The northern border had changed.
Even the snow felt different.
When I first arrived here, it had been a prison.
Cold.
Empty.
A place where unwanted people were sent to disappear.
Now—
Villages were rebuilding.
Trade routes were reopening.
The crimson banner of the Fifth Prince flew above the outpost walls.
And people no longer whispered my name with pity.
They whispered it with hope.
Honestly—
much more pressure.
I stood on the western wall of the outpost, looking over the roads leading south.
Caravans moved again.
Farmers worked the frozen fields using the new irrigation channels.
Even the beast pens were growing stronger with the Frost Wolf pack training nearby.
Kingdom-building was strangely satisfying.
Also exhausting.
Mostly exhausting.
Beside me, Princess Chen Yao stood with her usual elegant calm, hands behind her back, looking like she personally judged weak political decisions for sport.
Which she probably did.
She looked at the villages below.
"You really changed this place."
I smiled faintly.
"I dislike incompetence."
She glanced at me.
"That sounds like Third Brother."
I shook my head.
"No."
I looked at the people working below.
"He controls people to feel powerful."
I folded my arms.
"I build things because I hate watching people suffer for stupid reasons."
Silence.
Then—
a very small smile.
Good.
I was collecting those from dangerous women like achievements.
Before she could respond, Yue Lian approached quickly.
Her expression was serious.
"Your Highness."
I turned.
"A guest?"
She nodded.
"More than that."
Her voice lowered.
"The Zhao Noble House has arrived."
Interesting.
Very interesting.
The Zhao Noble House was one of the oldest military families in Great Yan.
Powerful.
Rich.
And very careful about choosing sides.
If they were here—
Today mattered.
Very much.
Hu Mei, who had somehow appeared from nowhere like bad financial advice, grinned.
"Oh, good."
She leaned against the wall.
"Politics. My favourite blood sport."
Fair.
Very fair.
At the main courtyard, the noble convoy had already entered.
Black horses.
Heavy armoured guards.
No royal banners.
Only the old silver crest of House Zhao.
Proud.
Traditional.
Dangerous.
At the centre stood an elderly man in dark robes, his back straight despite his age.
Sharp eyes.
Heavy presence.
This was Old Master Zhao Ren, head of House Zhao.
And—
If I remembered correctly—
The grandfather of the idiot noble son I had recently beaten unconscious and sent back on a horse.
Wonderful.
This could go either way.
He saw me and walked forward slowly.
No smile.
No courtesy.
Just judgement.
Good.
Honesty saved time.
The entire courtyard watched.
Soldiers.
Summons.
Princesses.
Even Bai Wuchen had appeared, which meant the undead general was also curious.
Pressure.
A lot of pressure.
Old Master Zhao stopped in front of me.
For several seconds—
Nothing.
Then he spoke.
"You hit my grandson."
Direct.
Excellent.
I nodded.
"He tried very hard to deserve it."
Hu Mei almost fell over laughing.
Even Chen Yao turned away to hide amusement.
Old Master Zhao stared at me.
Then—
to everyone's complete confusion—
He nodded.
"Good."
Silence.
I blinked.
Excuse me?
He snorted.
"That idiot needed it."
Ah.
A reasonable grandfather.
Rare.
I respected that.
He continued.
"He returned home tied to his own horse, crying, and for the first time in his life speaking honestly."
He folded his hands behind his back.
"I considered sending you a thank-you gift."
Honestly—
I liked this man already.
I smiled.
"I accept spirit stones."
That made him laugh.
Short.
Real.
Good.
Then his expression turned serious.
"The Third Prince asked House Zhao for support."
Of course he did.
"And?"
Old Master Zhao looked directly into my eyes.
"I refused."
Another one.
Good.
Very good.
But noble houses were never simple.
He stepped closer.
"I did not refuse because I trust princes."
Fair.
"I refused because I trust soldiers."
He looked toward the walls.
The Ghost Legion.
The Phoenix Guards.
The rebuilding of villages.
Everything.
Then back at me.
"A man can borrow power."
His voice was steady.
"But he cannot fake loyalty."
That—
was true.
Painfully true.
He had not come for politics.
He had come for proof.
And apparently—
I had passed.
He turned and called loudly,
"Bring it."
His guards stepped forward, carrying a long black case.
Heavy.
Ancient.
They placed it before me.
I opened it.
Inside—
a spear.
Black steel.
Silver dragon carvings.
Old.
Powerful.
The moment I touched it, spiritual qi moved.
Not ordinary.
A true spirit weapon.
Old Master Zhao's voice echoed across the courtyard.
"This is the ancestral weapon of House Zhao."
Even Yue Lian's eyes widened.
This was huge.
Absolutely huge.
He continued.
"It belonged to the founder of our house."
His gaze never left mine.
"Today, I place it before the Fifth Prince."
Then—
before everyone—
The head of House Zhao knelt.
A noble house patriarch.
Kneeling.
"My Lord."
The courtyard fell completely silent.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
He lowered his head.
"House Zhao offers its loyalty."
There it was.
The moment rebellion became inheritance.
The first noble house.
Not villages.
Not governors.
A noble family.
Openly choosing me.
This was dangerous.
Beautiful.
Irreversible.
I stepped forward immediately and raised him.
"No kneeling."
I sighed.
"People keep doing that, and it makes me look responsible."
That made even Feng Yuehuang smile.
Dangerous woman.
Old Master Zhao stood and looked at me.
"You accept?"
I lifted the ancestral spear.
Its weight felt right.
Heavy.
Honest.
Like responsibility.
I smiled.
"Yes."
I looked around the courtyard.
For my people.
At the banner.
At the path ahead.
"Yes."
Louder this time.
"For loyalty given with open eyes…"
I raised the spear toward the sky.
"…I will answer with a throne worth standing behind."
The crimson banner snapped in the wind.
The myth system flashed brightly.
[Major Noble Event Completed]
The First Noble House Swears Loyalty
Rewards:
Political Legitimacy: +30Noble Influence +20Military Loyalty +20Special Reward: Noble Army Recruitment TokenSpecial Reward: Hidden Noble Supporters Unlocked
Excellent.
Very excellent.
I liked loyalty.
Especially expensive loyalty.
Far away in the capital—
Someone was definitely having a terrible day.
Probably Chen Lie.
Good.
He deserved hobbies too.
And I was becoming his favourite one.