Upon hearing Sauron’s words, Tu Lingduo was completely stunned. Then she involuntarily lowered her head to look.
The dark bloodstains upon her thigh could not be faked. The burning pain emanating from deep within her body could not be faked. Even the exhaustion and soreness brought by that extreme release could not be faked.
But what did Sauron’s words mean?
Did whether or not he had defiled her even matter any longer?
“Please… get out.” Tu Lingduo said coldly.
…
Half an hour later, Tu Lingduo, her face deathly pale, wearing a noble’s gown, arrived at the City Lord’s residence.
The one who had come to receive her was none other than Tu Lingchen.
He truly was different from before. He had become stern and cold, wearing splendid brocade garments, his hair combed meticulously, bound with a golden jade crown. In short, his present attire was precisely what he had previously most detested and abhorred.
“Here are thirty thousand gold coins.” Tu Lingchen said, “This is my younger sister’s ransom.”
Then, he placed a thick stack of gold notes upon the table, not even willing to have a hand-to-hand exchange with Sauron.
“Much obliged.” Sauron accepted the thick stack of gold notes.
“Farewell.” Tu Lingchen said.
Then, he took Tu Lingduo and left the City Lord’s residence.
The Tu Ling family had dispatched a cavalry unit of over a hundred men to escort Tu Lingduo back.
Tu Lingduo and Tu Lingchen rode in a low-key carriage out of Tianshui main city.
“Did Sauron rape you?” Tu Lingchen asked directly.
Tu Lingduo was silent for a moment, then shook her head. One could not tell whether she meant no, or that she did not know.
“Elder brother, you have turned over a new leaf. Are you preparing to assume family responsibilities?” Tu Lingduo asked.
“You have already lost, so the responsibility naturally falls upon me.” Tu Lingchen said, “Our family and Sauron are already irreconcilable enemies. From now on, I shall be responsible for hanging this scoundrel Sauron.”
As Tu Lingchen spoke, he had always been calm and unperturbed. But when he spoke the name Sauron, he could not help but lose his composure, his eyes filled with resentment and killing intent.
This man had given him unprecedented humiliation.
“What about me? Am I to be abandoned by the family just like this?” Tu Lingduo said with a cold laugh.
“Of course not.” Tu Lingchen said, “However, you can no longer bear the heavy responsibility of destroying Sauron. You have another mission.”
“What mission?” Tu Lingduo asked.
“A marriage contract.” Tu Lingchen said.
Instantly, Tu Lingduo’s gaze was filled with boundless sorrow. She had striven with all her might precisely to avoid becoming a tool for her family’s marriage alliances. She wanted to be different from the other women of the Tu Ling family. She wanted to become an indispensable figure within the family.
Yet now, she still could not avoid such a fate.
“Just because I lost to Sauron, you must completely negate me?” Tu Lingduo said in grief and indignation.
Tu Lingchen said, “You were once the closest to Sauron’s death. Yet you let him go. Although you yourself are unwilling to admit it, you did indeed let him go. At that time, so long as you had wished it, his corpse would already have rotted.”
Tu Lingduo said, “I merely wanted to torture him completely before killing him. I did not want him to die so comfortably.”
“Is that so?” Tu Lingchen said, “Since you tortured him for days and nights, why was his body still completely unharmed? Did you gouge out his eyes? Cut out his tongue? Or castrate that filthy thing of his that had violated you? Nothing at all.”
Next, Tu Lingchen said coldly, “It seems you find it very difficult to forget that scene when you were eight years old. That beast, at eight years old he already knew how to have his way with women.”
The moment these words were spoken, Tu Lingduo’s expression completely changed. She said in alarm, “Who? Who told you about this matter?”
This childhood memory was a pain Tu Lingduo would never forget for her entire life. But she had told no one. So after the age of eight, she bathed herself every time, not allowing anyone to help. She had not expected her elder brother Tu Lingchen to directly expose it. Instantly, she was furious and flustered.
“Was it Sauron who told you? That beast.” Tu Lingduo hissed.
Tu Lingchen shook his head.
“Gui Qinshao?” Tu Lingduo said tremblingly, “She, how could she do this? She swore a poisonous oath to me.”
But very quickly, she gave up on investing more anger in Gui Qinshao, because it was completely meaningless.
