Chu Ye rode his lion-tiger beast, bringing only several dozen trusted confidante warriors, rushing at the fastest speed to pay respects to Soren.
At a villa fifty li from the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line, Princess Zhi Yan and Soren received Count Chu Ye, who had arrived dusty and travel-worn.
Soren was truly considerate. To avoid Chu Ye’s worry of being invited into a trap, he actively set the meeting location here, and only brought Zhi Yan and Zhuang Zhixuan.
If Count Chu Ye were made to go to the Wind Thunder Fortress defensive line, or to Tianshui City to pay respects, then surrounded by a hundred thousand troops, he would probably be scared out of his wits.
The moment he saw Princess Zhi Yan and Soren, Chu Ye immediately tumbled down from his lion-tiger beast’s back, kneeling and kowtowing, “This guilty subject Chu Ye pays respects to Your Highness the Princess, pays respects to Lord Soren!”
Looking up, he could not help but be startled.
Because Princess Zhi Yan was actually sitting on Soren’s lap, with her arms around his neck, in an incomparably intimate, even flirtatious posture.
Count Chu Ye almost suspected his eyes were playing tricks on him. Wasn’t Princess Zhi Yan a transcendent, otherworldly fairy who did not eat the food of common mortals? The posture before his eyes…
Of course, after Zhi Yan had devoured the Divine Dragon’s Fallen Dream, her body was indeed filled with desire. But it was not to this extent. The reason she displayed herself thus was merely to set off Soren’s sole grip on power, to show that she would not concern herself with any matters, and only wholeheartedly played the part of a little woman.
“Husband, hurry up, don’t make people wait too long.” Zhi Yan kissed Soren, then walked away alluringly, entering the room.
Count Chu Ye was greatly shocked in his heart. Princess Zhi Yan paid no attention whatsoever to the major matter of accepting the Northern Army commander’s surrender. It seemed she had no interest in political affairs. This showed that from now on, the entire Furious Wave Kingdom would be solely in Soren’s hands.
“This guilty subject Chu Ye pays respects to His Majesty Soren.” Count Chu Ye kowtowed once more.
Then, his heart was filled with incomparable admiration. This Soren was amazing! Not only had he defeated Zhi Li, but he had thoroughly conquered Princess Zhi Yan, this kind of fairy, **ing her like a little concubine. Such ability, such romantic fortune truly made one mad with jealousy.
“Chu Ye, Governor Hai Gang of Yingzhou Island has already led a hundred thousand Yingzhou troops to land at Linhai City.” Soren said.
The moment these words were spoken, Chu Ye’s face changed dramatically.
Because his army was right at Linhai City. Now it had become an isolated army.
“Not only that, just these past two days, governors of several provinces have successively come to kneel and pledge allegiance to me. Now these governors have already gone to the Wind Thunder Fortress to persuade the so-called provincial allied army.” Soren said, “After Zhi Li’s great defeat, how will this provincial allied army choose?”
What else could they do? Immediately abandon Zhi Li and run to kneel and lick before Soren.
These officials’ backsides were worse than prostitutes. A prostitute’s backside required money to mount. These officials, whichever way the wind blew, they immediately fell that way. They would even pay to do so.
At this time, among the two hundred thirty thousand troops in Count Chu Ye’s hands, one hundred forty to one hundred fifty thousand were the provincial allied army. Once these troops defected, he would be left with only eighty to ninety thousand of the Northern Army.
Count Chu Ye’s four limbs went cold. He immediately kowtowed repeatedly, his voice trembling, “This guilty subject deserves to die, this guilty subject deserves to die!”
Soren took out an imperial decree and read, “By the mandate of the Dragon Flame, by the King’s command: Northern Army commander Chu Ye, acting as a tiger’s accomplice, wantonly invading the Southeastern Province, killing good people to claim merit, his crimes are unforgivable. Sentenced to death by slow slicing, extermination of nine clans!”
The moment this decree was issued, Chu Ye’s body shook like a sieve, trembling desperately. He wanted to beg for mercy, but could not utter half a word.
Then, a smell of urine wafted over. He had actually been directly scared into incontinence.
Death by slow slicing, extermination of nine clans!
This, this was too terrifying!
Even at this moment, Count Chu Ye could not summon the slightest thought of resistance. Who did not know that Princess Zhi Yan’s martial arts were supreme?
