The Crowd

There were always such delicate moments: nothing had been decided, and every person's actions could affect the course of events, yet no one knew what to do. They were like a herd of animals standing on a vast grassland, facing the approach of a predator. The first animal to run would determine the direction of the whole herd.

The nobles in the Imperial Guard camp were in just such a state. Countless ideas and plans were budding like shoots after a spring rain, but no one had expected the first to act, the one to lead the way, would be the plump Zuo Ri King.

Compared with Turshan, the new Zuo Ri King could only be called a little fatty. Among the kings, his strength was not the weakest, but it was close; few people thought him particularly clever. Yet there he was, pushing his way out of the officers' crowd under a sea of astonished gazes, running clumsily toward the tens of thousands of soldiers slowly approaching. As he passed Shangguan Fei, he nearly stumbled. He was as eager as a mother reuniting with a child she had lost.

"I am Zuo Ri King, grandson of the Old Khan King! Within ten days, I'll reunite the Old Khan King's head with his body! I've found the traitor who sold out the Grand Commandant. Join my ranks, and the first thing we'll do is take revenge! We'll pay them back in blood..."

Zuo Ri King spoke at a breakneck pace, as though this were his last chance to speak. Behind him, the officers and princes watched in silence, finding him ridiculous and yet feeling their hearts stir.

Zuo Ri King could run no farther and gradually slowed to a walk, but his mouth kept going. He shouted himself hoarse as