On Earth, men have two obsessive toys: cars and guns.
Even a toddler taking his first steps would possess an extraordinary love for toy guns.
This is because every man’s heart harbours a pursuit and passion for power and destruction. And a gun is, without question, the finest extension of power.
With a gun, even a child can defeat an enemy far stronger than himself.
And the children of this other world were naturally the same. Moreover, guns had never appeared in this world before, so the shock and astonishment they brought was even greater.
As for Sauron, this liberal arts student, knowing how to make a gun?
Please, primitive firearms were the easiest things to make. Illiterate mountain folk on Earth could make them. As long as one had a steel tube and gunpowder, it was basically done.
And Sauron currently had several secret laboratories at his disposal, a warlock, and over a hundred alchemists.
So with gunpowder, naturally there were guns.
Gunpowder was a devastating weapon. The crudest, most primitive ratio for black powder, at least seventy to eighty percent of male university students on Earth knew it: one part saltpetre, two parts sulphur, seven parts charcoal.
However, Sauron had never brought out this devastating weapon.
Firstly, because it was too disruptive, and could even change the landscape of warfare.
Secondly, the primitive black powder that Sauron knew of was too low in power.
And finally, gunpowder must be paired with cannons to unleash its greatest power.
But in Sauron’s plans, cannons were the devastating weapon he would use after becoming Regent, to attack the barbarian territories.
Cannons against barbarians, that would be the most ferocious and sharp. Even in the future, when destroying the various kingdoms and unifying the world under heaven, establishing immortal meritorious achievements not inferior to the Dragon Emperor’s, artillery could serve as a super devastating weapon.
The Dragon Emperor was too formidable. He had completely relied upon his own martial power to save and unify the entire human world. So Sauron could only make use of his golden finger.
…
Returning to the matter at hand, at this moment all of Ash Yuanba’s gaze was fixed upon Sauron’s handgun, his eyes almost fanatical.
Sauron said, “Ash Yuanba, are you now willing to acknowledge me as your master?”
Ash Yuanba immediately withdrew his gaze from the gun, his eyes actually becoming calm, and said, “Do not be hasty. I still have three questions. If you answer them, I shall acknowledge you as my master. These three questions, not a single previous tutor has been able to answer.”
Sauron nodded and said, “Ask.”
Ash Yuanba said, “Do you believe that the Dragon Faith is necessarily righteous?”
At this question, Sauron started. This child was truly precocious and clever. At merely ten years of age, he had asked such a profound question.
He could imagine the answers of the other tutors.
Either, as a fervent believer in the Dragon Faith, speaking with utter fanatical righteousness.
Or, as a radical, treating the Dragon Faith as a fraud and conspiracy.
And at this moment, Ash Liren’s beautiful eyes also gazed upon Sauron, awaiting his answer.
Sauron said, “Firstly, it goes without saying that the Dragon Faith has become a tool for the Dragon Temple to control the world, and the Dragon Temple is indeed filled with darkness and corruption. It has consistently relied upon deceiving humanity to maintain its rule. But the Dragon is the source of human civilisation, the root of human energy. When you grow older and explore certain ancient ruins, you will discover how powerful and prosperous the civilisation under the true Dragon Faith truly was. So the Dragon Faith is the foundation of human civilisation. At its root, it is still righteous.”
Ash Yuanba listened very earnestly, and particularly at the latter half of the answer, his eyes shone brilliantly.
Then, he asked again, “Second question. Why are the barbarians evil? Why are they primitive and backward? What is the fundamental difference between them and us humans?”
Regarding all truths about the barbarians, they had been completely purged by the Dragon Temple.
Now the entire world only knew that the barbarians were a group of uncivilised, uncultured beasts. As for why the barbarians were evil, everyone’s answer was: because they are evil, so they are evil.
Sauron answered, “Because of the difference in faith, because of the difference in the source of power. Human civilisation believes in the Dragon, and are descendants of the Dragon. All power derives from the Dragon bloodline. The barbarians believe in demons, and are descendants of demons. All power derives from the demon bloodline. These are two types of energy that are innately opposed, so from the day of their birth, they were destined to be enemies. Moreover, the barbarians are not without civilisation. In truth, the demon armies have destroyed human civilisation several times. The several thousand years since His Majesty the Dragon Emperor unified the human kingdoms have merely been a difficult recovery of human civilisation after its destruction.”
This answer completely excited Ash Yuanba to the point of trembling.
And Ash Liren’s beautiful eyes also gazed upon Sauron’s face in astonishment. This was absolutely world-class classified information, known to only a handful of people. Yet how did this scholar Yan Ziyu before her know of it?
Ash Yuanba said, “Third question. Do you believe the Dragon Emperor is still alive?”
Sauron nodded and said, “I believe he should still be alive.”
Ash Yuanba said, “Then where do you believe he should be?”
Sauron was silent for a moment and said, “I have a vague answer in my heart, but I cannot say it. Your mother knows why I cannot say it. Because once spoken, whether the one who hears it or the one who speaks it, both will face endless, boundless disaster.”
