Chapter 8: Owl

Lu Mian just suddenly had such an inspiration and didn't really want to do it.

Not to mention that so many years have passed, and the lifespan of an owl is shorter than that of a human. The one that flew over when the wizard died should have long since rotted into mud. Just the number of owls in these mountains made Lu Mian have no desire to track them.

Too many!

And that owl didn't have obvious features... No, in the legend, that owl didn't have a specific image, and Naroka didn't mention it just now... We still didn't ask carefully enough... Lu Mian came back to his senses and laughed at Raymond:

"Maybe the owl related to the wizard can live for 100 years."

Seeing Raymond becoming more and more afraid, he comforted:

"Don't worry, this is the last choice. I don't want to face a monster.

"Let's ask other old people; maybe there are key clues that Naroka overlooked."

He then used a seductive tone:

"If I were a wizard, I definitely wouldn't carry all my treasures with me or keep them at home. I would definitely hide a part of them in a certain place, so that if I were suddenly attacked by the Inquisition and couldn't take anything, I would have to flee immediately without an empty purse."

The Inquisition of the "Eternal Blazing Sun" church has one of the important duties of eliminating all wizards and witches, and their "glorious achievements" are widely circulated in the countryside.

"That's true!" Raymond was excited again.

He said with longing:

"It's a pity, so many years have passed, the treasures taken by the church must have been spent long ago."

"Young man, your idea is very dangerous." Lu Mian joked.

The two continued to visit old people like Old Pierre from the Mori family and Naferia.

Although their answers were similar to Naroka's, Lu Mian and Raymond, who had experience, still asked for more details.

For example, that owl belonged to the large-to-medium size, basically the same as its kind: sharp beak, cat-like face, brown feathers, speckled with fine spots, brownish-yellow whites of the eyes, black pupils...

But its body size was a circle larger than similar owls, and its eyes seemed to be able to rotate, unlike its kind which were so stiff, looking dull.

In all the descriptions, these differences made that owl appear even more evil.

"It seems there are no useful clues now." On the road to the village square, Lu Mian said to Raymond, "We can only focus on other legends."

"Hmm." Raymond was no longer as frustrated as he was at the beginning. "Which one to choose?"

This guy is really active and hardworking... Lu Mian praised silently and prepared to give Raymond a reward.

He nodded and said:

"Go back and think carefully, and we'll discuss and decide tomorrow.

"I'll teach you fighting techniques this afternoon."

"Okay!" Raymond was happy because of this unexpected thing.

Aurora is very good at fighting, otherwise how could she deal with some wild and rude men in the village? Her brother shouldn't be bad either.

Saying goodbye to Raymond Craig, Lu Mian turned onto the small path leading to his home.

After walking for a while, he saw several men coming toward him.

The leader was in his prime, not tall, less than 1.7 meters, wearing a white robe, with shallow black hair on his head.

He had a majestic temperament, his features could only be said to be upright, the tip of his nose slightly hooked, and the blue eyes looking at Lu Mian were full of undisguised disgust and malice.

This was the priest of the "Eternal Blazing Sun" church stationed in Cordu village, Guillaume Bénet.

"I've been waiting for you for a while." Guillaume Bénet said in a low voice, "Did you deliberately bring those outsiders to the church?"

"I thought you were sleeping inside." Lu Mian explained forcibly while quietly retreating.

He recognized that the person standing next to Guillaume Bénet was his brother, Pons Bénet. This guy was in his thirties, had a strong build, was overbearing, and liked to bully villagers.

The others were thugs who followed him and the priest.

Seeing Lu Mian retreat, Guillaume Bénet gave Pons a look.

Pons Bénet rushed forward with a ferocious smile:

"Bastard kid, come over and meet your father Pons!"

Before the words fell, he had already accelerated his pace, pouncing on Lu Mian, as did the other thugs.

In a countryside place like Cordu village, reasoning doesn't stop people or get apologies. Direct and strong handling makes people awe-struck. Guillaume Bénet, the priest, knew this very well and was used to doing things this way. Therefore, as soon as he confirmed that those outsiders were brought to the church by Lu Mian, he decided to catch this kid, beat him up severely, beat him until he couldn't get out of bed for a month, and beat him until someone compensated him.

Of course, he had to avoid Aurora.

As for the law, just tell the administrative officer and territorial judge Béost. The sheriff in the city wouldn't specifically run to the countryside to investigate such a small matter as a fight.

And Béost, as an outsider, wouldn't offend this locally born priest without a huge conflict of interest.

What made Guillaume Bénet feel lucky was that the outsiders hadn't spread the news about his affair with Lady Pualis, the administrative officer's wife. The other party didn't know yet.

They were fast, but Lu Mian was faster. As soon as Pons opened his mouth, he turned around and ran wildly.

He knew the character and style of the priest's group very well.

Once, a villager reported Guillaume Bénet to the "Eternal Blazing Sun" church in the city, saying that he not only had multiple mistresses but also deducted the offerings of the believers to the "Eternal Blazing Sun" and bullied others in the village at will, not like a member of the clergy at all. Later, one afternoon, this villager somehow fell to his death.

Thump, thump, thump!

Lu Mian ran so fast he kicked up a wind.

