The Chronicles of Alibuda, Volumes 4-6, by Nongyu

【The Chronicles of Alibuda】
Author: Nongyu (Luo Sen)
Publisher: Hetu Publishing House

◆ Chapter 1: Campfire Party

My luck had reached its lowest point. I never imagined that in this remote, desolate forest far from the continental countries, I would encounter two rising stars from the Palace of Light, and even more likely, witness Tianhe Xueqiong's true face. Hearing the two sisters' incredulous exclamation upon seeing Xueqiong's true form, I knew I was in deep trouble.

(Damn it, I'm really screwed this time.)

I was inwardly groaning, trying to figure out how to escape, even to flee for my life, when I heard the three women begin to chatter like birds after their exclamations.

Yu Hong tugged at her sister Yu Ni's sleeve, her voice crisp and clear, "I never imagined there could be such a beauty as this sister in the world..."

"Oh, not at all! I'm the one who envies you two sisters. You're so young and beautiful, and your skills are amazing. You took care of all those beastmen in one go. You're really impressive."

Yu Hong and A Xue seemed to have similar personalities, and the two quickly struck up a conversation. Yu Ni, on the other hand, was much more mature and worldly-wise. She seemed unwilling to let her younger sister get too close to a complete stranger, and she kept trying to interrupt Yu Hong, her eyes constantly glancing in my direction.

None of that mattered, but judging from the situation, they didn't seem to know Tianhe Xueqiong. Otherwise, their reaction to A Xue would never have been like this.

Since they didn't know each other, I had no reservations and naturally went up to strike up a conversation with these two beauties. However, Yu Ni, perhaps having been raped dozens of times by human men in the past, seemed to have "wariness" written all over her face the moment I approached. No matter what I said, she only gave a few cold replies, making me quite bored. "

Alright, my dear nephews, if you don't mind, let's get going. It's still a long way to Skeva City. Orc troops will appear here, and there might be more around. If we stay here any longer, it will be difficult to deal with them later."

The awkward situation was finally resolved with Mao Yan'an's help, which calmed Yu Ni and Yu Hong down, and they set off with us.

The whole affair had left me completely bewildered. Finally, during our rest that evening, I managed to clarify a few things through questioning.

"When I was still in China, I met Miss Tianhe Xueqiong of the Palace of Light. You two are her fellow disciples. I wonder how Miss Tianhe is doing lately?"

"Well... we don't know much either. If we know correctly, Senior Sister Tianhe has already set sail and begun her cultivation journey overseas."

"Huh? Judging from your tone, you haven't seen her? No way, aren't you fellow disciples?"

Using this question, I slowly and indirectly asked the question. The nun Xinyin usually secluded herself for cultivation, and her disciple Tianhe Xueqiong also lived in seclusion on a high mountain. The master of these two Japanese sisters, Layman Xindeng, had been traveling the world for many years. The two sisters had rarely even been to the Cihang Jingdian, let alone visited the nun Xinyin, so naturally they didn't know their senior sister Tianhe Xueqiong.

"Then, why did you go to Skeva Songlou City? What about the Zoroastrian attack you just mentioned?"

It was only after this question that I truly realized that something terrible had happened. The four major beast races had been jointly blockading the Feathered Race for some time with little effect. Finally, several months ago, they reached an agreement to launch a joint attack, spearheaded by the Fire Worship Cult, with all information kept secret beforehand to catch the enemy off guard.

Fortunately, the Feathered Race was lucky; the beastmen's secrecy and espionage skills were so poor that even things supposedly kept strictly confidential were leaked, allowing Skeva Songlou City to prepare. Given the enemy's unprecedented strength, City Lord Katrina hurriedly sent letters to various places, widely inviting help. The Neon Sisters, upon receiving the plea for assistance, immediately traveled thousands of miles to come.

"Actually, you didn't have to come back. Although you sisters are Feathered Race, you have long since achieved success beyond the Southern Barbarians, and have nothing to do with the grudges and entanglements here. With the Cihang Jingdian as your backing, you could have easily stayed out of it," Mao Yan'an nodded. "But now that the Feathered Race is in trouble, you still risked your lives to return, which shows your kindness and that you haven't forgotten your roots. Very good, very good..."

"Senior, you flatter me. My sister and I have been trained by our master and have achieved great success in our skills, serving in the Divine Palace. However, we have never forgotten that we are of the Feathered Clan, and we have always maintained contact with Skeva Song Tower City," Yu Ni said. "We are always worried about the plight of our Feathered Clan compatriots in the Southern Barbarian Lands. Now that our clan is in trouble, as members of the Feathered Clan, how could we face heaven and earth if we abandoned our compatriots at this time?"

As she spoke, Yu Ni lost her usual coldness and became somewhat agitated, her fists clenched tightly. Even Yu Hong, who had been chatting with Ah Xue, became serious upon hearing this and nodded earnestly in agreement with her sister's words. Having served in the military for many years, I am used to this. Those mercenaries whose homes and countries have been destroyed always speak of their homeland and people with such passionate and impassioned expressions, as if they are eager to sacrifice themselves. When you see such people, you should be wary and make sure to get your money back as soon as possible.

Yu Ni said, "This time the enemy is powerful. I hope we can arrive before they besiege the city and fight alongside our compatriots."

Yu Hong said, "Sister is right, but... I heard it's not too bad this time. It seems the Fire Worship Cult Leader is in seclusion and hasn't participated in the operation, otherwise..."

Mentioning the Fire Worship Cult Leader, both sisters fell silent. Even Mao Yan'an looked serious. Only A Xue, still confused, looked at us curiously.

The Fire Worship Cult Leader, also known as the Beastmaster, revered as a god by the beastmen, had achieved remarkable martial arts prowess despite being a beastman, ranking among the five strongest in the world. With such cultivation, he must be extremely formidable. Fortunately, most masters like him are martial arts fanatics, frequently going into seclusion to study even more advanced techniques, striving to become the number one in the world. Otherwise, with him in charge, Skeva City would definitely be doomed, and I would have to immediately abandon the mission, avoiding this foolish act that would lead to certain death.

The Heart-Seal Nun of the Temple of Light, the Beast Master of the Zoroastrian Church, the Black Dragon King of the Black Dragon Society, my Dragon Girl sister, and my dead-faced, perverted father stationed on the border of the Kingdom of Alibuda—these five are collectively known as the five strongest people in the world. The title of "strongest" is based on martial arts prowess, but all paths lead to the same goal; those who have cultivated martial arts to their level are probably beyond the reach of other arts.

The final question concerns the uncle beside us, Mao Yan'an. Through the narration of the Neon Sisters, I learned that this guy is not an ordinary artist.

Nearly thirty years ago, at the Royal Poetry Competition of the Plantagenet Federation, this unknown young man, with his rich knowledge and handsome appearance, sang a poem praising the glory of the gods amidst melodious music, winning thunderous applause and taking the championship. Afterwards, he was invited to the Temple of Light, where he discussed Zen with the high monks and had a very pleasant conversation. He was recommended by the Temple of Light to serve as a painter in the Plantagenet Federation.

Due to his talent, during his time as a painter, he also drafted several documents for the government that later influenced the cultural renaissance of the Plantagenet Federation, which were highly valued by the people of the country. However, when he had served in the Plantagenet Federation for three years and a large number of supporters hoped that he would run for public office, he resigned gracefully, citing that "artists should not participate in worldly affairs."

The Golden Flower Federation's attempts to retain him failed, so they presented him with a golden seal, signifying their status as an envoy. Backed by the Palace of Light, the Golden Flower Federation's powerful backing meant he could travel freely wherever he went simply by displaying the seal. Furthermore, during his time as a painter, he was frequently invited to various banquets, where his witty remarks won him the favor of nobles from different countries. He was adept at networking and had extensive connections across the continent, allowing him to travel freely for many years without encountering any danger.

"Is that so? But then again, this guy is just a scholar, unable to fight on the battlefield. You're going to help Skeva Song Tower City, what's there to be happy about seeing him?"

Yu Ni was surprised, not expecting me to criticize my elders like this. She gave me a strange look, seemingly doubting our relationship.

"Martial arts... we don't expect anything from them. We just want you to lead us to Skeva Tower City. The city is located in a remote area and may have a concealment barrier. Even the locals of Youli might not know about it. You've visited Youli many times and have been to the city before. Just take us there, and we'll take care of the rest."

In short, the uncle's job is to lead the way; they don't expect him to do anything on the battlefield. The actual fighting is their job.

Hearing this, I couldn't help but take another look at the Neon Sisters. They still looked as delicate as flowers, and it was hard to imagine why they were so confident on the battlefield.

However, appearances can be deceiving. Who would have thought that when Ah Xue uprooted a tree and swung it wildly, the beastmen would flee in terror?

I had heard a little about these two sisters. They encountered a wise master, the Hermit of the Heart Lamp, and honed their martial arts skills to a remarkable degree. When facing enemies, the two sisters worked together, their minds in perfect harmony, making them a formidable force. Recommended by the Palace of Light, they obtained police officer status recognized by various countries on the continent. They could apprehend criminals in these countries without border restrictions; simply by showing their identification, they would receive official assistance. In just two years, they had captured and killed over a dozen notorious thieves and bandits who had baffled others, earning a truly resounding reputation. This led some gossips to haile them as one of the Seven Beauties.

"That's strange. There are clearly two people, so why are they only counted as one flower? Isn't that unfair?" Unable to understand, Ah Xue asked me, puzzled.

"Although there are two people, they have the same face, and their figures… probably aren't too different. What's the difference between two people like that and one person?"

I answered, but my mind was elsewhere. The criminals who fell to their clutches were no pushovers; otherwise, they would have been captured and killed long ago. But when they encountered the Neon Sisters, they were all killed on the spot, without exception. This is why their reputation is so great. In the past, when I heard of these feats, I only thought they were highly skilled disciples of the Palace of Light, possessing extraordinary martial arts skills, which explained their repeated victories. But now, knowing they are from the Feathered Clan, I have a different perspective.

Those notorious thieves and bandits probably fell victim to the beast demons they summoned. Even if they come from prestigious families and have been trained by renowned masters, these two sisters are still young and unlikely to have mastered their martial arts to such a high level. Even if their combined attacks are truly as powerful as legend suggests, doubling their combined lethality, the fact that this has spread throughout the continent means people have every reason to be wary. In other words, if it were a direct confrontation based on individual skill, their repeated victories are truly unbelievable.

The most likely explanation is beast magic. The enemy was on high alert, only guessing that those from the Palace of Light might possess some light-based purification and healing spells. Who would have thought that, in the midst of the battle, they would suddenly unleash beast magic, a technique supposedly only found among the Southern Barbarians? Caught off guard, they were left with no choice but to behead their enemies. It's no wonder that all their targets were killed on the spot; if they weren't silenced, their signature techniques and identities would be exposed.

What exactly were their beast magics? I didn't know. The annihilation of those orcs was too fast; I didn't even have time to see clearly, but they must have been extremely powerful beast magics. According to rumors I'd heard, some higher-level beast magics could only be used by specific races. The Feathered Clan was able to rule the Southern Barbarians, so they must have possessed some extraordinary abilities. I wonder how much of the Feathered Clan's secret techniques these two had inherited.

I started pondering this not out of boredom. According to them, the road ahead wouldn't be easy. Even if they managed to reach Skeva City safely, they might still have to fight the Zoroastrian Church. After all, they were local strongmen with considerable power. Every treasure merchant in the Southern Barbarian Lands knew that if you didn't want to be buried there, you should never offend the Zoroastrian Church. If a formal war broke out, could a mere Skeva City gate withstand the Zoroastrian Church's large army?

Both sides were Beastmasters; such a battle would certainly be spectacular. However, since I myself was going to be on the battlefield, I'd rather not watch such a spectacle. After all, I knew my limitations and didn't want to become a sacrifice for others to display their ultimate skills.

"Even without the Beastmaster's support, the Zoroastrian Church has many capable individuals. Are the two of you enough to fight them?"

I interrupted Ah Xue and Yu Hong's conversation, posing this extremely discouraging question. Yu Ni glanced at me warily, clearly unwilling to let an outsider like me know too much. However, seemingly mindful of her master's close friend's presence, she hesitated to remain silent, so she vaguely said, "We...we are confident. As long as we reach Loucheng, we will definitely find a way to make the enemy retreat..."

Her words weren't clear, but it was evident she wasn't speaking without reason, but rather possessed considerable confidence. Their skills alone wouldn't be enough to generate such confidence; therefore, they must have something else to rely on. What could it be? The most likely guess was...some powerful weapon? With

the Zoroastrian attacking in full force, if they were confident that their secret weapon could repel the Zoroastrian army, then this thing was truly extraordinary!

I glanced at the Ni sisters. Upon meeting my gaze, Yu Ni's voice became somewhat unnatural, and Yu Hong unconsciously reached behind her, as if to confirm something. Following her movements, I suddenly noticed a bundle about half a foot in size hidden behind her. It was vaguely visible, but it looked like what I was thinking.

(A small bundle—what could it be? Poison? Unlikely. Disciples of the Temple of Light wouldn't use poison. Then… could it be a powerful artifact forged by a master of fire magic?)

Of the six major magic systems, only fire magic can create artifacts and seal magical power within them to make them divine. I'd heard my eccentric father say that a powerful artifact, combined with a medium-sized or larger protective array, could amplify its power enough to make an army of 100,000 retreat—a lesson he learned from his early battles against the Ishtar army.

If that were true, it would be very reliable. We only needed to deliver such an artifact to the city, and we'd be absolutely certain of defeating the Zoroastrian army. But was it really that simple? What if I'm wrong? Wouldn't this be suicide? Just

to be safe, I asked a few more questions, this time not to the Neon Sisters, but to Mao Yan'an, to avoid arousing their excessive vigilance and causing misunderstandings.

"Even without the Elder of Ten Thousand Beasts, the Fire Worship Cult still controls 85% of the current experts in the Southern Barbarians. If the Feathered Clan were to fight them head-on, I think it would be a nine-out-of-ten chance of death!" I said, "Just how strong are the Feathered Clan? Are there any powerful figures among them who are skilled in beast magic? What about martial arts masters?"

The Neon Sisters listened to my questions with bated breath. Obviously, having not returned to the Southern Barbarians for a long time, they were also unclear about the situation in Skeva Song Tower City, which was normal. But compared to them, Mao Yan'an's understanding of the Feathered Clan was quite extraordinary, as he could answer them so smoothly and without hesitation.

