One
She did not hear Asule's response, paused for a moment, turned her head to look, and saw that it had started to snow again outside. The young Da Nayan silently lifted the curtain and walked out.
"Are you once again filled with passion in the East Land?" Da He Sa became serious
On the execution ground, am I not just like a bloodthirsty devil? Asule shivered slightly
As Asule lifted the tent flap, he was momentarily stunned. Outside the tent lay an endless expanse of white snow, and a woman was crouched on the ground beside the tent, holding a copper basin filled with fragrant otter meat rice. The woman's shoulders trembled as she silently wept, her tears falling onto the otter meat she had prepared with her own hands. From her silhouette, Asule sensed a sorrow powerful enough to engulf him, and his body grew colder inch by inch in the biting wind
As he approached the white tent, just a few steps away, he heard the sound of a flute and stopped. He was too familiar with that flute's melody; it evoked images of a girl whispering softly under the moonlight, for Suma could not speak, so she expressed herself through the flute. His thoughts followed the melody, recalling how the somewhat pedantic Baili Yu had earnestly told him, "What Young Master Chen plays is the affection of kin. It is as if the vast grassland stretches endlessly, with loved ones journeying afar, while the flutist remains outside the tent, watching the wind blow the grass low, waiting for that person to return, hence the tune always remains subdued. Occasionally, the wind blows, revealing distant herders and their horses, but they are not the ones he seeks, leaving only the sound of the wind, still gazing longingly, yet tinged with a sense of loss."
Your grandfather was actually a compassionate person. In his youth, he was far more upright than our ancestors of Qingyang, Yi Mader. However, he could not escape the curse of the frenzied blood. The first time he succumbed to the frenzied blood was when the five elders in power conspired to murder his mother. On that occasion, your grandfather single-handedly killed hundreds of people. He became addicted to that power, boasting to others and claiming to be the messenger of the God of War, while ignoring the fact that his character was becoming increasingly violent. Eventually, he gradually went mad, doubting everything, even suspecting his most beloved woman, your grandmother Huo Lan Ba Shi Da Hen Shi A Qin Mo Tu, of having an affair, and doubting that your father was not his own flesh and blood. He became obsessed with that power, boasting to others and claiming to be the messenger of the God of War, while ignoring the fact that his character was becoming increasingly violent. Ultimately, he gradually went mad, doubting everything, even suspecting his most beloved woman, your grandmother Huo Lan Ba Shi Da Hen Shi A Qin Mo Tu, of having an affair, and doubting that your father was not his own flesh and blood. Thus, he exiled his wife and son, leading to your grandmother's death. Whenever your grandfather recalled this incident in his sober moments, he would scream in anguish, which drove him to become more and more enamored with the feeling of forgetting everything when the frenzied blood surged, leading to many wars. Your aunt married the lord of the Zhenyan tribe, who was originally your grandfather's most beloved daughter. However, after she saved your father, she traveled a great distance to the Northern Capital to plead for him, but your grandfather could not control himself and strangled her with a whip... Whenever your grandfather recalled this incident in his sober moments, he would scream in anguish, which drove him to become more and more enamored with the feeling of forgetting everything when the frenzied blood surged, leading to many wars. Your aunt married the lord of the Zhenyan tribe, who was originally your grandfather's most beloved daughter. However, after she saved your father, she traveled a great distance to the Northern Capital to plead for him, but your grandfather could not control himself and strangled her with a whip...
General Mu Li ... ... " Asule's voice trembled
I understand! Asule opened his eyes and slowly nodded
Asule slowly advanced along the forked path, snow drifting onto his hair, the world around him vast and desolate. He had walked quite a distance when he turned back and saw a trail of footprints slowly being covered by the freshly fallen snow. In the distance, two white tents blurred into the snow, resembling a city gate. He cleared the surrounding snow with his boots and realized he was standing at the fork. He looked down at his feet, pondered for a moment, and then took the path leading to the other white tent. He cleared the surrounding snow with his boots and realized he was standing at the fork. He looked down at his feet, pondered for a moment, and then took the path leading to the other white tent.
Beside Xuda Khan, Guimu kept his head down, but at that moment, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes as he reached for the handle of his knife. Xuda Khan looked at the ground and silently reached out to grip Guimu's knife handle. He did not argue further, and the tent fell into silence.
