729 Praying (2/2)

There were forty or fifty people standing in close rows with the same attire, so it was hard to tell who the leader was. They all nodded respectfully to the Dragon King, but did not give him the courtesy a king deserved.

Nominally, the temporary master of the soldiers was Shulitu, and the Dragon King was only the Grand Mentor. While the red-crowned roc had given him an air of mystery, it had not improved his status to an exceptionally high position.

The first row of soldiers stayed silent, and the voice came from among those who could not be seen in the back. ”We petitioned the Dragon King, hoping that he would convey our words to the young prince.”

Shulitu had three titles now, so it was a bit troublesome to correctly address him. No one knew who started it, but he was commonly referred to as 'young prince' now.

”Tell me what you want.”

It was still the same voice who refused to show himself. As more and more soldiers stopped praying and gathered around, the voice continued, saying, ”The Khan is still calling his attendants but some people are not willing to follow His Majesty's orders.”

”Tell me more about it. Who are they?”

”The man next to the Dragon King is one of them.”

Azheba was startled that the soldiers of the Court Attendants Army were still trying to kill the noble officers and bury them with the Khan.

”Azheba is a marksman and one of the most valiant generals in the army.”

”He's also the attendant that the Khan needs the most.” The voice still appeared respectful but refused to give in.

”Azheba would have been out of commission in less than a year.”

”As long as he was an officer of the Khan's, he has to take responsibility for serving the Khan even if he has only one day left before retirement.”

Azheba could not stop himself from speaking out. ”You are the horsemen of the Khan and you served the Khan your whole life.”

”We are ready to go to heaven and continue fighting for the Khan, but you are not. So, you need our help, as do all the noble officers need our help.”

The argument was irrational but Azheba didn't know how to refute it. He could only grip his saber and look warily at the group of people he was trying to protect.

The assembled soldiers soon reached a hundred, and another voice spoke out. ”Dragon King, we are willing to fight for you and the young prince but our soul still belongs to the Khan.”

”Give us back the noble officers; that's the only reward we ask for.” The soldiers were getting bolder and more talkative.

Gu Shenwei raised his voice slightly. ”I've heard your request and will convey your words to His Majesty, but this is a military camp and I won't allow any internal strife to take place.

This was the Dragon King's bottom line. Azheba could clearly feel the animosity spread around him.

But no one stood out. The soldiers in the first row bowed to the Dragon King. The other soldiers then did the same and trickled away.

Azheba broke out in a cold sweat. He wasn't afraid of death, nor of the Dragon King's deadly saber and sword, but he didn't want to die to the hands of some weird soldiers for no good reason.

Gu Shenwei pointed to the nearest bonfire and motioned for Azheba to pray with the soldiers.

Azheba, who no longer had much confidence in the soldiers now, removed his saber, handed it to the Dragon King, slowly squeezed himself into the crowd, knelt down, and started murmuring the empty edict in a low voice. Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click visiting.

Slowly, a miracle happened. Azheba was drowned in the murmuring that was as tranquil as lake-water. The words came naturally out of his mouth – no longer dull and empty, but rather filled with some mysterious force. He felt as if something was pulling and lifting him up.

Azheba finally broke free of the force with all of his willpower and looked up. He realized that firewood was not the only thing burning in the bonfire, but dead soldiers' had also been thrown in.

He quietly withdrew from the crowd and followed the Dragon King and walked out of the camp of the Court Attendants Army along the same path they had come in.

After taking back his saber from the Dragon King, Azheba was finally able to speak. ”I've been in the Court Attendants Army for nine years, but I've never noticed anything this unusual about the soldiers before.”

”They are not unusual. Like most Norland people, they are just loyal to the Khan and believe that he ascended to heaven. It's just that their beliefs are more firm. But they have been used and have been unable to extricate themselves from it ever since.”

”Used? By the shamans?”

”I'll take you to them.”

The shamans had been taken prisoner and they had offered up some important information.

”There's always a remedy.” Azheba still refused to give up on the soldiers. He could free himself from the prayer, and so could the soldiers.

Gu Shenwei was just about to say something when he suddenly reached out to stop Azheba. At the same moment, the three teenage guards revealed themselves from the shadows and rushed at the same place.