Mao Yan'an said, "In the past, the Feathered Clan was able to resist enemy attacks mainly because the enemy was not united and they were able to take advantage of the terrain of Loucheng. Generally speaking, the average combat strength of the Feathered Clan is slightly stronger than that of the various Beast Clans, but in terms of the quality of their experts, apart from Lady Katrina, the city lord, who is quite skilled, there are no other outstanding individuals..."

"Is that bad? Wouldn't it be very dangerous for us to go like this?"

"It won't be dangerous at all. To protect our homeland, every one of us in the Feathered Clan can fight ten against one, and we will definitely not lose to the enemy." Yu Hong spoke with righteous indignation, but just listening to her say that, I knew that although the two sisters might be excellent hunters, they were completely ignorant of warfare. Although there are examples in the world of wars where morale can turn the tide, if you rely on morale before the war even starts, it's no different from suicide.

"Moreover, I heard that Senior Brother Fang Qingshu will also be coming this time. With him here, our chances of winning will greatly increase, and defeating the Zoroastrian heretics will definitely not be a problem." Perhaps encouraged by that name, Yu Hong's face was full of excitement, and a shy blush of girlishness could not be concealed.

"Fang Qingshu? The young master of the Fang family in the Golden Flower Federation?" Upon hearing this, my face seemed to twitch for a moment. I asked for confirmation in an annoyed tone, but I saw Yu Hong nod hurriedly.

If someone asked who the next master of the Fang family, which wields such great power in the Golden Flower Federation and has been elected president for several consecutive terms, was, the answer would be Fang Qingshu.

If someone asked who the person was who was taken as the first disciple by Master Xin Chan, the Palace Master of the Palace of Light, who taught him many of the unique martial arts techniques of the Cihang Jingdian, and who was also bestowed with the honorary title of "Knight of Light," the answer would be Fang Qingshu.

If someone were to ask who the number one swordsman among the new generation of young masters was, the hero who, months ago, defeated twelve generals of the Black Dragon Society on the East China Sea with his three-foot-long sword, was? The answer would be Fang Qingshu.

For the past five years, this young man, Fang Qingshu, has practically monopolized all the glory among the new generation of martial arts masters. Born into a prestigious family, handsome and refined, he possessed all the advantages from birth. Not only did he have extraordinary talent, but he also encountered a master, quickly mastering solid martial arts skills and easily defeating established figures, accumulating a long and impressive record.

However, this alone is not remarkable. There are many talented young martial artists in the world, although most earned their success through blood and sweat, unlike his effortless victories. But mere martial arts prowess is not enough to stand out.

Besides his exceptional martial arts skills, Fang Qingshu was also adept at literature. He not only achieved fame in the Golden Flower Federation's imperial examinations but also astonished everyone during his public oral examination at the Presidential Residence, showcasing his remarkable eloquence and insight. Frankly, if you disregard his martial arts achievements, this guy really resembles a younger version of Mao Yan'an.

The extraordinary adventures that ordinary people fantasize about are utterly beneath his notice. Everything around him is the best; even extraordinary encounters couldn't add any more luster to him. He had achieved everything that everyone else dreamed of at such a young age. How could someone like that not become an idol?

It's said that wherever he goes, he's accompanied by screams from countless young girls. Whether from noble families or martial arts heroines, they all vie to flatter and win the favor of this seemingly unpromising young hero. Although, so far, I've never heard of Fang Qingshu having any scandals, and all his interactions have remained "affectionate but respectful," I don't believe it.

There's no such thing as a cat that doesn't steal fish; it's just a matter of how well they keep it secret.

I had long heard of this guy's reputation, but since we were never in the same country, I never had the chance to meet him. I could only curse him silently whenever I heard him mentioned. Now, thinking that I would soon have the opportunity to see him in person, I felt a strange mix of emotions.

"Senior Brother Fang is the honor of our Cihang Jingdian. We have met him a few times before. When my sister and I bid farewell to our sect leader, he said that Senior Brother Fang would also be heading to Youli later to help the Feather Clan. With Senior Brother Fang in charge, we will definitely be able to defeat the Fire Worship Sect."

Yu Hong spoke excitedly. Just from the adoring light in her eyes, I knew that she must admire that guy surnamed Fang. Looking at the aloof Yu Ni, who didn't take us seriously at all, when she heard the name Fang Qingshu, although she didn't show it as obviously as her sister, her tense expression softened, and a strange light appeared in her eyes. I knew that the hearts of these two sisters were already tied to that dead-headed Senior Brother Fang.

I was meeting the Neon Sisters for the first time, and I had never met Fang Qingshu before. Seeing the two beautiful girls so enamored with him, I felt a strange mix of envy and jealousy.

Neither of us wanted to continue the conversation, and the campfire party ended there.
◆ Chapter Two: Springtime by the Pond

After that day, we set off together. With two beautiful women as companions, and not only that, but also one of the ten most famous beauties of our time, even the surrounding scenery seemed more magnificent as we walked.

In my previous understanding, those so-called chivalrous women who made a name for themselves in the martial arts world fell into two categories.

One was those who weren't particularly attractive, or those who were once beautiful but had aged and remained unmarried, with no man willing to marry them—these were faded chivalrous women. These women, lacking in natural advantages, could only strive for success in their work or martial arts. Unfortunately, no matter how outstanding their achievements, in the eyes of others, they remained merely sexually frustrated perverts, becoming objects of ridicule.

Another type was more troublesome: beautiful women, but lacking real skill, merely empty shells who screamed in the face of trouble. These women often came from prestigious families, and their purpose in wandering the martial world, besides learning a few basic martial arts moves and being restless, was probably to find a distinguished hero like Fang Qingshu to marry.

Beautiful girls often relied on their looks, practicing martial arts haphazardly, rarely achieving any real skill. Because of this, every year there would be a few cases where daughters of noble families or princesses of small countries, having mastered their skills, wandered the martial world wanting to use their acquired abilities to punish evil, only to be easily defeated in actual combat and brutally defiled. Especially those idiotic women who storm up someone's mountain stronghold, hoping to wipe out the entire stronghold in one go—they often fail to eliminate the villains and end up being raped beyond recognition by the hundreds of bandits in the stronghold. The unlucky ones even end up being sold into brothels… I'm not kidding, I've patronized a few of these idiotic heroines, and it was quite an experience, costing me a considerable sum.

"The path of the martial world is not easy," is an ancestral motto left by my philandering grandfather. My perverted father seems to have deeply understood this saying, so he never intended to roam the martial world. Despite possessing unparalleled martial arts skills, he was content to be a border guard and never concerned himself with martial arts affairs.

I share this sentiment, so I contentedly served as a member of the Imperial Guard, yet I was still not in control of my own destiny, forced to wander the southern barbarians and now embroiled in the conflict between the Zoroastrianism and the Feathered Clan.

However, compared to my original two categories, the Japanese sisters are quite different. They were indeed very beautiful, but their skills were also formidable. Although we hadn't seen them in actual combat yet, so we couldn't fully assess their abilities, it was clear that their foundation in martial arts was extremely solid.

Every morning before setting off, the sisters would rise exceptionally early to practice their skills together. Their very peculiar meditation posture was unclear; was it some kind of internal energy cultivation technique from the Temple of Light? Or was it mental training required to control the beast demons?

In short, unlike typical disciples of prestigious families who become arrogant based on their sect's reputation and practice their skills carelessly, failing to unleash the full power of their superior martial arts when facing strong enemies, unable to withstand even a few moves, their solid training, while not necessarily leading to a rapid increase in power in the short term, has a clear effect in actual combat. On several occasions, I watched them draw their longswords and use the unique swordsmanship of the Cihang Jingdian Palace to exchange blows; each move was like a meteor shower, rippling with brilliant rainbows of light, demonstrating considerable skill.

I had always assumed that as disciples of the Palace of Light, they would possess some holy magic for healing, detoxification, and dispelling curses. However, apart from wind magic, the six major magic systems are not interchangeable. If they could use beast magic, it would be unlikely that they would know holy magic.

This idea was soon confirmed, because when Ah Xue asked them about the basics of light magic, Yu Ni still acted indifferent, while Yu Hong looked troubled and said that they weren't actually good at light magic. When they encountered related problems, they relied on light magic scrolls and couldn't solve them with their own power.

"Oh dear..." Ah Xue said dejectedly, "What a pity. I was hoping to learn some light magic. If I could learn a little bit of the basics, it would be useful, instead of being completely useless like this."

Just kidding, if I let you learn light magic, wouldn't I be in big trouble? If I regained my memories like this, and my three senior sisters came to kill me, this time I'd really be going to hell.

"No way, Sister Xue, you're beautiful, and your kung fu is excellent. Plus, a kind-hearted girl like you will definitely achieve great things in cultivating sacred magic very quickly."

"Really? Can I really do it? But Master always says I'm stupid. I can never learn what he teaches me."

"Huh? What did he teach you?"

"Oh, Master said that what he taught me was called Black..."

"Authentic Black Bridge Sausage!"

"No, Master, that's not what you said back then. You said what you taught me was called Black..."

"Authentic Black Starfruit Juice!"

Without giving Xue a chance to say the words "black magic," I covered her mouth and told Yu Hong with a smile that because I didn't want Xue's pure hands to be stained with blood, I didn't teach her martial arts or magic. I only taught her how to stuff sausages and squeeze starfruit juice.

The Neon Sisters aren't the type of women who are all looks and no brains, especially Yu Ni. It's clear this ice queen is quite perceptive, and given their background in the Palace of Light, they're particularly sensitive to things like dark magic. I couldn't let them find any fault with me. It's all

Mao Yan'an's fault, though. This guy could make up anything, but when introducing me, he claimed I was the head instructor of the Royal Guard of the Kingdom of Alibuda, a first-rate martial arts master. Such a boast made the Neon Sisters look at me with incredibly strange eyes.

"Hey! Why did I become a martial arts instructor?"

"Because your surname is Lan now."

The strange motive... I really don't understand what Mao Yan'an was thinking.

"So you're Brother Lan, my apologies."

Yu Ni and Yu Hong said some polite words, but I could see the doubt in Yu Ni's eyes. It's understandable; with their eyesight, they should be able to tell a person's martial arts level. With my third-rate martial arts, to say I could become the head instructor of a kingdom's Royal Guard—even I don't believe such a lie.

Therefore, when I explained to them that Ah Xue was my little apprentice, both sisters looked very suspicious. When we set off, Ah Xue carried me on her back in a bamboo chair, and they were almost speechless with surprise.

Sigh, if I had known it would turn out like this, I shouldn't have played that teacher-student game in the first place. I should have just taken this silly woman as my slave girl; at least I could roast her or eat her as I pleased without worrying about what others thought.

They didn't have the arrogance of noble children, which was rare, because the disciples of the Light Palace I had encountered in the past were either cold and aloof like Tianhe Xueqiong, or arrogant and disdainful of others. At first, I thought that since they were among the direct descendants of the current generation of the Light Palace, their attitude would be very high, but after talking with them, I learned that their master, the Heart Lamp Hermit, was an extremely approachable and kind person. He passed on this attitude to his disciples, and because of their work in apprehending criminals, they spent most of their time working alongside lower-level personnel, humbly learning from experience, without any sense of superiority.

Another reason was that the sisters' financial situation was only average; they didn't have a large sum of money in their pockets, so their attitude couldn't be particularly high.

However, compared to their attitude, there was something very jarring: the two sisters highly valued the spirit of justice. Whenever any illegal or criminal behavior was mentioned, not only Yu Hong but even the usually calm Yu Ni couldn't help but feel indignant, wishing they could immediately bring all the evildoers to justice.

Since I didn't look like a law-abiding citizen at all, I felt very uncomfortable hearing their words, and they seemed to have noticed this as well. They were noticeably wary of me, and the few questions they asked me didn't seem like pleasantries but rather like they were trying to elicit information about my crimes.

To be honest, it's not a problem for law enforcement officers to value the spirit of justice, but valuing "justice" to the point of even surpassing "the rule of law" felt a bit strange.

Amidst this slight incongruity, we continued on our way. In terms of speed alone, the Neon sisters spreading their wings and flying straight to their destination was obviously the fastest way. But Mao Yan'an said that the Zoroastrian sect's target was the Feathered Clan, and now that a large force had arrived nearby, they would definitely set up an aerial blockade. Flying over would increase the chances of being discovered and intercepted, making it very unsafe.

Hearing this, the Neon Sisters had no choice but to abandon their plan and quicken their pace with us. Perhaps Mao Yan'an's words made sense, but based on my intuition, I felt that his purpose in saying this was to prevent the Neon Sisters from separating from us too quickly and reaching Skeva City.

Since we were walking, avoiding enemies became crucial. Otherwise, if we ran into an orc patrol like the previous two days, alerting a large force to intercept us, we would have to fight our way through, which was not worthwhile. Moreover, although the Neon Sisters' presence greatly increased our strength, we weren't powerful enough to confidently overcome every obstacle. To avoid unforeseen complications, we had to evade enemies.

In this situation, Violet came in handy. The beastmen all grew up in the mountains and fields, mastering various techniques to conceal their presence. From a human perspective, it's impossible to compete with their innate, heightened sense of smell and sight. But regardless, a fully-fledged wild beast's sensory abilities far surpass those of an ordinary beastman.

We've been able to travel safely until now thanks to Violet, and at this crucial moment, she's fully demonstrated her superior abilities. No matter which way the beastman patrol comes from, she always detects them first, growling and leading us to change direction, avoiding an unnecessary bloodshed.

"Amazing! Sister Xue's leopard is truly skilled. I've never seen such a clever beast before."

"Of course! Violet is my dearest friend."

Xue and Yu Hong chatted and laughed, the two of them being the most compatible throughout the entire journey, often talking about random things. And I can guarantee that, apart from Xue, in the eyes of the two sisters, I, Mao Yan'an, and Violet were simply incredibly strange.

Especially Yu Ni. This aloof girl seemed highly wary of everything, maintaining a polite yet distant distance. Although I had been trying to find an opportunity to talk to her and build a relationship, she would only offer a few perfunctory greetings before turning away and ignoring me completely, as if she didn't take me seriously at all.

Although I could comfort myself by thinking that I had a beautiful lover like the Dragon Girl and a charming girl like Ah Xue whom I could do whatever I wanted, having already won over two of the Four Heavenly Maidens, why should I care about these two clueless girls? However, deep down I knew this was just self-deception.

