She fell on the bed. her mind went spinning.

Zhi Rui suffered a horrendous backlash from holding back the couple's suicidal attack. Her whole body suffered micro-injuries, it tormented her through the whole trip.

Her nonchalance in front of them was a way to not show weakness to a new subordinate.

Her physic alone held her standing through a three-day journey through the barbarian desert.

She wrestled the barbarians as fast as she could. So she could drop somewhere and rest.

'Hilda's notes were useful after all.' Zh Rui thought.

Hilda was a half-bred from barbarians and beastmen, And did missions of a.s.sa.s.sination in the barbarian land. She had the most accurate information on the place.

'This place is equivalent to the 'slums' of the empire. with the exception, they are more religious on their barbarian belief.'

Plans flashed in her mind, as she slowly drifted into sleep. One hour later. Zhi Rui opened her eyes slowly.

Her body was still injured heavily but what was urgent, healed.

'This place is the farthest away from the barbarian mainland, even far away from the lawless city. This can be considered the poorest of the tribes. '

In Hilda's words, there are three major tribes that govern the barbarian's land. They claim the resources are scarce and left this thirty-something tribes to live in the aridest part on the lawless land for themselves. But they come in intervals to take some boys and girls that become of age to train and fight on the frontline.

After another half hour of thinking. Zhi Rui felt the smell of smoke and roasted meat. She smiled.

She stepped outside her tent, and the people turned silent. Zhi Rui observed everyone. She then laughed out loud. "Let's have a good time and forget our misery for today!"

Two enormous barrels came out o her storage pouch and Zhi Rui threw them into Sandworm. "Put it beside the bonfire" She turned to evryone else "Everybody lets drink!

Her voice loud and full of energy, soon the people felt laxer and roars of laughter resounded. One infected the other and they minded less Zhi Rui's presence.

Zhi Rui beelined towards the bonfire and took out a roasted tigh, and took a big bite of it. She raised it over her head and screamed "AOOOOOH!!"

The people followed her by yelling and raising their cup and meat.

Zhi Rui took another bite and looked at the human tigh in her hand. it belonged to an enemy a few hours ago. yet the tribe members ate it as if it were common,n they laughed and joked.

Zhi Rui gulped down her white liquor. feeling the warmth of the bonfire Zhi Rui squinted her eyes in pleasure. 'Eating your enemies after defeating them while drinking strong alcohol... I might just fall in love with this place.'

Zhi Rui laughed an ran around the bonfire, learning their moves and dancing with them, she played with the smaller children. Making them laugh. After a few more cups Zhi Rui joined a small group of elderly men and drunkenly discussed life and other serious topics. after a couple of drinks

Zhi Rui suddenly saw a seemingly big chair standing on a higher place. She decided to seat a little and observe. As she neared she saw Sandworm standing beside her alpha throne staring with no life in his eyes.

She walked with a smiled and sat down sighing contently.

She stretched her empty cup to him. Sandworm looked it then at her. He chuckled with resignation and filled her cup.

Zhi Rui examined him from top to bottom with a smile. She never staved off the drunkness with her cultivation so she was pretty tipsy.

"Why are you so lifeless? you look like a girl who was sold away to a political marriage." She said

Sandworm went rigid, he looked around at the dancing drunk people, the ones he had led until now. Not one spared him a word since Zhi Rui arrived. He was a level one warrior with no mount, after years he barely managed to attain his position only to be taken from him right after. She was the one who did it, she was the cause of his misery, and she's mocking him!?

His insides burned. He thought of a thousand words to say but remained silent.

Knowing his inner bitterness Zhi Rui laughed loudly. "That's the reason why you lost your people's respect." She said.

Sandworm stared at her.

Zhi Rui continued, "You pretend, you think of something and tell another, you are never sincere or honest with others or your own wishes. You convinced yourself that acting the way you do, is the right and only way to be. But in the end, when you attained the so-called highest t.i.tle you only did what pleasured yourself. and ignored the people around you.

Incensed Sandworm yelled "What do you know about it!? You came here today! I've been here my whole life! I know each one of the people here! they were mindless! I knew things would stay the same if the same kind of people took over! So I did what I could and took the t.i.tle of alpha! Things were slowly improving. But then everything went to s.h.i.+t because of you!"

His eyes were red and his veins bulging. But unlike on their first meeting, he was ready to stake his life and take a swing at her.

The fire burned brightly Zhi Rui's green eye shone again, but his outburst and moist eyes calmed her down, for the first time since she took possession over an innocent girl's body she felt pity.

