After agreeing to return in three days for another trade, Li De ignored the level 15 centaur Patriarch Sam's attempts to keep him and departed for Dawn City once Castro returned from his mission of escorting Andabella.
Although this great battle hadn't delayed him for long, the rewards he obtained were considerable, and he needed to return to organize and manage them.
Sam stood beside the riverbank within the valley, watching as Li De's figure slowly disappeared over the horizon, his expression somewhat complex.
Behind him, several thousand centaur troops also watched the departure of the powerful existence who could enslave dragons. Unlike when Li De first arrived, the centaurs' eyes now held nothing but eager anticipation.
News of Sam's trade with Li De had already spread throughout the centaur tribe, five hundred sets of rare-quality armor. That massive number stirred the hearts of many strong centaurs.
Full suits of armor, said to be custom-forged by dwarves.
By the Centaur God above, they must have been blessed by the deities.
Dwarven armor, how sturdy it must be.
Just imagining themselves charging into battle clad in thick armor made the centaur warriors restless with excitement.
On this land, strength reigned supreme.
A fine suit of armor was absolutely a treasure every centaur warrior dreamed of.
The Dwarven Hills were far too barren, and with humanity's long-standing blockade, not to mention full suits of armor, even a sharp iron weapon was considered a treasure here.
At this moment, an elderly centaur with graying hair and a face full of wrinkles stepped out from the crowd.
Thud, thud~
Hooves struck the hard, yellow ground with muffled sounds.
The old centaur, clad in bone armor, walked up beside Patriarch Sam and stood shoulder to shoulder with him, raising his head to gaze at the spot where Li De had vanished. In those cloudy eyes was a trace of emotion.
"Sam, since the Ironhoof Tribe was driven out of Stormwind City several thousand years ago, we've gradually become just an ordinary tribe.
If we want to return to Stormwind City, this may be the perfect opportunity."
Sam turned his head to look at the old centaur who stood nearly as tall as himself, his expression complicated.
"Father, can we really trust this Lord Kachar?"
When he recalled the sight of Li De stepping off the bone dragon's skull onto the ground, a wave of unease filled Sam's heart, especially the title 'Majestic,' which kept echoing in his mind.
That man was very likely a transcendent Majestic. Could the Ironhoof Tribe truly handle a trade with such a powerful existence?
The old centaur shook his head, his gaze deep.
"Sam, be decisive. Don't act like a coward. The Ironhoof Tribe doesn't need a Patriarch who lacks courage.
Since we've made a decision, we must follow it unwaveringly.
If the Ironhoof Tribe is destroyed because of this, then we must bear that cost."
His tone was firm and unshakable.
To survive on this land, weakness was the one trait they could never afford. The Ironhoof Tribe never tolerated such a worthless trait.
After speaking, the old centaur shook his head again. "What's more important is this, if that Lord Kachar truly had the power to destroy us but chose cooperation instead, then it means the benefits the Ironhoof Tribe can offer him outweigh the value of simply destroying us."
On this point, the old centaur saw things very clearly. Between different races, there was no such thing as true friendship, only benefits.
"If the other party doesn't harbor strong malice toward us, and what they offer is exactly what we urgently need, then this trade is worth trying."
Sam nodded. After listening to his father's guidance, the hesitation disappeared from his face, replaced by renewed determination. Centaurs never feared any enemy.
Even if the other party harbored ill intentions, he would protect his tribe with his life, even if the opponent was a transcendent who enslaved dragons!
Moreover, if that mysterious Lord Kachar truly wanted to trade with them sincerely, then this could be the perfect opportunity for the Ironhoof Tribe to rise again.
The Ironhoof Tribe had long declined over the course of the ages. In fact, if not for the oral traditions passed down by previous Patriarchs, Sam might not have even known that the original Ironhoof Tribe was once a royal tribe living in Stormwind City. They had once basked in glory.
"But just in case, have someone relocate one-third of the tribe's population to that hidden valley."
The old centaur's tone turned somber. He glanced behind him at the strong, imposing warriors of the Ironhoof Tribe, his eyes filled with complexity.
Though he was old now, so old he could no longer protect the tribe with strength, he could still use the wisdom he had accumulated over more than a century to help the Ironhoof Tribe survive.
Survival was the only eternal theme that echoed across the endless ages of this barren land.
---
Dawn City.
Having personally witnessed the fall of a city with a population of several hundred thousand, Li De felt a profound sense of accomplishment upon returning to this peaceful city.
This was his city. He was its sole master!
On Dawn Square, people continued to come and go. The streets were busier than ever. Not even the gradually cooling weather could dampen the residents' enthusiasm.
As they moved about, most of the residents wore joyful, relaxed expressions, a stark contrast to the despairing commoners of Solins City after its fall.
Among them were many people in tattered clothing, their expressions wary and cautious as they scanned the streets.
Clearly, these were the refugees recently brought in from the border.
These people, who had just lost their homes, were still adjusting to their new lives in Dawn City.
After circling above Dawn City in the sky for a while, Li De had Castro descend into the center of the city.
When he dismounted and stood upon Dawn Square, a familiar feeling surfaced in his mind, safety.
Yes, safety. For the first time, he felt the same sense of safety in Dawn City as he once had on Earth.
Before, no matter what, even with several level 15 top-tier combatants at his side, he had never felt this solid sense of security. But now, after experiencing the chaos in Solins City, he finally felt it.
On this land that belonged to him, he had found the same feeling of safety as in China on Earth.
"Good day, Your Majesty Kachar."
"Lord Kachar."
"Great Majesty, your most devout follower greets you."
"..."
As expected, the moment the residents in the square saw Li De, a massive crowd bowed in unison to greet him, as if ripened wheat bending under the harvest season.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Li De's lips, and he nodded slightly to the surrounding people.
He liked Dawn City. He liked this city he had built with his own hands. And he liked these honest and pure-hearted residents.
Step by step, under the gaze of the crowd, he made his way toward City Hall. Beside him, in front of him, behind him, everywhere he passed, residents bowed in greeting.
This, this was what prestige meant.
The residents' greetings came from heartfelt respect, with light in their eyes, smiles on their faces, and sincerity in their hearts.
There was none of the forced formality seen in other cities, where commoners had to bow to nobles under duress.
This was genuine reverence and admiration.
And those who didn't bow were without exception all new arrivals, some were even seeing Li De for the first time, standing awkwardly and uncertainly as they watched the scene unfold.
Li De found the sight rather amusing and didn't mind the lack of etiquette from the new residents. After leaving the square, he walked along the newly repaved bluestone road toward City Hall nearby.