Alibuda Chronicles Volume 4: Chapter 3 A Fleeting Dream

Unlike usual battlefields where I could evade attacks, this time I faced the orcs head-on, and my injuries were severe. Even while unconscious, I could 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 parched 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, I definitely couldn't fight anyone.

During my unconscious period, I seemed to hear Ah Xue's voice intermittently. I could feel that she was concerned about me, who was unconscious due to blood loss. However, each time I heard her voice, another very 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 mage using a healing spell, and soon after, I woke up.

“Ah, Ah Xue…”

“Don’t call, she’s not here.”

Opening my eyes, I didn’t see Ah Xue, nor 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. In this situation, what else can I do?”

“That’s not what I’m asking. I want to know why you’re peeling an apple here? Where is everyone else?”

“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. He had already washed and changed his clothes and still looked as dashing as ever, but his face was a little bruised and swollen. He said that it was because after Neon arrived at Skeva’s City, he 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, so he began to retaliate in small ways.

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 skilled enemy soldiers in the chaos. Their victory was 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, that 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 rescued 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 a healing spell on you earlier. 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?”

Ah Xue, who had no other strengths but whose spirit was stronger than anyone else’s, 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, and seeing her haggard face evoked 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 entered. 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 blond hair shine brilliantly, almost blinding; his warm smile was like the warm sunlight in winter, 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 seemed to have great respect for 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 a court painter in the Golden Finch Federation, had frequent dealings with the Palace of Light, where he met Fang Qingshu, who was studying there. He instructed Fang Qingshu in literature and painting, and even took him on trips to many places, thus earning Fang Qingshu's gratitude and respect.

(This is truly bizarre. No matter how you look at it, this guy doesn't seem like a big shot, yet he's so good at networking?)

This question couldn't be answered for a moment. Then, Mao Yan'an formally introduced me, saying that 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 just thought he thought my martial arts skills were undeserved, but later Mao Yan'an told me that wasn't the case. There was a reason why this guy was regarded as the number one expert of the new generation. Appointing someone with low martial arts skills as the instructor of the Royal Guard was not unusual in the current era where noble bloodlines dominated the ranks. However, he clearly remembered the list of high-ranking officials of the Kingdom of Alibuda for the past ten years, and there was no instructor named "Blue Eagle" on it.

"So you are Instructor Blue. It's a pleasure to meet you. Instructor Blue, you... eh? This way of addressing you sounds like..."

Fang Qingshu looked at Mao Yan'an meaningfully, while the latter had a smug smile that seemed to indicate that it was none of his business. I repeated the title to myself twice. If I said "Instructor Lan, Instructor Lan" too quickly, wouldn't it sound like...

you bastard? Now I know why Mao Yan'an deliberately praised me as a martial arts instructor; he was intentionally trying to trick me. The Japanese sisters might not say it, but they probably started looking down on me the moment they thought of that title.

Undeniably, Fang Qingshu's manner of treating people was impeccable; he was remarkably polite and courteous, even to the point of being unbecoming of his status. Young talents like him, especially those from a noble family, were usually arrogant and extremely disliked. Neon, due to her frequent travels for cases and interactions with various social classes, adopted a relatively humble attitude, which was already a rare exception. However, when encountering someone like me whom they disliked, they still directly expressed contempt and kept their distance.

But Fang Qingshu gave a different impression. Whether one liked him or not, his demeanor was remarkably humble, never making anyone he spoke with feel the slightest discomfort. Even without a smile, his amiable tone and words conveyed sincerity, preventing any sense of malice and making one willing to befriend him.

One could imagine that when he used this attitude to deal with various江湖豪杰 (jianghu hao, a term referring to heroes and outlaws), even the most ferocious figures would easily be softened by him, leading to a few drinks and the establishment of a friendship. Such 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.

Logically speaking, I should have been influenced 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. I felt like a sulking child, doing things that showed no sense of 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 full 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 the Dragon Maiden, my mission was to deliver a message and a token to her, but the current situation was complex. Revealing directly that the Dragon Maiden 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 strange.

