Alibuda Chronicles 6

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

Before meeting her in person, any sexual fantasies were pointless, and we couldn't continue to muddle through, because Leng Linglan, having finished her work, had returned angrily from outside the city. Seeing the two of us standing together talking, she was taken aback at first, then walked over. During
my conversation with Mao Yan'an, he leaned against the corner of the wall, while I kept gesturing and cursing at him. To onlookers, it looked like we were arguing fiercely, all for the sake of that final outburst.
"Let me tell you, I don't care how famous you are, or who you really are, just remember this: don't think you're anything special, and don't think that there's no one else in Alibuda. I advise you to open your eyes and not to look down on the soldiers of Alibuda."
These words were incredibly fake, but they were very pleasing to the ears of all the soldiers present. They might at least earn me, this notorious scoundrel, a little bit of goodwill.
Mao Yan'an also knew how to join in the fun. After being drunk like this by me, he didn't get angry. He just said quietly: "Young hero, he is well-deserved."
The so-called sedan chair person? Mao Yan'an's words were timely to help. When I turned around and met Leng Linglan, As I walked past and strode forward, some of the sergeants from far and near applauded and some applauded. They were happy that I could defeat this arrogant guest and greatly earn back the face of the Alibuda soldiers. I think this can save me some trouble in the future.
When she passed by Leng Linglan, she seemed to want to say something, but she didn't say anything in the end and continued to walk towards Mao Yan'an aloofly. As for what the two of them will say, I don't care.
This deliberately staged performance took effect the very next day. Some officers who had previously kept their distance from me began gathering around to chat, praising my abilities while simultaneously showing friendliness. I naturally went along with it, joining them in vehemently criticizing Mao Yan'an and, incidentally, badmouthing the Second Princess.
Having Mao Yan'an in this position was indeed a great help to me, but I had already decided that if his misdeeds were exposed, I would not only vehemently deny any connection to him but would even preemptively kick him while he was down to prove my innocence. After all, he often said he was born for art, so naturally he was prepared to one day die for art.
To entertain the dignitaries from various countries, especially President Ryan, the reception work, besides security, was equally important. Salane's most luxurious residences were repainted and renovated to accommodate envoys and dignitaries from various countries. A magnificent manor was even hastily built specifically for President Ryan and his entourage, its opulent elegance representing a tremendous expenditure of manpower and resources.
And when all was ready, our long-awaited delegation finally arrived.
The grandeur of their entry into the city was truly indescribable. To show their welcome, the city gates of Salane were wide open, allowing the delegation a straight view of the royal palace at the end of the street, and they slowly made their way along the wide, several-mile-long avenue towards the palace.
To maintain national dignity, the group of pedantic ministers ultimately decided that His Majesty the King should greet the dignitaries at the main gate of the palace, neither inside nor outside.
Such a grand political event, as usual, should have prompted the people to line the streets in welcome. Naturally, none of these high-ranking officials and nobles considered the common people's desire to stay home and rest, and insisted on ordering all citizens to come out and welcome them.
However, this time it was unnecessary. Upon hearing that Princess Moonsakura, whom they hadn't seen for a long time, was returning, along with President Ryan, the Special Envoy of Ishtar, and other internationally renowned figures, the people of Sara went crazy. They lined up outside the gates the night before, forming long queues, hoping to catch a glimpse of the celebrities. The next day, we even had to mobilize troops to maintain order.
Seventeen powerful groups, large and small, participated in the conference. Among them, five nations, including my own Alibuda, possessed the strength to influence the entire continent.
The Golden Flower Federation was the host and the chairperson of the conference, with 242 people including the president's entourage. Compared to President Ryan's entourage at home, this was a deliberately reduced number, done to save face for us.
The elven power of Solancia, currently maintaining peaceful relations with us, showed some sincerity this time, with 33 people including the special envoy.
Rosetta also observed proper etiquette, with a delegation of only a few dozen people, which was not excessive.
As for Ishtar, the Dark Magician Nation that has frequently clashed with us, it seemed as if they were deliberately provoking us. Their delegation numbered over 1,200, though only 500 were accompanying cavalry. The rest were either skilled in martial arts or emanating magical energy; clearly, they were no ordinary people. If anything were to happen, it would be tantamount to inviting an armed force into our home.
Normally, we would never allow the Ishtar people to swagger in like this, and of course, the Ishtar people would never agree to enter the enemy capital. The reason this grand event was made possible was entirely due to the strong support of the Golden Flower Federation and the Cihang Jingdian.
Although the Golden Flower Federation is the world's largest nation, it alone is insufficient to wield such influence. However, the Cihang Temple is the center of faith on Earth. All priests, monks, and clergy are under its command and appointment, and its influence transcends national borders, making it a place that any major power must be wary of.
President Ryan, under the guise of a pre-departure trip, visited friendly nations. Because of the "pleasant conversations," he invited them to join him on a trip. As a result, like a snowball rolling downhill, a large entourage arrived in Sara. Ostensibly, this was still a purely private visit, but in reality, it had become the grandest summit on Earth in nearly fifty years.
Honestly, I have no idea what those high-ranking officials were thinking. For some strange, even ridiculous, ideology, they insisted on wearing gloves or using fake hands to shake hands when it was just a simple matter of everyone smiling and shaking hands.
But... no matter how much I disapprove, the Temple of Light did indeed facilitate this summit in this way, and I was fortunate enough to participate and witness this historic moment. However, I would rather have bought a ticket to enter than been unlucky enough to take on the security work for this historic event.
Mao Yan'an was truly at home in this situation. I think even if you searched all over Alibuda, you would hardly find a traveler as knowledgeable as him. Moreover, he had experience working for the Plantagenet Federation and knew political figures from various countries. As a result, when we stood on high ground and looked down at the people entering the city, Mao Yan'an pointed out one by one which of these people were figures from which country. He even recognized some people who deliberately changed into guards' uniforms and whose names were not on the visitor list.
Regardless of the flaws in his guidance of security work, his keen eye alone was enough to impress everyone. I saw Leng Linglan glare fiercely at the officer beside her, because our country's intelligence agencies didn't have that much information. If Mao Yan'an hadn't recognized these people, they would have returned home and thought that Alibuda had no capable people, and our military would have become a laughing stock.
Looking down from the city wall, with so many carriages and so many important figures, I could clearly feel the tension, the pressure making it hard to breathe, yet also a sense of excitement and pride.
Even an unknown person, as long as they could make a name for themselves at this grand event and leave a deep impression on the dignitaries of various countries, would not only become an international celebrity overnight, but also be remembered in history. That feeling of having the world at my fingertips easily transformed into a raging fire capable of burning away people's reason.
"Hmph, what's so great about these guys down there? Ishtar's pigs and dogs can only be arrogant for a while, because from this day forward, this is my era."
Turning back to give a cold look to the few officers who had originally been about to flatter me but were now stunned and dumbfounded, I said in a disdainful tone, "And my legend begins today."
Suddenly uttering such a bold statement, those around me naturally thought I had gone mad, most thought I had become arrogant, and as for that extremely harsh snort, it was naturally Princess Leng Linglan, who despised me to the core.
It feels pretty good to make a surprising statement, but if I continue, I'll get into trouble. I'm not the kind of person who doesn't know my own abilities, at least not like these fools next to me who clearly think I'm talking nonsense but still flatter me by saying it's a grand ambition.
"Go away, you fools, do you think I'm bragging? Do you think I'm that shameless?" I said loudly on purpose, respectfully gesturing to the side, and laughed, "What I just said was all on behalf of the Second Princess. After this grand event, everyone on earth will know that I, Alibuda, have such a towering pillar."
As soon as I said this, there was a chorus of praise around me. All the officers, regardless of their faction, nodded and said I was right. A few quick-witted ones were already scrambling to flatter Leng Linglan. She seemed to be taken aback by my sudden change of attitude. The beauty was slightly angry, snorted "Nonsense," and then fell silent.
Others might think she was furious, but I was confident that what she had just said was what she truly felt—things she couldn't say to anyone else, yet I had blurted them out in public, and she couldn't easily lash out. Even the most hardened woman would be affected.
That was enough provocation; I had no intention of further provoke Leng Linglan. So, when the group had finished entering the city, Leng Linglan rode down from the city wall and asked me, the second-in-command, if I wanted to go to the palace for the banquet. I politely declined, saying it would be easier to supervise from the city wall. Leng Linglan didn't waste any more words; she pulled the reins and led the group away.
I saw through Leng Linglan's intentions. It was quite satisfying to play a trick on her like that, but karma caught up with me quickly. After she left, someone came looking for me.
