Capítulo 6: Chapter Six: Unexpected Gains
"By the blessings of the divine! The Zuo Qiu shall prevail!"
In the midst of the battlefield, as Zuo Qiu Yue noticed that the guards on the stone wall had been lured away, she immediately raised her arm and called out, leading the charge with fervor.
"Victory! Victory! Victory!"
The initially hesitant Zuo Qiu warriors, upon witnessing the magnificent might of the divine beast Longma, felt a surge of courage coursing through them.
Like beings infused with the spirit of battle, they let out wild cries and rushed towards the gateway!
Warfare in this realm is often brutal and devoid of intricate tactics.
With the advantage of the stone wall diminished, the combat effectiveness of the Nalan Clan plummeted. Their stone axes and projectiles lacked lethality against the Zuo Qiu's lines of wooden spears, resulting in continuous retreats.
Moreover, with the violent "divine beast" Longma rampaging unchecked, the enemy's defenses were swiftly broken!
Crash!
Nalan Huazi gritted his teeth and struck at Longma's neck with his sword. Several scales shattered, and the beast let out a pained roar, swinging its tail and sending him sprawling to the ground!
"Ugh..."
Nalan Huazi struggled to rise, only to feel the cold steel of a blade pressed against his throat.
"I concede; go ahead and strike!"
He glanced sidelong at Zuo Qiu Yue, adopting a posture of surrender in resignation to his fate.
Yet she did not wield her blade against him; instead, she commanded her subordinates to bind Nalan Huazi with two thick ropes.
Without even a glance in his direction, Zuo Qiu Yue seized the long-handled sword and declared:
"Your Lord Huazi has been defeated! Lay down your weapons! Or face death!"
The Nalan warriors, still resistant, looked towards her, their faces draining of color upon seeing their clan's most formidable weapon fall into enemy hands.
Clatter!
With the first stone axe hitting the ground, the sounds of battle quickly subsided.
Zuo Qiu Yue raised her sword, her gaze ablaze as she commanded:
"Nalan Xia! I demand to see you!"
...
At the heart of the valley occupied by the Nalan Clan stood a towering three-story stone edifice.
Given the current architectural capabilities of the miniature world, this structure represented the pinnacle of stone construction and served as the residence of the Nalan chieftain.
"What are you staring at? A bunch of treacherous little fools!"
Surrounding the stone building were warriors of the Zuo Qiu Clan.
As the victors, they held their heads high, akin to proud roosters, hurling insults at the Nalan tribesmen who dared approach.
"Hiss—"
Longma maintained its haughty demeanor, its scales stained with blood glistening ominously in the sunlight, enhancing its fearsome presence!
The onlooking Nalan clansmen felt an acute sense of helplessness.
However, with their strongest warrior, Nalan Huazi, bound and disgraced at the hooves of Longma, they ultimately lacked the courage to incite further chaos.
"I hope the chieftain's wisdom can once again save our clan..."
...
Outside, tens of thousands of Nalan tribesmen silently prayed, while within the stone building, Chieftain Nalan Xia inspected the uninvited guests with a beaming smile.
"Yue, do you remember our first meeting when you were but a babbling child?
In the blink of an eye, over a decade has passed, and now you lead a force into the heart of my clan... quite remarkable!"
Listening to Nalan Xia's musings, Zuo Qiu Yue, standing opposite him, wore a grim expression and replied sternly:
"I am not here to reminisce! The Nalan Clan has betrayed its allies and must pay the price..."
Before she could finish her words, Nalan Xia had already risen to unveil three enormous chests beside the wall, revealing them brimming with iron and copper ores.
Moreover, one chest contained a cache of ready-made metal tools and weapons!
"This..."
The once fierce Zuo Qiu Yue momentarily faltered, her prepared rebuttal lodged in her throat.
"This is merely a portion."
Without waiting for her to inquire further, Nalan Xia added:
"There are also three hundred and sixty superior warhorses, a reward from the Huyan Clan to persuade us to ally with them.
Together with the one hundred and ten horses originally possessed by the Nalan Clan, they form the compensation I deliver to you."
Zuo Qiu Yue's expression betrayed her disbelief!
The Nalan Clan was lacking in horses but rich in resources; their territories boasted abundant minerals and superior tools, allowing them to thrive as intermediaries.
Even if Zuo Qiu Yue arrived with intentions of negotiation, she had not anticipated such generosity from Nalan Xia!
Reining in her emotions, she asked in a low voice, "What is your true intention?"
The leaders of the Nalan Clan had always been known for their cunning.
The staggering value of these reparations could potentially disrupt the balance among the three clans, an act uncharacteristic of a shrewd negotiator!
"Intention? Ha..."
Nalan Xia chuckled softly before responding:
"You seem to have come with fierce resolve, yet you have only claimed the lives of a few dozen of my people, and your treatment of Nalan Huazi is that of capture rather than execution...
From what I know, the Huyan Clan's army was preparing to cross the river yesterday and should have already reached your doorstep.
Given your keen intellect, would you risk splitting your forces to clash with the Nalan Clan?
Your prior display of strength was merely a means to bolster your position for negotiations."
Observing Zuo Qiu Yue's shocked expression, Nalan Xia raised his hand toward the window:
"Since you have received the blessings of the gods, it would be wise to bring this conflict to a swift conclusion.
The day you conquer the Huyan Clan will be the day the Nalan Clan fully submits!"
At his words, Zuo Qiu Yue instinctively thought to question: Do you so easily believe the tales of the deity I proclaimed?
Yet, stopping herself, she cast one last profound glance at Nalan Xia before turning to descend the stone building.
A moment later, Zuo Qiu's warriors, each atop their mounts, left with laughter and smiles, dragging away the three massive chests of supplies.
They had never imagined that the situation would unfold in such a manner!
The Nalan clan stood agape, astonished.
The liberated Nalan Huazi and several other prominent leaders hurried to meet the chieftain, eager for a reasonable explanation.
"...Every decision I make is for the survival of the Nalan Clan!
Today's defeat is a pivotal step for us.
In the near future, you will see the outcome..."
Nalan Xia spoke at length, soothing the anxieties of the higher-ups.
Once Nalan Huazi and the others departed, he slumped into a chair.
Removing the translucent crystal pendant from around his neck, he bore an expression of exhaustion.
The strands of hair at his temples visibly turned gray before their eyes.
"So that's it; relying on external forces to obtain extraordinary cognitive abilities."
Startled by a sudden voice, Nalan Xia quickly stood, hastily putting the pendant back on.
"Who?!"
Then, he saw a strangely dressed man emerge from the corner of the balcony.
The man's gaze scrutinized Nalan Xia from head to toe, mirroring the way she had recently assessed the youthful Zuo Qiu Yue!
The figure emerging was, of course, Wang Hui.
His projection in the miniature world existed in a realm between reality and illusion.
With a tangible presence but lacking the essence of an ordinary person.
Wang Hui had effortlessly blended into the Nalan territory amidst the chaos, quietly listening to the exchange between the two women.
The chieftain of the Nalan Clan appeared to be around thirty years of age, yet her level of intelligence far surpassed the average of her time.
Even Zuo Qiu Yue, whom Wang Hui had previously admired, appeared to pale in comparison!
As his gaze fell upon the subtly glowing crystal pendant, Wang Hui's eyes narrowed.
"An unexpected gain..."
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder