Chapter 41 Returning to the Capital

I nodded. “For many years, the Beastmen race could only survive by relying on the Demon Race’s support. Naturally, we had to accept all their unreasonable conditions. Every time a war broke out with the Dragon God Empire, we Beastmen were always placed on the front lines and used as cannon fodder. A few days ago another war with the Dragon God Empire erupted. The Beastmen lost more than three hundred thousand warriors. But what about the Demon Race? I doubt they even lost fifty thousand soldiers.

“The Beast God Religion was created precisely to change this situation. I must help our people grow stronger so that one day we can break free from the Demon Race’s oppression. We will no longer have to accept their unreasonable demands. If we succeed, the Demon Race will begin to decline. The Beast God Religion threatens their way of life. That is why they sent so many experts to kill us.”

Panzong nodded. “Your analysis makes sense. That must be the reason. Those bastards… they’ve been suppressing the Beastmen for their own benefit. Lei Xiang—ah, no, Fourth Brother—what do you plan to do now?”

I snorted coldly. “I will make everyone who opposed us pay the price. I lost too many brothers. Demon Race… do you really think the Beastmen fear you? Just wait and see.”

My eyes grew colder.

“Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Second Sister, Third Brother—I intend to request command of a division from the Beastmen Emperor and launch a surprise attack against the Demon Race. I don’t believe their cities can withstand my assault. Once they witness the true strength of the Beastmen, they won’t dare behave arrogantly again.

“But before that, there is one more matter to deal with. Mo Yue. And Black Dragon… my dear partner, don’t worry. I will rescue you.”

Mink asked hesitantly, “Fourth Brother… will the Beastmen Emperor agree to your request?” He still sounded unfamiliar with calling me Fourth Brother.

I replied calmly, “I’m not worried about that. If I’m attacked at my doorstep and he refuses to let me fight back, then he isn’t the Beastmen Emperor I know. I’m confident I can persuade him.”

Panzong said firmly, “Fourth Brother, your Eldest Brother supports you. I command five thousand special troops. They are absolute professionals who obey only my orders. When the time comes, I’ll bring them with me and charge through the enemy lines at your side.”

I looked at him gratefully. “Thank you, Eldest Brother.”

Jin asked in surprise, “Why didn’t we know about this secret army of yours?”

Panzong smiled smugly. “Do you think I would tell you everything? My troops are not inferior to your so-called temple guards.”

Yin snorted disdainfully. “You won’t know until you see it with your own eyes. Fourth Brother, Second Sister’s three thousand temple guards will also be at your disposal. You’ve already seen their skills. In addition, Yuna Territory will provide the resources needed to support this war.”

I felt a surge of excitement. “With the elite forces of Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and Second Sister, our chances of success will greatly increase.”

Mink still looked uncertain. “Fourth Brother… are you really that confident?”

I nodded. “Trust me, Third Brother. I will never allow the Demon Race to harm the Beastmen without resistance.”

Mink nodded resolutely. “Although I’m not very strong, I will stay by your side and support you. I will carry out any order you give without hesitation.”

“Good,” I said. “Then once we bury our brothers, we will depart.”

Panzong frowned. “Right now? Shouldn’t we wait until your injuries recover?”

I shook my head. “Speed decides victory in war. We cannot alert the Demon Race to our movements. Leaving immediately will give us the best results. Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Second Sister, Third Brother—could I trouble you to bury my fallen brothers here? Afterward, cut down some trees and make a stretcher to carry me to the capital. If we have the chance in the future, we will return and move their remains to the capital. We must reach the capital as quickly as possible.”

Panzong waved his hand. “No need for a stretcher. I’ll carry you on my back. Once we reach a market, I can easily buy a warm carriage. Traveling by carriage will be faster. I’ll even have some experts carry it so our speed won’t slow down.”

Among the Beastmen, those with high status often traveled in carried carriages. The number of carriers depended on the rider’s rank. A warm carriage was essentially a large, bed-like carriage carried by ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠several people.

Mink stammered, “Eldest Brother… let me carry Fourth Brother.”

Panzong shook his head. “Am I that frightening? Third Brother, we are sworn brothers. You must remember your position. You are our brother, not a servant. Your body has just recovered and isn’t suited for heavy work. My condition is the best, so I’m the most suitable.”

