Chapter 316 - Marquis de Sade

Chapter 316: Chapter 71 Marquis de SadeAnother harrowing battle had occurred, and both of them enjoyed it even more this time. It wasn’t until after the frenzy that Anna remembered Ci Nian Nian, who was waiting anxiously outside the side hall.

"Hurry and go out, Niannian has been waiting for a while," she said as she straightened her clothes, paused, and then asked Lu Hong again to confirm, "You and Niannian are really just a fake couple?"

"Why would I lie to you? If you don’t believe it, ask her yourself."

"I will ask her, and if you lie to me, I will kill you even if it means breaking the law!" Anna hated scumbags the most.

As soon as she came out, Ci Nian Nian hurriedly rushed towards Lu Hong, "Are you okay? The Mage didn’t do anything to you, did he?"

Anna furrowed her brows. It was the first time she had seen Niannian so concerned about a man.

"Niannian," Anna said solemnly.

"Mage, what did you do to Lu Hong just now? Why doesn’t he even have his protective gear anymore?" Ci Nian Nian turned to question her.

Anna’s brows furrowed even more, "I just beat him up to try and find out some things."

"You... you..." Ci Nian Nian panicked inwardly, "What did you ask him?" she said, looking towards Lu Hong with a somewhat flustered gaze.

"I asked whether he truly loves you or what your relationship as a couple is like." Anna slammed the desk and shouted, "Do you realize the mess you’re creating?"

"Ma... Mage." The slap had flustered Ci Nian Nian, who was seldom disciplined by her father, and her mother had passed away early. Having been raised by Anna since she was a child, she was like a second mother to her.

"I... I, Lu Hong and I truly love each other."

"Sigh," Lu Hong let out a sigh, playing along with Anna’s line of questioning, "I’ve spilt the beans, the truth is better out in the open."

"Why did you spill it?!" Ci Nian Nian panicked.

Lu Hong spread his hands helplessly, "What can I do? Mage Anna beat me up so badly that even my protective gear got destroyed, didn’t you see?"

Anna’s face went red upon hearing this and quickly composed herself, pressing Ci Nian Nian for the truth, "Are you still unwilling to tell the truth?"

Ci Nian Nian was like a child who had done wrong, "I... I had no choice, Mo Na’s behavior is becoming more and more extreme. If I don’t put a stop to it, I really don’t know when I’ll fall into his trap."

Anna sighed in resignation, "But if you suddenly have a boyfriend, do you realize what that implies? You’d bring shame upon the Ci Pu Marquis’ face. The elite of our alliance would never allow a relationship without the elders’ permission to be made public. Once it becomes an official couple, it means strategic cooperation between two great families and it will have a huge impact on the internal power structure of the Eagle Alliance. The Ci Pu family has long been oppressed by the Xin Lei family, and your future marital relations concern the survival of your family, how can you treat it so lightly?!"

"I know I was wrong," Ci Nian Nian whispered an apology.

But Lu Hong would not let it go, and retorted, "The way you put it feels so off. Nowadays, people advocate for free love. How come your Eagle Alliance is still stuck in the old ways of political marriages, trading descendants’ lifelong happiness for familial interests? Isn’t it pathetic?"

Faced with Lu Hong’s mockery, Anna surprisingly did not object.

"You’re right, but what can we do? Those who pursue love like Zi You are ultimately replaced by families that engage in political marriages. Exchanging temporary love for what? The extinction of a family, a generation. It’s the trend of the times—who can escape it?"

"This..." Lu Hong was at a loss for words.

Ci Nian Nian explained, "Don’t be too harsh on the Mage, she refused a political marriage back then, hoping to elope with her lover, but he broke his promise, which is why she hates men who do not keep their word."

"Enough, no more," Anna cut in, clearly the topic brought up painful memories.

"Lei Shan." Lu Hong looked at Anna with sympathy; she had tried for a love of her own choosing, but the cost... was too great.

"Don’t worry, I will take revenge for you," Lu Hong assured softly.

Anna recovered from her sorrow and mockingly said to Lu Hong, "Lei Shan is the fourth Duke in the history of the Eagle Alliance, with countless powerful men under his command. What makes you think you can make promises of revenge to me? Such arrogance!"

