Chapter 415

Boom—.

After the knocking sound, Crete and Flora also snapped out of their thoughts and turned to look at the door.

Someone's here?

Who is it?

The three people inside the mansion simultaneously frowned, suppressing their qi, none speaking first.

In the silence, they stared at the door, trying to Perceive the Outside World through the threshold.

"…"

The person outside, receiving no reply from within, knocked again.

Boom—.

The knocking maintained its previous rhythm, steady and light.

Boom—.

Neither hurried nor slow, neither heavy nor light.

Yet precisely this seemingly ordinary scene caused all three inside to slowly tense up.

Each knock seemed to sync with their heartbeats, gradually drawing their pulses into step with the rhythm.

But when they focused on their own heartbeats, the invisible influence vanished instantly, as if the sensation had been a fleeting illusion.

The current situation was truly bizarre.

They had just arrived; this mansion had never been prepared for Herbert and his group.

Only a handful within the Sun Church even knew their exact address.

So who would come knocking at this hour?

And with what intent?

The visitor is most likely a high-ranking member of the Sun Church—perhaps one of those conservative sect members Herbert mentioned who harbor hostility toward them as monsters.

If they truly intended to break the surface peace from the start, it wouldn't be too troublesome.

The real danger lies in those who appear friendly on the surface but secretly plot to stab you in the back.

Overt malice isn't frightening; what's truly terrifying is the ferocity hidden beneath a friendly facade.

With Herbert absent, Flora took on the role of the team's strategist, quickly analyzing the situation for the two others.

The reason they could only rely on guesswork was simple—they could not Perceive the Outside World.

The Sun Church was not short on funds; the mansion provided to foreign allies was of extremely high rank, nearly equivalent to a top-tier cultivation cave in the xianxia world.

Defense arrays, qi-sealing arrays, qi-concentration arrays—layer upon layer encircled the mansion.

Inside were Sealing Techniques that completely blocked all qi from entering or exiting, restricting all perception below Epic rank.

Nothing from outside could probe inward; nothing from inside could sense outward.

These stacked arrays operated on one principle: equal treatment for all—nobody got special treatment.

Of the three, only Valentina could faintly sense disturbances in the external qi, detecting the visitor's approach.

But Valentina's intellectual capacity was insufficient to describe the visitor's details precisely—only roughly.

It felt like a Sun Church believer, with no clear malice but a sense of danger upon stepping outside.

Her statement was highly misleading—confusing to her teammates.

If Valentina were deliberately playing dumb, she'd be acting so well she'd fooled even her own team—truly wise in seeming foolish.

But the grim reality was—Miss Hungry Dragon's true intelligence was likely barely above idiocy.

"…"

Under the questioning gazes of the other two, Valentina unusually fell silent and nodded calmly.

Then, she finally… struggled to swallow the last mouthful of dry, clumpy yogurt.

Glug!

Ha!

Burp!

Rarely had Valentina eaten so much yogurt—she'd nearly filled herself up, mainly because chewing had exhausted her tongue until it ached.

It felt like she'd done a full set of oral calisthenics.

"Cough—don't open it."

Valentina ignored the death glares from the devil and demon, coughed lightly, and murmured: "My intuition tells me the air outside feels off."

The person outside gave her a sense of great danger, yet upon closer inspection, it felt merely average.

How strange!

"…" The Demon Young Lady frowned, deep in thought.

Just intuition?

Although Valentina's reasoning sounded utterly unreliable, Flora did not question it.

Every strong cultivator has unique habits, forged through countless life-or-death trials.

Some are born with luck others cannot comprehend; others are cursed from birth with misfortune others cannot fathom.

People cannot truly understand one another!

Just as the Lucky One cannot grasp the suffering of the Unlucky One, the Unlucky One cannot understand the loneliness of the Lucky One.

Human joys and sorrows do not connect; they only find each other noisy, barking and wailing on their own sides.

If Valentina is so certain the person outside is dangerous, there must be her reason.

So now—should they continue playing dead and wait, or drive the visitor away?

As Flora hesitated, a cold, calm voice came from outside.

"Please open the door."

That was Fulinzhu Sect's voice.

Her tone remained calm, but upon closer listening, a faint hint of resignation could be detected.

"Rest assured, I am not here to cause you trouble, nor will I let you leave."

"I simply wish to speak with you—with her."

Oh, so it's her!

The unexpected identity of the visitor instantly eased the tense atmosphere within the mansion; Flora sighed and shook her head helplessly.

Well, now we've wasted all that nervous energy.

Just Fulinzhu Sect? Any one of the three of them could handle her alone, let alone the three of us here.

The Devil and the Demon both relaxed, but the Dragon remained conflicted.

Valentina tilted her head in confusion, blinking repeatedly as if questioning reality.

"Huh? How could this be..."

