Ash Liren truly could not imagine just how thick Suo Lun’s face was.
She had driven him away who knew how many times, and had spoken countless words of ruthless finality.
He had also led his people away, yet not three days later he had run back himself, and had returned using such a clumsy Yan Ziyu face.
Now, the rumours outside about her and Suo Lun were already spreading far and wide. Even the story that she was pregnant with Suo Lun’s child had already circulated. At this time, for Suo Lun to return and appear by her side, it was to make her unable to wash herself clean even if she jumped into the Nu River.
“Liren, you now have two choices.” Suo Lun said, “The first choice, run me through with a single sword. The second choice, calm down and listen to me.”
Ash Liren did not care about killing people. One could even say she killed people as readily as one might cut hemp.
However, Suo Lun could not be killed, was not easy to kill.
She also truly was not skilled at hitting people. She had always felt that raising one’s hand to strike another was an act of incompetence. Either kill them, or simply ignore them.
“There is a third choice. I break your legs, so you need not run back again.” Ash Liren said.
Suo Lun could no longer chatter idly, otherwise Liren would truly make a move and break both his legs.
“Liren, I know you have always blamed me for Ash Shiluo’s death.” Suo Lun said.
“If you call my name one more time, I will slap you.” Ash Liren said coldly, her chest heaving once more. The moment Ash Shiluo was mentioned, she could not endure it.
Suo Lun said, “And the most fundamental reason for all of this is because you are filled with guilt over Ash Shiluo’s death, and it is a guilt that cannot be made up for.”
Liren fell silent.
Suo Lun had struck upon the deepest place in her heart.
Yan Ping’s betrayal, although it had been etched into her heart and bones, had quickly faded. Because that piercing heartache had already been produced the instant he died.
Later he had come back to life, revealing his ugly true face, and it had already become difficult to cause Liren any spiritual harm.
All these days, her blaming of Suo Lun, her coldness and ruthlessness towards him, the key still lay in her own guilt over Ash Shiluo.
She had always felt that Ash Shiluo had died for her.
The sufferings Ash Shiluo had endured were also all because of her, Ash Liren.
This guilt, this pain, pressed upon her until she could not breathe. And as an accomplice in killing Ash Shiluo, Liren naturally directed her blame and hatred towards Suo Lun.
“Liren, character determines fate.” Suo Lun said, “Ash Shiluo’s death was as it should be. The sins he committed, he deserved to die!”
The moment these words were spoken, Ash Liren appeared before Suo Lun like lightning, her jade hand gripping his neck.
“If you speak one more word, I will twist your neck off.” Ash Liren said coldly.
She could now kill Suo Lun with the greatest of ease.
Suo Lun simply gazed at Liren quietly.
Ash Liren took a deep breath and released Suo Lun.
Suo Lun said, “Indeed, Ash Shiluo sacrificed himself for you, suffered inhuman abuse in the Demon Continent, and even at the very end when bidding farewell to the world, his sole mission was still to save you. For you, he was the best younger brother, the best kin.”
Ash Liren once again breathed in great gulps, the area around her heart convulsing with pain once more.
Suo Lun continued, “For that World-Destroying Demon Emperor, Ash Shiluo was also the most loyal and greatest knight. He would rather die than betray his master, the World-Destroying Demon Emperor.”
When Ash Liren heard these four words, World-Destroying Demon Emperor, her beautiful eyes trembled violently.
Suo Lun could see it, her restless gaze. She even inwardly desperately hoped that the World-Destroying Demon Emperor would destroy the Dragon God Temple that she deeply loathed.
Suo Lun said, “But what of those people killed by Ash Shiluo? Those innocent girls? Do you know how miserable the women who fell into Ash Shiluo’s hands were? Do you know how many people Ash Shiluo killed?”
Ash Liren wanted to speak but stopped, yet ultimately said nothing.
“I know you do not care.” Suo Lun said, “People do not care about tragedies they have not witnessed with their own eyes. Do you know why the sorceress Yao Meng did not save Yan Ping back then? Because her daughter was in Ash Shiluo’s hands. She was only five or six years old at the time, and from that moment onwards, Ash Shiluo raised her and another girl as dogs. A few days ago, I saw these two beautiful dogs. Because Ash Shiluo had not returned, they kept pacing about restlessly, kept barking like dogs, completely unable to be calmed. We wanted to peel off that layer of dog fur from their bodies and let them become human again, but they bit us like madmen. And they completely refused to eat or drink, wanting to starve themselves to death.”
