714 Fac (1/2)
Fang Wenshi had rendered outstanding services, but he had also landed the Dragon King in a tricky situation.
”The Queen was very brave and gained the Second Consort's trust all on her own. I think that the Dragon King should take the time and visit her whether it is for your public or private interests.”
Gu Shenwei couldn't help but doubt whom the counselor's 'brilliant plan' had been designed for, but he had to admit that the Dragon Army was ultimately the biggest beneficiary. ”I will,” he replied.
After Fang Wenshi took his leave, Gu Shenwei sat alone for a while before going to meet Shulitu. On the way over, he called Mo Lin to come with him.
This twelve-year-old kid, who had already acquired three 'king' titles and had been tested on the battlefield on the first day, always behaved very calmly and maturely, which surprised many people.
”I was looking forward to meeting with the Dragon King,” he said with a weak voice reminiscent of a little girl's, but with a tone that was neither humble nor pushy, which forced people to not underestimate him.
The guards and attendants sensibly retreated. Nie Zeng and Han Wuxian did not respond. They stayed with Shulitu as though they were his men.
”You seem to have changed your mind.” Gu Shenwei didn't treat the other side as a kid.
”It's hard to tell.” Shulitu took a glance at the Khan's ex-wing guard standing next to the Dragon King and continued saying, ”But the fact that Silver Condor is standing on the Dragon King's side does increase my faith in you.”
”Your Highness knows me?” Mo Lin was a bit surprised. He remembered that he had only seen the great-grandson of the Khan once long ago, when Shulitu had only been five or six years old.”
”Someone already told me what you look like. Actually, I remember you personally. The Khan trusted you a lot, more than most of his children and grandchildren.”
The description would have been a dire threat if it was said by a grown-up king, but when said by the twelve-year-old Shulitu, it was more like a sincere compliment. Mo Lin slightly bowed his head to receive the honor. ”My original name is Mo Lin.”
”You no longer call yourself Silver Condor?”
”Mmm, I won't serve the second Khan. My only duty in this world now is to avenge the old Khan, destroy the Waning Moon Hall, and kill the Master Commander Lotus.”
Sitting on a soft couch, Han Wuxian, who had taken off her uniform and garland, held her long hair and looked up, saying, ”Yo, you seem to be very confident. But the Waning Moon Hall is mine. Let's see how you will 'destroy' it.”
Han Wuxian's voice was as gentle as an innocent girl's, but Mo Lin felt like his blood freeze and his right hand uncontrollably reaching for his saber hilt.
”This is Han Wuxian, the Hall Leader of Waning Moon Hall,” Gu Shenwei introduced.
Mo Lin retracted his hand but didn't lower his vigilance at all. He corrected his words and restated, ”I'll kill all the disciples who are loyal to Lotus.”
Han Wuxian's smile grew bigger and her voice became even more ethereal. ”I like you.”
Mo Lin did not dare answer. The one he admired more from all this was the Dragon King, who was bold enough to join hands with this madwoman.
Shulitu looked at the Dragon King and said, ”May I say something?”
”Go ahead.” Gu Shenwei replied.
”Maybe I was wrong. The Dragon King might really be innocent and all the plots might have been planned by that Lotus and the Waning Moon Hall. But that doesn't change the fact that you are still a foreigner. How am I supposed to believe you have no ambition in taking over the Prairie?”
Gu Shenwei shook his head and said, ”There's another fact that has never changed. Although you have an army, you do not have any security and your life is in my hands. So I don't have to prove if I'm ambitious or not; however, you, you have to prove you are a sensible man worthy of being my ally.”
Shulitu was obviously enraged, but even then he did not make a scene like an ordinary kid. Instead, he looked quietly at the Dragon King and then turned to glance at Nie Zeng and Han Wuxian beside him.
Nie Zeng did not speak, but his face had become stern. Han Wuxian indifferently sighed and said, ”I was glad when you tried to win me over and I hope that you can continue to do so in the future, but that won't make me soft. I can promise you, you would not be the first cute kid to die in my hands.”
Shulitu blushed a little. For the last night, he had racked his brains for ways to appease and please Nie Zeng and Han Wuxian, and for a time he thought that he had a chance of convincing the two to pledge allegiance to him. But it turned out that Han Wuxian had remained ruthless and Nie Zeng also had not wavered.
”I'm impressed by the Dragon King's subordinates.” Shulitu wanted to cover up his disappointment, but he was still a twelve-year-old kid after all and his voice was full of unrestrainable bitterness and jealousy.
Neither Nie Zeng nor Han Wuxian were true loyalists, but Gu Shenwei did not intend on explaining the complex relationship between them. He just wanted the precocious kid to understand the truth. ”You have to work hard to survive.”
All of a sudden, the Dragon King had become as majestic, as terrifying, and as annoying as his grandpa, the old King Riying.
Shulitu's face turned even redder, and he looked down a little bit. This was his usual reaction to his grandpa, but this time he summoned up enough courage to say what he would not have dared say to his grandpa. ”What else do I have at the end other than my life?”
”It depends on your ability. You may gain warriors who are truly loyal to you, the reputation that you are a worthy descendant of the Khan, and maybe even the whole prairie.”
Shulitu's face was not just red, but also warm now. ”Will you let me act on my own?”
”I've never bound your hand or foot.”
Shulitu took another look at Nie Zeng and Han Wuxian. Indeed, the two only protected him and prevented him from committing suicide, but had never restricted him from seeing anyone.
”I'll think about it.” Shulitu reminded himself to stay calm and that he didn't need to answer right away.