Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
This was the most boring day of the Tournament of the Royal Court. The various competitions were still rich and wonderful, the fight of the warrior contest was as bloody as ever, but none of these events were enough to attract the audience’s enthusiasm. Even the busiest trading area was deserted. Everyone was talking about the siege in the northern forbidden zone.
The most exaggerated rumor was that the old Khan had set up a tight encirclement and the forbidden zone had already become a bloodbath. More than a hundred thousand people of the Central Plains had been killed and the corpses piled even higher than the mountains. Many people actually ran to the river near the forbidden zone and thought that they could see blood-red water and towering mountains of corpses but they only received great disappointment.
The encounter of the people of the Central Plains was the source of the rumor, as the sabermen of the Western Regions had received little attention except for the Dragon King. It was in him that the opinions divided, with one group claiming that the Dragon King had already died in the forbidden zone, and another trying to defend him by saying that the Dragon King was a besieger, not the besieged.
Shangguan Fei’s appearance at the warrior contest, though one hour late, was strong support to the latter group, as they used the argument: how could the Dragon King’s man still take part in the contest if he had an ulterior motive.
Questions came like rain in a storm, and Shangguan Fei was quite at a loss for what to say because he also didn’t know whether the Dragon King was the besieged or a besieger, so he could only answer, “Uhh, everything’s normal.” That was the only reply he could give.
Actually, nothing was normal. Even the dullest audience had found that the viewing area of the nobles, though full of people, was devoid of any of the ten kings.
Shangguan Fei felt that he was alone and helpless. The task given by the Dragon King weighed on his head like a mountain. So he went to look for the official who organized the game, and stammered, “Where are the warriors of King Dari? There’s a bet today…”
The official looked at him in amazement, “You’re still concerned about the bet at such a moment?”
“The Dragon King said…” If he had followed his instinct, Shangguan Fei would have ridden a horse as fast as the Flame Foal and galloped all the way out into the wilderness. But it was these four words that determined that he must persevere in his efforts.
The official puzzledly shook his head and ran to ask his superior. He looked even more puzzled when he came back. He handed an exquisite bow and arrow set to the Dragon King’s warrior, “This is the bet that King Dari promised to give the Dragon King. There’s no need to compete. He concedes defeat.”
Winning without fighting. Shangguan Fei heaved a sigh of relief, thinking that this was really a lucky day for him. He had not only accidentally escaped from death but had also won a fight without striking a blow. The only regret was that he could not ask the Dragon King to recognize his efforts.
His emotional sigh wasn’t over when the official said, “You’ve come at the right time. More than half of today’s warriors are absent. As such, the lord has decided to shorten the competition. You only need to win three more games to be this year’s champion of the warrior contest.”
The kung fu competition style of the Norland was rather simple and crude, and there were no strict rules or schedule. Many warriors quit after a game or two, and some were banned from the next round because they didn’t perform well in a game no matter if they won or lost. So, few people could win three rounds.
“Ahh? Do I have to be the champion?”
“How would I know? It’s up to you. And of course, it depends on your ability,” the officer said scornfully. Although Shangguan Fei had won two days in a row, it was not so easy for him to defeat the warriors of Norland today.
Several games were going on at the same time, and Shangguan Fei was already behind the schedule, so he was immediately pushed onto the field. Like the past two days, he was in the main arena that was the most-watched.
“Is the Dragon King dead?” The audience outside the field asked aloud in the language of the Central Plains. This was the topic of most interest to them.
“No.” Shangguan Fei answered robotically without turning his head.
As he waited, there were more and more questions from the audience, most of which were related to the Dragon King. And his opponent still didn’t show up. Puzzled, Shangguan Fei looked around for the referee and the officials and found nothing.
Slowly, the audience also noticed that something wasn’t right because the news from the nearby crowd said that several ongoing games were paused halfway as if something big was about to happen.
Shangguan Fei silently prayed and hoped that he could pass the day threatening but not engaging in any danger and afterwards just stay in the camp of the Dragon Army and never again run away randomly with Old Man Mu.
The crowd suddenly quieted down. Most of them were from the Norland and familiar with the local customs and rules, and therefore, had already figured out what was going to happen while Shangguan Fei was still perplexedly standing in the field.
A group of cavalry entered the main arena and lined up in front of the viewing area of the nobles.
Shangguan Fei’s heart thumped. This cavalry looked very special. From people to horses, they were all equipped with dazzling golden armor, indicating that their master was no ordinary nobleman.
The sound of the first raindrops falling on the ground came from all directions. Shangguan Fei looked around and found that the audiences were kneeling down in droves. Many even forced their horses to kneel while they themselves already prostrated as if the golden armor knights were heavenly warriors.
In the meantime, the audiences in the seats of honor also hurried to the two sides, kneeling humbly like a minion, to make room for a larger area.
An old man walked alone into the viewing area of the nobles, his head bowed as if he were strolling in his own courtyard.
Shangguan Fei’s knees softened and he also knelt. Then, in a state of complete bewilderment, he called out a few words, which sounded quite loud in the quiet arena. “The Dragon King’s warrior pays his respects to the Khan. The Dragon King wishes the Khan longevity, felicity, prosperity, fertility…”
The auspicious words he had learned since he was little had finally come in handy. Almost without thinking, they automatically jumped out of Shangguan Fei’s mouth until he couldn’t think of another word. He closed his mouth and found the surrounding atmosphere eerily quiet as if he had done something very inopportune and reckless.
