Chapter 695: Escaping From the Camp
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Gu Shenwei had chosen the best time to escape. In the distance, the kings and generals were still raising their prices in an attempt to buy over the soldiers, drawing in all the attention like the center of a whirlpool. Near the main tent, more than a hundred rider less horses were being driven forward to act as the vanguard. They were followed by nearly three hundred officers running eastward towards where there were relatively few soldiers.
Initially out of habit, the behavior of the soldiers, which at first had appeared so methodical, now demonstrated the disadvantages in their lack of command. Everyone believed that there was strength in numbers so the soldiers had all gathered where there were the most people, unconsciously leaving a huge hole in their line.
It was then that the kings in the center of the whirlpool finally realized that something wasn’t right. These soldiers weren’t listening to anything they said, and were only growing further incensed bythe false accusations that they the kings were leveling against each other.
Someone began to turn around to retreat but no one could not find a way around.
Gu Shenwei looked into the distance and saw King Riying, who was running in a hurry with his two entourages and about to run into the crowd.
The gap in the encirclement wouldn’t last long, and the fugitive officers would be noticed soon. Their chance was fleeting, and Gu Shenwei had to make a choice in the blink of an eye.
He turned his horse around and rushed to King Riying. He knew little about this new lord but he believed in his counselor, and wouldn’t abandon the ally chosen by Fang Wens.h.i.+ this easily.
Shangguan Fei looked at the Dragon King’s back in surprise and really wanted to beg him not to cause himself more trouble. They had almost managed to get away, so why would he return just to take on the same risks again?
Like the Dragon King, Shangguan Fei also had to make a decision in a very short time. He wanted to show his loyalty but also didn’t want to risk his life so he shouted out — “h.e.l.lo everybody, the Dragon King is the one that saved your life.”
Azheba and his followers had already noticed the Dragon King’s unexpected behavior. And after hearing what Shangguan Fei said, a score of officers immediately rode forward to catch up. Shangguan Fei gritted his teeth and followed close behind. This, after all, was much safer than going out on a venture alone with the Dragon King.
More and more soldiers were a.s.sembling together and there was a general sentiment about what was about to happen. Some of them had even drawn their weapons but none had yet made a move. They still needed to be led or stimulated into action.
No one was leading this army, but the stimulus was unending.
King Zuori, who was the first to start publicly buying over soldiers, had lost his mind in the dispute. He drew his saber and pointed at Wucuo who had just been held here. “This is the mole who betrayed the Commandant. Look, I’ll avenge the Commandant right now!”
It was too crowded so King Zuori’s first slice wasn’t particularly accurate. He cut Wucuo’s shoulder and blood spilled out, but he didn’t die. As he dodged into the crowd, he cried out, “The mole is Tuershan!”
Evidence and proof were no longer important. Taking action was the only way to show his stance, so King Zuori waved his saber at the new commandant.
Tuershan wasn’t Wucuo. He also unsheathed his saber and roared, “Who dares court death?”
King Zuori froze on the spot, and there was a moment’s worth of silence. During which, Tuershan finally lost his cool and let out a torrent of abuse. “Motherf.u.c.ker, I am the Commandant! Everyone must obey my orders, and I’ll tear anyone who dares deny that into a million pieces!”
King Zuori overcame the fear in his heart and exclaimed, “See, this is the mole!”
And like that, the scuffle began. First, it had been the kings and generals, then the crowd of the officers, and finally the 70,000 soldiers of the Court Attendants Army. Initially, many people were trying to open up a pa.s.sageway to escape, but the situation quickly degenerated into a bedlam filled with purposeless and senseless killing.
Gu Shenwei had come on horseback so the soldiers instinctively gave way.
There was no fear shown on King Riying’s broad face, as it was filled with despair and grief. This wasn’t the Court Attendants Army he was familiar with and also wasn’t the force he wanted to fight for.
“I…”
“Get on the horse!” ordered Gu Shenwei. There was no time to talk in this situation.
The two attendants immediately pushed the lord onto the horse so that he was sitting behind the Dragon King. Gu Shenwei had just turned around when the scuffle began and started spreading towards him like a prairie fire. He could even clearly see the change of expression in the soldiers, which turned from blankness and solemneness to fury and madness.
In the field of soldiers, the s.h.i.+ny sharp scimitars appeared like tips of gra.s.s that had suddenly popped out and jabbed toward the sky.
Gu Shenwei urged the horse to move forward while King Riying shouted, “My attendants…”
Gu Shenwei did not slow down, and soon after came a scream.
Countless scimitars flew at him. Gu Shenwei blocked the nearest ones and squeezed the horse with his legs even harder to force it to outrun the gaining giant teeth of death.
Before the situation spun completely out of control, Gu Shenwei finally joined back up Azheba and the others.
The officers who had fled eastward had grabbed the soldiers’ attention. Gu Shenwei slightly adjusted their direction and galloped towards the North. Azheba soon caught up and led the way for the Dragon King, bypa.s.sing tents and avoiding hordes of soldiers.
The soldiers were no longer observing their silent vigil. They chased the officers while shouting something in the Norland language that Gu Shenwei did not understand.
Their party was only one step ahead of the devastating ‘hurricane.’
When he looked back, Gu Shenwei saw that the ant-like soldiers were ‘consuming’ their prey with amazing speed. And for some unknown purpose, the soldiers would behead every man they killed and then hurl the head into the air.
Countless heads rose and fell which was horrifying image, and yet it carried with it a touch of joy as if the soldiers were celebrating a festival and the heads were toys of celebration.
Shangguan Fei also glanced back, but what he saw made him regret that decision for a lifetime.
