628 Banque (1/2)
The Khan silently observed the young man in front of him with curiosity showing on his weary face, as if the list were a joke that even he himself found lame.
But Gu Shenwei knew that this was not a joke. He folded the paper back in half, put it back in the tray, and after the female slave walked away, said, ”I am prepared to give up everyone, but I won't accept any threats.”
The Khan abruptly rose up as swiftly as a young man, and even his slightly hunched back straightened up a bit, though only for a short while. ”It's really a pity that you would take this as a threat. I just wanted to help a young hero find himself. Believe in a dying man's experience. The things you see as more important than your life now will soon become as light and worthless as dust. Do not be fooled by women; all you love is their body, and there are countless beautiful bodies out there for you to explore.”
The Khan spread out his arms, and the female slaves quickly came forward and deftly changed his robe into a light military uniform. Then he stretched out his right arm, waiting for the Dragon King's help.
Gu Shenwei felt his right hand become restless. No matter how reasonable the Khan's words were, they were a threat to him.
He stepped forward to support the weak old man.
”You don't have to make a choice now. Let's go to the banquet. I don't want anyone to think that we're up to something. The Royal Court is wilder than a bull in heat. Even a little ominous sniff could drive it mad.”
”The Khan knows everything?” Since he didn't have to make a choice right away, Gu Shenwei pretended that the list didn't exist at all and took the chance to change the topic.
”Oh, I know everything I need to know about.”
The two walked out of the tent. The summer evening was strangely bright outside.
Hordes of servants, guards, and cavalry were waiting outside, the vast majority of whom were born as nobility but had chosen to serve the Khan between the ages of fifteen to twenty-five. Like the female servants in the tent, they had left their comfortable homes, put on whole sets of armors, and stood guard in the dust of the summer days to wait for an old man. The only difference was that they all felt honored about it.
Gu Shenwei could feel the blazing eyes staring at him without even raising his head. It seemed he was getting more attention than the Khan from the crowd, the eyes of whom, were full of envy and indignation. As a man of the Western Regions and a nominal king, he was actually able to walk side by side with the Khan and could even hold the Khan's arm. Whereas these hundreds of well-dressed guards might not be able to get a single glance from the Khan even up to the day they retired.
The Khan's left hand stayed in the air for a few more moments in order to dismiss the crowd. The close bodyguards like Silver Condor retreated first, then the noble servants, and finally the loyal cavalry.
Gu Shenwei held the Khan as they slowly walked forward. About ten steps ahead of him, two eunuchs directed the road like sneaky thieves, making sure they were not noticed by the Khan. Far behind him was his group of bodyguards and calvary.
All of them were on horseback. They tried to control the mounts in order to keep pace with the Khan while being ready to rush in at the fastest speed if necessary, which rarely happened, though they were still ready at all times.
The Khan continued what he was saying as if he were still pacing in his tent, indifferent to the tension he had caused. ”It's very difficult to find a suitable heir. It was said that the process of my inheritance of the title of Khan was the smoothest in the past hundred years, but I still had to kill many people.”
Anyone would go mad with jealousy if they heard the Khan talking about succession to a foreigner. Gu Shenwei, however, was speechless. He had gradually come to understand the Khan's way of speaking and knew that this was only the beginning and that his real intention had not yet been revealed.
”Now it's finally someone else's turn to try to kill me.”
”They can only think about it.”
”Hehe, wanting to do it is only half a step away from really doing it. I used to have a sharp nose that could smell out even the slightest smell of conspiracy, but it has lost its keen sense recently because there are so many plots that it's impossible to distinguish them from one another. The women in my bed, the guards outside my tent, the counselors and people who have sworn allegiance to me and my families who have my blood flowing in their bodies: all of them are counting the days until my death. I'm very happy to look at their disappointed faces. But they've blocked my nose and let some of the more intrepid fishermen fish in troubled waters.”
”The Central Plains once entrusted me to assassinate the Khan.”
”I know. You are smart for revealing it before you came here. I also know that you didn't refuse the Central Plains. Don't try to explain. I'm a stubborn old man and I don't like others disagreeing with my guesses. You did the right thing. You are not from the Central Plains and also not a man of the Norland, so why should you be loyal to one side for no reason? 'It's a natural reaction for normal people to leave themselves an extra way out in the face of a crisis.' See, I still remember your words. You can forgive your men, and I also have no reason to punish you.”
”I don't need a route of retreat anymore.”
”Hehe, young man, don't feel wronged and desperate about your present situation. You are still young and it's normal to walk on a path planned by others. Ever since I inherited the title of Khan when I was less than twenty years old, I have been moving forward in the cracks. My enemies led the way and my friends pushed behind me. It was like they were my legs and had decided where I was going. I finally found some freedom and was able to take my own way and could occasionally arrange a way for others when I was nearly fifty years old.”
”The Khan has arranged a way for me?”
”Strictly speaking, it's not for you. But I hope I to see you on this road: you and a woman.”
The Khan especially emphasized the word 'a,' then he broke away from the Dragon King's hold and straightened his back, accepting the many kowtows of his descendants and nobles.
They had gone to the banquet.
Gu Shenwei moved five steps to the right, a delicate position that seemed to be the foothold of the servant and the guard, and also a position where he could avoid the ritual of kowtow.