Chapter 421: The Majesty of the Dragon God

In this long, unknown night, no one but the Demon King knew that the true prophet was a young lad named Ma Ke.

Though that fellow had no real skills and was full of complaints, he had miraculously prophesied one thing—

"They turned the women of the kingdom into whores; some sell their bodies while wearing sheepskins, others sell their bodies while dressed in fine clothes... And the men, they have trained into mental dwarves, sheep under the cudgel, and turtles in a pond."

They were the nobles of the Luo De Kingdom.

Of course, perhaps this could not be considered a prophecy.

Long before the Demon King's corruption arrived, their souls had already rotted away.

Not because of Hell, nor because of Chaos.

This pot could not be dumped onto anyone else.

The next morning, the mercenaries extinguished the campfire, packed up their pots and pans, and Thomas's caravan set off in the hazy mist.

Along the way, Thomas, sitting in the covered wagon, wore a restless expression, occasionally lifting the door curtain to look toward the front of the procession, then casting his gaze toward Prince Kelin's carriage not far away.

The caravan had barely traveled a mile out of the river valley when several figures appeared on the dirt road ahead.

Three cavalrymen reined in their horses, blocking the center of the road. The leader was a man with a fleshy face, his leather armor polished to a shine, the long sword at his waist swaying with the horses' breathing.

He was none other than a cavalryman under the command of the captain of the guard, Ka Bin—who served the famous Sir Li Xite.

Nowadays, Ka Bin was a big shot in the Yingyan Territory; naturally, he couldn't handle such trivial matters personally, so his subordinates would settle it for him.

Thomas's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously looked at the mercenary leader beside the covered wagon.

That burly-looking man didn't mince words either; he simply shrugged his shoulders, returning his boss a look of helplessness.

He didn't mind fighting bandits, but fighting the lord's soldiers was outside his scope of business.

Of course, he didn't think his boss would be foolish enough to provoke the lord's men for a stranger. They had agreed last night: if they could take her out, they would help her; if they couldn't, it was God's will... implying she should stay here and face her fate.

Thomas struggled internally for a while, finally sighed softly, and waved his hand to signal the caravan to stop.

Then he jumped off the carriage, braced himself, and walked up, a fawning and humble smile plastered on his face as he reached one of the cavalrymen.

"My lord, we are a caravan registered with the Merchant Society of Longshi City. I don't know what this is about..."

Before his words had even faded, the lead cavalryman raised the horsewhip in his hand, signaling him to shut his mouth, and then said unhurriedly.

"I'm not interested in what you do. I only want to know if there is someone we are looking for in your group."

Thomas swallowed a mouthful of saliva and said nervously.

"I don't know who you are looking for, my lord..."

"A woman, or rather, a fugitive. She wears a black robe, or perhaps nothing at all; her hair is disheveled, maybe brown, maybe black... Do you have any leads?" The cavalry captain said unhurriedly, while his gaze passed over the top of Thomas's head, scanning the caravan behind him.

"What crime did she commit?" Before Thomas could speak, the young mercenary standing behind him suddenly couldn't help but interject.

As soon as these words were out, Thomas and the mercenary leader changed expressions almost simultaneously, looking at him in unison—including the cavalryman straddling the warhorse.

The young lad himself felt a bit terrified, his face pale, seemingly regretting his impulsive outburst.

Of course.

It wasn't entirely regret.

There were profit-seeking Luo De people in this world, but of course, there were also devout Luo De people.

He could turn a blind eye to the blasphemy in the camp, but if he were to personally participate in such hellish deeds, he absolutely could not do it.

In the Book of Holy Words, the sin of silence is a lesser offense, but if one personally pushes an innocent into hell, the guilt is even greater than that of the demons.

He believed Mr. Thomas was hesitant for so long for this very reason.

However, the cavalry captain was probably in a good mood, as he didn't punish him for his interruption, but instead smiled and answered his question.

"Blasphemy against the gods. Anything else you want to ask?"

Stared at by that gaze like a dagger, the young mercenary swallowed hard and moved his stiff neck from side to side.

"No, nothing else."

"Very good."

