Suo Lun finally met the master of the Hidden Continent Island’s Hai clan, Hai Gang!
This man’s ancestors were Rock People, yet by now there was little of the Rock People’s traits visible upon him. Although his skin tone was somewhat dark, it was already much fairer than that of the Rock People.
Moreover, he wore a scholar’s long robe, appearing gentle and refined, like a tutor at the royal capital’s academy, rather than a regional hegemon.
Judging by appearance alone, there was not the slightest hint of dominance upon this man’s face. Instead, he appeared delicate and cultured.
If there was any point about this man that resembled a heroic ruler, it was his height. He stood a full one metre eighty-something tall, and his arms were very long, almost reaching past his knees.
Then there were his eyebrows, thick and black, like reclining silkworms.
And what surprised Suo Lun was that at this moment, he was observing the utmost courtesy, and referring to himself as a man beyond the pale.
“Lord Hai Gang, why such arrogance before and deference after?” Suo Lun said coldly. “I have not yet done anything.”
Hai Gang said, “From the sea onwards, I have been cold towards you, Lord Suo Lun, precisely because I wished to observe your temperament.”
Suo Lun said, “Then clearly I have disappointed you. After merely one or two hours, I lost my patience, appearing very lacking in depth.”
“No…” Hai Gang said, “Your conduct has greatly pleased me.”
Suo Lun said, “Oh? How so?”
Hai Gang said, “From two years ago, you rose like a comet, almost invincible in battle. Clearly you are a person of supreme wisdom. I do not believe that a person of such wisdom needs such deep scheming. For someone coming to discuss cooperation with me, if their scheming ran too deep, it would greatly worry me.”
Suo Lun said, “But your lordship’s actions rather reveal deep scheming.”
Hai Gang said, “Precisely because my own scheming runs deep, I detest others who likewise scheme deeply.”
These words made considerable sense.
Hai Gang said, “If my expectations are not mistaken, Lord Suo Lun, you have come to discuss an alliance, to jointly deal with the Rock Demon King?”
Suo Lun said in surprise, “You call him the Rock Demon King?”
Hai Gang said, “My ancestors were Rock People, and the Rock Demon is indeed the king of the Rock People in this realm. Naturally I call him the Rock Demon King.”
Suo Lun said, “If I am not mistaken, Lord Hai Gang, you are presently striving to promote de-Rockification?”
Hai Gang said, “Lord Suo Lun truly sees with penetrating clarity. From over twenty years ago, I have been diligently implementing de-Rockification. This is truly a very complex sentiment. Maintaining Rock People traditions could fill my fleet with powerful combat strength. But in that case, not only my leaders but also the backbone of my fleet would feel a strong sense of identity with the Rock People. At that time, I fear they would acknowledge the Rock King as their master. I would have toiled hard only to make wedding clothes for another.”
Hai Gang was an intelligent man. Negotiating with such a person was both easy and difficult.
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Hai Gang said, “Lord Suo Lun, I believe you have also seen that I have been striving to draw close to the continent. I had two nations to choose from, but I have consistently chosen to be close to the Raging Waves Kingdom while keeping distance from the Flame Empire. The reason for this, I believe you can discern at a glance.”
“The Flame Empire is too powerful. Drawing too close, you would easily be annexed.” Suo Lun said.
“Precisely.” Hai Gang said, “I chose to draw close to the Raging Waves Kingdom, which would undoubtedly be safer. So initially I selected Ashi Luo, precisely valuing his Demon Continent background, plus his status as the Raging Waves Kingdom’s foremost vassal. For the marriage alliance with him, I paid thirty thousand naval troops as dowry. The result was that in the first war to destroy Suo, my thirty thousand naval troops were burned to ashes by Lord Suo Lun. My first plan to draw close to the continent had failed.”
Suo Lun shrugged his shoulders. When Hai Gang spoke of thirty thousand naval troops being burned to ashes, there was not the slightest hatred in his voice, only regret and heartache.
Hai Gang continued, “Zhi Li thought you were already dead, so he launched the second war to destroy Suo. To curry favour with Zhi Li, I dispatched another ten thousand naval troops. The result was again total annihilation. My second plan to draw close to the continent had once more failed.”
