Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
At six in the morning, the two rested by the mountain spring. Beiyue was feeling somewhat exhausted, and as they took a break, Cui Ming took out a small pot to prepare some hot food. Up until now, they had exchanged only two sentences: one from Cui Ming saying, "Let's rest for a while," and the other from Beiyue responding with a simple "Mm." This situation had occurred multiple times; each time Cui Ming tried to take a step closer, Beiyue would shy away. This time, Cui Ming chose not to advance further. He respected Beiyue and had a new goal in mind: to win over the witch.
After sipping some hot soup, they continued their journey. Beiyue slowed down the pace while Cui Ming pressed on ahead. Along the way, he chatted about this and that, quickly steering the conversation to lighter topics, which helped ease the awkwardness between them. Occasionally, Cui Ming would lose focus, recalling the close and prolonged contact from the previous night...
At three in the afternoon, they took their second break. Cui Ming pulled out a map and said, "At this speed, we should reach the small town near Thunder Sound City by ten o'clock tomorrow night. Raefus's people are already here preparing personnel and vehicles. We can arrive at Thunder Sound City by the morning after tomorrow. Let's rest first and then find Little Lu; we need to secure some help. Based on our calculations, I don't think the witch will arrive at Thunder Sound City that quickly. It will probably take her a few more days."
Beiyue questioned, "Then why are we rushing?"
Cui Ming replied, "Wandering only knows part of Little Lu's character and personality; we know nothing about him. Since Little Lu is our biggest ally in this capture plan and our greatest bargaining chip, we must secure him first. Before that, I want to gather some information about him from the sidelines. Additionally, we can't be sure whether the witch will be rushing here as well, so it's better to be cautious."
Beiyue said, "Once bitten by a snake, ten years afraid of ropes. Are you being too careful by pushing yourself like this?"
Cui Ming nodded. "Yes, but this matter is very important; I'd rather be a bit more cautious."
"Is it because the witch has defeated you before?"
"No, it's because this matter is important to you." Cui Ming spoke honestly; he had no interest in seeking revenge.
A warm feeling rose within Beiyue, softening her previously harsh tone. "What if the witch doesn't appear in Thunder Sound City as planned?"
"That's a possibility we've considered before; however, it's quite unlikely. We've destroyed all of the witch's shoes, and she clearly values them highly. The Western Continent's Southwest region primarily has simple footwear like straw sandals or cloth shoes. The likelihood of her coming to Thunder Sound City is extremely high. Even if there's a slim chance she doesn't show up, I'll keep an eye on her regardless. I usually lack direction in life, but now that I've set a goal, I must catch her."
During their time together, Beiyue came to understand Cui Ming better. He appeared delicate but was actually strong-willed beneath his fragile exterior; perhaps his physical strength was lacking, but his mental fortitude was incredibly robust. He knew exactly what he wanted and was resolute about it. After spending five years in prison, such determination was beyond what most could imagine. One could discern Cui Ming's interest in something through his speech; when he was engaged in a topic—researching it or planning various possibilities—his eyes would light up with enthusiasm as he detailed every aspect clearly. Conversely, when he wasn't interested, he would speak vaguely and avoid details.
Regardless of everything else, both enjoyed their journey together and appreciated this feeling while maintaining a certain distance from one another. During their break time, Beiyue meditated and felt concerned about her Severe Blade; fortunately, its condition was better than she had anticipated—the power it provided had neither strengthened nor weakened.
Cui Ming actually wanted to tell Beiyue that fighting now relied on brains and allies rather than sheer strength. Achieving Zhir's level of power seemed meaningless without it. Of course, he thought about how important strength still was—at least for survival or ensuring one could escape unscathed during a retreat—all tied closely to one's abilities. This line of thinking reflected his tendency to shoot arrows in the dark; proactively seeking others didn't require immense strength, but if someone came after him instead, having power became crucial...
On the fourth day, at two in the morning, Cui Ming and Beiyue finally arrived at a small town outside Thunder Sound City. They met with their contact, a woman in her thirties. Despite her hefty build, she appeared quite capable, her sharp eyes betraying a keen intelligence. After confirming her identity with a photo sent by Raefus, she got straight to business and led them to a small pickup truck heading toward Thunder Sound City. The front of the truck had two seats, while the back featured a small sleeping area where Cui Ming reclined.
"We haven't spotted the target yet," she said.
"Not spotting her is normal; it should take another couple of days for her to arrive," Cui Ming replied. "Have you made any inquiries?"
"Just call me Name."
"Your name is Name?"
"That's my title. We change our names with every job." Name pulled out a cigarette, but both Cui Ming and Beiyue politely declined. She lit her cigarette and continued, "We've already contacted and bribed some police officers. They will check the guest lists of all hotels and inns in Thunder Sound City every day, focusing on single women or couples who book separate rooms. They don't know who they're looking for, but these five officers have worked with us before and can be trusted."
