Chapter 281: Dark Moon And High Wind, A Night For Killing

Chapter 281: On a Dark and Windy Night, a Murder is Done

The night deepened.

Zhao Changhe staggered out of the tent, pulling back the flap.

Immediately, a guard nervously forced a smile and blocked his way, asking in a less-than-standard Central Plains dialect, "Mr. Zhao, where are you going?"

Zhao Changhe glanced at him sideways. "What, am I a guest or a prisoner? Do you have the right to ask where I'm going?"

"Uh, no, it's just that this is a military camp, you shouldn't wander around..."

Zhao Changhe swept his gaze across the guards and laughed. "Did your Khan say to treat honored guests well?"

"Yes, he did..."

As the guards spoke, for some reason, they gradually felt more and more respect for Mr. Zhao. The Khan's order to treat him well grew infinitely larger in their minds, while the secret instruction to watch him and not let him leave slowly faded into oblivion.

It wasn't just one guard; almost everyone Zhao Changhe's eyes passed over felt the same way. Their thoughts were guided by his words, growing more and more confused.

Now that he had touched the threshold of the Secret Treasury, his spirit could be mobilized to a certain extent. The mental control derived from the Ultimate Bliss Art, which had once been rather useless, could now be formally applied.

The Maitreya Sect originally used this technique to shake the hearts of believers during their sermons, but later it twisted into something else, used more for seducing women. Yet Zhao Changhe still felt it was more meaningful to use it on men...

It worked similarly to the fear-inducing effect of his Blood Fiend Art. If he could combine the two, this technique could play an unexpectedly important role on the battlefield.

Like now.

Back when he had fooled the guards of the Lu family in Gusu, he had needed disguise and makeup to make it work, and there were fewer people. Here, with so many people, no disguise, openly using words to trigger and guide—this was a qualitative leap.

The effect was indeed good. Under the absolute disparity in strength, these soldiers couldn't resist such mental guidance and followed his words step by step.

"I need to relieve myself."

"Uh, there's a chamber pot in the tent."

"I just don't like using a chamber pot, is that not allowed? Can't a grown man just find a corner?"

"What you say makes sense..."

"If you don't want me wandering around the camp, just follow me." Zhao Changhe turned and walked toward the corner of the tent. "Come on, all of you."

The group of guards followed in a daze.

Behind him, a red shadow flashed. Yue Hongling had already taken the opportunity to slip away, vanishing into the night.

Zhao Changhe, seeing Yue Hongling hidden in the darkness behind him, stopped with a smile at the tent's corner to relieve himself, casually asking, "Is the Khan entertaining new guests?"

"Yes."

"Is he still feasting now? Will they stay in the tent to rest, or are there separate guest tents?"

"The Khan is entertaining guests in the main tent; they certainly won't stay there to rest. There are separate guest tents."

"Where are those guest tents? As a fellow guest, I'd like to pay a visit."

"Oh, follow me, sir..."

Without realizing it, the guards had forgotten their original mission. Having even attended to his urination, they were now like servants, doing whatever their master said.

Zhao Changhe followed the guards through twists and turns, arriving at a tent location he would never have found on his own.

Along the way, other tribesmen didn't even know who he was. With a tribal soldier leading him openly, no one questioned what they were doing.

When they neared the area, Zhao Changhe looked at the guards around the distant tent and waved amiably. "Alright, you can go about your business."

The guards saluted and withdrew. "Rest early, sir."

Zhao Changhe watched them go, then suddenly flickered and hid in the darkness of a corner.

Yue Hongling appeared silently beside him, her eyes strange. "Hey..."

"Huh?"

"Did... did you ever use that trick on me? Is that why I was blind enough to fall for you?"

Zhao Changhe didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Yue Hongling knew her question was unreasonable, but she grumbled for a while before saying, "Anyway, don't you ever use it on other girls from now on, or I'll be the first to take your head!"

"Yes, yes, you are indeed 'the first.'"

Yue Hongling's brows shot up.

Zhao Changhe tugged her sleeve. "They're coming."

