Chapter 868
Count Vytin commanded a hundred-thousand-strong army, facing off against Shen Lang's five-thousand Amazon Legion. He was Diphas's mentor and a vassal of the Russo family. Now, his lord had been captured by the enemy right before his eyes—what a disgrace! He had to rescue Diphas, no matter the cost. Even if it meant the annihilation of his entire army.
"Your Excellency Shen Lang, come out and speak with me."
At Count Vytin's call, Shen Lang appeared with a smile.
"Count Vytin, is there something you wish to say?"
"Shen Lang, I demand you unconditionally release the Guardian of the South, Duke Diphas. I know your Amazon Legion is formidable, but I implore you not to disregard the honor of the nobility. To save my lord, I am willing to pay any price. Even if my entire army perishes, I will not regret it."
Count Vytin drew his greatsword. With a single command, his hundred-thousand-strong army would charge madly at Shen Lang's Amazon Legion. Such a disgrace could only be cleansed with blood. Be it the enemy's blood or their own. Count Vytin was prepared to lay down his life. Even if he died in battle, he could at least preserve his family's honor.
Shen Lang shrugged and said.
"You've startled me, Count Vytin. I will release her, just as you wish."
Shen Lang gestured, and the gates of the camp opened. The beautiful Duke Diphas slowly walked out. Her complexion was a little pale, but she still maintained her dignity, dressed in magnificent clothes. She was truly remarkable. Despite such a severe injury, her posture had barely changed, and she still looked like a peacock flaunting its beauty. Count Vytin and his men were stunned.
*'W-what is happening? He went to such lengths to capture Duke Diphas, only to release her less than a day later?'*
If they hadn't been able to recognize Diphas at a glance, some might have suspected the person before them was an imposter. Without a word, Diphas immediately returned to her army's ranks. Count Vytin knelt on one knee and said.
"We have caused you alarm, my lord."
"You've done well, master."
Duke Diphas boarded her magnificent carriage and gave a command.
"The army will return to the city."
And so, she led her hundred-thousand-strong army back to Bikin City in grand style.
* * *
In a fortress atop a mountain in Bikin City, Duke Diphas stood alone, saying nothing. She neither ordered the battle to resume nor called for a halt to the war. This was because she was still clinging to a sliver of hope, thinking that perhaps Shen Lang had only said those things to frighten her.
Of course, deep down, she knew Shen Lang was an utterly vicious man, and the substance he had injected into her was not meant to scare her but was surely something lethal. However, she believed her body was special, that she possessed the strongest bloodline in the Russo family, and that she might be able to overcome the poison Shen Lang had mentioned. Nevertheless, she remembered Shen Lang's words clearly. That after entering the ducal estate, she must refuse all contact with anyone.
Her compliance was not out of concern for the lives of her subordinates. She regarded the lives of the slaves within the fortress as utterly worthless. But if Shen Lang's words came true, and the deadly contagion spread throughout the fortress, or even all of Bikin City, killing everyone, the Russo family would be finished.
She had also considered bringing Black Widow Hill, infecting her, and then pressuring Shen Lang to save her. But putting herself in his shoes, she believed Shen Lang was just as vicious as she was. How could such a man care about the life of a mere lover?
* * *
Just two days later, Diphas's hopes were shattered. The poison in her body began to take effect; she developed a fever and started coughing. The symptoms were even more severe than Shen Lang had described, and her condition deteriorated with alarming speed. She could clearly feel the Grim Reaper approaching.
"Let's go. We must find the High Priest."
The first thing she thought of was the Fire God Cult. They were a powerful organization; perhaps they would have a way to save her.
Not long after, the mysterious High Priest of the Fire God Cult appeared. She was fully covered, her eyes shielded by pieces of glass, not a single patch of skin exposed. Even so attired, she examined Duke Diphas from a distance of two meters.
"High Priest, can you cure my illness?"
Diphas asked weakly. At that moment, she was suffering from a high fever of around 39 degrees, and this was only the beginning. The High Priest asked her.
"Feel your groin area. Is it not swollen? And very painful?"
"It is."
Duke Diphas answered immediately, her voice trembling. There was no need to check. She had already noticed that symptom. Ever since her release, she had been examining her body almost constantly, not missing any change.
"Is your chest in great pain? Do you even cough up streaks of blood?"
"Yes. High Priest, can this illness be cured?"
"Your Grace, this illness cannot be cured. You will be dead within seven days at most. There is no one in this world who can cure this disease. Not the Fire God Cult, not the royal physicians of the Seilun Imperial Palace, not even Mount Putuo of the Eastern world can cure it."
Diphas's hope was shattered. She now understood why Shen Lang had released her so readily. He already held her life in his hands.
