Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
After hearing Silver Condor’s report, the Khan, who smiled and said nothing, gestured for the wing guard to help him up. Then he paced about slowly in the spacious and comfortable bedchamber with his gaze sweeping across the pretty slaves’ faces.
“Go and get the Dragon King. Let me see if I can persuade this unconvinced madman.”
Silver Condor would have been surprised if the words had come from someone else, but towards the Khan, he could only unconditionally obey. He bowed and retreated without making a judgment or wondering how would the Dragon King react to the strange scene.
Gu Shenwei habitually reached for his saber but touched nothing with his right hand, instantly remembering that he had left his weapon in the Dragon Army’s camp. He nodded to greet the Khan without kneeling down.
Although the Khan was the Lord of the Prairie and the real manipulator of the Western Regions, and was therefore rightfully worshiped by all the kings, Gu Shenwei still felt it was unnecessary for him to kneel, especially since the Khan was receiving him on such a casual occasion.
The Khan sat on the edge of his bed and was dressed in only a loose robe with an open front that revealed a gaunt, hairy chest. He was surrounded by five female slaves. One was at the back providing support and massaging his shoulders, two on each side rubbing his hand, and the remaining two softly pounding his legs. All of them did their duties with great care as if what they touched was a precious and fragile porcelain antique.
The slaves themselves wore simple dresses, leaving most of their bodies bare. They fixed their eyes on their fingers and turned a blind eye to all other things as if there was nothing in the world more valuable than the old Khan’s skin that was in front of them.
The Khan rose and walked slowly towards the Dragon King. “The Taoist priests of the Central Plains said that I could gain longevity from women. I loved hearing that but I don’t believe it. Good medicine is always bitter. I’ve gained too much pleasure from women so such happiness should have hidden poison; how can it bring me longevity? I’ve tried their method, but unfortunately, I can’t reach the realm of plucking yin to nourish yang. So I understand that the Taoists are making excuses for indulgence. With a goal that is hard to achieve, what they are obsessed with is actually the repeating process of the failure. If all failures are so pleasurable, then no one would want to succeed.”
Having said these words, the Khan happened to stop by the Dragon King, so he naturally raised his arm and allowed the Dragon King to assist him before he paced back and forth again in his bedchamber. “There’s not much pleasure for an old man. I already feel very happy when I open my eyes every morning and find myself still alive and able to get up with the help of others. If my ‘spear’ is still able to rise, it is a happy day for me. I don’t have too many happy days anymore, but today is one. See, it’s her who brings me happiness.”
The Khan’s eyes fell on the female slave who had knelt by the bed and massaged his shoulder. The female slave lowered her head and blushed a bit.
Gu Shenwei didn’t know what to say, but he finally understood where the Second Consort’s style of speaking had come from. She must have learned a lot in her career of pleasing the Khan.
“She hates me.”
The Khan’s casual remark frightened all five of the slaves, who immediately fell to their knees at once, trembling but not daring to argue.
“Fear is the vanguard of hatred. So you see, they all hate me.”
The Khan turned and paced to the door again, continuing, “It’s quite normal. They’re from tribes that used to be hostile to me. As a punishment, these tribes have to offer me a different number of maidens every two or three years. They all come from prestigious families, who were served at home but the only thing they can do here is to serve me. I have to thank those tribes who brought me many disasters when I was young. Even while the pleasures I can enjoy dwindle, my hatred towards them never abates. And the thought that they are the daughters of my enemies makes me feel alive again and even hardens my ‘spear,’ and it’s all due to them that I can still prove that I’m still a man.”
Gu Shenwei still wasn’t able to say anything in response, so he focused on maintaining his posture of supporting the Khan. And he suddenly realized that he didn’t have an aversion to it, and even vaguely felt satisfied that he was valued by the Venerable. Under its influence, he still respected the Khan even when the other side revealed his cruel and lascivious side.
“Someone once told me about the way the Golden Roc Castle trained their killers. They instilled hatred in the mind of the disciples since they were little, making them hate their lords, their Masters, each other, and even themselves. Is that true?”
“Pretty much.” Gu Shenwei spoke for the first time.
“The method isn’t bad but it’s too extreme. The essence has the benefit of the essence but that doesn’t mean that all the dregs are all useless. Golden Roc Castle grinds iron rods into sharp needles but that still can’t beat a thick iron bar in the end.”
The Khan easily changed the topic from women to administering a country, and Gu Shenwei was finally able to interject with a few of his own words, “What if one has an iron bar in one hand and a needle in the other?”
“This is the view of many. The successive emperors have tried to do this numerous times. They recruit extensively and build up a huge army, then sift out the best of the best. With this method, they can maintain it for… about two or three generations. In the end, the dregs are still the dregs, but the essence is no longer the essence. Those who used to be warriors have degenerated so fast, and you will be filled with righteous indignation that they betrayed you. In fact, they are just like you, who got tired, slacked off, and wanted to rest.”
“There is no solution?”
“One can only use a riskier way of dividing the army and entrusting them to opposing parties. In a life-and-death environment, they dare not slacken, and the soldiers will naturally not degenerate.”
