At this moment, the middle-aged man had finished reading the secret letter. He stroked his short beard and said indifferently, “The messenger from the other side informed us that the Princess will only stay here for one day, not a moment more. With her intervention, no matter how many backup plans Song Zining has arranged, they will be of no use. This matter is settled. We will act immediately upon her arrival tonight.”
Gu Liyu opened his mouth but could not say a word. Seeing that these people would not listen to him, no matter how many reasons he had. Though he came from a humble background, he was even more arrogant and proud. He snorted heavily and left the tent in long strides without looking back.
The faces of the few men in the tent were also not any better. A hotheaded youth sneered, “A mere lackey, thinking himself important? The Song Clan’s representative might as well stand here!”
His words were loud enough for Gu Liyu to hear clearly, and the greenish hue on his face deepened instantly.
In the Blackstream City, at the Darkfire base, Song Zining sat silently in his study, lost in thought. The constant noise from outside broke the tranquility of the room.
At this moment, the city was bustling with people, nearly in chaos. The dark races’ army was less than a hundred kilometers away, and within a day, an army of fifty thousand would arrive. Although most of them were cannon fodder, such a scale was not something a single division could withstand. Even in the history of Blackstream City, there had never been a battle of this magnitude.
With the large army approaching, many adventurers and mercenaries wanted to flee once they heard the news. If the city was breached, staying inside would mean certain death. However, Song Zining had already issued an order to close all four gates, forbidding anyone from entering or leaving.
As the war was imminent, naturally, they could not allow the dark races’ spies free passage. Song Zining’s response was swift, but the city was still in turmoil. Rumors spread, and the Darkfire warriors moved around to reinforce the defenses, causing the entire city to become restless.
Moreover, there were rumors that the dark races had gathered their forces specifically for Song Zining. If he were handed over, the dark races would withdraw.
This rumor spread quickly throughout the city. Normally, Song Zining’s identity would deter any unwarranted thoughts. But now, with the dark army at the city gates, it was a pressing crisis. If they handed Song Zining over, even though they would face the cruel retaliation of the Song Clan, that would be a problem for another day. But if they did not hand him over, the city would be massacred the moment it fell. This was the difference between dying sooner or later.
The rumor spread like wildfire, and soon no one bothered to question its truth. The city became increasingly restless. Frictions began to arise among the adventurers, mercenaries, and Darkfire warriors. Several conflicts erupted, turning into physical altercations.
In the study, Song Zining remained calm. Despite the faint sounds of chaos and clamor from the city, he seemed oblivious. His straight figure was motionless, brows slightly furrowed, lost in thought. After a while, he slowly rose and walked to the table, pouring himself a cup of tea.
There was a knock on the door, and Duan Hao entered, saying, “Seventh Young Master, we have identified several people spreading the rumor, and indeed, many of them are related to the Nan Gong family. However, a few are still uncertain if they are the source. I have sent people to watch them. How should we handle this?” He was in charge of the strategic point closest to Blackstream City and had been urgently summoned back two days ago, only to find this situation.
Song Zining warmed the celadon teacup in his hands, savoring the aroma before slowly finishing the tea. He then said coolly, “Since we’ve found them, let’s kill them all.”
Duan Hao was shocked, “Seventh Young Master, is this appropriate? Some of them may not be the main instigators…”
Song Zining replied calmly, “In times of crisis, extraordinary measures are needed. Whether they are the masterminds or not is unimportant. Now, the city is in a state of unrest. We can’t rely on their fighting spirit, and do you expect them to focus on the battle while guarding against betrayal? Moreover, if the city falls, a hundred thousand lives will be lost. This simple logic, do you not understand?”
Duan Hao had followed Song Zining for many years before joining Darkfire and knew his true nature. He understood that the angrier Song Zining was, the calmer he appeared. Seeing Song Zining’s composed expression, he knew he was at the peak of his anger. Duan Hao smiled bitterly, bowed, and left to carry out the orders.
A short while later, in a bustling area of Blackstream City, a small, thin man was suddenly grabbed by several fierce Darkfire warriors from the crowd and forced to kneel.
The man was not particularly panicked and shouted, “What right do you have to arrest me? Is there no law in this place?”
An officer sneered, “Spreading lies is a path to death. Prepare yourself for the journey!”
Seeing the officer draw his gun, the man finally realized the severity of the situation and struggled desperately, shouting, “Do you know who I am? I’m a direct member of the Nan Gong family! You, a mere lowly peasant, dare to touch me? I’ll have your entire family killed!”
The officer laughed coldly, pulled the trigger, and a large-caliber bullet blew off half of the man’s head.
Among the onlookers, a few quietly retreated. Such scenes occurred simultaneously in several places across the city. The city’s residents became wary, and the idle gossip in the streets and alleys significantly decreased.
