As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 436 Hong Ling Shuang's Past
"Do you uphold the spirit of the contract?"

Hong Ling Shuang glanced at Ming Chen again, shaking her head and clicking her tongue as she looked at him, "Tsk tsk tsk~"

That smug expression of his shows that he wasn't beaten too lightly.

Mingchen: ...

Although Hong Ling Shuang didn't say much or refute anything, she said everything.

Everything was left unsaid; the beautiful woman's impolite gaze said it all.

"you do not believe me!"

Mingchen clutched his chest, feigning heartache, and said with deep regret, "You've hurt me."

"Hurting you is the least of my worries!"

Hong Ling Shuang rolled her eyes at him: "I should stab you in the back!"

"You're so cruel~"

"Humph!"

Hong Ling Shuang was completely unmoved by this whining, dramatic person. She just wanted to bite him and said irritably, "You're a freak!"

Upon hearing this, Mingchen laughed it off, not finding Hong Ling Shuang offensive at all: "You're a freak too. Only freaks can change the world."

You're the biggest freak!

In her view, Mingchen, this peculiar person, should not have appeared in this era; his appearance completely disrupted the balance.

Based on her thoughts and observations, even without Mingchen, Xiao Xinyue might still have succeeded, but Qianyuan might not have been as powerful as it is now, and might still have remained confined to the southwest. Similarly, Beilie might not have been as rampant as it is now.

Once she takes control of the mainland, she can invade the Qian Yuan territory to the south, playing both sides and having greater room for maneuver.

She, Qin Lou, and Xiao Xinyue, these three leaders each have their own advantages and limitations. Qin Lou's Bei Lie is the most powerful country, but it is short of resources. Xiao Xinyue's Qian Yuan is in chaos, but it can develop rapidly in terms of food and resources. The Jing Lan Alliance, which came from across the sea, has more powerful weapons and is flexible and free.

The three families can form a delicate balance, which may last for a long time.

However, Mingchen's appearance completely shattered this balance, leading Qian Yuan to an incredible reversal, and he made no mistakes at every step.

Meanwhile, this triggered a chain reaction in Bei Lie, which also underwent an upgrade and improvement.

But the Jinglan Alliance found themselves in an awkward position; they had fallen behind, lacking the right timing, location, and support.

They already had the slightest chance, but now there's none left at all.

The war between the two countries was originally an opportunity for her to make her mark, but because of Mingchen's appearance, she was unable to do anything.

She had a strange feeling that this guy was strongly disconnected from this era.

He was as if God had specially chosen him to give Qian Yuan a cheat code.

Xiao Xinyue is truly lucky to have such a freak helping her.

Even now, Hong Ling Shuang still believes that Ming Chen has the potential to turn the tide!

Hong Ling Shuang gambles; she's a crazy gambler who always believes in getting rich overnight.

Even if she herself holds only a tiny chance, as long as Mingchen is willing to help her, the future belongs to her.

Unfortunately, she knew there was no hope.

She's out!
However, she accepted the result with equanimity.

"Since you don't want me to send troops, just tell me what you want and I'll do it for you?"

Hong Ling Shuang let out a soft breath and said to Ming Chen, "Although everyone says I am cunning and cruel, I also abide by the contract."

Two people who are least likely to keep their promises are now claiming that they are honoring their commitment.

"It's still a long time."

"Ling Shuang, tell me about your past."

Mingchen turned his gaze away from the sea and stared intently into Hong Ling Shuang's eyes, her bright eyes reflecting her beauty: "Tell me, how did you get to where you are today, step by step?"

"Oh?"

A completely unexpected answer.

Hong Ling Shuang had almost no restrictions on this requirement in her mind.

Mingchen can make any request to her based on this bet.

Mingchen wanted to marry her, have a one-night stand with her, and even ask her to send troops to support Qianyuan... She could accept any of these.

In the current turbulent times, with two countries at war, every minor decision could alter the future global landscape.

She never expected that Mingchen's precious request, which he had earned through a bet, was simply for him to hear a story.

This was completely unbelievable to her, a person who prioritized self-interest above all else.

"What, is that not allowed?"

Anyway, this guy is a weirdo; he's capable of saying anything and doing anything.

Hong Ling Shuang shrugged: "Of course, why are you asking?"

