"Move out of the way! Move out of the way!"

"Aiyah... isn't that the crown prince's carriage?"

"Better to move away."

Even though the folks around had the mind to move out of the royal carriage's way, they were still curious about why the crown prince would show up in such a grand fashion and wait patiently in front of the main North Gates.

But as the crowd grew restless, murmuring their thoughts to one another, a loud rumbling could be heard in the distance.

The tea sets on the wooden stores nearby started trembling from the tremors caused by the on coming force.

People started feeling anxious sweat forming within their clenched fists, yet many still remained to watch what was going to happen, their panicked eyes glued to the large gates.

The thundering rumble of horse hooves became louder and louder until it came to a stop just outside the gates.

The guard a top the sentry tower quickly signaled to another guard below blowing into a horn. The humongous gates below started to open up slowly.

At this moment, everyone held their bated breath. Their eyes watching as the dust kicked up by the large horde of warhorses settled beyond the gates.

What met the curious people were a horde of warriors. Men who sat on their warhorses with bodies as thick as trees and weapons of all sorts. Domineering and fierce with tribal tattoos decorating their muscular bodies, evoking fear from the people all around.

Yet, it was not the majestic war horses or fearsome warriors that took people's breath away but the commanding lady the sat a top her Chestnut colored warhorse.

With the beak of the eagle shaped crown starting just between her eyebrows and framing her small face perfectly making her brown eyes even more sharp and fierce yet held a sort of unblinking beauty.

Her body clad in a mix of fur, leather and armor, her soft skin underneath slightly tanned, while a lock of long black hair braided in the Long Clan's Warrior's style, reached all the way to her thighs - its length signifying her strength.

While the people looked at her with their breath stolen by her fierce beauty, at this point, RuoFeng had already came out from his carriage to greet his guests with a warm smile.

"Welcome to Xing, Princess of the Long Clan."

His eyes formed a warm smile as he greeted the familiar face of the lady in front of him. A look of greeting fleeted between them.

"I...didn't know that in Xing, dangling dirty heads at the front gates were a form of welcoming?"

With her short dagger in hand, the lady motion sarcastically upwards just above the top of the gate where 5 heads currently hung for the spikes.

4 of them old enough that you could tell their heads had been there for a long period yet the other one had only recently been placed there.

"Hahaha...it's to ensure that our people knows what happens when they over step their lines. Please pay no mind to it. "

RuoFeng chuckled and sneered with complete disgust at the head of Yuan ChiLu that dangled full of flies and maggots, the eyeballs completely eaten by birds.

The Princess on the other hand simply let out a trivial chuckle as though a gory head was nothing but a normal occurrence and merely added on,

"Then you shouldn't display it on the gates but in the center of the capital's plaza where everyone can take a closer and better look. "

The crowd of on lookers definitely heard her words and couldnt help but feel a tinge of shiver crawl down their spines. Truly a descendant of the Long Clan.

A glint of murderous intent flashed through her eyes briefly. As the Princess of the Long Clan, blood and death were all part and parcel of their lives. These people watching her were nothing but sheep.

"Indeed, I might talk to my father Emperor about it. Come, let us go, accommodation has been prepared."

The Princess merely nodded and spoke in her tribal tongue to one of the burly man at her side and went forward, roughly 10 guards followed behind her while the rest of the horde set up camp right outside the capital's gates.

Each of the 10 burly men had a hair of burning reddish brown and strong eyes with warrior like tanned bodies that could rival gods. But they held no tribal tattoos and seemed to have a thick metal collar wrapped around their muscular necks.

While the people watched as the Princess climbed down her horse and got into the carriage with the help of RuoFeng their minds could only run wild as they watch the royal carriage move off with the group of warrior man following along behind.

Everyone knew that the lady was the Princess of the notorious Long Clan and it didnt take long for the news to spread throughout the capital. Although no one knew why they were here many rumors started popping out with people starting their own speculation.

"The Crown Prince is to marry her!"

"No, its definitely to make a deal with out big Xing."

"Maybe they want to make an alliance?"

While the news spread like wildfire, inside the carriage, Crown Prince Ruofeng smirked as he glance at the Princess sitting in front of him. Her eyes held a sinister mirth as she sipped on the tea,

" Has your father agreed?"

