World-Ending Demon Emperor
Chapter 762: Three Seventy-Two: Facing death, Tuli Yang!_2

Chapter 762: Three Seventy-Two: Facing death, Tuli Yang!_2

"Protect my family," Suo Lun said.

Zhuang Zhixuan said, "You have quite an ambitious ideal."

Indeed it was grand, for Suo Lun’s family kept growing.

It started with just Suo Ningbing, then came Yan Nai’er, followed by Qin Qin, Gui Qinshao, and Zhi Yan Princess.

The number of people he needed to protect was increasing, and so were the number of people he was offending, growing larger and larger.

Suddenly, Zhuang Zhixuan asked, "What qualifies someone as your family member? Does Fu Yan’er count?"

Suo Lun replied in a muffled voice, "Yes."

He uttered that word with a bit of gritted teeth.

Because Fu Yan’er was a family member who had inexplicably attached herself to him, impossible to shake off.

"Does that mean anyone you’ve slept with can be considered family?" Zhuang Zhixuan suddenly asked.

Suo Lun replied, "I have not slept with the Ye Jingyu Sisters, but they are my family."

Zhuang Zhixuan asked, "What about me?"

Suo Lun hesitated for a while before answering, "I don’t know."

Zhuang Zhixuan asked, "Zhi Yan told you to sleep with me, and this time the search for a deserted island to practice Mental Skill, being just the two of us alone in a foreign place, was to create an opportunity for you to sleep with me. Why didn’t you do that?"

Zhuang Zhixuan didn’t understand why, but she blurted that out.

She was proud and aloof, unlikely to ever utter such a statement.

But since practicing the Mental Skill had opened her mind to Suo Lun, especially since he knew all about her indecent dreams, she had no more reservations.

Moreover, since Suo Lun was responding with sincerity, she couldn’t help but speak what was in her heart.

Suo Lun said, "Zhi Yan is right, you are very important to me. If I slept with you, you would become even more devoted. But... the feeling of making a deal is too strong, and that’s what I like the least when it comes to these things."

"What if I say I really want you?" Zhuang Zhixuan said.

Suo Lun was startled.

...

At Wangcheng Zidu, Shaojun Zhi Li’s wedding had already been going on for two days, and today was the last one!

That day, millions of citizens of the city witnessed the most grandiose wedding in history, with a procession of tens of thousands stretching over several miles.

The dowry from Duke Turing’s Mansion was carried by hundreds. The entourage of servants, maids, and Samurai exceeded three thousand.

It was truly a sight of lavishness sprawling for miles, opulence that pressed on one’s chest!

Months ago, the disastrous defeat in the great battle against Sever had plunged Zhi Li into a deep decline, especially after Yan Wuzhi and Gui Xingfu pledged allegiance to Suo Lun, leaving the entire Southeast Province under Suo Lun’s control.

Likewise, after Zhi Li’s most loyal ally Fang Qingshu attempted to assassinate Suo Lun and failed, only to be captured by the Dragon Temple and stripped of his position as Young Master of Yin Zhou.

At that time, Zhi Li saw his morale plummet to an all-time low. Suddenly, all the lords and nobility across the land were watching and hesitating, uncertain where to align.

However, life is like the ebb and flow of tides, and soon enough, Suo Lun found himself in dire straits.

His half-brother from his father’s side, Yan Mo, had mobilized an army of a hundred thousand to blockade his maritime trade, cutting off sixty percent of his income.

And Suo Lun, seemingly out of his mind, had only twenty-five thousand naval forces, and instead of seeking a compromise, he was determined to fight a decisive battle against Yan Mo.

Of course, there were numerous instances where Suo Lun had won against the odds and performed countless miracles. Even facing twenty-five thousand against Yan Mo’s hundred thousand, many still felt the outcome was unpredictable.

But one thing diminished Suo Lun’s stance: his trip to Yingzhou Island to seek reinforcements, agreeing to extremely harsh demands.

Although the alliance between Suo Lun and Hai Gang was top secret, it had already been hinted at by Hai Wuyan and Hai Na’er. In order to get the Hai Clan of Yingzhou Island to send troops, Suo Lun had paid them three to four hundred thousand Gold Coins annually.

If Suo Lun could win on his own, why would he need to pay such a high price to seek help from the Hai Clan of Yingzhou Island?

Of course, if the Suo and Hai families did manage to successfully form an alliance, the outcome of the battle against Yan Mo would still be unpredictable.

But the alliance failed, due to Suo Lun having been accused of the treacherous murder of Hai Gang’s youngest daughter, Hai Zhier.

Though only half a month had passed since the incident, it had already been spread far and wide by those with ulterior motives.

