Shadow of the Evil God

The horrific remains of flesh and blood that the corpse-eaters had piled on the walls and atop the buildings during their siege had now been shattered by the tides of the abyss. From afar, the ruins looked as if washed clean, gleaming with a brilliant white and gold in the sunlight. Not only were the corpses gone, but not even a trace of blood remained, as if people were merely touring a historic site. The drifting black mist behind them seemed as light and feeble as a feather in the sunlight.

Cesar understood why Diana had urged them to leave the Abyssal Tide at this moment. With the clear blue sky and the blazing sun, all the gloom naturally dissipated with the wind. In this indescribable atmosphere, awe spread through the crowd in an inexplicable way. After experiencing war and disaster, people would be moved by such a scene, and when they saw their leader emerge from the darkness, this feeling would quickly turn to awe.

He looked into the distance, observing the crowd cheering and welcoming him and the princess among the ruins of the city wall, and couldn't help but detect an unusually familiar smell.

Just like the historical accounts of the Kasar Empire, or rather, just like the way the Holy Temple created heroes in the history of the Kasar Empire. People don't see the course of the war, nor do they see the many conspiracies and calculations within the court. As long as they see the emperor and generals returning victorious in the sunlight, everything will be self-evident.

It was inconceivable that something that existed only on the surface could move people to such depths that they would even kneel down in worship. Although Cesar found it absurd and instinctively didn't want to get involved, for the sake of his long-term plans, he stood expressionlessly beside Altinya, protecting her as she stepped forward.

As a man so skeptical, yet having reached such a point, Cesar found it hard not to find many things even more humorous. He had always observed history from a distance, but now, standing within it, these false veils and fabricated events seemed even more absurd. Perhaps because she was too familiar with him and sensed his emotions, Altinia glanced at him with a hint of helplessness. Diana, standing in the distance, also frowned slightly, as if wondering how to get him to continue the stage play.

Was he influenced by the dark-haired Ajeh? Perhaps. He had always held skepticism, but he wouldn't refuse to use it. He had already gained a lot from the things he had always doubted, and he would gain more. She was the one who truly resented the world.

Yes, that's right.

Precisely because they are two sides of the same coin, they take completely opposite paths. They share something fundamental, yet are completely at odds with each other, perfectly embodying the two possible paths a skeptic can take: rejection and exploitation.

Cesar pondered as he walked past the city walls, along the ever-widening road. The people had cleared the roads of rubble and crumbling ruins, preparing to welcome the return of their leader, who had journeyed into darkness. Now, seeing the rumors come true, their pent-up emotions suddenly burst forth, transforming into a massive wave.

It's really easy to understand...

Cesar walked through the ripped streets, watching the devastated outer city recede behind him. He wanted to stop and look in several times. He saw the interiors of the buildings exposed to the sun, the bricks and stones shattered, the walls collapsed, revealing the earth scorched by the fire, and long black lines stretched from the outer city to the edge of the inner city.

He could well imagine what the Hesai school had done.

Cesar now felt that the Xisai School was too hasty. They lacked judgment on the war situation and were too blindly convinced of their own school. First, they lured the corpse eaters out of the city to attack the imperial army with the main force, and then they were forced to flee in the undercurrent. Given the dangers of the teleportation spell, there must be a large number of mages in the emergency.

Suffered mental trauma.

While the Xisai School cultivates, the Yesterlen School can seamlessly integrate into their power through the Grand Temple of Xiel. With their achievements in resisting the Corpse Eaters and even the encroachment of the Abyss, the Yesterlen School will also gain significant support in their actions. As for the Xisai School, Cesar wonders how they will consider their future when the economy of the Clifas Territory collapses.

Then, he turned his gaze toward the bastions and the shattered artillery, then the vast lair of corpse-eaters further behind, and couldn't help but gasp. With mages from this school present, secular military confrontations would revolve around them, and many of the tactics would be beyond his comprehension. Fortunately, the Xisai School was the only one currently intervening in the secular war on a large scale, so he still had time to consolidate his position by leveraging his accumulated advantages.