"Nephew, why didn't you go with them?"
"The banquet is too crowded and noisy, full of refined scoundrels like you. I don't want to join the fun. I'll just stay here and look at the stars. The banquet? I'll go after it's over." "
What a pity! What you said just now sounded very impressive. Do you dare say there wasn't a bit of sincerity in those words? There are many distinguished guests at this welcome banquet. You're a rising star in Alibuda, and you're acquainted with Lady Yueying. Go and make an appearance, gain some recognition; it will benefit you greatly in the future. Why hide on this desolate city wall?"
"Hey uncle, what are you trying to do to provoke me again? You've done too many bad things, you won't be able to hide your dirty secrets when you wear pants anymore."
After I said that, Mao Yan'an seemed to have no choice. He waved his hands and sat down next to me, saying, "How could I be such a bad person? I'm just simply sorry for such a good young man like you. Even if you're not interested in the banquet, I heard from Xue'er that you and Lady Yueying have a very good relationship. After being separated for so long, don't you want to see her? Maybe... no, she must really want to see you too."
"Uncle, if someone else said these words, I would consider it, but coming from your mouth... hehe, let's sit here together."
I know how important the banquet being held in the palace is, but I don't want to get close to it, I don't want to touch that world anymore.
Does Sister Yueying... miss me too?
This thought truly stirred an irresistible urge within me, but I suppressed it.
The older man is undoubtedly resourceful, but things don't always go his way.
Actually, I really want to see Sister Yueying.
People always say that one feels timid when nearing home, but I never imagined that when a long-lost friend returns, I would be
the one filled with fear. I had been looking forward to this moment, but when it finally arrived, I faced it with retreat. Deep down, I was truly afraid. After more than a decade of separation, had Sister Yueying changed? I was no longer the stubborn boy who needed pity; was she still the same gentle and lovely older sister?
I wasn't sure about these things, and subconsciously didn't want to know, so I took this approach. Unfortunately, although I was avoiding trouble, it still found its way to me.
The next day, we continued patrolling the city walls, remotely monitoring President Ryan's residence, while also analyzing the data we had received over the past few days. When I returned to Sara that day, I was immediately assassinated. Although the assassins were all killed on the spot by Leng Linglan, the military still hadn't given up on tracing their origins.
The most likely sources of the assassins were Ishtar, whom I had killed as the Great Spirit Witch; Solancia, who had breached the fortress; and the Black Dragon Society, whose evil mask I had exposed…
Of the three, the Black Dragon Society is the most worrying, because this peace talks are very likely to discuss how to deal with the Black Dragon Society. Who knows if they will send more people to assassinate important figures in the chaos and create disorder? Because of this concern, we have repeatedly speculated on how we would act if we were the assassins.
"President Ryan's residence is in a good location, heavily guarded, with almost no blind spots. If we want to attack, we can only do so when he's out and about." "
So, when President Ryan returns to the residence, the only way to assassinate him is to sneak in; we can't launch a direct attack from the outside."
"If we can't find him on all four sides, what about diagonally above?"
I frowned halfway through the discussion and suddenly interjected, catching everyone off guard. It took a while for someone to understand and answer.
"From diagonally above? That's difficult. For safety, there aren't many nearby buildings around the manor. The enemy..."
"But, without cover, doesn't that mean the manor's terrain is open and easy to attack? The enemy doesn't even need to use experts. Just a few heavy weapons will be enough." "
Lord Farrell, we can't agree with that. To attack the manor from the outer buildings, do you know how many heavy weapons you'd need at that distance? This is the capital, after all. Do you think we'd let the enemy set up heavy weapons so openly nearby?"
Leng Linglan wasn't there, but her subordinates still looked down on me, speaking arrogantly and treating me like an incompetent fool like them.
"It doesn't need to be huge, a few heavy crossbows will suffice. I used to be in the Imperial Guard, my knowledge of weapons and weaponry is no less than yours. Don't lump me in with those idle noble soldiers." "
Nephew, what kind of heavy crossbow are you talking about?"
"Um... I mean, Uncle Oren, we're busy, please don't interrupt."
"Hey, is it detachable? It has four wheels at the bottom, the crossbow frame is triangular, it fires eighteen bolts at a time, and it can fire in rapid succession..."
"Sounds plausible. Eighteen bolts at once, and that's the latest model on the black market. Uncle, where did you see the picture?"
"Eighteen crossbows, and there are scratches on the crossbow frame. It seems they weren't handled carefully during transport... Oh dear! That guy was really careless; his foot got run over by the wheels. It must hurt a lot."
Mao Yan'an had been standing behind us, not participating in the discussion, but upon hearing these words, everyone knew something was wrong and quickly turned around to look. They saw Mao Yan'an leaning on his sword in one hand and holding a telescope in the other, gazing westward. Following his gaze, we could vaguely see a heavy crossbow mounted on a building several hundred feet away, aimed at the annex below.
"How could there be something like that there?"
"Take it down! This must be a conspiracy by some foreign agent!"
"Fortunately, we discovered it early, there's still time..."
Just as these useless people were scrambling to find a scapegoat, shifting blame and preparing to scapegoat, Mao Yan'an pointed, shattering their hopes once again. There were voices in the courtyard of the mansion. More than a dozen people came out to arrange the carriages, obviously President Ryan and his wife were leaving the mansion. A dozen people appeared next to the heavy crossbow, agile and quick, adjusting the crossbow, ready to launch an assassination attack.
At this critical juncture, chaos erupted instantly. Sending someone to warn us was impossible; the crossbow bolts were already flying before they even reached the location. Even shouting here wouldn't get a response from the inn. As for attacking the crossbows directly from our position, unfortunately, none of us seemed to possess the skill.
The situation was so chaotic that nothing could be done. These useless fools, who usually complained about being controlled by women, refused to contribute when faced with a crisis, only thinking of the foolish idea of immediately seeking the Second Princess's help.
If it had only been the neighboring country's president who died, I wouldn't have cared so much, but the thought of Sister Yueying also facing danger made me anxious. In my haste, I drew my sword and wounded a few of the irrational good-for-nothings, bringing order back to the chaotic scene.
"That's right, our cultivation is insufficient, but Mr. Oren is a top-notch expert. As long as he takes action, he can definitely destroy the crossbow."
After calming down, a few guys came up with this idea. Logically speaking, this was indeed a brilliant plan, but unfortunately, Mr. Oren was a liar with no strength to restrain a chicken, so they were immediately outmaneuvered.
"It's our duty, but I have a better idea."
Mao Yan'an's idea sounded like it was a matter of life and death. To celebrate the arrival of our distinguished guests, Sara has recently released many large hot air balloons, which are floating in the sky. We happen to have a few right above us. Mao Yan'an's idea is to form a strike team, with each person tied to a rope around their waist, then using bows and arrows to attach the ropes to the balloons and move them there.
If they can stop the assassination attempt, it will be a tremendous achievement, and internationally renowned. If President Ryan is assassinated, the security personnel will definitely be held accountable, especially those with weak backing. So this is essentially a choice with no other option, especially with me threatening them with a sword behind me.
The assault team was quickly assembled. As they pulled the ropes and fired arrows at the largest balloon in the sky, I stood beside Mao Yan'an and sneered, "How despicable, uncle! What kind of assault team is this? This kind of shoddy tactic is just a suicide squad used to lure people to their deaths. Aren't you afraid these people will come after you?"
As expected, in this situation, it was difficult to entangle the balloon with arrows, but the chance of piercing it was very high. A balloon with a hole in it was more terrifying than a mad horse, hurtling off at high speed. If you were lucky, it would land accurately and engage the enemy; if you were unlucky, for people on the ground, this string of arrows flying erratically in the sky was a more effective warning sign than fireworks.
Watching the string of people spinning rapidly in the air, emitting incredibly agonizing screams, it was clear they were being used more as fireworks than as part of the assault team.
"Hehe, I lied with immense courage, but you're quite bold, nephew."
"I've always been incredibly bold, I wonder which one you're referring to?"
"It's nothing really, I'm just a little curious, your feet are clearly wrapped in ropes, you're on the verge of death, why are you so calm?"
"What feet? What ropes? What wraps? Wait... Oh! No!"
The rope that shot into the sky, its end dragging on the ground, was pulled quickly, but somehow it wrapped around my right leg. Before I could do anything, I was lifted up by that damned rope and flung wildly through the sky.
Compared to the center of the rotation, I, at the very end, was undoubtedly in the most violently swaying position, as if I were clinging to the tail of a raging dragon, being tossed about at will. All I could hear were screams and the howling wind. Before long, I was dizzy and vomiting in mid-air.
