Chapter 65

On the third day after the grand wedding, Baruke Cheng was still immersed in the lingering joy of the celebration.

The morning mist had not yet fully dispersed, and a layer of fine dew had condensed on the bluestone pavement. Aikesi walked out of the Earl Mansion alone; the crisp sound of his boots striking the stones echoed through the silent streets.

The red silk banners on both sides of the street had not yet been removed, fluttering gently in the morning breeze. Occasionally, a few petals drifted down from the eaves, swirling before landing on his shoulder.

Early-rising vendors had already begun setting up their stalls. An old man selling bread pushed a wooden cart; the oven on the cart still emitted steam, and the scent of bread mingled with the morning chill, whetting everyone's appetite. A woman selling vegetables squatted by the roadside, arranging fresh vegetables neatly; emerald green greens still bore dewdrops. Upon seeing Aikesi, they all stopped their work and bowed respectfully.

"Good morning, Lord Aikesi."

"Congratulations on your recent marriage, My Lord."

Aikesi nodded in response to each one, but his steps did not stop.

When he pushed open the door to the palace study, Linlei was sitting behind the desk handling state affairs. A thick stack of documents lay piled on the table, all reports sent from various regions—movements on the borders of the O'Brien Empire, the activities of the remaining forces of the Dark Church, and this year's tax statistics from the major fiefdoms. Linlei wore a white linen shirt with light armor over it, his brown hair tied back casually. He kept his head down, the quill moving swiftly across the parchment, pausing occasionally to ponder for a moment before continuing to write.

Diliya sat nearby, helping him organize the documents. She wore a pale purple long dress, her golden hair pinned up with a silver hairpin, with a few stray strands falling by her ears. She sorted the documents by urgency, placing the important ones to Linlei's right and the secondary ones to his left, while the processed ones were neatly stacked aside. The newlyweds were so sweet that their affection was evident in every gesture; whenever Linlei glanced up at Diliya, the corners of his mouth would unconsciously lift slightly; when Diliya handed over a document and her fingers brushed the back of Linlei's hand, they would both exchange a smile.

"Aikesi? So early." Linlei looked up, putting down his quill, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He glanced at the sky outside the window; the sun had just risen. "Where is Monika?"

"Still sleeping." Aikesi walked in and sat in a chair. He took the teacup Diliya handed him, took a sip, and the warm red tea slid down his throat, relaxing his tense nerves slightly. "I have something I want to tell you."

Diliya looked at Aikesi's expression, realized the situation, and stood up. "I'll go make tea for you." She gently closed the door and walked out, her footsteps gradually fading down the corridor.

The study fell silent, save for the faint crackling of wood burning in the fireplace.

Linlei leaned back in his chair, looking at Aikesi with a calm gaze.

Aikesi remained silent for a moment, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the rim of the teacup. He was organizing his thoughts; he had thought about this decision all night, but when it came time to speak it, it was still somewhat difficult.

"Linlei, I want to take Monika and leave Baruke Cheng."

Linlei's eyebrows furrowed slightly, but he did not speak immediately. His gaze lingered on Aikesi's face for a few seconds, as if judging whether he was joking.

"Where to?" he asked, his voice very calm.

"To travel across the continent." Aikesi said, his tone carrying an unshakable firmness. "Baruke Cheng is good, but it is too stable."

He paused, placed the teacup on the table, leaned his body forward slightly, and continued: "I am currently in the Saint Domain, yet there is still a distance to the Saint Domain Limit. If I stay here forever, dealing with trivial matters daily and accompanying Monika to admire flowers and drink tea, it may take ten or twenty years to make even the slightest progress. A Mage's cultivation is not like a Warrior's; relying solely on meditation and secluded hard training is not enough. I need to comprehend the laws of heaven and earth, and I need to experience different environments."

Linlei listened silently, his fingers tapping lightly on the table. He understood Aikesi's thoughts.

"I want to go to even farther places to see: the ice plains of the far north, the volcanic clusters of the south, the endless seas of the east, and the deserts and Gobi of the west." Aikesi continued, a light flashing in his eyes. "The Yunluo Continent is vast, and there are many places we have not yet visited. Back then, we walked together from the Fenlai Kingdom to the O'Brien Empire, and from the Empire to the Baruke Kingdom; we experienced so much along the way, and it was precisely those experiences that allowed us to grow. Now I want to walk again, taking Monika with me, to those places we have never been."

