Chapter 16: The Secret

Bavaria never imagined that the dignified head of the central branch of the Spirit God Temple would one day set out with such a little girl and even promise to help her find her lover; such conduct is utterly unbecoming of a Temple head.

All the way, Bavaria kept a secret watch, fearing the matter might be a huge conspiracy. He had roamed the world for decades without defeat, thanks not only to his powerful magic but also to his lifelong caution, unlike the reckless Goth. Yet the girl merely chatted and laughed, occasionally sinking into an inexplicable melancholy, ignoring everyone and silently weeping; but a moment later she was back to normal.

Although she was the Sword God's disciple, she was nothing like that gloomy Sword God; he thought this to himself.

More than two months ago Bavaria received a magical signal from Mingguang ordering him to rush to Luofugede Villa and capture the escaped Angel clan member. Though he harbored some resentment toward Mingguang, apprehending the Angel was the Temple's top priority, tied to the Supreme God's power, so he could not delay and abandoned his duties to go overnight. When he arrived, Luofugede Villa was already under total lockdown. Knowing Viscount Rafi‑Luofugede's might, he dared not act rashly and sent a signal back to Mingguang, which only replied the next day. The operation had failed; the Angel youth had slipped away under the very eyes of the two main Temple heads, and Goth was gravely wounded as a result. Though Goth excelled in healing magic, he could only barely save his life, and his once formidable magic was now lost.

After the Temple's crushing defeat in that battle, Mingguang's face grew dim; after ordering the Seven Halls across the continent to hunt the Angel youth, he could only retreat in disgrace.

Bavaria never liked Mingguang, and after the operation ended he left the mortally wounded Goth behind and departed. Though he disliked conflict, he was intrigued by the Angel youth who had nearly killed Goth, and for over two months he scoured the area, hoping to confront him.

Yet after more than two months of searching he found nothing, so he recalled that the youth had hidden in Luofugede Villa and thought returning there might yield clues. Though Viscount Luofugede's magical swordsmanship was superb, even surpassing Mingguang, Bavaria was far from a match. Nevertheless, with his exceptional protective magic, even if the Viscount discovered him, a clean retreat would not be overly difficult.

Now, even though he promised Pei Er, he cannot abandon the Luofugede Villa lead. Viscount Luofugede is not unreasonable; even if he acted, he wouldn't harm a little girl like Pei Er. Moreover, she is the Sword God's disciple; the Sword God was revered for his chivalry, so invoking his name should pose no danger to Pei Er.

Thinking this, Bavaria suddenly laughed. "Really, I find myself caring about others," he thought. Yet the blond little girl truly possessed an extraordinary power that stirred a protective instinct.

"I've used magical detection over dozens of miles around here and found no sign of any mage activity. It seems the boy named Luoshan is far away. In my opinion, we should head south to Aimidode Town, the most bustling settlement in the continent's centre; even if we don't find him, we might gather some clues."

Before setting out for Luofugede Villa, Bavaria explained this to Pei Er. She had no clue, and seeing his willingness to help, she obeyed his suggestions. Moreover, she knew Luoshan hailed from Aimidode Town, though finding him there was not guaranteed.

However, the trek from Linquan Town to Aimidode Town was far from a short walk. To conceal his movements, Bavaria deliberately avoided any magic, so the hundred‑plus miles took them three full days on foot. Though Bavaria tended to her injuries, Pei Er remained weak and limp. Their arduous three‑day march persisted solely from the resolve to find Luoshan; despite exhaustion, she never complained, earning Bavaria's quiet admiration.

Luofugede Villa and Aimidode Town are not far apart, and Bavaria knew the routes; although he said they were heading to Aimidode, they actually took the road toward the villa. Pei Er remained oblivious.

On the evening of the fourth day, the massive outer wall of Luofugede Villa loomed before them. Bavaria knew every tree and blade of grass was under Viscount Luofugede's watch; using magic would let him scale it easily, but would guarantee detection. The Temple and the villa were already on a knife‑edge; a reckless entry would be like a lamb walking into a tiger's mouth. Yet without magic, lacking teleportation and tools, scaling such a high wall strained his strength.

"Uncle Bavaria," Pei Er asked, noticing his worried brow. "Are we in Aimidode Town?"

"No." Bavaria said without turning his head. "This is Luofugede Villa, about half a day's ride outside Aimidode Town. Here we should be able to detect some clues."

"You mean," Pei Er thought, "has Luoshan been here?"

"I don't know that," Bavaria replied, looking at her. "Pei Er, if you can find the boy Luoshan, would you do anything?"

"Yes." Though puzzled, Pei Er answered resolutely.

"Very well." Bavaria sighed. "I have an urgent matter to attend to; stay nearby for a while and don't wander far. The mages in this villa are formidable; if they spot you, they may treat you as an intruder and harm you. After I'm done—at most a day, at least half a day—I'll return for you. Do not provoke anyone in the villa, understand?"

His voice suddenly hardened, making Pei Er shiver involuntarily. "I understand," she whispered. "Very well." Bavaria seemed to nod slightly. "When I return, we'll go together to Aimidode Town to find Luoshan; even if he hides in the darkest depths of the Nine Netherworld, I will bring him out. Bavaria's word is iron; stay here patiently and keep calm."

