Chapter 195
Everyone turned their heads toward Wang, who was staring directly at the young commander.
"You are still recovering from your injuries, Wei Xiang," Wang stated flatly.
Wei Xiang smiled helplessly, shaking his head. "I knew you were going to say that, Patriarch."
"You were stabbed through the chest less than a month ago," Wang reminded him sternly.
"I can still fight perfectly fine," Wei Xiang argued back.
"I know you can fight," Wang said. "But that is not the point."
"Then what is the problem?" Wei Xiang asked, throwing his hands up.
"The problem is that I need you to stay alive," Wang replied quietly.
The entire tent became completely silent after the Patriarch’s words. Wei Xiang looked at Wang for several long seconds before letting out a soft sigh. "You always say heavy things like that, Patriarch."
"And you never listen to my warnings," Wang countered.
A few of the older elders quietly laughed at the familiar exchange, and even the serious General Luo managed a small smile. The heavy, tense atmosphere in the tent finally eased up a little bit.
Wang reached out and began folding up the large map. "We are not going to make a final decision on this strategy tonight. We leave camp at dawn, so everyone should go back to their quarters and rest."
The commanders nodded their heads in respect before leaving the tent one after another, until only Wang and Wei Xiang remained inside. Neither of them spoke immediately as the sound of the crackling fire filled the space. Outside, the snow continued to fall heavily.
Wei Xiang finally broke the quiet silence. "You have barely slept at all these past few days, Wang."
Wang did not bother to deny the truth. "There is simply no time to sleep right now."
"There never is enough time with you," Wei Xiang crossed his arms over his chest. "You keep trying to carry the weight of this entire clan by yourself."
"I am the Patriarch of this clan," Wang stated simply.
"You are also just one person," Wei Xiang argued softly.
Wang looked at the young Roc, a touch of pride in his dark eyes. "You have truly changed a lot, Wei Xiang."
Wei Xiang laughed softly, looking away. "I have been hearing that a lot from people lately."
"You do not argue blindly with me as much as you used to," Wang noted.
"Oh, I still argue with you," Wei Xiang chuckled. "Just... a little bit less than before."
A faint, genuine smile appeared on Wang’s face. "For a short moment there, I actually thought you had fully matured."
Wei Xiang laughed out loud at the jab. "Don’t go expecting complete miracles from me just yet, Patriarch."
The two friends shared a brief, warm laugh before the quiet silence returned to the tent. After a while, Wei Xiang’s expression softened, and he asked a quiet question. "Do you think she will ever forgive us for what happened?"
Wang’s expression slowly became deeply serious. "I do not know, Wei Xiang. She has every right in the world to hate us for failing her."
Wei Xiang lowered his eyes to the floor. "I keep thinking about that time."
"The day she was taken?" Wang asked.
"Yes," Wei Xiang whispered. "I was right there, and I still couldn’t protect her from him."
"You tried your absolute best," Wang reminded him.
"My best wasn’t enough to save her," Wei Xiang muttered bitterly.
"No," Wang’s answer was calm but heavy with his own regret. "It wasn’t enough. For either of us."
Wei Xiang closed his eyes briefly, taking a deep breath. "But blaming ourselves for the rest of our lives will not bring her back to our side."
"I know that," Wang said. "I just..."
He stopped speaking, unable to find the right words to express the hollow feeling in his chest. Wei Xiang understood his silence without needing an explanation. Both of them missed the exact same person with all their hearts, they simply carried that immense pain in different ways.
A sudden, sharp knock on the tent post interrupted their private conversation. "Patriarch!"
"Enter," Wang commanded immediately, his voice snapping back to his authoritative tone.
A young scout hurried inside the tent and dropped to one knee before the two leaders. "We have just received an official message from the front lines, sent directly from the Supreme Citadel."
Every face in the tent became completely serious once again. Wang reached out his hand. "Give me the report."
The scout handed him a sealed parchment scroll, and Wang unrolled it quickly. His sharp eyes slowly moved across the written characters. Wei Xiang watched the Patriarch’s facial expression closely, trying to read his thoughts.
