Chapter 265: End II

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A great many things happen in the aftermath of the battle.

General He Bin’s army surrenders. The few soldiers who try to resist are swiftly put down while the rest are taken as prisoners. Only the nobility receives preferential treatment. It can be no other way. They are all important tools to keep control of the territories that were under He Bin’s command.

Hours later, messengers leave the Storm Dragon Palace one after another. They are dispatched to every city and every city lord. They shout in town squares, mansions, and taverns. The message is always the same.

The civil war is over.

The treacherous General He Bin, who conspired with evil and foreign powers, has been slain. He will harm the country no more.

The mad dog Murong Bang has died. He will hurt the people no more.

Praise and glory to General Nie Dan, who restored peace to the Storm Dragon Empire.

Praise and glory to the Eternal Flame Clan and the Divine Frozen Palace, who aided the empire in its hour of need.

Praise and glory to Qing Jin, the Young Dragon, who rescued his family from vultures and delivered divine punishment to the empire’s enemies.

“Why?”

Liu Jin’s voice is muffled as he buries his face between his hands. On his lap is a transcript of the basic message General Nie Dan has spread to every corner of the empire.

Three days.

He has only been unconscious for three days!

“You know why,” General Nie Dan replies. He is standing by Liu Jin’s bedside. He showed up less than an hour after Liu Jin woke up. Considering how busy the man must be, it is a very significant gesture.

About as significant as the fact that Liu Jin has been placed in the emperor’s room.

“I know,” Liu Jin says, and the worst part is that he not only knows, he understands.

General Nie Dan has triumphed, so his allies are all just and virtuous. That is simple enough for everyone to understand. Since his uncle cannot be trusted to remain in power, the introduction of a more “legitimate” heir was necessary.

General Nie Dan including the Divine Frozen Palace in the official story despite only one of their members having participated is another good move on his part. It opens the door for him to build further relationships with them and will help curtail the influence of the Eternal Flame Clan in the future.

“I have no interest in being wielded as a piece against the Eternal Flame Clan, general,” Liu Jin says.

“Is that what you think I am doing?” Nie Dan crosses his arms. “I merely wish the Eternal Flame Clan to understand your value.”

A valid enough reason, Liu Jin supposes. General Nie Dan is making it clear that Liu Jin is needed to handle the transition of power within the Storm Dragon Empire. That will make the Eternal Flame Clan less likely to make any rash decision regarding him.

And yet, reasonable as his words are, Liu Jin knows there is more to this than that.

“I am not my father, general,” Liu Jin says.

“No, I suppose not,” Nie Dan says, finally sitting down. It does not stop him from towering over Liu Jin. “That much is obvious.”

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“I know I am soft. Murong Bang made that very clear to me,” Liu Jin says. He chuckles and shakes his head. “Even now, I cannot feel any joy at his death. That is how soft I am. Regardless, that does not mean I wish to be more like how my father was.”

To wish not to be like his father… A thought like that would have been unthinkable for him years ago. Now, it is only logical.

“I… My father told me many times what type of person he used to be,” Liu Jin says. “Back then, I did not fully understand it. I couldn’t. I only knew the father that I knew, not the Black Dragon you all worshiped. However, coming to this land and seeing the monsters he raised… I finally understand the enormity of what my father did.”

“He Bin should have killed me.”

Liu Jin blinks. That is not what he expected to hear.