Chapter 209
The deep silence inside the grand council hall lasted for several long, suffocating breaths.
No one spoke.
No one even dared to shift their feet against the polished stone floor.
Cassian remained seated on his high throne of black stone, his pale fingers resting lightly against the intricate dragon carvings on the armrest. His intense golden eyes swept slowly across every face in the room before coming to a rest on General Rowan.
"Continue your report, Rowan," Cassian commanded softly.
General Rowan lowered his head in a formal bow. "Our forward scouts confirmed it just an hour ago, sire. The Silver Leopard army is no longer maintaining their idle camp in the valley."
"They have broken their position," Rowan clarified, his voice growing grave. "The entire Silver Leopard host began moving forward before the first light of sunrise. Their marching pace is significantly faster than it was during their initial approach through the southern territory."
Marshal Kael, a tall man with broad shoulders and a scar running across his left eye, folded his heavy arms over his dark iron chest plate. "They are clearly attempting to reach the high western ridge before the next heavy snowfall hits the pass. If they secure that elevation, they will have a direct sightline over two of our primary outer defensive towers."
Another senior elder stepped forward, his tone sharp with worry. "If they seize the high ground on that ridge, our spirit barriers will be severely compromised. How many warriors are currently marching in their forward formation?"
"Nearly forty thousand fully armed warriors," General Rowan answered directly. "And more auxiliary units are joining their main column with every passing hour."
A tactical commander standing near the back added, "Our scouting birds also spotted several smaller beast clans transporting heavy supply wagons toward Wang’s position instead of sending combat troops.
They are openly providing him with provisions without officially declaring war against our Citadel."
One of the older council elders let out a bitter, contemptuous snort. "Cowards! Every single one of them. They want to reap the benefits of a weakened Manticore kingdom without taking any of the actual military risks."
Cassian ignored the elder’s emotional outburst entirely, his deep voice remaining ice-cold. "They are far smarter than you give them credit for, Elder. If they survive this conflict without drawing their blades, they lose absolutely nothing."
He leaned forward slightly, resting his chin on his knuckles. "If Wang wins this war... those smaller clans will proudly claim that they loyally supported his grand cause from the very beginning. If he loses... they will simply claim they remained completely neutral and were merely trading goods for survival."
No one in the hall attempted to argue with the King’s assessment. Everyone present knew his political mind was entirely correct.
Commander Darius stepped forward, bowing deeply. "Your Majesty, the western watchtowers have finished reinforcing their protective arrays. The new spirit-crystal cannons have been fully charged and aligned. They are ready to fire upon your word."
Cassian gave a single, firm nod. "Good. Keep them primed."
Another junior commander hesitated for a moment, shifting his weight nervously before speaking up. "There is... yet another delicate matter concerning the garrison, Your Majesty."
Cassian shifted his golden gaze toward the young officer. "Speak plainly."
"The rank-and-file soldiers are beginning to ask questions, sire," the officer admitted quietly.
"What kind of questions?"
"They are wondering why we have not yet launched a preemptive strike against the Silver Leopard army while they are still marching through the narrow mountain passes," the officer explained, lowering his eyes. "Many of the men feel that waiting passively inside these walls only grants Patriarch Wang more time to organize his forces."
General Rowan added in a low, respectful tone, "Several of my mid-level officers have officially requested your permission to launch a swift cavalry strike to disrupt their march."
A heavy silence descended upon the grand chamber once again.
Cassian slowly rose to his feet. The sharp sound of his leather boots striking the stone floor echoed loudly through the silent hall.
He walked down the raised dais, his dark cloak sweeping behind him, until he stood directly before the massive tactical map.
He reached out his pale hand, his index finger resting precisely on the narrow mountain range that currently separated the two grand armies.
"If we launch a preemptive attack now..." Cassian said softly, his voice echoing with absolute tactical clarity, "...they will simply execute a controlled retreat into the lower valleys."
He dragged his finger farther back across the painted parchment. "They will draw our heavy cavalry deeper into the unfamiliar mountain terrain, forcing our soldiers to fight on ground that they have carefully chosen."