With Suo Lun’s military reorganization slowing down and the construction of three defensive lines in the Southeast Province being suspended, and large-scale coastal industries beginning to retreat inland, many people started to realize that Suo Lun was very pessimistic about the upcoming naval battle and had prepared for the worst.

At this time, the marriage alliance between Zhi Li and the Turing Clan signified that the relationship between the two families was still stable.

Not only that, but the new lord of Yin Zhou and manager of the Hidden Yuan Association, Fang Qingyi, publicly declared in Yanjing and Zhi Du his further support for His Highness Zhi Li.

Suddenly, Zhi Li’s two pillars of support were once again stable.

The spotlight was once again on Zhi Li, and everyone’s bets were once again placed on him.

And this wedding was a symbol of Zhi Li once again taking the initiative in the Rage Wave Kingdom.

...

A lavish procession of tens of thousands, carrying the bride and the dowry, paraded around the city, garnering countless envious gazes.

Then, the bride, Turing Mo, was carried into Shaojun Zhi Li’s mansion.

The entire mansion was filled with guests like clouds, including officials from the Southeast Province and nobles from the Suo faction. Regardless of the size of their territories or the height of their titles, all lords and nobles appeared in person.

Thousands of distinguished guests had the banquet tables set even outside of several courtyards.

Noble viscounts who were not lords could only drink outside the main area. Looking at this setup, it felt like Zhi Li was once again in his heyday.

Though the main hall of Shaojun’s mansion was already large, it still couldn’t accommodate all the guests.

As a result, military officers ranked centurion and below, and nobles ranked below viscount, had no way to enter the hall to watch the wedding ceremony of Shaojun Zhi Li.

Of course, the original host of this wedding should have been His Majesty, the supreme king.

But now everyone knew that the king was on his deathbed, perhaps still alive, but unable to speak, unable even to sit up.

However, it didn’t matter, because two other distinguished guests of the highest status were attending and would preside over the wedding.

The holy priest Ge Li from Zhen Du Divine Dragon Temple and the Chief Judge Luo Ge from the Zhidu Tribunal.

The attendance of these two dignitaries completely made up for the absence of the king and turned Zhi Li’s wedding into the most grand and illustrious ceremony in decades.

...

Now, as night fell, the bride, Turing Mo, had already been welcomed into Shaojun Zhi Li’s mansion, and the climax of the wedding was approaching.

This ceremony would be more than just bowing to the ancestors. Because Zhi Li was Shaojun, his wedding would be even more imbued with the colors of the Dragon Temple.

As the groom, Zhi Li first entered the hall.

Instantly, everyone stood up to greet him!

Originally, Tuli Yang did not have the credentials to sit at the main table, but because of his recent firm support for Zhi Li, he was seated at the first table alongside dignitaries such as Marquis FuE, Prime Minister Yanwuji, Duke Turing Tuo, and Yin Zhou lord Fang Qingyi, becoming one of the most honored guests.

Turing Duo sent a meaningful glance towards her husband Tuli Yang.

Tuli Yang rose to his feet, approached Zhi Li, and bowed deeply, saying, "Shaojun Your Highness, before the ceremony begins, I have a matter to report!"

Zhi Li said, "Please speak, Lord Tuli Yang!"

Tuli Yang said, "Count Tianshui Suo Lun forcefully occupied Linhai City, issued a false edict to execute Duke Zhi Wei. Furthermore, he mobilized troops to forcibly occupy the Southeast Province. Such reckless and conscienceless actions trample the dignity of the kingdom. As Shaojun, why does Your Highness Zhi Li not punish him severely?"

Zhi Li’s face turned red with shame and he said, "I am ashamed, truly ashamed!"

Tuli Yang said, "My father has unfortunately fallen into the hands of Suo Lun, his fate unknown. Now, I am in charge of Luan Yang City. Here and now, I declare that Luan Yang City will impose severe sanctions against Tian Shui City the Su family, forbidding even a grain of salt or a Magic Mirror associated with Suo Lun from entering a half step into Luan Yang City market. The grains and metals of Luan Yang City shall not flow into Tian Shui City or the Southeast Province either!"

As these words were spoken, everyone’s expressions changed dramatically.

Tuli Yang was cutting off Suo Lun’s lifelines.

Now that the sea trade of Suo Lun had been blocked by the Yan Mo, he relied entirely on land trade.

In this land trade, the markets of the Rage Wave Kingdom accounted for more than half.

Without a doubt, Zhi Li was forcing all the lords and nobles to take a side decisively. It wasn’t just about verbally supporting Zhi Li anymore; they had to economically sanction Suo Lun and enforce an economic blockade against him across the entire Rage Wave Kingdom.

He was cornering Suo Lun, and Tuli Yang was the pawn leading this charge.

...

Note: The second update of over five thousand words is here; today’s two updates total over ten thousand words. I humbly ask for your support; thank you, everyone!

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