That fleeting glance, seen only by me, immediately aroused my suspicion, prompting me to decide 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 must be 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 tastes? 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 Feather Clan members gathered in Skeva Song Tower City was approximately three to four thousand. Thanks to effective training, the tribe can mobilize young and old alike in any battle, making them a veritable elite force of universal conscription. However, the tribe lacks outstanding talents; only a handful can be rated as level four or higher. Even the "strongest" tribe leader, Katrina, only possesses level five cultivation. If they were to fight the Fire Worshiping Cult, whose experts are numerous, the situation would be extremely precarious. Therefore, they urgently issued an invitation to many experts to assist them.

"It is a great honor for our Feathered Clan to receive your generous assistance. Thank you all."

"Treating the tribe leader is 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 tribe 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 ensure victory in this war, which was not on our side.

Looking at the scenery outside and the locations of the other four towers, I knew we were currently in the Red Building to the west, and 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—the strangely shaped crystal I had seen before. Bathed in sunlight, it shimmered with a rainbow of colors, illuminating the entire hall, making everything seem like a dreamlike glasswork.

In the center of the hall stood a large object shrouded in a long curtain. It was impossible to tell whether 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 curtain.

"As you may already know, our Feathered Clan's greatest pride lies in 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 the disappearance of Phoenix Island, this technology had almost been lost. It wasn't until she established the Skywara City, gathering remnants of the Winged Race from all sides, and working together for many years, that the technology was revived. 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.

Skywara 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 airbags and wings to aid in levitation. When the entire levitation spell is activated, with the assistance of these elements, the Skywara City can detach from the ground and float in the sky, moving with the wind. Apart from the Winged 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, which is no match for the Winged Race. In the past, Skeva City had used this method to evade enemy attacks several times, gaining opportunities to grow and thrive.

"Originally, we wanted to use the same tactic again this time, but the Zoroastrian Church targeted our weaknesses, choosing this crucial moment to attack..."

The Winged Clan's gliding magic is greatly influenced by the timing and location of the weather. The yin and yang energies of heaven and earth change cyclically, and this year unfortunately falls into 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 mutual generation and restraint, nothing to be alarmed about. Top-tier mages even take advantage of this opportunity to specifically practice special magic during yin years. In the Southern Barbarian region, beast mages also utilize this rare opportune time to create special yin-type beast demons, allowing them to grow rapidly during the season when yang energy is at its weakest. But for Skeva City, which draws energy from the sun's true fire, such a crisis is dire. Without sufficient energy, the levitation spell, already barely activating, is rendered useless.

"We knew this, which is why we specifically chose this remote, desolate place during our last levitation migration, hoping to quietly pass the first half of the year. Who knew that the Zoroastrian Church had such a master who saw through our weakness, sent out numerous spies, found the city, and launched a full-scale attack."

Unlike before, although the Feathered Clan received the news, they were unable to activate the city and fly away. Abandoning the city meant abandoning their years of accumulated wealth, and without the cover of terrain, they would be more vulnerable to being picked off one by one. Helpless, they could only sit idly in the city, watching helplessly as the enemy surrounded them.

Katrina said, "Knowing the situation was unfavorable, we invited help from all sides, gathering our strength in the hope of safely weathering this crisis."

Mao Yan'an said, "Yes, but the Fire Worshipers are powerful. Although the Beast Master hasn't emerged from seclusion, and the experts from the four clans are not even half present, the overall situation is still beyond our reach. If we were to fight head-on, I'm afraid... what are the clan leader's plans?"

We know what that "I'm afraid" means without it being said. While Neon is not weak, it is still no match for Fang Qingshu, the chosen one of the Cihang Jingdian. Even he himself just admitted that brute force cannot turn the tide; those with even weaker forces dare not harbor any illusions.

"No, regarding our strategy, our basic plan remains the same: 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 holding 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 a large object in the hall, revealing what was inside.

"Oh? This is..."

Removing the heavy curtain revealed a huge mirror stand. Standing a full two and a half feet tall, it was made of a metal I couldn't recognize—neither gold nor copper, its surface faintly glowing with a pale yellowish light. Its form was ancient and simple, and only upon closer inspection did I realize the extraordinary nature of this astronomical instrument.

Engraved on the surface were 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 instrument a clear and detailed star chart.

