Chapter 444
Chapter 444
The director of the performance unfolding before him was not Shen Lang, but the King and Princess Ning Jue. It was a divine move, an unexpected delight. As Shen Lang watched the show, he felt a sense of vindication, yet he also saw it as a stark display of human wickedness. It was the first time he had witnessed a father and son killing each other. Since coming to this world, Shen Lang had encountered many enemies, among them Zhang Chong and his sons. Zhang Chong's two sons had been willing to die for their father, and Zhang Jin truly did. At a critical moment, Zhang Chong had even chosen to take his own life for his son and grandson, though he knew his suicide couldn't save them.
Tang Lun, the Count of Jinhai, had been willing to let his entire family perish to save his son, even telling his son to sell him out. Su Nan, that old villain, was a great evildoer, yet many had willingly died for him. As for fathers and sons with differing loyalties, there were Arujiang and Arutai, but at least Arutai had not harmed his father with his own hands. Thus, witnessing the scene before him, Shen Lang couldn't help but be amazed. Zheng Long had betrayed his father, Zheng Tuo, not to survive, but to continue living in wealth and splendor, committing the unfilial act of personally poisoning him.
Zheng Tuo, in utter agony, looked at his son and asked in a hoarse voice.
"W-why? We could have fled to the State of Chu, couldn't we?"
Zheng Long replied.
"I am loyal to the State of Yue. How could I become a traitor?"
At that moment, Shen Lang interjected.
"It would be better for you to speak the truth."
"Father, going to the State of Chu would be too difficult."
That one sentence revealed the truth. Yes, the path was clearly fraught with hardship. If Zheng Tuo and Zheng Long were to defect to Chu, the State of Chu, under the pretext of seeking talent, would likely grant Zheng Tuo an empty title of count—a title with no power and no stipend. To Zheng Long, such a position was useless, one where he could be bullied by even the most insignificant underling. Even if they tried to struggle for the Zheng Clan's resurgence, they would be given no opportunity.
Zheng Tuo asked him.
"You betrayed your own father. Who in the State of Yue would ever employ you?"
Zheng Long answered in a trembling voice.
"The Blackwater Terrace has promised to accept me as a Chiliarch of the Blackwater Terrace."
That was the condition Princess Ning Jue had offered. In truth, it wasn't a grand offer. Had his family not fallen, Zheng Long would have inherited the title of Count of Pingxi. But precisely because her offer wasn't extravagant, Zheng Long believed it to be the most sincere promise. The Blackwater Terrace desired men like him—lone individuals scorned by all. If Zheng Long could betray even his own father, there was nothing he wouldn't do, making him the perfect candidate for the Blackwater Terrace.
Of course, if Zheng Tuo hadn't lost the battle, Zheng Long would never have betrayed him. Cornered, Zheng Long considered becoming a Chiliarch of the Blackwater Terrace to be a good position. At least it came with power, and the mere mention of the Blackwater Terrace sent shivers down people's spines.
Zheng Tuo laughed loudly and wretchedly.
"Hahahaha! To think that I, Zheng Tuo, once called a hero of my time, would die at the hands of my own son. And my most cherished son at that!"
Zheng Long said coldly.
"Father, don't forget. Whenever danger arose, you would send in the death squads first, then me. Only after confirming I was unharmed would you enter yourself. Was that your way of loving your son?"
Zheng Tuo shuddered. Wasn't it obvious? To Zheng Tuo, he himself was the most important, and he would sacrifice anyone in a moment of danger. It was only natural that his son would turn on him like this.
Zheng Tuo laughed madly again.
"Hahahaha. Zheng Long, do you think betraying me will save you? Do you think Shen Lang will let you live? The King is so fond of that bastard Shen Lang that if he kills you, the King will at most scold him a little and be done with it. You'll die a dog's death!"
Zheng Long immediately went before Shen Lang, knelt, and pressed his forehead to Shen Lang's shoes, speaking in a trembling voice.
"Young Master Shen, I know I am an utterly despicable viper. Since I have betrayed my own father, I am capable of anything, so you will surely not trust me. But even if you don't trust me, you must trust yourself."
Shen Lang said.
"Continue."
Zheng Long continued.
"You are the most formidable person I have ever met. Unless I were one hundred percent certain I could defeat you, how could I ever become your enemy? If you spare my life, I will do one thing for you. When you need me, call upon me, and I will surely do it."
Zheng Tuo laughed loudly.
"Zheng Long, do you think Shen Lang would trust a treacherous villain like you?"
"Young Master Shen will naturally find me untrustworthy and think my promises are worth less than dog dung. But I am truly nothing more than a dog. I hope you will believe that I truly do not resent you, but fear you. In the future, I will surely be of use. You are immensely strong and intelligent; you will surely be able to handle me as you would a dog."
