Chapter 222
"The center of the Frozen Lake situated directly between both military camps," Kieran explained smoothly. "My Patriarch requests that only the two of you attend this parley. No vast armies surrounding the perimeter. No hidden guards stationed in the tree lines. No tactical ambushes."
Kieran paused, looking straight into Cassian’s golden eyes. "He wishes to grant both realms one final opportunity to prevent unnecessary bloodshed."
The bitter winter wind swept through the pavilion, carrying faint flecks of frost with it.
General Rowan immediately stepped up, his brow heavily furrowed with deep concern. "That is far too dangerous, Your Majesty! Walking onto an open frozen lake with no guards is asking for a trap."
Captain Ronan nodded in firm agreement with his fellow commander. "I must concur, sire. We cannot guarantee your physical safety under such exposed conditions."
Kieran looked directly at the grand ruler, his voice remaining cool and steady despite the hostile glares from the generals. "My Patriarch asked me to deliver these exact words to you, Your Majesty: ’If two sovereign leaders cannot find the courage to trust each other enough to speak face to face, then thousands of innocent warriors will surely die simply because of their silence.’"
The profound words hung heavily in the freezing mountain air, leaving a lingering weight over everyone present.
Cassian looked at the messenger for a long, quiet moment, his golden eyes unblinking. Finally, he asked softly, "And if I choose to refuse his request?"
Kieran answered without a single shred of hesitation or threat. "Then the Silver Leopard Clan will have no choice but to continue our forward advance tomorrow. But my Patriarch holds sincere hope that it will not come to such a tragic outcome."
Cassian slowly looked down at the folded paper resting between his pale fingers. The handwriting was neat, firm, and completely steady. The chosen words were clear, simple, and direct.
There were no hidden threats written between the lines, no petty insults to stir his pride, and no arrogant demands for surrender.
There was only a single, honest request. One last chance to halt a catastrophic war before its first bloody blow was struck.
General Rowan took another eager step forward. "Your Majesty... I strongly advise against accepting this foolish proposition. It carries far too many unknown variables."
Captain Ronan added firmly, "I must urge you to reject it as well, sire."
Cassian remained completely silent, staring out over the white landscape. Outside the open pavilion, thick snowflakes began to drift lazily down from the grey sky, blanketing the frozen valley below.
Far beyond those sharp mountains, Patriarch Wang was sitting in his command tent, waiting for a single answer.
And somewhere inside the quiet warmth of the grand palace, Lin Wan was sitting near her window, completely unaware that the fate of two entire realms now rested entirely on Cassian’s next words.
The long, heavy silence inside the open pavilion stretched on until it felt almost suffocating.
Snow continued to drift through the open side arches of the stone structure, landing softly on the floor and quickly melting against the warm, treated flagstones.
Cassian continued to look at the folded letter held between his fingers, his golden eyes reflecting the dull grey light of the winter sky.
General Rowan finally broke the lingering quietness, his voice tight with deep concern. "Your Majesty... please reconsider. This proposed meeting carries far too much risk for your safety."
Captain Ronan nodded his head in agreement. "Even if Patriarch Wang intends to stand on that ice alone, we cannot completely rule out the possibility of hidden long-range spirit snipers or hidden reinforcement units waiting in the surrounding treeline."
One of the Citadel’s senior garrison commanders, General Darius, stepped forward from the shadows of the pavilion and bowed low. "I must voice my agreement with my fellow commanders, sire. The safety of the King must come before all other tactical considerations."
Kieran stood quietly in the center of the stone pavilion, offering no loud arguments or bitter defenses. He had faithfully delivered his Patriarch’s words. The final decision no longer belonged to him or his clan.
Cassian slowly refolded the parchment once more, his long fingers pressing along the paper’s edge before he turned and handed the missive to Captain Ronan. "Have all three of you finished voicing your objections?"
The three experienced generals looked at one another nervously before straightening their backs. "We have, Your Majesty."
Cassian clasped his hands loosely behind his broad back, his posture as unyielding as the stone pillars surrounding him. "Then hear my absolute decision."
