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Chapter 572: Loyalty

“Alliances require a lot of give and take. The Second Consort has expressed her sincerity, and it’s your turn now. You’d better figure out the assassination plan of Golden Roc Castle, and then everyone will be happy.”

Luo Ningcha walked close to Gu Shenwei, stopping when she was just about to cling to him. She gently took the covenant away as her fingers softly caressed his chest before she suddenly pushed him away forcefully and giggled. “Stop dreaming. I won’t let you lay a finger on me unless you marry me as your queen openly.”

Gu Shenwei hadn’t intended to touch her but for a moment, his breath became heavy. It was an instinctual response that appeared regardless of whether its owner held deep grudges, was in a crisis, or had fallen in love. When it was time, it always dominantly established its existence like a pet who never had enough to eat.

He would satisfy it every now and then, but this time he just wanted to viciously kick it back down.

“How should I contact you in the future? It will be way too troublesome if we do this every time.”

“Hmm, I’ll be staying here for two nights, so you can come to me at any time then but don’t come too late.” Luo Ningcha was very pleased because she had achieved all her goals. She was particularly excited by the fact that she was a key figure in a conspiracy that would change the world.

Gu Shenwei left without asking any more questions as he couldn’t get the information he wanted from her. Luo Ningcha thought that she was very important, but she was really just a pawn in the Second Consort’s hands, a pawn that could be casually discarded after being used.

The night was deep and dark, a killer’s favorite time to act. Gu Shenwei stood in the shadow for awhile, and Lotus appeared.

“Keep an eye on her. See where she’s going, who she meets, and who serves her.”

Lotus gently nodded. She was just about to leave when Gu Shenwei added, “She’s still useful.”

Lotus had tried to assassinate Luo Ningcha on her last day at Golden Roc Castle. As time passed, she had become much more in control of her feelings than before. She nodded again without showing any signs of emotion.

The night was not yet over, and Gu Shenwei did not want to return to the camp just like this.

The whole Royal Court was shrouded in conspiracies so thick that he could almost swim in it. By following the clearest evidence trail, he went to the residence of King Zhuri alone.

Gu Shenwei assumed that Shangguan Ru and Old Man Mu had left to fetch the three Bone Shrivelling Pills. The Office of King Rizhu was indeed a good place to hide something. Everyone knew that Old Man Mu was the enemy of King Rizhu, so naturally, no one would think that he would keep his most important treasure here.

Another important reason for Gu Shenwei to come was the Second Consort, who had nearly become King Rizhu’s daughter-in-law. Luo Ningcha thought that the Second Consort’s plan and Shangguan Ru’s disappearance were of two different matters, but Gu Shenwei had found a hint from the two events.

King Rizhu had had his Flame Foal stolen because of his army’s lack of discipline. From that day on, he strengthened his vigilance and arranged patrols according to wartime standards. At that point, even a small mouse could not enter or leave his office freely.

But this evening, Gu Shenwei soon found a loophole, which confirmed his idea that King Rizhu was ‘inviting’ him in.

This might be a delicately designed trap to lure the Dragon King into the net, as breaking into the king’s office at night was obviously a breach of the agreement. With this as an excuse, the Norland could dispose of the Dragon King at will without fearing any loss of political credibility.

Gu Shenwei snuck into the camp. He had watched long enough, and it was time for him to take action.

The heavily guarded campsite had left a single passage, which was difficult for outsiders to spot. In this passage, there were still guards on patrol, but every quarter of an hour or so the two teams of soldiers would turn around and leave a momentary gap in which a daring killer could seize the opportunity to pass.

The one who had set up this passage knew the Dragon King’s style very well. Gu Shenwei immediately thought of Wild Horse. The two of them had hunted each other in the ruins for a day and a night, and as a result knew each other’s habits well.

At the end of the passage was a small tent near the main tent, which was still lit in the middle of the night.

This was a well-arranged ‘audience’s path to the king’ and only open to one person.

King Rizhu was sitting alone in the humble tent with a carefully crafted jewelry box on his knee. From time to time he took out an accessory and observed it carefully.

In front of him was placed someone’s memorial tablet, with incense smoke curling up and a lamp shining as if it were eternal.

While contemplating the accessory, King Rizhu reminisced upon the past and almost forgot that there was an important visitor coming tonight.

“Wild Horse told me, of course through someone who knew sign language, that the Dragon King would always appear behind my back no matter how vigilant I remained.” King Rizhu said as he put a hair ornament made from gold flowers back into the box without looking up.

“Who is she?” Gu Shenwei asked while standing behind King Rizhu. The person being commemorated in the tent was obviously a woman.

“My princess consort.” King Rizhu stayed silent for a moment, and with a rare sadness, he added, “Not the one killed by Old Man Mu.”

“Hmm.” There were many different views about what had caused that Princess’s death. Gu Shenwei wasn’t concerned about it at all.

