By the time the carriage came to a halt in front of the Duke's estate, the sky had turned completely dark.
Li Yuan pushed open the door and stepped out first. He turned to head inside, only to find that Setis was still sitting in the carriage, unmoving. She braced her hands on either side of the seat, her head lowered, her long golden hair cascading down to veil most of her face.
“Miss Setis?”
“You go in first,” she said, her voice muffled. “I—I’ll be right there.”
Li Yuan glanced at her, nodded, and turned toward the foyer.
Only after he had entered the front door did Setis emerge from the carriage. She stood at the entrance for a few seconds, rubbing her face vigorously and taking two deep breaths before finally stepping inside. Just as she entered the living room, she ran into Mila coming down the stairs—Mila had come by this afternoon to deliver some materials from the academy and had stayed for some snacks.
“Setis, why is your face so red?” Mila tilted her head, holding a half-finished glass of juice.
“It’s the heat,” Setis replied, walking past her without looking back.
“Heat? It’s actually quite cool outside—”
“I said it’s hot, so it’s hot.”
Mila wisely shut her mouth and stepped aside with her juice. Setis hurried up to the second floor, paused for a moment in the corridor to glance at the guest room door, and then quickly ducked into her own room.
Back in the guest room, Li Yuan walked to the window and pulled the curtain back slightly, watching the magic lamps in the back garden sway gently in the night breeze.
The habitual gentleness gradually faded from his face, replaced by a touch of solemnity in his gaze.
What he had told Hogg in the cell earlier wasn't entirely a lie—that mark could indeed shield Divine Sense, and he truly couldn't see the specific form of the source... however, he hadn't told the full story either.
It was true that his Divine Sense couldn't lock onto the exact location, but he could perceive the general direction and even the region.
As for what that thing actually was, he had a suspicion in his heart, but the idea was so bizarre that mentioning it would only cause unnecessary distress.
On the Kyushu Continent, such beings were known as evil cultivators. Some specialized in feeding on the life force and souls of others, using insidious methods. Back when he had just stepped into the Tribulation Transcendence stage, he had fought an evil cultivator at the Integration stage. Although his cultivation was significantly higher, he had been young and inexperienced at the time, suffering quite a bit at that person's hands.
That battle had lasted for days. Though he eventually won, he had paid a significant price... since then, he had been exceptionally sensitive to that kind of aura.
The mark on Ignatius gave him the exact same feeling as that evil cultivator from years ago.
Yet, there were subtle differences—as if the same thing had been draped in a different skin, or perhaps some changes had been made upon that foundation, to the point where he couldn't be one hundred percent certain yet.
If it truly was that kind of thing, then Ignatius's fate would be far worse than simple death.
Death is merely the end of life, but the methods of an evil cultivator went far beyond that. He had seen the final end of those whose life force and souls were drained—they became walking husks, devoid of consciousness, feeling, or self, obeying only the commands of their controller until their bodies were completely destroyed.
If left unchecked, and if it truly was an evil cultivator... this entire world might eventually be doomed.
The methods of evil cultivators were far too treacherous, and the power system of this world was completely different from his own. Since the opponent had taken root here, they might have already adapted to the rules of this world.
An evil cultivator fully integrated into this world was not good news...
A knock sounded at the door.
“Mr. Li, dinner is ready,” Reinhardt’s voice called out.
Li Yuan stood up, straightened his collar, and pushed the door open. Reinhardt stood in the corridor, his arm mostly recovered and his complexion looking much better than before. He nodded to Li Yuan, and the two descended the stairs together.
In the dining room, the Duke and his wife were already seated. The Duchess wore a dark green lounge dress tonight with her hair pinned up, appearing to be in a good mood. The Duke sat opposite her, holding a glass of red wine, his expression much more relaxed than the previous night.
Setis sat beside her mother, her utensils laid out neatly in front of her, staring down as she traced circles on the tablecloth with her finger.
“Mr. Li is here. Please, sit,” the Duchess greeted, gesturing toward the empty seat opposite her.
Once Li Yuan and Reinhardt were seated, the servants began serving the meal. Tonight’s main course was roasted veal, accompanied by seasonal vegetables, mashed potatoes, and a bowl of steaming cream of mushroom soup.
The Duke set down his wine glass, picked up his knife and fork to cut a piece of beef, and spoke. “Mr. Li, no one at the Legal Department made things difficult for you today, I hope?”