Moreover, who knew how many experts were lying in ambush here at this moment.
Most crucially, Zhi Yan was about to become king, and Soren was about to become regent. The reason Soren had issued him such a decree was very clearly because he had reached an agreement with Turing Tuo. Once Soren and Turing Tuo joined forces, he, Chu Ye, would be like fish on a chopping board,任人宰割.
“It’s over, it’s over… I still came too late. Soren has already reached a deal with Turing Tuo. I regret it so much, I regret it so much!” Count Chu Ye only felt waves of cold air being drawn from his heavenly spirit point. His entire body had completely lost all warmth, frozen stiff there.
Just hearing the words “death by slow slicing” was as if he had already died.
After finishing reading, Soren watched Count Chu Ye’s reaction with great interest, then slowly took out another imperial decree.
Soren loudly read the second decree, “By the mandate of the Dragon Flame, by the King’s command: Northern Army commander Chu Ye, although he committed a grave error, following the false young lord Zhi Li in invading Linhai City. However, at the critical moment he came to his senses, abandoned darkness for light, and exterminated the rebel Turing Tuo, establishing great merit. Specially promoted to Marquis of the North, appointed to the position of First Marshal of the High Command!”
After hearing this decree, Count Chu Ye was completely stunned!
The previous decree was death by slow slicing, extermination of nine clans.
This decree promoted him to marquis, appointed him to the top position of the High Command, making him the foremost military officer of the Furious Wave Kingdom.
One decree was hell, one decree was heaven!
His thoroughly chilled body gradually recovered warmth.
Chu Ye clearly felt the warmth of returning from the brink of death. His entire mind was even somewhat dazed.
“Both of these decrees are genuine.” Soren said, “As for which one Count Chu Ye chooses? That depends on your own decision!”
The moment these words were spoken, Chu Ye seemed to come to his senses, desperately kowtowing, “This guilty subject deserves to die, this guilty subject deserves to die. Please, Your Majesty, give this guilty subject a chance to reform and start anew.”
“Then you have chosen the latter one.” Soren said.
“Yes.” Chu Ye said.
Soren said, “Then what is written above is crystal clear. Exterminating the rebel Turing Tuo is the primary condition!”
Count Chu Ye was startled. Having him go destroy Turing Tuo? Was this not borrowing a knife to kill someone?
Turing Tuo’s fame was too great, and it truly made Chu Ye fearful in his heart!
Soren said, “Turing Tuo has gathered eighty thousand defeated troops, hunkered down in White Cloud County City, constantly waiting to negotiate with me. What do you think I should do?”
Instantly, Chu Ye thought of another terrifying problem.
Had Soren also given Turing Tuo two decrees? When the man has no intention to kill the tiger, the tiger has the heart to harm the man. Soren was clearly setting up Turing Tuo and Chu Ye to kill each other, with only one of the two surviving!
Moreover, what Chu Ye was even more worried about was, in the event that he and Turing Tuo fought to mutual destruction, Soren would directly turn on them and finish off both of them. If Soren destroyed the bridge after crossing the river, what could he, Chu Ye, do?
“Chu Ye, you and I have no enmity or grudge. On the contrary, between Turing Tuo and me there is great hatred. So between the two of you, I definitely favour you.” Soren said lightly, “After Zhi Yan ascends the throne, the kingdom faces a tremendous purge. I have no one at my disposal. I have already taken a liking to Jian Ze. It depends on whether he knows how to conduct himself. But he will not come to snatch your position. You are the best candidate for First Marshal of the High Command. If you are worried about me destroying the bridge after crossing the river, you are overthinking.”
Soren’s voice was very disdainful, yet made one feel full of trust.
“Why did Gui Xingfu rush to persuade you to surrender? Because he saw the opportunity. He wants to seek a position in the cabinet. He needs a political ally, which is why he hurriedly went to find you.” Soren smiled, “You lead two hundred thirty thousand troops to attack White Cloud County City. Turing Tuo has eighty thousand defeated soldiers in his hands, their morale scattered, without fighting spirit. I will send a hundred cannons and a hundred giant catapults to assist you. If even with this you cannot take it down, you have no face to be First Marshal of the High Command. You thought you could come here, kowtow to me, verbally admit your guilt, and replace Turing Tuo to become the kingdom’s foremost military officer. You were thinking far too simply!”
