The reason Meng Tuoluo recognised Lan Ling, or rather, roughly recognised him, was definitely not because of emotion, or his aura or energy. It was entirely because of his appearance.
Although Lan Ling had changed greatly compared to the former Soren, almost to the point of becoming a completely different person, Dina still recognised at a glance that he looked like Suo Mo.
Meng Tuoluo also felt that Lan Ling bore a striking resemblance to Soren.
Suppressing her excitement, Meng Tuoluo silently questioned herself. Was this chieftain before her really Soren?
She already knew that Soren was dead. Queen Zhi Yan had personally killed him, and the Divine Dragon Temple had destroyed every trace of his body.
So who exactly was this Lan Ling? Was it merely a coincidence, or was he truly Soren?
Without revealing anything, Meng Tuoluo quietly remained hidden among the crowd.
That evening, the newly arrived refugees were directed into separate groups of men and women, entering enormous pools to bathe before changing into clean clothes.
Meng Tuoluo had long been prepared. Even after washing her face clean, it still looked nothing like her original appearance. Although this face was far less beautiful than her true one, it still outshone every other woman present, making her the most beautiful among them.
The management of new refugees was extremely strict. On their very first day in the tribe, apart from eating and sleeping, they were assigned accommodation according to the groups they had originally travelled with. No new refugee was allowed to leave their residence until the reorganisation was completed, guides had been assigned, and work positions arranged. Only then could they move about freely.
It was not that Lan Ling wished to suppress their freedom. There were simply far too few houses and far too many people. Without strict control, everyone would wander around visiting and chatting with one another, throwing the entire tribe into disorder, making it extremely difficult to manage.
Even so, Meng Tuoluo managed to gather information about Chieftain Lan Ling whenever an opportunity arose.
What she heard was a miracle, an astonishing miracle.
Lan Ling’s archery on the battlefield was beyond belief, killing a thousand enemies by himself.
He had led an uprising of foreign tribes, establishing the Flame Demon Tribe.
He had led one thousand men to defeat Constantine’s coalition army of thirty thousand. Most astonishingly, in the final battle, with mysterious techniques that seemed beyond human understanding, he caused more than twenty thousand enemies to march towards death.
Originally, Meng Tuoluo had not been certain whether Lan Ling was really Soren.
Now, however, she believed the possibility had become much greater. Back in the Furious Wave Kingdom, Soren had also created miracle after miracle.
But if he truly was Soren, he had clearly died. How could he have come back to life?
And what should she, Meng Tuoluo, do? Which path should she choose?
According to the oath she had made before, once she confirmed he was Soren, she should remain by his side and pledge loyalty to the World Destroying Demon Emperor.
However, Meng Tuoluo had grown up within the Divine Dragon Temple. Furthermore, Princess Na Xue had explained everything to her, making her understand that the so called World Destroying Demon Emperor was nothing more than a fabrication created by the Divine Dragon Temple.
Yet if Soren had truly returned from the dead, it instead made the legend of the World Destroying Demon Emperor seem a little more believable.
What should Meng Tuoluo do?
Should she remain with Lan Ling, or continue serving Princess Na Xue?
…
“Chieftain, a group of Near Human refugees wishes to leave,” Lan Ling received the report early the next morning.
Lan Ling was stunned. During this period, countless refugees had poured in, and not a single one had chosen to leave. Even among the tribe’s laws, exile from the tribe was listed as a punishment. The vast majority would rather be executed than expelled.
Why?
Once they had houses to live in, delicious food to eat, clean clothes to wear, and the protection of the tribe, their days of wandering became even more unforgettable in comparison, full of misery and suffering. They would truly rather die than return to such a life.
Thus, within the Flame Demon Tribe, expulsion was considered an even harsher punishment than execution.
Yet now, not only did someone wish to leave, it was an entire group. Lan Ling was greatly surprised and immediately went to meet their leader.
Tie Ji greeted Lan Ling with the formal etiquette of the upper class Near Human race and said, “Thank you for your hospitality last night, Chieftain. Tie Ji is deeply grateful.”
He then took out a bag of gold coins.
“Our group received your generous care last night. Please accept this small token of our gratitude.”
Lan Ling narrowed his eyes.
“Why are you leaving?”
To Lan Ling, it was merely a simple question.
But to those people, it sounded more like a plea for them to stay.
Tie Ji replied, “I see that your tribe is still recovering from great hardship. I believe food and accommodation are both in short supply. We are willing to leave these opportunities for those who arrive later. We shall seek a new place and new opportunities elsewhere.”