Only Fulinzhu Sect's magical signature lingered outside the door; Valentina had nearly sucked the air from the mansion through her nose, yet detected no trace of any other person's scent beyond it.

Could it really be that she's alone?

But that doesn't make sense!

Did I make a mistake?

"This is weird—it's impossible! The aura outside the door was clearly dangerous!"

After receiving Flora's signal, Valentina scratched her head and walked to the door.

After opening the door to let Fulinzhu Sect in, the Dragon Lady slammed it shut and pinned her against the entrance.

Stop!

"Mmm... hmm?" Fulinzhu Sect's brow furrowed slightly; she raised a hand to push Valentina away, but halted it halfway and let it drop.

Sniff. Sniff.

Valentina circled Fulinzhu Sect, utterly baffled, sniffing repeatedly, nearly ready to reach out and touch her.

After repeatedly inspecting her multiple times, Valentina finally reached a conclusion—this Fulinzhu Sect was truly unproblematic.

As for the misjudgment, it was probably due to her own excessive tension distorting her perception.

After finally passing the "security check" and gaining freedom, Fulinzhu Sect wasted no time; she turned toward Crete, who stood huddled in the corner with arms crossed, looking utterly disinterested.

She gave Crete a slight nod and said slowly: "Madam, could you please come with me to a private room? I have something I wish to say to you."

Fulinzhu Sect's purpose was clear—she had come solely for Crete.

"You're looking for me?"

Crete frowned, staring at Fulinzhu Sect in confusion. "Do I know you? I'm certain I've never seen you before."

Fulinzhu Sect responded calmly to the Devil's sharp tone: "You likely don't know me, but I know you... 【Blasphemous Whisper】 or 【Piercing Noble Blood】, am I right?"

"Oh?"

Upon hearing those two titles after so long, Crete's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze toward Fulinzhu Sect growing more wary.

This person actually knows me!

I've been locked up this long, and yet someone still watches me out there!

Are you self-styled righteous types just bored out of your minds!?

Can't you go do something useful?

Why spend your days watching a locked-up Devil?

Yet even as Crete grumbled inwardly, a flicker of pleasure stirred within her.

Hmph~

They still remember my fame!

So it seems I'm still quite renowned.

They must be furious over the glorious deeds I accomplished back then!

She felt a quiet pride, as if everyone in the world knew her name.

Crete straightened her chest and stopped trying to leave; instead, she answered right there in front of Flora.

Look!

Both of you—especially that damned Demon—pay close attention!

I'm not someone to be trifled with!

The Devil's tone regained its former arrogance. "You care so much about me that you found me even hidden this deeply—you must have some connection to me. Hatred?"

"There is indeed a small connection between us."

Fulinzhu Sect nodded, gazing at her quietly. "My parents died because of you."

Patricide. Matricide. A classic setup indeed.

"Heh. Hah. So it is."

Crete showed no sign of being intimidated; instead, she languidly licked her lips.

Her expression grew even more satisfied as she stepped forward, lowered her head, and whispered almost against Fulinzhu Sect's ear: "Then, you poor orphan who lost both parents—have you come to seek revenge on me?"

The whisper echoed softly at Fulinzhu Sect's ear, attempting to drag her into memories of the past.

Blood feud.

An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.

Killing and being killed—an endless cycle of vengeance, revenge at any cost.

It began as an unwritten rule among hunters, but later spread to every corner of the world.

Devils love this rule.

In this process of chasing and being chased, devils can experience immense pleasure.

Kreti enjoys it just the same, able to derive joy from the suffering of those avengers.

She is a devil.

Although she is a reclusive, eccentric oddball, the blood of devils still flows within her body.

Provoke her, anger her, and then watch her rage helplessly.

What a rare and wonderful thing this is!

However, this time, Kreti got one thing wrong.

She overlooked a detail that is exceptionally critical for the present.

"You're thinking wrong."

After listening to Kreti's words, Evelyn shook her head slightly and said softly, "I did not come to seek revenge against you. On the contrary, I came to express my gratitude to you."

Yes.

This person isn't here for revenge — instead, she's here to deliver a banner of thanks!

Kreti blinked blankly. The pose she had just struck and the emotions she had been brewing were both broken.

"Thank… me?"

???

Me? Being thanked by someone?

That can't be right!

Have I ever done a single good deed in my life?

The devil young lady was bewildered.

She was so confused that she even turned her head to look at her companions — hey, didn't you guys also hear her say something wrong?

Please tell me you did.

Otherwise, this doesn't make sense!!?

Valentina blinked, silently shifting her gaze aside — and then quickly met eyes with the fourth clay pot.

As for Flora, her smile was rather playful. Her lips silently opened and closed as she mouthed to Kreti: "Congratulations!"

!!?

Seeing Kreti's bewildered expression, the unchanging look Evelyn had been maintaining finally showed a greater ripple.

"Thank you."

