The two people in a standoff were well-known characters in their respective camps. One was Eden, who had gained fame in the Misty Wood, and across from him was Song Zining.
Eden sized the seventh young master up with narrowed eyes. “You actually dare come here, quite bold I say. What, are you tired of living because of some unhappy matters?”
Song Zining replied calmly, “I’m living quite fine, thank you, and I still have a fair bit of youth to squander. How could I be tired of living? You, on the other hand, must be quite depressed to see me on your own. Feel free to tell me about it and make me happy.”
Eden smiled coldly. “I only need to send a signal and numerous experts will arrive within moments. This place is also within the range of His Majesty the Eternal Flame’s power. Do you think you can escape?”
“Escape? I never had any intention of going back alive. Why would I even try?”
Eden and Song Zining stared at one another for a long while. Eventually, the former asked with a more relaxed expression, “Enough with the useless stuff. I shall enter the Great Maelstrom tonight. Since you came to see me despite the risks, say what you must so that I can deal with you.”
Song Zining said, “I have some information that might interest you, and for that, I want you to agree to two things.”
Eden said coldly, “I don’t think there’s anything we can work together on, but since you feel this information is important, let’s hear it.”
Song Zining smiled. “It’s related to Nighteye, do you want to listen?”
Eden’s expression shifted drastically. He took a sudden step forward and grabbed Song Zining by the collar. “How did you know?!”
His movement was so forceful that Song Zining could hardly breathe, yet the seventh young master wasn’t flustered at all. On the contrary, he looked at the demonkin with a hint of mockery in his eyes. Surprised, Eden released his grip, saying, “Right, perhaps you might’ve heard certain things, but they’re mere guesses. And I just proved them correct.”
Song Zining tidied his clothes until they were in perfect condition. “You’re smart, no wonder you managed to beat up those imbeciles in the Misty Wood.”
Eden raised his voice. “Are you looking down on me?”
Song Zining wasn’t about to give way, however. “Absolutely not, I’m just saying your opponents were too weak. How could you have such an opportunity if Qianye wasn’t pushed away?”
Eden’s expression was unsightly. His entanglement with Qianye in the Misty Wood would’ve resulted in his loss if it wasn’t for his advantage in gear. Even then, he was barely able to hold his ground toward the end of the fight—he lost the Carol of Shadows, even. If Qianye hadn’t left all of a sudden, Eden would probably die to him sooner or later.
Song Zining’s words were harsh but true, and Eden’s pride forbade him from denying them.
The demonkin said in a gloomy voice, “Did you come here just to humiliate me?”
“Of course not! On the contrary, I came to make a deal with you because I deem you a worthy future opponent.”
“How are the two even related?”
Song Zining clasped his hands behind his back. “How could those without equal ambition and bearing be my match in the future?”
“Ambition begets accomplishment. Well said!”
Song Zining smiled. “Now, are you interested in the deal?”
“I’m listening.”
“I will tell you some recent news about Nighteye, and in return, I need you to do two things.”
“You have information about Nighteye? Speak, what do you need me to do?” It was obvious that Eden was barely able to suppress his excitement.
Song Zining raised a finger. “Firstly, I need you to find a way to make the Eternal Flame work with us and draw Medanzo into the neutral lands.”
Eden was shocked. “You want to attack the Lightless Monarch? You must be crazy!”
Song Zining said with a smile, “The Lightless Monarch isn’t as strong as he looks, you demonkin know that quite well, don’t you? Besides, I’m not the one attacking him. All we need is to lure him into the neutral lands, the Eastern Sea preferably.”
Seeing that Song Zining wasn’t willing to explain more, Eden said, “What’s the second condition?”
Song Zining replied, “The second condition is that you mustn’t attack Qianye and the people around him when you reach the Great Maelstrom.”
Eden frowned. “The people around him? How will I know?”
Song Zining replied, “The people who are around him when you meet him.”
“That’s easily done. Now, it’s your turn. Tell me how Nighteye is doing.”
Song Zining said, “She’s in the neutral lands right now, but naturally, I can’t tell you the exact location. I can only say that she’s doing quite well and her body is recovering constantly. There’s no need to worry about her health at the moment. It’s just that she’s about to face danger right now.”
Eden’s expression transformed several times. “Is she injured? What kind of danger?”
“She was injured a while ago, but she has recovered now. As for the danger, I’ll figure out a way to help her.”
Eden took a step forward. “Tell me! Who wants to hurt her?”
Song Zining sighed. “What’s the use in telling you? It’s the Lightless Monarch.”
Eden’s expression sank. “Are you joking?”
Song Zining explained calmly, “The Lightless Monarch had tried to buy Nighteye when she fell into imperial captivity back then. He was the one who had sent people after her and injured her after she had fled. Do you think it’s a coincidence that a great dark monarch would attack a small character twice? It’s not that hard for you to verify my story.”
