175 One Person or the Entire World?
Seeing the small red patterns, Lin Ran suddenly remembered the black patterns he saw when Liu Hongshan fell into an illusion.
The shape and size of these two patterns were the same. The only difference was their color.
At that time, Lin Ran thought that it was a symptom of being poisoned, but he did not expect it to be Liu Hongshan’s hidden trump card!
“Just like how excess food will form fat, this is the strength I haven’t digested after absorbing it.”
As Liu Hongshan spoke, his fingertips gently brushed past the squirming red patterns, as if he was caressing his lover’s face. “If I digest them all now, do you think you’ll still be my match?”
“No.”
Lin Ran had an answer almost immediately. Even with Liu Hongshan’s current strength, he could only barely fight him to a draw. If Liu Hongshan’s strength increased by another level, Lin Ran would probably not even have the chance to fight back.
However, even so, Lin Ran was not afraid at all. “As long as I summon Star Splitter back, you’ll be chased by that armor. At that time, I’ll find an opportunity to remove your Dragon Roar Dagger. Without the ability to fly on your sword, you’ll be surrounded by the Undead Army on the ground!”
“That’s right.”
Liu Hongshan nodded in agreement with Lin Ran, but he still looked relaxed. “But that way, you’ll never know where Xiao Huai is.”
Without waiting for Lin Ran to speak, Liu Hongshan continued, “If you want to find her with the sword intent you left in Xiao Huai’s bracelet, I advise you to give up on that idea as soon as possible. If it’s really that simple, I won’t use it as a bargaining chip to negotiate with you.”
Lin Ran frowned. He really had this thought just now. He did not expect Liu Hongshan to have seen through him.
With the last solution gone, Lin Ran lost into deep thought again.
It was true that Xiao Huai was a demon, but that was only the name of a race.
From their previous interactions, Lin Ran felt that Xiao Huai was kind-hearted. Almost all the bad things she did were instigated by Liu Hongshan.
Due to all these reasons, Lin Ran’s attitude towards Xiao Huai had slowly changed from being hostile in the beginning to pitying her. Therefore, if possible, he still wanted to do his best to protect this innocent girl.
However, if he wanted to save Xiao Huai, he could only let Liu Hongshan leave.
If Lin Ran did that, not only would everything he had done so far be in vain, but it would also be a calamity for the people of the world!
Lin Ran had never thought of himself as a great person who cared about the world, but he couldn’t bring himself to sacrifice the lives of the people for a person.
Seeing the conflict in Lin Ran’s eyes, Liu Hongshan knew that he was very hesitant.
After thinking for a moment, Liu Hongshan said again, “How about this? Let me leave and I’ll tell you where Xiao Huai is. Moreover, I will also get the Great Yong Dynasty to withdraw their troops.”
Hearing that this war could be ended, Lin Ran’s eyes lit up, but what followed was deep suspicion. “Why should I believe you? Didn’t you spend so much time and energy just to overthrow the Heavenly Saint Dynasty?”
“You’re the same as that kid called Huo. You see things clearly, but not clearly enough.”
A sneer appeared on Liu Hongshan’s face. “Do you think I did all this just to take revenge on the Heavenly Saint Dynasty?”
Lin Ran’s heart skipped a beat. He could clearly tell that Liu Hongshan was implying something, but he didn’t make a rash guess because he knew that Liu Hongshan would take the initiative to say it.
As expected.
Liu Hongshan paused for a moment before continuing as if he was talking to himself, “According to my original plan, after killing Emperor Sheng Yuan, I’ll ascend the throne and use the Sacred Abyss Sword to order the troops at the front line to surrender.”
“In the future, as the new emperor of the Heavenly Saint Dynasty, I will discuss something with the Great Yong Dynasty. This is my private matter. You don’t have to ask too much. As long as they agree, I can make the Heavenly Saint Dynasty submit to them and even make it part of the Great Yong Dynasty!”
“But now…”
At this point, Liu Hongshan shrugged helplessly. “That fake Sacred Abyss Sword is destroyed. I can’t continue with my plan. The next step is to find the real Sacred Abyss Sword, but that will take time.”
“Before that, this war is meaningless to me. In fact, I want it to stop more than you. After all, no matter who wins in the end, my plan will fail completely.”
“Therefore, even if I kill you here, I still have to stop this war after I get out. In that case, I might as well do you a favor. I still want to see your expression when the Heavenly Saint Dynasty is destroyed in front of you.”
Lin Ran looked at Liu Hongshan and didn’t say anything. The logic behind this wasn’t complicated. It didn’t take him long to confirm that what Liu Hongshan said was true.
However, after spending all this time with him, Lin Ran realized that Liu Hongshan was abnormally meticulous. Would he really tell him everything so easily?
After a short hesitation, Lin Ran made a decision.
“Tell me where Xiao Huai is and I’ll let you leave.”
Lin Ran put away his swords and said in a low voice. He agreed to Liu Hongshan’s conditions not because he believed in him, but because Liu Hongshan’s words made him understand something else.
“Letting Liu Hongshan go will cause the people of the world to suffer.” This scenario might not necessarily happen.
For example, Lin Ran could kill Liu Hongshan before that, or for some reason, Liu Hongshan would give up and turn over a new leaf.
In short, what had yet to happen was always full of variables.
Compared to the disaster that had yet to happen, the danger Xiao Huai faced was objective. If Lin Ran didn’t save her, she would die.
With this in mind, it was obvious what to choose.
“You’re a smart man.”
Liu Hongshan smiled as if he had predicted Lin Ran’s choice. “But I still have to advise you not to be too kind-hearted.”
Lin Ran frowned slightly, not understanding what Liu Hongshan meant.
Liu Hongshan didn’t explain and said something in an extremely low voice. While Lin Ran was focused on figuring out what he said, he suddenly turned around and flew towards the crack in the sky!