The Dragon Girl might not be my lover. If things didn't go well in Skeva City, my place in her heart might be less than a pile of dung.

Ah Xue wouldn't let me do whatever I wanted either. It could have been, but I shouldn't have let her adopt that dead leopard. Now she's under Violet's tight protection; I can't even touch her. Plus, with so many people around, even our once-a-night oral sex is difficult to manage.

I can't quell my desires, and having three beautiful women constantly in front of me is unbearable for any man. Taking advantage of this opportunity, I naturally wanted to pluck this "twin rainbow," but she was not someone to be trifled with. Even if I disregarded the consequences and used any means necessary, finding an opportunity wouldn't be easy. Drugging her was a one-time thing, and I wouldn't do it if I wasn't desperate. After all, having had intimate relationships with Ah Xue and Sister Long Nu, in my eyes, neither of them were women I would risk my life for.

However, traveling in the mountains with a group of girls, it would be ridiculous to say there weren't any eye-catching opportunities. On the evening of our third day, after confirming we were completely safe from orc patrols and preparing to set up camp, Mao Yan'an, who had been flipping through his travel journal, exclaimed in surprise, "Ah, I forgot! I discovered before when I came here that there's a secret hot spring nearby!"

For a group of girls who were naturally clean, hearing the word "hot spring" in this situation was like a bee seeing a flower. I don't know how they cleansed themselves before we met, but these past two days, to avoid the orc patrols, they haven't dared to approach the stream, so they haven't had a chance to draw water for cleansing.

To men, going ten or fifteen days without bathing isn't a big deal, but for women, two days without bathing is like hell. I understand this very well, so after hearing Mao Yan'an say this, I immediately and calmly kicked Ah Xue, who was sleeping against a tree trunk, waking her up and asking her to come with me to gather firewood.

Since Ah Xue was leaving, Violet would naturally follow her, to prevent me from taking advantage of the opportunity of being alone with her in the forest to plot against its mistress. This idea wasn't wrong, but this time I'm going to prove that there's a reason why humans defeated elves and orcs and became the masters of all things.

"Ah Xue, you gather firewood here, I'll be back for a bit."

"Master, where are you going? The forest around here is so dark, I... I'm a little scared."

"What are you scared of? Little Purple will protect you, and I won't go far, I'll be back in a bit."

"Take me with you... Huh? Master, you're not going to do something I don't want you to see, are you?"

"Hmm, as expected of my disciple, Ah Xue, you're getting smarter and smarter. Alright, since you insist on knowing, I'll tell you."

I whispered close to Ah Xue's ear, "I just heard the sound of water over there, I'll go fetch some water now, wash your little bottom clean, and then do all the work for the past few days at once, so you won't even be able to call for your mother later."

It was no joke. Hearing me say that, Ah Xue's pupils widened instantly, her hair almost stood on end, she let out a gasp, turned and ran, Violet followed her, the two of them disappearing into the forest in no time.

Having shaken off the obstacle, and judging by the time, the beautiful sisters should be able to bathe with peace of mind. Following Mao Yan'an's description, I stealthily crept towards the location of the secret hot spring.

After a short while, the view suddenly opened up before me. Tree shadows swayed, and emerald waters shimmered with steam. Surrounded by lush green grass, a sizable hot spring pool emitted wisps of heat. In the poignant sunset, two beautiful young women's bodies were frolicking and washing in the water.

Not exactly voluptuous, the Feathered Tribe women's bodies were traditionally known for their slender and tall figures. The two sisters, still developing, stood facing each other. Their almost identical bodies appeared so delicate and full of youthful vitality. The same smooth abdomen, the same supple waist, the same long, beautiful legs, reflected in the water, exuded a breathtaking beauty.

Even though they couldn't match Ah Xue's impressive fullness, Yu Ni and Yu Hong's snow-white bodies still boasted two pairs of firm, white jade breasts that stood proudly upright, swaying lightly with their owners' movements, looking just the right size to be grasped in one hand.

Seemingly to enjoy this unrestrained comfort, they even spread their snow-white wings, scattering warm sprays in the hot spring. With their wings spread, the two sisters resembled a pair of white swans, gliding through the water with indescribable elegance. Their slender breasts, delicate waists, and rounded buttocks swayed alluringly, creating a breathtaking picture of angels emerging from a bath. If there was any blemish on this picture… it was the presence of a pervert watching their movements, constantly stroking his crotch.

(Damn it, they're too far away. I can't see the pretty things clearly. Is there any way to see them more clearly?)

I'm currently a full ten feet away from them. With the dim lighting, I can only see their beauty, not their reality. Logically, I should move closer, but the Neon Sisters are no ordinary people. Their half-orc bloodline alone gives them far sharper senses than normal humans. Not to mention, these two female constables must have some kind of professional skill like "seeing and hearing from above." If I'm not careful, they'll discover me, and the consequences will be severe.

(This opportunity is gone forever. If I get to Skeva's Tower City, I won't have this kind of spying opportunity anymore... I guess I'll have to take the risk.)

Having made up my mind, I surveyed the terrain and found a mound to the north. Although it wasn't closer than my current position, it offered a better vantage point for spying, so I climbed over without hesitation.

Contrary to my expectations, while the view improved after climbing the hill, it didn't help my plans. Just as I was regretting not buying spying gear before entering the mountain, I suddenly noticed a strange sound nearby. I

looked around to make sure I was alone, but when I stubbornly followed the sound, I saw the grass on my left seem to be shaking. Looking closer, I realized it wasn't grass at all, but a person dressed in grassy green clothing, covered in mud and grass as camouflage, using this perfect disguise to spy on me. Honestly, the disguise was flawless. If we hadn't been less than two feet apart and there hadn't been the strange sound, I definitely wouldn't have noticed.

This hot spring was truly secluded; there shouldn't be any outsiders within a mile radius. Ah Xue couldn't have been spying, and neither could Violet. So… the only suspect was one person.

"Mao..."

Before I could even utter a word, he struck with lightning speed, covering my mouth and stuffing some camouflage mud from his palm into my stomach. Then, a piece of paper was handed to me.

"Both targets are extremely sharp-eyed. To avoid alerting them, remain silent." When two

birds fight, one will not let the other benefit. I was certainly not foolish enough to expose his plot at this moment. I simply took the charcoal pencil and began scribbling furiously on the paper.

"You two-faced beast! You put on this sanctimonious act, talking about a secret hot spring, but you just want to peep, don't you!"

"Oh, please don't...write it like that. Sanctimonious is how you appear. I'm young and energetic; what's wrong with wanting to see pretty things? Besides, I'm here with the purest heart to perform art. Don't confuse me with you, young master."

"Nonsense!"

Running out of paper, I hastily scribbled down two large characters, flipped the paper, and continued, "Everyone's here to peep. What's the difference between you and me?"

"It's so different! Where are your hands? Where are mine?"

"You bastard, at a time like this, in a place like this, a man's hands should naturally be..."

Witnessing such beauty, my hands were naturally in my crotch. As for this perverted old man's hands... God, I simply couldn't believe it. He was writing and talking to me with his left hand, while his right hand manipulated three paintbrushes, capturing the scene of the beautiful woman bathing in front of him in a painting. He was incredibly fast, and in just a few strokes, he had completed an uncolored outline sketch. Judging from the dozen or so unfinished works next to him, he had been here for quite a while.

"You... are you really a painter?"

"Actually, before I became famous, I worked as an assistant to a cartoonist in Ishtar..."

Mao Yan'an glanced at me, seemingly quite proud of his experience. And this guy was truly fully equipped. In addition to those disguise props, he was wearing a pair of high-powered binoculars on his face. Because he was worried about being noticed for the reflection, the lenses were even painted with camouflage. He was truly an expert.

After receiving a pair of identical lenses from him, the two men reconciled, setting aside their pointless disputes to enjoy the beautiful scenery together.

The lenses were indeed top-quality; with magnified clarity, not only the feathers on the wings but even the tiny, pale golden hairs between the Neon sisters' legs were clearly visible. I was almost moved to tears; all the hard work and risks had been worthwhile.

In the pool, as they washed each other's bodies, the sisters chatted. They hadn't had many opportunities to speak privately these past few days, and they had many things on their minds to discuss.

The hot spring was warm, but as evening approached, the air had become slightly chilly. Yu Ni came up behind her sister, sprinkling water on her delicate shoulders, slowly tracing the curves of her body, rubbing Yu Hong's back, then around her wings, down to her round buttocks, rubbing one side vigorously with each hand.

Yu Hong smiled shyly, reaching out to hug her sister's waist, but Yu Ni dodged, and the two sisters burst into laughter. The intimate gesture made me swallow hard, feeling a little strange, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

"Sister, do you think our trip to Loucheng to help this time will be successful?"

"Yes, Aunt Katrina is fully prepared. Besides Senior Brother Fang, I heard she's also invited Li Huamei, the Golden Admiral of the East Sea, to help. If Admiral Li really arrives, even if the Beast Master emerges from seclusion, we won't fear the Fire Worship Cult."

Yu Ni said, continuing to pour water on her sister's snowy neck, slender shoulders, and chest. As the water droplets rippled along the curves of her chest, hanging from the tops of her pink breasts, their glistening color resembled a luscious, tempting fruit.

"Sister, have you noticed how strange the way that young master Lan Diao is looking at us is?"

"Hmph, what's so strange about it? He's just a lecher. Since we debuted, haven't we been looked at like that countless times? Sometimes I'm really angry. Why do we have to be judged by those men, ranked among the top ten beauties, as if we were born to be their entertainment?"

Yu Hong stuck out her tongue and laughed, "Sister, don't be angry. I feel bad too. This time we have to travel with that kind of man. It feels like we're being swarmed by maggots all day long. It's so uncomfortable. Hehe, but Sister Xue is really beautiful and kind-hearted. She's completely different from her master. I never thought that there would be such a celestial being among the other beast races besides our Feather Clan."

"That Miss Xue is indeed rare. I've never seen a woman with such a sacred aura. She's practically a natural-born talent for cultivating light magic. But why would she follow such a master? That's very suspicious. It might even involve some illegal human trafficking scheme. We'll have to investigate after this matter is settled." "

Actually... if it weren't for the fact that we're unfamiliar with the terrain and need Uncle Mao to guide us, and he's with Uncle Mao, I wouldn't want to be with this kind of person at all, let alone let him know our background." "

Hmm... actually, I'm worried too, because according to Master, this Uncle Mao used to..."

Because Yu Ni deliberately lowered her voice, I didn't hear what she said, but just hearing what I heard, knowing how much people disliked me, was enough to make me furious. I vowed that one day, I would make these two ungrateful women cry and repent. I turned my head to look at Mao Yan'an. This art fanatic seemed not to have heard these words at all, only focusing on his paintbrush, drawing one sketch after another at a rapid pace.

While I was still in a daze, the situation below had already changed again.

Seemingly unable to withstand her sister's scrubbing, Yu Hong let out a soft cry and collapsed onto her sister. The wings on her back gradually shrank and disappeared, replaced by barely audible moans, faintly filled with desire.

"Sister, these past few days... we haven't been able to find a chance, little sister... I miss you so much..." Yu Hong said shyly, her cheeks flushed.

This scene alone left me speechless. My hand, which was in my crotch, completely forgot what it was doing, just gripping it tighter and tighter. A word floated in my mind, yet I couldn't believe it rationally.

Ignoring my shock, Yu Ni had already swept her sister up in a horizontal embrace, letting the almost dazzlingly white body float on the water's surface. Her usual coldness was gone, replaced by a joyful smile. It wasn't the gentle smile between family members, but the smug smile of a man seeing his beautiful young wife fawning over him.

"Little brat, I knew you wanted it as soon as you folded your wings. What? It's only been a few days since I touched you, and you're already craving a man?"

"I...I don't want a man, I only want my sister, okay?"

Thick steam enveloped the two sisters, isolating them from the rest of the world. Just as I saw the almost heartbroken look in her eyes, Yu Ni kissed her sister's lips, and Yu Hong, as if she had been waiting for this for a long time, eagerly pressed her lips to meet hers.

Drops of steam splashed onto Yu Ni's long golden hair, like a golden flash across the sky. She turned her face to the side, revealing the outline of her delicate and straight nose, her full red lips, and a silvery thread of saliva connecting her to her sister's slightly parted lips, transforming her usual aloofness into an indescribable alluring charm.

"Ah... Sister... You smell so good..."

Yu Ni licked the silver thread connecting her lips with her sister's, looked at Yu Hong's pretty face, chuckled, and her delicate hand, stroking a strand of soft hair, slid down her smooth forehead to her pert nose, then to her soft and alluring lips, down her fair neck... finally stopping at the mound of her breasts.

Slowly, she closed her fingers, making a full fist, and freely kneaded and pinched the mounds, searching for the buds at the peaks, quickly making them hard and taut...

"Mmm..." Yu Hong moaned softly, the sensation of friction against the soft skin making her whole body weak and powerless, enduring her sister's caresses.

"You're good. Those stinky men are all useless good-for-nothings, acting like rubbing animals all day long, how can I let them touch my cute little sister?" Yu Ni chuckled softly, her hand continuing to knead and squeeze her sister's soft, warm breasts.

"Men...how can they compare to my sister? She's my favorite..." With each stimulation of her chest, Yu Hong's voice grew increasingly tender.

Yu Ni brazenly pinched and twisted her firm, grape-like pink nipples, while Yu Hong obediently shut her mouth, refusing to let out a moan.

"That's right, that's right. Mom's not around right now, so besides your sister, who else can love you? Be good, your sister loves you the most..."

As if as a reward, Yu Ni's slender, delicate fingers swiftly moved to her sister's crotch, to the slightly raised mons pubis.

"Ah... ooh..." Yu Hong twisted her body, joyfully responding to her sister's movements. Her long, slender fingers first gently teased the sparse golden hairs, then slowly traced across the slightly damp petals, and finally reached the bud at the tip, tugging at it intentionally or unintentionally.

"No... Sister, it hurts..."

Yu Ni's fingers teased her wantonly, and Yu Hong gasped for breath, her consciousness gradually blurring...

"Does it hurt? Then do you still want to do it?"

Yu Ni chuckled, playing with her sister's cute little breasts, then suddenly grabbed the erect bud at the tip, and at the same time, her fingers entered her wet crevice...

