Turingduo’s importance was even greater than Gui Qinqu’s.
Therefore, Weining decided that the moment Turingduo was rescued, she would immediately order the hundred thousand strong army to enter Tianshui City and annihilate the Suo clan.
However, this time Gui Qinqu’s mission did not go smoothly. He did not even see Lord Suo Lun, but merely received an audience with Suo Ningbing.
“You lot have shown no sincerity whatsoever,” Suo Ningbing said. “The moment we release Turingduo will be the moment my Tianshui City is destroyed.”
Gui Qinqu said, “Miss Suo, you have no other choice. If you wish to obtain Princess Weining’s and Count Wey’s forgiveness, you must first release Miss Turingduo.”
“Absolutely impossible,” Suo Ningbing said. “In fact, we could even detain you once more.”
Gui Qinqu’s expression changed, saying, “I can tell you this. Four hours from now, if Miss Turingduo and I do not appear before Princess Weining, Count Wey’s hundred thousand strong army will immediately enter Tianshui City’s territory and destroy everything.”
Suo Ningbing said, “Then we shall execute you and Turingduo in public before the battle lines before war commences. Even if my Suo clan is annihilated, we shall drag two people of sufficient importance down with us.”
Immediately, the situation fell into a stalemate.
As the person involved, having only just escaped from Tianshui City, he certainly did not wish to become a prisoner once again.
After a pause, Gui Qinqu said, “Since that is the case, what are Lord Suo Lun’s and Miss Ningbing’s requirements?”
Suo Ningbing said, “We can release Turingduo, but to show sincerity, you must retreat thirty li. Because you are simply too close to Tianshui City’s territory.”
Gui Qinqu said, “Very well, I shall go back and report to Her Highness the Princess immediately.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Suo Ningbing said. “Since you have returned, there is no rush to go back. I shall send someone else to deliver a letter to Weining. You shall remain here for now. If Weining retreats thirty li, I shall release both you and Turingduo. Otherwise, the moment Weining’s army enters Tianshui City will also be the moment of your death.”
After speaking, Ye Jingyu, Suo Mu, Suo Feiyang, and a group of high-ranking warriors entered, surrounding Gui Qinqu.
“Alas…” Gui Qinqu was captured once more, hands bound.
…
Two hours later, Princess Weining in the military camp tent once again received a personal letter from Suo Lun, though this time it was delivered by a Suo clan warrior.
Weining opened the letter and read it.
This time, there were no heart-stopping love words upon it, but rather it was filled with coldness, as if expressing disappointment in his heart.
The letter contained only one meaning. Releasing Turingduo and Gui Qinqu was very simple. Retreat thirty li to show sincerity.
Otherwise, the moment Weining’s army entered Tianshui City’s territory, Suo Lun would immediately behead Gui Qinqu and Turingduo. Even in death, he would drag others down with him.
Weining was furious in her heart, about to tear the letter to shreds. Whether she was angered by the threat in the letter or provoked by Suo Lun’s icy tone, she could not tell.
Then, she almost immediately ordered the army to set out and march upon Tianshui City.
However, immediately after, she seemed to notice something unusual upon the letter. Upon closer inspection, it appeared to be a curled, shiny hair.
She did not know whether this hair belonged to Suo Lun or to herself, Weining.
Moreover, this hair seemed to be stuck on with some mysterious fluid.
“Shameless, scoundrel,” Weining cursed aloud.
Then, as if compelled by ghosts or gods, she actually placed it beneath her nose and sniffed. Indeed, it was a familiar scent.
Suppressing the amorous thoughts in her heart, Weining said, “Someone, summon Count Wey.”
A moment later, Count Wey entered the tent.
“Gui Qinqu went to Tianshui City to negotiate, but was detained,” Weining said. “Suo Lun’s letter says we must retreat thirty li to show sincerity, and then they will release Turingduo and Gui Qinqu. Otherwise, the moment our army enters Tianshui City, he will immediately behead the two of them.”
Upon hearing this, Count Wey’s eyebrows shot up, his gaze furious.
Weining said, “Uncle, what do you think we should do now? Should the army march directly into Tianshui City, or retreat thirty li to exchange for Turingduo and Gui Qinqu?”
According to Count Wey’s original intention, they should have sent troops from the very beginning to flatten Tianshui City.
But by now, going back and forth, more than ten hours had already passed. Moreover, they had once rescued Gui Qinqu. If they were to advance upon Tianshui City at this point, causing the deaths of Turingduo and Gui Qinqu, they would likely thoroughly offend the Turing and Gui families.
If they were not going to save them, they should not have started in the first place. Since they had started, they should not give up halfway.
Wey said, “Since matters have reached this point, let us first retreat thirty li to deceive Suo Lun into releasing Turingduo and Gui Qinqu and the others.”
Then, Wey said with bitter hatred, “By tomorrow at the latest, we must charge into Tianshui City and slaughter the Suo clan clean.”
Thus, Count Wey ordered the hundred thousand strong army to retreat thirty li.
…
Within the royal palace of the capital.
Suo Lun was completely racing against time. He had to revive the King as quickly as possible, then return to Tianshui City with the King’s decree to force Wey to withdraw his troops.
Wey’s hundred thousand strong army could enter Tianshui City at any moment.
How long could Weining’s infatuation with him delay the troops? It was completely unknown.
