Chapter 59: Kneel and Kiss My Boots
Chapter 59: Kneel and Kiss My Boots
The victory banquet reached its peak.
Sun Fei carried a wine cup among his soldiers.
After the suffocating, maddening brutality of battle, only wine and women could relax these hardened men. White-haired warrior Pierce and long-haired strongman Drogba roared with laughter, drinking from silver plates as big as basins. Their wild, joyful shouts echoed across the square. Twenty-three men, including Prison Warden Oleg, had descended the city wall by rope with Sun Fei, charging like a suicide squad. Only Breno had fallen heroically on the Stone Bridge. The other twenty-two, though badly injured, had returned alive. This shared battle for their King had forged exceptional bonds of friendship.
At the square’s north end, this group gathered. Some sat on stone tables, locked in loud drinking contests. Others wrestled bare-chested, arms gripping. Still others competed fiercely in arm wrestling, faces red, necks thick. More danced, embracing lively girls. Even Prison Warden Oleg, once disliked by many soldiers, now gained respect for his part in this desperate fight.
“Hail! Brothers embrace!” Sun Fei raised his cup in salute.
“Brothers embrace! Long Live the King! Hail!” Soldiers cheered back, lifting their cups, honored by King Alexander’s presence.
“The second toast, to our hero, Breno!”
Sun Fei spilled fine wine onto the ground, saying loudly, “His parents shall be parents to us all. His son shall be a brother to us all… Breno’s family will be cared for by Shampoo City’s royal house! Until his son too grows into a brave and upright man like his father!”
“To hero Breno!”
Soldiers silently poured their wine onto the earth. Many, through drunken eyes, seemed to see beneath the stars the figure of a man who – even with his heart pierced – had clung to three enemies, shouting ‘Long Live the King!’ as he leaped from the Stone Bridge… Breno. The hero. Comrade. Companion!
“The third toast!” Sun Fei declared. “To hero Breno’s comrades! To Shampoo City’s twenty-two great warriors! Pierce! Drogba! O’Neal! Essien! Ballack…” Sun Fei named every strongman who had charged with him. As each name echoed, a wild cheer erupted from the crowd, the named man trembling with emotion.
“May the God of War protect you, my warriors! Your names shall endure with Shampoo City! Now!” Sun Fei’s voice burned like a bonfire, igniting every soldier’s blood. He saw the wonder and fierce pride in the strongmen’s eyes. Raising his wine-filled cup high, he announced, “Yes, my warriors! You heard right! The royal house most precious weapons… they shall be yours forever! For they are the medals of your valor!”
Those twenty-plus sets of armor and weapons were treasures collected by the Old King. Though not legendary Magical Equipment like in Bard’s tales, within a Sixth-Class Vassal State of a first-level Empire, they were priceless. Even a lifetime’s savings for a middle-ranking officer or warrior like Prison Warden Oleg couldn’t buy a single full set.
Therefore, when Sun Fei finished, the soldiers exploded in cheers.
This King, who distinguished reward clearly from punishment, was worth dying for! He, Alexander, always charged ahead in battle, shielding his soldiers and comrades from enemy blades with his own body. Sun Fei’s prestige and pull within the army was now unmatched.
The King’s generous gifts pushed the banquet to its wildest peak.
The air grew thick with the heady scent of wine.
Heart soaring, Sun Fei shed his Kingly robe. Clad in supple soft leather armor, he wrestled and drank alongside the strongmen. Men’s games! He quickly blended in. Cheating subtly using [Barbarian Mode], Sun Fei effortlessly flipped a dozen of Shampoo City’s famed strongmen one after another, vividly displaying the King’s valor…
Joy blanketed Shampoo City after the battle.
Then, suddenly, something terrible happened—
From the very center of the square, where the crowd was thickest, came women’s sharp screams and angry shouts. Lurking beneath it were men’s mocking laughs…
Sun Fei frowned.
The celebrating soldiers lowered their cups.
“Is it some drunken fool forcing a kiss on his sweetheart?”
Sun Fei and the soldiers all thought the same.
Ha! Though uncivilized, perhaps the poor devil could be forgiven tonight! Shampoo City’s girls were famously fiery—God of War protect the bold fellow!
The men exchanged knowing smiles.