"Oh, truly remarkable! I've never seen anything so intricate during my previous visits," I thought to myself, almost uttering a wrong word. I glanced to the side and saw Mao Yan'an and Fang Qingshu simultaneously leaning closer to examine it, their faces filled with seriousness.

Due to limitations in equipment and technology, drawing a complete star chart was no easy feat. 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 platform appears to be an ancient artifact over five hundred years old. At that time, observation technology was not yet mature; how could they have manufactured such a thing? Judging from the faint sacred aura emanating from it, this mirror platform might have once been a magical device with some function. Could it be… that this mirror platform hides some secret passed down from the ancestors of the Feather Clan?

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

"Young Master Fang is indeed insightful. This is indeed the treasure passed down through generations of my Feather Clan, the Great Sun Mirror." A look of surprise flashed in Katrina's eyes; she clearly hadn't expected her origins to be so readily recognized.

"No… I only remembered the Great Sun Mirror when Teacher Mao discussed rare and precious artifacts." Looking at the star map on the mirror, 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. I sensed that this mirror seemed to have some legends I didn't know about; I'd have to ask 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, there was a circular gap—where the mirror should have been placed—but it was completely empty. If this mirror was originally a magical artifact, then without the mirror's surface, leaving only the stand, it would be impossible for it to function properly.

"Because there's no mirror, the Great Sun Mirror cannot function. For so many years, we've spent a great deal of manpower and resources searching for a mirror, but to no avail. With this decisive battle imminent, and having exhausted all other options, we have no choice but to ask Master Xin Deng to help us create a substitute mirror."

At Katrina's prompting, Neon carefully took out a tightly wrapped mirror-like object from their baggage. Unpacking it, they found it to be a transparent mirror. Its size matched the perforation on the Great Sun Mirror's stand, and its material was the same seven-colored crystal found on the tops of the five towers; it appeared 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 the Heart Lamp Hermit 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 Neon, it would have been incredibly difficult for the Feather Clan to get him to do it.

"Is this Third Uncle's Three Lives Mirror?" Staring at the mirror, Fang Qingshu showed surprise.

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

"That's a high-level magical artifact from the Cihang Jingdian Temple, currently only Master Xindeng can make it," Mao Yan'an said. "As long as a monk with sufficient cultivation chants the incantation on the mirror, you can see your past life in the mirror . However, it's unknown whether there are still any monks who can use this magic..."

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

Katrina said, "With the mirror, the magic of the Great Sun Mirror can be unleashed. Although it's much less effective than before, it's enough to activate the levitation array and make the city levitate. At noon fifteen days from now, when the Yang fire is restored, it's the minimum energy requirement to activate the Great Sun Mirror. Please hold on until that moment."

After the explanation, we fully understood the Feather Clan's strategy and tactics. The task now was simple: to hold the Skeva City until noon fifteen days from now.

Fifteen days isn't a long time, but being surrounded by a large army and constantly attacked, it truly felt like an eternity.

Fortunately, the Winged Race chose an extremely treacherous landing site, surrounded by bizarre rocks and steep cliffs. Even with the orcs' abilities, climbing and attacking such a location would have been difficult, giving the disadvantaged Winged Race an advantage.

In terms of pure combat power, the orc army was incredibly lethal. According to assessments by our military, a berserk orc could almost single-handedly defeat ten human infantry, spearmen, or light cavalry. Only the best-equipped heavy infantry were truly capable of directly confronting the orc army.

However, this referred to open field battles. In siege warfare, the orcs' weaknesses—lack of strategic thinking, lack of tactics, and reliance on superior equipment—were fully exposed. The orcs lacked skilled craftsmen; siege weapons were hastily crafted from prisoners of war. Without siege equipment, they could only crane their necks and look up, unable to command a large army to charge.

Undeterred, they launched several more fierce attacks. But just like before our arrival, despite the tiger and leopard orcs' superior climbing skills compared to humans, the fortified city was well-stocked with rolling logs and stones. These creatures were relentlessly pounded down, leaving them only to howl and fall.