Sometimes, even I hated myself for calculating so accurately, because being in mid-air made us the most obvious targets. The special agents next to the heavy crossbow, seeing us flying in that direction, quickly turned the crossbow and started firing wildly at us.
In this situation, being at the end was truly a blessing, because being tossed around made it the hardest to aim, and I unknowingly dodged several stray arrows. Meanwhile, the officers huddled together above were unfortunately turned into meat skewers amidst their dying screams.
"This is it, we're doomed!" I frantically prayed to the gods, but I was dizzy and couldn't remember any of the prayers. I could only shout incoherently in my mind, "If it can save me, I'll hold onto the hand of the devil."
Strangely enough, just as this thought crossed my mind, we, who had been tossed about by the punctured balloon, suddenly regained our direction and, as if possessed, crashed into the crossbow.
The enemy fired several arrows in our direction, but those who were already dead felt no pain even with many large holes in their bodies. The crossbow bolts were ineffective in stopping them, and the balloon's final impact was fierce and powerful. Although the string of people attached to it was already dead, it was like a giant hammer, slamming heavily into the crossbow.
With a loud crash, the crossbow was mostly destroyed. I was secretly pleased, and as I was being dragged away, I kicked it hard, smashing the crossbow into iron filings and wood chips, thus averting the assassination attempt. (Success
!)
Joy was mixed with pain. As my speed decreased due to the powerful kick that destroyed the crossbow, an enemy slashed my back, causing excruciating pain.
The earlier swaying had left me dizzy and disoriented. Unable to control myself in the pain, I vomited loudly in the enemy's face. While he was covered in filth and screaming, I drew my Hyakkimaru sword and killed him with a single blow.
"Boy! You..."
His accomplice drew his sword and slashed, but I was pulled away by the rope around my feet. While dodging the attack, I was also sent flying off the roof, plummeting straight down.
Before I hit the ground, I heard a series of screams. A quick glance revealed a tall man in a brocade robe, wielding a crescent-shaped blade with a string of bells hanging from the hilt. Amidst the jingling bells, his swordsmanship was like lightning, swiftly killing the assassin on the roof.
(What kind of master? So powerful!)
The man's attire wasn't that of Alibuda's army; I wondered which country he belonged to. Was he here to kill the assassin? Or was he here to silence his incompetent accomplice? I only had time to see this before I was dragged off by the rope.
The situation was truly dire. If I continued to be carried through the air by this broken balloon, I would surely break my bones in no time. Although I had my sword in hand and could cut the rope, falling from this height would be no different from suicide.
(Phoenix, you filthy bitch, you lousy salesperson! Where were you when I needed your help?)
Dizzy and disoriented in mid-air, I suddenly realized I was above the mansion, with a pond below. This was likely my last chance to escape. Without hesitation, I aimed and slashed the ropes binding my legs with my sword.
I expected to fall awkwardly into the pond and save my life, but a gust of wind blew me down, and my landing spot became a large banyan tree below.
"Ouch! Oh no!"
I cried out as I crashed into the banyan tree's branches, making a series of crackling sounds. My whole body ached terribly; I don't even know how many branches I broke before I finally emerged from the other side.
"Ahhhhhh!"
Dizzy and disoriented, I tumbled and fell, landing squarely on my hands. Even the loudest scream wouldn't be an exaggeration. Tragically, the scream didn't come from me, but from a female official carrying a tea set, who had been struck by my falling through the tree and was now screaming on the ground.
"A lecherous thief! A lecherous thief! Help!"
In my haste, I only vaguely saw her delicate features and some beauty, but my mind quickly cleared. I knew these female officials were from the Golden Flower Federation, and might even have connections to the Temple of Light. Not wanting to offend them, I quickly got up and frantically tried to explain, my mind still foggy.
"Hey! Look carefully, I didn't…"
The moment I stood up, the buttons on my clothes suddenly tightened, followed by a tearing sound. When I finally got a clear view, I saw a female official pinned down, her legs spread apart by my knees, her skirt lifted—a position that could easily be misinterpreted. Worse still, her upper garment was completely torn, revealing a light blue lace bra and most of her snow-white, round breasts.
"Miss, actually I just wanted to..."
"Ahhhhhh! You lecher!"
If these screams attracted attention, things would be very bad. Therefore, I took a risk, covering the female official's mouth with one hand and pressing the Hyakkimaru against her throat.
"Shut up! If you utter another sound, I'll slit your throat right now."
With my mouth covered, the female official couldn't scream, only letting out soft sobs. I pressed my advantage, threatening, "Don't scream! Let me tell you, there are only the two of us here. Even if you scream your lungs out, no one will hear you."
For a repeat rapist with a long criminal record, these lines were lines I'd heard countless times before; I almost let out a grotesque laugh. The female official, intimidated by my ferocious appearance, dared not scream again, only timidly pointing to the right.
My perverted father once said: Bad luck and stupidity are incurable. Just after I had finally and incredibly bravely dealt with the assassins, risking my life, I found myself in this embarrassing situation.
When I turned my head to the right, following the direction she was pointing, well… I probably wouldn't have had the chance to open my mouth so wide in my entire life.
Not far to our right, there were a dozen or so guests, all important figures and ministers from different countries, picnicking and conversing with silverware, accompanied by hundreds of servants and guards. This large group of people were staring at me in stunned silence, including His Majesty the King of my country, whose jaw was agape—his astonishment was no less than mine. It was
quite a while before a thunderous roar finally erupted from his mouth.
"Farrell, what are you doing... You actually... You actually... You scum of the nation, I will skin you alive!"
The dignified commander of ten thousand cavalry of a nation actually dared to barge in during the elegant breakfast conversation of the high-ranking officials of various countries, and even more brazenly raped and humiliated a court lady of a friendly nation in public... This crime is pretty cool, isn't it?
◆ Chapter Seven: The sudden change of the moonlit dream shadow
disrupted everything in the inn. I didn't even have a chance to refute before I was subdued and pinned down by the frantically pounced guards, surrendering without resistance. All I could hear was His Majesty the King's angry roar.
Just when things seemed to be spiraling out of control, a gentle and calm voice suddenly eased the tense atmosphere.
"Please stop. Everyone, please calm down, okay? General Farrell is a hero of Alibuda. I believe he has no ill intentions. There must be some hidden story behind this. Can you all give him a chance to explain?"
If it weren't for this sentence, I would probably have been dragged away and directly convicted. The moment I heard it, I was shaken, not only by this speech that seemed like a ray of hope, but also because the familiar voice resonated with my memories.
It was as if someone gestured, and the armed guards who had been restraining me released their grip. I regained my freedom, rolled off the ground and stood up, searching for the source of the sound. Then, I widened my eyes and involuntarily stared in a certain direction, trying hard not to let my emotions show on my face.
"General Farrell, what exactly happened here? Can you explain?"
Surrounded by a group of pretty female officials, a stunningly beautiful woman appeared before me, elegant and refined. Her face was gorgeous, her figure graceful and charming, like a fairy descended from heaven, captivating all who beheld her.
Her long, black hair was styled into a high phoenix bun, secured with a five-phoenix beaded hairpin, simple yet elegant. She wore a forehead ornament adorned with eight treasures and pearls, the central moon pearl hanging between her brows, complementing her delicately arched eyebrows. Her bright eyes sparkled, and when she smiled, the dimples on her jade-like cheeks were captivating. Her nose was exquisitely delicate, and her lips parted slightly, revealing pearly white teeth that shimmered like shattered jade, sparkling with a crystalline light.
She wore a bright red, form-fitting jacket embroidered with gold phoenixes, over which was a light blue, multicolored embroidered blouse. Her lower
body was draped in a light grayish-blue, floor-length spring silk skirt adorned with countless tiny emerald green flowers, the hem of which was tied with silk ribbons and jade pendants that jingled with every gesture. Tall and slender, with graceful curves, she moved with a swaying, elegant gait, possessing an unparalleled beauty and captivating charm. Even more unforgettable was the faint smile on her rosy cheeks, revealing a pure and dignified allure. No wonder a poet once exclaimed: "Before such a smile, even the sun loses its heat."
When I met those starry eyes, my mind went blank for a moment; all I wanted to do was rush over and say the words I'd always wanted to say. But before I could move, a figure appeared in my line of sight.
It was a majestic man, as imposing as a lion, his blond hair radiating heat in the sunlight, a golden sword hanging at his waist, his steady gait reminiscent of a beast in its prime.