But contrary to their expectations, the disturbance wasn’t quickly fading. Instead, the angry shouts and shrieks grew louder. Amidst the fading celebration, they sounded harsh. People stopped dancing, gathering towards the center as laughter quieted. All eyes turned to the source of trouble.
Sun Fei climbed a nearby stone step for a better view. Instantly, his eyes turned icy. Intense killing intent surged from him.
“Hell! Someone’s bullying Angela!”
The Barbarian Skill [Leap] ignited. Whoosh! Sun Fei soared over ten meters through the air, landing strides carrying him towards the square’s heart.
A ring of people had already formed in a circle.
Inside it, blonde lori Gemma and a dozen young commoners formed a protective line, eyes blazing with fury at several knights before them. Behind them, Angela, in a blue ceremonial robe, knelt pale-faced. She supported a young boy of fifteen or sixteen with short hair. His throat bore a horrifying gash, likely carved by a sword. Breathing was torture. Bloody foam bubbled violently from his mouth. Like a drowning swimmer coughing water, his chest heaved violently. The spurting blood even stained Angela’s sky-blue Queen’s gown.
“Pfah! Insolent worms! Daring to interfere with noble knights of the Empire!” A red-caped knight at the forefront slammed his bloodied sword back into its sheath. Cutting a man’s throat seemed trivial. He glared contemptuously at the defiant Gemma and citizens. “Kneel, kiss my boot, then crawl away if you desire life! You disgrace the face you were given! Deputy Knight Commander Shemark merely wished to invite your… future Queen…” He stressed the title mockingly, “…for a dance…”
The knight spoke with a grating sneer. Every man understood the lewd implication beneath ‘dance’. He winked smugly at his companions.
A dozen other red-caped soldiers stood behind him, arms crossed. They erupted in arrogant laughter.
Among them stood the burly knight Sun Fei had noticed earlier beside Prince Torbinsky. Hearing this, he drew his lips into a haughty smirk. He swept his contemptuous gaze over the gathering crowd. It lingered appreciatively on blonde Gemma, then pierced the crowd to fix hungrily on the goddess-like girl in the sky-blue robe, his greedy desire unconcealed.
Just then—
Whoosh!
A gust of wind. People blinked, dazzled. A tall, imposing figure materialized within the circle… Sun Fei, arrived timely via the Barbarian Skill [Leap].
Sun Fei’s gaze slashed like a knife across the scene.
His expression darkened. Ignoring the snarling, provoking red-caped knight like a rabid dog, he rushed to Angela’s side. Kneeling, he steadied the young man whose life flickered on the brink. A thought flashed: he instantly Summoned a [Health Potion] from his [Belt Space]. Carefully, he dripped every remaining drop of red liquid into the boy’s mouth and onto the ghastly neck wound.
A faint trace of Divine Miracle stirred…
The [Health Potion] worked its wonder. The terrible wound on the young man’s neck visibly closed, scarring, shrinking, vanishing. The bloody froth stopped bubbling. His ragged breathing eased. Consciousness returned, eyes slowly opening.
Sun Fei felt relieved.
Thankfully, after using diluted potion-water to aid injured soldiers during the day, a little remained. Kept aside for emergencies, it proved crucial now. Without it, the young man here would now be dead.
Citizens gasped seeing the King’s Divine Miracle revive the young man.
“Angela, tell me. What happened?”
Sun Fei passed the young man to a soldier behind him. His cold eyes swept the cocky, gloating knights. Turning to her, he asked.
Angela’s pure face radiated fury. She gripped Sun Fei’s hand tightly, recounting everything softly into his ear. As he listened, uncontrollable rage ignited inside Sun Fei. His face turned ice cold. Piercing killing intent seeped unconsciously from him.
The vile knights, pretending drunkenness, had groped Angela, Gemma, and their sisters! Initially, the girls bore it, wary of their status in Zenit Empire the mother nation. But the scoundrels pressed harder! Some dared lay hands on Angela, demanding she ‘dance’ and drink with their Knight Commander Shemark! Outraged young men nearby saw Alexander’s future Queen insulted! They stepped forward to condemn it. Pushing erupted. Then, drawing his sword, a Zenit soldier instantly slashed the throat of the youth in front…
Sun Fei patiently heard Angela out. Gently patting his fiancée’s shoulder, conveying reassurance, he strode forth. He moved past Gemma and the line of young men, standing shield-bearer foremost.
