Chapter 86 86: Cost Of Death

After a few seconds, Xu Shan finished writing his wish.

Even though he could've asked for things that could change the entire world, he was still very careful. The Book of Desires was a double edged sword. He was careful in what he asked for.

After he finished writing, the words that he had written turned golden.

It was only then, that he closed the Book and relaxed on the chair. "Now that you're here, can you tell me what's the cost this time that I'll have to pay?"

Xinren was still silent. However, just as Xu Shan was about to speak again, she answered, "Death.... Death is the cost..."

Her response made Xu Shan frown. "What do you mean death? Wasn't it an equivalent exchange? Whose death?"

Xinren rubbed the back of her neck with her left hand, letting out a tired sigh. "It's still an equivalent exchange. The cost is something that you need to pay. At the same time, it's not something you'll pay... But someone else..."

"Can you be more clear?" Xu Shan frowned.

Xinren placed her hand on Xu Shan's shoulder. "I think it's better if you know this one. The first person that you truly fall in love with... The cost is the life of that person. As soon as you fail in true love for the first time, that person will die, and you can't change that fate."

Xu Shan went silent in response. For some time, he didn't react. However, he finally realized why this was an equivalent exchange...

"With this Demonic Heart, can I even fall in love?" After a long time, he shook his head lightly. "It's impossible. This cost... I'll never have to pay."

After some time, he opened his eyes, and stood up. He kept the Book of Desires in his storage ring, before going to bed to rest.

Even as he lay on the bed, he didn't fall asleep. Instead, he kept talking to Xinren about his exact plans for this war, which even his father and the Celestial Palace Master didn't know.

However, he didn't say his plans out loud with words. Instead, he used his thoughts to talk to Xinren.

****

Xu Shan was in the Commanding Ship, with the Two Deputy Generals. However, there were many important people in the army that weren't on this ship.

All four Great Families had come with the armies to defend the Empire. In one such ship in the back was the Chen Family, one of the Four Great Families in the Empire.

It was also the same family which was extorted by Xu Shan, because their daughter tried to intrude on his palace in the middle of the night.

Because of that, not only did the Chen Family have to pay a lot, but the engagement had also broken. Because of that, its influence had fallen to the bottom of the Four Families.

They were planning to use this war to regain some reputation.

While the other families sent their Elders and others for this war, the Chen Family sent their main forces. In fact, even the Patriarch Chen Huo came personally.

However, there was another reason for him to come. One of the Four Strongest Generals of the Empire was his father! And he was guarding the Eastern Border.

Since the Eastern Border that was being protected by his father had fallen, it brought when more insults and angers directed at them. Chen Huo was even more sad that his father was killed while guarding the Eastern Border.

It was not only to regain some of the lost reputation that he came, but also for revenge.

Even though he didn't have faith in Xu Shan's abilities to lead, but he knew that Ye Han was more than capable. It made him think that Xu Shan was only commander of the army in name. While the real leader was Ye Han.

While the Chen Family Patriarch was on the deck, looking down at the burning city in the distance, he had thoughts about stopping and helping.

However, to his surprise, there were no instructions from the Commanding Ship, as if telling them that they weren't allowed to get down. It was as if they were ignoring the burning City.

"Free me this instant! Argh!"

Just as he was thinking about asking them about it, he heard a girl's voice coming from behind him.

His eyes twitched uncontrollably. "Don't tell me..."

As he turned around, his face dropped! He saw his daughter Chen Rouyin on the ship. Her hand was being held by one of the Elders who brought her to the deck.

"She was found hiding in the ship! Your daughter really has no sense, does she?" The Elder of the Chen Clan asked, rolling his eyes.

"You! Did you think this is a playground? Why are you here?" Chen Huo inquired, furiously.

To his surprise, Chen Rouyin wasn't scared. If anything, she appeared even more stubborn. "Grandfather is already dead! And you're going to the war. I can't just sit back! I'm also strong! I can help!"

"You can help?" Chen Huo's lips twitched. He looked around at the multiple battleships that were carrying the greatest warriors of the Eternal Dynasty and the Celestial Palace and there he had a little brat who was telling him that she could help him?!

"Do you think this is a joke? The place is dangerous. Even I'm not sure if I'll be able to return alive, let alone you!"

Chen Rouyin didn't respond. However, she was still stubborn. In any case, she couldn't he sent back now that they were already this far.

"Argh, you are to stay at the ship and not get involved in the war! You understood?!" The middle aged man asked, giving up.

Chen Rouyin nodded. However, she soon noticed a flaming red hue in the distance. "Why aren't we going down to help the City? Don't tell me others can't see it?"

Chen Huo didn't have the answer to this question himself. He could only look at the Commanding Ship.

"Don't tell me you're seriously going to abandon people in need, because the Emperor assigned that lying tyrant as the commander who doesn't care about human lives?!" The girl asked once again, realizing what was happening.

"We should help them! This is our duty! They are the people of the Empire as well!" she further insisted. Even though the City was still far, but she could see some movement inside. There were still signs of life.

It wasn't just her who thought that. Even her father was thinking about the same thing, without her needing to ask. However, it wasn't that easy.

"What's there to hesitate? We can save them in less than half an hour! Does our so-called commander think that the lives of those people aren't worth his half an hour?!" Chen Rouyin further exclaimed.

She already had a fiery personality, but she also hated Xu Shan after what happened last time, which made her even more easily frustrated. She couldn't believe that the strongest army of the Empire was abandoning their own citizens!

"Argh!" The Chen Family Patriarch scratched the back of his head. Even he felt a headache coming.