Soren stood up and came before Gui Xingfu.
Throughout the entire process, he had been kneeling behind Chu Ye, not making a single sound.
“At that time when I captured Gui Xingfu, my first thought was to chop off his four limbs, castrate his **, then stuff him into a large vat to await death.” Soren said lightly.
Instantly, both Chu Ye and Gui Xingfu had the urge to lose control of their bladders. It was truly too frightening.
“But, Gui Xingfu was very clever. He immediately offered everything he possessed.” Soren said, “Thus, he saved his own life. I am a person who follows my whims. Killing you is one thought, promoting you is also one thought. The key is how you choose.”
Count Chu Ye immediately desperately kowtowed, “I am willing to die in service to Your Majesty!”
“Understood. You, you are not as clever as Gui Xingfu.” Soren said lightly, then walked into the room with waning interest.
Very quickly, from inside came the soul-stirring sounds of his intimacy with Zhi Yan.
Gui Xingfu immediately pulled Chu Ye away, not daring to linger for even a second.
…
After leaving the villa, once again feeling the warmth of the sun, Count Chu Ye felt as if he had returned to the world of the living, truly as if he had been reborn, a survivor of a disaster.
Gui Xingfu sighed, “Alas, Brother Chu Ye, at the critical moment you were too unwise. You disappointed the Lord!”
Chu Ye’s mood was somewhat dejected!
Gui Xingfu said, “You should put away your petty cleverness. Upon seeing Lord Soren, you should immediately kneel and offer everything you have. Matters like exterminating Turing Tuo should not be brought up by Lord Soren, but should be proposed by you. Taking the initiative to share your lord’s worries, how could you not understand this? If you had proposed it proactively, how could there have been the subsequent wretchedness? And the outcome would still be exactly the same. You would still have to lead troops to exterminate Turing Tuo!”
Count Chu Ye’s crotch felt chilly, but he did not feel embarrassed. He was merely incomparably disappointed with himself.
Gui Xingfu said, “Lord Soren is a man of temperament. He responds to soft approaches, not hard ones. At that time when he went to Yingzhou Island to ally with Hai Gang, Hai Gang played all sorts of petty cleverness, and the alliance fell through. In the subsequent great naval battle, Hai Gang even joined the Rock Demon in heading south to attack the Soren fleet, and was beaten by Lord Soren until he almost lost his entire army. Only then did he have no choice but to kneel before the Lord and pledge thorough allegiance. Why go through all that? If he had formed a sincere alliance from the start, he would have been an equal ally. Why end up like a slave now?”
Count Chu Ye said bitterly, “I understand. It’s just that before, it was all deceit and counter-deceit, greed and cunning, all playing clever tricks and scheming. I have no experience dealing with a figure like Lord Soren.”
Following this, Count Chu Ye said to Gui Xingfu, “Congratulations, Brother Gui. Your cabinet position is virtually assured.”
“This was bought with my life.” Gui Xingfu said, “Lord Soren never asked me to do anything. It was all me actively seizing every opportunity to fight for. You also heard, I was almost sliced into a human stick and pickled in a large vat to await death. And now I am actually about to become a high official in the kingdom’s cabinet. From my circumstances, can you still not see something? Brother Chu Ye, I truly need an ally. I am not willing to let Yan Wuzhi become the cabinet prime minister. You really must help me fight for this!”
Chu Ye stepped forward, patting Gui Xingfu’s shoulder, “Brother Gui, say no more. I understand, I understand!”
Was Soren bluffing Chu Ye?
No, he was using Chu Ye, but not bluffing him.
If Chu Ye truly exterminated Turing Tuo, then Soren would indeed hand over the position of First Marshal of the High Command to him.
Immediately, Chu Ye did not even change his trousers. He directly mounted his lion-tiger beast and returned to Nanlin Fortress, leading two hundred thirty thousand troops on a detour of over a hundred li to cross the Nu River and enter White Cloud County, attacking Turing Tuo!
…
Zhi Du Temple!
Fu Lingxi was making a difficult choice!
Gao Yin was right. Rescuing Zhi Ning and her son was a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity, and also Fu Lingxi’s last chance to win back Soren.
Then could Fu Lingxi rescue Soren’s son?
