The power of the Sibia Empire is universally recognized. In terms of economy, it is rich, in terms of politics, it is united, and in terms of external expansion, its army is particularly powerful... Taken together, these advantages have made all countries and ethnic groups have a strong interest in Sibia.
The overall impression is "terrible". Politicians and generals can still use their knowledge and analysis to feel this fear with reason, but ordinary people cannot. They have a vague understanding of the "terrible creatures" in their impressions, and their coping methods are extremely simple, that is
Don't touch it, stay away from it.
Therefore, no one usually stays in the area close to the control area of the Sbia Empire. Of course, except for the garrison troops and the guys with ulterior motives, and the two are easy to distinguish - the troops on guard here are all disposable consumables
, from officials to soldiers, they all look listless when eating, sleeping and urinating; and those who are energetic are either spies or smugglers, and the judges in Sibia have fully confirmed the proportion.
There are no towns or villages, and no humans have set foot in it, but that does not mean that the demonic side of the border is desolate. These areas are just so quiet that they are purely natural, with vines covering the roads, forests covering the mountains, and rivers flowing quietly. On the other side,
The scenes are surprisingly similar, but the Sibians are not afraid of any neighboring empires, but their numbers are not enough to cover their own land.
"Plop!" With a sound, a splash of water burst out from the smooth, mirror-like water surface, startling the birds in the woods on the shore to take off.
Soon after, the water outside the ripples rose up, and a strong body came out of the water, with long black hair swirling around, and sprayed out a piece of water droplets. The few drops that were flung farthest did not fall back to the water, but splashed onto the delicate
On the wooden statue - it is a small boat with upturned heads and hollow patterns all over the hull. It is elegant but not luxurious, a very typical Elf style. Sitting on the stern side is a young woman wearing a white palace dress.
, without any jewelry and no traces of makeup on her face, yet she looked demure and noble.
"I always thought that my husband was not lagging behind others in everything, but I didn't expect that he would be so lame." On the boat, the beauty holding the oar smiled lightly and teased Cohen: "This huge boulder fell straight into the water.
, the movement is almost catching up with the war drum."
"This is because my diving instructor has always been you, my first imperial concubine." Cohen wiped the water drops on his face with both hands, not paying attention to the other party's teasing: "It's really weird that you actually came to greet me outside the country.
Thanks a lot."
"Compared with my husband's hard work, this kind of thing is really not worth mentioning, and you suddenly become so polite, which makes me feel uneasy." The first princess shook her head, and stretched out her white palm to Cohen: "
Welcome home, I have prepared clothes for you."
Cohen laughed, gently held Feilin's cattails, and held the side of the boat with his other hand. He jumped out of the water without any effort. Even after he got on the boat, the boat's hull did not shake significantly. He felt comfortable wearing it.
With his clothes on, Cohen sat opposite Feilin, picked up another oar, and the boat quickly turned around and slid toward the center of the river.
"Although there is no army, according to common sense, this place still belongs to the Demon Alliance. Your guards will never let the princess go boating on the demon land. How did you convince those guys?" The boat is not long, and the two ends
The degree of upward curvature is a bit exaggerated, so the distance between the two is actually very close. Cohen stretched out his hand and pinched the knee where Feilin was propped up: "The elasticity of the skin is very good, and the body is completely fine?"
"If you need a warrior, then I am not qualified; but if you just need a dance partner, I will be honored to wave to you." There was a hint of blush in the clear smile, and the princess stretched out her hand to hold it down.
Cohen's still moving hand said: "Your Majesty, we are not waiting in the city, there are dozens of pairs of eyes around us looking at us!"
"It turns out that the people following you are from the liaison office, and they are doing their jobs well." Looking around, Cohen found some familiar arrangements in the secret area, nodded and said, "How are the others?"
"Fortunately, although I was confused by the many changes of plans, everything was not derailed." The boat reached the river and was gliding along the slow water. There was no need to paddle anymore, so Felin let Cohen hold her hand.
Hand: "It's just that we haven't been clear about the situation on your side, so everyone is a little anxious... The demon clan has replaced the eldest princess, are your negotiations with her going well?"
"How can I describe it? Compared with the previous one, the new demon princess has a much better attitude, but she is also more difficult to deal with." Cohen said softly: "I never thought that she would leave home accidentally because of someone.