This same man, standing beside her, their smiles meeting, their hands clasped—the feeling they exuded was like two suns appearing in the sky, blinding any creature on earth.
I felt a bitter taste in my throat, oblivious to everything around me, forgetting the danger I was in, just staring intently at the two of them.
Staring at the President and his wife of the Plantagenet Federation with a strange look was another grave offense of disrespect. Looking back, I was incredibly lucky, because I heard that His Majesty the King had already ordered my arrest and imprisonment. The armed guards were already grabbing me and trying to drag me away. If it weren't for the timely help of a benefactor, I probably wouldn't have even been dismembered on the spot.
"Stop!" Two cold words, not loud, but enough to make everyone turn their heads to look. They saw an armed guard leaning against the perimeter groan and fall to the ground, and a pair of thick-soled black and white leather boots slowly stepped in.
First came the boots, followed by a large white ceramic wine pot, which came into view. As the crowd followed the gold ribbon adorned with jade and topaz to try and identify the owner of the wine jug, they only saw a bright red robe billowing in the wind and a weathered face mostly obscured by the collar.
A massive, jet-black sword slung over his shoulder, and the occasional glint of his gaze behind his sunglasses held unparalleled majesty. He walked in with a graceful yet steady gait, each step light, yet the fallen leaves on the ground rustled and swirled with his movements, creating an indescribable air of extraordinary power that weighed heavily on everyone around him, leaving them all mesmerized. It wasn't until he stopped beside me that the armed guards finally reacted.
"Hey! Who are you? This is..."
Before he could finish speaking, the guard, whose origins were unclear—whether from Solancia or Rosetta—swallowed his words the moment their eyes met. Despite his imposing stature, he resembled a defeated dog with its tail between its legs, his entire imposing aura instantly diminished. Then, he raised his index finger, pointing it at the guard, his gaze fixed straight ahead, as if the guard were utterly unworthy of his attention. When he pressed his finger down, the guard immediately knelt heavily on the ground, unable to utter a sound.
With just a glance, he had subdued and humbled a skilled fighter. This ability not only startled me, but everyone present was affected, and the previously chaotic scene instantly fell silent.
It was strange. The uncle shouldn't know any martial arts, but at this moment he seemed like a completely different person. The aura emanating from him was ten times stronger than any master I had ever seen.
I had heard Uncle Fu say before that some very clever cheaters in casinos knew how to feign power. Even when they were clearly no match for him, they could put on the movements and presence of a martial arts master; even when they were terrified, the chilling killing intent radiating from their eyes could make any master back down. I didn't believe it then, but now I couldn't help but believe it.
This idea wasn't unfounded, because apart from me, no one else knew that when Mao Yan'an patted my shoulder, the cold sweat on his palm immediately soaked my clothes, making me understand his nervousness.
"Judging before trial is not the act of a wise person. None of you are ordinary people, how could you imitate such foolish behavior? If it weren't for this young man's courage just now, none of us here would have left alive today."
Mao Yan'an said, describing the whole thing that had just happened. To smooth things over, he embellished the story quite a bit. My supposedly risky, fearless spirit in protecting His Majesty the King and the visiting guests was exaggerated tenfold. It's a good thing he treats writing as a side job; he crafted a beautifully crafted lie. I just wonder if those unwitting skewers will rise up and wail. Watching him, I was
incredibly impressed by his skill. His way of speaking was completely different from his usual rambling; he seemed to have fully immersed himself in the role he was playing, bringing "Olen" to life. His vocabulary was extremely concise and to the point; each two or four words carried immense weight and were incredibly powerful, making it easy to believe him. You'd never guess it was a string of lies.
Naturally, I didn't stand there like a block of wood. Instead, I put on a sorrowful and indignant expression, along with a touch of melancholy, to make people understand that I had indeed been wronged. Even more coincidentally, the scimitar-wielding assassin who had wiped out the group of assassins turned out to be a master from the Golden Flower Federation, who arrived and confirmed the uncle's words.
After the uncle finished speaking, everyone attacked again, spontaneously applauding my heroic act of fighting the assassins, performing acrobatic feats in the air, and nearly dying in the line of duty.
"Very well! I've long admired your name in the Golden Flower Federation, but I never expected to owe you a favor before even meeting you. The strongest bodyguard in history, you truly live up to your name!" Ryan Buffett strode forward with a long laugh, pushing aside his guards and extending his hand.
"Bai Li Xiong Shi, you indeed possess unparalleled charisma and style," Mao Yan'an said calmly, then extended his hand. Logically speaking, the President of the Golden Flower Federation is tantamount to the most powerful person on earth, someone even our King tries to curry favor with. This uncle's cold response is simply disrespectful. However, so-called heroes love this kind of thing. When the two shook hands, the applause in the entire room erupted wildly, while I alone found it amusing.
As for His Majesty the King, who had recently roared angrily and vowed to execute me, his attitude
changed faster than flipping through a book. He now wore a warm, gentle expression, loudly proclaiming his delight that the nation had produced such a talented individual who had repeatedly performed extraordinary feats, and vowed to promote me to a higher rank. The fickle nature of officialdom is absurd; I'm already used to it, so I didn't react at all. Taking a deep breath, I forcibly suppressed my unease and walked forward… she, like a goddess, strode quickly towards me.
Though brief, as we drew closer, I truly had a strange feeling, as if all the barriers between us had vanished, and I was transported back twelve years to the exciting days when Sister Yueying would arrive at the Duke's mansion every morning.
Unfortunately, this feeling was short-lived, as eight female officials quickly blocked my way, preventing me from advancing any further. Judging from their agile movements, they were all skilled martial artists; if I hadn't been careful, a physical confrontation would have ensued.
Unable to move forward, I could only let my gaze guide my steps. Bearing their gaze, she smiled elegantly and bowed respectfully.
"General Farrell, you did very well this time. I am very honored. Thank you."
To receive such praise from the First Lady of the Plantagenet Federation should be the highest honor for a military general of our nation, but why did I feel no joy? I simply stood there, watching her slowly depart, surrounded by the female officials.
...Twelve years of separation is enough to change too many things.
…This kind of reunion isn't what I wanted.
Earning merit and promotion is every soldier's dream, but for me, it's lost its thrill.
I stopped the assassins, and His Majesty promised me a medal. As for investigating the assassins' origins, that's Leng Linglan's responsibility. However, unless it's discovered the assassins were sent by the Black Dragon Society, the matter will have to be dropped, because no matter which country the culprit points to, it will ruin this meeting.
This kind of reunion is more than enough for me; I have absolutely no expectation of seeing them again. Therefore, for two consecutive days, I took on the thankless patrol duties, forgoing opportunities to meet those important figures face-to-face, and volunteered to patrol and guard the perimeter of the venue. My diligence was so great that others thought I had
suddenly changed my ways. To His Majesty the King, I told him about my previous fierce battle with the Ishtar people, where I had even killed their high-ranking shaman. I argued that encountering those Ishtar lackeys might have a negative impact. His Majesty agreed with my assessment and granted my request.
Mao Yan'an said that Ishtar's important representative, Narcissus, one of the Seven Flowers, the Purple Narcissus, was delayed by some matters and would arrive in Sara three days later. Therefore, the dignitaries from various countries would have to wait during these days, holding gatherings, banquets, and hunting trips to maintain relationships.
Standing on the high ground and looking down, I had a few chances to catch a glimpse of Sister Yueying in the distance.
The distance was simply too great, and my eyesight isn't very good; I could only make out a blurry silhouette of her elegantly dressed back. That was all I saw before turning away, my mind in turmoil, unable to bear looking any longer. The embarrassment I felt was unbelievable.
Mao Yan'an, on the other hand, participated almost entirely below. Thankfully, he handled everything with composure; not only did President Ryan have a pleasant conversation with him, but none of the guests from various countries doubted his identity. Of course, this was also his cleverness. Given his current neutral status, even the most self-assured and powerful warriors wouldn't dare challenge him and disrupt the atmosphere. And if it came down to mere verbal sparring, there were very few people in the world who could match him.
I just don't understand why, in the Plantagenet Federation, Mao Yan'an was considered a well-known figure, yet President Ryan seemed completely unaware of him. I really wonder what he was dressed like back then. However, having gotten used to his drastically different aura when dressed in different ways, it doesn't seem so strange after all.
This wicked middle-aged man had no good intentions either. Every time he came to me, he seemed to be free, completely losing his imposing composure. He kept praising Lady Yueying's beauty as if she were a fairy, saying that all the envoys from various countries were captivated by her beauty and sighed that their trip was worthwhile.
