As he was about to board the ship and depart, Lo Quen's gaze swept over Stygai's long, desolate stone steps, and a sudden whim struck him.
He walked over to the most conspicuous black boulder near the entrance and carved a bold line into it:
"Lo Quen, Conqueror of the World, was here. Undead and dragons alike have been put down. Those who come after may explore in peace."
Seeing the message, so unmistakably modern in tone, Daenerys, Janice, and the other queens following him froze for a moment, then couldn't help covering their mouths and laughing.
With that small act, Lo Quen instantly dispelled the last lingering gloom hanging over the Shadow Lands and over everyone's hearts.
The fleet set sail and returned smoothly to Asshai.
During the days Lo Quen was away, Asshai had not been entirely calm.
Some Shadowbinders, unwilling to submit or harboring other ambitions, secretly planned several small-scale uprisings, attempting to challenge the rule of Lo Quen's legion.
However, under Luo Wen's calm and efficient command, the Dragon Soul Guards crushed the disturbances with overwhelming force.
The reality soon became clear. Even in this era of magic's return, even in a place like Asshai where magical energies were especially dense, the power wielded by most Shadowbinders was still quite limited. The majority could do little more than confuse ordinary people or rely on curses and ambushes. Against a disciplined, elite army, they were utterly helpless.
Only a rare few, like Melisandre and Thoros, who had received direct power bestowed by mighty beings such as the Lord of Light, truly possessed magic capable of turning the tide of battle.
The rest of the so-called mystics, after personally witnessing several rebel groups crushed by the Dragon Soul Guards with devastating ease, finally came to terms with reality. They became more obedient and cooperative than ever before.
When Lo Quen returned safely to Asshai, bringing with him the colossal corpses of several wild dragons, each like a small mountain, that obedience quickly turned into deep-seated awe.
A king who led his army into the depths of the Shadow Lands, returned unscathed, and even slaughtered multiple wild dragons far larger than his own mount.
This went far beyond anything they understood about power.
Facts spoke louder than words. When the charred, monstrous dragon remains were unloaded from the ships, the last sparks of rebellion among Asshai's remaining factions were completely extinguished.
Lo Quen, for his part, had no interest in the twisted thoughts of these mystics.
For now, he had no intention of carrying out a full-scale purge or reorganization of Asshai, this chaotic and peculiar city.
As long as it showed outward submission, avoided open resistance, and did not interfere with his broader strategy, he was willing to tolerate its disorder for the time being.
Thus, he left behind only a handful of capable Yi Ti officials and a guard force of one hundred at the port, tasked with maintaining basic order and collecting tariffs from merchant ships. After that, he once again led his main force, set sail, and returned to Yin.
When the vast fleet entered Yin's harbor once more, the entire city erupted.
Nobles and ministers saw with their own eyes the wild dragon corpses, piled like small hills, as well as the ships laden with strange and exotic goods from the Shadow Lands.
Reports of His Grace's feats in the Shadow Lands, of how he had slain dragons and displayed overwhelming might, had already arrived ahead of time aboard fast ships. Now, those stories were fully confirmed.
To be honest, when Lo Quen had first decided to march into that legendary land of death, almost everyone in Yin believed the new God-Emperor had lost his mind. Quite a few nobles had even begun quietly preparing to change allegiances and set up a new ruler.
Yet when Lo Quen not only returned alive but brought back such staggering trophies, everyone was left dumbstruck, followed immediately by a surge of awe and fervor.
In no time at all, all manner of exaggerated tales about how the God-Emperor heroically slaughtered dragons and effortlessly wiped out undead forces spread like wildfire through Yin's bustling streets and alleys.
After this, in the hearts of Yin's people, Lo Quen had been thoroughly deified, becoming a figure akin to a god walking among mortals.
However, just as Lo Quen was preparing to plan his northern campaign toward K'Dath, an unexpected problem came knocking once again.
The Queen of Leng Island, whose marriage proposal had already been rejected twice, arrived in person this time.
She sent no envoys. Instead, she sailed straight into Yin's harbor aboard an extravagantly decorated royal ship, encrusted with gems of every color, accompanied by a massive fleet and a dowry piled high with gold and jewels.
Her posture made one thing clear.
She had no intention of leaving without getting what she wanted.
This empress was named Khiara, sharing the name of the famed "Great" Empress Khiara from Leng Island's history.
She was extremely young, appearing no more than fifteen or sixteen, still in the early bloom of youth.
She had inherited the tall, striking build typical of the people of Leng Island, her posture upright and full of youthful vitality.
At the moment, she wore a Leng-style gown adorned with gemstones, boldly cut and sparing in its use of fabric, covering only what was necessary and leaving much pale, smooth skin exposed.
Her beauty was indeed as the envoy had claimed. It blended the gentle softness of Yi Ti women with the deep, defined features of the people of Leng Island, graceful yet carrying a hint of untamed sharpness.
In a quiet side chamber of the palace, Lo Quen met alone with the empress who had come in person to press her proposal.
Empress Khiara showed none of the shyness or restraint expected of an ordinary young woman. She walked straight up to Lo Quen and, without hesitation, turned and sat beside him, leaning in close. Her bright eyes met his boldly, her presence direct and unreserved.
"Tell me, great God-Emperor, conqueror of East and West…"
Her voice carried a trace of dissatisfaction as her breath brushed his cheek.
"Why are you unwilling to marry me? Is it because I am not beautiful enough, or because my dowry is not generous enough?"
Lo Quen did not immediately move away. His arm rested naturally at her side as he regarded her calmly.
Khiara's figure was striking, her bearing confident and unmistakably proud, and at such close range it was difficult not to notice.
Feeling the warmth and energy of her youth, Lo Quen replied with a faintly amused sigh,
"Empress Khiara, your beauty is beyond doubt, and your dowry would tempt any king. But I already have many wives. They are beautiful as well, and they have stood with me through life and death."
Khiara raised a slender hand and lightly touched his chin, guiding his gaze to meet hers. Her eyes burned with resolve.
"I don't mind. For you, I am willing to break the tradition of Leng Island's empresses having two husbands. You need not share me with any other man. I want only you."
Her determination caught Lo Quen off guard. He asked, unable to hide his surprise, "Why? Why are you so… determined about me?"
At his question, the fire in Khiara's eyes dimmed slightly, replaced by a shadow of something deeper.
She leaned closer, her voice lowered and faintly trembling as she spoke near his ear.
"Your Grace… have you heard the rumors about what lies beneath the earth of Leng Island?"
...
I finally finished translating this fic, guys. Starting today, I'll be releasing 3 chapters a day for you all until everything is posted!
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