My Brothers!

Zhang Tie listened in silence the whole time. Only now did he tightly grasp Aurora's hand and look at her earnestly. "I won't let you die here!"

Aurora smiled, taking Zhang Tie's words as nothing more than comfort. "I know. If it weren't for me this time, you probably wouldn't be here. When all's said and done, I'm the one who dragged you into this!"

"Don't be stupid. I came here of my own accord. It has nothing to do with anyone else!"

"I've found that although you can be a bit of a bastard, you're kind of lovable sometimes too!" Aurora gazed into the distance. "Can I borrow your shoulder for a while?"

Zhang Tie nodded, and Aurora obediently rested her head against him.

The two of them looked into the distance. For a time, neither spoke.

"Do you know what I was thinking when I learned that I would die here in a month?"

Aurora spoke softly into Zhang Tie's ear. It looked like lovers whispering sweet nothings, yet the contents of her words were brutal.

"What were you thinking?"

"My first feeling was fear. For the first time, I felt the preciousness and weight of life. Then I realized how foolish I was. The Gray Eagle Tribe's problem was actually very simple. I'd only made it complicated by overthinking it. You were right. All I needed to do was gather those two old men, Oliyev and Juventus, along with their supporters, and make them swear loyalty to me. Whoever refused, I could simply chop off their head. Because I can decide whether they live or die, they would absolutely obey me. They would have no choice but to obey."

Zhang Tie had not expected Aurora to undergo such a transformation at this moment. But it was a