Yu Xie arrived outside the stronghold.
The main gate was tightly closed.
Many guards nearby had long noticed Yu Xie's presence, but recognizing him, they did not act rashly.
"The Vice Commander of Guili Assembly comes to visit. What is your purpose?" one of the guards inquired.
"I wish to see the demon god Eligos," Yu Xie replied.
"Preposterous! How dare you speak the commander's name so casually!" One guard expressed discontent, but another quickly stopped him.
"Could you elaborate on why you wish to meet the commander?"
"I will explain when I see him," Yu Xie said calmly.
The atmosphere grew tense, and the guards fell silent, observing the white-haired man on horseback.
He had come alone to see the commander, yet there was no sign of panic on him; in fact, he seemed composed.
Was this how a mortal should behave before meeting a demon god?
It seemed the rumors about the Vice Commander of Guili Assembly were not unfounded.
"Please wait, Vice Commander. I will report to the commander right away."
"Thank you," Yu Xie smiled.
After a while, the messenger returned.
He instructed the guards to open the gate.
"The commander has ordered, please enter, Vice Commander."
Yu Xie's expression remained calm as he urged his horse forward, the animal's deep neigh echoing as they entered the stronghold.
"Please follow me," the returning soldier said, leading the way.
Yu Xie followed on horseback, attracting many curious glances.
"Why would the Vice Commander of Guili Assembly come here?"
"Is the commander planning to ally with Guili Assembly?"
Amidst these discussions, Yu Xie smoothly arrived at Eligos's location.
It was a grand building, every brick and tile showcasing the noble status of its master.
"Vice Commander, please, the commander is inside."
Yu Xie dismounted and approached the door, taking a moment to examine it.
The door featured intricate reliefs, their meaning somewhat obscure, but hints of Eligos's ambitions seemed to emerge from them.
"Please wait, Vice Commander. Before you enter, I must ask you to surrender your sword for safekeeping. It will be returned to you upon your exit," the soldier stated. "It is customary to disarm when meeting the commander."
"I'm sorry, but I promised the one who forged this sword that I would always keep it by my side. I cannot hand it over, even temporarily; it's a matter of my word," Yu Xie replied in a calm tone. "If I must disarm to enter, then perhaps I should just explain my intentions here at the door. Commander Eligos should be able to hear me."
"But..."
"That's fine. The Vice Commander of Guili Assembly is visiting; naturally, he is an esteemed guest, so he may enter directly."
Before the soldier could say anything further, a deep voice emanated from inside the room, and the door swung open on its own.
As Yu Xie had guessed, Eligos was not a demon god who cared for such formalities; he valued promises above all else.
In the glow of the room, a tall man stood in front of a hanging birdcage, playfully engaging with the white dove inside.
Yu Xie smiled at the soldier beside him and stepped into the room.
"Well, this is a rare visit," Eligos remarked.
"From your tone, it seems you aren't surprised. Did you guess why I'm here?" Yu Xie replied.
"How could I possibly guess? I don't possess mind-reading abilities," Eligos said, turning to face Yu Xie directly.
Yu Xie did not shy away from the gaze, and their eyes met like blades clashing.
Meeting the gaze of a demon god was something most people could not endure.
The pressure hidden within Eligos's eyes alone could leave an ordinary person gasping for breath.
"Now, tell me, what brings you to me?" Eligos prompted.
"I'm here to make a trade, on a personal basis," Yu Xie said.
"A trade?" Eligos seemed to show a hint of interest.
"Yes, I have a defensive layout of the Hagat Tribe."
"Did I mishear you?" Eligos looked somewhat skeptical.
"You heard correctly—it's the defensive layout of the Hagat Tribe," Yu Xie repeated.
"How did you obtain this?"
"Thirty years ago, I planted spies within the Hagat Tribe."
"The Hagat is highly suspicious. Infiltrating his tribe is no easy task."
"I'm a mortal, and most of Hagat's followers are mortals too. Mortals understand human nature better."
"Your word alone—how can I determine its authenticity?"
"You could send someone to investigate the truth of the defensive layout in secret. A quick check will reveal everything."
"...You spent thirty years on this, and now you wish to hand over your findings to me?"
"As I said, it's a trade," Yu Xie spoke slowly. "Hagat is cruel, and those under his rule live poorly, but they lack the strength to resist. Many demon gods who care for humanity despise Hagat, and you are no exception.
"But Hagat occupies a strategically advantageous position, making his stronghold easy to defend but hard to attack. That's why, after all these years, he has yet to lose in battle.
"What's even more troubling for you is that his stronghold lies to your north, cutting off your vital trade routes with the north. Defeating him would only benefit you; you should find this defensive layout quite valuable."
Yu Xie's words left Eligos momentarily silent.
After a long pause, Eligos looked at Yu Xie with a changed expression, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Among the various demon gods' strongholds, mine is closest to Guili Assembly. The others are worried about whether I will ally with Guilt-Free Settlement, which would be a significant problem for them."
"What are you trying to say?" Yu Xie's gaze sharpened.
"I thought I wouldn't ally with Guili Assembly, but it seems I might have to reconsider," Eligos said, pausing. "Now tell me your conditions."
"I want a promise from the demon god Eligos," Yu Xie stated.
"My promise?"
"Everyone knows that Eligos's word is his bond. Whatever you promise, you will surely follow through."
"So what do you want me to promise?"
"…If one day, the Geo Archon must lead the Adepti elsewhere to fight, leaving the God of dust Gui Zhong to guard Guili Assembly, you must not strike against Guili Assembly during that time. If another demon god happens to attack Guili Assembly then, you are to assist them."
"Is that all?"
"That's all."
The atmosphere fell into silence, Eligos's expression becoming complex.
"As a mortal, you are quite dedicated to Guili Assembly. If I had someone like you by my side… well, I agree to your terms."
"That's good enough for me." Yu Xie turned and walked to the table, pulling out a rolled-up map from his pocket and laying it on the table.
"Are you leaving?" Eligos asked.
"The business is concluded. Staying here too long wouldn't be good for either of us," Yu Xie said as he stepped toward the door. "Time wears down the heart; don't forget your promise."
"Of course not. Safe travels, and I won't see you out." Eligos watched Yu Xie leave, and as the door closed behind him, he let out a slow sigh.
"What a remarkable talent, but alas, mortals are ultimately bound by the shackles of their lifespan."
The sky had turned completely dark, and tonight's stars were not bright. For a nearly two-hundred-year-old man, it was even a bit difficult to see the path ahead.
Yu Xie rode on horseback, and the horse's pace was noticeably slower than during the day.
That was only natural; the horse needed to rest.
Yu Xie thought about finding a place to stay for the night, but out here on the plains, there wasn't a single shelter from the wind or rain, and his current condition might not endure much longer.
"Cough... cough..."
He coughed again.
A day of jostling had made his already weary body even more fatigued.
He lifted his head to gaze at the night sky, then glanced down at the sword, Cloud Cutter, at his waist.
"Liuyun, it seems I won't be able to partake in the ending you spoke of."