Asule was led by his companion towards the back of the golden tent, a place he had been familiar with since childhood. The tribes referred to the entire camp of the Great Khan as the "Werdor," where the women serving the Great Khan and the attending servants resided, akin to the imperial harem of the Eastern Land. He gazed out and was momentarily taken aback; in the snow, he saw two identical white tents. Among the tribes, the wives of the Great Khan were also known as the mistresses of the Werdor, with the Great Wife and the Secondary Wife being the primary consorts, comparable to the Empress and the Noble Consort of the Eastern Land. Only the children born to them were considered legitimate and could be heirs. He gazed out again and was momentarily taken aback; in the snow, he saw two identical white tents. Among the tribes, the wives of the Great Khan were also known as the mistresses of the Werdor, with the Great Wife and the Secondary Wife being the primary consorts, comparable to the Empress and the Noble Consort of the Eastern Land. Only the children born to them were considered legitimate and could be heirs. The tent of the Great Wife had a red top, while the tent of the Secondary Wife had a white top. Asule's mother, Le Mo Werdan, had always lived in the white tent, yet he stood at the fork in the road, looking at the two paths, unsure of which way to go.
Bimogan stood up from the golden throne, walked into the crowd, spread his hands, and slowly sat down on the ground. "Here, we have differing opinions among the people, so let us follow the method of the Xun King and hold a small Kurig conference. Everyone should sit down and speak; anyone can express their views, and no one should doubt the qualifications of others to speak. Let us all voice our concerns openly."
The head of the Wochijin family shook his head and said coldly, "My lord, I fear my thoughts differ from yours. Among the generals, there are many who advocate for war, while the heads of various families are more inclined towards peace. This is quite clear. When I said that the generals are not qualified to speak, it was not out of doubt regarding their bravery and loyalty. However, I must say that the generals rely on courage and military achievements. In our youth, we old fellows also admired warriors and wielded our own swords with confidence, but now we are responsible for tens of thousands of people in our families. We cannot gamble with the lives of everyone. This matter concerns the survival of hundreds of thousands of people in the Northern Capital. The generals may argue that the dignity of our ancestors cannot be tarnished by the people of Shuo Bei, and that the land of our ancestors cannot be given to the wolf cubs, but I cannot agree."
Dahesa let out a long sigh, "Every time you use the Frenzied Blood, this curse will erode your body, and your physique is far from that of an ordinary person. I heard from Bahang about the situation on the battlefield. Those Easterners used some kind of secret technique to forcibly suppress the ferocity in your blood. My understanding of secret techniques is limited, but the more powerful the technique, the more dangerous it is. Suppressing the Frenzied Blood with a secret technique is especially perilous, akin to the tightrope walking performed by Eastern entertainers; a slight misstep can lead to self-rebound. These Easterners, their power may be able to unravel the restrictions they had previously sealed within your body. You have already been invaded by this power once, which is why you have been in a coma for an entire month. You must remember, no matter what, it is best to stay as far away from those Easterners as possible!"
Isn't that what I said?" Bazha chuckled, covering his mouth.
This is not the most terrifying aspect; the Berserk Blood often creates a war god on the grasslands, only to completely destroy him. To date, all who have possessed the Berserk Blood, as they repeatedly wield this forbidden power, gradually lose their true nature. Your ancestor, Imad, is the first berserker we know of; he ultimately went mad, forcing his own sisters, whom he had dominated, to revel with him all night before biting them to death one by one, and then he sliced off his own muscles piece by piece with a knife.
The master of the Dacre family rolled his eyes and cast a glance of extreme disdain at Xu Da Khan, saying, "Those who have the blood of wolves should refrain from saying too much."
He recalled that when he was young, he would always wake up at midnight to the sound of a flute. At that time, Suma was outside, and he was inside. Whenever he coughed, Suma would come in, pat his head, and tuck him in. He had never thought that it would be him listening from the outside, with Suma inside the tent
What is the greatest... wish? In the depths of Asule's memory, the face of a man with a white haze in his eyes slowly surfaces. What was the last thing he told himself? "Go to Donglu! My son, your father and mother will be thinking of you. On the day you return, your father will bring your mother and a thousand troops from the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry to the Tian Tuo Strait, watching the great ship carrying you return through the wind and waves. At that time, your father will help you sit in the golden tent, and you will be the new great lord, so that the people of the grasslands will call you the Eternal King!" During the time in Nanhuai, Asule always felt that this statement was merely an empty encouragement, and he never expected his father to truly seize the position of the great lord from his strong brothers and hand it over to him. However, when his father said these words, his eyes were so sincere and eager, eager to the point of being unlike himself.
