A monarch of a nation, bare-chested and tightly bound, knelt before Gu Hang, painstakingly confessing the nature of his crimes word by word.
Indeed, they were crimes.
Nes Luman had always known that simply binding himself and bringing Gu Ming to confess would be futile.
No, it was due to being driven to desperation with no other recourse.
Even if he didn't come to confess, if he didn't make this gesture, the end result would be much the same.
Better to be thorough, then.
This was humiliating, less glorious than dying in battle within his palace. He had contemplated whether to leave behind a king who died on the battlefield for his country, for the Luman family, as a kind of resolution.
But he wasn't willing to settle for that.
Since he had inherited the throne more than twenty years ago, he vividly remembered taking the crown from his older brother at a time when the Luman family was most vulnerable, when he was merely fourteen years old.
Over twenty years, he had exhausted every effort to form alliances, suppress opposition, and engage in both covert and overt plots... When necessary, he didn't hold back from the bravery and courage needed to take to the battlefield himself.
Thanks to his endeavors, the Luman family had revived its former glory within a mere twenty years, from its shaky beginnings. His centralization of power not only concentrated the majority of the nation's strength but also left the remaining two powerful nobles struggling for breath.
Given more time, he might have been able to dismantle the power of those two influential marquises following the old paths and finally achieve total unification of the kingdom.
At the previous King's Council, he mobilized allies and showcased his power, securing for the Luman Kingdom the position of governor for this term on the Heijian Star.
For a time, on the Heijian Star, his reputation was unmatched!
Consequently, the entire kingdom also seemed to reach its zenith.
Some kings, after leading their countries to prosperity, succumb to indulgence and lead lives of luxury; others develop even greater ambitions.
Nes Luman was the latter.
He never thought this was a bad thing; on the contrary, he often advocated this point to his loyal subordinates.
Having satisfied his desires, he gradually clarified the direction of his ambition: to maintain control of the governorship of the Heijian Star for a long time, and then use this power to gradually subjugate the remaining nations.
This was difficult and the process lengthy, perhaps consuming his lifetime or even requiring his successor to achieve it.
He had thought he would be patient and determined in advancing his ambitions slowly and steadily.
But soon, a colossal opportunity presented itself: Gu Ming approached him.
If he cooperated with Gu Ming, helped him secure the position of Family Head of the Gu Family, then in return, Gu Ming would support his ambitions with the full force of the Gu Family's trade channels and abundant finances.
After much hesitation, he finally resolved to gamble for this great wealth and honor.
He couldn't wait any longer; he had already revived the faltering Luman Kingdom, steering it back on course and into a decade of strength. He was still young, still capable of more.
If possible, he wanted to accomplish his grandest objective within his lifetime, while he was still vigorous and in his prime—to create an eternal dynasty for the Luman Family and even become the greatest monarch in the history of the Heijian Star!
He had spent twenty years invigorating the state, strengthening the Central Government, and all the capital he had slowly accumulated was lost overnight.
All his ambitions, all his plans, all his dignity, were utterly pulverized.
And for this, he could only thank the man sitting casually in front of him in a makeshift command center, merely pulling up a stool.
He etched that name deeply into his memory.
Now, he no longer sought dignity, nor grand aspirations.
There he was, stripped to the waist, voluntarily bound, kneeling in front of Gu Hang. His attitude couldn't have been more abject as he recited his litany of crimes in front of a specially summoned group of surviving high-level officials from the Luman Kingdom, along with emissaries from the two marquesses from the south.
He could sense a variety of expressions on the faces of the onlookers.
Some were sympathetic, others felt humiliated or even resentful, some fearful and uneasy, others contemplative...
But he could no longer concern himself with their reactions. His own fate, that of his family and his kingdom, they all hung on the merest thought from Gu Hang.
All he could do was beg:
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"...I am willing to offer the entire Luman Kingdom, all its wealth, all its territories, all its subjects, in a plea for forgiveness from Governor Gu Hang. My own life too may be given as compensation.
Should you wish, I would acknowledge you as my lord and serve you loyally for the rest of my days, shepherding the Luman Kingdom; should you choose not to spare me, you may kill me, display my decapitated head at the city's gates for all to see. The descendants of the Luman family will hold no grudge. You could select someone from the remainder to administer this realm on your behalf..."
His words were steeped in humility, his surrender almost without condition.
He dared not negotiate any terms; he simply hoped to plead for a chance to live after his unconditional surrender.
Even if he couldn't survive, as a last resort, preserving the Luman family would suffice.
Having said all this, he banged his head heavily on the ground.
He did so with such force that he became dizzy, and the rough stones even cut into his scalp, blood trailing from the spot where he had knocked his head, spreading around him.
Everything that could be said, that could be done, had been completed.
Only the final verdict remained.
With his scalp pressed against the ground, it felt like a century had passed before he finally heard a light chuckle.
That was Governor Gu Hang speaking:
"How interesting, raise your head."
His heart leapt with joy!
The worst he had feared had not come to pass; Mr. Gu had given him another chance to speak.
He raised his head and met Gu Hang's gaze, only to see a faint blue light flickering in Gu Hang's eyes.
His own gaze became vacant, whether from the dizzying effects of his prostration or something else.
As if in a trance, he felt like he arrived at a bizarre place.
Everything within sight was desolate; the sky was covered with dark clouds, and thunder and lightning sounded menacingly;
In the middle of the desolate land stood an unfinished temple under construction. A host of spirits, suffused with blue, chanted rhythmically with high spirits as they labored away.
"This is my Divine Realm," Gu Hang's voice came from behind him.
He whirled around, his expression one of shock!
By now, how could he maintain the semblance of sincerity he had performed?
All he felt was terror!
Gu Hang's smile was gentle, "Just now, King Luman's heartfelt speech really did move me. Since you're so earnest, of course I'll give you a chance to serve me..."
Amidst his words, a force of Spiritual Energy completely enveloped him.
Gu Hang's face still bore a smile: "But there can be no regrets now."