The King of Hatred

The atmosphere in the office suddenly turned cold. The principal and the president of the White Dog Commercial Firm were locked in a confrontation, neither showing any intention of backing down.

The city lord quickly tried to mediate.

He couldn't afford to offend either of them. One was the principal, who held great power and was responsible for educating martial artists. His status was even faintly above that of the city lord.

As the saying goes, "The city lord may change like flowing water, but the principal is as steadfast as iron." This was no joke.

The other was the "god of wealth." Crane City was counting on his investment for construction, so he couldn't be offended either.

In fact, the president of the White Dog Commercial Firm didn't really want to have a head - on conflict with the principal. After all, although he had money, the principal had people.

There were so many teachers! Just a few of them thrown at him would be enough to cause him trouble.

Not to mention there were countless students, and the principal had disciples all over the place. If he really offended the principal to death, he might not even know how he died.

Turning his head to look at Yuna, the president of the White Dog Commercial Firm's expression twitched slightly. Finally, he stood up and bowed.

"Greetings, Centurion Yuna."

"I'm no longer a knight. Just get to the point if you have something to say."

"Alright, then I'll be straightforward!"

The president of the White Dog Commercial Firm looked up at Yuna.

"My son will apologize to your daughter. You can ask for anything you want, money, equipment, or elixirs. I can provide them all! But please hand over that little bastard…"

"He can't be given to you. I still have use for him."

"But!"

"He can't be given, that's final."

Yuna's resolute tone made the president of the White Dog Commercial Firm's face change several times.

Looking up at everyone in the room, the president of the White Dog Commercial Firm's expression gradually turned gloomy.

The principal wasn't afraid of him, Yuna ignored him, and as for the other three vice - commanders, they didn't even look at him from the beginning to the end. Their attitude was incredibly arrogant.

Only the city lord was trying to persuade him nicely, but what good was that? Wasn't the city lord just a consumable that changed every three years?

He didn't even have as much power as the garrison officer next to him! At least the officer had real power in his hands!

His chest heaving violently, the president of the White Dog Commercial Firm gritted his teeth and said.

"Is there really no room for negotiation?"

Yuna didn't answer, just shook her head with a smile.

"Just for a demon! You all want to turn against me?"

The principal didn't answer, just played with the iron ball in his hand.

Seeing this, the president of the White Dog Commercial Firm slapped the table hard.

"Fine! Very well! Since you all are so unreasonable! Don't blame me, Mr. Bai!"

Glaring fiercely at everyone, the president of the White Dog Commercial Firm turned around and was about to leave.

"I'm putting it out there today! I'm determined to kill that demon! Even if I have to hire someone to do it, I will! No one can save him! I said so!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell silent.

The leader of the city guards, who hadn't said a word from the beginning, before the president of the White Dog Commercial Firm could turn around and leave, suddenly stood up, propping his hands on the table.

"I say, Mr. White Dog, saying such things in front of me. Do you really not take me, the commander of the city guards, seriously enough!"

"You!"

"Not to mention that he's being protected! Even if he wasn't, you wouldn't be allowed to act recklessly here! Hire someone to kill? I'd like to see if those people you hire can save your life!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the president of the White Dog Commercial Firm's face froze.

Just then, the vice - commander of the Black Bear Cavalry, who was sitting next to him, suddenly spoke up.

This extremely burly man, as imposing as an iron tower, cast a cold glance at the president of the White Dog Commercial Firm.

"President of the White Dog Commercial Firm, can I interpret your words as an intention to threaten the direct family members of a knight order member?"

Upon hearing this, the president of the White Dog Commercial Firm turned pale.

Threatening the direct family members of a knight order! If this serious accusation were to stick, ten of him wouldn't be able to handle it.

"No, that's not it! I didn't…"

The knight order was a folk organization spontaneously formed by various ethnic groups in different regions to resist external enemies, yet it was recognized by the empire.

The knight order held considerable power. One of the benefits they enjoyed was military - like welfare.

Their most significant privilege was the absolute safety of their family members.

If in danger, the family members of knight order members could even evacuate the city ahead of the officials. Anyone who dared to threaten the family members of knight order members, especially those of the fallen warriors, was like poking a huge hornet's nest.

The nearby knight orders would all step forward to stand up for them. If your power was so great that you could ignore these knight orders, you'd find that word would spread far and wide until all the more than two thousand knight orders in the entire empire came to launch a crusade against you.

130 years ago, an imperial prince, in a bid to retreat first when facing danger, accidentally killed a knight order widow who refused to give way. In the end, he was forced by the knight orders to hang himself on the city gate tower.

The knights would never allow anyone to harm these widows. It was a matter of honor, and also for their own sake.

From the moment they became knights, they had put their lives on the line, always at risk of dying in battle against the enemy.