The father and son of the Mosul family were patting each other's shoulders, complaining about each other's recklessness. Upon seeing Asule slowly getting up from the bed, they quickly went over and restrained him.
"The old man died quietly," said the young maid
He suddenly remembered that this was Mu Li's home, and he had returned to Beidu City. When he was young, he learned swordsmanship from Mu Li, and sometimes when it was too late or he was too exhausted, Lady Ying would take him to her tent to sleep. Upon waking, he would see this twisted flower rope and the copper bell, unchanged after ten years, with the same scent of goat's milk.
"Long... ... live the king." Asule murmured
The spotted cat stopped and turned to look at Asule, unsure of why this stranger knew its name. Seizing the opportunity, Dagesa leaped over the spotted cat and grabbed Badai, stuffing him back into his sheepskin robe.
In the golden tent, there are the leaders of the Bimo clan, generals, and the heads of prominent families.
Asule remained silent for a long time, nodding quietly
He suddenly felt the urge to embrace someone tightly, so he rushed in and held his mother closely. Tears streamed down uncontrollably as he rested his head on her chest, hoping she would provide him with a warm embrace
Bimo Gan waved his hand from a distance to stop him, "Asule, you need not kneel. I am very pleased that you have awakened. You were very brave in battle, and I am also glad. It is good that you are fine; go and see your mother, for she must be missing you greatly"
Baheng paused for a moment, with each elbow prodding the waist of one of his two sons, like a boorish wild boar pushing them aside, "When father is present, father speaks first"
"Dahesa, I am fine," Asule said
He stood outside the tent for a while, until the sound of the flute gradually faded away, before turning and leaving
Bi Mogan furrowed his brow tightly and shook his head. Tie You hurriedly stepped in to mediate, "Now that we face a great enemy, we should speak properly. The people of Shobei would be more than happy to see us distrust our own kind!"
Danyan, you really have awakened. This month has truly frightened us. Dahe Sa said you would wake up today, and I have been watching eagerly, and he actually turned out to be right. Lady Ying's eyes revealed a hint of a smile, just as Asule remembered; she was never the type of woman to indulge her children, yet her spirited smile made every child around her feel that she was the most reliable mother.
Asule's stomach let out a grumbling sound, as if in response to Lady Ying. Asule paused for a moment and scratched his head
The strength of a person is not merely about physical power, " Dagasar pointed to his heart, "The strength of a person lies here. Asule, do you understand? You never hate anyone; this is not your weakness, but your strength. If we are to restrain that demonic bloodline, do we not need the strongest hearts? This is why your father sent you to Nanhua; he wanted you to stay away from the battlefield among brothers and fulfill his greatest wish.
Daha Sa hesitated for a moment, sighed, and said, "You were too young when you left, and the elder did not want to tell you, fearing you would not understand, fearing you would be scared. By the time you returned, the elder was no longer here, so let this old man tell you. Your illness has not been cured... In fact, you are not ill at all; your lineage is different from that of ordinary people, you have blood of bronze!"
He propped himself up to sit up, but a soft hand pressed against his forehead. He looked over and saw a woman's face, somewhat majestic yet gentle. Ten years had passed, and she had only gained a few more wrinkles, yet he could still recognize her.
Oh, oh, oh, but it is very cold outside. It is also quite good to relax inside the tent. In a while, I will have the slave cover me with a layer of earth
Asule was momentarily taken aback, unsure whether to express gratitude or something else. Just as he looked up, he saw Bimogan had already risen and left. He gazed at Bimogan's retreating figure, feeling a twinge of sadness in his heart. He thought to himself that he was probably an unnecessary person, standing in the empty golden tent, feeling so out of place.
