Chapter 169
"Jian Hao... you too..." Jie'er's eyes showed confusion.
Jian Hao grinned, revealing two canine teeth: "Jie'er, why don't you come over too? The four of us have always gotten along well, and in the future, being in the same city, we probably wouldn't fight anyway."
"......" Jie'er did not speak, his expression gloomy.
"You all ran quite fast, not waiting for me." The newcomer was actually a snow-white bear, who now took two breaths and transformed into a cute, plump, slightly chubby young man: "From the Quanyong tribe, don't get involved in this mess.."
"You Lin... even you..." Jie'er was shocked: "All three of you..."
You Lin stepped forward and patted Jie'er's shoulder, saying: "We followed Yuan Heng to see the potential locations for the new city. It's perfect."
As he spoke, he playfully winked at Jie'er. Jie'er's eye twitched.
A moment later, he silently took a step forward, gritted his teeth, and said: "The Tana tribe..."
He paused, as if mustering great courage, and said: "Step out."
After speaking, he silently led his people to stand aside with the other three.
Four tribes fewer at once meant the number of outsider beastmen was directly reduced by more than half. Moreover, those who had charged to the front with their own fighting styles were mostly from this larger group.
Seeing this, Zhao Shan hurriedly stood up and said: "Everyone, don't be deceived by this ancient beastman. Building a city, they make it sound easy. Just now, my father mentioned the numerous difficulties in city-building. Even if Yuan Heng can really build one, it would take at least four years. Four years... can everyone afford to wait? Whether you might lose your lives during a beast horde before then, no one can say for sure. But if we capture Ning'an City today, then there's no need to wait four years at all."
Zhao Shan spoke passionately. Some hesitant outsider beastmen who had been about to step forward now shrank back again.
Yuan Heng's pale lips moved slightly. He straightened Wang Jin, who understood and took a step back. Cheng Bai, seeing this, silently stood behind Wang Jin, carefully observing his condition. Wang Jin didn't notice, but Yuan Heng did. He glanced at Cheng Bai, his lips pressed tightly together, but in the end, he said nothing, forcing himself to look away as if exercising restraint.
Turning his gaze back to Zhao Yu and the others, the man's demeanor completely changed. The aura around him was no longer restrained, terrifyingly assaulting everyone present. Even Xi Ning felt discomfort and led everyone to retreat quite a distance.
Zhao Yu and the others were unwilling to retreat and confronted the man. However, after just a moment, some of the weaker beastmen couldn't control their trembling legs and knelt on the ground.
"......" Seeing this, Zhao Shan gritted his teeth and was the first to transform into his beast form, attacking. Seeing this, everyone else also assumed their most aggressive postures and surged toward the man.
Wang Jin's heart immediately jumped to his throat. But in an instant, he found his worry was unnecessary.
Even when the man didn't transform into his beast form, he could dodge with ease. Once he transformed, with a spread of his wings, the advancing beastmen were directly repelled...
The man's power seemed even stronger than during the beast horde.
Just by standing there, he exuded an aura so formidable that no one dared to challenge him.
Zhao Shan watched as wave after wave of people went forward, only to be beaten back wave after wave. He silently retreated two steps and exchanged a look with the severely injured Zhao Yu, who was resting to the side. The guards behind them, under their instruction, orderly retreated and disappeared...
A moment later, with a sudden "whoosh" in the air, a firework exploded overhead. Zhao Shan curved his lips into a smile, stepped forward, and said: "Everyone, stop."
The crowd looked at him in confusion. Wang Jin stared at the sky where the firework had exploded, a faint unease growing in his heart.
Zhao Shan said: "In terms of combat power, we indeed can't defeat an ancient beastman. However, City Lord... come take a look..."
Xi Ning frowned and looked outward in the direction Zhao Shan pointed. The location for the elders' meeting was chosen by him, in a secluded high place. From the courtyard here, one could see the entire city's situation.
Looking down, he saw on the desolate streets, some beastman guards holding an old man and a ger stood in the middle of the street, looking up toward him. At the throats of the old man and the ger, the beastman's sharp claws were pressed against their windpipes. With just a slight exertion, the blood vessels there would be cut, and blood could spill all over the ground... Their beastmen were pinned to the ground nearby, unable to resist.
Cheng Bai's expression turned serious. He whispered and muttered: "No wonder we didn't see any common people after running through half the city earlier. They were probably controlled long ago."
"......" He was very close to Wang Jin, and these words reached Wang Jin's ears. Wang Jin looked at Xi Ning with worry.
Xi Ning glared at Zhao Shan with a terrifying expression. Zhao Shan shrugged and said: "You can't blame me. Who told you not to surrender obediently?"
After speaking, Zhao Shan seemed to remember something and smiled at Wang Jin, saying: "Speaking of which, I should thank you for your fireworks. They can serve as a signal for notification."
"......" Wang Jin was so angry his knuckles curled.
Yuan Heng slightly shifted his footing. Seeing this, Zhao Shan immediately stopped him: "Don't move. If you move, I'll order them to act immediately."
"......" Yuan Heng looked at Zhao Shan with disgust.
Zhao Shan looked at Xi Ning: "I'll ask one more time. Do you abdicate or not?"
"......" Xi Ning hesitated for a moment. Zhao Shan's expression grew more and more smug.
For a time, everyone was at a standstill.
The people of the four leaders from the Sangrui tribe, Zhouquan tribe, Quanyong tribe, and Tana tribe looked at each other. Finally, the leader of the Zhouquan tribe, Jian Hao, was the first to speak impatiently, though he kept his voice very low, so only the four of them could hear: "These Zhao family people are really despicable."
He was talking about Zhao Shan, but his eyes were actually on Ba'er, the one with hair full of braids: "Tsk, what was Ba'er thinking, mixing with people like this."