Ash Liren’s beautiful eyes twitched. This was probably the most terrifying and tragic scene in this world.
Suo Lun said, “These two flower-like girls, from the age of three or four, from the moment they had memories, regarded themselves as dogs. Now, wanting to become human again is basically impossible.”
Ash Liren lowered her beautiful eyes.
Suo Lun said, “This is probably the most cruel thing in this world. Killing a person is not cruel. Even rape is not the utmost cruelty. The utmost cruelty is making her completely forget she is human, always regarding herself as a dog. How innocent are these two girls? I too have a daughter. If anyone dared… I would certainly exterminate his entire family, exterminate his entire clan, dig up all eighteen generations of his ancestors and grind their bones to dust.”
Ash Liren turned her body, her back facing Suo Lun.
Suo Lun said, “These two little girls, how innocent, how flawless? For the sake of these two little girls alone, Ash Shiluo deserved to die!”
Suo Lun once again said that Ash Shiluo deserved to die. Liren did not grow agitated again.
“Ash Shiluo deserved to die, but he was also admirable and pitiable.” Suo Lun said, “These two points do not conflict, and your heartache for him is also completely as it should be. But his death has nothing to do with you. You bear no responsibility for his death.”
“How could I bear no responsibility? He went to the Demon Continent for my sake.” Liren turned her head again, her face already covered in tears.
Suo Lun said, “Character determines fate. It is not that you made a mistake that caused him to go to the Demon Continent. Rather, he went to the Demon Continent to save you, and this was because of his love for you. A younger brother loving his elder sister is as it should be. On this point you were not wrong, and neither was he. What was wrong was the Demon Continent, was the Dragon God Temple!”
Suo Lun stepped forward and gently handed over a soft silk cloth for her to wipe her tears.
“Liren, they say only children distinguish right from wrong, while adults only look at benefits and drawbacks.” Suo Lun said, “But when all is said and done, adults must also distinguish right from wrong. If you do not distinguish right from wrong, you will forever be entangled within it, forever unable to break free.”
Ash Liren accepted the silk cloth and wiped her tears.
“The root of this evil lies in the Demon Continent, in the Dragon God Temple.” Suo Lun said, “Ash Shiluo was guilty, he deserved to die. He was pitiable and admirable, and you should love him, but you need not feel guilty, for you did no wrong.”
Ash Liren said coldly, “Then what you mean is, you were not wrong either?”
“I was certainly not wrong.” Suo Lun said with absolute conviction, “I found a way to eliminate Ash Shiluo, and from beginning to end there was nothing wrong in that. Was I supposed to watch with open eyes as he raped you?”
Ash Liren said, “Then you clearly knew that Zuo Qiu was Yan Ping, yet you did not tell me. Was that not wrong either?”
“Of course not.” Suo Lun said, “Why should I tell you? The moment I told you, it would not only affect the plan to eliminate Ash Shiluo, but would also overturn your inner world.”
Ash Liren laughed coldly, “You truly have a silver tongue. I cannot argue against you.”
Suo Lun said, “Winning an argument against you is useless. Human love, hate, and emotions are completely subjective. You still feel you owe Ash Shiluo, you will still blame his death on my head. No matter how much I say Ash Shiluo was guilty, it is useless.”
He spoke correctly. Any woman with emotions is subjective, is sentimental.
Only a woman like Zhi Yan could possess absolutely clear right and wrong, and logic.
Even if Suo Lun explained the reasoning with utmost clarity and correctness, Ash Liren would still hate Suo Lun, would still feel boundless guilt over Ash Shiluo.
Therefore, Suo Lun still had not persuaded Ash Liren.
Suo Lun sighed and said, “Liren, I now greatly admire Ash Shiluo. Do you know why?”
Liren did not respond to him, but pricked up her ears.
Suo Lun said, “At that time, the Dragon God Temple used your and Yuan Ba’s lives to threaten Ash Shiluo, forcing him to betray the World-Destroying Demon Emperor.”
At this time, Suo Lun’s perception should have been completely blocked. He should not have known. But Ash Liren’s thoughts were in turmoil, how could she attend to this detail?
