Chapter 475: Primordial Witch

In the evening, in the Beckland Empress District, inside the Hall family villa, Ao Deli sat on the right side of the long dining table, enjoying a small piece of cake adorned with fruit on her plate, her favorite dessert after a meal.

When she had almost finished eating, she lightly sipped a mouthful of Ormir red wine from her cup, while observing the expressions of her father and mother.

After confirming that their moods were still fairly good today, she controlled her tone, with a hint of curiosity and concern, and asked:

"Father, how did today's contact between the royal family and the warlord who occupies the Pas River Valley on the Southern Continent go? Hmm. When will Alfred be able to return to Beckland? Will his military position be affected by this matter?"

The Count Huo Er, seated at the head of the table, let out a light sigh, set down his knife and fork, and said with a somewhat lamenting tone:

"Mei Sang Ye Si has already released the captive; Alfred should be able to return to Beckland next week."

"The military will temporarily suspend his duties, but that's not a bad thing; it's just to let him recuperate at home for a while."

"Lu En's forces stationed in the Pas River Valley suffered few losses, but the high‑ranking officers stationed there were heavily sacrificed; if it weren't for the subsequent negotiations, Alfred might also have..."

At that point, Count Huo Er paused his words, looked toward his wife seated beside him, and gave her a reassuring smile.

The family gathered around the table fell silent, no one responded; Ao Deli pursed her lips, glanced around, then curved her mouth slightly and said softly:

"May the goddess protect Alfred!"

"It's good that he's back to rest for a while; experiencing so many events at once will surely leave an impact on him, so returning to recuperate and relax is timely."

Ao Deli was subtly worried, yet she deliberately sounded calm and cheerful; Count Huo Er looked gently at his daughter, chuckled, nodded, and said:

"Ha ha, my dear Ao Deli, you have grown up, but I am not yet old; you need not worry about these matters. Your brother and I will take care of them."

Ao Deli's elder brother Xi Bo Te·Huo Er also, after his father's words, gave a slight nod and addressed Ao Deli:

"Father is right; as your elder brother, I have the duty and responsibility to protect your innocent exuberance."

Ao Deli looked at her brother's solemn, serious face and couldn't help sighing inwardly. Xi Bo Te's tone was always businesslike, no matter the setting, so it's no wonder no women have shown affection for him; indeed, in dealing with people, he falls far short of Alfred.

After sighing, Ao Deli sipped another mouthful of red wine, then turned to her father with curiosity and said:

"Dear Count, how do you view what happened in the Pas River Valley? Do they really stand a chance of succeeding? Currently Lu En and Yin Di Si seem to have no intention of pursuing this further?"

Xi Bo Te·Huo Er, seated opposite her, looked at Ao Deli with some surprise, chuckled, and said:

"Ao Deli, are you also interested in such political matters?"

"However, I think neither Lu En nor Yin Di Si would simply abandon the Pas River Valley. That region is not only the wealthiest area of all Western Bairang, but also the secure passage linking the Northern and Southern continents—a vital route for entering the Southern Continent, important politically and economically."

Ao Deli furrowed her brows, her expression heavy, and looked at her father, saying:

"So, does that mean war could still break out in the Pas River Valley?"

Count Huo Er, picking up a handkerchief placed nearby to wipe his hands, nodded gently in line with his daughter's gaze and said:

"Not for now, but war will inevitably erupt later, whether for colonial claims or to suppress resistance forces on the Southern Continent."

"However, that may not happen until far later; the outbreak of war requires mature conditions and irreconcilable contradictions."

"That is not a problem we need to worry about, ladies and gentlemen; we should ready ourselves and welcome Alfred's return home next week."

Is war inevitable? I wonder how Mr. White Tower and the Knowledge Church plan to handle the ensuing issues—whether to ease relations and avoid war as much as possible, or to choose outright conflict and repel the enemy head‑on?

Ao Deli let her thoughts wander briefly, and after a moment, returned to the conversation between Xi Bo Te and Count Huo Er; she tilted her head, smiled lightly, and said:

"Very well, esteemed Count and Countess, and my beloved brother, enjoy your meal; I will go prepare a small gift for Alfred."

Having finished speaking, Ao Deli rose from her seat, lifted the hem of her skirt in a slight bow toward her father, then walked out of the dining room cheerfully.

Xi Bo Te called out to the departing Ao Deli:

"Ao Deli, what gift are you preparing for Alfred? Let me have a look as well."

"That must remain secret; I can't tell you now. The most important part of a gift is the sentiment, not the gift itself. Once you have prepared it, Alfred will be pleased."

Ao Deli turned half‑away, raised her right index finger to her lips in a shushing gesture, then walked out of the restaurant cheerfully.

In Beckland East District, inside a modest, somewhat dated cheap inn room.

The painted, bulging window was tightly shut; the dim yellow gas streetlamp outside faintly filtered in, preventing the room—devoid of candles or gas wall lamps—from being completely dark.

A woman dressed in men's clothing perched on the dressing table; her smooth black hair cascaded down. Her face was somewhat round, eyes slender; individually her features were unremarkable, yet together they gave a gentle, sweet impression.

It was the tormented witch Te Li Si·Qi Ke, who had written a plea for help to Lei Ke Dun that afternoon; now she appeared as if immersed in a vivid, blissful dream, her gaze distant, lips slightly parting as if murmuring in sleep.

In the dim room, specks of starlight began to flicker, growing denser and emitting a hazy glow; as the light spread, it gradually became clearer.

In moments, the once dim, shabby cheap inn transformed into a luxurious, understated manor; the room brimmed with ornate décor, and the bulging window became a transparent floor‑to‑ceiling window, revealing a verdant horse pasture outside.

