Xu Xiao said, “From now on, you are Beiliang's shadow. You will live for him and die for him.”
I smiled and nodded, but when I turned around, I placed Xu Fengnian behind me and shielded him. “Godfather, even a shadow has a light it wants to protect.”
Many years later, Beiliang's cavalry stormed the Northern Mang royal court.
Drenched in blood, I placed a bloodstained crown on his head and said softly, “Your Highness, I'll keep being your shadow this time, too.”
Xu Fengnian grabbed my hand. “No. You'll always be my younger brother.”
Behind us, three hundred thousand cavalrymen dropped to one knee. Amid the howling wind and snow, a single voice rang through the heavens: “We pay our respects to the King of Beiliang, and to the Prince Who Stands as His Equal!”
(A different take on Sword Snow Stride)
