Chapter 47: Angel Battle Formation

Night fell, and the streets of Chier County City gradually quieted down. The daytime clamor had now turned into sporadic dog barks, with the occasional, listless time-calling from a night watchman drifting from afar. The entire city lay like a weary giant, sinking into deep sleep beneath the night.

Linlei stood by the castle window, gazing at the night outside, his brows slightly furrowed. The window was half-open; the night breeze, carrying the chill of late autumn, brushed his face and stirred the stray hairs on his forehead. While wandering the city that afternoon, Aikesi had discovered spies from the Radiant Church, and not just one. Under the Saint Magus's spiritual probe, the gazes focused on them could not hide. Aikesi had merely touched Linlei's arm without a sound, glanced slightly, and Linlei understood immediately. Follow the book god, read novels every day, TTKB. TW is super useful.

"What are you thinking about?" Aikesi pushed the door open, holding two bottles of wine. This was locally produced Chier County strong liquor; the liquid was amber-colored, extremely potent, and the locals called it "Fire-Burned Cloud."

Linlei turned, took one bottle; it felt slightly cool to the touch, with fine water droplets still condensed on the bottle. He pulled out the cork, and the rich aroma of wine immediately spread through the room. "Thinking about tonight's events," he said, then tilted his head back and took a sip. The strong liquor went down his throat like a line of fire, burning from his throat all the way to his stomach.

Aikesi sat opposite him, placing the other bottle on the small table beside his hand, but did not rush to drink. He leaned back in his chair, fingers rhythmically tapping the armrest, a habitual gesture when he was thinking. "I have already found out everything." His voice was not loud, yet every word was clear. "The Church sent six people this time; the leader is a Four-Winged Angel. The other five are Two-Winged Angels. Six angels joining hands can form the Angel Battle Formation; its power cannot be underestimated."

Linlei's brows furrowed even tighter: "Six angels? The Radiant Church really thinks highly of me." He walked to the window, his gaze fixed on the pitch-black night sky in the distance.

"Not just that." Aikesi shook his head, a trace of solemnity flashing in his eyes. "I also discovered another person—Luo Ye."

"Luo Ye?" Linlei froze, turning to look at Aikesi, the wine bottle in his hand pausing mid-air. "Luo Ye, the spiritual leader of the Ascetics?"

"Yes." Aikesi nodded. "He is a Saint Domain Warrior, and a Saint Domain Intermediate one. I have seen his portrait: white hair, a withered face, always wearing a gray long robe. This afternoon, I sensed an extremely restrained aura in the market east of the city. Following the aura, I found him at a stall selling old books. It seems the Church is determined to take your life."

Linlei fell silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "Six angels plus a Saint Domain Intermediate; this lineup really does give me face." His laughter was not loud, yet it carried an excitement born of fighting spirit ignited in the face of desperation.

Aikesi looked at him, his gaze lingering on Linlei's face for quite some time.

"What do you plan to do?" Aikesi asked.

Linlei thought for a moment, pacing a few steps in the room; his boots made a slight sound on the stone floor. He walked to the window, looking out at the pitch-black night; moonlight gilded his profile with a silver edge. "You just said Luo Ye has come too?"

"Mm."

"Then like this—" Linlei turned around, his dark-gold pupils shimmering with a faint light in the candlelight. "You help me hold off Luo Ye; I will deal with those six angels."

Aikesi raised an eyebrow: "Are you sure? That is the Angel Battle Formation formed by six angels; you alone?" His tone carried obvious concern. The fame of the Angel Battle Formation was known throughout the Yunluo Continent. Six angels joining hands did not simply add their combat power; it was a geometric increase.

Linlei smiled slightly: "Back then in Hesi Cheng, I also killed six angels. Although at that time I was only Nine-level Initial, dealing with an Angel Battle Formation set up by six Special-grade Executives. Now I am at Level 8 Peak; after transformation, I am at Nine-level Peak. It is not impossible to fight." He spoke very calmly, but the confidence in his words moved Aikesi slightly.

Aikesi stared at him for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "Fine, then it's settled. Luo Ye is mine; you focus on dealing with those six angels."