Now, the territory from Gonzales to Fort Gural was completely under his control, and the threat from the Northern Empire would no longer be a concern for a long time. As long as they consolidated this vast territory, they could continue northward to control the vast uninhabited lands that the corpse eaters had ravaged.

The only short-term threats were the war between the nobles and King Evered IV, and the king's attitude after Heanria released his forces. At this moment, the important thing wasn't who he wanted to support, but whoever could best support his complete control of the territory.

If Evered IV supported him more, he would help suppress the rebellious nobles and then become the lord of the entire territory. If the nobles who initiated the uprising supported him more, he would make them obey his command, unite them to defeat Evered IV and his supporters, and then become the controller of a larger territory.

Regardless, what they faced next was at least a secular war of equal magnitude, without the invasion of the Abyss, without the massive hive of corpse-eaters moving south, and without Clephas and the Hisai School attempting to destroy his fortress. They wouldn't be isolated and helpless, relying solely on themselves. He would continue to consolidate his current territory and further expand Sodoris' influence. With the reform of the medical system and the development of medicine, he would also gain increasing support from the Great Temple of Hiel.

This would make him no longer fear the temple of Sagaroth.

If anything was particularly troublesome... it would probably be Diana and her father, the Archduke of Urbino. If Evered IV tried to force him to relinquish power, they would inevitably side with him, and a war with Urbino would inevitably follow. Family ties were always a difficult consideration in war and political conflict.

......

"People returning from the Abyss invasion shouldn't have a blank expression, as if they were just going through the motions," Diana said.

"I've been dealing with visitors from the Grand Temple and the mages from your school all day." Cesar walked to the bedside and lit a candle in the moonlight. "It feels like being hanged," he said, hugging the drowsy Fils under the covers and biting her ear as she mumbled incoherently. "I thought I'd come back here first to hug and kiss you and express my joy at our reunion, but instead you threw me into the meeting room and made me sit in a meeting all day," he muttered.

"Don't yell... I'm so sleepy." Phils complained, "Let's talk about it tomorrow if there's anything."

"Look, she's almost asleep," Cesar said to Diana. "Are you telling me that every day from now on I'm going to have all-day meetings and then fall asleep right after?"

"There are more things to deal with after the war than during it," she said nonchalantly. "Not only will there be meetings everywhere, but we'll also have to inspect the city under repair, and even go to Sodoris to discuss personnel placement and local affairs changes. You should be mentally prepared for this. While you were taking care of Aya, I've already made a list of things you have to deal with, starting with—"

Cesar raised his hand. "Do we have to talk now?"

"We haven't found food for Firth in the wilderness for a long time, Cesar," Diana said, crossing her arms. "You've noticed she's feeling groggy. The upcoming journey through the wilderness will be very busy, and I'm afraid we won't have much time to come here. Fortunately, Brother Mira has agreed to help look after her, so we have an extra travel companion."

"I understand I have a lot of things to do, but could you offer me some...comfort and support?"

"Like?" She raised an eyebrow.

Chapter 342: Night Talk by Candle

"Like?" She raised an eyebrow.

"I feel like sighing," Cesar said.

"Then go to the desk with me first, dear." Diana pointed her thumb behind her. "Let me unfold the papers and we can talk while we look at them."

"Don't think you can trick me by calling me that."

"There's only one chair next to the desk. If you don't hurry over there, you'll have to stand next to it and listen to me," she said.

Seeing Diana lean over and place her hands on his shoulders, gripping them tightly, César tutted, then suppressed the urge to lie down and sauntered over to the desk. By the light of the oil lamp, Diana brought a heavy stack of documents from the shelf and spread them out on their desk. César felt that this pile of documents would be his gallows tonight. He sat down on the bench with unusual slowness, feeling the chair creak in protest at his heavy pressure.

She stood beside the desk, holding a page in her hand and muttering to herself, "Right now, the most pressing issue is financial pressure. Rebuilding and repairing the outer city of the fortress requires..."

Cesar placed his hand on her back, stroking her gradually tapering waist, and then drawing an arc to land on her round and curvy hips. Seeing that she only glanced at him, he simply pulled her to his side.

