Seeing Hai Gang speak with such finality, Suo Lun also rose abruptly, “Aunt Yan Chuo Er will not marry, and my elder sister Suo Ning Bing will not marry either. If Lord Hai Gang feels this alliance cannot be formed, then let it be so!”
Having spoken, Suo Lun, Zhi Yan, and Zhuang Zhi Xuan rose to depart.
They had walked all the way to the door when Hai Gang suddenly said, “Wait!”
Suo Lun said, “Has Lord Hai Gang had a change of heart?”
Hai Gang sighed, “Before meeting you, I was truly very curious what kind of heroic talent you were. But after meeting you, I truly cannot imagine at all how such an immature person could have achieved what you have today.”
Suo Lun did not answer.
Hai Gang said, “According to conventional classifications, from politician to statesman to great statesman. Yet your present childishness truly does not even qualify as a politician.”
Suo Lun did not refute him, because any politician could sacrifice a woman for enormous gain.
Hai Gang continued, “Suo Lun, there is something you may not like to hear. One day, you will die because of this character of yours.”
Suo Lun said, “Lord Hai Gang is perhaps the second, or the third person to say such words.”
Hai Gang said, “Oh? Does Lord Suo Lun disdain these words?”
“No!” Suo Lun said, “Those who speak these words are without exception absolute paragons of humanity. One cannot but believe them. I have also always deeply believed one saying: character determines destiny.”
“Then why are you still so obstinate?” Hai Gang said.
“There is another saying: character cannot be changed.” Suo Lun said.
Then Suo Lun continued, “If Lord Hai Gang has not changed his mind, I shall take my leave.”
Having spoken, the three of them continued walking outwards.
“Wait…” Hai Gang said, “Come back, sit down again.”
Suo Lun’s party of three returned and sat down.
Hai Gang said, “Then there is one more form of marriage alliance. Have you seen the girl beside me?”
Suo Lun nodded, “I have.”
Hai Gang said, “Her name is Hai Zhi Er. She is my daughter, exactly sixteen years old this year!”
Hearing this, Suo Lun’s heart skipped a beat.
Hai Gang said, “Zhi Er, remove your veil!”
That girl gently pulled down the veil from her face, revealing a visage as white as snow, exquisitely perfect.
This girl, whether compared to Hai Die Er or Hai Na Er, was three parts more beautiful.
Now only sixteen, she already displayed astonishing beauty. One could completely imagine how beautiful she would become once she truly grew up.
Hai Gang said, “I will give Hai Zhi Er to you in marriage. This is also a form of marriage alliance.”
Suo Lun said, “I already have a wife.”
Hai Gang said, “You have more than one wife, so one more matters little.”
Suo Lun said, “Is Lord Hai Gang being so generous to me?”
Hai Gang said, “Your marriage to Princess Zhi Yan was actually a form of joining her family. So Yan Nai Er is considered your principal wife. Her children will inherit your Sky Water City enterprise. And my daughter marrying over would basically be a concubine.”
“Therefore, this is inappropriate.” Suo Lun said, “Your daughter is a daughter of gold and jade. How could she be a concubine?”
Hai Gang said, “But you have already rejected my two marriage alliance proposals. I am at my wit’s end. This is the only method left. When you fight the Rock Demon, I will dispatch sixty thousand naval troops to assist in battle. That equals the dowry of my Hai clan. Then you, Suo Lun, should also present a bride price, should you not?”
Suo Lun said, “To what level should my bride price be? Please instruct me, Lord Hai Gang.”
Hai Gang said, “After the great battle ends, your salt trade and Magic Mirror trade will be transferred from Pirate Harbour to Hidden Continent City.”
In this way, the benefits brought to the Hidden Continent Island would be incomparably enormous.
After thinking for a while, Suo Lun nodded, “I agree.”
Although this would somewhat place him at another’s mercy, Suo Lun still agreed.
Then Hai Gang also said, “This time, the Rock Demon’s blockade of your maritime trade caused your income to suddenly plummet by sixty percent. Then if I dispatch sixty thousand troops, it equals helping you turn the tide with all your might. So after the war, I want forty percent of all your maritime trade income!”
