It was not just Du Yan. Yang Gu and Qiu Ju also had blank expressions on their faces. In fact, the entire venue was deathly silent.
Especially Du Yan. He had been determined to claim first place on the Head Merit Rankings, treating it as something already in the bag.
Now he had lost it. This was a tremendous blow. He only felt a continuous ringing in his ears.
The vast majority of people present had come to watch the spectacle. They had mentally prepared themselves to hear the names of Du Yan, Yang Gu, and Qiu Ju.
Who the hell was this Lan Ling? How come no one had ever heard this name before?
The brothers of the Foreign Army were also stunned at first, then erupted in thunderous cheers.
And this cheer caused Du Yan to suddenly snap awake.
“How can this be? Impossible, impossible!” Du Yan muttered to himself.
It was already abnormal that he had lost first place. Moreover, it had been taken by Lan Ling. This was completely impossible.
Even if the sun rose in the west, this would still be impossible.
If it had been Yang Gu or Qiu Ju who had snatched first place, though he would be in great pain, he could still accept it.
But being snatched away by Lan Ling, even if he went to the ends of the earth, he completely could not accept it.
“Impossible, impossible…” Du Yan’s voice grew louder, to the point where Chieftain Constantine heard it.
Although Constantine wanted to promote Du Yan, he absolutely would not allow him to openly question him. He immediately cast a cold glance over.
Du Yan’s heart went weak. He almost wanted to back down.
But this matter was too significant, completely unbearable. Du Yan immediately said, “Chieftain, with Lan Ling’s cultivation level, it is fundamentally impossible for him to obtain first place on the Head Merit Rankings.”
Chieftain Constantine said, “Are you saying I made a mistake?”
“I wouldn’t dare.” Du Yan said, “I am wondering if Lan Ling cheated?”
As soon as these words came out, the gazes of the Foreign Army brothers immediately became very unfriendly. What do you mean, Du Yan? Lan Ling is, after all, a brother of the Foreign Army, and the nephew of Chief Suo Mo, and your sworn brother. You are actually openly undermining him? Isn’t this showing disunity within the Foreign Army in front of everyone?
“Cheating?” Chieftain Constantine said, “How would he cheat?”
Du Yan said, “For example, tampering with the markings on the arrows, having others also shoot Lan Ling’s arrows.”
Constantine very much wanted to ask, didn’t you check at the time?
Indeed, at the start of the battle, Du Yan had specifically checked the bows and arrows of the Foreign Army brothers, precisely to prevent Lan Ling from cheating.
Then, Du Yan continued, “Could the personnel doing the counting have made a mistake? The second cavalry charge and decisive kill was the collective merit of the Foreign Army cavalry brothers. Lan Ling could only be credited with ten heads at most.”
“Correct, it was ten.” Constantine said.
Du Yan’s face twitched. In the end, he still spoke up. “Chieftain, I want to see the specific Head Merit numbers.”
Du Yan was thinking that Lan Ling had taken too much advantage in the two pre-battle duels at the beginning. If the gap between their Head Merits was very small, then he would join forces with Yang Gu and Qiu Ju to change the rules and knock Lan Ling down from first place on the Head Merit Rankings.
Then, the three of them would be tied for first.
Although Constantine had publicly announced the Head Merit Rankings, so the room for recovery was already very small. But at times like this, many people always harbour fantasies, even more absurd ones.
For example, at the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, when China played against Costa Rica and lost 0-2. That very day, there were many rumours that this match didn’t count and would be replayed, and many people believed it and held onto that fantasy.
Chieftain Constantine looked at Du Yan and said, “Are you certain you want to see?”
“Yes, I want to see.” Du Yan said.
“We want to see too.” Yang Gu and Qiu Ju spoke up simultaneously.
Chieftain Constantine said, “Du Yan, come up.”
At this moment, Du Yan also felt his heart warm slightly, gaining a bit of superiority.
Look, the Chieftain only asked me alone to come up. Even Yang Gu and Qiu Ju aren’t allowed up to see.
Du Yan stepped forward, bent down, and received the Head Merit list. The first thing he looked at was his own Head Merit, to see if there was any mistake.
Two hundred and thirty-five heads!
Correct. This was almost exactly the same as Du Yan’s own mental calculation.
Then he looked at Lan Ling’s merit.
Instantly, Du Yan’s eyes bulged wide. Then he vigorously rubbed his eyes.
Was this not an illusion? Was this not a dream!
Good heavens, it was actually nine hundred and fifty-two heads.
This was no longer a miracle. It was simply an Arabian Nights tale, too terrifying. This was completely a head-reaping machine.