“Is the fiance the family has chosen for me to be a live-in son-in-law, or am I to marry out?” Tu Lingduo asked.
If they were recruiting a son-in-law to live in, it represented that she still had a place within the family. If she was to marry out, it proved that she had already degenerated into a marriage tool for the family.
“Marrying out.” Tu Lingchen said.
Instantly, Tu Lingduo’s face changed, her beautiful eyes revealing complete sorrow.
“Who is that man?” Tu Lingduo asked.
Tu Lingchen said indifferently, “After returning home, you shall know.”
…
For the Tianshui City Lord’s residence, today was destined to be a lively day.
Tu Lingchen had just departed when Sauron welcomed another heavyweight guest, Yan Tingyi, the internal secretary of Linhai City. He had another identity, being the clan nephew of Prime Minister Yan Wuji.
“Here are thirty thousand gold coins. I have come to ransom Young Master Gui Qinqu, and three thousand Linhai Army captives.” Yan Tingyi said.
Sauron could not help but be taken aback. Gui Xingfu had actually given the money so readily? Sauron had originally thought he would drag it out a while longer.
Behind such readiness, was there some hidden circumstance?
What Sauron sensed was an aura of danger.
“This money, was it paid by City Lord Gui himself, or by Prince Zhi Li?” Sauron asked.
Yan Tingyi said, “That is none of City Lord Sauron’s concern.”
“Indeed, indeed…” Sauron said, “Please wait a moment, honoured envoy. I shall immediately release Young Master Gui Qinqu and the other captives. However, as for how to transport them back to Linhai City, I am powerless to help.”
Over two hours later.
Under the surveillance of Sauron’s cavalry, over three thousand captives left Tianshui main city in a mighty stream. They first took a detour to Baiyun County, then headed north to return to Linhai City.
…
Having just sent off the Linhai City envoy, Sauron prepared to inquire about the progress of the Phantom Shadow plan.
Several days prior, Sauron had already gradually sent several thousand people to that secret deserted island at night. The excavation of the underground castle had already continued for several days.
Moreover, after rescuing Sorcerer Yaomeng, he had not stopped at Tianshui main city at all. Instead, he sent her together with Ye Jingfeng to the secret deserted island.
He could not take any risks. If Ash Liren were to learn that Yaomeng was not dead and was right in Tianshui City, that would absolutely be a catastrophic disaster.
One Ash Luo was already more than enough. Adding an Ash Liren, Sauron would not need to live any longer.
Moreover, Ash Liren had enormous usefulness in Sauron’s upcoming plans.
Today, the liveliness of Tianshui City clearly was not stopping, because very quickly he welcomed a third wave of envoys.
Gao Ningshi, the trusted eunuch of Duke Zhi Ting. The moment he saw Sauron, he actually knelt down on both knees directly, saying, “Count Sauron, this old slave is here to apologise to you.”
Sauron hurriedly helped him up. This Gao Ningshi was at least sixty years old. Having him kneel would shorten one’s lifespan.
Moreover, on Chaos Stone Island that day, he had been completely acting under orders.
“Eunuch Gao, please do not shorten my life.” Sauron said, “Have you come this time at Duke Zhi Ting’s behest?”
“I come at the command of His Majesty the King.” Gao Ningshi said, “Three days from now, the Princess Residence shall be formally established. You are the Princess Residence’s greatest meritorious subject, so you must attend in person.”
This day had finally arrived.
The establishment of the Princess Residence meant that the king’s intentions were already abundantly clear.
It represented Princess Zhi Yan formally standing as an equal to Prince Zhi Li.
Previously, it was merely Sauron who had no way back. Once the Princess Residence was established, it represented that Duke Zhi Ting, Princess Zhi Yan, and even King Zhi Bian all had no way back.
The establishment of the Princess Residence also completely meant that the kingdom’s life-and-death civil war had formally begun.
The winner would become the new king.
The loser would die without a burial place. There was absolutely no middle ground.
That evening, Sauron handed over important Tianshui City affairs to Suo Ningbing, Ye Jingyu, Yan Nai’er, and others. Then, riding the lion-tiger beast that Gao Ningshi had brought, he secretly left Tianshui City under cover of night, heading towards the royal capital Zhi Du.