At these words, Suo Lun’s gaze contracted abruptly.
Going by last month’s trade volume, Suo Lun’s maritime trade was roughly around ninety thousand gold coins, and was still rapidly growing.
Hai Gang taking forty percent at once would equal taking forty to fifty thousand gold coins from Suo Lun every month from now on.
Closing his eyes and thinking for a while, Suo Lun said, “Lord Hai Gang, even if one were to buy sixty thousand naval troops from you, it would at most be several hundred thousand gold coins. If we go by your demands, in one year you would take several hundred thousand gold coins from me.”
Hai Gang said, “Accounts are not calculated this way. If I do not dispatch troops, you will not earn a single gold coin from maritime trade. And since you would not agree to a proper marriage alliance, this can only be a cold transaction.”
Suo Lun narrowed his eyes, “Lord Hai Gang, you should have guessed from the start that I would not agree to a marriage alliance using my aunt and elder sister, so you deliberately proposed it, with the purpose of making me refuse. Not only that, you also gave your young, beautiful daughter to me as a concubine. This makes me even more in the wrong. In this way, your opening your mouth like a lion appears fully justified, and does not appear greedy at all.”
Hai Gang’s expression grew grave, “Lord Suo Lun, you are overly suspicious. And if I were you, even if I saw through something I would not speak of it. That appears shallow.”
Suo Lun said, “Did not Lord Hai Gang see long ago that my scheming does not run deep?”
Hai Gang said, “The conditions have been laid out. Three forms of marriage alliance, choose one.”
Only the first two qualified as marriage alliances. The third was merely naked transaction. Suo Lun would use the price of four to five hundred thousand gold coins per year in exchange for Hai Gang’s dispatch of troops.
Speaking of which, Hai Gang was dispatching troops not for Suo Lun, but to help himself. After all, the Rock Demon was his greatest enemy.
But who let the Rock Demon attack Suo Lun first? So naturally Hai Gang opened his mouth wide like a lion and engaged in extortion.
Suo Lun closed his eyes in thought. After a long while, he said, “Thirty percent. I can at most give you thirty percent of the maritime trade volume. This is already an astronomical sum.”
Hai Gang hesitated for less than three seconds, then nodded, “Done!”
Thus, Suo Lun exchanged Hai Gang’s dispatch of troops at the cost of over three hundred thousand gold coins per year, to jointly attack the Rock Demon.
This price was nearly astronomical.
But there was no other way. When one had to ask favours of others, one could not expect them to be soft.
“Done.” Suo Lun said.
Then Suo Lun could not help but say sarcastically, “Lord Hai Gang, the first time you did business with Ashi Luo, not only did you take not a single coin, you also threw in thirty thousand naval troops. The second time you did business with Zhi Li, you threw in another ten thousand naval troops. Now doing business with me, you extort several hundred thousand gold coins per year. You truly know how to treat people differently.”
Hai Gang smiled, “There is no other way. I have done too many loss-making deals. There must be one that earns. And I also wanted to do a loss-making deal with you, but you would not agree.”
Suo Lun let out a cold laugh, saying nothing.
Next, both sides signed the formal alliance treaty, affixed energy seals, signed their great names, in triplicate. One copy was to be sent to the Divine Dragon Temple!
…
After signing, Hai Gang extended his hand towards Suo Lun, “Pleasant cooperation. In one month, you and I will join hands to defeat the Rock Demon!”
“Pleasant cooperation.” Suo Lun shook hands with Hai Gang.
“Someone, escort Lord Suo Lun to the VIP courtyard to rest.” Hai Gang commanded.
Immediately, four warriors entered, preparing to lead Suo Lun’s party of three to the VIP courtyard of the Hidden Continent Governor’s Residence.
“Zhi Er, you go along as well.” Hai Gang suddenly said, “Remember our Rock People’s traditions. If you cannot make a man walk out of the room with a sore back and waist, it is the shame of we Rock women.”
At this moment, Hai Gang again referred to himself as Rock People.
Fifteen year old Hai Zhi Er’s face paled slightly, then she bowed, “Yes, Father.”
…
The four warriors led Suo Lun’s party of three towards the VIP courtyard of the governor’s residence.
