“Xiao Ao, you have disappointed me too much.” Gui Xing Fu said once again, “I have already told you, told you to seize the opportunity. Why did you not seize it even at the final critical moment?”
The last chance Gui Xing Fu referred to was that after Zhi Li was defeated, Ling Ao should immediately strike at Zhi Li, find an opportunity to kill him, and take the chance to pledge allegiance to Suo Lun.
So did Ling Ao have the opportunity?
On the Tianshui City battlefield, there was absolutely no chance. But on the road of escape, there was a certain opportunity.
Because at that time, Zhi Li was incomparably dejected, constantly drinking himself into a stupor.
Moreover, Li Cheng Lian was extremely busy at that time, having to handle a great many affairs. Every day, there was a short period of time when he would leave Zhi Li’s side. And as a retainer, Ling Ao was by Zhi Li’s side for half of each day.
Of course, once he made his move to kill Zhi Li, it would also absolutely be a nine deaths one life situation.
“I truly had no chance.” Ling Ao said, “Once I made my move, I would also certainly die without a doubt.”
Gui Xing Fu said, “Then when Zhi Li entered the royal city to assassinate the king, and was about to forcibly ascend the throne as king, were you in the royal city?”
“Yes!” Ling Ao said, “As his retainer, I was also in the royal city.”
Gui Xing Fu said, “This was completely a once in a thousand years opportunity. At that time, no one had expected that Zhi Li would be so crazy as to assassinate the king. You could completely have gone to the princess’s residence to report it. At that time, Gao Yin and City Lord A Shi Li Ren were right there in the princess’s residence. Once you reported it, you would have proven your stance, and could have taken the chance to turn the tables.”
Ling Ao fell silent.
Indeed, just as Gui Xing Fu said, no one had expected Zhi Li’s assassination of the king.
As long as Zhi Li immediately went to report to Gao Yin, he could immediately stand on Suo Lun’s side.
Gui Xing Fu said, “Alright, even after the great defeat, there were still countless experts protecting Zhi Li by his side, and you had no chance to strike. Then there should not have been many experts protecting Tu Ling Duo by her side, right? Your martial arts are far above hers. Why did you not capture her and present her to Lord Suo Lun?”
Indeed, Suo Lun’s hatred for Tu Ling Duo far exceeded that for Zhi Li. And once Ling Ao captured Tu Ling Duo and presented her to Suo Lun, then because of establishing a great merit, he could immediately switch allegiance to Suo Lun.
If we say that killing Zhi Li was something Ling Ao could not accomplish, then killing Tu Ling Duo, or even capturing Tu Ling Duo and presenting her to Suo Lun, was something he could completely accomplish.
At that time, when Zhi Li was fleeing, everything was in chaos. No one paid any attention to Tu Ling Duo, and Zhi Li did not care about her life or death.
The reason Ling Ao did not do so was only one.
He was unwilling! He did not want to surrender to Suo Lun.
And when it came to Zhi Li assassinating the king, deep in his heart, he even more ardently hoped that Zhi Li would succeed in forcibly ascending the throne, and then destroy Suo Lun.
In short, Ling Ao simply was unwilling to surrender to Suo Lun, simply hoped to stand on Zhi Li’s side, and kill Suo Lun.
“You had opportunities to turn the tables, but you did not seize any of them.” Gui Xing Fu said, “You did not assassinate Zhi Li. You did not report Zhi Li. You did not capture Tu Ling Duo and present her to Lord Suo Lun. There is only one reason. You did not want to pledge allegiance to Lord Suo Lun.”
Ling Ao was silent for a long time, then stared at Gui Xing Fu, hissing, “That’s right, I simply am unwilling to surrender to Suo Lun? I am not like you, so lacking in backbone. I am not like you, so lacking in dignity. I am not like you, so lacking in integrity, actually bending your knees to surrender to your enemy.”
Hearing these words, Gui Xing Fu looked at Ling Ao in disbelief.
Ling Ao, his adopted son who had always revered him immensely, had actually spoken such words.
Taking a deep breath, a cold glint flashed in Gui Xing Fu’s eyes. He said indifferently, “Dignity, backbone? Are these two things very important?”
“To some people, they are very important.” Ling Ao said, “I would rather die standing than live kneeling.”