After speaking, he turned proudly and strode away. In that instant, the stooped old man exuded a regal aura that was hard to behold.

Pei Er stared blankly as Bavaria's silhouette receded, feeling a sudden emptiness. Though they had only spent a few days together, his authority and presence left a deep impression, reminiscent of being with her master; yet while her master, called the Sword God, was kind to juniors, Bavaria remained cold, and even his occasional words of concern lacked any tenderness.

Yet, for some unknown reason, she believed Bavaria truly wanted to help her. She couldn't explain the feeling but remained convinced, so when he asked her to wait, she obediently complied, despite the bitter cold of the desolate wilderness.

The sky darkened gradually; the sun, behind the western mountains, left only a half‑red disc. Pei Er felt a biting chill and curled inward. Suddenly a fawn darted beside her, its dark eyes staring briefly before it bolted into the woods. Amused, Pei Er's childlike curiosity surged; she rose and followed. The fawn ran slowly, so despite her weak legs she kept up. After a long run, the fawn turned, slipped behind a small hill and vanished. Pei Er hurried after it, tripped on something, and fell forward. Rubbing her bruised arm, she saw a rusted iron ring half‑buried in the grass—hardly noticeable unless deliberately searched for.

She seized the ring and gave an instinctive tug; a muffled stone slab shifted overhead, and the ground vanished, sending her plummeting. She landed, only for the slab above to clang and seal shut in an instant. Darkness engulfed her, and all she could feel were hard, cold stone slabs.

Only then did Pei Er truly fear; groping in the dark, she took a few steps and realized she was in a narrow stone passage, arms reaching both rock walls, with a cold stone wall behind and the entrance already sealed. Only by moving forward could she hope to find an exit.

The stone walls were damp, and the murky air carried a faint rotting smell. Pei Er walked several hundred steps, turned a corner, and a faint glow appeared in the distance. Elated, she quickened her pace, only to stumble again; something triggered a mechanism, and a rush of wind sounded—an onslaught of arrows rained down like a storm.

In the cramped passage there was no escape. Pei Er reacted swiftly, drawing the only sword sheath at her waist; the "Creation Sword" ignited, and in a flash of electric thunder fire it shattered the incoming arrows. Yet a sheath is less handy than a full sword, and the narrow corridor limited her footwork. One arrow slipped through a gap in her sword technique, whizzed, and lodged in her right shoulder.

The pain seared her heart, and unsure whether the arrow tip was poisoned, she dared not pull it out, instead enduring the agony and sprinting toward the light. Fortunately, the remaining path lacked further traps; the tunnel opened to a massive, brightly lit building that shone in the night, with several vague figures moving around, torches and spears in hand. Remembering Bavaria's warning, Pei Er crouched, slipped beneath a large tree, and, using the firelight, saw her wound was bright red with no sign of poison. Relieved, she extracted the arrow, tore a piece of her cloak to bind it quickly. The wound still throbbed, but she pressed on.

She realized that by chance she had entered this massive villa; returning the way she came was impossible. For now she could only use the night to devise an escape and wait for Bavaria to return the next day. Yet the surrounding lights blazed, guards streamed in and out, and even shifting her body was a near‑impossible task, let alone finding an exit.

At that moment, several torch‑bearing guards turned and marched straight toward Pei Er's hiding spot. Fearing discovery, she hurried to the side. Nearby, a tiny wooden door set in the grass—seemingly a cellar—stood. As the guards drew nearer, with no other option she gently opened the door and slipped inside.

"Viscount, I have been ordered to scout Linquan Town and report urgent news."

As she entered the cellar, voices rose from above, mentioning Linquan Town. Her heart stirred; she heard another strong, resonant voice, bearing an air of noble authority, speak slowly.

"Rabik, what is the state of Linquan Town now—has it been completely wiped out? Who did it?"

"Replying, Viscount, I encountered a group of people dozens of miles outside the town; their leader claimed to be the mayor of Linquan Town, named Motel, and said the town was destroyed. They are the remaining survivors seeking a new home. Their attackers seemed to be a band of knights; from their description, I believe they were likely members of the White Dragon Knight Order."

"That is quite possible," the Viscount sighed. "Linquan Town has always been prosperous and never militaristic. Though Motel has some leadership ability, he knows no magic and his swordsmanship is third‑rate—like a seven‑ or eight‑year‑old clutching a lump of gold on the street, how could he avoid attracting a pack of wolves like the White Dragon Knights? Yet the town is destroyed; are there any survivors? Given the Knights' nature and strength, they would never simply let them go."

"That is the 'important intelligence' I mentioned," Rabik paused, his tone tinged with barely restrained excitement. "According to Motel, they were about to be annihilated, but at the critical moment a man and a woman arrived. The man, a battle mage, first annihilated the enemy's mage squad, then drew a long sword and slashed through more than a dozen knights in an instant. Motel told me that man's name is Luoshan."

"Is it him?" the Viscount's voice rose sharply. "Where is he now?"

"I… don't know," Rabik said sheepishly. "He vanished after that battle."

