At this moment, atop the cliff, over a dozen corpses lay scattered about. They were all experts Ning Zhi had brought with her.
Among them were two Dragon Warriors. The rest were all high-level warriors. They had actually all died beneath Yan Naier’s sword. Just how high must her martial arts be?
Ning Zhi and Tu Lingduo had only just managed to escape from Sauron’s encirclement, and now they had fallen into Yan Naier’s hands.
This was still Ning Zhi’s first time meeting Yan Naier. She was truly a beauty that could topple kingdoms. This soul-stirring allure could truly only be compared to Gui Qinshao.
However, Gui Qinshao’s allure was too ostentatious, even giving people a sense of impropriety.
But the Yan Naier before her eyes possessed allure mixed with coldness, so stern that one dared not give offence.
So beautiful, her temperament so pure and noble, her martial arts so high, and so devotedly infatuated in love.
Even Princess Ning Zhi could not help but feel a surge of jealousy. What dogshit luck had Sauron walked into, to actually win the favour of such a beauty?
“Sauron is not worthy of you.” Ning Zhi said.
Yan Naier did not respond to her. Instead, she looked at Ning Zhi with hostility. At that time, Sauron had abandoned her, then turned around to pursue this Ning Zhi. Thus Naier instinctively felt the sensation of a rival in love.
Ning Zhi continued, “Yan Naier, if Sauron can toy with your feelings once, he can toy with them a second time. How can you be so incapable, being used by him in the palm of his hand, and even dragging your father into it?”
Yan Naier still said nothing at all. She merely stared at her coldly.
Ning Zhi said again, “Do you know which woman Sauron truly loves?”
Yan Naier said, “Could it be you?”
“No, of course not me.” Ning Zhi said, “The woman he truly loves has only ever been one, and that is his elder sister Sauron Ningbing. His affair with his own sister, this incestuous love, is not entirely baseless rumour.”
“Slap…” Before Ning Zhi’s words were even finished, she received a slap. Naier was as fast as lightning, immediately retreating after the strike.
“Haha… I struck a nerve, and now you are flying into a rage from humiliation.” Ning Zhi sneered coldly.
“Slap, slap, slap, slap…” Naier stepped forward, striking left and right, continuously hitting her over a dozen times.
Immediately, Ning Zhi’s ears rang with thunder. Her entire face was burning and numb, without sensation. Her originally incomparably beautiful face was swollen and red.
“Keep talking.” Naier said coldly, “For every sentence you speak, I will slap you ten times.”
Ning Zhi dared not speak, because when Yan Naier said she would hit, she truly would hit. She even beat the man she loved, let alone others.
“Naier, let me go.” Ning Zhi covered her face, looking at Naier earnestly. “Although you hit me, I do not hate you in the slightest. Let me go.”
“Impossible.” Naier said.
Ning Zhi said, “For your own good, and also for Sauron’s good, you should let me go.”
Naier said, “Why?”
Ning Zhi said, “Sauron hates me the most. Previously at the Royal Academy, he swore an oath before me, saying he would definitely rape me then kill me. Now that I have fallen into his hands, he would not dare kill me, and he cannot even imprison me for long.”
Yan Naier nodded. She knew this point clearly.
Ning Zhi said, “So the only thing Sauron can do is forcibly rape me. You are so pure and flawless. You two have not yet had relations, have you? Then can you watch with your own eyes as your man sleeps with another woman?”
Naier furrowed her brow and shook her head. “I cannot.”
Ning Zhi said, “So my falling into Sauron’s hands is useless, and will instead bring tremendous harm. And Sauron sending you here to intercept me actually shows he has the intention of letting me go. He cannot kill me, yet is unwilling to release me, so he uses your hand to let me go.”
At this time, Tu Lingduo at the side also could not help but marvel. This reasoning was actually laid out by Ning Zhi in perfect order.
Naier suddenly smiled and said, “What you say makes a lot of sense.”
Ning Zhi’s expression grew gentle. “Naier, do you know that your rival in love is not me, but another person?”
“Who?” Yan Naier said.
“Ning Yan.” Princess Ning Zhi said, “His Majesty the King forced your Sauron to stand on Ning Yan’s side. And all the nobles and lords under heaven stand on my elder brother Ning Li’s side. So your Sauron is making an enemy of the entire world. And Ning Yan and I are born enemies. You should help Sauron, prevent him from sliding into the abyss.”
Then, Ning Zhi’s voice grew even gentler. “Naier, let me go. I will agree to whatever condition you propose. Keeping me here serves no purpose, and will instead bring tremendous calamity to Sauron.”
Naier’s originally ice-cold face suddenly broke into a smile. “How could you be useless? Although we cannot kill you, my husband is so clever. He will definitely find a way to extort a whole pile of things from you. So you can rest assured and be a prisoner for a while.”
Ning Zhi was taken aback. Then she nearly spat blood from anger, shrieking, “Yan Naier, you cheap wench!”