“Yes, dignity and backbone, these two things are worth ten thousand gold.” Gui Xing Fu said indifferently, “In this world, only very few people can possess dignity and backbone, so they are extremely precious. For example, Count Suo Long established magnificent military achievements, but every time he brushed off his clothes and left afterwards, refusing any enfeoffment from the king. Tu Ling Tuo’s seniority was not as great as his, his military achievements were not as great as his, yet he became a duke of the kingdom. And Count Suo Long had the merit of destroying a nation, yet he remained the Count of Tianshui, without an extra inch of territory, without an extra inch of noble rank.”
A stubborn and arrogant expression still remained on Ling Ao’s face as he looked at Gui Xing Fu.
Gui Xing Fu continued, “His Majesty the King, rather than being completely hollowed out, was unwilling to compromise with the nobles and the Hidden Continent. He also had dignity and backbone. My lord Suo Lun, he would rather the fish die and the net break, the world fall into chaos, and heroes carve out their own territories. He would rather return to Tianshui City and start over from the beginning than compromise with the Hidden Continent. He also had dignity and backbone.”
Ling Ao sneered coldly, “Adoptive father, Suo Lun cannot hear you flattery here, so don’t praise him so nauseatingly. He is just trash who rose through women. His martial arts, his ability to lead troops in battle, are completely trash before me.”
Gui Xing Fu said, “And I, Gui Xing Fu, for the sake of glory and wealth, did not hesitate to sell my own daughter, sell my own wife, and even personally kill my own wife and daughter. When I was arrested, I immediately knelt before Suo Lun and licked the soles of his feet. I certainly have no backbone, no dignity whatsoever. Even today, I was still thinking of divorcing your adoptive mother Tu Ling Si, and expelling myself from the Gui clan of Linhai City, because I had a filthy thought. That is, in case Lord Suo Lun took a fancy to your adoptive mother Tu Ling Si, I should sensibly draw a clear line with her. For the sake of my family’s power and influence, I can even sell my own wife. I certainly have no dignity and backbone whatsoever.”
Hearing Gui Xing Fu speak of himself in such vicious tones, Ling Ao’s face could not help but reveal a cold smile.
Gui Xing Fu said, “I have no dignity and backbone, but I know how precious they are. I will not profane them. I will not make any cover-ups for my actions, any gilding. That is to say, even if I have become a prostitute, I absolutely will not erect a memorial arch. And you, Ling Ao, are someone who has become a prostitute and still wants to erect a memorial arch. The reason you are unwilling to surrender to Suo Lun is because of jealousy. What does this have to do with dignity and backbone? Do not gild your own face.”
The moment these words came out, they instantly pierced the most vulnerable part of Ling Ao’s inner heart.
Instantly, Ling Ao hissed, “Gui Xing Fu, do not measure others by your own standards. You yourself are a coward who fears death, so do not imagine me to be like you. I do not want to be as cowardly as you. I do not want to be as devoid of integrity and shame as you. My knees are too hard to kneel down. My backbone is too stiff to bend.”
Gui Xing Fu said coldly, “It is only before Lord Suo Lun that you cannot kneel down. Gui Qin Shao was the woman you loved most, yet you sold her virginity to Zhi Li, willingly putting a green hat on your own head. Where did your dignity and backbone go?”
Ling Ao’s face twisted, his eyes spitting fire as he said, “The one who sold Gui Qin Shao was you!”
“Is there a difference?” Gui Xing Fu said coldly, “I asked you about it. Did you refuse? You merely put on a show, pounding the wall with your fists, creating a bloody and mangled appearance of pain for whom to see? But in the end, you did not refuse, did you? Does this count as selling your own wife to seek wealth and honour?”
Gui Xing Fu’s words instantly pierced the most weakest part of Ling Ao. Instantly, his inner heart nearly went mad.
Gui Xing Fu continued, “And after that, you still bowed and scraped before Zhi Li. If it were Suo Lun, what would he do if someone asked him to offer his wife to another man? Probably raise an army of several hundred thousand and kill his entire family.”
Ling Ao roared, “He has several hundred thousand troops. I do not.”
Gui Xing Fu said, “But Suo Lun once had even less than you, merely a useless noble warrior medal. Yet at that time, he fell out with Zhi Li. At that time, Zhi Li was at the zenith of his power, flourishing while those who opposed him perished. And at that time, Suo Lun was as weak as an ant. This is what dignity and backbone are. So do not find any excuses for your cowardice.”