She could rescue him!
After Zhi Li’s great defeat, the entire Zhi Du Temple was shaken!
Yesterday, Holy Sacrificer Ge Li immediately left Zhi Du, heading to the Yanjing Temple to report on Zhi Li’s great defeat.
The Divine Dragon Temple could choose which prince to support in ascending the throne, but could not directly interfere in the kingdom’s internal affairs.
After Zhi Li’s great defeat, Princess Zhi Yan’s ascension to the throne was something the Divine Dragon Temple had no power to prevent. Just as several decades ago, the Divine Dragon Temple supported Zhi Lan, yet it was Zhi Bian who ascended as king.
Of course, after Zhi Bian ascended the throne, he immediately chose to please the Divine Dragon Temple, easing relations between both sides, and personally sent Zhi Yan to the Temple.
Originally, he had intended for Zhi Yan to become a Holy Maiden, serving the Divine Dragon for life.
He had not expected that Zhi Bian’s body was poisoned by someone, rendering him unable to bear further children. He had no choice but to let Zhi Yan leave the Divine Dragon Temple and return to Zhi Du to inherit the throne. Thus, his relations with the Divine Dragon Temple deteriorated further.
So, yesterday when the news of Zhi Li’s defeat arrived, Ge Li and Luo Ge both declared, abandon Zhi Li!
But when Zhi Li proposed transferring Fang Qingzhuo and Zhi Ning and her daughter, certain forces within the Divine Dragon Temple still agreed, because these forces were too deeply entangled in interests with Zhi Li.
And Ge Li and Luo Ge turned a blind eye to this matter.
Although they had abandoned Zhi Li, if they could strike at Soren, these two supremes would still be happy to see it.
As for what would befall Soren’s son, what misfortune would befall this one-year-old infant, that was not something these two supremes concerned themselves with.
And Fu Lingxi was this child’s grandmother. She completely had grounds to take the child away. Even certain forces within the Divine Dragon Temple could not stop her.
With Holy Sacrificer Ge Li absent, Luo Ge was the highest leader of the Zhi Du Temple.
And Luo Ge had always had an ambiguous relationship with Fu Lingxi. He would definitely stand on Fu Lingxi’s side.
So, she had the ability to rescue Soren’s son. It only depended on whether she was willing to save him!
If she did not save him, and the child fell into Zhi Li’s hands, what terrible things would the frenzied Zhi Li do to the child to force Soren to compromise? One could well imagine!
After all, Turing Duo had said, send Soren half a finger or something like that. That would have even more shock value.
Taking a deep breath, Fu Lingxi said, “Alright, Lord Gao wait a moment. I will go take a look!”
Grand Eunuch Gao Yin took a deep breath, bowing down, “Thank you, Lady!”
…
Fu Lingxi came before a tall tower, and was immediately blocked by several Temple martial cultivators!
The Divine Dragon Temple had a force that was deeply entangled in interests with Zhi Li, almost inseparable. And these several martial cultivators were the pawns of this force.
“I am going to see my grandson. Are you certain you want to stop me?” Fu Lingxi’s voice was gentle, but her gaze was cold.
Throughout the entire Furious Wave Kingdom’s Divine Dragon Temple, Fu Lingxi was also one of the thirty-two giants. Not to mention her ambiguous relationship with Luo Ge. Her status was far higher than these several martial cultivators, beyond comparison.
“I dare not!” The leading cultivator’s martial arts were very, very high, but he completely could not meet Fu Lingxi’s gaze.
Several cultivators opened the great gate, and Fu Lingxi gracefully walked in.
Entering a secret room two levels underground, Fu Lingxi saw Fang Qingzhuo, and Zhi Ning and her son.
At this time, the baby had finished eating his fill and was learning to walk.
“Baby, come to Mama, come, come…” Zhi Ning squatted on the ground clapping her hands, opening her arms wide.
Five metres opposite, Fang Qingzhuo gently supported the baby under his armpits with both hands, saying in a cloying voice, “Auntie is letting go, letting go!”
Then, Fang Qingzhuo released her hands.
“Gaga gaga gaga…” The delicately carved little baby, opening his arms wide, stumbled and tumbled into his mother’s embrace.
