Chapter 164: 唦摩里

Shamoli and a few loyal followers had been trekking through the jungle for several days and nights without daring to look back, let alone light a fire for cooking. When hungry, they ate a few fruits; when thirsty, they cupped water in their hands to drink. Finally, they managed to escape the territory of the Dongshan Yue.

When the prosperous and bustling towns of the Dong people appeared before them, teeming with crowds, the sight utterly stunned Shamoli and his companions. Posing as refugees from the mountains, they were clustered together under guard. From a distance, they saw throngs of people, noble carriages like clouds, and a surge of vehicles heading west, with the faint, warbling sounds of opera drifting over.

"These Dong people... they truly live like immortals," Shamoli muttered, dumbfounded. He finally understood why the slaves had desperately flocked eastward.

After being confined for several hours, Shamoli finally spotted a richly dressed Mountain Yue approaching in the distance. His eyes lit up. This man was a clan official from the Mulu clan, thought to have died years ago. Shamoli realized he had instead vanished to enjoy a life of luxury in the East. He quickly called out in the Mountain Yue dialect, "Hey, you worthless fellow... look over here!"

The man's expression soured initially, but upon hearing the voice and looking, he became ecstatic, shouting, "Quickly, seize that man! He is a royal descendant of the Dongshan Yue!" Shamoli was immediately tackled by several people. Despite possessing a cultivation of the third level of embryonic breath, he cowered, not daring to resist. He was clumsily dragged and carried, eventually being thrown with a thud into a large courtyard paved with bluestone bricks.

Kneeling on the smooth, cold ground, he hesitantly lifted his head. Before him was a boy who appeared to be fourteen or fifteen years old. He had long, straight sword-like eyebrows and piercing grey-black eyes that stared intently at Shamoli. His face was handsome with fluid lines, exuding a strong sense of presence.

"G-greetings, Great King!" Shamoli stammered. He mused that this person was most likely Li Xuanxuan; his youthful appearance probably meant he had achieved Qi cultivation at an early age. Besides, he was still Shamoli's uncle by marriage, a relative after all.

"You flatter me, my Lord," Li Yuanxiu chuckled softly, a slight smile playing on his lips. He couldn't help but feel a surge of triumph, realizing that the Mountain Yue's weakness had unexpectedly presented itself. Though he longed to laugh aloud, he restrained himself, offering a polite remark as he scrutinized the trembling Mountain Yue prince.

"I am Li Yuanxiu, the eldest legitimate son of the Family Head, and we are of the same generation." Shamoli then realized he was in the presence of the Dong Kingdom's heir. He offered a fawning smile and was about to speak when he saw someone rush through the doorway. This person bore some resemblance to Li Yuanxiu, but with shorter eyebrows and narrower, more elongated eyes, giving him a jackal-like appearance. The youth cast a glance at Shamoli, startling him into quickly lowering his head.

"Hearing of my cousin's visit, Yuanjiao is delighted!" Shamoli was immediately overjoyed, believing this person would be his patron among the Dong people. He repeatedly exclaimed, "So it's Brother Jiao! Brother Jiao! I've admired you for so long, never imagining such a hero!"

Li Yuanjiao pursed his lips and stood beside Li Yuanxiu, his gaze like a tiger's as he surveyed the people below. Knowing he possessed Mulu clan blood and understanding his disposition toward the Mountain Yue, several of Shamoli's followers looked at him with admiration.

"I hear your father encountered some trouble. Would you be willing to explain, my Lord, to clear our confusion?" Li Yuanxiu asked unhurriedly from his seat at the head of the room, holding a cup of tea. Below, Shamoli trembled, repeatedly answering, "Yes, yes!"

Shamoli then quickly recounted the entire sequence of events surrounding Mujiaoman's death, speaking for the duration of an incense stick. Only then did those present realize what had happened, beginning to whisper and discuss among themselves.

