"Prince Huo, Commander Ding. Since your people are guiding us and we see no sincerity, don't blame the Three Great Houses for not saving face!" Kuang Han said with a dark expression.
Commander Ding was taken aback. "Lord Kuang Han, what are you planning?"
"From this moment on, the Three Great Houses will take control of this area. All pursuit routes will be decided by us. The pursuit plan will be formulated by us alone. If the forces of the Huichun Island Domain and Winter Prolonging Island wish to follow, they may. If not, they may leave," Kuang Han declared.
"Lord Kuang Han, this cannot be done!" Prince Huo's expression changed drastically. "The deeper one goes into the Black Nightmare Mountains, the more restrictions one encounters. If you are unfamiliar with the terrain, I'm afraid that determining your own routes will actually slow your progress even more."
There was actually some truth to Prince Huo's words.
Commander Ding also advised, "My lords, Prince Huo speaks the truth. In these Black Nightmare Mountains, without us as guides, your efficiency will likely be even lower."
Xuan Zan, however, sneered, "So you're saying that without you, the Three Great Houses cannot survive? What a joke! You frogs at the bottom of the well think the Three Great Houses are merely forces like your Huichun Island Domain? My methods are incomparable to those of you narrow-minded frogs from the Huichun Island Domain!"
This fellow's tone was even ruder.
Prince Huo and Commander Ding were both prominent figures in their own right, and hearing these words naturally displeased them. If the other party weren't nobles from a superior kingdom, they might have turned hostile on the spot.
Prince Huo swallowed his anger and urged, "Everyone, this humble prince's sincere advice may be unpleasant to hear. Please, think it over again."
"Enough." Kuang Han waved his hand dismissively. "The decision is made."
Commander Ding had endured quite enough frustration along this journey. As the Chief Steward of Winter Prolonging Island, he was considered a top-tier figure throughout the entire Huichun Island Domain.
These Three Great Houses were indeed powerful, but the high-ranking members who had come to Winter Prolonging Island this time were not necessarily superior to Commander Ding in terms of strength. At most, they were evenly matched.
Considering his subordinate status, Commander Ding had been bearing the humiliation silently. Now, however, his emotions were becoming difficult to suppress. His face darkened slightly, and his tone shed its previous deference, becoming flat and detached: "As the Chief Steward of Winter Prolonging Island, while I cannot resist the dominance of you nobles from the superior kingdom, some blunt words must still be said."
Kuang Han sneered, "Oh? Do you intend to forcibly stop us?"
Commander Ding said indifferently, "You nobles of the superior kingdom may do as you please to manipulate our Huichun Island Domain. Even if I wished to stop you, the circumstances prevent it. But these blunt words, I must still say them. I ask that you consider them clearly."
"Speak," Kuang Han's tone also turned indifferent.
"Since you are all determined to go your own way and set your own routes, then from this moment on, anything that happens to you in the Black Nightmare Mountains is no longer under the jurisdiction of my Winter Prolonging Island. Whether you catch the murderer, or some other accident occurs, it will have nothing to do with my Winter Prolonging Island."
Commander Ding's voice grew hard.
"Tsk, tsk. Listening to your tone, do you really think the Three Great Houses cannot handle your little Black Nightmare Mountains?" Xuan Zan asked with a cold smile.
Commander Ding cupped his fists. "I dare not look down upon the nobles of the superior kingdom. However, the Black Nightmare Mountains have been fraught with peril since ancient times. Moreover, this range concerns the fortune and foundation of the entire Winter Prolonging Island. This is something passed down through the ages. Just how many dreadful dangers lie within, I cannot precisely estimate. But what I can be certain of is that even with the Three Great Houses, you cannot guarantee that everyone will return unscathed."
Commander Ding was also in a difficult position. He couldn't speak too harshly, but he needed to make his meaning clear: if you insist on charging in, do not blame Winter Prolonging Island for whatever life or death follows.
In truth, Commander Ding had harbored this dissatisfaction for some time. When those geniuses had gone missing or perished earlier, he felt the Three Great Houses lacked decorum.
Since you chose to come to Winter Prolonging Island for trial, shouldn't life and death be left to fate?
If someone dies, you blame others? What kind of noble bearing is that?
You have the skill to come for trials, but not the courage to bear the risks of life and death? What kind of noble foundation is that?
Therefore, in Commander Ding's eyes, the actions of the Three Great Houses now were the height of arrogance, completely unreasonable troublemaking.
Prince Huo hurried to smooth things over. "Everyone, Old Ding is the Chief Steward of this Winter Prolonging Island. He has feelings for Winter Prolonging Island. He also knows what the Black Nightmare Mountains mean to Winter Prolonging Island. He is trying to protect Winter Prolonging Island's heritage, nothing more. Besides, the Black Nightmare Mountains truly do concern Winter Prolonging Island's foundation and fortune. They are full of crises within. His words, though perhaps blunt, come from a good heart."
Kuang Han laughed coldly. "Prince Huo, what you think is unimportant. No matter what you say, you cannot stop our resolve to hunt down the murderer. As for the nonsense Commander Ding is spouting, you needn't worry needlessly. If any accidents happen, the Three Great Houses will handle it ourselves. Your Winter Prolonging Island and Huichun Island Domain just mind your own business."
"Exactly. You may follow if you wish, but if not, you can leave now." Xuan Zan also didn't want to waste time.
Prince Huo's mouth opened and closed, but in the end, he let out a resigned sigh.
Commander Ding gave Prince Huo a look, then cupped his hands. "In that case, we will not follow and become a nuisance."