RNP Chapter 210 — The Death Riders
Chapter 210 — The Death Riders
The mountain winds swept quietly across the Sanatan Flame Sect while evening shadows slowly stretched across the ruined training grounds.
The celebration from earlier had faded.
No more cheering.
No more laughter.
Only silence remained beneath the orange banners fluttering against the darkening sky.
King Tian Long stood near the shattered remains of the Heaven Measuring Monument with both hands folded behind his back. His silver eyes remained fixed upon the distant horizon beyond the mountains.
And for the first time since arriving at the sect—
He truly looked like a king carrying the weight of war.
Shaurya stood across from him calmly while the elders gathered nearby.
Even Wang Tian and Luo Chen had stopped talking now.
Because everyone could feel it.
The atmosphere had changed completely.
King Tian Long finally spoke.
"You asked about Liu Tong."
The mountain wind brushed softly through his silver robes.
Then his voice lowered slightly.
"Before becoming a mercenary leader..."
"...he once served as a general of the Azure Moon Dynasty."
Several disciples immediately stiffened.
Even Elder Wu’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Because that alone already explained far too much.
King Tian Long continued calmly:
"Not merely a soldier."
"Not merely a commander."
"He was one of the dynasty’s youngest military geniuses."
"A battlefield monster."
His gaze darkened slightly afterward.
"Fearless."
The word lingered heavily.
"During border wars, Liu Tong never retreated."
"He broke enemy formations personally."
"He marched through battlefields like a man incapable of fear itself."
"Entire armies collapsed simply hearing his name approaching."
Nearby, Wang Tian slowly folded his arms tighter.
"...Sounds troublesome."
King Tian Long nodded once.
"He was."
A brief pause followed.
"Back then..."
"...people called him the Iron Wolf of the Dynasty."
The mountain atmosphere grew quieter.
King Tian Long’s silver eyes slowly lowered.
"But then..."
His voice became colder.
"...he crossed a line."
Dead silence followed instantly.
The king continued:
"A rebellion erupted near the northern territories."
"A small city sheltered several rogue cultivators and defectors."
"At first, the dynasty ordered Liu Tong to suppress the rebellion."
His gaze darkened further.
"But Liu Tong did not simply suppress it."
The wind swept heavily through the mountain.
"He destroyed the entire city."
No one spoke.
King Tian Long’s voice remained calm.
Too calm.
"The rebels."
"The civilians."
"The children."
"The wounded."
"Everyone."
Several younger disciples visibly stiffened.
Even Xiao Rui’s usual expression disappeared completely.
King Tian Long continued quietly:
"When imperial scouts arrived afterward..."
"They found streets filled with corpses."
"Houses burning for days."
"Blood flowing through the city canals."
"The walls stained black from spiritual fire."
The silence deepened.
"And standing at the center of it all..."
His silver eyes sharpened faintly.
"...was Liu Tong."
No dramatic emotion entered the king’s voice.
Which somehow made the story worse.
"He claimed the city harbored future threats."
"He claimed mercy created weakness."
"He claimed fear maintained order better than kindness."
A brief pause followed.
"And the soldiers who followed him..."
King Tian Long’s expression cooled slightly.
"...became known as the Death Riders."
Even the mountain winds now felt colder.
Elder Yaochen raise one palm towards chest arms tightly.
"...Amitabha.... I’ve heard rumors."
King Tian Long nodded once.
"They rode through battlefields dressed entirely in black armor."
"No banners."
"No mercy."
"No prisoners."
"When cities resisted..."
"...the Death Riders left graveyards behind."
Several disciples unconsciously clenched their fists.
King Tian Long continued:
"The dynasty expelled Liu Tong afterward."
"Officially, he was stripped of rank and exiled alongside every soldier who followed him."
"But in truth..."
His gaze lowered slightly.
"...the empire feared him."
That line settled heavily.
Because powerful empires did not fear ordinary generals.
King Tian Long slowly exhaled.
"After his exile, Liu Tong vanished completely for several years."
"No one knew where he went."
"No one knew how he survived."
"Then one day..."
"...he returned."
A faint coldness entered the king’s expression.
"And he no longer marched beneath the dynasty."
"He created his own mercenary army."
"Gathered rogue cultivators."