I smiled faintly. “Then I’ll trouble you, Eldest Brother.”

……

Panzong carried me on his back as we stood before the tombstones of the nineteen escorts. Mink carved each of their names into the stone markers. I felt ashamed. Among all those brothers, I had only truly known Mink and Wo Fu by name.

Now the others had already departed.

“Brothers, rest in peace. Leave the rest to us. We will carry forward the plan we began together. Although I may not be able to make the Beastmen the strongest nation on this continent, I will certainly make them stronger. One day no one will dare look down on us Beastmen again. Farewell, my brothers.”

Mink stood up. “Fourth Brother, all the tombstones are finished.”

I nodded. “I will find a chance to move them to the capital.”

Mink sighed. “There’s no need. Although the environment here isn’t ideal, it’s quiet and secluded. Do you really think we were happy growing up in the palace? Every day was endless training. Compared to that place, our brothers might prefer it here. From here they can witness the growth of these two territories. When we have time, we can simply return to clean and repair the cemetery.”

I looked at Mink. His sorrow was even deeper than mine.

“Very well,” I said quietly. “Then we should depart.”

……

I lay inside the warm carriage while sixteen high-ranking Naga tribesmen carried it along the road. After half a month of traveling, we finally reached the outskirts of the capital’s administrative territory.

During this time I cultivated constantly. My dark magic had returned to its peak state, while my Mad God Chi had recovered to about eighty percent.

“Stop for a moment,” I ordered.

The Naga carriers halted.

“Eldest Brother!” I called.

Panzong’s figure flashed to the front of the carriage. “What is it, Fourth Brother?”

“Eldest Brother, my strength has almost fully recovered, and we’ve already entered the jurisdiction of the Imperial Capital. I don’t need the carriage anymore.”

Panzong laughed. “Lying down for so long must have made your bones stiff. Very well. Everyone, put the carriage down!”

The warm carriage settled onto the ground.

I stepped out and took a deep breath of fresh air.

The warm sunlight felt comfortable against my skin. I stretched my limbs, feeling strength returning to my body. The injuries caused by that forbidden spell seemed to have vanished completely.

“Fourth Brother, why did you come out?” Jin asked from behind me.

Along the way the Wolf God had been extremely lively. Everywhere they went they found something new to marvel at, and their playful bickering between the two heads had truly left me helpless.

“Second Brother, I’m fine now. See? I can’t lie down forever. We should reach the Imperial Capital by tomorrow. I need to prepare myself. I don’t want to meet the Beastmen Emperor looking weak and exhausted.”

Yin smiled. “Your recovery speed is astonishing. You recovered in just a few days. Calling you a cockroach was absolutely correct.”

A trace of unease appeared in my eyes.

“Actually, the forbidden spell didn’t injure me directly. Most of my injuries came from the battle itself. Perhaps transforming twice placed too much strain on my body.”

Panzong frowned. “Even so, that’s dangerous. If that taboo spell had struck you directly without protection, you would have disappeared just like the grass and mountains around us.”

I thought deeply. “The greatest help actually came from the turquoise gem. Its powerful life force seemed to counteract the death energy released by the taboo spell. But something still feels wrong inside my body. Whenever I try to cultivate Mad God Chi, there’s a strange feeling I can’t describe. But when I cultivate dark magic, that sensation disappears.”

Panzong cursed. “Damn it. If every Fallen Angel of the Demon Race used forbidden spells like that, even all the Dragon Knights combined wouldn’t be able to defeat them. Fourth Brother, you’ve been cultivating diligently every day. If something is wrong, let me examine you and try to heal you.”

anzong truly behaved like an elder brother. During the time I was injured, he arranged everything carefully and properly, nothing like his former lazy self. Every day he worried about my condition and asked about my recovery. In many ways he treated me even better than my real elder brother, Lei Long.