“This is really risky.”
“Haha, yes. With an army in hand, everyone feels entitled to climb to the top, and that ambition is even stronger when the highest is an old man who is not dead when he ought to be.”
“The Khan won’t let that happen.”
“No.” The Khan’s answer was surprisingly firm, and not at all as wordy as his previous responses. Then he sighed and pointed to the bed, beckoning for the Dragon King to help him back to his original position. “But I’m old, and I feel increasingly powerless to stop it.”
The Khan sat down, his back hunched and his outline no difference from that of an ordinary old man’s.
The five female slaves came up. The Khan’s right hand, which was holding onto the edge of the bed, moved a bit, and the female slaves immediately took the hint. They retreated to the corners and stood there silently, observing the Lord’s every move with their peripheral vision.
“Let me ask you a few questions.”
“Please.”
Gu Shenwei stood in front of the Khan like a humble student, as he did believe that he could learn a lot from this old man.
The Khan did not ask right away but instead looked up at the Dragon King and suddenly said, “Sit down.”
Two female slaves quietly appeared like a ghost and brought a campaign chair forward. Gu Shenwei then sat down so that the Khan didn’t have to look up at him.
“When you fought with the Golden Roc Army at Xiaoyao Lake, many of your men, including those you thought most loyal, were secretly sending messages to the Norland. There was so much information sent over that I haven’t even finished reading it yet.”
“I know that.”
“Do you know about it generally or the details?”
“Half-and-half.”
“But you didn’t execute any of them, and some of them were even rewarded, which made me very curious. It was one of the topics I wanted to ask you about the most and it is also the reason why I invited you here.”
“The rewards were handed out as compensation for the ones who garnered merit during the fight.”
“What about those who were not executed?”
“Just as the Khan said, the dregs are not all useless. The Dragon Army is too weak and there’s not much I can waste.”
“Huh, you’re hiding the truth. I don’t think that you would have thought of that before I said it. Curiosity is one of the few pleasures I have left, so tell me the real reason.”
The Khan had taught him a lesson and so he should return the favor. Gu Shenwei thought for a moment before saying, “My world is different from the Khan’s.”
“Mmm.”
“The Norland people have an innate sense of loyalty to the Khan, and they feel an obligation to live accordingly. Betrayal is actually an abnormal act, and everyone has the right to punish the betrayer.”
“Right, this is my world. Even before I could speak, people had already pledged allegiance to me. So, what’s your world like?”
“In my world, everyone is self-interested and there’s no so such thing as loyalty or betrayal. I can’t protect everyone, and they won’t be loyal to me unconditionally. To me, loyalty is an aberration, and I will cherish it whenever I can find it. As for occasional betrayals, I can tolerate them as long as they are not blatant. After all, it’s a natural reaction that normal people have in the face of a crisis. Everyone will leave themselves an extra way out, as do I. I must have at least one backup whenever I make a plan.”
“It doesn’t sound like a good world, but the Dragon King doesn’t seem to mind it at all.”
“What’s the use of being angry? It will only completely drive those half-hearted subordinates into joining my enemies.”
“Weakness and kindness also encourage betrayal; you should not take it for granted that your good intentions will be rewarded.”
“I have no good intentions. The Khan said that I didn’t execute any of the betrayals, that’s not accurate. I killed several overt traitors, and I have always believed that strength is the most compelling reason for loyalty, which is also why I came to the Royal Court.”
The Khan sighed wearily. “I have experienced many betrayals. But even in my most miserable and difficult moments, there was still someone I could trust.”
“The strength of the Khan is inherent.”
“Hehe, it’s all thanks to my ancestors for bequeathing their power to me. I’ll also enhance it and leave it for the next Khan.”
“The new Khan must be grateful for that.”
“Maybe. I don’t even remember what the last Khan, my father, looked like. Does the Dragon King like women?”
The Khan suddenly switched the topic back to women, Gu Shenwei didn’t know how to reply. “Well, within the normal range.”
“That means that you like them. I heard that the Unique King used to be a lecherous person but decided to abstain from lust a few years ago in order to compete for the Western Regions, which was the right decision. Can you imagine it if I couldn’t do whatever I pleased until I was forty-five years old? But Heaven is fair. Although my ‘seeds’ can’t blossom and bear fruit anymore, it has not dried up, which is a kind of compensation.”
Gu Shenwei didn’t say anything. He didn’t feel that he had personally suffered any losses so therefore, he did not want any compensations.
“Can the Dragon King also abstain from lust like the Unique King?”
It was more like an expectation than a question. The Khan had not even suggested an invitation but had already assumed that the Dragon King was his subordinate, and this was a request.
“Yes.” Gu Shenwei found it impossible to refuse.
A female slave came out with a wooden tray and a paper folded in half on it.
“Golden Roc Castle always goes to the extreme in everything. You don’t have to abstain from lust completely. Choose the one you like most and take her along with you.”
Confused, Gu Shenwei picked up the paper, opened it, and saw a series of familiar names: Shangguan Ru, Lotus, Queen Ju, Xu Yanwei, Luo Ningcha, Tie Linglong, Red Bat…”