"What does it say, Wang?" Wei Xiang asked anxiously.
Instead of answering aloud, Wang handed the scroll over to the young commander. Wei Xiang read the words quickly, his brows drawing together in deep confusion. "They are officially requesting a face-to-face meeting?"
General Luo, who had just stepped back inside the tent to grab his forgotten gloves, looked completely stunned by the news. "A meeting? Right before a war?"
Wang nodded firmly. "The message bears Cassian’s personal royal seal. It is an official diplomatic request."
Elder Shen accepted the scroll next, reading it aloud for the others. "He wishes to meet with us outside the Citadel walls, exactly three days from now. He specifies that only a very small guard escort will be allowed from both sides."
General Luo frowned deeply, shaking his head. "This is clearly a trap to ambush us, Patriarch."
"It is highly likely," Wang agreed calmly.
Elder Shen nodded his head. "Or it could be a clever trick to delay our march while they strengthen their defenses further."
Wei Xiang looked directly at Wang. "What do you think we should do?"
Wang did not answer immediately. Instead, he walked over to the open entrance of the tent and looked out at the endless falling snow. "Cassian is a proud and powerful king. He is not afraid of a fight, and he does not need to resort to cheap tricks to start this war if he wants to."
Wei Xiang quietly joined him at the entrance, looking out at the cold night. "Then why on earth would he ask for a diplomatic meeting right now?"
Wang’s eyes remained fixed on the distant, dark mountains. "Because he wants something specific from us, or perhaps he wants to negotiate a terms."
A heavy silence settled between the two men. Finally, Wei Xiang asked the ultimate question. "Will you really go to this meeting?"
Wang answered without turning his head around to face him. "Yes, I will go."
Several of the elders who had gathered near the entrance immediately objected loudly. "Patriarch! You cannot go! It is far too dangerous! It could easily be a massive ambush to wipe out our leadership! They might surround you with their full force!"
Wang slowly turned around to face them, his expression completely unyielding. "If Cassian truly wanted me dead, he would wait to meet me on the open battlefield. He gains absolutely nothing of value by breaking a formal truce and dishonoring a royal meeting."
General Luo remained entirely unconvinced by the logic. "And what happens if we are completely wrong about his honor, Patriarch?"
Wang’s voice stayed completely steady and calm. "Then I will deal with the consequences myself when the time comes."
Wei Xiang studied Wang’s resolute face for a brief moment before speaking up firmly. "If you are going to that meeting, then I am coming along with you as your guard."
"No, you are staying here," Wang refused immediately.
"I am not asking for your permission, Wang," Wei Xiang countered, his eyes flashing.
"I know you aren’t," Wang said. "Which is exactly why I am firmly refusing to let you come along."
Wei Xiang frowned deeply, stepping closer. "You will absolutely need someone you can trust with your life at your back during that meeting."
"I do trust you," Wang looked him in the eye. "And that is the exact reason why I need you to stay behind and command this army while I am gone."
The two powerful beastmen stared at each other in silence, neither of them willing to back down an inch. Finally, Wang let out a soft sigh, breaking the tension. "We will discuss the final details of the escort tomorrow morning."
Wei Xiang smiled faintly, knowing he had made some progress. "So that means your answer is not a definitive no."
"It wasn’t a yes either, Wei Xiang," Wang noted dryly.
Outside the tent, the thick white snow continued to fall quietly over the silent camp.
Far away inside the stone walls of the Supreme Citadel, Cassian stood completely alone on a high stone balcony that overlooked his sleeping palace.
Captain Darius approached him from behind, bowing deeply. "The formal invitation has been successfully delivered to the enemy camp, Your Majesty."
Cassian gave a small, simple nod of his head. "Good."
Darius hesitated for a moment before asking, "Do you truly believe that the silver leopard Patriarch will accept your terms and show up to the meeting, sire?"
Cassian’s brilliant golden eyes remained fixed on the distant northern mountains where his rivals lay camped. "He will accept the invitation, Darius. He has no other choice." He paused, his voice dropping to a quiet, serious whisper. "And when he does, the entire course of this war will finally begin to change."