The CEO's Woman Chapter 477 - The Crazy Duke

"He is going to instruct you to return to the Capital."

Li Qiang remained unmoved as Duo Lin’s voice reached him from behind. His gaze was fixed upon the view outside his window, his eyes holding a deep melancholy that did not, however, diminish their inherent fierceness.

"How could you possibly dare to execute the daughter of a minister? Have you truly lost your senses?"

"Are you concerned that the number of individuals seeking my demise will escalate?" Li Qiang inquired. "Should the one orchestrating these events decide to reveal himself, I can certainly offer guidance on how to counter the impending assassins."

"You— you are orchestrating this entire situation merely to compel us to expose our leader?"

"Perhaps," he responded with a shrug. "Or perhaps not. Who can truly say? There are whispers circulating that the Duke of the Border Town, Aizuk, has descended into madness." He then inclined his head towards the shadow guard, who stood rigidly a short distance away. "The townsfolk are already aware that I dispatched my second wife… and now, tales of my mental deterioration following that incident are spreading. Is it not a rather appealing prospect to inspire fear in others?"

"And what reason could you possibly have for desiring their fear?"

"They have been mocking me for a considerable duration. Is that not monotonous? A novel sensation would be… rather refreshing, wouldn’t you agree?"

A period of silence ensued, the guard offering no reply to Li Qiang’s probing question. Shifting his gaze back to the windowpane, Li Qiang's eyes narrowed. Two days had now passed since he had taken that woman’s life, and he anticipated receiving a summons from the King of Yu within the subsequent two days. This anticipated summons would provide him with the formal pretext required to return to the capital.

Li Qiang had, until this point, been stationed in the remote Border Town situated in the western reaches of Yu.

Every individual in his vicinity, including his trusted butler, had consistently impressed upon him the immense fortune he possessed; the king, instead of enacting a death sentence upon his coronation, had instead chosen to reassign him to the borderlands to oversee its management personally.

These pronouncements consistently painted the king as a paragon of benevolence, a ruler who exhibited profound kindness towards his sole surviving relative, an individual who posed a clear and present danger to his throne. However, Li Qiang possessed an understanding that painted a far different picture.

My dear brother, King Zenu, was, in Li Qiang’s estimation, the most malevolent person he had ever known. Or at least, that was the perception held by the previous iteration of Li Qiang. His elder brother, a man ten years his senior, had subjected him to relentless bullying throughout their shared childhood. He was characterized by his unreasonableness and a manipulative cunning; the sole factor contributing to Li Qiang’s survival was his inherent lack of intelligence and his simple-minded nature.

His brother had never perceived him as a genuine threat. Thus, he had granted him a reprieve, artfully framing it as an act of magnanimity. Nevertheless, after extensive periods of contemplation, Li Qiang ultimately concluded that his brother was, in fact, the only individual capable of orchestrating his clandestine assassination.

"Are you affiliated with any particular elemental forces?" Li Qiang inquired after a few moments of quiet reflection.

"And why do you pose such a question?"

"I wish for you to impart your knowledge to me," Li Qiang declared abruptly, the unexpectedness of his statement clearly startling the shadow guard.

"You are, without a doubt, entirely insane," Duo Lin muttered under his breath. "You have long surpassed the age where such training is undertaken. We ourselves were rigorously instructed in the manipulation of the elements during our adolescence."

"I possess a fervent desire to learn," Li Qiang stated, his gaze fixed upon Duo Lin.

"Did you not comprehend my words? I stated—" Upon observing the resolute expression on Li Qiang’s face, Duo Lin’s gaze drifted away. "I have been informed that the king’s brother exhibits no affinity whatsoever with the elements. He is incapable of wielding the fire element, a gift inherited from his paternal line, nor the water element from his mother."

"That is correct. I cannot," Li Qiang confirmed, his eyes drifting towards the fireplace crackling near his bed. The flames danced as if acknowledging Li Qiang’s focused attention. He turned away from the windows, moving deliberately towards the hearth. "I possess no inherent connection to any of the four primary elements." He noted internally that both his brother and his father were proficient users of the fire element, while his mother commanded the power of water.

"Then… what is your purpose?" Duo Lin inquired, following Li Qiang’s movement. "The common consensus is that you are a significant disappointment, a truth we are both indisputably aware of."

"It is rather severe of you to voice such an assessment directly to me."

Duo Lin emitted a short, sharp laugh. "I merely articulate the unvarnished truth."

"In that case, you must teach me."

"Absolutely not."

Li Qiang’s lips pressed together into a thin line. He acknowledged his own status as a profound disappointment in this world, devoid of any magical aptitude—the very magic that was considered commonplace. This very deficiency had plunged the prior Li Qiang into a state of deep insecurity, leading him to seek solace in excessive alcohol consumption and fleeting relationships, desperately attempting to escape the painful reality of his perceived uselessness.

‘Ah… and that very state of being was precisely why he managed to survive,’ Li Qiang mused internally. Had Li Qiang possessed any discernible magical abilities, his brother would undoubtedly have moved to eliminate him during his formative years.

"I am unable to wield any of those four elemental forces," he articulated, his voice hushed. In this particular world, magic found its manifestation primarily through weaponry. An individual adept at fire manipulation would naturally gravitate towards a sword, utilizing it as a conduit for their powers. During combat, they could imbue their blades with searing flames, incinerating their adversaries with every resounding strike.

Conversely, practitioners of air manipulation frequently favored ranged weaponry such as arrows and daggers. These were implements ideally suited for swift, long-distance deployment, allowing them to harness the power of air to enhance the velocity and lethality of their projectiles.

"Then... it is pointless for you to even try to learn. Do not set yourself up for disappointment." Duo Lin's blunt words cut through his thoughts, prompting an immediate smile from Li Qiang. When was the last time someone had been so straightforward with him?

"Are you an Earth wielder?" Li Qiang inquired, dismissing Duo Lin's preceding remark.

Duo Lin simply pursed his lips, remaining silent.

"Did you truly believe your dagger could deceive me?" Li Qiang let out a soft laugh. Individuals with an affinity for the Earth element possess formidable defenses. They frequently employ shields to manifest their abilities, transforming them into impregnable rock.

"You aren't as foolish as most people believe."

"I am not foolish at all, period," Li Qiang retorted. "Since you refuse to impart your magic to me, then at least accompany me tomorrow. I intend to visit the town."

"You mean the brothel in the neighboring town?"

A smile played on Li Qiang's lips. "You could say that." A sinister glint flickered in his eyes. "You could say that," he repeated, his voice taking on a menacing tone as his eyes slowly began to bleed scarlet.

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