Chapter 53 Defection to the Crimson Empire
Night had already fallen over the Northern Alliance's encampment.
Inside the Northern Alliance's main command tent, the atmosphere was suffocating.
A massive map of the Crimson Empire lay spread across a long table.
Several rulers and military commanders had gathered once again.
This time, however...
None of them looked pleased.
Bang!
The King of the Wolf Kingdom slammed his fist onto the table.
His furious roar echoed throughout the tent.
"The Crimson Empire's army was on the verge of collapse!"
"We would have broken through the northern front by now!"
"But those cultivators suddenly appeared out of nowhere!"
Another ruler wore a grim expression.
"Our scouts confirmed it."
"The reinforcements are indeed from the Zan Clan."
"They're all cultivators."
"Most are at the Foundation Establishment Realm."
"What baffles us the most is that the Zan Clan appeared out of nowhere. None of the surrounding kingdoms had any prior information about them. It's as if they emerged overnight, yet they already possess such overwhelming strength."
"We've tried sending spies into the Crimson Empire to gather intelligence on the Zan Clan for the past eight months, but every single one of them disappeared. The few clues we managed to recover all point to the same conclusion, they were discovered and eliminated by the Zan Clan before they could report back."
"Because of that, we know almost nothing about their origins, their true strength, or the extent of their influence. Every attempt to investigate them has ended in complete failure."
The rulers' expressions darkened.
One commander spoke through clenched teeth.
"Those Zan Clan cultivators have become the greatest obstacle to our advance."
"They've killed many of our hired Qi Refinement cultivators."
"Our soldiers can barely stand against them."
Another ruler let out a cold snort.
"Then hire more cultivators."
"We'll double the reward."
A gray-haired minister slowly shook his head.
"That won't be easy."
"The deaths of the five Nascent Soul cultivators before the war, along with the recent deaths of two Golden Core cultivators, have frightened many rogue cultivators."
"Many are beginning to believe that an unknown expert is secretly protecting the Crimson Empire."
The tent fell silent.
No one knew who had killed the five Nascent Soul cultivators.
Nor did they know what had happened to the missing Demon King.
Those mysteries had begun to cast a shadow over the Northern Alliance.
The King of the Wolf Kingdom narrowed his eyes.
"I don't care who stands behind the Crimson Empire."
"I refuse to retreat."
"We've already invested too much into this war."
"If we withdraw now..."
"Everything we've sacrificed will be for nothing."
The other rulers slowly nodded.
They had already committed their armies, wealth, and reputation.
There was no turning back.
Victory...
Or complete ruin.
Those were the only paths left before the Northern Alliance.
While the rulers continued arguing over their next move...
A lone figure remained silent in the corner of the command tent.
It was the ruler of one of the alliance's smallest kingdoms.
Unlike the others, he neither shouted nor offered his opinion.
His expression was dark.
"These fools..."
He silently looked at the rulers around the table.
"Even after learning that a terrifying force is secretly protecting the Crimson Empire..."
"...they still insist on continuing this war."
He slowly lowered his head.
"Greed has blinded them."
His kingdom had joined the Northern Alliance only because it had no choice.
Refusal meant destruction.
Acceptance meant becoming a pawn.
To the larger kingdoms, his nation's soldiers were nothing more than expendable cannon fodder.
At that moment.
A messenger quietly entered the tent and approached him from behind.
The man leaned over and whispered into his ear.
"Your Majesty..."
"The latest report from our kingdom."
The ruler listened silently.
As the messenger continued speaking, his face gradually became solemn.
His fists tightened beneath the table.
Without saying a word, he slowly stood up.
The other rulers remained engrossed in their heated discussion.
No one spared him a glance.
To them...
The opinion of a weak kingdom held no value.
The ruler quietly walked out of the command tent with his messenger following behind.
Outside, he finally asked in a low voice,
"Is the report confirmed?"
The messenger nodded grimly.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Our grain reserves are nearly exhausted."
"The alliance has demanded another shipment to supply the frontlines."
"If we comply..."
"Our people may not survive the coming winter."
The ruler slowly closed his eyes.
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
"So..."
"It has already begun."
Even before the war had been decided...
The burden of sustaining the Northern Alliance was crushing the weaker kingdoms.
For the first time, he questioned whether joining the alliance had truly been the right choice.
Or whether his kingdom was merely destined to be sacrificed for the ambitions of stronger nations.
His messenger stood respectfully behind him, waiting for his command.
The ruler looked back toward the command tent where the other kings were still arguing.
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
"They still believe victory is within their grasp..."
"They're blinded by greed."
He let out a slow sigh.
"The longer this war continues..."
"The faster the Northern Alliance will collapse."
"Our grain reserves are nearly exhausted."
