Suo Lun’s refusal had little to do with his cheap father Suo Long.
Although he had inherited everything of the Suo Family and held certain feelings for Suo Long, he was after all not Suo Long’s true son. He was merely an impostor.
So the identity of Suo Long’s woman might not necessarily constitute a taboo.
The reason he refused so resolutely was entirely because of Yan Chuo’er herself. Suo Lun truly regarded her with the reverence and love one has for an elder.
Although Yan Chuo’er appeared to be at most thirty years old, and when standing together with Suo Ningbing, the two of them looked like sisters, sisters merely two or three years apart in age.
After devouring the Dragon’s Holy Tear, Yan Chuo’er’s entire being had been sublimated, like a moon goddess. Her purity and beauty were almost on par with Princess Zhi Yan’s, and she was filled with a mysterious maturity, an elegant and enchanting temperament.
In short, she was entirely the most captivating woman in the world.
But Suo Lun’s reverence and love for her was insurmountable!
Yan Chuo’er gazed at Suo Lun’s face, her gaze growing even gentler.
In this lifetime, she had only ever had one man, and that was Suo Long. In her youth, like other Yan women, she had sought out the finest human men to borrow seed from.
And after bearing children, she had not married a Yan Pirate warrior like other Yan women, but had instead raised her two children alone.
The only man she had ever loved was Suo Long alone.
But after sacrificing herself to the Sea God, she had lost all her memories, and naturally all her emotions as well.
Thus, her love for Suo Long had vanished like smoke and clouds.
All her emotions had been rebuilt after her memory loss.
Facing Suo Lun, she similarly held no romantic feelings, only a dense familial affection.
And this familial affection had no blood relation, yet transcended romantic love. So when the Yan Pirates proposed that she represent the Yan Clan’s interests and form a marriage alliance with Suo Lun, she imagined it slightly and agreed with little hesitation.
She was a Yan woman, and did not place too much importance upon the moral propriety of the human kingdoms. The only thing that could sway her was her emotions.
“Little Lun, if you do not agree, then what should be done about the Yan Pirates?” Yan Chuo’er said. “You should know very well that the Yan Pirates will not tolerate a single grain of sand in their eyes. If you do not agree, then there is nothing to discuss. They would rather fight to the end than compromise.”
Regarding this point, Suo Lun was very clear.
The only thing the Yan Clan did not fear was combat and death. They feared meaningless death, cowardly death, yet actively pursued death in battle.
So the Yan Pirate island lords led by the Lord of Black Reef Island had thrown themselves forward one after another to die at Yan Mo’s hands.
Three hundred Yan Pirate warriors had also rushed toward Yan Mo like moths to a flame, seeking death.
Once Suo Lun refused, then the Yan Pirates of the Thunder Archipelago would not surrender. Suo Lun would either have to attack by force or simply withdraw.
Attacking by force was impossible. In such easily defensible, strategically vital terrain, Suo Lun did not know how many lives he would have to expend to take it.
And to simply withdraw like this, abandoning these over ten thousand Yan Pirates and tens of thousands of Yan commoners?
Suo Lun said, “Aunt? If I directly withdraw my army and leave these Yan Pirates and Yan commoners on the Thunder Archipelago, what then?”
Yan Chuo’er was startled and said, “If this is done, it would mean I have completely abandoned the Yan commoners. So, the Yan commoners would also completely abandon me. They would select another person who could relatively represent the Yan King’s bloodline to pledge loyalty to.”
The premise of the Yan Clan’s surrender was the Yan Queen’s return to her throne, continuing to become the Yan Clan’s leader.
And if Suo Lun did not accept the Yan Clan’s surrender, then Yan Chuo’er naturally could no longer be the Yan Queen, which would equal abandoning the Yan Clan.
Suo Lun said, “The new Yan King they select might be Hai Gang?”
Yan Chuo’er nodded and said, “Yes, after all, the Hai Family was long ago the deputy king of the Yan Clan. He is closest to the Yan King’s bloodline.”
Once the Yan Pirates and Yan commoners on the Thunder Archipelago threw their lot in with Hai Gang, it would be like adding wings to a tiger for him.
Yan Chuo’er said, “Moreover, those Yan Pirates who have already surrendered to you will also leave one after another, choosing to pledge loyalty to the new Yan King.”
What she said was not empty words. Suo Lun had successively captured nearly thirty thousand Yan Pirates twice. They had surrendered and pledged loyalty to Queen Yan Chuo’er.
And once Yan Chuo’er completely refused the position of queen and abandoned the Yan Clan, then these Yan Pirates would very likely leave.
Of course, that earliest batch of seven thousand Yan Pirates had come as Yan Xue’er’s dowry. They would not leave.
