Chapter Sixty-Six: Who Are You

“Wait a moment,” Lu Hu called out, stopping them.

An Shilu's blade was already raised high, but at the cry he froze, turning to glance at Lu Hu.

“Shilu, do you really intend to rebel?” A subtle, enigmatic smile played upon Lu Hu’s face.

“Shilu has no wish to rebel. They’ve forced my hand. I’ll turn against them, not against the Divine One. The Divine One’s kindness to us is as weighty as a mountain—without him, we would have nothing. Shilu swears unyielding loyalty to the Divine One.”

As he spoke, An Shilu kept a wary eye on Shi Zhenxiang, his arm still ready to bring down the blade at any moment.

“Shi Zhenxiang is one of my most trusted commanders. If you’re not rebelling against me, why do you seek to strike him down?”

“I was wrong, Divine One. Please punish me as you see fit,” An Shilu replied, dropping to his knees. He held the blade in both hands and offered it to Shi Zhenxiang.

Truly a man of steel, Lu Hu thought, admiring him in silence.

Shi Zhenxiang did not take the blade. Instead, he turned to look at Lu Hu, waiting for his verdict.

“Regardless of the reason, by drawing your blade against your superior, you have committed an unpardonable crime,” Lu Hu said, casting an imperious gaze over the assembled centurions.

These centurions were men who would forsake loyalty for profit. If they weren’t taught discipline now, who knew what chaos they might unleash when their power grew?

Lu Hu continued, “The reason I had you purge the former decurions and centurions was because they were corrupt, openly and secretly defying the Mandate of Heaven. Such men must be removed.”

He slammed his hand on the table and declared, “If you disregard the Mandate of Heaven and oppress the innocent, you will share the same fate as those decurions and centurions—slaughtered by your own men.”

The centurions all shuddered, scrambling to their knees and crying out, “Divine One, we shall obey the Mandate of Heaven without the slightest defiance!”

Lu Hu nodded. “I believe you. Furthermore, whether your superior is right or wrong, whether you agree or not, you must obey orders unconditionally. Any who defy their superiors shall be punished without mercy.”

“Insolence!” The centurions replied in unison.

Lu Hu pointed at An Shilu. “If a subordinate defies your orders, what would you do?”

An Shilu’s eyes flashed. “Whoever dares challenge my authority, I’ll beat the guts out of him!”

Shi Zhenxiang snatched the blade from his grip and kicked him to the ground. “You dare act so insolent before the Divine One? Know your place!”

An Shilu scrambled up, kneeling and knocking his head on the ground repeatedly.

“Disrespect toward the Divine One! Kill him, tear him to pieces!” Shi Taixiang shouted.

“That’s right, kill him!” the centurions echoed one after another.

Lu Hu waved his hand. “Today I’ve just laid down the rules of military discipline. What happened before will not be pursued. Shilu, rise. The rest of you, up as well.”

“Insolence!” The centurions hastily scrambled to their feet.

But An Shilu did not get up. Instead, he crawled on his knees to Lu Hu’s feet and reverently pressed his lips to the Divine One’s boots.

So the Hu tribe had such a ritual.

Lu Hu bent down to help him up.

Tears streamed down An Shilu’s face as he choked out, “Divine One, you are as parents reborn to Shilu, a father and mother anew. My life now belongs to you…”

Lu Hu clapped him on the shoulder. “Your loyalty and courage do you credit. But don’t act the fool again. Serve well, and a promotion to chiliarch will not be out of the question.”

Who would have thought pleasing the Divine One could bring such fortune?

Shi Xiangxiang, ever quick-witted, shoved back his chair, dropped to his knees with a thud, and crawled rapidly toward Lu Hu’s feet.

An Shiji, unwilling to be left behind, followed suit, dropping to his knees with a bang and scrambling like a turtle toward Lu Hu.

An Shiji, though slower to start, managed to reach Lu Hu’s left boot first, clutching it and showering it with kisses.

Seeing the other centurions scrambling to do the same, Shi Xiangxiang broke into a sweat, still some distance away. Desperate, he prostrated himself and in his haste, scraped his lips raw. Ignoring the pain, he wriggled forward like a giant worm, finally seizing the Divine One’s right boot and kissing it fervently.

The ministers and generals of Changli had never witnessed such a scene. Usually, the sight of Xilot’s fierce warriors struck terror into them, but now, seeing such devotion to the Divine One, they dared not lag behind. One after another, they too dropped to their knees and crawled over.

Before long, a dark mass was prostrate at Lu Hu’s feet, all pushing and shoving for the chance to kiss his boots. Quan Dounan was at a loss, while Shi Zhenxiang was utterly dumbfounded.

Quan Dounan frowned in thought: Should I kneel or not? Should I kiss the boots or not?

Even if I become the Divine One’s father-in-law someday, I couldn’t dare show disrespect.

But if I kiss his boots before my subordinates, how will I ever save face again?

And if I ever claim the throne, what will I call the era? The Year of the Boot-Kiss?

Shi Zhenxiang’s mind raced: I once had nothing; only by following the Divine One did I rise. If I ever hope to lead Xilot, I must not make an enemy of the Divine One…

Should I kneel and kiss his boots, crawl and kiss his boots, or bow and kiss his boots?

Amid the chaos, Little Guanyin rose to restore order, directing those who had finished kissing the boots to return to their seats.

Shi Zhenxiang saw Yakexi, having finished the ritual, stand up from the throng, eyes moist with emotion, his shoulder freshly patted by Lu Hu, and sit back down, radiant with joy.

Meanwhile, acting chiliarch Shi Taixiang was still kneeling in the crowd, waiting his turn.

Lu Hu happened to glance his way.

No more hesitation—if not now, when will I make my mark?

Shi Zhenxiang dropped solidly to his knees and crawled forward, shoving aside the ministers of Changli on the outer edge to make his way in.

I’ve followed the Divine One longer than any of you, my rank is higher; I refuse to wait in line for a mere boot-kiss.

The Grand Marshal of Changli, annoyed at being jostled, grumbled, “Can’t you mind your manners? What are your eyes for—just for show? Don’t you see everyone is waiting their turn?”

You dare strut before me? Looking for trouble, are you?

Shi Zhenxiang glared at the Grand Marshal, an old man as fat as a hog, his belly nearly touching the ground.

Coldly, he asked, “What’s your rank, that you think you can teach me manners?”

“I am the Grand Marshal,” the fat pig replied haughtily, full of bluster.

Shi Zhenxiang grew even angrier. “What’s there to brag about? So you’re a Grand Marshal—what does that mean, exactly? Tell me, what’s the Grand Marshal’s job? Slaughtering horses?”

“Slaughtering horses? Have you no learning at all? I’m in a good mood today, so listen and remember this. Get your knees steady and don’t faint in fright. The Grand Marshal commands all the generals in the land, not to mention the common soldiers.”

“Bah! And where is your country? How many soldiers do you have? You’re raving, aren’t you? Get out of my way and let me through.”

“I won’t let you through. What will you do about it? You’re just a paltry centurion, putting on airs.”

“What nonsense! When centurions and chiliarchs see me, they kneel.”

“Ha! You’re so cocky. You only have a single chiliarch, and he’s acting at that. You think I don’t know?”

“Your mother! I am the great King Zhenxiang, and soon I’ll have more chiliarchs under me than you can count!”

“Watch your mouth, you sound like you’ve eaten filth—so you’re Shi Zhenxiang, are you?”