Strongest Soldier King

Sunlight filtered through the windows into the wooden house. The wind blew gently, causing the leaves outside to rustle and bring a touch of heat. Inside the wooden house, it was silent. Everyone was watching Luo Zheng warily, afraid he might suddenly become violent. Tang Tian also watched Luo Zheng calmly. Seeing Luo Zheng's frown deepen as he thought, she found a unique charm in it, and a strange feeling flickered in her heart.

Men are most attractive when they are seriously thinking. Tang Tian gazed steadily at Luo Zheng; somehow her animosity faded slightly, a mysterious sensation she couldn't understand. Troubled, she shook her head and silently warned herself, the man before her was her father's murderer, and she could not soften.

The wooden house was so quiet one could hear breathing. Tang Tian watched Luo Zheng, feeling her heart racing unexpectedly. Startled, she withdrew to her original spot, sat in a chair, and waited for Luo Zheng's response.

Luo Zheng felt his mind go blank, his thought process coming to a halt. It was painful, with a parched throat and insatiable hunger. He couldn't remember how long it had been since he'd had even a drop of water or a bite of food. Angrily, he said, "Though a captive, I have human rights, don't I? Can I have some water?"

"Hahaha!" Tang Tian laughed for no reason upon seeing Luo Zheng's troubled expression. Her laughter was joyous and only stopped after a while. Pointing at Luo Zheng, she said, "You looked quite ridiculous just now. Besides, as a captive, you must have the awareness of one. We're not a military, no need to adhere to any Geneva Conventions. So say, have you thought of anything?"

"My throat feels like it's on fire, what do you say?" Luo Zheng said angrily, his voice somewhat loud, tearing at his throat painfully, and his body felt even weaker. If he weren't tied to the chair, he might have collapsed to the ground.

"Didn't you just speak quite well?" Tang Tian mocked. Seeing Luo Zheng remain silent, she waited a while before continuing, "I won't hide it. If you agree to my request, anything is possible. Otherwise, starving or dehydrating you to death doesn't bother me. I must say, you're impressive. It's been four days without a drop of water, and you can still talk to me normally. It seems I underestimated you."

"Request?" Luo Zheng asked in surprise, suddenly having a flash of insight. He tried to concentrate, thought it over, and said, "You risked bringing me here yet didn't kill me, you must have an agenda. For you, besides me, there's nothing of value. Coupled with your fear of that person who orchestrated the operation, it seems you want to recruit me?"

"Correct, you didn't disappoint me. So how about it?" Tang Tian said with a delighted smile.

"No way," Luo Zheng replied, rolling his eyes at Tang Tian, too lazy to argue further, ready to sacrifice himself. Luo Zheng didn't want to become National Blade's first traitor.

"With our Wild Wolf Mercenary Group's current strength, it's indeed not much, but I assure you, with your joining, becoming the world's top mercenary group wouldn't be an issue. Then you'll be second to none, above thousands. How about it? My conditions are generous," Tang Tian urged persistently.

Luo Zheng couldn't be bothered, closed his eyes to rest, ignoring the question. Tang Tian turned livid with anger, and a mercenary wanted to step up and teach Luo Zheng a lesson, but Tang Tian stopped him. Someone who hadn't eaten for four days could hardly endure a beating. Tang Tian pondered and stepped forward, standing in front of Luo Zheng with a serious face, "And what if you had me as well?"

"You? An underage girl, not interested," Luo Zheng said dismissively.

"I have looks, I have a figure, youthful and beautiful, not inferior to your girlfriend, plus a substantial inheritance as a dowry. Don't you really want to consider it?" Tang Tian said earnestly, with a hint of sincerity. After this incident, Tang Tian realized there were powers beyond her own, that her abilities were insufficient to support the entire Wild Wolf Mercenary Group. This was the fundamental reason she brought Luo Zheng here and tried to recruit him.

However, Luo Zheng was impossible to sway. As a soldier, Luo Zheng had an unshakeable loyalty. As a man, his feelings for Lan Xue were unwavering in life and death, how could he care about an enemy's recruitment? He outright ignored it, not bothered to exchange a word.

Tang Tian felt a sense of defeat, an unpleasant feeling. In terms of power and appearance, Tang Tian was full of confidence. Unexpectedly, Luo Zheng remained unmoved. Angered, she cursed, "Ungrateful bastard, then go die. Without you, I can still expand the Wild Wolf Mercenary Group to become the number one mercenary organization."

"Heh heh." Luo Zheng sneered, his throat dry. He didn't want to continue speaking.

"What do you want to say?" Tang Tian cursed angrily.

Luo Zheng kept his head down, closing his eyes to rest, using his family's Breathing Skill to regulate his body, too lazy to answer Tang Tian's question. Infuriated, Tang Tian shouted, "Give him some water."

Someone stepped up, opened a kettle, and Luo Zheng wasn't polite. He lifted his head, opened his mouth, and felt the water slide down his throat. His dry throat immediately felt a bit better and he drank greedily. However, the other person sealed the kettle and mercilessly covered it again. The little water was of no use for Luo Zheng's parched throat.

"As long as you answer my questions truthfully, I don't mind giving you water, giving you food. Aren't you waiting for your lover to rescue you? How can you wait if you don't stay alive?" Tang Tian tempted him, holding a skewer of meat, eating it herself, and making deliciously enticing sounds.

Smelling the aroma, Luo Zheng's stomach growled reluctantly. He glared at Tang Tian with a mix of shame and anger, but on second thought, arguing with someone like this was meaningless. His hands and feet were handcuffed, unable to fight back. For now, he could only comply, burying his hatred deep and lowering his head to continue meditating quietly.

"You don't have to join us, just answer my questions and you can still live. If you refuse, that's okay. I'm willing to wait. How long depends on your endurance. I'm curious to see how long a well-trained person like you can survive without food or drink," Tang Tian said with a sneer.

Luo Zheng ignored Tang Tian and didn't have the energy to acknowledge her. He felt dizzy, anytime he could faint from hunger. His thought process came to a halt, an unpleasant feeling. Luo Zheng desperately reminded himself to stay calm, intensifying his use of his family's Breathing Skill to adjust his body.

Seeing Luo Zheng unresponsive, Tang Tian knew she couldn't break his will for the time being. Angry, she walked to the side, ordered those around her, "Watch him; without my order, no one is to approach him or give him anything. I don't believe he can hold out indefinitely."