The moon hung high above the city, casting its pale glow over the now-silent streets. The Jade Pavilion stood tall, its golden rooftops shimmering beneath the night sky. But within its walls, a storm was brewing—one that would soon engulf not just this city, but the entire realm.
Shao Xian sat upon his throne, his fingers drumming lightly against the armrest. The hall was empty save for Bai Ren, who stood before him, his posture rigid, awaiting orders. The scent of incense lingered in the air, mingling with the faint trace of blood that had yet to be fully scrubbed from the marble floor—a reminder of the emissaries who had dared to test Shao Xian's patience.
"They have left," Bai Ren finally said, his voice steady. "The emissaries will deliver your message."
Shao Xian did not immediately respond. His gaze remained fixed upon the flickering lanterns, his mind weaving through the countless possibilities that lay ahead. Words alone would not be enough to subdue the provinces that still hesitated. Fear was a powerful tool, but true domination required something more—an iron fist, an example that would leave no room for doubt.
"What of the silent ones?" Shao Xian asked at last.
Bai Ren's eyes darkened. "They gather their forces."
A low chuckle escaped Shao Xian's lips. "As expected."
His enemies were not fools. The display of power in the great hall had shaken them, but it had also forced them into action. Those who still believed in their strength would seek to unite, to stand against the inevitable. They clung to their crowns and titles, grasping at illusions of power that had long since begun to fade.
"They will not act immediately," Bai Ren continued. "They are still unsure of your full strength. They wait, hoping for a weakness to reveal itself."
Shao Xian finally turned his gaze to his subordinate. "Then we shall not give them the luxury of waiting."
Bai Ren bowed. "Your will, my lord."
A moment of silence stretched between them, and then Shao Xian rose. The movement was slow, deliberate—yet it sent an undeniable ripple through the room, as though the very air had shifted to accommodate his presence.
"I will move first," he said, stepping forward. "Summon the riders. We leave before the sun rises."
Bai Ren did not question the command. He simply bowed lower before vanishing into the shadows, his steps soundless as he went to carry out the order.
Shao Xian remained standing, his gaze now fixed upon the horizon. Somewhere beyond those distant mountains, the so-called rulers of the provinces still clung to their delusions.
But soon, they would understand.
Soon, the storm would arrive.
---
The night passed swiftly, and before the first light of dawn could touch the sky, Shao Xian and his chosen warriors rode out from the Jade Pavilion. Their horses cut through the darkness like specters, their armor glinting faintly beneath the dying stars. Each rider carried no banners, no insignias—for they did not march as mere men of war, but as harbingers of the inevitable.
Shao Xian rode at the forefront, his cloak billowing behind him. His eyes remained forward, unblinking, as they tore across the landscape. He could feel the pulse of the land beneath them, the slow, rhythmic heartbeat of an empire that did not yet realize it was already his.
They moved with precision, each step calculated. By the time the sun finally crested the horizon, the city they sought was within reach.
Zhenlu—one of the largest provinces still resisting his rule.
It was a city of stone and steel, its walls standing tall against the morning light. Banners of its ruling clan fluttered in the wind, a declaration of defiance that had stood unchallenged for decades.
Shao Xian's lips curled in amusement.
That defiance would end today.
---
The gates of Zhenlu were heavily guarded. Soldiers lined the walls, their weapons gleaming, their expressions tense. Word of Shao Xian's rise had reached them, and though they stood firm, the fear in their eyes was unmistakable.
At the center of it all, atop the great wall, stood Lord Wei—ruler of Zhenlu, a man who had held his seat for over thirty years. His eyes, sharp and calculating, locked onto the approaching riders.
Even from a distance, Shao Xian could sense the conflict within him. Wei was not a fool. He knew that a battle against Shao Xian was not one he could win. And yet, pride held him in place. Pride, and the foolish notion that standing behind stone walls would keep him safe.
Shao Xian pulled his horse to a halt just before the city gates. His warriors followed suit, forming a perfect line behind him. The air was thick with anticipation, the moment stretched taut like a bowstring ready to snap.
Then, Shao Xian spoke.
"Open the gates."
His voice was not loud, and yet it carried through the silence like a thunderclap.
A murmur rippled through the soldiers above. Some exchanged glances, uncertainty flickering across their faces.
Lord Wei, however, remained unmoved. "I see no banners," he called down. "No declarations. No envoys. And yet, you demand entry."
Shao Xian smiled. "I do not demand. I state what will happen."
Wei narrowed his eyes. "You believe yourself a god, then?"
Shao Xian did not answer. He simply raised his hand.
And the world trembled.
A pressure unlike anything the soldiers had ever felt before descended upon the city. The very air grew thick, crushing, as though the sky itself had fallen upon them. Some of the guards collapsed where they stood, gasping for breath, their weapons slipping from their grasp.
Wei's eyes widened in horror as he staggered back, his knees threatening to buckle.
Shao Xian lowered his hand.
The pressure vanished as swiftly as it had come, leaving only stunned silence in its wake.
Wei struggled to regain his composure, his face pale. He looked around at his men—some still on their knees, others trembling where they stood.
There was no battle to be fought here.
There was no victory to be had.
With great effort, he turned back to Shao Xian.
And then, slowly, he raised a hand.
The gates of Zhenlu creaked open.
Shao Xian did not move immediately. He simply watched, letting the weight of the moment settle upon all those present.
Then, with the slightest nod, he urged his horse forward.
The riders followed.
And just like that, another city fell beneath his shadow.