Dark Legends 7

*Dark Legends*

Category: Fantasy Magic

Author: Shui Wu Hongfeng

Volume 7: Turbulent Times Chapter
1: The Wolf's Ancient Path
It was springtime.
The lush Green Garden should be a vibrant scene of blooming flowers and verdant willows.
But here, on the boundless Gobi Desert road, not a single patch of green could be seen.
All that met the eye was a heavy, deep yellow—yellow earth, yellow sand, and a sky stained yellow by smoke and dust.
I sat on the snow-covered path, heading west towards the round setting sun. The golden afterglow shone on my dark armor, shimmering with light.
In the twilight, only the last rays of sunset on the horizon added a touch of brightness to this world entirely of yellow earth, making it feel less lonely and monotonous.
Nineteen days after leaving the capital, we entered this desolate Gobi Desert along the ancient road from Redstone City to the Temple City. It was here that Debo and I stormed the Black Flag Regiment's camp at night, killing Chago and ultimately triggering the Darkness of Annihilation.
After the coronation ceremony of the new king of Biarrair, Count Wainritt set off with his daughter Martha back to the capital. Before leaving, he naturally finalized the engagement ceremony with Chuku and his son Fero in the capital. Due to the implementation of the merit-based nobility system and the numerous trivial matters of the Moon Gazing Legion, Chuku was too busy to go to the capital.
Fortunately, Count Wainritt had no objection, only requesting that I be the witness for Fero and Martha's wedding.
After nearly three months of initial reorganization, the situation in Biarrair had basically stabilized. After all, Kauran's reign was short, and there was no new successor to replace him after his death.
After arranging the military and political affairs of Biarrair, I left Emerald City with Fero, Kusei, 500 silver-armored guards, and Debot, preparing to go to the capital to pay homage to Jiaxiu.
Hihanya didn't accompany me due to her pregnancy, as did Anludi—she was recovering and not fit for long-distance travel, so I had Kanelli stay behind to look after them. As for Hongyu, she still had many matters concerning the High Mountain Clan to attend to.
Feiya was a slight exception compared to the others, but I still left her in Redstone City, by Duke Jinsha's side. On the surface, it seemed like I wanted her to spend a few more days with her father, but in reality, I had a deeper consideration.
This was my second trip to the capital, and the situation was quite different from the first time. It wasn't that I was now the king of Biarell, but rather that the situation in the capital was far more tense and delicate than it had been six months ago.
Therefore, I didn't want any worries on this trip, so that I could at least guarantee my safe return in any adverse situation. With the strength of myself, Kusei, and Angie, even if the Temple wanted to intercept us personally, they might not be able to succeed.
As for the 500 silver-armored guards, they had followed me in battle for many years and were already loyal to me. Taking advantage of this return to the capital, I plan to have them return home in batches to visit their families, and then have Angie arrange for all their relatives to be brought to Biarell.
It's not that I'm being considerate of them, but rather that I don't want anyone to use my subordinates' families against me one day.
Debo was an unexpected traveler; I originally thought he would part ways with me after arriving in Redstone City. Who knew this fellow would continue with me three days later, saying he was going to the capital on behalf of the Duke of Jinsha to inquire about His Majesty Jiaxiu's health.
The truth is probably not so simple; the Duke of Jinsha sending his eldest son to the capital at this time of impending storm must have his reasons.
Along the way, this fellow has become quite noisy. Kusei and Angie are both taciturn, and Ferro is not good at long-winded speeches, but Debo tirelessly boasts, even gambling with the silver-armored guards in his spare time.
After traveling through the Gobi Desert for two days, Debo gradually quieted down. Even someone as constantly exposed to the yellow sand and dust couldn't help but feel listless, longing only to leave this desolate land as soon as possible.
Taking a careful sip of water, Debo let out a long, satisfying breath, shading his eyes with his hand as he gazed ahead, saying, "Xiu Lan, it's getting dark. Let's find a sheltered slope to camp on after a while. The next oasis is at least forty li away."
Ferro replied, "Your Majesty, I know that about three li to the northwest, there's a sheltered slope known to merchants as Gulang Rock. There's a deep well there that never dries up, and merchants and herders usually rest there overnight." He had lived in the empire for many years, and he probably couldn't even remember how many times he had traveled this ancient road through the Gobi Desert
. I glanced at the sky, knowing that we wouldn't reach the next post station tonight no matter what. So I nodded, "That's settled then."
We slightly adjusted our direction, the long caravan winding northwest, appearing like tiny ants constantly crawling in this vast desert.
After walking for a while, the ancient rock that Ferro had mentioned came into view in the distance. Debo finished the last mouthful of water from his leather bag, ready to gulp it down later.
But things didn't go as planned. A scout he had sent out rode back, his face showing astonishment, and reported: "Your Majesty, we have discovered that the deep well has been poisoned. Two bards are lying stiff by the well, their skin blackened, as if they had just died."
Kusei sneered: "Looks like someone's been watching us."
Debo frowned and said: "No way, am I that unlucky? Last time it was the Black Flag Gang, who is it this time?"
I rode my snow-covered horse and said coldly: "Let's go and see first!"
The group rushed to the deep well where the incident had occurred. The two scouts left there had already moved the bodies aside. I only needed one glance to confirm that what the scouts said was true. And sure enough, the well water we drew up had a faint phosphorescence in the dim light.
Debo's mouth grew dry. He took out his water pouch, poured himself a couple of sips, and then realized he'd already finished. Fello, standing beside him, handed him his own water pouch.
Debo muttered, "Who's so despicable, knowing we'd be spending the night here and poisoning the well beforehand? If I catch them, I'll force three mouthfuls down their throats first!"
Angies shook her head. "He didn't predict our route; he was monitoring our movements from a distance. Then he poisoned the water source ahead of where we were supposed to be staying."
Fello asked, "Did he want to poison us?"
Angies replied, "He wouldn't be that stupid. He should know we wouldn't be so careless as to drink poisoned water directly. He just wanted to create panic. Or perhaps his opponent is a very arrogant person, and he wanted to give us a warning before making his move."
Debo subconsciously looked around, but all he saw was a vast, desolate landscape, not even a bird in sight.
A night breeze blew by, carrying a slight chill. Debo involuntarily shrank his neck, muttering, "Looks like I'll have to wear an extra layer tonight."
At that moment, the red-eyed figure crouching nearby suddenly raised its head, its gaze sweeping around menacingly, a low growl rumbling in its throat.
A glint of ghostly light flashed in Kusei's eyes, and the Illusionary Purple Eye in his hand jingled, a hazy mist spreading into the air.
He said in a deep voice, "Just now, did you smell a fishy odor?"
"A fishy odor?" Debo sniffed deeply a few times, puzzled. "No?"
Angie pondered, then slowly said, "Kusei the Mage is right. I have a vague sense of unease in my spiritual sense. Perhaps the enemy is still far away, so this feeling isn't very clear."
Debor's expression changed, and he leaned closer to me, whispering, "Could it be that the vengeful spirits of the Black Flag bandits we killed that day are coming to seek revenge under the cover of darkness?"
"Don't talk nonsense," I rebuked indifferently, gathering energy in my mind and probing my spiritual senses into the distant depths of the Gobi Desert.
Almost simultaneously, Angie, Kusei, and I all whispered, "Wolf pack!"
A faint, mournful howl of wolves echoed in the biting wind, but it was too far away for ordinary people to hear clearly.
"Ding!" The Illusionary Purple Eyes shone brightly, and the crystal ball displayed countless brown-gray wolves surging towards us like a tidal wave in the distant wilderness, forming a magnificent yet chilling scene in the twilight.
"Heavens, where did so many wolves come from?" Debor's face paled slightly, and he licked his dry lips, saying, "Could they really be coming for us?"
Wolf packs appearing in the Gobi Desert are not unusual, but such a scale is indeed rare, no wonder Debor was somewhat panicked.
Ferro, who had been acting as the commander of the Silver Armored Guards all along the way, shouted without hesitation, "All mount up! Form a square formation on the hilltop! Prepare torches and arrows!"
Although not fully aware of the situation, the 500 well-trained warriors moved swiftly upon hearing the order, quickly deploying according to their commander's command.
"About ten miles away," Kusei estimated the distance through his Illusionary Purple Eyes, "Tonight is a full moon, the time when the wolves are at their most ferocious. That bastard really knows how to pick his timing."
"Let's try to escape quickly. It's not worth getting involved with these beasts," Debord suggested.
I sneered, "We're surrounded by wolves on all sides now, at least ten thousand of them. Where do you think you can escape to?"
Debo nearly fainted, repeatedly asking, "How could this happen? Who wants to get us?"
"I don't know," I replied calmly, "but we'll find out soon enough, provided we survive!"
I was referring to Debo. With the strength of me and Kusei, even ten thousand wolves might not be enough to stop us. But it was hard to say how many of Debo and the 500 silver-armored guards would escape.
Kusei suddenly murmured, "Your Majesty, have you noticed something?" His gaze was fixed on the Illusionary Purple Eye.
I looked closely and saw that among the wolves, roughly every three to five hundred, there would appear a snow-white alpha wolf with crimson eyes, its body much larger and stronger than its kind, almost like a tiger.
"Snow wolves?" Angie asked in surprise. "These are monsters kept by the orcs. Could it be that the Northern Alliance is trying to deal with us?"
The orcs are the second largest race in the Northern Alliance, second only to the demons. In fact, their population and military strength even surpass those of the demons. Unfortunately, there are frequent conflicts between tribes, and the orcs are inherently brutal, undisciplined, and belligerent, unlike the well-trained and disciplined demon army.
Among the three largest orc tribes is the Night Wolf tribe, from which the renowned wolf riders of the continent originate. The mounts of these wolf riders are the snow wolves that Angie mentioned. Fortunately, their numbers have remained at around ten thousand year-round; otherwise, if all two hundred thousand orc soldiers were armed with wolf riders, they could easily sweep across the continent.
The chieftain of the Night Wolf tribe, Garnett, is known as the "Wolf King," one of the three kings of the orcs, and a top figure in the entire Northern Alliance. However, he has always had tense relations with the other two major tribes, while maintaining close ties with the demons. This surprise attack on us could very well be the work of his subordinates.
Debo gasped, "Oh no, even snow wolves have appeared. Tonight is really bad."
I scoffed, "If you're scared, you can hide behind me."
Debo puffed out his chest, "I, Debo, am an Imperial Knight, how could I be afraid? Xiu Lan, let's fight side by side tonight!"
I ignored his spiel-like boasting and gazed at the distant horizon, where thick yellow smoke rose like clouds, and the ground beneath my feet trembled slightly.
"Look, they're coming!" Ferro shouted.
The first to appear was from the east. A snow wolf emerged from the horizon amidst the billowing yellow dust, followed by one, two, three—dozens, even hundreds, of wolves, surrounding their alpha, charged towards the hillside.
They howled incessantly, their heads raised, their cold eyes fixed on the sky.
Dusk deepened, and a full, red moon quietly rose in the distance.
In an instant, even the moonlight seemed to take on a blood-red hue.
Then, almost simultaneously, massive packs of wolves appeared from the north, south, and west. Standing on the high slope, we looked around and saw nothing but a vast, brownish-gray ocean.
Hundreds of warhorses neighed in terror, struggling and agitating desperately; even their masters showed fear on their faces.
These silver-armored guards, who would not fear even tens of thousands of enemies, were facing not people, but a pack of ferocious wolves!
"Light the torches!"
"Prepare the bows and arrows!"
Ferro calmly commanded from his horse, his voice quickly inspiring the warriors around him. Countless torches were lit, illuminating the hillside in a blood-red glow.
Snowwalker remained unexpectedly quiet; it didn't even bother to look up at the surging wolf pack. I slowly said, "Clearly, these wolves are being orchestrated by someone. Finding that person will solve most of the problem."
Kusei shook his head, "I just used my Illusionary Purple Eyes to scan the area within ten miles, but I didn't find any other traces."
"What if it's a beastman expert whose cultivation is no weaker than ours?" I asked.
