53. An Opportunity

(A few days later, Somewhere in the slums outside Golden Prosperity City.)

Li Xue sat in a dimly lit tea house, her fingers wrapped around a porcelain cup of lukewarm tea. The flickering lantern light cast shifting shadows on the wooden walls, adding to the already tense atmosphere. Across from her sat a hooded figure, an informant whose very presence reeked of caution. The murmurs of other patrons filled the air, but in their secluded corner, their conversation remained unheard.

"The Jing Family is mobilizing," the informant said, voice barely above a whisper. "They're planning to strike Golden Prosperity City. Word is, they're not acting alone."

Li Xue took a slow sip, her expression unreadable. "Who else?"

The informant hesitated before leaning in slightly. "The Zheng and Jian families have been in secret meetings. It's not confirmed, but the signs are there. If they form an alliance, they could match the Bai Family's forces."

She narrowed her eyes, the gears in her mind turning. "And the Bai Family?"

"They're making their move too," the informant confirmed. "City Lord Bai isn't just focusing on Golden Prosperity City anymore. He's preparing to expand, to secure the entire region under their rule. The war with the three families is just the beginning."

Li Xue set her cup down with deliberate slowness. The porcelain clinked against the wooden table, a soft yet decisive sound. "So the vultures are circling. And they don't even realize they're being watched."

The informant swallowed hard, nervous at her tone. "What will you do?"

A slow smirk formed on Li Xue's lips. "I'll do what I must."

She pushed a small pouch of silver towards the informant and rose to her feet. Without another word, she slipped into the night, her mind already crafting the next move in this deadly game of power.

---

(2 Months later, Somewhere in Golden Prosperity City.)

The night was eerily silent before the storm of war erupted. Golden Prosperity City stood beneath a blood-red sky, its streets tense with the scent of impending doom. The Allied Army, a coalition of warriors from the Jing, Zheng, and Jian families, had gathered outside the city, their banners fluttering like the wings of a thousand carrion birds waiting to feast.

A section of the city wall, damaged from the last war, had never been fully repaired. That was their way in. As the signal was given, the army surged forward like an unrelenting tide. Siege weapons battered the weakened stone, shattering it further, and the first wave of warriors stormed through the opening, cutting down the Bai family guards before they could form a proper defense.

"Push forward!" roared Patriarch Jing, his blade gleaming under the flickering torchlight. "Take the outposts first! Do not waste effort on the estate, our enemy lies in the streets!"

The troops spread out, targeting key Bai family outposts scattered across the city. These strongholds, small yet heavily fortified, were vital control points for the Bai family's rule. The first major outpost, a heavily guarded watchtower near the market district, was the first to fall. The Zheng family warriors, skilled in siege tactics, set fire to its base, forcing the Bai defenders out into the open where they were slaughtered by waiting blades.

To the west of the city, near an outpost overlooking a market district, the Zheng family's captain led a squad in a precise attack. "Burn their supplies! Do not let them regroup!" The soldiers struck with ruthless efficiency, cutting down Bai forces as they tried to flee. Fires spread rapidly through the wooden structures, consuming the outpost in minutes. The screams of trapped soldiers were drowned out by the crackling of flames.

At the east of the city, near the merchant quarters, a detachment of Jian family warriors clashed with Bai enforcers. The alleyways became rivers of blood as fighters engaged in brutal skirmishes, blades flashing under the moonlight. A Jian Elder, an older but seasoned warrior, shouted orders from horseback. "Hold this position! We sever their lifelines, and they will crumble!" His men fanned out, systematically taking control of the key streets and preventing reinforcements from reaching the besieged Bai strongholds.

Amid the chaos, terrified civilians scrambled for safety. Some were cut down in the crossfire, while others were dragged from their homes by looters masquerading as soldiers. A desperate Bai officer, his arm hanging limply from a wound, fell back to a heavily fortified outpost near the city center. "We must hold this ground until reinforcements arrive!" he barked, but his men, demoralized and scattered, could only offer feeble resistance.

Further into the city, near the Merchant's Row, another Bai stronghold was under siege. Patriarch Jian, the only elder among the young leaders, led his troops personally, cutting down Bai warriors with ruthless efficiency. "Hold your ground! Don't let them escape!" he bellowed, his heavy halberd crashing through an enemy's skull. The Bai soldiers, realizing they were surrounded, attempted to flee but were cut down mercilessly.