Zhi Ning hugged the baby tight, kissing him repeatedly, “Wow, baby is so amazing, so incredible…”
The baby giggled, like the sound of nature itself.
At this time, Fang Qingzhuo noticed Fu Lingxi’s arrival. Her soft, beautiful face first changed slightly, then she immediately got up to salute, surprise surging in her eyes.
Zhi Ning saw this, and her face also changed! Her feelings toward Fu Lingxi were also very complex, very disgusted and disdainful!
Even a tiger does not eat its cubs. As Soren’s mother, she had actually conspired with Zhi Li several times to harm Soren.
But, Fu Lingxi’s appearance also meant the baby might be saved. She was the only person who could save the baby now!
“Would you, would you like to hold him?” Zhi Ning asked softly.
“Sure!” Fu Lingxi said, then stretched out her arms.
Zhi Ning stepped forward, placing the infant into Fu Lingxi’s embrace.
Fu Lingxi’s movements appeared somewhat stiff, because she truly had not held a baby for a very, very long time. It was difficult to adapt all at once.
Moreover, the infant before her eyes was her grandson.
He was truly beautiful. His big eyes, dark and sparkling like gems. His pink, chubby little face as exquisite as an angel’s.
His hair was soft, black with a faint hint of red.
Truly cute to the extreme. One look and one’s heart would melt.
The baby, held in the arms of an unfamiliar woman, stopped laughing. He opened his big eyes and carefully looked at Fu Lingxi.
“Ooh, ooh…” Then, the baby stretched out his chubby little hand to touch Fu Lingxi’s face.
Fu Lingxi closed her eyes, feeling the softness of the baby’s little hand, and a pleasant milky fragrance.
This was her grandson, her biological grandson!
“Baby, call Grandma…” Zhi Ning taught from the side.
“Grandma…” the baby said in a milky voice.
“Yes, good baby!” Fu Lingxi said softly.
Then, she looked at Zhi Ning and said, “I will take the baby away. But you, I am powerless to help!”
Princess Zhi Ning’s face was covered in tears as she desperately nodded, “Alright, alright. As long as the baby safely reaches his father’s side, I can die without regrets!”
Following this, Zhi Ning said, “Please wait a moment. I will feed him one last time, then put him to sleep!”
Fu Lingxi nodded, returning the child to Zhi Ning.
Zhi Ning took him over, lifting her garment, revealing a snowy white jade breast and stuffing it into the baby’s mouth.
The baby had already eaten his fill, but still held his mother’s nipple in his mouth. In his mother’s rocking and humming, the baby fell into a sweet sleep!
Zhi Ning hugged the baby tight, kissing his beautiful little face again and again, crying until she could barely breathe, yet not daring to make a sound.
At this moment, she truly felt worse than death.
Once, she had felt that no one in this world could separate her and her baby. The combined weight of everyone in the entire world was not worth even one of the baby’s little fingers.
And now, she had voluntarily sent the baby away, letting Fu Lingxi deliver him to Soren’s side.
Because the baby was no longer safe. In his frenzied state, Zhi Li was capable of anything.
For the baby, she was willing to do anything, even mother-son separation.
Finally, with endless reluctance, Zhi Ning placed the baby into Fu Lingxi’s embrace.
Fu Lingxi held the child and left the secret room, step by step ascending the stairs.
At this time, Zhi Ning collapsed into Fang Qingzhuo’s embrace, nearly dying.
However…
Just at this moment, a black shadow walked down, whispering a sentence into Fu Lingxi’s ear.
Fu Lingxi’s delicate body trembled, her eyes suddenly blazing bright! Then, her entire body could not help but tremble with excitement.
Following this, she stopped in place, closing her eyes!
And Zhi Ning and Fang Qingzhuo suddenly felt incomparable unease.
Fu Lingxi opened her beautiful eyes, looking at the baby’s sweetly sleeping face in her embrace. Her gaze twitched slightly, her absolutely beautiful face trembling again and again.
She was struggling, choosing.
Her gaze held reluctance, trembling, but in the end it all turned to calm, an ancient well without ripples!
Then…
Fu Lingxi carried the child back down the stairs, returning to the secret room, handing him back to Zhi Ning, saying lightly, “Apologies, I cannot save this child. I am powerless!”
After speaking these words, Fu Lingxi knew she had walked onto a path of no return, an incomparably resolute path!