World-Ending Demon Emperor
Chapter 480 - 253: Zhi Yan’s Love and Destiny! (Important)

Chapter 480: 253: Zhi Yan’s Love and Destiny! (Important)

Rumors about Suo Ningbing and Suo Lun were always abundant, especially during the period when Suo Hanyi ruled over Tianshui City. His main focus in slandering Suo Lun was to target his alleged harm to Suo Ningbing, portraying him as worse than a beast.

But in reality, no one took them seriously, not even Suo Hanyi himself.

Suo Lun was the one he had watched grow up. Although Suo Lun was reckless, he held Suo Ningbing, his sister, in complete awe. He never dared to disrespect her in the slightest, acting as if he was a mouse caught in the presence of a cat.

All along, Suo Lun had not feared his father, Suo Long, and often talked back to him. But he held immense respect and fear only for his sister, Ning Bing.

That’s because Suo Ningbing’s care for him was meticulous. Every time, without needing a scolding from Suo Ningbing, just seeing her eyes well up with tears was enough to send Suo Lun into a panic. The saying "an elder sister is like a mother" was truly apt; even though Ning Bing was only a few years older than Suo Lun, their mother had passed away when he was just two, and from the moment he could understand, it had always been his sister Ning Bing who took care of him.

Therefore, all the rumors regarding Suo Ningbing and Suo Lun were regarded as gossip, and no one believed them.

But now, Zhen Yan Princess had suddenly stumbled upon the scene before her, a scene that made the heart pound and the flesh tremble.

The three people just stood there, silent, for several minutes, at a loss for words.

Suddenly, Suo Ningbing sprang down from Suo Lun like a bolt of lightning and said to Zhen Yan Princess, "Your Highness, it was I who initiated it, he is just ignorant. I can become a nun, or take my own life, please, you must not let this matter get out; even more so, please do not... take your anger out on Suo Lun."

Suo Ningbing had not finished her words when Suo Lun covered her mouth.

Walking up to Zhen Yan Princess, he said, "Your Highness, what urgent matter brings you to my secret attic?"

At this moment, it seemed as if Zhen Yan Princess had just been awakened from a trance, her face instantly flushed red, and she breathed heavily.

"The King... has had another attack, another fainting spell, I just received a hawk message," Zhen Yan Princess said.

Suo Lun exclaimed in shock, "This stroke has occurred not long after Gao Yu arrived in Tianshui City."

"Yes..." Zhen Yan Princess said with red-rimmed eyes, "Elder Gao’s secret letter said that after the King heard the news of our great victory, he was overjoyed and became very excited; his spirits lifted considerably. He even said that the half of his body which had lost all sensation seemed to have regained a bit of feeling. Elder Gao was very happy, but he didn’t expect that after the King went to bed in the evening, he would not wake up the next morning. Elder Gao called for him repeatedly, but he never woke up, completely unconscious, and with his mouth and eyes already askew. That’s when he realized the King had another stroke, so he immediately sent out a hawk message."

Suo Lun’s gaze twitched visibly. It was clear that the King had been invigorated by the news of the great victory, too excited indeed, but his fragile cerebral blood vessels couldn’t bear such excitement and so he had suffered a second stroke.

For someone who had suffered a stroke, the most terrifying thing was a second stroke.

The mortality rate for a second stroke is extremely high.

And now, the King absolutely must not die. Once the King passed, Zhi Li would immediately ascend to the throne.

By then, both Suo Lun and Tianshui City would be left with no place to lay their bodies to rest.

King Zhi Bian was Suo Lun’s only guardian deity.

Once the King fell, Zhi Li would send hundreds of thousands of troops to flood into Tianshui City, enough to pulverize his domain and exterminate the Suo clan.

Even the destiny of Zhen Yan Princess would be tragically bleak.

Despite her high martial arts prowess, an individual’s power is trivial against an entire kingdom.

Moreover, she had completely broken away from the Dragon God Temple and was unlikely to be protected by the Holy Temple again.

"Is Gao Yu’s griffon still here?" Suo Lun asked.

"It’s still here, Xiao Gao Weng was originally planning to return today," Zhen Yan Princess said.

Suo Lun said, "Let’s go, we must enter Wangcheng immediately to save the King."

As he reached the door, Suo Lun turned back to Suo Ningbing.

"Sister, I need to enter Wangcheng with the Princess immediately. But Zhi Li is still at home, and you must parry him, not letting him discover any flaws," Suo Lun said.

Suo Ningbing was not an actress, nor particularly cunning.

But she was smart, extremely focused, and her love for Suo Lun could transcend everything.

So, when she dedicated herself to a task, there wouldn’t be any flaws, including dealing with Zhi Li.

Hearing Suo Lun’s words, Suo Ningbing’s mind instantly cleared.

She certainly understood that now was the most dangerous time for the Suo clan. If the King were to pass away, the Suos would lose their protective deity and be utterly destroyed.

"I know what to do," Suo Ningbing nodded firmly, casting away the panic and insecurity caused by being caught in an illicit affair.

"Let’s go," Suo Lun said to Zhen Yan Princess, "We must leave immediately on the griffon under the cover of night."