Even those who managed to dodge the large-scale attacks and get closer were not so lucky. Thanks to their innate sharpness, almost every winged orc was a master archer. Their marksmanship rivaled that of elven archers, their rapid-fire shots were swift and accurate, killing every enemy within range. With their

offensive stalled, the orcs, of course, didn't sit idly by. Their fierce fighting spirit and will to battle were qualities that each orc race prided themselves on. They selected several dozen highly skilled warriors, more than half of whom were beast demon wielders, and some even possessing the fifth level of cultivation, to form a commando team. This team attacked from the narrow passage at the western mountain pass, hoping to break through the defenses and create an opening for their main army to pass.

In the past, this tactic would have had a considerable success rate. Aside from their chieftain Katrina, the Feather Clan had few capable individuals to stop this assault team, resulting in heavy casualties for their female warriors each time this tactic was employed. But this

time was different. Yu Ni and Yu Hong were the first to engage, intercepting the assault team outside the defensive line. The two female constables displayed their renowned strength across the continent, their graceful and swift movements proving superior, repelling all the invading enemies.

Their unique beast-demon weapon, "Thunder Feather Star Arrow," was incredibly powerful; within range, regardless of distance, its speed and force remained consistent, allowing them to control the situation, fighting ten enemies at once, and eliminating the enemy's beast-demon along with them, securing a safe victory.

Although there was some danger, before it materialized, Fang Qingshu, who had been observing from the sidelines, subtly intervened, helping his two junior sisters out of the predicament. Although my martial arts skills are lacking, I have seen a lot and possess keen insight. Based on this alone, I'm certain that Fang Qingshu's martial arts are at least at the sixth level. I just don't know how he compares to Leng Linglan.

The battle is progressing smoothly, much better than I initially anticipated. However, there are still some concerns. Although the Feather Clan can defend their natural stronghold, they are forced to remain within the city limits and unable to resupply. The Fire Worship Cult's surveillance network covers a hundred miles. Sending out any mobile units will only result in them being swallowed up, with no return. I've observed that the city's food supplies will last at most twenty days. If the tactics fail by then and we can't fly out... then there will definitely be a good show.

This concern is basic knowledge from orthodox military strategists, but right now, the Feather Clan is immersed in a jubilant atmosphere due to their frequent victories, treating Yu Ni, Yu Hong, and Fang Qingshu like heroes. Although I raised this concern once, it was taken as a sign of jealousy, and I was met with disdain.

What was most infuriating was that when Fang Qingshu repeated the same words, they immediately became a profound and insightful statement, drawing admiring glances from the many young women present. These winged women, perhaps due to their lack of interaction with men, would vie to throw themselves at anyone even slightly handsome.

"This wasn't my idea. I think I should thank Brother Lan, because I was blinded by victory earlier. If Brother Lan hadn't reminded me, perhaps… no, I would have definitely made a mistake due to carelessness,"

Fang Qingshu said when receiving praise. His humble and unpretentious attitude once again garnered a flood of compliments, but I couldn't feel happy. His words only made me appear more incompetent, and when Ah Xue looked at him with envious admiration, my displeasure reached its peak.

It seemed that because Tianhe Xueqiong, the Divine Nun of the Free Will, lived in seclusion on a forbidden mountain, neither Ni Hong nor Fang Qingshu had ever met this senior sister, so they were strangers to each other. However, it seemed that because they shared the same artistic origins and similar temperaments, the four of them quickly became friends, along with the leopard that should have been euthanized long ago, chatting and laughing all day long.

I didn't participate in the battle because I needed to recuperate from my injuries, and even if I had, I wouldn't have been able to help Ni Hong much. I wasn't even given the chance to do rough work like setting up rolling stones and logs; if I had, I would have been even more looked down upon.

As a result, I could only stay in my room, recovering from some inexplicable illness, feeling nauseous, and having to deal with Mao Yan'an, who also had nothing better to do and often came to my room to peel apples.

The two beautiful Feather Clan women serving at the door, Huang Ying and Hong Li, were pretty, but they talked about Fang Qingshu all day long, which made me feel uneasy.

That day, I was feeling a bit tired, lying in bed lost in thought, when suddenly the door creaked open and someone walked in.

"Oh, Uncle, you're here again! Are the apples fresh today?"

I turned my head, but instead of Mao Yan'an, I saw a female warrior from the Feathered Clan standing beside the bed. Her face was covered by the bed curtains, but her hot, sexy figure, accentuated by her barely-there three-piece armor, looked even more alluring and white. Logically, I should have been excited, but I'd seen too much of her lower abdomen and fair thighs these past few days, so it wasn't stimulating anymore. Plus, I was in a bad mood, so I naturally had no interest in flirting with a beautiful woman.

