"The sun in the heavens… the moon above… and even the mountains and rivers beneath our feet—will all one day perish.
Are these truly the words of the gods, or are they your own thoughts?"
Chen Rong felt a faint tension rise within him.
So he's questioning me now…
Genghis Khan's gaze was not merely curious.
There was something probing behind it—calculated, watchful. The Great Khan was not a man easily deceived, and every word spoken before him carried weight.
Unknown to Chen Rong, his earlier explanation about the eventual destruction of the sun and earth had stirred an unexpected thought in Genghis Khan's mind.
Such ideas… sounded strangely similar to the doctrines preached by certain Nestorian Christians in the west—those who spoke of a final judgment and the end of all things.
Could this man be one of them?
Chen Rong, however, remained unaware of this suspicion.
"I would not dare deceive the Great Khan," Chen Rong said calmly. "These are not my own beliefs. They are the words spoken by the gods themselves."
Inside, however, he could not help but sigh.
I didn't say it… modern science said it. Go argue with astrophysics if you want.
If history continued as expected, future generations would eventually confirm these truths. Perhaps one day, he thought wryly, historians might even record him as some mysterious man touched by divine revelation.
Or worse—someone abducted by spirits.
Genghis Khan studied him silently for a moment, then gave a low grunt.
"If it is the word of the gods, then it cannot be verified," he said. "Let us leave it at that. But hear me clearly—I have never placed my hopes in any elixir of immortality."
His tone grew firmer.
"If such a thing truly existed, why did the First Emperor of Qin fail to obtain it? Why did Emperor Wu of Han never find it? If immortals truly walked this earth, those emperors would still be seated upon their thrones, drinking wine with me today."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"I, Genghis Khan, have no interest in chasing illusions."
Chen Rong was momentarily speechless.
I never said I had an elixir…
From the beginning, he had already made it clear to Liu Zhonglu that he possessed no such thing.
Yet somehow, rumors had spread, and now even Genghis Khan seemed to be addressing the matter.
It seemed that his earlier words about lifespan and mortality had inadvertently strengthened Master Changchun's argument.
A divine assist, indeed…
Behind them, Ögedei and Tolui sat quietly, neither speaking.
In front of their father, they rarely interrupted unless addressed. The air between them carried a quiet tension, as though each word spoken carried deeper meaning.
Genghis Khan looked toward the distant horizon.
"But you speak truth in one matter," he continued slowly. "No man can escape fate. After a hundred years, he becomes nothing more than withered bones. All achievements fade. Glory turns to dust."
The words sounded calm, but there was weight behind them.
Genghis Khan was nearing sixty years of age. A man who had spent his entire life in conquest, he now stood at the stage where thoughts of mortality naturally arose.
If he had been younger, perhaps he would never have listened to men like Chen Rong… or Qiu Chuji.
Chen Rong considered his response carefully.
"Great Khan, I once believed much the same," Chen Rong said respectfully.
"But the divine beings told me that some things cannot be erased—your spirit, the traditions you leave behind, and the stories passed down through generations.
The wisdom of a civilization, the laws you establish, and the deeds you accomplish—such things can be preserved forever."
For a moment, Genghis Khan remained silent. Then suddenly, he laughed.
"Hahaha "Heroes truly think alike," he said. "I have long considered this myself.
That is why I promulgated the Great Yassa and ordered Tata‑tonga to create Mongolian writing.
With laws and script, even after my death—after my sons and grandsons pass away—the Mongol tribes will not fall apart and become scattered sand once more, to be bullied by others."
His eyes grew distant, filled with memory.
He had witnessed firsthand the humiliations inflicted upon the steppe by the Jin Dynasty.
firsthand—orders to reduce the number of young men on the steppe, the heavy taxation, the repeated suppressions—these were wounds carved deep into his heart.
His hatred for the Jin Dynasty ran deep.
In his lifetime, he had sworn to destroy them.
At the Battle of Yehuling, he defeated the Jin army despite overwhelming odds. He seized their lands, married a Jin princess, and pushed his forces deep into northern territories.
Even during his western campaign, he had not forgotten to leave Muqali behind, ordering him to continue the assault.
Once the western campaign ended, he intended to settle accounts with Western Xia. After that, the Jin Dynasty would be next.
Chen Rong nodded.
"The Great Khan's wisdom is profound. The creation of a nation's writing and culture ensures its survival. This is the foundation of lasting power."
"Well spoken."
Genghis Khan looked at him with satisfaction.
"You are unlike the Han generals I have met. They speak flattering words, but none dare speak honestly."
Before Chen Rong could reply, Ögedei suddenly spoke.
"Father Khan, Subutai and the cavalry are no longer in sight. Should we find a place to stop and wait?" Ögedei Khan said.
While Chen Rong had been speaking with Genghis Khan, the cavalry following behind had gradually fallen far behind, until they were completely out of sight.
Being too far from the main force was dangerous. After all, they were deep within Khwarezm territory. If they encountered a Khwarezmian army, the consequences could be disastrous.
"Very well. Sir, stop near that stone hill ahead. We will wait for them there," Genghis Khan said with a nod.
It was indeed unwise to stray too far from the army. This was still the front line, and caution was necessary.
Hearing the order, Chen Rong drove the off-road vehicle toward the rocky hill indicated by the Great Khan and brought it to a stop beside the stone outcrop.
The group then stepped out of the vehicle to wait for the approaching cavalry.
He sat more comfortably upon the stone.
Mr. Chen do you know, "Envoys from the Central Plains—whether from Jin, Song, Western Xia, or Dali—show me respect on the surface. But in their hearts, they look down on me."
His voice was calm, but there was iron beneath it.
"I can see it in their eyes."
He spoke from experience.
When he was young, his father had been poisoned and killed by his enemies. His family fell into hardship. His mother struggled to raise her children.
Hunger forced him into desperate acts—even killing his own half-brother over food.
He had endured contempt all his life.
He knew how people looked at him.
Even the Han and Jin generals who surrendered—though respectful in speech—often carried hidden disdain.
To them, he remained a barbarian of the steppe.
But Chen Rong was different.
In Chen Rong's eyes, he saw genuine respect.
Not fear. Not flattery.
Respect.
That pleased him.
"I truly admire the Great Khan," Chen Rong said sincerely.
As a modern man, he knew the historical weight of the man before him. The thirteenth century belonged to the Mongols—the century of the Golden Family.
Genghis Khan laughed loudly.
"The more they look down on me, the harder I strike them. I will beat them until they bow their heads… until they fear me… until none dare look upon me with contempt."
His voice thundered across the plain.
And he had done exactly that.
Originally, he had no intention of attacking Khwarazm. The distance was vast, and trade seemed more reasonable.
But Khwarazm's governor, had slaughtered Mongol merchants and seized their goods.
When Genghis Khan sent envoys to demand justice, Sultan Muhammad of Khwarazm executed the chief envoy and humiliated the others—shaving their beards before sending them back.
It was the greatest insult.
Genghis Khan's fury had shaken the steppe.
In his forties, he mobilized the entire Mongol nation for the western campaign. Before departing, he had even selected his successor, prepared to die in foreign lands.
But even in death, he intended to destroy Khwarazm.
Because he is Genghis Khan.