“Hmph…” Suddenly, a cold snort came from the side. It was Silver Wolf Yan Yan.
Suo Lun’s hair immediately stood on end, for in his excitement at seeing Li Ren, he had forgotten this matter entirely. His father-in-law was right there beside him, and he had been about to forcefully kiss another woman. This was simply courting death.
Moreover, this father-in-law had never particularly liked him, always looking at him with displeasure. He would rather hole up at Tian Wolf Pass all year round than return to Tianshui City, simply because he did not wish to see Suo Lun.
Instantly, Suo Lun stepped forward and bowed respectfully, saying, “Your son-in-law pays respects to his father-in-law.”
Yan Yan glanced at him coldly, then knelt on one knee and said, “Yan Yan pays respects to my lord.”
Suo Lun hurriedly stepped forward to help him up. How could he dare receive such a grand gesture from his father-in-law?
After rising, Yan Yan simply gazed at Suo Lun, staring until Suo Lun grew hair all over, and asked timidly, “Father-in-law, what is it?”
Yan Yan sighed deeply, stepped forward, and patted his shoulder, saying, “It is good that you have returned.”
These words warmed Suo Lun’s heart.
This cold-faced father-in-law, Yan Yan, had a cold face but a warm heart. Initially, he had remained in Tianshui City because of his daughter, but over time, affection had grown, and he had come to regard Suo Lun as half a son.
When news of Suo Lun’s death had faintly circulated previously, he too had harboured the resolve to die in burial for the Suo clan.
Now that Suo Lun had actually returned alive, he was naturally happy at heart.
As for Suo Lun’s unclear relationship with the A Shi Li Ren before him, Yan Yan mostly felt only complicated emotions.
Because this A Shi Li Ren before him was simply too beautiful, so beautiful that one could not look directly at her. Yan Yan even felt that there was probably no one more beautiful in the entire world.
Moreover, whether in martial arts or in status, this woman surpassed Suo Lun. Yet when the Suo clan faced annihilation, she still led troops to their aid, never abandoning them. Even Yan Yan admired such devotion.
But admiration was admiration. His son-in-law was so fickle, suddenly having so many women, each one more outstanding and more beautiful than the last. Do not expect Yan Yan to show him a pleasant face for this.
“You may discuss matters with City Lord A Shi. I shall take my leave.” Yan Yan said.
“Yes.” Suo Lun said respectfully, “Father-in-law, please assemble all cavalry from Tian Wolf Pass and the Savage Gorge. We shall immediately head north and attack Linhai City.”
Yan Yan was first taken aback, then his eyes suddenly brightened. He bowed and said, “Yes, my lord.”
After Yan Yan departed, Suo Lun let out a long sigh of relief, then wiped the sweat from his neck.
“Pfft…” A Shi Li Ren could not help but laugh, her devastatingly beautiful face blooming like a hundred flowers.
Suo Lun’s forced kiss had been interrupted, and he suddenly found it somewhat difficult to continue.
“Why have you come?” Suo Lun asked softly.
A Shi Li Ren said, “I said I would stand behind you, and I shall not change.”
Suo Lun said, “Did you hear the news of my death?”
A Shi Li Ren said, “I heard it, but for some reason, I was not particularly saddened.”
At these words, Suo Lun’s face immediately fell.
Li Ren said, “Perhaps I was preserving a shred of hope for myself. Without seeing your corpse with my own eyes, I would not believe you could die. After all, pests live for a thousand years.”
“Li Ren, your little mouth has grown quite sharp.” Suo Lun said, “Let me have a taste.”
A Shi Li Ren raised her head. Her crystal clear, devastatingly beautiful little mouth was filled with infinite temptation.
But her beautiful eyes were cold, glancing faintly at Suo Lun. The meaning was very clear: if you have the guts, come and try. She would beat him half to death in minutes if she said she would.
Previously, A Shi Li Ren had said that she would absolutely not let Suo Lun touch even half a finger.
Suo Lun risked his life to step forward and lightly kissed her little mouth.
Instantly, it was cool and sweet.
“Very well, hit me.” Suo Lun thrust his face forward.
“Slap…” Li Ren truly gave him a light slap.
Her snow-white, jade-like face flushed with crimson. She then turned away, gazing at the densely packed cavalry camp below the city walls.