From a lookout post of Darkfire, Song Zining watched the execution and instructed Song Hu, standing behind him, “Tonight, prepare a banquet and invite all the influential figures in the city. Invite everyone with power, regardless of their status.”
Song Hu was adept at organizing such events, ensuring everything was flawless. By nightfall, dozens of people gathered in the Darkfire hall, seated at several tables. These people came from all walks of life, including representatives of noble families, leaders of various battle teams, heads of mercenary groups, and even the leaders of two underground forces in Blackstream City.
These two were, to put it nicely, leaders, but in reality, they were the bosses of the local hooligans, usually not qualified to enter the Darkfire gates. However, despite their low status, they controlled many hidden channels and information, so Song Hu brought them in, half-coerced, half-invited.
The dozens of people at the banquet had vastly different statuses, and it was rare for them to gather together. Naturally, there was some awkwardness among them.
When everyone arrived, Song Zining entered, dressed in fine attire, fanning himself leisurely, a light, playful smile on his handsome face. Behind him, a row of beautiful maidservants, each exquisitely charming, followed, providing a rare spectacle for the locals.
Song Zining raised his cup, smiling, “Thank you all for coming. I, Song Zining, will drink first!”
He downed his drink, and the others followed suit, drinking two more cups. After three drinks, the atmosphere at the table became much more relaxed and lively.
However, some people showed a trace of disdain in their eyes. They mostly came from noble families and saw Song Zining as a frivolous playboy. The tales of his heroic deeds were clearly just flattery.
After three rounds of drinks and two servings of food, the beautiful maidservants had made several trips around the tables.
When Song Zining deemed the timing right, he stood up, bowed, and smiled, “Everyone knows that I come from the Song Clan. The high-born clans are known for two things: one, having many people and great power; two, being very concerned about their reputation and holding grudges. It’s not easy for me to come to Blackstream City, and I can’t just leave defeated. Therefore, we must defend the city, and I hope everyone will do their best.”
After a pause, Song Zining’s smile grew wider, and he said firmly, “If Blackstream City falls, the day the city is breached will be the day you all die. At that time, whether you’re working for the Zhang, Li, or Nan Gong families, you won’t have a life to spend their money.”
For a moment, the hall was silent, and then a commotion ensued. No one expected Song Zining to speak so bluntly, such a bare-faced threat, tearing all facades apart, leaving no room for negotiation.
Everyone was both shocked and angry. One person shouted, “Song Zining, how can your Song Clan be so tyrannical?”
Song Zining smiled, “Yes, our Song Clan is tyrannical. What does this gentleman think? In fact, we can be even more tyrannical. Do you want to see that?”
The man’s face alternated between green and white, and cold sweat poured down his forehead. What could be more tyrannical than executing him on the spot?
Song Zining looked around, and wherever his gaze fell, people lowered their heads. Even those from noble families, compared to Song Zining, were far below in status. Whether they genuinely respected him or pretended, none would be the first to stand up in such a situation.
But among the many, there were always exceptions. In the oppressive silence, someone whispered, “The Song Clan is so tyrannical. Aren’t you afraid of damaging your reputation?”
Song Zining closed his fan, smiled, and said, “You have received a lot of money from the Nan Gong family, ready to sell me and the city. Now you worry about the Song Clan’s reputation? Don’t you find that strange?”
The man’s face changed, and he forced a smile, “Seventh Young Master, you must be joking…”
Before he could finish, a maidservant nearby suddenly produced a short dagger. A flash of cold light, and a head flew high. The cut was swift, and the man’s body remained seated, blood gushing from his neck, splattering those at the same table.
A drop of blood flew especially far, landing on Song Zining’s cheek. His gentle, spring-like smile instantly turned into a blaze from hell.
The banquet ended late into the night, and as the guests left, they learned that the dark races’ army had arrived outside the city and was preparing to besiege it.
At this point, the city’s residents felt more secure. When the dark army was not yet here, there was still hope of escape, but now, leaving the city meant certain death. The four dark races had their specialties, but none were slow. Chasing them in the wilderness was suicide. The human advantage lay in defending the city with mechanical strength.
In Blackstream City, the defenses were set up, with strong fortifications and heavy troops stationed at key points, facing off against the dark army outside, with the situation on the brink of war.
As Song Hu rushed into the study, Song Zining was still in high spirits, practicing calligraphy. A long sheet of rice paper hung from the wall to the floor, and he wrote with his arm suspended, ink flowing freely, each stroke like a sharp sword, as if about to pierce through the paper.
“Seventh Young Master, the dark army is making moves. They will attack within an hour.”
Song Zining nodded, put down the brush, and said calmly, “It’s about time. Prepare my armor!”
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