Chapter 153 The King's Promise
Duoma was one of the kings of the Western Rong.
He was the most aggressive of all the kings, yet also the most prestigious. Born with the dignity and power of a king, he was renowned among the Western Rong people for his military prowess and his love of beauty.
Several years ago, during a tribal civil war, his right arm was pierced by an arrow. Although it had healed, he could no longer wield his sword. Now, Xiao Zhuo tightly grasped his weakest right arm, the cold blade of his sword pressed against his neck.
When the king himself blows the horn, all his soldiers must respond immediately, whether to die or to retreat.
Seeing that all the Western Rong soldiers had retreated, King Doma lowered his horn and said to Xiao Zhuo who was standing beside him:
"See those thousands of soldiers? They've already breached the low city wall. No matter who you want to save, it's too late."
Despite being held hostage, King Thomas was still somewhat curious.
The two of them, without food or water, galloped day and night. Who were they trying to save? He didn't think that ordinary soldiers and villagers were the reason for Xiao Zhuo to risk his life like this.
Xiao Zhuo did not answer. The sword on his neck showed no signs of moving, but it lost its stability and began to tremble slightly.
King Thomas noticed that his cold eyes were not looking at him, but at the city wall in the south.
There must be someone in there whom he cares deeply about.
Thick smoke rose inside the city walls and corpses piled up outside the walls. A brutal battle had just ended.
His neck felt a pain like a steel needle piercing it, probably because the sharp sword blade cut the skin of his neck in the trembling, and his skin felt like insects crawling on it while blood was flowing.
"Xiao Zhuo, you dare to hurt me," King Doma knew that his words had irritated him, and he shouted, "My soldiers will chop you into pieces."
"Before that," Xiao Zhuo turned and looked at him, "you will lose your head, and even God won't be able to resurrect you."
His words were unquestionable, his gaze was unwavering, and King Thomas believed that he could definitely do it.
This is why he dared not resist.
As a king, he can tell at a glance who is strong on the outside but weak on the inside and who will do what he says.
Xiao Zhuo would really kill him.
This is a man who dares to single-handedly charge into the midst of thousands of enemy troops. With such courage, what else would he not dare to do?
He had originally intended to capture Xiao Zhuo alive, but he ended up being Xiao Zhuo's captive. Thinking back to the moment when Xiao Zhuo rushed towards him, he still felt a lingering fear.
The man disguised himself as a Xirong cavalryman and suddenly attacked him when he approached him.
The soldiers guarding him were among the most elite archers in the Western Rong, their reflexes swift and unmatched. Xiao Zhuo, however, was able to deflect most of the incoming arrows. The few that struck him in the chest and back failed to penetrate, bouncing off and falling to the ground. Only one arrow managed to grazed his neck, causing blood to spurt out, but it wasn't fatal.
King Doma did not remember that the Great Yan Dynasty had such excellent armor.
As they raced day and night towards Langya Pass, Xiao Zhuo surprisingly found time to change out of his Western Rong outerwear and don his moon-white Dayan attire. However, the wound on his neck continued to bleed as the horse galloped, so he could only tear off a piece of his robe to hastily wrap it.
Now the moon-white cloth around Xiao Zhuo's neck was soaked with blood, and his face looked extremely pale.
He had not eaten or drunk anything, traveled day and night, and even with an arrow wound, he had persisted all the way here.
"Don't forget our agreement!" King Thomas reminded him. "Are you going to break your promise?"
Xiao Zhuo slightly moved the sword away: "Let me see you truly carry out your promise."
At this time, the Xirong soldiers who had been kneeling on the ground had stood up and surrounded them with swords and spears in hand, making it impossible for the two to get through.
"Xiao Zhuo, quickly release King Doma!"
Xiu Muye's enemies were always jealous of each other. If Xiao Zhuo hadn't held King Duoma hostage, he would have had his soldiers rush over and hack Xiao Zhuo to death.
Xiao Zhuo glanced at him and said to King Thomas, "Tell your soldiers now."
King Duo Ma said to the crowd somewhat reluctantly: "Listen carefully, my troops. I have already made an oath with Xiao Zhuo to hold a one-year truce against the Yan Dynasty. Within this year, my army will not attack the Yan Dynasty."
"What?" Xiu Muye and Su Mona were both shocked.
Xiu Muye was particularly surprised. He had been forced to do this kind of thing by Xiao Zhuo before. He didn't expect this guy to upgrade his power and even force King Doma to swear an oath.
He looked at King Doma's bare head, and sure enough, a strand of hair was half shorter.
How could the king swear such a vow? How could he possibly seek revenge? He couldn't wait a year, a month, or even a day.
Especially when the enemy is right in front of you.
"The king's word is his. Now that the oath has been sworn, all troops return to camp, and we will march north immediately."
