Lu Yuan grunted in response and turned to head back to the library.
Finding his corner, he took out the Knowledge Pathway Guide, intending to try and grind some more experience.
According to the descriptions in the book, Guard has a total of five stages, and one must have a more complete understanding of knowledge to advance to each subsequent stage.
Even the effect gained from just the first stage was already very practical.
Although it hadn't temporarily made up for his lack of offensive means, it could indirectly increase the number of times he could use Timekeeper.
Setting aside the cluttered thoughts in his mind, Lu Yuan buried his head in his studies.
But whether there was a limit or for some other reason, this time when he looked at the Ancient Imperial Language in the book, he always felt like he was going in circles.
【Guard I: +0.1, 0.1/10】
His head felt a bit dizzy, and Lu Yuan eventually chose to give up.
It seemed this wasn't something to be rushed; he could only take it slowly.
Late at night.
Lu Yuan closed the book, lay down on the simple bed in the corner of the library, and closed his eyes.
That night, there were no dreams, and he slept deeply.
In the early morning, Lu Yuan opened his eyes.
He sat up and instinctively looked toward the edge of his vision.
No notifications, no experience.
Lu Yuan felt slightly disappointed.
But on second thought, the absence of Strange Dreams wasn't entirely a bad thing.
He checked his condition and found that his Sanity had recovered by a large margin, much better than expected.
At the edge of his vision, greyish-white text floated quietly:
【Sanity: 29/70 → 41/70】
To recover this much in a single night? Lu Yuan was somewhat astonished; back when the blessing of the book spirit hadn't disappeared, even light sleep only restored four points.
Normally, a full sleep would only give around six or eight points.
Lu Yuan's gaze fell on the Knowledge Pathway Guide on the table.
It was the effect of Guard.
And merely at the Entry level, it already provided this level of improvement...
Lu Yuan withdrew his gaze, having made a decision in his heart.
It seemed he needed to master this book as soon as possible; the potential of Guard was far greater than he had imagined.
He stood up, did some simple stretches, and walked out of the library to the upper level.
The corridors here were very quiet; before he even reached the corner, he saw Old Morgan coming out of the meeting room with a grave expression.
"You're awake?" Old Morgan glanced at him. "Just in time. The reinforcements are almost here. Come with me to receive them."
At the base entrance, a fine rain was drizzling.
The sky was a dull grey, and the air was thick with the scent of dampness.
Old Morgan stood under the porch, his gaze fixed on the street in the distance.
Lu Yuan stood beside him. Just then, a set of footsteps came from behind; it was Hans. The bandages on his left arm had been changed, and he looked to be recovering well.
"Where's Mary?" Old Morgan asked without turning his head.
"Still resting," Hans said. "Her condition has stabilized, but she still needs a few days of quiet recovery."
"That's good. It seems your medical skills are indeed superb, Lu Yuan. It's a bit of a waste for you to stay in Gelimu Port," Old Morgan said as he looked at Lu Yuan.
"After the screening is finished, how about I recommend you go to the nearby Bronze City?"
"Hmm?" Lu Yuan was a bit surprised; he hadn't expected Old Morgan to say this so suddenly.
"Don't be in a hurry to refuse. Your background is a bit strange. When you joined the Nightwatchers, we investigated you, but we couldn't find any data related to you."
"After all, you have an Eastern face. It's impossible to find absolutely nothing on you in the vicinity of Gelimu Port." Old Morgan smiled as he said this.
"Therefore, if you were to be transferred directly from Gelimu Port to headquarters, your files likely wouldn't be able to stay hidden. It will require a bit of a detour."
"As long as your records pass through Bronze City and you use it as your official place of record, no one will be able to trace anything thereafter."
"You don't have any doubts?" Lu Yuan asked with a calm expression.
"The sewers, Ink, the island—these are enough to prove you aren't a heretic and that you are reliable. The assessment of your threat to the Empire is also extremely low." Old Morgan shook his head slightly and took a silver badge from his pocket.
"So, take this medal. It contains a significant number of points and also proves you are a formal member of the Nightwatchers."
"Haha, take it, Lu Yuan." Hans walked over at this moment and patted him on the shoulder.
"You are very talented. Continuing to stay in Gelimu Port would be a pure waste. Besides, Bronze City is a good place. Once the screening ends, you should leave with the reinforcements."
Lu Yuan looked at Hans and Old Morgan, remained silent for a long time, and finally nodded.
"Does Mary know?"
"Everyone knows. This is the result of an internal discussion," Hans said with a smile. "The moment you stepped onto the transcendent pathway, we were already discussing whether to send you to headquarters."
"But Old Morgan didn't agree at the time, which led to the subsequent evaluation. Considering your records, going to Bronze City first before transferring to headquarters is more suitable for you."
"Take it, Lu Yuan." Old Morgan held the badge out to Lu Yuan.
"This is what you deserve."
Lu Yuan finally accepted the badge. It felt heavy in his hand, with a silver-white theme featuring a waning moon above, with herbs and medicines positioned below.
As if sensing that Lu Yuan was also about to leave, the three of them didn't speak further, standing under the porch and waiting.
The fine rain was dense, making a soft pattering sound as it hit the ground.
After an unknown amount of time, a figure appeared at the end of the street.
A middle-aged man clad in a grey robe walked slowly through the rain.
Lu Yuan noticed a badge pinned to the man's chest—a moon intertwined with a golden sword, quite different from the badges of ordinary Nightwatchers.
That was...
"They're here," Old Morgan said in a low voice.
Lu Yuan and Hans instinctively stood up straight.
The newcomer's aura was restrained to the extreme, yet standing there, he was like a mountain—steady, heavy, and giving off an immovable feeling.
Rain fell toward him, but it slid away automatically an inch before touching him, leaving even the corners of his clothes bone-dry.
Even when Lu Yuan's gaze fell on him, it seemed to slide off, making it impossible to see him clearly.
A high-level transcendent.
The man walked under the porch, his gaze sweeping over the three of them before finally settling on Old Morgan.
Without any pleasantries, he opened with a interrogation.
"I reviewed the situation here before I arrived."
His voice was flat, but it carried an unquestionable authority.
"The losses are catastrophic."
Old Morgan didn't speak, merely looking at the man before him.
"According to the data you sent back, although the issue lies primarily with the Viscount..." The man's tone paused. "But what on earth were the Nightwatchers doing?"
"All the doctors in the inner city have disappeared, those in the outer city are all dead, the Church has suffered heavy casualties, and the Holy Armored Army has lost half its strength..."
He looked at Old Morgan with a cold, sharp gaze.
"Do you know, Old Morgan? The pathfinders have also learned of this matter, and they have already taken their complaints to headquarters."
"As a newly developed port that has only been operational for a few years, for Gelimu Port to suffer such a catastrophe means you must be punished."
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