Eastern Ridge Tribes Submit

Inside the great hall, a falling needle could have been heard.

"Ahem."

Wutu Jie coughed a few times, breaking the strange silence.

He looked at Qingtai Mang and the others, whose faces had turned ashen.

He said gravely, "Brother Qingtai, every man has his own path. Since you're unwilling to join Governor Li, I won't force you to stay. Take your people and go."

Wutu Jie waved a hand.

Qingtai Mang swept a cold gaze over everyone in the hall. There was contempt in his eyes, disappointment, and far too much else.

He said nothing more. He turned and left.

The others followed without hesitation.

They watched the departing figures.

The Xuan Wolf Tribe elder narrowed his eyes and looked at Wutu Jie with a chuckle. "Brother Wutu, letting them walk away just like that wouldn't be wise, would it?"

Wutu Jie froze.

"Xuan Wolf, what do you mean?"

The Xuan Wolf Tribe elder gave a cold smile. "Brother Wutu, Qingtai Mang and his people bear a deep grudge against Governor Li. If we let them go today, what do you think Governor Li will make of us?"

Wutu Jie shuddered.

The Xuan Wolf Tribe elder drew a finger across his throat and smiled coldly. "We've come this far. Why not finish it? Kill Qingtai Mang and his people, and offer their heads as proof of our allegiance to Governor Li!"

"Hiss..."

Everyone sucked in a sharp breath.

"Isn't that... a little too ruthless?" a tribal chief asked, his expression uneasy.

"Ruthless?"

The Xuan Wolf Tribe elder scoffed. "If you aren't ruthless, you'll never keep your footing!"

"Brother Wutu, Xuan Wolf has a point. What kind of man is Governor Li? If we pledge allegiance with nothing but empty words, why would he trust us? Qingtai Mang and the others