Suo Lun said, “You and Yuan Ba were the people closest to Ash Shiluo, his entire world. And the World-Destroying Demon Emperor was merely his vague and distant faith. Yet he ultimately chose loyalty to the World-Destroying Demon Emperor, and used death to prove his loyalty. In itself this was nothing special. What mattered was his motivation in doing so. The Dragon God Temple used your and Yuan Ba’s lives to force him to betray, and this made him see through to the filthy root essence of this world, making him ultimately confirm his own faith. At this time, his loyalty to the World-Destroying Demon Emperor was no longer because of hatred for this world, but a determination to thoroughly cleanse this filthy world, a conviction to completely change the world.”
Ash Liren turned her head.
Suo Lun said, “This is a sublimation of conviction. He was even willing to sacrifice you and Yuan Ba to change this world. This is true faith. I completely cannot do this. In that instant, I completely cannot achieve his purity. It is precisely because I cannot achieve it that I admire it.”
Liren stopped crying and grew quiet.
Suo Lun said, “Once a person obtains true faith, it is both a liberation and a kind of eternal life. You need not feel guilty towards him. You need only ask yourself, do you agree with his thinking?”
Liren said, “The Dragon God Temple should all die. The Demon Continent should all die.”
“That is good.” Suo Lun said, “Simply continue his faith and will. Do not harbour any guilt or reluctance over his death. Death was the best outcome for him. Moreover, he died a heroic death, without any humiliation, without any disgrace.”
Ash Liren exhaled a very long breath.
At Suo Lun’s nostrils, an enchanting delicate fragrance immediately wafted.
In this world, there truly exists such a thing as breath as fragrant as orchids!
“Suo Lun, you truly have a silver tongue.” Ash Liren opened her eyes and said, “You have thoroughly persuaded me, making me let go of my guilt over Xiaoluo’s death, giving me a certain liberation.”
Suo Lun said, “That is good.”
“But…” Ash Liren said, “You have not changed your image of being loathsome in my heart. I still feel you are not trustworthy.”
Suo Lun smiled, “Take it slowly, no need to rush. I do not now require you to immediately agree to stand on our side and support Princess Zhi Yan in seizing the throne. My only request now is that you agree to let me help you.”
“Very well, I am willing to let you help me.” Ash Liren said, “But do not harbour any hope that I will give you any reward. I am a cold and ruthless person.”
“Hehe…” Suo Lun gave a classic reply.
This hehe made Ash Liren’s palm itch with the urge to slap him again.
“Teacher…” At this time, a timid voice came from outside, as though Yuan Ba could scarcely believe it.
Suo Lun turned around and spread his arms.
Ash Shiyuanba suddenly rushed over, throwing himself into Suo Lun’s embrace and saying, “I knew it, Teacher would not abandon us. I even dreamt of you just now, dreamt that I called you Papa.”
When this child said these words, he deliberately put on an appearance of childish innocence.
Ash Liren beside him, however, heard it and her ears turned red.
Then, Ash Shiyuanba put on an air of innocence, widening his large eyes as he gazed at Suo Lun and said, “Teacher, will you be my Papa?”
Suo Lun said, “Are you in such a hurry to marry Qinqin?”
“No, no…” Ash Shiyuanba shook his head desperately, “Not that kind of Papa, but the kind of Papa because of Mama…”
At this point, Liren could endure it no longer and said with a cold face, “Go to sleep quickly.”
Yuan Ba stuck out his tongue and said, “Understood.”
Then he ran off like a streak of smoke, still clutching that hand cannon with no bullets in his bosom.
…
“I am now nominally the City Lord, but like a prisoner, even my personal freedom is restricted.” Ash Liren said, “Not a single person by my side is loyal. I cannot mobilise a single soldier. I am besieged on all sides, crises lurking on every front.”
Suo Lun said, “If nothing unexpected happens, within two or three days, your position as City Lord will be abolished, and the charge will probably be collusion and adultery with me.”
Ash Liren’s beautiful eyes trembled violently, and she glared at him fiercely, saying, “And you still sneak into my residence, making me unable to explain myself clearly.”
Suo Lun said, “This is a fabricated charge anyway, it does not matter. Let the rumours spread as they will.”
It is my Ash Liren’s chastity that is being sullied. You are a man, so of course it does not matter to you?
Ash Liren felt indignant in her heart, but did not speak it aloud. She was not a delicate woman.
Taking a deep breath, she said, “Now all the high-ranking warriors, high-ranking officials, high-ranking generals of Rouran City, the entire Ash Family, stand on Ash Zhuo’s side. I do not have a single person by my side. Wanting to turn the tables is probably harder than ascending to heaven.”