Kusei was startled, "Could it be Garnett?" "
To command a siege of ten thousand wolves, there are probably only a handful of beastmen with that kind of strength," Angie said calmly.
Just then, the wolf pack approached the hillside. Our ears were filled with a cacophony of howls, and we smelled a foul, fishy stench.
"Fire!" At Fero's command, the 500 silver-armored guards, forming a circular formation, simultaneously drew their bows. Arrows whistled through the air, hurtling towards the wolves.
Instantly, over a hundred wolves were struck, howling and falling to the ground. However, the wolves beside us completely ignored the casualties of their kind, ferociously pouncing up the hillside.
Angie remarked, "These wolves are practically trained; they're like an army."
I understood her meaning. Normally, when a companion dies, the first thing the wolves do is devour the carcass. But now, these wolves seemed hypnotized, charging at us relentlessly.
Worse still, the pervasive stench of blood further fueled their ferocity, making them fearless of torches and arrows, surrounding us from all sides.
One could imagine the spectacle once these wolves reached the top of the hill!
The silver-armored guards beside me understood this as well. Without any prompting, each of them drew their bows with all their might, shooting down the wolves.
Unfortunately, there were simply too many enemies; the four or five hundred that fell in an instant were but a drop in the ocean. Trampling on the corpses of their kind, the overwhelming wolves, led by the snow wolves, relentlessly surged forward.
Angie and Kusei launched magical attacks, and each sphere of light that exploded inevitably sent dozens of wolves flying, somewhat easing the pressure on the silver-armored guards.
Despite the imminent danger, Debo remained calm, focusing intently on drawing his bow and aiming at the wolf pack. His archery was surprisingly good; he hit his target nine times out of ten.
I stood beside him, observing the overall situation, occasionally throwing a punch that sent wolves flying.
If it weren't for the presence of several of us mage-level figures and Fero, the wolves would likely have already stormed the hillside.
However, despite the hundreds of wolves already fallen, only three snow wolves had been killed, and those were the work of Kusei and Angie. Ordinary arrows posed no threat to them whatsoever; they either easily dodged them or, like humans, flung them away with their forepaws.
One can imagine how formidable such creatures would be on the battlefield!
Seeing the wolf pack steadily closing the encirclement, I whispered, "Dragon Thunderbolts, prepare!"
I had brought twenty Dragon Thunderbolts with me on this trip, just in case; I hadn't expected to need them so soon.
"Boom—" Ten Dragon Thunderbolts were ignited and hurled towards the densely packed wolf pack, exploding into flames. Instantly, a large number of wolves fell on the hillside, their blood mixed with severed limbs, splattering everywhere.
Amidst the smoke, the wolves howled in fear and panic, retreating unconsciously.
Looking at the carnage left behind not far away, everyone was horrified.
Debo sighed, "These guys have finally retreated."
Kusei sneered, "Not necessarily!"
Before he finished speaking, nearly a hundred snow wolves mixed in with the pack simultaneously howled to the sky, their roars incredibly powerful, echoing into the vast, distant desert.
Ferro's expression changed slightly. "The snow wolves are unleashing their fury."
Sure enough, amidst thunderous howls, the wolf pack stirred again. First, one or two wolves, then they spread like waves. The howls of the surrounding wolves echoed the snow wolves' roars, the deafening roars of the pack reverberating across the wilderness, startling the warhorses into trembling fear.
After a while, the pack moved slowly, then their speed increased, finally coalescing into a rolling wave that launched another attack on the hillside, raising clouds of dust that obscured half the night sky.
Debord gasped. "This is going to be a death game!"
I glanced at him. It was already remarkable that a noble scion like him could still sit calmly on horseback, drawing his bow and arrow to hunt down the wolves.
Even more impressive was Ferro, the usually introverted and silent heir of the temple, who was now truly revealing a glimpse of his true power. He calmly directed the silver-armored guards to form ranks while simultaneously firing at the snow wolves with his bow, showing no sign of panic.
"Boom—" Five more Dragon Thunderbolts exploded among the wolves, but aside from causing a localized commotion, they couldn't stop the pack's attack. I didn't use the remaining five; rather than wasting them in vain, I decided to save them for later.
"General, I'm out of arrows!" a silver-armored guard cried out in panic. In a short time, most of them had exhausted their arrows, and the wolf pack in front of them had suffered over a thousand casualties, demonstrating the ferocity of the battle.
Yet, countless wolves continued to swarm in from all sides, and even further away, waves of wolves, guided by the snow wolves, emerged from the horizon, constantly joining the attackers.
It seemed as if the more they killed, the more the wolves grew.
As time passed, the arrows thinned out. If it weren't for the magical attacks from Kusei and the others, they probably wouldn't have lasted this long.
The nearest wolf pack closed in to within a dozen paces, their breaths audible, and in the blood-red night, their ferocious fangs, chilling eyes, and fierce faces were clearly visible.
I knew a bloody battle was inevitable. I raised my longsword and projected my voice with dark energy: "Draw your swords and follow me north to break through!"
Chapter Two: The Wolf King Appears.
Yellow sand, Gobi Desert;
howling wind, red moon;
blood stained the torch flames, smoke swirling in the grim night sky.
500 silver-armored guards, undeterred by death, drew their swords, the cold, silvery blades gleaming, dimming the moonlight and eclipsing the world!
Angie and I charged to the front of the formation, Debord almost inseparable, three feet behind me. Ferro and Kusei brought up the rear, and the 500 iron cavalry charged northwards.
Blood is warm, even wolf blood.
As my longsword flashed with a dark, cold light, piercing their bodies with its icy blade, a trail of blood stretched before me.
Protected by my dark energy, Snowwalker charged forward fearlessly, its energy seemingly accumulating and subtly circulating within it.
This made it impervious to ordinary wolf attacks, greatly easing my burden.
All the silver-armored guards were equipped like heavy cavalry, their strength far exceeding that of ordinary cavalry—their only advantage in surviving among the wolves.
The stench of blood filled the air, the wolves driven mad by the carnage. Their emerald eyes gleamed with a cruel, bloodthirsty light; their prominent fangs, sharp claws, and terrifying howls spoke volumes—a relentless fight to the death!
"Ah! Help—" A silver-armored guard behind me cried out in despair, but his voice vanished as if abruptly cut off. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him being pounced on by two wolves, thrown from his mount. Several other wolves swarmed around him, searching for gaps in his armor and unleashing their chilling claws.
His warhorse, now without its master, let out a mournful cry before being devoured by nearly ten wolves, its flesh mangled and bones exposed.
Casualties had begun, and once the first fell, it spread like a plague. Many silver-armored guards were first attacked by wolves, their mounts falling to the ground. Before they could even stand, they were swallowed by the surrounding wolves. Occasionally, a glint of cold light would flash—the last glint of their swords.
Angie's beautiful face contorted with a chilling killing intent. Her hands flashed together before her chest, and as her red lips murmured an incantation, a barrage of red fireballs rained down like a meteor shower. Dozens of wolves howled and collapsed, instantly charred into a pile of charred remains by the demonic fire.
My pressure suddenly eased, my longsword's flames surged, and killing intent swept
across the area. Within a five- or six-meter radius, flesh and blood flew everywhere, black light filled the air, and I charged forward more than thirty meters in one breath! Suddenly, a flash of snowy light appeared before my eyes, and a tall snow wolf leaped from ten meters away like lightning, its blood-dripping maw viciously lunging for Ta Xue's neck.
That was impossible.
My left palm unleashed a gust of wind, condensing a faint mist in the blood-red night sky, and struck the snow wolf's massive head with a deafening roar.
But its enormous body twisted and turned in mid-air, shooting out diagonally like a bird in flight. My palm strike missed, landing on the forehead of a wolf a short distance away. It didn't even have a chance to groan before its brains splattered and it died.
The snow wolf landed far away on the ground, rolled to its feet, and stared at me with fierce eyes, growling softly in its throat, but dared not attack again, clearly having learned its lesson.
Debo called out breathlessly behind me, "Xiu Lan, something seems wrong!"
I ignored the snow wolf, drew my sword, and knocked down two more wolves, asking, "What did you say?"
"Why is it that after we've been rushing north for so long, the wolf packs around us are only getting bigger and bigger?" Debo exclaimed.
I already knew the answer without him saying it, and I figured Angie, Kusei, and Ferro, who were at the rear, had also realized it.
Clearly, under human command, this pack of wolves was constantly adjusting their encirclement formation, moving like a snowball in response to our movements—almost like a well-trained human army!
Unless we could kill the entire pack or break out at a speed the wolves couldn't match, we would remain trapped by them until dawn.
However, I didn't voice the problem like Debo did—if the 500 silver-armored guards realized it at this moment, it would only shake their will to survive.
"Enough talk, follow me!" I hissed at Debo.
"Ah!" Debo cried out behind me. I didn't turn around; my intuition told me what was happening behind me.
He had been slightly distracted while talking to me, and the snow wolf that had been lurking nearby pounced. It didn't attack Debo directly, but instead used its sharp claws to tear open the front of Debo's mount!
The warhorse neighed and collapsed to the ground, and the surrounding wolves swarmed forward eagerly.
Debo was quite capable; although he lost his balance, he still managed to brace himself with one hand on the ground and wield his sword with the other.
Of course, I couldn't let him die here, otherwise it would be difficult to explain to Duke Jinsha. So I turned and charged towards Debo under the cover of Angie's magic.
My left fist solidified and slammed out, a vast and powerful dark energy bursting forth in the middle of the wolf pack, seven or eight wolves howling and tumbling.
"Come on!" I bent down and grabbed Debo's left shoulder, pulling him behind me.
Suddenly, a warning flashed in my mind, and without turning my head, I thrust my sword downwards, but the snow wolf tried to take advantage of the opening and charged forward.
Facing my longsword, the snow wolf nimbly rolled to the side and dodged, landing next to Debo's left hind hoof.
Debo, still shaken, clung tightly to my lower back, afraid of falling again. He let out a long breath and said, "Xiu Lan, you saved me again!"
The snow wolf, having failed twice, became enraged, letting out a piercing howl and lunging at Ta Xue with its claws. Just
as I was about to finish it off, I suddenly felt Ta Xue beneath me roar to the sky, its eyes shooting out crimson lightning, its internal energy erupting like a volcano!
With a powerful push from its front hooves, its hind hooves soared into the air, its two legs unleashing a series of incredible kicks with incredible speed—a series of loud "bangs" like firecrackers—sending the snow wolf dozens of meters away!
The snow wolf was already broken and muscular in mid-air, unable to utter a sound.
As if releasing a pent-up frustration, Ta Xue roared to the sky again, its majestic howl drowning out the howls of the pack and the shouts of the warriors, piercing the vast night sky!
Its entire body radiated a crimson mist, and a pair of translucent wings unfurled beneath its ribs amidst the swirling light. With a leap, it soared into the void.
The Dark Moon Dragon Rider had reappeared once more!
Snowwalker was like a dragon freed from its cage, carrying me and Debo through the air, letting out a powerful, resounding howl. Its lightning-fast gallop resembled a vast river rolling across the Gobi Desert. The
previously ferocious wolf pack fell silent, intimidated by Snowwalker's howl. They ceased their attack, first raising their heads to gaze at Snowwalker's arrogant figure shrouded in crimson mist, then cowering on the ground, whimpering and howling in terror.
They feared the demonic snow wolves might refuse to submit, glaring at Snowwalker and howling repeatedly, as if in defiance, or perhaps to bolster their courage.
A fierce and bloody battle had ended in this way, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
But their astonished and admiring gazes were fixed on Taxue and me, unable to waver even an inch. I knew that in their eyes, I was no longer just their king, but a god, a demon, a symbol of invincibility!
I don't know who it was, but the first to brandish their longsword and shout excitedly, "Dragon Riders for a Thousand Miles, Long Live Our King!"
This cheer quickly spread. The warriors, slightly relieved from the shadow of death, raised their blood-soaked swords in unison and echoed excitedly, "Dragon Riders for a Thousand Miles, Long Live Our King!"
At first, it was one or two, then more than ten, then more than twenty, until finally, everyone burst forth with the same voice, rolling and spreading across the wilderness like a tidal wave!