Suo Lun smiled, “Then now, the third time to draw close to the continent has arrived.”
Hai Gang said, “Correct. Duke Tu Ling Tuo does not disdain that my daughter Hai Na Er once followed Ashi Luo. He still lets his son Tu Ling Chen marry her. This greatly pleases me.”
At these words, Suo Lun was slightly taken aback.
Tu Ling Chen was to marry Hai Na Er? Setting aside what a scoundrel Ashi Luo was, and what condition Hai Na Er might be in after being violated by him. The crucial point was that Tu Ling Chen had already been temporarily castrated by Suo Lun using drugs and secret techniques. He was already incapable of performing the act between man and woman.
Suo Lun smiled, “Then I must congratulate Lord Hai Gang. The Tu Ling Tuo family is the Raging Waves Kingdom’s foremost military family, the jade pillar supporting Heaven for the kingdom.”
Hai Gang said, “Indeed so. But Lord Suo Lun has risen too swiftly. Now, you and Prince Zhi Li stand as equals. Who will win or lose in this struggle for the throne remains unknown. How could my Hai clan place all bets on one side, putting all eggs in one basket? Therefore, your arrival, Lord Suo Lun, fills me with boundless encouragement, boundless delight.”
Suo Lun said, “If we speak of before, it was indeed unclear who would win or lose between Zhi Li and myself. But now, the Rock Demon has blockaded and severed all my maritime trade. My monthly gold coin income has directly shrunk by sixty percent. My victory is entirely built upon astronomical sums of gold coins. With sixty percent less gold coins, my expenditures exceed my income. This time, the Rock Demon has truly grabbed me by the vitals, leaving me unable to move.”
Suo Lun was voluntarily showing weakness.
Hai Gang said, “Who says it is not so? This Rock Demon, with the heart of a wolf and the ambition of a wild beast. I kindly lent him the Thunder Islands for temporary residence. Who knew he would seize the opportunity to occupy them? Not only that, his actions have grown increasingly severe, constantly annexing my subsidiary islands. And at the Maritime Guild, he repeatedly suppresses me. Originally, my Hai clan’s share of the Maritime Guild’s profits was fifty percent. Now it is merely twenty percent.”
Suo Lun said, “This man is truly detestable! Lord Hai Gang, do you know why he blockaded my maritime trade?”
Hai Gang said, “I would like to hear the details.”
Suo Lun said, “He said he wished to ally with me. He and I are half brothers of the same father. He said with our brothers of one mind, we would be invincible under Heaven.”
Hai Gang said, “If you and he allied, you truly would be invincible under Heaven. And my Hidden Continent Island truly could not be preserved.”
Suo Lun said, “What a pity. His conduct is too overbearing, his ambitions too enormous. What he demanded completely exceeded my bottom line.”
Hai Gang said, “What did he demand?”
“Heaven Shaking Thunder.” Suo Lun said, “My top secret weapon of mass destruction. The reason I was able to defeat the Gui Xing Fu allied army, annihilate Zhi Wei’s great army, and frighten away Tu Ling Tuo’s great army was entirely due to this Heaven Shaking Thunder. Yet the Rock Demon actually demanded this from me. Of course I would turn hostile. I even proposed to him that I could dispatch troops to help him conquer the Hidden Continent Island, then completely withdraw, not leaving a single soldier, handing the Hidden Continent Island entirely over to his occupation. He still refused, still demanding the Heaven Shaking Thunder.”
At these words, Hai Gang’s expression changed slightly.
Suo Lun’s words were drawing a bottom line. The Rock Demon demanded Heaven Shaking Thunder as a condition for alliance, and was refused by Suo Lun. So you, Hai Gang, need not even mention it.
Then, Hai Gang laughed heartily, “It seems the Rock Demon King’s ambitions extend far beyond my single Hidden Continent Island.”
Suo Lun said, “We possess a common enemy. An alliance between you and me, a joint army to attack the Rock Demon, I have seventy percent confidence in defeating him. At that time, not only will the Hidden Continent Island be safe, but your Hai clan will once more become the foremost hegemon of the eastern seas. An alliance between you and me truly comes together perfectly.”