When King Thomas spoke, the soldiers dared not disobey and marched into the camp in formation.
"Xiao Zhuo, since I have announced my decision publicly, I will never go back on my word." King Doma looked directly at Xiao Zhuo, "Now it's your turn."
"As the Crown Prince of Great Yan, my words are golden. How could I go back on my word?" Xiao Zhuo retracted his sword, released King Doma's arm, and took a step back. "You are free."
King Thomas stretched his right arm, which was numb from being grabbed, stared at Xiao Zhuo and took two steps back. Seeing that he really didn't move, he asked:
"I heard that you used witchcraft to frame the Emperor of Dayan, and he has deposed you. Why do you still think you can go back to the way things were?"
Xiao Zhuo was silent for a moment, then said, "I haven't done anything wrong, why can't I?"
King Thomas nodded and turned to walk back to the camp. Several captains waiting there immediately stepped forward to greet him, supporting him on both sides.
"Xiao Zhuo, Xiao Zhuo!" A young girl's excited and slightly hoarse voice came from the south.
King Thomas looked back in surprise.
A woman dressed in men's clothing came running from the south. The baggy clothing could not hide her slender figure. Behind her, several Dayan soldiers followed closely.
He saw Xiao Zhuo also running quickly and rushing towards the woman.
It turns out that the person who made Xiao Zhuo fight so desperately was actually a woman?
King Doma was in disbelief. Xiao Zhuo, the crown prince of Great Yan, held a position of unparalleled nobility, second only to the emperor. Even if he were demoted now, who knew when he would be reinstated? There were so many women in the world, and he couldn't choose them at will. How could one woman have caused him this?
"Who is this woman?" King Thomas looked at the captains around him.
Su Monai whispered, "Crown Princess Shen Yuexi. She's the one who designed the repeating crossbow."
"Oh?" King Doma didn't listen to the second half of the sentence. Instead, he looked at the woman's face gradually becoming clearer in the distance with great interest. His eyes lit up and he exclaimed, "I didn't expect there was a woman who could compare to Mei Dai."
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." Sumonai coughed twice, "You are weak, this... it is not appropriate to speak loudly. I will help you return to the camp to rest..."
Before Sumonai could finish his words, a hoarse shout suddenly came from the side.
"Xiao Zhuo!"
The person who shouted was Xiu Muye.
Seeing with his own eyes that Xiao Zhuo was about to meet Shen Yuexi, seeing Shen Yuexi's excited expression, thinking of his son's tragic death, and thinking that he could not get revenge... The hatred in his heart was like a wave crashing on the shore, instantly engulfing him completely.
He forgot the agreement with King Thomas, picked up the bow regardless of everything, and shot an arrow at Shen Yuexi.
Xiao Zhuo was too powerful, and he couldn't hurt him even with a sneak attack. But he could kill Shen Yuexi, letting Xiao Zhuo see the most important person die in front of him.
The Xirong were skilled archers. At this distance, Shen Yuexi would have no chance of dodging his arrows. Xiao Zhuo was still some distance away from her, so there was no way he could save her.
Shen Yuexi looked towards him, as if frightened, and didn't move at all.
Xiao Zhuo also turned his head, his eyes wide open, staring at the arrow in the air, and stretched out his hand to stop it. But the arrow was too fast, and before he raised his hand, the arrow had already passed him and pierced Shen Yuexi's chest.
It was the first time that Xiu Muye saw a look of fear on Xiao Zhuo's face.
At the critical moment, a Dayan soldier rushed out from behind Shen Yuexi and blocked Shen Yuexi with his back.
The arrow pierced the soldier's shoulder with a "puff", but did not hurt any vital parts.
Xiao Zhuo also ran to Shen Yuexi, turned around and protected her with his body, shouting: "King Duoma!"
King Thomas was furious and pointed at Xiu Muye, saying, "You, you dare..."
This Xiu Muye actually dared to break his oath in front of him. It was like a slap in the face to him, making him lose face.
Without waiting for King Doma's orders, the captains rushed forward and chopped Xiumuye to the ground with their swords.
Before, Xiu Muye asked them to kill their own people with bows and arrows. They already hated him very much and finally found an opportunity to vent their hatred.
Xiu Muye was stabbed several times. Before he died, he saw the Yan soldier who had shielded Shen Yuexi from the arrows turn around, a hint of revenge on his face.
It was Qiang Lin. He had been disguised as a soldier from Dayan, secretly protecting Shen Yuexi.
"Xiao Zhuo, I have already killed the man who broke his oath," King Duoma shouted to Xiao Zhuo and Shen Yuexi, who were hugging each other in the distance, after seeing Xiu Muye dead. "But one day, I will return today's humiliation double."
"At your service any time."
Xiao Zhuo hugged Shen Yuexi tightly and said without turning his head.
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