Taxue flew faster and faster, the red light emanating from his body growing more intense, like a shooting star soaring beneath the red moon!
The wolf pack began to retreat slowly; even the snow wolves could no longer stop them.
To these vicious wolves, the snow wolves might be their leader, but Taxue—the ancient Dark Moon Dragon Rider—was their demon god!
I sat atop Snowwalker's back, watching the wolf pack slowly recede like a receding tide, leaving behind only carcasses and pools of blood-soaked sand.
Debo excitedly called out behind me, "Amazing, Xiu Lan! Why didn't you unleash this guy's power sooner?"
I couldn't answer that question.
This dragon rider from a thousand years ago, though its forbidden spell had been lifted, transformed as suddenly as it had during the last battle against Kolan, completely beyond my control.
Perhaps only under the intense surge of demonic energy, in a moment of critical danger, would Snowwalker unleash its innate potential and display its true domineering aura.
Suddenly, I sensed something, a vague feeling that someone was calling to me from afar.
I looked down and saw, ten miles away, on a small hill, a tall, imposing man in black, as straight as a javelin, stroking a large, crouching snow wolf. Behind him stood two imposing attendants.
The Wolf King, Garnett!
Only he possessed such an arrogant and fierce demeanor.
Only he was worthy of standing alone in the middle of the wolf-infested Gobi Desert.
In an instant, our eyes met in the hazy void.
His gaze was sharp and fierce, yet as deep and unfathomable as the sea.
And I, I sensed not a trace of hostility or murderous intent.
Only a cold smile at the corner of his eye.
In that instant, a realization dawned on me—he came here, setting up such a treacherous ambush, just to wait for me.
To see me.
If he wanted to kill me, poisoning and the wolf pack were child's play. With Garnett's shrewdness, he would never overlook or be careless about my strength and related intelligence.
So, at least tonight, he had no intention of killing me.
Not even a hint of hostility in his eyes.
I spurred my Snowwalker and galloped towards him.
The two men standing behind Garnett suddenly howled like wolves, the sound carrying for miles, seemingly calling back the snow wolves.
The game was over.
But for me, the real confrontation began from that first glimpse of their sharpness!
"Hey, there's someone over there!" Debord only then noticed Garnett and the others on the distant slope.
I smiled slightly and said, "You're in luck, Debord. Tonight you'll not only witness a pack of wolves attacking, but you'll also meet their master, the wolf king Garnett."
"What, him?" Debord couldn't help but exclaim, "Xiu Lan, isn't it a bit dangerous for just the two of us to go over there?"
"You're a little late in saying that," I replied, landing steadily on the slope, no more than ten meters away from Garnett.
In the moonlight, I could clearly see his pale, cold face.
He was about forty years old, tall and slender, with long, neat, silvery-white hair cascading down his back, almost reaching his waist.
On his back, half a scabbard protruded, a wolf-head hilt tucked diagonally into his temple.
He reminded me of Rommedar, but compared to the latter, the man before me appeared more profound and composed. Yet, no one doubted the ferocity and domineering power of his strike!
Like the blade on his back, its sharpness concealed by the scabbard, it only became more terrifying.
Because no one knew just how terrifying the destructive power would be when that blade was revealed.
As if intimidated by his aura, Debo unconsciously shifted behind me, his breathing becoming much shallower.
The radiance on Snowwalker gradually dimmed, and its wings slowly folded away.
The wind blew, carrying the distant scent of blood.
"Greetings, Your Majesty Xiu Lan." Garnett, hands clasped behind his back, gazed at me leisurely and said in a hoarse voice, "Please forgive me for welcoming you in this way."
"Is this a welcoming ceremony?" I sneered.
Garnett chuckled, his eyes filled with a cold light, and replied, "Or you can think of it as a farewell ceremony."
"Oh?"
Garnett raised his head, his wolf-like eyes fixed on the red moon, and slowly said, "I offer Your Majesty a piece of advice: the capital is no longer the capital you knew half a year ago. Whatever your purpose, giving up as soon as possible is the wisest choice. Go back to Biarell; that is where you belong."
It seems the Northern Alliance is indeed going to attack the Empire.
But, with Garnett's shrewdness, he wouldn't be so arrogant and presumptuous, much less use such a method to deal with me.
Not to mention that I would never back down under his threats, his actions are tantamount to revealing that the Northern Alliance has begun to interfere in the Empire.
“I’m sorry, Chief Garnet,” I replied indifferently. “I have never liked being threatened, and those who have threatened me have all met the same end.”
Garnet still held his head high, saying casually, “Oh? So Your Majesty’s words are a threat to me.”
A slight smile appeared on my lips. “If you have nothing else, I must continue my journey.”
Garnet suddenly howled at the moon, his two attendants and the snow wolf beside him echoing his howl. The sharp cry echoed far and wide, sounding particularly mournful and majestic in the cold moonlight.
From various corners in the distance, the howls of hundreds of wolves could be faintly heard, rising and falling, lingering for a long time.
His gaze fell on me, and his entire body suddenly gathered a massive aura. A beautiful silver-white mist slowly rose from behind him, and his eyes flashed with blood-red lightning.
"If Your Majesty insists on going to the capital, you might as well take my punch first!"
As Garnett's words fell, he swayed to my left, his fists clenched in front of his chest, brimming with terrifying power.
Northern Wolf Pack Fist!
My dark energy surged under the stimulation of Garnett's powerful demonic energy, my senses locking onto any subtle changes around me.
In a daze, he threw a punch.
Just one punch.
But around me, countless silver wolf heads with gaping maws materialized!
It was his fist, striking with incredible speed, unleashing a full three hundred and sixty-five wolves of light and shadow in a single blow!
Deborah behind me gripped my waist tightly, his eyes closed in tension, even his breath held.
I sat on Snowwalker's back, steadily throwing a punch.
But a glint of surprise flashed in Garnett's eyes.
Not just one punch, but also three hundred and sixty-five punches!
He multiplied one punch into three hundred and sixty-five strikes, while I concentrated the power of three hundred and sixty-five punches into a single punch!
"Bang!"
The light mist dissipated, and a gale swept through the air.
Garnett landed steadily back on his spot, while I swayed slightly on my horse.
The moon shone, and wolves howled.
He stared at me like a bloodthirsty wolf.
I stared back at him, unmoved as a mountain.
"Xiu Lan!"
"Your Majesty!"
With two calls, Angie and Kusei flew over, flanking me on either side.
"Not bad, you do have the strength to contend with me." Garnett's voice was calm and long, unaffected by the previous attack: "However, do you know that the Demon High Priest Lunger's cultivation is above mine? In addition, Asai of the Dark Elf Clan, Kongxiang of the Winged Human Tribe, and Kabato of the Flash Clan have also arrived in the Temple City one after another. Any one of them possesses at least the strength of a human mage. You should be careful."
"Is this a threat or a warning?" I asked.
Garnett smiled, a smile with an inexplicable allure: "It's said that the Temple of Monston isn't exactly friendly to His Majesty, and the Holy Empire's envoy arrived in the capital a couple of days ago. If His Majesty's forces are added to the mix, I'm really looking forward to the suspense that'll unfold soon."
I smiled back, replying, "Since the capital is so bustling, I have even less reason not to go, is that right?"
Garnett smiled and nodded, his manner more like a heart-to-heart talk with an old friend, saying, "I almost forgot to remind you of something: the Ghost Clan Chieftain, Monray, is an old friend of High Priest Lunger. You nearly wiped out the Ghost Clan, and High Priest Lunger won't let that go either."
I calmly replied, "Thank you for the reminder, Your Excellency. I hope that next time we meet, you won't need to resort to such an unusual method."
Garnett sighed leisurely, then chuckled lightly, "It seems you understand somewhat. I should be going."
I looked at him and nodded, saying, "See you in the capital."
"Farewell!" Garnett's figure blurred as he descended the slope, his attendants and snow wolves chasing after him, raising a wisp of smoke in the sand.
In the moonlight, his slender figure gradually faded, disappearing into the distance.
In the distance, the occasional mournful howl of a wolf could still be heard.
Chapter Three: Return to the Imperial Capital. The
old capital remained unchanged, its majestic city walls standing on the vast plain, with several rolling mountains and gently rippling lakes, like jewels adorning and protecting the Temple City in early summer.
As summer approached, the days grew longer, while the nights seemed so short and hurried. We entered the city at dusk, but the sky was still as bright as day, the distant sunset burning with fiery red hues, the round sun leisurely strolling behind the horizon.
After a simple inspection at the city gate, the large entourage marched into the Temple City. Such a large group naturally attracted the attention of passersby, who cast admiring glances at us and whispered among themselves, inquiring about us.
A few bolder children followed noisily and skipped along the back of the procession until we arrived at Diecui Garden, at which point they disappeared.
His Majesty Jiaxiu indeed kept his promise, not only preserving the residence for me but also keeping all my former servants and maids, saving me a lot of trouble.
Ferro handled the responsibilities left by Yuriru admirably, methodically arranging all the trivial matters of settling in. Kusei disappeared as soon as he entered Diecui Garden, and I didn't bother to inquire about his whereabouts; this low-key yet powerful fellow never required my concern.
Of course, that was assuming he was my subordinate.
Angie left alone without even entering Diecui Garden; she was obviously going to contact the Heavenly Sect's followers in the capital to exercise her rights and obligations as sect leader.
Only Debo, that brat, accompanied me to the study to sit and rest. After the maid brought tea and pastries and left, he unceremoniously grabbed an exquisitely crafted fragrant cake and stuffed it into his mouth, wolfing it down without any of the demeanor of a prince.
"Drink some water, don't choke," I said calmly.
“Better to choke to death than starve,” Debo mumbled. “Xiu Lan, where shall we go for a stroll tonight, a brothel or a casino?” He hadn’t even considered the sensational news that a new monarch appearing in a brothel or casino would cause by tomorrow morning.
I replied, “Do you think I have the time? Just wait, people are already coming to our door.”
Debo said nonchalantly, “It’s alright, it’s still early, I’ll wait for you.”
I thought for a moment and said, “Then let’s go to a casino later. You should be able to find one of the most luxurious and famous casinos in the capital, right?”
These days, the capital is in turmoil; a casino should be a good place to gather intelligence. Although I have the Heavenly Sect’s vast intelligence network in Monston, some things still need to be experienced firsthand.
Seeing my agreement, Debord said excitedly, "Great! Just follow me. No one knows the capital's casinos and brothels better than me."
Remembering something, he asked, "Xiu Lan, should we call Ferro?"
Speaking of Ferro, his figure appeared at the door.
This newly appointed Earl of Biarell, though weary from days of travel, still looked sharp and spirited. He bowed to me and said, "Your Majesty, a distinguished guest requests an audience. I have asked him to wait in the drawing room."
Debord was taken aback. "You guessed right?" Then he winked at me, grinning, "Could it be that noble princess?" A
thought flashed through my mind, and I shook my head slightly. "You're wrong. It's Earl Winrit."
Debord chuckled at Ferro. "No need to ask, he's probably here to discuss the engagement ceremony. Ferro, it seems your future father-in-law is quite enthusiastic."
Ferro blushed slightly and remained silent.
I shook my head and said, "Do you think Earl Wainrett is in such a hurry to see me just to chat about family matters and the marriage of Ferro and Martha?"
Debord wasn't stupid either; after a moment's thought, he exclaimed in surprise, "Could he be here to deliver His Majesty's decree?"
I scoffed, "Would you like me to go with you to see him and see what's going on?"
Debord shook his head repeatedly and stood up, saying, "No need. I'd rather go out and find some friends first, and then I'll wait for you at the Jade Garden." With that, he slipped out of the study like a rabbit, calling his friends away.
When I entered the living room, Earl Wainrett was engrossed in admiring an oil painting hanging on the wall, seemingly unaware of my arrival.
I didn't disturb him, but quietly walked to his side and stood beside him.
Compared to the last time I saw him in Biarell, Earl Wainrett looked noticeably more haggard; half of his face was hidden in the dim light, and his eyes revealed a hint of weariness.