“Who says you do not have a single person by your side? You still have me.” Suo Lun said.
Ash Liren said coldly, “If you speak one more sentence like that, I will certainly hit you.”
Suo Lun said, “Indeed, Ash Zhuo is surrounded by a host of followers, while you do not have a single person by your side. Wanting to defeat Ash Zhuo and completely turn the tables, let alone saying it is harder than ascending to heaven, it is completely… as easy as turning over one’s palm!”
The moment these words were spoken, Ash Liren was stunned, and said coldly, “Be serious.”
“I am being serious.” Suo Lun said, “Now let me ask you, what advantages do you possess?”
Ash Liren thought for a good while, then shook her head, “I possess no advantages whatsoever.”
“Nonsense, how could you possess no advantages?” Suo Lun extended his index finger, “First advantage, you possess peerless and unmatched beauty. Anyone who sees you will tremble with fear, not daring to breathe. So from today onwards, do not wear a mask. Reveal your peerless and ravishing countenance.”
Before he could finish speaking, Liren’s palm truly came slapping over.
Suo Lun touched his struck face, as though nothing had happened, and extended his middle finger, “Second advantage, you know how to hit people.”
Liren slapped him again, saying angrily, “What time is this? Can you be serious? Must you tease me like this?”
Suo Lun touched his left face again, and said with a straight face, “I am being serious. You love clearly and hate clearly. You cannot tolerate a single grain of sand in your eyes. You are cold as frost, and your martial arts are supremely high, rarely having a match in the entire Nu Lang Kingdom. This is your second advantage.”
Liren said, “What use is high martial arts? Can one kill people arbitrarily?”
“Precisely, what is the use of high martial arts if not for killing people?” Suo Lun said, then extended his ring finger, “Third advantage, you hold the position of City Lord. You are the sovereign lord. Killing people is as it should be.”
Ash Liren said, “Now, everyone opposes me. Am I supposed to kill everyone?”
“Ah Li, you are too straightforward.” Suo Lun said.
Hearing the two words Ah Li, Liren’s palm was about to slap over again, but she saw that Suo Lun had already stopped speaking, turning his face to the side to receive her slap.
Instantly, Liren ground her teeth.
This shameless scoundrel, cannot be killed, hitting him is useless. Truly one can do nothing about him.
Ash Liren said coldly, “Suo Lun, is this how you shamelessly cling to women to get them into your hands? Are you now going to use such low-class tricks before me?”
Suo Lun smiled, “Recently Fu Yan’er returned to my side. This woman has no face and no skin, knows no shame. Constantly fawning over me, caressing and kissing me, or secretly climbing into my bed, making me unbearably annoyed. To please me, she does not even want her self-respect. But the more she is like this, the more I look down upon her. I am completely unwilling to touch her. Truly a stupid and humble woman.”
Liren’s expression stiffened.
Suo Lun continued smiling, “And my shameless clinging before you differs little from Fu Yan’er’s behaviour before me. In saying this about her, am I not the pot calling the kettle black?”
The moment these words were spoken, Liren’s heart trembled.
What kind of person was Fu Yan’er? Shallow, vain, large-breasted and brainless, her sole desire to wear gold and silver, truly wanting no self-respect whatsoever.
What kind of person was Suo Lun? Clever to the extreme, beautiful to the extreme, proud to the extreme, his dignity as high as the heavens.
Why would he cling so shamelessly, so persistently?
Suo Lun said, “Although I am inwardly annoyed by Fu Yan’er, under her shameless clinging, I too am helpless. And my shameless clinging before you, what I probably want is merely your… helplessness!”
The moment these words were spoken, Liren’s heart trembled once more, then she bowed and said, “I am sorry. My shallowness has made you laugh.”
“Made me laugh cheaply, laugh cheaply.” Suo Lun continued, “Do you feel that everyone opposes you?”
“Of course.” Liren said.
“Ah Li, a single leaf before your eyes blocks your view.” Suo Lun said.
These words Ah Li made Liren’s beautiful eyes tremble, yet she was helpless, saying, “I am willing to hear the details.”
Suo Lun said, “All people are merely fence-sitters, not opponents of yours. They can accept a City Lord who cultivates immortality every day and pays no heed to governance. Why can they not accept a female City Lord? Moreover, there is Ash Shimo’s final testament, there is the King’s decree, and it is stated clearly that you are only temporarily holding Rouran City, and will return it to Yuan Ba in the future. Therefore, the reaction of all people to your inheriting the City Lord position is merely this: Eh? It’s actually a female City Lord? This seems somewhat improper. Nothing more!”