"Oh dear, it's such a pity you didn't show up. Lady Yueying has been asking these past few days, where is General Farrell, the youngest hero of Alibuda? Every time she asks and can't find him, she looks disappointed. Sigh, my dear nephew, you really are..."
"Uncle, just say it, why are you being so coquettish? Don't you think I'm annoying enough?"
"Hey, I'm just imitating Lady Yueying's voice for you, to ease your longing. My dear nephew, I've been there, let me tell you, all the men in this world are..."
Once Mao Yan'an gets involved, it really won't end, so my strategy is very simple: immediately snatch a bunch of sketches from his arms, fold them a few times, tear them into pieces, and throw them out.
"Ah! My life! My painting! You inhuman devil..."
That was all I said. As the art fanatic frantically chased the confetti around the stairs, I thoughtfully kicked him from behind, sending the noisy, unruly middle-aged man tumbling down the stairs into silence.
This oppressive atmosphere, I wondered, would last forever. My year-long wandering in the Southern Barbarian lands, though perilous, had given me a freedom far superior to being a lazy official in Sara. I was considering applying for another transfer after the peace talks, this time to help His Majesty search for treasure. Given my previous successful treasure-offering, this request should be easily granted.
If I could also secure a large sum of operating funds, that would be even better. Many treasure hunters, while searching for treasure, also engage in trade, buying low and selling high, and become wealthy after a few trips. I could easily do similar business while searching for treasure; it seems far more prudent than becoming an official and engaging in corruption.
These past two days, our country has been negotiating with Solancia to confirm the peace treaty between the two countries, hoping to finalize the alliance before the arrival of the Ishtar envoy, to avoid two major enemy nations coming together and causing further trouble.
The talks don't involve me, so of course I should go home and sleep early. However, I'm a little hesitant about where to sleep.
Should I release my pent-up desire in Zhizhi's soft palms? Or should I take a fragrant milk bath with Ah Xue? For a man, both options are so tempting, it's hard to choose.
If only I could have both Ah Xue and Zhi Zhi with me, but that's not possible right now. Even if I were willing to bring Zhi Zhi back to the Duke's mansion, managing these two women and ensuring a smooth three-way cohabitation would still take some effort.
Suddenly, I remembered that Zhi Zhi said she needed to focus on making her magic robe these next few days, requiring some kind of purification and fasting process. In other words, I can't bother her at this time; I can only obediently return to the Duke's mansion.
It was already dark. There weren't many houses near the Earl's mansion. Before, whenever I went home alone, I always felt lonely on the way, wishing I could become rich quickly and be followed by a long procession of guards, surrounded by an entourage, and never have to worry about loneliness again.
But today seemed different, because I could see someone sitting on the steps at the gate from afar. Judging from her figure, it was a young woman.
How strange. Ever since I met Xingmei, I'd been forced to stop my dissolute life in Sara. In other words, no more women should be coming to my door demanding abortion fees. Now, suddenly, a woman is sitting at the gate, clearly waiting for me. Could she be a female assassin sent by the enemy?
As I got closer, I discovered she was asleep on the steps. Her silly antics, coupled with the mask she wore, immediately made sense to me.
I had previously told Xue that raising a female dog would be better than raising her; she would even run to the alley entrance to greet me when I came home. At that time, Xue happily said that she could wait for me every day if I liked, but I didn't want her to be seen by anyone, or for Leng Linglan to know things she shouldn't know, so I refused.
This girl is quite sensible; she actually remembered my instructions and put on the mask before coming out to greet me. Although her foolish act of falling asleep on the steps at the door greatly embarrassed the Farrell family, I still decided to give her a small reward.
Night enveloped the surroundings, and there were no houses near the Duke's mansion. I looked left and right; there wasn't a single damn passerby. Even if I took off the mask, I didn't have to worry about anyone seeing Xue's appearance. Having confirmed this, my boldness grew. I moved closer, embraced her slender waist, lifted her mask, and kissed her without hesitation.
"Mmm..." The passionate kiss roused the Sleeping Beauty from her sweet dream. A little surprise and resistance were expected, which only added to my pleasure, as I always enjoyed being in control. I forcefully suppressed her resistance, wantonly sucking on her soft lips, savoring the exquisite taste of the kiss. As for our
familiarity with each other's bodies, Ah Xue and I were practically an "old married couple." Normally, when did I need her permission if I wanted to? So even though she kept writhing her body and emitting soft moans during my kisses, I ignored her completely. Instead, I used her little movements to further stimulate my desire to conquer her. Not only did I kiss her passionately, trying to open her tightly closed cherry lips to tease her tongue, but my hands were also busy, stroking her slender waist and quickly and smoothly reaching up to grasp her round, large breasts through her thin clothes.
"Ugh..." The sudden attack on her chest startled her greatly. Her lips, which had been firmly held together, parted and fell, allowing me to easily penetrate her. I sucked on her sweet nectar, teasing her pink tongue, and kissed her firmly. But at this moment of near victory, I suddenly stopped, stunned by the abnormality I had just felt.
Through her clothes, I could feel the perfect shape of her breasts in my palm, firm and high, like a full, mature bamboo shoot, waiting to be devoured. However, despite their excellent shape and feel, they were not large breasts, nor were they the kind of breasts a man couldn't handle. In other words, this couldn't be Ah Xue.
I was startled, a sense of foreboding washing over me. Completely unable to guess the identity of this unexpected woman, I finally had to steel myself, end the now incredibly awkward kiss, and pull away, trying to make out her face in the darkness.
Even at such close range, the visibility was poor, and everything before me was blurry. After I pulled away, she didn't seem alarmed; instead, she reached out her pale hand and gently stroked my cheek.
This intimate gesture made me uneasy, because it was not only unusual but also gave me an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
"You..."
"You're so grown up, yet still so mischievous, making jokes like this the moment we meet. Your personality hasn't changed at all."
The gentle voice confirmed my suspicions. I stared wide-eyed in disbelief, unable to comprehend why a noble woman, the First Lady of the Plantagenet Federation, would be here alone.
"Heh, little brother, how long are you going to stand here like this? I'm getting tired of sitting here. Won't you invite me to sit in the Duke's mansion?"
Even in this awkward situation, she remained elegant, her gentle smile and trusting eyes showing no sign of panic. The embarrassing incident just now seemed like it had never happened, leaving me momentarily confused and wondering if I was dreaming. Otherwise, how could such an illogical thing have occurred?
"Aren't you getting up? Children shouldn't disobey their older sisters, or they'll become bad kids." A slender, jade-like hand pinched my nose and gently shook it, just like what had happened many times before in front of this door. Sister Yueying, in her unique way, closed the distance between us and eased the atmosphere.
Only then did I notice that Sister Yueying was wearing a cloak in addition to her mask, clearly not wanting to be recognized, and this was definitely not a good place to talk. Although I still had a lot to say, I had no choice but to immediately open the door and let her in.
On one hand, this was also a test, to see if Sister Yueying would be willing to enter the manor, or if she simply wanted to say a few words to me at the door and then leave immediately. Different attitudes convey different messages, and this was something I wanted to try to grasp.
Yueying seemed to have no time to think. As soon as the door opened, she lifted her skirt and rushed into the manor. She turned back and smiled at me, even gesturing for me to come in. Her actions showed none of the air of a first lady she usually had, nor even that of a married woman. Her light steps were exactly the same as when she left the manor as a young girl.
"How nostalgic... It's been almost twelve years, and nothing has changed. The fallen leaves in the front yard are still swept to the maple tree next door. Uncle Fu hasn't retired yet." "
No, nothing in the manor can function without him."
"Ah, look, that hole in the window, you used to break it with a stone. I can't believe it's still there." "
...It's not that we wanted to keep it, but the manor has been short of funds for a long time, so we had to keep that broken window."
Like a wanderer returning to his hometown, or a butterfly lingering among the flowers, Yueying half-lifted her skirt and wandered around the manor, touching the pillars, looking for traces left on them; leaning against the windowsill, gazing at the scenery outside, occasionally letting out a soft exclamation of surprise.
Seeing how happy she was, I, who was accompanying her, was completely confused. I remembered her polite yet indifferent attitude towards me in the garden that day, and compared it with how she was now. I really didn't know why Sister Yueying had come here, or how to define my relationship with her.
Over the years, this scene had appeared in my dreams more than once, but I knew the difference between reality and dreams. Now the dream was presented exactly as it was, and I only felt a strong sense of unreality.
This confusion couldn't hide the wisdom in the beautiful woman's heart. Just as we strolled from the front to the small pond in the backyard, Yueying stood by the pond, leaning against the railing, and suddenly fell silent.