Suddenly, Suo Ningbing said, "Little brother, regarding the exchange of hostages, how should I negotiate with Zhi Li?"

After thinking for a moment, Suo Lun said, "Change someone."

Suo Ningbing nodded and said, "I understand, I know what to do."

Then, Suo Ningbing added, "Go ahead, brother. I need to speak a few words with the Princess."

Suo Lun turned and left directly.

Suddenly, only Suo Ningbing and Zhi Yan were left in the attic.

Princess Zhi Yan was filled with confusion and embarrassment, unsure of what Suo Ningbing would say to her.

...

Suo Lun did not know what exactly Suo Ningbing said to Zhi Yan either.

Zhi Yan did not bring it up on their way to see Eunuch Gao Yu together.

"Xiao Gao Weng, my father has suffered another stroke, and Suo Lun and I must ride the Griffins back to Wangcheng Zidu," Princess Zhi Yan got straight to the point.

Instantly, Gao Yu’s complexion turned deathly pale, losing any sign of color as his body slightly swayed.

For these eunuchs, having no roots and no offspring, their masters were their everything, regardless of how high their martial arts might be.

Li Chenglian and Li Zhu could sacrifice everything for Zhi Li, including their lives.

And so could Gao Yu and Gao Yin for the King and Zhi Yan.

Then, the next second, Gao Yu suddenly knelt down, continuously kowtowing before Suo Lun.

Suo Lun was completely stunned and immediately stepped forward to help him up.

But Gao Yu’s martial prowess was incredibly high, and Suo Lun simply could not move him.

Yet, Gao Yu was his father’s martial uncle, a member of his grandfather’s generation; how could he dare accept such a grand gesture? So, he also hurriedly knelt down.

"Count Suo Lun, I was disrespectful to you during the day, and you mustn’t take it to heart, please, you have to try with all your heart and soul to save His Majesty," Gao Yu implored while kowtowing.

Suo Lun also hurriedly responded with kowtows, "Rest assured, Xiao Gao Weng, His Majesty has favored me greatly, and I will do my utmost."

Then, Gao Yu stood up and walked towards the outside, saying, "Prepare a Lion-Tiger Beast for me. You will ride the Griffin back, and I will ride the Lion-Tiger Beast."

Princess Zhi Yan suddenly said, "Xiao Gao Weng, Suo Lun and I will enter Wangcheng, and you stay in Tianshui City to protect Miss Suo Ningbing and Mrs. Yan Nai’er."

Gao Yu was taken aback, then replied, "Yes, I shall protect them with my life."

Then, taking advantage of the night, Suo Lun and Princess Zhi Yan rode the griffins, their wings beating strongly, as they left Tianshui City and flew towards Wangcheng Zidu.

...

On the Griffin’s back, Princess Zhi Yan sat in front, while Suo Lun sat behind.

Having accidentally witnessed Suo Lun’s indiscretion, Zhi Yan was filled with awkwardness.

As for Suo Lun, he had no intention of offering an explanation.

"Don’t worry, Xiao Gao Weng will surely be able to ensure the safety of your sister and Mrs. Yan," he assured.

Zhi Yan broke the silence, "Although he rarely smiles or shows emotion, and his demeanor is cold, he is very passionate inside. Decades ago, even though Da Gao was the martial arts teacher of your lord father, because the King liked to travel around, it was always your lord father and Xiao Gao Weng accompanying him. Your lord father’s martial arts were mostly instructed by Xiao Gao Weng. Thus, his fondness for Count Suo Long is no less than Elder Gao’s. It’s just that he is not very good at expressing himself."

Suo Lun recalled a detail.

King Zhi Bian, who was a prince at the time, was traveling the world with Suo Long and Gao Yu, on the boat during the Yan women’s groom selection. King Zhi Bian secretly drugged Suo Long’s drink, which led to Suo Long and Queen Yan Chuo, who were love-struck at first sight, breaking through the taboo and consummating their union.

Afterward, Suo Long beat King Zhi Bian until he was black and blue, while Gao Yu just stood by, with no intention of intervening.

By rights, at that time Suo Long was the attendant, Zhi Bian was the master, and Gao Yu was the servant. Suo Long beating his lord should have been stopped by Gao Yu, even to the point where he might use force. But he merely stood by and watched as his master was beaten.

From this, it was evident that the bond between the three men was incredibly deep.

Zhi Yan initiated conversation to break the deadlock, hoping Suo Lun would voluntarily speak and react to the incident that had just occurred, even if it was just a few words of explanation.

Suo Lun said, "I know my feelings for my sister are not accepted by the world, and in your eyes, you might even find it disgusting, shameful, but... I will not give up on these feelings. However, a man as tainted as I am, you should still avoid engaging with me."

His words were cold and resolute, causing Princess Zhi Yan to shudder.

She couldn’t help but recall her childhood when every member of the royal family was born, the diviners from the Dragon Temple would come and read their destiny lines and facial features.

After one Shenlong Grand Sacrificer looked at her destiny line, he said, "This is the destiny of the Heaven’s Lone Star, doomed to a life of solitude, unless overpowered by an even greater Marauding Star."

Could this really be her destined fate?

...

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