Given the gravity of the situation, only she and A Shi Yuanba had entered Tian Wolf Pass city. The remaining twenty thousand cavalry were camped outside.
“Sigh…” She sighed softly.
“What is it?” Suo Lun asked gently.
A Shi Li Ren said, “Had I not led troops to your aid, you would never have taken the initiative to kiss me.”
Suo Lun was immediately taken aback.
A Shi Li Ren said, “You previously stirred my emotions to make me pledge loyalty to Zhiyan. Spanking my bottom was the final blow that pierced my defences. But after achieving your goal, you became all proper and serious, never taking the initiative to flirt with me again, even beginning to distance yourself from me. Do not think I do not know. I am straightforward, but not foolish.”
“That is not…” Suo Lun said, “You are so beautiful, your martial arts so high, that I drool with desire, yet feel myself unworthy and vulgar in comparison.”
“Pah…” A Shi Li Ren said coldly, “How am I to believe that a man who has sworn in his heart to overthrow the Shenlong Temple would feel unworthy and vulgar before a woman?”
Suo Lun gazed upon Li Ren’s devastatingly beautiful face, and for a moment could not speak.
“Where is Yuanba?” Suo Lun asked.
“Asleep after the long journey.” Li Ren said.
Suo Lun said, “In a moment, I shall take him back on the griffin. You and Lord Yan Yan will lead the twenty-five thousand cavalry northward. I shall wait for you in Tianshui City. After we rendezvous, we shall complete resupply in the shortest time, then directly charge into Linhai City and destroy the Gui clan.”
“Very well.” Li Ren said, “I shall immediately go assemble the great army.”
Then, A Shi Li Ren walked towards the bottom of the city walls.
Suddenly, she turned her head and said, “Suo Lun, I do not mind sharing a man with other women, nor do I care for worldly rituals. But before you truly love me, do not truly come to provoke me.”
Suo Lun’s heart trembled.
Li Ren was an extremely pure and transcendent person. She did not mind worldly opinions, nor did she care for status and such.
But her demands upon emotion were extremely high, tolerating not the slightest flaw or falseness.
Suo Lun entered the room. A Shi Yuanba was sleeping soundly.
That A Shi Li Ren would lead troops to their aid, Suo Lun did not find strange. She was precisely this kind of person with a strong personality and clear distinctions, her love and hate extremely defined. But he had not expected her to bring Yuanba along.
Suo Lun stepped forward and gently pinched the little rascal’s face.
Yuanba quickly awoke. Upon opening his eyes and seeing Suo Lun, he was first disbelieving, then overjoyed. He directly lunged forward and shouted, “Teacher!”
Had it been a girl, Suo Lun would have directly lifted her into his arms. But he was a boy, destined to become a city lord in future, so Suo Lun simply stood there looking at him.
“Come, Teacher shall take you home, riding a griffin home.” Suo Lun said.
“Truly?” A Shi Yuanba was incomparably excited, then said, “Has Qin Qin come?”
Suo Lun said, “What? Missing your little wife? She is waiting for you at home.”
Yuanba quickly dressed, then washed up independently.
Suo Lun asked, “When your mother led troops to aid Tianshui City, did she encounter great resistance?”
“Very great.” A Shi Yuanba said, “Almost everyone opposed it, including Grandmother.”
Suo Lun said, “Then how did your mother suppress these opponents?”
A Shi Yuanba said, “She did nothing at all. She merely ordered two ten-thousand-strong cavalry units to follow her. If the cavalry would not follow, she would bring only me, just mother and son coming to aid Tianshui City. Thus, these twenty thousand cavalry had no choice but to follow along.”
Suo Lun could now understand the feelings of the Rou Ran City generals. Towards City Lord A Shi Li Ren, they felt both respect and love, yet also headaches.
In that battle at Helan Pass, A Shi Li Ren had not spoken a single word, had not commanded a single battle. She had merely led from the front, and had already won all their hearts. For such a devastatingly beautiful city lord, any man would feel both respect and love.
But she possessed almost no political craft, going completely straight and direct. This gave the Rou Ran City generals endless headaches.
But fortunately, Young Lord A Shi Yuanba would soon grow up. This was a little wolf who was both formidable and kind, both cunning and domineering. He would absolutely become a generation of heroic rulers.
But it was Li Ren’s way that was most worthy of respect.
