A clash of powerful armies over a bloodstained battlefield… The twelve envoys practically shut their eyes at the same time. Some of them clenched their fists tightly, while others shook their legs impatiently. The most peculiar part about this piece was how it kept growing and growing into the climax of the song, and then everything suddenly became soft and slow… almost as though the only sights and sounds remaining on the battlefield were discarded iron armaments scattered everywhere across the blood stained earth.

Clashing iron and bloodshed were synonymous with war, while battlefields saw endless tussles between life and death, and a permanent departure of those who were defeated. It was merciless, and completely devoid of human emotion.

Yet the soft vigor in the music was reminiscent of the start of the song, almost as though they had come full circle. Out of the death and destruction came new life, like a blossoming spider lily in the desolate battleground.

Chang Yuchun’s throat tightened up. The emotions buried in the depths of his heart were roiling together with the music, like an active volcano that was ready to erupt at the moment’s notice. He was reminded of the grand battle which led to the defeat of the Yuan capital, where countless unsung heroes fought bravely, spilling copious amounts of blood, both theirs and their enemy’s. Despite the towering walls that protected the capital, everyone on his side fought with vigor, because they knew that this was the final battle that would topple the Mongol Yuan empire.

He shut his eyes, and his eyelids twitched a little. How many years has it been since I was last reminded of these things? The gripping tunes of the piece had dragged out these memories from...