Baili Guard stood there, feeling the weight of everyone's gaze pressing down on him. His scalp prickled with tension. He knew that one wrong word could seal his fate, and leaving this place alive seemed increasingly uncertain. But he couldn't avoid speaking any longer; the silence was suffocating.
Swallowing hard, Baili Guard finally bit the bullet and said, "Prince Orion, I wonder if you still recall the events in Shuofang City…?"
Orion, lounging as if unconcerned, clicked his tongue and replied, "Shuofang? Hmm… no, I don't recall anything special."
Baili Guard was stunned. He thought to himself, Really? You've got to be kidding me!
How could Orion dismiss such a blatant issue with a wave of his hand? The way he said it was almost mocking. Baili Guard's years of experience had never prepared him for dealing with someone this... shameless. He tried again, forcing a smile, "Prince Orion, please, stop playing around with me. We both know what happened there."
Orion's eyes glinted with amusement. "Oh? And what might that be?" he asked, feigning ignorance, his voice dripping with irony.
Before Baili Guard could respond, Orion waved his hand lazily, "Alright, enough with the games. Xu Chu, see him out."
Xu Chu, a mountain of a man with a smile as sharp as his blade, stepped forward, unsheathing his long knife with a slow, deliberate scrape. His eyes gleamed with excitement as he approached the now-pale Baili Guard.
Panic surged through Baili's chest. This isn't just 'seeing off guests!' They're going to kill me!
Desperation gripped him, and before Xu Chu could reach him, Baili blurted out, "Prince! Please! I'm not here for the supplies! That's not why I came today!"
Orion raised an eyebrow at the sudden outburst. He gestured for Xu Chu to halt, and the burly warrior stopped mid-step, returning to his usual, deceptively benign stance.
"Oh?" Orion's tone shifted, suddenly more playful than threatening. "Why didn't you say so earlier, Baili Guard? We've just had a big misunderstanding, haven't we?" He motioned for a chair. "Come, have a seat. Let's talk like civilized men."
But Baili Guard was not about to sit. He could still feel Xu Chu's eyes on him, like a hawk eyeing prey. "No need, Prince. I'll make this quick. I'm here on urgent business."
"Go on," Orion said, his smile never quite reaching his eyes.
"Shuofang City... it's been destroyed."
Orion's casual demeanor faltered slightly. "Destroyed? I was just there two days ago. What are you talking about?"
Baili Guard nodded, his face grave. "Yes, completely wiped out. Everyone in the city… civilians, cultivators… all gone. Our branch of the Baichao Chamber of Commerce has been obliterated."
Orion's brow furrowed. He glanced at his right-hand man, Yu Xiang, who gave him a regretful look and said, "We've just received the news ourselves, Prince. Shuofang City has turned into a ghost town. It's as if the entire population vanished overnight."
Orion frowned, processing the news. His mind churned. Though the massacre had nothing to do with him, he could already sense trouble brewing. Shuofang was one of his recent conquests, and people might assume that he had a hand in its destruction.
Baili Guard seized the moment, pressing forward. "Prince, the situation is dire. Rumors are spreading, and many believe your forces are responsible for what happened in Shuofang City."
Orion's expression darkened. "They think I slaughtered a whole city? Ridiculous!"
Baili Guard was quick to nod. "Of course, I know that's not true. Our own people investigated. Before the destruction, they reported seeing a thick, black fog descending upon Shuofang. There were traces of residual demonic energy afterward. We suspect a demon cultivator was behind it."
The mention of demon cultivators made Orion pause. It had been years since he'd heard of such dark forces at play. His eyes narrowed. "A demon cultivator, you say?"
"Yes," Baili Guard confirmed, nodding gravely. "And now, with your name being tarnished, the Baichao Chamber of Commerce believes it's in both of our interests to find the culprit. We'd like to work with you to capture the one responsible and clear your name in the process."
Orion leaned back, considering Baili's words. Demon cultivators? That's serious business. But something felt off. If the Baichao Chamber of Commerce already knew it wasn't him, why hadn't they gone public with the evidence? Instead, they were asking for his help, as if they wanted him to play the role of their enforcer.
A bitter smile crossed Orion's face. They're using me as a pawn, he realized. They want me to handle the dirty work while they take the credit.
He stared at Baili Guard, who was still standing nervously before him, and slowly nodded. "Alright," Orion said. "We'll find this demon cultivator. But understand this, Baili Guard… if you're lying to me or trying to manipulate me, you'll be next."
Baili Guard felt a shiver run down his spine but quickly forced a smile. "Of course, Prince. We're on the same side."
But even as Baili spoke, both he and Orion knew that alliances in their world were as fragile as the shifting winds. And if this hunt for the demon cultivator went wrong, blood would spill.