Chapter 425: Which Side to Join?
= Bing Province, Far North of Aves Continent =
After the fallen of Liu Bian's second pylon tower, the cyclop tribe took over this region and made it their new homeland.
Xia Dun, now known as Xiahou Dun, became the tribal chief of all giants. Not only the cyclops joined his forces, but trolls, goblins, and human refugees from the central plain also migrated here to avoid the chaos.
In addition, Jia Shan, Ma Ping, and elders from Ma Clan were here as well. They had completed their objectives – inciting Gongsun Zan's centaurs to attack Yuan Shaoqing's Yeet City. However, as the negotiation and the task took a long time, they couldn't return home because the Blood Orc suddenly appeared. Now, they got stuck here for the time being.
Xiahou Dun had learned about the changes in the central plains and the war game of Siren City through the testimony of the refugees, and he didn't like it.
Inside a man-made cave of the complex mountain ranges, Xiahou Dun, in his human form, had been sitting on the host's seat. Meanwhile, Jia Shan and Ma Ping sat by his sides, acting as the cyclop lord's assistants even though they were guests.
Many elders, relatives, and representatives of refugees also gathered inside the cave for the meeting.
Torchlight illuminated the interior of the cave even though most attendants here could see in the dark. Still, the light made the mood bright, and everyone preferred having them.
Xiahou Dun had been explaining the current state of his region, population, and his military capability to the refugees and guests without hiding anything.
"Aside from the 3,000 combatants, the rest of our populations are non-fighters. From the looks of it, if the Blood Orc and Wei Cao were to march here, we wouldn't be able to withstand their massive army and their top experts."
Xiahou Dun hit them with a piece of bad news, shutting down the hope of all refugees.
The deserters of Wei Huang Army looked at each other with a dark expression. They sighed and grumbled, blaming heaven for being unfair.
"However, we have options," Xiahou Dun encouraged them before he turned to Jia Shan and Ma Ping, "Friends from Siren City, what will you do in this situation? What is Siren City's reaction to this looming army?"
Jia Shan and Ma Ping looked at each other. The latter communicated with Ma Moxi while Jia Shan sent text messages to Miaomiao and Wei Yuan.
Ma Moxi and Wei Yuan immediately replied and reported the situation after the war game. Upon hearing the positive changes after Miaomiao had created the world tree and invited the dryads to the city, they were relieved.
Jia Shan started, "Our city population consists of beastmen, monks, dryads, and wild creatures from Tian Long Forest and Dryad Forest. We do not conform to the Blood Orc's ways, and we will never tolerate what they did to the citizens of other cities."
Ma Ping nodded, "Siren City will never surrender to the blood orcs or Wei Clan. However, if your tribe is willing to fight, we will gladly help you."
"How will you help us?" Xiahou Dun and the listeners were interested.
Ma Ping took over the role as Siren City's representative, "First, we can shelter all tribesmen of your clan and the refugees of Wei Huang's men with a few conditions."
"What's the catch?"
"First, your population will cooperate with us whenever we need your help."
"That's very vague. You're saying that we must become your servants, is that what you're implying?"
"Not exactly. You're obliged to help the city whenever you're summoned. But in peacetime, you're free to do whatever you want as long as it doesn't go against the laws, morals, or customs of the local people. Secondly, citizens of Siren City have to pay taxes if they want to live there, or they can choose to work for the city if they don't want to pay the annual taxes."
"That sounds… complicated."
Ma Ping and Xiahou Dun continued to negotiate their terms of cooperation and alliance treaty for hours.
In the end, Ma Ping only promised to send aid to Xiahou Dun if the latter were to agree to merge their forces with Siren City when their borders connected.
In short, Xiahou Dun's clansmen had to pick which side they wanted to submit.
Several cyclops and Xiahou Dun's relatives were enraged as they didn't like the unfair treaty. Xiahou Dun's younger brother, Xiahou Yuan, yelled at Ma Ping and Jia Shan.
"You're no different from Wei Huang! Why should we become your servants when we can live free!?"
Jia Shan sighed and elaborated, "The price of freedom is responsibility. If you want your freedom so badly, you must be able to cope with world politics and wars, such as the current conflict between your clan and Blood Orc Army. We can leave you alone, but can you defeat Wei Cao and his new friends on your own?"
"T-This…"
Xiahou Yuan gritted his teeth and looked away in frustration.
Jia Shan was right. Freedom came with a price as they had to deal with these issues themselves. If they wanted Siren City's help, they had to sacrifice their freedom and became their lackeys.
Xiahou Dun heaved a sigh of frustration, regretting that he wasn't strong enough to protect his clansmen from foreign forces. Yet, he mocked Jia Shan and Ma Ping.
"Are you confident that you can withstand several 8th-stage and 9th-stage cultivators and demons from the Holy Land Continent?"
"Recently, we have received support from an ancient demon and a metal dragon from the Qi-Sealing Amethyst Mine. A 9th-stage demon is residing in Siren City as we speak. We also have some fighters that can square against 8th-stage demons."
Jia Shan referred to Dian Wei, whom he had heard from Wei Yuan. As for the fighters they mentioned, they were Zhao Bao, Miaomiao, and many yin slaves who had the potential to become a new powerhouse.