My father passed away twelve years ago," said the old man. "In my childhood, our family was poor, and my father planted a phoenix tree for me. In the summer, I would read under its shade, while my father fanned me to drive away the mosquitoes. My father said, 'This tree must grow quickly, my son must grow quickly.' When this tree stands tall like a canopy, my son will surely have a bright future, adorned with green silk and colorful banners.
"Badu'er! Badu'er!" Asule hurriedly called out the nickname of the spotted cat
The tent flap was suddenly pulled aside, revealing a shiny bald head. The person who rushed in was as eager as a hunting leopard, pushing past Mrs. Ying to grab Asule's shoulder, looking him up and down.
December 17, Beidu City
Bach slowly raised his eyes and said, "What we are discussing is the survival of Qingyang, not the survival of the Ochi family"
"Where is Huma?" Asule casually asked. Huma is the most capable female servant by his mother's side, and he is somewhat eager to see her
A companion of Bimogan entered the tent and said, "My lord, Asule Danyan has awakened and is waiting outside the golden tent to pay his respects."
Are you the only one serving here?" Asule casually spoke to her
"How could I have slept for so long?" Asule asked, "I didn't feel uncomfortable at all"
He felt as though he had experienced a dream, a dream that lasted a lifetime. In the dream, he was still in Nanhuai, where the water rippled gently. He, Yuran, and Ji Ye were drifting on a stolen raft across Phoenix Pool. He had not fully awakened yet; his mind was a blank slate, but everything before his eyes felt so familiar, as if he had lain here a long, long time ago, watching someone twist a flower rope and a small brass bell, listening to its tinkling sound.
Mrs. Ying felt a wave of sorrow and went up to stroke his hair, waving her hand to signal Dahe Sa to stop speaking.
Bimo Gan nodded slightly, stood up, and said, "Let us leave it at that for today. I still need to continue this small meeting, and everyone should return to their tents to think things over. I will call everyone together again. One last thing, I am aware that there are slaves starving in the city. I know that the remaining food is scarce for everyone, but slaves are also human beings and deserve to live. Especially now, when we are in need of people." One last thing, I am aware that there are slaves starving in the city. I know that the remaining food is scarce for everyone, but slaves are also human beings and deserve to live. Especially now, when we are in need of people.
He walked up, crouched down, embraced Mrs. Ying's shoulders, and whispered, "Aunt, I am here... just like when General Mu Li was around!"
"Sumar, have you been well these years?" he said to Xue in a very soft voice
I? Asule stared blankly at the old man, his aged eyes shining with a fervor more intense than that of the young.
Tie was anxiously looking around, his heart pounding. The generals, led by Bach, all kept their heads down in silence, while the great nobles wore tense expressions and did not speak. Their leader was the head of the Ochir family, the oldest and most powerful among them. Among the three prominent families, the most powerful had originally been the Heluding family, but its head had been killed in battle. His son, Eridundalai, had just taken over the family and was still too young, causing many of the smaller families that had previously relied on the Heluding family to begin to distance themselves. This young man was currently sitting beside the head of the Ochir family, his gaze cold and sharp, as if he could draw a knife from his eyes. Meanwhile, Bimogan remained silent, one hand resting on the armrest of the golden throne. This action made Tie particularly uneasy; when Bimogan pressed down on the armrest without moving, it was always with a tight grip, a sign of his effort to restrain himself.
Mrs. Ying could not help but laugh, lifting her skirt and rising to leave the tent. As she lifted the curtain, Bahang rushed in with his two sons, all huddling around Asule's bed. Baru and Baza, who had been wearing the military uniforms they brought from the Eastern Army camp, had now changed into brand new barbarian wide-sleeved garments. At first glance, they appeared as robust barbarian men, embodying the image of warriors in the hearts of barbarian maidens. The two brothers, Baru and Baza, leaned in with their necks stretched, saying in unison, "You are awake, you scared me to death!"
The attendant waved her hand to signal the maid to lower the curtain and then turned to leave
In this world, there are only two individuals he refers to as mother; Heluntiemma has already passed away by the banks of the Tiexian River, and the remaining one is Lady Ying, the wife of Muli
"Huma passed away last winter," said the young maid
Asule felt a shiver running from the base of his spine all the way to the top of his head
Dahesa obviously breathed a sigh of relief, sat down and touched his bald head, "The last time you fainted, you woke up not recognizing me, so I have to be a bit more careful, don't I?"