Zheng Long continued to plead not with Ning Jue, but with Shen Lang. Because right now, Shen Lang was the one who held his life in his hands. Shen Lang narrowed his eyes and looked at Zheng Long. He could certainly kill Zheng Long easily right now. The old saying came to mind: to kill an enemy, one must pull out the roots. But there was another, better saying: sometimes, a well-used enemy can be more useful than a staunch ally. As Shen Lang stood at this crossroads, Princess Ning Jue spoke.
"I promised Zheng Long I would spare his life. Therefore, I must keep my word, no matter what."
She was gently reminding Shen Lang. She was inclined to spare Zheng Long, but if Shen Lang was determined to kill him, she would not stop him. Shen Lang thought for a few seconds, then nodded and said.
"Congratulations. You get to live."
In that position, Zheng Long kowtowed, his forehead touching Shen Lang's shoes.
"Thank you for the grace of sparing my life, Young Master Shen. Please remember this. When you are strong enough, I will surely become your most obedient dog."
Shen Lang gestured for him to leave.
"Chiliarch Zheng, you may go."
Zheng Long rose, then knelt on one knee like a servant and said.
"This subordinate takes his leave!"
Zheng Long immediately left and joined the ranks of the Blackwater Terrace warriors led by Princess Ning Jue.
"I am Zheng Long, newly appointed Chiliarch of the Blackwater Terrace. We will be eating from the same pot from now on, so I ask for your care, brothers!"
Zheng Long adopted the enthusiastic attitude of a new employee just joining a company. Several warriors of the Blackwater Terrace frowned, but they bowed in unison and said.
"Greetings, Chiliarch Zheng."
The warriors of the Blackwater Terrace had seen too much of the world's dark side, so their frowns at Zheng Long's behavior lasted less than a second.
Shen Lang squatted down and looked at Zheng Tuo. Suddenly, Zheng Tuo knelt and said in a trembling voice.
"Young Master Shen, I can do it too. Whatever Zheng Long can do, I can do."
Damn it all! Shen Lang had seen and heard much, and his horizons were broad, but he couldn't help but be amazed by this scene.
'Hey, Zheng Tuo, you're the great General of Pingxi. A man like that is willing to become a mere live-in son-in-law's dog just to survive? This father and son are truly remarkable. First, they'd do anything for wealth and glory, and now, they'll do anything to live.'
"Zheng Tuo, you know what I'm good at, don't you?"
Zheng Tuo was startled by those words.
"Princess Ning Jue, I'm afraid I must trouble you."
Princess Ning Jue stepped forward and placed her palm on the back of Zheng Tuo's head, preparing to kill him with a light burst of internal energy. Zheng Tuo was a man of profound martial skill, yet he didn't resist or even flinch. It was a reminder that in this world, power was supreme. When faced with someone of immense authority, even a martial arts master behaved like an obedient dog. It was hard to say whether this was because he was facing death, or if it was the tragedy of all martial artists.
Bright red blood splattered, and Zheng Tuo's lifeline was severed. Shen Lang had castrated another man. However, contrary to what Shen Lang had imagined, Zheng Tuo didn't scream at all. Instead, he asked in a joyful voice.
"Young Master Shen, can I live now? Can I live?"
Shen Lang cursed inwardly.
'Zheng Tuo, you've ruined my pleasure in castration. I castrated you, yet you didn't scream, nor did you show a face of despair and anguish. How am I supposed to feel any sense of accomplishment like this?'
As if sensing this, Zheng Tuo immediately let out a gut-wrenching scream.
"Aaaargh!"
But one listen was enough to tell it was a fake scream, meant only to satisfy Shen Lang. In truth, Zheng Tuo didn't really mind being castrated. What was castration compared to survival? The sight reminded Shen Lang of the Southern Han during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. In that small dynasty, there was a rule that one had to be castrated to become an official. Countless men had castrated themselves to serve in that kingdom. For the first time, Shen Lang admitted defeat. His values had been completely overturned.
"You are truly something else!"
At last, Shen Lang left the scene. Warriors from the Blackwater Terrace came forward to stitch up Zheng Tuo's wound and staunch the bleeding from his severed member. Then they took out iron locks and pierced his shoulder blades, shackled his hands and feet, and locked him in a prison cart to be escorted to the capital. The King bore a bone-deep hatred for Zheng Tuo and would surely sentence him to the most extreme punishment. Furthermore, to restore Shen Lang's honor, Zheng Tuo and Yang Yongnian had to be publicly tried and convicted of treason. Once the King hated someone, he would annihilate their entire family.
Princess Ning Jue glanced at Shen Lang but ultimately said nothing, gesturing for the Blackwater Terrace to depart. According to the royal decree, Shen Lang should have followed her back to the capital, but ever since leaving the capital, he had acted like a wild dog off its leash, never once heeding a royal command. ‘When a general is far from court, he need not follow his lord's command,’ originally meant that when a general was stationed far away, royal orders couldn't be delivered in time, forcing him to act on his own discretion in unavoidable situations. But Shen Lang applied it as a universal truth, applicable in any circumstance.