"Wait for your father!" Pons shouted while chasing, and his speed was not slow.

Those thugs followed closely behind.

Rushing out of the small path, Lu Mian didn't run along the main road and broke directly into the nearest house.

That family was preparing lunch in the kitchen that doubled as a living room, and suddenly saw such a person run in.

With a swoosh, Lu Mian bypassed them and climbed out from the window behind the kitchen.

When Pons and the others chased in, the owner of the house had already come to his senses, stood up to intercept, and asked:

"What are you doing?

"What are you doing?"

"Get out of the way, old man!" Pons pushed the male owner away fiercely, but it also delayed some time.

By the time they chased to the window and climbed out, Lu Mian had already rushed into another small path.

After chasing for a while, they completely lost Lu Mian's figure.

"Damn wild dog!" Pons spat a green phlegm by the side of the road.

Outside the semi-underground two-story building.

Lu Mian calmed his breathing and opened the door to enter the house as if nothing had happened.

"One, two, three, four, two, two, three, four..." A rhythmic shouting sound entered his ears.

Lu Mian looked toward the open space on the other side of the kitchen and saw Aurora with her golden hair tied into a ponytail, wearing a linen-colored shirt, tight white trousers, and dark short boots made of small sheepskin, jumping up and down there, covered in sweat.

—The custom of Cordu village is that the vast majority of the first floor is the kitchen, which is the core of the whole home. Cooking is done here, food is enjoyed here, and gatherings with guests are also done here.

Exercising again... Lu Mian was already familiar with such scenes and wasn't surprised at all.

Aurora often did some strange things and wouldn't say the reason even if asked.

At least exercising is a good thing, and it looks quite good... Lu Mian leaned over and watched quietly from the side.

After a while, Aurora stopped exercising, bent down, and turned off the black tape recorder that used batteries.

She took the white towel handed by Lu Mian and ordered while wiping the sweat from her forehead:

"Remember to learn fighting this afternoon."

"Have to study, have to learn fighting. Isn't your requirement for me too high?" Lu Mian complained casually.

Aurora glanced at him and said with a smile:

"You must remember, our goal is the comprehensive development of morality, intelligence, physique, aesthetic appreciation, and labor ability!"

The more she spoke, the happier she became, as if she had remembered some beautiful memories or fun things.

My morality has already failed... Lu Mian muttered silently.

He turned to ask:

"Learn what kind of fighting?"

One of the things he didn't understand was that Aurora, who looked soft and weak, was actually a fighting master, mastering many schools of fighting techniques, and every time she suppressed him so he couldn't fight back.

Aurora thought seriously, leaned forward slightly, tilted her face, and looked into Lu Mian's eyes.

She then laughed "Hehe" and shouted loudly:

"Anti-wolf technique!"

"Huh?" Lu Mian was surprised, "Isn't this what girls learn?"

Aurora stood up straight, shook her head seriously, and said earnestly:

"Boys also need to protect themselves when they go out.

"Who said boys won't encounter perverts?"

The smile leaking from the corners of her mouth gradually couldn't be hidden.

Not knowing whether his sister was joking or really intended to do so, Lu Mian had no choice but to remain silent, took back the white towel, and walked toward the stairs.

Suddenly, his feet tightened, as if he had tripped over something, and he fell forward violently.

In mid-air, Lu Mian hurriedly tightened his waist and abdominal muscles, stretched out his arms, pressed on the chair next to him, and then turned over, barely "landing" steadily.

Aurora retracted the foot she had stretched out and laughed:

"One of the essentials of fighting is to observe the environment at any time and not have the slightest negligence.

"Remembered, my rookie brother?"

Just now, her right hand had already grabbed Lu Mian's vest, but seeing the other party control his body, she retracted it again.

"Isn't this because I trust you too much..." Lu Mian muttered.

He thought about it carefully and felt that this kind of trust was meaningless. He didn't know how many similar losses he had suffered in front of Aurora.

Aurora coughed and restrained her expression:

"How was the chat with that woman?"

Lu Mian told the general content of the conversation, and finally said:

"I plan to wait for your friends to reply before considering exploring the dream."

"A wise choice." Aurora nodded with satisfaction.

Lu Mian changed the subject:

"What's for lunch?"

"There's still toast left from the morning. I'll roast four more small lamb chops for you." Aurora thought for a while and said.

"What about you?" Lu Mian asked.

Aurora said casually:

"I'll have a truffle bamboo chicken silk, and then add a cheese onion soup. I tried it last time and found it quite..."

Before she finished speaking, her whole body suddenly froze.

The next second, she raised her hands, wanting to block her ears, and the muscles on her face gradually twisted.

This made her beauty look a bit hideous.

Lu Mian watched quietly, his eyes full of concern and worry.

After a while, Aurora exhaled long, and she returned to normal.

Her forehead was covered in sweat again.

"What's wrong?" Lu Mian asked.

Aurora smiled:

"Tinnitus flared up again. It's not like you don't know I have this old problem."

Lu Mian didn't pursue the matter and turned to say:

"Hmm, then I'll make lunch. You rest well."

Whenever this happened, his desire to obtain extraordinary power became more urgent and firm.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 9 =====