“No,” Li Yuan replied. “They just asked some questions. Once everything was explained, I was released.”
“That’s good.” The Duke nodded, his tone carrying a hint of dismissiveness. “Those people at the Legal Department have always been rigid in their ways; they do go overboard sometimes.”
The Duchess took up the conversation. “I heard there were over a hundred names on that list? How could the Royal Preceptor have signed your name to it?”
“The list was issued in bulk. The Royal Preceptor likely didn't have time to verify every entry,” Li Yuan explained. “The Legal Department was just following procedure; they aren't to blame.”
The Duchess shook her head and placed a piece of veal on his plate. “Regardless, it was our fault for letting you suffer such an unjust ordeal. If any of us had been home at the time, we wouldn't have let them take you away like that.”
“You are too kind, Madam. This matter had nothing to do with the estate.”
“Even so—”
“Alright, alright.” The Duke interrupted his wife, raising his glass toward Li Yuan. “As long as Mr. Li stays in this estate, he is a guest of the Sebas family. If the Legal Department gives you any more trouble in the future, just have someone inform me immediately.”
Li Yuan raised his glass in return but said nothing more.
Setis remained silent throughout the meal. Her head was lowered as she poked at her plate with her fork, flipping the piece of veal over and over without ever taking a bite.
The Duchess glanced at her daughter, then at Li Yuan, a tiny smile curling the corner of her mouth.
The atmosphere of the dinner could be described as relaxed. The Duke and Li Yuan engaged in casual conversation, appearing like two friends from different generations.
Reinhardt occasionally chimed in, and the Duchess made sure everyone’s soup and plates were filled. The meal wasn't boisterous, but it wasn't cold either.
After dinner, Li Yuan did not return directly to his room. He went to the backyard and stood by the gazebo, looking up at the night sky. An indescribable feeling lingered in his heart—he was hesitating over whether he should truly intervene in the affairs of this world.
Since his first day here, Li Yuan’s self-positioning had been clear—he was an outsider. He could be a spectator, or even step onto the stage if necessary, but the things he had personally done were mostly tied to his own interests and didn't count as true involvement.
But this time... the opponent clearly didn't want to provoke him. They had even lowered their posture appropriately—only symbolically blocking his Divine Sense without any follow-up actions. The fact that they could have done more but chose not to was a silent gesture of goodwill.
So... should he just leave it be this time? As long as they didn't go too far and affect him, should he remain a spectator? But if he were to watch them turn the entire world into a living hell... from the perspective of a traditional cultivator, it was somewhat hard to stomach.
Although the Kyushu Continent did not strictly mandate the slaying of evil cultivators, the Unified Law did state that “eliminating demons and defending the Dao is the duty of all cultivators.”
The problem was, the same Unified Law also explicitly stated: “When one's own interests are not substantially threatened or damaged, one must not recklessly interfere in the affairs of other worlds.”
“Sigh... it’s difficult...”
Unable to reach a decision after much thought, Li Yuan couldn't help but sigh. Then, a very light set of footsteps came from behind him.
The footsteps were soft and filled with hesitation—stopping and starting.
Li Yuan didn't turn around. The footsteps stopped two paces away, followed by a period of silence. The night breeze blew past, carrying a faint scent.
“Miss Setis, why have you come out?”
“It was stuffy inside.” Setis’s voice was small and sounded somewhat forced.
She walked up beside Li Yuan, her gaze falling on the surface of the pond. The light from the gazebo fell on her profile, perfectly revealing the crimson blush spreading from her neck to her ear.
The two stood there for a while before Setis suddenly called his name.
“Li Yuan.”
“Yes?”
“When you were taken away yesterday afternoon...” She paused, as if weighing her words. “I thought you wouldn't come back.”
Li Yuan tilted his head to look at her, but Setis kept her eyes fixed on the water, though her hands were unconsciously clenched into half-fists.
“The Legal Department was just doing routine questioning. Once everything was clear, I was released,” Li Yuan said in a gentle tone. “I wouldn't be held for such a baseless charge—”
“It wasn't because of that,” Setis interrupted.
Li Yuan was taken aback, looking at the young girl in confusion.
Setis took a deep breath and turned to face him. Her golden-brown eyes were shimmering with a sense of unease.
