The relationship between Yin Ji and Meng Tuoluo was far closer than Lan Ling had imagined.
Meng Tuoluo was four years older than Yin Ji.
Throughout the human kingdoms, except for the Eastern Li Kingdom, the children of the rulers of every other country had to go to the Divine Dragon Academy of Yan Capital Temple to study. Their period of study generally lasted more than ten years. It was arguably the most prestigious academy in the entire world, although it was not truly a school in the conventional sense.
Even though it accepted the children of rulers from all the human kingdoms, the Divine Dragon Academy had no more than three hundred students at its peak.
These students were already at the very top of the pyramid of the human kingdoms.
Even so, these royal and noble descendants were divided into different levels. The heirs of the Four Secret Continents and members of the Flame Empire royal family were at the highest level. The royal children of the four kingdoms came next, followed by the children of the rulers of the fifteen duchies, while the children of the rulers of the thirty six marquisates were at the lowest level.
Meng Tuoluo and Lan Yin, Yin Ji, were both legitimate daughters of dukes, so they belonged to the same social level.
Yin Ji was innocent and lively, and she was still young at the time, making her extremely likeable. Meng Tuoluo was gentle and mature, with a natural instinct to care for others, so she treated Yin Ji like a younger sister.
Not only that, both of them eventually moved beyond their original social circles.
Because Meng Tuoluo fell in love with Ji Mengbai, she entered the highest level social circle within the Divine Dragon Academy.
Yin Ji, on the other hand, had no concept of social hierarchy. She was intelligent, innocent and serious, and was well liked by the academy’s instructors. She became the class monitor, meaning that whether they were children of the Flame Empire royal family or the royal children of the four kingdoms, they all had to follow her instructions.
One intentionally and the other unintentionally, both reached the highest social level among the academy students, making their relationship even closer.
They also shared many interests. Meng Tuoluo loved art, while Yin Ji loved music, painting, mathematics and many other things. She seemed to have boundless energy.
Although they were not in the same year, both studied music under Mentor Byron. They spent almost every day together. Many times, they even slept in the same room, sharing a bed while whispering secrets to each other.
When Meng Tuoluo was in love with Ji Mengbai, she was filled with happiness and joy, but had no one to share it with. She therefore told Yin Ji everything about her happiness.
Yin Ji was too pure to feel jealous. She could only be happy for others and would often help Meng Tuoluo come up with ideas.
Many people opposed Meng Tuoluo and Ji Mengbai being together, but Yin Ji was the only person who firmly stood on Meng Tuoluo’s side.
Therefore, their relationship was not merely that of sisters, but was even closer than sisters.
Meng Tuoluo and Zhi Ning were completely different. At first, they disliked each other both outwardly and inwardly. Later, they maintained outward harmony while remaining opposed at heart. Eventually, they simply became enemies.
Looking back at the relationships within the Divine Dragon Academy at that time, Lan Yin was the most likeable and had the best relationships with everyone.
The girl with the worst relationships was Zhi Ning. She had carried resentment from childhood and disliked almost everyone she met. Only Prince Ji Min remained deeply infatuated with her.
Zhi Ning only truly changed after Lan Ling became intimate with her, especially after she gave birth to baby Zhi Yu.
As for the exquisite little princess Lan Yin before him, she had never changed.
…
Once Lan Yin, Yin Ji, confirmed that this was Meng Tuoluo, she immediately ran towards her like a little bird.
Meng Tuoluo could hardly believe her eyes. She watched Yin Ji rushing towards her, and tears almost appeared in her eyes.
Soon, the two beautiful women embraced tightly.
Meng Tuoluo began to cry softly, while tears welled up in Yin Ji’s eyes and her face was filled with joy.
“Sister, after the wedding I looked everywhere for you. I thought you had already gone home. How did you end up here?” Yin Ji cried. “And how did you become so beautiful? I could barely recognise you.”
Meng Tuoluo wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and held Yin Ji’s delicate, beautiful face in her hands. Instead of answering, she said in a trembling voice, “Little Yin, you… how did you end up here too? Weren’t you doing well? You were even supposed to marry the Crown Prince of the Western Liang Kingdom.”