Yue Hongling crouched quietly beside him.

On the path lit by torches in the distance, Batu was personally escorting the envoy from Wubalu. From this scene alone, one could roughly discern Batu's inclinations.

Both of them gripped their sword and saber hilts.

...

The banquet Batu hosted for the envoy was far more lavish than the one he had held for Zhao Changhe and his companion.

Deep down, he felt that his contact with Zhao Changhe was something to hide, while facing the Great Khan's envoy, he was automatically in a lower position. The banquet was grand: sheep and cattle were slaughtered, women danced, and all the important figures of the tribe gathered together.

The envoy wasn't just one person; it was a delegation of over a dozen, so naturally, it was more extravagant.

Amid the song and dance, the envoy first raised a complaint: "Why did Khan Batu come in such haste? When we arrived at your camp, you were gone, and we found you here instead."

Batu cursed inwardly. Did he really expect to wait for mediation, letting him and Heshan each carve out territory, splitting the War Lion tribe in two? He wasn't stupid.

But on the surface, he laughed heartily. "What are you saying, envoy? We didn't know you were coming. If we had, we would have invited you to a meal first."

With things as they were, the envoy had no choice. The Great Khan wanted the War Lion tribe divided, but no matter how clear his calculations, he couldn't say them outright. Besides, Batu wasn't without backing; he had ties to the Temple and a good relationship with Chili. If it came to a confrontation, what would the Temple's stance be?

Since they had arrived too late and the War Lion tribe was already unified, what could be done?

One had to admit that Batu's recent campaigns were indeed brilliant—a swift strike against the Desolate Wolf tribe, using their resources to stabilize the interior, winning over wavering brothers, and then quickly attacking other dissenters. In just half a month, he had swept across a thousand li. The Great Khan's main army was still locked in a stalemate with Huangfu Yongxian, and by the time news arrived, the once-fragmented War Lion tribe had only Heshan left resisting. In the end, they were too late to save Heshan.

This showed that while Batu's personal strength might not be top-tier, his military ability was formidable. Whether in seizing opportunities or commanding battle formations, he was a first-rate talent. His personal strength wasn't bad either; after all, he was among the Hidden Dragons. How many such people were there in the world? With Helei's complete inheritance, given time and a stage, his future was limitless.

The envoy could only say, "The unexpected death of Khan Helei in the Central Plains left the War Lion tribe unable to participate in the war, a great loss for our side that slowed the assault on the pass. The Great Khan has been deeply grieved. Knowing that someone has inherited Helei's legacy, the Great Khan is also relieved."

Batu said, "Thank the Great Khan for his concern."

The envoy continued, "Recently, with the first snow falling, the battle between the Great Khan and Huangfu Yongxian has grown fiercer, with many large-scale assaults on the pass and casualties on both sides. Since the Khan has stabilized internal affairs, shouldn't he join the battle at Yanmen?"

Batu replied calmly, "I have just taken down the Heshan tribe, and there are still remnants to clear... Besides, I am young, and the tribe is restless. It will be difficult to raise a large army..."

"The Great Khan will issue a proclamation to all tribes, publicly declaring Khan Batu's legitimacy and conferring the title of Lion King. What does the Khan think?"

Batu was overjoyed inside. That was exactly what he wanted.

Nominally, Batu was Helei's nephew, but in truth, Helei had cuckolded Batu's father and sired him as his own son. Helei had no sons of his own and had long "favored" this nephew, taking him as a personal disciple and giving him the tribe's treasured heirlooms. Even without a formal will, the tribe's elders knew that Batu was the rightful heir. Why had uncles and brothers fought over the succession?

Because the Great Khan, using the excuse of "being too busy with the war to deal with your affairs," had tacitly allowed others to contend. Since Batu wasn't a "biological son," it gave others a pretext to fight.

If the Great Khan acknowledged him, the internal unrest would vanish, and his position would be as solid as a mountain. Moreover, external threats would no longer dare to covet him. The Desolate Wolf tribe wouldn't have dared to intercept his grain supplies. The War Lion tribe was one of the largest and most powerful; that was no joke.