RuoFeng chuckled coldly as he stared at the Tea cup in his hand a simply reply leaving his curled lips,

" I don't see why he wouldn't."

'Ridiculous...what could her real reason be?'

RuoFeng thought to himself. But held a gentle smile although it did not reach his eyes.

"Good. Then it's a win for the both of us."

He leaned forward to approach the Princess, glimmer of curiousity in his narrowing eyes,

"Long Lishi...I say...what are you really here for? It can't be for me right?"

A swift movement and the dagger hidden within her sleeve laid just a hairs breadth away from his neck.

Stopping RuoFeng from leaning in further.

There was no gentleness in her eyes.

"You flatter yourself Crown Prince of Xing. What I, Long Lishi, am here for is to carry out my father's orders."

The carriage came to a stop just as she finished saying her piece. RuoFeng simply raised an eyebrow at her with both hands raised in a surrender pose.

Long Lishi stared fiercely for a moment before withdrawing her blade and moving to get off the carriage.

The Great Palace of Xing... Truly a sight to behold. For a warrior who lived in the fields she just couldn't understand what was the use of all this display of grandness.

To her only strength was important and only those who are strong deserve to be named King.

When they entered the Great hall, Long Lishi saw the a man in his fifties, a stern expression on his face sitting a top a large golden Dragon throne. She would admit that this man should have been very handsome in his younger years.

She knelt on one knee in greeting but she didn't bow her head,

"Long Lishi of the Long Warrior Clan greets the Emperor of Xing. "

Nodding his head, Emperor Junzhan smiled amicably,

"Rise. Rise, Princess of the Long Clan don't need to kneel. "

Long Lishi nodded and rose to her feet, in doing so, she took the opportunity to looked around but found the person she was looking for missing.

She quickly turned her attention back to the matter at hand.

"My father wishes to form an alliance that would benefit both sides."

She paused for a moment as she motioned to one of the burly men to pass her the scroll.

"We will give Xing country safe passage and even protection from other tribes when you journey through our mountain. Meaning you do not have to avoid Long Clan Territory."

Emperor JunZhan nodded seriously as though deep in serious thought only speaking after awhile.

"and in return? What does the Long Clan want?"

Even a toddler would know there would be no one who would do something without wanting anything in return.

"In return, your merchants will have to go through our territory and trade with us."

Silence filled the hall. The Long Clan is asking for a trade deal?

Emperor JunZhan thought in silence once again. A serious frown upon his widen face.

"How will we know if this is true. What if you go back on your words and my merchant are killed or robbed?"

A melodious laughter rang out from Long Lishi's lips, she had never heard such stupid words before.

"I am my fathers only daughter. How many Tribes and Clans had he burned at my whims. Today to establish this treaty I will stay in Xing as your guest. If any of your merchants meet a certain fate you have me here as hostage. My father is a man of his words, unless you cross and step on our tails would we retaliate. Otherwise I see this deal as a win for both sides."

Murmurs filled the halls. Ministers and officials nodded in agreement.

"Alright then we will sign this. I hope your father truly is a man of his words."

The Princess Long Lishi nodded her head as she gently sliced her thumb and place a bloodied thumb print onto the scroll.

"It's done then."

With the red thumb print on the two scrolls -one for each party- Emperor Junzhan laughed out heartily.

"Princess Lishi, in light of such a prosperous event, let us hold a banquet to celebrate this day."

Nodding slightly, with a slight smile on her face, Princess Lishi responded, truly she was happy things are going her way,

"Good good good, the journey must have been tiring, come someone prepare HongYan Palace for the Princess Lishi to stay. "

Princess Lishi held back her frown and simply smiled in thanks. Slightly irritated that her plans to go out and do as she planned had been foiled.

"This Princess thanks the Emperor Xing. Then if that's the case, this Princess will retire for the day. "

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Long Clan (Long signifying :Dragon in Chinese) are known by everyone in different names which I have used at different points.

While the most commonly known and used is :Long Clan, they can also be referred to as Long Warrior Clan / Dragon Warrior Clan / Long Warrior Tribe.

Although Long Lishi is known as a "princess" it is because the Long Clan rules the entire mountain after defeating and absorbing all the tribes and clans. Hence people refer to her as princess as she is the daughter of the Chieftain. They aren't really royalty or have palaces. ( Think barbarians ) hahaha