If they didn't stand up to protect the widows of the fallen at this time, then when they died in battle, who would stand up to protect their wives and children!

These words from the vice - commander of the Black Bear Cavalry scared the president of the White Dog Commercial Firm so much that cold sweat poured down his face.

If this matter were really confirmed, he might be beaten to death on the spot, and probably no one would even dare to make a sound.

"That's not what I meant. I really didn't mean that! He's just a demon! Just a demon! An enemy! He's an enemy!"

Just as the president of the White Dog Commercial Firm was sweating profusely and desperately trying to defend himself, the vice - commander of the Wild Wolf Cavalry, who was sitting ,also spoke up.

This wolf - race man with a hideous scar on his face was trimming his nails with a dagger while speaking in a cold, expressionless voice.

"What he is isn't up to you to decide. You have no right to judge him. Don't meddle in things you shouldn't. Understand?"

"Yes! Yes!"

"If you're still this thoughtless next time, I think your White Dog Commercial Firm will have no value in existence. I'll unite all the knight orders in the vicinity and refuse to accept any escort missions related to your firm. Then you can go ahead and spend money hiring thugs to protect your caravans!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the president of the White Dog Commercial Firm's face twisted in horror.

The composition of this world was actually very strange. Due to the existence of time - space gates everywhere, all kinds of things could be found in this world.

A group of zombies might emerge here, a cluster of tanks could appear over there, and the bandits on the road might be holding AK47s.

Apart from these powerful knight orders, there were also some scattered adventurer organizations. But adventurer teams could only handle solo escort missions; they didn't have the ability to protect caravans.

Despite the president of the White Dog Commercial Firm being wealthy and a well - known local tycoon in Crane City, even famous as the "god of wealth" among more than a dozen nearby cities.

If he really offended the knight orders and they refused to take his escort missions, he'd go bankrupt within a month!

After all, the members of the knight orders were very tough. Once they ordered not to accept your missions, they wouldn't take any tasks related to you!

This also included transactions between other commercial firms and you. As a result, most of the customers would be lost on the spot.

The city had control over the knight orders because the families of the knight order members needed to live in the city, and they had to yield to the city for the sake of their families.

The knight orders coerced the commercial firms because the commercial firms needed their help to escort goods for business.

And the commercial firms manipulated the city because money was power.

This strange food chain was the normal state of life in this world.

The president of the White Dog Commercial Firm, who had been arrogant just moments ago, now had a face as white as snow. His dog - like ears were trembling wildly, and he was constantly wiping the cold sweat with a handkerchief in his hand, completely losing the courage to show his teeth to others.

Among the three stationed troops of the Crane City knight orders, only the vice - commander of the Gale Cavalry remained silent.

But everyone present knew that if it really came to a fight, this person would definitely be the most ruthless one.

The reason was simple. This vice - commander of the Gale Cavalry had once been a member of the Wild Horse Cavalry and was one of the last 20 survivors.

This man with a resolute expression kept his head down and remained silent. On the left side of his breastplate hung a pattern of a sharp sword entwined with gale winds, and on the right was a pitch - black wild horse.

The Sword of the Gale! The Medal of the Wild Horse!

After a few seconds of silence among the people in the room, the two vice - commanders of the knight orders got up and left directly. Before leaving, they didn't forget to nod and salute Yuna slightly.

They highly respected this former hero. After all, the Wild Horse Cavalry had fought desperately to repel the demons, saving countless cities and also their families who lived here.

Yuna nodded in return and watched the two leave. Then she also got up and walked towards the door.

"I'll discipline that child. As for this matter, let's just let it go. In fact, you should be grateful to him. If he hadn't stepped in, there would have been more than one person attacking."

As soon as these words were spoken, the president of the White Dog Commercial Firm trembled and lowered his head, not daring to make a sound.

He really hadn't expected that Yuna, whose husband had died at the hands of the demons and whose entire knight order had been destroyed because of it, would protect a demon like this.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to come and cause trouble even if he was beaten to death!

Walking in the empty corridor, Yuna suddenly stopped.

She patted Yuli's head beside her, indicating that she should go home first. Watching Yuli limp away, Yuna slowly straightened up.

"What are you following me for?"

Behind her, the vice - commander of the Gale Cavalry walked out from the corner.

"Nothing, I just wanted to see you."

"Have you seen enough?"

"No."

"Sorry, I still need to take care of the child, so I'll have to excuse myself."

Yuna took a step forward, ready to leave, but was called out by the vice - commander of the Gale Cavalry again.

"Sana, I…"

"Please call me Yuna. According to the customs of the horse - race, married women should take their husband's surname."

"… Yuna, it's been ten years. A full ten years. Haven't you forgiven me yet?"