Mingchen made no attempt to conceal his purpose, quietly looking at Hong Ling Shuang: "I want to understand the real you, I want to know your secrets, understand your past, understand your thoughts, understand your psychology and ideals, and then reach a consensus, persuade you, and help me."

I tricked him into coming home and singing me a song.

Mingchen didn't say the last sentence.

"Heh! Hahaha~"

Hong Ling Shuang burst out laughing upon hearing this: "After all this time, you still want me to help you! Is that any different from asking me to send troops to help you?"

Mingchen smiled and said, "Of course! All decisions are made by you."

Hong Ling Shuang raised an eyebrow: "Heh~ So confident?"

"I'll do my best~"

They were all incredibly confident and arrogant, and Hong Ling Shuang didn't feel offended: "Fine! Then I'll tell you. My past is my secret; I've never told anyone before. Just enjoy it!"

"Haha~ I thank you for your trust, Alliance Leader!"

"Humph!"

The two laughed and joked around for a while.

The atmosphere returned to calm, and Hong Ling Shuang's expression gradually softened.

She gazed at the vast, boundless blue sea in the distance, her eyes slightly lowered: "Mingchen, I am not an ordinary person."

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned her head and looked at Mingchen.

The next moment, her body underwent some subtle changes.

The ears transformed into the shape of deep blue fish fins, and one or two sharp spikes pierced the skin from the elbows and extended outwards.

Her eyes turned into vertical pupils, and her aura surged.

At the same time, the sky gradually darkened, a fierce storm arose, and the sea churned and roared, gathering into a huge vortex before the two of them. Lightning flashed and thunder roared in the dark clouds above the sky, as if some terrifying being had descended upon this world, containing power enough to destroy everything, making people involuntarily want to kneel and submit.

The little bird transformed into a streak of light, swooping down from the sky and landing on Mingchen's shoulder, looking warily at the alliance leader whose demeanor had drastically changed.

In that instant, she sensed danger from this unassuming leader of the alliance.

"Aren't you surprised?" "As expected, you knew all along."

Hong Ling Shuang didn't care at all about the bird that suddenly landed. She just kept looking at Ming Chen, whose expression remained calm, without any tension or fear.

Instead, he looked her up and down, admiring her, and Hong Ling Shuang felt somewhat embarrassed by this shameless man's gaze.

Mingchen is a special person. He travels with monsters, and there are related rumors in the world.

That bird has almost been deified.

When they first met, Mingchen had questioned her, so it seems he had already noticed something was amiss.

Mingchen comforted the little bird and said with a smile, "It's just some speculation."

After all, the little bird and the fox had both noticed Hong Ling Shuang's difference.

"Ha~"

Hong Ling Shuang chuckled and touched her face: "Am I ugly?"

Mingchen shook his head, not avoiding her gaze, and simply looked at her quietly: "Not ugly, very beautiful."

Being different from others is considered ugly.

However, Hong Ling Shuang was never ashamed of this: "Haha~ You know how to talk!"

She stood up and spread her arms.

Behind her, the surging sea crashed against the shore wave after wave. She looked down at Mingchen beside her, her words brimming with unwavering confidence: "Let me tell you, Mingchen, I am a genius! I am strong, I am the sea, I am stronger than your bird!"

If you don't even believe in yourself, then who else can you believe in?
"Humph!"

Fuyao snorted, seemingly somewhat unconvinced.

Even those high and mighty gods wouldn't dare say they could definitely beat her. This woman is short-sighted and somewhat blindly confident.

Whether it's strong or not, you'll only know after you've fought it!
"Yeah~"

"awesome!"

While comforting the little bird, Mingchen smiled at Hong Ling Shuang as if coaxing a child.

"Haha~"

Hong Ling Shuang smiled contentedly, just like a child who had been praised.

The next instant, the surging waves suddenly stopped, the dark clouds dispersed, and the sky cleared.

Hong Ling Shuang then returned to her original position and sat back down next to Ming Chen.

Looking at the sea, she said quietly, "My mother was a fish woman, which in your mainland terms would be called a monster, and my father was a gambler."

“When I was five years old, a monk came to our house and said that my mother was a monster. He used magic to make my mother appear. He gave my father some money, but my father wanted the money and not his wife, so he helped him kill my mother.”