The corners of her mouth, stiff for who knows how many years, curved up with difficulty, forming a subtle arc, as she whispered thanks to the devil whose "racial underlying logic" had been shaken:

"Thank you for killing my… parents."

Kreti:???

What the hell are you talking about!?

……

……

A moment later, after sincerely finishing her thanks, Evelyn did not linger and quickly turned to leave.

As she walked away, her expression was no longer its usual calm, but carried a look of relief at having let something go.

And in contrast, there was Kreti's extremely stiff expression.

The devil young lady stood frozen in place with a constipated look on her face, countless questions flashing through her mind.

"Just now, what happened?"

"That person said she came to thank me…"

"Huh?"

"No, why though?"

"Where do you find normal people who thank devils?"

She scratched her head in confusion, tugging hard at her hair.

"What do you mean by 'you killed the nobles and helped the country walk out from the fate of destruction'?"

"What do you mean by 'thank you for killing my decadent Hou Jue parents and liberating the slaves'?"

"What do you mean by 'I've been searching for you all these years, and there are many people like me who want to thank you'?"

Kreti could understand the literal meaning of the other's words, but she simply didn't want to accept the content within them.

Doing good out of a bad heart?

"Could it be that, all these years… I've actually been doing good deeds?"

You say I've killed and burned all my life, styling myself as a great villain who licks blood off a blade, and in the end, those evil deeds were actually accumulating virtue?

"I can't accept this!"

With her common sense and dignity as a devil, Kreti simply could not accept this insane reality.

No, this can't be true.

How could I be the great benefactor Evelyn spoke of?

How could I be the greatest helper in destroying a decadent noble dynasty?

What kind of joke is this!!?

Don't you dare belittle the evil deeds committed by devils!

I never fought for the so-called freedom you speak of!!?

I did it to make myself happy!

"I……"

"So, are you happy now?"

Flora admired for a while, then quietly added a jab.

"Happy? Heh!"

Kreti glared wide-eyed at the words, rolled her eyes repeatedly, and snorted: "What kind of joke is that!!? How could I possibly be happy?"

"Really?"

Flora raised an eyebrow, then pulled out a round mirror and held it in front of Kreti, saying meaningfully: "You, before you say that, take a look at your own expression first."

Expression?

What expression could I possibly have right now?

Kreti instinctively took the mirror and looked at the reflection within.

!!?

Gulp.

No, impossible!

How could I possibly…… be smiling?

"Gulp! This is impossible, this absolutely cannot be!"

"This……hmm!?"

And just as she kept turning the mirror, trying to see herself from every angle, the calm mirror surface suddenly began to tremble.

The next second, the intact mirror surface, without any external force, cracked open with a huge fissure.

Crack!

"Hmm!!?"

Just as Kreti was still in shock at what had happened, Valentina, who had been slacking off nearby, had already rushed over and yanked her behind her.

Valentina's expression was stern. She shielded the two behind her, then, facing the direction the mirror had reflected when it shattered, let out a threatening low growl at the empty corner.

"Ha!!!"

……

……

The same time.

Herbert, who was in a certain stretch of past time, was obediently listening to the teachings of the Lieri Sect's Pope.

This Saint, who had never met Herbert before, was unexpectedly tolerant of him.

Even when Herbert deliberately put on an arrogant attitude to test him, the other party truly acted like a kind old man, generously allowing the child's impudence.

No matter what question Herbert raised, the Lieri Sect's Pope actually answered every single one patiently.

But the more tolerant he was, the more uneasy Herbert felt inside.

The Archbishop's favoritism could be explained—after all, he was a child of his own household, not someone to be slapped to death.

But you, old man, for what reason do you tolerate my impudence like this?

Herbert quietly thought for a moment, then suddenly raised an eyebrow sharply.

"Hiss……"

Looking at the Lieri Sect's Pope who seemed like a neighborhood old man, Herbert, with his death wish acting up, couldn't resist wanting to play a big one.

How about… give it a try?

Hmm…… try it then!

So, Herbert, with a perfectly serious expression, looked at the Lieri Sect's Pope and suddenly, out of nowhere, asked a question that was an absolute taboo and great disrespect for any follower of the Sun God.

He asked:

"Your Holiness the Pope, do you think……"

"The Sun God, could She possibly be a goddess?"

Pfft—

The old man, who had been amiable all along, finally couldn't hold it in this time, and directly sprayed the "coffee" from his mouth.

The coffee scattered into a brown mist and drifted away, all blown by the wind to the ground on one side—Herbert had calculated the angle in advance, making sure he wouldn't get sprayed.

"Cough! Cough cough cough…… you!"

The old man was so angry his voice trembled, the finger pointing at Herbert shook as well, glaring with clenched teeth at the boy with an obedient face before him.

"What kind of words are you saying!!?"

"Impossible!"

The Lieri Sect's Pope furiously slapped his thigh, raging: "That kind of thing is absolutely impossible!!!"

(End of chapter)