However, after looking at her a few more times, I suddenly felt something was off. Feathered Clan women are usually slender and bony, which is beautiful, but their breasts are often disappointing. So… why was there a pair of F-cup bras in front of me, stretching her breastplate almost to the point of bursting?

"Who... Ugh!"

Before I could even speak, she was incredibly passionate, her snow-white arms wrapping around my neck, her full, smooth breasts pressing against my face. The alluring fragrance made me feel hot all over, and I immediately became aroused.

If the person was an assassin, being "assassinated" in such a sensual way would be quite a treat, but unfortunately, the embrace was fleeting, followed by a sweet, honey-like, seductive voice that entered my ears.

"Hello, handsome, you look great! Want to make a wish?"

Hearing this, I was startled, knowing who it was. Looking up, I saw it was indeed Phoenix, the beautiful demon who claimed to be from the Demon Realm, a soul-collecting swindler, and with whom I had shared a night.

She was dressed like a winged warrior, and although a demon, when she turned to show me her wings—which I couldn't quite place—she radiated a pure and luminous aura. Beneath her three-piece armor, Phoenix's beautiful figure was on full display, especially her full breasts, which bounced with her breath, captivating my gaze.

"What's wrong, beauty? Still not giving up?"

Perhaps because of our past encounter, even knowing she was a demon, I felt no wariness. After all, after I had taken advantage of her last time, she only blew my eyes out as punishment, without any further retaliation. When we were surrounded by the orcs, we were only able to escape thanks to the magic weapon she left behind. Therefore, I don't have any ill feelings towards her. Instead, I'm thinking about how to trick her into bed again. Being able to sleep with such a beautiful woman a few more times is every man's dream.

"Please consider their proposal. I'm really thinking of you. As soon as I heard about a new promotion, I immediately notified you."

"Oh? What are they giving away this time? A year-long trip around the continent? Are there any beautiful women to accompany you?"

"It's not some cheap thing. You're the handsome guy they've got their eye on, so of course they'll give you a generous prize... Don't believe me? It's a peerless martial arts manual."

"Come on, what's so great about a peerless martial arts manual? Do you think I haven't seen them before?"

"Of course they wouldn't be so clueless. Besides the manual, there's a way for you to master it in a single day, with absolutely no side effects."

"Enough. I've read a lot of books in the past, and I know very well that no matter how sweet your words are, once a contract is signed, I'm always the one who suffers. And I'm also curious, you know perfectly well that I'm not going to sign a contract, so why are you wasting your time here?"

After I pointed this out, Phoenix wasn't angry, but the charming smile that had been on her lips slowly disappeared, replaced by a calm smile.

"Handsome, you're still as clever as ever. But even though every client knows this, people still keep making wishes to us... Because the devil's temptation is so sweet, always knowing what you need most..."

Unlike before, when she used physical contact to tease me while speaking, Phoenix simply dispelled her winged appearance, sat down on the edge of the bed, and spoke calmly. Even so, she was still stunningly beautiful, and I had to exert great restraint to resist pouncing on her.

"You don't like practicing martial arts, but that doesn't mean you don't like martial arts... As long as it's not your family's secret technique, you'd be willing to practice it, right?"

"..."

"Besides, right now, you have desires. Making a wish to me is the most effective way to satisfy those desires."

I scoffed, "What a joke! I admit I have desires. What man doesn't? Like right now, I want to sleep with you. That's my desire, but I don't need to risk making a deal for it. I can get whatever I want through my own efforts. I have money, I have power, and I can get women anytime. I'm very satisfied with my current situation; I don't need to beg you at all."

"Is that really true? Then why are you so worried about Tianhe Xueqiong every day?"

"You?!"

"Human secrets are meaningless to demons. Don't be surprised; with enough magic power to spy, demons can be as omniscient as gods. But you can rest assured, what I know poses no danger to you. Admiral, you are indeed a young prodigy, born into a prestigious family, and have achieved countless military exploits at a young age. Even if your martial arts skills are not high, you are clever and resourceful, able to toy with even experts like Tianhe Xueqiong. You have every right to be so proud and arrogant."