The cavalry captain nodded, yet his eagle-like sharp gaze did not move from him, and then it emitted a strange brilliance as if he had discovered prey.

"Then, it's my turn to ask you... regarding the person I'm looking for, do you have any leads?"

The cavalry captain paused for a moment, and without waiting for the lad to answer, he smiled and added another sentence.

"Your eyes tell me that you seem to know her."

A cold wind blew through the forest, like the suppressed low growl of a snow wolf on the wilderness.

Facing the three listless riders, the dozen or so fully armed mercenaries didn't dare to breathe, completely lacking the bravery they had shown while drinking around the campfire the night before.

Even Thomas, who had grown up watching the epics of heroes, wore a heavy expression, his lips pale and trembling slightly.

The woman wrapped in the robe curled up in the covered wagon, covering her mouth in terror, trying hard not to make a single sound.

However, her efforts were completely meaningless; the idea of luckily escaping the search of the lord's soldiers only happened in the stories of bards.

These guards wouldn't bother to search personally; they didn't handle cases out of a sense of justice, but because there was profit to be made.

Until they found the person they were looking for, not a single carriage would pass through here. They would detain all passing caravans, and then those merchants in a hurry to do business would naturally incite their guards or mercenaries to go into the forest and find the person for them.

Finding her would be best.

If they couldn't find her... it didn't really matter. That runaway "nun" was someone Lord Ka Bin wanted, not someone the lord himself wanted.

After confirming that the fugitive had starved to death or been eaten by wolves in the forest, they would eventually release all the detained caravans. However, in return, they would demand a "case-handling fee" from these merchants as compensation for themselves.

Those terrified merchants would be very happy to spend money to buy this peace; those who caused trouble for themselves were, after all, only a minority.

Of course, all of this was based on the premise that the person could not be found.

If someone deliberately harbored the fugitive that Lord Ka Bin was hunting, that would be a different matter. They were just more attentive to their own affairs, not that they didn't handle official business at all.

Finally, the mercenary leader couldn't bear to make things difficult for his boss, nor did he want to watch things get worse.

He made a cross on his chest, praying for the forgiveness of Saint Xisi, and then braced himself and walked to the covered wagon where Saintess Kalian was hiding.

"Don't blame me." Looking at that terrified face, he muttered, reached out, and dragged her out like a chick.

"No! Let me go!"

Saintess Kalian screamed, struggling desperately, trying to break free from the mercenary leader's large hand, but she couldn't shake that powerful palm in the slightest.

Disheveled hair draped over her thin shoulders, she cried uncontrollably.

"I didn't blaspheme Saint Xisi! He is lying! My family sold me to Lina; they owed her money!"

"I don't want to go back! That devil! She forced me to do things that blasphemed the gods! I refused, so she beat me!"

"And her thugs, and that Ka Bin, they are the devils who blaspheme the gods! The demons of hell! You... you are just like them! You will go to hell!"

Her sobbing was shrill and desperate, like a dull knife cutting into every heart that hadn't yet lost its humanity.

The caravan hands turned their heads away in unbearable pity, and several young mercenaries also silently lowered their gazes, not daring to look directly into those eyes filled with terror.

There had been whores in sheepskins in the Yingyan Territory before, but most were poor people forced by life, or those who had fallen of their own volition.

But now, it seemed that it wasn't just those people who had sold their souls to the devil, but also some who had no choice in the matter.

The cavalry captain didn't look at Saintess Kalian, nor did he pay any attention to the wailing; instead, he raised his eyebrows with interest and cast his gaze toward the pale-faced Thomas.

The latter squeezed a stiff smile from his face, knowing it couldn't be hidden, and explained to the cavalry captain, who wore a playful expression.

"We did indeed encounter a suspicious woman yesterday... but please believe me, we really didn't know she was a sinner who blasphemed the gods."

"I hope that is the case." The cavalry captain gave him a meaningful look. "Lord Ka Bin has eyes like torches; he will not let any evil accomplice go."

"Yes, my lord, you are right, we will certainly cooperate with your investigation..."

Thomas's mouth twitched.