His words sounded noble, but the true meaning was obvious.
We think your Flame Demon Tribe is too poor and too weak. It is not suitable for us.
By saying the tribe was still rebuilding, he also implied that Lan Ling intended to deceive people into becoming labourers. After all, they had once belonged to the upper class of the Northern Wilderness and were not the sort of people who performed manual labour. They were not like these coarse refugees, easily fooled or persuaded.
Lan Ling remained silent for a long moment before asking,
“You have not been in the Southern Wilderness very long, have you?”
Tie Ji replied, “We have been here for some time already. We shall take our leave now.”
Fearing Lan Ling might force them to stay, he hurriedly said his farewell.
Lan Ling sneered inwardly.
There were arrogant people everywhere. They had only just arrived in the Southern Wilderness and had not yet experienced its hardships. They still imagined they could be selective, probably believing that wise birds chose only the finest trees to nest in.
Then they could experience the hell of the Southern Wilderness for themselves.
Lan Ling said,
“If you wish to leave, I will not stop you. Go ahead.”
He then tossed the bag of gold coins back.
Tie Ji said,
“Chieftain, please do not stand on ceremony. Your tribe is not wealthy, and I, Tie Ji, never owe anyone anything.”
Lan Ling ignored him and walked away.
The warriors beside him looked at the group as though they were complete fools.
And so, Tie Ji led more than twenty people out of the Flame Demon Tribe.
Meng Tuoluo was among those leaving.
In the end, she did not choose to remain.
Between Lan Ling and Princess Na Xue, she chose Princess Na Xue.
Between the Flame Demon Tribe and the Demon Tuo Empire, she chose the Demon Tuo Empire.
There were many reasons.
For example, two experts from the Demon Tuo Empire were travelling with her. If she remained, Lan Ling’s identity might be exposed to the empire.
Another reason was that Princess Na Xue had already kissed her, making her one of the Vampire Demon Clan. Her life and death were now under Princess Na Xue’s control.
But perhaps the most important reason was only one.
The Demon Tuo Empire was unimaginably powerful, and Princess Na Xue herself was equally powerful.
That gave Meng Tuoluo hope, and awakened many ambitions. The desires deep within her heart suddenly seemed much more achievable.
All she needed to do was continue climbing higher within the Demon Tuo Empire.
She had every qualification to do so, because she too had become a member of the Vampire Demon Clan, one of the empire’s true core members.
…
After leaving the Flame Demon Tribe, Tie Ji and his group continued along the main road connecting the tribes.
They walked one hundred miles, then two hundred miles.
Eventually they became utterly exhausted.
There was no food at all along the road.
They tried hunting, but nearly all the prey lived deep within the mountains and forests.
Some people had already begun regretting their decision.
Perhaps they should never have left.
Perhaps they should have remained in the Flame Demon Tribe.
“Stay? Would you dig earth if they ordered you to? Would you build walls if they told you to?”
The group continued struggling forward.
Compared with before, however, their wandering life was almost paradise.
At least now they dared to walk openly along the roads without fear.
Previously, every Near Human refugee who travelled on the roads had been captured by Rakshasa patrol soldiers.
The women were taken away to be abused and violated.
The men were taken away, killed, and butchered for meat.
In the Wilderness World, the Near Human race were nothing more than two legged sheep.
However, because Lan Ling had wiped out the main forces of both the Chimera Tribe and the Ankara Tribe, they no longer had enough troops to patrol the hundreds of miles surrounding their territory. They could only remain behind to defend their own tribal headquarters.
That was why this group could stroll boldly along the road.
They kept walking.
Walking.
Walking.
Everyone was covered in dust, with huge blisters covering their feet.
Suddenly, an enormous tribe appeared before them.
Towering gates.
Countless houses.
Well organised tribal residents.
No one was doing hard labour.
Life appeared peaceful and comfortable.
Compared with the Flame Demon Tribe, this place was many times larger, richer, and more prosperous.
This was Constantine’s Chimera Tribe.
Filled with excitement, Tie Ji led his group towards its gates.
…
Within Rakshasa City.
Nini An felt unbearable pain and humiliation.
The excitement and pride she had once felt after becoming the Little Barbarian King’s concubine had completely disappeared.
She had received her father Constantine’s letter twenty days earlier.
When she first read it, it struck her like a bolt from the blue.
Her father and Alfonso had once again fallen into Lan Ling’s trap. Their army of thirty thousand had been almost completely annihilated.
