Xiamen Pass.

Jingrong had been here for three days already, yet had not sent an envoy to “negotiate” with Houliao.

Chu Chengyu grew somewhat anxious and personally sought him out.

“Your Highness, shouldn’t we send someone to Houliao to talk with their leader? We can’t keep waiting like this. There must be some resolution.”

In Chu Chengyu’s view, he believed Jingrong was deliberately stalling for time, planning to find a way to resolve the current situation. But the matter was already set in stone, beyond salvation. Even if Jingrong delayed further, he couldn’t delay his way to any conclusion.

But he hadn’t expected Jingrong’s response to be: “This prince will go personally.”

“Personally?” Chu Chengyu was shocked and immediately tried to dissuade him. “Although the saying goes that envoys aren’t killed in wars between nations, you are a prince. If something happens, the consequences would be unthinkable.”

“This prince has already decided to go personally. After all, some matters cannot be explained clearly by an envoy. This prince must personally meet Muzar.” He then instructed Chu Chengyu, “Go inform General Ji. This prince will take him along. We’ll depart shortly.”

“Together?”

“That’s right.”

Chu Chengyu’s brow trembled, his eyes flickered, and he lowered his gaze in acknowledgment. “Yes, this subordinate will go notify General Ji immediately.”

About an hour later, the horses were ready.

Before leaving, Jingrong instructed Chu Chengyu: “This prince doesn’t know whether the meeting with Muzar will be successful, but you must defend Xiamen Pass to the death. Don’t leave your post for an instant.”

“But what if…”

“There are no ‘what ifs.’ In any case, without this prince’s orders, you absolutely cannot deploy a single soldier.”

“Won’t this be too risky?” Chu Chengyu worried.

Jingrong pressed his brow together, glanced toward the distance, and said in a low voice, “Then we’ll take this risk.”

Chu Chengyu fell silent!

When leaving the city, Ji Yinshu personally came to see him off, straightening the cold, gleaming armor on his body.

“Be careful.”

“I know.”

She glanced at Ji Huan in the distance and asked Jingrong, “Why take him?”

Jingrong said, “I don’t feel at ease leaving him here.”

That phrase “don’t feel at ease” contained many implications.

At bottom, he didn’t trust Ji Huan.

Even less did he trust Wei Yi’s sudden good intentions in sending Ji Huan to assist him.

Therefore, if he went to Houliao, he absolutely couldn’t feel at ease entrusting the entire Xiamen Pass to Ji Huan. He had to keep Ji Huan constrained at his side to feel secure.

He grasped Ji Yinshu’s hand and pulled her into his embrace, holding her tightly.

He whispered in her ear, “Yunshu, promise me you’ll stay here and wait for me to return.”

She rested against his solid chest, as if able to feel his burning, beating heart beneath the cold, hard scales of armor.

“Alright, I’ll wait here for you. I won’t go anywhere.”

She straightened his armor one last time, watching him mount his horse and leave.

That tall figure, imposing and upright.

Gradually disappeared from her sight…

Her eyes flickered lightly as she turned and ran up to the city tower, hoping to catch another glimpse of Jingrong.

But the distance was already enshrouded tightly in white mist, impossible for her vision to penetrate.

She clenched her palms tightly, her fingernails turning white.

She stood on the city tower for a long while.

…

In the eleventh month, the wind on the grasslands rolled past like knives.

Jingrong and Ji Huan rode together. In front, soldiers carried banners to lead the way; behind followed Lang Bo and several dozen soldiers.

They weren’t going to war but to negotiate, so they brought very few people.

Upon reaching Houliao, Muzar received them with a grand banquet.

This courtesy left everyone baffled. By rights, given the current relationship between Dalin and Houliao, it would be enough for Muzar to flay Jingrong alive. Yet not only did he not flay him, he treated him with the most ceremonious reception of the grasslands.

This banquet continued for two days and two nights.

During these two days, no one mentioned the matter of submission.

On the final day, Jingrong finished the last cup of wine placed beside him.

Muzar dismissed his people, leaving only Third Master.

Jingrong also had Ji Huan and Lang Bo go outside.

The three men closed the tent flap and talked.

The atmosphere was heavy.

“You previously helped us destroy Yuedan. These past two days of banqueting were to thank you.” Muzar raised his cup.

So this was a thanksgiving feast!

Jingrong said, “When I helped you back then, I also had my personal reasons.”

“No matter what, I still must thank you. Now the thanks are complete, and we should get straight to the point.” Muzar finally entered the main topic.

The earlier relaxed atmosphere of the banquet was swept away entirely.

Jingrong’s brow furrowed lightly. He rotated the empty wine cup in his hand and said earnestly, “Muzar, the purpose of my visit this time is not to meet you with weapons of war.”

“Having us submit is impossible!”

“There’s a second option.”

“Retreat three hundred li west?” Muzar clearly found this second option even more laughable. He exhaled heavily and said very explicitly, “Neither of these options will work!”

This answer was within Jingrong’s expectations.

Because he had never planned for Muzar to immediately nod in agreement. After all, this was inherently a difficult matter for a tribal leader. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have come personally.

He said calmly, “I came to find you personally to avoid an unnecessary war.”

Third Master, who had been silent all along, picked up his words: “By ‘unnecessary,’ you mean persuading us to submit?”

Jingrong said nothing.

Indicating his tacit agreement.

Third Master’s expression stiffened, a flash of fierceness passing through his eyes. “You came here this time with only a few dozen people. Aren’t you afraid we’ll kill you?”

“If I were afraid, I wouldn’t have come.” Jingrong showed no fear and said, “Actually, the Emperor of Dalin said one thing correctly—if you’re willing to submit, from now on Dalin will have no more concerns. If you face difficulties in the future, we will do everything to help you.”

Muzar and Third Master exchanged glances.

Both their expressions were ugly.

Muzar’s eyes tightened slightly. “We Houliao people can be defeated, can die, but we absolutely cannot bow our heads to your Dalin as subjects.”

“Then do you want to see the day when blood flows like rivers on the Xisai Grasslands?” Jingrong’s expression was solemn, his brow peaks furrowed high. He told them, “This so-called submission is nothing more than a piece of paper, a seal! Your territory won’t be reduced, your people won’t be reduced. What you were before, you’ll still be in the future. Dalin won’t interfere with you. You can still dominate this grassland.”

“…”

Jingrong grasped the key point and said one sentence: “You must know, anyone would believe… strength equals ambition!”

Strength equals ambition!

These words were not wrong.

And because of this statement, this “negotiation” fell into a giant ice cellar.

Jingrong observed the changes in Muzar’s and Third Master’s eyes, as if seeing the hesitation in their gaze.

The three men were silent.

No one spoke.

Just at this moment—

A sudden commotion came from outside.

Before the people in the tent could react, they saw a group of Houliao people charging in with large blades.

The leader was Geta!

As soon as he entered, he ordered, “Seize them.”

Several Houliao people swiftly placed their large blades against Jingrong’s neck.