Spellcasting Gods

"Wait!" Upon hearing the word "last words," Baelish's pupils contracted instantly, and he quickly took several steps back, shouting loudly to stop him.

"Oh? You've committed such a blatant act of betrayal, and you still expect me to let you off the hook?" Zhang Cheng saw through the other party's intentions at a glance, and curled his lips into an undisguised mockery.

To be honest, on his way here he was still thinking about how to cruelly torture Littlefinger, but after seeing him in person, he didn't feel such a strong desire for revenge.

Whether it was a misperception or not, as the number of people he killed increased, he gradually became indifferent to life and death. He could not only watch one vibrant life after another disappear without feeling, but also calmly accept that he would be killed by someone else at some point in the future.

After all, whether in nature or in so-called civilized society, it is essentially a game between hunter and prey, and no one can guarantee that they will always be the hunter and never become the prey.

All he could do was learn to adapt to, and even enjoy, this tense, exciting, life-or-death feeling.

"Don't you want to know what role Varys played in this, and where he's hiding now?" Petyr Baelish asked, taking a deep breath.

He clearly knew perfectly well what he needed to confess to save his life, so he betrayed his accomplice without hesitation.

In any case, betrayal and selling out were second nature to him, and there were no psychological or moral obstacles to them.

Seeing the intense will to survive in the other man's eyes, Zhang Cheng suddenly laughed, and said with a sigh, "My dear Earl, you really are someone who doesn't give up hope easily. Alright, then I'll hear what interesting things you have to say that will make me give up the idea of ​​killing you."

Realizing he wasn't immediately in mortal danger, Baelish's tense nerves relaxed slightly. Without even glancing at Sansa, who lay on the bed in a daze, occasionally letting out soft moans, he explained sincerely, "You might not believe it, but the plan to kill you wasn't my idea first; it was Varys's. He has a secret relationship with the high priests of the Lord of Light, and only he could persuade Kinvara to cross the ocean specifically to deal with you."

"Hahahaha! So you just got dragged into this by accident?" Zhang Chengshi couldn't help but burst out laughing.

He had always thought Littlefinger was someone who had at least some moral compass, but now it seemed he was way off; the other man's shamelessness far exceeded his expectations.

“No, I won’t deny that I wanted to get rid of you, nor will I deny that I was involved. My point is that I myself don’t pose much of a threat to you; the real threat is our mutual friend Varys. Besides, just half an hour ago, he seemed to have foreseen Kinvara’s failure and secretly left King’s Landing by ship for Essos. No one except me knows where he went. Think about it: will you kill me immediately to let the one who truly deserves to die escape, or will you leave me to help you find Varys?” With that, Baelish decisively shut his mouth, clenching his fists and patiently awaiting a reply.

Zhang Cheng stroked his chin and pondered for a moment, then quickly nodded: "I have to admit, you're right. Perhaps Varys secretly planned this attack not to kill me, but to use me to kill Jinvara and you. In some ways, he's far more threatening than you. Because what you crave deep down is power, not to live a lowly life like a rat hiding in a dark corner. But he's different; he's someone who's naturally accustomed to living in the shadows. If he gets away, it'll cause a lot of trouble later."

“A wise choice! I have learned my lesson and will never dare to be your enemy again.” Baelish quickly knelt on one knee and solemnly swore an oath.

"Oaths? Hah, no, Earl, I've never believed in oaths. There's a saying in my hometown: people sign contracts so they can break them in the future, and people make oaths so they can betray them in the future. If I'm not mistaken, you've probably made countless oaths. Tell me, how many of them have you kept?" Zhang Cheng questioned mercilessly.

"Then what will it take for you to believe me?" Baelish looked up and stared directly into Zhang Cheng's eyes.

"It's simple! Most people respect the law not because the law itself is worthy of respect, but because they fear the punishment for breaking it. Similarly, if you understand that there's no chance of escaping punishment after betraying me again, you naturally won't have any more wicked thoughts. Come, give me a drop of your blood. I recently learned some interesting blood magic; now it's time to put it to use..."

