In the "Dilapidated Home", Meizhuolashi gathered all the Tiefling refugees.
Regardless of gender, age, or status, every conscious Tiefling refugee was summoned by him to the camp's plaza. This was their usual gathering place and where all major announcements were made.
Meizhuolashi first looked around, surveying the gaunt, scarred, and tormented faces of his kin.
"I... did not do wrong."
Meizhuolashi murmured to himself in a voice only he could hear.
He finally made up his mind and slowly raised his longsword.
"My compatriots, I have had enough of wandering, enough of endless pursuit."
"Our Tiefling blood has flowed enough."
"What we need is not to flee—"
"But revenge, tooth for a tooth, blood for blood."
The usually calm Tiefling Paladin's tone was now impassioned, and his pure black eyes gleamed with a light entirely different from before.
This made many Tieflings who knew him find it hard to believe.
"From now on, we will join the Ember Nest."
"And the great Red Dragon, the destroyer of the Eagle Guard, Keixius of "Flying Flame", will become our master, providing us shelter and leading us to avenge ourselves against the Vampires and humans who persecuted us."
"We will reclaim Northwind Fortress, reclaim our former home."
"Keixius will lead us in establishing new, truly fair rules."
As these words left his mouth, a clamor erupted among the crowd, with shouts and discussions breaking out.
Many Tieflings had their families slaughtered in that horrific incident, and revenge had long been their only reason to live; now, the flame in their hearts was finally ignited by Meizhuolashi's words.
So they raised their weapons and cheered.
"Revenge!"
"Revenge! Revenge!"
"Storm Northwind Fortress!"
"Cut off Lakman's head!"
However, there were also many dissenting voices. Although they were also affected by the tragedy to varying degrees, they still believed in the existence of kindness and humanity, hoping to gain a place to live through peaceful means.
Like Leiruisha, for example.
The young female Tiefling, her face filled with surprise and indignation, couldn't help but step forward to persuade him:
"No, Meizhuolashi, we must never become the kin of an Evil Dragon."
"If we do this, what difference will there be between us and that blood-sucking Duke!"
Many Tieflings expressed agreement, offering her verbal support or nodding in affirmation.
However, Meizhuolashi merely stared at her.
"Leiruisha, you didn't listen to what I said before."
That gaze made her feel strange, as if it contained a kind of pity, or perhaps reluctance.
But at this moment, she didn't care; she was more concerned with how to argue her case.
Leiruisha shook her head repeatedly, arguing vehemently:
"No, Meizhuolashi, you are wrong."
"Those humans were incited by the Duke; we can tell them the truth, call on them to join us in peaceful resistance against the Duke's bloody rule. That is the right path."
"I have already contacted a group of benevolent people from various places. But if we become the Evil Dragon's followers, then everything is over, I..."
Her voice suddenly hitched.
The sound of a sword piercing flesh rang out.
"Swish—"
Leiruisha's face was covered in blood.
Her beautiful blue, lake-like eyes stared in disbelief at the man in front of her who had plunged his sharp sword into her chest.
"Why..."
She seemed to have never anticipated such a thing would happen.
Meizhuolashi's familiar pure black eyes were now coldly unfamiliar to her, even sending a shiver down her spine.
Before losing consciousness, she seemed to see Meizhuolashi's lips part slightly, and having learned lip-reading, Leiruisha understood what he wanted to say.
—It was "I'm sorry" in Infernal.
That frail body slowly fell.
Warm blood gushed out, staining the pristine white snow.
Meizhuolashi cleanly pulled out his sword.
He knew that the cunning Red Dragon was watching all of this in the dark; this was a "pledge of allegiance," a way to show that he had no turning back, only submission.
And this was also to declare his stance to all the races in the camp; the so-called "peace faction" had no place to hide anymore.
Leiruisha was not wrong; she was just too naive.
So naive that she believed if only there was mutual trust, there would be no more conflicts in the world, just like he once was. But now, this former Paladin of redemption had blood on his hands.
"I'm sorry, Leiruisha."
"This is just for our race... to survive."
The blood splattered on his face slowly ran down, Meizhuolashi thought to himself.
The surrounding Tieflings seemed to be stunned by this bloody scene; for a moment, the air became still, and everyone fell silent.
No one dared to speak again, even those Tieflings who had been shouting "Revenge" remained silent.
"Leiruisha colluded with external enemies and leaked intelligence..."
"To be dealt with according to military law."
Meizhuolashi disregarded the blood on his face, merely raising his bloodied longsword with a cold expression.
"Revenge!"
He repeated again.
"Revenge! Revenge!"
"Reclaim Northwind Fortress! Blood sacrifice for our kin!"
This time, more Tieflings responded to his call, cheering rhythmically. Although some of them might not have looked entirely natural.
Suddenly, a dragon's roar came from the sky.
"Roar—"
The Red Dragon slowly descended from the sky, standing on the highest boulder, looking down at the Tieflings from above.
Meizhuolashi turned around at the opportune moment, blending into the crowd, not saying another word.
Keixius slowly spread his wings, and a massive shadow enveloped everyone, making the Tieflings feel an intense sense of oppression.
"I, Keixius, Master of the Ember Nest, welcome your joining."
"I will grant you full protection and support, bestow upon you honor and strength, and help you establish a town here."
"In return, you need to become my eternal kin, fight for me, defeat that greedy North Wind Eagle for me, and seize the entire Northwind Fortress."
Meizhuolashi stepped forward and respectfully said:
"This town will be born under your shadow; please bestow a name upon it."
A hint of playfulness showed in the Red Dragon's golden pupils:
"Since you are called descendants of devils, how about 'Bator City'?"
Meizhuolashi's expression remained unchanged, showing no indignation at being insulted, merely stating calmly:
"Thank you for your grace."
Keixius narrowed his eyes, observing the composed Meizhuolashi below, thinking to himself that he was indeed the person who, by himself, had troubled the entire Lakeman Family for over a decade.
A rationality almost devoid of emotion, truly a terrifying fellow.
Feeling the progress is a bit slow, the ten-year setting is a bit too long, may skip time to accelerate player arrival.