93

93

The evening sun cast its glow to the warpstone desert. The dessert glows in green shimmers. Though now gold also glints from the golden herd. Their skin and armors reflect the light from the sun and from the warp stones around them. The tower on top of the west gate is used as a command base by Zhao Ming and his retinue who have just finished discussing battle plans. As for the battle plan, it is not much. Not many can be planned when fighting a force that has three creatures that can fight a celestial dragon. Shang-Yang walls are reinforced magically with enchantments and they have enough warp stones stockpiled to power in case of a siege. This was designed to repel the ogres should they decide to attack if not for the treaty with Greasus. Now it still reap its benefit to withstand the beastmen attacks if conflict arises.

“The message has been sent, my lord.” A messenger kneeled and reported. Zhao Ming sat on a simple chair, a stack of books piled on the table in front of him. While Zhao Ming is confident that it won’t come to conflict, he still made some reassurance. He waved the messenger away, allowing him to leave. He continues to read reports of daemons from the west that his scholars have gathered. It was one of the things he explicitly asked the traders from the west and mostly it's just some outlandish stories that his scholars have the unfortunate task of curating. He found that none of them have the record of Valariel or the Golden Herd. This means that she is a new power or a daemon that manages to hide for a long time. Both paint a fearsome prospect. With nothing else that can provide him with information, he closes the book and stands.

“Is all preparation finished?” He asks to his retinue behind him as he gazes westward.

“Yes, though our stockpile is not enough to reactivate the barrier.” The female Alchemist reports. The barrier is the one that prevents Valariel from teleporting directly inside the city with her herd. It uses all its power just to prevent her arrival and now the only path to resupply the warpstone to power is blocked by the golden herd outside.

“Shouldn’t we start evacuating already, my lord? At least move everyone from the western district to the east?” The Gate Captain asks

“No need. Conflict is yet to be determined.”

“But what if it does?”

“If it does, they won’t make a camp so brazenly like that.” Zhao Ming reassures the captain who can only nod and accept it for now. The golden herd made camp not too far from the west gate. Still within artillery range and long range spells. This either shows trust, ignorance, or confidence that they can retaliate much fiercer if he decides to strike first.

“Is it wise, my lord?” The female Alchemist spoke again. But before she can continue her question, one of the dragon-blooded Shugengan, the male Yang Shugengan stomps forward and blocks her view to the Iron Dragon, his body almost twice the Alchemist’s.

“You have your duties. Return to your posts.” Zhao Ming defuses the situation and everyone else other than the two Shugengans bows and leave the room. Closing the door behind them.

“Such a brazen question. Wonder who made her think she can do that.” The female Yin Shugengan starts

“You don’t approve, Yinping?” Zhao Ming asked his daughter

“No. Next she will try to command us claiming authority as stepmother or whatnot. She certainly wasn’t the first one to try.” Yinping, the Yin Shugengan answers

“Yangtian?” Zhao Ming then asked his son. Who just shakes his head while making an ugly face.

“So what happens?” Yangtian, the Yang Shugengan finally asks.

“Nothing happens.” Zhao Ming just shrugged, and didn't know where he got wrong.

“Does that look like nothing happens to you?” Yangtian asks again, pointing at the beastmen camp.

“Well, I just courted her, the one that I invited to the palace.” He finally said

“So something happens.” Yangtian pulls two chairs, one for himself and one for his sister.

“Tell us everything.” Yinping said as she sat.

“From the very beginning.” Yangtian adds.

—

“That’s it?” Yangtian asks one more time. His elbow on the chair’s armrest, his hand clasping each other in front of his face. While Yinping just laid back on the chair and sighs.

“What? What did I do?” Scandalized by my children’s reaction.

“Well, has anyone ever... hmmm... told you that is not the proper way to court women?” Yangtian said slowly after thinking. I think he almost insulted me.

“Worked with your mother.” She was a fine woman. If I remember correctly, she’s from Tilea.

“She’s an outlier.” Both Yangtian and Yinping said at the same time.

“What was that supposed to mean?”

“She pointed her gun at your face.” Yinping adds

“Yes, she did. But I must add,” I raise my finger. “She didn’t shoot. Well, almost.”

“So this does not come to your mind that these people from the west don't court the same way we did?” Yangtian continues

“I do not understand why this is a problem. It only happened once and never happened when I courted my subjects.”

“Who would refuse being courted by a Celestial Dragon?” Yangtian now exasperated

“Some did.” I have been refused six times in my life and I do not remember any problem coming after. Yangtian was surprised by my answer and calmed down somewhat.

“You never told us about this.” Yinping chimes in. She always leaves the arguing and questioning to her brother, so she must be curious.

“I don’t see any reason to.” As I answer, a knock on the door sounds. I looked at my two children and it seems like both have no more things to say. “This discussion is over.”

“Enter.” With my permission, a messenger enters and knelt just one step from the door.

“My lord. The beastmen have invited you to their camp.”

—

Entering their camp, it is even more raucous than I thought possible. Loud incoherent hollering of the ogres and the loud roars and baying from the beastmen accompanied by the stomping of ogres feet and beastmen hooves. We passed a fighting pit, where an ogre wrestling against a golden ox beastman, both are equal in size. Then the view quickly obscured as more and more ogres and beastmen gathered. A loud thud sounds and the beastmen roar louder than before. Signifying who won.

I looked at my sister beside me, covering her face from all the smell. Father has decided to accept the beastmen’s invitation and only bring us along. Reckless as usual though I am sure he already has something in mind. None of the beastmen clear the path for us and we are trudging along with the beastmen even while their shaman guides us through the crowded encampment. The beastmen are bigger and taller than us, different when we are usually the tallest than the rest of the humans. Many wear armors similar in design to the ones the accursed elves have. Their shamans, recklessly wearing plates adorned with warp stones.

We finally reached the biggest tent in the middle of the encampment. Our guide opened the tent for us to enter. Father enters without missing a beat. I looked at my sister, we felt the power of the one inside. I remind myself that this is not the time to be intimidated and we enter.