Chapter 50: The Function of Dual Horns

Until dawn.

The constables and soldiers were still cleaning up the bodies on the battlefield.

Only when the sky brightened did the Lantern Festival fireworks above Shiying Town cease.

The city hall suppressed news of the threatening letters and the Brotherhood’s attack, treating it as an ordinary festival incident.

Given the existence of plague mages on the continent, clearing the battlefield and disposing of the corpses was a massive undertaking that could not be taken lightly.

These were hyenas drawn by the scent, who worshipped some plague deity and swore their lives to creating and expanding plagues—whenever a major disease broke out, they were always involved.

Luo De did not stay longer; after a brief exchange with David, he returned to the forest.

Bang De had already been waiting there.

She rushed over, sobbing and blaming herself:

“Sorry, Luo De, my spiritual energy ran out later on.”

Bang De’s early support was extremely strong; the beastman Amy had been blasted away countless times due to her weak resistance to shock. But after using too many [Explosive Arrows], her spiritual energy was depleted, leaving her able to fire only the simplest spiritual arrows.

“It’s fine. The point of live combat is to uncover problems, isn’t it?”

Luo De patted her small head to comfort her.

“That’s true.”

Kali stepped out: “Your control over spiritual quality, arrow concealment, and battlefield awareness are all lacking. I’ll correct each one, Bang De. Starting tomorrow, training intensity increases.”

“Ahh—”

Bang De groaned.

“Rest and work must be balanced—don’t exhaust this child!”

Xiao Ke, the half-deer, jumped out from the side and carried Bang De away.

She kept stealing glances at Luo De as usual, but today her lively eyes held no suspicion—only concern.

Only when she saw he bore no severe injuries did she finally exhale in relief.

“Don’t forget, last time I only used fourth-rank spiritual power, and you still couldn’t beat me,” Kali said suddenly.

Luo De paid little attention to their training.

Clearly, the elf and Bang De had some rivalry.

Hearing this, Bang De immediately bristled.

“That doesn’t count—I’ll beat you next time! Starting tomorrow, I’ll intensify training!”

At that moment, Tally trudged over, listless.

She had just been arranging a position for the ghoul Pan Ni outside the forest.

“Master, hurry home~ I can’t take it anymore—”

The moment she saw Luo De, she ran toward him.

Her transformation faded, revealing her true succubus form—naked, her dark blue breasts squashed against his abs, deformed by pressure.

Xiao Ke blushed and covered Bang De’s eyes.

Kali frowned slightly, her gaze shifting awkwardly away.

As for the tree spirit, it remained expressionless, staring straight at them.

“What are you doing? Gathering around my beloved master? Go back to your own homes, all of you!”

Xiao Ke and Kali were only too happy to leave; the former muttered curses, the latter snorted coldly, and both quickly returned to their quarters.

Vivian, however, said nothing, silently watching Luo De.

Luo De could tell she was still angry; he couldn’t help reaching out to wipe the dust from her face.

“Sorry, Vivian. I didn’t think much—I just didn’t want to drag you into it.”

The tree spirit did not reply. She turned and used [Tree Walker] to vanish from the spot—clearly rejecting his explanation.

To be honest, he hadn’t expected Vivian’s reaction to be so strong.

At that moment, Tally kissed him, her wet, feverish tongue licking over his entire face.

Luo De’s desire surged; they kissed as they returned to the ranger’s cabin.

Perhaps it was the lingering fire of battle.

That night, he was more aggressive, leaving his marks all over Tally’s body.

It was only then that he realized: the demon’s horns and twin ponytails served the same purpose.

Gleam City.

In a lecture room of the Igoh Church at the city’s center.

Colored sunlight streamed through the stained-glass ceiling, casting a straight beam onto the lectern.

A kind-faced old man extended his palm, gently stroking the head of a worshipper kneeling before him.

The beautiful woman beneath his touch wept uncontrollably, as if receiving divine grace.

She lifted her head, kissing his wrinkled palm repeatedly.

Tears and crimson lip prints mingled, forming a seductive blush.

“Most revered Igoh, Almighty Igoh, Great Igoh—I, Marjorie House, offer everything.”

Bishop Buck watched the sixth wife of the House patriarch with neither joy nor sorrow.

She was a devoted believer.

Foolish, yet ambitious.

Fourteen days ago, this sixth wife was accepted by the faithful, and after donating a large sum of Jin Along, she earned the chance to meet Bishop Buck.

Her request: a chance at conception.

House Family

Any resident of Gleam City who subscribed to the Earth Daily knew the House family had once been a second-tier clan in Dusk City—only because they came to Gleam City to pay ancestral respects did they escape disaster, becoming the only major family to survive Dusk City’s fall.

Heirs of great families are always cold-hearted; this ancestral visit included no young people except the seventy-eight-year-old patriarch himself.

Thus, nearly all House heirs and nephews perished in the war against the Heavenly Flower Kingdom. To ensure continuity, the sole surviving patriarch, at seventy-eight, married six concubines within two months.

Those who understand, understand.

This seventy-eight-year-old man’s spiritual accumulation had regressed to first rank.

How much potency could he still retain?

“Humans are purest at birth; after being tainted by the world’s filth, they become soiled. Some can cleanse themselves, others cannot. Mrs. Marjorie, you belong to the latter—that is why you cannot conceive.”

Bishop Buck spoke with sorrowful compassion.

At the same time, the holy text in his hand emitted a faint spiritual glow.

“World… filth? What is that?”

Though now the sixth wife of the House family, she had previously been an obscure heir of a minor clan.

“It is innate, the chain binding humanity. Great Igoh descended upon the continent precisely to free all humans from this bondage.”

“So… that’s it!”

He was about to say more when he noticed a clergyman at the lecture hall door nodding to him.

Bishop Buck pointed toward the back confession room, which appeared to be a chamber with a bed faintly visible.

“Please proceed to the rear, Mrs. Marjorie. First, cleanse your body. I shall personally remove your bondage afterward.”

“Yes! Thank you, Bishop Buck!”

Mrs. Marjorie rose and walked cheerfully into the confession room.

Only after hearing the door close did Bishop Buck beckon the clergyman.

“Speak.”

“Bishop Buck, the operation in Shiying Town failed.”

“Again?”

“Intelligence indicates an eighth-rank scorpion woman appeared in Windwall Forest.”

He handed over a report detailing the entire operation.

“Eighth rank?”

Bishop Buck frowned: “The previous King Asiron was truly stubborn—he planted hidden forces even in Windwall Forest. Since an eighth-rank intervened, the Shiying Town and Windwall Forest missions are suspended for now. We don’t have to start from this direction alone.”

“Understood. What about infiltration in Stormwind City?”

“Proceed.”

“This ranger still hasn’t died.” He narrowed his eyes at the report’s text.

“Should we eliminate him?”

“No need. The ritual in the Death Desert is already complete. He’ll likely die soon because of it.”

(End of Chapter)