Sect Master Zhou looked like he had seen a ghost. In their world, the Five Mountain Alliance was the supreme authority. Disobeying them was unthinkable. Yet Li Yu had just refused a direct order, threatened to quit and forced an apology out of High Command.

  "Commander..." Patriarch Han whispered. "You... you refused?"

  "Of course I refused," Li Yu shrugged. "We have done our part and more. It is outrageous that they just command away and throw more bodies at it. Why are the powerhouses from the alliance not going out there and handling the matter? Did you want to go fight in a place that killed so many elites? "

  "No!" Han said quickly. "Absolutely not!"

  "Then we don't go," Li Yu said simply. It was easy for him since he really wasn’t bound here. He had come here of his own accord and is helping of his own accord. Why would he need to risk himself further if he didn’t think it was worth it.

  The commanders here were also more than happy to be shielded by him. They could always say that was what their commander at the time told them to do. A sense of fierce pride swelled in the chests of the coalition leaders. They looked at Li Yu not just with respect but with envy. This was the power of strength. The freedom to say 'no' to the heavens. The respect that forced giants to apologize.

  And this man... this man was willing to let them use his name as their shield. He saw something in them that he was willing to help. Perhaps it was just his nature to do so. However, it didn’t change the fact that he was.

  "He protected us again," Sect Leader Yan murmured to Matriarch Su. "Most other commanders would have sacrificed us to save their own career. He sacrificed his standing with the Alliance to save our lives."

  "He is worth following," Su agreed while clutching her fan tight.

  Twenty minutes passed. The army was still packing but the pace was slow. Everyone was glancing at Li Yu and was waiting for the other shoe to drop. They figured the alliance wasn’t just going to let this go. They had never heard of anyone refusing and the alliance saying ‘sure thing, go ahead.’

  Li Yu was sitting on a rock and was eating some fruit he had in storage. He looked bored. Li Yu was waiting for the army to finish packing and for activities here to wrap up so he could go.

  Bzzt.

  The token vibrated again. This time, the light was a steady, warm gold. Li Yu sighed. He finished chewing a segment of fruit before answering.

  "Shen Tu" Li Yu said casually.

  "Li Yu," Shen Tu’s voice came through. He sounded exhausted. More so than he had from just their last conversation. "My staff tells me you are on strike."

  "I'm exercising my right to not die," Li Yu corrected. "And I'm protecting those that you would just throw into a meat grinder. The force I have here is a coalition of small clans and sects. They are good fighters but they aren't equipped for a meat grinder that ate the Silver Sword Sect. Sending them in there is murder."

  "I know," Shen Tu sighed. "I heard the recording that was shown to me. I apologize to you now. She didn't understand your position. She treated you like a subordinate. I have corrected that misunderstanding. It will not happen again."

  "Apology accepted," Li Yu said. "So, I'm heading back to HQ."

  "Li Yu, wait a moment." Shen Tu’s voice dropped. It wasn't an order anymore. It was a plea. "I need you to go to the Gorge."

  Li Yu didn't answer immediately.

  "I have no one else," Shen Tu continued. "The nearest heavy reinforcement is a day out. If the Iron-Web Gorge falls, the beasts push through to the plains. Millions of mortals are in that path. And... as much as I dislike Sect Master Yin's attitude... the Alliance cannot afford to lose their strength right now. We need those swords for the final push."

  "The risk is too high," Li Yu said stubbornly. "My merit points aren't worth it. And honestly? Neither is Yin. I don’t like him. He came to threaten me after all."

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  "I'm not asking you to do it for points," Shen Tu said. "I am asking as a favor. This is the last thing I will ask of you on this front. If you stabilize the Gorge, we will owe you a favor. Then you can walk away."

  Li Yu looked at the commanders standing below him. They were watching him, waiting for his decision. They couldn’t hear this conversation as Li Yu had created a barrier. He didn’t need all of his conversations with leadership exposed for all to hear.

  "Strong forces are dying there, Shen Tu," Li Yu said. "Favors are nice but they don't stop giant spiders and who knows what kinds of other beasts."

