Chapter 286: Bloodline Protection

Soon they arrived in front of the rusted iron gate of Riddle Manor.

When they got close, John finally saw that the manor's outer wall was covered with withered vines.

The wall surface also exuded a mottled, peeling gray decay.

The iron gate hung ajar, and a few dry weeds poked through the cracks, swaying gently in the cold wind.

It seemed no one had tended it for a year; the place was indeed completely abandoned.

Dumbledore reached out and lightly pushed the iron gate, and the rusted hinges let out a harsh groan.

John followed behind Dumbledore, already having drawn his wand and the Fire Gun created by Transfiguration.

"There seems to be little sign of living things here," John said, surveying the abandoned garden.

"It appears so; even the aura of Dark Magic is scant,"

While speaking, Dumbledore had already reached the manor's main gate, which was likewise half open.

Inside, the house was as dark as ink, and dust drifted slowly in the slanting faint light.

"Watch this, Super Fluorescent Flash!"

John waved his wand directly, and a burst of white light ignited from its tip, illuminating the entire foyer.

"You always come up with creative twists on those odd Magic Spells,"

Dumbledore, dazzled by John's move, could only smile helplessly.

He then entered first, with John close behind.

"Can you sense any Horcrux?"

Dumbledore asked John.

"Hmm... nothing felt," John patted his chest and muttered to himself.

"Did you sense any Horcrux?"

【...... No】

Huh?

A reply this fast?

John hadn't chatted with his other soul for quite a while.

He'd forgotten because he was too busy.

This time, a tentative question got an instant reply.

"Wow, Headmaster, my soul replied instantly,"

Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, having previously worried that John's Horcrux-sensing ability was intermittent.

He didn't expect such a quick response.

"That's good; it shows that soul has grown a bit, and perhaps soon you both can communicate freely,"

John was also eager, since that soul had always been shrouded in mystery.

If they could converse, they could learn its origin, or at least figure out where its consciousness came from.

"Then could you constantly sense nearby Horcruxes for me, and alert me if anything seems off?"

【Okay】

It was still an instant reply, without even a half‑second hesitation.

There was no intention to refuse at all.

Seems it truly wants to help.

Then the two stepped together deeper into the foyer.

Needless to say, it lived up to a wealthy family's mansion; even after years of neglect, its former grandeur was still evident.

They didn't split up to search; instead, Dumbledore led the way for John, checking each room.

After wandering through most of the manor, they still found nothing.

Most rooms here had been cleared, looking empty; even without a soul's aid, they could be searched freely.

It was probably the current owner who cleared them, since they were all former owner's belongings.

"Headmaster, could there be a possibility,"

"Voldemort indeed hid a Horcrux here years ago, but the current owner found it and took it away?"

John, looking at the rather empty house, said with a slight headache.

"Although Voldemort is unlikely to place a Horcrux where Muggles could obtain it, this possibility can't be ruled out,"

"Even if that's true, there's no need to worry; as long as we locate that owner, we can still trace it,"

Dumbledore wasn't particularly worried, speaking calmly, then glancing around, he said, "It seems the Horcrux isn't here."

"So our trip was for nothing?"

"Don't be quick to give up; we still have one place left to check,"

Dumbledore smiled, shook his head, and said while looking toward Xiao Hange Dun below the mountain outside the window.

Just east of Xiao Hange Dun lay a dense forest.

That area is where Gangte Old House stands.

"The Gangte Family, though now extinct,"

"but their mansion remains a forbidden zone inaccessible to Muggles,"

"Thus hiding a Horcrux there is not an unreasonable possibility,"

Hearing this, John immediately said,

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go,"

"I also don't know how long my soul brother can maintain Horcrux sensing..."

Listening to John's urging, Dumbledore also nodded.

He immediately seized John's arm and then Apparitioned.

When they landed, a forest appeared before them.

"Why didn't we just Apparition straight in?" John asked, puzzled.

"Inside there is a Counterspell of Apparition," Dumbledore said lightly.

Hearing that, John was slightly stunned; this place had been abandoned for decades, yet a counterspell still existed...

Could it be that...?

"It seems we've come to the right place."

Dumbledore knew what John was thinking, nodded, and led John forward deeper into the forest.

The forest light suddenly grew dim, and the path was overrun with thorns.

It was clearly intended to block outsiders.

John simply conjured a Stone Person to clear the way, crushing all obstacles, allowing the two of them to move forward.

Soon, they arrived in front of a dilapidated courtyard.

It wasn't a large courtyard with high walls and gates, but a small yard enclosed like a rural self-built house.

Even the house was a crumbling brick-and-tile building.

A rusted door bore a serpentine iron ornament, indicating the lineage of Slytherin descendants.

"Muggle-Repelling Spell, Counterspell of Apparition, Anti-Theft Spell, Enemy Suppression Trap, Impenetrable Golden Soup, All-Encompassing Protection, Enemy Expulsion..."

"That's quite a collection."

Dumbledore stared at the courtyard, murmuring as if recounting familiar treasures.

"The most crucial thing is, there's also a Bloodline Protection."

"Only those with Gangte Family blood can safely enter, and Tom is the last heir of that bloodline."

John, standing nearby, listened to Dumbledore's analysis and was taken aback.

So many protections?

That's a clear sign that something important must be hidden inside.

And it's something belonging to Voldemort.

"I know how to break the others, but what is Bloodline Protection?"

Since there was time, John wasn't in a hurry to enter; instead, he asked Dumbledore about the newly heard term Bloodline Protection.

"It's an ancient Magic that only works within bloodlines,"

"The caster can use their own bloodline as a bond, granting those of the same lineage special protection,"

"For example, here only those with direct Gangte Family blood can pass the barrier,"

"And once the bloodline is broken, the protection fails,"

"In other words, as long as Voldemort lives, this Bloodline Protection will endure forever."