Yan Chuo’er said, “Little Lun, you now possess over a hundred thousand troops in your hands, but those who truly pledge loyalty to you are merely the Tianshui City garrison and the Silver Wolf Legion, plus Xue’er’s seven thousand Yan Pirates. Added together, they are less than twenty thousand. Once you subdue these Yan Pirates, you will possess a fifty thousand strong Yan Pirate legion in your hands. Believe me, this fifty thousand Yan Pirate legion will become an absolute trump card in your hands. Their combat strength is not something the Silver Wolf Legion and the Tianshui City garrison can match.”
In fact, of the Silver Wolf Legion, those who truly pledged loyalty to Yan Yan and Yan Nai’er were merely three or four thousand. The rest were all mercenaries recruited with money.
“Although I lost my memory, I am after all the Yan Clan queen. I bear responsibility toward these Yan commoners,” Yan Chuo’er said.
Yan Chuo’er’s words were also very clear. Once Suo Lun refused the Yan Clan’s submission, then Yan Chuo’er would also find herself in a very difficult position.
On one side was Suo Lun, whom she regarded as family. On the other side was her responsibility.
When Yan Mo was still alive, the responsibility of protecting the Yan Clan had nothing to do with her. Now that Yan Mo was dead, this responsibility had fallen upon Yan Chuo’er’s shoulders. She had to protect the Yan Clan’s integrity and continuation.
So by then, whether she would remain by Suo Lun’s side or return to the Yan Clan to be queen would be a very difficult choice.
Even, if Yan Chuo’er felt that Suo Lun’s side no longer particularly needed her, she would choose to return to the Yan Clan’s side, because they needed her more.
Suo Lun closed his eyes, thinking and struggling for a long time.
Opening his eyes once more, Suo Lun said, “Aunt, then can I marry Xiao Xue’er instead? In the future, the child born between her and me can inherit the position of Yan King.”
Yan Chuo’er said in surprise, “But you are half-siblings by the same father. Such a close blood relation, the child born would have problems.”
“It will not,” Suo Lun said resolutely. “There are some things I cannot say too clearly, but… Xiao Xue’er and I have no blood relation.”
Upon hearing these words, an expression of astonishment appeared on Yan Chuo’er’s face.
Undoubtedly, this was the greatest secret on Suo Lun’s person, and he had actually spoken it to her now.
“Does Ningbing… does she know?” Yan Chuo’er asked.
“She knows,” Suo Lun said. “Between her and me, we are lovers, we are sweethearts. It is for her sake that I have come this far.”
Yan Chuo’er looked at Suo Lun in disbelief, her voice trembling as she said, “You, you should not have told me. Now wash away the memories in my mind.”
Suo Lun said, “Aunt is the person closest to me, and also the person I trust the most. There is no secret I cannot tell you. If even you cannot be trusted, then this world holds no great meaning for me.”
Yan Chuo’er’s beautiful eyes gazed at Suo Lun. She could not help but reach out to stroke his handsome face and asked, “Child, what is your name?”
“Lan Ling,” Suo Lun said.
Yan Chuo’er said, “Who else knows of this matter?”
“Ye Jingyu, Ye Jingfeng, elder sister Suo Ningbing, and you,” Suo Lun said. “All family, all people who would rather die than betray me.”
Instantly, the gaze Yan Chuo’er directed at Suo Lun grew even gentler.
Suo Lun said, “Xiao Xue’er and I have no blood relation whatsoever, so the child we bear will also have no problems and can inherit the position of Yan Clan leader.”
Yan Chuo’er thought for a while, then shook her head and said, “Still impossible, my child. Your true identity is known only to four people and absolutely cannot be made public. Then the people of the world, including the Yan Clan people, will feel that you and Yan Xue’er are half-siblings by the same father. In the Yan Clan tradition, siblings with a blood relation cannot marry, so the marriage between you and Yan Xue’er was already void long ago. Even you, as the one who deceived in the marriage, were punished, kicked into the ten-thousand-zhang abyss by Yan Mo to sacrifice to the Sea God!”
Seeing Suo Lun’s furrowed brow, Yan Chuo’er continued, “So, if you propose to the Yan Clan to marry Yan Xue’er as a marriage alliance, they will not agree. The most crucial reason is that they do not want a person with intellectual problems to become the future Yan Clan leader.”
Yes, this was the most crucial problem.
The reason the Yan Clan people proposed that the Yan Queen form a marriage alliance with Suo Lun was to bear offspring and let the Yan Clan have successors.
With a Yan King, the Yan Clan would have direction and a future, would be a complete race. All Yan Pirates would only pledge loyalty to the Yan King, not directly to Suo Lun.
The Yan Pirates did not care about chaotic emotions between siblings. What they cared about was having a wise and powerful future Yan King.
And siblings with a blood relation, the child born would certainly have problems and absolutely could not become the Yan Clan leader.
