Stepping Forward

Gu Shenwei planted the Five Peaks Saber in the ground and spread his arms. The onlookers all breathed a sigh of relief. Fang Wenshi knew the Dragon King had something to say, so he tactfully swallowed his words.

Gu Shenwei addressed General Zhesu. "The Northern Court is a great power under heaven. It needs only to commit a tenth of its strength, or even less, to decide the fate of the Western Regions. That is why the various states are willing to become vassals, coming one after another to seek alliances for generations. I, the Dragon King, am one of them. But what I've seen today has greatly disappointed me. The Northern Court's division is an undeniable fact: within, the princes circle like wolves; without, powerful enemies watch like tigers. The Naihang Tribe commands a mighty army, and whoever it supports can become lord of the Northern Court. Yet instead of attending to its proper duties, it disdains the Khan King's descendants and bullies its weaker allies. General Zhesu, did King Yue Zhu entrust the Naihang Tribe to you just so you could vent your anger over some petty grievance?"

Zhesu's face flushed red. Little Yanzhi was a woman of his tribe and had come under the banner of the Old Khan King, so he had no way to refute that. But the Dragon King was a foreigner he disliked, and he actually dared lecture him. Rage surged in Zhesu's chest, and he gave a heavy snort. "I know from personal experience what it means to ally with the Dragon King. Where were you when King Yue Zhu was killed? Weren't that Moonlight Hall and He Nu brought into the Dragon Court by you?"

As soon as the Dragon King began to speak, Fang Wenshi had realized their side needed