World-Ending Demon Emperor
Chapter 339: Article 189: Sunk! Question Zhi Ting!

Chapter 339: Article 189: Sunk! Question Zhi Ting!

In Linhai City, Turing Si couldn’t contain her anger, loudly berating Gui Xingfu and pointing at his nose.

"You must immediately take all the soldiers from Linhai City, and if that’s not enough, borrow more from my brother; just storm into Tian Shui City and rescue our son," she demanded.

Gui Xingfu ignored her, instead looking down at the secret letter in his hand. After reading it a second time, he calmly set it on fire with the candle flame.

"Did you hear me? Take the troops to Tian Shui City now, kill that beast Suo Lun, and then bring back our son," Turing Si yelled. "If anything happens to our son, I’ll never let you off the hook."

Gui Xingfu looked at his wife, his eyes soft as he said, "My dear Si, my brother’s son is truly remarkable."

Turing Si was taken aback. "Have you lost your mind? To praise that beast?"

Gui Xingfu held his wife’s hand, guiding her voluptuous and curvy form onto his lap, and tenderly caressed her, saying, "He only had fifteen thousand mercenaries, while Zhi Ning had over thirty thousand in his army, not to mention a fortified city. From any angle, this battle was certain to be lost, but not only did Suo Lun win, he won in just over ten days, achieving complete victory. Zhi Ning’s forces were almost entirely wiped out. Impressive... truly impressive!"

Turing Si asked curiously, "How did he do it?"

Gui Xingfu explained, "He led just a thousand men from the sea into the heart of Tian Shui City, where at the time there were ten thousand soldiers in Heavenly Water Main City, and the high-ranking samurai territories also had ten thousand troops for defense. Suo Lun only had a thousand men against twenty thousand soldiers. In less than two to three days, he killed Suo Hanyi, took back Heavenly Water Main City."

Even Turing Si gasped in shock, hissing, "Impossible, I may not understand much, but a thousand people can’t possibly defeat twenty thousand. That much is certain."

Gui Xingfu said, "Using strength to exploit weakness, he killed Suo Hanyi and won over the Tianshui City Guard. He mercilessly killed all the dissenters and retook the Heavenly Water Main City. Brilliant, almost devilishly smart!"

Turing Si shivered, then snapped fiercely, "Since he’s that terrible, would that not put Gui Qinqu at risk? Linhai City would be in danger too, he will surely seek revenge. We have to strike first and kill him, wiping out the entire Suo clan."

"There’s no need," Gui Xingfu said. "He... is already doomed. Duke Zhi Wei’s army of a hundred thousand is about to enter Tian Shui City and will trample it with the most direct approach, exterminating everyone from the Suo clan."

"That’s wonderful..." Turing Si clapped her hands, then looked puzzled, "But before, wasn’t it said that the kingdom’s army could not move into Tian Shui City? Our forces from Linhai City had to sneak over."

"Because Suo Lun’s sky has fallen," Gui Xingfu said. "So, even with his tremendous talent, he is doomed to die."

"That’s the best news I’ve heard," Turing Si said excitedly.

Gui Xingfu sighed, "What a pity, Suo Lun was just born in the wrong place at the wrong time."

...

Yan Nai’er led an army of four thousand into Wind Thunder Fortress, and it was already the next day.

Duke Zhi Wei’s army of a hundred thousand was now less than a hundred miles from Wind Thunder Fortress.

Four thousand soldiers, could they withstand a hundred thousand? Especially in a battered Wind Thunder Fortress?

It was completely impossible, even for a deity descending from the heavens. This was not like guerrilla warfare in the desert; this was Suo Lun’s castle, his territory. Once lost, there was no hope of reclaiming it.

This was not a desert, and the enemy was not the Tianye City Allied Forces; the rules of the game had completely changed.

Even Yan Nai’er knew very well that once Zhi Wei’s army of a hundred thousand attacked Wind Thunder Fortress, her four thousand soldiers wouldn’t last even two hours.

But she had no choice, no retreat.

"Miss, there’s a man outside the fortress requesting an audience. He says he’s an old friend of yours," a female samurai came in to report.

Yan Nai’er walked to the window and looked out, seeing a familiar face.

Her old confidant and friend Liu Chen, now to be called Turing Chen.

"Let him in," said Nai’er. Then she added, "No, I’ll go meet him myself."

So, she donned her striking silver armor and went out of the fortress.

"Big brother, how come you’re here?" Nai’er said.

Turing Chen (Liu Chen) was slightly stunned, as this was the first time Yan Nai’er had called him like that; she used to call him directly by his name.

He also looked quite different; previously, he dressed like a carefree playboy, always rakish and wild. Now, he was clad in a fine robe, his hair meticulously groomed, looking more like a noble son than ever.

Turing Chen gazed at Yan Nai’er’s face, and despite the fatigue and anxiety that filled it, she was even more stunningly beautiful, enough to take one’s breath away.

"I thought we would probably never meet again until we were old and dying, but I never expected to see you again so soon," Turing Chen said self-deprecatingly. "Let’s talk inside."

They entered the fortress’s modest reception room and sat down across from each other as a female samurai stepped forward to prepare two cups of tea.

"Suo Lun is very impressive, completely different from what I had imagined," Turing Chen said. "In this battle for Tian Shui City, everyone thought that Commandery Princess Zhining was sure to win because the difference in their forces was too vast. Unexpectedly, Suo Lun won, and in just over ten days no less, achieving a complete victory and sweeping up all the troops Zhining had at her disposal."

Pausing for a moment, Turing Chen continued, "When the news came, none of us could believe our own ears. Zhining had over thirty thousand troops and defended a fortified city, yet she lost utterly in eleven days. The same Suo Lun, but compared to a year ago, he’s a completely different person."

