Ling Ao stared at the sword in his chest, completely stunned.
He had not expected that Gui Qinshao would actually thrust it in like this, and by a full two or three inches deep.
Fortunately, it had not pierced his heart, or he would have died on the spot.
And in the instant she thrust it in, Ling Ao’s near-instinctive warrior’s reflex nearly made him strike out with a palm.
However, this was the woman he loved most dearly, the woman he was to protect for a lifetime. He hurriedly withdrew his dragon power, simply staring at Gui Qinshao in complete disbelief.
Then, he truly stared at Gui Qinshao in complete disbelief.
This was the girl he had grown up with for over a decade. She had actually thrust the sword in so cleanly and decisively, without the slightest hesitation, so utterly ruthless.
And the Gui Qinshao before him seemed even more stunned.
First she stared blankly at the wound in Ling Ao’s chest, then looked at her own hand, also somewhat unable to believe she had actually thrust it in.
“Ahh…”
Immediately after, she let out a cry of alarm and hurriedly released her grip.
“Why… why?” Ling Ao asked.
Gui Qinshao said, “Last night, when Suo Lun bullied me, why did you not come out to help me?”
These words were clearly her being unreasonable.
But for some reason, Ling Ao felt much more comfortable hearing them.
Then, Gui Qinshao added, “And you were not like this before. The way you walked over just now, you became as evil as Suo Lun. And I had not slept all night. In my panic and confusion, I mistook you for him, so of course I thrust my sword at you.”
Such words were absolutely not to be believed, but they were precisely the words Ling Ao most wished to hear in his heart.
Seeing that Ling Ao’s momentum seemed to be intimidated by her, Gui Qinshao pressed her advantage without mercy, saying, “Tell me, last night when Suo Lun humiliated me, why did you not appear? And when Zhiyan hit me, why did you not appear?”
She was this kind of person. Even when she did wrong, she would be self-righteous and forceful. Without reason, she would still twist words and use her position to oppress others.
“Rest assured, Suo Lun is already as good as dead.” Ling Ao said, then suddenly not daring to pull out the golden short sword either, his desire naturally completely vanishing.
“Save it. I have lost count of how many times you have said that.” Gui Qinshao sneered, “In the end, Suo Lun lives more and more freely, more and more arrogantly. Now he is actually going to become the king’s Imperial Son-in-Law. I see it clearly now. You only have skill with your mouth. You simply cannot compare to Suo Lun.”
Gui Qinshao truly could not hold back and spoke the words from her heart.
These words struck the most sensitive point in Ling Ao’s heart. He directly raged, “You ignorant, stupid woman. What can Suo Lun do besides playing with women? His political wisdom is extremely stupid. Do you think Princess Zhiyan truly likes him? She is merely using him. Moreover, he will not live past two months.”
“Bullshit…” Gui Qinshao sneered, “The first time, you all said he would not survive the Royal Academy graduation examination. In the end, he took first place. The second time, you all said he would not survive half a year, that he would certainly die in the Tianshui City great battle. In the end, he won with fewer troops against greater numbers. What can you all do besides boasting? You simply cannot compare to Suo Lun. I knew earlier that my father should not have broken off the engagement.”
The moment these words were spoken, Ling Ao was instantly furious to the extreme, no longer able to suppress the rage in his heart. He directly delivered a slap across her face.
“Pa…”
Thus, Gui Qinshao was struck once more.
The side of her face that had been slapped by Zhiyan had not yet subsided, and now she was slapped by Ling Ao as well.
“You, you actually dare hit me?” Gui Qinshao covered her face, completely unable to believe it.
Ling Ao was also stunned by his own actions, looking at his right hand, then saying, “You should not have provoked me.”
Gui Qinshao screamed, “So what if I said you are not as good as Suo Lun? If you have the ability, go kill Suo Lun right now. Go right now.”
Seeing her hysterical appearance, Ling Ao felt somewhat afraid. For the first time, his voice became gentle, saying, “Xiao Qin, I know you hate Suo Lun. I guarantee that this time he is truly certain to die. Our four families, over five hundred warships, over one hundred thousand troops, fully a dozen times Suo Lun’s strength. He is dead. I guarantee that this time he is truly dead. The debt of him humiliating you, I shall certainly avenge for you.”
After speaking, he directly pulled out the broken sword, ignoring the surging blood, and attempted to embrace Gui Qinshao.
“Get away. You actually dared hit me. I am going to tell Father. He will not let you off.” Gui Qinshao said loudly, then directly pushed Ling Ao aside, wearing her nightgown and barefoot, running outside.
Gui Xingfu had just lain down to sleep when he was soon awakened by a burst of footsteps. Then the door was violently pushed open.