Here, several dozen servants and maids had long been waiting.
Fragrant bath water had been prepared, along with brand new bedding and garments.
After entering the courtyard, Suo Lun comfortably lay back in a large wooden bath bucket, soaking in the warm bath water, every pore of his body seeming to relax.
Truly too comfortable!
Princess Zhi Yan was bathing in another room, while Zhuang Zhi Xuan still guarded outside the door.
Suo Lun lay in the bath water, closing his eyes to enjoy this brief tranquillity.
Although he had paid an enormous price, he had ultimately concluded a treaty with the Hai clan.
The Suo clan navy, the Hidden Continent Island navy, plus allied pirates, together made one hundred thousand naval troops, facing the Rock Demon’s one hundred thousand naval troops.
Although the Rock Demon had seventy thousand Rock Pirates, powerful beyond measure, Suo Lun had gunpowder, griffin beasts, and fire oil. So this battle could still be won.
Bloody Rock Demon, living a perfectly good life, yet insisting on provoking him, causing him to pay such an enormous price, to fight a great battle that was not necessary.
And just at this moment, Suo Lun sensed someone walking in. Although her footsteps were silent, Suo Lun’s mental power still easily detected her.
Opening his eyes, he saw the exquisitely perfect Hai Zhi Er. She wore only a thin layer of gauze upon her body, with nothing underneath.
She was only sixteen, already nearly one metre seventy in height. Her entire delicate body was very young and snow white, graceful as willows.
“What are you doing coming in?” Suo Lun said sternly.
Hai Zhi Er looked at Suo Lun with innocent, flawless eyes, “I have come to serve my husband’s bath.”
“There is no need.” Suo Lun said, “You are only sixteen. You should not be like this.”
Hai Zhi Er said, “This is my duty. If I am still a virgin when I leave the room tomorrow morning, I will be beaten to death. If a Rock woman cannot even make her betrothed willing to touch her, she has no face to live in this world.”
Suo Lun said, “But you are not a Rock Person.”
Hai Zhi Er said, “Perhaps in the future I will not be a Rock woman, but for now I still am.”
Then, Hai Zhi Er raised her long, enchanting jade legs and entered the bath bucket.
Instantly, the temperature of the entire bath water seemed to rise considerably, and the enchanting fragrance grew richer.
Suo Lun directly closed his eyes. The Hai Zhi Er beside him, although incomparably beautiful, even more enchanting than the Rock Demon’s wife Hai Die Er, was after all only sixteen. Suo Lun was no beast. He could not bring himself to act.
Seeing Suo Lun close his eyes, Hai Zhi Er smiled gently, then helped Suo Lun wipe his body.
Afterwards, her movements grew bolder and bolder, her jade hands like snakes, slithering all over Suo Lun’s body.
“Enough, stop…” Suo Lun opened his eyes and warned.
” Hee hee…” Hai Zhi Er’s exquisitely perfect little face drew close to Suo Lun’s, “You are far more handsome than I imagined, and far more enchanting. And you are also a good person.”
Suo Lun said, “You have already served my bath. You may leave. I wish to lie here alone for a while.”
“Am I not beautiful enough?” Hai Zhi Er said, “You look down upon me?”
“No, you are too young. And I do not like this kind of transaction.” Suo Lun said, “If you are willing, I will take you back to Sky Water City. After the great battle ends, I will return your freedom.”
Hai Zhi Er hooked her long, enchanting jade finger, her breath like orchids, pouting her jelly-like little lips, leaning in to kiss Suo Lun’s mouth.
Suo Lun turned his head to avoid it. Hai Zhi Er’s little lips kissed Suo Lun’s chest.
“Very well, I have finished bathing.” Suo Lun was about to rise and leave.
But…
He discovered his entire body could not move. His whole body had been paralysed.
“What, what did you do?” Suo Lun said furiously.
But he discovered he could not make any sound at all. Even the nerves of his mouth had been completely paralysed and immobilised.
And at this moment, Hai Zhi Er’s smile remained innocent and flawless, her exquisitely perfect face appearing even more beautiful and enchanting.