"People always grow up," Nai’er said. "He just played around a bit before, but he’s always been extremely clever."

"But this time, he’s certainly going to die," Turing Chen stated flatly. "I’m sure you’ve already got the answer in your heart. Even a Celestial Deity couldn’t save him now."

Yan Nai’er fell silent.

Turing Chen continued, "But you shouldn’t die with him. That’s not your destiny."

Yan Nai’er did not speak.

"Go back," Turing Chen said, "return to Tianye City, where your destiny with your father lies. Only there will you be the carefree, worry-free Yan Nai’er."

Yan Nai’er still did not speak.

Turing Chen said, "I make no demands of you, you need only leave Wind Thunder Fortress. Because in a few hours, Duke Zhi Wei’s army will flatten the entirety of Tianshui City, and your small force will be but a mere obstacle in their path."

Seeing that Nai’er remained silent, Turing Chen said somewhat displeased, "Perhaps you think that I harbor ulterior motives for coming here, perhaps I have taken a fancy to you or your army. But I must tell you, I begged for more than two hours and even staked the honor of the Turing Clan just to have the chance to see you before the battle, to save your life. In Duke Zhi Wei’s eyes, you are Suo Lun’s accomplice, and you deserve to die."

"I have not come as a lobbyist, but as a savior. Your mere thousands of troops stand no chance against Duke Zhi Wei’s army of one hundred thousand, not for even half an hour," Turing Chen’s tone grew heated, "Go, leave this place, follow your father, take your people back to Tianye City. Don’t die for Suo Lun’s cause."

"Big brother, thank you," said Yan Nai’er, "I know that Duke Zhi Wei’s army could easily crush Wind Thunder Fortress into dust. You appear before me because you want to save my life, but..."

Nai’er paused, then said, "But as the saying goes, I’ll follow wherever he goes; now that I am his woman, whatever the destiny, I accept it!"

At those words, Turing Chen’s face twitched, and his eyes flickered with jealousy.

Nai’er continued, "Furthermore, I don’t like being a mercenary, and I dislike Tianye City even more. I used to enjoy running around carefree, not because I truly sought that kind of freedom and doing whatever I wanted, but simply because I wanted to escape from my father, to get away from being a mercenary. I’m just an ordinary woman who pursues a life of supporting a husband and teaching my children, and as it happens, I’m adept at martial arts and leading troops, which allows me to share my husband’s burdens and solve his problems."

After thinking for a moment, Yan Nai’er organized her thoughts and said, "I am very happy now, though this time is very fleeting, and even if destruction is imminent. Suo Lun teased me once with a phrase, ’A fleeting encounter is better than countless others in the mortal world.’ What I want to say is that these short days of happiness are better than countless years of loneliness. Even if I am destroyed along with Suo Lun, I will have no regrets."

Turing Chen’s face twitched again, and he let out a shrill laugh, "I...I have really humiliated myself by coming here. Well then, I have done all I could. If you wish to die alongside Suo Lun, so be it! Perhaps, I’ve been blind all along."

With that, Turing Chen left without looking back.

...

"Suo Lun, once I return to Duke Zhi Wei’s forces, the first thing I will do is have them annihilate your Tianshui City," Zhi Ning sneered coldly. "Don’t harbor any illusions; you managed to sleep with me, but that changes nothing."

Suo Lun said, "I’ve tried my best. As for the result, let it be left to destiny. If the heavens wish to end my Suo line, then... so be it. I’ll be here waiting for you; if your army of one hundred thousand enters the Tianshui City Territory, I’ll lead all my troops and fight to the death, no matter how futile."

Zhi Ning’s lips pursed cruelly, "It won’t be one hundred thousand for long. Your doom is inevitable."

Suo Lun said, "Zhi Ning, I’m only asking for what was promised to Suo Hanyi before."

Zhi Ning said, "No, we can give that to Suo Hanyi, but not to you. Because he is a good dog. Are you?"

Of course, Suo Lun could not become a dog.

Suddenly, Zhi Ning said, "I don’t believe you, but there is one way you could make me believe."

"What is it?" Suo Lun asked.

Zhi Ning said, "Emasculate yourself and come to me as a eunuch. Then, perhaps, I’ll believe you."

A twitch crossed Suo Lun’s face.

"Suo Lun, just wait. I will be back soon, bringing destruction with me," Zhi Ning said, and then, with a slap on the carriage wall, commanded, "Go."

Instantly, Cavalry escorted Zhi Ning in the direction of the western forces of Zhi Wei.

Suo Lun stood outside the gate, watching as she departed.

Once out of Suo Lun’s sight, Zhi Ning could not hold back anymore, curling her body, hugging her legs, burying her face in her knees, and sobbing loudly.

...

Having left Zhi Ning’s sight, Suo Lun immediately mounted the Lion-Tiger Beast and took the deserted mountain roads, leaving Tianshui City at the fastest pace towards Wangcheng Zidu.

Would he be Zhi Ning’s secret lover in exchange for Tianshui City’s temporary survival? Impossible!

Would he kneel before Zhi Li begging for mercy? Impossible!

What he needed was only time.

The Lion-Tiger Beast sped through the mountain roads as if on flat ground, racing madly.

He headed west, always west...

Tianshui City was thousands of miles away from Wangcheng Zidu.

Suo Lun rode without rest, day and night.

After a whole day and night, Wangcheng Zidu was in sight.

Disguised, Suo Lun blended into the city, arriving in front of Duke Zhi Ting’s residence.

He took out a Jade Pendant, handed it to the gatekeeper eunuch and said, "Take this to Zhi Ting, tell him I have arrived."

...

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