Chapter 1385

"You are very interested in this?" Xiao En Asmon smiled.

"Of course. In fact, the reason I came here is related to this. I am planning a story about demons, contracts, and love, and the local rumors are very interesting. I also know some things; why don't we exchange information?"

Xia De proposed. He did not know if Mr. Asmon had learned anything he didn't know, but he had the intention to remind this gentleman that it was dangerous here and it was best not to investigate casually.

"Alright, let's exchange information."

The Demon Scholar lowered his head slightly, his eyes looking upward, staring at Xia De over the gas lamp:

"First of all, I investigated that a thousand years ago, a prosperous ancient kingdom known as the 'Stoneville Kingdom' existed in the Randall Valley. And this kingdom was destroyed because of the king's contract with a demon."

Although this information was secret, in reality, many folklorists could find it. That Mr. Asmon could say it meant he had indeed begun his investigation. Compared to Coldwater Port, Midhillburg, and Huntington City, this scholar was closer to his goal this time.

Xia De nodded:

"Rumor has it that an evil existence symbolized by a 'Petrified Rose' exists here. But no matter how terrifying that existence is, it ultimately fears the Orthodox Sects. Therefore, rumors about that demon only appear in the countryside and mountains of Randall Valley; city dwellers rarely hear demon stories and consider them superstitions from the mouths of country women."

Mr. Xiao En Asmon nodded slightly, recorded a few lines in his worn notebook, and continued:

"The fall of the ancient Stoneville Kingdom has various bizarre legends and stories. I heard a very interesting version locally: the king, in order to maintain the prosperity and stability of the kingdom, traded with a demon and obtained a Heart of Stone, but the price was that he lost all his emotions and the ability to love and be loved."

Mr. Asmon curled his lips and smiled:

"The king who did not understand love locked the whole country down, plunging the kingdom into an eternal winter from which it could never wake, hoping to avoid being 'collected' by the demon. But the demon posted a notice and issued a commission, finding a demon hunter passing through the area, and commissioned him to collect the debt. In the end, the demon hunter helped the demon complete the contract and obtained the king's soul, but he also used the commission contract with the demon to banish and seal the demon instead. It wasn't until nearly four hundred years ago, in the modern era, that the evil spirit returned due to the 1498 Randall Valley earthquake."

"A quite interesting story. Although the moral is not as good as the long story we have been talking about, this story is more like a knight's tale."

Xia De commented. He did not know if this version of the story from the Demon Scholar was true or false. However, he still provided the information he knew:

"In the wild era before the Common Era, a 'Saint' appeared in the local Sun Sect, namely 'Saint Pery'. The story of this nun still circulates in Randall Valley today. Saint Pery's tomb once became a force to check the demon locally. I heard that at the beginning of this year, the local sect's archaeology had a major discovery, confirming that Saint Pery's tomb indeed exists, right in the Tahiti area near the Innas Forest."

"Oh?"

Mr. Asmon showed an interested expression, and Xia De told him the approximate location of that church. He was not afraid that Mr. Asmon could really find it in the mountains; that tomb contained much information from the Fifth Era, and the rituals arranged by the sect on the periphery could prevent anyone from finding it.

And as a return for Xia De, Mr. Asmon also gave Xia De the specific location where the demon was rumored to be sealed. Compared to the vague location Xia De gave, the location given by Mr. Asmon was much more detailed.

The two expressed their views on the local demon rumors, and Xia De also advised Mr. Xiao En Asmon during the conversation that it was best not to leave the city casually recently:

"The situation in Randall Valley is turbulent recently, not just the plague. Have you heard about the Stonemason Society? There are cultists making trouble in the city recently, and coupled with the local demon legends that are truly chilling, perhaps it would be safe to visit those legends after the situation in the city stabilizes

."

Mr. Asmon curled his lips and looked at Xia De:

"Do you remember what I said when we first met? I have always avoided direct contact with and keeping any items related to demons. Although the demon rumors in Randall Valley are very interesting, a superficial understanding is enough for me. What you said is very reasonable; I plan to stay here until spring, and after the weather gets a little warmer, I will consider whether to continue investigating locally or go to a new city."

"That is a very good plan. Then I look forward to our next meeting. Oh, I am very much looking forward to the sequel to that demon story."

Xia De said, and began to collect his items on the table, including the sword hilt and the Rhode deck. It was getting late, and he planned to go back.