"I think the north and south of the fortress are more in need of manpower," he said, his arm around her waist. "Right now, the only part of the fortress that needs complete repair is the outer wall. The original building area in the outer city can be cleared and used as a warehouse. Most of the staff originally stationed in the outer city can be sent to the south to participate in the construction, and the unattended mines in the north can also be utilized."

"That's true... The next priority isn't Gural Fortress, so repairs can indeed be slowed down." Diana leaned over and sat on his lap. "That being said, the money needed to repair the outer wall is enormous. We need to further consider the source of funds. That banker is bullying the old man in Clifas's territory, saying he doesn't understand economic principles. I think we should organize a trading association to help them, providing the means that Ms. Rolaisa can't. Then, we can naturally share in the profits."

"Let the school mage and the faceless agent get involved in this kind of thing?"

"No?" she asked.

"Well, it's not impossible. It's a continuation of the war after all."

As Cesar spoke, he noticed that Diana continued to flip through the documents, her expression focused and undivided. So he put his hand on her shoulder, used his fingers to lift a part of her skirt, and then fell into the white shadow along her collarbone.

The breasts were round and smooth, as beautiful as carved white jade, and incredibly soft. A delicate bead, a pale pink, curled at the tip of his finger. A few strands of wavy emerald green hair slid down his wrist, inadvertently tangling around his fingers. When he felt them carefully, they were still stained with moisture.

"I'm looking at the documents," she said.

"That means you're not concentrating enough," Cesar said, lowering his head to kiss her slightly parted red lips. Diana's lips were smooth and sweet, as if she'd just eaten an apple. He bit them gently, parting them. He touched her teeth lightly, then used the tip of his tongue to tease her soft, sweet tongue.

Diana bit the tip of his tongue, but not too hard. It was hard to tell if it was an expression of annoyance or a way of responding to his kiss. His tongue delved deeper and deeper, exploring her sweet, saliva-slicked lips. She almost closed her eyes, tilting her cheeks upward as he nibbled and sucked on her lips, teasing her tongue. As the kiss continued, their saliva leaked from their lips to her jaws, dripping onto her chest.

When their lips parted, Cesar saw her cheeks flushed, her eyes slightly closed, and her lips pursed like bright red petals closing. So he lowered his head again, bit her upper lip, and heard her hum softly.

"Then there's the governance model we implemented in Sodoris," Diana said, finally opening her eyes. "If you wish to continue using it, we'll need to further investigate local management and observe the changes that occur among the heads of various workshops as they enjoy their power. Although they all appeared honest at the time, they were tainted with so much poison that one of them might suddenly fall prey."

Cesar still held her soft breast, unwilling to let go, carelessly pondering as he gently kneaded it. She occasionally hummed softly, then coughed softly, her cheeks flushing. As the bead rose pliantly under his fingers, her breasts swelled further, becoming firm and erect, sliding back and forth in his palm.

Seeing Diana glaring at him, he coughed and said, "It was just a temporary measure at the time. If we want to continue using it in the future, we need to establish a method for replacing and appointing foremen within their ranks, or a complete set of organizational methods?"

"Do you think this group of people is important?" she asked.

"It's too far-reaching for me to say," Cesar replied, "but with them in charge of Sodoris and managing the various workshop areas, the Xiel Temple can't directly take action and turn Sodoris into another temple of theirs. In other words, if these people fall and a power vacuum is created, Sodoris will easily fall into the hands of the temple. The monk we have won over will also be forced to accept the orders of the Shawl Society, or even become a puppet, subject to manipulation by the upper echelons."

"Did you start planning your political struggle right after accepting the alliance?" Diana asked him. "You truly are a shady helmsman and architect."

"Isn't this what you're best at? You're a noble. I heard you can always find connections with powerful people wherever you go."

She sighed. "It's a shame. Every time I connect, the connection is forced to break. First, the school decided to leave Itris, and then the citizens and students of Angland rioted and attacked Evered IV's palace, imprisoning everyone in the school. If everything burns down this time, I think I might as well take a boat and set sail."