That man naturally had a carefree appearance, and when saying this, he carried a hint of disdain. The dark, skinny man, Jie'er, leader of the Tana tribe, who had previously followed along, hearing this, silently moved two steps away from him and looked at Xi Ning.
He could clearly see the dilemma on Xi Ning's face. He couldn't help but whisper and ask: "What do you think, will that city lord hand over the city to the Zhao family?"
"Even if he does, judging by the Zhao family's methods, this city won't be peaceful for long," Zhou Shen softly replied.
Youlin, with his round eyes, nudged the dark, skinny leader of the Tana tribe, Jie'er, and smiled at Zhou Shen and Jian Hao: "Hey, this city lord is Yuan Heng's brother-in-law, and he also happens to have a kind heart. Why don't we help him?"
Jian Hao's eye twitched: "How?"
Youlin looked back. Behind them were the beastmen of their tribes.
The four understood. They gave a look to the back, and some of those beastmen secretly slipped away.
Seeing this, the four straightened up again as if nothing had happened, becoming proper spectators.
Xi Ning let out a deep sigh, retracted the sharp claws he was wearing, and the ferocious beasts that had been dispatched also sheathed their claws and fangs.
Seeing this, Zhao Shan's eyes showed joy: "It seems the City Lord has made his decision..."
With a "whoosh," another firework suddenly exploded in the air. Everyone was stunned and looked down.
They saw that the originally restrained ger and old man were now huddled to the side, while the Zhao family guards and some beastmen were fighting.
Jian Hao and the other three were also somewhat surprised. Jian Hao leaned close to Zhou Shen and asked quietly: "Could our people who slipped out from the back reach the streets that quickly?"
Zhou Shen shook his head: "Only Yuan Heng has that kind of speed."
"It's the tiger tribe," Youlin pointed below, his lips slightly parted in surprise.
Everyone looked over and saw those beastmen transforming into yellow tigers with black spots, directly biting at those fox beastmen, each strike fast, fierce, and accurate.
Wang Jin recognized those yellow tigers and shouted happily to Yuan Heng: "Brother Heng, it's people from the Danmu tribe!"
A flicker passed through Yuan Heng's eyes. In the next instant, he had already pinned Zhao Shan under his sharp claws.
Xi Ning also quickly reacted, leading people to capture all the remaining beastmen. Pan Shulin, seeing the situation turn unfavorable, tried to run but was caught red-handed by Pan Yue, who had broken free from his bonds.
Ba'er and Zhao You led their tribes to break through the encirclement, retreating with all their might toward outside the city. Xi Ning did not send anyone to pursue them.
After everyone was captured, Xi Ning executed the Zhao father and son. Zhao Yu was actually already severely injured in the later struggle, with only one breath left. Zhao Shan was very unwilling, but it was all useless.
When carrying out the execution, Xi Ning asked Zhao Qi for his opinion. Zhao Qi did not object.
Xi Ning was somewhat surprised: "I thought you would plead for mercy."
Zhao Qi shook his head: "City Lord, please don't joke. You watched us grow up. You should know that even though my surname is Zhao, I’ve always felt more like part of the Cheng family. When I was young, if Cheng Bai hadn’t brought me food every few days, I would have starved to death."
Xi Ning said nothing more. Zhao Qi was silent for a moment and then requested: "City Lord, after matters in the city are properly arranged, I would like to go out and travel with Shi Yu and the others. May I?"
Xi Ning raised an eyebrow. Seeing Zhao Qi's expression remain so impassive, Xi Ning had thought he held little attachment to the Zhao family's affairs. It now seemed those feelings had simply been buried deep within.
Xi Ning agreed: "Alright. As long as Shi Yu and the others are willing to take you, you can naturally go."
"Thank you, City Lord," Zhao Qi replied.
At this moment, Pan Yue came forward, escorting Pan Shulin, who knelt before Xi Ning: "City Lord."
Xi Ning looked at him. Pan Yue's face was full of guilt: "I'm sorry, City Lord. Because I trusted others too easily, the city suffered such a disaster this time."
Pan Yue grew up in the city and had done many things for it. Xi Ning looked at him and sighed, stepping forward to help him up: "Pan Shulin is your brother. I also have a brother and can understand you... Let this be a lesson. Sometimes, even with family, you must have your own judgment. You have always been loyal and done much for the city. From now on, you will succeed to the position of Incense Hall Master..."
As Xi Ning spoke, he looked at Pan Shulin, whose face was ashen, and said to Pan Yue: "What I said before still stands. Regarding Pan Shulin's matter... don't concern yourself anymore. It won't involve your Pan family either. Consider that the Pan family no longer has this person. This time, your Pan family suffered greatly. Your father, Pan Zhenyi, has been missing since the incident began. Go back quickly and see how he is."
"Yes." Pan Yue's eyes reddened. He bowed solemnly to Xi Ning: "Thank you for your understanding, City Lord."
After speaking, without another glance at Pan Shulin, he turned and left.
Pan Shulin watched his older brother, who had doted on him since childhood, with longing eyes, finally shedding sad tears.
Xi Ning looked at him coldly and asked: "Do you regret it?"
Pan Shulin gritted his teeth and shook his head: "I have never regretted it."
Even using his own life to lure Pan Yue into a trap, conspiring with Zhao Yu to capture Pan Yue, then allowing the Zhao family to kill all the beastman guards who had protected his family for years... he had never regretted it...
The victor is crowned king, the vanquished branded a rebel... If the Zhao family had won today, his fate would be entirely different. Their loss alone decided his own.
"Stubborn and unyielding," Xi Ning snorted coldly. Pan Shulin said nothing.
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