The wilderness.
The wind rose.
Sand rolled like waves, churning endlessly until heaven and earth were swallowed in a haze of yellow.
In the distance...
A cavalry force charged toward them.
Iron hooves pounded against the sand with a heavy, savage rhythm.
At its head rode...
Steel Fang, chieftain of the Sandflow Tribe.
He was a towering man clad in a thick beast-hide war cloak.
Several old scars ran across his face.
His eyes were like an eagle's, sharp with the cold ferocity unique to the wilderness.
"Stop!"
At his command, the riders spread out instantly, surrounding the eleven figures ahead like hunters closing in on their prey.
The dust slowly settled.
At the center of the encirclement stood...
Hong Chen,
and the Ten Attendants behind him.
No blades were drawn.
No defensive stance was taken.
They simply stood there.
As though...
they were the true center of this wilderness.
Steel Fang looked down at Hong Chen from horseback.
"So... you're Hong Chen."
His tone was calm,
yet filled with scrutiny and caution.
Hong Chen looked up.
There was no hostility,
nor any attempt to explain himself.
"Steel Fang."
He called him by name.
At that instant,
every warrior around them tightened their grip on their weapons.
The atmosphere tensed immediately.
Hong Chen spoke calmly.
"We should talk."
Steel Fang narrowed his eyes.
"You've brought ten men into my territory..."
"...just to talk?"
Hong Chen nodded, his voice steady.
"About Blackwind City."
The air froze.
For the first time, Steel Fang's expression shifted.
"...Blackwind City."
It was no ordinary place.
It had once belonged to the King of the Wilderness—
the city of his ancestors.
The warriors around him grew visibly tense.
Deep within, they felt a reverence they had never known before.
Hong Chen said nothing more.
He simply spoke quietly.
"If you want to talk..."
"...let's return to your tribe and take our time."
He paused.
For the first time, a trace of coldness entered his gaze.
"If you don't..."
"...then we fight."
There was no shouted threat.
No murderous aura.
Yet it was more direct—
and more unsettling—
than any provocation.
The wind swept up the sand once more.
Steel Fang stared at him for a long time, weighing him.
Was this man insane...
or someone even madmen would never dare provoke?
At last, he let out a slow breath.
"...Fine."
He raised a hand.
"Stand down."
The encirclement dissolved at once.
Steel Fang turned his horse aside, opening a path.
"Since you dared to come..."
"...then be my guest."
There was no longer hostility in his voice.
Instead...
it carried the respect that people of the wilderness reserved for true strength,
along with a deeply buried longing for his bloodline...
and for his ancestral city.
Hong Chen said nothing.
He simply walked forward.
The Ten Attendants followed close behind.
The sand rose again.
This time,
it was no hunt.
It was...
a meeting shaped by history, destiny, and the unknown.
Inside the Sandflow Tribe.
Firelight flickered along both sides of a long table, illuminating rough beast hides and stone walls.
Hong Chen and Steel Fang sat facing one another.
Their eyes met.
The air was thick with dust and sweat, so tense it was almost suffocating.
Steel Fang spoke first.
"Talk. How do you want to do this?"
His voice was deep, carrying the authority of the wilderness.
Hong Chen smiled faintly, his tone calm yet unwavering.
"Do you want to reclaim your ancestors' city?"
"Do you want to rule the wilderness as your ancestors once did?"
"If you do..."
"Then listen to me."
Steel Fang frowned. A flicker crossed his eyes.
"What are you saying?"
"Do you know how many beastmen are there?"
"A lot. A great many!"
"You think you can just take it?"
Hong Chen's gaze turned icy.
"Not through brute force."
"But through wisdom."
"Not by fighting alone."
"But through unity."
"If everyone works together..."
"...Blackwind City can be reclaimed."
Steel Fang fell silent.
The firelight reflected in his tightly clenched fists.
His breathing grew heavy.
Even the wind outside seemed to stop.
Only the heartbeats of the two men echoed through the spacious hall.
Hong Chen said nothing more.
He simply looked at Steel Fang, his eyes filled with unquestionable resolve.
It was a challenge...
and an invitation.
Steel Fang kept his gaze fixed on Hong Chen.
The blood of the wilderness within him trembled.
It was the memory of Blackwind City.
The longing for kingship...
And the desire for strength.
For the future.
After a long silence, Steel Fang spoke quietly.
"...An alliance?"
Hong Chen nodded.
"Yes."
