Chapter 217
Captain Bren shook his head. "No, Young Master. There are no signs of offensive formations or ambushes anywhere along the main pass."
Wei Xiang turned his head to look at Wang, his sharp eyebrows drawing together. "That’s remarkably strange, Patriarch. Cassian isn’t the type of leader to play purely defensive games when an army approaches his home."
Wang nodded slowly, his calm golden eyes reflecting the dull, grey light of the fading sun. "It is strange. But it’s also entirely calculated."
One of the clan elders riding behind them leaned forward on his saddle, his face etched with worry. "Do you think it’s a massive, hidden spirit trap, Patriarch? They could be waiting for our vanguard to enter the narrow valley before activating a grand killing array!"
"It could be," Wang admitted smoothly.
Wei Xiang folded his arms across his broad chest, his lightning energy humming faintly beneath his skin. "Or... they’re simply waiting for us to commit a foolish mistake and make the first aggressive move so they can claim moral high ground."
Wang kept his eyes fixed on the distant, sharp mountain silhouettes on the horizon.
"No. Cassian isn’t an impatient or emotional man. He doesn’t care about moral high ground or dramatic grandstanding. If he’s holding his massive army back and waiting quietly behind those stone walls... he has a very specific, deliberate reason for doing so."
Captain Bren quietly asked, "What are your orders then, Patriarch? Should we adjust our marching formation or slow down our advance to prepare for hidden traps?"
Wang answered instantly, his voice ringing with absolute, unshakeable authority. "We keep marching forward exactly as planned. We don’t engage in any unnecessary side battles. We don’t waste energy chasing down their light scout patrols, and we certainly don’t let their border towers provoke us into a messy, premature skirmish."
The gathered captains immediately bowed their heads in deep respect. "Yes, Patriarch! We follow your absolute command!"
Wei Xiang turned his gaze back toward the towering, snow-draped mountains looming ahead in the distance.
Only one more day.
Soon... very soon... he would finally stand before the grand, terrifying gates of the Supreme Citadel. He would finally be within reaching distance of the woman he had sworn to protect with his very life.
His heart began beating rapidly against his ribs, sending a pulse of warmth through his cold body. It wasn’t beating faster because of the terrifying, bloody battle that surely awaited them tomorrow.
It was beating faster because Lin Wan was right behind those distant stone walls... and he was finally, truly close to bringing her back home.
Later that same evening... inside the warm, quiet sanctuary of her inner palace chambers...
Lin Wan sat comfortably on a low wooden bench beside the brightly burning fireplace. The soft red glow of the crackling logs cast long, warm shadows across the polished stone floor.
Sister Yun stood gently behind her, holding a fine ivory comb. She was carefully brushing out Lin Wan’s long, silky black hair, moving the comb in smooth, rhythmic strokes while the gentle heat from the hearth filled the cozy room.
"My Lady..." Sister Yun spoke softly, breaking the cozy silence. "You’ve been remarkably quiet all evening. Is something troubling your mind?"
Lin Wan smiled faintly, letting her hands rest comfortably over her rounded stomach. "I’ve just been thinking a lot, Sister Yun."
"Are you thinking about what tomorrow will bring?" the older woman asked gently, continuing her smooth, soothing brushing.
Lin Wan gave a quiet, honest nod. "I don’t know what’s going to happen when the sun rises tomorrow. I don’t know who will win, who will fall, or what kind of world will be left standing when the dust finally settles."
Sister Yun carefully gathered the ends of Lin Wan’s thick hair, tying it loosely with a soft silk ribbon so it wouldn’t tangle while she slept. "To be completely honest with you, my lady... I don’t know what will happen tomorrow either. The future is a dark river that none of us can truly see through."
She stepped around the bench and smiled down at Lin Wan with deep, motherly warmth. "But... despite all the scary clouds gathering outside those walls... I truly believe in my heart that everything will somehow work out in the end. You are a good, compassionate person, Lady Lin. Heaven doesn’t abandon good people."
Lin Wan let out a soft, breathless laugh, looking up at her faithful attendant. "You’re just trying your very best to comfort me, Sister Yun."
Sister Yun gave a cheerful, unabashed nod. "I certainly am, my lady!"