Chapter 0183 Blood Magic

Blood magic, as the name suggests, is a special kind of magic that is cast using blood.

According to Kronada, because blood contains fragments of the soul, it can be used to curse, restrain, or even force someone to submit to one's will. Furthermore, it can be used as a medium to summon terrifying monsters. Shadow magic is a branch of blood magic.

At the beginning, Zhang Cheng always felt that the blood magic in A Song of Ice and Fire should be very similar to the curses used by warlocks in the world of Azeroth.

In reality, although the two have some similarities, their essence is completely opposite.

The essence of a warlock is to see themselves as a gateway, a channel connecting the Burning Legion, fel energy, and shadow energy, through which they perform a variety of spells.

In other words, their power does not depend on how much energy they have stored or how intense the resonance can be generated during the spell's creation; it simply requires expanding the passage wide enough to allow more and stronger energy and demons to pass through.

Blood magic in A Song of Ice and Fire relies heavily on the energy stored in the caster, especially shadow magic and death curses, which require a huge price to pay each time they are used.

Of course, given that Zhang Cheng's current understanding of blood magic is only at the theoretical stage, he cannot yet cast overly advanced or complex spells. However, he doesn't need overly advanced spells to deal with a mere ordinary person.

As a drop of blood was infused with energy, a lifelike and grotesque monster pattern instantly formed on the back of the little finger.

Sensing the deep malice emanating from the pattern, Baelish couldn't help but shudder, asking uncertainly, "What is this?"

"It's nothing. I drew power from the dark side of your soul and created an interesting little thing. But don't worry, as long as I don't actively awaken it, it will obediently remain dormant," Zhang Cheng replied with a smile.

"What if it gets awakened?" Littlefinger continued to ask, frowning.

Clearly, he was not satisfied with the explanation he had given; more precisely, he wanted to know what the worst possible outcome would be.

"Heh, do you remember how Lan Li died?" Zhang Cheng pursed his lips, a meaningful glint in his eyes.

"You mean... if it's awakened, a terrifying shadow assassin will appear?!"

Whether from nervousness or anger, Baelish raised his voice eight octaves as he spoke, and his other hand, hidden beneath his robes, clenched into a fist.

Zhang Cheng deliberately pretended not to see the other party's intense reaction, shrugging nonchalantly: "Probably. I only know it appears in the form of a shadow. As for whether it's an assassin or something else, I have no idea. After all, only you know the darkest side of your heart, don't you? My dear Earl, I sincerely suggest that you carefully consider whether you are capable of bearing the consequences before making any more foolish decisions. This time, I guarantee your sister will not have another chance to escape."

"As you wish, my esteemed master." Baelish knelt on one knee and bowed his head deeply to appear more humble.

However, only he himself knows what he is thinking at this moment.

Ambitious schemers and conspirators like Littlefinger will never truly submit to anyone. He will always hide in the shadows, plotting one scheme after another until he kicks away all the stumbling blocks in his path to power.

Zhang Cheng was quite clear about this, but he was confident that he could control and make good use of this dangerous yet very useful piece, which would also be a good exercise for his ability to manage his subordinates.

Given the consistent style of the owner behind the parchment scroll, since the other party has given him the task of training in political maneuvering, he will definitely use this ability at some point in the future.

Despite remaining wary of the mysterious parchment, he never denied the guiding role it played in his upbringing.

Looking at Little Finger kneeling before him, Zhang Cheng crossed his arms and said bluntly, "I know you were lying when you said you knew Varys's whereabouts. The Eight-Clawed Spider never reveals its location to anyone. But that's alright. I'll give you three days to investigate and track it down. If you don't have a definite answer after three days, I'll make you understand the terrible price you pay for deceiving me. Remember, don't try to run away or hide. Even if you run to the ends of the earth, I can activate this interesting little thing with just a thought."

