Light Fortress

"Is it over?"

As soon as Gu Shen entered the courtyard, he saw Song Ci staring at him.

He smiled and said, "It’s over."

"We agreed to kill together, why didn’t you call me?"

Song Ci said irritably, "I woke up and found you were gone."

"I never agreed to kill together with you."

Gu Shen said helplessly, "Are you idling around in Light City?"

"The Torch Trial is too dull, there’s no competition segment." Song Ci lay back with his hands behind his head, yawning, "It would be great if I could find someone to fight."

"If there really was a competition segment... who would fight you? Who could beat you?"

Gu Shen sighed, "The initial selection list is out, next is the test segment at the Heart-washing Pond. I’ve heard the Temple Grand Elder will personally oversee the upcoming ’Torch Trial’ starting today, so you better be careful."

"Careful of what?"

Song Ci grinned, "What could the temple group dare do to me?"

"For years, the temple has been recruiting [Undead]."

Gu Shen said seriously, "Even though you’ve already cultivated to Great Success, this is, after all, the area under the Light God Domain. Whatever methods they have are still unknown."

Song Ci gradually restrained his smile.

He actually knew the news of the temple recruiting the Undead long ago.

"You mean... they really might target me?"

"There’s a saying that’s fitting here: if they weren’t outmatched by you, they’d have acted long ago."

Gu Shen said sincerely, "In earlier years when you were in the East Continent, even if not in places like Changye Land of Divine Miracles, the Holy Judges they sent couldn’t forcibly take you away... they could only continuously entice you to cross west with the guidance of Dream of Light. But now it’s different; you’ve come to the West Continent in person, their territory. If they plan to do something to [Undead], now’s the perfect time."

"Interesting, interesting."

And yet, Song Ci’s eyes no longer held disdain.

He murmured, "I’ve always been curious about why the temple is so crazily searching for [Undead]... what do they ultimately seek..."

"Once you meet the Grand Elder, be very cautious, keep your wits about you."

Gu Shen cautioned, "It’s said he has followed the Divine Throne for many years, his power has reached its peak, even if you’ve practiced in the Battle God Domain, you mustn’t be careless."

"Rest assured."

Song Ci nodded solemnly, "If he dares to target me, I’ll demolish the temple!"

...

...

The Gu Family Envoy had just settled to rest for a short while.

A guest arrived alone at the door, none other than Yao Jin, who previously accompanied the Grand Elder in apology.

Lord Luo Yu used the excuse of the Young Master being busy, leaving him standing aside, Yao Jin neither rushed nor got angry, just waited at the mansion gate until dusk. The old sun set, the new sun rose, the distant street’s celebration parade never paused, he quietly sat in his wheelchair, seemingly like a speck of sand outside the house in the midst of this blissful ritual.

Lord Luo Yu opened the door a second time, seeing the man still there, briskly said, "Lord Yao, stop waiting, the Young Master doesn’t want to see you."

"I previously offended the envoy, the mistake is mine."

Yao Jin softly spoke, "Even though the Grand Elder already apologized, some mistakes... must be borne by oneself."

Lord Luo Yu remained unmoved, calmly asked, "Didn’t you understand the Young Master’s previous words?"

A slight pause.

"What qualification do you have to apologize to the Young Master?"

Lord Luo Yu, lacking patience, coldly said, "The Gu Family Envoy is busy with affairs, no time for you, Lord Yao, please see yourself out. If you truly enjoy waiting, find a remote alley to wait patiently, don’t obstruct the entrance!"

"Meng Xizhou."

Yao Jin lifted his head, uttering these three words.

Lord Luo Yu paused in his motion of closing the door, squinting as he looked at the frail youth before him.

"The Lady Divine who hasn’t been heard from in six years... Gu Nanfeng’s insistence on crossing west this time is for her, isn’t it?"

Yao Jin slowly said, "Wouldn’t you want to know the whereabouts of Lady Divine?"

Lord Luo Yu’s eyes were filled with biting coldness.

As Gu Nanfeng’s deputy, he was naturally aware of some of the inside story.

Meng Xizhou couldn’t possibly be serving the Throne at Red Lake!

Thinking it over... it could only be locked in a Secret Dungeon, and the steward of the Secret Dungeon was the person before him.

"What do you want to say?"

"Some things can’t be done with mere suspicion."

Yao Jin earnestly said, "Young Master Gu came to Light City, the next step is to find the whereabouts of Lady Divine. If you let me visit today, chat a bit... the Gu Family Envoy wouldn’t need to waste efforts, I would tell your Young Master where Lady Divine has been all these years and what she’s been doing."

"Bang!" Lord Luo Yu slammed the mansion door shut.

Yao Jin looked down, meditating, after saying these words, continued to wait patiently.

Before long, heavy footsteps sounded, the mansion door was opened again.

"Enter."

Lord Luo Yu expressionless, uttered just one word.

Yao Jin smiled slightly, pushing the wheelchair, following behind Lord Luo Yu, the mansion door shut behind, isolating the outside world’s commotion, the Gu Family Envoy’s Night Watchmen all had cold expressions, watching him...

Yao Jin was familiar with these gazes.