Linlei set down his teacup and looked at him with a deep gaze.

"How long?" Linlei asked.

"Perhaps ten years, perhaps longer." Aikesi met his gaze without evasion. "Cultivation is unpredictable. One might achieve sudden enlightenment tomorrow, or be stuck at a bottleneck for ten years. But I will not wander aimlessly forever; I have a goal."

He paused, lowering his voice slightly: "I know of one thing—the Graveyard of the Gods."

Linlei's eyes shifted slightly. The Graveyard of the Gods was the most mysterious place on the Yunluo Continent. Legend held it to be the place where the ancient gods fell, buried with countless divine artifacts, techniques, and heavenly treasures, yet also filled with unimaginable dangers. It opened once every thousand years, allowing those of Saint Domain level and above to enter and seek opportunities.

"You also know of the Graveyard of the Gods?" Linlei asked, a hint of surprise in his tone.

"Yes." Aikesi nodded. "I want to venture into it."

Linlei stood up and walked to the window, his back to Aikesi.

"I also plan to go." Linlei's voice was very calm.

"I know." Aikesi also stood up. "With your personality, you would absolutely not miss such an opportunity."

Linlei turned around and looked at Aikesi. The two young men faced each other, their gazes filled with both determination and reluctance. They had fought side by side since their youth, experiencing countless life-and-death situations together; they were brothers, a bond of life-and-death trust where one could entrust their back to the other.

"Aikesi." Linlei spoke first, breaking the silence.

"Hmm?"

"Be careful on the road." Linlei's voice was very soft.

"I know." Aikesi smiled. "Although I am a Saint Magus, I am not one to be trifled with. Besides, I have always been low-key and do not actively provoke trouble."

Low-key? Aikesi was indeed not the type of person to be flamboyant.

He walked back to the desk and took a exquisite wooden box from the drawer. He handed the box to Aikesi: "This is for you."

Aikesi opened the wooden box; inside was a pale green jade pendant.

"This is an amulet I forged using Wind Magic." Linlei explained. "It seals a Seven-level Magic—

Wind Protection. If you encounter danger, crush it, and it will release a protective shield, sufficient to withstand a full-strike from an Eight-level Magic."

Aikesi felt a warmth in his heart and carefully put the wooden box away.

"Thanks." Aikesi said, his voice somewhat low.

"Don't thank me." Linlei waved his hand, feigning a relaxed tone. "Be careful on the road, and don't push yourself too hard. Monika is a good girl; don't let her get hurt."

"Understood." Aikesi nodded, hesitated for a moment, then said, "Help me say goodbye to Diliya. I'm afraid that if I see her, Monika will be reluctant to leave. Goodbyes between women are endless; hugging and crying together, and then I won't be able to bear to leave either."

Linlei smiled, a smile of understanding. He patted Aikesi's shoulder: "Rest assured, go, and be careful on the road. Remember to send word back; don't make us worry."

Aikesi walked to the door, then turned back to look at Linlei once more.

"Linlei." Aikesi suddenly spoke.

"Hmm?

"

"See you in twelve years.

97

The corners of Linlei's mouth lifted slightly, a light flashing in his eyes: "See you in twelve years."

Inside the Earl Mansion, Monika had already packed her luggage.

She wore a pale green travel outfit; the fabric was durable linen blend, lined with a layer of soft silk.

Her long hair was tied up and secured with a silver hairpin, revealing her fair and slender neck. A short sword hung at her waist, and she wore light leather boots that reached just below her calves, allowing her to walk lightly and silently.

Unlike her usual gentle and quiet demeanor, she now possessed a touch of heroism.

"Is everything ready?" Aikesi walked in.

He had never seen Monika dressed like this before. When they were in the mountains, she always wore loose robes.

"Mm." Monika nodded with a smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I've never left the mountains before. Just thinking about traveling with you makes me thrilled. I barely slept last night, imagining what scenery we'd see, what people we'd meet, and what events we'd experience."

"It might be hard—eating outdoors, sleeping under the open sky, and possibly facing danger," he said, his tone carrying a hint of apology. "This isn't a leisurely sightseeing trip. It's cultivation."

"I'm not afraid," Monika said seriously, lifting her head to meet his eyes. "With you beside me, I fear nothing. And I'm not a decoration—I'm a Level 7 Light Mage. I can heal you, dispel darkness, and bolster you in battle. I won't hold you back."

