Chapter 224
Wei Xiang surveyed the towering white cliffs surrounding the lake once more, his sharp eyes narrowing. "It feels far too quiet out here."
Wang answered in a calm, measured tone. "A battlefield before the sun rises is always quiet, Wei Xiang. It is simply pausing to decide whether it will remain a peaceful valley or become a massive graveyard."
Those somber words caused every commander standing nearby to fall completely silent. The harsh reality of what was at stake rested heavily on their shoulders.
After a quiet moment passed, Wang turned his full attention back to his inner circle. "I will go forward alone from this point."
Wei Xiang’s face hardened instantly, a sharp frown appearing on his features. "I deeply dislike that plan."
"I know you do," Wang replied gently.
"I should ride out on the ice with you," Wei Xiang insisted, taking a step forward.
"You shouldn’t," Wang stated firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Wei Xiang looked directly into Wang’s eyes, his expression laced with fierce protectiveness. "What if Cassian changes his mind the moment you step onto that open ice? What if he tries something treacherous?"
Wang offered a small, unbothered smile. "Then one of us made a fatal error in judgment."
"And if that person turns out to be him?" Wei Xiang pressed, his voice tight.
"Then you take everyone back home safely," Wang said smoothly.
Wei Xiang’s expression darkened dramatically, his hands clenching into tight fists at his sides. "I absolutely hate hearing you speak like that."
"I know it is difficult to hear," Wang said gently, stepping closer. "But you must listen to my words anyway."
Wang reached out, placing a firm, steady hand on the younger man’s shoulder. His golden eyes were filled with absolute seriousness. "If anything unexpected happens to me out on that ice... do not allow anger or revenge to blind your judgment or lead this clan into total destruction."
Wei Xiang slowly lowered his eyes to the snow, his throat tight with unexpressed emotion. "...You are making this sound far too much like a final goodbye."
Wang shook his head slowly, his grip on Wei Xiang’s shoulder tightening for a brief second before letting go. "I am not making it sound like a goodbye. I am making it sound like true responsibility."
Captain Bren stepped forward, holding the leather reins of a magnificent mount. "Your horse is ready, Patriarch."
Wang nodded approvingly. "Thank you, Bren."
He turned back to face Wei Xiang one last time. "I will return."
Wei Xiang took a deep breath, forcing his tense muscles to relax as he managed to form a small smile. "I will be waiting right here."
Without uttering another word, Wang mounted his snow-white horse.
The noble animal stepped slowly and deliberately onto the thick surface of the frozen lake. Its iron hooves clicked softly against the clear, solid ice, echoing clearly across the vast, empty space.
Every single Silver Leopard warrior stood in complete, breathless silence, watching their leader ride alone into the center of the valley.
On the exact opposite side of the broad, frozen valley...
The massive, iron-reinforced gates of the Supreme Citadel slowly ground open.
Cassian stepped out into the crisp morning air, wearing a heavy black cloak lined with dark silver fur that trailed behind his steady stride.
Captain Ronan followed closely several paces behind his sovereign. General Rowan walked alongside him, flanked by twenty elite Shadow Guards wearing dark steel armor and armed with heavy weapons.
The small procession brought their march to a halt right at the southern edge of the valley, where the snow met the thick ice of the lake.
Cassian paused, looking back over his shoulder at his trusted officers. "This is far enough."
Captain Ronan bowed his head low, his hand resting on his sword hilt. "Yes, Your Majesty. We will maintain our watch positions right here."
Cassian gave a single nod. "No one is to follow me onto the ice."
General Rowan frowned deeply, his weathered face filled with grave hesitation. "Your Majesty... if something treacherous occurs out on that open lake—"
Cassian interrupted him calmly, his golden eyes cold and unyielding. "You already know your orders, Rowan. You know what needs to be done."
General Rowan let out a heavy breath, reluctantly lowering his head. "...Yes, sire."
