Gui Qinbi had never imagined that the enemy would come flying from the sky.
“Protect me…”
With a great roar from Gui Qinbi, the Gui clan warriors from front, back, left, and right rushed forward desperately to cover his retreat, hoping to give Gui Qinbi a chance to escape.
Over a hundred warriors charged forward, one after another falling, yet never ceasing.
These hundred-odd warriors normally possessed considerable fighting strength, but now they faced Ashi Liren, Zhi Yan, Zhuang Zhixuan, three apex experts, along with ten top-tier Shadow Pavilion powerhouses.
In an instant, they were completely annihilated as easily as slicing melons and chopping vegetables.
Then, only Gui Qinbi and Yan Tingyi remained, desperately fleeing.
Zhi Yan rode her griffin beast and lunged forward fiercely. The griffin’s claws snatched Yan Tingyi violently from the horse’s back.
Meanwhile, Gui Qinbi spurred his horse madly towards the sea to escape, with Tuling Si slung across the horse’s back ahead of him.
Ashi Liren rode her griffin in pursuit through the air, quickly overtaking Gui Qinbi, then turning to block his path.
Gui Qinbi had nowhere to retreat. His gaze trembled as he said, “Who… who are you?”
“City Lord of Rouran, Ashi Liren,” Liren said.
Gui Qinbi looked behind him. Though he had not seen Zhi Yan in the Fury Wave Kingdom, he had seen her in the Yan Empire.
He had originally believed the attack on Linhai City was a desperate, last-ditch effort by Suo Ningbing and Yan Nai’er. He had not expected City Lord Ashi Liren and Princess Zhi Yan to be present as well. His body suddenly shuddered, and he hissed, “Suo Lun is not dead?”
This young master of Linhai City before them, Gui Qinbi, was truly exceptionally clever. Merely seeing Zhi Yan’s appearance, he had deduced the entire truth. He truly lived up to being Gui Xingfu’s son.
Immediately after, his face changed dramatically once more. “You have also rescued Gui Qinshao, and intend to completely seize Linhai City, making Gui Qinshao the City Lord of Linhai?”
At this moment, Zhi Yan and Liren were truly filled with admiration.
This Gui Qinbi before them was truly exceptionally clever. Merely seeing Zhi Yan’s appearance, he had deduced the entire truth.
Immediately after, he pressed his dagger directly against Tuling Si’s neck and said, “Let me go, or I will kill her… immediately!”
Zhi Yan looked at him in complete disbelief.
This Tuling Si was Gui Qinbi’s biological mother, yet he was using her as a hostage and threatening to kill her.
This Gui Qinbi truly was Gui Xingfu’s seed. Cold and heartless, he would stop at nothing.
Gui Qinbi’s gaze was sinister and cold. “If you want to elevate Gui Qinshao to power, you must kill all the male descendants of the Gui clan. I too am certain to die. Gui Qinshao is a spoiled, brainless woman. She will certainly want to rescue her mother. If you allow my mother Tuling Si to die before your eyes, Gui Qinshao will turn against you. Let me go, and I will release Tuling Si.”
Princess Zhi Yan looked at him calmly.
“I am not joking,” Gui Qinbi said coldly. With a fierce exertion of his hand, he cut open a gash on Tuling Si’s snow-white neck, and blood gushed forth immediately.
“Let me go, or I will kill her immediately. Then Gui Qinshao will definitely turn against you,” Gui Qinbi roared.
But…
In the very next second, he felt his entire body become completely beyond his control, frozen and fixed in place, utterly unable to move.
It was, of course, Zhi Yan’s spirit condensation technique.
Then, Zhi Yan lightly leapt down from the griffin, lifted the unconscious Tuling Si, and leapt back onto the griffin’s back.
After that, she released the spirit restraint on Gui Qinbi’s body.
Seeing that the hostage in his hands was gone, like a lamb awaiting slaughter, Gui Qinbi’s body trembled and shuddered, his lips quivering slightly.