"Yes, I look forward to an unexpected encounter next time, my friend."

The Demon Scholar said, and seeing Xia De packing his things, he looked at the withered black rose again: "Can you give this to me?"

"Of course, this is just a withered flower."

Xia De nodded. Although this was brought by the demon, the flower was only to warn Xia De that it knew about every contact Xia De had with Osenfort. Xia De had also checked, and this flower had no abnormal abilities.

After packing his things, Xia De reached out and shook Mr. Xiao En Asmon's large but somewhat withered yellow hand, then walked through the laughing crowd toward the counter to pay the bill.

When he took back the change and stood by the lively counter, turning to look at Mr. Asmon, who was sitting alone in the corner wearing a yellow old robe with a bald head and only stubble, the latter raised his glass and waved it at Xia De.

Xia De nodded with a smile, then walked toward the tavern door on the side. He pushed open the door and entered the country night. The cold wind outside made his head suddenly clearer, and the closed door also shut the noisy sounds behind him.

With his hands in his pockets, he looked up at the clear night sky of the countryside and the stars filling the sky. From afar came the sound of a sharp-tongued woman yelling at her son, and the howling of dogs also carried far in this deep night.

"I always feel that compared to the stone mirror demon that turned into Stone Osenfort's likeness, Mr. Xiao En Asmon is even more... um... suspicious."

Xia De joked with a smile, stepping along the small village path toward the direction of the city, which was brightly lit and filled with tall buildings. 【Why do you say that?】

"She" asked gently.

"Just joking. After all, Mr. Asmon... no matter what, the demon matter will finally end on Friday."

As he walked, he looked up at the moon in the night sky. Tonight's three moons were all in the waning crescent phase. According to the knowledge Xia De obtained from 【Witch Echo · Luweiya】, such a night was suitable for casting spells of sleep, restoring physical and mental vitality, reducing nightmares, and strengthening the spirit. The "Charm Spell" recorded in the "Book of Pink", the "Moon Dream" that Xia De had not yet learned, and the secret method of maintaining the soul recorded in the "Undead Secret Arts" were all suitable for casting tonight.

"Without realizing it, I know more and more."

He kicked a small pebble at his feet, and the pebble bounced through the gaps in the crooked wooden fence into the yard of a house by the road. Then, the barking of a dog immediately rang out. The black hunting dog, tied with an iron chain, clawed at the low fence and barked at Xia De outside the fence, then, because it smelled the scent of a female dragon, tucked its tail and barked one last time, then made a "wooing" sound from its throat and retreated back into its kennel.

"The story here is about to end."

Xia De's eyes moved away from the direction of the cowardly dog and looked at Randall Valley City in the night, covered by clouds and mist.

(Little Mia is running...)

After sleeping comfortably at home, on Wednesday morning, Xia De was yawning and going downstairs to get goat milk. Just as he opened the door, he saw the local post office carriage parked at his door. And the freckled, red-haired young postman, under the direction of the old postman, was trying to move a box that looked very heavy from the carriage to Xia De's door.

"This is..."

Xia De, wearing

pajamas and slippers, asked hesitantly, while Mia shrank behind Xia De's feet, peeking out curiously but also somewhat afraid of strangers.

"Mr. Xia De Suren Hamilton?"

The elderly postman confirmed with the shipping list. After Xia De nodded, he handed the shipping list to him for him to sign and accept:

"Miss Mia Sang Gao De sent you a letter and a package from a town in the east of the kingdom. Please check it; if there is no problem, please sign here."

"Oh, I remember now." Xia De suddenly realized:

"Last month, she said in a letter that she was tidying up the old house and wanted to send me some interesting things as souvenirs to thank me for taking care of Mia. I didn't expect them to really come. Oh, yes, sign here, right?"

Xia De signed his name with a fountain pen. Seeing the young postman struggling to hold the square wooden box and wanting to put it down, he took the box over himself. As for the letter, it had already been put into his pocket:

"Thank you both, it's really hard work early in the morning, I wish you a pleasant day."

He thanked the postmen politely before turning back into the house and hooking the door with his foot to close it. "What a polite gentleman."

The elderly postman sighed outside the door, while the young man looked hesitantly at the door and then at his own hands: "He actually held that box so easily? It seems I really should exercise properly."