I shook my head and said, “Eldest Brother, you don’t need to worry so much. Honestly, I don’t know whether to say that Fallen Angel was extremely lucky or that our luck was simply terrible. From what I know, that type of forbidden spell has a success rate of less than one percent. If someone wishes to borrow the power of the King of the Underworld, their message must reach the Underworld itself. That Fallen Angel succeeded only at the cost of his life. Just think about it—the energy barrier separating Heaven and the Underworld is unimaginably powerful. Breaking through it isn’t easy. I suspect that the force of his explosion, combined with his desperate persistence, forced a narrow opening through which the power emerged.”

Panzong smiled bitterly. “His luck might have been good, but we were almost wiped out. Even now, when I remember that aura of death, I still feel a chill run down my spine.”

The sky was clear and bright that day. Sunlight spread across the land. Looking at the Beastmen working in the fields, I said to Mink, “Third Brother, look. Isn’t this completely different from when we left?”

Mink nodded. “Yes. I noticed it as soon as we entered the borders of the Imperial Capital’s territory. Fourth Brother, look over there. When we left, that area was just wild grassland covered in shrubs. Now you can see crops sprouting everywhere. I think there will be a great harvest in a few months. This feeling of vitality is wonderful.”

I smiled. “His Majesty truly acts quickly. In just a few months the lands surrounding the Imperial Capital have already been turned into farmland. Seeing such prosperity makes me feel that everything we did was worthwhile. Second Brother, what do you think of this place?”

The Wolf God bent down and grabbed a handful of soil. Jin and Yin examined it carefully and even smelled it.

Jin’s eyes lit up. “This land hasn’t been cultivated for many years. The soil is extremely fertile. It’s no worse than the plains of Yuna Territory. The people teaching the Beastmen farming here are quite capable. Look at these crops—the Beastmen have grown them well. This should be wheat. If even half of the Beastmen Territory were developed like this, no one would starve anymore, and the number of bandits would certainly decrease.”

I smiled with satisfaction.

Beastmen Territory, my first home… you are slowly stepping toward a bright future. You have my blessings.

Panzong shouted from ahead, “Hey! Are you all not in a hurry anymore? Fourth Brother, we can talk while walking. Lift the carriage! Let’s go!”

I laughed. “Why bother carrying it? Just throw it away.”

Panzong chuckled. “That would be wasteful. You never know when someone might get injured again. It might come in handy. Hahaha.”

Jin said confidently, “Who could possibly harm us brothers? Boss, you worry too much.”

After we became sworn siblings, Jin and Yin refused to call Panzong “Eldest Brother.” Instead, they simply called him Boss. Although Panzong didn’t particularly like it, it was still better than the old nickname they used to give him.

Ignoring Jin’s remark, Panzong continued leading the way.

Mink said carefully, “Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Second Sister, please be careful. Keep your cloaks tight. We don’t want the common people discovering anything unusual.”

Yin frowned. “So what if they see us? They can’t eat us.”

Mink fell silent, looking somewhat awkward.

Jin said, “Third Brother, don’t listen to Second Sister’s nonsense. We’ll ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠be careful.”

Mink replied, “I’m not worried about trouble. But if the commoners see you, who would dare provoke us? The real problem is that you might attract worshippers, especially from the werewolf tribe. Imagine what would happen if they saw the Wolf God standing right in front of them.”

I laughed. “Then our Wolf God would have to forget about adventuring.”

I looked at them. “Third Brother is right. Be careful. Let’s go. Eldest Brother is already so far ahead we can barely see him.”

As we continued walking, I asked Mink, “I wonder how the Beast God Religion has developed in the Imperial Capital.”

Mink smiled. “That’s easy. Just ask someone.”

I scratched my head. Why hadn’t I thought of something so simple?

I told the others to wait while Mink and I approached a farmer working in the fields.

“Hello, uncle,” I said politely. “May I ask you a few questions?”

The farmer glanced at us and continued working, replying impatiently, “Can’t you see I’m busy? If I don’t hurry, I won’t finish my quota before sunset.”

I smiled. “Uncle, we’re travelers from afar. I just want to ask if there are people from the Beast God Religion around here. I heard they’ve been helping the common people. It won’t take long.”

The moment he heard the words Beast God Religion, the farmer’s eyes brightened.

He put down his hoe and stood up straight. His expression was filled with reverence.

