Chapter 1222: The Feng Qi Xing Alliance Surrenders

The conference hall was permeated with an atmosphere of despair.

The interim Speaker stood up.

"Then, let us begin the vote. Those in favor of surrender, please raise your hands."

Silence.

Then, one hand went up. It was Geke.

Another hand. The acting director.

A third. A fourth. A fifth.

More and more hands were raised, until they exceeded half the number.

The interim Speaker looked at those raised hands and nodded slowly.

"The resolution is passed. We... surrender to the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance."

Xiuluo Holy Star.

Luojia knelt in the center of the quiet room, eyes closed, hands folded over his chest.

He wore the ceremonial robes of the Word Bearers Legion, the holy emblem of the Emperor hanging on his chest, his lips moving slightly as he recited prayers.

Luojia set aside time every day for spiritual practice.

He wanted to establish a deeper connection with his father, to perceive his father's divine light, and to become his father's sharpest sword and sturdiest shield.

But today, his prayer was interrupted by a faint buzzing sound.

He opened his eyes.

Before him, the holographic projection of Selina was coalescing.

"Lord Luojia. Emergency communication. From the Feng Qi Xing Alliance."

Luojia's brows furrowed slightly.

"Feng Qi Xing Alliance? Frontline battle report?"

"No. It is an intention to surrender. The Supreme Council of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance has just passed a resolution to formally surrender to the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance. Their representatives are seeking channels to contact us."

Luojia stood up.

Surrender?

He remembered that the battle report from three days ago still showed the Feng Qi Xing Alliance resisting to the death, and remembered that while the fleets of Jaghatai and Horus were advancing rapidly, they were far from reaching the gates of the city.

They would need at least a few more days to reach the Capital Star.

Why did they surrender so quickly?

Luojia was silent for a few seconds, then asked.

"Does Father know?"

"His Majesty is currently... unable to be contacted directly. He is executing a special Task, and communications are temporarily interrupted."

"Then what about Guilliman? Horus?"

"Lord Guilliman is advancing on the front line, and communication latency is significant. The same applies to Lord Horus."

Luojia took a deep breath.

This was... his responsibility, then.

"I need to contact Father. This matter must be decided by him."

"I understand. But communication is restricted at the Emperor's current location. I can attempt to send an encrypted message, but a response time cannot be guaranteed."

Luojia thought for a moment.

"Then send it. At the same time, tell the Feng Qi Xing Alliance that the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance has received their intention to surrender, but needs time to deliberate. Tell them to keep communications open and not to act rashly."

Selina nodded.

"Also, notify Guilliman and Horus, and tell them to slow their rate of advance."

"Understood."

Selina's holographic projection began to dissipate.

"Wait."

Luojia called out to her.

Selina stopped.

Luojia looked at her, a flash of complex emotion in his eyes.

"Is Father... alright?"

Selina was silent for a second.

"His Majesty's vital signs are stable. But... he is injured."

Luojia's pupils contracted slightly.

Injured?

Father could be injured?

"Is it serious?"

"Unknown. The Emperor was struck by two curses from another world after closing the rift. The specific impact requires time to assess," Selina said.

"He ordered that, aside from a few select beings who need to know, it must not be made public."

Luojia clenched his fists.

Two curses from another world.

Curses left behind by a primarch from another world.

He recalled the things his father had once told them: parallel worlds, Chaos corruption, twisted brothers.

He remembered the things his father had once told them: parallel worlds, the erosion of Chaos, and twisted brothers.

He had always thought those were just theories, just possibilities of a distant future.

But now, those possibilities were turning into reality.

"I understand. Continue to contact Father. Notify me immediately once there is a reply."

"Yes."

Selina's holographic projection dissipated.

Luojia stood alone in the center of the quiet room, looking at the Xiuluo Holy Star sky outside the window.

He would protect Father.

At any cost.

"Wind-Rider" ship, Primarch quarters.

Yingzhou opened his eyes.

His complexion was still pale, and the black scar on his chest still existed, but it had faded a little compared to a few hours ago.

The red burn mark on his shoulder was also slowly fading.

Yingzhou raised his hand and looked at his palm.

Those curses were still there.

He could feel them, like two thorns, stuck deep within his psychic power.

They would not kill him, but they would always exist, always consuming his power, always reminding him of the existence of that world.

It would take time to deal with them.

And time was exactly what he lacked most right now.

The cabin door slid open, and Jaghatai walked in.

"Father, the cleanup work has been completed."

He reported.

"The research facility has been completely burned down, and all relevant personnel... have been cleared. The Grey Knights are doing one final check to ensure no rifts remain."

Yingzhou nodded.

"Casualty report?"

Jaghatai was silent for a second.

"Twenty-three White Scars killed in action, eleven severely wounded. The war... the World Eaters... are completely wiped out."

Just then, the Communication Device in the cabin rang.

"Khan, received an emergency encrypted message from Xiuluo Holy Star." The communications soldier's voice came through, "Sent by Selina, highest priority."

Jaghatai looked at Yingzhou.

Yingzhou nodded.

The communication connected, and Selina's holographic projection appeared in the center of the cabin.

"His Majesty. Emergency situation. The Supreme Council of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance has just passed a resolution to formally surrender to the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance. Lord Luojia asks how to respond."

Yingzhou's brows raised slightly.

Surrender?

So fast?

Hadn't the Supreme Council been mostly cleared out?

He looked at Jaghatai.

Jaghatai also wore an expression of surprise.

Yingzhou opened his mouth to ask.

"How did Luojia handle it?"

"Lord Luojia replied that he needs time to deliberate. At the same time, he has notified Guilliman and Horus to slow down their pace of advancement."

Selina said.

"He asks for your opinion."

Yingzhou thought for a moment.

"Tell Luojia to prepare to accept the surrender. But the conditions must be clear."

He stood up and walked to the Holographic Star Map in the center of the cabin.

"First, all military forces of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance must immediately cease resistance and hand over control of all weapon systems."

"Second, all high-ranking military officers and government officials must undergo screening."

"Third, all administrative affairs of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance, including diplomacy and military, will be managed by us uniformly."

"Fourth... all research data regarding the mirror rifts must be handed over in its entirety. No one is permitted to keep or destroy them privately."

Selina recorded quickly.

"Also, have Luojia take charge of the negotiations."

"Understood. Any other instructions?"

Yingzhou thought for a moment.

"Tell Guilliman and Horus that the pace of advancement can be slowed, but do not stop completely. Keep up the pressure."

"Yes."

"Finally, have Luojia tell those surrenderers: they made the right choice. The Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance is not here to destroy them, but to... integrate them."

Selina recorded all the instructions.

"Your Majesty, your wounds..."

She asked, a hint of hesitation appearing in her voice for the first time.

"Do you require medical support?"

Yingzhou shook his head.

"No need. I will handle it."

"Communication ended."

The holographic projection dissipated.

The cabin fell back into silence.

Jaghatai looked at Yingzhou.

"Father, are you truly alright?"

Yingzhou did not answer.

He simply looked at the burning Shenyuan Star outside the window, looked at those golden flames, and looked at the endless starry sky in the distance.

"I am fine. Now, let us go home."