Jia Shan had learned about Miaomiao's current combat prowess, which rivaled an 8th-stage cultivator. Though Miaomiao was not an official 8th-stage cultivator yet, Ma Ping and Jia Shan thought of him as someone among their peers.
Furthermore, after Lu Fengxian's death, Miaomiao became an irreplaceable core of Siren City due to his connection with Uriel, Dian Wei, and unknown Dao Gods. They couldn't deny that Miaomiao had already become the heart of their forces.
As such, Ma Ping, Jia Shan, and other elders had no choice but to treat Miaomiao as their city lord.
"Oh, I didn't know that you have other combatants other than Zhao Bao? Who are those 8th-stage or 9th-stage fighters?"
"We'll tell you about them if you agree to our terms."
"Ah, how petty. Can't you leak some information for us, so I can make an easier decision?"
"That won't do. What if you use that information against us? We can't risk it."
"Are you implying that we will betray you?"
"It doesn't hurt to be careful. After all, we have decided to wage war against the Blood Orc and Wei Cao Army since we can't possibly coexist."
"Hoh?"
While Jia Shan, Ma Ping, and Xiahou Dun were smiling, their political negotiation continued.
…
A day later, Jia Shan, Ma Ping, and Siren City's elders left Bing Mountain Range and headed west, taking a detour around the continent and avoiding Wei Cao Army to the south and the southwest.
Xiahou Dun, his family members, and his subordinates remained in the cave. Five cyclops stared at each other.
Xiahou Yuan couldn't wait for his elder brother to make his decision. He urged the latter, "Bro, let's not join Siren City. Aren't we here because we can't stand Wei Huang's slavery contract? We don't want to become someone's lapdog again."
Xiahou Dun gazed at his stout younger brother, "Then, do we fight Wei Cao and his Oni friends? We don't even have any capable 8th-stage demon."
"At least, we have to try!"
"And die a dog death."
"…"
Xiahou Dun sighed, "Look, I understand where you're coming from, brother. I want to live free as well, but they're right about one thing. Freedom has a price, and we can't afford it with our current strength."
"So, we'll really surrender to Siren City?"
Xiahou Dun glanced at the jade token, which Ma Ping had given him. If he were to inject his Qi into it, it would have sent a pre-recorded voice transmission to Ma Ping, and they would have become Siren City's people.
But should they decline the offer, they could simply crush the jade token, and the deal would be off.
"I'm going to have a talk with Wei Cao first. Let's see what they have to offer."
…
A week later, Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan left the mountain range and visited Red Sun City, which was the current headquarters of Wei Cao Army.
Both cyclops couldn't see the orcs anywhere as they had gone somewhere else, and they had no idea where they went.
As soon as the two cyclops in humanoid form arrived, a tall Oni in his true form came out to welcome them. He guided the two visitors to their lord right away.
Both Xiahou brothers easily entered the renovated throne hall of Red Sun Palace. As soon as they entered, they found Wei Cao, sitting on the throne and staring at them with a sneer.
Next to Wei Cao, his second son stood there, acting as his father's aide.
Standing attention to the right side of the hall were the elites from the Fu Clan. All vampires wore a black hooded cloak, protecting their delicate skin from the bright sunlight, shining into the hall through the colorful glass windows.
On the left side, red-skin Oni stood tall, releasing the bloody odor from their mouths as they had just finished eating humans from their farm.
Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan's noses twitched as they disliked the smell of human blood inside a clean building.
"How barbaric," Xiahou Yuan scoffed.
Wei Cao heard it, "Funny. Did you talk about yourself, little cyclop?"
Xiahou Dun patted his younger brother's shoulder and cupped his fist, pretending to be humble, "We come in peace. We hope to negotiate for a truce."
"I never waged war against you. Why do you want a truce?" Wei Cao laughed.
Hearing that Wei Cao didn't want to cause trouble to them, the Xiahou brothers heaved a sigh of relief.
But their hope was crushed a second later as Wei Cao continued talking.
"You don't need a truce since you all are destined to be our slaves. Since you've come, you should put these on.
Wei Cao tossed two pieces of artifacts on the ground.
They were slave chokers, which could seal the slave's Qi and Essence. They could also be used as a portable guillotine to behead rebelling slaves.
Xiahou Dun and Xiahou Yuan frowned and glared at Wei Cao, "Are you kidding me?"
"I never mess around. Put that on, and I'll let your tribesmen alone."
"What if we refuse?"
Wei Cao sneered and snapped his fingers. Behind him, a masked 8th-stage Oni walked out of the curtain and showed his tall and muscular physique.
"If you refuse, we'll kill you right here. We don't need disobedient slaves in my kingdom!"
Xiahou Dun clicked his tongue and kicked the ground, shuttling himself through the palace ceiling and rooftop to the sky.
Xiahou Yuan followed after his brother and fled from the palace.
Fortunately, the 8th-stage Oni didn't chase after them. Wei Cao and the Oni simply looked at the coward cyclops with a sneer.
"Want me to chase after them, my lord?"
"Where can they go? Bing Mountain Range? Sooner or later, they will become ours anyway," Wei Cao shook his head and gazed at the map behind him. It was the Aves Continent map.
Wei Cao stared at the two regions, which had been colored in green.
One of them was on the northwest, which was Tian Long Forest and Xuan City. Another dark green area was the current territory of Siren City, Huangjin Monastery, and the world tree forest.
"We'll take care of them first. After that, we'll get rid of those pests."
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