Ling Ao roared, “I am not. I would rather die right now than kneel down and beg for mercy from Suo Lun. This is dignity. This is backbone.”
“No, this is jealousy!” Gui Xing Fu said, “In your heart, Zhi Li is of royal blood, high above. So you feel that kneeling before him, offering your wife to him, is perfectly natural and right. And Suo Lun was once merely a good-for-nothing dandy. You once looked down upon him from above, despising him. And now he shines with boundless radiance, becoming the sovereign of a nation. You do not even have the qualification to look up at him anymore. So you are jealous. This feeling of jealousy exceeds the pain of becoming a prisoner under someone else’s power. So you would rather sit in prison than kneel down and beg for mercy from him. And you regard this jealousy as dignity and backbone.”
The ugliest truth deep in Ling Ao’s inner heart was bloodily torn open by Gui Xing Fu, instantly causing him unbearable pain.
“Ah, ah…” Ling Ao desperately used his head to smash against the iron bars of the prison cell, hissing, “Gui Xing Fu, you watch, you watch. Suo Lun will not be proud for much longer. When the cunning hare is dead, the running dog is cooked. When the flying birds are all gone, the good bow is hidden away. This is an eternal and unchanging truth. Suo Lun will soon be finished, and you will also go to hell along with him.”
Facing Ling Ao’s mad curses, Gui Xing Fu was not angry. Instead, he said calmly, “Xiao Ao, do you know what it means to be placed in a desperate situation and then survive? This does not only refer to life, but also to a person’s spiritual world. It does not matter if a person is cowardly. It does not matter if a person is shameless. Any kind of personality can make you become a powerful person. But the key is to recognise yourself clearly. Only when a person recognises themselves clearly will they not go south by driving the chariot north. A prostitute is very remarkable. A memorial arch is also very remarkable. But a prostitute who still wants to erect a memorial arch will not do. At least before this prostitute becomes a holy maiden, it will not do.”
Gui Xing Fu squatted down, stroking the top of his head, saying, “Xiao Ao, there are two paths before you. The first, recognise the truth of your own cowardice and inferiority, thoroughly recognise reality, then humbly kneel down. Of course, even if you kneel down, Suo Lun may not necessarily see you. When you walk past a road, you absolutely will not see an ant by the roadside bowing to you in fawning. The second path, truly pursue dignity and backbone. That is very simple. Kill yourself! Use your life to prove your dignity and backbone.”
The moment these words came out, Ling Ao instantly trembled.
Gui Xing Fu said, “It is almost time. I need to go to the cabinet to register my attendance. Nowadays, I have become the kingdom’s Minister of Criminal Law, concurrently a cabinet minister, and also Lord Suo Lun’s only loyal dog in the cabinet.”
Hearing this sentence, Ling Ao’s eyes suddenly lit up.
Gui Xing Fu said, “I know what you are thinking. You want to neither kneel before Suo Lun, yet still be able to rely on me to walk out of the prison cell, and continue to rise to power and position. I am telling you it is impossible. I am Lord Suo Lun’s loyal dog. Everything I do must follow his will. If you want to rise to power and position, you must obtain his permission. I will still say that same sentence. Since you have gone into the sea and become a prostitute, thoroughly put down your airs to fawn, to kneel, to be humble. When you visit a brothel, what do you do when you encounter those prostitutes who regard themselves as young ladies? Do you not slap them with a backhand? When can a prostitute put on airs? Wait until you have become a famous star prostitute before talking!”
Then, Gui Xing Fu departed.
“Xiao Ao, I am not forcing you to kneel, but forcing you to recognise reality. You were born a person who kneels.”
And Ling Ao sat on the ground in a daze, the words of his adoptive father ringing in his ears.
There were two paths before him. The first, break his own backbone, break his own knees, humbly kneel down, and wait for the day when Suo Lun discovers his kneeling.
The second, kill himself, end it all with death, use death to prove his dignity and backbone.
…
Yanjing Holy Temple!
Seeing Fu Ling Xi within the flames, half angel and half devil, all the cultivators and execution priests present were completely stunned.
It was as if their scalps were about to be lifted off. They knew they had seen something they should not have seen. They would truly die without a doubt. There was no longer any path of survival to speak of.
Within the flames, Fu Ling Xi’s left and right faces were still constantly changing.
