Chapter 391: I think you need a punch

No way, even the nobles in the heart of the kingdom have started collaborating with the evil god?

Tenisi instantly felt her head buzzing, and like an ordinary old lady, she sat on a rock and rested for a while before regaining her strength.

She walked slowly to the cave entrance, and after confirming no one was around, she cleared her throat, preparing to vent her frustration in an adult way through oral exercises.

Then she took a breath, speaking clearly and with a full tone.

"Damn!"

……

…………

Damn it, I haven't used swear words in so long my vocabulary has atrophied; I can't think of the next line after all this time.

She sat down again, racking her brains for a while, but aside from a bunch of basic insults about other people's mothers, she just couldn't recall any more distant relatives or logical connections.

"Ah... I'm getting old and useless, I can't even think of words to insult people..."

Helpless, she hung her head and returned to the main road, seeing the convoy waiting in place, as well as Ailinuo's doubtful gaze.

Turn around, prepare, turn back, revive.

"It's nothing, I just found a destroyed evil god altar on the way, and that's all I found inside."

For outsiders, trying to memorize all these noble crests—there are at least two or three hundred—and linking them to the families behind them is practically an impossible challenge.

But for nobles, this is just basic training.

After all...

You wouldn't want to, because you were lazy yesterday and missed memorizing one family's relations, end up offending the duke's favored eldest son by mistaking him for the baron's illegitimate son whom the lady dislikes, would you?

So Ailinuo instantly recognized this as the crest of the Deep Moon family, and their territory is nearby, a very tiny barony.

Master and disciple sat facing each other, silent for a moment, then Ailinuo suddenly lifted her head.

She recalled the experience of searching for the Shadow God altar with Ji Ming and successfully solving the case, grasped an inspiration in her confusion, and raised her hand.

"Teacher! I, I, I..."

These days, Tenisi has already been a bit nervy from the grim reality, and she was frightened enough to almost pull out her lance scepter again.

After being tense for a moment, she pressed down her hand.

"Don't rush, child, you can speak slowly, say it when you've figured it out."

"Okay! I... I... I seem to have forgotten what I was going to say."

Tenisi: ……

Like this, when we return to the Royal Capital, we two master and disciple will pool some money, build a tower on your parents' grave, then jump off together to verify whether objects of different mass fall at the same time from the same height—also counting as a contribution to society.

"Uh, I remember now! I wanted to say... we can't judge someone's involvement based on just one piece of evidence—what if someone deliberately planted false evidence? We can't wrong an innocent person."

"Huh?"

Tenisi followed that line of thought and realized, sigh, indeed, her mind was a bit muddled—how could she suspect someone over such a trivial matter?

This matter is big, possibly even bigger than imagined, so Tenisi didn't waste more time, leading the convoy onto the other road at the fork.

"Don't make noise, I'm busy... What?!"

Upon hearing that the two great gods had arrived, Baron Deep Moon was so frightened he hitched up his pants and ran out.

If it weren't for the coachman's daughter, who was quick-eyed and quick-handed, helping him fasten his belt, he probably would have been beaten to death by his own neighbors today for "making a fool of himself in front of the royal lady."

But just as he was extremely excited, pondering how to cling to these two mighty thighs to revive the glory his ancestors might or might not have had, he saw a piece of torn cloth.

"!!!"

He naturally recognized what that half-embroidered thing on the torn cloth was, and in a flash his expression turned doubtful.

"Your Eminence, Lady Archbishop, where did you find this? I'm ashamed to say, recently a thief has appeared in my castle..."

Actually he didn't know what she meant, but seeing her posture he knew it wasn't good, so he first produced his Holy Severers' Justice Cutting Permit, just to be safe.

Unfortunately, Tenisi saw through the tricks of these little nobles, so she merely nodded in acknowledgement.

"I found this in a cave; do you have any leads on it?"

"Uh, maybe it was stolen by thieves... Ah, could someone have stolen your stuff? Who? Tell me right away! I promise to fully cooperate in catching that bastard."

