Battle for Northern Frontier: The game begins with the grassland woman buying him.

The battle ended without serious incident.

Su Zhan ordered his men to set up a defensive line outside to prevent any further sneak attacks.

The other group began cleaning up the battlefield.

But by this time, the camp was a complete mess from the fire, and apart from some gold and silver, there was nothing of any use.

The elite members of the Fierce Dragon Gang looted some valuable jade, gold, and silver before preparing to retreat.

Just as Su Zhan and the others were about to leave, the ground suddenly trembled violently again.

Su Zhan's expression suddenly changed. This commotion required the strength of a hundred or so warhorses. Could it be that the Mandu tribe had reinforcements?

But they had just fought a great battle and rested for a while, and were already exhausted. How could they possibly fight so many grassland people again? In an instant, Su Zhan's heart sank to the bottom.

Zhao Kui, an outsider, hurriedly reported to Su Zhan.

"This is bad! A large force is approaching; we're probably surrounded."

Su Zhan remained calm and composed.

"Who are these people? Are they reinforcements from the Mandu tribe?"

"They've merely surrounded the camp; they haven't launched an attack. We don't know whose troops they are!"

"Tell the brothers not to act rashly, to take the time to reorganize the troops, and to be ready to break out at any time."

"yes!"

Zhao Kui accepted the order and left. Suddenly, a loud shout came from outside the camp.

"But are the Raptors here? Get your leader out here and let's talk."

Upon hearing the sound, Su Zhan stepped forward and stood at the outer edge of the camp, surrounded by wary members of the Fierce Dragon Gang.

Su Zhan took a closer look and saw that the newcomer was a grassland man, tall and strong, with a robust warhorse and gleaming leather armor, clearly a skilled fighter.

"Which tribe are you from? Why are you surrounding our Fierce Dragon Gang?"

"Want to know my name? I might as well tell you. I am a personal guard of the Prince of Shunyi, under the command of the royal court!"

Su Zhan frowned upon hearing this. It turned out to be someone from the royal court. This was going to be difficult.

"What advice do you have for me?"

"My lord said he hasn't seen the grasslands so lively in a long time. Although you are Han Chinese, it's quite interesting."

Su Zhan's heart sank. The royal tent—that was the true ruler of the grasslands.

He had also heard of the name of the Prince of Shunyi, who was one of the powerful princes in the royal court who held considerable military power.

Su Zhan's annihilation of the Mandu tribe was a personal feud between the Fierce Dragon Gang and the Mandu tribe. How could it have alarmed the royal guards?

Moreover, judging from the tone of the other party, it seems that they are not simply standing up for the Mandu tribe.

So why is that?

The camp was deathly silent, save for the crackling of the flames.

The elite members of the Fierce Dragon Gang, who were still basking in the afterglow of victory, now gripped their weapons tightly and looked nervously at Su Zhan and the silent and menacing cavalry outside the camp.

The Dragon Gang had just gone through a bloody battle and were exhausted. If they were to clash with the well-equipped Royal Guards, it would be like throwing an egg against a rock.

Su Zhan naturally understood this principle as well. He took a deep breath, suppressed his surging killing intent and suspicion, and said calmly.

"So it's Su Zhan from the Fierce Dragon Gang, a personal guard of the Prince of Shunyi. May I ask what business Your Highness has here? We are here to wipe out the Mandu tribe and clean house for Stone City. We have no intention of disturbing the royal court."

Su Zhan deliberately emphasized the "cleansing of internal strife," characterizing the action as an internal struggle between grassland tribes, attempting to downplay the involvement of Han Chinese forces.

The head of the guards sat upright on his horse, looking down at Su Zhan in the firelight.

Su Zhan was covered in blood, but his body was as upright as a pine tree, and his eyes were as sharp as blades. Even when facing the pressure from the royal guards, he showed no fear.

Although the members of the Fierce Dragon Gang behind him were exhausted, their formation remained intact, and they exuded a fierce aura.