"Ah... Sister... Don't let go..." Yu Hong's whole body suddenly convulsed, she gasped for breath, her weak hands gripping Yu Ni's invading wrist, making a futile resistance...

"Good girl, does it feel good?" Yu Ni skillfully teased her sister, slowly pulling her fingers out, then suddenly thrusting them in again, the continuous stimulation enveloping Yu Hong's whole body in a bewitching pink hue.

"Sister...no, I don't want it to be just like this...hurry up, treat Hong'er like usual!"

Finally, she managed to coax her younger sister into begging for mercy. Yu Ni smiled proudly and led her sister to the land by the pond. With one hand, she spread Yu Hong's fair and tender legs wide apart; with the other hand, she slid back and forth between her buttocks and cleft, her hand covered in glistening nectar.

Her soft, cotton-like buttocks were shamefully exposed, and being caressed by her older sister in her private parts, the insecurity of being at her mercy made her spine go cold, but the pleasure in her lower body made her buttocks twist involuntarily. Extreme shame and pleasure intertwined, causing the girl to convulse and shed tears, making sounds that sounded like crying.

"Please, sister... don't tease Hong'er anymore... um... you... you don't care about Hong'er at all..."

Like a seasoned womanizer familiar with the source of female pleasure, Yu Ni chuckled, parting her sister's fair legs, making the already overflowing flower valley even more prominent. At the same time, she also parted her own legs, slowly pressing her waist closer. After a moment, the sisters' tender private parts were in the most intimate union.

"Ah... sister..." As if she had received comfort from her beloved husband, Yu Hong's expression seemed extremely satisfied. She hugged one of her sister's jade legs to her chest, rubbing it back and forth with her own plump and lovely breasts.

Yu Ni also seemed to be enjoying herself quite a bit. She swayed her slender waist, controlling the rhythm of their mutual rubbing, allowing her sister to experience wave after wave of pleasure in the rising tide of desire.

"No...not there..." Suddenly, Yu Hong, immersed in the pleasure of sex, cried out in distress; her sister, without her noticing, parted her fair buttocks with her index finger, gently teasing the folds of her anus before pressing it inside.

"Ah..." A burning pain spread from between her thighs throughout her body. Yu Hong cried out, trying to escape the probing fingers inside her, but the close connection between her and her sister's bodies made her unable to move. Although she was willing to give everything to her sister, the sudden roughness made her cry out in pain, and her buttocks involuntarily swayed violently up and down.

"Sister...why? Why are you doing this to Hong'er? Why are you punishing Hong'er?"

"This is to make you remember that you can't have feelings for anyone other than your sister. These past two days, I've seen you and that Xue girl always smiling at each other. Do you know how unhappy I am?"

"I'm sorry, sister, I...I actually wanted to bring Sister Xue over. She's so pretty, and I'm sure you'd like her just like you dote on Hong'er. I didn't know you'd be unhappy..."

She groaned continuously, experiencing a pain that was also pleasurable—a feeling she had never experienced before. Humiliation and pleasure mingled, intensely stimulating Yu Hong's reason and body.

"Silly girl. Would your sister like anyone else besides you? It doesn't matter if they're male or female. No matter how pretty they are, your sister only wants my obedient little sister."

After hearing the explanation, Yu Ni withdrew her fingers with relief and instead slid them to the top of her sister's flower valley, playing with the wet pearl on the slit.

"Ah... ooh... um..." Unable to withstand the multiple stimulations, Yu Hong finally surrendered to the pleasure of her sensitive body, crying out in shame and moaning in excitement.

Her sister squeezed her thighs together, sometimes lightly, sometimes heavily, rubbing them back and forth against her most delicate flower garden, generating a burning desire like an electric current. Her trembling body went limp on the ground, only able to let her sister play with her...

The last shred of reason was occupied by the fiery pleasure, and desire completely controlled her entire body...

Her stiff body began to soften, her round buttocks swaying with the friction between her vulva, her throat moaning incessantly, as if trying to push away the pleasure that entangled her nerves. A feeling of needing to urinate gradually rose in her abdomen, and Yu Hong quickly shook her body, trying to release it.

Suddenly, her delicate body convulsed, the muscles between her legs twitching uncontrollably, and Yu Hong finally couldn't hold back and cried out like a child who had wet the bed.

"Waaah... Sister! Sister!" With the swaying of her snow-white buttocks, gusts of heat shot out...

"Ha... I've climaxed!" Yu Ni swayed her beautiful hair, excitedly shouting, tightly hugging her sister's pink legs to her chest. As the wet sensation between her legs gradually expanded, she also climbed to the forbidden peak of carnal desire with her beloved sister.

◆ Chapter 3: Fierce

Battle with the Beastmen I never dreamed that these angelic neon sisters would have such an abnormal relationship with each other, and even secretly engage in this sham love affair. Although both sisters are beautiful, and their gorgeous appearance when their skin is touching is like a breathtakingly beautiful painting, in my opinion, for a woman not to love a man, but to engage in same-sex love, is simply a heinous crime.

"Hey, don't you think this kind of thinking is too biased? It's so unfair to women."

"I don't care about fairness. If all women went into homosexuality, wouldn't men have nothing left to do?

Such a despicable act should be arrested and executed immediately... Huh? How did you know what I was thinking?"

"Hehehe, young master, you've forgotten, I'm the man you call 'uncle.' Since I was young once too, how could I not know what you're thinking?"

Silence fell as Mao Yan'an and I rushed to speak on the paper, not wanting to disturb the neon sisters who were still immersed in the afterglow of their climax. This guy is really a weirdo. Faced with such a beautiful woman, completely naked, he was completely unmoved, just focused on drawing. If he's not an art fanatic, he's definitely a pervert.

I'd stumbled upon such a high-quality erotic lesbian show while peeping, which should have been incredibly satisfying. But human nature is so greedy. I'd only intended to see the nudity, but now I'm seriously considering getting my hands on those two sisters and having sex with them.

If I disregarded the consequences and considered all possibilities, drugging them would be the most appropriate course of action. They'd be in a daze, without their usual vigilance, and wouldn't notice the drug lurking in the air. But I had nothing on me, and there wasn't time to go back and get it. The opportunity was gone forever. What should I do?

"Hehe, young master, what do you need? Don't forget, in every adventure story, behind every hero, there's an uncle silently..."

Mao Yan'an promptly handed me a piece of paper, catching my eye. His scholarly eyes, accompanied by a wicked smile, now looked like those of a lewd pimp. As I was surprised by this uncle's change, a sudden realization struck me.

"You?! Do you have any drugs on you? Would you give them to me?"

Of course, things weren't that easy. This scoundrel was clearly trying to sell me for a higher price, and I, burning with lust, disregarded everything else and offered a series of attractive terms, from Ah Xue's underwear and a nude painting of Ah Xue, to even the painful condition that we would each have sex with one of them after the drugging was successful. He remained noncommittal, insisting that Yu Ni and Yu Hong were his dear friend's beloved disciples, and that as an elder, how could he do such an immoral thing? Finally, I had no choice but to resort to threats.

"Hey, don't be ungrateful. If you don't agree, I'll touch your face."

"Oh? Is your palm technique that powerful, young master? Can such a clean and white palm kill?"

"Not the one I use for writing, but the one I still have in my pants, which is now soaking wet. How about it? Want to have your skin treated with white fruit jam?"

Unable to withstand my threats, Mao Yan'an finally surrendered, taking out a jar of what he called an aphrodisiac from a pile of paints he had hidden in his pocket and handing it to me.

"Wait...aren't these the lewd family I recruited last month? Where did you get them?"

"I saw you take Xueya away, so I knew you'd come here. And since you forgot your essentials, I just grabbed them for you. Pretty good friend, right?"

"...Stop drawing, go do business. Being so opportunistic, you're bound to make a fortune."

I crawled slowly on the ground, mimicking the unsightly yet effective movements of a cockroach, making absolutely no sound, towards the hot spring. Although Yu Ni and Yu Hong seemed somewhat naive, their vigilance was impeccable. Otherwise, with their beauty, they'd often be involved with wicked people; forget about being caught, they'd be captured, tortured, and sold to brothels long ago.

To use such a low-class technique as drugging, I could only take advantage of their distraction. Otherwise, even if my aphrodisiac was colorless and odorless, I wasn't confident I could only get them hooked while I remained unharmed. If both the man and woman were drugged, I definitely wouldn't be able to escape after waking up, which would be too much of a loss.

Using airborne poison to deal with a martial arts expert isn't a good method. I decided to target the clothes the sisters had left near the pool. If I put the powder there, by the time they realized something was wrong through skin contact, it would be too late.

I finally managed to get close without alerting them, and was just a hair's breadth away from sprinkling the powder on the clothes when suddenly, a wave of intense heat approached from behind, accompanied by a terrifying beastly roar.

Turning around, thankfully it wasn't a beastman, but it wasn't much better. Violet, who should have been chasing after Ah Xue, was growling and glaring at me angrily, a faint flame flickering at the corner of her mouth. It seemed she had seen through my wicked intentions and, taking the side of fellow females, was about to pounce and teach me a lesson.

"Hey, hey, Little Purple, talk this out. I'm still your master, after all..."

I had to explain, yet also be careful not to be discovered. This time, I was truly in a dilemma. I originally wanted to drag Mao Yan'an into the mess to get out of this predicament, but when I looked over there, all I saw was a bare, grassless pit. Mao Yan'an, who had been fully camouflaged and lying there, had somehow run twenty feet away, carrying a large piece of grass on his back, running for his life.

(Mao Yan'an, you ungrateful wretch!)

I cursed inwardly, but I had to deal with the crisis, and Violet had already pounced on me without any mercy. In the nick of time, I bent over and pulled back, letting it leap over me, and then kicked it in the hindquarters.

After a mournful cry, the dragon-leopard, which hadn't expected my agile counterattack, turned into a black shadow and plummeted straight down.

First came the splash of something heavy falling into the water, followed by a series of screams from the girls. Clearly, a leopard had fallen from the sky, ruining Yu Ni and Yu Hong's plans and causing them panic.

(It was too late to drug them, but…)

Their alertness had returned, and it was too late to secretly administer the aphrodisiac. A thought struck me; I took out a tinderbox from my pocket, flicked it in the wind, and threw it at their pile of clothes. The flames quickly flared up, and while the Ni Hong sisters were still arguing about Violet, their clothes were engulfed in flames.

Relieved I had succeeded, I immediately made my escape. But after only a dozen feet, a white figure rapidly approached—it was Ah Xue. She ran towards me, shouting loudly as she ran, her expression tense. She didn't even notice me crawling on the ground. Hearing what she was shouting, I nearly jumped out of my skin.

"Something's wrong! A huge orc patrol is coming! Master! Yu Ni, Yu Hong! Everyone, run!"

Ugh, this stupid woman! It's one thing to be fast, but she's been shouting so loudly the whole way. Are you here to warn us, or to sabotage us?

Almost as soon as she finished yelling, a group of orcs in soft armor emerged from the forest. There were bears and tigers; it looked like there were at least seventy or eighty of them—the size of two ordinary mid-level patrols. With

such a large force charging, it was impossible to hide on the ground; they'd be trampled to death in no time.

Judging by their strength, Yu Ni and Yu Hong had easily dealt with a small team of more than ten orcs last time. So, with the help of Xue and Violet, it shouldn't be too difficult for us to escape unscathed. Since that's the case, it's time to show my heroic spirit!

"Damn orcs! Blue Eagle, the instructor of the Alibuda Royal Guard, is here! Don't even think about crossing the line!"

Despite all the pleading, I'm a member of the Alibuda Kingdom's Royal Guard. I'm quite skilled at swordsmanship and spear fighting, and with my divine weapon in hand, my stance certainly gives me an imposing aura.

Unfortunately, those orcs are probably too simple-minded. Although they saw my sword stance, none of them were intimidated. They continued their frenzied charge, yelling and screaming. Their momentum was like a stampede of horses; if I were to be trampled through head-on, I'd be doomed to fall into the sea.

(Should I run? It's too late now, and besides, they might be coming out soon. I can't give up here…) I

haven't had many opportunities to prove myself lately. Not only the Neon Sisters, but even that brat Xue looks down on me. If I don't do something occasionally, my image will be ruined.

More importantly, I had already burned all of Yu Ni and Yu Hong's clothes left by the pool. If I had just held on a little longer, I would have witnessed the breathtaking sight of two renowned female constables, naked and bare-bottomed, battling the savage beastmen. This would have been a hundred times more pleasing to the eye than peeping at them bathing. As a man, how could I possibly give up?

In that moment of hesitation, I was surrounded by five tiger-headed beastmen, while the rest continued their pursuit of Ah Xue towards the hot spring. The beastmen wielded heavy weapons like maces and spiked clubs; a single blow to a human would instantly break bones and tendons, even armor couldn't withstand it. In a one-on-one fight, I could use the sharpness of the Hyakkimaru to kill them the instant their weapon was broken.

But this tactic wouldn't work against multiple opponents. Fortunately, I had another plan. These beast-headed bastards, their eyes fixed on the sword in my hand, wary of my attacks, would never have imagined that my main offensive would take another form.

"Ancient gods of lust, I pray to you in the name of John Farrell, guide the power of lust, come forth! Lustful worms!"

To avoid being overheard, I deliberately used a dialect from southern Alibuda to chant the incantation. When I felt a chill on the tip of my left finger, knowing that the lustful worms were about to be summoned, I spun Hyakkimaru around and attacked with all my might. Relying on the sharpness of the sword, I finally managed to draw a wound on each of the beastmen before they could react.

A small wound, barely enough to draw blood, can sometimes be surprisingly useful. Against humans, poisoning the sword is sufficient, but orcs are large, making poisoned weapons ineffective; moreover, carelessly applying poison to a sword could result in accidental cuts. Therefore, I painstakingly developed a deadly technique.

"Following the blood, go, my darlings!"

With a wave of my left hand, I hurled the summoned lewd worms, which, like maggots clinging to bones, instantly burrowed into the bleeding wounds of five orcs.

Orcs have thick, tough hides, and ordinary attacks are ineffective against them, but once the worms entered their bodies, they reacted quickly. Weapons intended to be slammed down fell to the ground due to their weak wrists; each one howled in pain, their claws lashing at their groins, letting blood pool and hoping to quell the unbearable itching. Among

the summoned creatures in the lewd magic book, the lewd worms are the most lethal. Its original characteristic is to arouse sexual desire, secreting aphrodisiac fluids that quickly put any creature it touches into a state of estrus. This substance isn't very effective in actual combat, but after careful planning, I've finally found a practical application.