After saying that, he stretched out his finger and gently touched the hideous pattern.

moment!

A wisp of black shadow leaked out from the center of the pattern, flowing upwards along the veins. In less than a second, the veins of the entire arm turned pitch black, resembling writhing worms.

Meanwhile, Baelish bit his lip hard, as if fighting against something, his forehead covered in beads of sweat.

Fortunately, just as the black blood was about to rush into his heart, Zhang Cheng raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

Snapped!

With a crisp sound, the blackness filling the blood vessels quickly shrank back into the pattern. If Little Finger hadn't been lying on the ground panting heavily, he would have even wondered if he had just hallucinated.

After resting for a few seconds, he quickly got up from the ground, shook the dust off his knees, and, suppressing his fear, bowed respectfully: "Please rest assured, I will find Varys's whereabouts within three days."

"Then what are we waiting for? Go on! I'm a little tired and need to rest and relax a bit." Zhang Cheng deliberately waved his hand impatiently, while glancing at Sansa, who was lying on the bed and twisting her body.

It's unclear what kind of drug she was given, but the girl is now completely lost in her fantasies, utterly oblivious to the fact that there are two men in the room...

"I wish you and Miss Stark a wonderful evening!" Baelish quickly bowed again, then turned and hurried out of the room.

He was afraid that if he stayed any longer, the most vulnerable nerve in his brain would suddenly snap, causing him to do something irreversible and foolish.

After all, one of the most important reasons he decided to embark on the path of power was that the woman he loved was taken away by another man.

Now, a familiar scene is playing out once again. His anger and humiliation are like a volcano filled with magma, ready to erupt out of control at any moment.

Hearing the footsteps fading into the corridor, Zhang Cheng, sitting in his chair, suddenly burst into laughter without warning. Between laughs, he teased, "Don't rush, dear Baelish, this is just the beginning. I'll take away everything you cherish most, one by one, plunging you into an abyss of unbearable pain. So, what am I supposed to do with you now, Sansa Stark…"

Chapter 0184 Sansa

It's hard to describe in words...

When Sansa broke free from her endless fantasy and awoke, the sky outside was completely shrouded in darkness. Apart from the occasional shouts coming from downstairs, there was only the rustling sound of quills and paper.

As a girl, she was filled with intense shame and fear of reality, and didn't even have the courage to open her eyes to see who was in the room with her.

After all, she's nominally Tyrion's wife now, but she's in a brothel...

Most importantly, she didn't know why...

Her disheveled clothes, in particular, all indicated that she had become the kind of woman he despised and looked down upon the most.

But just as Sansa began to struggle with whether to continue pretending to be asleep or open her eyes and face reality, she suddenly heard a strange sound, which sounded like some kind of murmured chanting, or like a strange and incomprehensible language.

Driven by curiosity, she slightly opened her tightly closed eyes and immediately saw a young man with his back to her, waving his right hand to release eerie black smoke while muttering incantations.

As the speech quickened, the black smoke seemed to come alive, gradually condensing into a nightmarish entity...

"what!!!"

The girl, who had never seen such a horrific sight, couldn't help but gasp in horror.

"Hmm? My dear Miss Stark, you're awake?"

Zhang Cheng, who was engrossed in studying shadow magic, immediately turned around, revealing a half-smile, completely disregarding the shadow monster he had just created.

"Lord Mason! How...how could it be you?!"

After seeing the other person's face clearly, Sansa's face turned red and white in turns, which was quite a sight.

Watching the girl's panicked reaction, Zhang Cheng chuckled and shrugged: "Who else could it be but me? Would you rather wake up and see Count Petyr Baelish?"

"No! That's not what I meant!"

Sansa shuddered at the thought of Littlefinger's aged face and quickly shook her head vigorously.

