Princess Zhiyan’s beautiful eyes trembled, she held back her tears and clenched her teeth tightly. Taking a deep breath, she finally made a decision in her heart.
“I will not see Huai Bingyi,” Princess Zhiyan said. “Uncle, please meet him for me, and settle the matter of purchasing weapons and armour for the hundred thousand troops.”
Duke Zhi Ting froze in shock.
It was understandable that Zhiyan refused to meet Huai Bingyi, but at a time like this she still wanted to discuss weapons and armour?
Suo Lun was already dead, there was no longer any hope left in the struggle for the throne.
Princess Zhiyan said, “I firmly believe Suo Lun is still alive.”
Duke Zhi Ting replied in astonishment, “That valley has already become a hellish swamp, and Suo Lun’s command ring and even his skull have already been delivered to Zhi Li. I personally examined it, that skull truly belonged to Suo Lun.”
After Zhi Li obtained the skull, he had immediately invited Duke Zhi Ting to inspect it. Although he said nothing, the sight struck Duke Zhi Ting like lightning.
The reason he recognised it instantly was because the teeth matched Suo Lun’s exactly.
Duke Zhi Ting remembered clearly that one of Suo Lun’s front teeth had a crescent shaped notch. It was not especially noticeable.
Once, while dining with Suo Lun, he had noticed blood from a rare steak seeping into that notch, making it particularly obvious. That was how he discovered this extremely private feature of Suo Lun.
Zhiyan said, “No, I firmly believe he is not dead.”
Duke Zhi Ting asked, “Why do you believe that? I personally inspected the skull. Zhi Li even invited Tuling Duo and Gui Xingfu and others familiar with Suo Lun to examine it. Not only the teeth, but the back of the skull and a scar on the forehead all matched perfectly.”
Zhiyan replied, “Just a feeling.”
Duke Zhi Ting nearly burst into laughter. A feeling? Zhiyan was someone without emotions or desires, where would intuition even come from?
Zhiyan declared firmly, “I know Zhi Li invited you to verify the skull because he wanted us to completely abandon resistance and accept reality. But I will never compromise, and I absolutely refuse to believe Suo Lun died so easily.”
Taking a deep breath, Zhiyan regained her cold composure and said, “Uncle, go negotiate the matter of weapons and armour with Huai Bingyi. From today onwards, I will completely sever ties with him and never meet him again.”
Duke Zhi Ting was stunned once more. Since she intended to cut ties with Huai Bingyi, why still purchase weapons from Bazhou?
Princess Zhiyan continued, “Do not let Tian Shui City learn about Suo Lun’s situation. Recruitment and military expansion there must continue as planned. Leave everything here to all of you. I am going to save Suo Lun!”
“Save Suo Lun?” Duke Zhi Ting exclaimed. “He is already dead. Even if he is not, where will you go to rescue him?”
“I do not know,” Princess Zhiyan replied. “But I firmly believe he is alive. That demoness Wanyan would never kill him so easily. Even if I must search the ends of the earth, I will bring him back.”
Duke Zhi Ting tried to speak again, but Zhiyan waved him silent.
“There is no need to say more. I have already decided.”
Half an hour later, Princess Zhiyan quietly left the Princess Manor and departed the royal capital in disguise. Alone, she headed towards Doom Mountain in Black Furnace County, the place where Suo Lun had been ambushed. She intended to search the scene for any clues whatsoever.
At that time, it was already the fourth day since Suo Lun disappeared.
…
Western seas of the continent.
The magnificent ship continued sailing towards its unknown destination.
Suo Lun remained confined within the luxurious cabin. He could not tell day from night and was not allowed to leave even a single step. Yet the cabin contained everything imaginable, comparable to a five star hotel suite on Earth.
Over the next three or four days, Princess Wanyan of Demon Continent did not appear again.
Just as Suo Lun began to think he would not see her until they reached shore, the cabin door suddenly opened and a young girl in green entered.
The moment he saw her, Suo Lun was utterly stunned.
Because the person entering was a bright and delicate young girl who looked no older than sixteen.
Yet the face was still unmistakably that of Princess Wanyan.
The first time he met her, she had been seductive beyond compare, a demoness overflowing with temptation.
The second time, she had resembled a refined and graceful noble lady, elegant and scholarly.
And now, she appeared to have reversed time itself, becoming eight or nine years younger, transformed from a woman in her mid twenties into a teenage girl.