“Slap…” Naier stepped forward. One slap directly sent her curses back into her mouth.
Then, with a light pat, Princess Ning Zhi immediately collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
At this time, a voice came from below, shouting loudly, “Your Highness the Princess, how are you?”
Yan Naier glanced towards Tu Lingduo.
Tu Lingduo had no choice. She shouted loudly, “It is safe up here.”
Next, Yan Naier also knocked Tu Lingduo unconscious with one palm strike.
At this time, a second wave of three people climbed up the rope from below the cliff. They were Gui Qinqu, son of Gui Xingfu, the rebel warrior lord Nu Dan, and Ning Zhi’s personal guard eunuch Li Zhu.
The three reached the top of the cliff and saw Ning Zhi and Tu Lingduo unconscious on the ground, plus Yan Naier cold as frost.
“Swish, swish, swish…” Immediately, the three drew their sharp swords one after another.
“The eunuch is injured. The three of you are no match for me.” Yan Naier said coldly, “But I do not have the patience for this. Drop your weapons, kneel and surrender.”
As she spoke, she directly placed the Dragon Gold Sword across Ning Zhi’s neck. With a light cut, Ning Zhi would perish.
Li Zhu immediately threw away the treasured sword in his hand, then knelt on the ground without moving. For him, his mistress Ning Zhi was everything. He would not risk even the slightest danger.
Gui Qinqu and Nu Dan exchanged glances. This delicate woman before their eyes was probably Yan Naier. Legend had it her martial arts were very high.
But after all, she was a woman. No matter how high her martial arts, how high could they be?
Moreover, Ning Zhi and Tu Lingduo being captured did not necessarily mean death. But Nu Dan falling into Sauron’s hands was certain death, and Gui Qinqu would not die but would have a layer of skin peeled off.
Thus the two acted decisively, erupting with dragon power, charging towards Yan Naier like lightning, attacking from left and right.
“Clang…”
Naier swept out with one sword.
Immediately, the treasured swords in Nu Dan and Gui Qinqu’s hands were instantly severed.
“Swish, swish, swish, swish…”
Naier was like a rain of pear blossoms in a storm, thrusting out dozens upon hundreds of swords, then retreating like lightning.
Afterwards, Nu Dan and Gui Qinqu stood motionless, appearing completely unharmed.
However, in the next second, countless bloody holes appeared upon their bodies. Blood spurted out like fountains.
The two crashed to the ground.
Naier said to Li Zhu, “Tell the people below to come up.”
With Princess Ning Zhi as a hostage, they could completely make Li Zhu do anything, even commit suicide.
Hearing Naier’s words, he immediately leaned out over the cliff and shouted loudly, “Come up.”
Thus, like fishing, Naier captured all the enemy’s important figures in one net.
She was merely one person, yet she had captured a full several dozen people.
…
Meanwhile, within the castle, they had already killed each other in chaos, completely like demons dancing in wild abandon.
Originally, after Sauron’s poison vial arrows shot in and exploded, they would at most make a few or a dozen people fly into a violent frenzy.
But within this enclosed space crammed with so many people, and moreover divided into three factions, after defeat and encirclement, they were constantly on the edge of destruction.
Thus, at this time the inside of the castle was like a massive powder keg. Merely a single match could cause a heaven-shaking great explosion.
The two hundred poison arrows Sauron shot in were far more than a single match. They were completely a massive torch.
Those poisoned people lost their reason, becoming furiously frenzied. With the slightest provocation, they drew their swords and chopped wildly.
At first, the surrounding people besieged the poisoned individuals. Later it evolved into chaotic warfare, hacking at each other.
In this extreme chaos, human lives were as cheap as goose feathers. In a short time, they killed until blood flowed like a river.
Finally, it directly evolved into a three-way riot of the Tianshui City rebel troops, Coastal troops, and Black-Clad troops.
And right at this time, Sauron’s voice rang out from outside the castle.
“All Tianshui territory rebel troops, listen. You are all subjects of my Sauron clan. Only because you were bewitched by people like Nu Dan did you rebel against your superiors. As long as you open the gates and surrender, you will be safe and unharmed.”
“After surrendering, those who pass physical assessments will continue to serve as soldiers, replenishing the Tianshui City guard troops, with a monthly salary of five silver coins. Those who fail the assessment will be sent back home to farm.”
As these words came out, there was an immediate stir within the castle. All Tianshui territory rebel troops were instantly overjoyed.
They had originally thought certain death. They had never imagined that not only could they live, but they might even join the city guard troops. But they did not know whether Sauron was deceiving them, coaxing them to surrender and then killing them.
Right at this time, other voices rang out from outside, sounding somewhat familiar.
“Rebel brothers inside from Tianshui City territory, I am Li Rujun from Five-Claw Territory. Lord Sauron not only pardoned us, but also promoted me into the Tianshui City guard troops. I now have a monthly salary of three silver coins. After half a year of training, as long as I pass the assessment, I can obtain a monthly salary of five gold coins.”