"I...," he thought, comfort her and not even get it right? Know how to communicate much?

"Don’t blame the Mage. She had planned to elope with her lover by rejecting the political marriage, but since her partner broke his word, that’s why she hates men who don’t keep their promises so much," Ci Nian Nian chimed in.

"Ci Nian Nian!" Anna shouted angrily. She swore, if time could be reversed, she would never have shared her private woes with her.

"Oh," Ci Nian Nian stuck out her tongue, realizing she had spoken out of turn.

Listening to all this, Lu Hong felt pity. This woman’s life was a series of tragedies. If he could survive the upcoming competition ’The Conquest of the Eagle,’ he would definitely bring her back to the empire and ensure she was happy and safe for the rest of her life.

"Okay, I’m tired," Anna waved her hand, and a seal floated from her palm into the back of Lu Hong’s hand, "The permit is issued, you may leave. And Niannian, you’d better drop this fake couple act. Do not publicly acknowledge it, got it?"

"Got it," Ci Nian Nian quickly agreed, while she internally calculated the need to explain to Xiao An quickly; if the news got out, the Mage would probably scold her to death.

Just as she was about to pull Lu Hong away, she found she couldn’t move him, "What’s wrong with you? Why aren’t you leaving?"

Seeing his new woman’s distress, Lu Hong decided to stay with her, so he said to Ci Nian Nian, "Go ahead, I have something I want to tell the Mage."

"What could you possibly have to talk about with the Mage? Stop messing around, hurry up and come with me, don’t inconvenience the Mage’s rest." Ci Nian Nian made frantic gestures, seemingly warning Lu Hong that the Mage was in no mood for further bother.

Anna didn’t even glance at Lu Hong, as if she hadn’t heard his words at all.

Holy King recoiled in Lu Hong’s mind, "Yes, that’s right, boss should stay. This woman definitely needs company! Trust me, I’m never wrong!"

Damn you, Holy King, Lu Hong thought to the Holy King’s recent antics with a surge of anger. While having a beauty in his arms was a good thing, for no one would complain about that, the more emotional debt he had to shoulder, the greater Lu Hong’s guilt became.

After much persuasion, Ci Nian Nian couldn’t convince Lu Hong to leave and finally gave up, "Okay, then I’ll go first. Don’t provoke the Mage, alright!"

"I know." Lu Hong watched Ci Nian Nian leave, then sat down opposite Anna, just gently looking at her.

"I don’t need your pity." Anna’s voice was icy, "Get lost, and don’t annoy me."

"Boss, if she really wanted you to leave, she would have said so. This is a classic case of a woman’s word being the opposite of her thoughts—opposite! You can’t fall for it!"

The Holy King’s teachings echoed in his ears, but Lu Hong knew this already. Therefore, he made no move, nor did he speak.

After a while, seeing that Lu Hong remained unmoved, Anna’s expression softened slightly and she spoke in a gentle voice, "Come here and sit."

This time, Lu Hong complied, walking over and sitting close to Anna, then took her into his arms.

Anna’s face turned a slight shade of red as she said in a mushy tone, "Just this once."

Lu Hong just smiled and said nothing, gently caressing Anna’s hair. Although they were silent, their warmth seemed to make the cold pure water around them turn tepid.

Unfortunately, time was not on their side, as the magic device in the house rang out again.

Anna didn’t answer, seemingly guessing who it was, she looked up at Lu Hong and said, "Go hide in the back."

"Is there trouble?" As he spoke, Lu Hong stepped back behind the scenes; since Anna didn’t ask him to leave, it meant that it was still possible for him to eavesdrop.

Anna connected to the magic device, and from it came an extremely magnetic voice, "Instructor Anna, I have some important matters to discuss with you. Could you please open the door?"

"Didn’t we already handle all the issues this morning? I’m a bit tired right now and don’t want to dwell on these trifles. Marquis Sad, you can make the decision on your own." Anna’s tone was flat, betraying no emotion, yet her eyes shone with a cold, fierce light. Without saying more, the identity of the person who had drugged her was almost certain.

