Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 561 - 523: The Sound of Water Tingling

Chapter 561: Chapter 523: The Sound of Water Tingling

Some people are alive, but he had already died.

Some had died, but he still lived, and even, could peek outside through a hole in his own coffin!

At this moment, Dashi Bian, inside his own coffin, could see clearly the expressions of all who came to worship him.

Indeed, many tribal leaders who had been on good terms with him cried as if they had lost their own father when they came to worship him.

But... there were also some leaders who had been on good terms with him who just came to have a look, said a few words of sadness, perfunctorily consoled, and then left.

Even more, some old leaders who had always supported him didn’t come at all!

Dashi Bian had originally felt that many people supported him; he just needed an opportunity to vet those around him again, and then he could declare himself Khan.

If Sharlobi insisted on competing with him, then he would let Sharlobi see just how many people stood by his side in support.

But now, Dashi Bian no longer had that courage.

Because he knew that those tribal leaders who truly came and showed genuine sadness, those whom he could see were worth trusting, when combined with the powers behind them, probably did not even amount to a quarter of the entire steppe.

This meant that the three-quarters, very possibly as Zhang San had said, either chose neutrality or had already secretly decided to support Sharlobi.

After all, Sharlobi’s mother’s prestigious status naturally garnered the support of some major tribes on the steppe.

Only that some old leaders who also had a good relationship with him did not come, which Dashi Bian had never expected.

Fortunately, the Evil God Brothers had given him this idea.

Otherwise, once he really broke with Sharlobi, discovering then that none of these old fellows wanted to help him would have been even more troublesome.

At this time, at a relatively remote location outside Dashi Bian’s tent, several old tribal leaders met together, each with a worried expression on their face.

They had been firmly supporting Dashi Bian to become Khan; that night they were before Khan Muzhen’s bed, and had heard with their own ears Muzhen appoint Dashi Bian.

So, from that moment, they had firmly chosen Dashi Bian.

Even though Sharlobi later said a lot, it did not waver their determination.

But now the problem was that Dashi Bian had died!

If Dashi Bian was dead, then the position of Khan could only be inherited by Sharlobi.

At this time, to show loyalty at Dashi Bian’s funeral would truly be foolish.

If Sharlobi is an enlightened Khan, he might consider these people for their old affection for Dashi Bian as a group of loyal and righteous people, and would not mistreat them.

But this might have been Khan Muzhen’s style, certainly not Sharlobi’s.

Sharlobi becoming Khan would only lead to a purge of all tribes that had been friendly with Dashi Bian.

Hence, although these old leaders had previously supported Dashi Bian unwaveringly, once they knew Dashi Bian had died, not only did they not go to worship, they did not allow their children or grandchildren to go either.

Moreover, some had already instructed their children or grandchildren to start establishing good relations with Kucha Shahhan.

After all, everyone knew Kucha Shahhan was Sharlobi’s right-hand man, and by currying favor now, once Sharlobi became Khan, both themselves and their tribe would be safe.

At this time, Changsun Bubai, inside the tent, listened to Bai Dushu’s report about everything outside, processed all the information in his mind, and nodded slightly.

"So that is the strategy this young fellow was playing. Indeed clever!"

Just then, the tent flap was lifted, and Zhang San came back.

Changsun Bubai looked at Zhang San and asked, "Aren’t you continuing to accompany tonight?"

Zhang San spoke softly, "I was hungry, came back to get some food."

Changsun Bubai immediately took out a pack of beef jerky from his bosom and handed it over, asking, "Should I bring some for Dashi Bian too?"

Zhang San was startled, then asked back, "Did you notice?"

"Heh heh, you young rascal still want to fool me! I didn’t notice at first, but seeing the drastic change in attitude of some major tribal leaders, I then understood. You rascal, are indeed a troublemaker."

At this moment, Zhang San and Changsun Bubai looked at each other and smiled.

In fact, both knew that under normal circumstances, Dashi Bian was to become the next Khan.

After all, Khan Muzhen had appointed Dashi Bian to the position on his deathbed, rightfully and properly.

And many tribal chiefs also did not wish for other siblings to ascend the position.

So under normal circumstances, most people would support Dashi Bian, and although Sharlobi might be able to stir up some trouble, it would only be a minor disturbance.

But now, Dashi Bian had faked his death, and many people actually believed it.

Going to cremate someone at this time would be truly foolish.

Everyone knew how to choose!

This way, Dashi Bian’s supporters would decrease, and Sharlobi’s supporters would increase.

The previously tilted balance was now stabilizing, signifying that the forces at both ends of the scale were evenly matched.

This was the effect Zhang San wanted.

Zhang San took some unique pastries from Great Sui back to Dashi Bian’s funeral. Since it was already night, there were not many people around. So, Zhang San quietly walked over to the coffin, pushed open a small crack, and started to feed food inside.

Dashi Bian, having been hungry for a long time inside, felt a wave of warmth seeing food delivered by the Evil God Brothers.

As expected of my Evil God Brothers, always so good to me.

"Evil God Brothers, got any alcohol? The pastries from the Land of the Midday Sun are tasty but too dry," he said.

"Yes!"

Zhang San got a hollow straw and inserted it into the hole in the coffin.

The other end was placed into a jug of wine.

Dashi Bian, now full and quenched, felt a comfort he had never experienced before.

A short while later, as hardly anyone else had come, Dashi Bian started to feel bloated and made a slight noise.

Upon hearing this, Zhang San came over immediately and quietly asked, "What’s wrong?"

"I need to pee, can I go out to take care of it?"

Zhang San whispered, "That won’t do! If other people see you, our cover will be blown."

"But... I drank too much wine just now, I can’t hold it any longer."

Zhang San looked around and spotted a small wine jug. He drank all the wine in it, then slightly opened the coffin lid and tossed the jug inside.

"Pee in here, and we’ll take it out later."

Dashi Bian took the jug and began to take off his trousers.

Just then, a person entered the tent—it was Dashi Bian’s brother, Sharlobi.

Sharlobi glanced around and seeing only a few of Dashi Bian’s close confidants and not many others, he couldn’t help but sneer.

Then he suddenly noticed a man from the Land of the Midday Sun there.

"Who are you?" he asked.

Zhang San immediately gave a bow and said, "I am Zhang San, a good friend of Dashi Bian. I heard that Dashi Bian passed away from grief after hearing about the death of Khan Muzhen, and I just... I’m so saddened..."

As he spoke, Zhang San immediately began to pretend to cry.

Sharlobi had been bothered by various accusations questioning whether he was behind the murder of Dashi Bian throughout the evening.

Fortunately, many people were now switching sides to join him, giving him the time to come take a look.

"Dashi Bian, just died like that?"

Sharlobi examined the coffin and asked indifferently.

The fake crying Zhang San nodded repeatedly, then pretended to wipe tears with his hand.

"Good that he’s dead! With him gone, the whole grassland is..."

Splash splash splash...

Just as Sharlobi was about to give a triumphant speech in front of Dashi Bian’s coffin about becoming the Khan, he suddenly heard a tinkling sound of water.

The sound resembled someone slowly pouring wine into a jug.

How strange, where was that sound coming from?