Lord of Rot

The rifle’s barrel grew scorching hot.

Leech tossed the gun directly onto the ground. When the barrel touched the weeds, they were instantly scorched, sending up a puff of smoke.

’The gunpowder is too powerful. Even a barrel forged by an Extraordinary blacksmith can’t take this abuse. I’ll need to use higher-quality, rarer materials, or this sniper rifle will be scrap metal after just a few shots.’

Even if it could only be fired a few times, such terrifying, ultra-long-range killing power was enough to make any warmonger go mad for it.

It was certain that once word of today’s battle spread, other nobles would hesitate when they saw Leech on the battlefield. They would think twice about taking the field personally, and they definitely wouldn’t risk parading around in his line of sight.

One wrong move, and they might not even have a head left.

Leech rubbed his sore, aching arm.

He pulled the Dragon-Slaying Sword from the ground and vaulted onto Rocket.

With La Bill’s death, the morale of the Monkey Soldiers, which had already hit rock bottom, finally collapsed.

They were only ten paces from charging into the gun line.

But what good would it do? Their leader was dead.

Even if they won this final battle, it was uncertain how many of them would survive.

’Run!’

When one person fled, it affected the others who were still trying to hold on. Their resolve wavered, and they too were swept up in the retreat.

One man led a group, and soon, a massive wave of soldiers turned and fled.

The greatest impact was felt by Yi Lin and her troops, who were trapped in a bitter struggle on the other side.

They were completely outmatched by the Monkey Soldiers in numbers, equipment, and combat skill. A number of her soldiers had already fallen.

It was only a matter of time before they were utterly defeated and slaughtered.

But when Leech blew La Bill’s head off with a single shot and routed the main force of the Monkey Soldiers, the tide turned over here.

The Longship Castle Soldiers roared at the top of their lungs, ”Hahahaha, charge! Lord Leech has won! These bastards are finished!”

In contrast, once the Monkey Soldiers confirmed that their main force was truly retreating, they didn’t hesitate. Even though they held an absolute advantage, they dropped their shields and weapons and turned to flee.

’The more you carry, the slower you run! You’ll die!’

Yi Lin was overjoyed. She cried, ”Charge! Wipe out these damn monkeys!”

”Wipe out the monkeys!” the soldiers yelled back in excitement.

A battle of 2,000 elites against 600 men, a situation that should have been an easy crush, had bizarrely turned into the weaker side hunting down the stronger one.

”SKREEE—!”

A piercing eagle’s cry rang out.

Yi Lin saw the Horse-headed Eagle, flying low to the ground, carrying Leech as it charged toward them.

He held an absurdly large greatsword, swinging it from side to side. Anyone hit by it was sent flying, either vomiting blood or with mangled limbs.

Just like that, Leech charged alone into the fleeing soldiers on his mount, easily carving a bloody path through them.

Following him were ten noble Cavalry, who widened the bloody path and completely shattered the deserters’ somewhat orderly formation.

The musket cavalry and musket infantry followed close behind.

To avoid hitting their own men, the Cavalry drew their swords.

The musketeers fixed bayonets.

Despite still having the advantage in numbers, the Monkey Soldiers had no will to fight. They only wanted to escape.

”SKREE!”

Rocket unleashed its wild nature, pouncing and killing with frenzy. Leech gave it free rein to vent its aggression.

Wading through pulverized flesh and blood, Leech rode Rocket to the front of Yi Lin’s troops.

”My lord!” Yi Lin exclaimed, looking at Leech with excitement.

He had saved Longship Castle once again!

Yi Lin was beginning to understand why her sister was so captivated by this young man. Whenever they faced a desperate situation, he would step forward and turn the tables.

’Perhaps there isn’t a single problem in this world he can’t solve!’

”Don’t pursue a desperate foe,” Leech said.

Most of the Monkey Soldiers were squatting on the ground with their hands on their heads, willing to become prisoners.

The first wave of soldiers to flee had already escaped the battlefield. Some, in their panic, had jumped into the rushing river. Leaping into the water wearing iron armor, their survival was left to fate.

About two or three hundred men had escaped.

Yi Lin nodded, agreeing with Leech’s decision in her heart.

”Don’t give chase,” she ordered her men. ”Don’t pursue a desperate foe!”

Who would have thought Leech would then add, ”They left all their equipment behind. They’re completely broke. There’s no value in chasing them.”

’So *that’s* what he meant...’ Yi Lin was speechless.

Leech had already thoroughly swept the waterway the enemy had taken, so it was impossible for any remaining Monkey Territory troops to be there.

This meant that if the deserters wanted to live, they had to follow the river south, all the way back to Monkey Territory.

But!

Downriver, in the waterways of Waterfall Land, Leech had already prepared a true trump card. Its power was even more terrifying than his full formation of musket infantry. Fleeing into the river wasn’t a lucky escape—it was certain death!

Leech rode Rocket toward the twins, who were tied up fighting Guy and Rabbit. The two Corpse Ghosts looked to be in terrible shape, with numerous injuries and completely warped skeletons.

Rabbit in particular had ribs poking out of his back, yet he was still jumping around, full of life.

”After this battle is over, you two must die,” Leech ordered the two Corpse Ghosts.

If they were this grievously wounded and didn’t ”die,” it would cause problems for Leech.

Then Leech looked at the twins. After tangling with two unkillable Corpse Ghosts, their condition wasn’t much better.

”Forget it! I’ll send you on your way. We’ll meet again in a while.”

Leech dismounted, planted the Dragon-Slaying Sword in the ground, and walked toward the pair.