“Yes, it comes together perfectly.” Hai Gang said, “I have awaited you, Lord Suo Lun, like sweet rain after a long drought. Your honoured footsteps gracing my humble abode today bring glory to my poor dwelling.”
Suo Lun said, “Then shall we ally?”
Hai Gang said, “No, not merely an alliance. Something deeper.”
Suo Lun said, “I would like to hear the details!”
“Not in haste.” Hai Gang said, “Lord Suo Lun has travelled a long distance. I believe you must be starving. If I do not entertain you with fine wine and delicacies, would that not again be a breach of etiquette?”
Then Hai Gang clapped his hands, “Bring the banquet!”
Immediately, groups of graceful young maidens entered in succession, presenting delicious delicacies.
Then they withdrew in succession, leaving only one maiden behind.
This maiden’s face was veiled by light gauze, but her pair of wonderful eyes were like gems, shy and bright, profound and enchanting.
And her figure was as graceful as a willow. She appeared to be only fourteen or fifteen years old.
“Please!” Hai Gang said.
Then, both sides drank wine and ate dishes, speaking only of matters in general, not of serious business.
That graceful maiden merely sat quietly by Hai Gang’s side, pouring wine for him, neither speaking nor uttering a word. Apart from a single glance she cast towards Suo Lun at the beginning, she kept her head lowered and eyes downcast, appearing very quiet and shy.
…
After eating and drinking their fill, Hai Gang said, “Lord Suo Lun, shall we continue?”
“Continue.” Suo Lun said.
Hai Gang said, “In this great battle against the Rock Demon, how many warships and naval troops can Lord Suo Lun commit?”
Suo Lun said, “Over two hundred warships, twenty-five thousand naval troops, fifteen griffin beasts.”
“Good.” Hai Gang said, “After you destroyed forty thousand of my naval troops, I painstakingly trained twenty thousand new naval troops. But they have only barely formed into an army, their combat strength not strong. I will keep these twenty thousand naval troops to defend the Hidden Continent Island. The remaining sixty thousand main naval forces, I will commit entirely. Additionally, I will recruit twenty thousand pirates. Combined, you and I will have over one hundred thousand naval troops, enough for a great battle with the Rock Demon.”
Suo Lun slapped the table, “Excellent! One hundred thousand against one hundred thousand, I have eighty percent confidence in defeating the Rock Demon.”
Then Suo Lun said, “Then what conditions does Lord Hai Gang have? Might as well speak plainly.”
Hai Gang said, “Heaven Shaking Thunder is your bottom line, so of course I cannot ask. As for the Magic Mirror industry and the Rocky Salt Fields, although tempting, since the greatest trade takes place at Pirate Harbour, after defeating the Rock Demon, naturally there will be a share for me. So I will not interfere in these two pieces of fat meat either. I need only one thing.”
“What?” Suo Lun asked.
“Marriage alliance.” Hai Gang said, “Lord Suo Lun, you know I have been striving to draw close to the continental kingdoms. Because the Hidden Continent Island is after all a place beyond the pale, mountainous with little rain, abundant in vegetables and fruits but lacking in grain. The reason it is so prosperous is entirely due to maritime trade. In the future, if our cooperation deepens further, we could completely conduct the Magic Mirror and salt trade through my Hidden Continent Island. At that time, my Hidden Continent Island would be even more prosperous. Now, I have already formed a marriage alliance with the Tu Ling Tuo family. Since I am betting on both sides, naturally I also need to form a marriage alliance with you.”
Suo Lun’s gaze contracted.
Although marriage alliances were not entirely reliable, they were the most direct form of alliance. For thousands of years, this had been so.
Suo Lun said, “Then may I ask how this marriage alliance would be arranged?”
Hai Gang said, “The first option: your aunt Yan Chuo Er marries me as my wife.”
Suo Lun shook his head, “Impossible. Aunt Yan Chuo Er is my naval commander. I cannot do without her.”