Liren said, “But when Zhi Yan inherited the throne, she received opposition from the entire world.”
“Please, this is completely different.” Suo Lun said, “Rouran City is merely the private property of your Ash Family. The other high-ranking generals, high-ranking warriors are all hired hands. To put it bluntly, who becomes City Lord is a family matter of your Ash Family. But the Nu Lang Kingdom is not merely the Nu Lang of the Zhi Clan. The feudal lords, nobility, and royal family share the Nu Lang Kingdom.”
Liren nodded. Suo Lun spoke very correctly.
Suo Lun said, “It is because Ash Zhuo is leading the charge that these high-ranking lords, high-ranking officials, high-ranking generals are coldly resisting you. But even so, they are merely sitting by and watching Ash Zhuo drive you from power, rather than personally stepping forward to drive you from power. So you need only do two things, and all the civil and military high officials will not dare oppose you.”
“What two things?” Liren said.
“First thing, gain the support of your mother, Lady Lizhi, because she is the only one who can nominally suppress you. Second thing, kill Ash Zhuo.” Suo Lun said, “Once these two things are accomplished, all your crises will instantly dissolve. No one will dare openly oppose you again, because you hold a sword in one hand and a seal in the other. You have the nominal right to kill, and the ability to kill. Who would not fear death enough to test the sharpness of your sword? Added to that, you possess ravishing beauty. Having such a City Lord sitting above them every day for them to see, probably everyone would find it pleasing to the eye.”
Ash Liren clenched her pink fist, restraining the urge to slap him again.
Suo Lun said with a straight face again, “Of course, this matter must be accomplished before Zhi Li intervenes. Once Zhi Li enters the situation, it will truly be too late.”
Liren said, “But Mother has never liked me all along. She will not support me.”
“Rest assured, I will help you win her over.” Suo Lun said, “Tonight I will help you win her over.”
Liren’s face turned red. After hesitating for a long while, she said, “You, you are not going to use a honey trap, are you?”
Suo Lun’s body violently shuddered, and he said with disgust, “Ah Li, your tastes are too heavy.”
Ash Liren turned her head, grinding her teeth, “One day, I will beat you to death alive!”
Suo Lun stood up and walked towards the outside.
“What are you doing?” Liren asked.
Suo Lun said, “Going to help you win over your mother, then tomorrow you mother and daughter will join hands to kill Ash Zhuo. Before tomorrow night, your crisis will be thoroughly resolved, allowing you to sit firmly in the City Lord’s position.”
Ash Liren said, “Go then. You have worked hard.”
Suo Lun said, “If I help you resolve this crisis, and you successfully enter the City Lord’s residence, can you promise me one request?”
Ash Liren said, “Even if you help me enter the City Lord’s residence, I will not publicly declare my allegiance to Zhi Yan.”
Suo Lun said, “My condition is that you remove your mask and let people see your peerless and ravishing countenance, using your beauty to awe the civil and military officials.”
Liren ground her teeth, saying coldly, “Hurry up and leave, otherwise I fear I cannot resist the urge to beat you to death.”
Suo Lun fled at flying speed, exiting through the secret passage from Ash Liren’s residence.
Ash Liren let out a long sigh of relief, unclenched her fist, then breathed in great gulps, releasing the anger in her heart.
Truly unimaginable, that she, a woman cold as frost with supreme martial arts, had actually been teased by Suo Lun, a weakling, for an entire night.
This scoundrel had teased her for a full night, and she had been powerless against him.
However, what method would he use to win over her mother, Lady Lizhi? Would it be very filthy?
Liren was filled with anticipation, yet also did not wish to know.
…
In a small grove outside the Rouran City Lord’s residence, the very City Lord’s residence that Liren had been unable to enter.
After Suo Lun left Ash Liren’s residence through the secret passage, he took advantage of the night to quietly slip into the grove.
And at this time, a beautiful young married woman with a graceful and voluptuous figure was already waiting there expectantly.
The moment Suo Lun appeared, she immediately threw herself into his embrace, her fragrant lips pressing a passionate kiss upon him, saying softly, “Why so late today? My heart has been anxious with waiting.”
Her voice was very gentle, like water. Her voluptuous body was even softer and more elastic.