Although no words were spoken, it was evident that the eyes of the three father and son revealed a gluttonous expression, and each of them sat down leaning against the bedside
Asule took a long time to come out, having already dried her tears. Outside, there was only the young maid tending to the charcoal brazier, and the attendants were no longer present.
Bahang was very pleased that his sons, whom he had not seen for ten years, obeyed his authority as a father. He shook his shoulders, solemnly approached Asule, thought for a moment, and said, "I thought you were awake; you scared me to death..."
I slept for... a month? Asule was taken aback
He pressed his hand against his forehead and closed his eyes
Baza finally got the chance to poke at his father, "Dane Yan has read the books of the Donglu people for so many years, and in Donglu, there is no such thing as relieving oneself under a sleeping room. Even indoors, it is done using a vessel. Covering it with dirt? Wouldn't that be like a cat? Moreover, Mrs. Ying's tent is so clean..."
Asule fell silent for a moment and smiled gently. This was the first time he felt that some things had not changed since he saw the walls of Beidu City, just like Lady Ying, just like Dahesa. These people did not come up to chatter about what had happened since their separation, nor did they embellish any feelings of longing; when they spoke, it was as if he had merely gone out for a hunt.
His lips trembled, "Aunt."
"Is General Bach mocking us old fellows for lacking courage? Do we only wish to protect our cattle, sheep, and tents?" The master of the Ochiqin family sneered, "Do not forget that we, like you, have charged into battle against the blades of the northern men! The bodies of thousands of Ochiqin men still lie outside the city walls!"
Asule thinks he is truly a fool. Would you not feel sad? If you lost the person who accompanied you throughout your life, would you not feel sorrow? He severed his own head in front of everyone. Would you not feel despair? Even in death, he is regarded as an old slave who caused a defeat. Mu Li is Mama's husband! What does husband mean?
Mrs. Ying was startled and raised her head, revealing a beautiful yet haggard face, with tears streaming down her cheeks.
In fact, the losses in the battle of Shobei were considerable, with tens of thousands of cavalry killed, and the forces of Khudulu Khan also suffered significant attrition. Our main loss was in morale; at this time, the people of Shobei might not dare to take the initiative to attack. We need not worry too much; if negotiations are to take place, they can be postponed. We should aim to achieve a few small-scale victories first, so that we can take the initiative in the negotiations. The speaker was Xuda Khan, who had once fought against Kuafu in the north and was certainly qualified to speak on military matters. However, after experiencing demotion and amnesty, he had surprisingly remained silent. Today was the first time he spoke; many had already forgotten about Xuda Khan.
Bronze ... ... blood? As Asule recalled, his grandfather had once spoken to him about this matter. However, he was unclear about what exactly bronze blood was. For many years, this had been the legend of the Pasur family. The bronze blood was bestowed upon the Pasur family by the War God, and those who possessed this bloodline could transform into the embodiment of the War God, capable of slaying thousands on the battlefield alone. The last descendant of the Pasur family who claimed to possess bronze blood was none other than his grandfather, King Qindahan. For many years, this had been the legend of the Pasur family. The bronze blood was bestowed upon the Pasur family by the War God, and those who possessed this bloodline could transform into the embodiment of the War God, capable of slaying thousands on the battlefield alone. The last descendant of the Pasur family who claimed to possess bronze blood was none other than his grandfather, King Qindahan. Yet, whether from King Qindahan or his father's words, the revered bronze blood seemed to be anything but an omen of good fortune; rather, it was a demon.
"But you are also the kindest child I know," the old rapscallion did not stop, but rather became more serious, "You are neither Imad nor Nagor Hongjia, you do not hate anyone. Your father once sighed and said, 'In this generation, my Pasul family has only one son of bronze blood, but why did the gods bestow this bloodline upon my weakest Asule?' I countered, 'If it had been given to your strongest son, would you not find that even more terrifying?' Your father thought for a long time and said yes. I replied, 'Then that is correct, your son Asule, he is not a weak person!"
The attendant led Asule closer to one of the white tents, where a young female slave stepped forward to lift the curtain.
Asule felt a bit awkward, "I need to step out to use the restroom..."
