimei of Central Heaven…”

“…Ding Suian of Central Heaven…”

“…Mhm, mhm~ Zhao Yan of Chongyin Mountain.”

After the seven of them announced their names and origins, they spoke in unison, “Blood of different surnames, forming a bond of Golden Orchids! Eternal Vitality, our hearts shine together. Entrusting life and death, sharing joy and sorrow!”

“First is Righteousness: unyielding as gold and stone.

Second is Trust: a sincere heart as witness.

Third is Loyalty: through wind and rain together.

Fourth is Courage: even unto death!”

“If this oath is broken:

May heavenly thunder strike my body, and may I be abandoned by gods and men.

May the ancestral hall be covered in dust, and may descendants not prosper!”

“We humbly pray: May the Imperial Heaven and Sovereign Earth bear witness, and may the mountains, rivers, and the state listen together!”

At the foot of Chongyin Mountain, no light source could be seen for dozens of miles.

Only this campfire here illuminated a small area.

Before the campfire, the seven asked heaven, earth, mountains, and rivers to bear witness.

They bowed, and the ceremony was complete.