Bölüm 436: Savaş Ağalarının Hakimiyet Mücadelesi (3)

Bölüm 436: Savaş Ağalarının Hakimiyet Mücadelesi (3)

Chapter 436: Warlords Vying For Supremacy (3)

A ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍few days ago.

Right ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍around the time the uprising was just beginning to erupt in Guangdong Province, there was a tribe that had settled in the northern steppes, far removed from Guangdong. 

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍people of the Central Plains called them the Mierqi.

Dozens ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍of nomads urgently spurred their horses toward the Mierqi tribe’s settlement. The middle-aged warrior leading the pack practically threw himself off his horse and sprinted straight toward the massive yurt situated at the very center of the camp.

As ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍if the man inside could sense his frantic approach, a commanding voice rolled out from the tent.

"Come ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍in."

Hearing the command, the warriors guarding the entrance stepped aside.

The man who'd come running dropped to one knee the instant he stepped inside to pay his respects.

"Tribesman Namguru, greets the Khan!"

Inside the yurt sat the senior warriors of the Mierqi tribe, and at the head of the room, the Khan of the Mierqi sat upon his throne.

Though he sat like the king of a great nation, his face bore numerous scars that seemed entirely unbefitting of a king or emperor.

In truth, his entire body was covered in them.

Yet, he considered these scars to be badges of glory, for it was only through surviving countless life-or-death battles that he had managed to elevate the Mierqi tribe to its current might.

The Khan gave a single nod to Namguru, "Well then. How do things stand in the south?"

"Those cultists in the west are much tougher than they look. The war there still appears to be dragging on," Namguru reported.

At that, the warriors gathered in the tent immediately started voicing their opinions.

"O’ Khan. It seems the time has come to make a decision."

"Before the cold winter sets in, you must choose between east and west."

"If I may be so bold, this humble one believes striking west would be the wiser choice."

"Indeed. The Han bastards still hold their soldiers along the eastern border, so striking west would mean fewer losses for our warriors."

As the arguments for attacking the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's side piled up one after another, Namguru cautiously voiced his opinion. "Striking west won't be so simple either. The fortresses and walls in the west are still standing strong. More importantly, it looked to me like those fanatics have recently been sending reinforcements that way."

Namguru’s report immediately earned him scowls from the warriors pushing to attack the west.

"Is this information reliable?"

"If you're spreading false reports just to get your own way, know that there will be no forgiveness for it."

"This is a concrete intelligence gathered from my own observations of the west."

"Hah..."

Just as the pro-west faction let out a quiet sigh, the opposing side jumped right back in.

"O’ Khan. If both sides are equally well-defended, then striking east is the right call."

"Besides, our Mierqi tribe's numbers have grown far too large. If we want to feed our people through the winter, we have no choice but to raid the fertile farmlands in the east!"

As their arguments piled up, the other side fired right back.

"Those fanatics may have started bracing for war, but they're already stretched thin fighting the Han Imperial Family! Striking west is the right move!"

The yurt instantly devolved into a screaming match as the two factions locked horns.

The Khan watched the back-and-forth from the center for a moment, then gave the throne a couple of light taps.

Instantly, the bickering in the yurt fell silent.

With every eye now on him, the Khan spoke. "Do we really need to choose between the two?"

"...Are you saying you intend to strike both?"

One corner of the Khan's mouth curled upward. "Why would I do something so foolish? Do you take your Khan for an idiot?"

The warrior who'd asked the question went pale and scrambled down to his knees on the floor.

"Forgive me, I meant no disrespect! How could I ever dare to imply such a thing about you, Khan—"

"I was joking. Calm yourself."

The Khan waved a hand dismissively, looking thoroughly unbothered. He then leaned back against his throne and spoke in a relaxed tone.

"I'm well aware that even with how strong our Mierqi has grown, we're still no match for the south. So then, what do we need to do to swallow up those southerners?"

"We need to train our warriors and grow stronger!"

"How long would that take?! There are still other tribes to the west. We should absorb them first and grow our strength that way!"

The Khan let the generals gathered in the yurt toss out their various answers for a moment.

Finally, he clicked his tongue in disappointment and cut them off. "No. No, that's not it. Why do all of you insist on taking the most miserable route? There’s a much simpler way."

"???"

As everyone in the yurt exchanged confused looks, the Khan's mouth curled upward again.

"We just let the southerners weaken themselves."

