Chapter 223
Wei Xiang offered a faint, dry smile without turning his head. "I have been standing on this exact rock since the very first rays of sunrise hit the peaks."
Captain Bren folded his broad arms over his chest, leaning against a tall boulder. "Are you worried?"
Wei Xiang answered with complete, unvarnished honesty. "Extremely."
"About the messenger’s parley request?" Bren asked softly.
Wei Xiang shook his head slowly. "No. I trust Wang’s judgment when it comes to diplomatic strategy."
He paused, his voice softening slightly as he looked toward the dark stone towers in the distance. "I am worried about her."
Captain Bren let out a soft, sympathetic sigh. "To be completely fair... every single warrior in this camp is worried about Lady Lin."
Wei Xiang remained quiet for several moments, the cold wind tossing his dark hair around his face. "I keep asking myself the same question over and over again today... Does she even know that we are standing out here in this valley?"
Captain Bren smiled warmly, his eyes filled with fond memories of the stubborn young woman. "That is Lin Wan we are talking about, Young Master. If she has looked out of her chamber window even once today... she already knows we are here."
Wei Xiang let out a short, quiet laugh, feeling a small spark of warmth in his chest. "You are entirely right about that."
His small smile slowly faded away, replaced by a look of deep concern. "I just sincerely hope she doesn’t attempt to do anything completely reckless or foolish right now."
Captain Bren raised a curious eyebrow, a smirk touching his weathered lips. "Reckless? You mean like trying to single-handedly sneak out of a heavily fortified palace guarded by thousands of elite Shadow Guards?"
Wei Xiang turned his head to look at the captain, his expression completely flat. "...That is precisely the exact kind of foolishness I am terrified she might try."
Both men couldn’t help breaking out into genuine, quiet laughter together. The brief moment of humor offered a desperately needed relief from the crushing anxiety resting on their shoulders.
However, the laughter lasted for only a few fleeting seconds before the heavy silence of the snowy wilderness returned to envelope them once more.
Captain Bren turned his eyes back toward the distant black fortress. "Our Patriarch genuinely believes that tomorrow morning can change the entire fate of our realm."
Wei Xiang gave a slow, firm nod of his head, his dark eyes burning with fierce determination. "So do I. And if it doesn’t... we will tear those black stone walls down brick by brick."
Meanwhile... inside Patriarch Wang’s private command tent...
A large brass brazier burned quietly in the far corner, casting a soft, warm amber glow across the fabric walls.
Wang sat entirely alone at his wide wooden desk, carefully reading through several logistical reports and supply manifests spread across the tabletop.
His handsome face was completely calm, though a faint look of exhaustion lingered around his sharp golden eyes.
The heavy front flap of the tent was pushed aside, and an elderly clan official walked quietly inside. He bowed his head respectfully. "Elder Marcus greets the Patriarch."
Wang looked up from his papers, setting his ink brush down on a stone rest. "What is it, Marcus?"
"Our scouts have confirmed that Captain Kieran has successfully passed through the outer gates of the Supreme Citadel," Marcus reported smoothly.
Wang gave a slow nod of his head. "Good. If all goes according to plan, he should be returning to our camp long before the sun sets."
The elderly official hesitated for a brief second, shifting his feet nervously before speaking up again. "Patriarch... if this proposed meeting with the Manticore King actually succeeds tomorrow... what will you ask of him first?"
Wang remained completely silent for several long moments, his golden eyes gazing into the warm flames of the brass brazier.
Finally, he spoke, his deep voice filled with a quiet, profound tenderness. "I will simply ask to see her with my own eyes."
Elder Marcus blinked in genuine surprise. "Only that, Patriarch? You will not demand land concessions or immediate political treaties?"
Wang offered a small, gentle nod. "I do not need anything else from him, Marcus. I only need to see that she is safe and healthy."
The old official looked at his leader for a moment before bowing his head deeply with immense respect. "I understand, Patriarch."
After Elder Marcus quietly exited the tent, the large space fell back into absolute stillness once again.
Wang reached his right hand down into his silk storage pouch worn at his waist. With meticulous care, he withdrew a small, hand-carved wooden rabbit.
The delicate carving had become smooth and slightly worn down after years of being carried around in his pocket, touched by his fingers during countless quiet nights away from home.
He raised his thumb, gently brushing away a tiny speck of dust from the wooden rabbit’s ear.
His golden eyes softened completely, filled with an overwhelming, unconditional love that he usually kept hidden behind his fierce Patriarch’s mask.