Used in conjunction with incantations and hand seals, these venomous worms have undergone a structural change. Before arousing the creature, they release a virus upon burrowing into the body, causing a severe, explosive sexually transmitted disease. This leads to festering and ulcerated muscles, and the rapid, massive reproduction of the worms causes the disease to deteriorate beyond control, resulting in a humiliating death for these orcs.

"What is that?"

"What the hell is that?"

Continuous screams and howls erupted. In the blink of an eye, all five orcs collapsed. Starting from their groins, their once magnificent bodies were riddled with holes, oozing yellowish-red pus and blood. Numerous venomous worms emerged, stiffening and decomposing upon contact with sunlight. It lasts shorter than before, but it's an extremely effective killing weapon.

In a few swift movements, I dispatched five orcs, which seemed to cause quite a stir among them, prompting an even larger-scale attack.

Without pure strength as a backing, relying solely on wits in battle is ultimately insufficient. As the fourteen orcs gradually tightened their encirclement, I knew that without any unexpected events, I would be dead within the first round of their attack.

Fortunately, fate showed me some mercy. Just as I was secretly lamenting my impending doom, a deafening explosion suddenly erupted from the hot spring. A gigantic, silvery-white column of water, like a water dragon ascending to the heavens, shot straight upwards, refracting a magnificent neon glow in the afterglow of the setting sun. Countless water droplets, carrying a sharp force, rained down upon us. Even the orcs, with their thick hides, felt considerable pain upon being hit, and their formation was thrown into disarray.

To be able to unleash such power, the Neon Sisters' martial arts skills were far higher than I had anticipated. They were not merely grounded in solid foundations, but could definitively be considered masters. Judging from its power, it possesses at least level five strength.

"In the name of Yu Ni (Yu Hong), I command, Lei Yu Xing Ya, come forth!"

To quickly resolve this situation, martial arts alone are insufficient. The two sisters simultaneously used Beast Magic, launching a full-scale attack.

Last time I saw them use Beast Magic, it was only for a brief moment, and I couldn't see clearly what they were doing. But this time, the number of orcs was greater, and their relative strength was also stronger, making it impossible for them to silently annihilate the enemy. One after another, small feathered arrows flew down, each about the size of an index finger, incredibly swift, faster than any elven archer I had ever seen in the army. In the blink of an eye, they struck fourteen orcs, piercing their throats.

To call it "piercing" is somewhat inaccurate, because upon contact with their targets, the arrows immediately released a blindingly bright bolt of lightning, causing the orcs to tremble violently, howling as they collapsed to their deaths. No soft armor could protect them; in more severe cases, even their fur began to smoke and burn.

A very successful operation. Because unless it was an explosive gunpowder projectile, ordinary arrows couldn't inflict this kind of damage on the orcs. I took the opportunity to withdraw from the battle and hide in the nearby woods. As the water droplets settled, I immediately widened my eyes, staring intently at the beautiful bodies that could no longer be concealed by the reflection of light.

"I see... I see... The way their buttocks sway is so beautiful, and their breasts are so perky... 33B, both sisters are the same, the way they spread their wings, they really look like naked angels... Huh?"

Because it was backlit at first, I could only see two fit young girls' bodies, swaying sexily and nimbly, but I couldn't see them clearly. It wasn't until Yu Ni and Yu Hong landed that I could see them clearly. Although most of their skin was exposed, it was quite different from the naked state I had expected.

The sisters' fair skin was covered with many crimson patterns, from head to toe, like a thin, close-fitting suit of armor, concealing many parts of their bodies. Their firm, erect breasts and alluring triangle between their legs were completely obscured by red markings, making them difficult to see clearly and causing great regret.

The physical transformation wasn't limited to this; their slender fingers and toes had hardened, protruding bones, and their nails gleamed like metal. Combined with the white wings on their backs, they looked more like half-beasts than ever before.

"This is… half-beast transformation. Among all the beast races of the Southern Barbarians, only the direct descendants of the Feathered Clan possess this unique ability. Once they activate their beast bloodline and undergo half-beast transformation, their strength and speed increase dramatically. This was a major reason why the Feathered Clan was able to dominate the Southern Barbarians back then. It's truly unexpected… I haven't seen a Feathered Clan member who can half-beast transform in so many years."

Indeed, the half-beast Neon Sisters exuded a pressure like ferocious birds of prey, their power and speed far surpassing their previous strength. When they clashed with the beastmen, they didn't even need beast magic, engaging in direct close combat.

"Behemoth" is the Southern Barbarian word for bear. The Behemoth Bearmen, renowned for their immense strength among all beastmen, were no match for the agility of the Neon Sisters when they swung their spiked maces. When the sisters countered with their snow-white hands, blood splattered, and the Behemoth Bearmen's massive arms were severed in two.

Claws alone couldn't have such destructive power; I'm certain the force of their strikes was extraordinary. Their superior strength and speed, coupled with their ability to fly and swoop down, made them truly invincible, throwing the beastmen into chaos in no time.

Compared to their previous delicate girlish appearance, the half-beast Yu Ni and Yu Hong now possessed a unique allure. The vibrant red markings on their skin reminded one of warriors' pre-battle attire, exuding a heroic beauty; when they spread their wings and soared through the air, they resembled a pair of holy battle angels.

Although the most important part of her body, her feminine features, was covered by red markings, the snow-white flesh of her breasts outside her nipples and most of her pink and round buttocks were completely exposed. With the intense fighting movements, they rippled out alluring waves. Not to mention the large areas of skin on her plump thighs and delicate arms, which were so smooth that they made one's mouth water.

"Strange, with their abilities, they should be able to escape unscathed without needing to use their half-beast transformation. The winged race is indeed very strong after half-beast transformation, but for winged people who are descendants of angels, having filthy beast blood boiling in their bodies is like swallowing poison. Each half-beast transformation will severely damage their vitality... But that's nothing special. All races that rely on physical transformation to increase their strength, including berserkers, have to pay the price of going against nature."

I think this statement is correct, because even though they have an absolute advantage, I can still see that the Neon Sisters' fatigue is rapidly accumulating. They are sweating several times more than normal, and their flight movements are gradually becoming sluggish. Several times they were almost hit by spiked clubs. Although their destructive power is greatly increased after half-beast transformation, they can't maintain it for more than a few rounds before their stamina is exhausted. If this continues, they will collapse from exhaustion before they have even eliminated half of the enemy.

Fortunately, Ah Xue and Violet joined the battle at this moment. Picking up a spiked club, Ah Xue swung it with impressive skill, her unstoppable strength alone enough to send the beastmen scrambling for cover. With Yu Ni and Yu Hong coordinating, they brought the situation under control.

Of course, Violet's fire-breathing and electric shocks were also a great help; this ancient beast, though annoying, was indeed a valuable asset in battle. However, seeing its wet body, its fierce eyes, and its constant searching for something, I was glad I had decided to hide in the shadows.

But more than the battle, I was concerned about something else: the person who had just explained the secret of the Feather Clan's transformation to me… or rather, the old tree I was leaning against.

"Hey uncle, how come I didn't know you were such a good disguiser? You turned into a tree and hid in an instant, that's amazing!"

"Hehehe, it's simple. I have a cloth painted to look like tree bark. As long as it's dark enough in the woods and you stand up straight, you can just drape the cloth over yourself and that's the simplest disguise."

"Who cares about that? You're too kind-hearted! Aren't they your best friend's apprentices? As an elder, instead of going out and thinking of a solution, you're just painting here. Are you even human?"

This was no joke. In this chaotic situation, Mao Yan'an continued painting. Even more absurdly, he actually placed the paper on the ground and used his toes to hold the brush while painting.

"I wouldn't be able to help if I went out, and... for the sake of the highest artistic spirit, I can abandon everything."

"Bullshit, aren't you just like me, hiding here wanting to see girls fighting naked? You old pervert, what are you pretending to be cultured for?"

"No, no, no, even if you're a pervert, you're a pervert who sacrifices your reputation for art!"

Amidst our two men's nonsense, the battle reached its climax. After defeating the orc minions, several figures who seemed to be the leaders used beast magic attacks.

"Come out, Fire Spider Claw!"

"Come out, Exploding Gu!"

Ah Xue's weakness of relying solely on brute force was exposed at this moment. When that two-foot-tall giant beast claw suddenly appeared, she was pounced on without any ability to resist. If Violet hadn't spat out flames in time to incinerate that wave of Exploding Gu, this silly girl would have been seriously injured if not killed.

However, those orcs were quite brainless, because wasting their attack opportunity created a fatal opening.

"In the name of Yu Hong, I command: Fossilized Fang, emerge!"

"In the name of Yu Ni, I command: Thunder Feather Star Arrow, emerge!"

First, Yu Hong released the Beast Demon, a dark mass that flew down onto the Fire Spider Demon's claws, quickly petrifying it and resolving the crisis of Ah Xue being strangled and torn apart. Then, a silver light, like a glove, surrounded Yu Ni's right hand, and the lightning arrows seen earlier reappeared. Several consecutive whistling sounds, like the taut strings of a bowstring, caused the throats of the orcs to gush blood, emitting wisps of smoke from the intense electric shocks. With

their leader dead, the remaining orcs, knowing they were no match, all fled in panic. The victorious side did not pursue them. This had nothing to do with mercy; just from the way the Ni Hong sisters knelt and gasped for breath, it was clear that if the enemy had a few dozen more, it would have been them who were slaughtered without exception.

We repelled the enemy, but since some escaped alive, it was inevitable that we would alert them. We had to set off immediately and reach Skeva City before the enemy could launch a full-scale encirclement. However, while on our journey, we encountered another problem.

"Where did Brother Lan go during the battle?"

Yu Ni, her face showing barely concealed anger, asked this question, clearly dissatisfied that I, the supposedly highly skilled Imperial Guard instructor, was nowhere to be seen while the three women were fighting the enemy to the death.

"Of course, he was in a bloody battle. If I hadn't desperately held them off at the front, allowing the enemy to rush into the hot springs, they certainly wouldn't have just stopped soaking in the water."

The sarcastic remark made Yu Ni blush, but she still stubbornly asked, "I know that, but what happened after that? Why didn't Sister Xue see Brother Lan when she rushed out?"

"Well, that's because..."

It was difficult to answer, and even Xue looked at me suspiciously. Of course, I could explain that I was seriously injured and had retreated to the side to recuperate. After all, when I appeared earlier, I had deliberately smeared my face and head with beast blood, looking like I had just fought a desperate battle.

"Because my nephew Lan Diao heard my cries for help, he immediately rushed to save this useless old man from danger. Alas... a scholar is useless, it really was just a matter of a hair's breadth. If my nephew had arrived any later, I would have been torn to pieces by those heartless beastmen."

In the end, thanks to Mao Yan'an's explanation, I got away with it. Because of Mao Yan'an's almost literary description of the battle, A Xue and Yu Hong even looked at me with admiration, while Yu Ni was skeptical, but since her elders said so, she couldn't doubt it anymore.

Mao Yan'an couldn't refuse to help me either; did they have to all perish together and expose each other's shameful secret of peeping at beautiful girls bathing? However, my impression of this man kept changing. Given his refined manners and appearance, I found it hard to imagine he would do something as sordid as I was; yet, while he was as lewd as me, he showed absolutely no interest in lust, focusing solely on his so-called art, which was baffling.

This hurdle was cleared. Although I didn't see what I wanted, being able to peek at the Japanese sisters bathing and their lesbian relationship was exciting enough.

Burning all their clothes also gave me a sense of satisfaction. When traveling, it's good to travel light; like me and Xue, we each packed four outfits in our luggage. The Japanese sisters did the same, washing their clothes while bathing, which I then burned. Except for a police uniform left in our luggage, all their clothes were reduced to ashes.

Because they couldn't find anything to cover themselves, Yu Ni and Yu Hong, not wanting to fight naked, had no choice but to use their half-beast transformation, using the crimson markings covering their skin to conceal their vital parts. Otherwise, with their strength, they could have easily fought a prolonged battle for over an hour and wiped out this medium-sized patrol. Even at a disadvantage, escaping unscathed would have been a piece of cake, and they wouldn't be in such a sorry state now.

Using their half-beast transformation not only severely depleted their energy but also caused them to suffer the pain of burning blood. The Ni Hong sisters' steps became unsteady, and since we had no time to rest, we had to grit our teeth and keep going.

The cleaned-up spare clothes were lying there perfectly fine, so why did they suddenly catch fire? This couldn't be blamed on the beastmen. Fortunately, clever people can always find someone to take the blame. With my clever deflection of responsibility, Violet, who fell from the sky and landed in the hot spring, became the perfect scapegoat. This creature could breathe fire and generate electricity, and since it was closest to the Neon Sisters at the time of the incident, and couldn't speak to refute it, it had no choice but to bear all the blame.

For this, Ah Xue almost had to kowtow and apologize to the Neon Sisters. Because of her fondness for Ah Xue, and with my and Mao Yan'an's intercession, the Neon Sisters naturally couldn't say anything; the unfortunate one was still the beast.

Watching it being forced to wear a collar and chain, led by Ah Xue, its pathetic state of losing its freedom, felt surprisingly satisfying. This also proved that heaven truly has eyes; whether human or beast, those who offend me all meet a bad end.

Because I burned all their spare clothes, the Neon Sisters had to change into their patrol uniforms.

A white, belted long coat, made of fine silk, with a slightly open collar revealing a faint pink bra that held up their perfectly curved breasts.

Their lower bodies were clad in white trousers that clung tightly to their small, pert buttocks and thighs, revealing their long, graceful legs in all their glory, full of elasticity and beauty. On their feet were white deerskin flat boots, clinging tightly to their calves, the golden patterns on the boot shafts dazzlingly bright. The slender, bony figures of the Feathered Clan women were renowned for their beautiful legs, and from any angle, when Yu Ni and Yu Hong stood side by side, their

long, jade-like legs possessed a breathtaking allure. Yu Ni's long hair and Yu Hong's short hair were all combed back and secured with a pair of white jade rings. Beautiful plum blossom makeup adorned their smooth, captivating foreheads, and the jeweled badges that served as their identification as constables were pinned to their prominent chests. Amidst their all-white attire, this was the only makeup they wore, yet it served as the finishing touch.

