Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Azheba recalled the first time he had ever participated in a horseback archery contest.
At that time, he had only been thirteen, and all of his opponents were adults from various tribes. He had focused on shooting and had ignored all the others’ doubts and sneers. In the end, to everyone’s surprise, he won the contest. His father and all the other fellow tribe members ran to him and lifted him high, bragging all around.
Azheba still had a deep impression of that occasion, because that had been the very first time that he had ever felt a surprising antagonism towards the “crowd”. Before that, he had always been a part of the crowd, but in that moment, the bow and arrows had separated him from the crowd. Two simple movements – looking up and looking down – drew a clear line around his individuality.
The current scene in front of him was so similar to the one after the contest. It was just that there was no pride from his family or cheers from strangers; there was only the same apathy on different faces.
Azheba tried hard to raise his head and throw out his chest, to display an air of apathy the same as that of the crowd, but there was a thought that he couldn’t get rid of – why hadn’t he died on the battlefield? That was what most people, including his father, had expected from him.
To excise the weakness inside of him, he started searching the crowd only to feel more disappointed. Those soldiers who used to revere him, those officers who used to be like his brothers, those generals who shared the same rank as him: they were all present. She was the only one absent.
‘At least she’s not beside the Dragon King.’
The Dragon King was just as expressionless as usual. Standing among a group of tall, strong Norlanders, he almost seemed as thin and sickly as Shulitu, who was by his side.
Azheba couldn’t understand the Dragon King, just like how he couldn’t understand Shangguan Ru. When their eyes met, Azheba gently nodded.
Among the crowd, Shulitu was the only one whose eyes were slightly different, and there was a ghost of resignation and sympathy in them.
Azheba suddenly felt his cheeks burning – both the Dragon King and Shulitu had once saved his life, but he had repaid them with a conspiratorial dagger.
At the thought that he might appear weak before the crowds, Azheba hurriedly discarded his random thoughts. Watching the executioners, he said aloud, “Prince Duodun will-”
The two executioners rudely forced him to kneel on the ground. One of them pulled on his hair with great force, revealing the back of his neck. The other one raised his saber and slashed down.
Accomplished in a moment – this was the only impression that the audience had of the execution. In the outsiders’ eyes, Azheba, who had been preoccupied and personally felt calm and restrained, seemed no different from the five other trembling criminals.
Afterwards, Shulitu invited the Dragon King to have a word in private.
After returning to the tent, Shulitu immediately let his exhaustion show. “Azheba was a renowned archer on the grasslands. He didn’t deserve a death like this.”
“Mm,” Gu Shenwei answered casually.
The Dragon King seemed absent-minded. Shulitu looked at him, somewhat in surprise. “Actually, there are no pressing issues. If you’re busy…”
“No. I was just thinking…” Gu Shenwei didn’t want to tell the truth, but he also didn’t want to lie. “I also feel regretful that Azheba was executed this way.”
Shulitu cared more about the things on his mind, so he accepted the Dragon King’s perfunctory remarks and resumed talking – he regarded the Dragon King as his teacher and a guide. There were many things which the Dragon King was the only one that he could talk to about. “I’ve been mulling over this the entire night – would Azheba have pledged allegiance to me if I had given him special amnesty? After all, Duodun is already dead.”
“He would.” Gu Shenwei pulled himself together. It was a very important to ensure that this kid would become a competent Khan.
“Azheba probably would have pledged allegiance to you, but it would have cost you the allegiance of many others. The troops’ expectation of the Khan is usually higher than the Khan’s expectation of the troops. Magnanimity will be seen as indecisiveness, which is a consequence that you can’t afford.”
Shulitu understood this, but after hearing it from the Dragon King, his sense of guilt was greatly alleviated. “Dragon King… I heard that you were very magnanimous when you were in Xiaoyao Lake, and that you didn’t even punish those traitors. To me, you’re also very… I mean, I once tried to assassinate you.”
That had been their first time meeting each other. Shulitu couldn’t help but smile at the thought. The hostility between him and the Dragon King from that time had now become good memories.
Gu Shenwei had once answered a similar question that the old Khan had asked, but now, in front of the new Khan who hadn’t gained the acknowledgement of the entire grasslands yet, he had to explain it once again. “That’s because I’m not the Khan, and I don’t want the throne. I just need allies, so I allow the people around me to sit on the fence to some extent. As long as they don’t get in my way, I won’t pay it any more, even if we have to go our separate ways.”
Shulitu told himself to keep these words in mind, because they were the foundation of his relationship with the Dragon King. “But I don’t understand. You have both the competence and the strength, so why don’t you… become the King of the Western Regions?”
“Because the Norlanders will never be as loyal to me as they are to the Khan, even though this loyalty is not always unshakable. As a descendant of the Khan, you’ve skipped the most difficult part; for me, consolidating that faith might take a decade, even decades.”
“Decades, ha-ha.” Shulitu shook his head. “It will also take me decades to get rid of all the claims to the throne and be a free Khan.”
“We all have important missions.”
After leaving Shulitu’s tent, Gu Shenwei felt relieved, but soon, Dugu Xian found him.
“It was said that a lot of Central Plainsmen have appeared in the east.” Dugu Xian was out of his mind with worry. “We have just defeated Luoluo. They can’t be the armies of the Central Plains, right?”
“It’s possible. But they might also be those Central Plains soldiers who fled previously. Send more scouts and find out.”
