Published: March 12, 2025
Chapter 285: The Princess’s Situation
Zhao Hai followed Belruk into the tent. He kept his head down, but his peripheral vision was taking in everything inside the tent. The ground was covered with a thick blanket, beautifully patterned and clearly a high-quality piece. Stepping on it felt like walking on clouds—soft and incredibly comfortable.
There was no fire pit in the tent, only a large copper brazier over a meter in diameter, intricately engraved with various animal patterns that looked stunning. Currently, a copper kettle was hanging above the brazier, from which the fragrant aroma of milk tea wafted.
The ceiling of the tent appeared very bright. Zhao Hai stole a glance upward and saw a huge metal chandelier shaped like a roulette wheel. This light was not an oil lamp, but a magical one, which surprised Zhao Hai. It seemed that King Xiqi was living quite comfortably; after all, using such magical lights was far more expensive than oil lamps.
At this moment, Belruk had already bowed respectfully and said, “I greet His Highness.”
Zhao Hai quickly snapped back to reality and also bowed, saying, “I greet Your Majesty, King Xiqi.” He hadn’t even seen King Xiqi yet.
A gruff voice came from ahead, “Don’t be polite, Belruk, Mr. Zhao Hai, please sit.”
Zhao Hai then raised his head and saw a table across from him. This was no ordinary small table but a genuine square table, resembling a writing desk. Behind the table sat an orc, towering at about three meters tall, with a massive bull's head and curved horns resembling scimitars. His somewhat unattractive bull face bore a long scar, making him appear more menacing.
His body was very robust, sitting there like a mountain, with well-defined muscle contours resembling iron casting. On the ground behind him stood a gigantic wolf tooth club, its head as thick as Zhao Hai's body.
This orc was not dressed in a typical beastman’s hide robe or ordinary human fabric but was clad in a full set of genuine human iron armor, making him look like a terrifying steel beast.
At first glance, one might think he was a warmonger, a rough man with a thick skin, but Zhao Hai didn’t see him that way. He noticed that King Xiqi’s eyes were very bright, almost like X-ray vision, capable of penetrating the human body and soul, which was quite terrifying.
Zhao Hai did not believe that someone with such eyes could be a simpleton; this person was definitely not an ordinary character. However, Zhao Hai did not show any signs of what he was thinking. After expressing his gratitude, he walked over to the chair opposite King Xiqi and sat down, with Belruk taking a seat beside him.
King Xiqi curiously scrutinized Zhao Hai and suddenly said in a deep voice, “Mr. Zhao Hai, welcome to my camp, and thank you for the food you brought us.”
Zhao Hai smiled and replied, “Your Majesty is too kind. We are just mutually benefiting; there’s no need to thank anyone. If I must express gratitude, it should be to you, Your Majesty. If you weren't willing to accept, my food would have to wait until next year to be sold.”
King Xiqi laughed heartily, “Humans love to say flattering words. Mr. Zhao Hai, please don’t be modest. As long as you deliver the food to the grasslands, there will be none left.”
If Zhao Hai hadn’t noticed his eyes, he would have thought King Xiqi was a straightforward and uncomplicated person. But now, Zhao Hai held a different view. He laughed and said, “Your Majesty is too polite. What I said is true; collaborating with you is for long-term considerations, not just this year but next year and the year after. With ordinary tribes, I can’t guarantee that. May I ask if I have the honor to cooperate with you again next year?”
King Xiqi did not expect Zhao Hai to bring up the main topic so quickly. He looked at Zhao Hai with surprise and asked, “How much food can you provide us next year?”
Zhao Hai thought for a moment and responded, “Two hundred million jin!”
King Xiqi showed no surprise but instead asked in a serious tone, “What about the price?”