"You want Blackwind City—I will help you."
"You want to restore the wilderness to its former glory—we'll do it together."
A long-forgotten spark appeared in Steel Fang's eyes.
In that moment,
the ambition of the wilderness...
and wisdom...
met as one.
The fire inside the tent flickered softly.
After a brief silence, Hong Chen suddenly spoke.
"I have a question for you."
Steel Fang looked up.
Hong Chen's voice remained calm.
"Why has the Beast King never moved against your people?"
The moment the question was asked,
the expressions of several veteran warriors changed.
Steel Fang did not answer immediately.
He remained silent for a while,
as though deciding whether the truth should be spoken.
Finally, he said quietly,
"Because..."
"...we pay tribute."
The air grew heavy.
Hong Chen did not interrupt.
Steel Fang continued.
"Weapons."
"Ore."
"Even manpower."
His voice grew lower.
"We exchange them..."
"...for peace."
The fire crackled softly.
Hong Chen's eyes turned slightly colder.
"And how long does that peace last?"
Steel Fang answered without hesitation.
"One year."
"Every year."
Silence.
Hong Chen nodded faintly, as though confirming something.
Then he asked,
"What if you refuse?"
The tent fell silent.
One of the old warriors could no longer hold back.
"Then they'll come!"
"They'll slaughter the city!"
"They'll wipe out the tribe!"
Steel Fang remained silent.
But his fists had already turned white.
Hong Chen looked at him, his voice still calm.
"So you're not buying peace."
He paused.
"You're only..."
"...delaying death."
Those words fell like a blade.
They pierced every heart in the tent.
The atmosphere grew oppressively heavy.
Some were furious.
Some remained silent.
Others...
simply could not face the truth.
Steel Fang slowly raised his head to look at Hong Chen.
For the first time, there was no guard in his eyes.
Only...
the weight of a truth that had finally been spoken aloud.
Hong Chen continued.
"And besides."
"You should know this."
"One day..."
"...they'll stop collecting tribute."
"Because..."
His gaze turned cold.
"The moment they no longer need you."
The air seemed frozen.
Steel Fang's breathing grew heavier.
Hong Chen spoke one last time.
"So the question isn't whether Blackwind City can be taken."
"It's..."
"When do you intend..."
"...to let yourselves be swallowed?"
Silence.
For a long time.
A very long time.
Steel Fang finally asked quietly,
"...Then what's your plan?"
Hong Chen looked at him.
This time, there was no preamble.
Only a single sentence.
"Make sure..."
"...they can't raise a hand first."
The fire suddenly flared.
Everyone looked up.
Steel Fang stared at him.
"What do you mean?"
Hong Chen answered calmly.
"Cut off..."
"...their 'hands'..."
"...before they can strike."
荒野.
风起.
沙尘如海,滚滚翻腾,天地一片昏黄.
远处...
一支骑兵队伍疾驰而来.
铁蹄踏沙,节奏沉重而狂野.
为首之人...
流沙部落首领,钢牙.
他身形高大,披着厚重兽皮战袍,
脸上横着数道旧伤,
目光如鹰,带着荒野特有的冷冽与凶性.
"前方!停!"
一声喝令.
骑队骤然分散,
如同猎兽围捕,将前方十一人重重包围.
沙尘缓缓落下.
包围圈中央.
红辰,
以及身后的十待.
没有拔刀.
没有防御.
只有站立.
仿佛...
他们才是这片荒野的中心.
钢牙骑在马上,俯视红辰.
"你就是那个红辰."
语气不急,
却带着审视与警惕.
红辰抬眼.
没有敌意,
也没有解释.
"钢牙."
他直接叫出名字.
这一瞬
周围战士的手,全都紧握武器.
气氛骤然收紧.
红辰淡淡开口:
"我们谈谈."
钢牙眯起眼.
"你带着十个人闯进我的地盘..."
"就为了谈?"
红辰点头,声音平静:
"谈黑风城."
空气,骤然凝固.
钢牙的眼神,第一次出现波动.
"...黑风城."
那不是普通地名.
那是荒野王的旧地,也是他祖先的城.
周围战士明显紧张,心底有一种从未有过的敬畏.
红辰没有多言,只是缓缓说:
"想谈回部落,慢慢谈."
他顿了顿,目光第一次带上一丝冷意:
"若不想谈现在,就开打."
没有威胁的吼声,
没有杀气的外放,
却比任何挑衅都更直接,更让人心悸.