"I am going to bring you back home, Wan’er," his deep voice was so soft it was barely louder than a whisper in the warm room. "No matter what happens tomorrow... no matter what price I have to pay... I will bring you home."
He slowly and carefully returned the precious wooden carving to his pouch, protecting it close to his heart.
Outside his tent, the Silver Leopard army continued their quiet, relentless preparations for whatever tomorrow’s dawn would bring.
Inside the inner grounds of the Supreme Citadel...
Lin Wan walked slowly along the stone pathways of the royal palace garden, her arm resting gently in Sister Yun’s supportive grip.
Despite the freezing winter weather, several rare mountain flowers bloomed bravely along the rock edges, their vibrant blue and soft white petals swaying gently beneath the cold breeze.
Lin Wan paused her footsteps beside a wide, frozen ornamental pond. The thick, crystal-clear ice reflected the dull grey afternoon sky like a giant silver mirror.
Sister Yun noticed the peaceful, distant look in Lin Wan’s eyes and asked softly, "My Lady... what are you thinking about right now?"
Lin Wan offered a small, sweet smile, her hands coming up to gently cup her rounded stomach. "I don’t entirely know why, Sister Yun... but today... my heart feels strangely, remarkably calm."
She turned her head slightly, looking past the garden walls toward the grand northern mountains looming in the distance.
"It feels as though..." Lin Wan murmured softly, her dark eyes shining with a faint, unshakeable intuition, "...it feels as though something truly important is about to happen very soon."
At that exact same moment...
Far above the palace walls, high in the grey winter sky...
A fast black hawk flew out from the highest tower of the Citadel, carrying Cassian’s sealed personal reply tied securely to its leg.
Its strong wings beat rhythmically against the freezing mountain wind as it swept across the snowy valley, heading directly toward the waiting fires of the Silver Leopard camp.
By the time nightfall fully blanketed the mountain realm... Patriarch Wang would receive his definitive answer.
And when the first rays of sunrise broke over the icy peaks tomorrow morning...
Two powerful kings would finally stand face to face after years of dark silence.
—————
The very first light of dawn spread slowly across the vast surface of the Frozen Lake.
Snowflakes drifted gently through the freezing morning air, landing softly on the glassy ice before melting into microscopic droplets of water.
Jagged mountain peaks stood like ancient silent sentinels around the desolate valley, watching over the two massive armies gathered on opposite shores.
Neither army moved a single step forward.
Thousands of battle-hardened warriors stood disciplined behind their fluttering clan banners, quietly waiting.
No soldier spoke above a soft whisper. The heavy air held a sharp, dangerous tension that made breathing feel difficult.
Today was not meant to be a day for senseless slaughter or brutal charges.
It was the critical day for two powerful rulers to stand face to face and decide whether a devastating war could still be avoided.
On the eastern shore of the wide lake, the high silver banner of the Silver Leopard Clan fluttered proudly in the crisp winter breeze.
Wei Xiang stood close beside Wang, carefully checking and tightening the thick leather straps wrapped around his iron wrist guards. He glanced sideways at his Patriarch’s calm face.
"You barely slept a single hour last night," Wei Xiang observed quietly.
Wang offered a faint, dry smile without turning his head. "You noticed that, did you?"
"It was hardly difficult to tell," Wei Xiang replied with a heavy sigh. "You sat inside your command tent reading logistical reports and scouting messages all night long."
"There was a great deal of critical information to review," Wang said softly, his deep voice smooth despite his fatigue.
Wei Xiang let out another low sigh, shaking his head. "You always say the exact same thing whenever you overwork yourself."
Wang shifted his golden eyes toward the open expanse of the frozen lake. "If I do not read those reports carefully... someone else will be forced to shoulder that burden later."
Wei Xiang folded his broad arms across his chest, his brow furrowing with genuine concern. "You truly do not know how to rest your mind, Wang."
Wang let out a low, quiet chuckle that warmed the cold air between them. "I have been told that exact same thing many times before."
Captain Bren walked up to the small group, his heavy boots crunching softly against the frost before he bowed his head respectfully. "Patriarch."
Wang turned his attention toward his trusted captain. "Report, Bren."
"The meeting site in the center of the lake has been thoroughly swept and inspected," Captain Bren announced clearly. "There are no hidden spirit formations beneath the ice. There are no concealed Manticore soldiers hiding along the perimeter. The Frozen Lake is completely clear."
Wang gave a single, firm nod of his head. "Good."
Another elder stepped forward from the formation, lowering his head. "Elder Marcus has personally inspected the high cliffs bordering the valley. We found no signs of an impending ambush."