In the northern wilderness, Meng Tuoluo had learned about Soren’s situation, but she knew nothing about the Night Orchid Duchy’s affairs, much less what had happened to Lan Yin.
Compared with the matter of the World Destroying Demon Emperor, the internal conflict within the Night Orchid Duchy was simply too insignificant.
Yin Ji said, “A bastard destroyed everything I had. He killed my parents and caused my two brothers to turn against each other over the throne. Brother Lan Tu died, and I was also wanted by the Divine Dragon Holy Temple. With nowhere else to go, I could only flee to the wilderness.”
Meng Tuoluo’s heart ached.
Lan Yin was the happiest, smartest and most adorable girl she had ever known. She was also so beautiful. She should have been the happiest little princess in the world. Why had she suffered such a terrible fate too?
She carefully examined Yin Ji.
Little Yin had grown a little taller. Her face was even more delicate and beautiful, and her figure had matured somewhat, but otherwise, there was hardly any change.
Her eyes were still so large, bright and dark, filled with vitality.
She was still just as intelligent and just as innocent.
Meng Tuoluo’s emotions were complicated, and she even felt somewhat jealous. Why had Yin Ji changed so little after coming to the wilderness, while she had gone from being a gentle and beautiful talented woman to a ruthless black widow?
“Yin’er, how many years have you been here?” Meng Tuoluo asked gently.
“Almost three years,” Yin Ji replied.
After three years, she had still retained her original nature.
Was she truly born to be a pearl like a princess? No matter where she went in the world, would she always be protected so well?
For example, now she was about to begin protecting this younger sister.
“Come, go home with Sister. Come back to Rakshasa City with me,” Meng Tuoluo said, taking Yin Ji’s hand and leading her outside.
She felt responsible for protecting the younger sister she had once cared for, especially when the Flame Demon Tribe was about to face complete destruction.
Lan Ling stood nearby without saying anything or stopping them.
The thing he had feared most had happened. Meng Tuoluo and Yin Ji had met, and their relationship was even closer than he had imagined.
Since that was the case, he could accept whatever happened.
It was naturally a pity that he could not completely keep Yin Ji, a talented administrator, by his side. But since he had already fallen out with Meng Tuoluo, losing Yin Ji as well was not much different.
“Rakshasa City?” Yin Ji asked.
Meng Tuoluo paused for a moment.
“I married the Little Rakshasa King.”
When Meng Tuoluo said this, her emotions were somewhat complicated. In everyone’s eyes, Meng Tuoluo had always been absolutely devoted and faithful. Even after Ji Mengbai betrayed her, she should not have fallen in love with someone else.
This devotion had become one of Meng Tuoluo’s most respected qualities. Marrying the Little Rakshasa King therefore felt like a betrayal of herself.
However, Yin Ji’s first reaction was completely different.
“The Little Rakshasa King? Is he good to you?”
Yin Ji cared most about whether Meng Tuoluo was happy and whether she had married a good person.
As for the Little Rakshasa King’s lofty status, Yin Ji would never envy it. After all, her own fiancé had been the Crown Prince of the Western Liang Kingdom, and when she was class monitor, even the royal children of the Flame Empire had to follow her instructions.
“He treats me very well,” Meng Tuoluo replied. “Come, go home with Sister. Your parents are gone. From now on, Sister will protect you. I will not only help you train in martial arts, I will also find you the best husband.”
Yin Ji’s beautiful eyes trembled, and she looked towards Lan Ling.
She liked Lan Ling, but nowhere near the level of an all consuming love. Her relationship with Meng Tuoluo was not merely that of sisters, but even closer than sisters.
“I respect your choice,” Lan Ling said.
Yin Ji frowned slightly. She hated it when Lan Ling behaved like this.
“Sister, I will visit you when I have the chance, and you can visit me too,” Yin Ji said. “But I want to stay in the Flame Demon Tribe. At the most critical moment, the Flame Demon Tribe took me in and saved me. I cannot leave.”
Meng Tuoluo looked at Lan Ling, then at Yin Ji.
She understood Lan Ling very well. He was a troublemaker who always became involved with women.
