Only God
Chapter 192 - 166 Either Our King Dies or Ajia Land Perishes

Chapter 192: Chapter 166 Either Our King Dies or Ajia Land Perishes

Noen rested for a day in the Druid tribe.

These Druids, who had lived here for generations, picked up the shattered Divine Statues after burying their companions’ bodies through the night. Noen knew that in a few days, the Druids would set out, relocating to an even more secluded place.

And Noen was to leave here as well.

Just as Noen and his attendant Xilan were about to set out, they heard a burst of urgent hoofbeats.

Turning their heads, they saw the centaur Shanon they had met yesterday, leaping over thick tree stumps and running furiously towards the two of them.

"Is it you?"

Noen exclaimed, surprised.

"What are you here for?"

Xilan asked, warily.

Shanon’s face was stern, and he seemed very reluctant.

The centaur slowly spoke:

"My mother advised me to come over to express our gratitude, and she sent me here."

"Your mother told you to thank us?"

Noen showed a look of sudden realization.

It appeared that after Shanon returned to his tribe, his mother learned of yesterday’s events and had scolded the rash centaur.

"Yes..."

Shanon spoke through gritted teeth, looking too proud to lose face,

"And, they also want me to invite you into our tribe."

"Is that so?"

Noen’s countenance pondered.

"Make up your mind quickly."

Shanon said, impatient.

Noen gazed into the distance.

After nine years’ time, he had long forgotten how to cross the Path of Death and return to the Ajia Kingdom.

Now, he needed some guides who were familiar with the way.

"All right, what’s your name?"

Noen asked.

"Shanon."

The centaur answered, puffing out his chest with evident pride in his own name.

...............

Noen and his attendant Xilan followed the centaur Shanon to his tribe.

Throughout the journey, Shanon maintained a stern face, trying his best not to look back at the two men.

Shanon was honest and straightforward, and as the strongest centaur in the tribe, his speed was lightning-fast when he spread his hooves, and his arrows flew with decisive and heavy force when he drew his bow.

He was the most outstanding among the centaurs, his bravery often eliciting surreptitious glances from females and jealous admiration from males.

Thus, Shanon was extremely proud of himself.

However, all that pride had been shattered by the events of the previous day.

He had not been able to overcome the plunderers with the bravery he was so proud of; instead, these two strangers had ignited conflict among the robbers through their words.

Shanon could not face the feeling of inferiority within himself and could only show contempt for Noen with a tough attitude.

It was all a lingering effect from the day before.

"When we get to the tribe, you’ll witness the bravery of the centaurs."

As they approached the tribe, Shanon spoke coldly.

Before long, the three of them passed through the jungle and arrived at a vast plain.

The large tents of the centaurs could be seen everywhere on the gently sloping ground.

The muddy grassland bore chaotic hoofprints, deeply embedded in the soil.

"We’re here."

Shanon’s voice came out hoarse.

Noen looked ahead and saw a robust female centaur emerging from a tent and then dashed over quickly with her hooves flying.

"Shanon!"

Undoubtedly, that was Shanon’s mother.

His mother rushed to the front of Shanon, giving him a vigorous hug.

"Mother... where’s father?"

After the hug, Shanon asked.

"Working on the bronze,"

said the centaur mother, glancing behind Shanon,

"Are these the two you mentioned yesterday?"

"Yes, Mother."

Shanon spoke hoarsely.

Saying so, he squared his broad shoulders, a seeming display of inadvertent bravado.

Centaur behavior was such, unintentionally demonstrating their physical strength in front of others.

Beastmen like them had a fierce culture valuing physical power.

As for eloquence, it could be well spared.

The centaur mother saw Noen and his entourage, including Xilan, and thanked them on behalf of her son.

"There’s no need for that... We just want to leave this place and head to Ajia Land."

Noen said softly.

Suddenly, Shanon cast a glance their way, his eyes filled with caution.

"Ajia?"

Shanon asked in a deep voice,

"Are you two from the Three-eyed Ape People living in the Ajia Kingdom?"

"What’s the matter?"

Noen didn’t answer but retorted with a question of his own.

"There’s a war going on there; our King is leading troops to besiege Ajia."

Shanon slowly articulated,

"I originally thought you were Three-eyed Ape People from the forest or the desert, but it turns out you’re from Ajia."

Upon hearing this, Noen was stunned for a moment.

It seems that in the nine years he had been away, the whole world had undergone earth-shaking changes.

Shanon stared fiercely at the two Three-eyed Ape People and said coldly,

"You Three-eyed Ape People are always skilled at using Prophecies and tricks, repeatedly getting involved in this war, severely wounding either our enemies or our allies."

"What exactly...is going on? We’ve been away for far too long."

Noen asked.

With a snort, Shanon shifted his hooves and continued,

"Now, we’re in an endless battle over the Heavenly Descending Gem, and your Ajia Queen wants her share of it, eager to seize the gemstone.

She manipulates power and strategy, forming alliances or betrayals, causing unrest among the Beastman nations.

Now, our Chenfeng Country has recognized the deceit of the Three-eyed Ape People.

Our King, in alliance with five other kingdoms, intends to fight you for past betrayals,

Heroes will shed blood and win glory.

Either our King will die, or Ajia Land will be destroyed!"

Shanon’s emphatic words, accompanied by the occasional stomping of hooves and his heavy panting, sounded oppressively.

Noen listened to all this and sorted out the general situation.

The Beastman nations were embroiled in constant strife over a Heavenly Descending Gem, and the Ajia Kingdom was also caught up in it, likewise eager to capture the gemstone.

The Queen navigated between alliances and betrayals among the nations.

However, the Beastman’s admiration for bravery and combat made them despise Ajia’s fickleness.

Now, the King of Chenfeng, allied with five kingdoms, was determined to annihilate Ajia and put an end to the wars among the nations.

"Casas..."

Noen thought silently to himself.

Then, he looked straight at Shanon and said,

"Give me a guide as repayment for saving your life."

Shanon glared at Noen, finding no trace of reverence in the Three-eyed Ape Person’s tone.

Accustomed to being revered and feared, Shanon couldn’t stand his way of speaking.

Couldn’t he see the insurmountable chasm of power between the centaurs and the Three-eyed Ape People?

"Shanon!"

Seeing Shanon’s demeanor wavering, the centaur mother spoke.

Shanon quickly suppressed his emotions, shifted his hind hooves, and looked away.

The centaur mother approached the two visitors and said softly,

"Guests, please leave tomorrow, as at this moment, it’s not possible to find a guide for you."

After pondering for a moment, Noen nodded in agreement.

"Alright, I thank you for your hospitality."

"Hmph!"

Shanon exhaled heavily, his grip tightening on the bronze sword at his waist.

The centaur mother looked at her son and shook her head.

Just then, a centaur with a gray beard sharp as a spear and muscles veined with blue stepped out of the tent.

Although he was a head shorter than Shanon, he gave off the impression of being even more robust than Shanon. His thick hand held a simple copper hammer, which seemed to weigh a thousand catties.

"Are you... the Three-eyed Ape People that Shanon mentioned?"

Hess, the craftsman, raised his eyebrows, saying in a blunt yet friendly tone:

"I am Hess, Shanon’s father, and the tribe’s craftsman."

Noen looked at the honest-faced Hess, furrowing his brow.

The grace of the Angels had given him the ability to see through the hearts of others.

However, when Noen focused on Hess, he saw nothing.

It was as if...

He was not looking at a human.

This centaur,

Seemingly... was not as simple as he appeared.

Who was he?