"War survivors."
"Criminals."
"Fallen sect disciples."
"Anyone strong enough to survive him."
The atmosphere around the disciples became heavier with every sentence.
"And eventually..."
"...the Righteous Alliance accepted him."
That line made Elder Wu’s eyes narrow immediately.
King Tian Long nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"Because despite his brutality..."
"...Liu Tong produced results."
"He exterminated demonic sects."
"He destroyed corrupted clans."
"He wiped out forbidden cults."
"But wherever he marched..."
His voice lowered slightly.
"...entire regions drowned in blood."
No one interrupted him.
King Tian Long continued quietly:
"He does not care about casualties."
"He does not distinguish between guilty and innocent once battle begins."
"If one city hides a single enemy..."
"...Liu Tong burns the city."
The mountain platform became deathly silent.
Then the king looked directly toward Shaurya.
"And this time..."
"...the Righteous Alliance pointed him toward you."
A cold wind swept across the sect grounds.
Nearby, Wang Tian’s grin had disappeared completely now.
Even Luo Chen looked serious.
King Tian Long continued:
"You already encountered one member of the Righteous Alliance before."
Shaurya’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"...Qin Morian?."
The king nodded immediately.
"Yes."
"The same Qin Morian who destroyed Blue Stone City."
"The same man who attacked your sect."
"He was also a member of the Righteous Alliance."
A brief pause followed.
"And compared to Liu Tong..."
King Tian Long’s gaze hardened.
"...Qin Morian was insignificant."
Several disciples visibly stiffened hearing that.
Because Qin Morian alone had destroyed everything back then.
And now—
Someone far worse was coming.
King Tian Long slowly turned toward the kingdom lands stretching beyond the mountains below.
"The latest reports confirm Liu Tong is marching with his entire force."
His silver eyes darkened.
"Thousands of armed cultivators."
"War beasts."
"Siege formations."
"Flying cavalry."
"His Death Riders army."
Even the elders remained silent now.
Because this was no longer sect conflict.
This was war.
King Tian Long continued quietly:
"If battle erupts near the capital..."
"...the Azure Dragon Kingdom’s Capital City will not survive the aftermath."
The disciples slowly looked toward the distant lands below the mountains.
Toward the countless ordinary people living beneath the kingdom skies.
King Tian Long’s voice lowered further.
"Even if the royal army joins the fight..."
"...the destruction alone will massacre civilians."
"Cities will collapse."
"Villages will burn."
"Trade routes will die."
"And if the Righteous Alliance commits fully..."
His expression became heavier.
"...more support will come behind Liu Tong."
The implication was obvious.
This was only the beginning.
A testing strike.
A warning.
The Righteous Alliance had not merely sent a hunter.
They had sent a declaration.
Silence swallowed the mountain peak afterward.
The evening sky above the Sanatan Flame Sect slowly darkened while cold winds swept through the ruined training grounds.
And standing at the center of it all—
Shaurya quietly stared toward the distant horizon.
Toward the unseen army marching closer with every passing day.
Golden spiritual energy flickered faintly around his eyes.
Not fear.
Not hesitation.
Something colder.
Something sharper.
Then slowly—
A grin appeared on his face.
Small.
Dangerous.
Interested.
"...So."
His voice broke the silence softly.
"The Righteous Alliance sent a war beast after me."
The mountain winds intensified slightly around him.
And the disciples behind Shaurya slowly began smiling too.
The mountain winds swept heavily across the Sanatan Flame Sect after King Tian Long finished speaking.
No one joked anymore.
The disciples stood silently beneath the evening sky while the weight of the coming conflict settled across the ruined training grounds.
A war-hungry monster was marching toward them.
And behind him—
Stood the Righteous Alliance.
For several long seconds, only silence remained.
Then—
Elder Wu finally spoke.
His voice remained calm as always.
"...How much time do we have?"
King Tian Long answered immediately.
"Based on the latest reports..."
A brief pause followed.
"...hardly one week."
The disciples’ expressions tightened slightly.
Even the elders became more serious.
One week.
Against an army powerful enough to threaten kingdoms.
Against Spirit Lords.
Against the Death Riders.
The mountain atmosphere became heavy.
Then suddenly—
Shaurya smiled.
Not forced.
