World-Ending Demon Emperor-Chapter 40 - 38 Departure and Heading South!

40: Chapter 38: Departure and Heading South!

40 -38: Departure and Heading South!

At that moment, the entire Count Tianshui mansion was enveloped in dead silence.

Suo Ningbing had already learned of the King’s new decree and immediately, her heart was filled with despair.

The foundation of the Suo Family was about to be destroyed in her hands.

Lanling was indeed smart, but with less than five months to study and practice martial arts, he couldn’t even hope to pass the graduation examination, let alone rank in the top ten to receive the noble samurai medal.

Why?

Why?

Tianshui City was conquered by the ancestors of the Suo Family, not granted by the royal family, so why did the royal family have the right to take it away whenever they wanted?

The Suo Family had ruled Tianshui City for longer than the Rage Wave Kingdom had been established.

If it weren’t for the Suo ancestors choosing to submit to the Zhi Family, how could the royal family have possibly pacified the entire southeast region?

The King back then, holding the hand of the patriarch of the Suo Family, had said, “You are my benefactor, your family will share the world with my kingdom, and your family’s prosperity will last as long as the nation.”

Those words were still resonating in her ears, yet now, for the sake of Zhi Li’s strategy, the royal family had bared its fangs, poised to push their benefactor towards death.

How could such a powerful royal family bully two helpless sisters and a young brother like this?

Why?

Lanling had just arrived home when his sister, Suo Ningbing, threw herself into his arms.

“Little brother, I truly regret agreeing to Jingyu’s request.

I should have never dragged you into this.

You are so exceptional, and now you must share the Suo Family’s fate.”

At that time, Ye Jingyu’s gaze was also full of regret.

Had he known it would come to this, he wouldn’t have let Lanling impersonate Suo Lun.

Lanling was indeed too exceptional, whether it was his martial arts talent, his intelligence, or his artistic accomplishment, all of them were one in a million.

He should have had an exceptionally bright future.

Instead, he was now dragged into the strife between the Suo Family and the royal family, becoming a sacrificial victim.

Lanling gently held his sister, patting her back softly, and said in a soothing voice, “Sister, we might not necessarily lose Tianshui City.”

Suo Ningbing said, “You don’t need to comfort me.”

Lanling said, “As long as I reach the top ten in the graduation examination and earn the noble samurai medal, at that time the royal family, no matter what, will have to let me inherit the title and the position of Tianshui City Lord.”

Suo Ningbing was taken aback, not expecting Lanling to still harbor such thoughts.

To enter the top ten in the graduation examination, one needed to at least become a second-level samurai archer purely in the subject of martial arts.

For anyone in the world, even with high aptitude, this would require five to six years.

Lanling had not even completed his enlightenment, with only four months left, it was utterly a fool’s dream.

Suo Ningbing wondered if Lanling was so enraged that he had lost his sanity.

But she couldn’t say any words of scorn, nor could she bring herself to utter words of denial.

Through their less than a month of acquaintance, she had already come to regard Lanling as family, fully replacing her real brother Suo Lun.

Yet Ye Jingyu spoke without any reservation, bluntly saying, “Suo Lun, this is completely impossible.

Even Jiang Shang, the strongest man in the world, couldn’t achieve this step within three years.”

Lanling said, “I want to try.

Even if I die, I want to give my all, that way I’ll have no regrets.”

Ye Jingyu didn’t speak, but Suo Ningbing said, “Okay, your sister supports you.

As I’ve said before, when the time comes, if worst comes to worst, we as siblings will die together.”

Lanling said, “In about ten days, I must go to the kingdom’s border for actual combat training.”

Suo Ningbing’s beautiful eyes trembled.

That place was far too dangerous, and she was deeply reluctant, but she still nodded and said, “Okay, your sister supports you.”

Ye Jingyu said, “That won’t do, you haven’t completed the third step of enlightenment; you can’t undertake actual combat training.”

Lanling said, “I have already completed it.

But I pretended I hadn’t because I was afraid you would think I was too monstrous.” freёnovelkiss.com

With that said, Lanling used his consciousness to command Yao Xing to release a surge of power, then controlled that power with his mind, circulating it through his body, and shooting it directly from his fingertips.

Though this power was faint, like a gust of wind brushing against Ye Jingyu’s face,

it proved that Lanling had indeed completed the third step of enlightenment, dragon power control.

She was truly stunned.

What took others several months to accomplish, dragon power control, Lanling needed only half a day—the man was truly a monster.

Perhaps after three months of actual combat training, Lanling really might bring a surprise during the graduation examination.

If that were the case, he would truly blow everyone away.

…

In the following ten days, Lanling didn’t go home, living and eating within Yuhua Pavilion.

In the eyes of many, he had completely given up on himself, indulging in the ‘Pavilion of Enchantment.’ But in reality, Lanling was tirelessly working off his debt—what debt?