If an innocent and beautiful little princess like Yin Ji fell into his hands, she would surely be hurt. Meng Tuoluo did not want to see such a precious girl fall into Lan Ling’s trap.
In her mind, Lan Ling’s trap was something that she, the Black Widow Meng Tuoluo, could enter because the two of them had a complicated history.
But Yin Ji was too pure. Lan Ling was not worthy of her.
“You are being foolish. This is not the time to talk about loyalty. The Flame Demon Tribe is about to face complete destruction. If you stay here, you will be destroyed along with it,” Meng Tuoluo said coldly, adopting the authoritative tone she had used when disciplining Yin Ji in the past.
Previously, whenever Meng Tuoluo became angry, Yin Ji would often listen to her, even though she had her own ideas, as long as it was not a matter of principle.
When principles were involved, however, Yin Ji was extremely firm. She had always known her own mind from a young age.
This time, Yin Ji did not yield. She firmly shook her head.
“Sister, I will not leave the Flame Demon Tribe.”
The two knew each other extremely well.
Seeing Yin Ji’s expression, Meng Tuoluo knew that she could not change her mind.
She took a deep breath and walked over to Lan Ling.
“Promise me that you will not hurt Yin’er. You are not worthy of her. When the day comes that the Flame Demon Tribe is destroyed, if she is still a virgin, I will guarantee the safety of your wife and daughter. After the battle, I will come and take her away.”
With that, Meng Tuoluo lightly leapt onto the flying ray.
Before leaving, she glared fiercely at Yin Ji.
“You foolish girl. The Divine Dragon Holy Temple has washed your brain.”
Then, protected by the thirteen Black Blood Demon Riders, Meng Tuoluo left the Flame Demon Tribe and returned to Black Demon City.
The mass of blood coloured clouds dispersed as she left.
After Meng Tuoluo departed, Yin Ji arrogantly entered the castle without saying a word to Lan Ling.
Lan Ling followed her into the castle and entered her office.
“I stayed because of my principles, not because of you,” Yin Ji said. “And don’t try anything with me. I am not ready.”
Lan Ling asked, “When we eventually return to the human kingdoms and capture Soren, what will you do?”
Yin Ji was startled. She found the question somewhat strange. After thinking for a while, she replied, “I will cut off his head with one sword.”
Lan Ling smiled.
“You won’t torture him first? Make him suffer terribly?”
Yin Ji was silent for a moment before shaking her head, hesitating as though she wanted to say something.
“Speak,” Lan Ling said.
Yin Ji replied, “Soren assassinated my parents, and his methods were extremely despicable, but he did it to save the territory of the woman he loved. His lover, Senior Sister Ashili Ren, is someone I also know, and I like her very much. When we visited the Eastern Li Kingdom, she even taught me swordsmanship.
“You may not know this, but our Night Orchid Duchy and Roulan City were sworn enemies. When I first met Ashili Ren, I ignored her and regarded her as an enemy. But she was temporarily assigned as our swordsmanship instructor, and after spending more time with her, I could not help liking her. She really is a wonderful person.”
Yin Ji’s words were fragmented, but Lan Ling understood what she meant.
Yin Ji continued, “My brother Lan Tu led an army of three hundred thousand to destroy Senior Sister Ashili Ren’s Roulan City and fight this war to restore our lost territory. Was he wrong?”
Lan Ling shook his head.
“No.”
Yin Ji continued, “Was Soren wrong to save the woman he loved?”
Lan Ling shook his head.
“That part was not wrong, but his methods were despicable. Assassination was dishonourable.”
Yin Ji said, “If it were me, I would do the same thing to save the person I loved, no matter how dishonourable the method was. So Soren was not wrong to assassinate my parents either.”
Lan Ling was stunned.
Yin Ji continued, “Many things are too complicated. If you trace their origins back far enough, it becomes impossible to determine who is right and who is wrong. So I would not be wrong to kill Soren for revenge, but I would not torture him.”
Lan Ling thought to himself that if Soren tried to avoid her revenge by manipulating her emotionally, that would no longer be about right or wrong. It would simply be utterly shameless.