He only saw his daughter Gui Qinshao, her face covered in tears, her bare feet rushing directly into his embrace, crying loudly, “Father, Ling Ao hit me. He actually dared hit me.”
Gui Xingfu saw upon his daughter’s face that there was indeed a clear palm print. His face twitched.
“Good daughter, what happened? Tell Father. I shall certainly stand up for you and not let him off.” Gui Xingfu said.
And at this moment, Ling Ao also hurriedly followed in, still bare-chested, already covered in blood.
Gui Xingfu’s gaze fell upon the wound in Ling Ao’s chest, his eyes turning cold as he said, “What happened?”
Ling Ao said, “It is nothing. Xiao Qin was careless. I… I just now could not hold back my temper and slapped her. Please forgive me, Father-in-law.”
Gui Xingfu’s gaze fixed coldly upon his daughter, saying, “Qinshao, you stabbed Ling Ao with a sword?”
“I did not mean to…” Gui Qinshao said, “He actually dared hit me…”
“Pa…” Gui Xingfu delivered a slap.
A crisp sound rang out.
Both people present were completely stunned.
Gui Xingfu had not hit Ling Ao, but Gui Qinshao. And he had hit the other side of her face.
Now, both sides of her incomparably beautiful face were swollen from being struck.
Gui Qinshao was truly as if struck by lightning. Her mind went completely blank in an instant, her eyes nearly losing all focus.
It was as if her entire world had collapsed.
Even Ling Ao was completely stunned. He fully knew how much his father-in-law doted upon his fiancée.
The reason Gui Qinshao was so arrogant and domineering was entirely due to her father’s indulgence.
And the one she loved most was also her father Gui Xingfu. She practically regarded her father as heaven and earth itself.
And from childhood to adulthood, Gui Xingfu’s treatment of her could not even be described as spoiling. Let alone hitting her, he had never even spoken a single harsh word.
No matter how arrogant and unreasonable she was, her father would always tolerate and protect her.
No matter how great a disaster she caused, Gui Xingfu had never uttered a single word of blame.
The last time, she had incited her elder brother Gui Qinzhong to lead the naval troops to attack Chaos Stone Island, resulting in the total annihilation of several thousand Gui naval troops.
This was completely a heaven-shaking disaster. Her brother Gui Qinzhong had received an unprecedented punishment, not only being relieved of his position but also being beaten to the brink of death by three hundred lashes, his flesh a bloody blur.
But she, the instigator, had not only received no punishment whatsoever, but had instead been cared for in every way by her father.
And now, her father had actually struck her. He had struck her for Ling Ao’s sake.
Instantly, Gui Qinshao truly felt as if the entire world had collapsed and changed colour.
“Ahh…” She directly screamed and rushed out.
Ling Ao also hurriedly tried to rush out after her.
“Do not go. She will not run far.” Gui Xingfu said, “How is your injury?”
“I am fine…” Ling Ao said with difficulty, feeling as if something were blocking his heart. That fiery emotion of being moved filled his entire being.
His father-in-law had struck his most beloved daughter for his sake.
Between Gui Qinshao and himself, he had actually sided with him. How could Ling Ao not be moved.
“Do you know, Suo Long’s regard for Suo Hanyi actually completely surpassed Suo Lun.” Gui Xingfu said.
“Your son… knows.” Ling Ao’s voice grew hoarse.
Gui Xingfu said, “However, Suo Hanyi is a fool. Do you know where his foolishness lies?”
Ling Ao said, “He had the heart of a wolf and the lungs of a dog, betraying the Suo clan.”
Gui Xingfu said, “No, that is merely the result. His foolishness lay in his inferiority complex. Although he kept telling himself that he was the Suo clan’s pillar supporting the heavens, in truth he always regarded himself as the Suo clan’s servant. He was not proud enough, not confident enough. That is the root of his tragedy.”
Ling Ao thought for a while, then nodded, “Yes, I understand.”
Gui Xingfu said, “Xiao Ao, so do not let anyone diminish your confidence and pride. Not even your beloved Xiao Shao, or even His Highness Zhili.”
The moment these words were spoken, Ling Ao could not help but be taken aback.
Gui Xingfu continued, “What do you think of your elder brother Gui Qinbi?”
Ling Ao said, “Extremely outstanding, a talent of the highest order.”
Gui Xingfu said, “However, in the future he will at most be only the Lord of Linhai City. And my regard and expectations for you far exceed him.”
The moment these words were spoken, Ling Ao was completely stunned.
Gui Qinbi was Gui Xingfu’s true legitimate son and heir. His own weight actually exceeded that?
