The Poppy War, #3
The Burning God
by R. F. Kuang
Contents
Chapter 10
Overview
Rin wakes amid Tikany’s devastation, discovers Kitay missing, and realizes she’s lost the Phoenix. As she struggles to reassert command, Souji and the Monkey Warlord betray her to Nezha’s envoys. Daji arrives, hypnotizes the men, forbids killing Rin, and redirects them to take her to the Chuluu Korikh.
Summary
Rin wakes half-buried in mud after the bombardment of Tikany. Staggering through the ruined town at dawn, she searches frantically for Kitay, finding only bodies and chaos. Failing to sense him through their bond, she concludes he has been taken. She tests the Phoenix and confirms she has lost the fire without Kitay as her anchor.
Reeling, Rin tries to impose order: assessing casualties, logistics, and how to counter the dirigibles. Souji does not report in, and an Iron Wolf instead summons her to Souji’s tent, where the Monkey Warlord Gurubai awaits. Souji arrives with officers; Rin realizes too late she is isolated and overpowered. Souji disarms and beats her as Gurubai reveals a secret peace offer from Nezha, accusing Rin of hiding it.
Souji and Gurubai intend to trade Rin for a cease-fire, dismissing her warnings that the Republic won’t honor terms. After Rin is knocked unconscious and awakens bound and battered, Nezha’s envoys debate killing her. Daji enters, hypnotizes the room, and declares Rin a divine vessel whose death would unleash the Phoenix, manipulating their fear.
Under Daji’s sway, Souji and the envoys abandon delivering Rin to Nezha directly and agree to transport her to the Chuluu Korikh, a secret mountain prison for shamans. Daji urges immediate sedation and a swift flight by dirigible. Rin, numbed by Daji’s lull, can do nothing as her fate is sealed.
Who Appears
- Rin (Fang Runin)Protagonist; wakes injured in Tikany, discovers Kitay missing, loses the Phoenix, is betrayed, beaten, and redirected to Chuluu Korikh.
- Souji KuroganiIron Wolf commander; lures, overpowers, and beats Rin, planning to trade her for a truce.
- Gurubai (Monkey Warlord)Arrives post-attack; exposes Nezha’s offer, colludes in delivering Rin to end the war.
- Daji (the Vipress)Hypnotizes Souji and Nezha’s envoys, forbids killing Rin, and directs them to Chuluu Korikh.
- VenkaSurvivor of the attack; confirms Kitay is gone and urges Rin to focus on recovery.
- Nezha’s envoysRepublic officers sent to receive Rin; debate killing her, then yield to Daji’s manipulation.
- Iron Wolves and Zhuden’s officersPresent at the betrayal; stand by as Souji subdues Rin and plans her transfer.