“What do you want most right now?” Lan Ling suddenly asked.
“Security,” Yin Ji replied. “The sense of security that comes from having a home. I am frightened by this feeling of being alone and without anyone to rely on, as though I am the only person left in the world.”
Lan Ling smiled.
“You know, some children are born with very strong emotional needs. We call them high needs babies.”
Dina and Ah Li were women with very low emotional needs, even tending to give without expecting much in return.
The delicate little princess before him, however, was a typical girl with high emotional needs. She would give twelve parts of love, but she also expected ten parts in return.
Yin Ji said, “You cannot give me that. I can tell immediately whether someone truly loves and cares for me from the heart. And I do not dare hope for too much either. You are busy every day and have countless women. I am only an insignificant girl, so I cannot hope for more.”
Lan Ling said, “That makes sense. So perhaps you need to have a child, then you would have more of a sense of having a family.”
Yin Ji almost exploded when she heard this. She rushed forward and began kicking Lan Ling with her little boots.
That was far too outrageous. It was the most shameless and ridiculous thing she had ever heard.
The meaning was essentially, “I cannot give you the security of a home, nor can I give you much care and affection. So perhaps you should have a child and play family by yourself.”
After kicking him, Yin Ji leaned against Lan Ling and asked, “You idiot, have you ever truly loved a woman?”
“Yes,” Lan Ling replied.
“Where is she?” Yin Ji asked.
“I don’t know,” Lan Ling said. “I don’t know whether she is alive or dead, or even whether she is real. I don’t even know whether she truly exists.”
Yin Ji said, “Don’t deliberately make yourself sound so pitiful just to make me feel sorry for you.”
Lan Ling lifted her onto the desk and held her face in his hands, as though he wanted to say something.
He hesitated several times before finally shaking his head.
“Forget it.”
Yin Ji was not disappointed. Some things should not be forced out.
“I’m leaving,” Lan Ling said.
He then gently patted her and gave her a brief kiss before leaving.
When he reached the doorway, Lan Ling turned back.
“Lan Yin, how about you come with me after this war? After all, life is not only about poetry and distant dreams. There are also the messy realities right in front of us.”
“Get out,” Yin Ji said, unable to tolerate him any longer. She immediately picked up a roll of parchment and threw it at him.
After Lan Ling left, she chased after him and continued throwing parchment at him. However, just as a third person was about to see them, she immediately stopped.
She could not damage Lan Ling’s dignity in front of another person.
…
After returning to Black Demon City, Meng Tuoluo’s beautiful face was completely cold. She issued her order word by word.
“Kill every member of the Flame Demon Tribe. Cut off Lan Ling’s head and send it to Rakshasa City.”
Na Shu was delighted.
“Yes!”
Meng Tuoluo said, “There is a girl named Yin Ji inside the Flame Demon Tribe. You must not touch her or harm her. Bring her to me completely unharmed. She is my younger sister.”
Na Shu’s heart trembled.
“Yes.”
Meng Tuoluo said, “My patience is limited. Gather all the armies within three days. Attack the Flame Demon Tribe within five days. Within ten days, the Little Rakshasa King must see Lan Ling’s head.”
“Yes!” Na Shu replied.
Meng Tuoluo then left without delay and flew directly back to Rakshasa City.
“Soren, you were right. Once we have turned against each other, we might as well make it complete. There is no need to hide anything,” Meng Tuoluo said.
It was like the Centaur race. If they felt they owed someone too much, they would simply kill that person so that they would not have to repay the debt.
As for Meng Tuoluo and Soren, since she had chosen not to stand with him before, she might as well make him disappear.
Before Soren truly became an obstacle in her path, he should disappear.
That way, she would never have to regret the choice she had made.
…
At the same time, Chihuo Khan led an army of twenty five thousand Centaurs north along the uninhabited coastline. They entered the coastal territory of the Flame Demon Tribe and formally joined forces with Evil Li Khan’s six thousand Centaurs.
The great battle was about to begin!
If Lan Ling won this battle, he would directly become the supreme ruler of this million square kilometre territory, truly becoming one of the dominant powers within the territory of the Rakshasa race.