Amidst the wailing and agonizing screams of the two, flames surged and blazed, fierce and brutal.
It was Su Ling's phoenix fire, controlled by Su Ling's consciousness.
If Su Ling did not stop the flames, they would burn endlessly until Wen Shangyin and Song Lian were reduced to ashes, with nothing left to burn.
As the raging fire blazed, Su Ling and Shang Qi stood by, like gods holding the power of life and death, watching with indifferent expressions as Wen Shangyin and Song Lian were taken by death.
Initially, Wen Shangyin and Song Lian, engulfed by the raging flames, could only groan softly. Later, they were completely lifeless.
In a short while, they were both burned beyond recognition, leaving only a pile of black, charred corpses.
The flames did not stop, continuing to burn until the two were turned into black ashes. Only then did the flames playfully leave the pile of ashes, circle in the air, and return to Su Ling's side, resting on her shoulder.
The burning flames were a punishment for Wen Shangyin and Song Lian, but not a punishment for the fire itself; rather, it was a great benefit to it.
The little flame burning Wen Shangyin and Song Lian into ashes meant it was fully fed.
Indeed, it was now contentedly lying on Su Ling's shoulder, stretching its legs and basking in the sun.
When all this happened, Wen Shangyin's men witnessed it all. Yet, none stepped forward to help. Despite being supported by Wen Shangyin, they all watched coldly as he was whipped and burned by fire.
It wasn't that they were standing idly by and not acting, but rather that the disparity in strength was too great. They had personally witnessed the might of Shang Qi and Su Ling, and they valued their own lives. They feared that if they rushed out, they would become unlucky souls buried with them.
Therefore, rather than trying to fight an unequal battle, it was better to recognize their own status and protect themselves.
After Su Ling and Shang Qi dealt with Wen Shangyin and Song Lian, they looked at each other. Shang Qi stepped forward and addressed Wen Shangyin's remaining men, "Do you wish to die, or to live?"
Naturally, those men wished to live. As soon as Shang Qi asked, they all exclaimed, "To live!"
A large group of people, their voices loud and unified.
Shang Qi hummed, a light sound that was somewhat dismissive. He looked at the eager eyes of the group and his cold, indifferent voice slowly spoke, "Wen Shangyin and Song Lian are dead. From now on, his troops and men will be managed by me."
"I have a task for you: return to the Imperial Capital and transfer your assets to City A. I will arrange for someone to accompany you back to the Imperial Capital. Of course, you can try to resist and betray me. As for the consequences, Wen Shangyin and Song Lian are the best examples!"
Shang Qi's words carried immense power and deterrence. Even if those men had any ill intentions, they dared not act.
The final outcome was that the siblings Rao Beichen and Rao Can, and the siblings Bai Heqing and Bai Yuling, formed a team. They led a group of people from the forces taken over from Wen Shangyin to the Imperial Capital to complete the task of transferring supplies.
Meanwhile, Shang Qi and Su Ling, along with the supplies transferred from the castle and Wen Shangyin's main forces' supplies, returned to the castle.
When Su Ling and Shang Qi returned to the castle, it was already nearing noon, the usual mealtime.
Gu Shangse and others, Chu Jin and others, had already completed their respective small tasks and returned to the castle, where they were resting.
Seeing Shang Qi and Su Ling return successfully, everyone's worried hearts finally settled.
Although they knew that Su Ling and Shang Qi would not fail, worry was an unavoidable emotion.