The left face had just grown delicate and snowy white skin, but was very quickly burned into charcoal by the flames, changing from an angel into a devil.
And at the same time, her right face, which had been burned into charcoal, recovered anew, growing snowy tender skin, changing from a devil into an angel.
“Hahahaha…” Fu Ling Xi laughed madly, “I have waited for this day for many years. I indeed bear an important mission! When I was young, I accidentally burned my arm with fire, yet it very quickly recovered as before. At that time, I knew I bore an important mission. Now I have finally proven it, hahaha!”
At this time, the ropes binding Fu Ling Xi had been completely burned through. Fu Ling Xi was also freed.
She twisted her devilish delicate body within the flames, trembling as she said, “The feeling of being burned by flames is truly thrilling. After boundless pain, there is actually an incomparable pleasure, exceeding the pleasure of bed matters by ten times, a hundred times. This feeling is truly captivating and enchanting.”
Fu Ling Xi reluctantly walked out of the flames, saying to that execution priest, “Go tell the master behind you, and have him inform his master in the Sky Holy Temple, that in this struggle against the Light faction, I can turn the tide. I can not only protect the Hidden Continent, protect Luo Ge, protect Ge Li, but also deliver a fatal blow to the Light faction, achieving a great victory in this monstrous case, and allowing our Heretical Orthodox faction to survive this fatal crisis!”
The highest level of the Dragon God Holy Temple was divided into two factions. One faction was the Light faction. One faction was the Heretical Orthodox faction.
The Light faction felt that the Dragon God Holy Temple should maintain its transcendent status, and should not excessively interfere in the internal affairs of human kingdoms. It should only be responsible for the Dragon God faith and the highest civilisation of the human realm, possessing higher pursuits.
And the Heretical Orthodox faction felt that the Dragon God Holy Temple should use the Four Secret Continents to more deeply penetrate the internal affairs of human kingdoms, ultimately achieving the goal of ruling the entire world.
The Yanjing Holy Temple, Ji Xiu Ning, and two thirds of the Sky Priests belonged to the Light faction.
The Four Secret Continents, the Dragon God Holy Temple of the Beiting Kingdom, the Dragon God Holy Temple of the Xiliang Kingdom, and one third of the Sky Priests belonged to the Light faction.
The strength of both sides could be said to be evenly matched.
It was just that most of the Heretical Orthodox faction’s power lay in the local regions. And the Light faction’s power lay in the Sky Holy Temple.
Fu Ling Xi, who walked out from the flames, had her charred parts rapidly regenerate.
The entire scene was incomparably magnificent, yet also incomparably bizarre.
In merely a few seconds, her incomparably beautiful delicate body recovered anew once again, exposed in the air.
A dreamlike and illusory beauty, like a holy maiden, yet also like a witch.
Taking a long breath, she had waited for this once in a thousand years opportunity for a very long time. She had waited for Ji Xiu Ning to raise this monstrous case for a very long time.
The secret that Zhi Li carried the blood of a devil, Luo Ge and Ge Li did not know, but she, Fu Ling Xi, knew. Because Duke Tu Ling Tuo had told her this secret. In that secret conversation that night, both sides had exchanged a top secret.
From that time onward, Fu Ling Xi began to scheme a heaven-shaking grand scheme.
Actually, even if Fang Qing Zhuo had not exposed this matter, Fu Ling Xi would also have found a way to make Suo Lun expose it.
And she would wait until after Zhi Li sat on the throne before exposing it. The shock brought at that time would be even greater.
Ji Xiu Ning, who hated evil as if it were her personal enemy, would certainly take the chance to raise a monstrous case. At that time, the Heretical Orthodox faction would face a catastrophic disaster.
At that time, only she, Fu Ling Xi, could turn the tide and save the entire faction.
Then, as a reward for her meritorious service, what position should be given to her?
At the very least, it should be the highest leader of the Yan Du Holy Temple’s Grand Inquisitorial Office, the position that Luo Ge currently held!
This was merely the beginning. Within ten years, she, Fu Ling Xi, would enter the Sky Holy Temple!
Because only she could save the Heretical Orthodox faction! At this moment, she was the saviour of the entire faction.
To achieve this goal, Fu Ling Xi did not hesitate to have her own father killed.
The position of Grand Inquisitor of the Yan Du Inquisitorial Office, I have set my sights on it!
Whoever stands in my way must die!