"How can that be? This is the first time the Holy Academy is participating in the Eagle Alliance’s campaign with its own independent identity. Such a significant matter has been entrusted to you and me for review by the principal and Duke Lei Shan; we should be fully responsible and diligent."

Marquis Sad spoke with righteous grandeur, leaving no room for Anna to refuse.

Indeed, the fact that the dean of the Holy Academy had managed to secure independent sovereignty from the Alliance Council to take part in the Eagle Alliance’s campaign was a significant mark in the school’s history, and Anna could not afford to take it lightly.

"Then... Then come in," Anna activated the magic, opening the big door, and before long, Marquis Sad pushed the door open and entered.

"Instructor Anna, are you well?" Marquis Sad smiled slightly, his concern seemingly spilling over.

"There’s no need for the Marquis to worry, I’m fine."

"How can that be? Instructor Anna has worked hard in reviewing the personnel, you should be tired. Your forced calmness is truly distressing to see." As Marquis Sad spoke, he walked straight toward Anna.

Seeing this, Anna sternly warned, "Keep away from me! You’re here to talk business, aren’t you!"

Ignoring her, Marquis Sad continued, "Stop pretending. Nobody can escape the allure of the ’Obscure Love Fragrance.’ It’s been over five hours since its effect started; this is when it’s most bewitching. Come now, accept my love! My dear Instructor Anna!"

Marquis Sad’s expression grew increasingly crazed, and finally, it was nothing but sinister: "Today, I must have you!"

"Insolence!" Anna was furious, her magic power raging within her, sending a thousand ice spears hurtling toward Sad.

"It’s useless, I have made full preparations." As Sad said this, he crushed a crystal in his hand, from which numerous intricate lines emerged, forming an Array that securely locked down Anna’s house.

"This is a Magic Power Nullification Formation I had made at great expense. It can only be used once, but if it gets me you, it’s all worth it." Even though Marquis Sad had also lost his magic power, a man’s strength was, after all, greater than an average woman’s—especially against a mage’s physique, which might be even more fragile than ordinary people’s.

"Scum!" As Marquis Sad lunged forward, Lu Hong, who was hiding behind the scenes, could no longer bear it. In a swift move, he stepped forward and kicked Sad in the abdomen, sending him flying several meters.

"Well done." Anna took Lu Hong’s arm, coldly looking at Sad who, due to the pain, knelt on the ground unable to get up.

"Who... Who are you?" Sad was infuriated; why had his good deed suddenly been interrupted?

"Me?" Lu Hong chuckled, "The one who cuts in."

"What?!" Sad was both shocked and angry; he understood the implications of cutting in - the ’Obscure Love Fragrance’ that he had gone to such lengths to administer to Anna had been taken advantage of by someone else, no wonder Anna showed no abnormal signs.

"You’re looking for death!" Enduring the pain, Sad advanced again.

Lu Hong held nothing back, slapping Sad hard across the face, sending three teeth flying and leaving Sad fainting on the ground.

Seeing Sad with a mouth full of blood and a swollen cheek, Anna felt an indescribable sense of relief.

"What should we do with him?" Lu Hong asked, "If possible, I can kill him for you. Even if someone investigates, they won’t be able to link it to you."

"Forget it." Anna shook her head, "Sad was a childhood playmate of Lei Shan; now, he’s even Lei Shan’s right-hand man. If anything untoward happens to him, Lei Shan will probably flip upside down all seven realms in pursuit of the killer."

"He’s really got off lightly," Lu Hong spat out, "Scum like him deserves to die a thousand times over!"

"Enough now, don’t act like a child." Anna cast a glance at Lu Hong, "Aren’t you a hooligan too?"

"Me?" Lu Hong smirked, "It’s destiny. If it wasn’t me, then you would definitely have ended up in his hands today."

Anna took a deep breath, "I’d rather kill myself than let him defile me," she said, then once again wrapped her arms around Lu Hong, "Having someone to rely on... feels really good."

From their very first meeting, with Anna’s strong, indifferent, and distant demeanor, to her now genuine expression, he knew that this woman must have been wearing a heavy disguise.

"Don’t worry, if I survive, I’ll give you a better tomorrow," Lu Hong promised earnestly.

"Survive?" Anna suddenly looked up, "What dangerous thing are you going to do?!"