Chapter 7 #4
So long as he was never forced to meet the living heart of Zuihaoshi City’s newfound military might.
Should Alex ever find himself meeting Dongfang Hong’s gaze…
should he dare to force the fight his opponent had fled countless years—decades?
—ago, he just knew that the odd, unexpected truce between him and a pantheon who absolutely despised him would be at an end.
As would any hope of a peaceful life free of horror and tragedy that Alex was so desperately eager to embrace.
He wasn’t even sure how he knew these things, just that he did.
And until he hit Gold… he shook his head with dismay, somehow certain that he would never be able to sense, let alone find, access, or enter his own precious realm until that near-impossible milestone had been reached.
An additional silent accord between various parties that Alex just knew to be true.
It was a stricture that he was more than fine with, already knowing the terrible price that would be paid, should any version of himself, perhaps countless lifetimes from now, whose memory had been wiped clean, dare to enter his created realm before he had achieved that milestone, no matter how many lives it took.
He scowled, pulling himself free of his own brooding thoughts and pointedly looking away from the score or so of Silver-tier killers hidden in the sands, because his friend’s unspoken plea was right on the money.
It was one thing to risk his own life, rescuing a doomed caravan from certain peril.
But to pick a fight here and now against such an overwhelming force, an act that could so easily lead to the slaughter of everyone he had tried to save over the last two days, showing just what a fool he could be after pushing himself with such arrogance—no. He was a better friend than that.
Even if he made damn sure he knew exactly where his opponents were on his growing desert interface map, even receiving a notice to that effect.
Congratulations! Your desperate efforts to mark the location of a band of killers who could so easily wipe out any desert city’s elites have paid off. Desert Sense is now Rank 3!
Nili’s tense features eased into a relieved smile when Alex dipped his head.
“You’re right, this isn’t the time. Now that we know the location of the threat, let’s get your charge and this caravan to safety. But you know we all need to take added precautions, now.”
Sunlay’s eyes widened in an unspoken question to their silent conversation.
Nili sighed and nodded, gently squeezing her charge’s hand, speaking aloud for all their benefit.
“It means that we must be very careful when we return to your father’s side. Our presence alone must serve as our reassurance while we do nothing to disrupt the status quo.”
The young noblewoman looked momentarily outraged. “But that would make it effortless for our enemies to manipulate him unmercifully!”
Alex flashed his fingers in ways that made Sunlay flinch.
“And pacified diplomats, certain that your father will come to heel, will feel no need to destroy all their own hard-won efforts by sending out messenger boys, or maybe paper cranes, to alert these assassins with a kill order against your family.”
Sunlay paled before his warning gaze, before lowering her head. “So, you know.”
Alex wanted to roll his eyes even as Nili and Quing Da tensed.
“Really? Like it wasn’t obvious with so many resources brought to bear on your behalf?
With you acting with such unspoken confidence, like the hero of your own story?
” He quirked a smile at their expressions.
He wasn’t going to say anything more than that out here in the desert, of course, with the caravan and a score of presently quiet Silver-tier foes at their back.
Some things, after all, were best left completely unsaid.
When the caravan finally reached the impressive city gates, all of them, even Alex, were filled with a giddy sense relief at having actually arrived in one piece.
Of course, no one they had rescued dared contradict Sunlay when she made it clear that she and her companions were nothing more than hired mercenaries who had taken out a handful of bandits barely worth the trouble of mentioning.
And then they were through the massive gate, Alex hurriedly stepping free of the imposing portcullis to behold a city quite reminiscent of Liushi, graced with ivory-hued towering buildings on either side of a stately date-tree-lined boulevard more than wide enough for trade caravans and gateside hawkers as well.
Men and women dressed in white robes or loose flowing blouses and shirts could be seen selling figs, dates, and all matter of goods at the handful of stalls leading in the direction of what must be the central market as hopeful children approached with excitement, presenting open palms that Alex happily filled with dates, young voices piping up with offers to serve as tour guides.
He exchanged relieved smiles with companions.
Against all odds, they had successfully made it to Wanshi City with desperately needed resources at hand, enemies carefully spotted and noted, and nothing worse than a teary-eyed and grateful caravan clan who actually knew of their presence.
Maybe, against all odds, their mission might actually have a happy ending.
Yet the tense look in Nili’s eyes made it clear that it wouldn’t be quite as easy as walking boldly up to the palace with prizes in hand.
Still, Sunlay looked as relieved and filled with hope as Alex felt, her beautiful brown eyes twinkling with all the warmth of the glorious fiery-gold sunset now gracing the sky.
“Come on, Alex. Let me take you to the best inn in Wanshi City. From there, we’ll plan our next move.”