"Can you handle it alone?" Linlei countered. Luo Ye was a renowned Saint Domain powerhouse.

Aikesi's lips curled into a confident smile; his right hand rose, and a wisp of golden flame suddenly darted from his fingertips. That flame danced between his fingers, yet its temperature was so well restrained that no heat could be felt at all. "A Saint Magus versus a Saint Domain Warrior; who wins and who loses is not yet certain. Besides—" He paused, a mysterious light flashing in his eyes. "I still have some trump cards."

Linlei did not press further. He knew Aikesi was not the type to boast; since he said he was confident, he must be confident.

"Good." Linlei nodded. "Then we act tonight. I will lure them out of the city; you will provide support from the shadows."

"Understood."

The two clinked their wine bottles and drained them in one gulp. The strong liquor went down their throats; that burning sensation seemed to ignite the fighting spirit within their blood.

Deep night, moonless and windy.

Dark clouds blocked the moonlight; the world was dim. Linlei slipped out of the castle silently, merging into the night like a wisp of light smoke. He did not take the main gate; instead, he climbed out through a window at the back of the castle, using the protrusions on the outer wall to slide down, landing without making any sound. His speed was fast, like a ghost shuttling through the night.

Just after exiting the city gate, he sensed the trackers behind him. Six auras, vaguely locking onto him. Those auras were faint and elusive; ordinary people could not detect them at all, but under Linlei's keen perception, they were as clear as candle flames in the darkness. Those six auras were distributed according to a certain special pattern: two in front, four behind, maintaining a perfect battle formation.

Linlei's lips curled slightly; he accelerated, darting toward the distant wilderness. The ground beneath his feet changed from the gravel road outside the city to wasteland grass, then to rolling hills. He deliberately did not move at full speed, but maintained a pace that would barely allow the trackers to keep up, leading them deeper into the wilderness like fishing.

After running for dozens of li until reaching an open wasteland, Linlei finally stopped. This wasteland had a wide view; there were no trees to block the sight, only knee-high wild grass rustling in the night wind. Dark clouds still covered the sky above, occasionally revealing a corner of the broken moon, casting down a pale light.

"Come out," he said, turning to look at the darkness behind him.

Six figures emerged from the darkness, as if tearing the night itself apart. The leader was a silver-haired woman, her face cold, her eyes sharp as knives. She looked to be around thirty, dressed in white combat attire; the hem of her clothes fluttered slightly in the night wind. Her features were extremely exquisite, yet carried a coldness that kept people at a thousand li, like a statue carved from ice and snow.

"Linlei Baluke," Lantan spoke coldly, her voice not loud, yet every word clear. "You are quite self-aware, choosing such a good place." Her gaze swept over the surroundings, nodding slightly. "As a graveyard, it is indeed spacious."

Linlei's gaze swept over the six people; he smiled faintly. "Six angels; the Radiant Church is really willing to spend the money." His tone was relaxed, but his dark-gold pupils were secretly observing the six people's positions and auras. Two in front, four behind; the positioning seemed casual, yet actually followed a certain pattern.

"Enough nonsense." Linlei flipped his hand, and the Zixue Ranjian appeared in his grasp. The sword blade emitted a faint purple light in the night; the edge was as thin as a cicada's wing, trembling slightly, producing a faint, almost imperceptible hum. "If you want to kill me, just act."

The moment his words ended, his body suddenly changed—black dragon scales rapidly covered his entire body; each scale was the size of a fingernail, the edges sharp as knives, shimmering with a metallic luster under the moonlight. Fierce spikes emerged from his back, forehead, and elbows; the longest one was half a foot long. A dragon tail like a steel whip swung; the tip was sharp as a spear. His dark-gold pupils shimmered with cold light in the night; his vertical pupils contracted.

Dragonblood Warrior transformation!

Lantan: "Dragonblood Warrior? The intelligence said he was only at Level 8 Peak; after transformation, he should have the strength of Nine-level Peak." Before coming, she had carefully studied Linlei's data and knew about the Baruch Clan's Dragonblood Warrior. But seeing this legendary transformation with her own eyes still made her heart tremble slightly.