The fighting spread through the alleys, the sounds of battle mingling with the screams of terrified civilians. The Bai family's enforcers, usually so feared in the city, found themselves overwhelmed as allied soldiers poured through the streets in waves. In one district, a Bai commander attempted to rally his men.

"Hold the line! Reinforcements will come!" he shouted, but his words barely carried over the chaos. Before he could say more, an arrow struck his throat, and he collapsed, gurgling on his own blood.

Meanwhile, in the artisan quarter, a Bai garrison attempted a last-ditch stand. These were battle-hardened warriors, veterans of previous conflicts, and they did not fall easily. The fighting here was brutal, with narrow alleys turning into slaughterhouses. Blood slicked the cobblestone streets, and the air was thick with the stench of burning wood and flesh. The Jing family's assassins slipped through the shadows, cutting throats and slitting tendons before vanishing into the night.

"They're breaking!" Patriarch Zheng called out, wiping blood from his brow. "Push them back! Drive them from the city!"

By the time dawn approached, most of the Bai-controlled outposts had been reduced to smoldering ruins. The once-proud banners of the Bai family now lay trampled in the dirt, their soldiers either dead or in full retreat. The allied forces regrouped in the central plaza, taking stock of their victory.

Golden Prosperity City was theirs.

With the outposts seized and Bai forces scattered, a small but disciplined contingent was left behind to maintain control while the main army, emboldened by their success, turned their attention to their next target. White Lotus City.

The night stretched on, painting the city in hues of fire and carnage. And as the sun rose, the banners of the Allied Army stood triumphant over the ruins of the once-mighty Bai Family's influence.

The next day, with their banners raised high and their warriors eager for more bloodshed, the allied army prepared for the next phase of their conquest.

…

(The next day, Somewhere in the slums of Golden Prosperity City)

The candlelight flickered as Li Xue sat in the dimly lit study, her fingers tapping idly against the lacquered wooden table. The scent of ink and parchment filled the air, mingling with the faint chill that seeped through the cracks in the walls. A lone figure knelt before her, his breathing uneven, his robes stained with dirt from the road.

"They left a force behind?" Li Xue's voice was calm, but the sharpness in her tone carried an unspoken warning.

The informant swallowed hard before answering. "Yes, Lady Li. The allied army left a garrison in Golden Prosperity City. Their numbers are not overwhelming, but they have dug in and fortified their position. They control the key outposts and the main avenues. They are preparing for prolonged occupation."

Li Xue leaned back, considering the implications. "How many?"

The informant hesitated before replying, "At least three hundred men remain stationed in the city. Most are from the Jing and Zheng families. The Jian family presence is minimal, perhaps two dozen at most, acting as enforcers."

Her fingers drummed once against the table before going still. "Their leaders?"

"The garrison is commanded by a Jing family captain, Jing Rong. He is competent, but not extraordinary. Zheng forces answer to a man called Wu Shen. The Jian family's forces follow a lesser elder, Jian Fu." The informant paused before adding, "There is tension between them. The Zheng and Jing forces do not fully trust each other. The Jian forces are simply following orders, trying to hold what they have."

Li Xue allowed herself a faint smile. "And the people?"

The informant hesitated. "They… are suffering. The occupying forces impose strict curfews and heavy taxes. Any suspected Bai sympathizers are executed publicly. The common people fear them, but they do not respect them. There have been murmurs of discontent."

Li Xue's eyes glinted in the dim light. "Fear without respect is a fragile thing."

She stood, pacing slowly. "They are holding Golden Prosperity City, but they do not own it. Not truly. Not yet." Her mind whirled with possibilities, but she kept her face impassive.

"Tell me about their defenses."

"They have stationed patrols at all major intersections. The city gates are guarded at all times, and checkpoints have been established at key locations. They rely on intimidation rather than sheer force."

Li Xue turned back to the kneeling man. "And what of the remnants of the Bai Family?"

The informant hesitated before shaking his head. "Those who were not slaughtered have gone into hiding. Some may have escaped to White Lotus City, but the majority are either dead or scattered. A few minor Bai retainers have been seen in the shadows, but they do not act. It is as if they are waiting for something."

"Waiting?" Li Xue murmured.

She tilted her head, contemplating the situation. The Bai Family's fall had been swift, but nothing was ever truly over. The remnants of power, no matter how small, could always be rekindled.

After a moment, she turned back to the informant. "Good work. You will rest here tonight."

The man bowed low, whispering his gratitude, but she barely heard him. Her mind was already elsewhere, weaving the threads of her next move.

Golden Prosperity City was occupied, but it was not yet conquered.

And that meant opportunity.