Chapter 69,second part, The Last Hope

Chapter 69: 69,second part, The Last Hope

6

"Continues ."

"So that we send our elemental soldiers and fight in your war better put, finance your war you must allow the Medusas to abandon most of this mountain range afterward."

The hall became completely still.

"The territory will pass to the Fire Elementals, who will protect it as it should be protected."

Vaelra slammed her hand against the table.

"That’s absurd!"

The representative did not even blink.

"In exchange, we will be generous enough to allow the Medusas to remain in the peripheral regions of the mountains."

Ariselle remained silent.

Nysara was the one who asked, in an ironic and disdainful tone:

"And what else do you want?"

The representative smiled slightly.

"I’m glad you asked. We also want the Great Alchemist’s Mausoleum."

The reaction was immediate.

"That is completely absurd. We will not accept that even in your dreams."

The words left Ariselle’s mouth before anyone else could speak.

Her voice carried an authority that caused even the small movements of the serpents in her hair to cease for a moment.

"Is that the condition?"

"Yes. This is the condition of the Fire Elementals."

"You want our mountains and the mausoleum."

"We want to assume responsibility for a territory that you are no longer capable of protecting on your own."

Vaelra stepped forward.

"You’re waiting for us to be defeated so you can take everything!"

"We are offering an alternative for your people to survive." ℯ

"Alternative, you say?"

Vaelra pointed toward the door.

"You arrive here after our warriors have died, after our territory has been destroyed, after our resources have been reduced, and you call this an alternative?"

Thesira had already risen to her feet.

"This is not a negotiation."

Her hand slowly clenched.

"It is a demand made while we wait for the next army to arrive."

Mirevra, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke:

"And that is exactly why we must be careful."

Everyone looked at her as she continued:

"They don’t need to attack us now. If the Beastmen and Lizardmen destroy us, they can simply occupy the space left behind."

Nysara slowly nodded.

"And they would still receive the mausoleum."

Ariselle stared at the representative.

"Enough. I have heard your proposal, and so has my council of elders. Our answer is no. We refuse."

"Then the Fire Elementals will not interfere."

The room fell silent once again. The message was clear. They were not offering help.

They were waiting to see who would survive, and then the representative gave a slight bow.

"That is our proposal."

He withdrew, and the doors closed. For several seconds, no one spoke. Only a tense silence reigned over the great meeting hall.

Until Guo Han took a deep breath.

"We need to discuss our own position."

Everyone’s eyes turned toward Guo Han, who remained seated, but his expression was serious.

"We cannot ignore the numbers of the enemies marching toward us. And now that the Elementals do not intend to help the Medusa clan, we need to redefine our alliance."

Zhao Ming let out a sigh.

"I intended to bring this topic to the table. We need to discuss our participation in this war."

Guo Han continued:

"We have thousands of enemies approaching. According to the information we’ve received, there are at least fifteen cultivators at the tenth stage of Profound Nascent among them. Here, we have six people at that same stage."

He paused.

"Even if we manage to defeat some of them, there is still an enormous difference in the number of combatants."

Thesira immediately replied:

"And what do you suggest?"

"Withdrawal."

The word fell upon the table like a stone.

Lian Yue raised her eyes.

Guo Han did not retreat.

"I’m not saying this because I don’t care about the Medusas. I’m saying it because we don’t possess enough strength to change the outcome of this war."

Vaelra stared at him in disbelief.

"So five of your companions died here for nothing?"

Guo Han remained silent for a moment.

"No."

"Then why leave now?"

"Because I don’t want to turn five deaths into fifty."

His answer was firm.

"Nor into a hundred."

Zhao Ming nodded.

"I agree."

Lian Yue looked at him.

Zhao Ming did not look away.

"I don’t want to die here."

There was no shame in his voice.

"I’m not going to pretend that I do. Five people from our sect have died. We saw their bodies. We saw what this war has done. And now we’re being told that an even larger army is coming."

He took a deep breath.

"This war does not belong to the Profound Flower Sect."

Su Meilin closed her eyes for a moment before speaking.

"I also believe we need to consider a withdrawal."

Lian Yue turned toward her.

Su Meilin explained:

"The original agreement did not anticipate that we would face a force of this magnitude. Our objective was to enter the territory, assist with its defense, and receive controlled access to the mausoleum."

She looked at Ariselle.

"There is no clause that obligates our sect to remain until our forces are completely destroyed."

Chen Ruyue clasped her hands over her lap.

"But if we leave..."

Her voice faltered for a moment. She took a deep breath and continued:

"If we leave now, we know what will happen."

No one answered.

"The wounded won’t be able to keep up with a rapid retreat. Those left behind won’t have enough resources. And the people working in the fields, treating the wounded, and rebuilding the defenses..."

She lowered her eyes.

"They have nowhere to go."

Zhao Ming replied:

"That’s sad, I know, but it’s not as if this was our problem to begin with."

Chen Ruyue raised her eyes.

"Sad?"

Zhao Ming frowned.

"That’s not what I meant."

"But that’s what you said."

The hall grew tense.

Chen Ruyue did not usually confront him like that.

"I’m afraid too," she continued. "I also want to go home. I also want to survive. But after spending so many days here, after treating these people, after seeing children waiting for parents who will never return..."

Her voice became quiet.

"I can’t simply pretend that I don’t know any of them anymore."

Zhao Ming remained silent.

Lian Yue finally spoke.

"I understand both sides."

Everyone looked at her.

She looked tired.

"If we stay, we may die."

She looked at her companions.

"If we leave, some of these people will certainly die."

Lian Yue closed her eyes.

"There is no choice without consequences."

Guo Han replied:

"That’s why we need to choose the one that preserves more lives on our side the cultivators of the Profound Flower Sect."

"You’re right."

Lian Yue opened her eyes.

"But I still can’t decide whether abandoning this place truly means preserving lives."

Vaelra let out a bitter laugh.

"At least one human understands the situation clearly."

Ariselle gave her a look.

"Vaelra."

The elder fell silent. The discussion had already reached its limit, and then a voice came from the back of the hall.

"If you’ve finished going around in circles, I have something to say."

Everyone turned around.

Yun Che had been sitting silently since the beginning. The white mask completely concealed his expression, and then he slowly stood up.

There was no haste in his movements. Only after he was standing did his eyes turn toward Seraphina.

She held his gaze. With that, no words were necessary. They had already coordinated their roles very well.

She had understood what she needed to do now.

Seraphina immediately stood up, causing Ariselle to frown.

"Daughter?"

Seraphina did not answer her mother immediately. She simply looked at Yun Che once more and then turned toward the guards.

"Bring the three warriors I asked for earlier."

Thesira stood up.

"Three warriors? What are you doing?"

"What for?"

Seraphina kept her voice firm.

"Bring three of the wounded warriors immediately."

Ariselle became even more confused.

"Why are you doing this, girl? The council hall is no place for your games."

Seraphina looked at her mother.