"So what if he is at Nine-level Peak?" An angel nearby sneered; he was a burly bald man, his arms covered in mysterious rune tattoos. "Our Angel Battle Formation can even fight a Saint Domain." His voice was rough, carrying undisguised contempt.

"Form the formation!"

At Lantan's command, six beams of white light instantly flared from the six people, like six small suns in the dark night. The light was pure and dazzling, carrying a holy aura, as if it could purify all filth in the world. The light flowed, quickly connecting into a huge light shield; complex patterns flowed along the edges of the hexagonal shield, enveloping Linlei within.

Angel Battle Formation!

Inside the formation, Linlei felt as if the surrounding space had solidified; that white light carried a scorching aura pressing down on him. Every beam of light seemed to have substantial weight, pressing on his shoulders, restraining his movements. Even more terrifying was that the six people's auras had completely merged into one; attacking any single point would result in a rebound from the collective power.

"Hmph." He snorted, and the Zixue Ranjian in his hand turned into a bizarre purple light, striking the light shield fiercely.

"Boom—"

The light shield trembled violently; ripples like waves spread across the hexagonal surface; the light flickered bright and dim. But soon, the six white lights flowed simultaneously, quickly restoring the original state. The rebounding force traveled along the sword blade, making Linlei's thumb numb.

"It's useless." Lantan said coldly, her silver hair fluttering in the light like a deity. "The defense of the Angel Battle Formation cannot be broken by you. This formation is maintained jointly by the six of us's holy fighting qi; every attack you make will be shared by the six of us."

Linlei ignored her and struck out with another sword. This time, he unleashed the Profound Mystery of Wind—the Rhythm of Wind!

The purple sword light cut through the sky, carrying a strange fluctuation, like floating catkins in the wind, its trajectory unpredictable. This sword strike seemed gentle, yet actually contained an extremely profound force—not brute strength, but borrowing force to strike force, using softness to overcome hardness. The sword light smashed fiercely against the light shield; this time it was not a direct clash, but a vibration at a special frequency, like water dripping through stone.

"Crack—"

Fine cracks appeared on the light shield, spreading outward like a spiderweb. The six angels' faces changed simultaneously, their eyes revealing disbelief.

"How is this possible?" That burly angel exclaimed. He had presided over the Angel Battle Formation dozens of times and had never encountered such a situation.

"His attack is strange!" Lantan shouted sharply, her silver hair flying. "Don't give him a chance; attack with full power!"

The six beams of white light flared simultaneously; the six people formed hand seals, chanting incantations. The light gathered above their heads, condensing into a thick pillar of light, a meter in diameter, carrying a world-destroying momentum as it blasted toward Linlei.

Linlei's figure flashed quickly; his feet stepped repeatedly, unleashing the Wind Shadow Step. His figure left trails of afterimages in the night, narrowly avoiding the direct impact of that light pillar. But as the pillar brushed past his shoulder, a scorched black mark instantly appeared on the black dragon scales; the edges of the scales turned red, and the flesh beneath sent searing pain. Just brushing past had such power; if it had hit directly, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"Such strong power." Linlei felt a chill in his heart. The attack of this Angel Battle Formation was already approaching the full-force strike of a Saint Domain Initial. Even more terrifying was that the light pillar carried the purifying power of the Light attribute, which had a suppressing effect on the Dark-attribute Dragonblood Warrior.

Just then, a clear laughter rang out from the darkness: "Six against one; the Radiant Church is really getting more and more impressive."

A figure walked out from the night; it was Aikesi. His hands were clasped behind his back; golden flames danced faintly around his body, making his face flicker between light and shadow. The flames formed a faint protective shield around him, blocking the night wind.

Lantan's face changed: "There is an accomplice?" Her gaze swept over Aikesi, trying to judge his strength.

"Not an accomplice." Aikesi shook his head, his gaze passing over her and settling on the darkness in the distance. "I am here to find him." His tone was relaxed, yet his gaze was extremely focused, as if waiting for something.

From the darkness, an old figure slowly emerged.