Every soldier and commander in the room instantly stood at attention, holding their breath.
"I will go to the Frozen Lake," Cassian declared smoothly.
General Rowan’s face filled with immediate panic. "Your Majesty—"
Cassian slowly raised a single hand into the air, and Rowan’s protest died instantly in his throat.
"I formally accepted the messenger’s white flag," Cassian said, his deep voice carrying an absolute, cold authority that admitted no further debate. "I will not stain my own kingly honor or dishonor my realm by acting like a fearful coward."
Captain Ronan lowered his head slightly, his tone pleading. "Sire, the danger—"
"If Patriarch Wang truly desired to assassinate me through treacherous means..." Cassian interrupted calmly, turning his golden eyes onto his captain, "...he would not have announced his presence miles away and sent a formal written missive beforehand."
The pavilion fell completely silent once again as his words sank in.
Cassian continued, his tone dark and reflective. "That man has marched his warriors across half of the Upper Realm through brutal winter storms. He did not come all this way simply to kill one king in an open field. He came here for Lin Wan."
Kieran finally spoke up, his voice respectful. "My Patriarch stated those exact same words before I rode out from camp, Your Majesty. He genuinely wishes to avoid a bloody battle if a peaceful resolution can still be found."
Cassian gave a single, slow nod of his head. "I know he does."
General Darius still looked thoroughly unconvinced, his hand resting tightly on his sword belt. "And what happens if these peaceful negotiations inevitably fail, sire? What if neither side is willing to yield?"
Cassian’s golden eyes became utterly serene and cold. "Then nothing changes from our current tactical standing. We turn our backs, we return to our respective positions, and our armies remain exactly where they are."
He looked out toward the distant white mountains once more. "And only then... if there is truly no other viable path remaining to us... we prepare ourselves for an all-out war."
No one dared to argue with him further.
Every commander present understood that when the Manticore King spoke in that specific, calm tone, his decision was completely final and absolute.
Cassian turned his head toward Captain Ronan. "Select twenty of our most skilled Shadow Guards to accompany me tomorrow morning. They will escort me only to the southern treeline bordering the Frozen Lake."
He added sternly, "They are to remain completely hidden within the forest canopy. They are strictly forbidden from stepping onto the ice or interfering in any way... unless I give a direct, explicit command."
Captain Ronan bowed deeply, his expression resolute. "As you command, Your Majesty."
Cassian then turned his full gaze back onto Kieran. "You have traveled far through cold winds to deliver this message, Captain
Kieran. Warm food and rest will be provided for you in our outer guardhouse. You will be escorted safely back past our border gates before the sun sets today."
Kieran placed his right fist firmly over his left chest in a formal gesture of deep respect. "I offer you my sincere thanks, Your Majesty. I will carry your answer back to my Patriarch immediately."
Captain Ronan gestured toward two of his guards. "Escort our guest to the outer quarters. Ensure he is treated with proper respect as a diplomatic messenger."
"Yes, Captain!" the guards responded in unison.
Kieran gave one final, respectful bow toward the Sovereign before turning and following his escorts out of the open stone pavilion.
The soft sound of his footfalls slowly faded away into the quiet stone corridors of the fortress.
Far away from the grand stone walls of the Supreme Citadel...
Back inside the vast Silver Leopard military camp...
The tense, heavy atmosphere had not eased in the slightest. Armored warriors continued to methodically inspect their weapons, oil their leather armor straps, and check their supply packs, while clan healers carefully sorted through jars of dried herbs and precious healing pills.
Not a single soul in the camp knew whether tomorrow’s dawn would bring a peaceful resolution... or a terrifying bath of blood.
Wei Xiang stood near the edge of a high rocky cliff that overlooked the sweeping snowy valley below. His sharp, dark eyes never drifted away from the massive, distant outline of the Supreme Citadel looming against the horizon.
Captain Bren walked up behind him, his heavy boots crunching softly in the thick snow. "You are still standing out here in the freezing wind, Young Master."