bookbashuk Chapter 581 Arrangement
Chapter 581 Arrangement
"But Lord City Lord, the envoy from Jinshi City has sent letters three times, demanding that the wedding date be set. This is blatant extortion, and they've done it again and again. Sooner or later, we really will be swallowed up."
The Deer-Headed City Lord's antlers tilted slightly, and the texture of the map on the table was reflected in his amber beast eyes. At this moment, his body was so helpless.
He was well aware that this was a slow death, but when he was injured in the last battle with Goldstone City and was still not fully recovered, he had already foreseen this desperate situation.
Even if it's a slow death, there's still a glimmer of hope for him once he recovers.
If a decisive battle were to take place now, his daughter, his subjects, and his cities would all have to change their names and surnames.
"I know, go do it!"
"..." The city lord gave the order, and the crystal clan had no choice but to obey and leave.
The Lord of Deer Head City sat alone in that high-backed chair, looking like a weary lone wolf who had reached a dead end.
"...My dearest Ilya," he murmured.
Xu Si remained absolutely still. In this state of nothingness, his aura merged with the dust and air in the hall, and even the flow of energy was suppressed to the extreme.
He didn't leave because he felt things were far from over.
Sure enough, footsteps sounded again outside the archway.
The crystal clan member went down and returned, and before he could even catch his breath, he hurriedly spoke.
"Lord of the city, the envoy from Jinshi City has arrived ahead of schedule and is now waiting at the post station outside the west gate. He says he wants to present the marriage certificate in person."
The Lord of Deer-Head City raised his head, and the patterns on his antlers twitched slightly under the light, like two coiled snakes.
"Advance?" His voice deepened.
"Was it originally scheduled for a few days later?"
"Half a month later. But the messenger said that the lord of Jinshi City has been unwell recently and hopes that the marriage can be settled as soon as possible to avoid any unforeseen complications."
"Unwell?" The Lord of Deer Head City let out a low laugh, the smile creeping into his eyes.
"That old guy wants to see if I'm dead or not! He can't wait any longer."
Even if he's not dead, it would still infuriate him half to death.
The Crystal Clan subordinates stood by the door, heads bowed, not daring to speak.
The Lord of Deer Head City remained silent for a few moments, his eyes gradually turning cold and dangerous.
"Have him wait at the inn. Tell him I am still recovering from my injuries and cannot receive guests."
"But Lord City Lord..."
"The envoy was very firm. He said that if he did not see the marriage certificate today, he would post it on the city gate in the name of the Lord of Jinshi City."
It felt as if a layer of air had been sucked out of the hall.
The antlers of the Deer-Headed City Lord trembled slightly, and something in his beastly eyes finally seemed to begin to dissipate.
Sure enough, when you are weak, your enemies will only relentlessly pursue you and will not allow you to grow into a threat.
He slowly stood up, his tall figure casting a dark shadow behind the desk, completely enveloping the silver dotted line on the map.
"Go, summon him!"
"By the way, how's Ilya doing lately?" he suddenly asked as the crystal race was about to leave.
"I just heard that the young lady acquired a 'Plant Spirit' today, which should still be cultivating the healing herb April Grass for you."
"Plant spirits?" The city lord of Deer Head City was slightly taken aback. If it were a few months ago, plant spirits might have been somewhat useful.
But now that Goldstone City is so aggressive, it probably won't have time to cultivate April Grass for her.
Is this fate?
Go!
"Also, have Commander Ye Lang come to see me!"
When the Lord of Deer Head City finished giving his last instructions, he lightly tapped his fingertip on the silver dotted line of the map on the edge of the table.
"Wait a moment."
The Crystal Clan subordinate stopped in his tracks, turned around and stood with his hands at his sides. The city lord's tall and weary figure was reflected in the two dark indentations on the facet.
"After you summon the envoy from Jinshi City, go yourself and remove the vines from the young lady's doorway," the Deer-Headed City Lord's voice was deep.
Replace them with two nocturnal lizards, and prepare five days' worth of dry food and water sacs.
The crystal clan subordinate stiffened slightly, his shrill voice dropping to almost a whisper: "Lord City Lord, what's wrong...?"
"Do as instructed," said the Lord of Deer Head City.
He slowly stood up, and the antlers cast a long, thin shadow in the warm light from the dome, like two old swords dulled by time, covered with rust.
He walked around the table toward the door, his steps steady, each step making a dull thud on the bluestone floor.
"Once the marriage certificate from Jinshi City is posted on the city gates, she will have no other choice. Rather than let her become a sacrifice for this city, it's better to let her go and see the places she has always longed for."
"It's a pity I can't go with her!"
"But the young lady... has never traveled far from home," the crystal clan subordinate hesitated.
"The fawn will eventually leave the cave and head to the jungle." A glimmer of hope suddenly appeared in the voice of the Deer-Headed City Lord.
He stood before the archway, his back to his subordinates, his beastly eyes reflecting the pale golden fountain in the courtyard.
The Crystal Clan subordinates stood by the door, as if nailed to the spot, the faint light on their facets flickering, but they ultimately did not ask any more questions.
He bowed silently, turned and left, his steps quickening as he arrived, the sound of his footsteps disappearing around the corner of the courtyard.
The first to arrive was a robust werewolf leader, who should be the Leaf Wolf he mentioned, a level six life form.
"Lord of the City! Are we going to start a war with Golden Stone City?" The werewolf leader seemed to have been prepared for this for a long time.
"How many years have our two races been interdependent?"
"Four hundred and thirty-two years! Since the founding of Deer City!"
"Ilya cannot marry into Goldstone City. Can I entrust her safety to you?"
"My lord, what about you?" Ye Lang clearly understood the implication of his words.
"I am the lord of Deerman City. There is no reason for me to abandon the city. I must stand with my people!"
Even though that would be death.
Ye Lang's Adam's apple bobbed up and down, and a complex light surged in his amber wolf eyes.
"Does the young lady know?"
"She doesn't need to know. You leave today, cross the desert, and there are other cities on the other side." The Lord of Deer Head City lowered his head, his gaze falling on the map spread out on the table.
"But the envoy from Jinshi City..." Ye Lang lowered his voice, his gaze unconsciously sweeping towards the entrance of the hall.
"An envoy?" The Lord of Deer Head City let out a low, metallic chuckle, but the chuckle did not reach his eyes.
"Since he's in such a hurry to hand over the marriage certificate, I'll let him take it back with him—along with his head."
Ye Lang's pupils contracted sharply, and he leaned forward half a step, his voice reduced to a whisper: "City Lord, what are you trying to do..."
"Isn't this what they wanted?"
"Can……"
Ye Lang's breathing became heavier, but the light in his wolf eyes gradually changed from initial shock to a kind of solemn determination.
He didn't know what to say, because he knew the fate of Deer City.
"Ye Lang obeys. I will protect Miss Quan's safety."
The Lord of Deer Head City walked around the table and stood in front of Ye Lang, extending his rough hand covered with fine hairs and placing it on Ye Lang's shoulder armor.
His touch was very light, as light as a father's last words of advice as he patted his son on the shoulder.
"If I die, there's no need to avenge me. Just live on and take good care of Ilya."
Ye Lang suddenly looked up, his amber wolf eyes surging with an almost scalding emotion. His Adam's apple bobbed several times, but in the end he just nodded heavily and said nothing.