So this is what it means... In his memory, the man's eyes were filled with determination and love. He silently relaxed his body, lying on the soft bed, feeling a bit like crying. Many days had passed, and he thought that his longing for his father had gradually faded. However, when he realized that he truly understood the meaning of his father's words after so many years, there was no one left to stand before him and listen. "I understand now," he recalled when the teacher explained to him the saying, "The tree wishes to be still, but the wind does not cease; the child wishes to care for his parents, but they do not wait." He suddenly stopped, silently gazing at a phoenix tree outside the window.
He has already been buried. The Grand Duke said in the golden tent that Mu Li was a loyal and brave warrior, and his defeat was not his fault. Warriors, after all, are bound to have a day when they serve their lord with loyalty; in fact, I have known this all along. Lady Ying supported Asule to lie down comfortably, reaching out to grasp the twisted flower rope and shake it, causing the bell to ring loudly. "All of this happened a month ago; you have been asleep for a month."
Asule was unsure whether those words contained some form of reminder or threat, and silently nodded.
Asule looked at the three of them, father and sons, and couldn't help but smile, recalling the first time Bahang introduced his two sons to him as companions, patting the heads of the two boys and saying, "These are my two little cubs, the heir will surely like them!" He indeed liked Barubazha, enjoyed watching them talk, and liked Bahang even more, the warrior who had not changed in ten years. This was his home, where he reunited with his friends.
"Do you want water? Do you want something to eat? I can send my little ones to get it." Ba Hang said with the authority of a father
"Huma... is dead?" A sudden chill ran through Asule's heart
But the woman does not have it, still softly singing a song, holding her cloth doll
As he walked back to that fork in the road, he once again glanced back at the shadow of the white tent in the wind and snow. Suddenly, he recalled what Ji Ye had shown him in the book "Records of the Long War in the Four Provinces," which mentioned that in the end, the Rose Emperor held the Rose Princess, gazing at the city of Tianqi at the end of the world by the Snowy Bridge, feeling an immense loneliness. He thought this was the feeling, truly lonely, even though it was his hometown. Something had been lost, never to be found again. He thought this was the feeling, truly lonely, even though it was his hometown. Something had been lost, never to be found again.
This silence has lasted too long, the atmosphere has become tense, and no one can convince the other. The argument has reached this point; in other tribes, knives might have already been drawn. However, Qingyang is, after all, the tribe most influenced by the Eastern Land, which values propriety. It is rare for them to draw their knives and shout in defiance of the sovereign's authority.
There were a few before, but they were not as diligent as Huma. If they did not serve the master well, sometimes he would get angry and cry, so they were all driven outside. However, one is enough for me; the newly appointed Grand Empress is very good to the master, coming to keep him company every day, and sometimes even staying overnight. The Great Lord complains when he waits all night in the white tent without seeing anyone.
"Alas, as soon as Asule woke up, you, Dagesa, started talking so much. Aren't you all hungry?" Lady Ying observed that the atmosphere had calmed down and reproached the old man, gently touching Asule's forehead. "Having slept for a month and only surviving on goat's milk, he must be starving, right? Our Asule is already an eighteen-year-old man; relying on milk is certainly insufficient. Would you like to eat some rabbit meat?"
Asule followed the attendant into the tent, and the people in the meeting walked past him in the opposite direction, each merely glancing at him without speaking. Asule brushed past them one by one, feeling as if those cold gazes were slicing across his face. He had already heard a lot from outside and did not find it very strange, after all, the enemy outside the city was his grandfather Menglehuoer.
One day I will be like that... will I?" Asule whispered, "Like a madman, killing the person I love the most, even this is something that Dagehsana and Mama cannot recognize.
"Mother..." His lips moved
Baru could only wave his hand to his father, meaning that everyone should stop arguing. Indeed, Baru's father was not necessarily more eloquent than his son when it came to speaking
Given his temperament, this statement has already been said with great severity, and the expressions of the heads of several prominent families changed. The young Eridun Dali's eyes flashed with a hint of ferocity, and he was about to stand up when he was forcibly pressed back down by the head of the Wochijin family
Asule recalled a scene from the execution ground, feeling a chill in his heart, and nodded slightly. He did not know where that terrifying power and will came from, but he vaguely sensed that it was something extremely dangerous. At that moment, if he had advanced just a little further, Ji Ye might have been torn apart.