“You asked the right person. Speaking of the Beast God Religion… they are truly saviors sent by the Beast God. They didn’t just help us eliminate bandits. They also sent people to teach us farming. Many of us used to starve because we couldn’t grow food. They even provided the seeds. They gave us grain and vegetables to eat and said we could repay them after the harvest.

“I don’t know about other places, but in our village of about two hundred people, not a single person fails to praise the Beast God Religion. It seems even the Beastmen Emperor supports them. Alright, I must get back to work. According to the division arranged by the emissaries of the Beast God Religion, this land now belongs to me. I must work hard so I don’t fall behind. If you young men can join the Beast God Religion, that would be a great blessing. Oh mighty Beast God, thank you for granting us land and food.”

His expression was completely sincere.

It seemed the Beastmen Emperor’s policies had already begun transforming the administrative regions around the Imperial Capital. If the people continued working diligently, this area could rival Yuna Territory within just a few years.

As we continued our journey, we asked about ten more people the same question.

Every answer was nearly identical.

The Beast God Religion had deeply taken root in the Beastmen’s hearts. Regardless of tribe or race, they all showed reverence toward the Beast God.

Mink grinned. “Fourth Brother—oh great Vice Pope—this must make you very happy. The Beast God Religion has an excellent reputation among the common people. Even the bandits seem to have been eliminated. His Majesty truly acts swiftly.”

I nodded. “Yes. The Beastmen Emperor is truly a wise and farsighted ruler. He knows when to act and what methods to use. As long as we assist him properly, the Beastmen race will definitely grow stronger.”

I smiled faintly.

“Third Brother, what do you think would happen if I told those farmers that I’m the Vice Pope of the Beast God Religion?”

Mink laughed.

“There are two possibilities. Either they believe you, or they don’t. If they don’t, they might beat you for impersonating the person they admire most. But if they believe you… your situation will be even worse. Once their holy leader arrives, how could they possibly let you leave?”

Mink and I burst into laughter.

Our laughter attracted the attention of the Wolf God and Panzong behind us.

“Are you that satisfied with the peasants’ answers?” Jin asked. “You two look very happy.”

“Of course,” I said. “Second Brother, can you imagine? If everyone here knew I was truly the Vice Pope of the Beast God Religion, I could make them willingly throw their lives away for me.”

The closer we came to the Imperial Capital, the more farmland appeared around us. The climate there was perfect for agriculture. Even during winter the temperature remained around ten degrees, which barely affected crops. Under ideal conditions, three harvests a year might even be possible.

When we reached the outskirts of the Imperial Capital, I noticed Mink seemed unusually emotional.

I stepped behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Third Brother, what’s wrong?”

Mink shook his head.

“Fourth Brother, during this journey I experienced and learned so much. And now we’re finally back. I can’t even describe how I feel. No matter what happens, I will support you. I believe the Beastmen Territory will only grow stronger with your help.”

I smiled. “Third Brother, you flatter me. But I’ve noticed you’ve changed a lot since we became sworn brothers. In the past you were bold and domineering, full of enthusiasm. Now you’ve become much steadier. You’re far more dependable. I have a feeling you’ll accomplish something extraordinary in the future.”

Mink smiled knowingly. “That’s probably because of the magic and combat techniques you taught me. Don’t forget, I’m studying earth-element magic now. That element symbolizes stability.”

He paused.

“We’re back now. When do you plan to meet the Beastmen Emperor?”

I sighed softly.

“How about this: you go to the palace and inform His Majesty that I have returned. I’ll find a place for Eldest Brother and the others to stay. After that, I’ll go meet the Beastmen Emperor.”

Mink shook his head with a smile.

“Don’t be foolish. You should go to the palace first. I know how anxious you are. I’ll arrange lodging for them. Finding a good tavern and some decent food is something I can at least handle.”

I nodded. “This isn’t a bad idea.”

Then I raised my voice and said clearly, “Eldest Brother, Wolf God, wait here for us.”

Panzong and the Wolf God had already reached the entrance with the sixteen Naga escorts. The warm carriage had just been sold for sixty gold coins. According to the Naga escorts, the carriage originally cost only twenty gold coins, so we had actually made a profit.

When the guards at the Imperial Capital gate saw the sixteen Nagas with their brightly colored scales, they immediately stopped them.

