Chapter 25 #3
“I fear not, Lord Lao. Our enemies have claimed a Bronze Water core, thanks to unexpected treachery, which is all Xien Su needs to claim Sunlay’s hand.
Yet I fear things are worse than even that.
Xien Su is now insisting that the entire elite coterie sworn to Dongfang Hong be permitted to pass freely, without any strictures whatsoever, and for his armies to liberate what resources are needed for the betterment of the ‘empire as a whole,’ as he put it.
Of course, it’s Guo the diplomat that does all the talking and negotiating, and the bastard is eager to squeeze us for all he can get, and I fear that absurd demands will seem suddenly reasonable when the Water core that has sustained us for over a century finally gives out.
Which, with the bitter cold I now sense radiating from Winter’s gate, could be in a matter of mere days… or just hours.”
Lao Tie’s features took on a ghastly pallor. “That smug crimson bastard will not steal my beloved so easily!”
Nili nodded her agreement, her eyes gazing sympathetically upon his wounded party. “I see you have all paid dearly for the magnificent boon that will save this city.”
Kuaisu flashed a bleak smile. “Damn right we did. It’s a miracle we weren’t killed during the first ambush.
Yet somehow, we survived.” Her brave front cracked, tears leaking free of her stalwart gaze.
“And I’m not such a fool that I don’t know how unlikely it is that any Silver healer will be able to heal wounds inflicted by a Gold-tier monster. ”
Nili bowed her head. “I promise you that should we get through this, doing our utmost to heal your injuries will be the least of your boons.”
Tang flashed a tired smile. “You’ve already done more than enough for me and mine, councilor… Hero,” he said the last while gazing pointedly at Alex, who felt his cheeks heating up at the praise.
“Oh, you must be Li Li’s father. I thought you looked familiar!” Lini gushed.
Tang solemnly nodded. “And my Li Li is grateful to you as well, honored Lini. You will always be a friend to my house and may call upon my family for shelter or aid, should ever you need it.”
Lini’s cheeks flushed at the praise. “I’m grateful. But, um… just so you know, if those genocidal bastards claim this city, me and mine will be purged as soon as they can manage it, so I’m not going to hold you to that oath.”
Tang’s gaze hardened. “You may rest assured that your peril would make our oath all the more crucial to keep and honor.” He then flashed a hard smile of his own.
“And you’d better believe that after thirty years working with the caravans—in all sorts of roles—I can smuggle you out of the city past all but the most perceptive guards.
Guards who will have far more to worry about than us, should tumultuous days be in Wanshi’s future. ”
“Or… we could avoid that tumultuous bullshit altogether with the help of Alex’s core,” Ya Ling pointedly noted. She smirked at Lao Tie’s furrowed brow.
“Admit it, Lao Tie. Alex is the one who found it. And though I’ll give you credit for being the most gracious young master I’ve ever worked with—and thank you for that—this goes far beyond claiming prestige or title. This is about the welfare of the entire city.”
Lao Tie’s expression froze, warring between gratitude and a desperate hunger, and Alex thought he understood why.
Alex calmly strode over to the young man and clapped his shoulder, showing off but not surrendering the core.
“You’d better believe I’ll be using this to lock however many centuries of prosperity for your home as I can,” he said, before pulling it away.
“And you’ll be taking credit for it. So long as you promise me that you’ll only be claiming Sunlay’s hand if she wants it so claimed. ”
Lao Tie blinked, gazing at Alex with an enigmatic expression. “Truly, Alex? You would dare face Dongfang Hong’s entire regiment without claiming a shred of glory in return, or even the heart of the most beautiful girl in all the deserts?”
Alex smirked. “Sunlay’s a beautiful girl, yes.
But the heart she captured was yours, I think.
And if you captured hers as well, then I can wish you both nothing but happiness.
And you’re damn right I’d take the fight to my favorite class of asshole.
But I’m not about playing the fool, this time around—or at least, not entirely the fool without a shred of wisdom in there somewhere,” he said with a chuckle, before explaining his plan to his friends.
Lini exchanged a glance with her mother. “Could it work?”
Nili frowned. “Normally, I’d say no. The wards should prevent the caldera ridgeline from being crossed for the deserts beyond without fail. But Alex is clearly Silver, the same rank as the stone that will soon fail us, and in failing, both water and ward will be gone.”
The entire group flinched at those words.
“Which means it’s the perfect night for me and Ya Ling to enjoy some quality time gazing up at the stars and down at the entire city on the northern end,” Alex declared with a knowing look a blushing Ya Ling’s way.
Ya Ling nodded, and he was surprised when she suddenly acted so awkward, not even meeting his eyes, only squeezing his hand.
“Come on. The sooner we surrender the prizes we’re willing to let go and collect our credits, the sooner we can enjoy that walk that just might take us out of the city altogether. ”