Her eyes, skin, and figure all possessed the immaturity of a fifteen or sixteen year old.
Her once full chest had flattened.
She had transformed from a ripe peach into an unripe apple.
It truly seemed as though she possessed demonic magic, changing appearance every single day, as though she became an entirely different person each time.
Even her voice startled Suo Lun. The seductive tone had vanished completely, replaced by the clear and youthful voice of an innocent girl.
Behind her stood a handsome man over six feet tall, with a narrow waist, long legs, and a powerfully athletic build. His hair was cropped short, making him appear especially masculine, an exceptionally handsome man.
“His name is Zhuang Zhixuan. He is my male companion,” Wanyan said.
Her youthful appearance contrasted bizarrely with the words she spoke, making the scene feel strangely unsettling.
Still, Suo Lun was not surprised that Wanyan kept companions.
People of Demon Continent were notoriously unrestrained, especially regarding relationships between men and women. A princess like Wanyan likely possessed more than one companion.
“Zhuang Zhixuan, this is Count Suo Lun,” Wanyan introduced.
The companion nodded politely towards Suo Lun.
Princess Wanyan sat before Suo Lun and asked, “I have heard your musical talent is unmatched, Lord Suo Lun. May I have the honour of hearing your heavenly music?”
Suo Lun shook his head. “Apologies, I have no interest.”
Wanyan’s gaze flickered before she asked again, “I have heard your painting skills are extraordinary, that the people you paint seem alive, as though their souls are reflected on the canvas. Would you paint a portrait for me?”
“A trivial skill, not worth mentioning,” Suo Lun rejected coldly once again.
A chill flashed through Wanyan’s eyes.
“Lord Suo Lun, do not forget that you are merely a prisoner. Your life rests in my hands. Provoking me like this serves no purpose.”
Suo Lun replied, “When I paint courtesans, it is to help change their fates. When I play music, it is for those who truly love it, and to express my own heart. I will never paint or play merely for another’s amusement.”
“Well said…” Wanyan rested her chin upon her jade like arm and smiled. “Do you know that both Zhi Li and Zhiyan already believe you are dead? I crafted a skull identical to yours, even reproducing the crescent shaped notch in your tooth. What do you think will happen to the political situation in Furious Wave Kingdom once news of your death spreads?”
Suo Lun’s expression flickered slightly.
Once news of his death spread, Zhi Li would undoubtedly cast aside his restraint.
Suo Lun had noticed more than once the greedy look in his eyes whenever he gazed upon Gui Qinshao.
Hopefully Gui Xingfu and Ling Ao cared enough for her to prevent anything terrible from happening.
As for Zhiyan’s side, hearing of Suo Lun’s death would likely make them abandon all hope of competing for the throne. Once Zhi Li ascended, Zhiyan could only survive under the protection of Fang Qingshu or Huai Bingyi.
Between the two, Zhiyan seemed much closer to Huai Bingyi. Moreover, Huai Bingyi’s influence in this world likely surpassed Fang Qingshu’s.
Yet this ambush against Suo Lun perhaps involved Huai Bingyi in some hidden way.
At the very least, he had kept Zhiyan in the royal capital instead of allowing her to accompany Suo Lun back to Tian Shui City.
Otherwise, with Zhiyan’s spiritual power and sensitivity to the unique energy of Demon Continent, she would have sensed danger from thousands of metres away, and Suo Lun would never have fallen into this trap.
Recalling their interaction during the royal banquet, Suo Lun remembered Huai Bingyi’s gentle and elegant manner. His eyes had shown only admiration and appreciation, never the slightest hostility.
Suo Lun suddenly asked, “Surely someone like Zhi Li could not command a princess of Demon Continent such as yourself to kill me? And avenging Ashiluo alone cannot explain such an enormous operation.”
Princess Wanyan replied, “I know what you want to ask, but there is no need. However, if you truly wish to know, we can exchange answers.”
Suo Lun said, “Please continue.”
Wanyan asked, “Why did the Divine Dragon Temple spend such an enormous effort trying to kill Ashiluo? What secret or hidden identity did he possess?”
Suo Lun shrugged. “How could I possibly know such top secret information?”
Wanyan laughed softly and said no more.
Then she suddenly asked, “Suo Lun, what do you think intelligence is?”