Before coming to the Hidden Continent Island, Suo Lun had worried that Hai Gang would propose this awkward condition. So he refused decisively and categorically.
Hai Gang said, “The second option: your elder sister Suo Ning Bing marries my son Hai Wu Yan as his wife.”
Suo Lun said, “I vaguely recall that Young Master Hai Wu Yan already has a wife.”
Hai Gang said, “He has women, but no principal wife. Your elder sister Suo Ning Bing also once divorced Ashi Luo. Our families are well matched in social status. A match made in Heaven.”
To speak truly, Hai Gang’s conditions were not excessive. Judging purely by status, Suo Ning Bing and the Hidden Continent young master Hai Wu Yan were indeed well matched.
Suo Lun shook his head, “Impossible.”
Hai Gang’s gaze turned angry, “Why impossible? Is my son unworthy of your elder sister?”
Suo Lun said, “For reasons too difficult to speak of.”
Having spoken, Suo Lun’s hand directly reached towards Princess Zhi Yan’s bottom beside him.
He was certainly not doing this out of lechery, unable to contain himself from touching Zhi Yan right here. Rather, he was giving Hai Gang a hint that his relationship with his elder sister Suo Ning Bing was not pure, but he could not speak of it directly.
Immediately, Hai Gang was somewhat astonished, somewhat disbelieving.
Of course, he was not astonished at Suo Lun’s incestuous relationship with Suo Ning Bing. Rather, he was astonished at Suo Lun’s direct candour.
Such secret scandalous affairs, Suo Lun could speak of them, albeit in a very implicit manner.
At this moment, Zhuang Zhi Xuan behind Suo Lun also revealed a disbelieving gaze. She had not known of this matter.
And the little girl by Hai Gang’s side was also taken aback, looking at Suo Lun in disbelief, then revealing a trace of contempt and revulsion.
She was still young, not yet knowing how to conceal her gaze.
After a moment, Hai Gang said, “I greatly admire Lord Suo Lun’s candour, but… a great man must act decisively. I feel that compared to an inappropriate relationship, the future of Sky Water City is more important. Do you not think so? Moreover, regarding this past matter, our clan will not mind.”
Suo Lun shook his head, “Impossible. My regard for this relationship exceeds my regard for the Sky Water City foundation. I have come to where I am today to protect those beside me, not for any ambition.”
Hai Gang was astonished, looking at Suo Lun in disbelief. He said loudly, “Absurd, foolish! Such inability to distinguish weight and importance will destroy you, and will destroy your clan as well. To monopolise your elder sister, you actually refuse your only potential ally. If you are such a muddled, lecherous person, how dare my Hai clan form a marriage alliance with you, binding ourselves to the same warship?”
Regarding the matter of elder sister Suo Ning Bing, there was absolutely no room for negotiation on Suo Lun’s side!
The reason he had become Suo Lun was because of Suo Ning Bing. The reason he had come to where he was today was to a large degree also for Suo Ning Bing.
He was determined to possess Suo Ning Bing for a lifetime. No one could lay half a finger upon her.
Suo Lun said, “Must there be a marriage alliance to form an alliance? Common interests are more stable than anything.”
“Correct, families who formed marriage alliances then turned hostile are countless.” Hai Gang said, “But a marriage alliance at least expresses the attitude of alliance, that the alliance will not be casually torn asunder. If you cannot even bear to part with one woman, what alliance are you talking about?”
Suo Lun said, “Then for the sake of interests, could you, Lord Hai Gang, part with the one you love most?”
“Of course!” Hai Gang said furiously, “Whichever woman by my side catches your eye, my daughter? My wife? Take her and enjoy her as you please! If a great man is trapped by feminine charms, trapped by sentiment, what future does he have?”
At this moment, they were truly speaking at cross purposes.
Suddenly, Hai Gang stood up abruptly, “Lord Suo Lun, my attitude has already been exceedingly humble. You cannot bully me further. If you wish to ally, either your aunt Yan Chuo Er marries me, or your elder sister Suo Ning Bing marries my son Hai Wu Yan. A marriage alliance is the most basic attitude. Otherwise, this alliance need not be formed!”