830 Coercion (2/2)

”The Dragon King,” Mo Lin finally understood why Duodun had first tried to sway and then finally coerce him.

”I know you well, and I won't make you do anything that would trouble your conscience too much.” Duodun raised his head slightly as if he were talking to one of his companions. ”All you need to do is –nothing. You don't have to kill the Dragon King. Just stand by.”

”Trying to assassinate the Dragon King is a stupid idea.”

”Then you have even less to worry about. Just watch me fail.” Duodun was in a good mood. This was the first step to tame a ferocious dog – tightening the constraints step by step. And then an unpleasant thought occurred to him: he seemed to have learned this too from the previous Khan.

When Mo Lin returned to the Dragon King's tent, he was busy assigning tasks to subordinates.

After glancing briefly at Mo Lin, Gu Shenwei continued to explain to Tu Pianpian, ”These are Norland armies. I'll never use them to rescue Central Plainsmen. Go back and tell that Royal Uncle this: when the war starts tomorrow, he can take the risk to run out and keep riding eastwards. That will be his only chance.”

It seemed as if Tu Pianpian still wanted to argue, but Fan Yongda beat her to the punch and hurriedly said, ”Thank you, Dragon King. Royal Uncle will always be grateful to you for your kindness. Aunt Master and I…”

Tu Pianpian glared at him and he hurriedly shut up. Holding her crutch, the old woman thought for a while before replying, ”There's no other way, I guess. We'll leave right away. The Kongtong Sect… owes Dragon King a favor.”

Gu Shenwei nodded impassively. Before Tu Pianpian, he would never show any sign of weakness.

His head turned down, Mo Lin felt a little uneasy. The Dragon King trusted him and didn't ask him to leave before discussing confidential issues right in front of him.

Tu Pianpian and Fan Yongda took their leave. Gu Shenwei then requested Tie Linglong to protect Dugu Xian during the next day.

Tie Linglong was unhappy about his decision. ”I'm your exclusive bodyguard, Dragon King. Why do you want me to protect other people?”

”Because General Dugu will be in a dangerous situation and he will need you more than I will.”

”You're the one who will be charging at the enemies recklessly, while he's the one who be in the rear and giving out orders. How will he be in a situation more dangerous than yours?” Tie Linglong believed the Dragon King was merely trying to make an excuse to keep her away from the battlefield.

Mo Lin turned around and was about to leave, but Gu Shenwei raised his hand and signaled him to stay. Then he said to Tie Linglong, ”The rear is not necessarily a safe area. You have to trust me.”

Tie Linglong began to understand Gu Shenwei's point, and replied, ”You worry that… Okay. As long as I'm alive, nobody will be able to hurt General Dugu… again.”

”I can rest assured then.”

Tie Linglong walked out of the tent with plenty of fighting spirit in her.

”Nie Zeng.” Gu Shenwei called another bodyguard in. ”From now on, you have to stay close to Shulitu at all times.”

”Got it.” Nie Zeng didn't ask a single question, as this was a part of his duty.

Meanwhile, Wu Zongheng was in command of the 10,000-strong Dragon Army, which would be deployed in the rightmost position. Long Fanyun, as the head guard, would follow the Dragon King into battle. Those who received their assignments left the tent one by one until, at last, Mo Lin and the Dragon King were the only ones left in the tent.

Mo Lin had been curiously watching the Dragon King's mannerisms and found that although he had an expressionless face, the Dragon King's attitudes varied slightly towards each person. He was cold to Tu Pianpian, gentle to Tie Linglong, lukewarm to Nie Zeng, dignified to Wu Zongheng, and casual to Long Fanyun.

Mo Lin was slightly expectant about what attitude the Dragon King would have towards him.

This was an interesting game that he used to play a lot when he had been serving the previous Khan. Mostly because it would break the dull monotony of the boring guard work.

Gu Shenwei turned around to face Mo Lin. The look on his face was as sullen as usual, as if there was something on his mind or he was always speculating over what other people were thinking aout. This is not the kind of temperament that a king should have, Mo Lin thought even as he felt slightly guilty for it.

”I need you to do me a favor.”

The Dragon King spoke out. His tone was just as lukewarm as the one he used when he talked to Nie Zeng, and he was clearly trying to maintain a moderate distance from Mo Lin. But this sentence also faintly sounded like a request, indicating that the speaker knew that his audience had a bottom line – Mo Lin was not his subordinate and had a right to decide whether he would follow or decline the request.

”At your service, Dragon King.”

Mo Lin was surprised – the Dragon King and the previous Khan had only met each other once and externally, they were very different. But internally, they had so much in common.

On the contrary, Duodun looked exactly like the previous Khan, but they actually had completely opposing personalities.

”Commander-in-chief Mo Chu needs a bodyguard, and I think that you're the only one suitable to do it.”

Mo Lin was amazed. He didn't expect the Dragon King to assign him be Mo Chu's bodyguard. In this case, Duodun's threat seemed totally redundant. ”All right. May I ask why?”

He wouldn't have asked if he were facing the previous Khan, but the Dragon King hadn't become someone like the previous Khan just yet.

”I have a premonition, just a premonition, that there seems to be some conspiracies brewing in our camp. I need Mo Chu alive because I want to make sure that our army doesn't split.”

Mo Lin nearly blurted Duodun's plots out at this moment, but he regained control of himself and said, ”I understand. I'll keep the commander-in-chief safe.”

'The Dragon King's not the previous Khan,' Mo Lin reminded himself. 'My family members are more important than the Dragon King.'

In his tent alone, Gu Shenwei slightly missed Fang Wenshi, who had just left only a few days ago. His had a very intense foreboding feeling that there were some conspiracies underfoot, but he had no one to talk to about his suspicions.

It was past midnight by now. A gust of wind blew by outside. Gu Shenwei walked out of the tent quietly and started sneaking towards the camp of the Land of Fragrance soldier.