“I was afraid you would just disappear without a word.”
Li Yuan opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
“Ever since the day you came to this house, I’ve been thinking... if I hadn't been the one to take the initiative back then, would you have just disappeared completely?” Her voice began to tremble. “If I didn't go looking for you, were you planning to just stay out there alone? And even now, once the tea shop is rebuilt, are you planning to move out immediately?”
Li Yuan remained silent. That was exactly what he had been thinking... and he hadn't felt there was anything wrong with it.
For so many years, he truly didn't have the habit of reporting his whereabouts to anyone. He was used to coming and going as he pleased, and it was the same here. During his centuries on the Kyushu Continent, he had never thought about telling anyone where he was going or what he was doing because he felt it was unnecessary—even with his own disciples.
But now, seeing her like this, it was as if the habit itself was wrong.
“Miss Setis, even if I were to leave, I would tell you first.” His tone became a few degrees softer than usual. “At the very least, I would leave a message for you. I wouldn't just leave without a word.”
Setis looked at him, her lips trembling, her eyes beginning to redden again. She blinked hard, forcing back the thin layer of moisture, and then turned her head back toward the pond.
“Then can’t you just... not leave?” her voice was muffled.
Li Yuan could not give an answer; perhaps there was no answer to that question.
Seeing him remain silent, the expression on Setis’s face shifted from unease to irritation, and then from irritation to an urgency regarding the unknown.
“All good things must come to an end.”
“Who told you that?” Setis’s voice suddenly spiked. “Even if it has to end, I’m the one who gets to decide!”
Li Yuan was stunned for a moment, then he broke into a smile.
“What are you laughing at?” Setis frowned, her anger rising. “I’m telling you, if you really leave, I definitely won't go looking for you.”
“Alright.”
“What do you mean, ‘alright’!” She stomped her foot, the sound sharp against the stone path. “You—how can you be so—”
She couldn't finish her sentence. She turned her back to Li Yuan, crossing her arms, but her shoulders were trembling slightly.
Li Yuan looked at her back and sighed softly, turning his gaze back to the night sky.
The two of them stood there, as if frozen in time.
After an unknown amount of time, the Duchess’s voice came from the garden path: “Setis? Are you over there?”
Setis gave a sharp sniff, quickly wiped her eyes with her sleeve, and by the time she turned around, most of her usual expression had returned. She called out toward the gazebo in response, then looked back at Li Yuan.
“I’m going back now.”
“Alright.”
She took two steps, then stopped and said with her back to him: “You said it... you wouldn't leave without a word.”
“Yes, I did say that.”
Li Yuan nodded in confirmation. Setis didn't look back again, disappearing at a run around the corner of the path. Li Yuan looked up at the sky once more.
In all the time he had been here, he hadn't spent much time looking at the sky like this... perhaps he had gone too long without noticing the scenery around him.
Now, even a brief pause allowed him to discover beauty enough to make him linger. At that thought, he couldn't help but let out another long sigh. He shook his head and muttered to himself.
“Fine, fine. I’ve lived here for a few years, after all. I’ll consider this paying the rent.”
This time, he would handle this matter according to his own will.
Having made his decision, Li Yuan returned to his bedroom and took a transmission talisman he had once crafted from his storage space. He modified it slightly; there were some preparations to be made before he set out.
...
One o'clock in the morning, Magic Tower.
Li Yuan found Hogg buried in paperwork.
“Sir?” Seeing Li Yuan suddenly appear, Hogg hurried forward. “Coming here so late—is there something?”
“I have a matter to discuss.”
“Please, go ahead.”
Li Yuan looked at Hogg in silence for a moment before saying solemnly,
“There were some things I didn't tell you in the cell this afternoon.”
Hogg’s eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze filled with confusion.
“Actually, that thing on Ignatius... I have seen something similar before.” Li Yuan looked at him seriously and said softly, “Strictly speaking, it is not a product of this world.”
Hogg’s expression became grave as he waited for Li Yuan to continue.
“I have seen a class of people... known as evil cultivators. A select few among them specialize in feeding on the life force and souls of others to increase their strength.” Li Yuan’s expression was uncharacteristically stern. “The mark on Ignatius... if I remember correctly, it originates from them. Although there are differences, it should be the same in principle.”
He paused, then added, “And the strength of those people is far beyond your understanding.”