With the scars covering his face and the fangs peeking out past his curled lips, his smile looked exactly like a starving wolf bearing its teeth.

"We just have to make sure their little war down south never actually ends. If it looks like the fanatics are gaining the upper hand, we shake them up and stop their advance. And if the Han bastards start gaining ground, we strike them and force them to retreat. That's all there is to it."

"...If we do this a few times, won't they eventually realiz?"

The Khan let out a derisive snort. "Those fanatics are traitors as far as the Han are concerned. Tell me, if half your tribe mutinied against you, would you suddenly ally with the traitors just because a neighboring tribe attacked your borders?"

"..."

The men had no answer to that.

A heavy silence filled the tent until another warrior cautiously broke it.

"O’ Khan. It’s a brilliant strategy, but there's one problem. It's all well and good to sit back and watch them bleed each other dry, but winter is almost here. If we don't raid them now, our women and children will starve."

"Hahaha. As expected, you're a man with a kind heart. That's an excellent point."

This time the Khan let out a hearty laugh, then immediately gave an order.

"Find me a warrior fluent in the language of the Central Plains and bring him here. I'm sending him east as an envoy. He’ll carry a letter to the Han Dynasty about our demand. Tell them that if they pay us the exact amount of grain we demand, the Mierqi tribe will gladly ride west and slaughter the Demonic Cult for them."

After saying that, the Khan turned to look at Namguru.

"You'll head back west. Find those fanatics and deliver this Khan's message. Tell them that if they hand over enough food to get us through this winter, our Mierqi tribe will personally invade the Han's border for them."

Only then did everyone gathered in the yurt realize what kind of scheme their Khan had cooked up.

While the warriors were still reeling from the cunning of it, the Khan added one last thing with a sly grin.

"Let's just sit back and watch, shall we? Let's see how many offerings the Han bastards and those fanatics end up bringing us."

***

The northern border of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

"So, you are saying that if we provide the Mierqi tribe with enough food to survive the winter, you will help us?"

Namguru answered Jong-ri Chu’s question with a smile.

"That's right. Consider it a mutually beneficial alliance."

"Hahaha. Now that's some good news to hear."

Jong-ri Chu let out a pleased laugh, then immediately put on a face full of worry. "But alas, we just don't have that much grain sitting around right now. It’s going to take a bit of time to scrape together the amount you're asking for. Would you be willing to give us a few days?"

"Hmm. In that case, how about you hand over whatever you have currently stored within this fortress?"

"Hahaha! Why, of course! That’s a given! We’ll prepare a guest quarter for you. Please, go rest your feet. I will personally call for you the moment the grain is ready."

With that, Jong-ri Chu ordered the men waiting by the entrance to escort the Namguru to a place where he could rest.

The moment Namguru left the room, James and Ohalak let out sighs of relief.

"Brilliant call, Deputy Master. With the war against the Imperial Family already stretching us thin, this should finally give us some breathing room."

"But wait... are you sure we won't get in trouble for making a deal this huge without getting the Cult Leader’s approval first?"

"Don't be ridiculous, James. It was an urgent matter where every second counted. Besides, the Cult Leader entrusted this place to the Deputy Master, so I am certain he will not hold him accountable."

Jong-ri Chu quietly watched James and Ohalak celebrate before finally cutting in.

"What kind of delusional garbage are you two spewing?"

Coming from a guy who regularly had screaming matches with invisible ghosts, it was a wildly hypocritical question, but James and Ohalak couldn't utter a single word in defense.

It was because of Jong-ri Chu’s eyes.

The pushover-like smile he'd worn just moments ago while dealing with Namguru was nowhere to be found.

Nor was it that familiar half-dazed expression he usually wore while staring off into space.

On his face was a rare cold look that they had only witnessed a few times in all their years crossing the harsh deserts to the Western Regions.

He spoke to the two of them like a man delivering a reprimand. "Have you two already forgotten everything you saw and went through on our trading expeditions?"

Due to a proposal from his youngest brother, Jong-ri Chu had spent years leading the Heavenly Light Merchant Guild back and forth across the territories of the Muslims.

Through those journeys, Jong-ri Chu had accumulated a wealth of harrowing experiences.

He had survived the predatory merchants of the Western Regions who circled their carriages like jackals waiting to exploit a single mistake. He knew that the seemingly innocent villagers would morph into a horde of cutthroats the second they realized his caravans were less guarded. He himself had fought off countless mounted raiders who'd set their sights on the caravan's wagons and tried to block their path.

