The Third Young Master places a black stone onto the Go board.
The soft click of the stone echoes faintly in the quiet pavilion.
Across from him sits Gu Fei, calmly studying the board.
The two men sit beneath the shade of a carved wooden roof that overlooks a peaceful courtyard garden.
A breeze moves gently through the bamboo leaves.
Yet the Third Young Master's mind is nowhere near the board.
His thoughts drift far to the north.
The latest reports arriving from the northern frontier have stolen his sleep.
When he first heard that Marquis Merin intended to build a city in the Northern Mountains, he was not worried.
In fact, he had been certain the plan would fail.
At that time, he had told Gu Fei with confidence that the city would never stand.
He had even written a letter to his family, assuring them there was nothing to fear.
The mountain tribes would destroy the city.
The Marquis would either die there or return gravely injured.
After that, the tribes would begin pushing south.
The noble families would simply prepare for that next stage.
That had been his prediction.
But the world had not followed his expectations.
Instead, Marquis Merin defended the city.
Not only that.
He defeated the coalition of three tribes that attacked him.
And then, instead of remaining behind his walls, he launched an expedition north to destroy those same tribes.
The Third Young Master cannot sleep when he thinks about it.
It no longer matters whether the Marquis wins or loses this expedition.
The damage has already been done.
The fame gained from defeating the coalition will not disappear.
That reputation alone will give Marquis Merin enough influence to challenge the Xiao Family within Wein Province.
For the Xiao Family, that possibility carries dangerous consequences.
If the Marquis loses this campaign, he will still need resources to maintain and protect his new city.
Those resources must come from somewhere.
And the most logical source will be Wein Province.
That means conflict.
Direct conflict with the Xiao Family.
But if the Marquis wins…
The Third Young Master cannot even imagine what that would mean.
"Third Young Master."
Gu Fei's voice interrupts his thoughts.
"Third Young Master."
The Third Young Master suddenly jolts awake when he feels Gu Fei tapping lightly on his arm.
He blinks and looks down.
Gu Fei has already made his move.
Several white stones now surround his black pieces.
The Third Young Master leans forward slightly and studies the board.
He considers his next move.
Gu Fei watches him quietly before speaking again.
"Third Young Master, are you thinking about Zhang Youjia's declaration?"
The Third Young Master looks up immediately, frowning.
"What happened?"
"What did Zhang Youjia do?"
If Duan Merin has become the new threat facing the Xiao Family, then the Zhang Family is the old one.
For generations, the Zhang Family has contested influence within Wein Province.
Gu Fei raises one eyebrow slightly.
"Third Young Master, did you not read the latest information sent by the family last night?"
The Third Young Master shakes his head.
"I was thinking about how the Marquis might defeat the three tribes."
Gu Fei nods.
"I do not believe the Marquis will win."
"But because of his actions, Zhang Youjia has announced something."
The Third Young Master waits.
Gu Fei continues.
"He plans to lead an expedition into the Western Desert."
"To recover Baxia City."
The Third Young Master exhales slowly.
"So that is his response."
He leans back slightly.
"Because of the Marquis's adventure, the entire Wein Province is changing."
Gu Fei nods again.
"The Marquis successfully defended his northern city."
"That alone has shaken many balances."
"The Zhang Family now fears losing its influence."
"If Zhang Youjia can recover Baxia City, the Zhang Family will remain relevant."
"Otherwise…"
Gu Fei pauses.
"…they will only control the Grey Wolf Army."
"And that will not be enough to maintain their status."
The Third Young Master studies the board again.
Then he places another black stone.
Gu Fei leans forward and examines the new formation.
While Gu Fei studies the board, the Third Young Master speaks quietly.
"Fei."
"What should the family do…"
"…if by some chance the Marquis defeats and conquers the three tribes?"
Gu Fei slowly lifts his head.
"The chance of that happening is very small."
"The large tribes deeper in the mountains will never allow the Marquis to conquer freely."
"But…"
Gu Fei places a white stone on the board.
"…if the Marquis somehow does succeed…"
"…then the Xiao Family must make concessions."
The Third Young Master frowns slightly.
Gu Fei continues watching the board.
The Third Young Master studies the game carefully.
But as he looks, he suddenly realises something.
His stones are surrounded.
There is no clear opening left.
No path to turn the match around.
He sighs quietly.
Then he places a random black stone.
