Dream of the Red Chamber: From a Border Ruffian to a Capital Tyrant

On the hillside, the withered grass creaked like a skeleton in the cold wind. The deathly silence all around was suffocating, with only a few shrill insect chirps breaking the night sky. Instead of dispelling the oppressive atmosphere, they added a touch of sinister killing intent.

"General, someone's coming!"

Just as the figures of the Left Wise King and Maodun entered their line of sight, Li Tiedan's hawk-like eyes instantly locked onto their targets. Not daring to be negligent in the slightest, he suddenly turned to the side and leaned close to Jia Lang's ear, lowering his voice and shouting urgently.

Jia Lang's eyes flashed like lightning as he gripped the two figures approaching below. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately waved his hand and gave the decisive order:

"All personnel, silence! Anyone who dares to reveal their whereabouts without my order will be executed on the spot!"

However, before Jia Lang could finish speaking, the situation below suddenly changed dramatically!

The two men stopped in a patch of overgrown weeds not far from the Xiongnu camp.

This sudden scene made Jia Lang's heart skip a beat, and an ominous premonition welled up in his mind.

"slow!"

Jia Lang gave a low shout, grabbed Li Tiedan who was about to launch an attack, his eyes sharp as hooks, his brows furrowed into a deep frown, his eyes full of suspicion and murderous intent, staring intently at the two below, trying to discern some clues from this strange atmosphere.

Staring at the two figures, Jia Lang was filled with doubt.

Although one of them was a complete stranger, Jia Lang found the face of the other Xiongnu general somewhat familiar.

After thinking for a moment, Jia Lang remembered that this person was the barbarian general who had just returned to camp not long ago.

However, what on earth are these two guys, who should be enjoying wine and barbecue in the main tent, up to in this godforsaken, remote corner in the dead of night?

"General, what are these two barbarians up to?"

Li Tiedan crouched down and approached Jia Lang, looking at the two sneaky figures below. He couldn't help but ask in a low voice, his hand already on the hilt of his knife.

Jia Lang shook his head slightly, his gaze never leaving the area below, and said in a deep voice:

"I don't know, but something's definitely fishy. Let's see what they're up to."

.....

on the grassland.

Following behind Maodun, the Left Wise King was wearing a brocade robe embroidered with wolf head totems, a symbol of the tribal chief's power, which stood out conspicuously in the dim night.

He led a few trusted confidants and followed Maodun into the darkness outside the camp.

"Chief, are we really going to go out with this wolf cub?"

"The Great Chanyu has been acting strangely lately; I'm afraid he's up to no good!"

A trusted aide approached the Left Wise King, his voice hushed, his face filled with trepidation and unease.

The Xiongnu man's brows furrowed, his eyes darting around warily, and his hands unconsciously gripping the curved sword at his waist, his knuckles turning white from the force.

The Left Wise King abruptly stopped, turned around and glared fiercely at his trusted confidant, letting out a disdainful snort:

"What's there to be afraid of!"

"Even if Touman had the guts of a bear and the gall of a leopard, he wouldn't dare attack our allied forces at this critical juncture!"

"Otherwise, no matter how many troops he has, if our tribes join forces, we can raze his Chanyu's court to the ground and make him suffer a terrible fate!"

Upon hearing this, the confidant nodded in agreement, but the worry in his eyes did not diminish in the slightest:

"But this wolf cub is no pushover either; he's cunning as a lad."

"The fact that the Great Khan chose such a terrible place to deliver this message suggests there might be a trap..."

"Hmph, that old codger Touman is too old and toothless. What kind of intimidation does a toothless old wolf have?"

The Left Wise King impatiently interrupted his subordinate's nonsense, a hint of arrogance flashing in his eyes.

"Since the Great Chanyu has sent him, if I don't go, wouldn't people think I'm afraid?"

"I'd like to see what tricks this father and son can pull!"

Having said that, he ignored his nagging confidant and strode forward.

After a dozen or so breaths, the Left Wise King looked around and saw that the weeds were barren and there were no other people around. Only then did he stop and turn around.

"Alright, my good nephew, it's so quiet here even ghosts wouldn't come. Can you tell me now?"

"What message did the Great Khan send you to deliver?"

"If you can't satisfy me... Hmph!"

Upon hearing this, Maodun did not speak immediately. Instead, he imitated the Left Wise King with a sinister look, his eyes slowly scanning the surroundings like a viper's hiss.

Once he was certain that there were no third ears within a hundred paces and that he was a safe distance from the camp, Maodun's cold and hard face suddenly broke into an exaggerated grin, revealing a wild and ferocious laugh.

That smile concealed cunning and ruthlessness, like a hungry wolf baring its fangs in the dark, ready to deliver a fatal blow to its prey.

Seeing Maodun's chilling smile, the Left Wise King felt a chill run down his spine, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong.

His brows furrowed, a murderous intent rising within him, and his hand instinctively gripped the hilt of his knife.

In fact, he had considered that Touman might be ruthless.

Normally, he wouldn't dare to go out with Maodun alone, even if he had ten times the courage.

On this grassland filled with betrayal and slaughter, one wrong step can lead to utter ruin.

But he was certain that Touman wouldn't dare to break off relations at this time!

"Spit it out! I don't have time to waste with you!"

The Left Wise King suppressed his unease and shouted sternly.

"Hehe, Uncle, don't worry. Father Khan specifically asked me to pass on a message to you."

As Maodun spoke in a sarcastic tone, he took heavy steps, approaching the Left Wise King step by step until the two were face to face.

"Father Khan said..."

Maodun deliberately drew out his words, each one sounding as if squeezed out from between his teeth, and the air seemed to freeze.

"The embers left behind by the old Chanyu burned my father's sweaty palms."

"Therefore, I hereby order my nephew to escort the Left Wise King to meet the old Chanyu who holds up the blue sky!!!"

Before he finished speaking, the true intentions were revealed! A fierce glint flashed in Maodun's eyes, and his right hand reached for his waist like lightning, a cold light flashing!

The dagger, like a venomous snake lurking in wait, plunged into the neck of the Left Wise King in the blink of an eye, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound.

The sharp blade pierced through flesh as easily as cutting tofu, and scalding blood gushed out like a fountain, instantly staining the magnificent brocade robe of the Left Wise King dark red.

As excruciating pain struck, Zuo Xianwang, being a seasoned warrior, roared and, with his last ounce of strength, swung his arm and pushed, sending Maodun, who was in front of him, back several steps.

He clutched his bleeding neck, his body trembling violently from extreme pain and rage, his eyes filled with disbelief and resentment.

"you...."

The Left Wise King let out a hoarse roar, like a broken bellows, each word sounding as if it had been earned with his life:

"you..."

"The tribe's warriors... will never... let... you go..."

He staggered back a few steps, his legs gave way, and he collapsed to his knees with a thud, blood still gushing from his mouth, trying to deliver his final curse before he died.

"Heh, them???"

Maodun steadied himself, his eyes filled with contempt and disdain, a mocking sneer curling at the corner of his mouth.

"hehe..."

"Hahaha...."

Immediately afterwards, Maodun burst into wild laughter, the sound echoing across the empty wilderness, filled with arrogance, pride, and unbridled recklessness.