风,再次卷起沙尘.
钢牙盯着他,看了很久,像在衡量.
这究竟是疯子,
还是一个连疯子都不敢招惹的人.
最终,他缓缓长吐一口气.
"...好."
他抬手,沉声道:
"收阵."
包围瞬间散开.
钢牙调转战马,侧身让出一条路.
"既然你敢来"
"那就请."
语气不再是敌意,
而是...
带着荒野之人,对真正强者的认可,
以及对自己血脉与城池的隐秘情绪.
红辰不说一句话,迈步前行.
十待紧随其后.
沙尘再次升起,
这一次.
不是围猎,
而是...
带着未知,带着历史与命运的会面.流沙部落内部.
长桌两侧,火光摇曳,映出粗犷的兽皮与岩石墙面.
红辰与钢牙各自坐在椅子上,目光交错.
空气中带着沙尘和汗味,紧张得几乎能让人窒息.
钢牙沉声开口:"谈!要怎么谈?"
声音低沉,却带着荒野特有的威严.
红辰微微一笑,语气平静却坚定:"想拿回你祖先的城吗?
想像你祖先一样,称霸荒野吗?
想的话就听我的."
钢牙眉头紧锁,眼神里有一瞬的闪动:"你是什么意思?
你知道那里兽人的数量吗?很多!是很多!
想拿就能拿吗?"
红辰目光如冰,慢慢开口:"不靠蛮力,而靠智慧.
不靠单打独斗,而靠团结.
大家一起合作,就能拿回黑风城."
钢牙沉默了.
火光映照下,他的拳头紧握,呼吸粗重.
荒野的风似乎都静止了,只有两人的心跳在空旷的大厅里回响.
红辰没有再说话.
他只缓缓看向钢牙,眼神中带着不容置疑的坚定.
这是挑战...也是邀请.
钢牙的视线落在红辰身上,内心的荒野血脉在颤抖.
那是对黑风城的记忆,对王权的渴望...
以及对力量和未来的渴望.
沉默许久,钢牙低声开口:"...合作?"
红辰点头,语气不减:"是.
你想要黑风城,我帮你.
你想重振荒野霸权,我们一起."
钢牙眼底闪过一抹久违的光芒.
荒野的雄心与智慧,正在这一刻交汇.
帐内火光微晃.
短暂的沉默后,红辰忽然开口:
"我问你一件事."
钢牙抬眼看他.
红辰语气平静:
"兽人王,为什么一直没有对你们动手?"
这个问题一出,
帐内几名老战士的脸色微微变了.
钢牙没有立刻回答.
他沉默了一会,
像是在衡量要不要说出口.
最终,他低声道:
"因为...我们进贡."
空气一滞.
红辰没有打断.
钢牙继续说:
"武器."
"矿石."
"甚至人力."
他的声音渐渐变低,却更沉:
"用这些...换和平."
火焰轻轻一跳.
红辰的目光,微微冷了下来.
"换来的,是多久的和平?"
钢牙没有回避,直接回答:
"一年."
"每年都要."
沉默.
红辰轻轻点头,像是确认了什么.
然后,他问了一句.
"那如果你不交呢?"
帐内瞬间安静.
一名老战士忍不住低吼:
"那他们就会来!"
"屠城!"
"灭族!"
钢牙没有说话.
但他的拳头,已经握得发白.
红辰看着他,语气依旧平静:
"所以你们不是在换和平."
他顿了一下.
"是在...延迟死亡."
这一句话落下.
像刀.
直接刺进每个人心里.
帐内气氛骤然压低.
有人愤怒.
有人沉默.
也有人...不敢面对.
钢牙缓缓抬头,看向红辰.
眼神里第一次没有防备.
只有一种
被说破之后的沉重.
红辰继续道:
"而且."
"你应该知道."
"他们迟早会停收贡品."
"因为..."
他目光一冷.
"当他们不再需要你们的时候."
空气仿佛凝固.
钢牙的呼吸变重.
红辰最后说:
"所以问题不是能不能打黑风城."
"而是..."
"你打算什么时候,被他们吞掉."
沉默.
很久.
很久.
钢牙低声问:
"...那你的办法呢?"
红辰看着他.
这一次,没有铺垫.
只有一句话:
"让他们先动不了手."
火焰猛地一跳.
所有人抬头.
钢牙盯着他:
"什么意思?"
红辰淡淡道:
"把他们的'手'"
"先砍掉."