World-Ending Demon Emperor
Chapter 353 - 195: Connect with Ye Jingfeng! Silence them by killing!_2

Chapter 353: 195: Connect with Ye Jingfeng! Silence them by killing!_2

The entirety of Tianshui City was as if besieged by a thunderous downpour.

All the citizens within this five-hundred-mile territory could feel that the heavens above their heads had completely changed.

Their new ruler, Suo Lun, was indifferent, ice-cold, cruel, and powerful.

However, something else happened soon after that added a new dimension to the image of this lord.

For Suo Lun distributed an astronomical number of Gold Coins.

That day, Suo Lun had led the rogue thieves, sweeping through the territory, plundering all the innocent citizens, seizing all their possessions and food, driving them into Heavenly Water Main City, turning them into refugees. This act had branded the new lord Suo Lun’s image as exceedingly brutal among the common people.

Unexpectedly, Suo Lun quickly dispatched soldiers to deliver money and food to every household, nearly doubling the restitution for these citizens’ losses.

Suddenly, these citizens were taken aback by such unexpected favor; they had already resigned themselves to their losses. Some who had cursed Suo Lun even feared that one day the City Defense Army might burst through their doors and take them away.

Never did they expect to receive compensation, and doubly so.

Thus, many citizens felt that their lord might lack any tender sentiment, but was at least just and immensely wealthy.

...

"Money is always better in abundance," Suo Lun said. "Next, the resources of Tianshui City will be invested in the Shadow Magic Project."

The Shadow Magic Project, Suo Lun’s brand-new initiative aimed to earn money—an astronomical advancement, no less than that of Chaos Stone Island.

Suo Ningbing said, "After Chaos Stone Island enters a stable period, it can bring in over a hundred thousand Gold Coins in profit annually. Coupled with the taxes from the territory, isn’t that enough?"

"It’s not enough," Suo Lun said. "Next, the army of Tianshui City must expand, to at least over fifty thousand, and each soldier needs to be armed to the teeth with the finest armor and weapons."

"Fifty thousand?" Ye Jingyu exclaimed, excitement mixed with unease. "My lord, do we need such a large army?"

"We do," Suo Lun said. "A few days ago, Duke Zhi Wei’s army of a hundred thousand pressed upon us, and we were almost powerless to retaliate. I do not want such a situation to repeat itself."

For Suo Lun, an army of fifty thousand was not even sufficient; he needed a hundred thousand or even more.

Because in the time to come, the contradictions within the Rage Wave Kingdom would become semi-public, with the King already half-paralyzed, thus even weaker.

Zhi Li had suffered a minor setback in Tianshui City. But for him, Tianshui City was merely a small corner of the chessboard.

In fact, with the King’s paralysis, Zhi Li’s power would swell once again.

For a significant time in the future, the only armed force on which Zhi Yan’s faction could rely would be Suo Lun’s Tian Shui army.

And faced with the loss of Tianshui City, Zhi Li would definitely not remain indifferent; he was still determined to seize it.

Therefore, Suo Lun must become strong as quickly as possible.

"Jingyu, have you completed the task I gave you?" Suo Lun asked.

Suo Lun had instructed him to find an uninhabited desolate island along the coast of Tianshui City, and then create an underground fortress within it, which would become Suo Lun’s second secret base.

The Shadow Magic Project would take place on this secret desolate island.

"I have found the target location and have already transported people there," Ye Jingyu said.

"Uncle Tu An, did you find the person I asked you to find?" Suo Lun inquired.

Tu An said, "I’ve found them, but is it really useful to spend so much money to hire that many Alchemists?"

For the Shadow Magic Project, the first batch of Gold Coins that Suo Lun had allocated exceeded ten thousand, which was nearly half a year’s tax burden for the entire Tianshui City.

"Suo Lun, can the Shadow Magic Project really earn hundreds of thousands of Gold Coins?" Nai’er couldn’t help asking.

"Of course," Suo Lun said. "When the time comes, I’ll fill every corner of your room with Gold Coins."

...