…
“Wow…” Upon the griffin’s back, A Shi Yuanba sat before Suo Lun, looking down upon the entire earth, and immediately shouted with excitement.
On the ground below, A Shi Li Ren and Yan Yan led twenty-five thousand cavalry away from Tian Wolf Pass, surging northward towards Tianshui City in grand array.
Twenty-five thousand infantry might not present an astonishing momentum, but twenty-five thousand cavalry were boundless and magnificent. Moreover, each man had two horses.
Viewed from above, they were like a black tide, completely boundless to the eye, surpassing the formation of over one hundred thousand infantry.
A Shi Yuanba, stimulated by this magnificent scene, felt his blood boil with excitement, and said, “Teacher, what is your life’s ideal?”
Suo Lun said, “To remove the great mountain of the Shenlong Temple that looms over hundreds of millions of common people, and to liberate all human kingdoms.”
A Shi Yuanba listened excitedly and said, “Then when I grow up, I shall forever follow in Teacher’s footsteps, and together with you complete this great cause.”
“Very well, it is a promise.” Suo Lun said, “We shall fight side by side, father-in-law and son-in-law.”
Yuanba said, “It could also be father and son fighting side by side.”
Suo Lun immediately chuckled, unable to explain clearly for a moment.
In Yuanba’s heart, though he would marry Qin Qin in future, he also wanted Suo Lun to become his father, not merely his father-in-law.
…
The East Sea of the continent!
Gui Xingfu’s forty thousand navy, covering the sky and blocking out the sun, surged southward in grand array, a hundred boats competing in the current.
Queen Yan Chuo’er, riding a griffin, arrived at the Tianshui City coast and landed upon that not particularly large flagship.
“North to Chaos Stone Island, advance!”
With her command, the Suo clan fleet of a hundred warships, plus several dozen supply ships, formed a dagger formation and headed north towards Chaos Stone Island.
Chaos Stone Island was merely over two hundred li from Linhai City waters.
Three hours later, the Suo clan fleet led by Queen Yan Chuo’er had arrived at Chaos Stone Island.
Then, converting naval forces to land forces, over ten thousand soldiers landed upon Chaos Stone Island.
Countless fire oil bombs and over a hundred medium-to-large trebuchets were also transported onto the island.
Fortunately, over the past year and more, Chaos Stone Island had received ample construction, with roads wide and flat.
Astronomical numbers of arrows, giant crossbows, and tens of thousands of fire oil bombs were transported into Chaos Stone Island castle.
At this moment, there were still about thirteen hours before Gui Xingfu’s fleet would attack Chaos Stone Island.
They must make full use of these thirteen hours to arm Chaos Stone Island castle to the teeth, and literally knock out several of Gui Xingfu’s forty thousand strong army’s teeth.
…
Five hours later!
The twenty-five thousand cavalry led by A Shi Li Ren and Yan Yan entered Tianshui Main City.
After simple rest and resupply of provisions, they allowed horses and soldiers to rest for four hours.
After daybreak, they would immediately head north and advance upon Linhai City.
Within the city lord’s manor, Li Ren sat in quiet meditation, while Yuanba slept.
Qin Qin was overjoyed at A Shi Yuanba’s arrival. Originally, she was innocent and knew nothing, but Fu Yan’er kept calling her little wife, saying she would marry Yuanba in future, which made Qin Qin shy and unwilling to play with Yuanba.
At this moment, the Tianshui City Lord’s Manor was peaceful and harmonious.
This was the final peace before the great battle.
For the coming days and nights, there would be continuous great battles.
From Chaos Stone Island, to Linhai City, and even the Wind Thunder Fortress defence line to the west.
Across these several hundred li of land, both sides would have one hundred thousand troops, fighting across two or three battlefields.
This great battle would not only determine the survival of the Suo clan, but also the future fate of the Nu Lang Kingdom.
During the day, Gui Qinshao had unceremoniously selected the finest room in the city lord’s manor, and imperiously ordered the maidservants to prepare the finest utensils and bedding for her.
Moreover, towards anyone, she put on the airs of a proud peacock, aloof and indifferent.
Her manner greatly displeased Fu Yan’er. Why should Gui Qinshao act so high and mighty the moment she arrived? Fu Yan’er could not help but mock her sarcastically.
Do not be fooled by Gui Qinshao’s pride and fierceness. Her verbal skills were no match for Fu Yan’er’s, and she was so angry she trembled all over.