More importantly, with the title of "King," his political capital would change. For instance, now Wubalu acted arrogantly, but then Wubalu would have to bow to him.

Having swallowed the Desolate Wolf tribe was already tacitly approved; his subsequent plan to devour the Fierce Tiger tribe would be even more assured.

Compared to the risky rebellion with his head on the line and the illusory support from the Great Xia, this seemed far more practical.

Reading his expression, the envoy knew Batu was tempted and added, "Also, regarding the disappearance of the Fierce Tiger tribe leader, there are suspicions within their tribe linking it to you. I will take responsibility for mediating this matter."

Batu was overjoyed: "I thank the honored envoy! This has been a headache for me lately—what does it have to do with me that Tiger Rage was defeated by Zhao Changhe and Yue Hongling together?"

The feast delighted host and guest alike; the envoy, tipsy, said, "I'll go rest now, and report to the Khan at dawn. If we breach Yanmen, you'll be more than a Lion King—why not a Prince of Jin?"

Batu's heart stirred, and he began to worry about the envoy, thinking to himself, if this drunkard goes back and Zhao Changhe and Yue Hongling sneak over, he might be done for. So he personally helped the envoy up: "I'll escort you myself."

As he spoke, he quietly ordered his men: "Take an elite squad to guard me and the envoy, and have someone keep a tight watch on Zhao Changhe's tent... no, just seize him."

In his own camp, Batu led several hundred men, surrounding himself and the envoy as they escorted him to the guest tent. Only outside the tent did he stop, signaling his troops to encircle it tightly. Believing all was secure, he smiled at the envoy: "Then I won't disturb your rest."

The envoy waved drunkenly.

Batu turned and left, but after a few steps, a piercing chill rose in his heart.

He glanced back instinctively—under the moon, a red plume flew in with a thrusting sword. The same figure who had saved him just hours ago now came to claim his life.

"They've come to assassinate me!" Batu drew his blade and roared: "Protect me!"

A group of bodyguards, already prepared, closed ranks in front. Yue Hongling stepped on one man's shoulder, like an eagle striking a hall, and from above thrust her sword again at Batu's face. In the moonlight, the murderous intent in her eyes was palpable.

"She wants me dead..." The thought flashed through Batu's mind. He dared not face her edge and retreated swiftly.

Countless soldiers surged from all sides; even the guards around the envoy's tent instinctively moved to block Yue Hongling's escape route.

The envoy stood outside the tent watching and shouted, "All of you, go help the Kha—"

Before the words died, a broadsword seemed to "grow" out of the shadows in the darkness—silent, formless, traceless, without even a whisper of wind.

The whole space seemed frozen, windless and moonless, filled only with boundless darkness, bloodlust, and death.

After "Gods and Buddhas Scatter" and "Heaven and Earth Without Me," the Blood Fiend Blade Art's third ultimate technique, usable only at the eighth level of the Mystic Gate: "Thus Is Hell."

Only when the blade reached his throat did the envoy suddenly realize, swiftly drawing his own sword to parry.

But all he saw was a pair of blood-red eyes, like a demon's gaze in the darkness.

Terror surged into his heart; the hand gripping his sword froze for an instant.

In that instant, the broadsword swept across his neck, and his head flew into the sky.

Zhao Changhe caught the head, raised it, and roared: "The Khan's plan is indeed exquisite—we've slain this wretch. What's the next step, I await your command."

The envoy's attendants and guards stood dumbfounded.

All of Batu's men stood dumbfounded.

Yue Hongling sheathed her sword and retreated, her murderous eyes now filled with laughter.

Batu looked at Yue Hongling in midair, then at Zhao Changhe holding the head. A ruthless glint finally appeared in his eyes: "Nonsense—next, we kill every last one of the envoy's retinue! Not a single one escapes!"

He took a deep breath and said something that others might have taken for a sign of close friendship: "Zhao Changhe, I fuck your mother!"