Yan Nai’er had originally wanted to follow Sauron to the royal capital, protecting him closely along the way.
But Sauron felt that Tianshui City needed her more. Moreover, this time Gao Ningshi had brought several dozen imperial experts to escort Sauron to the capital.
Moreover, what Sauron worried about most was Ash Luo coming to Tianshui City to forcibly seize his elder sister Suo Ningbing. So he had no choice but to request that Sword Venerable Bi Xiao temporarily reside within the City Lord’s residence.
In the moonlight, Sauron and Gao Ningshi, together with several dozen imperial experts, sped along a small path towards the direction of Zhi Du.
…
Zhi Du, within the Young Prince’s residence!
At this moment, Zhi Li seemed to have completely changed into another person. His previous carefree, unrestrained demeanour seemed to have completely vanished.
“Slap!” He delivered a fierce slap to Zhi Ning’s face, directly sending her delicate body flying.
Zhi Ning crashed heavily to the ground, then continued kneeling there, tears falling. Half her face was already swollen, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.
“You stupid woman, what do the world’s nobles think of me? What do the world’s aristocrats think of me?” Zhi Li roared.
Zhi Ning did not answer. She merely lowered her gaze to the ground, weeping continuously.
Seeing her like this, Zhi Li’s face twitched with heartache. He sighed, stepped forward, and helped her up, saying, “Before I went to the Yan Empire, I told you again and again, leave military matters to Suo Hanyi. Every profession has its speciality. Do not interfere.”
Taking a deep breath, Zhi Li said, “It is precisely because you interfered recklessly in military matters that tens of thousands of troops were utterly defeated. Not only did we lose the battle for Tianshui City, more importantly you destroyed Suo Hanyi, this invincible commander. This man’s character and moral conduct both had flaws, but his talent in military affairs was completely not inferior to Tu Lingtuo’s.”
“If we had merely lost the battle for Tianshui City, that would be nothing. I still had follow-up moves. Sauron was still certain to die.” Zhi Li raged, “Zhi Bian’s stroke and collapse, Zhi Wei’s great army pressing near, was completely the best opportunity to annihilate the Suo clan in one stroke and seize Tianshui City. Yet again it was you, repeatedly delaying the opportune moment for battle, allowing Sauron to reverse the situation once more.”
Speaking to the point of fury, Zhi Li pushed his younger sister Zhi Ning, knocking her to the ground again.
“And what you absolutely should not have done was lose your chastity to Sauron. Did you not know who you are about to marry? It is Ji Min of the Yan Empire, the heir to the world’s foremost hegemon.” Zhi Li said fiercely, “Your losing your chastity to Sauron is equivalent to creating an incomparably powerful enemy for me.”
“I was raped.” Zhi Ning shrieked.
“Is that so?” Zhi Li said, “Looking at your amorous, aroused appearance, every single hair on your body writes, I am willing!”
Zhi Ning, who never cried, could not help but wail loudly before her elder brother.
“Are you pregnant?” Zhi Li suddenly asked.
Zhi Ning shook her head desperately.
“I warn you, if you are pregnant, abort it immediately. Of course, I shall also send someone to examine you.” Zhi Li said, “Every bastard of the Suo clan should die.”
As he said this, a cold chill flashed through Zhi Li’s eyes, recalling events from several years ago.
At that time, he had only just been in his early twenties. Yet King Zhi Bian was at the height of his power. He had silently and unknowingly eliminated one of the king’s arms.
So when he once again faced Sauron, especially that night when he invited Sauron to a banquet, he had been in a mindset that was nearly playful.
That night, he had desperately tried to recruit Sauron, even saying he would give Zhi Ning to him in marriage.
Yet he had not expected that his younger sister Zhi Ning and Sauron would actually have an unspeakable illicit affair.
Looking at Zhi Ning’s swollen half-face, Zhi Li said coldly, “From today forth, you shall go to the Divine Dragon Temple to cultivate in asceticism. Do not show your face again.”
Zhi Ning said tremblingly, “You, you are making me become a nun?”
“Otherwise?” Zhi Li said coldly, “Am I to marry you, who has lost your chastity, to Ji Min?”
Zhi Ning immediately pleaded, “Brother, I do not wish to leave your side. Give me one more chance. I shall go and kill Sauron to prove it to you.”