He naturally understood the implication, so, enduring the pain in his heart, he untied a money bag from his belt, cursing internally while squeezing a fawning smile onto his face, and respectfully handed it to the cavalry captain.

"My lord, the spring in this Northern Wilderness is truly colder than usual; it is thanks to your tireless efforts that Yingyan Territory has prosperity and stability. This is a small token of my appreciation, not much of a gift... just consider it for the brothers to drink."

This bunch of robbers!

He had helped them catch the fugitive, and not only was there no bounty, but he even had to pay them money!

Looking at this cunning merchant who had buried his head deep, the cavalry captain took the money with an expressionless face and weighed it in his hand.

Under Thomas's uneasy, furtive glance, he finally tied it to his waist, and a smile appeared on his tightened mouth.

"Of course, the respected Lord Ka Bin will never wrong any good person... I think you all are good people."

For the sake of the money, he chose to raise his hand high.

The pale-faced Thomas squeezed out a weak smile.

"I'm very glad you think so..."

He knew they had passed the test.

At least they had passed this hurdle.

Saintess Kalian was still wailing, struggling with all her might, and then was thrown in front of the three cavalrymen by the mercenary leader.

Her throat was completely hoarse, and she didn't even have the strength to struggle anymore, only faint gasps drifting out from under her disheveled long hair.

A gentlemanly smile appeared on the cavalry captain's face as he looked at the desperate Saintess Kalian and continued in a bantering tone.

"Don't be afraid, lady. Lord Ka Bin never wrongs any sinner. If you truly did not blaspheme the gods, Saint Xisi will surely forgive you."

Those hollow eyes were like frozen lake water, showing no sign of life, just as if she were dead.

Perhaps knowing she was doomed, she didn't even have the strength to beg for mercy, leaving only murmurs like prayers.

"I don't want to go back to that place... I would rather die than go!"

"That is not up to you."

After speaking, the cavalry captain urged his horse forward, reaching out to grab Saintess Kalian's hair, his originally gentlemanly smile becoming ferocious.

If it were half a year ago, he might have hesitated about whether to be so ruthless, but now his reasons for going to hell wouldn't be any less for this one.

And—

Sir Li Xite, who deserved retribution the most, was living just fine; no matter what, it wouldn't be his turn, a small fry, to go before that lord.

Perhaps, Saint Xisi was truly dead.

Just as he was thinking this, a pressure that seemed to come from the depths of his soul descended like ten thousand thunderbolts, causing his heart to tremble in shock.

What's going on?!

In the carriage not far away, Ta Fu, who had been lying by the window silently watching, finally couldn't bear it any longer.

This naked bullying ignited a trace of anger in the eyes of this "alien" from a higher civilization, and a trace of majesty belonging to a dragon leaked out uncontrollably.

It was an aura that would startle even Arakdo, the Demon King's mount, let alone the horses present.

The mules pulling the goods were fine; they were tied to things and had drivers watching them, so no matter how they fussed, they wouldn't run away.

However, the warhorses under the three cavalrymen were miserable.

They reared up in terror, neighing frantically, wanting to escape from here, almost throwing their masters off their backs.

"What happened?!" a cavalryman shouted in panic, pulling desperately on the reins, but he couldn't suppress the maddened warhorse.

"Could it be... a magical beast?!"

The cavalry captain's face turned pale, his voice trembling.

Only magical beasts above the Silver Tier could emit an aura sufficient to make their warhorses lose control! And with three warhorses losing control simultaneously, the one releasing the aura was at least a Gold Tier magical beast!

No matter which one it was, it was an opponent they couldn't handle.

As if seeing death beckoning to them, the fear from the depths of their souls completely crushed their will.

The three of them scrambled to turn their horses around, not even bothering to pick up the weapons they had dropped, and fled like madmen toward the way they had come, disappearing into the shadows of the forest in the blink of an eye.

And almost the moment the three figures disappeared, the restless horses and mules in the caravan all settled down one after another.

They looked around in terror, not knowing what had happened, then gradually calmed their breathing and refocused their attention on the wild grass by the roadside.

The tense atmosphere that had just been at swords' points vanished in an instant.