Phoenix spoke quietly, and even without deliberately acting coquettish, her voice was still very pleasant, each word flowing into the ear like a musical note.

"But is that enough? Don't you have any regrets? Don't you feel remorse? If you could live your life all over again, would you make any changes? At least, I know you regret coming to Skeva City." "

Oh? Why?"

"Because coming here made you feel humiliated, made you feel what you've always wanted to escape. Your family background, your talent, your intelligence—in what way are you inferior to Fang Qingshu? If you hadn't given up back then, why can he be so arrogant in front of you today? Why can he humiliate you? And why can he so easily steal your woman?"

"Shut your dog mouth!!"

Even I couldn't believe I was so angry at this moment. I violently jumped out of bed and, without thinking, grabbed Phoenix's neck with both hands.

Perhaps demons feel things differently from humans. Although her face was flushed and she couldn't breathe, Phoenix seemed to be enjoying it, showing an expression of ecstasy.

"Why are you angry? It's just a few words, can it affect you like that?"

"Shut up! Shut up! I'll strangle you!"

"Why bother? I just wanted to give you a chance to change without starting over. Think about it, we'll meet again."

Phoenix said with a smile. My vision slowly blurred. Although the touch in my hands was still real, the faces in my eyes became increasingly unreal. Then… I woke up.

I was still sitting on the bed, nothing around me had changed. Everything that had just happened seemed like a dream, but my hand was firmly gripping someone's neck.

"You… uh, uncle, why are you here? What's with the foam in your mouth? Hey! Hey! Don't die! Help! Someone's about to suffocate!"

It was difficult to explain the whole situation. However, it seemed that Mao Yan'an, who had come to chat with me while I peeled an apple, was being strangled by me in my nightmare. That was my explanation to the outside world.

I treated Phoenix's words as nothing more than a nightmare, banishing them from my mind. Even a slight thought about them brought back unpleasant memories long forgotten.

The war continued, those destined for the limelight continued to dominate the spotlight, while I, useless as I was, continued wasting food in my room, occasionally pondering the contents of erotic magic books and the Blood Nightmare Manual, hoping to find a way to enhance my strength. However, after much thought, I couldn't find a quick, low-risk, and effortless method.

Ah Xue's martial arts skills were at most level two, but combined with her monstrous strength, even level four experts dared not confront her head-on. With Violet's protection, she could also play a role in combat. Although not as good as Neon, she was far stronger than ordinary winged female warriors.

Because of her outstanding performance, she was ardently loved by the entire winged race. When those four senior and junior disciples from the Palace of Light appeared, surrounded by a large group of Winged Clan members, it was truly a beautiful and eye-catching scene.

However, witnessing this sight always filled me with a deep sense of unease. For the past year, Ah Xue had always followed me around, inseparable from me. Now, she seemed to have suddenly drifted away from me, gone to another world that I could not reach. I felt a deep sense of loneliness in the world she had once inhabited.

In particular, seeing her look at another man with the same adoring gaze she once held for me only fueled the pent-up frustration in my chest, a feeling I couldn't suppress no matter how hard I clenched my fists.

As a result, with Ah Xue and I becoming somewhat estranged, Mao Yan'an became the one I spoke to.

Guests are welcome, but in the eyes of the Feather Clan, I had become a neglected presence. Only the clan leader, Katrina, would still come regularly to inquire about my well-being, showing the bare minimum of courtesy to a guest.

On the surface, she seemed to be there to talk to Mao Yan'an, but from the occasional strange glances she gave me, I knew she was there for me. But what her reason was, I couldn't understand, and this only deepened my doubts. I never conveyed the message my Dragon Girl sister had asked me to deliver, and I kept the gemstone bracelet close to my body.

Ah Xue still came to see me every day, but she seemed busy with something with Neon, only coming once a day after nightfall, exchanging a few hurried words before leaving. And every time she came, that pretty boy Fang Qingshu was always with her, which infuriated me.

She must have sensed my dissatisfaction, and our conflict erupted after one particular incident.