Suo Lun and Yan Xue’er had no blood relation, but the Yan Clan people did not know that.
So Suo Lun’s proposal to marry Yan Xue’er would certainly not pass with the Yan Pirates.
Whereas Yan Chuo’er forming a marriage alliance with Suo Lun would be fine, because there was no blood relation whatsoever. As for Yan Chuo’er once being Suo Long’s woman, no Yan Pirate would care about that.
Furthermore, Suo Long was merely the man Yan Chuo’er had borrowed seed from, not a husband in a marital relationship.
Among the Yan Pirate clans, a son inheriting his father’s concubines was rare but not unheard of. However, most Yan Pirates insisted on monogamy. Even island lords and cave lords rarely had wives and concubines.
“Lan Ling, you have no relation to Suo Long, so between you and me, there is no moral or ethical obstacle whatsoever,” Yan Chuo’er said. “In my case, there is even less obstacle, because I completely lost my memory and forgot Suo Long completely cleanly. I regard you as family, but if reality requires us to bear offspring, I do not mind in the slightest.”
“But I mind…” Suo Lun thought inwardly.
Even ten times, even a hundred times, Suo Lun could not persuade himself.
Yan Chuo’er gazed at Suo Lun for quite a while, then suddenly said, “Lan Ling, I am sorry.”
She lightly patted the back of Suo Lun’s neck.
Instantly, Suo Lun directly fainted, unconscious to the world!
Then, Yan Chuo’er picked up Suo Lun and walked outside.
On the deck, Zhuang Zhixuan and Zhi Yan saw this and immediately charged forward like lightning, blocking Yan Chuo’er’s path.
The two of them did not draw their swords, because they believed Yan Chuo’er would certainly not harm Suo Lun.
“The condition for the Yan Pirates’ surrender is for me to form a marriage alliance with Suo Lun and bear a son as the future Yan King. Suo Lun would not agree no matter what, so I had no choice but to knock him unconscious,” Yan Chuo’er said.
Instantly, Zhi Yan and Zhuang Zhixuan were greatly astonished.
“Zhuang Zhixuan, do you still have that nerve poison that paralyses a person’s nerves and renders their entire body immobile?” Yan Chuo’er asked.
Zhuang Zhixuan looked toward Zhi Yan.
Zhi Yan took out a small bottle. This had been looted from Hai Die’er’s person.
Then, Princess Zhi Yan took out another small bottle, which was the antidote, obtained later from Hai Gang.
“I shall make a trip.” Yan Chuo’er carried Suo Lun onto the griffin beast, then flew toward the highest point of the Yan King Palace.
…
On the griffin beast’s back, Queen Yan Chuo’er gently massaged the back of Suo Lun’s neck, allowing him to awaken.
“Little Ling, I am sorry once again.” Then, she lightly applied a bit of the nerve paralysis toxin to the back of Suo Lun’s neck.
Instantly, this paralysing toxin rapidly spread along the nerve centre.
Soon, Suo Lun’s entire body could not move, yet he could see and hear.
The griffin beast landed atop the Yan King Palace. Yan Chuo’er supported Suo Lun’s arm and moved him into the bedchamber of the Yan King Palace.
Then, she positioned Suo Lun sitting upon the massive couch, while her breathtakingly beautiful figure gently nestled into his embrace.
After arranging this pose, Yan Chuo’er said, “Let the Yan Pirate warrior chiefs enter.”
Soon, over a hundred warrior chiefs walked in, knelt in salute and said, “We pay respects to Your Majesty the Queen.”
Yan Chuo’er said, “Lord Suo Lun has agreed to all five of your conditions.”
The Yan Pirate warrior chiefs looked toward Suo Lun.
“Husband, is that not so?” Yan Chuo’er asked.
Suo Lun did not speak. Yan Chuo’er’s jade hand gently exerted force, and so he nodded.
Yan Chuo’er said, “But we have one condition.”
“Please speak, Your Majesty,” the Yan Pirate warrior chief said.
Yan Chuo’er said, “As everyone knows, the human kingdoms are extremely hypocritical, placing great importance upon ritual propriety and human ethics. Although Lord Suo Lun and I have no blood relation whatsoever, in many people’s eyes, I was once Count Suo Long’s woman. So once I form a marriage alliance with Suo Lun, it is a very abnormal relationship that will cause Lord Suo Lun to be besieged by public opinion, very unfavourable to his serving as regent. So, the relationship between her and me can only be known by those present here and cannot be made public.”
“Your will be done,” the Yan Pirate warrior chief said. “What we want is merely a pure-blooded, wise and powerful little prince. With a new Yan King, our Yan Clan will have hope and a future. As for the nominal marriage contract relationship, we do not care.”
“Thus, we have reached an agreement,” Yan Chuo’er said.
