Waiting For a Storm

At the end of the Winter Qin Month, the snow had not completely melted.

There were still some days before the Revival Winds would arrive, yet a subtle unrest began to stir throughout the entire Jinyan Province.

Two major events recently shook the circle of nobility in Jinyan Province to its core.

The first was related to the Storm Lands.

After being in a coma for over half a year, the Storm Count was finally declared deceased.

Unexpectedly, the title was inherited by the Count’s youngest son.

At the subsequent inheritance ceremony, Marquis Jin Yan attended and gave his blessings to the new Storm Count.

The second event was the change of hands of the Shining Baron title once again.

To be honest, many nobles were mentally prepared for this outcome.

However, the process was somewhat beyond their expectations.

Blackstone City captured Shining City almost without bloodshed.

According to war reports, just as the Blackstone army reached Shining City’s gates, they suddenly burst open. Several generals were inexplicably torn into pieces before the crowd, dying tragically on the spot.

Thus, the war hadn’t even started, and the Shining City’s garrison had already collapsed.

The army from Blackstone City then swept in effortlessly and took over Shining City with very little effort.

This outcome truly left many people speechless.

Yet more discerning individuals, when seeing this report, guessed the role Su Nan played in this victory.

After the war, many nobles awaited Marquis Jin Yan’s response.

After all, everyone knew Owen had the backing of Marquis Jin Yan.

Now that Owen had been executed by hanging, and the Shining Baronetcy had changed hands, if Marquis Jin Yan remained inactive, his prestige would surely plummet.

However, what surprised people was that even after a considerable time since the war, Marquis Jin Yan showed no reaction.

Allowing the new Shining Baron, Brother Ke Yi Anes-t, to easily pacify the entire Shining Lands and gradually stabilize his position.

Many nobles were baffled.

Only a few nobles like Count Winter Frost, Viscount Black Zephyr, and Viscount Feathered Serpent, who were close to Marquis Jin Yan, knew what he was wary of.

Goldstone City, inner castle.

Led by the butler, two cloaked men walked through the courtyard and entered a spacious, bright gallery.

In the gallery, expensive-looking oil paintings lined the walls. Sunlight streamed through the windows, making the gilded frames shine.

Kasper lagged behind, his gaze sweeping over an oil painting, causing his mouth to twitch slightly.

He remembered this portrait of Princess Thorns at a large auction not long ago, where it was sold for a high price of thirty-eight hundred gold coins.

And now, this precious painting hung boldly in the gallery.

Looking at the dozens of paintings in the gallery, each likely not much less valuable than the Princess Thorns, Kasper couldn’t help but silently marvel.

It’s said that Marquis Jin Yan is as wealthy as a nation; now it truly seems the rumors are not unfounded.

In this world, gold coins represent power. No wonder Marquis Jin Yan was not content being merely a regional overlord.

Lost in thoughts, the three had reached the room at the end of the gallery.

The butler lightly knocked on the door, saying, “My lord, the two esteemed guests have arrived.”

“Come in.”

A deep and resonant voice came from inside.

The butler gently opened the door, then stepped aside to gesture the two men in.

Entering the study, Marquis Jin Yan stood by the window, staring transfixed at the sky outside, seemingly lost in thought.

Just two months ago, Marquis Jin Yan celebrated his sixtieth birthday, yet his full head of black hair remained as lustrous as ever, and his facial skin was firm and rosy, making anyone believe he was only in his early thirties.

“Chief Priest Joris, long time no see.”

Marquis Jin Yan turned around, a thread of a smile appearing on his robust face, gesturing for the two men to sit.

“Long time no see, Marquis, I am glad to see you well.”

After Marquis Jin Yan sat down, Joris also took a seat opposite him. As for Kasper, he instinctively took his place standing by their side.

He’s yet to have the qualification to sit down in the presence of these two.

“Age is catching up, and my body’s starting to deteriorate. Old war injuries flare up from time to time; time waits for no one.”

“Marquis, you jest. Your physique is much stronger than mine.”

The two exchanged a few polite phrases like ordinary friends before Marquis Jin Yan got to the point.

“Chief Priest Joris, you didn’t go out of your way to see me just to chat about life, did you?”

Joris’s smile faded, and he said solemnly, “I came to see the Marquis mainly because of Su Nan.”

At the mention of Su Nan, an imperceptible shadow flit across Marquis Jin Yan’s face, and his gaze suddenly sharpened.

Standing to the side, Kasper instinctively tensed his body.

At that moment, Marquis Jin Yan truly exhibited a hint of his prowess as the overlord of Jinyan Province, an old legendary knight.

“Su Nan? He’s crossed your cult?” Marquis Jin Yan raised an eyebrow and asked.

In his mind, the only connection Su Nan had with the Starfire Cult was when the cult sent people to infiltrate Blackstone City for an assassination attempt.

Previously, he couldn’t understand the reason behind the Starfire Cult’s assassins failing, but after the Blackstone City battle report was publicized, the facts became very clear.

Even Hoch had perished at Su Nan’s hands, so it was no wonder that two mere junior knight assassins failed their mission.

However, that assassination attempt stemmed from Owen’s request, and even though it failed, the Starfire Cult wouldn’t have blamed Su Nan, or so he thought.

But what Joris said next left Marquis Jin Yan somewhat surprised.

“To not hide from the Marquis, two months ago, our sect’s base in Stone Bell City suffered heavy casualties, with six priests and over a hundred followers lost, and the culprit behind it all was a wizard.”

“This individual also just happened to have a beast capable of invisibility.”

A hint of realization crossed Marquis Jin Yan’s eyes.

Invisibility-capable beasts were exceedingly rare, and the probability of two appearing simultaneously within Jinyan Province was almost nil.

Moreover, both controllers having the identity of wizards decreased that probability even further.

No wonder the Starfire Cult was convinced the culprit was Su Nan.

“But how did Su Nan discover your base in Stone Bell City?”

Marquis Jin Yan was well aware that members of the Starfire Cult had methods to prevent interrogation. It was simply impossible for anyone to extract any information from these zealots.

If it weren’t for this, he wouldn’t have been assured enough to cooperate with the Starfire Cult in conducting assassinations against nobles.

“We haven’t yet uncovered that information.”

Joris’s eyes twitched slightly before his expression turned cold and stern.

“However, Su Nan has killed so many of our followers, and we will certainly not spare him.”

“This time coming to meet the Marquis, I also wish to join hands with you against Su Nan.”

“If you plan to march against the Shining Lands, we are willing to lend you a helping hand!”

Marquis Jin Yan lightly tapped his fingers on the table, smiling slightly, “If your cult is willing to help, I am naturally very pleased. However, now is not the time to deal with the Shining Lands.”

“When would be the time then?” Joris asked with a slight frown.

He wasn’t truly in a hurry to kill Su Nan, but rather concerned about the Divine Blood Amber still in Su Nan’s possession.

This item held great significance for the cult, and peace of mind would never come until it was retrieved.

Marquis Jin Yan went to the window, his gaze profoundly set in the direction of the south.

“Until a storm.”

“A storm sweeping across the entire duchy.”