“Ah… so you’re King Alexander?”
Deputy Knight Commander Shemark, surrounded like the imperial moon by Zenit riders, crossed his arms. Advancing a step, he appraised Sun Fei with insufferable arrogance. Finally, he spoke dismissively: “Your Majesty. I find Shampoo City’s hospitality lacking. You see? My men merely invited Her Highness… the Queen…” he drawled the title, “…to dance. Yet some low-born cur dared scold them…”
Truly, Shemark felt zero respect. He utterly disdained this backwater Little King. Zenit Empire oversaw countless Vassal States; a Sixth-Class Vassal State like Shampoo City meant its King seemed lower than a St. Petersburg stablehand. Hence, his contempt bled freely: “Very well. My mood is… disrupted. But… if your Queen,” he leered, “consents to dance a Round-Table Dance here? This… incident? Gone! Forgotten!”
Hearing “Round-Table Dance,” a crude, degrading whore’s dance meant to excite men, the citizens roared curses! Forcing a Queen to do it? Utter humiliation!
Shemark ignored the rage swirling around him.
A smirk danced on his arrogant lips, eyes dripping with mockery—like a sovereign holding life and death. He then pointed past Sun Fei at blonde Gemma: “Another matter, Your Majesty. Send that gold-haired servant girl tonight… to …‘attend’ my rest at the envoys’ residence. She should thank me for the… honor… Hah! Oh! And that Magic healing liquid! Fascinating! Give me ALL of it! Do ALL this? And Zenit Empire will forgive Shampoo City’s insult.”
Shemark fixed Sun Fei with taunting eyes.
He’d visited many vassal nations. Kings and ministers, like beggars desperate for Zenit’s shield, groveled, bribed, schemed for his favor. Once, a Fifth-Class Vassal State’s ruler offered him his freshly wedded Queen at midnight! Compared to that? His offer today was generous, a kindness to this ignorant, childish King of Shampoo City.
Shemark reveled in broken pride. Seeing Kings, supreme rulers in their realms, groveling? That thrilled his power-lust.
But today? That thrill eluded him. Startled, he realized the young King before him faced him with unsettling calm. Ice cold. Not a trace of flattery or fear.
Instantly, Shemark’s smile vanished.
“Reckless boy-King! My patience thins! Obey! NOW! Else? Heh… Trust! The wrath of a Knight Commander? Far… FAR… heavier than little Shampoo City can bear!”
On his “final warning,” the red-caped riders behind him drew swords in unison! Clang! Threats hung thick. Grimacing with cruel amusement, the soldiers clanged their swords against armor—a violent din.
In past encounters with Fifth-or Sixth-Class Vassal States? This intimidation tactic never failed. Even resistant Kings soiled themselves, begging! Now? These knights imagined the heart-rending scene: this naive, Little King, forcing his matchless bride to dance the whore’s dance…
But—
“Choose your deaths, filth!”
The young King’s reply echoed.
“…What?” A knight stammered, blinking at companions. “He… said… what?”
Too stunned. Too high above him. How…? How did a Sixth-Class Vassal King dare speak thus to a Zenit Knight Commander? Had he cast off his throne?
“What did you say, boy? Comprehending your own words?!” Seeing Shemark’s chilling face, the knight who’d slit the youth’s throat saw opportunity to boast. Puffing aggressively, he rushed at Sun Fei, sword pointed right at his nose: “Insolent garbage! Dare act Kingly? Kneel! Kiss the Knight Commander’s boot! NOW! Or—”
THUD!
The threat choked off… mid-rant.
The knight felt inexplicable coldness pierce him. Bewildered, he glanced down…
Horror exploded. He gaped to scream. Blood gushed from his gaping mouth, drowning the sound.
A fist protruded from his back. Blood dripped off it.
Gasps tore through the stunned silence. All eyes locked on the knight who’d been menacing Sun Fei. In a savage instant, Alexander shot a punch crushing the fool’s chest! Crisp, horrific bone snaps! The unstoppable Might of a Level 12 Barbarian exploded fully! Sun Fei’s arm punched clean through! Blood dripped off the fist emerging—ruined organs coating it. Then Sun Fei’s arm shock-vibrated—shattering the corpse to grisly chunks spraying across the stones!