A warmth spread through Aikesi's heart. He took her hand, holding it in his palm, feeling the warmth of her palm.

"Let's go," he said.

The two stepped out of the Earl Mansion, where Bake, Gaici, and others were already waiting at the gate.

Morning sunlight spilled across the square before the Earl Mansion, gilding everything in gold.

Bake knelt on one knee and said solemnly, "Lord Aikesi, please take care on your journey."

Aikesi helped him up and gripped his shoulder firmly. "Bake, Baruke Cheng is in your hands now. Though Linlei is powerful, he can't cover everything. You must watch over it carefully."

"Rest assured, my lord," Bake replied solemnly, his eyes slightly reddened. "Baruke Cheng is our home. We will guard it with our lives."

Gaici, Heishark, and Anke also bowed with clasped fists.

Aikesi responded to each of them in turn, then turned to look at Yale, Qiaozhi, and Leinuo standing at the back of the crowd.

Yale, unusually serious, no longer grinned. He stepped forward, slapped Aikesi's shoulder with heavy force—as if transferring some kind of strength.

"Third brother, watch yourself on the road. The Dawson Chamber of Commerce has outposts in every major city. If you need anything, go to them. Name me, and no one will dare trouble you." Yale paused, then added, "If you need money, just ask. The Dawson Chamber of Commerce may lack other things, but it has plenty of gold."

"Thanks, boss," Aikesi smiled, his own eyes growing warm.

Qiaozhi handed him a thick notebook, its cover inscribed in elegant cursive script with the four characters: "Travel Notes." The book was heavy—certainly over three hundred pages—and the paper was slightly yellowed, clearly well-used.

"This is my compiled record of magic guilds across the lands, perhaps useful to you," Qiaozhi said, adjusting his glasses seriously. "It lists the addresses, heads, and specialties of every city's magic guild, and even includes secret catalogues of forbidden books in restricted archives. Also, I've added some personal travel insights at the back. Don't find them tedious—they're all useful."

Aikesi took the notebook and carefully stored it away.

"Second brother, you're always so thoughtful," Aikesi said.

"It's just habit," Qiaozhi smiled.

Leinuo shoved a bundled package into Aikesi's hands—bulging, its contents unknown. He scratched his head, slightly embarrassed. "Inside are some dried rations and medicines—don't let your wife go hungry. And a few bottles of good wine, brought back from the O'Brien Empire by Yale. They say they've been aged twenty years—perfect for passing the time on the road."

"Fifth brother, you've thought of everything," Aikesi said, clapping Leinuo's shoulder as he had in their academy days.

Leinuo chuckled and stepped aside.

Yale burst into laughter, breaking the somber mood. "Sister-in-law, keep an eye on Third Brother. Don't let him go causing trouble everywhere."

"He? He's more level-headed than anyone," Monika said, glancing at Aikesi with tender eyes. "But if he really does cause trouble, I'll stop him."

Everyone laughed, the sorrow of parting slightly eased.

Aikesi cast one final look at the gates of Baruke Cheng.

Then he and Monika mounted their flying beast and rose into the air.

Aikesi sat in front, Monika behind, her arms wrapped around his waist, her cheek pressed against his back.

Below, the crowd waved farewell.

"Third brother, take care!"

"Lord Aikesi, have a safe journey!"

"Send word back!"

"See you in twelve years!"

Their voices grew fainter, gradually swallowed by the wind. Baruke Cheng shrank in the distance—the towering walls became a thin line, the palace spires turned to tiny dots, the crowd to specks no larger than ants.

Monika leaned against Aikesi's shoulder, watching Baruke Cheng fade into the distance, and asked softly, "Where's our first stop?"

"The south," Aikesi said, pointing into the distance, his gaze resolute. "There's a cluster of active volcanoes, constantly erupting, with extremely dense Fire Elements. It may be suitable for me to comprehend the Fire Law."

"Good," Monika closed her eyes, feeling the wind brush her cheeks. The wind was strong, whipping her long hair, but she felt no fear—because he was beside her.

The flying beast flapped its wings and soared higher, piercing through the clouds, heading south. Beneath them, the clouds churned like a white ocean, sunlight casting a golden sheen over them—beautiful beyond words.

Aikesi glanced back. Baruke Cheng had become a tiny black dot, vanished below the horizon.

He took a deep breath, turned around, and looked ahead.