If They Go There, Won’T They Be Delivering Food?

Xiao Shan could feel the weight of the stares aimed at him, a tension simmering in the air. His brow furrowed deeply.

Had he said something wrong?

He had been summoned to the capital to crush Orion's rebellion, right? So why were they all looking at him like that?

In truth, it was no wonder Xiao Shan was confused. The last update he'd received was that Orion had destroyed 300,000 of the emperor's elite troops. He hadn't heard a word of what had happened since. Unbeknownst to him, the entire Zhou Dynasty—its rulers and ministers—was paralyzed with fear.

As a border prince, he had no spies in the court to keep him updated on the latest events. Spying would risk severe political backlash. So, naturally, Xiao Shan was operating on outdated information.

Stepping forward, Xiao Shan cupped his hands toward Zhou Linglong and asked with genuine confusion, "Your Majesty, did I say something wrong?"

Zhou Linglong's gaze was unimpressed. Her eyes narrowed, and a faint smile tugged at her lips.

"Prince Xiao," she said with thinly veiled sarcasm, "I believe it's best to discuss the counter-rebellion against Orion further. A rash attack could lead to disastrous losses."

Her words were carefully chosen, but the implication was clear: You, Xiao Shan, are no match for Orion. Don't even think about it.

Xiao Shan's frown deepened as he processed her words. He wasn't a fool. He could tell that something wasn't adding up.

"Has something unexpected happened?" he wondered silently.

With a single glance from Zhou Linglong, his suspicions solidified. Something had gone terribly wrong.

"I... I understand, Your Majesty," he replied cautiously. He would wait until he could speak with the empress privately. Something was being kept from him.

Later, after the court session, Xiao Shan approached Zhou Linglong with his unanswered questions. She knew this was coming and greeted him with a weary smile.

"Prince Xiao," she sighed, "there are things we couldn't address openly in court. I'll explain everything now."

Her voice was heavy with frustration. The aristocrats were already bristling with complaints; discussing the true state of affairs in court would have caused chaos.

She took a deep breath and recounted all that had transpired—how even the elite warriors of Longting had fallen, how the 100,000-strong aristocratic family armies had been utterly annihilated.

Xiao Shan stood still, eyes wide and unblinking, as the weight of her words sank in.

The aristocratic family ancestors... dead?

100,000 troops wiped out?

What in the world had he been summoned for, if not to face certain death?

His gaze turned cold as he stared at Zhou Linglong. She had called him to the capital for this? Did she expect him, a mere half-saint, to turn the tide against Orion—a man who could obliterate martial saints without blinking?

Zhou Linglong noticed the shift in his demeanor and offered a weak smile.

"Haha... Prince Xiao, now you understand why I couldn't let you march on Orion alone. His strength... defies all logic."

Zhou Linglong's tone wavered as she admitted how much they had underestimated Orion. What had begun as a minor disturbance had turned into a nightmare.

Xiao Shan's fists tightened. "I never imagined that Lu Qingtian's son would grow so powerful," he muttered, still grappling with the revelation.

A sudden chill swept through him. He, a half-saint, had just learned that martial saints—warriors much stronger than him—had been slaughtered. Orion's name now loomed like a shadow over his heart. His once-unshakable confidence crumbled.

Had something changed while he was away? Why were so many powerful individuals emerging now?

"Your Majesty, I must admit something," Xiao Shan said, his voice low. "With Orion's level of strength, I cannot defeat him. Summoning me here... you'll be sorely disappointed."

He felt a strange, dark humor in the situation. Counterinsurgency? He'd be the one getting crushed in the end.

Zhou Linglong saw that Xiao Shan's spirit had withered, and she quickly intervened, trying to restore his resolve.

"Prince Xiao, do not worry. The strong warriors of the Zhou Dynasty are many, like carp crossing the river. There are more than enough to aid us," she said urgently. "And the reinforcements from King Qin's army are on their way to Chang'an as we speak. We are far from defeated."

But Xiao Shan only scoffed. "It won't matter how many troops we have if no one can contain Orion. This is a battle of strength beyond numbers."

Zhou Linglong's eyes flickered, but she quickly shifted the conversation. "Prince Xiao, for now, let's focus on preparation. Even if Orion can challenge the heavens, we'll be ready. I need you to command the Southern Army and fight at the right moment."

Xiao Shan shot her a long, searching look. She's hiding something. He could feel it. But for now, he had no choice but to trust her.

"Very well, Your Majesty. I hope your plan is as good as you claim."

Not long after, two more princes from the four corners of the empire arrived: the Kings of Zhendong and Zhenxi. These princes were less powerful than their counterparts, Zhenbei and Zhennan, but they still commanded respect.

However, King Zhenbei had already rebelled, leaving only three princes loyal to the crown. The two new arrivals brought with them 300,000 troops each, bolstering the capital's defenses.

Zhou Linglong wasted no time in filling them in on the dire situation. As they learned of the devastation wrought by Orion, their reactions mirrored Xiao Shan's. Shock, disbelief, and finally—despair.

Like Xiao Shan, these princes had believed themselves powerful. But now, they too realized how hopeless the situation was.

With martial saints falling like leaves in the wind, they could do little more than throw themselves into the fray as cannon fodder.

What was left to fight? They were marching to their doom.