The Yan Pirate warrior chief said, “Since Lord Suo Lun has agreed to our five conditions, then our Yan Clan is willing to submit. Generation after generation, under the Yan King’s leadership, we shall fight for the Suo Family.”
Having spoken, the leading Yan Pirate warrior cut open his palm, letting blood drip down. The over a hundred Yan Pirate warrior chiefs present also cut open their palms.
Yan Chuo’er raised Suo Lun’s palm, using a dagger to lightly cut it open, letting blood flow out.
Then, every Yan Clan warrior stepped forward to clasp hands with Suo Lun, letting the blood of the two people merge.
This was the Yan Clan’s blood oath handshake!
Countless years ago, the Yan Pirate chiefs of that time had used the blood oath ceremony to announce their loyalty to the first generation Yan King.
And now they once again used the blood oath handshake to announce their submission to Suo Lun. Although these Yan Clan warrior chiefs did not pledge loyalty directly to him, they represented the entire Yan Clan in pledging loyalty to Suo Lun.
One hundred Yan Clan warrior chiefs, all performed the blood oath handshake with Suo Lun.
“We beg Your Majesty the Queen to return to your throne and once again assume the position of Yan Clan king.” The one hundred Yan Clan warriors knelt down and said.
Yan Chuo’er sat beside Suo Lun and said, “Where my husband is, there is also my throne. I am returning to my throne. All excessive formalities are to be dispensed with.”
“Yes!” the Yan Clan warrior chief said. “I shall go invite the Yan Clan elders.”
Then, he stepped forward to open the bedchamber door, going to invite the Yan Clan elders waiting outside.
The Yan Clan’s elders council was an organisation of extreme democracy. Regardless of your background or cultivation, as long as you lived to over eighty years old, you automatically became a member of the elders council, possessing the highest supervisory and deliberative power.
And the Yan Clan was different from the nomadic peoples of ancient China. Elderly old people were not a burden, but rather were respected by all.
Every time the best grain, the finest wine, and the best meat were plundered, they were first offered to these elders of the clan.
Unlike the Xiongnu of Earth, where once one grew old, one lost all use and was completely abandoned, unable to even eat the leftovers.
Some Yan Clan traditions were extremely primitive and backward, while others were very civilised and precious.
…
The palace doors opened, and several withered old Yan Clan elders entered. The leading elder held the Yan King’s crown in his hands.
This crown was made of gold, gems, and coral.
It could not be called exquisite or beautiful, nor could it be called magnificent, yet it was very mysterious and imposing.
After Yan Mo was poisoned and withered into collapse, the crown had fallen to the ground, still stained with blood.
After his death, the Yan Pirate warriors had picked up the crown and delivered it to the elders council. The crown had been cleansed and given minor repairs, and was now once again perfectly intact.
Yan Chuo’er still sat upon the throne, slightly bowing her lovely figure.
A ninety-year-old elder bowed and placed the crown upon Yan Chuo’er’s head.
Over a year ago, Yan Chuo’er had placed this crown upon her son Yan Mo’s head. Now it had returned to her own head once more.
“We pay respects to Your Majesty the Queen!”
All the Yan Pirate warrior chiefs present, all the Yan Clan elders, knelt down in prostration.
Outside the palace, all the Yan Pirate warriors, all the Yan commoners, regardless of age or gender, tens of thousands of people, all knelt upon the stairs.
“We pay respects to Your Majesty the Queen!”
Yan Chuo’er had once again become the supreme ruler of the Yan Clan.
Her throne, although not recognised by the human kingdoms, nor recognised by the Divine Dragon Temple.
But the Yan commoners needed no one’s recognition. In their hearts, this throne was supreme, was incomparably sacred.
They did not worship the Divine Dragon. They lived on overseas isolated islands and had no intention of integrating into the civilisation of the human kingdoms.
After completing the ceremony of returning to her throne, Yan Chuo’er stepped down from the couch and knelt on one knee before Suo Lun. She took up his right hand, bowed her moth-like brows to kiss his ring, and said solemnly yet gently, “Yan Clan King Yan Chuo swears that from this moment forth, my Yan Clan shall pledge loyalty to the Suo Family generation after generation. Unless the Suo Family first violates the blood oath, my Yan Clan shall never betray. Heaven and earth bear witness, the Sea God bears witness!”
“Heaven and earth bear witness, the Sea God bears witness!”
In the great hall, over a hundred Yan Pirate warrior chiefs and elders council members shouted in unison.
Immediately after, tens of thousands of Yan commoners and Yan Pirates outside shouted in unison, “Heaven and earth bear witness, the Sea God bear witness!”
From this day forth, the Yan Clan, this race that regarded death as returning home, filled with honour and blood, had completely pledged loyalty under Suo Lun’s banner!
In Suo Lun’s hands, he truly possessed a powerful trump card legion.