Looking at the graceful figure with its back to him, the vice - commander of the Gale Cavalry couldn't help but take a step forward, his palm slightly extended, but he didn't dare to make any further moves.

"Forgive? How can you expect me to forgive you? You deserted the battlefield! You left your comrades behind! How can you expect me to forgive you!"

Yuna suddenly turned around. There was no smile on her face anymore, only bone - chilling coldness.

That cold gaze made the vice - commander of the Gale Cavalry painfully grab his hair.

"I had orders! I told you! I had a mission! I had to go to the rear to set up a second line of defense and protect the city!"

"So you just watched my husband die? Watched him send out a distress signal but did nothing? Watched as the main force of the entire Wild Horse Cavalry was wiped out there!"

When talking about the past, a terrifying murderous aura emerged from Yuna, and her teeth gritted with a creaking sound.

She had never expected that the hasty separation from her lover would turn out to be a permanent farewell!

Looking at the pained expression of the vice - commander of the Gale Cavalry, the murderous aura in Yuna's eyes gradually dissipated, finally turning into a sigh.

"Raymond, I don't actually hate you. What you did was right. You really held back the demon army with the second line of defense and protected these cities. You're a hero! You're a hero of this city… but not mine."

With these words, Yuna turned and left, leaving Raymond standing alone in place.

His vision blurred, and the figure in front of him seemed to turn into a child in a trance. Everything seemed to go back to the past again. The woman in front of him, who didn't want to say another word to him, also seemed to turn back into the childhood sweetheart of those years.

The three of them grew up together, joined the army together, joined the Wild Horse Cavalry together, and climbed up the ranks together.

The renowned "Three Heroes of the Wild Horse Cavalry" were extremely influential in the region more than ten years ago.

Until the moment Yuna made her choice.

Raymond lost. After all, he was just a childhood friend, and he couldn't take their relationship to the next level.

The reason why, despite having done the right thing by protecting the city, he dared not face Yuna's questioning was that he had been selfish back then.

He actually had a chance to save the Wild Horse Cavalry. Although it would have carried some risks, the benefits of rescuing the Wild Horse Cavalry would have been greater. Not to mention that he was originally a member of the Wild Horse Cavalry.

But he still chose to stand by and watch as the flag of the Wild Horse Cavalry fell.

He had thought that by doing so, he would have a chance to win Yuna's heart, but as it turned out, he was wrong. Yuna wasn't a fool.

Letting his hand drop, Raymond leaned against the wall and let out a low sigh.

As Yuna walked out of the school, she quickly saw Yuli standing beside the gate and couldn't help frowning.

"Why aren't you going home to recover? What are you waiting for me here?"

Yuli lowered her head hesitantly.

"Mom... I want to watch the competition."

"...Watch Qin Yu's competition?"

"Yes."

"Yuli, he's not one of us. Don't forget, he's a demon."

"But he grew up with me. I witnessed his growth. He was always very obedient before. Although he's been a bit annoying recently, he still hasn't turned into a villain. And he stood up for me this time. Mom! Are demons really as bad as you said! Are they all beyond redemption? Is there a possibility that there are demons with a conscience?"

Hearing her daughter's doubts, Yuna gave her a deep look.

"You shouldn't be asking me this. You should ask your deceased father, ask the more than 2,000 comrades of the Wild Horse Cavalry who died at the hands of demons, ask the hundreds of thousands of clansmen who were brutally killed more than ten years ago. You should ask them if there are any good demons."

Yuna's words left Yuli speechless, not knowing how to respond.

This was Yuna's way. She never scolded her children fiercely and always spoke in a slow and unhurried manner.

But her words were sharp, too sharp to resist or refute.

Seeing her daughter, who had a lame leg, stubbornly standing there and unwilling to move.

After a long silence, Yuna shook her head and sighed.

"You're such a stubborn mule."

"I'm a horse, not a mule."

"Then you're a stubborn horse. I really can't do anything about you. Since you want to watch the game, then go ahead. I also want to see how much ability that kid has been hiding."

Stroking the broken sword at her waist, Yuna took her daughter's hand and turned towards the street.

Yuli was overjoyed upon hearing this and limped along behind Yuna with the help of a crutch.

"Mom! Do you think that idiot Qin Yu can get a good ranking?"

"No."

"Why? The strength he showed in the video wasn't bad. Even I might not be his match."

"No matter how strong he is, it's useless. Don't forget where this is. This is the Northern Region, connected to the Demon's Gate. We've been fighting against demons for thousands of years. Do you think in a place where there's such extreme hatred towards demons, other contestants will allow him to get a good ranking?"

"Umm..."

"Not to mention the contestants, even the high - level officials of other schools will probably try every means to eliminate him. If they were defeated by a demon, they'd lose all their face."