Pei Er felt a sudden dread; she hadn't expected that even the Viscount, whom Bavaria feared, also knew Luoshan. At that moment the Viscount spoke again: "Send orders: all personnel from the villa who can be dispatched must be sent to search the area around Linquan Town for Luoshan. He is the crucial key to this plan; any slip is unacceptable. Only by fully absorbing his blood‑thirsty soul can I attain power to dominate heaven and earth. Then neither the Spirit God Temple nor the Death God will be my opponents!"

"Understood. I'll handle it now," Rabik paused, then cautiously added, "Actually, I have a scheme; perhaps obtaining Luoshan isn't that difficult."

"Oh?" the Viscount seemed to sneer. "Speak."

"I spent an evening with Luoshan and saw his extraordinary affection for the lady. Perhaps we could use the lady…"

"Silence!" At that instant Rabik let out a wail as if struck heavily, pain rendering him speechless. The Viscount's voice was cold and haughty: "Who are you to use my daughter as a pawn? I, Rafi‑Luofugede, am such a figure—how dare you employ your beloved daughter in a beauty trap?"

"I… I… I deserve a thousand deaths… I will never again speak recklessly," Rabik's voice trembled, followed by repeated thuds as he knelt repeatedly.

"Get out," the Viscount said simply, and the great door slammed shut as someone hurried away. Pei Er, hidden in the cellar, heard the conversation and dared not even breathe.

Though her mind had already placed the villa's inhabitants opposite herself and Bavaria, she never imagined that the Viscount would be scheming for Luoshan. She didn't know his exact relation to Luoshan nor his "plan," but since the Viscount's power was so great that even Bavaria feared him, Luoshan falling into his hands would be dire.

"All you skulking rats, crawl out!"

However, at that moment she suddenly heard the Viscount's deep, resonant howl.

Pei Er's heart startled; she realized she had been discovered, unsure what to do. Suddenly a long, sharp, piercing laugh rang out. "Viscount, why so rude? If we are rats, what then are you?"

"Old Luofugede would never hide in another's courtyard to eavesdrop," the Viscount said coldly. "Lord Mingguang, what brings you here now? Though the Spirit God Temple's incursion was over two months ago, I still recall it clearly. Ah ha, Bavaria also came. Lord Goth, why does your face look so gray? As for this one, I presume it's Sirisia. The Seven Halls have deployed three hall masters at once; Old Luofugede's prestige is not small."

"Viscount, we come with no ill intent," Mingguang smiled. "We only wish to request a person from you."

"Who?" the Viscount asked, his expression softening slightly. "That boy named Luoshan is not here."

"We know that," Mingguang's expression suddenly turned serious as he spoke word by word.

"The person we seek is Ling Ai."

"Audacious!" the Viscount slammed the table, shattering the sturdy wood. "Lord Mingguang, I respect you as a guest, granting you only three points of favor; do not think Old Luofugede fears your Temple!"

"Viscount, I am well aware of your divine might," Mingguang shook his head. "If not for this, why would I gather so many hall masters? We seek Ling Ai only to lure that boy out; we will not harm a single hair of Ling Ai, so you may rest assured."

"Shut your mouth!" the Viscount could no longer contain his fury, drawing his long sword; a beam of light surged toward Mingguang. Bavaria raised both hands, forming a barrier instantly, but the Viscount's magic was so domineering that the barrier shattered with a boom. Mingguang stepped forward, his staff emitting fine light; the Viscount's magic, already exhausted, was erased by this "Lightning Technique." Bavaria stepped back, his eyes flashing with astonishment.

It turned out that after parting from Pei Er, Bavaria had intended to slip silently into the villa, but unexpectedly encountered Mingguang, who was also investigating. Mingguang had learned the truth of the Linquan tragedy before Rabik and realized Luoshan was responsible; thus he naturally thought perhaps within the villa Luoshan's whereabouts could be uncovered.

Bafaliya and Minguang, upon communicating, immediately knew that the Luoshan mentioned by Peier was the escaped angel that the Spirit God Palace had been pursuing. He had heard Peier talk about Luoshan's story, and also knew that Luoshan constantly chanted Qinyan's name when he was severely wounded. The two of them, after discussing, simultaneously thought of forcing Luoshan to appear by capturing Qinyan. However, Qinyan Luofude was the only daughter of Viscount Lafei Luofude; to capture her, one first had to get past Viscount Luofude, and neither Bafaliya nor Minguang had confidence of winning, so helplessly, Minguang had to send out another magical signal, calling the nearest Xilixiya and Gete for aid. Gete, although seriously wounded in the previous battle and greatly depleted of magical power, still retained his swordsmanship. Viscount Luofude was a renowned battle mage who cultivated both magic and swordsmanship; to deal with him, relying solely on magic was absolutely insufficient. At this moment, the swordsmanship-expert Aordeeng was far away in the north and could not arrive in time, so only Gete's divine power could be relied upon.

In a moment, storm clouds gathered above Luofude Manor; the few strongest individuals on this continent were about to engage in an earth-shaking battle. And what they were to decide was precisely the fate of this continent for the next several decades.