"Your Grace, from now on, you must be isolated. No one must come into contact with you. Otherwise, a third of Bikin City's population—or perhaps even more—will die. If you have any last words, you should say them now. For instance, who you will name as the heir to the Russo family."
"Cough, cough, cough. I understand."
After a violent coughing fit, Diphas gestured for her to leave.
"Your Grace, I must take my leave."
"Why? Are you leaving immediately because I've contracted a dreadful disease?"
"That is not the reason at all. Last night, aside from your capture, something very strange occurred. I must report this matter to the Fire God Temple immediately. Because it is beyond my authority to decide."
Diphas asked in a trembling voice.
"What do you mean?"
The High Priest of the Fire God Cult paused for a moment before speaking.
"That... His Excellency Shen Lang is very, very special. His existence has overturned all the theories of the Fire God Cult. Matters concerning him must now be decided by the highest council."
"T-then, am I still allowed to kill him?"
"Probably not. I am in a state of confusion myself, so I cannot tell you more. I must return to the Fire God Temple at once."
Then, the High Priest of the Fire God Cult bid her farewell and prepared to leave.
"Goodbye, Duke Diphas. No, a final farewell, Your Grace."
Diphas suddenly cried out loudly.
"High Priest, is Shen Lang the one from the legends?"
The High Priest of the Fire God Cult paused for a moment but left without another word.
* * *
Feeling the threat of death, Diphas experienced fear for the first time in her life. Her coughing grew more severe, and her fever continued to rise. She could even feel the Grim Reaper taking another step closer to her. She immediately sent a messenger to Shen Lang's camp with a single message.
"Shen Lang, I'll agree to anything. Come and save me quickly."
Just three hours later, the messenger returned and reported.
"That Eastern clown gave no response and paid me no mind."
Hearing the messenger's words, Diphas said in a trembling voice.
"Do not call him an Eastern clown. Call him His Excellency Shen Lang. Cough, cough..."
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Summon Count Vytin to me. And tell all the vassals to come as well."
"Yes!"
* * *
Separated by a glass wall, Duke Diphas met with dozens of her vassals.
"What I am about to say is an order. I will not entertain any questions. Anyone who dares to oppose my command will be considered a traitor."
Hearing Duke Diphas's words, Count Vytin sensed something was amiss, but he still bowed and replied.
"Yes, Your Grace."
"All armies within Bikin City are to be disbanded. All vassals are to take their troops and return to their respective fiefs. Generals from other provinces are to depart immediately with their armies."
Hearing this, the vassals were shocked.
*'Why? If the army leaves, isn't that as good as handing over Bikin City?'*
"I said I will not take questions. You need only accept the order. Unless you wish to rebel."
At Duke Diphas's words, a greatly surprised Count Vytin began to speak.
"But..."
"Master, surely you do not intend to defy my order?"
"I will obey. However, I must remain here."
"Fine. But disband all the armies as quickly as possible. This is my city, and I am your lord. You must not disobey my command."
"Yes!"
Though filled with doubt, the vassals still chose to obey. Besides, they had sent their armies in the first place out of fear of Diphas's authority. The Amazon Legion was powerful, and many vassals wanted to preserve their own strength; they had no desire to fight such a formidable force. The same was true for the armies from other provinces.
"But, Your Grace, what if that Easterner attacks Bikin City after we disband our armies?"
one vassal asked. Diphas replied.
"His Excellency Shen Lang and I have already ceased hostilities. Besides, this is my Bikin City, not anyone else's."
"Yes, Your Grace!"
"Withdraw immediately. Right now, without a moment's delay."
* * *
Four hours later.
The two-hundred-thousand-strong army gathered in Bikin City began to disband and withdraw. Moreover, they withdrew in such a hurry that there was no time to leave by ship; they departed immediately by land. Normally, disbanding an army was a lengthy process, but after just four hours, the walls of Bikin City were completely empty, with no defending troops in sight. Then, Diphas summoned a messenger and said.
"Go quickly to Lord Shen Lang's camp. Tell him I will agree to anything, and beg him to come and save me. Remember, you must address him as Lord Shen Lang."
"Yes, Your Grace!"
The messenger once again left Bikin City on a swift horse, heading for Shen Lang's encampment. This time, he moved even faster than before, returning in just over two hours. The messenger said in a trembling voice.
"Lord Shen Lang still gave no response."
Diphas felt like she was about to faint. Her fever had now reached 40 degrees, making her dizzy. Her coughing grew more severe, each fit followed by blood, and waves of pain washed over her chest. The footsteps of the Grim Reaper drew ever closer.
*'Shen Lang, you bastard. What do you want? What is it you want?'*
Diphas knew that only Shen Lang could save her life now. She did not want to die.
"Summon all officials of Bikin City. Summon all the lords, merchants, and all the upper class within the city. Tell them I have something to say. Quickly, the message must be delivered with all speed!"