The night over Zhenlu was suffocatingly silent. The weight of a new rule had settled over the city like an iron shroud, suffusing the air with an oppressive stillness. Where once there had been defiance, now there was only subdued acceptance. The streets that had been alive with murmurs and uncertainty were now patrolled by soldiers who no longer bore the mark of Wei but that of Shao Xian.
Within the palace, Shao Xian sat upon the throne of Zhenlu, his posture poised yet relaxed. His fingers traced the carved armrest idly, his gaze distant, as if peering into an unseen horizon beyond the confines of this mortal city. Bai Ren stood beside him, his arms crossed, his expression unreadable.
"The army is yours," Bai Ren finally said. "The ministers obey. The people kneel. Yet I can't help but wonder, does ruling Zhenlu amuse you, or do you already find it insignificant?"
Shao Xian exhaled lightly, his golden eyes reflecting the flickering torchlight. "Zhenlu was never the destination, only a necessary step. A stone in the river, meant to be stepped upon before moving forward."
Bai Ren smirked. "Then it seems your next step will come sooner than expected."
At that moment, hurried footsteps echoed through the grand hall. A shadowed figure entered, clad in the armor of Zhenlu's scouts. He fell to one knee before the throne, his breath heavy from exertion.
"My Lord," the scout said, pressing a fist to his chest. "Word has reached the bordering cities. The fall of Lord Wei has sent ripples through the region. Some watch in silence, waiting to see your next move. Others…" The scout hesitated. "Others see your rise as an opportunity."
Shao Xian's fingers stilled against the armrest. "Opportunity?"
The scout swallowed hard. "Three factions are mobilizing. They assume Zhenlu is weakened in the aftermath of its conquest. Two seek to plunder. One seeks to claim dominion."
Bai Ren chuckled. "How bold."
Shao Xian's expression remained unchanged. "Names."
The scout nodded quickly. "The Black Serpent Bandits move from the west. Their numbers are vast but undisciplined. They smell weakness and wish to loot before vanishing into the wilderness."
"A minor nuisance," Bai Ren muttered.
"The Silver Flame Sect approaches from the south," the scout continued. "They are a small sect but powerful. They see Zhenlu's fall as a sign of instability and wish to expand their influence."
Shao Xian's gaze darkened slightly. "And the third?"
The scout hesitated. "The Crimson Thunder Army. A warlord named Gao Zhen commands them. He is ruthless, and unlike the others, he does not seek to plunder or expand. He seeks to rule."
Bai Ren's smirk faded. "A true contender, then."
Shao Xian leaned back slightly, considering. "How far is Gao Zhen from Zhenlu?"
"Two days' march," the scout answered.
The silence that followed was thick with unspoken intent. Bai Ren studied Shao Xian's face, waiting for the decision that would undoubtedly shape Zhenlu's future.
Finally, Shao Xian spoke. "Send word to the Black Serpent Bandits. Offer them a choice—swear fealty, or be hunted to extinction."
The scout bowed. "And the Silver Flame Sect?"
Shao Xian's voice was cold. "Annihilate them."
Bai Ren raised an eyebrow. "Shall I lead the purge?"
Shao Xian nodded once. "Take five hundred of Zhenlu's best. Make an example of them."
Bai Ren's grin returned. "With pleasure."
The scout hesitated before speaking again. "And… Gao Zhen?"
Shao Xian rose from his throne, his presence alone causing the air to shift. He descended the steps, passing the kneeling scout without sparing him a glance. As he reached the massive doors of the hall, he spoke, his voice like a whisper of death carried upon the wind.
"I will handle him personally."
---
The next morning, the city of Zhenlu awoke to the sight of its new ruler walking alone beyond its gates. The sky was a dull shade of gray, heavy with the promise of an impending storm. Yet it was not the storm that the people feared—it was the man who walked into the wilderness with nothing but the silent promise of destruction.
Gao Zhen's army was camped within a valley just beyond the eastern border of Zhenlu. The warlord had not been subtle in his approach. His banners flew high, his soldiers numbered in the thousands, and his arrogance could be felt even from a distance.
As Shao Xian approached the valley, the first scouts spotted him. Their expressions wavered between disbelief and amusement. A lone man approaching the army of a warlord?
One of them, a younger soldier with a scarred face, rode forward, his spear lowered. "State your business, traveler. This is the domain of the Crimson Thunder Army."
Shao Xian did not stop walking. His hands remained behind his back, his robes barely shifting with his movement.
The soldier frowned. "I asked you a question."
Still, no response.
The soldier's grip on his spear tightened. "Do you think yourself above speaking, you arrogant fool? Do you even know who commands this army?"
Shao Xian finally stopped. He lifted his gaze, golden irises reflecting the dim light of the sun. His next words were spoken without anger, without arrogance—merely as an undeniable truth.
"I know exactly who commands this army. And by day's end, he will kneel before me or cease to exist."
The soldiers stiffened. Then, laughter erupted. Some clutched their sides, others wiped tears from their eyes.
The young soldier sneered. "You're either a madman or a fool."
Shao Xian exhaled softly. "No. I am inevitability."
Then, he moved.
The world blurred. The soldier barely had time to blink before an overwhelming force struck him. His body was sent crashing into the valley below, shattering rock and earth upon impact. Blood pooled beneath him, his breath shallow and broken.
Silence.
Then, the air itself trembled.
Within the valley, thousands of soldiers turned, their eyes drawn to the lone figure now standing at the edge of their camp. The warlord, Gao Zhen, rose from his seat, his brows furrowing as he studied the intruder.
Shao Xian did not need an army. He did not need banners, or declarations, or grand speeches.
He was the storm that had come for them.
And he would not leave until all had been decided.