The oil painting depicts a war scene from the rise of the empire. Countless warriors wield golden spears and charge across the vast plains. A contingent of knights clad in platinum armor stands out, resolutely advancing towards the dense enemy ranks, protecting the imperial banner.
"This is a scene from the Third Battle of Dunbek, a long time ago," Earl Wainrit said in a soft, deep voice. "At the forefront of the imperial army were the Knights Templar, nurtured and organized by the Temple itself. For that victory, the imperial army suffered nearly 100,000 casualties, including three of my ancestors. The Knights Templar also lost more than half of their best knights, yet they ultimately captured the entire northern part of the empire, driving the enemy into the boundless desert."
I smiled slightly and said: "Paintings with this kind of content are everywhere in the Empire. Why is the Earl suddenly interested in it?"
Earl Wainright smiled faintly and replied, "I just suddenly realized that it was no easy feat for our ancestors to establish such a vast empire. We enjoy wealth and prosperity thanks to their legacy, but will all of this remain unchanged forever?" A
thought struck me, and I vaguely grasped Earl Wainright's current mood, and from this, I realized that the capital was indeed in a precarious situation.
I feigned nonchalance and said, "No dynasty can exist forever, and Monston is no exception. However, given the current strength of the empire, it seems there's no need to worry about its decline for the time being."
Earl Winrit smiled bitterly and said, "I hope so." He turned to me and gazed at me, saying, "Your Majesty Xiu Lan, to be honest, His Majesty's illness won't last past this autumn. Elder Anderhet of the Temple has done everything possible, but it's only barely enough to prolong His Majesty's life and alleviate his suffering."
I was startled. Although I had anticipated that His Majesty's condition was serious, I never imagined he had reached such a critical point.
Recalling the day I left the capital, His Majesty was still vigorous and radiant, showing no signs of old age. Was this merely a facade he was deliberately concealing?
Or was there more to the story?
Count Wainrit continued, “Your Majesty Xiulan, my carriage will come to fetch you to the palace after the court assembly tomorrow. You will understand then without me needing to say more; what I just said was not a rumor.”
I nodded and replied, “Very well, I will await your arrival at Diecui Garden tomorrow morning.”
I wanted to ask Count Wainrit a question—before His Majesty Jiaxiu died, who would he choose between Otto and Mustin?
However, even Count Wainrit probably didn't know the answer, and even if he already knew, he wouldn't reveal it to me.
But one thing was undeniable: no matter which prince His Majesty Jiaxiu passed the throne to, it would inevitably cause resentment from the other prince, and a palace coup would be unavoidable.
Even if the loser willingly accepted this fate, how could the heir to the throne allow a major threat to sleep soundly beside his bed? Moreover, in the darkness, Aden was also eyeing the imperial throne with predatory intent.
Anyone with half a brain should have anticipated the coming storm. It's just a matter of how His Majesty Jiaxiu minimizes this possibility in his limited remaining years.
And isn't this exactly the situation I've been waiting for?
If the Northern Alliance were to intervene at this time, it would be even more wonderful.
Only in such chaos can a new order be forged. All other matters can wait until tomorrow, after meeting His Majesty Jiaxiu.
Earl Wenrit smiled and said, "There's another matter I need to discuss with His Majesty Xiulan. I hope to arrange the engagement ceremony between General Ferro and my daughter in five days, and His Majesty will attend—provided, of course, that his health permits. I wonder if His Majesty Xiulan has any objections to this plan?"
"Isn't the timeline a bit too tight?"
“That’s no problem,” Earl Wainright replied. “I started preparations as soon as I returned from Biarell, and it’s just a small banquet, so it won’t take much time.”
I nodded and said, “Then let’s decide on that. I’ll give Ferro a leave of absence, and Your Excellency can contact me anytime if there are any further questions.”
Earl Wainright seemed surprised that I was so agreeable, and paused slightly before saying, “There shouldn’t be any problems. To be honest, once this wish is fulfilled, I’ll have nothing left to worry about.”
I was taken aback, sensing a hidden meaning in his seemingly sentimental words. No wonder Earl Wainright was so eager to hold the engagement ceremony; he wanted to marry his daughter off to Biarell as soon as possible, escaping the turbulent vortex of the capital.
So, as a close advisor to His Majesty Jiaxiu, had he truly sensed something ominous?
Without showing any emotion, I gestured towards the living room entrance, "Fero, come in!"
Ferro, who had been faithfully waiting at the door, strode in and bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Majesty!"
"Fero, escort Earl Wainrit back to his residence. As for the engagement ceremony, follow the Earl's arrangements."
Earl Wainrit understood I was dismissing him. Fortunately, his mission for the night was accomplished, and there was no need to waste any more of our time. He bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty Xiu Lan, see you tomorrow morning!"
No sooner had Earl Wainrit left than Deborah eagerly appeared, urging me, "Xiu Lan, quickly change into casual clothes; let's go out and have some fun tonight."
I asked, "Didn't you go to find someone? Why are you back so soon?" "
Debo chuckled, "I'm not stupid enough to go door-to-door looking for them. I just sent a few servants with a message, telling those guys to meet at the Amethyst Casino. We need to get there early so we can see the most spectacular striptease performance. If you're interested, you can even spend the night with those prostitutes."
I snorted, "I don't have any money!"
Debo said nonchalantly, "I knew you'd say that. Don't worry, I'll treat you then." He looked around for a while and asked, "Where's that kid Ferro? Why hasn't he returned after escorting his father-in-law for so long?"
"I sent him to escort Earl Wainrit back to his residence. He can't be coming back anytime soon."
Debo chuckled, "There's no guarantee he won't use his position to stay overnight at the Earl's residence. I think we shouldn't wait for him."
As I spoke, I changed into some light, casual clothes and left the Jade Garden with only a small group of attendants and Debo.
The moonlight enveloped every street and alley of the capital, gradually fading into darkness after the daytime hustle and bustle.
In the tranquil and profound night, the quiet clatter of horses' hooves shattered the silence of each blue brick on the street, rippling in the milky moonlight with the cool breeze.
"I've invited three people tonight, all good friends I met in the capital. We're going to have a blast." Although they hadn't arrived yet, Debo's mind was already in the casino.
"Be careful not to lose everything like last time," I warned him.
"How could that be?" Debo replied dismissively, "That time they clearly set me up to lure you out. Besides, with you with me tonight, what do I have to be afraid of?"
I chuckled and remained silent.
Debo suddenly sighed, "Actually, what I'm most grateful to you for is that time. Even though you knew it was a trap, you still went. From that moment on, I, Debo, considered you my best friend. So, Xiulan, no matter what happens in the future, I'll stand by your side. Even if you want my head, it's no problem."
I smiled slightly and said calmly, "If you really want to help me, just avoid causing trouble later, and I'll appreciate it."
Debo said, "Xiulan, have you noticed how much you've changed? The first time I met you, I thought you were just a cold and unapproachable guy, but now you seem much more human. Is it true that becoming a father changes everything?"
I was taken aback, took a deep breath, and scolded, "What nonsense are you spouting? Save your energy for the gambling table later."
Debo chuckled and stopped talking nonsense.
The group arrived at the entrance of the Purple Crystal Casino and saw two noblemen standing on the bustling steps, peering around. When they saw us, they immediately came to greet us.
One of the short, stout young men complained, "Debo, why did you take so long? The striptease has already started."
Debo gestured at me with his chin and said, "Henk, complaining won't change anything. I was waiting for him, wasn't I?"
The other, tall, thin young man looked me up and down, then asked suspiciously, "Debo, who is this—"
"His Majesty Xiu Lan of Biarell," Debo introduced with great enthusiasm, "I don't need to say more, you two should know how famous he is, right?"
"So you are His Majesty Xiu Lan, who swept through Biarell?" Henk exclaimed in surprise, "Does His Majesty know how many young nobles in the capital idolize you, hoping to one day be like His Majesty, conquering battlefields and achieving great feats?"
I smiled faintly and said, "I am just the monarch of a small country. How could I have such a great reputation in Monston?"
"What do you mean, no?" the tall, thin man exclaimed. "Your victory over Orinan in the palace sword duel that day, leaving the Temple helpless against you, is already a well-known tale in our empire."
Debord felt even more smug seeing his companions praising him so highly. He introduced, "Xiu Lan, Henk is the eldest son of Count Yu Yang, the Imperial Grand Inspector, and currently serves under General Osho. The taller guy is named Flando, the eldest son of General Shi Jia, the Grand Commander of the Imperial Azure Star Legion. He's also been on his father's orders to come to the capital on business these past few days."
Flando said, "Strange, why hasn't that bastard Bashi arrived yet? Debord, did you send someone to call him?"
Debord said, "Of course I sent someone to look for him! Maybe he's not home, maybe he's out having fun somewhere."
Henk said impatiently, "Then let's not wait for him anymore, or we'll miss the last striptease performance."
"Did you book a private room?" Debord asked.
"You're only calling us this late? Where were you going to find a private room?" Henk said. "Luckily, I found a few acquaintances inside, and they cleared out a room for us."
Deborah winked at him and said, "You didn't use violence, did you?"
Henk chuckled and said smugly, "Who do you think I am? Do I need to use my fists to find a private room? Just tell them it's for my dad, and they'll obediently give up their seats."
As we spoke, we entered the casino, but the guards we brought were left outside.
As soon as we entered the hall, we were hit by a wave of enthusiastic noise. In the huge casino, it was hard to find an empty seat. Everywhere, well-dressed dignitaries were gathered around the gambling tables, betting fortunes and indulging in a life of debauchery.
This was another world.
Bright lights, revelry, and peace.
The shadows of war and crisis seemed so distant and pale amidst the laughter and shouts of gamblers and prostitutes.
A stunningly dressed young waitress approached, a professional smile playing on her heavily made-up face. "General Henk," she said, "have your friends arrived yet?"
Henk retorted imperiously, "Are you blind? Who are those people in the back if not my friends?"
The waitress, despite being reprimanded, smiled even more broadly, saying in a cloying voice, "General Henk, I was just asking, why are you so angry?" She then pressed her hot body against Henk, giving him a heavy rub.
Henk laughed heartily, his left arm tightly around the waitress, saying, "Little darling, why don't you take us to the private room?"
Just then, a thud was heard from a nearby waitress; the unfortunate woman had accidentally spilled wine on a gambler's clothes and was slapped to the ground. Compared to her, Henk's temper was relatively mild.
All the private rooms were on the second and third floors. The casino was a circular building, with the ground floor hall offering various gambling equipment, where the casino operated. In the center of the hall was a circular stage, currently hosting a song and dance performance. The private rooms on the second and third floors were positioned above the central hall, offering a clear view of the prostitutes' erotic dances and a panoramic view of the entire casino.
We arrived at a private room on the third floor and sat down. The room was luxuriously decorated and spacious. A dozen or so plates of pastries and various wines were already brought out, and four waitresses were at their posts, carefully and skillfully attending to us, their distinguished guests.
The floor-to-ceiling windows of the room faced the main hall below. I glanced at the courtesans dancing and singing on the circular stage; indeed, each one was stunningly beautiful, young and lovely. What was remarkable was that they all wore semi-transparent gauze, the allure of half-concealed beauty further stimulating a man's primal desires.
Just as we settled down amidst the commotion, a dark-skinned, thin nobleman in his early twenties rushed in, panting, and exclaimed, "Thank goodness we caught up with you!"
Henk grumbled, "Why did it take you so long, you bastard? Were you tied down by some woman?"
Debord whispered in my ear, "That's Bashi. His father now controls half of the empire's arms manufacturing and is a well-known multi-millionaire. My dad's legion buys over 30% of its weapons from there. Humph, they've made a fortune off us."
Bashi, surprisingly good-natured, quickly bowed respectfully. He apologized and said, "I'm sorry, brothers. I was really disliked by my father, so I finally found an excuse to sneak out. If I go back tomorrow, I won't have to ask and I'll be punished."
Follando said with a smile, "Then you might as well play for a few more days before going back. Anyway, you'll be punished the same way."