"Sister... First Lady Yueying, you..."
"Little brother, no need to be so polite. I know you have something to ask. I'm right here in front of you now, so just say what you want to say to me."
At first, unsure of how to phrase things, I could only use such a stiff form of address to ensure safety. At this moment, I didn't know if I had misread it, or if a hint of disappointment had truly flashed across Sister Yueying's face, but she still smiled and made her stance clear with these words.
"Sister... I don't understand why you appointed me to be in charge of security."
"Hmm? Little brother, you don't want to protect your sister?"
"That's not what I meant. I just feel... a little strange..."
I didn't know how to properly express my meaning, but being able to call her "sister" like this again felt really good.
"I thought you would be happy. Don't boys like to rush to make merits, establish martial achievements, and rise to higher positions? You are currently the youngest and most outstanding military officer in Alibuda. This opportunity can help you reach even greater heights. Don't you like it?"
Yueying's words were always so gentle, so instead of asking me "Is this wrong?" she asked "Don't you like it?" It was this kind of thoughtfulness that made everyone in Sara like her.
"But that day in the garden, your attitude was so strange, like I was a stranger."
"Silly girl, that was a social occasion. Nobles and high-ranking officials from over a dozen countries were there. Even if I was happy, could I just go over and hug you or pat your hair?" Yueying shook her head and laughed, "You're growing up; you should learn some social etiquette. Are you always this clumsy?"
"Social etiquette… but I don't like being like this."
"Hmm?"
"I don't like this. Sister is sister, why have you changed so much all of a sudden? His Majesty the King and Leng Chou... and the Second Princess are all the same, calling you First Lady Yueying out of politeness. Sister, aren't you their daughter and sister? Just for the sake of etiquette, they have to treat you like a stranger. Every time I hear that, I feel so hypocritical and disgusted..."
It wasn't my imagination. As she said these words, I really saw a trace of loneliness and sadness flash in Sister Yueying's eyes, which gave me more courage to continue speaking.
"If doing this is considered politeness, then I'd rather be a rude and impolite brute. At least I'd feel much better. To me, you are Sister Yueying, and I don't want to call you by any other name."
These words made even my own heart race. After all, twelve years is a long time. I wasn't sure how much Sister Yueying had changed. How did she feel hearing these words?
This unease lasted for a while, and suddenly, I saw a very touching and heartwarming smile appear on Sister Yueying's face.
"Thank you. I've come here today only to tell you one thing." With the elegance of a dancing swan, Yueying raised her snow-white, delicate hand and whispered, "Little brother, your sister is back."
With an indescribable excitement, I reached out and grasped her hand tightly, feeling the long-lost warmth burning in our palms.
◆ Chapter Eight: The King's Secret Order
Being able to rekindle my old feelings with Sister Yueying was a truly heartwarming thing. According to her, although life in the Golden Flower Federation was happy, she often felt lonely.
"How could this be? Sister, you always manage to make friends with people so quickly. Everyone in Sara, from nobles to commoners, likes you. Isn't that right in the Plantagenet Federation?"
"Little brother, you're all grown up now. Perhaps you understand some things. Everything in this world has two sides. When someone gets along well with everyone, it often means… she doesn't have anyone she can truly confide in."
Hey, twelve years have passed, and things are indeed different. Although Yueying's gentle smile remained unchanged, I saw a subtle message behind it. After all, I was no longer a six-year-old boy.
Although she was the First Lady of the Plantagenet Federation, Yueying didn't participate in politics. So, in the following days, while high-ranking officials held meetings to discuss matters, she toured around Sara. At this time, the choice of security personnel became crucial.
Leng Linglan seemed to be struggling, wanting to spend more time with her long-lost sister, but her strong sense of career ultimately prevented her from giving up the opportunity to participate in the negotiations and influence national policy, and thus her duty to protect her sister. Under these circumstances, I naturally became the first choice for protection. Although it was a bit odd for a grown man like me to lead a team alongside the First Lady of a neighboring country, adding the steady and reliable Mao Yan'an made everything perfect.
The uncle was a very pragmatic man, so of course he wouldn't stop me from using his place. Most of the time, he was with the guards, who, unaware of his background, already worshipped him like a great hero. Whenever he calmly boasted about some non-existent martial achievements, not only the guards but even Sister Yueying's personal maid couldn't help but eavesdrop.
While Mao Yan'an was drawing everyone's attention, I took a walk with Sister Yueying, enjoying the scenery and exchanging intimate laughter. I had no ulterior motives; at least at this moment, I simply wanted to make this motherly and sisterly relative smile and feel the warmth of my hometown.
Inevitably, when I devoted all my time and attention to Yueying, I naturally couldn't pay attention to Zhizhi and Axue. Fortunately, one of them was fasting and bathing, and the other was forced by me to concentrate on cultivation, so neither of them bothered me. Especially Xue, although I made her used to wearing a mask, it would still be troublesome if she ran into Sister Yueying.
While we were chatting and laughing all day, the secret talks between the envoys of various countries were also taking place.
In the morning, discussions focused on existing trade agreements and various disputes among nations, hoping to reach a consensus and finalize a treaty as soon as possible. For a long time, wars have been waged for various reasons, causing stagnation in national development and economic progress. While some may enjoy this, most are fed up. Rather than continuing these indecisive border conflicts, it would be better to gain ten years to recuperate and rebuild, until strength is sufficient to eliminate troublesome neighboring countries in one fell swoop.
People's unity often requires a powerful enemy, so in the afternoon, the high-ranking officials of each nation discussed how to prevent the Black Dragon Society from growing too powerful. I didn't want to attend these kinds of discussions, but unfortunately, I was the hero who exposed the Black Dragon Society's conspiracy, so I was often called in for consultations.
To help my sister, the Dragon Girl, as the only witness, I criticized the Black Dragon Society mercilessly, exaggerating its evil deeds and doubling its strength, hoping that the participating countries would wipe it out as soon as possible.
"Kurosawa Kazuo is treacherous. I've heard that the Black Dragon Society has been recruiting soldiers in the East China Sea recently and has repeatedly started wars. If we don't take precautions soon, it will surely become a source of disaster for the entire land in the future." Ryan Buffett spoke excitedly, his long, golden hair, like a lion's mane, radiating waves of anger, letting everyone know his hatred for the Black Dragon Society.
Many of the participating countries were landlocked and lacked a clear understanding of the Black Dragon Society. This necessitated the assistance of several major powers with comprehensive intelligence and coastal nations with prior contact to provide information about the
organization. The message brought by the Copenhagen ambassador, who arrived in Sarawak today, effectively broke the deadlock of the previous days. From the discussions among the attendees, I gained a deeper understanding of the Black Dragon Society's strength. Mao Yan'an mentioned to us last time that the Black Dragon King has nine Sea God Generals who command the fleet. However, before the Lunar New Year, Fang Qingshu helped the anti-Japanese warships in the East China Sea and killed twelve generals of the Black Dragon Society, including three naval generals. Afterwards, the Black Dragon King promoted two of his subordinates to fill the vacancies. As for the remaining vacancy, it was filled by a female general.
This female general of unknown origin possesses martial arts skills surpassing the other eight. She has been measured and confirmed to have level six strength. She wields a white bone demon whip, and her attacks are both vicious and ruthless. Any ship she rams is slaughtered, leaving the sea a blood-red mess afterward, filled with broken bodies and severed limbs. Her terrifying methods have made her infamous throughout the East China Sea in a short period of time.
The ambassador of Copenhagen, a small country on the east coast, spoke with a fearful and indignant expression: "This vixen has broken past rules and attacked our ships. In three months, nine of our fleets, a total of eighty-seven ships, have sunk under her attacks."
In the past, the Black Dragon Society had a secret agreement with the coastal nations: they would not touch the ships of those nations within the waters surrounding their territorial waters, and the spoils of their plunder would be shared proportionally with those nations. In return, the navies of those nations would turn a blind eye to the Black Dragon Society's raiding warships. This secret agreement allowed the Black Dragon Society to grow rapidly. Once it possessed the strength to rival major powers, it broke the agreement. These small and medium-sized countries were powerless to resist and could only regret nurturing a future threat.
Condemnation is meaningless. This meeting is somewhat aimed at facing and resolving these issues, and finding a way to suppress the Black Dragon Society.
"Experts don't just appear out of nowhere. Where does the Black Dragon Society get so many talents? In the past ten years, there have been very few female martial artists at the sixth level on the land. Could it be that the Black Dragon Society has run out of people and sent those two humanoid avatars to command the fleet?"