Cassian turned his back on his army and continued walking completely alone toward the precise center of the Frozen Lake.
The bitter mountain wind lifted the heavy edges of his black cloak. His dark leather boots made crisp, deliberate sounds against the frosted ice as he traversed the white expanse.
Soon...
The two solitary figures moving across the wide lake could see each other clearly.
Neither ruler hurried his pace to show eagerness. Neither ruler slowed his steps out of fear or hesitation.
They simply continued moving forward until only a few meters of solid ice separated them.
For the very first time in many long, painful years...
The Sovereign King of the Manticore Clan...
And the supreme Patriarch of the Silver Leopard Clan...
Stood directly face to face.
An absolute, heavy silence greeted them.
Flakes of white snow drifted lazily through the frozen air between them.
Neither ruler reached toward his waist for a weapon. Neither ruler released his suffocating spiritual pressure to intimidate the other.
Wang was the first to break the long quiet, his deep voice carrying smoothly over the open ice. "You came."
Cassian gave a small, dignified nod of his head. "So did you."
A faint, almost invisible smile touched the corners of Wang’s lips. "I said I would come."
"I expected nothing less from you," Cassian replied plainly.
Another long, quiet silence followed his words.
Cassian took a moment to carefully study the man standing before him. The Wang who stood here today was noticeably different from the descriptions in the military reports he had reviewed months ago.
His golden eyes were far calmer. His posture was steady and grounded. The overwhelming, wild grief that had once surrounded him like a dark shadow after Lin Wan’s disappearance had transformed into a quiet, unshakeable determination.
At the same time, Wang was quietly observing Cassian.
The Manticore King looked precisely as the stories described him.
He was cold. He was proud. He was completely impossible to read.
Yet... as Wang looked closer, he could see faint signs of deep physical and mental exhaustion hiding just beneath those striking golden eyes.
Neither man brought up the subject.
Finally, Cassian broke the silence. "You were the one who formally requested this meeting."
"I was," Wang acknowledged.
"Then state your business clearly."
Wang looked past Cassian for a moment, gazing toward the endless snow-capped mountains beyond the fortress before bringing his clear eyes back to the King.
"I did not come out onto this ice today to threaten you or your realm," Wang said steadily. "I came here to prevent thousands of completely unnecessary deaths."
Cassian remained entirely silent, listening.
Wang continued, his voice steady against the howling wind. "Our clans have already lost far too much over the years. Every single family waiting on both sides of this valley is sitting in anxiety. They are waiting for their fathers... their sons... their brothers... to return home alive."
The winter wind carried his resonant words across the vast, empty lake.
"If we foolishly choose the path of war today..." Wang warned, "...many of those waiting families will receive only bodies in return."
Cassian looked at him quietly, his expression unreadable. "Do you truly believe I do not already know that simple truth?"
"I believe you understand it very well," Wang replied cleanly.
"Then why did you march a massive army all the way to my border?" Cassian asked, his voice sharpening slightly.
Wang answered without a single second of hesitation. "Because my mate is currently sitting inside your Citadel."
He paused, his chest rising and falling slowly. "I gave you time, Cassian. I waited as long as my heart could bear. I searched tirelessly for another peaceful way to bring her home. But there was simply no other path left to me."
Cassian’s golden eyes remained remarkably calm as he stared back at the Patriarch. "And tell me... if our positions were reversed today, what would you have done?"
Wang did not need to think about his answer. "I would have done the exact same thing you are doing now."
For the very first time since they had met...
A rare, fleeting moment of mutual understanding passed between the two supreme rulers.
It was not an agreement. It was certainly not friendship.
It was pure, undeniable understanding between two men who carried the heavy weight of leadership.
Cassian gave a single, slow nod of his head. "At least you possess the courage to be completely honest with me."
"I am far too old to lie badly," Wang remarked softly.
A faint, subtle smile almost appeared on Cassian’s cold face, but it vanished as quickly as it came.