"So this idiot openly attacked the city gates with just two disciples from his sect," I facepald in disbelief at the stupidity of the old man nad Stanley, who was tied to a chair.
"A-are you Lucifer Morningstar?" Stanley murmured, slowly raising his head.
"Hm, I heard you ca here to punish ," I asked, raising an eyebrow.
He suddenly shivered at my question and blurted out, terror filling his eyes, "I... I would not dare. It was a misunderstanding!"
Turning to U, I asked, "How exactly is this idiot the key to entering the Mainland?"
"The Mainland is separated by a massive wall equipped with countless weapons capable of instantly killing even an Awakened Sage if they attempt to trespass," U explained. "If soone sohow manages to reach the Mainland, the alarms on the wall will alert the empire, and the intruder will imdiately beco the target of the entire Western Continent. To ensure we pass the wall without triggering any alarms, this man will help us since he is..."
"He is the Sect Master of the Clear Spring Sect, responsible for guarding the border between the Mainland and the Abandoned Lands," I completed her sentence with an amused smile.
"I... I will help you enter the Mainland," Stanley spoke up hurriedly. "In exchange, please spare and my sect mbers."
"Oh? But you ca here to extort us," I countered with a serious expression, leaning closer to his face. "Besides, what made you think you are in a position to demand anything from us?"
"Pl-please forgive , Sir Morningstar," Stanley pleaded, his voice growing desperate. "I would never have thought of extorting you if I had known how you fought against El Dorado to bring dawn to the Abandoned Lands. I extorted Nyx because she, along with all her subordinates, were criminals."
"Do not try to disguise your greed as righteousness, Stanley," I said, my voice deep and authoritative. "I do not deny that Nyx’s actions were inhumane, but your excessive demands for Soul Stones were a major reason that pushed her down that path."
Stanley said nothing. Or rather, he had no words that could serve as a convincing excuse.
After a brief pause, he murmured in a low voice, "Th-then at least let my disciples live. They are innocent."
"You have also captured his disciples?" I asked, turning to U.
She nodded and replied, "They are imprisoned in the city above."
Turning my sharp gaze back to Stanley, I declared, "Your fate depends on how smoothly we enter the Mainland."
"I... I will make sure you face no difficulties!" Stanley blurted out, as if life had suddenly returned to his eyes.
With that, U and I left the basent and headed to the city above.
The city looked much the sa as it used to. Very little had changed over the past year, except that the people appeared more lively and joyful than before. Their bodies looked healthier, and there were many children playing in the streets, a sight that had been rather rare a year ago.
The mont I entered the city, the gazes of the people shifted toward in shock and disbelief.
"I-is that really him?"
"Those crimson eyes and hair. There is no doubt, it is him."
"When did he return from closed-door cultivation?"
The people murmured in astonishnt as they slowly gathered around .
"Closed-door cultivation? Is that what you told them?" I asked U, who was walking beside .
"I had to co up with sothing to explain the disappearance of their leader," U shrugged.
As we walked through the streets, more and more people gathered and began greeting with bows and reverence, as if welcoming a god.
"Welco back, Sir Morningstar!"
"We are glad for your return!"
"I hope you achieved the desired breakthroughs in your cultivation!"
.
.
.
We were showered with greetings until we reached the city gate.
"Are we going sowhere?" I asked U, who had led there.
"I have a surprise for you," she said before ordering the guards at the gate to open the doors.
Beyond the gate lay a vast open land, surrounded by another boundary of massive walls encircling the city.
Across the open ground, several people dressed in black robes were training rigorously. So were engaged in sparring or physical exercises, while others ditated beneath the shade of the few trees scattered across the land.
What surprised the most were not the cultivators themselves, but their leader, who was training them personally with a sharp and penetrating gaze in his eyes.
The mont I looked at him, he turned instantly, as if he had sensed my gaze falling upon him.
As soon as he saw , he vanished into the shadows, only to reappear in front of by erging from my own shadow.
"You are late," Vyaghra said in his usual cold and emotionless tone.
Before I could respond, he continued, "Because of your absence, Her Majesty has been drinking without restraint for the past two months—"
"Vyaghra, be silent!" U shouted imdiately, her face flushing red.
"U, this was very childish," I scolded her in a low but firm voice. "I understand that I was a few months late, but that is no excuse for making your own life miserable by drinking liquor."
"I... I understand my mistake," U murmured softly, lowering her head as her fluffy ears drooped after being scolded.
Vyaghra, who had been silently observing , spoke again once U acknowledged her fault. "You have changed."
"Changed in what sense?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Your irritating accent has disappeared and beco more refined. The manner in which you walk and carry yourself has also changed greatly. It feels as though I am standing before a renowned martial artist from a prestigious clan."
I remained stunned by how sharp Vyaghra’s observation truly was. It was true that my accent and deanor had changed, or rather, they had returned to how they originally were after I recovered my mories. From this brief interaction alone, he had even guessed that I resembled soone from a prestigious clan, which was indeed true. I was a Thunderbane, not to ntion the Prince of the Hundred Sky Mountains.
"No wonder his senses are so sharp. He is the God of Hunt and Stealth for a reason," I murmured inwardly.
As I acknowledged his perceptiveness, he continued speaking and said sothing so oblivious that I felt an urge to punch him in the face.
"Your Soulforce has increased greatly compared to what it was a year ago," Vyaghra said. "But it is strange. Not only you, even Her Majesty’s Soulforce has deepened significantly within just a single day."
Both U and I instantly turned crimson, fully aware of the reason behind the sudden growth in our Soulforce.
Before we could steer the conversation elsewhere, Vyaghra’s gaze shifted to U’s neck. His expression sharpened as he muttered, "Your Majesty, who dared to attack your neck?"
User Comments
0 comments from readers