"You're not Edzak, yet you turned this place into a red‑rose manor without its owner. Is your intel gathering insufficient, or are you still unskilled with your extraordinary abilities?"

The Te Li Si·Qi Ke who had been perched on the dressing table didn't know when she regained consciousness; she lazily leaned against the shadowed side of the table, her brows and eyes lowered as she stared toward the floor‑to‑ceiling window, showing no discernible emotion. A low pressure enveloped her, both wary and lingering with longing.

Sparkling specks of starlight flickered before the floor‑to‑ceiling window, converging in mid‑air to outline Lei Ke Dun's figure.

A fist‑sized, semi‑transparent crystal sphere, imbued with radiant starlight, was gently cradled in his left hand; the starry glow within subtly echoed the surrounding illusion.

Lei Ke Dun looked at Te Li Si with curiosity and asked, "Can you locate the place where I hide?"

"No, but for an outstanding assassin, grasping the enemy's mindset and finding possible hidden spots in an immaculate environment is basic competence."

"Every witch is the finest assassin."

Te Li Si responded in a slightly hoarse voice, as if she had not yet fully emerged from the hazy dream.

Lei Ke Dun tilted his head slightly, shifting his gaze away from her; in this state, Te Li Si seemed more alluring than usual, compelling a deeper curiosity.

A deep blue radiance flickered faintly in his eyes; rationality instantly seized the upper hand of his consciousness, suppressing myriad tangled thoughts.

The red‑rose manor within the illusion suddenly dimmed, the previously near‑real cacophony fell silent, and the clear view beyond the floor‑to‑ceiling window displayed sparse, scattered starlight.

After cloaking the illusion with secrecy, Lei Ke Dun finally looked at Te Li Si with curiosity and said:

"What did you just dream about? You looked so engrossed."

Te Li Si tilted her head unnaturally, her voice hoarse, and said:

"Nothing much, just dreamed of some past events. Why does the Primordial Witch keep haunting me? I'm merely a Sequence‑Five Pain Witch; within the witch sect, that isn't considered powerful."

"Perhaps you share many similarities with Him; both in mindset and experience you resemble Him at a certain past moment. Such likeness draws His attention, making Him unable to resist turning you into a temporary vessel for his descent."

Lei Ke Dun walked to the single armchair beside the floor‑to‑ceiling window, sat down, lowered his gaze slightly, and murmured:

Te Li Si leaned her body into the shadows, as if only that could give her enough security; the dense, impenetrable darkness concealed her features, leaving only faint breathing and a restrained, hoarse voice audible:

"Similar traits, huh. Could that Primordial Witch have once been tricked into drinking an assassin's demon elixir?"

"It does not sit high in the Star Realm like the Seven Gods, so why does it still need a vessel that can temporarily descend?"

Leiketon shrugged, leisurely leaning back on the sofa, and said with a look of regret:

"I don't understand this question either; perhaps you should inquire of those ancient relics from the same era as it."

"As for needing a vessel that can temporarily descend, it's because its condition is poor—the wounds sustained during the Pale Disaster have not healed, and the requirements for forging a Divine Descent Vessel are stringent; you can't just find any saint on the same Gate Path."

Te Lisi paid no mind to the Primordial's intention to turn herself into a Divine Descent Vessel; with one hand she steadied her sagging men's coat over her chest, and with the other she twirled a strand of hair hanging from her forehead, saying:

"The ancient relic you mentioned has survived until now—are you sure it isn't already a deity or close to becoming one?"

"Obviously, only by becoming an angel can one possess a long lifespan."

"If you're curious, you could try communicating with the one exiled by night and storm to the depths of the starry sky; it is a being from the same era as the Primordial Witch, and you might glean some secret information about the Primordial Witch from it."

Leiketon's mouth curled into a faint smile as he explained to her the method of communicating with Mr. Men.

Te Lisi lightly furrowed her brows and murmured:

"The ramblings at the full moon? That requires at least a demigod; otherwise, merely hearing the voice of that Abraham family ancestor would make me lose control."

"That's far beyond my reach now; do you have any way to shield me from the Primordial Witch's influence?"

Leiketon said with a relaxed smile, "It's simple—just don't know if you're willing."

Te Lisi inhaled deeply, her complexion turning somber; his tone gave her some speculation, and after a moment of hesitation she lowered her voice and said:

"What method?"

Leiketon curled the corner of his mouth, chuckled lightly, and said:

"Seek a hidden sanctuary; hidden power can easily shield the connection between you and the Primordial Witch."

"A hidden sanctuary? Night Goddess? Are you sure you're not just sending me into the Charles Gate behind?"

Te Lisi was momentarily stunned, then quickly recalled the Night Church's proclaimed divine title 'Mother of Secrets,' and her expression turned oddly uneasy.

Leiketon gently shook his head and said:

"Although the Night Goddess is the 'Mother of Secrets,' she is not the only one who holds the authority of secrecy."

"To evade the Primordial Witch's influence by contacting another hidden being—what's the difference from jumping from one fire pit into another? As long as I can achieve revenge, I don't mind selling myself to a hidden being."

After a brief silence, Te Lisi, somewhat hesitant, pressed further:

"Who else? Or, which hidden beings also wield authority over secrecy?"

Leiketon turned his gaze to the speckled starlight beyond the floor-to-ceiling window and, in a calm tone, said:

"Earlier I mentioned the Abraham family ancestor; the fourth sequence of the Gate Path is called the Secret Mage, and the character 'secret' itself already carries the meaning of guarding secrets."

"There is also the 'Fool' once promoted by the Aurora Society, and the 'Erudite' now being heralded on the Southern Continent; as the highest rank of the Seeker of Secrets Path, it likewise wields authority over secrecy."

(End of chapter)