World-Ending Demon Emperor
Chapter 576 - 292: Save Rouran! Divine Technique! (Important, Subscription Required)

Chapter 576: 292: Save Rouran! Divine Technique! (Important, Subscription Required)

"You, you actually kissed my butt," Suo Lun said in shock.

"As long as you don’t scream and holler," Princess Zhi Yan said.

Then, she slowly applied the best ointment to the wounds on Suo Lun’s buttocks and thighs.

Suddenly, he felt a cool, tingling sensation spread through him, and the pain vanished entirely.

Suddenly, Suo Lun asked, "Zhi Yan, does seeing a man’s bare butt give you any feelings? Even feelings of embarrassment?"

Zhi Yan shook her head.

After bandaging Suo Lun’s wounds, he continued to lie on the bed and talk.

Zhi Yan said, "How do you plan to save Rou Ran City? There are less than four days left until the deadline you mentioned to the Ashi Liren."

Suo Lun said, "It’s impossible to save Rou Ran City militarily, unless we think politically."

Zhi Yan said, "Politically it’s also very difficult. The two factions of Night Orchid Duchy have united temporarily for the battle for Rouran and are hard to divide now."

...

Wherever there are people, there is politics, and this was especially true for the Night Orchid Duchy, a power only slightly less than the four great kingdoms.

The Rage Wave Kingdom had the succession battle between Zhi Li and Zhi Yan, but the succession battle within the Night Orchid Duchy was even more brutal.

The current Monarch of Night Orchid, Grand Duke Lan Shi, was not yet fifty years old and should be in his prime.

However, he had suffered an injury during the great battle at Rou Ran City when he fought alongside his father, Duke Lamu. Although it wasn’t fatal, his health began to decline after he turned forty, and now, even in his prime, he looked old and did not seem like someone who would live a long life.

During that same battle for Rouran, Monarch of Night Orchid, Duke Lamu, died beneath the walls of Rou Ran City, while Crown Prince Lan Xue perished in the defense of the Night Orchid capital.

Thus, the throne passed to Lan Shi, who was then the Snow Marquis.

Under the intervention of the Xiliang Kingdom and Flame Empire, Night Orchid Duchy avoided annihilation.

After Lan Shi ascended to the throne, his original wife suddenly died. Immediately after, the King of Xiliang forced a new primary wife upon him.

Had it not been for the intervention of the Xiliang Kingdom’s army of two hundred thousand crossing the desert and pressuring the Rage Wave Kingdom, the forces of Duke Turing Tuo would not have withdrawn, and Night Orchid would have perished.

Thus, the Xiliang Kingdom became the greatest savior of Night Orchid Duchy.

The King of Xiliang married his daughter, Princess Mo Ping, to Grand Duke Lan Shi, and he dare not disobey.

The Flame Empire, unwilling to let the Xiliang Kingdom monopolize control of Night Orchid Duchy and reluctant to marry off his own sister, presented his niece, Princess Ji Hui, as a consort to Grand Duke Lan Shi.

Therefore, the two princesses from the Xiliang Kingdom and Flame Empire were married off to Grand Duke Lan Shi simultaneously.

Within a year, both princesses gave birth to sons.

Princess Mo Ping of Xiliang bore Lan Tu, while Princess Ji Hui of Flame Empire gave birth to Lan Ye.

Lan Tu, being a few days older and the son of the primary wife, was made Crown Prince of Night Orchid Duchy.

But the Flame Empire was the supreme power of the world, and Princess Ji Hui, of course, did not want her son to be slighted, so she forcefully procured her son Lan Ye the position of Snow Marquis, which had once belonged to Grand Duke Lan Shi.

Among the two princesses, Princess Mo Ping of Xiliang was highly skilled in martial arts and had a fierce temperament, often clashing with Grand Duke Lan Shi and occasionally resorting to violence. Unable to express his anger, Lan Shi grew to resent his primary wife deeply.

On the other hand, Princess Ji Hui from the Flame Empire was gentle and charming, and she won Grand Duke Lan Shi’s favor easily.

And though Lan Tu was crown prince, skilled, wise, and resolute, with a stern and serious demeanor, he did not capture Grand Duke Lan Shi’s affection.

Instead, it was the Snow Marquis Lan Ye, who resembled his father, Grand Duke Lan Shi. Although less capable than his brother Lan Tu, Lan Ye had a sweet tongue and was much adored by Grand Duke Lan Shi.

Backed by their respective maternal families, Lan Tu and Lan Ye had begun their overt and covert struggles almost as soon as they came of age.

Lan Tu held military authority, and Lan Ye wielded political power.

As a result, Night Orchid Duchy was divided, with most of the military officers siding with Lan Tu and most of the civil officials and nobility with Lan Ye.

Over the years, the two factions have fought to the point of severe injury and irreconcilable differences.

Even Grand Duke Lan Shi had little strength to restrain them, for behind each of his sons stood the massive entities of the Flame Empire and Xiliang Kingdom.

Originally, Night Orchid Duchy had taken advantage of the chaos in Rou Ran City to invade with its full military force.

However, due to the continuous disputes between the two factions, it took over a month to mobilize.

Finally, it was Grand Duke Lan Shi who drew his sword and cleaved the royal ornamental table in half in a fit of anger, thereby quelling the rivalry between the two sons.

Afterward, Grand Duke Lan Shi solemnly declared, "This great battle for Rouran is to wash away the national disgrace and determine the fate of our nation. Anyone who holds us back, no matter how high their status or mighty their power, will face execution without mercy."

Then, Grand Duke Lan Shi decreed that Crown Prince Lan Tu lead an army of three hundred thousand to attack Rouran.

Snow Marquis Lan Ye was to stay behind and assist Grand Duke Lan Shi in managing state affairs.

Under Grand Duke Lan Shi’s absolute will, the two sons set aside their past grievances and focused solely on the nation.

They would postpone their power struggle until after Rouran had been reclaimed.

Therefore, to this day, the military and civilian officials of Night Orchid Duchy are united in a singular cause, standing as one in this all-out war, to erase the national dishonor.

In such an environment, attempting to sow discord between Lan Tu and Lan Ye and thus change the destiny of Rou Ran City was clearly impossible.

The whole of Night Orchid Duchy was united in hatred of their enemy; anyone who dragged their feet in this grand battle was a traitor.

Besides, with an army of three hundred thousand already in Lan Tu’s hands, even if one wanted to delay, it was no longer feasible.

It was also too late to sabotage their food and supply lines because within days, Lan Tu’s army of three hundred thousand would breach Helan Pass and then rush forth unopposed, as if through uninhabited lands.