For a moment, only Bimogan, Asule, and the attendant remained in the tent. Bimogan sat on his golden leopard skin throne, looking down at his younger brother. Asule stood in place for a while, then awkwardly realized that he had forgotten the proper etiquette; his elder brother was now a great lord, and one should kneel upon meeting a great lord. He felt somewhat unaccustomed to this and hesitated before bending his knee.
Asule was taken aback, watching her lift the curtain of the inner layer. In the dim light, a woman sat silently by the bed; time had not robbed her of her beauty. She was as young as Asule's sister, but her vacant eyes stripped her of the brilliance she once had as the goddess of the grasslands. She held a cloth doll, softly singing a song. On her bed lay a reversed fur mink coat, which Asule could still recognize as belonging to his father, used to cover himself during the deep of night. This was likely the place where his father took his last breath, and his mother probably still believed that her man would return someday.
The same words, when spoken by a father, carry a different weight, emphasized Bahang
Baza's personality is more lively than his brother's, and he shows no reservations towards their father. Just as he was about to continue speaking, he was nudged by Baru's elbow, signaling him to wait patiently for their father to finish.
The one thing your father hates most in this world is the blood of bronze! Because this bloodline has inexplicably caused the death of his mother and sister, leaving him wandering and enduring humiliation, and he cannot even attribute all of this to his father's fault. However, your father does not hate you; he loves you. He hopes you can restrain the blood of bronze and prevent the events that befell your grandfather from repeating!" Dagesa grasped Asule's hand tightly, allowing him to feel his warmth. "It was the Lion King who named you 'Asule.' There is no better name than this. We all hope you will 'live long,' that you will live a long life, and restrain this cursed blood. If you do, your father's lifelong knot will be untied!
Dahe sighed, "In fact, many years ago, this bloodline was referred to as 'Frenzied Blood.' Those who possess this lineage are uncertain whether they are blessed by the gods or cursed by demons. They possess significantly greater strength and speed than ordinary people, naturally suited to become warriors. When the power within their blood is fully unleashed, they become 'Berserkers,' capable of sweeping away an entire army single-handedly. The bodies of Berserkers are endowed with many incredible abilities, such as rapid healing of wounds, eyesight and hearing far sharper than that of ordinary individuals, and an absence of pain or fatigue. However, they also lose their sanity, unable to distinguish between friend and foe, driven solely by the desire to kill. If they do not regain their senses, they will continue to slaughter until they exhaust their strength and perish."
Asule slowly opened his eyes, looking at the milky white tent ceiling, from which hung a colorful twisted flower rope, adorned with a small brass bell below
He felt powerless from the depths of his heart. In fact, all of this was a deception by others, hoping to make him happy; in the eyes of these people, he was still a child. Yet he could not be happy; Mu Li was dead, and the scene of heads rolling was vivid in his mind. Beidu was still besieged, and outside the city, there were probably tens of thousands of corpses lying around. From the moment he set foot on his way home, the sky of his hometown had already begun to collapse.
A small head poked out from the big Hasa, and the ear mouse named Badai impatiently came out for some fresh air. Asule suddenly wondered if Hasa had taken advantage of the Mosul family's warriors by naming it Badai. Badai had clearly chosen the wrong time to show its face, as the black-and-white striped grassland cat raised by Lady Ying in her tent leaped out from the corner of the bed and darted forward like lightning, extending its claws to catch Badai. In a panic, Badai ran under the bed. Hasa had only ever raised that one precious pet, an ear mouse that was originally supposed to live only a few years but had been cared for by him for over a decade. Frightened, he hurried to intercept the striped cat, and the three Mosul family members also helped to block the cat. In the chaos, they accidentally bumped into each other; all three were tall and strong men, and they staggered back a step from the collision, allowing the striped cat to charge directly at Badai.
That is the new tent of the Great Khan. She insists that she comes from a humble slave background and cannot reside in the red-topped tent. The Khan will eventually marry a true Great Khan who can manage the horde. However, the Khan says that she is the Great Khan and that we should all address her as such. When the attendant said this, he looked straight into Asule's eyes.
Asule could no longer tolerate the ongoing dispute among the three individuals regarding this matter, so he put on a sheepskin cloak and said, "I will step out for a moment to check if Mother’s otter meat is ready."