He drew the saw-sword from his waist and exploded with power.

The ground shook violently from the force of his stomp!

With a few quick slashes, the exhausted twins were unable to block. They could only watch as they were struck, and then they collapsed to the ground.

Originally, Leech had planned to subdue these two and take them back to train as subordinates. After all, they were both Transcendents.

But considering they had been grievously wounded by his side, he put himself in their shoes. He and the twins now had a blood feud that would only end in death. Besides, he could still see the fury in their eyes.

’Might as well kill them and turn them into Corpse Ghosts.’

With a light flick of his saw-sword, he flung the blood from its blade onto the ground.

He sheathed his saw-sword and gave Guy and Rabbit a subtle glance. The two of them collapsed to the ground in unison.

’Excellent!’

Leech was satisfied.

”Clean up the battlefield!” he said, turning his head.

In the distance, the four-armed Mercenary, Trevor, said to the skinny man he was facing off against, ”See? I told you I saved your life.”

The skinny man nodded honestly. ”I surrender.”

He couldn’t even defeat Trevor, let alone Leech. In fact, at that moment, the skinny man truly believed that if Trevor hadn’t kept him occupied, he would definitely be dead.

While Leech arranged for the battlefield to be cleaned, the man who looked somewhat like La Bill had led two or three hundred soldiers in a panicked rush to the docks.

He turned and said to the soldiers, ”Back to Monkey Territory! The Baron will surely avenge us!”

The men were stirred.

That’s right! They had been defeated, but they still had Monkey Territory and their Baron to rely on!

Baron Porcupine was certainly strong, but compared to Shanzhang Castle of Monkey Territory, he was nothing but a minor country baron, a tiny ant!

The two or three hundred men boarded the ferry, setting off on the journey home with a mix of emotions.

For half a day, until night fell, there was no sign of pursuit.

’We’re safe!’

The anxious Monkey Soldiers breathed a sigh of relief.

The man who bore a slight resemblance to La Bill also let out a sigh of relief.

The night sky twinkled with stars, soothing their worried hearts.

A soft singing voice, carried on the wind, reached every soldier’s ears.

”What is that?” As if possessed, they stared wide-eyed in the direction of the singing.

SPLASH. Ripples spread across the water’s surface.

A golden light shimmered.

A beautiful, golden head broke the surface of the water, and a figure slowly rose to stand under the cold moonlight.

She stepped on the moon’s reflection in the water, shattering it with her golden feet.

She was still singing, her voice bewitching their souls.

As she sang, the golden woman began to dance, like a nymph in the river.

SPLASH! A soldier, unable to control himself, dove headfirst into the river.

SPLASH!

Another one!

They seemed to have fallen into a frenzy, their eyes wide and bloodshot, with veins bulging on their necks and faces.

Gasping for breath, they desperately tried to get closer to the golden woman.

But as one soldier after another jumped into the water, the situation turned bizarre.

Not a single one of them resurfaced.

The singing stopped.

The ferry was empty.

”Sigh,” the Water Nymph sighed. ”Leech said he wanted to take prisoners, but you’re all dead now. I might as well give you to Ah Yamei.”

...

Leech left the task of cleaning up the battlefield to his men and flew into Longship Castle on his Horse-headed Eagle.

Leech walked through the castle with the greatsword on his back, his handsome face still stained with blood.

He quickly arrived at the door to Lady Jie Lin’s room.

Two maids saw him and their legs went weak with fear.

”Is Lady Jie Lin inside?” Leech asked.

”Y-Yes, my lord. Her Ladyship is in labor,” a maid answered cautiously.

”How long?”

”Five hours.”

Leech frowned.

The two young maids at the door turned pale, afraid that Leech would actually barge in.

He thought for a moment, then called out loudly through the door, ”My Lady, I have crushed the enemy army outside Longship Castle. I have come, bearing victory and glory.”

”WAAAH!”

A baby’s cry rang out.

Leech was overjoyed but restrained himself from rushing in.

After a while, Lady Jie Lin’s voice finally came from inside.

”Please, let Lord Leech in.”

The door opened, and the midwife said to Leech, ”My lord, please come in.”

Leech pushed the door open and walked in. The others tactfully withdrew, knowing that conversations between nobles were not for them to hear.

Lady Jie Lin looked weak in her bed, but there was a smile on her face. ”My Knight, you’ve come.”

”I have come, bringing you victory,” Leech nodded.

There were no feelings between them, only the memory of a single night.

Besides, they absolutely could not develop feelings for each other. Otherwise, Leech would become a Baron in possession of three territories.

The Duke would never allow Leech to possess three territories.

”Thank the four gods for your safe return, my Knight.” Lady Jie Lin raised her hand for Leech to hold.

Leech took her hand and looked at the little one sleeping soundly beside her.

With a sparse tuft of black hair, the newborn looked like a little monkey, bearing none of Leech’s handsome features.

But Lady Jie Lin sighed with admiration, ”He looks just like you.”

’Does he?’

Leech touched his own cheek.

He said, ”I hope that when he’s a little older, he can be my squire.”

”He will,” Lady Jie Lin smiled.

”What’s his name?” Leech asked.

Lady Jie Lin said, ”In the history of the Wados, there was a great-grandfather of immense power. It was because of him that the Wados were able to take full control of Waterfall Land. I want to name our child after him, hoping he will be just as powerful one day.”

Leech had never heard of such a person. After all, Baron Wado’s family wasn’t exactly a major house.

”Your wish will be fulfilled,” Leech nodded. ”So, what will his name be?”

Lady Jie Lin smiled and said, ”Lieder.”