"Carve this into your skulls. Peace bought on your knees is just an illusion."

If thugs put a blade to your throat and extort your gold, do you really think they’re going to honor a gentleman’s agreement and let you walk the next time?

Not a fucking chance in hell.

The moment you give them an inch, they will bleed you dry.

"Peace is something you seize through strength."

Jong-ri Chu had spent his time living like a merchant on these trading expeditions, but his core hadn't changed one bit.

To punish evil through martial might, and to save the common people.

The doctrine of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult remained firmly rooted in his core.

In the end, Jong-ri Chu firmly believed that peace was something only attainable through force.

Ohalak and James soon realized something strange.

"But, Deputy Master. Then what was that whole conversation you just had with that man?"

The two of them were sure as hell they weren’t hallucinating.

Just minutes ago, Jong-ri Chu had been smiling like a spineless gullible idiot, promising to hand over the keys to the castle.

Jong-ri Chu waved off James's question like it was the stupidest thing he’d ever heard. "I was stalling, obviously. I don't have the slightest intention of handing over crops or money our people worked themselves to the bone for. But we don't have the strength to go to war with them right now, so we need to stall for at least a few days, don't we?"

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside the tent.

"Come in!"

A Heavenly Demon Divine Cult martial artist came rushing in, sending Jong-ri Chu on immediate alert. "What's going on? Did those Mierqi bastards do something?"

At Jong-ri Chu's question, the man looked confused.

"Mierqi? Sir, I have no idea what you're talking about."

Only then did Jong-ri Chu realize that this man wasn't someone who worked at this fortress.

"Never mind, I'll explain later. Why did you run all the way up here like the sky is falling?"

A massive grin broke across the scout's face as he delivered the news.

"A rebellion has erupted! Sir, the Guangdong Jin Family and the Hainan Sect have raised an army and declared open revolt down in Guangdong Province!"

"!!!"

As Jong-ri Chu, Ohalak, and James stood there, completely dumbstruck by the massive bombshell, the scout dropped one last piece of information. "And it gets better! The forces they're leading are apparently heading west right now!"

Hearing that, Jong-ri Chu threw his head back and burst into wild laughter.

"Bwahahahaha!"

He was laughing because a memory had just struck him.

It was the words his youngest brother had told him right before he was deployed to the north.

—Sixth Brother, there's no need to put too much pressure on yourself. Time is on our side. Even if the Mierqi bastards come at us, all you have to do is hold the line.

Maybe it was because it had been just the two of them in the room, his youngest brother had gone out of his way to call him Sixth Brother instead of his formal title.

He then said this,

—If we just manage to hold out, the flames of rebellion will spread across the entire Central Plains. I guarantee it.

Il-mok had simply been trying to calm down Jong-ri Chu, who'd suddenly been put in charge of the north out of nowhere. He'd said it because he'd seen the dazed look on Jong-ri Chu's face after being handed such a massive responsibility so abruptly.

Beyond that, it was just Il-mok desperately wishing for those rebellions to spark sooner rather than later. 

When he said 'I guarantee it' at the end, he had really just been trying to convince himself.

But Jong-ri Chu had no idea about any of that internal struggle. Now that Il-mok's prediction had come true down to the letter, he couldn't help but view it as a miracle.

"Hahahaha. Truly, the Left Guardian's foresight must reach all the way to the heavens."

Ohalak and James shot each other deeply concerned looks.

‘Why's he talking to Left Guardian like he's standing right next to us...?'

'Oh dear, it seems the Deputy Master has started seeing hallucinations again.'

Completely oblivious to their panicked stares, Jong-ri Chu muttered to himself in excitement.

"Since things are flowing in this direction, I just need to find some way to string the Mierqi bastards along and buy us more time. I need to hold until the flames of rebellion grow bigger, and the tides of war turn in our favor."

After years of haggling and scuffling with the cunning Muslim merchants, stalling for time through negotiation was second nature to Jong-ri Chu by now.

Conning a bunch of meathead nomads who had never bartered for anything more complex than a sheep was going to be a new amusement for him.

"Hehehe."

As he mulled over how best to deceive them, a smile crept onto Jong-ri Chu's lips.

It was the trademark warm smile that a ruthless scam artist uses before he fleeces a gullible idiot for every penny he's worth.