Li Yuanxiu waved his hand, his expression subtly changing. He hadn't expected Shamoli to be so foolish, thinking to himself, "I specifically summoned everyone to have him state the facts, but this simpleton genuinely told the unvarnished truth. He doesn't even know to slander his brother a little to give my Li family an excuse to intervene. He's truly wasted my good intentions..."

Looking up at the crowd of uncles and cousins below, Li Yuanxiu said softly, "I need to speak with Shamoli. Elders, please withdraw for now." A few clan elders frowned, about to protest, but Li Yuanjiao snorted and stepped forward, staring menacingly at them. The elders had no choice but to retreat. Once these supportive elders left, the rest of the crowd receded like a tide, leaving only the courtyard full of clan soldiers, the two brothers Li Yuanxiu and Li Yuanjiao, and Li Qiuyang, who stood beside Shamoli with clasped hands, guarding against any aggressive moves.

Li Yuanxiu quickly walked down, took Shamoli's hand, and with a cordial demeanor, said with a smile, "Brother Shamoli, with the elders present earlier, it was difficult for Yuanxiu to speak freely. We are relatives by marriage; there's no need for such formality!"

Shamoli was momentarily stunned, not expecting Li Yuanxiu to be so approachable. He stammered, unable to speak. Li Yuanxiu continued, "That Lord Jimu, taking advantage of the late King's severe injuries, assassinated him to seize the throne and then, against the late King's wishes, wantonly massacred the other princes. This is truly inhuman! Since my Li family has pledged to protect the Dongshan Yue, how can we stand by idly? Please rest assured, my Lord!"

Shamoli was completely dumbfounded by these words, his mind a blank. He wondered if he hadn't explained clearly enough just now. His own father had explicitly passed the throne to Jimu and personally ordered the slaughter of his other sons, yet in Li Yuanxiu's mouth, the story had completely changed...

As Shamoli looked at the smile on Li Yuanxiu's face, a flash of insight struck him like lightning. A trembling, surging desire for the throne, which he had long given up on, suddenly ignited within him. He began to tremble, filled with both joy and fear, and repeatedly cried out, "Yes! Yes! Lord Jimu took advantage of the late King's severe injuries to assassinate him and seize the throne, and then, against the late King's wishes, wantonly massacred the other princes..."

Li Yuanxiu finally managed to get through to the dim-witted Shamoli, sighing in relief. He said with a smile, "Your father was also Brother Jiao's uncle by marriage, so this vendetta is also an insult to my Li family. Why don't you go down the mountain and see the eastern scenery? It's very different from the Mountain Yue lands. I'll go up the mountain to report to the elders and then come find you."

Shamoli's mind was racing with visions, his blood boiling, filled with images of returning to the Mountain Yue and reclaiming the throne. He numbly assented, then suddenly snapped out of his daze and exclaimed excitedly, "Shamoli can never repay the noble family's immense kindness! Shamoli is willing to be the Li family's vanguard, to guard the western borders for the Li family, and offer annual tribute..."

Li Yuanxiu waved his hand, at a loss for words, knowing that the man before him completely lacked tact. He thought to himself, "Guarding the west and offering annual tribute—how is that any different from the current situation? This Shamoli really can't speak to the point; he's truly oblivious to the political climate."

With a slight nod, he left the courtyard and headed up the mountain, leaving Li Yuanjiao and Shamoli staring blankly at each other in the courtyard. Shamoli was still lost in thought. Li Yuanjiao glanced at him, patted his distant relative on the shoulder, and whispered in his ear, "Our Dong people are most famous for their beautiful dancers and singers. Perhaps you'd like to go see them, cousin?" "Ah, alright," Shamoli replied, still dazed.

Shamoli, still disoriented, exited the courtyard. Li Yuanjiao then clasped his hands in salute to Li Qiuyang and said softly, "I'll leave the rest to you, Uncle. Please carefully select some singing and dancing girls. It's crucial that Shamoli leaves behind a few offspring to be educated in town. Only then will we truly hold the Mountain Yue in our grasp."

"I understand," Li Qiuyang nodded, showing no disrespect despite Li Yuanjiao's youth. He bowed in acknowledgement and departed.