"What do you want with me?" The face of Sword Master Bixiao was extremely grim.

"Has Ashi Luo’s revenge come already?" Suo Lun asked.

Sword Master Bixiao nodded and said, "My three female disciples were tortured to death, their corpses delivered to my doorstep. The manner of their deaths was too horrible to behold, and each one suffered differently; some had their bodies pierced, others had all the flesh stripped from their bodies."

Suo Lun’s eyebrows twitched, and he said, "What do you plan to do?"

"Nothing," Bixiao said. "I can’t afford to provoke him."

As he spoke these words, his expression was the very picture of dejection.

"Do you believe me?" Suo Lun asked.

Bixiao said, "If we’re talking about character, I don’t trust you. But in terms of ability, I do."

Suo Lun said, "One day, I will avenge this grievance for you."

"You and him are already at each other’s throats." Bixiao said, "So I believe that, but there’s a ninety percent chance you’ll be skinned and have your muscles pulled out, with your carcass fed to the dogs."

Suo Lun said, "Since I am going to avenge you, follow me and do something for me."

"What is it?" Bixiao asked.

Suo Lun said, "Pick up someone and kill someone."

To pick up someone, of course, meant to collect Ye Jingfeng, Ye Jingyu’s twin sister, and Suo Lun’s lifesaver. He had not had enough money for the face-changing procedure, so Ye Jingfeng had voluntarily stayed with that mysterious magician for three years. A year had already passed, and now that Suo Lun had taken back Tian Shui City, he had to bring Ye Jingfeng back.

"Who should be killed?" Bixiao asked.

"A magician," Suo Lun said. "A wandering magician."

Indeed, Suo Lun intended to kill to seal lips forever.

Now, the only people who knew he was posing as Suo Lun were four people: Ye Jingyu, Ye Jingfeng, Suo Ningbing, and that face-changing magician.

The first three were his own people who would absolutely never betray Suo Lun.

But that face-changing magician was a dangerous factor.

The key point was that all magicians came from the Demon Continent, and Ashi Luo was a big shot on the Demon Continent, so Suo Lun couldn’t take any risks.

To nip this danger in the bud, it was necessary for Suo Lun to eliminate that magician.

Moreover, nearly every magician was evil, and there were hardly any innocent magicians in the world. Their rise always meant the destruction of countless lives.

"I can help you kill," Bixiao said. "But, you must exchange something of sufficient value."

"What do you want? Would gold coins do?" Suo Lun asked.

"I don’t need gold coins," Bixiao said.

Suo Lun closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then said, "How about the location of a New Heavenly Tomb?"

Instantly, Bixiao shuddered and said, "Impossible, the Heavenly Tomb is the highest secret of the Dragon Temple, you couldn’t possibly know."

Suo Lun said, "I never speak falsehoods, but the current information is incomplete and needs to be sorted out."

Bixiao stared at Suo Lun for a long while and said, "Fine, I’ll give you half a year. You must tell me the new location of the Heavenly Tomb within six months, otherwise... you know the consequences."

"It’s a deal," Suo Lun said.

...

The next day before dawn, Suo Lun and Sword Master Bixiao left Heavenly Water Main City and headed to a mountain range on the southwestern frontier. The manor of the mysterious magician who had changed Suo Lun’s face was located within this mountain range.

The two men traveled two thousand li.

Three days later, Suo Lun arrived at his destination.

This beautiful yet eerie and bizarre Sorcerer Manor lay before him.

Suo Lun glanced at Sword Master Bixiao, whose face was as calm as an ancient well, without a trace of murderous intent.

Suo Lun approached the entryway of the magician’s castle and called out, "Honorable Magician, an old acquaintance begs an audience!"

Before his words even faded, a beautiful figure swiftly ran out from inside.

...

Note: These past two days, the total amount of sleep I’ve had doesn’t even exceed five hours. It’s truly unbearable.

I rushed to my father-in-law’s place at noon, and was so overwhelmingly sleepy that I took more than a two-hour nap before getting up to write, which is why this Chapter was delayed by a few hours.

I beg my brothers for their support.