Hsssss—!
Nothing but horrified intake of breath.
Knight Commander Shemark staggered back five steps. Dumbstruck. The other knights goggled, hands trembling, weapons dropping as horror choked them. Gazing at the steaming chunks… disbelief warred with abject terror.
The square fell so silent… a needle’s drop would be thunderous.
Gods above! Alexander had slain a Zenit envoy soldier! For shock-frozen moments, minds went blank… Yet? Wild, fierce justice surged in Shampoo’s people! Exhilarating!
“Well, scum? Choose death?”
Exploding a Zenit knight? Like swatting a buzzing fly? Sun Fei’s face stayed emotionless. He shook sticky blood disdainfully off his fist. Step by step, he advanced towards Shemark and the seven remaining knights. Frost coated his every syllable. “Or… I choose for you?”
Crimson blood lust coiled from him. His gaze raked them like carrion unfit for rats.
“YOU? KILL? A SOLDIER OF THE EMPIRE!?” Rage choked Shemark. A wild dog ripped off his mate! Trembling violently, he pointed, screaming: “DOOMED! YOU! THIS CITY! DOOMED!! NOW! NOW! Shampoo City stands ENEMY of Zenit Empire! Tremble! Your city flattened!
“Oh?” Sun Fei radiated indifference. “Enemy? Zenit so terrifying? Shampoo flattened? Uncertain. YOU dying HERE? Certain…”
He barked: “Pierce! Brook! Here!” Behind, white-haired Pierce and cautious Brook finally broke through. Kneeling instantly: “King Alexander! Your command?”
“Evacuate civilians! Call the army! Shut city gates! Block every road! Lock down the Zenit envoy’s quarters! Hold it tight! Await MY sign! Any resistance? KILL!”
“Ah?” Brook blanched. Was this declaration of WAR? Even headstrong Pierce stared blankly.
Opposite…
Shemark hissed through gritting teeth: “Ha…HA! GOOD…VERY GOOD! A FOOL RAGES AGAIN! Besiege the mission? Six Hundred Zenit knights level this hovel! So? End begins NOW! YOUR HEAD? FIRST! YOUR WOMEN? NEXT! YOUR MEN? SLAIN! BLOOD CLEANSES SHAMPOO CITY!”
Sword drawn, Shemark burned! Yellow Battle Qi flames shimmered around him. Two gleaming stars flickered above his brow: symbol of a Two-Star Warrior!
“[Earth Split Slam]!”
Going for death!! Shemark initiated Combat at range! He attacked instantly! Battle QI surged! His sword blade screamed fury! The ground quaked beneath his stomp! Encased in earth-yellow aura, radiating crushing force, he launched – blade slicing mercilessly downward toward Sun Fei!
“Hmph! Barely Two-Star? Dare roar?” Sun Fei stood unmoving. White flash! The [Storm Piercer Short Sword] gripped in hand. A casual flick… Gold sword met heavy Two-Handed Broadsword.
CLANG! Sparks sprayed! Sword met sword! Shemark’s Aura vanished! His Broadsword… EXPLODED into shattered shards! Shemark himself flew backward – coughing blood! Slamming hard into a distant stone statue!
“You…? H-How…?” Shemark propped himself against the statue – gaping. Bleeding from lips stained by shock. Barely standing.
Sun Fei dismissed his words.
One step! Blurred movement! His golden blade weaved deathly patterns! SNICK! SNICK! SNICK! Like hot knives through butter! Blood sprayed! Seven red-caped knights clutched ruined throats! Choking! Gargling blood as they dropped! Mirroring Shampoo’s youth moments ago: windpipes severed, lungs flooded with blood… Pain beyond measure… Slow death spasms…
The last knight? Terror petrified! Insolence gone! His sword clattered uselessly. Legs shook uncontrollably. Stench arose—he’d soiled himself in dread.
Sun Fei’s gaze froze the knight. Commanded absolute authority: “Kneel. Kiss my boot.”
Words the riders themselves mocked with earlier. Now… returned.