CHAPTER 454: CHAPTER 454: TAMING (PART 1)

Mani endured the excruciating pain throughout his body and mustered all his strength to widen his eyes.

Unfortunately, the woman who was diligently tending to the wounded soldiers never raised her head from beginning to end.

Exhausted, Mani closed his eyes, his thoughts drifting back to a scene in the horse arena from a few days ago, suddenly overwhelmed by helplessness and grief.

The Nanyang County Princess was incredibly strong and skilled in martial arts. No matter how desperately he fought, she knocked him down with a single punch. It was because of her that he was covered in injuries until he was too weak to struggle. He thought he wouldn’t survive another day, but unexpectedly, he was dragged by a carriage to the military camp and ended up in this strange place...

What exactly does the Commandery Princess want to do? If she wants to fight or kill him, why not just give him a quick death! Now that she’s treating his injuries, could it be she wants to torture him repeatedly?

Mani mulled over these thoughts repeatedly until late at night before he finally fell asleep. When the first ray of dawn broke into the tent the next day, he suddenly opened his eyes.

The wounded soldiers in the same tent had awakened and were having their bandages changed.

The woman caring for the injured had a particularly gentle voice, soothing them softly as she changed their dressings. After a long while, she came to his side, and her actions of changing his dressings were noticeably quicker, her face stern and silent.

Mani snorted heavily in his heart and proudly tightened his lips. A true Rouran warrior wouldn’t cry out in pain even if beheaded, nor would he beg for mercy.

He had been in Da Liang for over a year, rarely speaking or interacting with others, secretly learning the Da Liang language. He claimed he couldn’t speak it, but he could understand what others were saying.

Lin Huiniang naturally didn’t know this.

Mani’s appearance was distinctly different from that of Da Liang men. Though he was immobile from injuries, his eyes were filled with vigilance and wariness. She felt stifled looking at him and snorted lightly, "If it weren’t for the Commandery Princess bringing you into the military camp and instructing us to take good care of you, who would bother with you?"

Applying medicine inevitably involved touching the wounds, and even the toughest man would break out in a sweat from the pain. Mani still gritted his teeth and remained silent.

Lin Huiniang rolled her eyes internally. After finishing dressing his wounds, she, who had stayed up all night, went back to sleep, specifically instructing the person taking over her duties before leaving, "That one called Mani has a lot on his mind and looks at people with a wolf-like, grim and unfriendly gaze. Be careful."

...

Jiang Shaohua hadn’t forgotten about Mani either. A few days later, she toured the Wounded Soldier Camp.

"Mani’s injuries look severe, but they’re all superficial," Sun Guangbai reported truthfully. "Resting for a month, and it’ll be fine."

It was evident the Commandery Princess had been quite measured.

Jiang Shaohua nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping around. The previously fierce Mani immediately closed his eyes, as if that could shut out all eyes.

Jiang Shaohua chuckled and said to Sun Guangbai, "Mani is a Rouran Cavalryman, and with him came seven Rouran Horse Slaves. I want to use them for training soldiers. Injuries will be inevitable; you are to take care of them and try to keep them alive."

"Of course, if anyone desires death, there’s no need to force it. I have already sent the Ma Family to the grasslands to purchase Rouran Horse Slaves; manpower won’t be lacking."

Mani’s body trembled slightly, indicating not only did he understand, but he also let it sink in.

The Commandery Princess was indeed skilled at manipulating people’s minds, each tactic following the last.

Sun Guangbai understood and bowed in acknowledgment.

Jiang Shaohua walked to the bedside, looking down from above: "Mani, open your eyes and look at me."

Her voice wasn’t cold, and there was no killing intent. Yet, inexplicably, a chill surged in Mani’s heart. If he still wished to live, he had to follow the Commandery Princess’s orders. Otherwise, there was no need to see the next day’s sun.

Mani gritted his teeth and opened his eyes.

That beautiful young face hovered above his, looking down coldly at him.

Days ago, she had looked at him like this. Each time he charged forward defiantly, he was kicked away and landed on the ground again.

"I am giving you one month to recover. After a month, you will be the leader of the Rouran Horse Slaves. You will train with the Personal Guard Camp along with those seven men."

"In the future, more Rouran Horse Slaves will come; they will all be under your command. If you can survive for three years, I will set you free, give you a warhorse and weapons, and let you return to your grassland."

Jiang Shaohua spoke slowly, her gaze fixed intently on Mani: "Of course, you can also refuse. I’ll have someone carry you out, leaving you to fend for yourself."

"Think carefully before you answer me."

Two paths lay before him, one leading to life, the other to death.

Life, of course, wouldn’t be easy. The training she mentioned clearly meant demonstrating all the Rouran Cavalry’s combat tactics to the soldiers of the Personal Guard Camp, cooperating with them to develop formations or weapons that could counter the Rouran Cavalry. Survive for three years, and freedom would be his, allowing him to return to his longed-for homeland.

The path to death was much simpler. He could shake his head in refusal right now, then be carried out to await death. Within days, he could close his eyes permanently and enter his eternal rest.

Valiant Rouran Cavalrymen fear no death. But his family and tribe were all slain by the Khan’s cavalry; his vengeance remained unfulfilled, how could he die?

Mani closed his eyes in anguish, then exerted effort to open them again, uttering a few words.

In the corner, Ma Yaosong softly translated, "Commandery Princess, Mani has agreed. He also said he hopes the Commandery Princess will keep her promise."

Jiang Shaohua responded calmly, "Tell him, I always keep my word."

"Furthermore, the other horse slaves all speak Da Liang’s language. Tell Mani he must learn to speak it as well."

Ma Yaosong nodded and barked out a series of words at Mani, his tone stern.

Mani’s strongest defence collapsed; choosing to endure indignity and humiliation in order to survive was his decision. Jiang Shaohua’s demands were not unreasonable, so he opened his mouth and agreed.

Jiang Shaohua then called Lin Huiniang over and quietly instructed, "Huiniang, you handle things thoroughly. During Mani’s recovery, you are to tend to his injuries. If he makes any unusual movements, report to Commander Liu immediately."

Lin Huiniang hesitated, not immediately agreeing, "What counts as unusual? He stares at others with that grim and unfriendly look all day. Does that count?"

Jiang Shaohua chuckled, "Let him be. Originally, he was the leader of a small Rouran tribe. After it was wiped out, all his kin were killed and his right arm severed. Were it not for the chance of being bought as a horse slave, his grave would have had tall grass by now. It’s normal for someone consumed by such hatred and revenge to have a twisted mind."

Lin Huiniang: "..."

The last part sounded somewhat odd.

Lin Huiniang laughed as well, "I understand what you mean, Commandery Princess. I’ll keep a close watch on his actions in the future."

After leaving the wounded soldier’s tent, Jiang Shaohua headed to the Martial Arts Training Ground.

At that time, several warhorses were galloping in the Martial Arts Training Ground, with the clashing of weapons and dust rising in the air.