As the sun climbed higher in the sky, its golden light casting long shadows across the central square, Shao Xian stood motionless. His robes, dark as the abyss, barely stirred in the wind. Before him, the kneeling masses of Zhenlu remained silent, their gazes lowered, their breaths shallow. They had seen a ruler fall, his soul torn from his body as if he were nothing more than dust in the wind.
The weight of his authority had settled upon them. There was no need for further words. Power spoke louder than any decree.
Bai Ren stepped forward, his cold eyes scanning the kneeling crowd. He could sense it—the absolute submission, the quiet terror that ensured none would dare resist.
"It is done," Bai Ren said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Shao Xian turned away from the lifeless corpse of Lord Wei. There was no point in dwelling on the dead. He had already set his gaze upon the next step.
The throne awaited him.
---
The palace of Zhenlu, once a symbol of Wei's rule, had been stripped of its former arrogance. Ministers and servants moved with cautious, measured steps, their heads bowed as Shao Xian entered the grand chamber.
At the far end of the hall, the throne loomed atop a raised platform. Ornate carvings of dragons and celestial beasts adorned its frame, a relic of centuries of rule. Yet now, it was empty.
Shao Xian ascended the steps, each footstep echoing through the silent hall. As he reached the throne, he did not hesitate. He sat, his posture regal, his expression unreadable.
The ministers gathered below knelt once more.
One of them, an elderly man with a thin mustache and trembling hands, dared to raise his head slightly. His voice, though shaky, carried a veneer of practiced diplomacy.
"My Lord," he said, choosing his words carefully. "What are your commands for the city?"
Shao Xian rested his fingers against the carved armrest, his touch light but firm. "Zhenlu belongs to me now," he said, his tone even. "Its laws will be rewritten. Its loyalties will be reforged."
He allowed his gaze to drift over the gathered officials. "Those who prove useful will remain. Those who prove treacherous will not live to regret it."
The message was clear.
A murmur of uneasy agreement spread through the ministers. They had no choice but to accept the new reality.
Bai Ren, standing to Shao Xian's right, folded his arms. "And the military?"
Shao Xian's gaze darkened slightly. "The army of Zhenlu will be reforged in my image. Any who resist will share their former lord's fate."
One of the generals—a broad-shouldered man with graying hair—stepped forward. His face bore the hardened lines of a warrior, but his eyes betrayed wariness.
"I have led the city's forces for two decades," the general said. "I know their strengths, their weaknesses."
Shao Xian regarded him in silence for a moment. Then he spoke. "And do you intend to resist me?"
The general did not flinch. "No, my Lord. I intend to serve the strongest."
A faint smile ghosted Shao Xian's lips. "Then you are wiser than your former master."
He gestured to Bai Ren. "Have the soldiers assembled in the courtyard by nightfall. I will see for myself if they are worthy of my rule."
Bai Ren nodded, vanishing from the chamber to carry out the order.
Shao Xian turned his attention back to the ministers. "Send word beyond Zhenlu's borders. Let it be known that I now rule this city. Those who accept my rule will be spared. Those who resist will be erased."
The ministers bowed deeply. "It shall be done, my Lord."
---
As night fell, the courtyard of the palace was filled with the assembled soldiers of Zhenlu. Hundreds stood in perfect formation, their armor reflecting the flickering torchlight. Despite their disciplined stance, an air of unease lingered among them.
Shao Xian stood at the edge of the courtyard, his gaze sweeping over the ranks of warriors. These were the men who had once sworn loyalty to Wei. Now, their future rested upon a single truth—whether they could adapt to a world where only strength mattered.
Bai Ren stepped forward, his voice sharp and commanding. "Your former lord is dead," he announced. "Zhenlu belongs to Shao Xian now. Your choice is simple—serve, or perish."
Silence hung over the gathered soldiers. Some stiffened at the words, others exchanged brief glances.
Then, a voice broke the silence.
"I will serve."
A soldier stepped forward, his armor gleaming under the torches. He knelt, pressing his fist to his chest in a gesture of absolute submission.
Another followed.
Then another.
Like a wave rolling through the ranks, one by one, the soldiers fell to their knees.
Shao Xian watched without surprise. He had expected nothing less.
Yet, even as submission spread, there were those whose hearts remained burdened with doubt. A handful of soldiers—older, hardened by years of loyalty to Wei—stood unmoving. Their grips tightened around their weapons.
Bai Ren's gaze sharpened. He knew the look in their eyes.
Before they could act, Shao Xian raised his hand.
An invisible force swept through the air.
The resistant soldiers gasped, their bodies seizing as an overwhelming pressure bore down upon them. Their weapons clattered to the ground as they fell to their knees, their limbs trembling uncontrollably.
Shao Xian stepped forward, his voice calm yet absolute.
"I do not tolerate hesitation," he said.
The struggling soldiers gasped for breath, their bodies drenched in sweat. Their willpower crumbled beneath the sheer force pressing upon them.
One by one, they fell forward, their foreheads touching the cold ground.
Shao Xian lowered his hand, and the pressure dissipated.
The message was clear. There would be no rebellion. No lingering doubts.
Zhenlu's army now belonged to him.
---
Deep in the heart of the palace, Shao Xian stood in the highest chamber, gazing out over the city. The torches that lined the streets flickered in the distance, their glow illuminating the paths of a people who now knew their place.
Bai Ren entered, his expression thoughtful. "The transition was smoother than I expected."
Shao Xian did not turn. "Fear is the greatest tool of control."
Bai Ren smirked. "So, what now? Will you remain here, or is Zhenlu merely a stepping stone?"
Shao Xian's fingers traced the edge of the window frame. His eyes held no attachment to the city below.
"Zhenlu was never the goal," he said. "It is only the beginning."
Bai Ren nodded in understanding. "Then we move forward."
A moment of silence passed between them before Bai Ren spoke again.
"There are whispers beyond Zhenlu's borders," he said. "Other cities, other lords—some will submit, but others will not. They will see you as a conqueror."
Shao Xian turned, his gaze unreadable. "Then they will learn."
A gust of wind swept through the chamber, carrying with it the scent of distant lands.
The path of domination had only just begun.