"This means that I must be present for your victory, my dear." Cesar lowered his head and kissed her, his fingers stroking her slender waist, and then landing on the pair of rounded, curved buttocks. He first gently kneaded them through the fabric, then used his fingers to open the belt and slid down along her white, smooth buttocks.

Diana clutched his other hand, interlacing their fingers against her breasts. She closed her eyes and kissed him, then a slight shudder passed through her body as he caressed her buttocks with his rough palm. Her round, perky buttocks were pressed tightly together, but he felt them part with a light flick of his fingertips, and then he slid his index finger inside, and they closed softly, enveloping his finger tightly.

Cesar saw a wisp of moist breath rising from her mouth like white mist, lingering on her flushed cheeks. He couldn't help but hold her hand tighter, and then picked out her saliva-filled tongue and gently bit it, then took it in his mouth to taste it. When he put his fingertips on the delicate place inside the buttock groove, she couldn't help but open her eyes wide, and her other hand also grabbed his wrist.

"I think there's something wrong with that spot," she pursed her lips and said, "It's itchy. Don't mess with your fingers..."

Cesar bit Diana's earlobe. "We can continue discussing the pile of documents you brought." He breathed into her ear. "It would make the boring political affairs a lot more interesting, don't you think?"

Chapter 343: Under your guidance, my dear

Diana immediately put her finger on his lips and said, "Even if it's boring, you have to accept it with a smile instead of walking through the cheering crowd with a blank expression."

"You know, I don't really..."

"Not really," she said. "Your burden will become heavier and heavier, perhaps even heavier than that of the former Prime Minister Heanria and General Clefas combined. When Aya is present, we have to take care of everything she can't, and when she's not present, we are her agents. Whether she wants to reform the empire or make any more drastic decisions, no one except us can support her, not any ministers or any nobles. In short, once you're on this stage, don't even think about getting off."

"That sounds scary," Cesar said.

"Now you are the one who commands the most awe. I believe that those who witness you emerge from the tides of the abyss will obey your authority. Of course, whether the source of your authority is true or false is unimportant; as long as it is there, people will believe in and follow you."

"What about you? You know this is all intentional."

Diana turned and knelt on the bench, her chest pressed against his, their noses touching. "I love you even more," she said softly, "because these are secrets only we know. As you said, we sit before the fire, and in the eyes of others we may be emperors, nobles, mages, and ministers, but in our own eyes, we are always a family telling stories in the long nights. And you, Cesar, we will bear this burden together."

"Perhaps it will become heavier with the piles of documents you carry every day, Diana," Cesar said, holding her waist. "But if what you said is not a metaphor, then when everything is over, I think we should leave everything behind and explore the boundless wilderness and foreign lands, rather than being trapped in the imperial court and surrounded by power and politics like Grand Master Ferriers."

"Because of what?"

"Because we're just a family around the fire, what do you think?"

"At least until the family..."

Their lips touched. "I can wait until the family no longer needs us and can continue, but I definitely don't want to be trapped in this forever. I want to put all of this behind me, as if it never existed," he said.

"No, absolutely not. I need to maintain frequent contact with my family's descendants and our country. Even if I stay in the wilderness, I will send letters and deliver messages through the school's mages, informants in various departments, and various other means..."

"You are so stubborn, Diana."

"You're the stubborn one, Cesar," Diana gently accused. "If our child were born, I'd say your father is essentially a wilderness traveler. If I weren't watching over him, he'd definitely abandon everything and become a savage, wandering around and doing things no one could understand."

"You really don't leave me any choice."

"Your choice has already been made, so there is no room for discussion after this," Diana insisted.

As Cesar listened to Diana's argument, he undressed her and kissed her breasts, which seemed so full they ooze juice. As he bit them with his teeth and teased them with his tongue, her smooth skin tightened and her nipples hardened. She held his head tightly in her arms, breathing rapidly and warmly into his ear, her gentle voice making his heart beat faster.

By the time he turned teasing into gentle sucking, the bead had already stood up high as if it was engorged with blood, stained with saliva, and bloomed brilliantly against the tip of his tongue.