Pa Shi said with a smile. I sat down across from me and replied with a grimace: "If I really don't go home for a few days, I'm afraid my legs will be broken by my father without a woman to tie them up."
Everyone burst into laughter and ridiculed him for being useless. In fact, Debo met the Duke of Sands like a mouse meets a cat?
Suddenly I heard Flando excitedly say: "Look, the most exciting dance has begun, and Miss Luo Mei is leading the show tonight!"
Chapter 4 The battle in the casino
has almost been a tacit understanding for a long time. Everyone stopped talking, and even if there were occasional whispers, it was very soft. Everyone's eyes gathered on the circular stage in the center of the casino.
"Huh--"
Thousands of colorful lights that were originally hanging over the casino were extinguished together, leaving only the candles on the gambling table glowing brightly. At a glance, they looked like stars in the night sky.
Suddenly, four plumes of red, yellow, purple, and green smoke rose around the circular stage, enveloping it in a hazy, dim light.
The band below played soft, soothing music, each melodious note drifting like a spirit in the ethereal space.
Dreamlike and enchanting, the music seemed to whisper secrets.
For a moment, people almost forgot where they were and what they were doing, holding their breath as they watched four courtesans emerge from the mist at the center of the stage.
Their red dresses were fiery, petite and alluring;
their green dresses were like water, gentle and beautiful;
their yellow gowns were bright; their purple skirts were mysterious. The beauty of these four courtesans was no less than that of the eight most famous courtesans in the capital's brothels. No wonder all the men present stared intently, unable to look away for even a moment.
“These are the Four Beauties of Amethyst, they usually only perform once every ten days,” Deborah told me. “We were lucky this time, arriving in the capital just in time.”
I nodded, not knowing why I wasn’t particularly interested in the girls on stage, as if I vaguely sensed that even more exciting temptations were yet to come.
“Most of the thousand guests tonight are here to see this striptease,” Henk whispered. “Look, that kid Bashi’s jaw is practically dropping.”
Bashi seemed not to hear, his eyes fixed on the petite girl in red on stage, his hands gripping the windowsill, practically leaning half his body out.
Frando chuckled, "Bashi's been obsessed with her for a while now. Just wait and see how many gold coins this kid will spend for this one night of passion."
Debord chuckled and said, "His father has plenty of money. If he's happy, he can buy the whole casino."
At that moment, the music suddenly changed, filled with a mournful and enchanting tone. The four courtesans on the stage revealed their seductive charms and danced gracefully, bowing to the center of the stage like a hundred birds paying homage to a phoenix.
Henk exclaimed excitedly, "Luo Mei is coming out!"
Debord asked, "Who is Luo Mei? I've never heard of her before."
Henk explained, "She's only been in the capital for a little over three months, and she's already the most popular courtesan in the entire capital. Her fame even surpasses that of the Eight Beauties of the Fragrant Boat. It's a pity she refuses to sell herself. I heard that Prince Mustin is backing her up, but just being able to see her dance will make tonight worthwhile."
Debord was about to say something when he heard countless people shouting in unison from upstairs and downstairs, "Luo Mei! Luo Mei!"
The sound was deafening, completely drowning out the music.
A cloud of white mist suddenly rose from the center of the stage, and a stunningly beautiful young woman slowly rose from the opening mechanism in the center of the stage, receiving cheers and burning, excited gazes from thousands of people.
Dressed in white as snow, her slender and graceful body aroused the desire and passion of countless people.
She might not possess Princess Mirror Moon's elegant grace, but she had a pure and delicate beauty;
she might not have Angie's cold and dazzling allure, but she possessed a gentle and tender charm. Her
refined yet graceful demeanor, her dignified yet alluring eyes, and her slightly parted, captivating cherry lips, as if they could speak, danced gracefully to the music, instantly overshadowing the brilliance of the Four Beauties of Amethyst.
The moon shone brightly in the empty sky.
Although most of the casino's lights remained extinguished, her radiance had already illuminated everyone's eyes.
And I, for some reason, kept staring at that girl's clear, bright eyes, trying to recall where I had seen her before, but I couldn't remember.
Perhaps, it was another mystery left to me by that damned Xiu Lan.
"So she's Luo Mei!" Debo swallowed hard. "If I could sleep with her for one night, I'd give half my life for it."
Henk smiled bitterly. "You'd better be realistic, Debo. Luo Mei is still a virgin, which is one of her assets that can seduce men. Instead of thinking about such unrealistic things, you should show off your skills at the gambling table later. Don't be like Bashi, unable to resist a beautiful woman."
The crowd suddenly fell silent again, and a heavenly voice came from Luo Mei's lips.
She was speaking ancient Maadawi, which almost no one in the casino could understand, but her heavenly voice alone was enough to captivate thousands of viewers.
And I, by chance, was one of the few people who could understand Maadawi. As if it were an innate talent, I could understand every word of her lyrics.
I even knew that Luo Mei was singing a song of homesickness, describing the desolate feelings of a wandering poet.
The music was too sophisticated for most; amidst the rapt gazes of the crowd, how many truly understood what she was singing?
How many noticed the deep loneliness and sorrow in the girl's eyes?
A sudden jolt jolted me awake. The dark energy within me, as if stimulated by an invisible force, surged forth with a powerful roar, a vast energy protecting my entire body.
For the first time, I was captivated by the allure of a girl's voice.
Even when facing Princess Mirror Moon and Angie Si, nothing like this had ever happened.
I gave a low, cold snort, a chilling glint in my eyes, only to notice Luo Mei's gaze inadvertently brushing across my face.
This girl was no ordinary person.
In that seemingly effortless song and dance, she had actually unleashed the "Illusory Soul-Stirring Technique," no wonder she had bewitched everyone. I was certain that this seemingly frail girl's true strength was no less than Angie Si's, enough to rival a sect leader.
Fortunately, my dark energy happens to be the natural nemesis of all demonic magic, preventing her from succeeding.
She clearly noticed this, and also sensed the calm and clear-headedness in my gaze, hence the surprised glance she gave me.
In the entire capital, only a handful of elders of the Holy Temple knew Luo Mei's true nature, but these people would never frequent such places of entertainment. Therefore, she could rest assured of remaining undetected.
When the song ended, everyone was stunned, as if under a spell, only bursting into applause after Luo Mei disappeared beneath the mechanism in the center of the stage.
She was ethereal, her lingering charm unforgettable.
What was her true identity? With such strength and beauty, she couldn't possibly have fallen to the level of a prostitute; what conspiracy lay behind this? My
first night in the capital had already revealed a new kind of intrigue.
Henk said playfully, "How was it, Deborah? Worth the trip, right?"
Deborah nodded vigorously, his eyes never leaving the empty stage.
Frando laughed, "Look, Manager Maril of the gambling den is on stage. It's time for the 'Spring Night Auction.'"
"What does 'Spring Night Auction' mean?" I asked.
"It means that all the prostitutes who performed on stage tonight, except for Luo Mei, can be booked for the night by the gamblers in the audience. Whoever bids the highest gets to spend the night with her," Frando explained. "I've tried it once before, but the prices for the Four Beauties of Amethyst were ridiculously high, so I haven't even considered it."
Henk patted Bashi on the shoulder and said, "It seems this guy is going to make a move tonight. Watching his beloved woman being taken to bed by another man would be more painful for him than killing him."
With the sound of a gong, the auction began.
The girls who had performed on stage that night took to the stage one by one, auctioned off like commodities. Although these young women were beautiful, they were still some distance from the Four Beauties of Amethyst, so the scene wasn't particularly intense.
About an hour later, it was finally the turn of the yellow-clad girl among the Four Beauties of Amethyst, immediately stirring up a frenzy among the gamblers. Bidding erupted in waves, starting at 500 Imperial Gold Coins and rising to 3,600—enough for a wealthy family's expenses for a year.
The second to appear was Gani, the red-clad girl that Bashi had been eyeing and was determined to have tonight.
Steward Maril quoted the same starting price, but it was quickly raised to 2,500 Gold Coins.
Here, money was worth less than dirt.
For desire, for face, the normally dignified nobles fought tooth and nail.
"Three thousand seven hundred Gold Coins!" a bid came from the east-facing private room on the second floor. The casino's noise immediately subsided, as if many were stunned by the price and were about to back down.
"It's that bastard Kafi!" Henk's eyes flashed with malice as he sneered, "What a small world! Bashi, tonight it's all up to you!"
Without Debord's introduction, I already knew Kafi's background.
He was also a nobleman's son; his father was the once-powerful Imperial Tax Minister, Stey, one of Mustin's confidants. His aunt was the wife of Prince Hud, a powerful minister of the Empire—anyone would think twice before provoking him.
Henk, Flando, and Debord's fathers were key members of Prince Otto's faction, and clashes between their forces inevitably affected the next generation.
If I didn't even know this much, I wouldn't have bothered coming to the capital.
Encouraged by his companions, Bashi became even more confident, shouting, "I bid four thousand!"
A commotion arose in the crowd; everyone knew a good show was about to begin.
Sure enough, Kafi called out, "Four thousand two hundred!"
"Four thousand five hundred!" Bashi's father seemed truly wealthy, adding another three hundred gold coins without hesitation.
After a moment's hesitation, the other side called out, "Four thousand six hundred!"
Flando chuckled, "Come on, Bashi, that bastard Kafi is starting to lose his nerve."
"Four thousand eight hundred!" Bashi didn't blink, continuing to push the price to new highs.
After a moment of silence, Mariel called out, "Four thousand eight hundred Imperial gold coins, anyone else bidding?"
After shouting twice, Kafi gritted his teeth and shouted, "Five thousand!"
Debo gasped, saying, "Good heavens, Kafi's going all out!"
Henk patted Bashi, saying, "Bashi, put him down, give us brothers some face!"
Bashi nodded and shouted, "Five thousand five!"
This was practically an astronomical price; a hundred pretty girls could buy that on the black market.
Kafi finally backed down. Mariel called out three times without a response, then banged the gong.
Henk excitedly punched Bashi hard in the chest, shouting, "You've got guts, kid!"
Bashi chuckled, already anticipating their night of pleasure.
Debord whispered in my ear, "See? Bashi's in trouble. Henk and his gang deliberately provoked him to bid, humiliating Kafi in front of thousands. I wonder how they'll retaliate."
I nodded. Among the four, Bashi was undoubtedly the lowest in status. Although his father was a large manufacturer, he held no official position or title. Compared to them, he felt inferior to Henk and his group. It was more accurate to say that Henk and his gang considered Bashi a wealthy lackey rather than a friend. And Kafi's father was the Imperial Tax
Minister; it would be incredibly easy for him to cause trouble for Bashi and his father.
Just as everyone was celebrating joyfully, a commotion erupted outside the door. Kafi shouted angrily, "Bashi, are you deliberately trying to mess with me?"
Bashi was startled and before he could speak, Kafi was already standing menacingly in front of him, followed by a group of friends, all with unfriendly expressions.
Debo, being the bravest of them all, stood up and asked, "Kafi, what do you want?"
Kafi glanced at Debo, seemingly somewhat wary of him, and replied, "This is none of your business, Debo. Don't worry about it. You saw what happened; that bastard Bashi is deliberately trying to cause me trouble!"
Bashi stammered, "I didn't—"
"Still saying no?" Kafi grabbed Bashi's collar and yelled viciously, "Either give her to me, or you'll regret it!"
His words were full of threat, and strangely enough, Henk and Flando, who had been the most vocal earlier, were now silent.
Debo frowned and said, "Kafi, gambling here is a money pit. If you're going to gamble, you have to be able to afford to lose. Aren't you going a bit too far?" "
Too far?" Kafi sneered, "I'm going too far tonight, so what?"
I sat in my chair and said calmly, "Where are all the casino security guards hiding? Why hasn't anyone thrown that barking stray dog out yet?"
Kafi's expression changed, and he glared at me fiercely, "Who are you?"
Debo puffed out his chest and introduced me, "He is His Majesty Xiu Lan of Bialer. I advise you not to cause trouble here."
This troublemaker was actually advising others not to cause trouble. If Duke Jinsha were here, he probably wouldn't believe it.
Kafi glanced at me contemptuously, chuckling coldly, "So it's that stray dog from back then."