Everyone in the caravan looked at this dramatic scene in astonishment, their faces filled with shock that could not be described in words.

They didn't understand what dragon majesty was, nor did they think a miracle of the gods would occur for a prostitute oppressed by dark forces.

In the perception of mortals, they only saw three arrogant lord's soldiers collapse and flee without warning in front of Mr. Prince Kelin's carriage.

This eerie scene could only be explained by one word—

That was magic.

Thomas was the first to come to his senses.

"My, my lord..."

He walked quickly to the side of the carriage but didn't dare to get too close, just bowing from afar, his voice stuttering with excitement.

"Thank... thank you for your mercy! If you hadn't helped, I... I really wouldn't have known what to do!"

Looking at that smile that was no better than crying, Luo Yan knew very well that this was certainly not Mr. Thomas's true feelings.

After all, the money had already been paid, the show had been put on by Prince Kelin, but the trouble was his alone... now he could only pray that the so-called Lord Ka Bin would let him go like a fart, and that next time he came back, he wouldn't run into any hands that recognized his face.

The mercenary leader gave a bitter laugh, scratched the back of his head, feeling that he was not a person inside or out, and walked silently to the back of the caravan.

He also had endless complaints in his heart.

If you were so awesome, why didn't you act sooner...

It was the rookies who had just entered the trade whose eyes were shining, whistling at Mr. Prince Kelin's carriage, and even cheering excitedly.

"As expected of Mr. Prince Kelin!"

"What magic was that just now? Did you see it?"

"No! But I felt my breathing freeze! I couldn't make a sound, really!"

Saintess Kalian, slumped on the frozen ground, looked around blankly, not yet having recovered from what had happened.

She only felt a terrifying force seize her heart, and then those villains on horseback looked like they had seen a god descending to earth, not even daring to utter a harsh word, turning around and fleeing with all their might.

Could it be...

Saint Xisi really manifested?! Those eyes that seemed frozen finally regained their luster, and tears of survival flowed out with the last trace of fear in her heart.

Saintess Kalian raised her mud-stained arm, wiped away her tears with a wrist that was still relatively clean, and then searched around, her gaze landing on a carriage.

Vaguely, she heard a name, it seemed to be Prince Kelin; that person was a mage, and it seemed he had saved her.

She climbed up from the cold frozen ground, holding her black robe that was dragging on the ground, limped to the side of the carriage, and then knelt down without hesitation, pressing her forehead against the hard frozen ground.

Her voice, though trembling, was incomparably clear and sincere.

"Thank you... Prince Kelin... my lord, thank you for saving me!"

Ta Fu, squatting in the carriage, quickly looked at Luo Yan, pointed at herself excitedly with her little claws, then proudly puffed out her chest, and patted the cushion twice with her tail.

Luo Yan knew what that impatient look meant; this little thing was nothing more than wanting to convey the "majesty" of the Dragon God through his mouth.

However, was the Demon King the kind of person who "returns lost property"?

Undoubtedly, he was.

But compared to explaining misunderstandings and praising a Dragon God who had been cold for who knows how many years, there were more important things to do.

For example, soothing a wounded soul.

The curtain of the carriage was lifted by a slender hand, revealing a handsome and gentle face, so much so that Saintess Kalian couldn't help but lose her focus for a moment.

But soon, she lowered her head.

It wasn't because of shyness, but simply because she felt that looking at an angel descending to earth for one more second was an offense to the gods.

Although Saint Xisi hadn't carved his name in the snow, it was undoubtedly that lord who had sought justice for her.

"My lord..." she wanted to repeat her thanks in a trembling voice, but was stopped.

"I am no lord, just a... traveler like you."

Ignoring the "Dragon God" who was raging in vain, Luo Yan looked at the girl kneeling on the cold ground and continued in a gentle tone.

"The ground is cold, get up."

Saintess Kalian hesitated for a moment, then obediently stood up, but still kept her head down, not daring to look directly at this respected lord.

"What is your name?" Luo Yan's voice remained gentle, and he moved his index finger slightly, a blanket floating out of thin air to cover her shoulders, which had been soaked by the mud.