He held her and caressed her, his left hand caressing her graceful waistline, his right gently kneading her buttocks, patting them occasionally, feeling the elasticity of her firm skin. As time slowly passed, she could no longer suppress her soft moans. Not only did her long hair flow freely, but her delicate body, as fine as ice and jade, was also oozing with sweat. Her skin, faintly flushed in the dim light, looked even more alluring.

Diana's clothes gradually became disheveled, her neck flushed from his kisses, and her round, soft hips, now completely supported in his palms, arched back and arched gently from time to time. Her breathing became softer, and water stains had seeped through her inner clothes, emitting a charming scent and a shimmering sheen.

Cesar stretched out his fingers, peeling back the fabric a little. He saw that her eyes had become hazy, and the water-stained, crystalline petals were unusually damp. They practically dripped with dew, emitting an intoxicating hue that beckoned his love and longing.

He kissed her earlobe, whispering her name, and pressed it against her delicate, shyly closed vagina. He felt it squirm slightly, a dent created by the pressure, and his breathing suddenly became heavier. He pushed a little further, and it slid inside uncontrollably. Her pursed lips parted to meet it, taking the snake's head in her mouth and gently sliding it around its tip.

Diana first grasped his shoulders with her fingers, then hugged him tightly. With a low gasp, he had penetrated the flexible membrane and slowly pushed halfway in. Her private part was too small and tender, and even though he was fully prepared, it still made her eyes open wide, first stretched and expanded, and then dyed bright red with blood.

The touch is tight and dense, and although it is extremely delicate, it wraps it tightly, and is extremely tender and sweet.

He moved slowly inside, and warm juice mixed with blood occasionally seeped out from the edge, soaking the snake's scales and body. Her two long white legs were stretched straight, and her snow-white slender feet were initially tense behind his waist, until Cesar laid her flat on the desk and put her on his shoulders.

Cesar gently grasped one of Diana's ankles, first biting her fair, smooth calf, then kissing her delicate foot. He felt the soft, white arch of her foot tremble between his teeth, his teeth marking her skin, his toes stained with saliva. As waves of itching spread through the soles of her feet, her toes tensed, and her slender waist swayed on the desk, swaying softly like a willow branch.

He held her slender waist with his left hand, caressing it gently, admiring the beauty of her breasts swaying back and forth, and with his right hand, he held her hips and lifted her lower body. When her face flushed, he lifted her up by the waist again, holding her thigh with one hand and kissing her breathless lips.

As their lips and tongues intertwined, Diana held onto his shoulders, her soft breasts swaying and rubbing against his chest, her snow-white legs tightly wrapped around his waist. As Cesar poured all of his long-accumulated pressure into her, her azure eyes seemed to melt, overflowing with mist, a beauty that was intoxicating. More turbid mucus slowly flowed down, forming a pool on the ground.

Cesar kissed her red earlobe. "If you ever talk to our child again," he whispered, "you can say you conceived me on a desk piled high with documents. And you pulled me out of bed and forced me to deal with them."

She gritted her teeth and said, "Carry me to the bed, you idiot..."

"Call us something else, or you'll be saying our baby was conceived in the woods or under a mine," he said.

Diana breathed softly, supported his shoulders, pulled his ear with her other hand, and put her lips to his ear. Then, a soft and gentle voice came into his ears: "Husband..."

The sound nearly made Cesar's heart stop. He forced himself to maintain composure, then carried her to the bed, slipped under the covers, and eagerly tangled with her. They squirmed in the covers, their bodies rubbing against each other, their chests pressing against each other, their limbs entwined, their fingers clasped. Before long, her voice was as sweet as music, and her expression, when her eyes lost in thought, was even more captivating.

After a long embrace and kiss, Cesar turned Diana over again, letting her round buttocks press against his abdomen and her back against his chest. He held her, kissed her neck, and gently gave her satisfaction. She also gently twisted her buttocks in response, making the fit between them even closer.

As Diana's voice gradually spread, Fils grunted and reached out sleepily, groping for help. Soon, she was pressed against Diana. Seeing Diana forced to hold the girl in her arms, pursing her lips to muffle her voice, Cesar became more interested and continued his activities despite her glare.