So many things will happen in the end. The plan thrown out by the superiors this time is a grand plan, and my feeling can only be expressed in two words - shocking."
"I have received your message. Although not many people are qualified to know it, everyone agrees with your idea and the will of the superior clan. Sibia cannot refuse in any way." If there is something in Cohen's character.
Some people are affected by emotions and are in a state of ups and downs at any time, so Feilin is just the opposite of him. She is rarely affected by emotions, especially when analyzing: "The matter has developed to this point, husband does not need to worry too much, at least we
There is still opportunity for negotiation.”
"I don't have time to worry, my head is so full."
Cohen put down the oars and lay down next to Feline. The latter shook his head helplessly and opened a small umbrella on the side of the boat to block him from the slightly dazzling sunlight.
Cohen nodded with satisfaction, and then sighed: "Tell me, what do they think?"
"From a realistic point of view, Sibia's expansion has reached its limit. If we don't come up with a suitable method, the outcome will be difficult to predict, and it will definitely be what the superior clan does not want to see - falling apart." Fei
Lin said softly: "Sibiya's growth rate is abnormal. The current territory is too large to be managed. Once an emergency occurs, such as your husband abdicating or your control weakening, the empire will burst from within.
, so what will these remaining forces do?"
"They will develop in other directions and turn the continent into a mess." Cohen does not need to think about the consequences of this kind of thing at all: "Although the superiors like to watch wars, they do not like chaos that is not under their control.
."
"Yes, no matter what happens in the human world, the most fundamental level must be in the hands of the superior clan, so the superior clan must prevent uncontrollable things from happening." Feilin nodded: "Let me, husband, form a third faith.
Sibia split on the spot to form the third alliance, so as to avoid the chaos that would affect the entire continent. Even if the war would continue to happen, it would only be a small friction between some empires under the alliance, because the husband's attention would be on his faith, and he would not be interested in it.
The control of the Sbia Union is no longer as direct as it once was."
"Because the superiors know very well that I will not put this faith into other people's hands."
"Yes, the superior clan has grasped this, so this is a foregone conclusion. Unless you are stronger than the superior clan, you cannot resist." Feilin nodded: "Husband, I'd better change the direction and see if you can play some tricks.
bring it on!"
"You mean to say that compared to the control of the Sibiya Alliance, the superiors are more comfortable with me to establish the third faith?" Cohen looked at Feilin's profile from below: "This is a bit putting the cart before the horse, isn't it? A brand new faith
Ah, it’s not on the same level as the Alliance.”
"You want to know? Please beg me!" Feilin rarely used her rogue tone, but no matter how you look at it, she is much cuter.
In her seemingly teasing gaze, Cohen was stunned for a moment, then he patted the side of the boat beside him, turned over and sat up: "I understand!"
"I have to say that the arrangement of the superior clan is indeed very wonderful. The establishment of a belief must be based on a large number of miracles, and there are only two ways to create miracles. One is to have super strength, and the other is to have a long time.
." Cohen said coldly: "But I don't have super strength comparable to my superiors, so a mortal like me can only spend a long time..."
"My husband is so smart, and he really knows it right away." Feilin clapped her hands and said, "Do you have any countermeasures?"
"Coming up with countermeasures now? Isn't it too hasty?" Cohen replied: "But now that we know the key, there will always be a way."
Using insinuations to make Cohen think of this, Feilin should be more pleased whether from the perspective of relatives or collaborators in the same camp, but the smile on her face gradually faded, her eyes moved away, and her tone
He became a little depressed: "Now I know that even my husband is not without limits."
"What are you talking about?" Cohen asked, not immediately understanding.
"I was thinking about what kind of person Cohen Keda should be and where his limit is. There is no doubt that he has always been excellent." Felin turned back to look at Cohen: "Husband, right here
Just now, you finally revealed your confusion about the future."
"Just because, just because I didn't notice the upper clan's plan at the first time? Or maybe I didn't fully understand it?"
"Yes, these two points are enough."
Staring at the calm-looking Feline, Cohen wanted to give her the same carefree smile as before, but he still couldn't smile. The muscles on his face seemed to be frozen by magic. He looked at himself reflected in the water,
A serious look was emerging on his face - this kind of seriousness had actually been there since he met the Dark Lord, but it had been hidden by him until now, and now, it finally appeared in front of the people closest to him.