“Rebel brothers, I am Zhao Tiezhu from Maple Leaf Territory. Because I was momentarily muddle-headed, I followed my lord in rebelling against my superiors. Now City Lord Sauron not only did not kill us, but let me work at the Tianshui Weapons Forge, with a monthly salary of four silver coins. In the future, for every weapon and suit of armour I forge, there will be commission.”
Similar voices were unceasing. They were all rebel troops previously left to guard Tianshui Main City.
After hearing this, someone within the castle immediately shouted, “Zhao Tiezhu is my fellow townsman. He is a blacksmith. He never lies.”
Next, more and more rebel troops heard the voices of their fellow townsmen.
At this time, within this dozen-or-so-mu Heavenly Wolf Castle, there were a full seven to eight thousand troops. Over half were Tianshui City rebel troops. Because they feared death, they had run the fastest.
The Black-Clad troops were the fiercest and bravest. Four thousand in total, in the fierce battle with Yan Yan’s army, over half had been killed or wounded. Only a little over a thousand remained.
The Coastal troops originally numbered five thousand. Over half had also been killed or wounded. A little over two thousand remained.
The desire to survive made all the Tianshui City rebel troops gather together, coalescing into one. They roared loudly, “Brothers, let us go out and surrender to City Lord Sauron. If we stay inside any longer, the Black-Clad dogs and Coastal dogs will kill us all.”
Immediately, over four thousand Tianshui City rebel troops instinctively drew together, then desperately charged towards the castle gates.
The Tianshui territory rebel troops had the weakest combat power. In the previous riot, a little over a thousand Black-Clad troops could suppress four thousand rebel troops.
But now, the desire to survive erupting from these Tianshui City rebel troops was too terrifying. The Coastal troops and Black-Clad troops actually found it somewhat difficult to resist. They could only watch helplessly as they charged to the castle gates.
Guarding behind the castle gates were over a dozen mid and high-level warriors.
Seeing the Tianshui territory rebel troops charging over, they immediately shouted sternly, “What are you doing? Fall back!”
But in the next second, several hundred to over a thousand rebel troops surged up like a tidal wave, instantly drowning the over a dozen mid and high-level warriors.
In a frenzy of chaotic hacking and killing, the over a dozen gate-guarding mid and high-level warriors were actually chopped into minced meat alive.
Then several people could not wait to pull out the bars and push open the castle gates, surging out like a tidal wave.
“City Lord, we surrender, we surrender…”
A quarter of an hour later, over four thousand rebel troops were all disarmed, squatting in the parade ground.
And at this time, thick smoke billowed from within the castle, pouring out from windows and openings.
Sauron was taken aback. What did this mean? How was the castle on fire?
Immediately, one of the recently surrendered rebel troops raised his hand and said, “Lord City Lord, when we came out from the castle, we lit the underground storehouse on fire, burning the grain inside. We… we just wanted to earn a merit.”
Sauron could not help but be taken aback. These rebel troops truly deserved to be second-line troops. They were certainly insufficient to accomplish anything, but absolutely more than sufficient to ruin things.
“Someone come, reward this man ten gold coins. Everyone who participated in burning the grain, reward each with three gold coins.”
As these words came out, this rebel troop petty officer nearly fainted from happiness.
…
At dusk, Yan Naier led over a hundred warriors, escorting the prisoners Ning Zhi, Tu Lingduo, Gui Qinqu and others to the front of the castle.
“Black-Clad troops, Coastal troops, your masters have already been captured. The grain and fodder inside have also all been burned. Come out and surrender immediately.” Tu An roared loudly.
Immediately, many pairs of eyes poked out from within the castle. They personally witnessed the high and mighty Princess Ning Zhi, plus young master Gui Qinqu, all reduced to Sauron’s prisoners.
The officers of the Black-Clad troops and Coastal troops exchanged glances and let out long sighs.
Resistance no longer held any meaning. Surrender!
A quarter of an hour later, a little over a thousand Black-Clad troops and over two thousand Coastal troops threw down their weapons, heads in hands, and walked out of the castle, formally surrendering to Sauron.
Thus, the Tianshui City great battle that had lasted over ten days came to an end. Sauron achieved a great victory!
…
That night, the Heavenly Wolf Pass sank into an ocean of joy, celebrating this tremendous victory.
At midnight, Sauron, slightly tipsy from drinking, carrying a wine bottle, entered a room within the castle.
Tu Lingduo’s meridians were sealed, her four limbs tied to a large bed, forming a very unseemly spread-eagle shape.
Seeing Sauron enter, Tu Lingduo’s face went pale.
Sauron stepped forward, pinched her cheek and said, “Tu Lingduo, you never imagined there would be a day like today, did you?”
Tu Lingduo said coldly, “Sauron, what do you want to do?”
Sauron smiled and said, “Retribution comes swiftly. Two months ago, you tortured me until I could not live or die. Now it is your turn!”
Immediately, Tu Lingduo’s face changed colour in alarm!