"That monk, carrying his ritual implements, wanted to come and kill me again."

"It was really dangerous at the time; it was probably the most dangerous thing I've ever experienced in my life."

She touched her chest, as if recalling a past she had almost forgotten: "I was trapped in that monk's alms bowl. It was dark all around, there was nothing there. I was very nervous, I felt a tightness in my chest, and I couldn't breathe. I didn't like this feeling of being trapped and restrained."

“I didn’t want this to happen. I desperately wanted to live, which caused the sea to overflow and flood our village. I killed the monk, and I also killed my father.”

Hong Ling Shuang recounted her childhood in a calm voice, but her few words revealed a great deal of information.

A five-year-old child defeats a powerful cultivator?
Hong Ling Shuang is indeed a genius.

Mingchen was taken aback.

How much fear, how much tension... how many unforgettable memories were there?

However, Hong Ling Shuang's expression remained calm, like an observer telling a story that had nothing to do with her.

She even lingered on the topic, turning to look at Mingchen with a hint of pride, and asked, "So, am I a genius?"

Her thoughts were indeed unusual.

"Yes!"

This beautiful woman, blessed by the sea, has grown into the radiant woman she is today entirely through her own efforts, swallowing her pain and tension step by step.

She's definitely a genius!

A resilient, powerful, and intelligent genius.

Upon receiving Mingchen's reply, Hong Ling Shuang nodded in satisfaction: "Then I plunged into the sea and lived there for three years."

"Over the past three years, I have become stronger and stronger. The ocean is me, and I am the ocean."

"Even the most powerful whale shark must obey my commands."

Hong Lingshuang spoke casually.

However, even with special powers, a five-year-old child living in the sea for three years, eating raw meat and drinking blood, would probably not have an easy time.

Hong Ling Shuang turned to look at Ming Chen, touching her chest: "But... Ming Chen, I have a very strange feeling."

"I've almost forgotten what my father and mother look like, and that monk is nothing to mention."

"But there is only one thing that I always remember vividly."

She turned to look at Mingchen, a hint of confusion in her eyes: "I can't forget the feeling of being locked in the alms bowl. I couldn't see or touch anything. I felt trapped. I was so nervous, my chest felt tight, and I could hardly breathe..."

"It's not that I don't want to log in, it's that I'm afraid to log in."

“I feel like the sea is holding me back; I shouldn’t be afraid of the land.”

"I went ashore, and I wanted to be free, without any obstacles or restrictions. Only in this way could I feel at ease."

"But then I discovered..."

"The army, the power of the army is dangerous. Soldiers may be weak, but when there are many of them, the army can limit my power."

"Mingchen, I don't like this feeling!"

"I don't want to be restricted in the slightest. I should be free! Nobody can control me!"

She clenched her fist and turned to look at Mingchen: "So, I have a new goal. I want to control the army. I want to become a leader."

"At that time, the alliance was politically corrupt, the islands were highly independent, distrustful of each other, and in constant chaos. In fact, it was already on the verge of collapse. I spent three years supporting a puppet, starting with a group of pirates, to completely conquer and occupy my island, Luoxia Island, and establish myself as king!"

"Then, with my island of Luoxia as the center, I led my invincible navy eastward and northward, sweeping across the entire archipelago. I used every trick in the book, both overt and covert. The old Jinglan Alliance was defeated by me. The alliance leader was incompetent, and the island lords supported me as the new alliance leader."

"I then spent another six years completely overhauling and reforming the system, and gained control of the entire archipelago."

The rise of heroes from nothing is always full of legends. Hong Ling Shuang only said a few simple words, but how much amazing talent, wisdom and courage, and what deeds worth remembering for a lifetime are hidden in them?

Hong Ling Shuang's life was a display of absolute intelligence and genius.

She raised her head, confident and proud, and said as if it were the right thing to do: "I am the emperor of the archipelago."

"The Jinglan Alliance is a dynasty that has lasted for thousands of years in the archipelago, and it has always been called the Jinglan Alliance."

"but……"

Hong Ling Shuang touched her chest, then looked at Ming Chen and said, "My Jing Lan Alliance is actually called the Freedom Alliance!"

(End of this chapter)