After being frozen for a long time, Cohen sighed and said to Feline with a wry smile: "I don't think you came to pick me up because you wanted to expose my true face of lack of confidence, right?"
"Of course this is not my original intention, it is just an unexpected discovery." Feilin answered him in a rare solemn tone: "I have to admit that I am in a very happy mood at this time - if I can, I will definitely pick it up
Turn around a few times."
At least on the surface, Feilin is a gentle and peaceful princess. She rarely speaks in this tone, but once she does, no matter how ridiculous and unacceptable what she says, it must be true.
"Why?" Cohen's surprise was a little unfair: "Your excitement and joy are just because I was inferior this time?"
"That's not what I meant." Feilin smiled, and then said seriously: "Cohen, do you know what kind of person you were before?"
"I don't know, but you can definitely satisfy my desire."
"You used to... We have encountered many things before, many difficulties and obstacles, and you were always at the forefront. This is your character. But in the initial stage, you were really not that strong, but luckily
, you persevered every time." Feilin thought for a while and said: "Every time you need to choose, you will be very calm. During the whole process, you neither pray for the chaotic and unknown future, nor do you think about it.
You will not worry too much about the difficult and faltering past, and even the step you are taking now, as if everything is under your control and everything is commonplace to you."
"You know, Cohen, you have never really been afraid of anything. Although you will be angry, depressed, and nervous, behind these actions is your fearless belief. Every time you go out to fight, I will watch from behind.
Even if you look at your back, you will feel like your whole body is shining."
"I am like this..." Perhaps because of Feilin's unusual tone, Cohen asked cautiously: "Isn't it good?"
"Good, but not very real, because a fearless person will never be a real person. You, while giving others confidence, also oppress them. A lion can really lead a group of sheep
Is it impossible? Because they are not the same creature." Feline said: "Those who can lead a flock can only be of the same kind with the same kind of thinking and behavior, and they must even be herbivorous. Otherwise, the flock will not be able to lead the flock.
I will trust this leader.”
"You mean, I'm a carnivore?" Cohen still didn't quite understand what Feilin meant.
"Not necessarily, Cohen, whether you are the governor or the emperor, you have actually done a good job. Although there are troubles of one kind or another, who will not have troubles?" Feline said: "The important thing is your thoughts in this process.
There is not much difference between our beliefs and those of us, the people being led. Your ideas may be out of line, or you may do ridiculous things, but we can understand your intentions, so there is no big problem here.
We are also happy to be led by you."
"Go on, I'm listening." Cohen seemed to understand what Feilin was going to say, but he couldn't grasp the point, and at the edge of his vision, the scenery there became a little blurry...
"According to my understanding, it's because you don't think about problems like a typical human being. But just now, you suddenly made me feel very real. You have never been so alive since you ascended the throne and became emperor."
Feilin closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and said seriously: "It's a pity that I don't believe in the superior clan now, otherwise I would be grateful to them."
"Although it's scary to say it, but my fear seems to be something worth celebrating?" The wry smile on Cohen's face has developed into a dumbfounding expression. He concentrated hard and felt that he seemed to have overlooked something, but before he could
When he recalled it, the pain filled his mind!
This time, there were no flashing thoughts in his mind. It was all pain, and it was extremely intense. Along with a burst of nausea, Cohen retched while leaning on the boat... Felin quickly patted his back and asked what was wrong.
"It's not uncomfortable!" Cohen swallowed the water and his emotions fluctuated: "It's not uncomfortable!"
"What's the reason?" Feilin has been entangled in pain for a long time and can understand this kind of pain. When she heard what Cohen said, her face changed.
"Wait a minute, don't say anything else!" Cohen grabbed Feilin's hand: "Tell me, how many sentences did you just say?"
"How many sentences are there in total?" Feilin was confused this time.
"After I said 'I'm listening,' how many words did you say in total?" It was obvious that Cohen was suffering from severe pain at this time: "Don't say the content, just say how many words you said...or,
How far did the boat travel, using the woods as a guide!"
Even the dullest person can see that the situation is serious at this time, let alone Feilin. She is the first princess of Sbia. She has genuine royal blood and years of training. In addition to carrying a knife to kill people, she also handles...
His ability to do things is no less than that of Cohen!