That day, Ah Xue came back to talk to me, proudly declaring that she would soon become very useful. Curious, I pressed her for details, only to learn that after several days of persistent requests, coupled with Ni Hong's encouragement, Fang Qingshu, who had been hesitant, finally agreed to hold an initiation ceremony for Ah Xue in three days, formally imparting the sacred magic of the Cihang Jingdian to her.

"From now on, I'll be able to help when needed, and I won't be completely helpless,"

Ah Xue said happily. But even a fool could tell that if she were to resume practicing sacred magic, not only would my previous revenge plans be ruined, but worse, there was a greater than 90% chance that Tianhe Xueqiong would reappear in the mortal realm. If I survived then, it would be quite strange.

For various reasons, I naturally tried my best to stop her, but Ah Xue, refusing to change her mind, had an unprecedentedly heated argument with me, questioning why I was hindering her learning.

I couldn't answer. Although countless reasons to stop her filled my mind, I couldn't bring myself to say them aloud. I could only offer the vague excuse, "You won't understand what Master is doing right now, but it's definitely for your benefit."

The usually innocent and adorable Xue refused to back down this time, unwilling to accept my overly general reason.

The verbal argument yielded no results. In a fit of anger, I impulsively struck her, slapping her hard across the face. Watching her stand there stunned for a moment, clutching the handprint on her face, tears welling in her eyes, she burst into tears and ran out the door, disappearing from sight. My heart clenched.

"You'll regret it if you don't listen to me!"

I shouted at Xue's retreating back, but deep down I knew I was a loser who couldn't control myself, always doing stupid things I shouldn't…

Of course, not everything went so wrong, because Mao Yan'an's intelligence revealed some very important things.

Due to their innate constitution, winged women's reproduction results in the following: if a male infant is born, he inherits the paternal bloodline entirely; if a female infant is born, she is a winged woman. Therefore, there are no men in the winged race. To ensure the continuation of the lineage and prevent the extinction of the winged bloodline, winged women must engage in sexual intercourse with men of other races to conceive.

Humans and elves are ideal mating partners because the chances of producing daughters are relatively high; however, orcs are a poor choice, as the genital size of most of their races is incompatible with that of the winged, causing pain and preventing them from achieving their goal of procreation.

Currently, the winged race is small in number, and in order to grow stronger as soon as possible, the women of the race have quite open views on sexuality. As long as one looks decent and doesn't speak incoherently, it's not difficult to seduce several winged women.

Especially now, in the vast city of Skeva, there are only three men; if one is bold enough, it's practically paradise.

Sure enough, I didn't even need to put any aphrodisiacs or sedatives in the cup. Just a few nonsensical chatter were enough to seduce Huang Ying, one of the two winged female warriors who was originally responsible for receiving and protecting me.

One rather troublesome thing about having sex with a winged woman who couldn't fold her wings was that we couldn't use the traditional position. Those snow-white wings behind her were a highly sensitive area where nerves converged; even a heavy press on them felt like a kick to my groin.

Since it was consensual, it felt safe. Perhaps because I hadn't ejaculated for a while, my thrusts were particularly vigorous and powerful. In no time, I had exhausted Huang Ying. After one orgasm, she still didn't want to stop, allowing me to focus on ravaging the female body straddling me.

"Ah... Coach Lan, you... you really are a good coach, thrust a little deeper... um..."

Without any unnecessary restraint or affectation, I once again witnessed the passionate unrestraint of the Southern Barbarian women.

For someone accustomed to stunning beauties, Huang Ying's appearance was only above average, but her youthful and healthy body was the strongest female allure. The proud, tall figure and long, beautiful legs of the Feathered Clan women left a deep impression on me when Huang Ying wrapped her legs around my back, urging me to thrust forward.

In the fiery tide of desire, Huang Ying kissed my cheek, emitting a series of beautiful, song-like moans. Her skin was as translucent as jade, and her two round breasts swayed with my thrusting movements, exceptionally tempting.

Two purplish-red grapes atop her breasts, their vibrant color making one's mouth water; the fragrance of a young woman, mixed with the sweat from intense intercourse, exuded a decadent and succulent aroma that made me unable to resist burying my face between them, licking away the beads of sweat from her areolas, and playing with these firm and perky breasts.

"So beautiful, Huang Ying. Every time I see you strutting around the door in your breastplate, I know you have a pair of beautiful breasts."

