Lord of Rot

Leech stopped dancing. He had little interest in chasing women at the moment. While casual dalliances were his life’s ambition, the presence of a dozen Transcendents at the ball felt like being watched by a pack of hyenas. It set him completely on edge.

And among them, there were bound to be others who could conceal their identities, just like him.

’The resources of the great noble houses truly are extraordinary.’

He suddenly thought of the elven girl, Bai Lu.

’Cultivating Transcendents with my own power is far too slow,’ he mused. ’But if I could really gain the allegiance of a group of Extraordinary elves... No, the allegiance of a group of Extraordinary elven corpses would work too. My requirements can be very flexible.’

He thought to himself, ’If I could get a group of Extraordinary elves to help me, conquering Lu Leiyi might not be too difficult.’

’Elves who can casually assemble a squad of the Extraordinary are at a disadvantage on the southern Panbo Continent. Me going over there would just be serving myself up on a platter. For all I know, not only are beings above the Extraordinary commonplace there, but there might even be quite a few legendary ones.’

Going to the Panbo Continent was just a passing thought. He wouldn’t charge over there based on a single comment from an elven girl without more information.

Another fragrant breeze wafted by, carrying a familiar ”Rapunzel” scent. Few nobles could afford such a perfume.

It was a mature, curvaceous noblewoman.

”Sir, my daughter is quite taken with you.”

’A matchmaking attempt?’

Leech froze. He had no idea what the daughter looked like, but the noblewoman before him was completely his type.

The noblewoman proactively reached out and touched his shoulder. ”Perhaps we could dance and have a nice, long chat... about you, me, and my daughter.”

The implication was clear, and Leech’s heart couldn’t help but pound fiercely.

’A mother-daughter combo?’

Just as he was about to give in and accept this delightful invitation, the Eldest Prince and the Ostrich Eagle Knight, Morton, returned. One tall, one short, they looked like a classic comedic duo.

’Only an enemy can keep me rational.’

The Eldest Prince didn’t approach to give Leech another order, but his hostile glare was enough to scare away the noblewoman.

Leech responded with a smile.

Even without his ”combo meal,” Leech was in high spirits. How could he not be, after destroying five of the Tuna family’s ships?

The guests of honor at the banquet were the Eldest Prince, Hugo Kaine, and ”Red Rose.” Leech, having no desire to spend his meal staring up someone’s nostrils, excused himself by claiming he felt unwell.

He wandered into the gardens of Roaring Castle. Compared to his own barren garden, which was dotted with tombstones, this one was filled with blooming flowers.

”Hey, Passionate Knight!”

Leech spotted a familiar figure. The ”Flashbulb Knight” was sitting on a chair, lost in a daze.

Philip Cavendish, jolted by the voice, shot to his feet. ”Yarrn, Lord Leech!”

”Porcupine Wine?” Leech sniffed the air.

The man reeked of alcohol; the smell of strong spirits was impossible to hide.

”Yes,” Philip nodded. ”I used to avoid alcohol.”

”’Fine wine and victory belong to glory, and glory is one with the Knight.’ Leech pulled up a chair and sat down, leaning back and crossing one leg over the other. ’Porcupine Wine helps one forget their troubles. As a friend, I can give you a twenty-percent discount. Unlimited supply.’”

Philip gave a bitter smile. ”Thank you, but I only need to get drunk this once.”

”Boring.”

Although Philip wore his affection for ”Red Rose” on his sleeve, Leech could hardly consider it some tragic romance. ”Red Rose” had no interest in him, and unrequited love isn’t tragic, just one-sided. Leech even felt he had a better chance than Philip.

”Red Rose” might not like him, but at least she hadn’t friend-zoned him.

He wouldn’t call Philip a simp, either. There’s nothing wrong with liking someone. It’s just that Philip kept his feelings buried... only for his sister to broadcast them to the world.

Leech’s mouth twitched.

”You too?” Philip looked at Leech, his tone shifting to one of certainty. ”You too!”

”Ha,” Leech admitted freely, nodding. ”That’s right. I like Miss Evangelina.”

He didn’t know about other men’s tastes, but he had certainly taken a liking to ”Red Rose.” There was nothing to be ashamed of; he’d fallen for her at first sight.

’It wasn’t just ”Red Rose.” He liked many women.’

”I’m not like you,” Philip said.

He didn’t have the courage to declare his feelings like Leech did. He didn’t even dare to do so secretly, while hiding in a corner.

”We can be different. I’m not sad,” Leech said, snatching the bottle. As Philip watched, looking like he wanted to object but didn’t dare, Leech took a long swig. ”Sooner or later, I’m going to fuck him up!”

Philip stared, dumbfounded.

”I’m talking about the Eldest Prince!” Leech clarified. ”I hate it when people look down their noses at me.”

He handed the bottle to Philip. ”Drink up, Xiaofei. There’s a saying from my hometown: *Three cups to open the Way, one drunken night to wash away a thousand woes*.”

”Is that a saying in Porcupine Territory?” Philip took the bottle, glanced at the rim, then at Leech wiping his own mouth. He threw his head back and poured the liquor down his throat. The harsh spice made his expression change, and he broke into a cough.

”Come on, drink!”

”Drink! Big gulps!”

”The bottle’s empty. I’ll go get more. You gotta drink more Porcupine Wine. I’m not a shill, I just want you to release some of that stress. This bottle is only five Silver Moons, and the Duke is paying for it anyway.”

Leech kept egging him on, watching as Philip downed one bottle after another until he finally collapsed on the ground.

’So even Transcendents can get drunk.’

Only a Transcendent could drink strong spirits so recklessly. A normal person would have bled from the stomach; drinking themselves to death would be a distinct possibility.

Philip, however, was just drunk and fast asleep.

Looking at the bottles littering the ground, Leech nodded in satisfaction. At least he’d helped the Duke get through half a Jinri’s worth of his Porcupine Wine stock.

’If I’d had Quickblade do the convincing, he might have drunk even more.’

”Someone!” Leech called, waving to the guards in the distance. ”Take Philip back to his room. He’s had too much to drink.”

A guard approached. He looked at the sea of bottles on the ground, then at the Midnight Sun passed out like a log, and wisely decided to go get more help.

Eventually, it took four men to haul Philip away.

’Get drunk, sleep it off, and wake up to a new day.’ Leech was actually quite fond of Philip and hoped the man could pull himself together and not stay down in the dumps.

Feeling tired himself, Leech returned to his room, lay down, and went to sleep.

...

A suspensionless cart rattled along a stone road, its ride jarring and uncomfortable. The SQUEAK and CREAK of its wheels was piercing.

The first light of dawn pierced the morning mist.

Dew condensed on his clothes, and a chill seeped into his bones.

Leech’s eyes fluttered open in a daze.

”Hey, you. You’re finally awake.”

The speaker was a man who looked very familiar. Even more familiar was the scene itself, and the words he spoke.

Leech discovered his hands and feet were bound. He was being transported in a cart with several other prisoners, one of whom was gagged.

The man sitting across from Leech was rambling on. ”You were trying to cross the border, right? Walked right into that Imperial ambush, same as us, and that thief over there.”

Leech looked down. His arms were bound with a simple rope.

”You think this can hold a Transcendent?” He had no intention of following their ”script.” With a slight flex of his hands, the rope snapped.

Leech ignored the stunned expressions of the other people in the cart and the surrounding soldiers who drew their swords, on guard.

”’With my tolerance, one bottle of strong liquor couldn’t possibly knock me out,’ he thought. ’So how did I get from Lu Leiyi to Skyrim Province?’”