Then, decisively and without hesitation, he knelt down directly and said, “Your Highness the Princess, spare my life, and I am willing to pledge loyalty to you. My inheritance of the Linhai City Lord position would be even more legitimate. My allegiance to you would create an even greater shock.”
Zhi Yan was truly impressed. This Gui Qinbi before her was absolutely a cunning hero.
But Zhi Yan shook her head and said calmly, “You are a venomous snake. I cannot use you with peace of mind. Kill him!”
Immediately, a Shadow Pavilion expert stepped forward, placed his sword against Gui Qinbi’s neck, and was about to sever it.
Gui Qinbi immediately knelt and kowtowed, saying, “Don’t kill me, I am still useful! I can help you take Linhai City without shedding a drop of blood. I can also help you annihilate my father’s forty-thousand-strong army.”
Instantly, Zhi Yan and Liren were completely stunned. They could not imagine that a person could be so despicably shameless.
Zhi Yan said, “Knock him out. Bring him to my husband. Let him decide this venomous snake’s fate!”
“Yes!” The Shadow Pavilion expert struck fiercely, knocking Gui Qinbi unconscious to the ground.
Then, five griffins spread their wings and soared high, returning to the temporary camp at Nanlin Fort where Suo Lun was stationed!
…
Tuling Si opened her beautiful eyes and slowly regained consciousness.
“Beast, animal, Gui Qinbi you accursed animal.” The awakened Tuling Si waved her hands, trying to claw at the man’s face before her.
But soon her hands were seized.
“Look clearly. It is me,” Suo Lun said.
Tuling Si opened her eyes wide and finally saw clearly that the pretty face before her was Suo Lun.
This face had once made her hate him to the bone, wishing she could skin him and eat his flesh.
But now, Tuling Si’s hatred for Gui Xingfu and Gui Qinbi, father and son, had surpassed everything. Seeing Suo Lun, she was first startled, not knowing why Suo Lun would be here?
Immediately after, she knelt down abruptly, hugging Suo Lun’s legs and said, “Suo Lun, Auntie begs you to save Qinshao. After all, you ravaged her. One night of husband and wife brings a hundred days of grace. Go save her.”
Suo Lun was startled.
This Tuling Si was even more big-breasted and brainless than Gui Qinshao. What did she mean by “after all, you ravaged her”?
“Auntie knows you hate her, hate me, and hate the Gui clan even more. Auntie knows she was wrong. Gui Xingfu is an animal,” Tuling Si wept. “Go save Qinshao. As long as you can rescue her, Auntie is willing to do anything.”
“Don’t you hate our family? Auntie will let you vent your anger. You can beat me, kill me…” Tuling Si hugged Suo Lun’s thigh, pleading desperately.
“You, don’t be like this. Get up first.” Suo Lun desperately pried open Tuling Si’s arms and pulled her up.
Tuling Si bit her jade teeth for a long while, then suddenly lifted her garments and grabbed Suo Lun’s hands, pressing them against her astonishingly voluptuous bosom, saying, “As long as it can let you vent your anger, as long as you can rescue Qinshao, I will be your mistress. You can do anything you want to me.”
Suo Lun recoiled as if stung by a wasp, withdrawing his hands rapidly and retreating several steps, pleading, “Auntie, I have already rescued Qinshao. She is in Tianshui City.”
Instantly, Tuling Si was as if struck by lightning. For quite a while she did not react. Only after a long time did she open her eyes wide and say, “Truly?”
“Truly,” Suo Lun said.
In the very next second, Tuling Si lunged forward directly, embracing him in her arms and weeping, “Thank you, Suo Lun. Thank you, thank you!”
Suo Lun’s scalp went numb. Tuling Si truly lived up to her mixed bloodline. Her temperament was too intense.
“Suo Lun, how is Qinshao? Was she tortured?” Tuling Si asked tremblingly.
“No, she is perfectly fine,” Suo Lun said.
“I must see her immediately. You must take me to see her immediately,” Tuling Si pleaded.
Suo Lun was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, “Alright.”
