Chapter 391: The Arrival of Peace

Wu Qingsong firmly believed that after suffering such a crushing defeat, the beastmen wouldn’t dare launch another ambush. They had been completely stunned and were now forced to tend to their grievously wounded. Even so, he insisted that the beastkin girls stick to their watch schedule and remain fully diligent in their defensive duties.

However, for everyone involved, it was a sleepless night.

Nagrand’s muskets fired lead bullets. Given the medical conditions in Stampede Plateau, a shot to the torso meant almost no chance of survival. Even those hit in the limbs, if they didn’t die immediately, faced a high likelihood of poisoning from the fragmented lead embedded in their flesh, not to mention the grave risk of infection.

This world was encountering such weapons for the first time, utterly lacking the means and knowledge to treat these injuries. Logically, most of the wounded were doomed to endure excruciating agony before eventually succumbing.

Yet, Wu Qingsong had no intention of asking Nina to heal them.

Just as he had told the beastgirls, their entire purpose for coming here—playing along with the chieftains’ tiresome games—was to deliver a lesson so deeply seared into their minds that they would never again dare to insult Nagrand.

The deaths of a hundred or two hundred warriors meant little to a region with a population in the millions. Even if these were trusted elites or tribal champions, their loss was unlikely to cause any widespread upheaval across the Stampede Plateau. Some chieftains might be left with lingering fears, but for the countless beastmen who had not witnessed this firsthand, mere secondhand accounts would hardly instill true reverence for Nagrand’s power.

There was even the risk that those who had experienced this humiliation firsthand would remain silent, burying the incident in shame. If that happened, then soon enough, another fool might entertain thoughts of challenging Nagrand.

In that case, these beastmen would have died for nothing.

Only by ensuring that these wounded survived—wracked with pain, serving as living proof of what had transpired—could the terror of this battle spread. More and more beastmen would come to understand the horror of Nagrand’s weaponry, witnessing it with their own eyes. Only then would the idea that “Nagrand is not to be provoked” take root and spread, striking fear into the hearts of those foolish and greedy enough to entertain ambitions against them.

“Seek peace through strength, and peace will endure. Seek peace through submission, and peace will perish.”

Perhaps the existence of these wounded would stir hatred and resentment toward Nagrand among the beastmen, but after all he had experienced, Wu Qingsong understood that in this world, the weak did not harbor hatred for the strong. They only bared their fangs at those weaker than themselves.

When he had executed and hanged criminals in Orgrimmar, it had not resulted in a flood of avengers. Instead, when they realized they could not contend with the Thirteenth Mercenary Corps, they had scrambled to seek friendship with Orgrimmar.

Even if it meant seeing these warriors suffer, Wu Qingsong would rather endure that than allow more beastmen to march foolishly to their deaths at Nagrand’s gates.

At dawn, the chieftains arrived at their camp in groups, each one expressing their deep desire for peace. In unison, they placed the full blame for the previous night’s ambush on those chieftains who had already perished.

Wu Qingsong didn’t bother exposing their lies. This was precisely the outcome he had been hoping for. If these leaders had chosen to stand by their convictions, insisting on fighting to the bitter end, then things would have become much more troublesome.

“Lord Sidre, we have only just learned from the mouths of those treacherous southern remnants that, while we were working tirelessly to secure lasting peace between Nagrand and Stampede Plateau, they shamelessly launched an unprovoked attack,” Stom spoke while discreetly studying Wu Qingsong and Nina’s expressions. “Not only did they orchestrate that despicable ambush last night, but at this very moment, Great Chieftain Aquero of the Pasadena Tribe has led the Southern Alliance’s thirty-thousand-strong army through the canyon north of Red Plateau City and launched an assault on Nagrand.”

The news took Wu Qingsong by surprise, but he quickly masked his concern.

“Oh? Is that so? Well, if they insist on seeking death, I suppose there’s nothing I can do about it,” he said with a relaxed smile. “Perhaps you’ve heard, one of my wives back in Nagrand has a notoriously short temper.”

“Lady Xeila?” Stom asked.

“Yes!” Wu Qingsong shook his head. “If I hadn’t held her back before, not a single one of the Icy Sea’s seven great chieftains would have survived. Now, the Southern Alliance is in for a real disaster.”

The beastmen weren’t sure whether to believe him or not, but Wu Qingsong showed not the slightest inclination to rush back for reinforcements. Instead, he leisurely engaged in a series of negotiations with them, eventually reaching several key agreements.

Both sides signed a peace treaty with no set expiration, pledging not to initiate hostilities against each other.

Both sides agreed to protect trade caravans traveling between Nagrand and the plateau. They would crack down on banditry and avoid charging tolls on caravans merely passing through their lands. 

However, they would allow reasonable taxation on merchants conducting trade within their territories. This policy was meant to promote economic growth.

The Northern Sarl Alliance of Stampede Plateau agreed to permit Xuanyuan priests to preach within their territory and promised to protect the safety and interests of both the priests and their followers, as well as the sanctity of the temples. 

In return, the Xuanyuan Church vowed not to undermine the prestige and authority of the chieftains, restricting its proselytization mainly to subordinate races such as rabbitfolk, mousefolk, and deerfolk rather than direct tribal members. The church also committed to sharing agricultural, architectural, and mining knowledge through its temples and clergy to aid in infrastructure development.

Neither side mentioned any formal alliance. Both understood their relationship had not yet reached that level.

After signing the treaty, the Sarl Alliance chieftains hosted another banquet for Wu Qingsong and Nina. This time, no one dared to pressure them into drinking. Instead, Wu Qingsong himself proactively pulled aside a few chieftains who had secretly shown goodwill toward him, downing several bowls of liquor with them—making their stance known publicly and planting a seed of discord within the Sarl Alliance. Whether this would lead to internal conflict or encourage more leaders to align themselves with Nagrand was no longer his concern.

They even stayed for another day before finally setting off on their return journey to Nagrand at a leisurely pace.

“Is Nagrand truly that powerful?” The beastmen watching the departing convoy felt an unbearable weight in their hearts.

They could certainly find loopholes in the treaty, making every effort to hinder the priests from entering their lands. Yet, Wu Qingsong had used something else to erode their resistance and sow hesitation within them.

During negotiations, he had deliberately organized several duels.

And though they refused to accept it, the truth was undeniable. The Sarl Alliance warriors stood no chance against the Divine Knight Order’s beastkgirls. Every single one of them was defeated.

Joanna, the wolfgirl who had beheaded the bear warrior at the very start, was naturally among the strongest, but even the other beastkin exhibited astonishing prowess. Even the smallest among them unleashed formidable power, battering their opponents mercilessly.

The chieftains were left in despair. Wu Qingsong had only brought thirty beastkin knights—who knew if this was the full extent of Nagrand’s strength?

Even if those terrifying weapons hadn’t been used that night, could they have truly won against these fearsome girls?

Wu Qingsong had subtly hinted at the source of their strength but never fully explained it, leaving the chieftains in agonizing uncertainty.

This power seemed to stem from faith in Xuanyuan—just as shamanic abilities were derived from reverence for nature and ancestors—so the concept was not entirely beyond their understanding.

But how exactly did one obtain it? What price had to be paid? 

Wu Qingsong did not say.

“The priests will seek out those with potential under Xuanyuan’s guidance,” he merely said cryptically. “You may inquire with your local priests once the temples are established. I am sure they will have nothing to hide.”

Now, what should they do?

Should they allow the priests into their lands?

What if those damned commoners produced a gifted girl?

What if their neighbors—or worse, the daughters of their enemies—became the chosen ones?

What then?