She had always longed for a perfect love and marriage like that of a prince and princess, so how could she possibly be willing to have anything happen with a "decrepit old man" who was almost the same age as her father?

"Oh? So what do you mean? I'm really keen to find out what promise Baelish made to you that made you willing to do something like poisoning." Zhang Cheng stroked his chin and asked with great interest.

To be honest, he still couldn't understand what was going on in this "young lady's" head. She was repeatedly taken advantage of by others without learning her lesson, and even Joffrey could manipulate her at will.

“I’m so sorry! I… I just really want to go home. You may not know, but ever since news of the Red Wedding reached King’s Landing, I’ve been having nightmares every night. Plus, Joffrey is constantly looking for opportunities to torment me. If I stay any longer, I’ll go crazy. Besides, Lord Petyr has assured me that those things will never endanger your life,” Sansa explained anxiously.

Clearly, the shadow monster, which had been temporarily given life, had a significant impact on her fragile heart.

Zhang Cheng pretended not to notice this and chuckled, sighing, "So he only used a mere verbal promise, the one that's not even sure if it can be kept, to get you to risk your life? Besides, do you know that Winterfell has already fallen into the hands of the Bolton family? Even if you go back, what good will it do? Be forced to marry Ramsay Bolton, adding another layer of legitimacy to the Bolton family's status as Wardens of the North? Most importantly, do you know why you're lying naked in bed?"

Following a series of hints, Sansa fell into deep thought. A full minute later, she looked up and asked uncertainly, "Could it be that we..."

"Ha! Please don't misunderstand, nothing happened between us. To be precise, you were the only one there, tossing and turning in bliss, while I only enjoyed the view for a short while. Here's a little tip: try to imagine what happened before you drifted off to consciousness, and then you'll understand how all of this happened."

After saying this, Zhang Cheng immediately shut his mouth and patiently waited for the other person to recall the events on their own.

"Before losing consciousness?" Sansa bit her lower lip, desperately searching her memory. After about thirty seconds, her expression changed drastically. Clutching the blanket tightly, she exclaimed in shock, "It was...it was Lord Baelish?"

"Ah, it seems your memory is quite good, you remembered so quickly. That's right, it was our dear Earl, who is also the owner of this brothel, who secretly added some interesting little things to the wine you drank."

As he spoke, Zhang Cheng casually picked up the half-empty wine bottle on the table and gently shook it.

"According to my tests, this is a mucus secreted by a deep-sea shellfish, which is extremely rare and precious. Its function is to stimulate the secretion of hormones in women's bodies. When the hormone levels in the body reach a certain level, it will produce the exact same reaction you had a few hours ago. In the distant East Continent, there are quite a few wealthy women who use this stuff."

“Why would Lord Baelish do this?!” Sansa asked loudly, her whole body trembling.

She simply couldn't believe that Little Finger, whom she had once regarded as an elder, would do such a shameless and despicable thing.

Zhang Cheng put down his wine bottle and replied with a smile, "Is it strange? You know, he was madly infatuated with your mother back then, while also maintaining a secret, intimate relationship with your aunt. Now, as you mature and resemble your mother more and more in her youth, it naturally stirs up his hidden desires. You must understand, for a man, the woman he can't have is the best. Besides, you're currently the only confirmed Stark survivor. Whoever gets you gains the support of countless nobles in the North. Just think, what reason would Lord Baelish have to let you go?"

"So...so all his promises were lies to me, right?" Sansa seemed to suddenly realize something, and her emotions began to surge with excitement.

“Whether he lied to you or not, I’m not sure, but one thing I’m certain of is that your father’s death was largely due to his sudden betrayal, and Duke Arryn’s death also seems to be related to him. Remember, Sansa Stark, you are no longer the noble lady protected by a powerful family. Your only value is your youthful beauty and the Stark name, which still holds immense influence in the North. For a long time to come, you will be the target of many people’s covetousness and desire…”

Chapter 0185 Conditions