Suo Lun answered, “Extraordinary memory, extraordinary logic, extraordinary inspiration.”
Wanyan smiled. “Then does luck count as part of intelligence?”
Suo Lun narrowed his eyes bitterly. “I understand now.”
Wanyan blinked in surprise. “I have not even explained yet, and you already understand?”
Suo Lun replied, “Best of three, remember?”
Their intellectual duel was decided by best two out of three.
If Suo Lun won, she would release him. If he lost, he would die.
Suo Lun had already won the first round. If he also won the second, the contest would end immediately.
Wanyan suddenly said, “Originally, I intended to begin the second round after we disembarked and returned home. But you refused to paint or play music for me, and that truly angered me. So I have decided to begin the second round early.”
Suo Lun nodded. “Please proceed.”
Wanyan smiled. “This second round is extremely important. If you win, there will be no need for a third round. You will win outright, and I will let you go. I always keep my promises.”
Suo Lun smiled faintly. “Go ahead.”
Wanyan continued, “Of course, if you lose, there will still be punishment. But this time it will not involve four strong men. It will only involve one person, my companion Zhuang Zhixuan. See? I am being kind to you.”
At those words, Zhuang Zhixuan trembled slightly, her face turning pale.
Suo Lun glanced at the tall and masculine companion, and his own expression paled slightly as well.
Wanyan’s eyes gleamed with demonic excitement. She raised her right hand into a fist.
Her hand was delicate and pale as jade, the clenched fist resembling a ball of snow.
“The second round begins now,” Wanyan declared. “Inside my fist are Go stones. It could be one stone, or it could be two. There are no other possibilities. Guess whether it is one or two. If you guess correctly, you win.”
The moment she mentioned luck, Suo Lun already knew the outcome.
She had said intelligence required luck as well.
Which meant she intended to cheat. Since Suo Lun had already won the first round, she absolutely could not allow him to win the second.
The demoness smiled. “Lord Suo Lun, make your guess. One stone or two? You have a fifty percent chance of success. Whether you win or lose depends entirely on fate.”
Without X ray vision, there was no way Suo Lun could see inside her fist.
Wanyan continued, “If you guess correctly, I will release you immediately. But if you guess wrong…”
Suo Lun closed his eyes and extended his spiritual senses, especially towards Zhuang Zhixuan behind her.
Then he opened his eyes.
“Two stones,” he answered.
Wanyan’s lips curled into a triumphant smile.
“You guessed incorrectly. You lose. There is only one stone.”
She turned her fist over and opened her hand.
Indeed, there was only a single black Go stone resting in her palm.
Suo Lun had lost the second round.
But had he guessed one stone instead?
He still would have lost.
Because Wanyan’s hand originally contained two stones, but the moment she flipped her fist, she merged them together so that only one appeared.
No matter what Suo Lun guessed, he was destined to lose.
He had realised this from the beginning. The moment she mentioned luck, he already knew the result.
Wanyan smiled. “We are both intelligent people. I know you saw through my trick immediately. I merely wished to preserve the suspense until the end. Do not worry, the third round will involve true intelligence. I will use every ounce of cunning I possess. If you win, you live. If you lose, you die. But for this second round, let us count it as your defeat.”
Then she stood gracefully and said, “A wager is a wager. Enjoy your time with my companion Zhuang Zhixuan.”
She lightly waved her hand before Suo Lun.
A strange fragrance entered his nose, and he immediately lost consciousness.
Moments later, his entire body became scorching hot and flushed red.
Zhuang Zhixuan immediately looked towards Wanyan with pleading eyes.
Wanyan said coldly, “Do you wish to disobey me?”
Zhuang Zhixuan shook her head.
“Then obey. If you stop before three hours pass, you will answer to me.”
After speaking, Wanyan produced a pink pill and forced it into Zhuang Zhixuan’s mouth.
Instantly, Zhuang Zhixuan’s body flushed crimson, as though burning from within.
“Begin…” Wanyan ordered as she sat back down, clearly intending to watch, her beautiful eyes filled with excited cruelty.
Zhuang Zhixuan gritted her teeth and tore off her martial outfit.
Revealing a powerful and athletic female body.
Yes, female.
With her short hair, handsome face, and tall figure, she had appeared completely male while clothed, yet she was actually a woman.
A tall, athletic woman radiating a wild and dangerous charm.