Thirty thousand men had actually lost to Lan Ling’s force of only one thousand.
At that moment, Nini An truly felt both hatred and disappointment.
She had warned them countless times.
Never fall into Lan Ling’s traps.
Continue the siege patiently.
Yet her father, Constantine, had still fallen into Lan Ling’s scheme.
Even worse, her mother, Gou Li, had been captured by Lan Ling.
She had already hated Lan Ling with all her heart.
Now, no words could possibly describe the depth of her hatred.
From then on, she tried every possible means to avenge her father and destroy Lan Ling.
However…
Only then did she experience true despair.
Although she had married the Little Barbarian King as his concubine, she was nothing.
She tried every possible method to report the matter to the Little Barbarian King, hoping he would send troops to destroy the Flame Demon Tribe.
Yet she could not even meet him.
She did not even know where he was.
So, for the first time, she went to visit the Little Barbarian King’s residence.
Previously, she had always refused to go.
She was too proud.
His lawful wife lived there, and Nini An refused to lower herself or endure the first wife’s attitude, so she had never visited before.
However…
When she arrogantly sent someone ahead to knock on the gate, she suffered the greatest humiliation of her life.
In her mind, she should have been half the mistress of the Little Barbarian King’s residence.
Yet she could not even enter through the gates.
Finally, she went personally.
The guard glanced at her lazily and said,
“The Little Barbarian King’s residence is not a place where just anyone may enter.”
She was the Little Barbarian King’s concubine.
Yet at that moment, she was treated no differently from a stray cat or dog.
After that, Nini An exhausted every possible method trying to avenge her father and destroy Lan Ling.
Only then did she painfully discover that she truly was nothing.
Because of her title as the Eighteenth Princess Consort, everyone treated her respectfully and bowed politely.
No one dared offend her.
But apart from that, it meant absolutely nothing.
She could accomplish no serious matter whatsoever.
Other than the few dozen attendants around her, she could not command a single additional person.
For the first time, she regretted marrying the Little Barbarian King as his concubine.
Apart from an empty title, she had gained nothing.
She truly was nothing.
Merely a beautifully decorated canary.
Merely a beautifully decorated prisoner.
She could do nothing.
…
The Silver Alliance meeting ended in failure once again.
Constantine’s letter to his daughter never received any reply.
He and Alfonso had tried once again to persuade everyone to send an army of one hundred thousand to surround the Flame Demon Tribe.
Their proposal failed again.
Meanwhile, the female shaman Yin Ji had not left her room for days.
Her identity as a human had already been exposed.
Every time she went outside, she was met with hostile looks from the Rakshasa people.
So she remained inside her room, writing Soren’s name over and over again with blood.
Each time, she hacked it to pieces with a sword.
Finally, she sat cross legged on the floor, staring blankly at the ceiling as she murmured,
“Brother, where are you? Mother, where are you?”
At that moment, a figure burst angrily into the tent, reeking of alcohol.
It was Alfonso, the Chieftain of the Ankara Tribe.
His bloodshot eyes stared feverishly at Priestess Yin Ji’s graceful figure as he breathed heavily.
Then he rushed straight towards her.
Yin Ji was startled and quickly dodged.
“Godfather, what are you doing?”
“Godfather?” Alfonso roared. “I don’t want to be your godfather. I want to be your man. Don’t forget, I was the one who rescued you from the shore. Otherwise your bones would already have rotted away. Other than me, no one in the entire Wilderness would ever have taken you in!”
Although Yin Ji had long noticed the greed in Alfonso’s eyes and understood his desire for her, he had always managed to restrain himself.
But after suffering one failure after another, he no longer bothered to hide it.
Yin Ji felt a wave of disgust.
“What? They all look down on me, and now you do as well?” Alfonso shouted. “Today, I will definitely have you!”
Priestess Yin Ji’s face turned pale with shock.
She could hardly believe what she had just heard.
She immediately gathered her spiritual power, attempting to intimidate Alfonso.
However…
Her spiritual sea and mental strength had only recently suffered devastating damage at Lan Ling’s hands.
The moment she gathered her mental power, it felt as though her brain were being torn apart.
She instantly lost control of her body and collapsed to the ground, completely unable to resist.
Alfonso’s eyes lit up with delight as he laughed loudly.
“So you couldn’t wait either? Lying there on the ground waiting for me?”
“I don’t care about being your godfather anymore. I don’t care about shame or honour. I just want you!”
With a twisted grin, Alfonso lunged towards the helpless Yin Ji lying on the ground.