Many years ago, whenever he passed through Secret Dungeon corridors, people looked at him like this.

But later on...

Those gazes disappeared.

Those imprisoned in the Secret Dungeon cast fearful and timid glances.

Eventually, no one dared to look at him.

Where he passed, silence reigned.

"Young Master Gu, we meet again."

The residence arranged by the temple for the Gu Family Envoy was spacious. Light City and Snow Forbidden City shared a similar overall layout, with old alleys and courtyards. Even though Deep Sea advanced human world technology, these ancient historical buildings were preserved. Luo Yu led the way, and Yao Jin was able to meet Gu Nanfeng as he wished.

The courtyard hosted several banyan trees and a stone table.

Beside the table, there was only one stone stool, and only a pot of tea on the table.

Naturally, this prepared tea and stool were left for the Young Master.

Gu Nanfeng went straight to the point: "Where is Meng Xizhou?"

"Young Master Gu, no need to rush."

Yao Jin, pushing a wheelchair, comfortably seated himself opposite Gu Nanfeng, smiling as he said, "I’ve been disabled for years and travel by wheelchair daily. Thus, there’s no need to move a stool for me. I’ve been busy all day without having a drink; may I have some tea?"

"You sure have a thick face."

Luo Yu asked with displeasure, "Invite you into the residence, and you really consider yourself a guest?"

"Lord Luo Yu, those words aren’t quite appropriate."

Yao Jin calmly retorted, "After all, this is West Continent; have you forgotten? The Gu Family Envoy’s residence... was arranged by the temple."

Luo Yu’s expression soured.

He wasn’t skilled with words, but understood Yao Jin’s sarcasm.

Without mentioning it directly, Yao Jin returned the phrase "Invite you into the residence, and you really consider yourself a guest?" to him untouched.

"As a member of the temple, carrying out official duties without drinking is proper."

Gu Nanfeng said lightly, "Lord Yao, with such heavy responsibilities, sparing time to come to my residence must not be for private matters... I’m afraid there’s no time for tea."

He raised his hand slightly.

Luo Yu understood and removed the tea.

"..."

Yao Jin’s lips twitched slightly, yet he maintained a polite smile, "Young Master Gu’s care is much appreciated."

"When the Gu Family first entered West Continent, they prepared some modest gifts to be given to the lords."

Gu Nanfeng continued in the same tone, "It’s time to leave the residence, Lord Yao Jin, better hurry."

He showed no interest in what else Yao Jin had to say.

"I suppose among these ’modest gifts’, there must be one for Lady Divine?"

Yao Jin said warmly, "Young Master Gu, congratulations. You can save that gift... because Lady Divine is still in the Secret Dungeon."

Upon hearing this.

The temperature in the courtyard cooled considerably.

Yao Jin squinted his eyes; his spiritual power was exceptional. From the moment he saw Gu Nanfeng, he sensed the person before him was composed as if from countless strands of flowing wind... Now, the delicate leaves of the large banyan tree began to swirl, as countless cold winds suddenly flooded the previously silent courtyard.

These winds were not mild.

He noticed a wooden sword at Gu Nanfeng’s waist.

"For these six years, Lady Divine in the Secret Dungeon rarely eats, drinks, facing barren walls in meditation daily."

Yao Jin continued, "I’m the only one who can see her... Yet there’s something remarkable, confined in darkness for six years, Lady Divine still constantly thinks of you, asking about your situation every time she speaks. She is reluctant to speak of some things, but once the Gu Family is used as a bargaining chip, there’s room for negotiation."

Boom!

The cold wind between heaven and earth suddenly intensified!

Gu Nanfeng became the eye of the raging whirlwinds!

"Flap-flap-flap——"

Yao Jin’s sleeves flapped violently, instantly pressed down by countless storms, his sleeves tore, and several bloody marks appeared on his cheeks.

Yao Jin smelled the scent of his own blood.

Yet he still smiled.

The gale almost entirely drowned this courtyard with just the two of them.

The base of his alloy wheelchair pierced two blades, stabbing hard into the ground.

Yao Jin struggled a bit to hold onto the wheelchair, stabilizing himself, laughing as he spoke, "Lord Nanfeng, do you want to see Lady Divine?"

"Do you know, to kill you... only takes one stroke?"

Gu Nanfeng’s voice, amid the howling whirlwind, was exceptionally calm and cold.

"Yao Jin knows his life is as cheap as an ant."

The sickly man in the wheelchair chuckled, "Young Master Gu, if it displeases you, you can bring your sword to kill me. But one thing, Yao Jin must remind the Young Master... This is Light City."

The words ’Light City’, seemed to be an ironclad piece within the storm.

Yao Jin stared intently at the man before him.

He knew well, in this Divine Domain... Gu Nanfeng wouldn’t make the foolish mistake of killing him.

Who was he?

Merely a humble shadow.

But Gu Nanfeng, was the leader of the Five Families, the head of the Changye Gu Family, the future leader of East Continent!

This is why he dared come alone to the Gu Family Envoy.

Standing in the light, he no longer feared death in the shadows.

His life wasn’t worth much, but it was worth much.