On the Northern Plains, it was hardly unusual for various clans to ally with one another. The struggle for the Royal Court was approaching, and things like horizontal and vertical alliances were only going to increase.
"I have a question. The Ge family was originally weaker than the Yan family — how could a smaller fish swallow a bigger one?" the Wang Family Patriarch asked.
Bei Caosheng smiled. "The Ge family was able to devour the Yan family all thanks to one person. I wonder, Patriarch Wang, have you heard the name Chang Shan Yin?"
"Chang Shan Yin?" The Wang Family Patriarch furrowed his brow slightly. Hearing the name so suddenly stirred something familiar deep within him, as though he had encountered it somewhere before.
Then his brows smoothed out, and a look of astonishment appeared on his face. "Chang Shan Yin... Could it be the Wolf King who once slew Ha Tugu?"
"Heh heh. The Patriarch's knowledge is vast and impressive." Bei Caosheng cupped his fists in a salute. "It was precisely this person's intervention that led to the Ge family's victory. Who could have guessed that the former hero of the Northern Plains was still alive? No one knows what happened to him over all these years. He reemerged very quietly and single-handedly pushed the Ge family to swallow the Yan family, despite being the smaller party. Of course, this was also because the Yan family's higher-ups had been schemed against by Chang Shan Yin and wiped out in one stroke beforehand. That's what allowed the Ge family to gain an overwhelming advantage when they stormed the Yan family's camp."
Bei Caosheng spoke with ease and fluency, clearly well-informed about all the inner details.
In truth, after the Yan family's annihilation, there had naturally been survivors who escaped and sought shelter with the Bei family. With informants like that, the Bei family naturally had thorough intelligence.
The Wang Family Patriarch's frown deepened. "In the past, the Wolf King was able to single-handedly kill the Fifth Transformation Gu Master Ha Tugu across a whole level, and even slaughtered an entire band of horse bandits. Such strength is truly awe-inspiring and fearsome. With the power you and I possess, how could we possibly deal with such a formidable figure?"
A Fourth Transformation Gu Master was already a leader of a mid-sized faction. A Fifth Transformation Gu Master represented the very peak of the mundane world.
That was why, years ago, Chang Shan Yin's slaying of Ha Tugu had sent shockwaves across the entire Northern Plains.
A person's shadow, a tree's bark — Chang Shan Yin's exploits had circulated across the Northern Plains for so many years, and it was only natural for the Wang Family Patriarch to feel wary.
Bei Caosheng laughed loudly. "Hahaha, Patriarch, your concern is only human. The Wolf King is indeed a remarkable figure. But times have changed — today's Wolf King is absolutely not as formidable as he once was."
"Oh? I'd like to hear the details."
"Everyone knows that a slave-path Gu Master's strength lies in the army at his command. The Wolf King has just reemerged, and his wolf pack is nowhere near its former scale — he doesn't even have a single exotic beast. All he has now are ordinary Wind Wolves, Night Wolves, and Turtle-back Wolves. And after the recent battle with the Yan family, he's already suffered significant losses. His combat power isn't all that impressive."
Bei Caosheng continued: "Furthermore, the Wolf King attacked the Yan family without provocation — that is the behavior of the Demonic Path. Slaughtering commoners, he thoroughly violated the rules of the Northern Plains. He is no longer our Northern Plains' hero, but a demon lord whom everyone has the right to execute. What we are sanctioning this time is the war criminal who launched the invasion and the thug who aggressed at will! We hold the mantle of justice, while the Ge family has committed endless atrocities and is steeped in evil. Before the Heroes' Assembly has even been held, before the struggle for the Royal Court has even begun, they openly launched a war between clans — utterly audacious and unforgivable. Looking through the history of the Northern Plains, has anyone who crossed such lines ever come to a good end?"
Bei Caosheng's words were filled with passion and fervor. As a spokesman of the Bei family, his speech carried a powerful, rousing force.
But the Wang Family Patriarch was no fool who could be easily swayed by eloquence. His gaze flickered with uncertainty, and he spoke hesitantly. "Even so, the Wolf King is still the Wolf King. When dragons and tigers fight, one side must suffer. After such a battle, there will inevitably be enormous casualties."
Bei Caosheng shook his head and laughed dismissively. "Heh heh heh. The Wolf King may be strong, but two fists cannot beat four hands. The Ge family has just devoured the Yan family — they've bitten off more than they can chew, swelled with arrogance, and are far from stable. As long as the Wang family joins us, the four of our families united, what do we have to fear from the likes of the Ge family?"
The Wang Family Patriarch pondered for a moment. "I don't fear the Ge family, but the Wolf King is still the Wolf King. He vanished mysteriously all those years ago — who knows what happened to him? Perhaps he stumbled upon some great fortune. His reappearance now must have some purpose. A man like that surely still holds hidden cards."
Bei Caosheng let out a scoff. "Any reputation can be inflated through hype. Why should Patriarch Wang boost his enemy's morale while dampening our own? What is there to fear about the Wolf King? He's washed up. Even if he has hidden cards, he's still just a slave-path Gu Master in the end. And since he's a slave-path Gu Master, we have the means to counter him."
"To speak honestly, our Bei family also has a slave-path Gu Master. Our Straw Troop Legion holds its own on the Northern Plains and can face Chang Shan Yin head-on. On top of that, the Zheng family has its famed Lightning Spear Battle Formation, and Pei family's Patriarch Pei Yanfei is one of the Northern Plains' most renowned warriors. He has already reached the peak of the Fourth Transformation. Even if the Wolf King commands thousands upon thousands of troops, Lord Pei Yanfei can carve straight through them and strike at the heart, slaying him outright!"
As everyone knew, what slave-path Gu Masters feared most was a decapitation strike.
If the head was taken, the vast army would instantly descend into chaos and scatter on its own.
After hearing Bei Caosheng's words, the Wang Family Patriarch still hesitated, merely deflecting with excuses that the matter was of great importance and he needed a few more days to consider.
A flash of disappointment crossed Bei Caosheng's eyes. "Of course, given the gravity of the matter, Patriarch Wang, it is only right for you to deliberate carefully. However, this matter brooks no delay. If the Ge family is given time to catch its breath and gradually consolidate the fruits of its conquest, the price we will pay when we finally move against them will be far greater. I urge the Patriarch to consider this clearly."
The Wang Family Patriarch nodded. "Three days at most. During that time, I ask that you stay comfortably within our clan and enjoy our hospitality."
Hearing this, Bei Caosheng had no choice but to take his leave.
No sooner had he departed than a figure emerged from behind the reception hall.
This man was thin and gaunt, with a sallow complexion and three wisps of beard on his chin. His pair of eyes gleamed with a sharp, penetrating light. He was the Wang Family Patriarch's trusted right-hand man — the strategist and Wang family Elder, Wang Dedao.
"Patriarch, are we truly going to agree to the Bei family's proposal and join this alliance?" Wang Dedao asked with some worry.