Feeling the warmth on her shoulders, the shivering Saintess Kalian looked up at him gratefully, then lowered her head again.

She said in a low voice.

"Saintess Kalian... my lord, my name is Saintess Kalian."

It seemed her name was indeed that.

Luo Yan could feel that she regarded him as an envoy of Saint Xisi, and believers would absolutely not dare to lie in front of the gods.

"Saintess Kalian, that's a good name."

Repeating her name, Luo Yan cast his gaze toward the distant south, then said in a gentle tone, "Then Saintess Kalian, you are safe now. What are your plans for the future? Can you tell me about them?"

Tightening the blanket on her shoulders, Saintess Kalian said in a trembling voice.

"I... plan to go south."

"Specifically?"

"I, I don't know... I haven't thought about where to go, but I can't go back to my hometown anymore, at least I have to leave the territory of the Northern Duke..."

Looking at the incoherent Saintess Kalian, Luo Yan said patiently.

"I mean, after you go south, what do you want to do?"

This question stunned Saintess Kalian once again.

She looked up again, and this time, those eyes that had witnessed a miracle became unprecedentedly confused.

What to do? She had never thought about this question.

From the moment she was sold, running away was her only thought, and it was the only hope that sustained her.

As for life after escaping, she had no energy to think about it at all. And before her life underwent earth-shaking changes, she was just a farmer's daughter.

She didn't know what she could do either.

After a moment of silence, Saintess Kalian shook her head, a trace of uncertain hope in her eyes, and answered in a hesitant voice: "I... I don't know, my lord. But I think as long as I leave here and get to a new place, there will always be a way to survive."

She had heard that it was the land of knights.

She thought the moral level in people's hearts would be higher than that of the Luo De people.

Listening to this naive answer, the smile on Luo Yan's face didn't change, but a trace of deep sighing appeared in his eyes.

What could a pretty girl without any skills do in a foreign land where she had no relatives? It seemed there was no need to guess at all.

It seemed that before the "evil winds" stirred up by the Demon King blew to the north, the evil winds of the north were going to blow to the Campbell Duchy first...

Of course, it was also possible that they had already blown over.

"Poor child."

This sentence was very light, but it was like an invisible needle, pricking Saintess Kalian's heart.

She didn't understand why, even though she had already escaped the cage and gained a new life, this lord would look at her with such compassionate eyes.

Those deep eyes seemed to have already seen her tragic future, causing an unspeakable panic to rise uncontrollably in her heart, even washing away the joy of her survival.

Driven by the instinct to survive, she moved forward a step and asked in a tone that was almost pleading: "My lord, what should I do? Can you give me some advice?"

Luo Yan's gaze fell on that face stained with tears and dust, and he didn't answer directly, but instead asked a question that seemed completely unrelated.

"Can you accept poverty? And give up all worldly desires, dedicating your life to faith."

This question stunned Saintess Kalian again.

It wasn't because this choice was difficult for her, but because she, who already had nothing, had never thought about those things.

After coming to her senses, she nodded without hesitation, her eyes filled with a firmness she had never had before.

"My lord, I can!"

"Very good," a trace of a real smile finally appeared on Luo Yan's face, "then you can become a nun."

"Nu, nun?"

Saintess Kalian looked at Prince Kelin blankly, as if she hadn't expected to hear this word at all, her eyes becoming hesitant and lost.

"But... I haven't read the Book of Holy Words."

This was still too conservative; she didn't even know how to read.

However, Prince Kelin just shook his head.

"That is not important."

"But..."

Saintess Kalian opened her mouth, wanting to say that there was no priest to baptize her, and no church would accept her, someone whose identity and background were unclear.

The selection of nuns had a strict process, and she, just a village girl, didn't even know what that process was.

However, that gentleman seemed to see through the hesitation in her heart, blowing away all the confusion in her heart with a gentle and firm voice.

"I approve."

In an instant, all the anxiety in her heart disappeared, and even the vast forest and snowfields became clear and transparent.

Since Saint Xisi had nodded.

Then the things she was worried about really didn't seem important anymore...

He had agreed. ===== CHAPTER 422 =====