The officers who had fled eastward encountered endless obstacles and turned north, which coincidentally brought them to the small party of the Dragon King. Wordlessly, all the fugitives unquestioning followed behind the Dragon King.
The swis.h.i.+ng sound of arrows piercing through the air grew louder and louder. The Court Attendants Army had ended their silent mourning and restrung their bows.
With his body lowered and tightened, Gu Shenwei grabbed the rein in his left hand while his right hand gripped his saber, blocking all the arrow coming at him.
The north gate was close at hand when a voice shouted out, “Dragon King, we’re here!”
It was Fang Wens.h.i.+, who was jumping and waving at the Dragon King for help. They had long sneaked to a position near the north gate but had never found a chance to get out. And at that moment, they were surrounded by dozens of soldiers.
Lianqing glared at the encirclement with his eyes wide open like a goose protecting her little chicks, treading in circles around people such as Formless Fang Wens.h.i.+ and Red Bat. Occasionally he would strike back a soldier and what he used was surprisingly the Formless Prajna Palm.
Gu Shenwei led the 200 or so officers following him to disperse the soldiers, and someone immediately pulled the besieged up onto the horses. The ownerless horses had already run away, so they had to share the horses.
The north gate was closed and it would take some time to open it even with the efforts of more than two hundred people. Azheba took the lead and rushed to the little door on the right.
They were just one step — one person away from a safe escape.
Silver Condor, who hadn’t left the camp, was guarding at the little door with a saber in hand. Although he was alone, he alone was enough to block the fugitives for a moment and let the pursuers behind them catch up.
Gu Shenwei had once promised to spare the wing guard’s life three times and he had kept his promise twice now. But right now he couldn’t keep his promise. He held his Five Peaks Saber tightly. Instead of thinking about what sabersmans.h.i.+p he would use, he focused all his attention on hitting the target with one blow.
Silver Condor was also ready but he was ready to repay the Dragon King for one life.
As the first person the Dragon King had let go was the wing guard Red Kite, Silver Condor didn’t count it as a personal debt. But then the Dragon King had spared him in front of thousands of people, and he didn’t want to owe the other side such a favor.
Silver Condor opened the small door and vaulted over the wall before leaping to the watchtower. He looked down at the Dragon King and the others pa.s.sing through without saying anything, and then gazed into the distance at the whole Court Attendants Army camp and fell even more silent.
For Gu Shenwei, Silver Condor’s behavior was a bit strange but he didn’t have time to dwell on it. It was really a great blessing for him to be able to avoid fighting with a kung fu expert at this crucial moment of life and death.
No soldiers came after them. They were relying on the strength of a group and no one wanted to leave the camp.
Even so, the party galloped at full force about six miles before they paused at the foot of a hillock. Looking back at the camp, they all felt as if they had been cut off from the outside world for ages, with the death cries of the murdered still seemingly lingering in their ears.
Not far away was the site of the palace where the Khan had died less than ten days ago. It was empty now. The tents were still standing, but no one was there.
Though he felt a bit relieved, Gu Shenwei immediately realized that something wasn’t right. The body of King Riying, who had been sitting behind him, suddenly relaxed and turned soft.
King Riying had been shot in the back but he had bore the pain and didn’t make a sound during their entire escape. When the officers helped him down from the horse, he could not even stand on his own. Sitting on the ground, he gasped for breath before finally looking up after a long while. “You saved us all.”
Gu Shenwei glanced around and found that only a hundred and fifty or so men out of more than two hundred officers had been able to follow him out. He held no joy in his heart. Like all the other kings, he had come to the camp to get a share of the pie but ended up with escaping death through a fluke. “Everyone saved themselves.”
King Riying shook his head, unable to say anything for a long while.
Fang Wens.h.i.+, who had barely recovered from the shock, walked over and said, “We’re not far away from Your Highness’s camp. It’s not too late to get there.”
King Riying took a deep breath and slowly produced a dagger from his arms. It was already a miracle for that he had held out so far.”Give it… Give it to…”
Fang Wens.h.i.+ accepted it and gave it to the Dragon King. It was a delicate dagger with dozens of precious stones, large and small, embedded into its black sheath. “To Shulitu.”
King Riying nodded with a smile and said with the last bit of his strength, “So the Dragon King also knows him. I’m relieved.”
Gu Shenwei and Fang Wens.h.i.+ glanced at each other and said nothing. In fact, this Shulitu had been the one they really wanted to ally with. The death of King Riying was quite regrettable but it also meant there was one less obstacle.
King Riying bowed his head, dead.
Liman put the body down and said, “Shulitu is King Riying’s son. He seems to only be twelve years old.”
Gu Shenwei nodded and raised his voice, declaring to the crowd, “There are two paths before you. One is to go back to your own tribes or clans; the other is to follow me to join the new King Riying. He’s only twelve years old, so I’ll be the one keeping everyone safe.”
The Dragon King stated the situation clearly. The twelve years old kid would be a puppet and his only value was to provide the legitimacy of the Khan’s bloodline.
For the first time in hundreds of years, a foreigner was demanding allegiance from Norland n.o.bles.
The officers fell silent. This made Fang Wens.h.i.+ quite nervous, who felt that the Dragon King had chosen the wrong time.
Finally one of the officers loudly proclaimed, “I choose to go home but I am not ungrateful. I’ll definitely repay the Dragon King’s favor in the future.” Then he said his name as well as the tribe he belonged to and left.
Eight other imitators followed one by one. When it was Liman’s turn, he stood in front of the crowd, drew his saber, held it above his head, and knelt on one knee to the Dragon King.
Azheba was hesitating. Finally, his eyes fell upon King Riying’s corpse, and he drew his saber, imitated Liman’s posture, and knelt before the Dragon King.
The rest of the officers looked at the two and no one moved.