Zhi Rui shook her head. "The fact that you're weak is one of the reasons why you lost your t.i.tle, but the reason you lost respect is complete because of your att.i.tude."

"You led, but didn't inspired, you were part of them but didn't share of their beliefs, you lived among them but forced your vision onto them. And when the time came to show a backbone you backed out and compromised.

n.o.body, dumb or smart would ever follow a person like that.

I don't condemn your methods. You could've done what you did and still nurture respect and loyalty. But you ignored the social part and tried to rule only by your t.i.tle. But tha only works if you're a person that such t.i.tle fits.

Your case of failure is due to incompetence, or ignorance if you may. Weakness had little to do with it."

He was still trembling.

Zhi Rui sighed. "It's fine to not believe me, but as my steward, you'll have to observe everything I do. While I'm not great, I'm still better than you."

Zhi Rui stood up on top of the throne she was seating in.

She raised her gla.s.s.

"Heeeeey!" She yelled.

The dancing stopped, the talking ceased, they all looked up at her.

Zhi Rui started

"The barbarism dictates; 'One should always strive for the better, and for that, death and grief must be postponed.' " Zhi rui let it sunk in and continued

"I might not be a pure barbarian, but that phrase still shook my core. When I was little, I decided to seek advances for my people. time pa.s.sed, and now that I'm old enough to understand how things work. I decided that the time to act had come."

The people cheered.

Sandworm looked dazedly as Zhi Rui's posture sowed absolute confidence and she laughed and spoke loudly.

"Some of the elders might've noticed! the truth about this land! ButI'll tell you today! we're not simply part of a slum called the lawless city! The people from the great tribes use tribes like ours to feed the frontline in the war, a battle that they have no intention to win or lose."

The tribe went quiet with fear, Zhi Rui was questioning powers they couldn't afford to offend. but her words brought all their curiosity.

She continued amidst the silence.

"Yes, the war is merely a fabrication, it gives reason to unite a country in a single direction. The Empire doesn't want this land. And the barbarians don't want to leave here. It's a way to establish trade for precious items while solving problems of overpopulation and resources for the slavery market. They profit and lay on their luxurious thrones, THEY WON'T EVER ALLOW IT TO END!"

"But I understood that truth long ago, and I decided, that first, we'll conquer every other settlement like ours, and raise a suitable army. we'll take hold of the lawless city and then, only then! can we have a chance to earn the freedom said in the traditions of barbarism!"

The people's heart boiled in a drunken stupor.

Zhi Rui raised her face to the skies screaming

"WE'LL FIGHT AND CONQUER LIKE OUR BLOOD DICTATES!"

""""AOOOOOOHHH!!!!!""""

The people screamed. wit euphoria.

Zhi Rui laughed louder and more unrestrained then everyone else. She then turned to the astounded Sandworm and spoke in a normal tone.

"I've shown ability and att.i.tude since the beginning, I talked on their tone of voice, discussed their subjects and listened to their ideas, laughed with them, more than strength, I showed will I showed that my blood is hot and alive. Now even if I deliver barely half of what I said, they might be upset, but I'll never lose their respect, and that equals loyalty. and with more work, I'll have their faith."

Not caring if he understood her small tip Zhi Rui turned to the public again.

"Now! I heard that the Alpha has the right to f.u.c.k whoever he wants!"

The people laughed at her vulgarity.

Zhi Rui smiled, "Select the most beautiful women right now. and the most ferocious men later. I'm tired and can accept only one person to love me tonight."

The people laughed out loud.

Zhi Rui smiled. And in a second, a fight broke out between the men about the most handsome and ferocious. Zhi Rui laughed while watching.

But soon a woman approached, Zhi Rui already knew who it was but was still mesmerized nonetheless.

Blue-amethyst offered her arm with a drink, Zhi Rui understood and they intertwined her arms and drunk it down.

Zhi Rui had already seen the blue-eyed savage women while she walked towards the conflict, She saw her taking the lead to attack even if it meant doom and it aroused her. The women's blue eyes and burnet brown sweat covered skin tempted Zhi Rui to do what she liked most, right on the spot.

Zhi Rui didn't hold back and grabbed Blue-amethyst into a deep wet kiss. Their tongues intertwined and saliva ran down from their lips, after a long while a string of saliva spread as they distanced from each other. Blue amethyst hadn't gotten drunk but her face was flushed.

Zhi Rui's eyes turned red and she grabbed the woman and pulled her to the alpha's tent.

Sandworm stood dazed. Zhi Rui had received a smile he never had as the alpha.