The gates of Xingzhaoloomed tall and pristine in the afternoon sun, casting long shadows over the road as the imperial envoy drew near. Crafted from reinforced concrete and steel, layered with rune-lined defensive barriers, the wall was unlike anything the Yun Empire had ever seen. Not in the capital, not in the provinces, certainly not in the wilderness.
To EnvoyZhangYu, it was unsettling.
He tugged the reins of his golden-maned horse as the caravan halted fifty paces from the southern gate. Dust settled behind them, and birds scattered from nearby trees. One of his attendants, WenJi, leaned closer.
"Your Excellency, shall we request entry?"
Zhang Yu's lips curved in that thin, razor-edged smile.
"No. Let them come first. Let's see how the wolves greet us."
From the southern tower, a clear voice echoed down:
"You are approaching the sovereign town of Xingzhao. State your name, purpose, and affiliation."
Zhang Yu's smile never wavered. "I am Zhang Yu, Imperial Envoy of the Yun Empire, bearing words from His Majesty the Emperor. We come in peace and offer diplomacy."
There was a pause, filled only by the sound of wind through the trees.
Then the gates opened, not with the creak of wood and rope, but a smooth hydraulic hiss. A small contingent stepped out, three soldiers in lightweight armor, followed by WuXinyan, Xingzhao's director of diplomacy.
She wore plain robes of navy silk, her long hair tied in a simple knot. No jewelry. No symbols of rank. Only the badge of Xingzhao on her left shoulder: a silver wolf beneath a crescent moon.
"You are welcome to Xingzhao, Envoy Zhang," she said calmly. "Please follow me. Accommodations have been prepared."
Zhang Yu raised an eyebrow. "No grand reception?"
"We do not waste ceremony here."
He chuckled, mounting his horse again. "How efficient."
But even as he smiled, his eyes scanned the soldiers, disciplined, coordinated, hands resting near weapons crafted of unfamiliar material. And the town beyond the gates? Clean streets. Lit by magic, or something more. Yes, very unsettling.
As the envoy passed through the gates, the full scale of Xingzhao came into view.
Rows of homes with tiled roofs and reinforced frames. Shops and vendors accepting cards from civilians instead of coin. Children in uniform walking in groups to nearby academies. Metal poles with lights that flickered on as the sun began to dip.
Everything was orderly, efficient, alive.
Wen Ji leaned over again, whispering urgently, "This is no village… this is a fortress disguised as a dream."
Zhang Yu didn't answer. But his fingers tapped once on the saddle's horn. He had underestimated them.
The envoy was led to the PavilionofAccord, a graceful structure built near the central square. Its design fused ancient elegance with modern strength—wooden beams, steel columns, solar-powered lanterns. Inside, SongLianand YunZhenawaited them.
Song Lian wore deep red robes trimmed in black, her long sleeves draped neatly as she sat at the head of the long table. Her posture was relaxed, but her eyes held nothing but cold clarity.
Beside her stood Yun Zhen, clad in Xingzhao's tailored guard uniform, gray overcoat, black vest, crimson sash. No royal ornamentation, no crown. Still, he looked every inch a prince.
Zhang Yu bowed, deep and deliberate. "Lady Song. Lord Yun. His Majesty sends his regards."
Song Lian smiled slightly. "And we return them." They sat.
Wine was poured, though only Zhang Yu drank it. Song Lian declined with a polite nod. Yun Zhen didn't touch his cup.
"I must say," Zhang Yu began, swirling his wine, "this town has flourished beyond any expectation. The empire had believed Xingzhao a haven for refugees… but I see a kingdom in the making."
Yun Zhen tilted his head slightly. "Flourishing is a natural result when leadership is just."
"A rare commodity, these days," Zhang Yu mused. "Yet… leadership implies loyalty. And Xingzhao does not fly the banners of the Yun Empire."
Song Lian leaned forward, hands clasped. "We are loyal to our people. To the lives we've built here. Nothing more, nothing less."
Zhang Yu's smile faded slightly. "The court is… curious. About Prince Yun's condition. About his sudden disappearance. And his presence here."
Yun Zhen's voice was like iron under silk. "I was betrayed. Falsely accused. I owe the court nothing."
"And yet," Zhang Yu said softly, "the Emperor extends an offer of amnesty. If Xingzhao would accept imperial governance, a new province could be established, with you as its appointed lord."
Yun Zhen did not answer. Song Lian did.
"That would mean submitting to the same laws that burned villages to the ground. That crushed rebellion with starvation. That exiled innocents and elevated murderers."
Zhang Yu's expression cooled. "You speak boldly for someone who builds behind walls."
"And you speak delicately for someone hiding a cursed artifact in his third cart," she said without pause. The envoy froze.
"Don't look surprised. We scanned the carts the moment you arrived." Song Lian's smile was a blade. "You thought you could control us with tricks from the capital. But we are not what you expected."
Zhang Yu placed his cup down slowly. "This changes things," he murmured.
"I hope so," Song Lian said. "Because we won't bow. Not to threats. Not to fear. Not to you."
As dusk fell and the envoy's guards settled into their quarters, scouts and sensors reported everything: movement, breath patterns, even overheard whispers.
Zhou Fei's voice crackled through the command relay. "They're rattled. One of them is trying to send a coded message south. We intercepted it."
Back in the command hall, Song Lian stood beside Yun Zhen, her arms folded as she reviewed the recording.
"They'll either back off," she said, "or escalate." Yun Zhen nodded. "They never back off."
The sky above Xingzhao glowed with lantern light, but tension ran beneath the surface like a current before a storm. Because one thing was clear: the envoy had come with honeyed words and hidden blades, and neither side was ready to yield.