As her body became more and more tense, she couldn't help but hug Phils tighter and tighter. Her slender white waist had already bent into an arc like white jade in his palm.

Cesar tried to put his finger into Diana's mouth, but was bitten. He then tried to put it into Phils' mouth, but Diana swatted it away again. However, the lingering sensation stirred a response in the girl. She opened her mouth and bit his finger, finally kissing Diana's breast and licking the now bright red pearl. Cesar then took Diana's earlobe in his mouth. This time, Diana didn't dare to slap her hand. Instead, she hugged Phils and buried her eyes in her flaxen hair, as if trying to pretend that she saw nothing and knew nothing.

After their heartbeats and breathing gradually calmed down with long gasps, Cesar finally opened his mouth and released Diana's saliva-soaked earlobe. He reached out to stroke her hair, lifting her face from Phils's hair. "What do you think you should say this time?" he whispered to her softly. "Say you conceived with your ancestors as witnesses? I imagine future generations will be curious about how you did something like this with your ancestors by your side."

Diana turned her head and bit his lip. "You'll have to deal with twice as much paperwork tomorrow," she said, "and twice as many meetings. Statues of you will be displayed all over the world, and wherever you go, you'll be confronted by scholars and students questioning you about history and the past. Even if you flee to the deepest reaches of the wasteland, wizards will still teleport to you with academic questions, holding stacks of papers and asking you questions. Just think carefully about how you can weave these bloody and cruel truths into glorious heroic stories, as long as you're not ashamed."

"Under your guidance, dear."

Chapter 344 You have to promise me

......

When Cesar awoke, Diana's underground chamber, built beside the testing grounds, was serene and tranquil. A slight coolness, thanks to the effects of magic, subdued the stifling heat of Gural Fortress. Although the mages could do little beyond destruction and curse, after witnessing the Kuna people's water vats gushing with endless springs, Diana gradually mastered their complex spell system, and she quickly put it to use.

Against the wall of the bedroom, there was a magical curtain that was still in operation. It was like a floating portrait, reflecting the entire hazy fortress from the top of the mountains.

Through the curtain, one could see the dawn, people emerging from the morning mist, passing through the rubble and ruins of the streets. Although the corpses and rotting blood had been washed away by the tides of the abyss, the remaining ruins of the buildings were still dilapidated and desolate—broken stones, piled bricks, broken wooden beams, and the ruins of many war-torn sites were everywhere.

Some trudged through the garbage heap, trying to clear a path; others crept through the collapsed buildings, trying to steal the remaining treasures; and the numerous laborers who had arrived by water from Sodoris brought their children with them, letting them scramble through the maze of ruins, screaming and yelling like birds out of a cage. With the war so recent, Cesar had no desire to enforce martial law on the fortress, and their princess probably didn't either.

The intermingling of temple monks, refugees from the Empire, and Uldan laborers and farmers resembled a swarm of ants, as seen through Diana's spell. Many gazed upon the fortress with a sense of wonder, gazing at the shattered corpse-eater nest and the remnants of the abyss in the distance.

"Don't you want to accept people's admiration and respect?" Phils suddenly asked him.

"I didn't come to this for something like this," Cesar said.

"But you've moved faster than anyone else," she said. "From the time we were in the dog pit until now, it feels like a dream. The moment I opened my eyes, the world has become completely different. And you're even cursed."

Cesar surveyed the cityscape. "I'm exploiting things I don't believe in myself," he said. "The very structure of faith, the way order operates, the basis for the distribution of power, the principles that keep kings, nobles, and commoners in their proper places—all of this has been torn apart in my mind, stripped of any sacredness. What I'm doing is like sowing in spring and harvesting in autumn. If you consider yourself merely a farmer, then all that reverence and admiration is but the bowing of wheat fields in the wind."

"Does it seem ridiculous to you to stand in a field and wave at the ears of wheat as it's harvested? I've heard people say it's honor, pride, and something they fight for. But in your words, everything seems empty."