A gray robe, a gaunt figure, a face like withered wood, skin full of wrinkles clinging tightly to the bones. It was the spiritual leader of the Ascetics—Luoye.

"Young man." Luoye looked at Aikesi, his voice hoarse like wind blowing through withered leaves, "Why interfere in this matter?"

Aikesi smiled slightly, firelight dancing on his face: "Mr. Luoye, Linlei is my brother; why must you wade into these muddy waters?"

Luoye fell silent for a moment, then said, "The Church has issued an order; I must obey." As he spoke, a complex expression flashed in his eyes. The Ascetics normally did not meddle in worldly affairs, but they ultimately could not disobey the Church's orders.

"What a coincidence." Aikesi's smile grew wider; he raised his right hand, and the golden flames in his palm danced even more violently. "My brother is in trouble; I must help."

Luoye nodded, seemingly unsurprised: "In that case, let us begin."

Before his words had fully faded, his figure had already vanished from the spot.

The next second, a slender sword thrust toward Aikesi's back! The blade was as thin as a needle, entirely black, almost invisible in the night. The sword tip glowed with a faint, chilling light, carrying an intent to kill without fail.

Aikesi did not turn his head; he waved his right hand backward, and a golden Fire Wall appeared out of thin air, blocking precisely in front of the sword tip. The flame's temperature was extremely high; the surrounding air was scorched until it twisted and distorted.

"Sss—"

The sword tip pierced the Fire Wall, emitting a hissing sound. The black blade instantly turned red; Luoye felt a scorching force travel up the sword, forcing him to withdraw the blade and step back.

"A Fire Saint Magus?" Luoye's voice carried a hint of surprise. He had not expected that this young man, who looked barely past twenty, was already a Saint Magus. Such a young Saint Magus was extremely rare in the entire history of the Yunluo Continent.

"Guessed correctly." Aikesi turned around; flames surged around his body, and the golden firelight illuminated his face like that of a deity. "Mr. Luoye, your opponent is me." He formed hand seals with both hands; the flames around him rapidly condensed, transforming into nine fire snakes that circled around his body.

Luoye looked at him, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes. He had not expected that this young man, who looked barely past twenty, was already a Saint Magus. Such a young Saint Magus was extremely rare in the entire history of the Yunluo Continent. He slowly raised the black sword in his hand; the redness on the blade had not yet fully faded, emitting faint greenish smoke.

"Good." Luoye nodded. "Then let me test how much weight you, this Saint Magus, truly carry."

The two locked gazes for a moment, then moved simultaneously.

Luoye's speed was as swift as a ghost; the Ascetic Step made his figure elusive and unpredictable. His sword technique was even more bizarre and unfathomable; sometimes a direct thrust, sometimes a diagonal slash, every strike carrying fierce killing intent, yet leaving no trace. His sword seemed not a weapon, but an extension of his arm, moving at will, leaving no track to follow.

Aikesi, meanwhile, stood as steady as a rock, countering with fire magic.

The two exchanged blows, evenly matched. Luoye could not break through Aikesi's magical defense, and Aikesi could not trap Luoye's agile movement. The battle fell into a stalemate.

On the other side, Linlei's battle with the six angels had also entered a fever pitch.

The power of the Angel Battle Formation far exceeded his imagination. The light shield woven from the six white beams not only possessed astonishing defense but also launched extremely fierce attacks. Linlei attempted to break the formation several times, only to be forced back by the light pillar that gathered the power of six people. Every hard clash left new scars on his dragon scales. His shoulders, arms, and chest were covered in blackened marks; some wounds were still oozing blood.

"No good; if this continues, defeat is certain." Linlei felt anxious in his heart. He knew his own strength clearly: Level 8 Peak, transforming into Nine-level Peak. Although stronger than an ordinary Level 9, facing an Angel Battle Formation composed of six angels was still too much of a stretch. Those angels coordinated with perfect harmony; the formation operated like flowing clouds and water, leaving absolutely no flaw to exploit.