Originally, Du Yan had been thinking that if the gap between his and Lan Ling’s Head Merits was not large, he would join forces with Yang Gu and Qiu Ju to knock Lan Ling down from first place.
As a result, Lan Ling’s Head Merit was nearly double the combined total of the three of them.
It was a world of difference!
At this point, Du Yan was no longer feeling disbelief. He was feeling bizarre absurdity.
What did Lan Ling rely on to kill so many people? His archery was indeed formidable, but for most of the beginning he had been blindly volleying arrows into the air. How could this possibly hit anything?
Then, Du Yan thought of a very serious problem.
Chieftain Constantine had previously promised that whoever had the greatest merit would marry his daughter, Ninian.
So now that Lan Ling had first place in merit, was he to marry Ninian to Lan Ling?
However, Constantine did not bring up this topic next. Instead, he continued announcing the Head Merit Rankings.
It was just that Du Yan was completely no longer interested in listening.
He only felt incomparably stifled, incomparably distressed. His chest and abdomen churned restlessly, with a feeling of wanting to vomit blood.
At this moment, what he most wanted was to come before Lan Ling, grab him by the neck, and ask him what despicable means he had used to cheat.
You, a mere person who isn’t even a Demon Martial Artist, how could you have over nine hundred merits?
And at this time, Lan Ling had long since been lifted into the air and tossed upwards by the brothers of the Foreign Army.
Nine hundred and fifty-two Head Merits could be exchanged for nearly five hundred Savage Wilderness gold coins.
These were all true professional soldiers. Two heads for one gold coin did indeed seem rather cheap.
But this sum of gold coins could already buy many, many things. Adding Du Yan’s and Suo Mo’s merits, plus the merits of other brothers in the Foreign Army, this was the wealthiest the Foreign Army had ever been.
…
Without waiting for the victory celebration to end, Du Yan impatiently found Ninian.
“Nini, your father previously promised that whoever achieved the greatest merit would marry you.” Du Yan said, “Now, the one who obtained first place is Lan Ling. Does the promise still have to be kept?”
Ninian looked as if she were about to weep. “What else can be done? My father is the Chieftain of the Chimera Tribe. His word must be kept.”
Du Yan said, “How can that be? You love me. Besides, Lan Ling’s Head Merit came very strangely. His martial arts are so low, how could he have killed so many enemies? There is clearly something unspeakable going on here.”
Ninian looked at Du Yan.
At this moment, he was forcing himself to remain calm, but was already driven to desperation.
This disappointed her somewhat. The Du Yan she knew should not be like this.
The previous Du Yan was elegant and proud. He even appeared more refined than Yang Gu and Qiu Ju. Why was he behaving so wretchedly now?
Not only openly questioning Lan Ling, but also making verbal attacks on Lan Ling without the slightest concealment. Where was the slightest trace of his previous elegance?
However, this was actually the common ailment of the excellent!
A person with high talent, having grown up amid praise since childhood, would be extremely arrogant and conceited. In this complacency, they could also maintain an elegant demeanour.
But once someone snatched away the glory that belonged to them, they would immediately become driven to desperation, baring their fangs. This was also a typical case of jealousy clouding one’s intelligence.
Du Yan’s talent was high, but his emotional intelligence was not. Previously, because he had been very composed, it had not shown. But once anger clouded his mind, it was completely exposed.
“No, you cannot marry Lan Ling.” Du Yan said, “You are mine. You love me, don’t you?”
Ninian gazed deeply at Du Yan and said, “My thoughts have always been clear to you. But I am the Chieftain’s daughter. I must serve the interests of the tribe. I cannot let my father break his promise. Who would have known that Lan Ling would actually achieve the greatest merit in this battle?”
Du Yan said, “The Chieftain shouldn’t be so fair and selfless. He could completely alter the numbers on the Head Merit Rankings. That way, you wouldn’t have to marry Lan Ling. He and Dina have an improper relationship, and his origins are unclear. How is he worthy of you?”
At this moment, Ninian almost wanted to laugh coldly in her heart.
When you, Du Yan, speak of Lan Ling, have you forgotten that you also wanted to have both beauties? You wanted to marry me, and also wanted to possess Dina.
“There is no way.” Ninian said as tears slid down. “I can only lament that you and I are fated but not destined in this life.”
Whether in tone or gaze, she was full of tender affection.
Although her target was Lan Ling, she also had to string Du Yan along.
Marrying Lan Ling and making him devotedly work himself to the bone for her was in Ninian’s greatest interest. After all, Lan Ling’s power on the battlefield far exceeded Du Yan’s.