"Hehe, you're kidding me, right? Compared to your apprentice... that Miss Xue, our size is nothing... Hmm, a little harder, please..."

"That's why I said beautiful. What's the use of big breasts? It's not like I'm going to squeeze you. What's important is the shape of the breasts. Firm and perky like yours is the most satisfying to squeeze."

My chest was pressed against Huang Ying's soft breasts, my mouth sucking on her plump red lips, my nose inhaling her erotic scent, and my lower body thrusting rapidly, pulling back to her vaginal opening. As she eagerly brought her snowy buttocks forward, I thrust upwards again, penetrating deep into her nectar-drenched vulva.

"Hehe, you're so good with words. I wish all human men were like you..."

Two sweat-drenched bodies rubbed against each other, her two plump, soft breasts rising and falling rapidly, hitting my chest, a feeling that was incredibly exciting.

"W-why do you say that? Have you met other bad men?"

Huang Ying's slender waist arched upwards, like a white fish twisting its waist and swaying its hips, so graceful. Whether it was the visual stimulation or the elasticity of her round buttocks pressing against my thighs, I couldn't control myself, and I was about to ejaculate my pent-up semen inside her.

"Yes...yes, it's Fang Qingshu, Young Master Fang. He's the best seed-seeking lover, but no matter how much the sisters try to win him over, he ignores them all. It's infuriating! If it weren't for that, how could I have gotten..." I

was already at the peak of pleasure, but for some reason, the moment I heard these words, I suddenly felt a surge of anger, unable to control myself. I lifted Huang Ying's beautiful buttocks with both hands, stood up, and flipped her over, causing her to fall to the ground with a thud.

"Ouch!"

A surge of heat between my legs, and my pent-up desire erupted at that moment, thick, white semen spraying all

over Huang Ying's face, completely defiling her beautiful nose and red lips. The sacred act of mating had failed, and her sexual climax had been maliciously ruined. Huang Ying was stunned for a moment, then cried out in anger.

Afterwards, until I chased her out the door, she slapped me twice and kicked me three times. Although I didn't retaliate, pushing her naked out the door first, and then throwing her clothes out amidst her screams, felt like I'd gotten

my money's worth. I never imagined that even making love could turn out so unpleasantly. My mood was truly terrible, and after this incident, my image here would undoubtedly be utterly ruined. But it didn't matter; since someone else had already played the gentleman, why shouldn't I play the villain?

Frustrated, I pulled back the covers and went to sleep. In my dream, images that made me wish I were dead kept replaying before my eyes.

First, there was my twisted father. He was still sitting at that desk, his unkempt beard obscuring his face, his hands clasped in front of him, but his chillingly sharp gaze pierced through his sunglasses.

"I won't practice. Even if I did, I wouldn't find happiness. If in the end I'd be just like you, I'd rather be a useless bum for life."

"Then you can go back. The only reason I called you here was to give you this. If you don't want to practice, there's no need for you to stay."

His calm, emotionless voice was icy. I don't know how others saw him, but in my eyes, he lacked every single quality of a father.

This was a hateful memory I didn't want to recall, and just as I finally managed to suppress the unpleasantness of facing my twisted father, another image appeared before my eyes.

Fang Qingshu and A Xue, walking side-by-side on the green grass. Their appearances and demeanors seemed so perfectly matched, like a match made in heaven.

I was furious and rushed forward, but the distance only grew further. I couldn't even throw stones at her; I could only watch helplessly as Fang Qingshu slowly lifted Ah Xue's delicate chin and kissed her, her face showing an expression of utter blissful ecstasy.

In that instant, my heart ached as if it were being torn to pieces…

I woke with a start from the nightmare and saw myself in the mirror opposite me. My hair was disheveled, my eyes were bloodshot, and I looked utterly dejected, like a lost dog—I didn't recognize myself at all.

Everything in the dream was chillingly clear. I knew that something in my heart… something about Ah Xue, was beginning to change.

I couldn't think about it, and I dared not think about it too deeply. I remembered that the day Fang Qingshu was to formally teach Ah Xue holy magic was tomorrow. If I didn't want the dream to come true, I only had one path left.

"Phoenix! Come out here. I've done this deal. Let me see just how capable you really are…"

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