He dodged another light pillar bombardment once more; upon landing, his feet stumbled, nearly causing him to fall. The consumption of stamina was faster than he had anticipated. The Dragonblood Warrior transformation brought immense strength but also rapidly consumed battle qi and physical energy. He could feel the battle qi within his body draining quickly; he could sustain it for at most another quarter-hour.

"Must break through!"

The moment this thought arose, the Dragonblood battle qi within his body surged wildly. As if sensing its master's crisis, the Dragonblood power hidden deep within his bloodline began to boil. He felt that the bottleneck that had troubled him for so long was loosening.

"An opportunity!"

A hint of determination flashed in Linlei's eyes. He no longer dodged but charged straight toward the incoming light pillar. He gripped his sword with both hands; the Zixue Ranjian lay horizontally before him. All the battle qi within his body surged into the blade; the purple light on the sword blazed intensely.

"Boom—"

The light pillar struck him fiercely. Black dragon scales shattered piece by piece; blood sprayed. In that instant, Linlei felt as if a mountain had crashed into him; his internal organs trembled. His entire body was blasted backward, crashing heavily onto the ground, creating a shallow pit; the weeds were flattened against the earth by his body.

"Linlei!" Aikesi, far away, changed color, but Luoye's sword was already upon him; he had to focus on countering. He could only grit his teeth and suppress his worry, continuing to grapple with Luoye.

Lantan looked at the fallen Linlei and sneered: "Seeking your own death." She withdrew her hand; that light pillar had consumed a vast amount of her Light battle qi, but seeing her target fall, she felt it was worth it.

However, the next second, her smile froze.

Linlei slowly rose from the ground; the wounds on his body healed at a speed visible to the naked eye. Those shattered dragon scales began to regrow; the flesh and blood at the wounds writhed, and new tissue formed rapidly. An aura far more powerful than before emanated from within him.

"This is... a breakthrough?" One angel said, incredulous. His voice trembled because he sensed the terror of that aura—that was the aura of the Saint Domain!

Linlei raised his head; dark golden pupils shimmered with captivating light. He felt the Dragonblood battle qi within his body undergoing a qualitative change; the originally liquefied battle qi became even more condensed, vaguely showing a trend toward solidification. That battle qi surged through his meridians like rivers flowing into the sea; every shred of power was filled with explosive might.

Nine-level Initial Stage!

And the strength after transformation also broke through—Saint Domain Initial Stage!

"Now," Linlei's voice was cold as a blade, carrying a detached indifference looking down upon all beings, "it is my turn."

Before his words had fully faded, his figure had already vanished from the spot.

The next second, an angel's head flew high into the air. The disdain on the bald angel's face had not yet vanished; his eyes had already glazed over. Blood gushed from the severed neck, drawing a glaring arc under the moonlight. His body remained in a standing posture, hand seals still formed, then crashed down with a boom.

"First."

Linlei's voice came from another direction.

Lantan was greatly alarmed: "Be careful!" She hurriedly activated the battle formation, trying to reorganize the defense.

But it was already too late. After the breakthrough, Linlei's speed skyrocketed, and his strength increased by an entire tier. Like a tiger entering a flock of sheep, every sword strike took an angel's life. The Zixue Ranjian in his hand was like a purple lightning bolt; every flash was accompanied by a spray of blood.

"Second." One angel clutched his throat and fell, eyes wide open, unable to close them in death.

"Third." A flash of sword light; the heart was pierced through.

"Fourth." A dragon tail swept horizontally; the head flew off.

"Fifth." Purple light swept past; a waist cut in two.

In just a few breaths, all five two-winged angels were dead. Their bodies lay scattered haphazardly across the wilderness; blood soaked the earth, gleaming with a dark red luster under the moonlight.

Lantan's face turned deathly pale; she had not expected the situation to reverse so quickly. They, who had just held absolute advantage, now had only her remaining. She looked at Linlei; those dark golden pupils held no emotion whatsoever, only the coldness of one facing prey.

"Only you remain." Linlei looked at her; those dark golden pupils held no emotion whatsoever.

Lantan gritted her teeth; her body suddenly erupted with dazzling white light. That light was even more intense than before, so bright it made one unable to open their eyes. Within the light, four light wings appeared behind her—white as snow, with a wingspan of fully three meters; every feather gleamed with a holy luster.