"The larger kingdoms continue demanding supplies from the smaller nations."
"They treat us as nothing more than servants."
His expression hardened.
"And now..."
"A mysterious force is secretly protecting the Crimson Empire."
"The disappearance of the five Nascent Soul cultivators..."
"The deaths of the two Golden Core cultivators..."
"And now the sudden appearance of the Zan Clan."
"None of these are coincidences."
He no longer believed the Northern Alliance could win.
Continuing the war would only drag his kingdom into destruction.
His gaze slowly swept across the surroundings, carefully checking both inside and outside the command tent. After confirming that no one was watching or eavesdropping, he finally spoke.
"We're leaving the alliance."
The messenger's eyes widened.
"Your Majesty..."
"Do you mean..."
The king nodded firmly.
"We will betray the Northern Alliance."
"We'll travel to the Crimson Empire in secret."
"We will request their protection."
The messenger asked cautiously,
"And... what will we offer in return?"
The ruler's gaze became resolute.
"Intelligence."
"We know the Northern Alliance's troop deployments."
"Their supply routes."
"Their military plans."
"And the weaknesses of each kingdom."
"If we hand over everything we know..."
"The Crimson Empire may accept us."
He looked toward the north one final time.
"I would rather bear the name of a traitor..."
"...than watch my people perish for someone else's ambition."
After making his decision, the ruler no longer hesitated.
He looked at his trusted messenger and spoke in a low, resolute voice.
"Prepare a carriage."
"We leave tonight."
The messenger immediately cupped his fists.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Without another word, he hurried away to carry out the order.
The ruler stood alone beneath the night sky.
A cold wind swept across the Northern Alliance's camp.
In the distance, the command tent remained brightly lit as the rulers continued discussing their plans for the war, completely unaware that one of their allies had already decided to abandon them.
The ruler slowly looked toward the south.
The direction of the Crimson Empire.
He murmured to himself,
"I only hope..."
"...the Crimson Empire is willing to accept us."
"If not..."
"My kingdom will have nowhere left to turn."
Soon, a plain-looking carriage arrived.
It bore no royal insignia to avoid attracting attention.
The messenger stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Your Majesty."
"The carriage is ready."
The ruler nodded.
"Good."
"Gather only those absolutely loyal to us."
"We travel in secret."
"No one must learn of our departure."
"As you command."
The messenger immediately went to carry out the order again.
Moments later, under the cover of darkness, the carriage quietly departed the Northern Alliance's camp, escorted by only a handful of trusted guards.
Its destination...
The Crimson Empire.
. . .
Four months later.
Inside the Imperial Palace of the Crimson Empire.
The magnificent audience hall was filled with ministers, generals, and imperial guards.
At the end of the hall, Emperor Hong Yuanji sat upon the Dragon Throne, calmly observing the visitor before him.
Kneeling in the center of the hall was the ruler of the small kingdom that had once belonged to the Northern Alliance.
His royal robes were covered in dust from months of travel.
Behind him stood only a handful of loyal guards, each looking exhausted.
The ruler lowered his head respectfully.
"This humble king greets Your Majesty."
Hong Yuanji studied him for a long moment before speaking.
"You traveled thousands of miles to enter my empire."
"You even crossed an active battlefield."
"Tell me..."
"What is your purpose?"
The ruler remained kneeling.
"I have come to surrender."
"I ask the Crimson Empire to grant my kingdom protection."
A wave of whispers spread among the ministers.
One minister immediately stepped forward.
"Your Majesty!"
"This man was once a member of the Northern Alliance."
"He cannot be trusted."
Another minister nodded in agreement.
"He may be a spy sent to deceive us."
The ruler did not argue.
Instead, he slowly took out a thick bundle of documents from his robes and raised them with both hands.
"I expected such doubts."
"That is why I have brought a gift."
Hong Yuanji narrowed his eyes.
"What is it?"
The ruler answered calmly.
"The Northern Alliance's military intelligence."
"Their troop deployments."
"Their supply routes."
"The locations of their grain depots."
"And the plans discussed during their war councils."
The whispers inside the hall instantly ceased.
Even the ministers who had opposed him looked at the documents in shock.
The ruler continued.
"I no longer wish to be part of the Northern Alliance."
"The larger kingdoms treat my nation as nothing more than expendable cannon fodder."
"They have repeatedly seized our food supplies."
"If I remain with them..."
"My kingdom will perish."
He lowered his head until it nearly touched the floor.
"I am willing to offer everything I know."
"In return..."
"I ask only that the Crimson Empire grant protection to my people."
The entire audience hall fell silent.
Every pair of eyes turned toward the Dragon Throne, waiting for Emperor Hong Yuanji's decision.