Chapter 725 A new imperial court
“I still want to challenge you.” Alat Baghatur said coldly, “A battle-hardened warrior does not go back on their word on this steppe!”
Calling himself a battle-hardened warrior was only a title, but there were less than 20 people in the entire steppe that were worthy of such a title. Once one became a battle-hardened warrior, they could immediately attract the following of some nomads who admired the strong, forming their own tribes in the process.
Moreover, the most important issue was that Alat Baghatur had a strong personality. He was brave and had the traits of the nomads, so he would definitely not give up challenging this new khan just because there was the threat of the wolves.
The nomads were used to using their courage and strength to win applause and respect. When Alat Baghatur said he still wanted to challenge Yan Liuyuan, the Wolf King stood up. Suddenly, everyone felt that the already tall and burly Alat Baghatur looked a little insignificant in front of the Wolf King.
Yan Liuyuan patted the Wolf King and said with a smile, “Alright, don’t scare him.”
After that, the Wolf King laid down docilely again. Even the servant, Hassan, was surprised by how loyal the wolves were to Yan Liuyuan.
When the other nomads saw this, they were sincerely in awe of Yan Liuyuan. The nomads revered all kinds of mysterious powers and deeply believed that gods really existed in this world.
Some of the elderly women in the tribe even knelt down in Yan Liuyuan’s direction all of a sudden.
Everything that was happening here would surely be incomprehensible to the people of the Central Plains. A lot of people from the Central Plains would probably feel a little envious if they saw this. As long as they could display some “miracles” here, they would be immediately regarded as gods. Yan Liuyuan looked at Alat Baghatur. “Let’s get started then. Let me have a look at what battle-hardened warriors are capable of.” Alat Baghatur said, “You need to explain to the wolves and your people first that this is a fair challenge. Even if I accidentally kill you, they cannot pursue the matter.”
“Sure.” Yan Liuyuan said to Hassan with a smile, “Did you hear what he said? If I get killed, you don’t have to take it up with him.”
Yan Liuyuan patted the Wolf King. “You too.”
Then everyone saw the Wolf King nod!
A moment later, Alat Baghatur rushed towards Yan Liuyuan. However, he suddenly noticed some fine silvery patterns appearing on Yan Liuyuan’s face. There was even a silvery glow in his eyes.
The nanomachines Ren Xiaosu had given to his younger brother immediately activated and strengthened their master’s physical body.
Within his blood, bones, and muscles, the nanomachines were everywhere. They followed Yan Liuyuan’s will and became his strongest support.
Alat Baghatur slashed down at Yan Liuyuan with his saber, but the blade could not get any further than the top of Yan Liuyuan’s head. Yan Liuyuan grabbed the blade with his palm as though it were a toy handed to him by a child.
With a snap, Yan Liuyuan snapped Alat Baghatur’s saber in half. The broken saber continued slashing down across Yan Liuyuan’s face, but it still remained a fraction away from Yan Liuyuan’s cheeks. Yan Liuyuan did not even blink as he watched the broken saber descend. When Alat Baghatur’s saber came to a stop, Yan Liuyuan took a step forward and used the knuckle of his index finger to hit the other party squarely on the chest.
Although it looked like a simple knock, it caused Alat Baghatur so much pain he nearly fainted. He clutched his chest and fell on his knees as though he were submitting to Yan Liuyuan.
This battle ended as quickly as it started. To those watching, it looked like a god teaching his believer a lesson. This was not an evenly matched battle at all.
Everything Yan Liuyuan did seemed so easy.
Meanwhile, the surrounding tribal chiefs suddenly felt that everything made sense.
If Yan Liuyuan were not strong, why would such powerful wolves follow him willingly?
No, it was no longer enough to define Yan Liuyuan as strong. They started to seriously consider if Yan Liuyuan were really a god who had descended to the human world, just as Hassan had thought when he first met Yan Liuyuan.
Yan Liuyuan was standing next to Alat Baghatur. He held the broken blade in his left hand and placed it at his neck. The cold edge of the blade caused Alat Baghatur’s body to tremble.
He did not say anything and seemed to be thinking about something. Alat Baghatur was still clutching his chest and panting heavily. He did not have any strength to resist at all.
Hassan raised his gun and pointed it at the chiefs of the various tribes, as well as Alat Baghatur’s fellow tribespeople. This was to prevent them from suddenly causing any trouble.
Yan Liuyuan suddenly said, “Today, I will set up my imperial court here. The blood of Alat Baghatur will be used to draw the flag of my court as a warning to those who come later. A true king is needed in the steppe. Killing a person might not prove that I have the right to rule over y’all. But follow me to the South in half a month’s time. I’ll bestow on everyone all the fame and glory that others can’t give to you. Everything that the other khans can’t do, I’ll show you that it’s possible!”
With that, Yan Liuyuan slashed the sharp edge of the blade across Alat Baghatur’s neck. Hassan immediately ordered someone to bring a wooden basin over to collect the blood that was gushing out of Alat Baghatur’s neck.
Yan Liuyuan turned around. Actually, he could have spared Alat Baghatur to show benevolence.
But in these grasslands, there was no need for any benevolent rulers.
If he wanted to unite the grasslands quickly, it would have to be through a bloody process. Yan Liuyuan did not mind showing benevolence, but that would have to wait until he unified the grasslands.
As for how Alat Baghatur’s tribespeople would react, Yan Liuyuan believed that Hassan would handle it very well.
At this moment, Yan Liuyuan saw Xiaoyu looking at him worriedly from the royal tent.
Yan Liuyuan walked back into the tent and said softly, “Big Sister Xiaoyu, do you think what I did today was a little cruel?”
Xiaoyu touched his forehead. “No, Liuyuan has grown up into a man. This is what you have to go through. I’ve also thought about it before. The world does not allow us to be weak. You should rest for a while first. I’ll go and cook for you.”
Xiaoyu walked outside and looked back at the royal tent behind her. From today onwards, this would be the imperial court of the grasslands.
It might look a little shabby now, but it was never glamor that represented the authority of a leader. It was all about absolute power.
Yan Liuyuan sat inside the tent in silence for a long time. Beside him, Tsetseg said, “Let me comb your hair for you.”
Yan Liuyuan was stunned for a moment before chuckling. “Alright.”
Tsetseg went to get a comb and dipped the wooden teeth of it into some clear water before brushing it through Yan Liuyuan’s long hair.
Even after going through a battle, Yan Liuyuan’s hair did not get messed up. Tsetseg said softly, “You didn’t actually want to kill Alat Baghatur, right?”
Tsetseg could feel the dilemma in Yan Liuyuan’s heart. It was as though he were personally destroying something within him, hardening his heart along the way.
To others, Yan Liuyuan was a god.
Initially, that was what Tsetseg thought as well. But after interacting with Yan Liuyuan for some time, she realized he was also a person of flesh and blood.
But she liked the version of Yan Liuyuan she had in her heart more. It did not matter what he did, right or wrong.