“She was the Khan’s little sister. We grew up together and got married when I was seventeen and she was fifteen years old. We encountered many obstacles before marrying. The other tribes feared that the Naihang Tribe would take the chance to expand their influence so they tried every means to oppose it. It was the Khan who had stood out in the end and allowed us to marry each other.”

King Rizhu and the Dragon King had been on the verge of breaking into a fight when they had first met. On their second meeting, he talked of Gu Lun’s past. This time, he actually started talking about his dead wife. Gu Shenwei could not get a word in edgewise and could only listen in silence.

“The Khan is much older than me. The year I married, he had already received his title, quelled the rebellion, and consolidated his power. There was no need for him to please Naihang Tribe, let alone a silly boy like me. But he appreciated me and treated me like his own son. My princess died before she was twenty, and I begged the Khan, hoping that he could use his divine power to save my wife. But even he couldn’t bring someone back from the dead. But he gave me the title of King Rizhu, which by convention belonged to his favorite son.”

King Rizhu closed the box and turned to face the Dragon King. “So you can understand that I will protect the Khan at all costs. I won’t allow anyone to touch him even if he only has one breath left.”

“Was it you who sent the Second Consort to the Khan?”

“My useless son died. She was very sad and had vowed to never marry again. She also asked me to be her adoptive father. I agreed but asked her to marry Khan, so that we could protect his safety together.”

The two’s alliance was secretive. On the surface, the lecherous Khan had ‘snatched’ the Second Consort who had just lost her fiancé away, and King Rizhu had appropriately showed discontent and anger.

For more than twenty years, the two had actually been exchanging information and like this, thwarted many plots revolving around the Khan.

This time, however, they had faced a conspiracy so vast that they had to seek help from outsiders.

“Son of a bitch, bastard.” All of a sudden, King Rizhu burst out with a series of curses. This was simply his way of releasing pressure and had nothing to do with the Dragon King. “We’ve only met three times, and I’ve already revealed my biggest secret. I really don’t understand why the Second Consort values you so much.”

Initially, King Rizhu was a well-deserved leader in a small alliance formed to protect the Khan. But with the rise of the Second Consort’s status, their relations gradually reversed. Now King Rizhu was the one accepting her suggestion.

Gu Shenwei also didn’t understand. He had some wild speculations but didn’t want to mention any of them. “The situation calls for prompt action.”

“Maybe,” King Rizhu sighed helplessly. “Golden Roc Castle was originally a grasshopper. Those so-called killers didn’t dare to set foot in the Royal Court even though they were disguised. But now, someone would rather set the wolf free to save the sheep. Swarms of killers wander around the Khan and pretend to be harmless. The reason why the Second Consort needs you is most likely this reason; after all, you know them best.”

It was hard for King Rizhu to have a good impression of the Dragon King. He held a grudge against Gu Shenwei’s father. Besides, he was still rankled by the theft of the horse, not to mention that the Flame Foal hadn’t been returned until now.

“Since I’m here, you have only told me that you are loyal and desire to keep the Khan safe. You haven’t told me what you want me to do.”

“It’s simple, just kill a few people.”

The Dragon King was treated like a killer. Gu Shenwei could feel the obvious contempt in the tone. “Whether it’s simple or not has nothing to do with the number of killings but instead depends on who the targets are.”

“Hehe, it also depends on who does it. If the Dragon King’s sword and saber are really as powerful as the legend say, everything will be very simple.”

King Rizhu rarely praised the Dragon King, though he was still a bit skeptical about his ability. Gu Shenwei didn’t care, responding, “The first target is Shangguan Shaomin.”

This was the target that Luo Ningcha had revealed.

“Right. If she dies, Golden Roc Castle will lose an important layer of security when it receives the reward, but this can only delay the assassination, and not end it.”

“If you want to assassinate the Unique King next, I can only tell you I can’t make it.”

“There’s no need. If I wanted to get rid of the Unique King, I’d send my cavalry. He’s a stooge, and the whole Golden Roc Castle plays a very small role. My second target is King Kuari.”

Gu Shenwei knew there would be such an answer. King Kuari was the core of the Khan’s assassination. As long as he was still alive, the plot would change and continue evolving. “There must be a third target.”

“Yes, but I can’t tell you until these two are dead.”

“It sounds simple; kill a woman and a king to become the enemy of the whole prairie unless you and the Second Consort think of a way to save me?

“Everyone says the Dragon King is suspicious, and it’s indeed true. But you are not acting alone. I’ll send two of my people to assist you. These two will be able to prove that all your actions have my approval.”

Gu Shenwei thought for a moment before saying, “I have to see the Second Consort.” He didn’t like doing things in such a roundabout way. If he really had to form an alliance with someone, he wanted to talk to them face to face.

“As Dragon King wishes; you will see her right away.”

Gu Shenwei was a bit surprised.

King Rizhu stood up, ready to invite the Second Consort in. As he walked by the Dragon King, he handed him the jewelry box. “This is what Old Man Mu and your woman came to steal, but I assure you, they’re not in my hands.”