Watching the Baron Deep Moon, who thought himself clever enough to solve the case on the spot, Tenisi's expression gradually sank.

But this time she had wronged Deep Moon... Of course, this thing is certainly no good person either; in terms of bullying men and domineering women, extorting and looting, it's no worse than his peers.

Rather, anyone qualified to cooperate with the Dense Forest Church couldn't be such a waste of a snack whose rank is about to be stripped and who could be kicked out of even the lowest noble circles.

So these evil god believers existing in Deep Moon territory are actually a bunch lured by the Dense Forest Church, thinking they've climbed high, but actually they're just expendable bait.

However, due to the petty nobles' nasty nature, no matter how the innocent Baron Deep Moon explained, Tenisi felt this skinny beanpole with a hollow appearance was deceiving people.

——Damn it, you dare to deceive me, I'm going to shove your head into your knight's......

No way, Ji Ming feared Tenisi couldn't hold back her killing urge and would lash out, so he released a hint of Shadow God's aura to lure them to the edge of this small town.

Just as they arrived, they were sweeping the house and making beds, completely unaware of the situation—some unknown evil god believers:???

"Stop looking, come over and die."

Tenisi, finally released after holding in a bellyful of anger, felt especially strong even swinging her lance as a club to smash people.

"Speak, how many of you are left?"

Looking at the fragments of friends flying everywhere, even without having their brains scrambled or receiving system training, even the most steadfast believers would collapse.

Thus he trembled with his lips, racking his exhausted brain for words.

"None, none, really none! Ah, actually we are..."

But upon saying that, the sole survivor suddenly widened his eyes, let out a sharp cry from his throat, went limp, and stopped moving.

"Huh?"

Like shaking a ragdoll, the tall Tenisi grabbed his collar and shook it up and down, left and right.

"Dead?"

She used her succubus talent to sense the other's physical condition, discovering his meridians were completely shattered, as if he had been frightened to death by her.

……tsk.

Although scaring someone to death in such a situation is actually normal, with Ji Ming, and Ji Ming who knows Suggestion Technique involved, it couldn't be normal.

So this poor bastard died simply because information about the Deep Forest Church surfaced in his mind, and he was about to speak it.

But Tenisi couldn't think of that layer; he only knew the clue had just broken off, and they didn't have time to keep dwelling on such a side matter.

What? You're leaving!

Seeing as many as seven evil god cultists appear in his small town, the Deep Moon Marquis was truly frightened stupid, standing dazed at the gate of his little courtyard like a starved hamster.

Don't worry, the local church and the professionals sent from the diocesan headquarters will cooperate with you to clean them up.

After simply comforting that coward, the Northward Squad resumed their journey.

However, just as they left the Marquis's reluctant gaze, the carriage stopped at the forest's bend.

Sir, we've already strayed far from the planned route; where should we go next?

At that moment, Tenisi was gazing at the scenery outside the window, sighing quietly.

Ah, these days, each generation is worse than the last…

But the old lady, emo aside, having weathered hundreds of years of wind and rain, how could she be toppled by this trifle?

After hearing the knight's question, she opened the map, looked, and chose the option nearest to returning to the original route.

Let's go east, pass through these few noble territories, and we'll get back on the proper path.

Understood!

Tenisi, his mind in turmoil, didn't think much and naturally chose what he believed was the correct decision.

But actually, this time she really ought to have thought it over carefully.

Because the place where the bait is located isn't necessarily a trap; the trap could also be where the prey, thinking they've survived the ordeal and slain the dragon, finds themselves on the homeward stretch before the ending credits.

Although the earlier joke said the marquis's territory was small, in fact the noble domains along this route aren't large compared to those in the south.

After all, this is the kingdom's heartland; if everyone held vast territories, where would the king find land to enfeoff new nobles?

Unlike the useless Deep Moon Marquis, there is a noble domain along this route that, though its land is not large, carries considerable weight because its lord is a marquis surnamed Fuguang.

Light

Elsewhere it might just be a common noun, but in the Hui Guang Kingdom, anyone whose surname contains the character 'light' either had founding-meritorious ancestors or were pillars of the state.