But even after becoming Lan Ling’s wife, she would still maintain ambiguous relations with Du Yan, Yang Gu, and Qiu Ju.
It would be best if these three most outstanding young men did not marry or have children, remaining infatuated with her, fighting for her through life and death.
As for whether this would be cuckolding Lan Ling? This was not within Ninian’s considerations. She would certainly be very careful in her acting.
Du Yan’s heart trembled at this gaze. He said in a hoarse voice, “Nini, go tell the Chieftain that you love me, that you want to marry me.”
Ninian said, “I have already said that my heart belongs to another, that I do not wish to marry Lan Ling. Father said it grieves him, but he has no choice. He is the Chieftain. Words spoken are like water spilled. The promise must be kept.”
Du Yan’s gaze immediately turned cold, revealing a trace of killing intent. “Then I will kill Lan Ling. As long as I kill him, you won’t have to marry him.”
These words instead startled Ninian.
Her pitiful, deeply affectionate appearance was originally meant to hook Du Yan, to make him continue to be infatuated with her and serve her. She had not expected it would actually provoke him into wanting to kill Lan Ling.
How could this be? At least not now!
Lan Ling was so heaven-defying on the battlefield. He could bring her enormous benefits. She still wanted to marry him. How could she let Du Yan kill him?
“No!” Ninian said.
“Why not?” Du Yan said suspiciously, “Could it be that you’ve taken a fancy to that pretty boy?”
“What are you saying?” Ninian said, “Don’t you know my heart? You clearly know how much I loathe him, how much he disgusts me. Haven’t you seen the things he did to me? I still have nightmares to this day. My pure and spotless body was actually touched by him.”
Instantly, Du Yan’s heart was about to shatter. He quickly said, “It was through the clothes. And you made a tremendous sacrifice for the tribe. You are still holy and pure.”
“But that feeling disgusts me so much that I have nightmares every day now.” Ninian said.
Indeed, the feeling of Lan Ling taking liberties with her made her dream every day. But it was not nightmares. It was romantic dreams.
However, this woman’s acting skills were also heaven-defying. When telling lies, she was more real than the truth.
“Then let me kill him.” Du Yan said, “That way you won’t have to fuss over a dead man. For your lifelong happiness, I must kill him.”
Ninian said, “Yan, do you listen to me?”
Her voice was gentle, her beautiful eyes full of affection, her jade hand lightly caressing Du Yan’s shoulder.
Ninian had never been so intimate with him before. This made Du Yan’s heart blossom with joy, as if drunk on wine, excited and sweet.
“I listen. I listen to everything you say.” Du Yan said in a trembling voice.
“If Lan Ling dies now, Suo Mo will be the first to suspect you. He will tear you into ten thousand pieces.” Ninian said, “You let me plan this carefully. I will devise a scheme. You wait for my command. I will tell you when to kill him, and then you kill him.”
Instantly, Du Yan’s eyes brightened. “Good, we will definitely think of a flawless plan to kill that beast.”
Ninian said, “So you must not act rashly. You must wait for my command. Do not act rashly, understand? Fool?”
Her tone became intimate once more.
“I understand.” Du Yan said, “But how long must I wait? I can’t wait until you marry him. That would drive me mad.”
Ninian’s beautiful eyes gazed at Du Yan. “Yan, do you believe in me?”
“I believe. I have always believed. Your heart and mine are connected as one.” Du Yan said affectionately.
Ninian said, “I promise you, I will never let Lan Ling touch a single fingertip of mine at any time. I will never voluntarily speak a single word to him. If he tries to touch me, I will immediately turn hostile, even commit suicide!”
Ninian understood the psychology of these men best. She wished for all men to be infatuated with her, drooling over her, yet unable to touch even her little finger, only able to watch helplessly.
“I believe you.” Du Yan said even more affectionately, “You are the purest girl in this world.”
…
That night, Lan Ling was meditating with his eyes closed.
A figure entered his tent. A familiar scent, a familiar energy aura.
It was the flower of the Chimera Tribe, the Chieftain’s daughter, Ninian.
Ninian held a box in her hand and came before Lan Ling, hesitating over what attitude to face him with?
Cold and proud? Or ambiguous, yielding yet resisting?
She had to grasp the measure, making Lan Ling unable to stop wanting her, yet remaining sufficiently reserved.
She thought Lan Ling could not see, so she kept changing expressions, doing final rehearsals.
Who knew that Lan Ling would open his eyes, abruptly pounce on her and pin her to the ground, one hand pinching towards her chest, one hand grabbing towards her lower waist, his mouth directly kissing towards her small mouth.
The movements were absolutely decisive and direct!