The maintenance platform was two or three stories above the deck, and the Cloud Knights below hadn't noticed the commotion up here.
A few Borisin, however, twitched their noses and instinctively glanced toward the platform—only to find their view blocked by the railing. Still, the familiar scent in the air didn't raise any alarms.
Solon leaned down...
If not for the fact that he wanted to toy with her a little longer, he might have launched his assault right then and there.
He brought his lips close to Jingliu's ear and whispered softly:
"One word from me, and your subordinates will be torn to pieces."
Jingliu's squirming body froze instantly.
"What do you want?!" she hissed, her voice laced with suppressed fury, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
Solon wasn't about to indulge her. Without hesitation, he raised his hand and brought it down—hard.
PLAP!
"You—?!"
Jingliu whipped her head around, glaring at him with burning rage.
But Solon, like the pervert he was, lifted his hand to his nose and took a deep, exaggerated sniff.
Jingliu's face paled, then flushed with humiliation.
Just as she was about to explode—
"You wouldn't want your soldiers executed, would you?"
His threat doused her anger like a bucket of ice water.
"..."
"Surrender. Be my obedient pet, and I'll spare them."
"Never!"
Jingliu refused without hesitation. As a swordsman and a Cloud Knight, pride ran deep in her veins. Surrender was unthinkable—especially to a beast with no honor.
"Good. I admire your spine. I wonder if their families will feel the same."
A cruel smile curled on Solon's lips.
With a sudden jerk, he slammed Jingliu against the railing, gripping the back of her head and forcing her to look down.
Then, he let out a strange, guttural growl.
Below, the Borisin responded instantly. They dragged one of the captured Cloud Knights forward.
Amid the furious shouts of the other soldiers, the Borisin grinned savagely—then ripped the knight's arms clean off.
Screams and blood filled the air.
Jingliu's eyes widened in horror. Her entire body trembled, her face draining of color.
She could accept death in battle—they had all marched to war prepared for that.
But she could not accept her subordinates being tortured like this.
"Stop."
Just as the Borisin reached for the knight's legs, Solon heard a hoarse voice beside him.
A flash of triumph flickered in his eyes.
Got her.
He growled another command, and the Borisin reluctantly dropped the maimed knight back into the crowd.
Jingliu exhaled shakily. Thanks to the Plagues Author's blessing, Xianzhou natives were absurdly resilient—even severed limbs were minor injuries.
But then—
"W-Wait! Not here! Stop—!"
Solon snorted at her protests.
"You're my pet now. You don't get to refuse."
And then—
The mutated Lupus Toxin in his body began to seep out.
Ordinary Borisin venom amplified fear. Solon's was far worse—it not only magnified terror, but pain perception.
A scratch could feel like losing a limb.
On the battlefield, this was devastating. Unless an enemy lacked pain receptors entirely, the agony would cripple their movements—a fatal disadvantage in close combat.
But as any cultured individual knew, this ability had... other applications.
The Xianzhou Alliance had fought the Borisin for centuries. They were always prepared for the Lupus Toxin—Cloud Knights took suppressants before battle.
Jingliu, a top-tier swordsman capable of competing for the title of Luofu's Sword Champion, could normally resist the toxin even without medication.
But after five days and nights of fighting Solon, she was exhausted.
Now, she couldn't fight it at all.
The toxin seeped into her skin.
A faint flush crept across her pale, snow-like complexion.
Her body temperature rose uncontrollably, beads of sweat forming on her skin.
Solon showed no mercy.
At first, Jingliu only felt pain.
But then—
A strange, creeping heat began to coil in her core, spreading through her limbs.
The pain faded.
A terrifying, intoxicating pleasure took its place.
Jingliu clenched her teeth, fighting the fire inside her.
But Solon, ever observant, noticed immediately.
A smirk played on his lips as his movements grew gentler.
Only then did he realize—
Jingliu's skin was already slick with sweat, glistening under the dim light.
Her breath came in short, ragged gasps.
And her resistance was crumbling.
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