Calamity Messenger

Chapter 346 - 281: I Regret It

Before Yan Shiyi could raise his hand again, Ying Le grabbed him and smashed him downwards, creating a fissured pit upon impact, deeply embedding Yan Shiyi inside it. At the same time, the [Heart of All] within him rose to fifty percent, which would affect his mind but entirely immobilized his limbs.

However, Ying Le lost interest in persuading him to surrender. She looked coldly at Yan Shiyi, the emperor who always seemed frivolous and murdered with laughter, was finally provoked... She was never one to play games; rather, she played people. Who dared to mock her? Traitors should be sliced to pieces!

"Are you feeling triumphant now?" Ying Le asked coldly, "Why?"

At this moment, Ying Le truly felt a bit curious, clearly he brought out Bingzi Pepper Forest which was incapable of defeating her, and that slap only served to anger her, making no sense. From his actions, Ying Le knew he wasn’t someone who valued dignity above all, temporarily lying low for revenge was not unacceptable for him.

Yet why do this?

Yan Shiyi glanced at Ying Le calmly, laboriously replying:

"I’m happy."

Ying Rushi’s body trembled.

"You are indeed arrogant, and you have the qualifications for such arrogance." Ying Le said, "But unfortunately, Qi Kingdom does not allow such arrogance. You will become the 831st Baibao Guard, fighting all around for me, slaughtering all beings, yet you need not worry about this, for soon you will have no thoughts other than executing orders."

"Your life, your abilities, everything about you belongs to me."

She placed her palm on Yan Shiyi’s forehead, rapidly consuming Spiritual Essence while fully activating Divine Techniques. At this moment, invisible chains linked Yan Shiyi to the Baibao Guards present, chaotic mist flowed along the chains, transforming Yan Shiyi to the same hue.

[Heart of All]!

"Don’t be nervous," Ying Le said lightly, "Dizziness is normal, it will pass soon."

Yan Shiyi’s eyes turned utterly vacant, pupils entwined with crimson blood. Once Ying Le released him, he stood silently, although without armor, he appeared indistinguishable from other Baibao Guards, exuding a dead and gloomy aura.

"Little Rushi, sorry." Ying Le turned her head to look at Ying Rushi, tilting her head inquiringly, "You won’t blame me, right?"

Ying Le initially hoped to see sadness, disappointment, or her usual stoicism on Ying Rushi’s face; she enjoyed teasing her righteous little niece, like a perpetually curious kitten. However, Ying Rushi was extraordinarily shocked, as if witnessing an unbelievable scene.

Ying Le turned her head, witnessing Yan Shiyi’s body turning into dust and disappearing, even when she reached out to grasp, she could only catch some drifting sand.

"A mere incarnation." After a brief silence, Ying Le snorted coldly, "No wonder he treated death so eagerly, turned out it’s just an incarnation."

"Boring, I thought he was truly fearless of life and death, ultimately just a self-preserving kitten." She yawned, summoned a warhorse and mounted it, "Time to return."

"But since idle is idle... Rushi, lead fifty riders to Xiangzhou and annihilate the Zhao, Wei, Han families."

"Your Majesty." Suddenly, Ying Rushi called out to her.

Ying Le halted, turning to Ying Rushi, her gaze filled with questions: "What is it?"

"You mentioned earlier, it’s possible to halt the retribution against thirty-eight families..."

"If Yan Shiyi surrendered it could naturally halt, but he didn’t surrender, did he?" Ying Le touched her cheek, "He even slapped me."

Though very faint, there was indeed a red slap mark on Ying Le’s face, showcasing the overwhelming power of calamity, causing injuries difficult to heal even for a Foundation Establishment Messenger.

"But you also said earlier, this is a trivial matter," Ying Rushi asked, "Could we... stop here?"

Ying Le’s eyes flickered with a strange hue, she rode beside Ying Rushi, extending her hand to gently rub her niece’s head.

"Rushi, executing the thirty-eight families is not for fun, it’s to consolidate fortune. Seeing your plea, I was willing to sacrifice part of the fortune to gain his loyalty, but from the beginning Yellow Dog never intended to surrender, he merely sent an incarnation to cause havoc, even distracting me. Do you think I should stop now?"

Ying Rushi bowed her head: "No, you shouldn’t."

"Then what do you plan to do?"

"Annihilate the Zhao, Wei, Han families in Xiangzhou."

Ying Le nodded, looked at the silent Ying Rushi, thought for a moment and added: "Rushi, I know you are kind-hearted and cannot bear collateral damage, but the Zhao, Wei, Han families are local magnates in Xiangzhou, long arrogantly committing crimes and deserve annihilation. You’re not committing evil, but performing good deeds, understand?"

"Understood."

"There isn’t one wrongful among the thirty-eight clans to be purged. Annihilating them accomplishes Ying Family’s supremacy, undoubtedly a dual beneficial act. You should not bear any burden. Furthermore, after the next mission, when I complete Dao Foundation, I’ll enter Secret Realm to further advance, the governance will be entrusted to you."

Ying Le taught earnestly:

"Now purging thirty-eight families is also preparation for your future governance. The vacancies left by thirty-eight families can be filled by promoting new nobles, thereby acquiring a devoted group dedicated to your cause. The principle is clear, isn’t it?"

Ying Rushi bowed replied: "Thank Your Majesty for your grace."

Ying Le glanced at Ying Rushi, still unable to discern any emotions from that placid, lake-like face. Her niece always hid her expressions well; Ying Le accustomed to it, felt nothing amiss.

Soon, Baibao Guards escorted Ying Le away, while other military towns gathered remaining soldiers and returned to their garrisons. Before long, only Ying Rushi and fifty riders remained on the battlefield.

The rain gradually ceased, clouds dispersed in the sky revealing dazzling sunlight breaking through, shedding light on the land riddled with corpses and fresh blood.

Commander Baibao rode beside Ying Rushi, reminding her: "Prince Jun, it’s time to depart."

Ying Rushi didn’t respond, merely stared silently at the blood-soaked dead bodies. They struggled, wailing, their hollow eyes shedding bloody tears, yet they all gazed at Ying Rushi; their mouths opened with only half a tongue remaining, but the curses wailed out sharp, clear—

"You will die a horrible death!"

"Ying Le won’t spare you, she will also turn you into a Baibao Evil Ghost!"

"She already knows... she surely knows you awakened Divine Martial True Blood!"

"You will suffer with us soon!"

"No one can help you, no one can save you, this is your fate!"

"You are doomed!"

"Prince Jun, Your Majesty commands, onward to Xiangzhou."

Ying Rushi exhaled, gazed at the barren land, quietly spoke:

"I regret it."

Commander Baibao was stunned, their limited intellect unable to comprehend Ying Rushi’s subtext, never encountering anyone brave enough to disobey Ying Le’s orders.

"Prince Jun, Your Majesty commands—"

"I said."

Ying Rushi turned, under the bright sunshine, her facial hairs seemingly capturing glimmers.

After rain clears, the sky brightens, her mood unprecedentedly cheerful, as though something utterly shattered, finally letting her long-heavy heart die.

Once a path is chosen, don’t regret; if regret occurs, don’t continue paying the price.

"I regret it."

Suddenly she held a simple long sword, sides of its scabbard carved with a verse:

’How I desire the Heaven-Swaying Sword, to cut the giant whale crossing the seas!’

Heaven-Swaying, unsheathed!