The Northwestern Snow Wolf Riders

Just as Seraphina felt her arms weakening, Magnus, having slurped the last drop of wine, let out a loud belch and relaxed his grip, finally allowing himself to be separated from the jar.

With a thunderous crash, the jar landed back on the bed, causing everyone to stagger. Magnus was at last lifted from the jar and carefully placed on a nearby divan, his body sprawled out for all to see.

Now in full light, his skin appeared alarmingly red, almost blood-like in its intensity. Despite being soaked in wine, his body radiated heat, as if burning hot.

The most embarrassing aspect for the maids was Magnus's indiscreet arousal, causing them to alternate between curiosity and bashfulness.

Seraphina, now taking charge, quickly instructed a maid named Seraphina to fetch the household physician, concerned for Magnus's severe intoxication.

As they removed his drenched garments, they were shocked by the sight of his entire body flushed red, resembling blood-tinted amber, and his abdomen swollen as if filled to the brim.

Despite their efforts to rouse him, Magnus remained unresponsive, his peaceful expression suggesting contentment rather than distress. Left with no other option, Seraphina and the maids fanned and wiped him down, attempting to cool his feverish 

As the women busied themselves trying to cool Magnus's overheated body, one of the maids suddenly exclaimed in alarm, "Oh no, the young lord... he's smoking!"

At her cry, the others looked up in shock, only to discover thin wisps of black smoke rising from Magnus's body, resembling the smoke from a farmhouse chimney.

"Oh heavens! Is the young lord about to catch fire?" another maid cried out, collapsing to the floor in fright.

Among them, only Seraphina managed to remain somewhat composed, though she was deeply startled by the bizarre phenomenon. It was unheard of for a person to emit black smoke spontaneously.

Forcing herself to stay calm, Seraphina closely examined Magnus's face and realized the smoke was seeping out from his pores. Approaching him, she detected a pungent, foul smell.

With a furrowed brow, Seraphina held her breath and touched Magnus's forehead, finding his body temperature had not increased, ruling out the possibility of combustion.

However, the situation was beyond her understanding. She quickly instructed the maids, "Hurry, go find Master Liu and Steward Zhang. Tell them the young lord is in danger and they must come immediately!"

Realizing the gravity of the situation, the maids rushed to summon Master Liu and Steward Zhang, the highest-ranking practitioners in the estate, hoping they could discern what was happening to Magnus.

...

As time passed, it was now noon on the third day.

The vast lands of the northwest were shrouded in snow, a blanket of white covering everything in sight. However, Silver City, the formidable gateway to the northwest, displayed an unusually festive atmosphere, a stark contrast to its usually somber demeanor.

On a day when heavy snow would typically deter any travel, the city gates were wide open. A procession of people, carrying palanquins and leading caravans of horses and carts loaded with goods, entered the majestic city in a continuous stream, bringing a celebratory mood to the snow-clad Silver City.

At this moment, outside the eastern gate of Silver City, a convoy slowly approached. This procession stretched for miles, with carriages in the middle carrying heavy iron boxes, flanked by golden-armored guards riding warhorses and wielding long spears. The entire convoy, resembling a winding dragon, made its way forward.

Other travelers on the road quickly made way for this imposing entourage, not daring to delay them in the slightest.

At the forefront of this dragon-like procession was a grand palanquin, carried by sixteen towering strongmen. Inside the palanquin, maids and attendants were neatly arrayed on both sides. The furniture within, including tables and chairs, was crafted from golden phoebe nanmu and iron pearwood, a tribute from the state of Luban, exquisitely adorned with dragon and phoenix carvings, epitomizing luxury.

Seated at the table were a young man and woman. The man, in his early twenties, had a handsome face and wore a golden crown, a jade belt around his waist, and cloud-patterned shoes. His robe was a vibrant red, embroidered with a four-clawed golden dragon that seemed to soar amidst clouds, exuding an aura of majesty.

The young woman, appearing to be around eighteen, had almond-shaped eyes, a delicate nose, and skin as smooth as cream, truly a beauty. Her figure was curvaceous, and despite her young age, she was remarkably well-endowed.

Her attire, however, was unexpectedly unconventional for a woman of her time. Instead of flowing skirts and jingling accessories, she wore a tight-fitting blue outfit, her black hair tied back, her eyes cold and sharp, with slightly upturned eyebrows giving her a stern look.

Her commanding presence, combined with a noble air, radiated a compelling force, discouraging others from meeting her gaze directly.

As the woman looked towards the curtain at the front of the palanquin, catching a glimpse of Silver City's majestic outline, a spark of admiration flashed in her eyes. "Silver City truly is the foremost fortress of the northwest. While it may not match the prosperity and grandeur of Dragon City, in terms of solemnity and imposing presence, Silver City is indeed superior."

At the forefront of the convoy outside Silver City's eastern gate, the young man in imperial robes nodded in agreement to the woman beside him, known as his seventh sister. "This is your first visit to Silver City, isn't it? I, too, was taken aback by its grandeur on my first visit. No wonder Father often says, 'As long as Silver City stands, our Fengyun Empire will never fall.'"

However, the young woman, referred to as the seventh sister, slightly raised an eyebrow, expressing skepticism. "Brother, while I acknowledge Silver City's magnificence, I disagree with Father's statement."

"Oh? Do you have a different opinion?" The young man looked at his sister with surprise.

"A city's strength, no matter how formidable, is just that—a city. Even with towering walls and secured gates, without a strong army and sharp weapons, how can it defend our Fengyun Empire? How can it guarantee the empire's rise or fall?"

The young man smiled lightly and asked, "Haven't you heard of the Snow Wolf Cavalry of the northwest?"

"The Snow Wolf Cavalry? Are you referring to the cavalry that quelled the rebellion of the Ten Kingdoms and slaughtered a million rebels?"

"Who else could bear such a name? During the rebellion, our Fengyun Empire faced threats from all sides. The Snow Wolf Cavalry, with just tens of thousands of soldiers, decisively crushed the million-strong forces of the Ten Kingdoms, putting an end to the rebellion and securing a golden era for our empire."

The young man's eyes reflected a mixture of reminiscence and reverence, imagining the Snow Wolf Cavalry charging through enemy ranks, their cold blades reaping lives like harvesting wheat, their valor painting the mountains and rivers red with blood.

The woman scoffed at her brother's sentimentality, "Brother, don't elevate others at our own expense. I wasn't there for the rebellion, but I know our war with the Great Chu Kingdom weakened both sides. The Ten Kingdoms seized the moment to rebel, amassing a million-strong force that seemed formidable but was, in reality, hollow. The Snow Wolf Cavalry was simply in the right place at the right time to crush what was essentially a ripe fruit for the picking."

"With just eight thousand of Dragon City's Flying Tiger Army, I could scatter the Ten Kingdoms' allied forces within ten days, reducing their million-strong army to dust," she said with fierce determination in her eyes, as if already on the battlefield.

The young man, initially amused, suddenly became serious and motioned for her to be silent, whispering a warning, "Seventh Sister, be careful with your words. We're in Silver City, not Dragon City. This isn't a place where we can speak freely."

Instead of heeding the warning, the woman's mocking smile deepened, "Brother, as the Crown Prince and future ruler of our empire, why so timid? We're still miles from Silver City. A few casual words here can't possibly reach our esteemed 'War God Uncle.' Can they?"

The young man, revealed to be the Crown Prince of Fengyunia Empire, and the woman, his seventh sister, casually discussed matters of state and military strategy, alluding to their "War God Uncle," who in the empire could only be the esteemed Prince Consort Gideon Astor, known for his unmatched martial prowess.