For ease of operation, it's not a problem for female police officers to wear close-fitting, tight clothing; otherwise, the sound of their clothes rustling in the wind when using light-footed martial arts might alert the enemy, scare away the target, or cause even worse consequences. However, this female police uniform is not only made of thin material, but it's also far too tight.

The Japanese sisters have slender figures, and although their buttocks are beautifully shaped, they aren't particularly fleshy. But with those tight-fitting trousers, not only are the curves of their buttocks and thighs clearly visible, but when their legs move as they run, even the outline of their delicate flower garden is faintly visible.

The sisters couldn't be unaware of this, which explains why they don't usually wear this female police uniform.

"This is outrageous! How can law enforcement officers wear clothes like this? This... this is clearly inciting people to commit crimes!"

I muttered to myself, because two beautiful peach-like buttocks were swaying right in front of me, making me want to commit a crime.

"Oh, don't worry, the fabric of that outfit looks thin, but it's actually very resilient. Especially for high-ranking constables like them from the Cihang Jingdian Palace, the fabric is woven from snow mountain ice silkworm silk. Ordinary swords and knives can't cut it, it's more effective than any armor."

That makes sense. Back when I was anally raping Tianhe Xueqiong on the deserted island, her fabric was very difficult to deal with, and it took me a lot of effort.

"Hmm, that seems to make sense, but Uncle, how did you know?"

"How could I not know? I designed this uniform." Ignoring my surprise, Mao Yan'an smiled smugly, "When I was in the Golden Flower Federation, besides drafting official documents for government agencies, many places also asked me to design clothing and architecture. This one, for example, was inspired by the race queens when I was watching Formula One races."

"Racing?"

"Yes, the knights stand on armored chariots pulled by four horses. It's a regularly held chariot race, very exciting. I have connections to get front-row tickets. Next time I'm in the Golden Flower Federation, I'll treat you to a show." "

...Uncle, I really can't figure you out."

◆ Chapter Four: A Daring Breakthrough

The next day and a half was spent traveling non-stop. To give the Neon Sisters time to recuperate, I had to give up my beloved bamboo chair and let Yu Hong sit on it, while Yu Ni sat on Violet's back.

And so, the five of them and the leopard traversed mountains and valleys, the more troublesome task being to evade the ever-growing orc patrols, squeezing through the almost impenetrable gaps. Judging from the situation, the encirclement was likely not yet complete, but was gradually tightening, and the bad news was that reinforcements of orc troops were probably on their way.

However, on the evening of the second day, as we continued our relentless journey, flocks of birds flew northeastward, and Yu Ni and Yu Hong's expressions immediately became cautious yet joyful. Birds were the kin of the Feathered Clan, and seeing flocks of birds meant that the Feathered Clan's base was nearby.

Sure enough, we hadn't gone far when we saw it.

On five adjacent, steep, isolated peaks stood five tower-like buildings. Red, blue, yellow, white, and indigo—all with identical pointed roofs, each topped with a transparent sphere. We couldn't tell what kind of crystal it was made of, but even in the dim sunset, the five crystals still emitted a dazzling seven-colored radiance.

If I'm not mistaken, the arrangement of these five beads is likely the key to some kind of protective magic array. While their specific function is difficult to ascertain, when faced with an attack, the five towers situated on different mountain peaks should somehow unite to form a fortified defense.

The Feathered Race are essentially half-orcs, and while half-orcs are not incapable of practicing magic, their physical constitution makes it difficult to achieve greatness, hence the creation of beast magic. However, this array transcends the scope of beast magic; it could probably only be designed by a grand mage exceptionally skilled in both light and dark magic. Did the Feathered Race set it up themselves, or is there some powerful external assistance?

Between the five towers, there seemed to be some other brick and tile houses forming a manor, but because of the distance, it was not clear. All that could be seen were various kinds of birds flying, soaring, and circling among the towers. The walls of the five towers seemed to be covered with hundreds of bird nests, where birds could roost. From a distance, the bright and colorful plumage of the birds added vivid and beautiful colors to the rugged mountain scenery of the solitary and steep peaks.

Mao Yan'an sighed, "This is Skeva Tower City. It has been several years since I last came here, and the scenery is still as beautiful as ever."

Perhaps because they had come to this hometown they had never been to before, they were so excited that they could hardly contain themselves. The Neon Sisters wanted to rush over immediately, but Mao Yan'an grabbed them.

"Don't be too hasty, my two nieces. We've been taking small paths all along, constantly dodging orc patrols, and now we've reached the Feathered Clan's main camp, yet we haven't seen any orcs. Don't you find that strange?"

It was indeed strange, and this question was soon answered. Taking a few steps forward, they gained a better view of the surrounding terrain. Below the steep mountain walls lay a flat, square valley, with several main roads leading out at one end. Judging from the dense trees nearby, it was clear that just ten days ago, this valley had been completely shrouded in thick forest.

But now, it was different. There were hardly any trees in the valley; instead, there was a vast expanse of tents and orcs, with campfires illuminating the valley as if it were daytime. Large

groups of orcs, mainly tigers and bears, were gathered around various campfires, worshipping and performing Zoroastrian religious rituals. Looking down, there was a dense, dark mass of people, definitely several thousand. If you included all the patrols scattered within a hundred miles, the number might be close to ten thousand.

Judging from the situation, Skeva City was completely surrounded; forcing its way through was simply impossible.

In fact, just seeing this genuine orc army made my legs weak and I wanted to turn back.

"Oh, Master, are you alright?"

Ah Xue tugged at my sleeve, her face full of worry, speaking softly.

"If we can't get through, we'll think of another way… But if we leave like this, that pretty sister will be very sad."

She was talking about the Dragon Girl sister, wasn't she? She asked me to deliver her message and the things she wanted to give. If I couldn't deliver them, she'd be very troubled.

However, the obstacle was too great now. I didn't know what the Dragon Girl sister expected of me, but even delivering something was incredibly difficult; she couldn't possibly expect me to be able to help the Feathered Clan resolve this crisis, could she?

Looking back at Xue, who seemed hesitant to speak, I could guess what she was thinking, given her simple mind.

"Xue, are you scared?"

These past few days, my attention has been completely drawn to those two sisters. In my eagerness for novelty, I've neglected Ah Xue. Now, seeing her worried about me, a wave of pity washes over me. I pull her close, stroking her long hair gently.

"Hmm, I don't know. Seeing so many fierce-looking people should be scary, but for some reason, I don't feel scared at all,"

Ah Xue mumbled, but I wasn't surprised. Perhaps her memory has faded, but the courage and reflexes honed since childhood still remain somewhere within her. Although the scene below is exaggerated, for a powerful mage like Tianhe Xueqiong with seventh-level strength, escaping unscathed is still effortless.

Whether it's martial arts, magic, or even the beasts summoned by beast magic, all release energy when used, and the amount of energy emitted can be categorized into levels. Almost everyone can use level one magic, but far fewer can use level two. As for level three magic or power, only those who have trained for a long time can use it. Those who possess level four cultivation can officially receive the qualification certificates of magician and swordsman.

Being able to cultivate to level five, by any standard, is considered a master, enough to make a name for oneself whether serving in the army or roaming the martial world.

Reaching level six, one can dominate a region with this strength. Such figures are usually only a dozen or so in a country, either military commanders with heavy troops or important ministers. People like the Blood Nightmare Archmage of Ishtar, General Job of Solancia, and our country's Governor Leng Linglan are all masters of this level.

Masters of level seven and above are usually beyond the reach of national forces. Usually, only organizations like the Palace of Light and the Palace of Darkness, with their secret techniques passed down for thousands of years, can produce such top masters. That's why I was so shocked when Tianhe Xueqiong was able to slay a dragon with level seven power.

If Ah Xue still possessed her former cultivation level, these troops wouldn't be able to hold her back at all. While it's unlikely she could protect our entire group and get through unscathed, she could certainly enter Skeva Song Tower City on her own.

Of course, this is a pointless hypothetical. But compared to this hypothetical, I couldn't help but think of another possibility. If I had diligently practiced my family's martial arts since childhood, accumulating experience over nearly twenty years, what would the result be now? My freakish father is one of the five strongest people in the world; if I had trained hard, I should at least have a cultivation level of level five or higher.

But that kind of training is something I'm unwilling to do. Moreover, I've always firmly believed that even with low skill, as long as you're willing to use your brain, there's nothing in the world that can't be solved; and even if there really is, I can still choose to avoid it. Being seen as a coward by some doesn't matter; no one can force me to face what I don't want to do.

Unfortunately, fate is always so ironic. I didn't want to get involved in the Feather Clan's affairs at all, but now I'm standing here. No one forced me, yet I had to willingly brave the orc army below.

Fate is truly...

"But I think I know why."

"Hmm?"

"Being with a hero like Master, no danger can harm me, so I'm not afraid at all."

Ah Xue spoke innocently, her eyes as confident as ever, as if these difficulties were easily overcome.

"Easy for you to say, but there's no other way. Let's go together."

Even if I wanted to go back, the current situation left me with no reason to retreat; the only way was to forge ahead.

On the other side, Yu Ni, Yu Hong, and Mao Yan'an also devised a plan: to go around the side of the valley, where there were many trees providing cover, making it less likely to be discovered. The Ni Hong sisters originally intended to leave us behind and act alone, as the chances of success would be higher. However, abandoning their guide upon reaching their destination would be tantamount to discarding them after crossing the river, something they, as upright and honorable constables, couldn't do.

Yu Hong once suggested that she fly over the valley from the left, approaching Skeva City from the left to attract the orcs' attention, while we would pass from the right. It sounded like a great idea, but the valley was quite long and the area above was open. Flying over from above would be extremely obvious from below, making us easy targets.

If we were willing to sacrifice Yu Hong, the plan would have a high success rate, but unfortunately, Yu Ni would never agree, and neither would I. Sacrificing such a lovely little beauty would be a waste. If someone had to be sacrificed, I would rather sacrifice this useless uncle beside me first.

With the plan settled, we slowly set off from the east. Keeping our voices down, relying on Violet's superior sense of smell compared to normal orcs, we carefully evaded the orcs' patrols.

It was already dark, and the forest was very gloomy, which greatly hindered our movement but also provided us with an advantage in concealment. If we could continue walking for another hour, we should be able to safely climb the five peaks of our destination.

Unfortunately, just when we were half an hour away from arriving, Violet, who was walking at the front, suddenly stopped and looked ahead with wary fear.

At first, we thought we had encountered some large beast, but a series of faint, strange noises followed, getting closer and louder. They didn't sound like the footsteps of a large creature, but we didn't know what they were.

"Not good, it's the Zoroastrian's poisonous insect array."

In the end, Mao Yan'an, with his extensive experience, guessed the enemy's tactic. This vast forest covered a huge area, and using manpower to defend it was a waste of resources. Beast magic contained many strange arts that could control wild beasts, including controlling insects. If a large number of poisonous insects were densely packed inside, the enemy would have no way to defend against them and would not be able to get through.

I once heard someone in the army say that when those specially modified and bred venomous insects were released in large numbers, they would swarm as soon as they smelled human scent, and could devour a horse in no time, leaving only bones.

"My sister and I can fly over there."

I glared at Yu Hong. This heartless woman, are you going to fly over there and leave us to wait here to die?

Mao Yan'an shook his head and said, "No, the Fire Worshiping Cult's designs are definitely specifically for the Feather Clan. We are surrounded by tall trees with lush foliage, and there are bound to be venomous creatures living there. No matter how you fly, you will inevitably brush against the branches and leaves, and get bitten by a venomous creature. The situation will be even worse."

Even though she was a female constable who could fight powerful enemies without changing her expression, the fear of venomous insects was in a woman's nature. Thinking of the possible dense swarms of venomous insects ahead, Yu Ni and Yu Hong's faces turned very ugly.

Based on the tactics rehearsed in the army, I suggested setting fire to the forest. This would help clear out the poisonous insects, create a disturbance, and let the Feathered Clan inside the city know that someone was coming from outside and needed their help.

This proposal was immediately rejected by Neon and the other two. The Feathered Clan is a race that deeply loves nature; for whatever reason, they are unwilling to do anything to damage it. Although I didn't understand the point of emphasizing environmental protection when we were about to lose our lives, the situation was beyond my control, and I was destined to be ignored.

The disturbance of the poisonous insects seemed to have alerted the beastmen. From the jungle behind us, the faint roars of wild beasts could be heard, gradually closing in. The beastmen's night vision was far superior to humans; in this environment, they didn't even need torches to attack.

While we hesitated, Violet darted to the left. Ah Xue was the first to follow her, while Mao Yan'an and I chased after her. Violet is a spiritual beast. Since it was adopted, it has never made a wrong judgment. Since it ran in that direction, there must be some reason for it.

Sure enough, we hadn't run far when a large, dark mass appeared ahead. If the beastmen hadn't been on guard, they might have mistaken it for grass and stepped right in.

The sounds were truly strange: hissing, hissing, and the soft scraping of multi-legged animals against the ground.

"Roar!"

Violet roared, spewing forth a fiery red flame that instantly ignited the entire forest. I could clearly see that everywhere I looked was crawling with insects, their bodies reflecting an eerie, vibrant sheen in the firelight.

On the ground were snakes and toads, while in the trees were scorpions, centipedes, and spiders. Don't laugh, but it was the first time I'd ever seen scorpions and centipedes climb trees. There were also many other insects I couldn't name, their colors vibrant, suggesting potent venom.

Ah Xue and Neon gasped in unison, their fear palpable. And it was understandable. Seeing such power, I had no doubt that if I stepped in, I would be devoured to the bone in no time.

The violet breathed out its flames; under the intense heat, the venomous snakes and toads at the forefront were all burned to ashes, leaving not a trace. Then, it raised its head high, its jade-like beastly eyes radiating a chilling majesty. Its dragon wings spread wide, majestic and awe-inspiring, like a fledgling dragon, it growled and glared at the hundreds of venomous insects before it.

In the food chain, dragons can be considered the king of beasts, and this ancient beast, said to be a hybrid of a dragon and a leopard, inherited this trait to some extent. Under its majesty, the venomous insects gradually parted to the sides, making way for this proud king of beasts to pass.

We were both surprised and delighted by this unexpected turn of events, and using this unexpected advantage, we quickly traversed the venomous insect array. Although I couldn't see the venomous insects' expressions, I could still sense their furious resentment at having to let their delicious prey escape.