Cui Ming asked, "Name, is there a small church at a high position nearby?"
"You mean Steep Mountain?"
"Yes, that should be it." Who knows? Information travels through phones.
"Steep Mountain is located on the outskirts of Thunder Sound Temple, over nine hundred meters high and very steep. Some paths have angles of only 110 degrees. There is a church on the mountain, but it's not the current Cult of the Gods church; it's an older one," Name explained. "The Cult of the Gods has changed due to the needs of its rulers. There are only a few Original God Sect churches left worldwide." This was the result of religious reform; with the emergence of capitalism, the concept of the Cult of the Gods could no longer align with mainstream society and had to adapt. However, some people—mostly truly devout believers—did not abandon their faith. The new Cult of the Gods, while adapting to society, lacked any real authority. How many believers truly refrained from violating the Seven Deadly Sins?
Cui Ming felt uneasy; he didn't like dealing with extreme religious figures. Name added, "Although Steep Mountain's church is an older one, it isn't exactly like those from earlier times. Its architectural style resembles that of a church, but it belongs to private ownership. If I remember correctly, it belongs to someone with the surname Lu. Before the religious reforms, a priest opposed these changes and lived alone in Steep Mountain's church. Later on, he took in several orphans, and eventually one orphan from the Lu family inherited the church, which remains in their possession to this day."
"Are the Lu family believers?" Cui Ming inquired.
"I'm not sure; I only know that they are very charitable. Over hundreds of years, several outstanding business talents have emerged from the Lu family. At one point, a member even became the lord of Thunder Sound City. However, I've never heard that they practice any religion."
To address this issue, the name contacted someone using a mobile phone to understand the situation of the Lu Family. The Lu Family is currently not thriving; it is known that one branch is a prominent merchant in the Dawn Empire, but they have been doing business in Dawn City for over twenty years and have not returned to Thunder Sound City. After making the call, the name confidently informed Cui Ming that the Lu Family opposes the Cult of the Gods because their ancestors instructed them not to believe in the reformed version of the Cult. However, they did not require their descendants to adhere to the old Cult, which has been phased out due to religious reforms. After several generations, it has lost its influence and cannot be passed down.
"I haven't arranged for a hotel. There's a small inn near the bus station run by our people. The environment is not great, but it's safe, and if there’s any news, they can relay it to you immediately," the name glanced at Beiyue. "Is that acceptable?"
Beiyue replied, "That's fine; we are not picky about where we stay."
"It’s clear you two are not a couple. We can arrange two rooms, but I suggest one room instead. It’s best if you don’t go out because the person you’re looking for knows you. Although it’s unlikely, if she finds you first, it could be troublesome."
Cui Ming said, "I need to make a trip to Steep Mountain."
"That’s no problem; I’ll arrange it," the name responded. "There are two identification documents in the drawer; they are secret military investigator credentials from the Elder Council of the Dawn Empire. Carry them with you. Recently, there have been many issues in the Dawn Empire; not only at inns but even on the streets, you might be checked for identification. These documents are well-made; you won’t need to answer questions—just let them call the number on the documents."
The name was thorough in arrangements, considering various possibilities since they were dealing with individuals who risked their lives for illicit gains—bold yet meticulous. During their conversation, it was revealed that like Eva, the name was also from Bit Island and had been taken away by Raefus at eleven years old, subsequently living in the Dawn Empire under legal status.
...
In the morning, they arrived at a small inn next to the bus station. The inn had a garage where their vehicle was parked, and after getting out of the car, they took stairs directly to the kitchen on the first floor. The name separated from Cui Ming and Beiyue while an attendant escorted them to a street-facing room on the second floor. Food was quickly delivered without any unnecessary chatter apart from discussing geographical details. When delivering food, he informed Cui Ming that arrangements for a car and driver were ready at any time to go to Steep Mountain and asked what weapons Cui Ming needed.
Clearly, they were unaware that Cui Ming and Beiyue were practitioners; Cui Ming stated that no weapons were needed. The attendant said nothing further and left after taking a shower and resting for a while. Beiyue and Cui Ming then went downstairs from the kitchen to the garage where the driver had been waiting in the car. After they got in, he drove away.
Once on the road, the driver handed Cui Ming some documents. Opening them revealed information about the Lu Family. The documents stated that only one male named Lu Xia lived in a church on Steep Mountain; he was in his early thirties and had lost his wife at twenty-seven. His wife was an Arctic researcher from the Dawn Empire who perished during an unknown attack while on an expedition in the Arctic along with all other researchers. Since becoming a widower, Little Lu had lived alone in the church; prior to that, he was a criminal police officer in Thunder Sound City with numerous solved cases and considerable reputation in his field. (To be continued.)
Comment 0 Comment Count