Thus, she would not even eat, hiding in her room and throwing a tantrum.
Suo Lun, however, could understand Gui Qinshao’s behaviour. She was now without anyone to rely upon, and what she lacked most was a sense of security. Therefore, she wished to use this proud and overbearing posture to maintain her dignity, and also to test Suo Lun’s attitude towards her.
This was like a little bird that had lost its parents, facing an unknown environment and unknown people, afraid in its heart, yet putting on a puffed-up appearance to frighten others.
When Suo Lun entered, she was curled up in anger.
“Hmph, your elder sister treats me poorly. The entire city lord’s manor does not welcome me.” Gui Qinshao said unhappily, “They are all deliberately isolating me, and Fu Yan’er even cursed at me.”
Suo Lun patted her bottom and said, “You are so fierce, all puffed up like this. Who dares approach you?”
“Then in future, will you protect me and cherish me?” Gui Qinshao asked with a sob in her voice.
“I will!” Suo Lun said.
Then, Gui Qinshao turned over, embraced Suo Lun, and wept softly in his arms.
In Zhili’s dungeon, she had not cried even when tortured so cruelly by Jian Liu. Yet tonight, after encountering a few soft rebuffs at Suo Lun’s home, she felt utterly wronged.
Suo Lun gently stroked her neck and asked, “Does your hand still hurt? Do your feet still hurt?”
“They hurt…” Gui Qinshao said coquettishly while weeping, “Fu Yan’er keeps mocking me, saying I am putting on airs. I truly hurt to death.”
Suo Lun gently rubbed her jade-like hand, carefully examining her fingernails. From afar, there seemed nothing wrong, but up close, the nail beds were filled with traces of blood from golden needle insertions, a shocking sight.
It was truly impossible to imagine how Gui Qinshao had endured it at the time.
“I am about to lead troops to attack Linhai City. Will you blame me?” Suo Lun asked.
“You are going to attack Linhai City?” Gui Qinshao’s beautiful eyes lit up. She abruptly sat up, then raised her voice and said, “Wonderful, wonderful! I knew you loved me, that you would avenge me.”
Suo Lun was taken aback, speechless, and said, “It is not entirely to avenge you.”
“No, you are attacking Linhai City precisely to avenge me.” Gui Qinshao said decisively, then pressed her alluring little mouth to Suo Lun’s lips, saying, “You must show no mercy, whether towards Gui Xingfu, or Gui Qinbi, or Ling Ao. Show no mercy. I now have only two relatives left, one is Mother, and one is you.”
Suo Lun said, “In future, when I capture Linhai City and make you City Lord of Linhai, will you do it?”
“I will do it!” Gui Qinshao said, “After I become City Lord of Linhai, I shall immediately stand on your side and wage war against that beast Zhili.”
Then, Gui Qinshao raised her beautiful eyes and said, “After I become City Lord of Linhai, you will not force me to marry someone else for political alliance, will you? I absolutely will not.”
“I will not.” Suo Lun shook his head.
Gui Qinshao said, “You must not sell me off for profit. If that truly happened, I would have no path left to live.”
Her father Gui Xingfu and Ling Ao’s betrayal had truly caused her entire world to collapse. To her life and thoughts, Suo Lun was truly like a lifeline.
A girl like her would never wish to be independent and self-reliant. She only wanted someone to love her and protect her.
With Gui Xingfu destroyed in her heart, Suo Lun became her sole pillar.
“Foolish words.” Suo Lun said.
“Then hold me as I sleep. After daybreak, you shall charge into Linhai City and avenge me.” Gui Qinshao said.
“Very well.” Suo Lun said.
Then, Gui Qinshao curled up in Suo Lun’s embrace, closed her beautiful eyes, and slept.
“Also, rescue my mother.” Gui Qinshao said with closed eyes.
“Very well.” Suo Lun said.
“Suo Lun, I love you. Do not abandon me. I truly will die.” Gui Qinshao murmured, then fell into a deep sleep.
…
Early the next morning!
Suo Lun, A Shi Li Ren, and Yan Yan mounted their war horses.
“Mount!”
With Suo Lun’s command, twenty-five thousand cavalry mounted in unison.
“Advance, flatten Linhai City!”
Instantly, twenty-five thousand cavalry surged forth like a tide, in grand array, rushing turbulently towards Linhai City.