From their understanding, Nagas were not friendly creatures. The sudden appearance of so many Naga experts naturally aroused suspicion, especially with the presence of two strange masked figures among them.

“Who are you people? Why have you come to the Imperial Capital?”

Jin Langtou replied casually, “Of course we are good people. We are law-abiding civilians of the Beastmen. Sir, could you please let us pass?”

Panzong muttered to himself, “Isn’t it just a capital city? Even the way they speak is different.”

He had spent most of his life within the Naga Tribe, where he was constantly surrounded by subordinates who praised him. No one had ever dared block his path. Now that he had arrived at the Imperial Capital and been stopped at the gate, he naturally felt displeased.

The guard clearly had sharp hearing. He shouted angrily, “What did you say? This is for the safety of the Imperial Capital. Men! Search them. And you two—yes, the two of you—remove the cloaks covering your heads. What are you hiding? Are you ashamed of something, or simply shy?”

The sixteen Naga escorts could no longer restrain themselves. Someone had actually dared to insult their supreme lord.

Bloodthirst flashed through their eyes. Their forked tongues flickered rapidly, their tails swayed back and forth, and they bared their fangs and claws, refusing to let the city gate guards approach.

Just as a fight was about to break out, Mink and I finally caught up.

I hurried forward and asked, “What happened, Eldest Brother?”

Panzong snorted in dissatisfaction. “Look at these guards of your capital city. They refuse to let us enter. Fourth Brother, go talk to them. I won’t pursue the matter any further.”

My expression darkened. I stepped forward and removed the mask that had just been made for me.

“Move aside immediately and let us pass.”

The captain of the guards saw that I had a human appearance and was momentarily startled. Then he asked uncertainly, “Sir… are you…”

I took out my identity token and tossed it to him coldly.

“That’s right. I am the Vice Commander of the Praetorian Guard, Lei Xiang.”

The guard carefully examined the token that proved my identity. He immediately knelt down.

“Your Highness, please forgive this humble servant for showing disrespect.”

I raised my hand.

“That’s enough. Stand up. You were only performing your duty, so I will not blame you. Now step aside. We must meet His Majesty immediately.”

The guard noticed that I was nothing like the brutal and grim figure described in the rumors. He breathed a sigh of relief.

He quickly ordered his men to move aside and bowed respectfully.

“Welcome back, Your Highness.”

I responded with a simple acknowledgment and led everyone into the Beastmen Imperial Capital.

Panzong laughed. “Fourth Brother, you really are impressive. That guard didn’t even dare breathe loudly after seeing you.”

“This may be my territory,” I replied, “but it’s nothing compared to the authority the three of you possess in your own lands. In your territories, you’re even more respected than local rulers. Here, I’m nothing special. There are dozens of officials whose ranks exceed mine.”

I paused before continuing.

“Eldest Brother, I need to separate from you for a while. Let Third Brother arrange a place for you to stay. I must hurry to the palace to meet the Beastmen Emperor and report what happened.”

Then I looked at Mink.

“Third Brother, once you’ve arranged lodging, come meet me at the palace. You know where I stay, right?”

Mink nodded. “I know.”

Panzong added, “Brother, handle this matter quickly. Fourth Brother, my subordinates have already prepared themselves. They are on their way to meet us. As soon as we receive news from you, our men will be ready to move at any time.”

Even before we left Sasi Territory, Panzong had already sent several capable subordinates to prepare everything. We received word yesterday morning that his forces were only five days away from the Imperial Capital.

Their support for me was completely unconditional.

After bidding farewell to my sworn siblings, I hurried toward the palace of the Beastmen Emperor.

“Your Highness, you’ve returned?” The guards at the palace gate greeted me respectfully.

I nodded and asked, “Where is His Majesty?”

The guard replied, “At this hour His Majesty is usually in the Imperial Study reviewing memorials. He should be there now.”

I nodded and walked quickly toward the Imperial Study.

Just as the guard had said, more than a dozen elite personal guards of the Beastmen Emperor stood outside the door. All of them recognized me and immediately saluted.

“Your Highness.”