“Tell me your name, Dragon King’s warrior.”
It was the voice of a eunuch. Shangguan Fei dared not raise his head. Tremblingly, he said his name.
“The Khan said the Dragon King’s warrior is very good at talking and hoped that your kung fu skills would be just as wonderful. Focus on the tournament. If you win, you’ll be handsomely rewarded.”
Shangguan Fei wanted to have a look at this legendary Khan, but the weight of his neck seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, heavier even than the task the Dragon King had given him, and he dared not look at any place except for the ground under his nose.
The vanishing official and referee reappeared who quietly trotted to Shangguan Fei and spoke in a low voice, “Shangguan Fei, the game has changed a little. You still have to win three consecutive games to become the champion, but your opponents have changed into the warriors under the Khan. Prepare yourself.”
Shangguan Fei was stunned. No one told him whether he should win or lose when fighting the Khan’s warriors.
Several miles away, the Dragon King’s choice was much easier than Shangguan Fei. He had to win. The contest would have a much larger influence on the lives of the soldiers of the Dragon Army now.
The small group of cavalry galloped nearer. The one in the lead was Liman, son of the general Zhesu under King Rizhu, and besides him was Wild Horse.
Liman, whose face was bathed in sweat, jumped from his horse and knelt before King Shengri, holding a roll of paper with both hands. “My lord asks for King Shengri to spare the Dragon King’s life. He’s on his way to meet the Khan and will soon get the royal decree of mercy.”
King Shengri hummed and did not take the letter out of Liman’s hands. “King Rizhu has overreached his authority. Does he take the whole Royal Court as his Naihang tribe?”
“My lord never meddles in others’ businesses. King Shengri will know that after reading this letter.”
King Shengri seized the letter from Liman’s hands and with a quick glance, his expression immediately changed. “How dare you…”
“Please think twice, King Shengri. The Khan’s royal decree will come soon.”
Gu Shenwei listened from a distance and began to wonder what was written in the letter which could make King Shengri both angry yet intimidated enough to not vent openly.
Wild Horse made a few gestures with his remaining arm, showing that he had been ordered to do the deed. But he was unwilling to do so, so his gestures were stiff and simple.
Gu Shenwei was a little surprised at what he learned.
Those one thousand female soldiers of the Land of Fragrance had rushed into the Office of King Shengri and kidnapped several disciples of the Essence Pavilion.
And the letter Liman brought was not written by King Rizhu but the Second Consort.
King Shengri tore up the letter, turned his head, and again seeked hints from the two hunchbacks.
Gu Shenwei found that the situation had become more dangerous.
The Second Consort knew that the disciple of the Essence Pavilion had a great influence on King Shengri but she knew nothing about those freaks. She might be able to blackmail King Shengri if she could kidnap all of them in one fell swoop, but catching only a few might just backfire.
The disciples of the Essence Pavilion didn’t care about others’ lives nor their own. In order to get the legacy of Immortal Peng and Chu Nanping, those two hunchbacks would not mind sacrificing several of their fellow disciples.
“King Shengri, I have a suggestion,” Gu Shenwei shouted. He had to take back control of the situation before the hunchbacks could make a decision.
“Say it.” King Shengri’s short answer didn’t hide his hesitation.
“We might as well suspend the fight to save lives, as I want to bet on the time.”
“Bet on the time?”
“One match. If I win, please don’t take any action for the time being until the Khan issues a royal decree. If I lose, I will first hand over the legacy of Immortal Peng.”
King Shengri knew exactly what to do without the two hunchbacks’ hint. Like the disciples of the Essence Pavilion, he believed that the treasure the Dragon King had taken away from Immortal Peng was the secret scrolls of the highest level of hypnosis, with which he could control more people.
“Two hours, I will only wait two hours.”
Liman nodded slightly to the Dragon King, indicating that two hours were enough.
“Two hours,” Gu Shenwei agreed.
Old Man Mu leaned forward and whispered, “Dragon King, are you sure that the Khan will let us go? You can actually save several people in two hours. I don’t care, but look at Red Bat. She’s so scared that she’s about to cry. And those ten guards, they are very loyal to you, It would be a heartbreak to lose any of them.”
Before Gu Shenwei could say anything, King Shengri had already sent out his player. This time, he had given up on the dead silent kung fu experts of the Central Plains and instead chosen a Norland warrior who was well-prepared.
The man was dressed as an ordinary cavalryman, but he was the one who had killed the disciple of the Kongdong Sect in one blow when the other side was trying to attack King Shengri.
Gu Shenwei asked Old Man Mu, “I heard that you’ve invented a set of finger technique called the Seven Circles Seven Apertures Heart Stopping Finger and that you can inject a strand of Qi into the other side’s body from a position other than the acupoints?”
“Yes, I’ve taught the good girl and the good girl passed it to Lotus. Does the Dragon King also want to learn it? I can teach you at any time, anywhere. I will not hide anything.”
“Now.”
“Hmm?” Old Man Mu didn’t quite understand the meaning of ‘now.’ The warrior appointed by King Shengri was pressing forward step by step, and there was not much time to even recite a few words of the manual, not to mention practice it until one could use it skillfully.
The warrior stopped ten paces away and said in a hoarse voice, “Saber, fist, and internal energy. Please choose one, Dragon King.”
“Internal energy.” Gu Shenwei immediately decided.