We ran quickly, Violet leading the way. Occasionally, some "disorderly" venomous snakes and toads tried to block our path, only to be incinerated by a single burst of fire from her mouth. If we could maintain this pace, passing through the venomous insect array wouldn't be a problem. However, when we were about halfway through, the insects suddenly scattered rapidly to both sides—not just making way, but truly retreating.

"Great! Little Violet is amazing!" It was Yu Hong who spoke. Overjoyed at passing through the insect array without any sacrifice, the little girl jumped and shouted, holding Ah Xue's hand.

"Oh no! We have to go!" A thought suddenly struck me. Without a word, I grabbed Ah Xue and rushed forward. Mao Yan'an, with a serious expression, did the same.

Although the two female constables from Neon were highly skilled in martial arts, they had only ever dealt with skirmishes in the martial arts world. Even against formidable opponents, they were usually only capable of fighting dozens at a time. They were ill-equipped for real military battles. After a moment of stunned silence, they followed, bewildered.

The poisonous insect array couldn't have dissipated without reason; the beastmaster who had been controlling it within the orcish ranks must have sensed something amiss. Unable to continue using the array to stop the intruders, he simply withdrew, leaving the orcish forces to deal with them.

Not long after, the entire mountain range trembled, as if ten thousand horses were galloping towards them. Judging by the momentum, the pursuing force was probably no less than two thousand. Given the orcs' speed, they wouldn't need mounts; they could arrive in an instant.

Neon's expression grew even more grim. Regardless of their confidence in their own strength, they understood that they were no match for several thousand orcs.

"No, Yu Ni and Yu Hong, we're close enough to the city now. The poisonous insect array has been withdrawn. You two can just fly over there; the enemy shouldn't be able to stop you. I'll draw away the pursuers and buy you some more time."

The Ni Hong sisters seemed very surprised by my suggestion, never expecting me to be so generous. Actually, I didn't want to either, but I could tell that the two sisters had been wanting to do this for a long time and were about to make a decision.

Rather than being betrayed and run away without a word, I preferred to bring it up first and build some image.

Perhaps feeling embarrassed about my sacrifice, Ni Hong said that if the sisters worked together, they could take one person with them. This, of course, put the three of us in a dilemma, because being left here to face thousands of orcs would definitely mean certain death. However, judging from the sisters' eyes, it was clear that only Xue was chosen.

(This is so unfair! Putting everything else aside, just those two things on Xue's chest alone make her weigh more than me. It's unfair to favor the heavier ones and exclude the lighter ones...)

I really wanted to protest like this, but I knew in my heart that no matter how angry I was, or how I begged for mercy on my knees, it wouldn't make a difference. In the eyes of lesbians, a man's life is definitely worthless.

"Well then, that's

settled. You take Xue away, and let me and Uncle hold them off. I hope you'll think about the good things about men more often in the future." The double entendre seemed to expose their secret, and Neon's face immediately turned red. But before they could speak, Xue, who had been holding hands with Yu Hong and remaining silent, suddenly made a move.

She grabbed me around the waist and hoisted me onto her shoulder, then ran off like the wind, leaving even Violet behind. She was incredibly fast; in no time, Neon and Mao Yan'an were out of sight.

Then, as the thunderous roar of the orcish herd echoed through the forest, I saw three figures soar through the air: the Neon Sisters, their wings outstretched, and Mao Yan'an, being pulled along by their hands, flying towards Skeva's City, disappearing into three tiny black dots.

I wanted to stop and talk to Xue, but she was running too fast, crashing through many trees without stopping. I bit my tongue several times, unable to find a chance to speak.

Xue's running speed was astonishing, completely unaffected by the uphill terrain of the forest. The orcs behind her roared incessantly, but couldn't catch up. If things continued like this, our chances of escaping were indeed very high. Unfortunately, just as we were about to run out of the forest, a muffled thunderous sound came from ahead. Looking from afar, it was truly frightening.

A group of Behemoths riding six-legged leopards, clad in armor and wielding spiked clubs, rushed ahead to block our path and surrounded us.

Unable to break through, I had no choice but to turn and run. The orc cavalry was getting closer and closer, and I was desperate. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my stomach. It felt like Ah Xue's shoulder was pressing against something I was carrying

. In my haste, I pulled it out and saw it was the magical artifact I'd gotten from the female demon Phoenix—the "Willful Conjuring Jar." Phoenix had said it could conjure things within a limited limit. Now, with no other option, I had to try it.

I concentrated and prayed, then shook it violently twice. A large amount of thick smoke billowed from the jar, quickly obscuring the surroundings. The wind couldn't disperse it, and it created a terrible stench. The six-legged leopard chasing us couldn't stand the fumes and roared, throwing the Behemoth off its back.

I was overjoyed at this incredible luck, but then I saw a very ominous sight and screamed again.

"Ah, Ah Xue..."

"Master, don't worry. No matter what, you're still Ah Xue's master. I'll definitely rescue you."

"No, no, I wanted to tell you..."

Despite being moved, I wanted to tell her that she had run in the wrong direction. If she had continued running down that direction, she would have been heading straight down the valley to the orc camp.

At that moment, chaos erupted in the orc camp below. Not because of us, but because the Feathered Clan, sensing the commotion, had taken advantage of the chaos to launch an attack on the orcs. More than a dozen fires were burning fiercely, and the two sides were locked in a fierce battle.

"Ouch!"

With a cry of surprise, Ah Xue, who was running quickly, seemed to trip over something and fell flat on her face, tumbling down like a tumbleweed. I, along with her, who was on her shoulder, also fell and got bruised and battered. Fortunately, we didn't end up in the orc camp; unfortunately, a large group of tiger-clan orcs caught up with us.

I killed a few with my sword, but I also had more than a dozen wounds on my body, some of which were even torn off with skin and flesh. The pain was so intense that I almost fainted. In a moment of slowness, an orc struck me in the back. If I hadn't dodged, my entire spine might have been pulled out.

Staggering and falling to the ground, I tried to find Ah Xue, but instead heard her cry for help. More than a dozen tiger-clan orcs rushed towards her.

"Ah Xue!"

I only managed to call out once before my legs gave way and I fell to the ground again. I reached behind me and found my hands covered in blood. I didn't know how badly I was injured.

With a deafening roar, the orcs who had rushed towards Ah Xue screamed and retreated. Through the dust and smoke, I saw a handsome young man, as beautiful as a god, radiating a faint white light, holding Ah Xue in his arms. The two were a perfect match, so elegant and harmonious, making one completely forget the brutal carnage around them.

And this was the last thing I saw before losing consciousness…

◆ Chapter Five: The Knight of Light

Unlike usual battles where I could evade, this time I fought the orcs head-on, and I was badly injured. Even in my unconscious state, I could still feel the excruciating pain that made me grit my teeth.

When I regained consciousness, I found myself lying on my side on a soft feather bed, my mouth dry and my back aching. The injuries from fighting the orcs, while not breaking my bones, had severely damaged my muscles. Without a period of rest and recuperation, I definitely couldn't fight anyone.

During the time I was unconscious, I seemed to hear Ah Xue's voice intermittently. I could feel that the girl was concerned about me, who was unconscious due to blood loss. However, every time I heard her voice, another gentle and refined male voice would also appear, telling her not to worry too much. I didn't know who that person was, but for some reason, I felt very anxious, extremely anxious.

Later, I felt my whole body warm up, as if I were being directly exposed to sunlight. It was a holy sorcerer using a healing spell, and soon after, I woke up.

"Ah, Ah Xue..."

"Don't call anymore, she's not here."

Opening my eyes, I didn't see Ah Xue, nor did I see the beautiful winged girls. The first thing I saw was a large face.

"Hey! What are you doing here?"

"Peeling an apple for the patient. What else can I do in this situation?"

"That's not what I'm asking. I want to know why you're peeling an apple here? Where are the others?"

"Oh, I'm an old man. In all sorts of adventure stories, old men like me are always doing odd jobs. Everyone else has gone to a meeting to celebrate their victory, so of course I have to come here to be a handyman."

Sitting on a chair not far from the bed, peeling an apple with a small knife, was Mao Yan'an. Having already washed and changed his clothes, he still looked as dashing as ever, but his face was a little bruised and swollen. He said that it was because after arriving in Skeva City, Neon was in a hurry to meet up with his tribesmen who were going to war, so he casually tossed him aside, causing him to fall into a tree and break branches as he fell, resulting in his disheveled appearance with a bruised and swollen face.

It's conceivable that Neon isn't stupid. After the series of incidents, he must have become suspicious of Mao Yan'an. Having already reached their destination, there's no need for further restraint; he'll start giving him a small act of revenge.

From Mao Yan'an, I roughly understood the changes in the situation.

Although they knew beforehand that the Zoroastrians were about to attack and made hasty preparations, the disparity in strength was too great. When the Zoroastrian forces appeared and launched their attack, the Feathered Clan still struggled to cope. After several days of fierce fighting, thanks to the natural defenses and protective barriers, although there weren't any major casualties, they were exhausted to the extreme.

The two sides were locked in a stalemate, and a truce was declared for the night. Coincidentally, that night we were to infiltrate Skeva's City, causing a disturbance among the orcs and prompting them to divide their forces to search, thus creating an opening for our main force. Seizing this opportunity, the Feathered Clan launched a surprise attack. Led by the Neon Sisters, who had just joined them, they burned several key strongholds in the orc camp, causing them food shortages and killing many of their best fighters in the chaos. Their victory was quite substantial.

The Feathered Clan, however, had a conscience; while the surprise attack was successful, they also rescued Ah Xue and me from the chaos. They told me that the one who pulled us from the thousands of orcs was Neon's senior brother, the first disciple of Master Xin Chan of the God of Light Palace, Fang Qingshu.

"Fang Qingshu? That pretty boy?"

Recalling my last impression before I fainted, the man was as handsome as a god in a painting. When he used holy magic, his entire body was enveloped in a faint glow, making him look like a sun god descended to earth. No wonder so many young girls were captivated by him.

However, just thinking about being saved by a man was unpleasant enough, and the thought of him holding Ah Xue at the time made me even angrier.

"Don't call him a pretty boy so casually. You recovered so quickly only because he used the recovery spell on you. Otherwise, you might not have woken up even if you had remained unconscious for several more days."

Just as Mao Yan'an finished speaking, a commotion arose outside.

"Master, has Master woken up yet?"

Ah Xue, who had no particular strengths but possessed an energy stronger than anyone else, quickly pushed open the door and rushed straight to the bedside.

"Oh dear, Master, are you alright? Ah Xue was so worried about you."

Her concern was evident in her words. Seeing her haggard appearance, one couldn't help but feel pity. Looking at the bandages and dressings on her head and hands, one could imagine the injuries she had sustained in the battle. I felt a pang of heartache and was about to ask when a gentle, pleasant voice sounded from outside the door.

"Brother Lan, have you woken up? Also, I heard that Teacher Mao has come too, is that true?"

A man pushed open the door and walked in. As expected of the Knight of Light, the moment Fang Qingshu entered, the entire room seemed to be bathed in light. The instant he pushed open the door, dazzling sunlight streamed in, making his golden hair shine brilliantly, almost blinding; his warm smile was like the warmth of winter sunlight, even his teeth, revealed with a smile, were so white they shone.

Now I think I understand why some people can burn their very existence to illuminate the darkness. If it's someone like this guy, even without being set on fire, he's dazzling enough.

He arrived with Ah Xue, seemingly to offer my condolences, but the moment he entered, his gaze was completely drawn to another target. Not me, but the uncle surnamed Mao who was peeling an apple.

"Teacher? Is it really you? I had thought you might come to the Feathered Clan, so I made a special trip to the Southern Barbarian Lands. It's wonderful to have met you. It's been two years. How have you been?"

It was unexpected that Mao Yan'an and Fang Qingshu were not only old acquaintances, but judging from Fang Qingshu's attitude, he also showed great respect to this Mr. Mao, whose teacher I didn't know. This made me suspicious again. I looked Mao Yan'an up and down, wondering what abilities this washed-up court painter possessed to be able to associate with a celebrity like Fang Qingshu.

Mao Yan'an glanced back at me awkwardly, shrugged, and exchanged pleasantries with Fang Qingshu. It sounded like Mao Yan'an, while serving as the court painter in the Golden Flower Federation, had frequent dealings with the Temple of Light, and had met Fang Qingshu, who was studying there. He had instructed Fang Qingshu in literature and painting, and even taken him on trips to many places, thus earning Fang Qingshu's gratitude and respect.

(Seriously, this guy doesn't seem like a big shot at all, yet he's so good at networking?)

This question couldn't be answered immediately. Later, Mao Yan'an formally introduced me, saying I was the martial arts instructor of the Royal Guard of Alibuda.

A hint of doubt flashed in Fang Qingshu's eyes. At first, I thought he thought my martial arts skills were undeserved, but Mao Yan'an later told me otherwise. This guy is considered the number one expert of the new generation for a reason. Appointing someone with mediocre martial arts skills as the head of the Imperial Guard isn't unusual in this era where noble bloodlines dominate. However, he clearly remembers the list of high-ranking officials in the Kingdom of Alibuda over the past decade, and there's no one named "Blue Eagle" on it.

"So it's Instructor Blue. Nice to meet you. Instructor Blue, you… eh? That title sounds like…"

Fang Qingshu glanced meaningfully at Mao Yan'an, who gave a smug, indifferent smile. I repeated the title to myself twice. "Instructor Blue, Instructor Blue"—if I said it too quickly, wouldn't it sound like…

bastard? Now I know why Mao Yan'an deliberately praised me as a martial arts instructor; he was intentionally setting me up. The Japanese sisters didn't say anything, but they probably started looking down on me the moment they thought of that title.

Undeniably, Fang Qingshu's attitude was impeccable; he was extremely polite and courteous, even unbecoming of his status. Young talents like him, especially those from noble families, are usually arrogant and extremely annoying. The Japanese, due to their frequent travels and interactions with various social classes, are unusually humble, but even they show direct contempt and keep their distance from someone like me whom they dislike. Fang Qingshu, however, is different.

Whether you like him or not, his demeanor is remarkably modest, never making anyone feel uncomfortable. Even without a smile, his gentle tone and words convey sincerity, preventing any ill will and making people willing to befriend him. One can

imagine that when he uses this attitude to deal with various江湖豪杰 (jianghu heroes/heroes), even the most ferocious figures are easily softened, leading to drinks and the establishment of friendship. This kind of charisma is called leadership charm; if one's own qualities are already outstanding, coupled with this charisma, one will naturally be invincible in the world of martial arts.

