"Your Highness, Left King, you-"
Muhage gave the tiger-mounted Barbarian guards no chance to speak. He patted the black bear beneath him and headed straight toward the Golden Tent.
Chen Yi led Mugan along, his eyes fixed ahead, following closely.
The Barbarian warriors of the Black Bear Tribe behind them did the same, not sparing those guards even a sidelong glance.
Ji Feng was about to follow when Bi Qi stopped him and slid down from his shoulder. Glancing at the Barbarian guards of the Golden Tent, he leaned on his staff and sighed. "The Golden Tent is our tribe's sacred ground. By ancient custom, all who come here must approach on foot, regardless of their standing-"
"Besides, the Emperor is still alive, and his authority remains. Let's leave him a little dignity."
Ji Feng cared little for such things. As he walked, he said in a muffled voice, "The chief came in person, yet these bastards dared to block him. Not slaughtering them was already an act of mercy."
"If it were me, I'd have shot an arrow straight through them long ago."
The Barbarians' hierarchy was even stricter than that of the Central Plains. Standing meant strength, and when a Barbarian of high standing dealt with someone beneath him, right and wrong did not enter into it.
At most, he would receive a few words of reprimand, then carry on as before.
Bi Qi shook his head. "From the Emperor's position, our chief truly wasn't summoned to this council. The rules-"
"Forget it, forget it. He's nearly dead anyway. Let this old man's breach of the rules count as an early send-off."
He naturally understood the current circumstances. Saying no more, he straightened his aged back and followed toward the Golden Tent at an unhurried pace.
Watching his