His words caused everyone present to palpable.
I knew Kafi was certain I wouldn't attack him in public; otherwise, ten of his boastful self wouldn't be worth a second thought.
Unfortunately, he misjudged me.
Facing Kafi's sarcasm, I remained remarkably calm, slowly rising to stand before him, smiling slightly, "Are you talking about me?"
Kafi, not one to back down in front of so many, puffed out his chest and said, "I'm talking about you, so what?"
Suddenly, I reached out, my hands gripping his shoulders before he could react. With a series of dazzling, lightning-fast movements, Kafi let out a bloodcurdling scream; almost no bone remained intact in his body.
But my attack was perfectly timed; while he instantly collapsed into a heap of mud, I hadn't damaged his internal organs or blood vessels. I'd keep him bedridden for six months.
No one expected that I could subdue Kafi without uttering a single word. By the time his men rushed over, I had already nonchalantly clapped my hands and sat back down in my chair.
Kafi had already fainted, lying motionless on the floor.
Everyone was horrified by this gruesome sight; even Debo forgot to speak.
The wealthy young men behind Kafi, intimidated by my imposing presence, dared not approach, not even daring to help him up.
"Take him and get out of here," I said casually.
At this point, no one dared to disregard my words. Kafi's appearance had terrified these arrogant young men who were used to throwing their weight around.
As if receiving a royal decree, they hastily grabbed Kafi and scurried out of the private room like rabbits.
Debo then realized and said, "Xiulan, you've gotten yourself into big trouble."
I sneered, "I just threw a stray dog outside, what are you afraid of?"
Debo smiled bitterly, "It's not fear, it's concern for your situation. Last time in the capital, you offended Prince Otto because of Orinan's matter, and this time you injured Kafi so badly, Prince Mustin will probably be dissatisfied. Even if they don't dare to do anything openly because of your status, they might retaliate against you in private."
I said calmly, "Aren't there already enough people who want to harm me? I don't care if a few more."
Bashi walked over with his head down and apologized in a low voice, "I'm sorry, Your Majesty Xiulan. I
've caused you trouble because of me." This guy never expected that I intentionally intervened.
Otherwise, even if he died in front of me, what would it have to do with me?
What I'm after is half of the Empire's military supply held by his father, as well as the enormous financial and material resources.
If I didn't intervene, perhaps Bashi would back down, and then Kafi might not bother Bashi and his son again afterward.
Now that Kafi's fate is so tragic, even though I was the one who did it, Bashi will undoubtedly share the blame, and things will get interesting from here on out.
I said casually, "It's none of your business. But starting tonight, you need to be more careful. Kafi and his son might take their anger out on you. If you have any problems, you can come to Diecui Garden to find me, or you can find me through Debo."
Bashi had no idea that I had set a trap for him, and said gratefully, "Thank you, Your Majesty Xiulan."
Debo asked strangely, "Xiulan, have you changed your ways? You're so easy to talk to tonight. If I hadn't seen you beat Kafi so badly he couldn't get up, I would have doubted whether you were still the Xiulan I knew?"
I didn't answer, at least I didn't want to explain my purpose to him.
Perhaps Kafi also understood that ordinary city guards couldn't do anything to me, so no one else came to bother me afterward.
Around midnight, I left Debo and returned to Diecui Garden first. This guy forgets his own name when he sees women and gambling; he doesn't even know when I left.
Ironically, just a moment ago, he was calling himself my best friend.
As for Ba Shi, he was completely absorbed in his harem, oblivious to everything around him.
Stepping out of the bustling casino, I felt as if I had entered a completely different world.
The capital city was bathed in peaceful tranquility late at night; the streets, usually teeming with traffic, were deserted.
A breeze swept through, the clouds parted, and the moon appeared.
I walked leisurely, my horseshoes striking the bluestone bricks with a crisp sound.
At a crossroads, I suddenly stopped. My entourage looked at me blankly, not understanding what had happened.
A murderous aura permeated the night, carried on the wind.
This feeling had grown clearer and clearer from the moment I stepped out of the casino.
My gaze swept over the bell tower of a temple on the west side of the street, and I slowly said, "How much longer will you follow me? Let's settle any problems here."
Chapter Five: The Sound of Wind
and Cranes A shrill laugh echoed from the bell tower, as uncomfortable as silver needles on my eardrums.
My attendants covered their ears in pain, and my warhorse neighed uneasily.
I coldly shouted, "Come out!" This shout, delivered with powerful dark energy, was like a heavy hammer slamming into the mysterious figure hiding in the bell tower, firmly suppressing his laughter, which was emanating from demonic power.
A middle-aged man dressed in blood appeared on the spire of the bell tower, one foot in mid-air, a pair of blood-red wings spreading behind him, maintaining an eerie balance.
Like a ghost in the night, a bat in the void, this man exuded an eerie and cold aura, and his pair of emerald yellow eyes revealed a chilling killing intent.
He looked at me like a hungry falcon surveying its prey.
This feeling ignited a murderous intent within me.
"The Beastman Winged Tribe?"
"I didn't expect that my stealth technique would still be seen through by His Majesty Xiu Lan." The man in mid-air sneered, "It seems that your ability to repel that hungry wolf Garnet was indeed not by chance."
"It was your killing intent that betrayed you," I replied calmly, "From this, it can be seen that your strength is not something to boast about."
Anger flashed in the man's eyes, followed by a glint of venomous killing intent. He chuckled, "You're the first person to dare mock me to my face like this. Soon you'll realize the price you'll pay for those words."
I said disdainfully, "Enough with the nonsense. It's said that among the Winged Tribe's experts who infiltrated the capital, Chief Kong Xiang is the leader. That must be you, right?"
The man paused, then slowly nodded, "Looks like your intelligence is quite accurate. That's right, I am Kong Xiang."
I sneered, "Did Lunger send you to find me?"
Kong Xiang snorted, "Even without Lunger, I would still have to meet you."
As soon as he finished speaking, his body rose like the wind, gliding through the dark night using the wind from his wings, soaring through the air.
"Clang!"
Two cold lights suddenly appeared in Kong Xiang's hands. They were a pair of steel wheels about half a meter in diameter, their edges lined with sharp teeth, spinning incessantly in his palms, emitting a ghostly "whooshing" sound.
The Winged Tribe's prized magical treasure, the "Howling Moon Wheel."
"Protect His Majesty!" someone shouted, and the guards beside me rushed forward, fearlessly shielding me.
With their strength, even a hundred or two silver-armored guards wouldn't be enough for Kong Xiang to wreak havoc; I wasn't foolish enough to rely on them for protection.
My body soared, shooting towards Kong Xiang like a great bird. The dark energy within me had already reached its peak moments before, and the longsword in its sheath flew out, striking precisely the center of the Howling Moon Wheel.
Two crisp "clangs" rang out, sparks flying everywhere. The Howling Moon Wheel paused slightly, and I used the recoil from the longsword to shift my position again, moving to Kong Xiang's left.
"Boom!"
My long-prepared left fist blasted out, unleashing a brilliant black light that shot towards Kong Xiang's back.
If this punch landed, he would only be able to flap those wings in hell from now on.
Kong Xiang spread his wings, his body rapidly turning to the side. The Howling Moon Treasure Wheel, gleaming coldly, protected his chest, emitting two balls of silver-white light, and with a "bang," he blocked my powerful and domineering fist.
A huge energy shockwave exploded in mid-air, the "crashing" sound shaking the ground.
Kong Xiang and I were thrown back by the massive energy backlash, taking the opportunity to regulate our breathing and regroup.
But at that moment, a warning bell rang in my mind again. A massive gale, tearing through everything in its path, crashed down from above without warning!
In my perception, an unusually tall and burly middle-aged man appeared, his bare upper body clad only in a red ribbon, and his feet bare of boots.
None of that mattered; what was troublesome was the giant axe he held high, about to bring down with a heavy blow.
The axe blade swung up like a whirlwind, unleashing a mountain of crimson light that ignited the world before me!
In that instant, I realized I had fallen into Kong Xiang's trap.
I had been far too arrogant and careless, failing to consider that he wouldn't come alone to intercept me.
Lunger and Kong Xiang should know my strength very well; even the most foolish Kong Xiang knew that killing me in the capital city with a few moves was impossible.
Not even the Temple Master or the so-called number one figure in the Northern Alliance, the Demon Chieftain Tru, could accomplish it!
Therefore, there was only one explanation—he had laid an ambush here.
Kong Xiang deliberately exposed himself to attract my attention, while his companion, whose strength was no less than his, concealed his inner energy, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
If I'm not mistaken, this giant wielding the God-Slaying Axe must be Kabato, the top expert of the Flash Clan!
It seems Lunger and his companions have spared no expense in trying to kill me.
But what were they doing this for?
Was it to avenge that damned Ghost Clan chieftain, or to eliminate me for some other purpose?
Time didn't allow me to think further, and I didn't have time to change my tactics to deflect Kabato's attacks.
I had only one choice: I hastily drew my longsword, channeling dark energy into it, and unleashed a burst of sword light.
"Clang!"
The God-Slaying Axe shattered the defensive net I had woven with sword light, striking the longsword heavily.
The longsword shattered like fragile glass, tiny fragments scattered by the powerful gale in the night filled with boundless killing intent.
In my hand, only the hilt remained.
A scorching energy penetrated my body, surging and attacking my internal organs and meridians.
I spat out a mouthful of hot blood, and at the same time, using skillful twisting force, I managed to propel myself to the right, narrowly avoiding annihilation.
A searing pain spread throughout my body, but an even greater crisis was already looming.
The Sky Soaring Howling Moon Wheels shot out of my hand, converging from the left and right.
The sound of them tearing through the air was sharp and rapid, like the grim laugh of death.
I suppressed the urge to spit out a second mouthful of blood, forcefully channeling the dark energy that had been shattered by the impact, and spun like a top to dodge the attack of the Howling Moon Wheels.
"Whoosh—"
Driven by Sky Soaring, the
Howling Moon Wheels spun around as if they had eyes, this time with no room to dodge. I pushed out with both palms, one guiding and one pushing, the force of the air emanating from my palms carrying the two Howling Moon Wheels to one side, but a sharp pain shot through my fingers, my skin being cut by sharp teeth.
Above me, the towering, demonic figure of Cabato blocked half the moonlight, and swung his god-slaying axe down at me again.
He didn't give me a single chance to catch my breath.
I drew a giant circle in the air with both hands, and a crystal-clear black light barrier quickly formed above my head. A strange red light shot out from my palms, and the barrier suddenly burst into flames
—the legendary demon god's ultimate technique, the Sighing Shield of Light!
"Swoosh—"
The giant axe struck the transparent black light barrier, crushing countless light orbs. The Shield of Light trembled violently, but finally withstood the impact of the god-slaying axe.
The sharp axe cut into the light barrier, slowly and laboriously penetrating deeper. The Shield of Light slowly sank inward, constantly emitting soft "crackling" sounds as its energy was exhausted.
The dark energy within me was becoming increasingly uncontrollable. Having been forced to use the Shield of Light, a near-ultimate defensive spell, my energy depletion was rapidly increasing.
On one hand, the energy flowing within me surged uncontrollably;
on the other hand, the dark energy maintaining the Shield of Light was growing weaker and weaker.
The light of the God-Slaying Axe grew ever brighter, its fiery red glow burning the night sky, while the dark barrier of light gradually dimmed and contracted.
Without Kong Xiang needing to intervene again, if this stalemate continued, my life would dissipate in the blink of an eye.
"Accept your fate, Xiu Lan!" Kabato said, pressing down hard on the giant axe. "It's not that I want to kill you, but it's Lord Lunger's decree. Go to hell and repent!"
I sneered, uttering two words softly: "Perhaps not!"
A whistling arrow sounded from behind, and the Howling Moon Wheel attacked again.
My hands suddenly moved, making a swirling, embracing motion in the air, as if constantly kneading a non-existent sphere.
The Shield of Light and Flame immediately changed; its edges rolled inward with lightning speed, enveloping the blade of the God-Slaying Axe, forming a huge, spinning black sphere of light.