Hearing this answer, Ash Yuanba seemed to feel that he was on the verge of touching the highest truth of the world, his entire body trembling with excitement.
Then, without another word, he directly knelt and kowtowed, saying, “Your student Ash Yuanba pays respects to his master.”
Then, he respectfully kowtowed three times.
Sauron smiled and said, “You do not know whether the answers to my three questions were correct or incorrect. How is it that you acknowledge me as your master?”
Ash Yuanba said, “But the answers you gave were all in realms unknown to me. Whether correct or incorrect, they prove that your understanding of this world far surpasses that of others. Thus you can be my master.”
Sauron said, “The most taboo thing in learning knowledge is wishing to achieve it in a single step. Next, you will learn what I teach, and not what you wish to learn. If you promise me this, then I am willing to be your master.”
“Yes, Master.” Ash Yuanba said.
Ash Yuanba kowtowed three more times.
Suddenly, he raised his head and said, “Master, I have one more question unrelated to acknowledging you as my master. May I ask it?”
Sauron said, “You may ask. As your master, I have the duty to resolve your doubts.”
Ash Yuanba said earnestly, “You possess such vast knowledge. Do you know how to cure my mother’s illness?”
At this question, Ash Liren started slightly, and the gaze she directed toward her son also warmed. She had never imagined that Ash Yuanba would ask this question.
Moreover, how did this child know of her physical condition?
Ash Yuanba said, “Mother sometimes faints for no apparent reason. And her body is always icy cold.”
It seemed Sauron had truly conquered this child with his knowledge, creating the impression that Sauron knew all things. So he had even placed the hope of curing his mother upon Sauron.
Ash Liren did not stop her son, but looked toward Sauron.
Sauron nodded and said, “I have a vague method to cure your mother, but I cannot tell you. Do you understand?”
Ash Yuanba was instantly overjoyed and said, “Master need not tell me. Tell my mother, and that will suffice.”
He truly seemed to set down a great stone in his heart, and the gaze he directed toward Sauron was filled with adoration.
“Very well, Yuanba, go out first. I have words to speak with your master.” Ash Liren said.
“Yes, Mother.” Ash Yuanba rose and ran out, closing the door behind him.
Only Sauron and Ash Liren remained in the schoolroom.
…
“Does the sir not intend to explain?” Ash Liren asked in a cold voice.
There were too many things Sauron needed to explain. For instance, had he not wished to be Ash Yuanba’s tutor? Why then had he prepared so thoroughly? That handgun alone was not the work of a single day.
Also, regarding demon bloodlines, regarding Dragon civilisation, regarding ancient ruins, for a weak scholar, he truly knew too much.
And most importantly, how did Yan Ziyu, as an absolute outsider, know what was wrong with Ash Liren’s body? And that he actually possessed a method of treatment?
Sauron said, “Madam, you need only know that I harbour no ill will whatsoever toward you and your son. The matters that require explanation, when the time comes, I shall naturally explain.”
Ash Liren said, “You say you can cure my body. Then may I ask what is wrong with my body?”
“Dragon Yin Severed Meridians.” Sauron said.
At these words, Ash Liren could not help but be astonished, for this secret was known to only a handful of people.
Ash Liren said, “The Dragon Yin Severed Meridians are incurable. Even my master Jiang Shang had no method. You have a method?”
“I do!” Sauron said.
Ash Liren said, “What method?”
Sauron said, “The union of yin and yang, that is all.”
Ash Liren said, “In this world, there is no Supreme Yang Dragon Meridians. Even if there were, they would die shortly after birth.”
Sauron said, “There are none born with it, but there can be those who acquire it later.”
Ash Liren said, “What?”
Sauron said, “Demon blood.”
Ash Liren’s gaze turned cold, for the words “demon blood” made her think of Ash Luo. But she shook her head and said, “Demon blood is indeed miraculous. It can overdraw vitality to heal wounds and make one immune to all poisons. But it is useless against my Dragon Yin Severed Meridians. This is neither a wound nor a poison.”
Sauron said, “What if it were demon blood boiled by Dragon Flame?”
Ash Liren’s eyes trembled. Dragon Flame was the most yang thing under heaven. Once demon blood was boiled by Dragon Flame, it would directly transform into Supreme Yang bloodline. It could indeed unite yin and yang with Ash Liren’s Dragon Yin Severed Meridians, and completely cure her.
Ash Liren’s gaze fixed upon Sauron, and she said, “Sir Yan Ziyu is truly well-versed in ancient and modern knowledge. There are matters even my master does not know, yet you know of them.”
Sauron said, “I repeat what I said before. Some secrets, when the time comes for explanation, I shall certainly explain. I only wish to tell you that I harbour no ill will whatsoever toward you and your son. On the contrary… I admire you boundlessly. So I have come to help you. I shall think of every possible method to save you.”
Ash Liren stared into Sauron’s eyes. Her beautiful eyes were as enchanting as the ocean, and this gaze made Sauron almost unable to endure it.
Sensing Sauron’s wavering heart and mind, Ash Liren asked, “You wish to save me? Then may I ask, sir, what price must I pay?”