583 Contending for the Dragon King (1/2)
Sometimes timing was more important than speed. Gu Shenwei and Chu Nanping exhibited this idea perfectly after seizing the moment and cooperating perfectly.
There were actually some experts next to King Shengri, but the two who had reacted the fastest were blocked by Chu Nanping's dual swords. And the others had only managed to bend their bows and draw their sabers by the time Gu Shenwei had gotten into position. No one dared to make a move at that point, for fear of injuring the king by mistake.
Although King Shengri was subdued, he appeared calmer than his subordinates. He would not believe that the Dragon King would really dare to use his saber on him, so he raised his hand to stop the senseless shouts of the crowd. ”Ever since my tenth birthday, this has been the first time someone has hugged me from behind. Dragon King, do I look like a woman to you? I'm afraid that I'm a bit too old and not as fresh and tender as the kid you're fostering.”
”To me, King Shengri is more attractive than any woman.”
”Haha, how sweet. Alas, women love it, and so do men.”
The cavalrymen looked at each other in mute amazement. The Dragon King, who was known for killing, and their lord, who was ranked second in the Norland, were actually flirting with each other in public. They did not remember their lord having such a hobby.
Gu Shenwei's voice was low when he mentioned the disciples of Essence Pavilion before, so his words were completely drowned in the noise. King Shengri was the only one who had heard it. He neither acknowledged nor denied it. Instead, his jokes had changed the atmosphere while also being a hint.
Gu Shenwei jumped off the horse. He had never drawn his saber from beginning to end. ”King Shengri needs a better horse.”
”Even the best horse can't bear two 'kings.'” King Shengri held up the feather on his helmet, ”The Dragon King's attendant really can't come with me?”
For the disciples of Essence Pavilion, the most important figure was actually Chu Nanping, who had comprehended how to practice the Emotionless Swordsmanship alone.
Gu Shenwei firmly shook his head. ”He's timid. Unless I forge the way ahead, he's not going anywhere.”
”What a pampered attendant. The Dragon King is really kind to him.”
”I have no choice. It's not easy to find an irreplaceable entourage.”
Chu Nanping was used to being judged on his appearance, so he turned a deaf ear to everything and instead focused on decoding the Dragon King's hint. He knew that he could leave now, so he put away his dual swords and slowly retreated.
The impregnable wall of cavalrymen did not make way for him. They all looked at King Shengri, waiting for his order.
King Shengri kept staring at the Dragon King and finally nodded when Chu Nanping was about to run into a horse in his way. ”It's been an honor to meet the Dragon King.”
The cavalry also understood their lord's intention and immediately gave way. Chu Nanping melted away into the last bit of dark before dawn and didn't worry about the Dragon King's safety at all.
omeone offered a horse to the Dragon King. As they traveled, King Shengri now appeared more genial. He kept making vulgar jokes all the way, and Gu Shenwei responded now and then, which always resulted in King Shengri's laughter.
If someone hadn't blocked them on the way, they would have reached the destination in peace and harmony, and the cavalrymen would have thought that the previous tension was just a joke.
It was already bright now, but strangely enough, there were not many pedestrians on the road. They soon understood the reason.
A great troop of cavalry, much larger than that of King Shengri, had blocked the entrance to the slums.
King Riyao, who ranked seventh in the Norland, had also come in person.
Gu Shenwei had met this king once before but they had never had a chance to talk that time. He only knew that he was King Shengri's younger brother, and that he had been a centrist in the fight for the throne. As the final moment approached, his tendency began to manifest itself. He wholeheartedly supported his nephew, King Kuari.
King Riyao, who was nearly fifty years old, was as stocky as his brother King Shengri but there was no trace of an excessive drinking problem. With a serious look, he said, ”Second brother, I'm here to beg you.”
The two kings rode to greet each other with friendly faces. The cavalrymen behind them, however, behaved as if they were facing a formidable enemy, readying themselves for battle.
”Hey little bro, don't you have any more wine at home? You came to the right person.” King Shengri couldn't remember how many younger brothers he had, so he called all of them 'little bro'.
”Hehe, that's true. Second brother has tons of good wine at home, I'm afraid there's no one who has more wine than you. But I'm not here to ask for wine, rather a person.”
”That's also not a problem. All the women in my family, except the princess consort, are at your disposal. I have four or five daughters who are not yet married, and I'm kind of worried right now.”
Wine and women were the two shields of King Shengri. He could use them to fend off all disagreeable topics.
King Riyao didn't want to beat around the bush anymore. ”Second brother, please give the Dragon King to me.”
”Eh? The Dragon King is neither a woman nor a good wine, so why would little bro want him?”
”The Dragon King killed one of my men. I need to know why.”
King Shengri had seemed to know nothing about the corpses on the ground not long ago, but now he seemed to know all about them, ”Is it that guy who calls himself Gu Da but his real name is Gu Feng?”
”Exactly. He's a master who I spent a lot of money to hire and yet he died for no real purpose. Do you think that I don't care? The Dragon King is our honored guest, and he has promised to not kill …”
King Shengri waved his hand, ”Well, little bro, you're so easily offended. It's just a warrior, like a dog or horse, there's no big deal in losing one. I know you have a lot more.”
”It's not about how many I have. I would have nothing to say if he died in the arena, but …”