Hogg did not ask for more details. Although his confusion was growing, he could clearly sense from Li Yuan’s tone that these were things he shouldn't ask about.
“As for Ignatius, his final end won't be a direct death,” Li Yuan continued. “If it is truly as I suspect, once he completely loses his life force and soul, he will turn into a mindless puppet to be manipulated at will.”
As he spoke, the air in the office grew heavy. The idea of turning a living person into a puppet was unheard of; even the Blood Moon Cultists, whom Hogg no longer considered human, would not commit such an inhuman act.
He took a deep breath and asked cautiously,
“Did you come here specifically to tell me this because you have a plan? If there is anything you need from me, please give the order.”
If even the man before him found the matter troublesome, then the threat they faced was undoubtedly unprecedented, perhaps even escalating into a world-ending disaster if they weren't careful.
But because Li Yuan was the one bringing it up, Hogg felt somewhat relieved—after all, if even Li Yuan couldn't handle it, then no amount of worry or fear from them would matter anyway.
“I will go there personally.” Li Yuan’s tone was flat, as if it were a matter he could resolve with ease. “If it truly is as I suspect, I will deal with it while I’m at it.”
Hogg took a step forward, his expression resolute.
“Sir, I—”
“You cannot go.” Li Yuan raised a hand to stop him. “With your current strength, you wouldn't be of much use. Besides, the kingdom needs you to stay here. If you leave and something else happens, who will take charge?”
In truth, Li Yuan just felt that bringing such a tagalong would slow down his efficiency. But to spare Hogg’s feelings, he gave a reason that sounded relatively gentle.
After all, those evil cultivators were very good at hiding... finding them would take some effort.
Hogg opened his mouth, but in the end, he couldn't say anything.
He understood the logic, but being told so bluntly still stung a little. However, he didn't dwell on it and asked,
“Then when do you plan to leave, sir?”
“In the next few days.” Li Yuan walked to the desk, took the transmission talisman from his sleeve, and placed it on the desk. “This is a transmission talisman. It’s simple to use—inject mana and speak to the paper, and I will hear you. If there are any changes with Ignatius or if anything happens in the Royal Capital, you can contact me at any time.”
Hogg picked up the slip of paper and carefully tucked it into the pocket of his robe.
“Sir, what is the situation over there? Do we need to make any preparations or take precautions?”
“I don't know yet,” Li Yuan shook his head. “We’ll see when the time comes. If all goes well, I won't be gone for long. But if the worst-case scenario occurs...”
Before he could finish, Hogg’s gaze indicated that he already understood.
However, as Li Yuan looked at that determined gaze, he felt Hogg had misunderstood. The “worst-case scenario” Li Yuan meant was simply that if he couldn't find the person, it might take more time. But with the atmosphere already built up, Li Yuan didn't want to correct him and just let it be.
Then Hogg stated with conviction,
“Rest assured, sir. I will continue to investigate along Ignatius’s line and see if I can find any useful clues.”
“Mm.”
Li Yuan nodded. His purpose for coming was just to set up a safeguard, just in case something changed and someone here could notify him in time.
The place where his Divine Sense had been blocked was quite far away. Li Yuan was not skilled in the path of space; short-distance movement was fine, but he couldn't manage distances over ten kilometers. He would have to fly... and flying took time. He didn't want someone stirring up trouble behind his back while he was on the road, so he left Hogg as a monitor.
After finishing his instructions, Li Yuan prepared to leave, but he stopped as he stepped out of the Magic Tower.
“By the way, do not tell anyone else about this for now.”
“Understood.”
With that, Li Yuan’s figure gradually faded away under the moonlight.
Hogg watched the spot where Li Yuan had vanished for a long time, eventually letting out a helpless sigh, his emotions complex.
Ever since becoming a Heroic Spirit, he had always believed he was somewhat accomplished in magic. He thought that with a bit more effort, he might become the foremost person beneath the gods.
But after coming into contact with Li Yuan, he realized—the world was truly vast, and truly cruel.
Perhaps this was the most realistic side of the entire world. His previous naive thoughts had truly been like looking at the sky from the bottom of a well.
As he thought this, a bold idea suddenly flashed through his mind, like a bolt of lightning striking his soul. Hogg, who had been struggling to find his path, suddenly had a moment of clarity. He murmured,
“Is it possible... for him to take me as a disciple?”
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