Not nervous.
Just calm.
"...One week?"
Golden light flickered faintly within his eyes.
"That’s enough."
Several disciples instantly straightened hearing that confidence.
Even Wang Tian grinned again.
"That’s what I like to hear."
King Tian Long looked directly at Shaurya carefully.
"...You sound very certain."
Shaurya casually stepped forward before lightly patting the king’s shoulder.
Completely fearless.
"Don’t worry."
His voice remained relaxed.
"I won’t let him harm a single person in this kingdom."
The evening wind swept through his black-and-gold coat.
Golden spiritual energy flickered faintly around him once more.
"I’ll stop Liu Tong."
A brief pause followed.
"And his entire army."
Then his grin widened slightly.
"...without letting anything get destroyed."
Silence.
Several disciples immediately looked inspired.
Others looked emotionally prepared to follow him into war instantly.
But King Tian Long only stared at Shaurya for several seconds before finally asking the obvious question.
"...How exactly are you planning to do that?"
Shaurya blinked once.
Then laughed.
Honestly.
Carefree.
"I’ll think about it during the week."
Dead silence.
Complete silence.
Every elder stared at him.
The disciples stared at him.
Even Wang Tian’s grin froze.
King Tian Long himself looked genuinely dumbfounded.
"...You WHAT?"
Shaurya shrugged casually.
"There’s still time."
Elder Liya slowly covered her face with one hand.
"...Unbelievable."
Nearby, Luo Chen looked emotionally moved.
"Master truly walks a different path."
"That path is called irresponsibility," Sheng Lu muttered.
Even Elder Wu’s composed expression twitched slightly for the first time tonight.
Meanwhile—
Lin Shu quietly laughed.
Softly.
Small enough that most people would have missed it.
But Shaurya noticed immediately.
Her eyes carried absolutely zero surprise.
Only acceptance.
Typical Shaurya behavior.
Chaotic confidence first.
Planning later.
King Tian Long stared at Shaurya for several long seconds.
Then finally sighed deeply.
"...Somehow..."
A faint helpless smile appeared on his face.
"...I still believe you."
The mountain winds moved softly around the ruined training grounds.
Then the king’s expression became serious once more.
"But listen carefully."
His silver eyes rested directly on Shaurya.
"If you need support..."
"The royal army."
"The kingdom treasury."
"Resources."
"Information."
"Anything."
A brief pause followed.
"...just ask."
Silence settled quietly afterward.
Then—
Shaurya’s expression softened slightly.
For once—
No jokes.
No posing.
No dramatic nonsense.
He stepped back slightly before bowing his head respectfully.
"...Thank you."
King Tian Long nodded once.
Then slowly turned toward the distant mountain paths leading away from the sect.
His silver robes shifted beneath the cold evening winds.
And gradually—
The king began walking away.
The disciples quietly watched his figure disappear into the darkening horizon beyond the sect gates.
The mountain became silent again afterward.
Then—
Elder Liya sighed deeply.
Another long sigh filled with exhaustion accumulated through years of dealing with disasters.
"...Another idiot is marching toward our sect."
Her gaze moved toward the ruined training grounds nearby.
"...At this point we genuinely cannot rest."
Lin Shu stepped beside her quietly before lightly patting her back once.
A small gesture.
Simple.
Comforting.
Elder Liya clicked her tongue softly.
"...Don’t comfort me like I’m the victim."
"You complain the most," Lin Shu replied calmly.
"That’s because I’m surrounded by lunatics."
Nearby, Wang Tian proudly pointed toward himself.
"I accept this title."
"No one offered it," Luo Chen answered immediately.
Meanwhile—
Shaurya slowly lifted his gaze toward the evening sky above the Sanatan Flame Sect.
The clouds drifted quietly beyond the mountain peaks while cold winds swept through the fluttering sect banners overhead.
And despite everything—
Despite the coming war.
Despite the Righteous Alliance.
Despite Liu Tong and the Death Riders marching closer with every passing day—
A bright smile slowly appeared on Shaurya’s face.
Excited.
Fearless.
Dangerously confident.
Like someone looking forward to what came next.
The mountain winds howled softly around the Sanatan Flame Sect.
And somewhere far beyond the horizon—
War was already approaching.
To Be Continued...