Four-Winged Angel True Form!

"Die!" She transformed into a beam of white light and lunged at Linlei. All four wings vibrated simultaneously; her speed increased several-fold compared to before. A light sword appeared in her hand, completely condensed from Light battle qi; mysterious runes flowed along the blade. This strike poured out all her strength; its might was strong enough to cleave mountains and split stones.

Linlei neither dodged nor avoided; the Zixue Ranjian in his hand traced a bizarre arc—Earth Profound Mystery: Hundred-fold Wave!

This was one of his strongest attack techniques, condensing battle qi into a hundred layers of hidden force, one layer after another, continuous like ocean waves. After breaking through to the Saint Domain, executing this technique caused its power to skyrocket.

"Boom!"

The two figures crossed paths.

Lantan's body froze in place; moments later, blood flowed from her seven orifices, and she crashed down with a boom. Her four wings dissolved into points of light the instant she hit the ground; her white combat suit was stained red with blood. Her eyes were wide open, gazing at the night sky, deep confusion and unwillingness lingering within them.

Linlei sheathed his sword; not a single drop of blood stained the blade. He turned to glance at Lantan's corpse, then shifted his gaze toward the battlefield on the other side.

The battle between Luo Ye and Aikesi continued. Their strengths were equal; neither could gain the upper hand. Luo Ye's sword techniques grew ever more fierce, each strike carrying the intent to kill; Aikesi's magic grew ever more exquisite, various fire spells coming to him effortlessly. The ground around them had been utterly destroyed, covered in sword marks and scorched earth.

"Aikesi!" Linlei called out.

Aikesi turned back, saw that Linlei had already dispatched six angels, and immediately smiled: "Impressive!" His laughter carried genuine joy and a hint of surprise. Six angels, including one with four wings, slain by Linlei alone; this feat was enough to shock the entire Yunluo Continent.

Luo Ye's face changed drastically. He had not expected all six angels to be dead. His gaze swept over the bodies lying haphazardly, finally settling on Linlei. He could feel that Linlei's aura was far stronger than before—that was the aura of the Saint Domain. Now he faced two Saint Domain experts: one Saint Magus and one Saint Domain Dragonblood Warrior. With such a lineup, even he had no certainty of victory.

"Mr. Luo Ye," Aikesi looked at him, flames dancing in his eyes, "shall we continue?"

Luo Ye fell silent for a moment, then slowly sheathed his long sword.

"I have lost." He glanced at Linlei, complex light flickering in those wise eyes. "Young man, your talent is truly astonishing. To break through to the Saint Domain during battle; regarding such talent and willpower, in all my years, I have seen only a handful of people. The Church has truly suffered a defeat this time."

Having spoken, he turned and left. The gray figure merged into the night, quickly disappearing into the darkness.

"Want to leave?" Linlei's eyes grew cold, and he was about to pursue. His dragon tail tensed, his foot moved, and he was about to use a movement technique to chase after him. Luo Ye was a man of the Church; if he was allowed to leave today, he would surely become a troublemaker in the future.

Aikesi reached out and stopped him: "Forget it, let him go."

Linlei frowned, looking at him.

Aikesi explained: "This old fellow is not weak. If he truly fought to the death, we might not escape unscathed. Moreover, although he admitted defeat just now, his aura was steady; he was not injured at all. If we forced him into a corner, he would fight to the death. Even if we won in the end, it would surely be a pyrrhic victory. We have no need to fight him to the death here."

Linlei thought for a moment, then slowly reverted his Dragonblood transformation. The black dragon scales faded, the spikes retracted into his body, and the dragon tail vanished; he returned to his normal appearance. Only his clothes were in tatters, covered in burn marks and holes.

He nodded: "Very well. In any case, our goal has been achieved."

The two exchanged a smile.

In this battle, not only were six angels killed, but Linlei also broke through to the Saint Domain. The gains were undeniably great. The Saint Domain was a realm sought after by countless cultivators; how many people spent their entire lives unable to cross that threshold.