…
“Zhuang Zhixuan, you are to take Lady Tuling Si back to Tianshui City immediately,” Suo Lun said.
“Understood,” Zhuang Zhixuan said coldly.
Since the Western Frontier Dandan City, she had always followed Suo Lun, but the two of them still had not exchanged a single word. Their relationship was utterly cold.
Suo Lun walked up to her. She had just bathed, and her body emitted an intense natural fragrance.
She still wore her python-skin combat outfit, her fit and fiery figure stretched taut, her curves utterly devilish.
“Why does your hair never grow? It is still so short?” Suo Lun said.
“I cut it,” Zhuang Zhixuan said coldly.
“Don’t cut it. Leave it to ear-length. It would look very nice,” Suo Lun said.
“None of your concern,” Zhuang Zhixuan said.
Suo Lun stared at her exquisite, cold face. Soon her expression gradually became unnatural, her coldness crumbling, and she turned her head away.
“After this great battle ends, shall we have a long talk?” Suo Lun asked.
Zhuang Zhixuan nodded.
Then, she walked out, taking Tuling Si with her. They mounted the griffin beast and, escorted by several Shadow Pavilion experts, flew towards Tianshui City!
…
There were still two hours until dawn.
Suo Lun’s army of over twenty thousand had finished resting and resupplying. They began cooking meals and preparing to assemble.
In a dilapidated room, Suo Lun met with Yan Tingyi and Gui Qinbi.
Seeing that Suo Lun was indeed still alive, Gui Qinbi’s gaze trembled slightly. Then he lowered his head, utterly humble.
Yan Tingyi, on the other hand, after his initial surprise, let out a cold laugh. He held his head high and ignored Suo Lun, his attitude arrogant.
He had the capital for arrogance. His uncle was the Kingdom’s Prime Minister, so his status was transcendent. Suo Lun would not dare to do anything to him?
Suo Lun took a sip of wine and was about to open his mouth to speak.
“No need to speak, to avoid awkwardness,” Yan Tingyi said. “Do not attempt to persuade me of anything. It is impossible for me to board a ship destined to sink. Do not attempt to have me convey any message to my uncle either. Our Yan clan will not make any deals with you.”
Suo Lun was startled.
Yan Tingyi paced with his hands behind his back, looking up at the sky arrogantly. “Release me, and pretend nothing happened. That would be best for both sides. Otherwise, not only will you gain nothing from me, but you will also incur the wrath of the civil official bloc.”
Suo Lun said, “Lord Yan Tingyi, do you think I am trying to recruit you?”
“Is that not so?” Yan Tingyi said. “Standing behind me is my uncle, Prime Minister Yan Wuji. He represents the kingdom’s civil official bloc. You wish to gain the civil official bloc’s support. You wish for me to become that bridge. Or perhaps you wish to create an established fact and illusion, so that everyone sees that Yan Tingyi has actually pledged loyalty to Suo Lun. Does that not mean Prime Minister Yan Wuji has also begun placing bets on both sides?”
Suo Lun said, “Lord Yan Tingyi is indeed clever.”
Yan Tingyi waved his finger. “Do not entertain such petty schemes, do not play such petty tricks. They are useless. It is impossible for me to pledge loyalty to you. If you force me to stand on your side, in public settings I will only embarrass you. I will only slap your face. So do not harbour hopes of gaining my allegiance. Do not harbour hopes that the Yan clan will place bets on you. Do not entertain such fantasies!”
Over these past few months, the civil official bloc had done far more than wave flags and shout for Zhi Li. They had been utterly unscrupulous. They had slandered and fabricated rumours against Suo Lun to the extreme, saying that Suo Long’s death was because he discovered Suo Lun raping his sister Suo Ningbing.
They said the reason the King could not produce a son was because he had a preference for male companions. The reason Count Suo Long had such a close relationship with the King was because the two were lovers.
Countless vile accusations were all hurled at the Suo clan. They exhausted every means to use words and public opinion to strike at Zhi Yan and Suo Lun, while elevating Zhi Li.
