Chapter 224: Mutual Exchange

After letting Luo De Er go back first.

Yu Lin and the masked person came to a tavern.

The tavern was still crowded at night; oil lamps burned on the rough wooden tables, and under the dim yellow light, Viking men laughed and talked loudly, the clinking of cups never ceasing.

The two found an empty seat by the window and sat down.

Yu Lin ordered two cups of mead, watching the person opposite drink it all in one go—the liquor miraculously passed through the mask and flowed directly into his mouth behind it.

"Are you Loki?" Yu Lin asked.

The masked person didn't shake his head; instead he smiled and said, "Loki? What is he supposed to be?"

"I am the thunder god Thor!"

Yu Lin: ".........."

"I don't believe it."

The self-proclaimed Thor countered, "Why don't you believe me?"

"Look." He pointed outside; as light flared outside, a boom rang out and a bolt of lightning tore through the night sky!

He lowered his hand, arms crossed, and even with the mask it was hard to hide his pride: "Besides me, who can wield thunder?! I am Thor! The thunder god Thor!"

Yu Lin, however, smiled faintly and also pointed outside.

Boom!

Another thunderclap exploded!

In the astonished gaze of the person opposite, he lowered his hand and said, "I can do that too, so am I?"

".........."

The person opposite fell silent; his expression behind the mask must have been priceless.

After a moment he spoke, his tone tinged with helplessness:

"All right, all right, I'm not Thor."

"Let's reintroduce ourselves." He extended his hand, a flickering flame dancing at his fingertip, and said, "But I'm not Loki either."

"I am the fire god Luoqi."

"Someone who is now unknown but will eventually replace Loki and become king of the gods!"

"What's your name?"

Yu Lin nodded, seeming to believe him, and replied:

"My name is Ares."

"Why do you always wear a mask? Are you ugly?"

".......... I'm actually a handsome man!" Luoqi gritted his teeth and took off the mask he was wearing.

Behind the mask was an extraordinarily handsome face, very much of Northern European style.

He gave Yu Lin a slightly provocative smile, then put the mask back on, his tone tinged with helplessness:

"You know, nowadays everyone thinks the fire god is Loki."

"A fire god like me can only be labeled an evil deity; I dare not show my face."

"Do you think I don't want to walk openly in the human world and gather followers?"

Yu Lin nodded: "So that's how it is."

"Then what's your plan?"

"Well.........." Luoqi didn't answer his question but instead countered:

"First tell me why you summoned me."

Yu Lin pointed at the sky and said, "I want to go to Asgard."

Hearing this, Luoqi shook his head: "I'm sorry."

"I can't do it either."

"The only way to reach Asgard is via the Rainbow Bridge; even the valkyries who guide fallen heroes come through the Rainbow Bridge."

"Of course," he changed the subject and added, "If you had Odin's power, or a mount like Sleipnir, you could travel the Nine Realms freely without needing the Rainbow Bridge."

"Do you have that?"

Yu Lin shook his head: "No."

"So I plan to later die in battle in war; do you have a way to fool the valkyries?"

"Well, I actually do." Luoqi pointed at the mask he was wearing and smiled:

"This mask can put you into a perfect death-like state!"

"But I don't just help anyone."

"I have one request—"

"You have to bring me along to Asgard too."

Yu Lin raised an eyebrow: "You're so big—how am I supposed to bring you?"

Luoqi gave a mysterious smile, stood up, and said, "Come with me."

The two left the tavern; at the moment they appeared under the moonlight, he vanished completely, leaving only his mask falling into Yu Lin's hand.

The mask quickly shrank, turning into a small pendant necklace, and then his voice sounded:

"I'm hiding inside the mask—wouldn't that work?"

"How's that as a condition?"

Yu Lin put the pendant around his neck, stepped forward, and said, "All right."

"I agree."

Luoqi followed him forward, suddenly feeling something odd: "Strange."

How did it end up like I'm begging you..........

I'll ignore it.

After more than a month.

Winter has passed, spring has arrived.

At the Royal City dock, a massive Viking fleet was ready to set sail.

Dozens of warships were neatly arranged, the carvings on their prows glinting with a cold light in the morning glow.

The sails bore various totems—ravens, wolf heads, thunder hammers—fluttering in the wind.

Harald stood on the flagship's deck, clad in a cloak and wearing a silver crown.

His gaze was like a torch, scanning the entire fleet.

"For glory!"

Harald's voice thundered, "For Aoding!"

"For Aoding!" thousands of warriors shouted in unison, the sound shaking the heavens.

Harald waved his hand: "Set sail!"

Whoo!

The attendant beside him blew the horn, its deep sound echoing across the bay.

The warships slowly left the dock, their oars leaving white trails on the sea.

The fleet surged forward like a dragon, sails full of spring wind, prows cutting through the azure water.

Harald stood at the bow, letting the sea wind toss his golden hair.

He gazed at the distant horizon, his eyes burning with the fire of conquest.

Of course.

There's another purpose.

"You damned bastard, dare mock my teeth—once I catch you, I'll pull out all your teeth!"

"Hmph."

Harald let out a cold snort, then turned and entered the ship cabin.

Meanwhile, on another ship behind him...

"It's been all morning—how come you haven't caught a single fish?"

"Can you do it or not?"

"If you can't, I'll go down and catch a few for you, put them on your hook."

"............"

Yu Lin watched the bait be eaten away, but the hook hung empty; he selectively ignored Luoqi's mockery, silently casting his line again into the sea.

"How strange—why can't I catch any fish this time?"

"It must be because Luoqi's presence is affecting his luck!"

"Exactly, that's right."

Yu Lin grabbed the necklace around his neck and pulled it off.

"Hey hey hey, what are you doing?"

"You've affected my luck, so I can't catch any fish."

".......... How could that be? Do you think I'm a god of misfortune?"

"Who knows."

".......... Alright, I'll just see if you can catch.........."

Before Luoqi could finish his angry words, he saw Yu Lin reel in the line and lift up a palm-sized small fish.

Although it's small, he caught it.

Yu Lin turned his head to Luoqi: "It's your fault."

"See?"