She stuck out her little pink, tender tongue like a small snake, lightly licking Suo Lun’s face and lips.
“What a truly enchanting husband. I really cannot bear to kill you.” Hai Zhi Er soundlessly mouthed with her lips, “When I entered the bath bucket, I hid a poison deep within my body, a poison that silently paralyses the nerves. Can you guess where I hid the poison to evade your female bodyguard’s search?”
Then, Hai Zhi Er quickly gave the answer. She turned her back to Suo Lun, slightly raising her bottom!
At this moment, what Suo Lun saw was seemingly not an enchanting bottom, but a terrifying, venomous serpent’s tail.
Why? Was it Hai Gang who wanted to kill him? Or was it merely Hai Zhi Er’s own intention?
Hai Gang had absolutely no reason to kill him. He had just obtained enormous benefits from Suo Lun.
“You are truly a very good person. I really cannot bear to kill you…” Hai Zhi Er soundlessly mouthed, her beautiful eyes appearing even more flawless, her entire body not revealing the slightest hint of killing intent.
Suo Lun’s entire body was completely paralysed and immobilised by a kind of nerve toxin.
“Demon Star, why could you not detect this severe poison in advance?” Suo Lun asked inwardly.
Demon Star said, “Master, this is a severe poison, not a form of energy. You were bathing, not releasing energy. Naturally I also did not know your nerves were being immobilised and paralysed.”
Suo Lun said, “Can you devour and neutralise this severe poison?”
Demon Star said, “Yes, but it requires time. And you are continuously soaking in the bath water. This nerve poison still enters your body in an unending stream.”
At this moment, Hai Zhi Er mouthed with her lips, “Suo Lun, you are quite the gentleman. Facing such an absolute beauty as myself, you were completely unmoved, and your mind was not disturbed, rendering my seduction useless. But you should not have been so lacking in vigilance towards a little girl. Although I am only fifteen, I have after all studied martial arts in the Demon Continent since childhood.”
Fifteen? So she was not sixteen, but fifteen.
Moreover, she had studied martial arts in the Demon Continent since childhood. No wonder she could silently release severe poison.
“Do you know why I kill you?” Hai Zhi Er still soundlessly mouthed with her lips, “Because I already have a beloved man, and cannot marry you. But my father insisted on forcing me to marry you, so I can only kill you.”
Even when speaking these words, Hai Zhi Er’s beautiful eyes remained flawless, innocent as a child’s.
Suo Lun’s heart turned cold. This vicious little girl, because of her young age, he could not bear to offend her, so he closed his eyes and did not look at her body.
Not only that, after she entered the bath bucket, Suo Lun immediately wanted to rise and leave.
He had already voluntarily stated he would not take her chastity, and after the battle with the Rock Demon ended, he would immediately grant her freedom.
But she still struck with a poisonous hand.
“Correct, you did promise me to grant my freedom. But I feel killing you is more direct, and more fun.” Hai Zhi Er said, “Recently you have been so formidable, beating even Zhi Li until he was utterly disgraced. For such a powerful figure to ultimately die by the hand of a little girl like me, is that not very interesting?”
“Very well, I have finished speaking. I am going to kill you now.” The little girl Hai Zhi Er soundlessly mouthed, then extended sharp fingernails that flickered with a dark blue lustre, clearly carrying severe poison.
Her poisonous fingernails lightly slashed towards Suo Lun’s neck’s great artery.
Her posture in killing a person was so casual and light, as if tearing a sheet of paper.
“Die, die…”
Only when her sharp poisonous fingernails touched Suo Lun’s great artery did a trace of mad killing light flash in her beautiful eyes.
And at this very moment.
But in the next instant, Hai Zhi Er discovered her entire body had been immobilised, completely unable to move.
Naturally, it was Suo Lun’s spirit body condensation technique!
Although his body was paralysed by the severe poison, his mental power remained powerful. Using the spirit body condensation technique, he effortlessly immobilised Hai Zhi Er.
“Bang…” Then, Suo Lun’s gaze focused, and a powerful mental force suddenly released.
“Ah…” Hai Zhi Er let out a miserable shriek, her entire delicate body flying directly outwards.