Suo Lun nodded and said, “Lord Yan Tingyi, have you heard a phrase called ‘killing the chicken to warn the monkey’?”
Yan Tingyi’s face trembled. “What do you mean?”
Suo Lun said, “Except the civil official bloc are not monkeys. They are a flock of chickens. Within the environment of the Fury Wave Kingdom, their allegiance is worth a fart. Your Yan clan, and Prime Minister Yan Wuji, are decrepit old men, utterly unsightly, worth a dog’s fart. Their only function is to run out after the succession struggle ends and hail the victor with ten thousand cheers. Nothing more!”
At these words, Yan Tingyi trembled with rage, his face turning pale and green.
Suo Lun continued, “As for you, Lord Yan Tingyi, your only value is to be killed as a warning to the other chickens. Using your head to warn your uncle, before our succession struggle ends, to shut his bloody mouth. Go lick a woman’s arse or something. Do not speak nonsense!”
Then, Suo Lun drew his sword.
Yan Tingyi shuddered and knelt down abruptly, saying, “Do not kill me, do not kill me. I pledge loyalty to you. I will immediately go to persuade my uncle.”
“Swish…” Suo Lun swung his sword down.
Blood sprayed wildly. Yan Tingyi’s head rolled to the ground, his face still filled with terror.
“Someone come. Preserve Lord Yan Tingyi’s head well and deliver it to Prime Minister Yan Wuji’s residence. And convey a message to him: tell him to shut his mouth, or I will exterminate his entire clan,” Suo Lun said.
“Yes.” A Shadow Pavilion expert stepped forward and picked up Yan Tingyi’s head.
On the ground, only Yan Tingyi’s headless corpse remained, along with a pool of blood everywhere.
Suo Lun walked up to Gui Qinbi and said, “Gui Qinbi, do you know where your value lies?”
“I know,” Gui Qinbi said with a bow.
Suo Lun said, “Do you know what must be done?”
“I know,” Gui Qinbi said.
Suo Lun said, “Speaking with a clever person is truly a pleasure!”
…
After dawn!
Suo Lun led twenty-five thousand cavalry north towards the main city of Linhai.
Four hours later!
Suo Lun’s army arrived beneath the city walls. With the cooperation of young master Gui Qinbi, the five thousand defending soldiers inside immediately laid down their weapons and surrendered.
Without losing a single soldier, Suo Lun’s army entered the main city of Linhai.
From the start of the battle to its conclusion, merely two days. Linhai City fell, completely changing hands.
Then, Gui Qinbi used flying kites to send a letter requesting aid to Gui Xingfu on Chaos Stone Island, saying that the Tianshui City army was besieging Linhai City and the situation was critical!
…
Regarding everything in Linhai City, Gui Xingfu knew nothing.
He led his forty-thousand-strong navy, grandly sailing south, seeking to find Suo Lun’s navy for a decisive battle.
However…
Throughout the entire Linhai City sea region, there was not a single trace of the Suo clan navy. Not half a ship was seen.
Thus, he led his grand army straight towards Chaos Stone Island.
On the sea surface around Chaos Stone Island, there was still not a single ship to be seen!
But one could clearly see countless Suo clan troops moving back and forth within Chaos Stone Island’s castle.
Gui Xingfu sneered inwardly. So this was their plan. Convert the navy to land forces, using the castle for offensive and defensive warfare.
However, a small castle on a mere Chaos Stone Island, how long could it withstand a forty-thousand-strong army?
With one command, Gui Xingfu’s forty-thousand-strong navy began landing on Chaos Stone Island.
Then, they grandly entered the Chaos Stone Salt Fields, surrounding the tiny Chaos Stone Island castle completely, not a drop of water could pass through!
“Flatten Chaos Stone Castle. Kill every last one!”
At the command, tens of thousands of troops surged like a tidal wave towards the tiny Chaos Stone Island castle.
And at this moment, Gui Qinbi’s secret letter requesting aid, tied to the legs of several flying kites, was flying towards Chaos Stone Island!