The elf representative of Solancia raised this question, which was also the common thought of everyone present. I saw a sudden flash of heroic spirit in Leng Linglan's eyes, but her face showed an arrogant expression. She was obviously competitive with these two female rivals who were also among the Seven Beauties.
However, this question was immediately dismissed, because according to intelligence from various countries, Ghostly Evening was a girl in her early teens, and Drunken Immortal Spirit was not yet twenty-five, while the mysterious female general was a mature and alluring young woman. The age difference didn't make sense, and besides, the Black Dragon Society shouldn't have fallen to such a state that it needed to send a special agent leader to take command of the fleet.
"Have you tried to contact Marshal Li? She has won several battles recently, suppressing the Black Dragon Society's arrogance considerably."
"Marshal Li's resistance army has inflicted considerable damage on the Black Dragon Society. In the past year, more than ten battles, large and small, have wiped out approximately one of the Black Dragon Society's fleets. Therefore, the Black Dragon King has reorganized, concentrating manpower into eight fleets, while the Ninth Fleet assigned to that witch... is composed of the Undying Legion."
"What?"
Everyone was greatly shocked, especially the representative of Ishtar, whose face was extremely grim. This news meant that the technology of the Ishtar military's secret weapon, which had been kept secret for hundreds of years, had finally been successfully researched by the Second Force, or... leaked out.
For dark magicians who make their living through necromancy and evil power, manipulating spirits, controlling zombies, and summoning lifeless undead creatures are essential skills. Which mastered wizard doesn't keep a few zombies and ghosts around? I know several famous figures in the wizarding world who even dig up graves to create beautiful female corpse prostitutes for their own pleasure.
If ordinary wizards are like this, it goes without saying that necromancers specializing in this art are even more so. Any practitioner of the six-color magic system must reach the fifth level of cultivation to leave the apprenticeship stage and be officially recognized as a magician. A fifth-level necromancer can control dozens to over a hundred spirits; if they are undead creatures like zombies or skeletons, the number might be even higher.
However, to be truly effective in a massive battle, a few dozen or even a few hundred zombies and skeletons are not very meaningful; at least a thousand are needed for tactical purposes, meaning dozens of wizards would be required to control them.
The problem is that even in a large country like Alibuda, after rigorous screening, there are only a few dozen wizards with fifth-level cultivation, specializing in dark magic, and serving in the military. This is even more true for smaller countries. Considering the cost, it's more efficient to form a special team dedicated to casting powerful spells from a distance rather than having them control an undead legion.
The Golden Flower Federation boasts unparalleled national power, but the Palace of Light doesn't actively promote the practice of dark magic. Therefore, the strength of their army's dark magicians isn't much better than ours. Looking across the land, only the Dark Magic Nation of Ishtar surpasses all other nations in this regard. Ishtar's wizards, inheriting the wisdom of their ancestors and possessing inexhaustible experimental materials, enjoy constant state privileges, meticulously studying dark magic. Generation after generation, each generation produces several sixth- or even seventh-level Grand Spirit Wizards.
With magical artifacts and personal cultivation, a sixth-level wizard can summon hundreds to thousands of undead creatures. A single mage like this would be enough to play a significant role on the battlefield. It's not without reason that the Ishtar cavalry, when conquering various countries, always had a wizard as their commander. Although Bloodlust proved with his own life that when misfortune strikes, even the most powerful magic is useless, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner he created still demonstrates Ishtar's exceptional magical skills.
However, ever since the Black Dragon King established his dominance in the East Sea, the Ishtar wizards have been unable to maintain their title as the "strongest" in black magic, considering it a great disgrace. Now, the appearance of the Undead Legion in the East Sea further proves that Kurosawa Kazuo is not only exceptionally skilled personally, but also intends to create a black magic organization that surpasses Ishtar.
Realizing the significance of this message, dozens of different gazes—some worried, some mocking, some gloating—were all focused on the Ishtar envoy.
"May I ask, Your Excellency, what is the size of that fleet?" the Ishtar representative asked casually. Although the room was well-ventilated, beads of sweat on his pale forehead betrayed his true feelings.
"It's impossible to count, as most are composed of the undead, plus zombies, skeletons… I estimate it's no less than ten thousand."
This answer utterly shattered the Ishtar representative's hopes, causing him to slump into his chair. It also made the faces of the assembled envoys look as if a dozen kings had simultaneously perished.
A legion of ten thousand undead soldiers—how much magic power would it take to control them? It's safe to assume they're at least level seven, perhaps even among the five strongest beings. The Black Dragon King wouldn't lead an army himself, so there must be a second powerful wizard present at the Black Dragon Council.
This news, enough to cause a reshuffling of power on Earth, changed the atmosphere of the entire meeting.
A thought flashed through my mind, recalling the colossus used by the Serpent Clan in Youli. Logically, this should be an Ishtar military secret. If I revealed it, the Ishtar people's expressions would be even more interesting. However, revealing this might bring trouble. Since I don't intend to face the Zoroastrian assassins, there's no need to get involved.
The Ishtar representative's face was ashen, muttering something to himself. I heard the sound clearly, but because I don't understand Ishtar, I didn't comprehend its meaning. When he recovered from his near-foaming expression, he tremblingly requested a recess, promising that a truly capable envoy would arrive in Sara within three days to confirm Ishtar's position.
Ryan Buffett, meanwhile, seemed deep in thought, struggling to make a decision; Leng Linglan, her face grave, whispered instructions to her female subordinates behind her. These interesting reactions didn't escape my notice, but I sensed no crisis, only a feeling… that things were about to get interesting.
The Purple Narcissus, hailed as the most beautiful of the seven flowers, was finally about to make her official appearance. Just how beautiful and charming she was, it was truly exciting to think about.
His Majesty the King of Lengqi in Alibuda, as everyone knows, had no children, only three beautiful daughters, each with her own unique charm. After his death, no one knows how the throne will be passed on.
Based on bloodline and ability, Leng Linglan is undoubtedly the rightful heir, and it's clear to everyone that she has a strong desire for it. In the history of Alibuda, there have been empresses who ruled before, so a woman succeeding to the throne isn't entirely unbelievable.
However, His Majesty is notoriously distrustful of women's abilities, and a considerable number of civil and military officials oppose a woman ruling. Therefore, Leng Linglan's path to becoming king is not as smooth as imagined.
The common people naturally support a princess-general with both literary and military talents, strong practical abilities, and who has repeatedly brought glory to the country to ascend the throne; she is at least better than those useless nobles. But naturally, if Leng Linglan were to succeed to the throne, she would implement reforms to improve the status of women. Not only would she crack down on brothels and brothels within Alibuda's territory, but she might also explicitly prohibit concubinage. In doing so, she would offend all the wealthy and powerful, so who would be willing to support such a woman to the throne?
Faced with these unfavorable factors, Leng Linglan worked even harder, striving for opportunities to perform and achieve feats that no one could dispute. This peace talks were an opportunity where she absolutely could not afford to make a mistake.
Therefore, although I knew that Sister Yueying and her sisterly bond were very strong, Leng Linglan had been busy visiting important figures in various countries these past few days and hadn't had much time to visit her long-lost elder sister.
That morning, after finishing her meeting with the Solancia envoy, Leng Linglan rushed over to visit her sister. Seeing Yueying and me chatting and laughing, she was slightly taken aback, and then made no attempt to hide her disgust.
Arguing with her and gaining some verbal advantage would have been easy for me, but it would also have been the stupidest and most meaningless thing to do. Moreover, I didn't want to spoil Sister Yueying's mood, so I immediately excused myself and left to the side.
"Where are you going?" Leng Linglan asked as we passed each other, as if trying to find fault with me. I replied calmly, "With the Second Princess here, her divine skills are invincible, and all villains will flee in terror. Why should others interfere? Let this humble general have a chance to slack off while you and the Eldest Princess chat leisurely."
I didn't address her as "First Lady" as required by custom, but rather as "Eldest Princess," which subtly hinted at my dissatisfaction with the royal family's attitude. Leng Linglan caught on, her expression changed, and she was about to erupt when I had already strode away.
Leng Linglan's stay was short, which made me deeply saddened by the lack of kinship among the royal family members. Leng Linglan and Yueying's relationship wasn't bad; however, for this second princess, who was just as capable as any man, she simply had "more important things" to do. At least... this was much better than His Majesty the King. Since Yueying's return, apart from their public appearances, her father hadn't had any contact with his eldest daughter.
Disliking being in a luxurious carriage, Yueying politely declined the escort of the guards and sat under a large banyan tree by the roadside, casually wiping her sweat and seeking shade. When she saw me approaching, she smiled softly.