Logically, I should have been affected as well, because no matter how hard I tried to find fault with this person and thus dislike him, it was all in vain. I have to admit that the Palace of Light has cultivated a near-perfect young hero.

However, when I saw him chatting and laughing with Ah Xue, enjoying themselves immensely, a surge of anger rose up, and my chest felt incredibly sore, making me act like a sulking child, doing things that showed no consideration for propriety.

Fang Qingshu seemed to have noticed something was wrong and, after a few polite words, prepared to take his leave. To be honest, this guy's self-control is truly remarkable. He endured several of my mild but not overt sarcasm without showing the slightest anger. To have such composure at such a young age, I really don't know how the Cihang Jingdian trained him.

Before he left, another guest arrived. The door was pushed open, and a group of Feather Clan women stepped in, the strong visual impact immediately catching my eye.

Not every winged person can fold their wings, and because they possess wings on their backs, the battle attire of winged female warriors is very simple for ease of movement. They wear two-piece, lightweight armor, with metal headbands covering their hair, leaving them almost completely naked. Their lower bodies are clad in a triangular, hip-hugging leather armor, its curves tightly cut along their genitals; their upper bodies are covered by a breastplate that just covers their breasts, and their boots reach to their knees, protected by copper plates.

Winged women are mostly slender and bony, not known for their fuller figures. This attire, while revealing their snow-white waists, flat stomachs, and shapely thighs, does not appear obscene; instead, when they spread their wings, they give a very athletic impression.

"Are you awake, esteemed guest? Welcome to Skeva Song Tower City. I am Katrina, temporarily assuming the position of Chieftain of the Feathered Clan. I am writing to express our gratitude for your timely assistance."

A group of Feathered Clan women entered, led by a beautiful woman in brocade robes, in addition to Neon. As she spoke words of thanks, her hands moved with graceful, flowing gestures, like a bird spreading its wings, culminating in a deep bow as she crossed her arms.

Mao Yan'an explained in a low voice that this was the Feathered Clan's custom of showing respect to honored guests. But who exactly were these "honored guests"—Fang Qingshu, Mao Yan'an, or me? This was a difficult question to answer.

I sized up this beautiful woman who was acting as chieftain. She was about thirty years old, strikingly beautiful, with a rare resolute glint in her eyes. She was dressed like the rest of her tribe, except that her headband was adorned with a diamond-shaped cat's-eye stone, and she wore a plain white gauze robe over her armor, giving her a striking blend of martial prowess and captivating beauty.

As instructed by my Dragon Maiden sister, my mission was to deliver a message and a token to her, but the current situation was complex. Revealing directly that my Dragon Maiden sister would be delayed might have adverse effects. Just as I hesitated, I noticed a flash of horror in Katrina's eyes as she looked at my face, as if she had seen something very strange.

That fleeting glance, which I believe only I noticed, aroused my suspicion, and I decided to continue concealing my identity.

"The Blue Sect of Alibuda… um, Young Hero Blue, because of your righteousness, we were able to seize the opportunity to strike the enemy. To our Feathered Clan, you are our benefactor." It

should sound convincing, but it's best if it's true. In short, since I didn't die, my previous "risking my life" had come at a price, though it didn't seem to have much effect. While the look Neon gave me wasn't as obviously contemptuous as before, all the women in the room, including her sisters, were focused on the handsome man standing by the door, Fang Qingshu.

In contrast, I only received attention from two women. One was Ah Xue, who at least had some conscience; the other was Katrina. Her occasional glances made me suspicious. Could this Feather Clan leader be a woman with unusual fetishes? Otherwise, why would she ignore the two handsome men and stare intently at me, an ordinary-looking person?

Later, I overheard Katrina and Mao Yan'an's conversation; they were old acquaintances. Mao Yan'an even visited Skeva Song Tower City every few years to relay messages between the Cihang Jingdian and the Feather Clan.

The number of Feathered Clan members gathered in Skeva City was approximately three to four thousand. Thanks to their effective training, in the event of war, everyone, young and old, could fight, making them a veritable elite force of universal conscription. However, the clan lacked outstanding talents; only a handful could be rated as level four or higher. Even their "strongest," clan leader Katrina, only possessed level five cultivation. If they were to fight against the Zoroastrian Church, whose experts were numerous, the situation would be extremely precarious. Therefore, they urgently issued invitations, widely soliciting assistance from skilled individuals.

"We are deeply honored to receive your generous assistance. Thank you all."

"Clan leader, you are too kind. However, in a battle between two armies, the courage of a single man cannot turn the tide. Judging from the current situation, the Feathered Clan is at a disadvantage. I wonder if the clan leader has any good strategies to repel the enemy?"

The speaker was Fang Qingshu. Leaning against the door with his hands clasped, his unhurried tone possessed a calming charm, drawing everyone's attention to his words.

"Young Master Fang is right, and we have made some preparations accordingly," Katrina said. "Please follow me."

Having received healing spells, my wounds were almost completely healed. However, the blood loss and physical weakness caused by the fierce battle were beyond the healing spells to cure. Supported by Ah Xue, I followed them to see what preparations the Feathered Clan had made to be confident of winning this war with a slim chance of victory.

Looking at the scenery outside and the location of the other four towers, I knew we were currently in the Red Building to the west, while Katrina led us towards the White Building in the center.

As we climbed the winding staircase, at the very top of the White Building was a rather large hall. At the tip of the conical roof, there was a transparent area containing the strangely shaped crystal I had seen before. Under the sunlight, it shimmered with a rainbow of seven colors, illuminating the entire hall, making everything seem like a dream of crystal.

In the center of the hall was a large object covered by a long curtain. I couldn't tell if it was a statue or an altar.

Only one thing was certain. Even I, with my mediocre magical skills, could sense a faint sense of holiness emanating from behind the veil.

"As you may already know, what we Feathered Race are most proud of is our ability to develop levitation technology for large objects using various crystals and our unique bloodline magic. Phoenix Island was the pinnacle of our research,"

Katrina explained .

Since Phoenix Island's disappearance, this technology had almost been lost. It wasn't until she established the Skywalker City, gathering Feathered Race descendants from all sides to work together for many years, that they were able to re-develop the technology. However, due to incomplete practical methods and the lack of incantation manipulation by those with Phoenix bloodlines, the current level of achievement is far from comparable to what it was back then. Even so, they still built a floating city.

Skywalker means "Skywalker." The bases and peaks of the five towers are made of special crystals, easily resonating with the levitation spell. The towers also contain numerous air sacs and wings to aid in levitation. When the entire levitation spell is activated, with the help of these elements, the Skeva City can detach from the ground and float in the sky, moving with the wind.

Apart from the Feathered Race, the various beast races of the Southern Barbarians have almost no aerial combat capabilities. In other words, once they float in the air, thousands of troops will attack from below, making them helpless against the Feathered Race. In the past, the Skeva City has relied on this method to evade enemy attacks several times, gaining the opportunity to grow and thrive.

"Originally, we wanted to use the same method again this time, but the Fire Worship Cult targeted our weakness, choosing this critical juncture to attack..."

The Feathered Race's levitation magic is greatly influenced by the timing and location. The yin and yang energies of heaven and earth change cyclically. This year, unfortunately, is a year of yin dominance and yang decline. Especially in the first few months, the yin energy in the southern barbarian region was extremely strong, while the yang energy was extremely weak, resulting in many roads being filled with miasma

. The rotation of yin and yang is a natural law of generation and restraint, nothing to be alarmed about. Top-tier mages even take advantage of this opportunity to practice special spells during yin years. In the southern barbarians, beast mages also use this rare opportunity to create special yin-type beasts, allowing them to grow rapidly during the season when yang energy is at its weakest. However, for Skeva's City, which draws energy from the true fire of the sun, this crisis is very serious, because in the absence of sufficient energy, the levitation spell, which can barely be activated, is completely rendered useless.

"We knew this too, so when we floated away last time, we specifically chose this secluded place in the remote mountains and treacherous waters, hoping to quietly spend the first half of this year. Who knew that there were indeed experts in the Fire Worshiping Cult who saw through our weaknesses, sent out many spies, found the city, and launched a large-scale attack."

Unlike before, although the Feather Clan received the news, they were unable to activate the city and fly away. If they were to abandon the city and flee, firstly, they would be reluctant to give up their years of accumulated wealth, and secondly, without the cover of terrain, they would be more easily defeated one by one by the enemy. Helpless, they could only sit in the city and watch helplessly as the enemy surrounded them.

Katrina said, "Because we knew the situation was unfavorable, we widely invited help from all sides and gathered our strength, hoping to safely overcome this crisis."

Mao Yan'an said, "Yes, but the Fire Worshiping Cult is powerful. Although the Beast Master has not yet emerged from seclusion, and the experts from the four clans are not half present, the overall situation is still beyond our reach. If we were to fight head-on, I'm afraid... what does the clan leader intend to do?"

We know what that "I'm afraid" means without even having to say it. Although Neon was not weak, he was still no match for Fang Qingshu, the chosen one of Cihang Jingdian. Even he had just admitted that brute force alone could not turn the tide, and those with even weaker strength dared not harbor any illusions.

"No, regarding our strategy, our basic plan remains to activate the floating city and avoid direct combat. However, this time we need the help of the heavens, and the ideal time is noon fifteen days from now. Therefore, I hope to receive your assistance in defending the city until that moment." "

Hmm, fighting for the women of the Feather Clan is a man's honor, so of course it's not a problem. But according to the celestial calculations, although the Yin energy will begin to recede and the Yang fire will begin to rise fifteen days from now, it will probably take another three months for it to return to its intense intensity, enough to make the city float. Am I wrong about this?"

"No, not at all. Therefore, we must rely on external forces." At Katrina's signal, several female warriors pulled down the curtain of the large object in the hall, revealing what was inside.

"Oh? This is..."

Removing the heavy veil revealed a massive mirror stand. It stood a good two and a half feet tall, made of a metal I didn't recognize—neither gold nor copper, its surface faintly glowing with a pale yellow light. Its form was ancient and simple, and only upon closer inspection did I realize its extraordinary nature.

The stand was engraved with things, not ordinary beautiful patterns, but rather the positions of the stars in the sky, capturing the shimmering Milky Way; the two movable rings near the center represented the orbits of the sun and moon, making the entire stand a clear and detailed star chart.

"Oh, truly amazing! I've never seen anything so intricate before." I thought to myself, almost uttering a wrong word. Turning my head, I saw Mao Yan'an and Fang Qingshu simultaneously leaning closer to examine it, their faces full of seriousness.

Due to limitations in equipment and technology, drawing a complete star chart was no easy task. The technology for observing faint stars was only developed in the last two hundred years, making highly sophisticated star-gazing instruments extremely expensive. Often, only the royal magic academy of a single country could possess them. However, the one I saw when visiting the Royal Magic Academy of Alibuda was far simpler than this one; judging from Fang Qingshu's expression, even the Cihang Jingdian probably didn't have such a sophisticated star-gazing instrument.

Strangely, this mirror appears to be an ancient artifact over five hundred years old. Given the immaturity of observation technology at the time, how could such a thing have been manufactured? The faintly emanating sacred aura suggests that this mirror might have once been a magical artifact with some function. Could it be… that this mirror hides some secret passed down from the ancestors of the Feather Clan?

"Judging by its appearance, this is… the Great Sun Mirror, isn't it?" Surprisingly, although he was the first to name the mirror, Fang Qingshu's tone carried a hint of uncertainty.

"Young Master Fang is indeed insightful. This is truly the treasured artifact of my Feather Clan, the Great Sun Mirror." A look of surprise flashed in Katrina's eyes; she clearly hadn't expected the origin of the mirror stand to be recognized so quickly.

"No… I only remembered the Great Sun Mirror when Teacher Mao discussed rare and precious artifacts." Looking at the star map on the mirror stand, Fang Qingshu murmured, "However, I truly didn't expect this treasure to actually exist…"

Mao Yan'an stood beside him, smiling silently as he looked at the mirror stand. I sensed that this mirror stand seemed to have some legends I didn't know about; I'd have to ask him about it privately later.

"To be precise, this Great Sun Mirror isn't complete; we only obtained the base. As for the mirror itself, it was lost when it was passed down from our ancestors."

Katrina's words reminded me that in the center of the mirror stand, there was a circular notch, where the mirror should have been placed, but it was completely empty. If this mirror was originally a magical artifact, then without the mirror, only the stand remained, making it impossible for it to function properly.

"Because there is no mirror, the Great Sun Mirror cannot function. Over the years, we have spent a lot of manpower and resources searching for a mirror, but we have never found one. With this decisive battle imminent, we have no other choice but to ask Master Xin Deng to make us a substitute mirror."

At Katrina's instruction, Neon carefully took out a tightly wrapped mirror-like object from their baggage. Upon opening it, it was indeed a transparent mirror. Its size matched the perforation on the Great Sun Mirror stand, and its material was the same seven-colored crystal found on the tops of the five towers. It looked crystal clear, with iridescent light flowing through it.

To polish a stone into such a smooth mirror, without a single flaw, is naturally no easy feat. I've heard that Master Xin Deng is the world's foremost craftsman, and with his mastery of fire magic, he's the perfect candidate to create high-level magical artifacts. However, I've also heard he has an eccentric temper. If it weren't for the sake of Japan, it would have been incredibly difficult for the Feather Clan to get him to do it.

"Is that Third Uncle's Three Lives Mirror?" Fang Qingshu asked, staring at the mirror with surprise.

"What is the Three Lives Mirror?" Before I could even speak, Ah Xue had already asked.

"It's a high-level magical artifact from the Cihang Jingdian Temple. Currently, only Master Xin Deng knows how to make it," Mao Yan'an said. "As long as a monk with sufficient cultivation chants a spell over the mirror, you can see your past life in the mirror. However, I don't know if there are any monks left who can use this magic..." It's

incredibly magical, but I had indeed seen related records in the Blood Nightmare Records, so I wasn't surprised. I just glanced at the bright mirror a few more times.

Katrina said, "With the mirror, the magic of the Great Sun Mirror can be unleashed. Although it will be much less effective than before, it will be enough to activate the levitation array and make the city rise into the air. At noon fifteen days from now, when the Yang Fire begins to recover, it will be the minimum energy requirement to activate the Great Sun Mirror. Please support us until that moment."

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