"Cleansing house?" The head of the guards' voice carried a hint of amusement. "What a fine example of cleaning house! Overnight, Savage Gully was reduced to scorched earth, and the Mandu tribe vanished into thin air! Master Su certainly has a grand scheme, and a swift blade indeed!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the chaotic camp, before speaking.

"The prince said that it is common for wolves to fight and prey on each other on the grasslands."

However, if the commotion is too great and disturbs the peace of the pasture, the shepherd cannot ignore it.

Su Zhan felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this, realizing the underlying meaning: the royal court was not upholding justice for the Mandu tribe, but rather warning the Menglong Gang not to cross the royal court's bottom line and not to disrupt the order of the grasslands.

Su Zhan clasped his hands in a fist salute to the head of the personal guards.

"I, Su, have acted rashly and have caused great distress. The Fierce Dragon Gang is based in Stone City only for survival and has no intention of offending the Royal Court or shaking the foundation of the grasslands. Now that this matter is over, I will restrain my subordinates and keep to their duties. Please convey my and the Fierce Dragon Gang's respect and apology to Prince Shunyi."

The head of the guards stared at Su Zhan for a moment, seemingly assessing the truthfulness of his words.

Finally, he nodded slightly. "I would have relayed what Chief Su said to Your Highness, but then he changed his tone and turned cold. Stone City has changed hands, and the Fierce Dragon Gang is now in charge. Your Highness hopes that the new master will understand the rules of the grasslands and who the true master of this grassland is. In the future, regarding tribute, trade routes, and disputes among various tribes, I hope the Fierce Dragon Gang can send someone to Your Highness's tent as soon as possible to clarify these matters."

This is a blatant demand and extortion, acknowledging your existence but requiring you to submit to the rules of the royal court, pay protection money, and act within its framework.

Su Zhan sneered inwardly, but remained unmoved on the surface.

"I will keep Your Highness's teachings in mind. Once I return to the city, I will inform the First and Second Bosses, and they will select capable men to go before Your Highness with sincerity to receive your guidance and clarify all matters!"

"Very good!" The general of the personal guard seemed quite satisfied with Su Zhan's sensibility.

He glanced one last time at the camp engulfed in flames, and at the exhausted but alert members of the Fierce Dragon Gang outside, a barely perceptible smirk playing on his lips.

"Master Su, you'd better watch yourself. Let's go!" He turned his horse around and gave the order. The royal cavalry surrounding the camp moved as swiftly as they had come, their hooves thundering as they quickly disappeared into the dark grassland, as if they had never been there, leaving only a suffocatingly oppressive aftertaste.

Only when the sound of horses' hooves completely disappeared did the tense atmosphere inside and outside the camp suddenly relax. Many gang members collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, their backs soaked with cold sweat.

Facing the pressure from the royal guards was even more nerve-wracking than the bloody battle just now.

Zhao Kui quickly walked to Su Zhan's side, still feeling lingering fear.

"Master Su, what do these people from the Royal Court mean? Could they...?"

Su Zhan gazed in the direction where the cavalry had disappeared, his eyes deep and still as a pool. "This is both a warning and a deal."

He said in a low, deep voice, "They don't care who destroyed whom; they only care whether the new master of Stone City is obedient and whether he can allow them to continue to profit from it."

Su Zhan turned around and looked at the messy camp and his exhausted brothers. He decisively ordered, "We can't stay here any longer! Zhao Kui, immediately take stock of the casualties, take the spoils and the bodies of the fallen brothers. Take everything you can, and burn the camp to the ground along with everything else. We'll retreat to Stone City immediately."

"Yes!" Zhao Kui perked up and immediately accepted the order.

Soon, the last few tents were also set on fire, and the towering flames completely engulfed the Wild Man Valley, marking the complete end of the Mandu tribe.

Su Zhan mounted his horse, glanced at the scorched earth resembling a hellish landscape, and turned to ride away into the distance.