“Is His Majesty inside?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Please inform him immediately that I have urgent matters to report.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The captain of the imperial guards did not dare delay. He quickly entered the study to announce my arrival.

A short while later he returned.

“Your Highness, His Majesty invites you to enter.”

I nodded and strode inside.

The Beastmen Emperor personally came to the doorway to greet me, smiling.

“Why have you returned so quickly? Did something happen?”

I bowed respectfully.

“This son pays his respects to Father Emperor.”

Seeing the seriousness of my expression, the Beastmen Emperor immediately realized that the situation was grave. He led me into the study, dismissed the guards and servants, and asked in a low voice,

“What happened? Did something go wrong? Was the spread of the Beast God Religion unsuccessful?”

I shook my head.

“Although the plan was difficult to carry out, that was not the reason for my return. I have already successfully reached agreements with both the Naga Tribe in Sasi Territory and the Werewolf Tribe in Yuna Territory. Not only have they agreed to convert to the Beast God Religion, they have also pledged their full support for your reforms.”

The Beastmen Emperor was delighted.

“You accomplished this in such a short time? Excellent. This is far better than slowly persuading them one by one. Are you certain their submission is sincere?”

“I am certain.”

I then recounted everything: my battle with the Wolf God in Yuna Territory, our journey to Sasi Territory, and the fight with Panzong.

I concealed nothing. The Beastmen Emperor ruled the entire Beastmen Territory. He would inevitably discover events within his lands. If I hid anything and he learned of it later, it might create suspicion between us, which would only harm the future of the Beastmen.

Aside from my Fallen Angel transformation, I revealed everything from beginning to end, including Panzong accompanying us from Sasi Territory.

The Beastmen Emperor sighed.

“Child, you have worked hard. I never expected warriors as powerful as the Wolf God and Panzong to exist. The fact that you managed to subdue them is remarkable. You will be rewarded.”

I shook my head.

“These are things I should do. Reviving the Beastmen race to its former glory has always been my dream. These achievements are not worth mentioning.”

“Then everything should have gone smoothly,” he said. “Why did you say there was trouble?”

Sadness filled my eyes.

“Just as I was excitedly bringing Yin and Panzong back to the appointed hill, something terrible happened. On that hill we discovered the bodies of my escorts. Every one of them had been brutally murdered.”

The Beastmen Emperor slammed the table and stood up with a furious roar.

“What? Someone dared kill your escorts within the territory ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of the Beastmen? Do you know who did it?”

I nodded solemnly.

“My guards were nearly wiped out. Your Majesty knows their abilities well. No one within the Beastmen Territory could eliminate them without suffering losses. Achieving such a result would be nearly impossible.”

The Beastmen Emperor’s voice trembled.

“What? All of them died? Not a single one survived?”

I sighed deeply.

“Only the lionman Mink survived.”

I reported everything: how I discovered Mink and the dying Wolf beneath the rock, how I learned the clues about what had happened, how I fought the Fallen Angels, and how one of them ultimately chose to self-destruct. I explained nearly every detail of the battle.

After hearing my report, the Beastmen Emperor’s body began radiating a terrifying killing intent. He slammed his palm heavily onto the table.

With a loud crash, the sturdy redwood table shattered piece by piece. The strength behind that blow was astonishing, and even I was surprised.

The tremendous noise immediately drew the guards outside. Dozens of highly skilled Beastmen rushed into the room.

“Your Majesty, what happened?”

“Protect His Majesty!”

“Your Majesty, are you unharmed?”

The guards quickly descended into chaos. Many of them looked at me with hostility, clearly suspecting that I had attacked the Beastmen Emperor.

The Beastmen Emperor roared furiously.

“All of you get out! Nothing happened here!”

The guards looked at each other uncertainly, none of them daring to move.

The Beastmen Emperor shouted again.

“Get out! Didn’t you hear me? Do you want to be beheaded?”

His thunderous voice frightened the guards so badly that several of them dropped to their knees.

I quickly intervened.

“Father Emperor, please don’t be angry with them. They were only worried about your safety. Being distressed won’t solve anything. Those things have already happened. We must calmly consider how to deal with the situation.”

After all, the Beastmen Emperor was an experienced ruler. He slowly regained control of his emotions and waved his hand.

