The silence was suffocating.
The garrison soldiers halted, their formation breaking as they glanced at one another. Su Yin's words had struck them harder than expected.
I have three options.
First, stand firm and hope fear would break their will.
Second, I fucking run as fast as possible and regroup with my elite guard outside.
Third…
Su Yin weighed it in a breath.
Retreat sounded safe.
But was it?
This hall was not fully under his control. If he fled now, the gates could be sealed. His supporters isolated and the narrative twisted before sunset.
The first option was weak. These men had sworn loyalty to the one standing behind them.
Which left only one.
Su Yin exhaled slowly.
"Third it is."
He felt it again.
The shift.
The warmth spreading through his limbs. His senses growing stronger and the noise in the room fading into clarity.
He had named this state long ago.
Max focus.
In this state, all hesitation disappeared. His senses sharpened. The unfamiliar Jian in his hand no longer felt foreign. It felt natural and familiar.
***
"Remember this, son. You cannot flee death. You either confront it or succumb to it. When that moment comes, abandon all rules."
***
Su Yin took his father's words to heart.
He stepped forward.
SLASH!
The blade flashed.
The nearest soldier didn't even raise his weapon in time. His head separated cleanly from his body.
Gasps exploded through the hall.
Including the city lord and lady Yue.
The head rolled across the stone floor before stopping against a table leg. The body collapsed a heartbeat later.
Su Yin did not pause.
He moved too fast.
Men who had survived battlefields suddenly felt outmatched by a boy.
"Protect the lord! Captain Bai, assist him!" Lu shouted, drawing a dagger from his sleeve and stepping in front of stunned officials.
No one had expected blood.
The soldiers faltered.
The City Lord's voice cracked as he pointed forward. "Kill him!! Kill him!"
"City lord! Lady Yue! Garrison Commander!" Su Yin roared back, his voice cutting through the chaos. "I sentence you all to death for rebellion against the Su Barony!"
The declaration stunned the room.
He used that moment.
SLASH!
He feinted high.
The soldier raised his blade to block—
Su Yin's wrist twisted.
The Jian drove forward instead.
The steel pierced through armor and into flesh.
The man dropped, choking on blood.
Two down.
The soldiers' formation broke completely.
Captain Bai finally drew the sword at his waist and stepped between Su Yin and the garrison commander.
"Have you no shame?!" Captain Bai shouted. "Lord Su raised you! And this is how you repay his son?!"
"You fool!" The garrison commander roared back, slashing forward. "Stand aside!"
Steel clashed.
The two men locked blades in the center of the hall.
Behind them, Su Yin advanced again.
Blood streaked down his cheek.
***
"Report! It seems the Lord has begun the process! But—"
"Don't worry. He will not die. Continue as planned."
The hushed whispers came from a hidden corner of the abandoned terrace.
Dozens of armed men stood there, each bearing the insignia of the Su Barony—the White Dragon.
A breath later, they vanished into the halls of the large palace.
One man remained behind. He wore a green robe and carried a casual expression.
Jo.
"Truly vicious, my lord," he muttered, glancing toward the city lord's palace.
The former lord never cared for such matters. Even if he had noticed, he would have tried to negotiate.
But Jo did not dislike this outcome.
It was about time the rotten roots beneath the former lord were cut away.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
***
"What?!"
The shout halted the fighting inside the meeting hall.
All eyes turned toward the city lord and the messenger kneeling before him.
"It's true! An inspector from the high courts has arrived! Y-You are under arrest…"
The city lord froze.
An inspector from the high courts? How was that possible? Who could have summoned such an official to this backwater city?
Then he saw the old figure step forward.
His knees buckled, and he collapsed.
"I-it can't… how… under arrest? Me?! I'm the cit—"
Qin soldiers stormed in.
At that moment, everyone understood.
The city lord—and the rebellion—were finished.
Su Yin wiped the blood from his sword onto a corpse before sliding the blade back into its sheath and tucking it into his robe.
"I am grateful for the assistance you have brought to the Su Barony."
He stepped forward and bowed slightly, hands cupped.
An old man approached, stroking his long white beard. He wore a flowing black robe and a tall black hat.
"It is nothing worth mentioning. This is the least I could do for Diplomat Su," he replied calmly.
Su Yin's face remained composed, but inside he was laughing.
Checkmate.
Who would have thought an inspector from the high courts would arrive with the Qin delegation yesterday? Fate was on his side. His father had made powerful friends.
"Arrest these traitorous criminals," Su Yin ordered.
The Qin soldiers moved at once, flooding the hall.
The garrison commander did not resist, nor did his remaining men.
The city lord was another matter.
He struggled fiercely, until one soldier jabbed him to force compliance.
Through it all, Su Yin could not hide the triumph in his eyes.
Everything had unfolded exactly as planned.
As the prisoners were escorted out, Jo entered with the Su elite guard.
They carried several scrolls and documents.
Su Yin's expression shifted.
No longer just confident—it was openly arrogant.
It said what he did not voice.
Did you really think I would barge in waving a sword? Don't compare yourselves to me.
The officials understood.
"My Lord, all records of their corruption and crimes have been secured. This is a great success for the Su Barony."
Jo dropped to one knee, his voice loud and deliberate.
"Good. Hear this, officials," Su Yin said, turning to them. "The new temporary City Lord will be our right hand, Lu. He will manage affairs until a new City Lord is appointed."
Some wanted to object.
None dared.
Whether it was Su Yin standing there stained in blood or the silent inspector behind him, they held their tongues. Even the Chief Steward, who should have spoken, remained quiet.
Everything had happened too fast—the bloodshed, the inspector's arrival, Su Yin's control over it all.
He had not just won.
He had full authority of the city, just like that.
And they all knew it.