"You're back! You could have rested more... It must be tiring following an old woman like me all day, right?"
"What are you talking about, sister? You're not old at all!"
"I really am old, I'm already twenty-eight, I can't compare to young girls anymore."
People who maintain a cheerful mood usually look very young, and the years have left almost no trace on Sister Yueying's face. Approaching thirty, her delicate face and fair skin look like wild cherry blossoms blooming in early spring, slender and delicate, capturing the most brilliant moment of spring. That fragile feeling that makes people want to protect and pity her makes people naturally regard her as a young girl under twenty.
Yueying is known as the most beautiful of the Four Heavenly Maidens, and it is well-deserved. Every time I see the blissful look on her face when she smiles, even the Dragon Girl and Tianhe Xueqiong pale in comparison. Although I've never met the Phoenix Fairy, I'm certain that there's no other celestial being in the world who can compare to Yueying.
"Sister, you look like you're only eighteen or nineteen. Ordinary women would envy you. If you really want to reduce our burden, then come to places like this less often. It's crowded and the environment is complicated; it's very difficult to protect you."
Before she got married, Yueying wasn't used to staying in the deep palace all the time. She would come out every day, taking me to play among the people, listening to the Salar people express their feelings, and playing with the children. This personality trait remained unchanged twelve years later. When President Ryan attended a meeting, she refused to stay alone in the residence and always preferred to go out and wander around, neither taking a carriage nor having her guards clear the way.
"I have hands and feet, why should I take a carriage? Daytime is when people work and are active, there is no reason to sacrifice their convenience to accommodate my personal time."
Twelve years had passed since Sister Yueying left the country, and most of the royal guards of Alibuda were unaware of the princess's personality. When they tried to curry favor with her in the same way they usually did when receiving important people, they immediately met with a cold shoulder.
The approachable Yueying was very popular with the people, but for those who served as her guards, the thought of how many treacherous villains might mingle among the crowds and pass her by made their hearts pound with anxiety.
Fortunately, Yueying's understanding nature reduced our workload. Considering our position, she changed into simple clothes when she went for a walk, simply sitting under a tree by the roadside, watching the passersby come and go, appreciating the true charm of Sara.
"By the way, sister, I heard that the Third Princess is studying at the Palace of Light. Have you seen her?" I took the opportunity to ask about Xingmei's whereabouts. Previously, I only knew that she was sent to the Cihang Jingdian to receive the education befitting a royal daughter, but her actual location was unclear. Logically, Xingmei should have been sent to the Golden Flower Federation to seek refuge with her sister, but Yueying gave me an unexpected answer.
The training at the Temple of Light is not simply about studying and practicing martial arts at the main palace; it also includes practical training outside the palace. Those who value martial arts must act as heroes incognito or serve as international police officers like those in Japan; those who will take on political duties after returning home will be assigned to an administrative unit for a two-month internship before being transferred to another unit; as for Xingmei, she joined a mobile medical team, and I don't know which remote border region she is going to perform medical work.
From this message, it seems Xingmei and I won't have a chance to meet for a while. I also need to pretend everything's fine in front of Yueying, so she doesn't know about Xingmei and me. Even though she and Xingmei aren't born of the same mother, she dotes on this little sister, and I don't want to upset her over something like this.
"Sister, you're really strange. All the other ladies are busy attending social events and balls, why are you, the First Lady, neglecting the President and going out to enjoy yourself all by yourself?"
"What are you talking about? I don't attend banquets often in the Golden Flower Federation either. Every time I attend a banquet, I spend half a day getting ready, and in the end, my hair and body feel heavy. It's exhausting. Besides, I feel out of place talking to the people there. I... don't really like those kinds of occasions."
Yueying smiled slightly and said, "Politics is Ryan's stage. I just need to nod and smile while I'm by his side. Sigh, as..." "If it were possible, who would want to live like that? I've always imagined building a small wooden cabin by a large, mirror-like lake, surrounded by fields of lavender and lilies, fragrant with flowers all year round. In winter, when it snows, I'll light a fire in the fireplace and sew clothes and embroider shoes for my beloved man..."
Her voice was soft, and towards the end, it sounded like a dream. Yueying seemed to be describing her own dream, her consciousness completely detached from reality.
"Ah, I'm sorry, I got lost in thought. You can look, but please don't laugh at me." Yueying's absent-minded expression vanished in an instant, followed by her usual smile. When that sweet smile bloomed again, those strange expressions from before seemed to have never existed.
I doubted my own eyes, but Sister Yueying looked really strange, especially her ethereal expression. It reminded me of the occasional melancholy look she'd shown these past few days, as if she were lonely and isolated.
This just didn't make sense. Yueying was born into royalty, a golden branch and jade leaf. From birth, she was pampered and favored by everyone around her. Nobles and commoners alike adored her. Not only was she stunningly beautiful and flawless, but she was also the First Lady of the Golden Flower Federation. Her husband was heroic and valiant, and their love was deep. In some ways, she was practically a goddess descended to earth, making countless women envious and resentful.
But why does Yueying, who should be living in happiness, still occasionally show such an expression? Could it be... like other aristocratic politicians, such as Ryan Buffett, who is focused on his career and neglects his family, thus neglecting his beloved wife and leaving Yueying lonely and miserable for over ten years?
Thinking about the meaning behind it, I suddenly felt uneasy, and an urge to do something surged fiercely in my chest.
Unlike in the past, this time I wasn't worried about my close sister like I would a family member; rather, it was a simple feeling of care for a woman, thinking that if a man has such a woman as his wife but cannot give her happiness, such a man should die.
Of course, I've never had any tenderness towards women in the past, so my feelings now are complicated. Besides a tender affection, a stronger possessive desire almost immediately filled my mind. Without thinking, I reached out and nearly touched Yueying's snowy shoulder.
However, reason timely suppressed my desire, allowing me to withdraw my hand in time, avoiding an awkward situation for both of us, and preventing her from noticing my inappropriateness.
Twelve years have passed, and many things have changed. Compared to before, I can do many more things, but without understanding things first, acting rashly will only lead to regret. For now, I should suppress these desires...
I glanced quietly at Yueying's profile, admiring her beautiful face, using this to calm the turmoil in my chest, and put on a harmless smile.
Alas, after all... I'm no longer a child.
After completing my mission that day, I escorted Yueying back to the inn in the evening, and then took care of some official business. It was already very late when I got home. I was just thinking about whether to release myself in Xue's pink buttocks tonight when I was suddenly stopped.
Being taken to the palace by guards directly under His Majesty the King in the middle of the night to receive a secret mission was a very strange thing, especially since this time I didn't even have to wait outside; I was taken directly to the royal study to meet the King, who was waiting there alone.
His Majesty the King didn't explain why he summoned me so late at night. He simply struck up a casual conversation, asking if I had been in contact with my father, how I was doing, and mentioning that although my grandfather and the late King were ruler and subject, they were close friends. He also mentioned that he was friends with my eccentric father and told me not to be reserved, to treat him as an uncle from a long-standing family. He then praised my hard work and achievements, saying that he was very pleased that his old friend had such a son, and that Alibuda had such a wise minister.
Although these words were ordinary, the feeling of an "uncle" with whom I hadn't been in contact for over ten years suddenly having a casual chat with me was extremely eerie. I couldn't help but secretly glance out the window, worried that the old scene of someone throwing a cup and then five hundred axemen rushing in and dismembering me would unfold.
Perhaps because my expression was so unpleasant, after praising my extraordinary courage, His Majesty finally spoke and conveyed his divine will: "John, although you are young, I know you are the most loyal and righteous man in our country. Whether it is your loyalty to the royal family or your benevolent heart in upholding justice, no one else can compare. Today, I have a matter on my mind that is difficult to resolve. I wonder if there is anyone who can take on this important task and share my burden?"
Sigh... You're staring at me as you speak. Can I still recommend Uncle Oren? If I refuse here, there will be more than five hundred axemen rushing out.
"Your Majesty flatters me. I am unworthy of such praise. My life has only known loyalty to the country and serving Your Majesty. If there is any task I can accomplish, it would be my greatest honor."
"Well said. John Farrell, I have a secret mission for you." The King's voice suddenly softened, as if he were speaking with great sorrow.
"My eldest daughter, Leng Yueying, is my precious darling. I recently received news that her marriage was to the wrong person. That Ryan Buffett is a heartless scoundrel, causing her immense suffering. I am deeply grieved. Now I entrust you with this task: no matter what, you must rescue Princess Yueying."
"Ah?!"

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Alibuda Chronicles 6

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