Chapter 2124 - The Western Turks Prophecy of Apocalypse! (1/2)

Time continued to pass, and the temperature of the northern end of the continent continued to plunge, the world becoming blanketed in snow.

With each passing day, the situations of the various countries grew worse.

At this moment, in the northwest, to the north of Beiting, the distant Western Turkic Khaganate had become the center of attention.

The mood had turned strange and bizarre.

At this moment, around the Western Turkic holy mountain of Mount Sanmi…

Whoosh!

Bitter winds howled across a vast steppe that had been turned into a sheet of white. Shepherds wearing thick fur capes were driving snow-covered and ill livestock to the south.

This sort of scene could be found all over the steppe.

As the weather grew colder and colder, both the livestock and the Western Turks themselves faced dire situations with regards to food and cold!

Each day, numerous people froze to death.

The empire was in great peril.

“Fourth Prince, we don’t have much time left!”

At the base of the mountain a chubby man looked into the distance as he rubbed his hands.

The man, wearing thick wool clothes and sporting a thick beard, was none other than horse merchant Hulayeg.

In front of him was a young Hu of unusual bearing. He wore black robes, on the back of which had been woven a blazing sun and a howling wolf. He was looking in a daze at the peak of Mount Sanmi. This was none other than the Western Turkic Fourth Prince that Wang Chong had once taken hostage, and his name was Barshad!

Ever since Agudu Lan’s death, Fourth Prince Barshad’s and Hulayeg’s statuses in the Western Turkic Khaganate had grown worse and worse. And as they both fell out of favor, they gradually began to draw closer and closer.

By now, Hulayeg had become the Fourth Prince’s close confidant.

“With this great snow, the Khagan will probably make his decision in a few days.”

Hulayeg looked through the snow at the summit as he spoke.

“The Khagan is growing more favorable to the First Prince with each passing day. Once the Khagan decides to ally with that side, we will completely fall out of favor.”

Hulayeg glanced at the Fourth Prince.

In the past, the Fourth Prince enjoyed immense favor, but ever since about one year ago, when the Khatun died, everything had changed.

First Prince Irbis Shiyun obtained Great General Wunu Shibi’s support and rose into Ishbara Khagan’s good graces. Slowly, he came to replace the Fourth Prince as the next Khagan.

As for Fourth Prince Barshad, his past connection with Wang Chong caused him to be rejected by the court and come to be regarded as part of the pro-Tang faction.

This was not a big deal in the past, but now, the court was rife with hidden dangers. The Western Turks had divided into two factions, pro-Youzhou and pro-Tang, and the struggle for supremacy was extremely vicious.

Since ancient times, the War of the Princes had always been the cruelest of conflicts. This was true not just for the imperial households of the Central Plains, but also for foreign courts.

The current situation indicated that the moment the First Prince took the throne, Fourth Prince Barshad and his entire faction would probably be pulled up by the roots and completely exterminated.

“I do not believe that Khagan would treat me that way!”

The Fourth Prince clenched his teeth as he looked up at Mount Sanmi, but his tone of voice betrayed his lack of certitude.

“Haaah…”

Hulayeg could only deeply sigh.

A new sovereign brought with him new officials. The Khagan had favored Barshad only because of the Khatun. With the Khatun dead, how could Ishbara Khagan possibly treat him the same way?

Gallop!

Galloping came from the direction of the summit.

Hooves kicked up snow from the surface of the mountain, drawing the pair’s attention.

“Is that Fourth Prince Barshad?” a voice boomed out.

“The Khagan has ordered the Fourth Prince to immediately enter his tent for an audience!”

Barshad and Hulayeg trembled. They glanced at each other, both seeing the solemnity in each other’s eyes.

“Let’s go!”

Without another word, the two of them began to push their way through the snowstorm toward the summit.

At this moment, atop Mount Sanmi, within a giant tent…

Hiss! Pop!

Red chunks of charcoal burned within a giant bronze fire basin, hissing and crackling as sparks leapt into the air.

Muscular figures brimming with energy were gathered around the basin, their expressions grave.

“What’s the situation?”