"After you said that, I said more than ten sentences." Feilin replied calmly: "While I was speaking, the boat sailed through the woods in front and entered the edge of the woods."
"Okay! That's right!" Cohen almost gritted his teeth, because he knew very well that he had no memory of this period at all! This must be the key to all problems!
"Did I answer what you said? Don't repeat my answer!"
"You answered." Felin held Cohen's hand tightly, her expression extremely calm: "You talk and laugh happily, your eyes are clear, there is nothing abnormal about you."
"Wait for me!" Cohen held the hand on the side of the ship, his nails already dug into the wood: "Let me take my breath away."
"No problem, Cohen, nothing is a problem." Felin stroked Cohen's head and sang softly in his ear in a tone that was almost poetic: "I'll wait for you to calm down. Don't be impatient. We have plenty of time."
, this is our own land, isn’t it? Sibia, this is the source of our strength and the place where we grow up..."
Gradually, Cohen stopped retching, and the intensity of the pain also weakened. He sat upright and listened to Feline's voice with peace of mind. Before, Cohen didn't hear what Feline was saying at all, and only then did he realize that,
It turned out that what she was singing were the poems she had used to coax the little princess Qinlun to sleep. There were long and majestic dragon epics, as well as peaceful lullabies.
The pain in his mind was finally driven away. Cohen's right hand unconsciously rubbed his bare left arm, just like those naked homeless people in winter. Feline couldn't help but hug him and drive him away with her body temperature.
The coldness inside.
"I'm fine." While he was still in the stage of strong emotional fluctuations, Cohen said: "Feline, do something for me."
"you say."
"After you leave." Cohen stopped Felin who wanted to speak: "After you leave, immediately find a safe place and write down all the words you just said to me, those ten or more sentences, and then
Send it to me as a confidential document and tell the liaison officer on duty. It can only be taken out when I ask for it."
"OK."
"Now, let's talk about something else, something that has nothing to do with those ten sentences." Cohen looked at Feline: "Don't worry, I will find the reason. I can't stand this kind of thing!"
There was worry and doubt in Feilin's eyes, but in the end, her reason prevailed.
"In that case, let's talk about other things." Feilin let go of her hand and sat up straight: "According to your latest instructions, the two little princesses from the upper clan have been sent to the border respectively and are waiting to meet them.
The priests meet."
"Their mission in Sibia has been completed. They got married in a hurry and returned in confusion." Speaking of these two little princesses, Cohen had a smile on his face: "I suddenly felt that the future was not so gloomy.
Because they are much worse off than me!"
"It's not a gentleman's behavior to ridicule women!" Feilin was very considerate and calmly took the topic elsewhere.
"Yes, so when I was negotiating with the Demon Chief Princess, I proposed to send someone else to conduct the following negotiations." Cohen nodded and said: "Dear Princess, I leave the opportunity to mock women in your hands.
."
"You mean, you want me to negotiate with the demon princess?"
"That's right, and they will definitely agree to my request. I'm looking forward to the direct confrontation between you and the demon princess."
"Since you are so sure, I will accept it." Felin looked into Cohen's eyes: "It seems that a wife like me is very bad?"
"Why do you think so?"
"Because I am harsh on you. I will always preach to you, be wordy and nagging, and I will not cook you delicious food..." Feilin whispered: "I know this is not good, and it will even make you unhappy."
You hate me, but I can’t control myself, because, because you are often the kind of person who lacks discipline..."
"Well, now that it's like this, let's keep it like this!" Cohen's answer seemed a bit lazy: "As you just said, you have to have some shortcomings to be a living human being. You are my relative, and I naturally
I will tolerate your shortcomings, at least your shortcomings are open and honest, full of love and justice just like my back."
"Are you saying my flaws also shine?"
"I didn't, that's what you said. Besides, can you not be so loud when talking about your shortcomings?"
"Looking at the blow you just suffered, I won't care about it this time." Feilin snorted dissatisfiedly, and then asked: "What details do I need to know about the negotiations with the superior clan?
?"
"I don't care about the details. I believe you know what you want to fight for. You have always done better than me on this kind of thing." Cohen said cautiously: "I only ask for one thing - hold them back and let me arrange everything.
"
"How long do you want to delay?"
"It doesn't take long, just enough time for me to walk around the country." Cohen exhaled: "As for other details, I will notify you in time." (To be continued)