"Ah?" In the brief moment that Kabato was stunned, my body had already emerged effortlessly from his axe shadow, shooting diagonally towards the clock tower where I had previously been hiding in mid-air.
In this situation, unless I was an idiot, the only option was to use the building as cover to escape as quickly as possible.
With two "whoosh" sounds, the Howling Moon Wheel missed its target, but it followed me closely, tracing a 180-degree arc in the air as it continued its pursuit.
I slapped open the top window of the clock tower and flew inside.
Inside was a cluttered attic, reeking of a foul stench, dark and without a trace of light.
Suddenly, a beam of snow-white light shone from my left, illuminating an old man clad in a dark elven cloak. He raised a golden bow in his right hand and fired three arrows at me with lightning speed.
There was a third ambush!
It was Asai, the chieftain of the Dark Elf race.
The legendary number one archer of the Northern Continent.
If the energy hadn't dissipated, I might have detected his presence before entering the bell tower, but now it was too late.
My body couldn't change direction in time and could only take the hit head-on—the
"Apocalyptic Floating Curse Arrow," a weapon renowned throughout the Xilan Continent!
The entire assassination plan was clearly meticulously planned; every detail was within their expectations.
Even the route I would choose to escape.
"Clang!" I flicked the first arrow with my finger, and half my body was instantly invaded by a strange cold, almost numbing me.
Only then did I hear him shout, "Behold the arrow!"
The arrow was faster than his voice!
The second arrow arrived before I could even catch my breath.
A spurt of blood shot from my mouth, splashing onto the arrowhead of the second arrow.
The arrow shot out again, striking a pile of bricks nearby with a "bang," exploding into wisps of mist.
A chilling coldness ran down my back; the Howling Moon Wheel had already arrived, smashing a hole several meters wide in the window with a deafening roar.
Ahead, the third arrow, using the cover of the first two, was also close at hand, and I was powerless to resist.
Faced with this desperate situation, my mind became unusually calm.
I took a deep breath, leaned my body to the left as far as possible, and struck a Howling Moon Wheel with my still-capable left palm, barely deflecting it.
Almost simultaneously, the third arrow pierced my right chest, just a hair's breadth from my heart.
A piercing pain and a strange numbness and chill washed over me, and I couldn't help but groan, channeling my nearly depleted energy into the arrow.
The arrow continued its trajectory, passing through my body.
However, due to the impact of the dark energy within me, its direction was slightly altered.
With a clang, the two wheels struck the second Howling Moon Wheel, sending them flying diagonally.
"Bang!" My body crashed heavily onto the floor, only managing to stay upright thanks to the pile of debris behind me.
In that corner, Asai had already nocked his fourth arrow and aimed it at me.
A gust of wind blew in through the window, and Kong Xiang and Kabato caught up behind me, forming a pincer movement with Asai.
There was no further movement below the clock tower; that small group of squires had been dealt with instantly by Kabato and Kong Xiang.
In this situation, even if I were completely healed, let alone with my several serious injuries, I would have had a hard time escaping unscathed.
In the end, I had indeed overestimated myself.
If I had worn Romedar's Cloud Silk Armor, the outcome would have been entirely different.
But probably no one would have expected that three mage-level figures from the Northern Alliance would actually join forces to ambush and assassinate me.
This time, they were determined to succeed.
However, I felt no resentment.
I had also laid a trap to kill Romedar before; now it was just a change of target.
"Xiu Lan, you truly live up to your reputation." Cabato blocked the window, his admiration for me undisguised. He said in a deep voice, "Even with the three of us arranged like this, we couldn't kill you immediately. Your strength is probably comparable to a Grand Magus. Unfortunately, Lord Lunger has issued a kill order; you must die tonight!"
I quietly channeled my remaining dark energy, trying my best to seal my wounds and suppress internal injuries, while simultaneously gathering the strength for a final stand. I slowly said, "You must be Cabato, right? Do you know why my first axe attack failed?"
Cabato was taken aback and asked, "You know?"
"Because of your anger."
"My breath, what does this mean?"
Kong Xiang shouted, "Don't listen to his nonsense, Cabato! He's stalling for time."
Cabato snorted, dissatisfied, "Do you think he can fly up in just two sentences?"
I smiled and said, "You are the number one warrior of the Flash Clan, wielding the God-Slaying Axe. You should have used your domineering and unparalleled aura to suppress your opponent, but unfortunately, in order to ambush me, you could only strike from the shadows. As a result, your attack and the aura that your God-Slaying Axe seeks clash, leaving only half of its full power. Otherwise, I wouldn't have had the chance to stand here and talk to you." Of
course, I wasn't saying this to give him pointers or reminders, but to use the limited time to heal my injuries.
Even though I was already in dire straits, I would never give up the fight until the very last moment!
Sometimes the difference between a winner and a loser lies only in that last breath.
And I believe that before my destiny is fulfilled, I absolutely cannot die!
Cabato paused, pondered for a moment, and replied, "You have a point, but if I had openly challenged you, would the outcome have been better?"
"What do you think?" I countered.
Cabato thought for a moment, then shook his head, saying, "That way you would have been prepared, and I still wouldn't have been able to hurt you."
I laughed, a trickle of blood flowing from the corner of my mouth, my feet subtly emanating energy that corroded and softened the floorboards, and said, "You finally understand."
Cabato nodded, "Yes, if Chief Asai hadn't been lying in ambush in the clock tower, we definitely wouldn't have been able to kill you. It seems that Garnett was right; to kill you, it would take at least three mage-level figures."
Kong Xiang finally lost his patience and hissed, "Time is running out, Cabato, make your move!"
A strange smile appeared on my lips as I said, "Is it a little too late now?"
My legs slammed down, and the floorboards I had subtly corroded could no longer withstand the impact, shattering with a deafening roar, the entire floor collapsing almost simultaneously.
"Huh?" Faced with the sudden change, Kong Xiang and the other two were also somewhat surprised. They quickly regained their balance and then searched for my trace among the debris rolling down to the next floor.
I, however, had already concealed all my inner energy and hid behind a wooden box that I had already chosen.
I knew this alone wouldn't fool their senses, but given the current situation, I could only try to stall for time.
Every extra minute, every second of perseverance, would bring a glimmer of hope.
In the darkness, I plummeted to the floor below with the wooden crate, and Asai was the first to spot me.
He let out a low shout and fired his fourth arrow of the night.
Just as I was about to react, a snow-white hand emerged from the darkness, steadily catching the arrow between slender fingers.
Asai paused, halting his second shot, floating in the air as he looked at the newcomer.
A figure in black appeared before me—the long-absent owner of the stone house.
Cabato landed on the floor, staring at the owner and asking, "Who are you?"
He knew that even High Priest Lunger couldn't have caught Asai's "Doomsday Floating Curse Arrow" so easily, so his tone was much more cautious.
"Are you alright?" the owner of the stone house asked softly.
The recent strenuous activity had aggravated his injuries.
Blood soaked through my clothes, and I could barely breathe.
But I shook my head, remaining silent,
lest I cough up a mouthful of blood.
"Whoever you are, get out of the way," Kong Xiang said. "Otherwise, we'll deal with you too." If it weren't for the stone house owner's earlier attack, he might have already activated the Howling Moon Wheel.
The stone house owner coldly said, "You can't kill him, and I will not allow you to kill him either."
Ya Sai frowned and asked, "Who are you? Why do I feel a strange familiarity with you?"
The stone house owner gave a faint, somewhat melancholy smile and replied, "It's rare that you still remember me, Chief Ya Sai."
As he spoke, a burst of white flame suddenly erupted from his body. When the flame disappeared and the stone house owner reappeared, Ya Sai and the others couldn't help but gasp in surprise.
"It's you!"
Chapter Six: The Apocalypse's Floating Curse
. Standing amidst the flowing flames was a stunningly beautiful girl in black.
My heart skipped a beat, almost unable to suppress my surprise and astonishment. The mysterious owner of the stone house—her true identity was—
"Dolores!" Asai and the others exclaimed, their eyes filled with disbelief.
One of the Eight Consorts of the Demon Palace from twenty years ago, the Demon High Priest—appearing before everyone in this identity and manner was no wonder everyone was shocked.
I suddenly understood many things.
From the City of Mountains, and even earlier, Dolores had always protected me—because in her heart, I was the successor of Aio.
Therefore, the questions about her knowledge of the many secrets and past events of the Dark Palace, and her possession of the Demon Palace's supreme treasure, the Soul-Guiding Banner, and the supreme demonic artifact, the Wheel of Silence, were all answered.
So that's how it is. My shock was no less than Asai's, perhaps even stronger.
Although I had long suspected she had some mysterious connection to the Dark Palace, I never expected her to be one of the Eight Consorts of the Demon Palace!
Actually, I should have realized it sooner. Although it's rumored that the Eight Consorts of the Demon Palace and Aio perished together in the Dark Palace, no one actually witnessed it.
And when I first met Dolores, she was carrying the Wheel of Silence left behind by Aio.
"Impossible!" Kong Xiang exclaimed, staring at Dolores. "Weren't you dead? How could you be here?"
Dolores coldly replied, "I'm not dead. It's just that I haven't revealed my true identity for the past twenty years."
"Why?" Kong Xiang pressed.
“Because I need to protect someone, this is the last mission Lord Aio entrusted to me.”
Asai asked in surprise, “Lady Dolores, is the person you’re talking about Xiu Lan?”
Dolores nodded and slowly said, “Therefore, none of you can kill him, otherwise you will be my enemy!”
Cabato smiled bitterly, “Are you really Lady Dolores? This is really hard to believe.”
Dolores sneered, “Cabato, who helped you repair the three flaws in the defense of the final, devastating blow of your God-Slaying Axe?”
Cabato was shocked. This matter had always been known only to himself and High Priestess Dolores, and had never been revealed to a third party. The current situation left him no choice but to believe it.
He exclaimed in surprise and delight, "It really is you, High Priestess Dolores!"
Asai sheathed his bow and slowly floated down before Dolores, bowing to her with the most honorable etiquette of the Dark Elf race, saying, "Lady Dolores, it is a pleasure to see you unharmed. However, killing His Majesty Xiu Lan is High Priest Lunger's order, and your words just now will put us in a difficult position." Dolores
scoffed, "Twenty years ago, Lunger was nothing more than a watchdog for Tru. When did it become his place to swagger around?"
Kong Xiang gave a low, cold snort, wanting to say something but holding back.
Asai smiled bitterly, "Even so, he is still the current High Priest of the Demon Race, and now the Grand Master of the Northern Alliance. It is difficult for us to disobey his orders."
Dolores's expression remained calm, her cold gaze fixed on Asai as she asked, "So, you intend to be my enemy?"
Asai was startled; he knew all too well the strength of this seemingly weak and beautiful woman before him. More than twenty years ago, Dolores had already reached the level of a human archmage. Even if he fired all his arrows, he wouldn't be able to harm her in the slightest!
Moreover, since Dolores has appeared, then the legendary Demon Emperor Aio and the other seven Demon Queens, who are said to have vanished, might also be in the mortal realm. If he were to be careless even for a moment, he might bring about the annihilation of the Dark Elf race.
Cabato asked, "Lady Dolores, can you tell us why we're protecting Xiu Lan? He's just the king of a small kingdom in Biarell, why does His Majesty Aio favor him so much?"
Dolores shook her head and replied, "You'll understand the key later. Now, I'm escorting Xiu Lan away. Does anyone have any objections?"
Her gaze slowly swept over the faces of Asai and the others. No one spoke, except for Kong Xiang, who raised an eyebrow and said coldly, "Lady Dolores, how are we supposed to explain this to High Priest Lunger?"
Dolores looked at Kong Xiang with disdain and asked indifferently, "What, you want to stop me?"
Even someone as arrogant and aloof as Kong Xiang felt a tremor in his heart under Dolores's gaze, his imposing aura weakening slightly.
He glanced at Cabato and Asai beside him, and seeing that neither of them intended to make a move, he couldn't help but feel annoyed. Although Dolores held a near-godlike status in the hearts of the northern tribes, the three before her might be able to contend with her if they joined forces, and killing me would be a piece of cake.