Eden was livid, but he eventually nodded.
Song Zining said, “I’ve said all that I should, time for me to leave.”
“Wait,” Eden called him back, “aren’t you afraid I’ll renege on my words?”
“You’ve already promised, and that’s enough. We don’t need any other guarantees.”
Eden laughed coldly. “I’ve already heard the information, so why should I let you go? If I kill you now, the empire will no longer have a future god of strategy.”
Song Zining revealed a brilliant smile. “Who will you make deals with in the future if you kill me?
“We have been fighting for a thousand years.
“And we have been doing business for just as long.
“I don’t feel the need to.
“A deal is just people taking what they each need. If you’re not willing, someone else will.”
Eden said in due seriousness, “Don’t you feel that a deal will only make the enemy stronger?”
Song Zining nodded. “It will, but the same applies to me as well. Both sides are just taking what they need. As for how you use those resources, it’ll be up to you. If I use them well, I’ll come out on top in battles internal and external. The same goes for you. So, the nature of the trade will also depend on the person. Of course, it’s fine if you want to back out and admit you’re inferior to me. There will be other willing parties.”
“Why me?”
“I only pick people who have the right to be my enemy.”
“Is this a praise?”
“No, it’s a warning. None of my enemies have met good fates.”
Eden sneered, “I look forward to it.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
The two glared daggers at each other, attacking each other secretly at every turn. All of a sudden, Eden said, “I heard that the seventh young master of the Song was sincere, magnanimous, and morally upright. That isn’t really the case, it seems. For instance, regardless of the reasons, you really have no way to explain this deal back in the empire, do you?”
Song Zining’s smile vanished as he opened his fan and flapped lightly. After calming himself down, he said, “There will always be inevitable things that need to be done. I’m a loner anyway, so what if I need to shoulder a bad name?”
With that, Song Zining turned and left, fearlessly leaving his back open to Eden.
Eden watched the seventh young master’s receding figure with a complicated expression. It was at this time that a raspy voice echoed in his ears, “Come up to see me.”
Surprised, Eden flew up toward the swirling clouds in due haste. Around Tidehark, only those allowed by the Eternal Flame could fly like so.
In the blink of an eye, Eden was standing before the Eternal Flame. His head was slightly lowered, not daring to look straight into the eyes of this big shot.
The Eternal Flame laughed deeply. He then said with an amicable tone, “Don’t worry, that little fellow chose that place so that I’ll hear the conversation.”
Only at this point did Eden feel a modicum of relief. But soon, he felt a scorching heat fall upon his body—he felt parched and dry, almost as though he had fallen into a furnace. Eden did his best to endure because he knew it was the Eternal Flame’s gaze. Fortunately, the heat didn’t last long, else Eden would have reached his limit pretty soon.
Only at this moment could he truly feel the Eternal Flame’s terrifying might. Just that gaze had almost caused him to collapse. If they were to fight, the monarch could reduce him to ash with a single wisp of invisible flame.
The Eternal Flame nodded. This was the first time he had moved visibly. “You’re not bad at all, much better than what I’ve heard. Heh, it’s not the first time the bastards in charge of your family have made wrong judgments.”
Eden said, “Your Majesty, about the Lightless Monarch…”
The Eternal Flame said, “I know Medanzo wants to capture Nighteye. I don’t know what exactly he wants with her, though, and I have no interest. But that human brat is quite bold, I must say, to plot against the Lightless Monarch. It’s quite interesting. Rest assured, I will cooperate. I also want to see what that kid is capable of.”
“What do you plan to do?”
The Eternal Flame replied, “Very simple. I’ll leave a bit earlier than planned. I only need to pick my route of exit to make sure Medanzo appears in a specific area. I’m sure he’ll lose his patience once I leave and try to enter the neutral lands immediately without me knowing. Now that leaves him with very few choices. I can even leave him with only one choice.”
“I understand, but Your Majesty, was it right for me to have let Song Zining go?”
The Eternal Flame laughed. “That fellow is very interesting. So what if he really does become the empire’s next top strategist? One thing he said is correct. We’ve been fighting the humans for a thousand years, and we’ve been doing business with them for a thousand years. The line between enemy and friend isn’t a constant thing. Enemies for a thousand years might turn into friends on a scale of ten thousand years. Humans have always been the most conflicted of races. Their lives are short, yet they make decisions based on the long river of history. In this respect, they are so much better than us.”
Eden hadn’t expected the Eternal Flame to see Song Zining, and the human race, in this manner. His evaluation was fairly high, even.
“You may go back now. I hope you’ll always be qualified to deal with him in the future.”
Eden was shaken. “I will do my best.”
