The sun was beginning to set in the horizon of icy river, casting long shadows across the devastated ravine.
Yue Yin sat on a rock, staring at the empty crate that had once held a fortune the same as her storage gu. Her hands were trembling, not from cold, but from the spiritual shock of a thief watching wealth evaporate. As the ancient people said robbing wealth is worse than killing parents that's probably how she feels now.
"One million..." she whispered, her voice hollow. "We are broke. We are worse than broke. We just burned enough primival essence to buy several rank 5 gu worms to save one girl."
"We didn't burn it for nothing , Yue," I said, stretching my new muscles. The strengh ready to be released for destruction "We invested it."
I pointed to Hei Ziyu, who was standing silently by the canyon wall. She was testing her Rank 3 power, her silver primeval essence flowing like mercury using her gu worms and feeling out her strength. She was a weapon that money couldn't buy.
"Assets over currency," I lectured, mounting my battered Steel-Back Wolf King. "But you are right. We need to get what we can. Go to the Commander's tent. Ziyu said she left her personal assets there. Take anything that is valuable."
Yue Yin sighed, her professional instincts kicking in. "Fine. But if it's just a wasteful trip back and forth, I'm charging you interest."
Yue Yin returned ten minutes later. Her mood had improved slightly. She carried a heavy bag of valuable materials and a sealed Pink Sandalwood Box.
"The tent was mostly empty," she reported, handing the items up to me. "She lives like a monk. No jewelry, no silks. Just weapons and training manuals. But I found this hidden under the floorboards as she told . What is it anyway?"
She opened the sandalwood box.
Inside lay a single Jade Statue.
It was about the size of a forearm, carved from a single piece of warm, mutton-fat jade. It depicted a woman in a state of ecstatic dance, her body twisted in a pose that was both erotic and strangely graceful. The craftsmanship was ancient, originating from a long time ago it seemed.
I held it.
Inside my aperture, the Dog Shit Luck Gu buzzed.
It wasn't the violent, screeching warning of the battlefield. It was a warm, rhythmic thrum. A purr of satisfaction.
Opportunity.a predestined one like an old friend meeting again.
"Good," I said, a cold smile touching my lips as I stowed the statue. "She didn't lie . This is worth more than the gold."
I looked at my makeshift army. A Rank 3 physical monster, a master thief, and a Wolf King.
I counted my gains Hei ziyu ,the rank 3 gu i decided to call blood Resonance Gu's effect the quasi greate strength greate martial physique, the mysterious statue, and the victory,
I counted my losses nearly my whole wolf group , a million primival essence stones.
It didn't seem like I lost anything in this trade they are all recollectable.
"Let's go home."
The journey back to the Ju Tribe encampment was a silent journey unlike when I came with thousands of wolves .
I rode at the front. Behind me, Hei Ziyu rode the night wolf. She didn't need a mount; her physical endurance was infinite,her black armor clanking softly, a constant reminder of the monster I had loyal to me .but I didn't want the tribe to take notice of yue yin she was my trumpcard so i asked her to return secretly.
We reached the camp gates at twilight.
"Halt!" A sentry on the watchtower screamed. "Enemy attack! It's the Black Iron Demon!"
Panic rippled through the walls. War horns blew. Archers drew their bows.
"STAND DOWN!"
I roared. The sound didn't need a Gu worm. My reinforced lungs expelled the air with enough force to be heardby all of them.
"it's me returning!"
The gates opened hesitantly. I rode through.
The silence that fell over the camp was absolute. Soldiers who had been celebrating the victory froze. They stared at the woman walking behind me—the nightmare who had slaughtered their comrades just hours ago. They gripped their spears, sweat beading on their foreheads, but fear kept them rooted to the spot.
I didn't stop for them. I rode straight to the Golden Yurt—the Clan Leader's tent.
I pushed through the heavy felt flaps.
The air inside smelled of roasted lamb and victory wine. My father, Ju Xiong, sat on his tiger-skin throne, surrounded by the Clan Elders. They were laughing, toasting to the retreat of the Hei army.and the retreat of their clan leader.
"...and then they ran like dogs!" Ju Xiong bellowed, raising a gold cup.
I stepped into the light.
"Father."
Ju Xiong stopped. He smiled, about to welcome me.
Then Hei Ziyu stepped in behind me.
The tent exploded into chaos.
"enemy!" The First Elder screamed, standing up ready for battle.
"Protect the Clan Leader!"
Ten Rank 2 peak and rank 3 Gu Masters flared their essence. All preparing to use their strongest gu, all staring at the woman standing in my shadow.
Hei Ziyu didn't flinch. She didn't even look at them. Her purple eyes were fixed on the back of my neck. She stood like a statue .
"Ju Yang!" My father roared, his Rank 4 aura erupting as a Golden Lion armor materialized on him. "Step aside! That monster killed three hundred of our kin! I will take her head myself!"
"No,father wait for me to speak" I said.
The return to the Ju Tribe was a theater play, and we were the actors.
To the soldiers and Elders watching with fearful eyes, Hei Ziyu was a conquered monster. She stood behind me, her head bowed, her black armor casting a long shadow over the feast. She was a weapon I had taken control over—a symbol of my power rising and the Ju Tribe's new power group rising. That's what a rank 3 powerhouse meant in a tribe of our size
I played the role of the arrogant young master perfectly, dismissing the Elders with a wave of my hand and refusing to let anyone else guard the "prisoner."
"She stays with me," I told my father, Ju Xiong, whose eyes were in shock at the Rank 3 aura radiating from the girl. "I can control her , as our ancestors have always said strong rule the weak and she excepted me as her lord as i defeated her so she is going to be the weapon in our hands she is an orphan so she has no concern over hei tribe."
My father didn't argue. He was too busy celebrating the acquisition of the Warm Springs and the sudden, terrifying rise of his son's power.
"Go rest, my son," he said, waving his wine cup. "The night is yours."
I bowed and led my entourage to my own yurt.