Gu Fei calmly responds with another move.
A few turns later, the game ends.
Gu Fei has won.
The Third Young Master watches the final shape of the board.
But he does not feel upset.
Losing to Gu Fei is not unusual.
In fact, that is exactly why Gu Fei sits across from him.
Gu Fei is not simply a Go opponent.
He is a strategist.
A mind hired specifically to see what others miss.
If the Third Young Master could easily defeat him, there would be no need to keep him as a retainer.
He finally looks up.
"What concession should we make?"
Gu Fei meets his gaze calmly.
Then he speaks.
"What if the Xiao Family simply chooses…"
"…to give Xiao Lanyue to the Marquis?"
The Third Young Master stares at him.
For a moment, he says nothing.
Then he exhales slowly and sighs, a trace of pity appearing in his eyes as he looks at Gu Fei.
"Father wants to give her to the Third Prince."
Gu Fei's hands tighten on his knees.
His fingers grip the fabric of his robe so firmly that the knuckles turn pale.
"The Third Prince?" he says.
"Master wants to involve himself in the royal family's struggle so soon?"
The Third Young Master shakes his head.
"Our Xiao Family does not involve itself in the royal struggle."
He pauses briefly before continuing.
"There is a rumour circulating in the capital."
"The Third Prince will be granted the Black Hill region and the surrounding territories."
Gu Fei falls silent.
The Third Young Master watches him carefully.
"As you know," he continues, "our spiritual iron mine has been gradually diminishing."
"The deposits are nearly exhausted."
"But the spiritual iron mine in Black Hill has never been mined."
Gu Fei lowers his head.
A bitter smile appears on his face.
"So Master intends to give Lanyue to the Third Prince…"
"…in exchange for the mining rights to the spiritual iron mine."
His voice carries faint self-mockery.
The Third Young Master nods.
"That is correct."
Silence stretches between them.
The courtyard wind rustles the bamboo leaves again.
After a moment, the Third Young Master speaks once more.
"I heard the Wang Family patriarch is asking about you."
"He has a lovely young daughter."
"You should meet him."
Gu Fei remains seated.
His head stays lowered.
For a long time, he has not spoken.
Then he lifts his head.
His eyes are slightly red.
"I will."
He pauses.
"But… Third Young Master…"
"Could you pass my suggestion to the Master?"
The Third Young Master narrows his eyes slightly.
"What suggestion?"
Gu Fei answers slowly.
"The Marquis recently recovered the Cold Silver Metal Mine."
"If the Marquis is willing to exchange it…"
"…perhaps your father can be persuaded."
The Third Young Master studies him for a moment.
Then he nods once.
Without another word, he rises from his seat and walks away.
As he leaves the pavilion, his expression remains indifferent.
He knows Gu Fei has feelings for his younger sister Lanyue.
But to him, that does not matter.
Family alliances are tools.
And Lanyue is not even born from the same mother as he is.
Trading her for a mine is not something that troubles him.
Far away in the Northern Mountains, the battlefield near the Raven Tribe has fallen quiet.
Ice stretches across the frozen lake beneath the towering cliffs.
Merin stands on the head of the phantom dragon in the sky.
He looks down at the defeated leaders of the three tribes.
The Raven leader.
The Red Boar leader.
The Snow Moth leader.
Beside them lie the three tribal shamans.
Some of them are dead.
Others still breathe, but their injuries are too severe for them to move.
Blood stains the ice around them.
Merin looks down calmly.
Then he speaks.
"Those who surrender will not be killed."
His voice spreads across the battlefield.
Below, his army repeats the words loudly.
"Those who surrender will not be killed!"
The declaration echoes through the frozen valley.
For several moments, nothing happens.
Then one warrior drops his weapon.
Another follows.
Soon, more and more members of the three tribes throw their weapons onto the ice.
The sound of metal striking frozen ground spreads across the battlefield.
But just as the last weapons begin falling, something changes.
A heavy pressure suddenly descends over the battlefield.
The air itself seems to grow heavier.
Many soldiers instinctively look upward.
Merin also lifts his gaze toward the cliffs above the Raven Tribe.
A figure stands there.
A burly mountain man.
His chest is bare despite the freezing air.
Scars cover his body like tangled roots.
The man slowly claps his hands together.
Each clap echoes across the frozen lake.
"Impressive…"
His voice carries easily through the air.
"Marquis Merin."