“That will not be necessary.” Zhi Li said coldly, “Since we have already torn all pretence of cordiality, there is no need to abide by certain rules any longer. Sauron is already dead for certain tonight.”
The moment these words were spoken, Zhi Ning’s heart trembled.
“Someone come, escort the Princess to the ascetic cultivation room of the Divine Dragon Temple. Without my orders, she is not to contact anyone.” Zhi Li ordered coldly.
“Yes!” Instantly, several female warriors came forward and directly dragged Princess Zhi Ning, who had collapsed to the ground, out.
…
Eunuch Gao Ningshi and Sauron, under the protection of several dozen imperial experts, galloped all the way.
At midnight, they had already left Tianshui City by seven hundred li. This place was precisely within uninhabited mountain ranges.
A crescent moon like a blade hung in the sky, shining desolately upon the ground.
“Count Sauron, do you know what this mountain is called?” Gao Ningshi suddenly asked.
“I do not.” Sauron said.
“This place is called Heaven’s Wound Mountain. Legend has it that it was once an ancient battlefield between the Dragon Emperor and a barbarian leader.” Gao Ningshi said, “Do you see that gap in the middle of that great mountain? Legend has it that it was split open by the Dragon Emperor with a single sword.”
In the moonlight, Sauron saw that gap in the not-distant great mountain, fully several dozen metres wide and several hundred metres long.
Such an enormous gap, split open by the Dragon Emperor with a single sword. This was completely world-destroying power. He truly found it somewhat hard to believe that individual martial power could be so tyrannical.
“Hard to believe, is it not? I cannot believe it either…” Gao Ningshi’s words were not finished when his expression suddenly changed. He hissed, “Protect Count Sauron!”
“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…”
Instantly, from the darkness, silent and traceless arrows shot out like ghosts.
These arrows seemed to possess souls, completely impossible to dodge.
In an instant, several dozen imperial experts all perished.
They were Dragon Archers, fully several Dragon Archers, their arrows like the god of death.
Gao Ningshi’s martial arts were supremely powerful. He madly wielded his treasured sword, not only blocking arrows for himself, but also for Sauron.
His martial arts were indeed very strong. He actually blocked the arrows of several Dragon Archers.
“I am an envoy of the Raging Wave Kingdom. What force dares assassinate us, not fearing to make an enemy of the entire Raging Wave Kingdom?” Gao Ningshi said.
“Whoosh…” Suddenly, three figures appeared from the darkness beside them.
What terrifying concealment arts. They were the world’s topmost assassins.
Three swords, like ghostly shadows, thrust fiercely towards Gao Ningshi.
Assassins, true professional assassins. Each assassin’s cultivation exceeded the Dragon Warrior level.
Gao Ningshi desperately wielded his sword to protect Sauron. He blocked the first assassin, the second assassin.
“Thrust!”
But the third assassin’s sword directly pierced through his head, his wrinkle-free yet completely white-haired skull.
Gao Ningshi died instantly!
Thus, there was no longer a single person by Sauron’s side. Only he himself remained, merely a middle-rank warrior in cultivation.
A moment later, over a dozen assassins emerged from the darkness, surrounding Sauron.
Eight Dragon Archers, three Dragon Warrior assassins.
For Sauron alone, they had dispatched eleven experts above the Dragon Warrior level.
“The Dark Society?” Sauron asked.
“Yes.” The lead assassin said, “Someone has offered an astronomical price for your life.”
The world’s four great mysterious forces nearly controlled half the world in secret.
Hidden Continent, Secret Continent, Demon Continent, Dark Society.
Dark Society assassins, peerless in the world. Once they struck, they never missed.
Finally, Sauron had met someone from the Dark Society.
Truly a grand gesture. To kill him alone, they had dispatched eleven experts above the Dragon Warrior level.
“I must take your head to complete my mission. My apologies.” The lead Dragon Warrior assassin said, “My movements will be swift. I shall try not to cause you too much pain.”
At this moment, eleven Dragon Warrior level experts tightly surrounded Sauron in their midst.
The lead assassin walked to within one chi of Sauron, raised his sharp sword, and slashed down fiercely.
At this moment, there was no one in the world who could save Sauron.