"Let's go, return." Aikesi patted Linlei's shoulder, the warmth of his palm passing through the tattered clothes. "Yunfeng Town is still waiting for us."

Linlei nodded, and the two disappeared side by side into the night. The night wind blew, bringing the scent of blood, which was soon scattered by the wind across the wilderness.

Moonlight emerged from behind the clouds, sprinkling over that chaotic battlefield. Six angel bodies lay haphazardly, growing cold under the moonlight. In the distance, a few wolf howls sounded; wild wolves on the wilderness had been attracted by the scent of blood. Soon, these bodies would become their feast.

And in the depths of the night, a gray figure stood atop a small hill in the distance, silently watching all this. It was Luo Ye. He had not truly left but had been observing from the shadows all along.

He looked in the direction where Linlei and Aikesi had departed. After a long while, he sighed softly: "Dragonblood Warrior... another Saint Domain Dragonblood Warrior. The Baruch Clan truly lives up to its reputation." His voice was very soft and was quickly scattered by the night wind.

He turned and likewise disappeared into the night.

On the wilderness, only the moonlight, the corpses, and the approaching wolf howls remained.

The next morning, Linlei and Aikesi took their leave.

Sunlight spilled over the castle entrance, gilding everything in gold. Zhanni stood at the door, waving with a smile; behind her stood Jien and several old servants.

"Brother Lei, Brother Aikesi, take care on your journey." Her voice was calm and warm, as if nothing had happened the night before.

Linlei looked at her, a wave of warmth rising in his heart. This girl had exchanged five years of waiting for a single "thank you" from him. What she received was only a forever home. Yet she held no resentment, no unwillingness; she simply smiled as she saw him off.

"Take care," he said softly.

The two turned and left, their figures gradually disappearing into the morning mist.

Zhanni stood at the door, looking in that direction for a long time without moving. Sunlight fell upon her, stretching her shadow very long. The wind blew up her long hair, scattering it in the air.

Jien walked to her side and said softly: "Sister, why didn't you tell him how hard you've worked these years? You get up to meditate before dawn every day, and handle the county city's affairs at night. Why not let him know these hardships?"

Zhanni shook her head and smiled: "No need to say. If he knew, he would only feel more guilty. Moreover, I cultivate hard and manage the household not to let him know, but to make myself better. That way, when he returns next time, he will see not just a girl who only waits, but a woman capable of standing on her own."

"Sister..."

"Let's go, let's return." Zhanni turned, her steps firm. "Life must go on. Today, several estate managers are coming to report; we cannot keep them waiting too long."

Sunlight fell upon her, stretching her shadow very long. But the owner of that shadow walked with head held high, no longer the slightest bit lost.

On the official road, Linlei and Aikesi walked side by side.

The morning wind blew, bringing the fresh scent of crops in the fields. Wildflowers by the roadside bloomed brilliantly—yellow, white, purple—scattered like stars, quite beautiful.

"What are you thinking about?" Aikesi asked.

"Nothing." Linlei shook his head. "I just feel I owe her too much."

"Then live well," Aikesi said. "As long as you live, there is a chance to repay. If you die, there is nothing left. Besides, didn't she say it? She doesn't need your guilt, nor your repayment. All she wants is for you to live well and visit occasionally."

Linlei paused slightly, then smiled: "You're right."

Beibei chirped twice on his shoulder, as if saying, "And me, I will accompany you too."

Linlei reached out and stroked Beibei's head, a wave of warmth rising in his heart. Yes, he still had Beibei, and brothers like Aikesi. His road was still long; he could not stop for anything.

"Where to next?" Aikesi asked.

"Continue north." Linlei said. "I want to visit the O'Brien Empire. I haven't seen my younger brother Wodun in a long time."

"The O'Brien Empire?" Aikesi's eyes lit up. "A great place! I've wanted to go for a long time but never had the chance. This time is perfect; let's go together!"

"Don't you need to return to the Yunluo Empire?"

"No rush." Aikesi smiled. "Nothing major is happening there. Besides, I should get out and take a walk."

Linlei nodded: "Then let's go together."

The two men and one rat continued northward.