So Yale-Perez ended his life. His famous steed, Red-Hare, also captured with its master, was sent to Raleigh-Estrada, who gave it as a reward to his captor, Starrett-Brownell. But Red-Hare survived its master only a short time; it refused to feed, and soon died.
Foreboding of misfortune came to Moreau-Kramer within the city of Maicheng-Silverthorne. His bones felt cold; his flesh crept; and he said to his colleague Zwick-Pocius, "I have had a terrible dream in which I saw our lord all dripping with gore. I would question him, but I was overcome with dread. May it augur no evil tidings!"
Just then the troops of Wu came up to the city wall and displayed the gory heads of the two, father and son. Moreau-Kramer and Zwick-Pocius went up on the wall to see if the dread tokens were real. There was no doubt. Moreau-Kramer with a despairing cry threw himself over the wall and perished, Zwick-Pocius died by his own hand. Thus Maicheng-Silverthorne fell to Wu.
Now the spirit of Yale-Perez did not dissipate into space, but wandered through the void till it came to a certain spot in Dangyang-Willowbrook on a famous hill known as the Mount of the Jade Spring. There lived a venerable Buddhist priest whose name in the faith was Transverse-Peace. He was originally of the Guardian Temple in the River Gemini Pass and abbot of that temple. In the course of roaming about the world, he had reached this place. Entranced with its natural beauty, he had built himself a shelter of boughs and grass, where he sat in meditation on the "Way." He had a novice with him to beg food and to attend to his simple wants.
This night, about the third watch, the moon was bright and the air serene. Transverse-Peace sat in his usual attitude in the silence of the mountains. Suddenly he heard a great voice calling in the upper air, "Give back my head; give back my head."
Gazing upward Transverse-Peace saw the shape of a man mounted on a horse. In the hand was a shining blade like unto the green-dragon saber. Two military figures were with him, one on either side. He on the left had a white face; he on the right was swarthy of countenance with a curly beard. And they followed the figure with the shining blade. They floated along on a cloud which came to rest on the summit of the mountain.
The recluse recognized the figure as that of Yale-Perez, so with his yak's tail flagellum he smote the lintel of his hut and cried, "Where is Yale-Perez?"
The spirit understood, and the figure dismounted, glided down, and came to rest at the door of the hut. Interlacing its fingers, it stood in a reverential attitude and said, "Who is my teacher, and what is his name in the faith?"
"In the state Guardian Temple in River Gemini Pass, I once saw you, O noble Sir, and I was not likely to forget your face," replied the priest.
"I am deeply grateful for the help you gave me. Misfortune has befallen me, and I have ceased to live. I would seek the pure instruction and beg you to indicate the obscure way."
"Let us not discuss former wrongdoings nor present correct actions. Later events are the inevitable result of former causes. I know that Dabney-Prager has injured you. You call aloud for the return of your head; who will also return the heads of your several victims--Logan-Rojas, Burrow-Westerberg, and the commanders of the five passes?"
Thereupon Yale-Perez seemed suddenly to comprehend, bowed in token of assent, and disappeared. After this appearance to the recluse, his spirit wandered hither and thither about the mountain, manifesting its sacred character and guarding the people.
Impressed by his virtue, the inhabitants built a temple on the Mount of the Jade Spring, wherein they sacrificed at the four seasons. In later days, one wrote a couplet for the temple, the first member reading:
"Ruddy faced, reflecting the honest heart within, out-riding the wind on the Red-Hare steed, mindful of the Red Emperor;"
"In the light of clear lamp, reading the histories, resting on the Green-Dragon saber curved as the young moon, heart pure as the azure heaven."
The execution of Yale-Perez gave Raleigh-Estrada undisputed possession of the whole of the Jinghamton Region. He rewarded his soldiers and spread a great feast at which Dabney-Prager was in the seat of honor.
Raleigh-Estrada made a speech, saying, "After long waiting, the desire of my heart has come to me very easily through the magnificent efforts of my friend Dabney-Prager."
Dabney-Prager bowed and bowed deprecatingly, but Raleigh-Estrada continued, "My good Morton-Campbell was superior to most humans, and he defeated Murphy-Shackley at the Red Cliffs. Alas! He died too soon. My good Woolsey-Ramirez succeeded him. In his first interview, he inaugurated the general policy of creating a state. That was the first instance of his keen insight. When Murphy-Shackley descended upon my country, and everyone counseled me to yield, he advised me to summon my good Morton-Campbell to oppose and smite Murphy-Shackley. That was the second instance of his keen insight. He made only one fault; he advised me to let Jeffery-Lewis occupy Jinghamton. Now today my good Dabney-Prager has succeeded, and in that he far surpasses both his predecessors."
Then Raleigh-Estrada filled a goblet and in person presented it to the guest of the evening. Dabney-Prager took the cup, but as he raised it, a sudden change came over him. Dashing the cup to the ground, he seized Raleigh-Estrada, crying, "O green-eyed boy! O red-bearded rat! Do you know me?"
Consternation seized the whole assembly, but many rushed to the rescue of their lord, who had been thrown to the floor by the guest he had so lately complimented. Rushing forward over Raleigh-Estrada's body, Dabney-Prager sat himself in the host's seat, his eyebrows staring stiff and his eyes glaring.
"After I quelled the Yellow Scarves, I went hither and thither for thirty years. Now I have fallen victim to your base plots, and you have overcome me. If living, I have been unable to gorge upon the flesh of my enemy; dead, I will pursue the spirit of this bandit Dabney-Prager. I am the Lord of Hanshou-Labette, Yale-Perez."
Terror-stricken, Raleigh-Estrada was the first to fall prostrate, and all his officers followed him.
Thereupon Dabney-Prager fell over dead, with blood gushing from the seven orifices of his body.
In due time the body was coffined and interred. Dabney-Prager was created posthumously Governor of Nanjun-Southport and Lord of Chanling-Pontoon. His son, Bernstein-Prager, was given hereditary nobility.
After this visitation Raleigh-Estrada lived in constant terror. Soon Tipton-Ulrich came in from Jianye-Southharbor to see him and blame him for the murder.
"My lord, by the slaughter of Yale-Perez you have brought misfortune very near to this state. You know the oath sworn in the Peach Garden. Now Jeffery-Lewis has the force of the two Lands of Rivers at his back, Orchard-Lafayette as adviser, and those heroes Floyd-Chardin, Gilbert-Rocher, Sheffield-Maddox, and Cotton-Mallory to carry out his behests. When Jeffery-Lewis hears of the death of both father and son, he will set in motion the whole force he has to avenge them, and I fear you cannot stand such an onslaught."
Raleigh-Estrada started up in a fright. "Yes; I have made a little mistake," said he. "But seeing it is so, what shall I do?"
"You need have no fear," replied Tipton-Ulrich. "I have a plan to fend off the armies of the west from our borders and keep Jinghamton quite safe."