  "Name your price," Shen Tu said immediately. "Resources? Techniques? Artifacts?"

  Li Yu paused. An idea formed in his mind..

  "Land," Li Yu said after a bit of thought. Memories of what the Demon forces did on the Southern Continent came to mind.

  "Land?"

  "I want to establish a force here," Li Yu said carefully. He didn't mention the specific alliance or the names of the clans. He kept it vague. "I want to keep a presence on this continent after the war. I need a place for them. Don’t worry, they won’t be contending with your Five Mountain Alliance."

  "You want territory," Shen Tu clarified.

  "Sovereign territory," Li Yu corrected. "Officially recognized by the Five Mountain Alliance. Tax-exempt if you have that here. Protected status as well. I don’t want people here thinking they can bully my territory if I am not around for example. And not some barren wasteland or a military fortress like this place. I want real land. Good Qi, arable soil and some room to grow."

  Shen Tu paused. Granting sovereign territory was a massive political move. It usually required a vote of the Council. This was especially true for a foreign force. And even more true for a force led by someone so strong. But the desperation of the situation overrode the protocol.

  "Done," Shen Tu said. "Many areas have fallen. Many sects and clans have been wiped out. Their lands are currently ownerless. Once the war is over. We will reorganize everything and you will have your pick. I will grant you a deed to a good territory of your choosing. You have my word."

  "That sounds like a promise I can get behind." Li Yu repeated. "That sounds expensive to you though."

  "It is," Shen Tu said. "But if you save the Gorge, it's yours. I give you my word as Alliance Leader."

  Li Yu smiled. He trusted Shen Tu. The man was overworked but he was honorable. Everything he had seen of Shen Tu said he could be trusted. If he wasn’t though, Li Yu wouldn’t mind stealing from the Five Mountain Alliance. He wasn’t going to work for free.

  "Deal," Li Yu said.

  He stood up on the rock.

  "Also," Li Yu added, "Get that vault ready. I still want those items from the vault when this is all over."

  "You are bleeding me dry," Shen Tu groaned but there was relief in his voice. "Just go. Save the idiots."

  The connection cut. Li Yu put the token away and looked down at the commanders.

  "Change of plans," Li Yu announced.

  The commanders stiffened. Dread filled their eyes.

  "We are going to the Iron-Web Gorge," Li Yu said.

  Before they could protest, he raised a hand.

  "But not for free. And not for the Silver Sword Sect."

  He looked at Patriarch Han and then Sect Master Zhou.

  "I just spoke to Shen Tu. I made a deal. If we clear this Gorge... We will have secured more of a future for you. Real land. Good territory to call home."

  The shock on their faces was replaced by a sudden intense hunger. Land. If it was land that could make Li Yu happy then it should be good land. That was the dream of every small organization. They were also currently separated and that made defending and working together much harder. Li Yu had just negotiated a kingdom for them. One where they could go together

  "For that..." Patriarch Han gripped his glaive as his knuckles turned white. "For that, we will fight into hell itself."

  "Good," Li Yu said. "Because that’s where we’re going."

  He turned to the garrison commander who had arrived here to defend the area.

  "You," Li Yu pointed. "Your men stay here as normal. Guard the array. Keep the injured safe. My army moves out in ten minutes."

  He turned to Tekton, who was currently snoozing.

  "Wake up, buddy. One more stop."

  Tekton groaned, a long mournful sound that shook the ground. ‘Great! I am still hungry.’

  "There are spiders there," Li Yu whispered. "Big ones. Juicy ones. Bigger than the ones here."

  Tekton’s antennae perked up. ‘How big?’

  "Buffet size."

  Tekton hissed, his legs scrabbling for purchase on the stone. ‘Let’s go.’

  Ten minutes later, the army loaded onto the massive centipede. The fear was still there—the Iron-Web Gorge had quickly become a legend of death—but now, there was a fire burning beneath the fear. They were fighting for a future home and a brighter future. They trusted their commander. That he wouldn’t lead them to die.

  Li Yu sat at the front and was looking toward the north where dark clouds were gathering.

  "Iron-Web Gorge," he muttered. "Let’s hope you’re worth the trip."