Demon Star continued to exert its power, truly like drawing out silk thread by thread, bit by bit forcing the accumulated blood from within King Bian’s skull, bit by bit releasing the damage and compression upon the brain.
One minute, two minutes, three minutes…
A quarter hour, two quarter hours, three quarter hours…
Demon Star was very powerful, but it also had to be extremely, extremely careful. While draining the accumulated blood from the brain, it also had to be careful not to damage the fragile brain.
It also had to perform certain repairs upon obvious blood vessel ruptures. It had to carry out certain recovery and stimulation of damaged nerves.
An hour and a half passed…
From the King’s brain, more than half a bowl of accumulated blood had flowed out.
Suddenly…
King Bian’s eyes turned, and a pained sound emerged from his throat.
Suo Lun let out a long sigh of relief. He had finally brought the King back.
“Your Majesty, please do not worry. Wait for me to completely drain all the accumulated blood from your brain,” Suo Lun said.
After nearly another hour.
Finally, Demon Star had completely and cleanly drained all the accumulated blood from King Bian’s brain.
King Bian stared fixedly at Suo Lun, opening his mouth with difficulty and saying, “Suo Lun, thirty years ago your father once saved my life. And today, it is your turn to save me.”
The King’s pronunciation was somewhat slow, as if somewhat lacking in strength. But he spoke very slowly, making his pronunciation relatively clear.
In truth, there were words he had not spoken.
He could not believe how Suo Lun had accomplished this. It was nearly a divine miracle. Over the past half month, he had almost given up hope.
After the stroke, he could see and hear, but every part of his body was immobile. This feeling was more painful than being in hell.
Suo Lun let out a long sigh of relief. His finger left the back of the King’s head. He used distilled spirits to clean the wound on the back of the King’s head, then stitched it up with needle and thread.
There was still the issue of inflammation. This world had no antibiotics, but for this small wound, the medicines within the palace were more than sufficient.
“By heaven’s fortune and Your Majesty’s great fortune, Suo Lun dares not claim credit,” Suo Lun said. “Shall I ask Princess Weiyan to enter?”
The King nodded.
Suo Lun went to open the door, saying to Weiyan outside, “His Majesty asks you to enter.”
At this time, the eunuch Gao Yu guarding outside the door gave a slight twitch, his body swaying, but he still stood motionless, not asking anything.
But one could still sense the surging and wild joy within his heart from his spiritual aura.
Suo Lun’s words meant that the King had already awoken.
Princess Weiyan entered the room. Seeing that the King had awoken, her eyes lit up, her breathing instantly quickening.
But she did not display the same reaction as other girls, weeping with excitement or cheering with joy.
She merely stepped forward and grasped the King’s hand, not even speaking.
Then, her beautiful eyes turned towards Suo Lun once more, filled with infinite gratitude.
The King’s condition had even been declared beyond help by the Divine Dragon Temple’s great medical practitioner. Yet Suo Lun had actually been able to turn the tide and save the King.
He truly was miraculously capable of anything!
“Suo Lun, I shall devote everything to repay your kindness,” Weiyan looked at Suo Lun seriously, not speaking the words aloud, but her gaze conveyed this sentence.
The King smiled at Weiyan, saying, “Nannan, I’ve made you worry.”
These words gave Suo Lun a start of surprise. His Majesty the King’s address towards his daughter was actually so affectionate.
Weiyan said, “Father, how do you feel now? Has your body regained sensation?”
King Bian said, “Below the neck, the left half of my body has no sensation. But it does not matter. As King, having a clear and healthy mind is sufficient.”
Weiyan said, “Why did you suffer a stroke? Previously there were absolutely no signs.”
King Bian said, “Do not ask, and do not investigate. Treat it as if nothing happened. There are more important matters now, understand? Do not force the other side into a corner where both fish die and the net breaks. Now the enemy is strong and we are weak.”
“Yes,” Weiyan said.
King Bian turned towards Suo Lun, saying, “How fares your Tianshui City?”
Suo Lun said, “A great victory. We completely annihilated Weining’s tens of thousands of allied troops.”
“Excellent,” King Bian said with delight. “You are truly far more outstanding than I imagined. However, after my collapse, Wey’s army will certainly press close to Tianshui City. One, to test whether anything has happened to me. Two, to seize this rare opportunity to annihilate the Suo clan of Tianshui.”
Suo Lun said, “Your Majesty is wise. Wey’s hundred thousand strong army is less than two hundred li from my Tianshui City. They can enter at any time.”
The King said, “Weiyan, immediately arrange a court session and let me appear for a moment. At the same time, have Gao Yin accompany Suo Lun to Tianshui City with the fastest possible speed, carrying the Divine Dragon King’s Staff, to force Wey to withdraw his troops.”
“Yes, Father,” Weiyan said, then directly went out to arrange everything.
“Suo Lun, what do you think of Weiyan?” King Bian said.
Suo Lun’s heart suddenly leapt violently, saying, “The Princess is intelligent and refined beyond compare. I have never seen her like in my life.”
Bian said, “Then what do you think of her appearance?”
Suo Lun’s heart raced wildly, saying, “Beautiful beyond compare, unmatched in all the world.”
What did the King suddenly mean by saying this? Could he be bestowing marriage?
But Suo Lun had already promised Naier that once the mourning period was over, he would marry her.
Naier was so devoted, so wonderful. He absolutely, absolutely could not let her down again.
But if the King were to bestow marriage, what should he do? How should he refuse?