His finger came to a sudden stop near a steep, shadow-draped canyon. "We would lose thousands of our finest men in an avoidable slaughter before the true battle ever began."
Marshal Kael narrowed his scarred eye, his voice low. "So your intention is to sit behind these walls and wait for them to come to us?"
Cassian turned his head, his golden eyes locking onto the marshal’s face. "No. I am not waiting for their army."
He paused, his voice dropping into a chilling, measured tone. "I am waiting... for Wang."
The elders frowned in confusion.
Commander Darius looked thoroughly bewildered. "You mean... Your Majesty intends to face Patriarch Wang in personal combat?"
Cassian answered without a single shred of hesitation. "Yes."
The grand hall instantly grew restless, filled with low, anxious whispers among the high-ranking nobility.
Elder Morven quickly stepped forward, his hands trembling slightly. "Your Majesty! That is far too dangerous! The Sovereign of this realm cannot personally put his life on the line on the front lines of a chaotic battlefield!"
Cassian’s sharp expression remained entirely unchanged by the elder’s panic. "Wang will not retreat as long as I am standing on the field. He did not march across the realm for land or glory. He came here entirely because of Lin Wan."
He turned back to the map, his golden eyes filled with an unshakeable resolve. "He will keep moving forward to reach her. If I send another general to lead our forces, Wang may alter his strategy and prolong this war indefinitely through tactical maneuvers. But if I stand before him myself..."
General Rowan lowered his eyes, a look of profound realization washing over his weathered face. "So Your Majesty intends to personally dictate the precise flow of the entire battlefield."
Cassian nodded once. "Precisely."
No one raised a single voice to question him further. Every leader in the room understood the deeper truth behind his words.
This was no longer just a standard war between two powerful military realms. It was a personal, unyielding clash between two absolute Sovereigns.
...
Far away...
The Silver Leopard host continued its steady march across the vast, snow-covered plains.
The heavy sound of thousands of armored boots crunching against the hard frost created a rhythmic, thunderous beat that echoed through the valley.
Long silver banners fluttered proudly against the biting mountain wind, catching the faint light of the sun.
Not a single warrior complained about the freezing cold. Not a single soldier slowed their pace.
Through sheer discipline and determination, they had already successfully crossed another steep mountain pass before the afternoon sun reached its peak.
A sudden flash of silver light cut through the grey sky, and Wei Xiang landed gracefully in the snow beside Wang. The majestic silver-blue wings folded back into his spine, dissolving into thin air as he seamlessly returned to his human form.
"There are Manticore patrol units stationed directly ahead of our path," Wei Xiang reported, wiping a dust of frost from his shoulder.
Wang looked up from his stride, his golden eyes sharp. "How many?"
"Approximately two hundred heavily armored riders," Wei Xiang replied smoothly. "They are rotating their watch shifts every three hours without fail."
An elder marching nearby frowned deeply. "They are watching every single road leading toward the Citadel."
Wei Xiang nodded in agreement. "They are no longer attempting to hide their presence. They want us to see them clearly."
Wang looked toward the jagged, black mountain peaks looming in the far distance. "Cassian is deliberately sending us a message."
Wei Xiang let out a faint, bitter smile. "He wants to make us angry. He wants us to lose our patience so we make a reckless mistake and rush blindly into his defensive lines."
Wang’s lips curved upward into a subtle, approving smile. "You have learned a great deal, Wei Xiang."
Wei Xiang let out a quiet chuckle, tossing his dark hair back. "I have been forced to stand beside you long enough to pick up a few things, Patriarch."
A nearby battle captain burst out laughing. "Look at that! The Young Master finally admits that our Patriarch actually managed to teach him something useful!"
Several nearby warriors broke into warm smiles, the heavy, suffocating atmosphere of the march easing for a brief, welcome moment.
Wang unrolled a small map, inspecting the terrain ahead before rolling it back up. "We will not allow ourselves to be provoked into rushing. We will continue our forward march exactly as we planned."