Gu Shenwei picked up speed. Dugu Xian still followed him closely behind. “And then there’s Thousand Horsemen Pass. We can take it at any time, and I suggest doing it as soon as possible. We should at the very least clear the road to Xiaoyao Lake before winter, and then in spring next year, the Dragon Army will be able to take Jade City by themselves with the cooperation of only a small number of Norland troops…”
Gu Shenwei stopped and thought about it for a while before replying, “In three… five days, we’ll launch an attack on Thousand Horsemen Pass. Before that, I’ll have to resolve some issues first. And, tighten the security lest Golden Roc killers infiltrate the camp.”
Dugu Xian answered ,”Yes,” and wanted to say something more, but the Dragon King had already strode away. He had a faint feeling that the Dragon King was a little… impatient today.
Gu Shenwei had just reached the doorway of the tent when a maidservant sent an invitation from the Second Consort.
The Second Consort’s manner had returned to normalcy. There was a coffin in tent, which was the only thing that made this tent special. “I’ve been wondering which way is better – burial or cremation. Duodun didn’t tell me his preference.”
The Second Consort spoke in a chatting tone, so Gu Shenwei also maintained a flat attitude. “If I were him, I would have chosen cremation. Once and for all. A burial merely provides food to the worms underground.”
A disgusted look appeared on the Second Consort’s face. “Cremation it is. I myself will also be cremated after I die.”
“A very good choice.”
The Second Consort stroked the new coffin. “I want to talk about the Naihang Tribe with you, Dragon King.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” Although Gu Shenwei had said this, he was not interested in it at all. He just hoped that this conversation would end as soon as possible.
“I believe that the Dragon King and… the new Khan are still interested in the 100,000 soldiers of the Naihang Tribe.” The Second Consort didn’t notice the Dragon King’s subtle expressions. She had been starting at the coffin this whole time, as if it was so beautiful that she couldn’t move her hands away from it.
“That’s true.”
“I also believe that you two are just like me – all three of us dislike Zhesu and Duo Ercha.”
“There’s no ‘like’ or ‘dislike’. They’re just obstacles.”
“If I can eliminate these two obstacles, then what can I get?”
This was indeed the Second Consort’s straightforward style – treating conspiracies as normal transactions.
“You’ll get your revenge.” Although Gu Shenwei didn’t want to waste any time here, he still waited for her to make her requests.
“That won’t be enough. Revenge provides only temporary closure, while 100,000 cavalrymen can be the foundation on which supremacy which may last generations.” The Second Consort smiled. She raised her head and moved her fingers away from the coffin. “You see, I also know some words. Let me be honest with you. Duodun’s dead, and the new Khan has succeeded the throne. I’m just a woman who no longer has anybody left to rely on. Sooner or later, I’ll be deprived of my title of Second Consort. I need a guarantee that I’ll still have powers, so that I won’t be bullied by others.”
“Shulitu is willing to marry you.”
“Ha-ha, I was tricking you at that time. I won’t remarry for the rest of my life. This is my bottom line.”
“Then things may be difficult.”
“Nothing is difficult to a man who has the will. Besides, you’re a smart man, Dragon King. Please think about it. It would be best if you could give me a response today. And then I’ll find a way to get us two heads.”
Gu Shenwei had no choice but to return to Shulitu’s tent.
“All of the troops have acknowledged me as their Khan, but the Naihang Tribe hasn’t yet. Can’t we use this as our excuse to kill Zhesu and Duo Ercha? Do we really need the Second Consort’s help?” Shulitu immediately raised some concerns.
“We can do that. But if we do it, then there will probably be another war. Not only will we not get the 100,000 soldiers, but we will also be sending them to our enemies. The cost is just too heavy. The Second Consort’s a member of the Naihang Tribe and there’s resentment between her and Duo Ercha, which will make for a much more plausible explanation afterwards.”
Shulitu nodded, “I don’t quite trust the Second Consort. You didn’t see her holding Duodun’s head. It seemed as if… as if she would take revenge whatever the cost might be.”
“Just keep an eye on her. She’s not the biggest threat that we’re facing.”
“Does the Second Consort want to be a tribe leader? There’s never been a female tribe leader in the history of the Norland…”
“Go talk to The Second Consort yourself.”
“Me? Talk to her?” Shulitu was startled.
“Mm. You’re the Khan, so you have to act like one. Prove to The Second Consort that you’re not a puppet.”
Shulitu felt his cheeks burning – he himself wasn’t even sure that he was not a puppet. “I… I’ll try.”
“You’ll succeed.” Gu Shenwei gave Shulitu two slaps on the shoulder, turned around, and left, having shifted a heavy responsibility to this twelve-year-old child.
He walked towards his tent.
He had made up his mind that nobody would be able to stop him except for the Unique King himself.
The Guards were on duty outside the tent. Nie Zeng and Tie Linglong were practicing their sabersmanship. Han Fen and a group of soldiers were also watching and chatting to the side. Gu Shenwei glanced at the crowd and signaled the officer on duty to not let anybody in.
“What took you so long?” Shangguan Ru asked gently. The tent was heavily covered up and it was very dark inside even during the daytime.
Gu Shenwei quickly walked over and unfastened his Five Peaks Saber like a virgin about to have sex for the first time. “Something held me up.”
“What was it? Was it very important?”
“Nothing important.”
Gu Shenwei gently put his arms around that figure. Then with a greater force, he squeezed her up against his body.
She also reacted to his movements, her hands on his back, and her breath like the fragrance of flowers at some day in May’s dusk.
Gu Shenwei actually felt like his body was merging with hers.