Unfortunately, Asai and Cabato didn't seem to want to turn against Dolores, and Kong Xiang alone had no chance of defeating Dolores, the former high priestess of the demon race.
The brief stalemate was quickly broken by the rapid hoofbeats and shouts outside the bell tower; a large number of city defense night patrol cavalry were rushing here, clearly indicating that the corpses downstairs had been discovered.
Kong Xiang snorted, "High Priestess Dolores, I'm afraid I won't keep you company!" He spread his eerie wings and soared out of the window, disappearing into the vast night like a bat.
While they were talking, my consciousness was slowly slipping away from my mind. The scenery before me grew increasingly dim and blurry, and Dolores's voice seemed to come from another distant world.
I knew in my heart that it was a miracle I hadn't died from such injuries; I was only holding on by sheer willpower. To begin to recover, it would take at least ten days.
However, the current situation in the capital city simply wouldn't allow me that much time, nor would anyone allow me to recuperate peacefully. Thinking of this, a cold killing intent suddenly rose in my heart, and I secretly memorized the names of Kong Xiang, Asai, and Kabato.
This debt would be settled sooner or later, and the first one should be the Demon High Priest, Lunger!
Seeing Kong Xiang flee, Ya Sai and Kabato exchanged a glance, then bowed to Dolores, saying, "My lady, until we meet again!" They followed Kong Xiang's trail and disappeared through the window. With
the powerful enemy retreating, I could no longer hold on. Before Dolores could turn around, a mouthful of blood gushed from my throat, my vision turned blood red, and then a long, familiar darkness enveloped me—
I couldn't remember how many times I had fainted from injury? I couldn't
remember how many times I had awoke from the boundless darkness?
When I opened my eyes again, the first thing I saw was the cold, eerie face of the mysterious stone house's owner.
Dolores had reverted to her previous disguise.
But I had no energy to dwell on that. Waves of intense pain surged through my mind and body, almost suffocating me.
An unprecedented tearing pain arose in my chest, as if the arrow wound had come back to life, greedily consuming my lifeblood like a vampire leech.
A hazy white light shone around us, the glow of a luminous pearl. Under its illumination, Dolores's disguised face appeared even more mysterious and elusive.
Only her gaze, deep and unwaveringly calm, was familiar to me.
She held her hands loosely in front of her chest, releasing a ball of white light. A beam of light from within gently brushed against my arrow wound, sending a cool, soothing sensation through it.
After an unknown amount of time, the pain in my body gradually subsided, leaving only a faint ache in the arrow wound in my chest. Dolores withdrew her hands, and the white ball of light vanished in an instant. An
almost imperceptible weariness flickered in her eyes as she slowly said, "Your Majesty Xiu Lan, your external injuries are mostly healed, but there is something I must warn you about."
I remained silent, gazing at her.
"You were struck by Asai's Doomsday Curse Arrow. Although your life is no longer in danger, your meridians and blood vessels have suffered near-destructive damage, and it will be difficult to recover in the short term. This situation is similar to what happened after you used the Dark Annihilation Technique. However, it is more serious than last time because you forcibly used your internal energy to fight back after being injured, causing the injury to deepen further."
I sneered, "Should I just sit and wait to die?"
Dolores shook her head and said, "This was my oversight. I didn't expect Lunger to value you so much, not only sending Kong Xiang and Kabato, but also inviting Chief Asai. The problem now is that you absolutely cannot forcibly use your energy to engage in fierce battles for a month, otherwise your meridians will burst due to the unbearable pressure, and then no one will be able to save you."
Not being able to fight anyone for a whole month, wouldn't that make me half a cripple?
Especially under the current strange and volatile situation in the capital, such a blow is almost fatal.
I took a deep breath and calmly asked, "Is there no other way?"
Dolores coldly replied, "No. If I hadn't used up my true energy to heal you, you would have been bedridden for at least ten more days."
Upon waking, I remembered my meeting with Jiaxiu and asked, "How long was I unconscious?"
"Don't worry, it's still dark. We're in the basement storage room of a wealthy family in the capital," Dolores answered.
I said, "There's one thing I want you to understand: I am absolutely not that damned Aio. If you imagine me as that bastard's substitute, you're making a huge mistake."
Dolores wasn't angry. She stared at me for a long time, then sighed softly and said, "You're right. Even if the seal on you is completely broken, and Lord Aio's consciousness and memories are resurrected, you can't become him. You'll only possess all his memories and consciousness. I know that without you reminding me. But Lord Aio's life and consciousness have continued in your body through another incredible form, something you can never deny or stop."
I sneered, "Dolores, it's too early for you to say these things. I'm going back to Diecui Garden. You don't think that's not good either, do you?"
Dolores replied, "Of course not. But I remind Your Majesty Xiulan that it's best to leave the capital as soon as possible. Every day you stay increases your danger."
"Are you threatening me?"
Dolores shook her head and said, "Do you know why Lunger sent Asai and his men to assassinate you?"
"You know?"
"Because he already knows your true identity. He's just as ambitious as Tru, and he will absolutely not allow you to continue existing, much less tolerate you returning to the North to restore the former empire, threatening their power and status."
I was stunned, suddenly realizing how ridiculous everything before me was.
I inexplicably became Prince Xiu Lan of Bialer, and inexplicably the successor of Aio. From Kolan to Tru and Lunger, countless people emerged from the shadows to try and kill me.
Kolan is finally finished, but now it's the Northern Alliance's turn. Who will be next?
The Temple or the Holy Empire's Temple?
Dolores said, “That’s why I’ve never dared to reveal my identity, for fear of bringing you trouble. But His Majesty’s actions over the past year have finally aroused the suspicions of Lunger and Tru. What I fear even more is that someone has already leaked the secret of Lord Aio’s demonic reincarnation. Therefore, I must protect you at all times. Because besides me, no one else can stop Lunger, and don’t forget the people of the Temple.”
I was silent for a moment and said, “I will not leave, at least not now.”
“I know you need to break the final seal to obtain the power of the Dark Moon,” Dolores said. “I will assist you in this. However, the war in the east of the Empire is imminent. At most, the orcish army will launch a large-scale invasion within a month.”
I did not doubt Dolores’ intelligence. With her former status and strength, obtaining some inside information about the Northern Alliance would be a piece of cake.
Once the Northern Alliance launches an invasion, Biarell will inevitably be affected. I am not worried about the security of the homeland, but rather about the position and response at that time.
I have never given up my desire for this continent. It seemed as if the seed of conquest had been planted deep within my heart long ago, growing stronger with each increase in my power.
I already possessed Biarril, but what was such a tiny country compared to Monston, the entire continent, or this world?
And as I conquered Biarril, my gaze and plans began to turn toward the Empire; otherwise, I wouldn't have needed to come to the capital this time.
His Majesty Jasshu is critically ill, Otto and Mustin are locked in a power struggle, and Aden is still alive and well. If the Northern Alliance were to launch a war, the Empire could crumble overnight. Aren't these exactly the conditions I've been hoping for?
A clearer and more comprehensive plan immediately formed in my mind. I smiled and said, "In that case, I shouldn't be in such a hurry to leave. There are still many things in the capital that I need to accomplish."
Dolores looked at me and suddenly sighed for the second time that night, "Your Majesty Xiu Lan, I really can't imagine what kind of person you would become if you broke the seal, obtained the power of the Dark Moon, and merged with Lord Aio's memories and consciousness. Perhaps it was fate that Lord Aio and I chose you."
A mysterious smile appeared on my lips. "These questions will soon be answered. I have a feeling that day is not far away."
Dolores also smiled and said, "Before that, please let me escort you back to Diecui Garden. Your subordinates will probably turn the entire capital upside down if they don't see you again."
With a great mage like Dolores by my side, I safely returned to Diecui Garden.
Dolores did not follow me inside, but disappeared gracefully into the morning light.
At this moment, a few sounds came from afar, and the sky began to lighten.
The Diecui Garden was brightly lit. News of my ambush had already reached us. Although we didn't know who did it, the swift and decisive methods used against the entourage filled everyone with worry.
Anjisi had also returned to the Diecui Garden, mobilizing all the resources of the Heavenly Sect to search for my whereabouts. Kusei, along with the Red Eyes, was conducting a thorough search of the capital.
Everyone understood the consequences of losing me, yet each still held onto a sliver of hope.
Fortunately, I returned safely.
Ferro was the first to rush to my side. This young man, who maintained a calm and elegant knightly demeanor even in the face of death, was now so excited that he couldn't even speak. He could only kneel on one knee before me and cry out, "Your Majesty!"
I frowned and asked, "What are you doing?"
"Please punish me for my dereliction of duty. If I had been by your side—"
I didn't let him finish speaking before walking towards the study, coldly saying, "If you were derelict in your duty, your head would already be on the ground. Why are you uttering so much nonsense!"
Ferro was taken aback. Angie Sis said slowly from the side, "Don't you understand, General Ferro? It was Xiu Lan who ordered you to escort Earl Wenrit back to his residence, which is why you left his side. Therefore, as his chief bodyguard, you did not neglect your duty, and Xiu Lan cannot blame you for this."
A layer of emotion appeared on Ferro's face, which quickly turned into an even more resolute expression. He stood up and followed me into the study.
At this moment, Kusei returned, and upon seeing me, he also breathed a sigh of relief, asking, "Your Majesty, what exactly happened?"
"I was attacked by the Northern Alliance, it's that simple."
"The Northern Alliance?" Angie asked, startled. "Why would they attack you? Is it because of the Ghost Clan?"
I didn't explain, letting them speculate—did they expect me to tell them that I might be the successor of Aio?
Kusei's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he asked in a deep voice, "Who did it?"
I calmly replied, "Yase, Kongxiang, and Kabato."
Everyone was once again shocked. Any one of these three was enough to intimidate a region, let alone the three of them working together?
Angie said calmly, "It seems we need to be more careful in our actions in the capital from now on, especially with Xiu Lan. We must be on guard at all times."
"I won't give them a second chance," I said calmly. "From now on, everyone must be more vigilant and avoid being alone unless absolutely necessary. Angie, use your intelligence network to find out where Lunger and his group are hiding as soon as possible. They treated me so well; it would seem petty of me not to repay them."
"Yes, Xiu Lan," Angie replied. Although even the Holy Temple couldn't track Lunger and his group's movements, the Heavenly Sect's all-pervasive methods might be able to find them.
I looked around at everyone and said, "We'll stay in the capital for a maximum of three days. There are a few things that need to be done during that time, including Fero's engagement ceremony. After three days, we'll return to Biarell immediately."
Kusei exclaimed, "So soon?"
I sneered, "Someone already advised me to leave immediately. Three days is already considered slow."
Everyone glanced at Dolores, but no one was so bored as to ask her a question.
So far, none of them have noticed my fatal internal injury. This isn't because Angie and the others lack eyesight, but because the wound from the Doomsday Curse is deeply hidden within my meridians, making it impossible to detect from the surface. As long as I don't overuse dark energy, everything will remain normal.
After chatting for a while, I heard Debo rush in, panting, shouting, "Xiu Lan, something bad has happened!"
I said calmly, "Weren't you doing just fine?"
"It wasn't me, it was Bashi!" Debo replied, "He was just taken away from the gambling den. It was Kafi's father who did it! Apparently, they found out about Bashi's father evading taxes and smuggling weapons, and now even his mansion in the capital was raided overnight."
Sure enough, they did it. I wasn't surprised at all; I was more impressed by Stey's efficiency.
Debo said, "Xiu Lan, aren't you going to see His Majesty later? Could you perhaps find a way to ask His Majesty for a pardon?"
I sneered, "What do you take His Majesty Jiaxiu for? If Ba Shi's father is indeed guilty of those two crimes, Stig's handling of the case will leave no room for argument. Why should I demand his release?"
Debo was taken aback. I breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Debo, I already have a plan for this matter. Try to see Ba Shi and tell him not to worry. I can get Ott to rescue him willingly as early as tonight."
Before Debo could say anything, someone came in to report that Earl Winritt's carriage had arrived.

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