Gui Xingfu said, “Suo Long valued Suo Hanyi in order to have him assist Suo Lun. And I am to have Gui Qinbi assist you, to help you.”
These words completely exceeded Ling Ao’s range of understanding.
“It does not matter if you do not understand now. But you must remember, as your father I have poured the most effort into you. Everything I do is for you.” Gui Xingfu said.
Ling Ao said no more, but directly knelt down, tears sliding down his face.
…
Gui Qinshao was like a headless fly, not knowing where to rush. She had originally rushed to Duchess Turing’s room to cry and complain.
But she did not like the Duchess of Turing.
So, returning to her own room, she directly threw herself onto ** and wailed loudly.
Yet this time, no one came to coax her. Her father Gui Xingfu did not come, and Ling Ao did not come either.
She cried and cried, and directly fell asleep.
When she awoke again, it was already afternoon.
When she awoke again, still no one came to show concern for her. Not even anyone to bring her food.
Her heart was ice cold, even filled with resentment towards the entire world.
At this time, a knocking sound came from outside, followed by Turing Duo’s voice, “Gui Qinshao, your father asked me to accompany you out to clear your mind.”
Gui Qinshao had originally wanted to shout “scram.”
But now, Turing Duo seemed even more miserable than her. She was about to marry that ugly and short Tuli Yang.
When you are miserable, if there is someone beside you who is even more miserable than you, it should make you feel somewhat better, should it not?
“Wait a moment…” Gui Qinshao said.
Then, she called her maidservant to prepare bath water, to bathe and change clothes.
Most importantly, she had to conceal the marks of the slaps on her face.
Then, inexplicably, she recalled a sentence Suo Lun had whispered in her ear yesterday.
“Come to the Flower Rain Pavilion for a secret rendezvous with me. If you do not come, the consequences are yours to bear.”
And at this moment, her heart was filled with hatred and desire for revenge. Instantly, a demon hidden within her heart stirred restlessly.
…
On the sea surface, when that Rock People pirate leader saw Suo Ningbing, his eyes instantly blazed brightly. The muscles across his entire body suddenly tensed, and he even held his breath.
His pupils continuously contracted, contracted, and then his gaze remained fixed upon Suo Ningbing’s face.
As the leader, his attire was no different from the others. In such cold weather, he was also barefoot, bare-chested above, wearing only a pair of water leggings below, his hair loose and dishevelled. Only the platinum battle sabre in his hand indicated his status.
He was wilder than Suo Lun. His vigorous, tall and straight figure was good enough to make any woman drool.
Every inch of muscle on his body was bronze-coloured, as if cast from steel. Strong yet not the least bit bulky, but very vigorous and slender.
Just these abdominal muscles, just this Adonis belt, completely put any male model on Earth to shame.
Suo Lun was poison to women, and this pirate leader before her was undoubtedly the same.
“Woman, come to my ship to negotiate.” The pirate leader pointed at Suo Ningbing and said, “Otherwise, I shall kill your people cleanly.”
Immediately after, his hand abruptly rose.
Instantly, several thousand pirates raised powerful crossbows, iron hooks, and all manner of sea weapons.
The Suo naval troops were mostly made up of the remnants of Duke Zhiting’s naval forces, with half being fresh converts from land armies who were practically still landlubbers.
So, with a single order from this pirate leader, he could quickly slaughter the thousand Suo naval troops clean.
Suo Ningbing only came back to herself after quite a while. The gaze she directed at the pirate leader was also filled with gentleness.
“Very well, I shall come over and negotiate with you.” Suo Ningbing said.
“I shall go with you.” Suo Mu and the others said. Although he had guessed the other’s identity, he was still not at ease.
“There is no need.” Suo Ningbing said softly, “He will not harm me.”
Then, the other side sent over a small boat to ferry Suo Ningbing to the pirate flagship.
That pirate leader walked several circles around Suo Ningbing, then said in an almost intoxicated tone, “I have lived twenty-eight years and slept with who knows how many women. Yet not a single woman has been able to make me linger for two nights.”
“This time, this time I came to plunder, and somehow I felt it was the will of the Sea God.”
“Truly, I have found the fairy of my dreams, found my companion to share the grave in death, found my moon, found my stars.”
Then, this incomparably handsome, rakish pirate leader knelt on one knee and said, “I care not whose wife you are, whose daughter you are, or even which child’s mother you are. From today onward, you belong to me. I shall marry you and make you my sea woman for life.”
The moment these words were spoken, Suo Ningbing was truly at a loss whether to laugh or cry. As expected, he was Suo Lun’s elder half-brother by the same father. This nature of attracting women was almost exactly the same.