Creating posters for the remaining eighteen hairpins, styling each one based on their characteristics, then clearly laying out the marketing strategy.

Since he had earned this money, he was determined to be responsible and complete the job.

Despite the urgency of the situation, where he needed to devote as much time as possible to practical training, it was no excuse to shirk his responsibilities.

Therefore, he rested for only two or three hours each day, then worked relentlessly without sleep, spending all his time painting and writing proposals.

Many girls were incredibly worried about him, urging him to stop painting and to address it later.

But this was closely related to the interests of these women and the brothels behind them—how could he betray his word?

After nine days and nights of relentless work, painting and developing promotional plans, he finally completed the remaining nineteen portraits of the Royal City beauties, their promotional campaigns, and all the posters.

Then, he collapsed onto Yi Manman’s bed and fell into a deep sleep that he did not wake from.

After sleeping for a full twelve hours, Lanling was awoken and told that Duke Zhi Ting had summoned him.

…

“The King has issued a stern reprimand, and has punished me by confining me to house arrest for three months, not allowing me to step outside the Duke’s manor,” said Duke Zhi Ting to Lanling, as soon as he saw him.

Lanling bowed and said, “I’m sorry, Your Grace, that my affairs have implicated you.”

Seeing that Suo Lun was still respectful, despite not having managed to solve the problem and instead exacerbating the situation, Duke Zhi Ting was touched by the absence of any resentment from Suo Lun.

“The bribes I receive, I never return,” stated Duke Zhi Ting.

“But this time, I will make an exception.

Here, take back these three properties.

Moreover, after you lose your title and Tianshui City, you can come to my service.

This way, you could preserve your life, and most likely, no one would dare to bully you.”

With that, Duke Zhi Ting took out the deeds to the three properties and attempted to return them to Lanling.

Instantly, Lanling stepped back three paces and said, “The items given by the Suo Family are never taken back.

Moreover, Your Grace has already tried his utmost for my sake and has been reprimanded by His Majesty.

This already fills Suo Lun with indescribable gratitude and immense guilt.”

Duke Zhi Ting was taken aback, then breathlessly walked up to Lanling, patted his shoulder, and said, “You, you really are remarkable.

It’s a shame Zhi Li won’t let you live.

I will do my utmost to preserve your life, but whether it can be saved is up to fate.

Zhi Li is a formidable young man, a future King.”

Lanling did not say a word, but again bowed deeply in response.

…

After returning to the Earl’s mansion, Lanling had his last supper with his sister.

Tomorrow, he was to journey to the border of the Rage Wave Kingdom and the Barbarian Tribes, to partake in real combat training.

It was the most dangerous place, with countless Barbarian Warriors and untold numbers of savage beasts, but it was also the best environment for cultivation.

Suo Ning Bing really had a million reasons to feel reluctance; he was her kin, the very root of her life.

Yet, for her sake, he was going to such a perilous place.

However, during the meal, Suo Ning Bing kept smiling, while also struggling to hold back tears, nearly breaking Lanling’s heart.

After dinner, Suo Ning Bing did not sleep at all.

She meticulously packed Lanling’s luggage over and over again, and then sat by his bed, watching over him for the entire night.

Lanling did not sleep either, but fearing that his sister would worry, he pretended to be asleep.

The next day, before dawn, Lanling got up and formally bid farewell to his sister.

He and Ye Jingyu disguised themselves and left from the backdoor of the Earl’s mansion, departing in secret.

Suo Ning Bing could no longer contain herself; she embraced Lanling tightly and wept as she choked out, “You must come back safely.

If anything were to happen to you, I wouldn’t want to live either.

Forget Tianshui City; forget our family’s legacy of hundreds of years.

All I want is for you to be safe.

You are now my life’s root, do you understand?”

In that moment, Lanling fiercely pulled Suo Ning Bing into his embrace, greedily inhaling her scent, and said in a gentle yet commanding tone, “Sister, when I’m strong enough, I will marry you, I want you as my wife.”

Then, he cradled her incredibly beautiful face and planted a fierce yet tender kiss on her lips.

It was incredibly soft, incredibly sweet, but the taste was somewhat bitter due to his sister’s tears.

Upon hearing this bold declaration, Suo Ning Bing’s heart trembled fiercely, and her mind went blank.

Even Ye Jingyu, who was standing beside them, was stunned, never expecting Lanling to be so daring.

After the kiss, Lanling leapt onto his steed and galloped away.

Taken aback, Ye Jingyu then said to Suo Ning Bing, “Miss, take care of yourself.”

Then, she too squeezed her horse’s flanks and chased after Lanling.

The two of them, on their horses, secretly left the Royal City and sped toward the southern border.

Meanwhile, Suo Ning Bing stood there, hands pressed together, praying to the heavens with sincere devotion, “Supreme Dragon, please protect my brother and bring him back safely.

I am willing to give up everything, I only want him to be safe and sound.”

…

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