Ning Chen gave the order and the army withdrew.

He told Xing Shan he would lead the army back out past the Xiliang border, but that he had to see the Untainted Ice Lotus within three days.

If Xiliang dared try anything clever, there would be no room left to turn around in.

Ning Chen's aim was to have the Untainted Ice Lotus in the shortest time possible.

He could storm cities and take strongholds and fight his way to the Xiliang royal house.

But with the men and horses he had now, if Xiliang massed a great army and blocked him along the whole line... never mind whether he could reach the Xiliang royal house, even if he did it would likely be next year.

The Xuan Emperor had no time. He could not last that long.

He knew somebody in the Great Xuan was in collusion with the Xiliang royal house, and did not want him to get the Untainted Ice Lotus and save the Xuan Emperor's life.

But the Xiliang royal house were no fools either.

If they truly made him angry, what it cost them would be more than one city and one stronghold.

On the wall Han Gaochi watched Ning Chen's army withdraw and let out a small breath.

The Great Xuan had barely more than forty thousand men, but the pressure on him was mountainous.

"Lord Xing, do we really give the Untainted Ice Lotus to Ning Chen?"

Xing Shan inclined his head slightly. "The Untainted Ice Lotus is precious, but set beside a city it is nowhere near enough."

"Our ruler is in a hard position too. The people of Linxuan City cannot be abandoned."

Han Gaochi bowed quickly. "Our ruler is merciful!"

The corner of Xing Shan's mouth curled, and there was some contempt in it.

Merciful, my ass. These coarse fighting men can't see the workings of the thing at all.

If the people of Linxuan City were abandoned, and the prisoners with them, the royal house's standing would collapse outright.

A man with no standing gets bullied and humiliated by…