Orion noticed that Jiang Shicheng seemed to have guessed his intentions. With a nonchalant shrug, he replied, "Think what you will."
"Whether the Lord of Beiyang City acts rightly or wrongly, it's not your decision to make," Orion continued, his tone cold and commanding. "I'm not here to negotiate—I'm here to inform you."
Jiang Shicheng was taken aback by Orion's blatant threat. He hadn't expected Orion to be so direct and unyielding, leaving him momentarily speechless. After a pause, he sighed bitterly and asked, "Do I even have a choice?"
"Haha, Uncle Jiang, it's good to see you're still reasonable," Orion chuckled, glancing at Jiang Shicheng. "Just don't disappoint me."
He left the rest unsaid, but the underlying threat was clear. "Now, I'll leave you to your father-daughter reunion. Make the most of it while you can."
With that, Orion exited the room, leaving Jiang Shicheng alone with his daughter.
...
As Jiang Qianning re-entered the room, she looked at her father curiously. "Dad, what did you two talk about just now?"
"Nothing..." Jiang Shicheng's eyes flickered, his mind clearly still preoccupied with the conversation he had just had with Orion. He quickly changed the subject. "By the way, Qian Ning, that boy didn't give you any trouble, did he?"
At this, Jiang Qianning froze, memories of Orion's ruthless actions the previous night flashing through her mind. The pain still lingered. Was that... bullying? But she forced a smile, not wanting to worry her father. "No... no, he treats me well."
Jiang Shicheng, too absorbed in his own thoughts, didn't notice the unease in his daughter's expression. He nodded absentmindedly. "That's good. If he ever bullies you, I won't stand for it!"
...
The father and daughter chatted a bit longer before Orion impatiently barged in and took Jiang Qianning away. After they left, Jiang Shicheng sat alone, a look of fear creeping into his eyes. "Alas... this Orion is far more dangerous than he appears. Though I'm safe for now... I fear I'll be labeled a traitor in the future."
He sighed deeply, realizing that his efforts had been in vain. Not only had he failed to gain anything, but he had also lost his beloved daughter in the process. After scheming for so long, he found himself outmaneuvered.
As for revenge... Jiang Shicheng could only smile bitterly. With his daughter now in Orion's hands, what could he do? It was clear: he was now tied to Orion's fate, for better or worse.
...
On the way back from Jiang Shicheng's home, Jiang Qianning suddenly looked at Orion, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "I heard your army is about to leave Beiyang City? It's a military taboo to bring women along. Are you..."
Before she could finish, Orion cut her off sharply. "Hmph! Even if I leave, you're coming with me! You'll never escape me, not in this lifetime!"
He sneered at her, making it clear that any thoughts of escape were futile. Jiang Qianning's heart sank as she looked at him, her emotions a tangled mess. Would she ever find freedom again?
...
Meanwhile, a hundred miles away from Beiyang City, hundreds of sword cultivators were soaring through the sky on their swords. Their fearsome auras tore through the clouds, leaving long trails behind them.
On this continent, only those with a cultivation level above Wuzong could fly. That meant these sword cultivators were all powerful Wuzong-level experts.
Upon closer inspection, the swords they rode shimmered with spiritual energy, glinting as they flew. These cultivators were elite warriors from the Wenjian Sect.
Suddenly, one of the elders, who exuded an intense sword aura, frowned as he pulled out a life card. In the next moment, there was a sharp crack—the life card, made from thousand-year-old locust wood, shattered into pieces in his hand.
The elder's expression darkened immediately. "No! Kuan's life card is broken!?"
"Damn it! That Orion dared to kill my disciple!"
Seeing the elder's fury, the other sword cultivators turned to him in concern. "Third Elder, what happened?"
"Hmph! I sent a disciple to Beiyang City to gather intelligence on Orion's army. Now, his life card is broken! He must have been discovered and killed by Orion!"
Life cards were magical items linked to their owners, allowing for contact, long-distance communication, and monitoring of the owner's life force. A shattered life card meant only one thing—the owner was dead.
"Hmph! Orion, I'll make you pay for this!" the third elder snarled, his face twisted with rage. Losing a disciple was bad enough, but it also meant losing the tribute that newly promoted disciples owed their masters—a significant sum, especially from a newly minted King of Martial Arts like his late apprentice.
In his anger, the third elder crushed the remaining shards of the life card into dust.
Nearby, the leading elder remained calm, his expression unchanged. "Third Elder, don't let your anger consume you. When we capture Orion, you can deal with him as you see fit. But for now, we must focus on supporting the Great Zhou Forbidden Army as the sect master commanded."
The third elder clenched his teeth and nodded reluctantly. The sect master's orders were absolute.
...
The sword cultivators moved swiftly, covering thousands of miles in a day. When they reached Beiyang City, they were surprised to find it deserted. The military camps were empty, the city gates wide open, and the city walls unguarded. There was no sign of Orion's army.
Everyone exchanged puzzled looks. Where was the army that was supposed to be stationed here?
...