Only thus could one, owing to illustrious military achievements, rise to prominence and, upon being ennobled by the royal family, be granted a surname sharing the kingdom's glory.

But there are exceptions—for example, some nobles already possess far older surnames—Changge—or their fief's name is too important to change—Jueqiao.

Moreover, interestingly, the birth of the Fuguang family actually stems from that nauseating war a hundred years ago.

Although the kingdom's nobles are fighting with excuses, if the First Sun King were reborn, he would surely push them all onto the guillotine, chopping them down like scallions.

But just as every tragedy in history unfolds, there is no shortage of brave and loyal soldiers and knights, or fighting heroes among the lower-ranking officers.

After our side suffered a crushing defeat and returned, having spent astronomical sums to finally ransom all the noble commanders, presumably to save a bit of face and additionally harvest another batch of taxes, that generation's Sun King actually held a grand feast for the officials, wanting to turn a funeral into a celebration.

But no matter how celebratory, you can't drag corpses to claim military medals, so he turned his gaze to the sole glimmer of light in that war.

Even though most of those heroes became prisoners or simply remained forever on the battlefield, yet one tough guy, relying on heaven-defying luck and perseverance, managed to return to Hui Guang.

Under the king's manipulation, he alone enjoyed this tremendous merit, unexpectedly becoming the so‑called Fuguang Marquis, letting his family bask in glory.

No one knows what the young marquis was thinking; all we know is that the old Fuguang lord never left his territory his whole life, and in his later years he fell silent and died in depression.

Therefore he could never have imagined that, merely decades later, his descendants, in order to continue enjoying this wealth and honor, would actually choose to ally with the Shen Lin Wang Guo.

Moreover, it's hard to learn goodness but easy to learn wickedness; other martial noble houses can at least maintain their martial virtue for a century or two, whereas this clan has barely lasted to the grandchildren before becoming……

Bombastic speech, luxurious attire, fond of pleasure, needing two young pretty maids to support him wherever he goes, mouth full of pompous 'dad' logic, yet actually having no ability at all—what a useless old beast?

Standing in the crowd, looking at this small moustached man who always wears a smug grin, yet so bold as to dare give a poisonous snake two extra glances.

Please help me ask the world's laws: is this thing an actor it arranged? This is about to max out the stereotype of the powerful‑yet‑incompetent‑dim‑witted noble.

【Really not, it's a coincidence!】

Indeed, as the hidden hand behind all this, that pair of invisible big hands is finally about to take the stage—how could Ji Ming not be present?

But following the Northward Squad is definitely out of the question; he can only temporarily blend into the Deep Forest Church's ranks as a background figure.

And on the stage's center, the Fuguang Marquis, after making his appearance, has already begun speaking his lines.

Esteemed papal envoy, I guarantee I will cooperate fully with your efforts!

Though he mouths 'sincere words', this idiot subconsciously regards the poisonous snake as those noble ladies trying to curry favor with him.

While habitually trying to take advantage, he suddenly notices a figure appearing at his side.

Don't just talk—it's useless; our church only cares what you will do!

Huh? You…

The marquis, whose good time was interrupted and was about to get angry, saw that the person's chest also bore a floral badge.

The……second flower?

Having come to his senses, he quickly changed his expression, putting on a show of respect.

May I ask, sir, who are you?

Who else could it be? Naturally, it's Bailixiang, who came over under the banner of supervision.

His IQ and acting are above the poisonous snake's, so Ji Ming can safely reveal more information; thus he now knows the snake is one of his own, while the snake still thinks he's a stumbling block.

Therefore, as soon as the poisonous snake sees him, it panics, its green pupils constricting sharply, truly seeming sinister like a venomous snake.

You? Hmm, get in your place! I'm the leader of this mission; I don't need you pointing fingers.

Bailixiang merely raised his chin, relying on his height advantage to glare contemptuously.

Sorry, as the supervisor, my job is to point fingers; I need to confirm whether you are truly carrying out the papal mandate resolutely, rather than delaying for personal gain.