"Well..." Lin Wan smirked slightly, her dark eyes sparkling with faint amusement. "It isn’t working particularly well, you know."
The older woman let out a warm, musical laugh that echoed pleasantly through the quiet room. "Ah, I’m afraid my comforting skills leave much to be desired then!"
For the very first time that long, tense evening... both women shared a genuine, heartfelt laugh together, briefly washing away the heavy dread that had been clinging to their spirits all day.
Unbeknownst to either of them... outside the heavy carved chamber doors...
Cassian stood completely frozen in the dark, quiet palace corridor.
He had walked all the way back to her inner courtyard, intending to speak with Lin Wan one last time before locking himself in the strategic council hall for the rest of the night.
He had wanted to offer her more reassurances, or perhaps simply see her quiet face once more before the madness of war began.
Instead... he heard the sudden, genuine sound of her sweet laughter echoing clearly through the thick wooden doors.
His large, calloused hand paused in mid-air, inches away from resting against the carved wooden doorframe.
He stood there in the dark hallway, listening to her joyful, unburdened voice—a sound that he had never once managed to bring out in her during all her time spent in his grand palace.
After several long, agonizing seconds of standing still in the shadows... Cassian slowly lowered his hand back to his side.
He didn’t push the doors open. He didn’t interrupt her rare moment of happiness.
Without making a single sound with his heavy leather boots, the Manticore King quietly turned his body around and walked away into the dark, quiet depths of the palace corridor.
Some precious moments in life were simply better left undisturbed by the heavy hands of kings.
High above the vast, snow-covered mountain peaks outside, a lone winter hawk spread its broad wings, circling gracefully beneath the pale, brilliant light of the full moon. It let out a sharp, echoing cry before soaring away into the dark sky, disappearing completely toward the northern horizon where thousands of campfires dotted the white wilderness.
The physical and emotional distance between the two grand forces had finally shrunk to almost nothing.
By the time the sun climbed over the frozen mountains tomorrow... the long, painful waiting would finally come to an end.
The first pale rays of dawn slowly spread across the vast northern mountains, casting a cold, silver light over the quiet landscape.
Soft snow glistened beneath the rising sun, covering the deep valleys and sharp ridges in a flawless blanket of white.
From a distance, the Supreme Citadel stood proudly among the towering cliffs like a sleeping ancient beast waiting for its prey, its massive black stone walls cutting sharply into the morning sky.
Today was the day everyone had been anticipating. The two opposing sides were finally close enough to catch their first glimpses of each other’s battle banners fluttering in the freezing mountain wind.
Inside the Citadel, the heavy war drums had not yet sounded their terrifying rhythm. Instead, a thick, suffocating silence hung over the entire fortress. Every soldier stood at their assigned post along the high stone ramparts without uttering a single word.
Every experienced commander waited nervously in full battle gear, their hands resting on the hilts of their weapons as they awaited their Sovereign’s next command.
Inside her quiet inner chamber, Lin Wan had barely touched her hot morning breakfast.
She sat near the window, quietly stirring the sweet warm porridge with her silver spoon before setting it back down on the porcelain tray with a soft sigh. Her heart felt far too heavy for food.
Sister Yun watched her from across the room and let out a gentle, motherly sigh. "My Lady, you really should force yourself to eat at least a few bites. Your body needs all the strength it can get right now."
Lin Wan offered a small, apologetic smile as she looked up. "I know I should, Sister Yun. I’m really trying. But my stomach is tightly knotted, and I just don’t have much of an appetite this morning."
Sister Yun walked over and gently set down a warm cloth. "The three little ones inside you need their mother to stay strong and healthy, Lady Lin. You must care for yourself for their sake, if not your own."
Lin Wan lowered her soft gaze to her round, swollen stomach, her expression softening into one of deep affection. "I know... I know they need me."
As if responding to her words, one of the babies inside her gave a sudden, firm kick against her palm. She couldn’t help letting out a soft, breathless laugh as her hands cupped the warm curve of her belly. "You three really seem to know the exact right moment to interrupt my thoughts, don’t you?"
Sister Yun laughed warmly, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "You see? They are already helping me scold you for skipping your meal."