“I’m fine. All of you leave. I need to discuss something with Lei Xiang.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Seeing that the Beastmen Emperor had calmed down, the guards respectfully withdrew from the room.

The Beastmen Emperor suddenly collapsed back into his chair as if all his strength had drained away. His expression was filled with confusion.

“Father Emperor, what is it?”

The Beastmen Emperor shook his head bitterly.

“We just achieved such a good beginning, yet the Demon Clan destroyed everything so quickly. If my guess is correct, they will continue sending assassins to eliminate the members of the Beast God Religion. Lei Xiang, what should we do? Should we withdraw all our people? Talented individuals are rare. I do not wish to lose more of them.”

I asked cautiously, “Father Emperor, have you considered resolving this through military force?”

The Beastmen Emperor laughed bitterly.

“Military force? Can we defeat the Demon Clan? Not long ago we fought a war with the Dragon God Empire and suffered heavy losses. What strength do we have left to oppose the Demon Clan? Besides, the Demon Clan possesses dozens of Fallen Angels. What could we possibly use to fight them?”

I stepped forward and grasped the Beastmen Emperor’s shoulders.

“Father Emperor, look into my eyes.”

He raised his head. When our gazes met, he saw the determination within mine.

“Father Emperor, a group of logisticians should have returned some days ago. I’m certain you are already aware of the war reparations the Demon Clan has demanded from us.”

The Beastmen Emperor nodded.

“What do you intend to do?”

The Beastmen Emperor gave another bitter smile.

“What else can I do? We will pay as demanded.”

Suddenly I raised my voice.

“Father Emperor, I misjudged you. I never expected you to be such a cowardly ruler—someone willing to kneel before the Demon Clan. Do you think the Beastmen will ever develop like this?”

My words enraged him.

He spread both arms and released a powerful force that sent me flying backward until I crashed against the wall.

“Lei Xiang, do not forget your position! Who do you think you are speaking to? Remember, I can take your life at any moment.”

I straightened myself and refused to retreat even a single step.

Staring directly at him, I said firmly, “I have not forgotten my position. Precisely because you hold such a position, I must remind you. Father Emperor, if we submit this time, the Beastmen may ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠never rise again. We must show the Demon Clan our strength and make them understand that the Beastmen are not easily bullied.”

The Beastmen Emperor turned around and punched the wall with his fist, sending dust scattering.

“You think I don’t want to go to war with the Demon Clan? I want it as much as you do. But as the ruler of the Beastmen, I cannot act so recklessly. Your thinking is too simple. Do you think war is that easy?”

He turned back toward me.

“Do not forget that on this continent there are more races than just Demons and Beastmen.”

Understanding suddenly dawned on me.

“You mean the Dragon God Empire?”

“Exactly. Let us not even discuss whether we could defeat the Demon Clan. The moment we start a war with them, the Dragon God Empire would seize the opportunity. As long as their leaders are not fools, they would secretly send their armies to take advantage of the conflict. When that happens, the Beastmen will face not only humiliation but also the danger of extinction.”

He closed his eyes painfully.

“I cannot allow the Beastmen to take such a risk. I cannot become the sinner of our nation. Do you understand?”

The intense expression I had shown earlier disappeared. Instead, I smiled slightly and stepped forward again.

“Since you have considered that possibility, then let us carefully analyze the situation and determine what we should do.”

The Beastmen Emperor looked at me in surprise.

“You have a solution?”

I nodded confidently.

“Please believe me. I will make the Beastmen stronger. What happened this time may seem like bad news, but it is also a crucial turning point. If we win a decisive battle, your prestige among the Beastmen will increase greatly.”

I continued calmly.

“As the Beastmen Emperor, you know that our people respect strength above all else. This war cannot be avoided. If we refuse to fight, all our previous efforts will be wasted. The Beast God Religion will stop spreading, and the Beastmen will forever remain subordinate to the Demon Clan—or perhaps even be destroyed by them in the future.”

I paused briefly.

“As for the Dragon God Empire… I discovered a secret while I was there. With that secret, we can fight the Demon Clan without fear.”

The Beastmen Emperor stared at me in astonishment.

“What secret?”