Chapter 34: Different?

A moment later, Li Qiuchen was once again walking side by side with Kairui.

He finally asked a long-buried question.

“Do you still remember what happened that night?”

Kairui stopped.

After a moment, he lowered his head.

“Mr. Li, I’m really sorry about that night.”

“I’m the one who should apologize. I took your wallet, and you were only affected by Magic Corruption.”

Li Qiuchen comforted him.

“Really? But at that time, I was conscious,”

Kairui looked at Li Qiuchen, somewhat agitated, his voice becoming smaller.

“The thing about killing people before, I was conscious then too.”

“The effect of Magic Corruption is to amplify negative emotions in an individual, like hatred, like anger.”

“You didn’t even know me that day, but you hated me so much you wanted to kill me, right?”

Li Qiuchen asked.

“Yes, yes. I felt that I had to kill you in order to sleep well.”

Kairui became extremely agitated, then his voice grew small again.

“I wasn’t like that before. Mr. Li, will I eventually become one of those Contaminated by Dark Energy?”

“You have to become stronger quickly, suppress the Magic Corruption, and you’ll be fine…”

Li Qiuchen patted his shoulder, comforting him.

“It’ll be okay.”

Getting stronger can only slow the rate of being eroded.

Up to now, except for that freak who kept hunting the Demon King Army, he had never seen anyone infected by Magic Corruption and remain unaffected.

Li Qiuchen sharply sensed a trace of danger.

He looked around, then behind him.

This group of ordinary people were the easiest targets for attack.

He had forgotten that he was also just an ordinary person now.

The Zhesi Gem’s warning came just in time.

Behind!

He shoved Kairui away, flinging himself forward as if weightless.

A fierce wind brushed past his scalp.

“Mud Transformation!”

Li Qiuchen didn’t even turn his head.

The yellow crystal gripped tightly in his left hand supplied Mana.

The earthen bricks behind instantly turned to sludge.

The assailant sensed the risk of sinking, immediately leaping up and stepping towards Li Qiuchen.

To dodge with a jump showed it had intelligence.

Mud Transformation was effective, meaning its form was tall and strong.

The Zhesi Gem was half-dead, so he had to use his own brain.

Why did he suddenly feel like raising a son who wouldn’t care for him in old age?

A burning dissatisfaction surged in his chest.

Li Qiuchen rolled aside on the ground, barely avoiding it.

The spot he’d been in was stomped into a huge pit.

He looked up, finally seeing the attacker’s true form.

As expected, it was a monster over three meters tall.

It seemed to be a conglomerate of several Contaminated by Dark Energy.

Its thick, elongated arms were filled with pitch-black Magic Corruption.

Several more arms grew from its forearms, each connected to bony claws.

Four or five faces were crammed onto a single head, with eyes, noses, and mouths grown together in all sorts of places, a sight that filled one with terror just to look at.

“Fall back!”

Li Qiuchen waved at the knights beside him.

They formed ranks and retreated, raising their spears.

“You’re actually still alive? Truly a cockroach of the Fagui faction.”

The only usable mouth on the monster’s forehead spoke with some surprise.

The voice was unfamiliar, but the tone instantly revealed it was Aescher.

“You…”

Li Qiuchen sensed the other’s state.

There was no soul inside this monster.

So he was controlling these monsters.

But these monsters belonged to that Magical Beast.

He was stealing the power belonging to the Magical Beast!

Just like that Old Sorcerer who died in the Mine.

This guy had rushed to the Mine, desperate to seize the Magical Beast’s power.

If it was just to resurrect the Magical Beast, there was no need to be so anxious.

How daring.

He even seemed to have the upper hand, not only stealing energy but seizing control of these monsters.

“Are you fighting the Magical Beast for power?”

Li Qiuchen boldly speculated.

All four mouths on the monster opened, but no words came.

Li Qiuchen nodded.

“You’re bold.”

“And you’re clever. Wait a moment—when I get the power, I’ll have to compete with you properly.”

Aescher praised without hesitation, then changed his tone.

“Of course, you have to survive first.”

With that, he rushed toward Li Qiuchen.

But suddenly, he realized the ground beneath his feet had become a swamp.

His entire body sank in deeper and deeper, struggling madly but unable to escape.

“I’ll definitely survive.”

Li Qiuchen stood up, dusted himself off.

“I kept you talking for so long just to survive.”

Swamp Spell was a Tier 2 magic.

Compared to Mud Transformation, it was more restrictive.

However, for Li Qiuchen in his current state, releasing such a spell took more time.

“Tossed Spear!”

Kairui swung his hand.

The cavalry behind him hurled their spears forcefully into the sky.

Five sharp spears arced through the air and pierced the monster precisely.

The monster stopped struggling, and black light flickered across its body.

“Shield Spell.”

Li Qiuchen shielded the soldiers behind him.

The pitch-black monster exploded with a bang, and the fierce shockwave turned the houses on both sides of the road into ruins.

Li Qiuchen was blasted backward by the shockwave.

Kairui grabbed him first, then several knights helped stabilize him.

The transparent shield formed in front of them rippled violently, then cracks spread across its surface.

At the moment the shield was about to shatter, a clear, cold shout cut through the explosion from afar.

“Female War God’s Blessing, Sincere Protection!”

Instinctively, everyone turned their heads.

A golden stream of light shot through the thick fog!

Kaili leaned low over her horse, swiftly closing in.

Her toes tapped the saddle, and she leaped into the air with the grace of a hunting falcon.

Time seemed to freeze.

In midair, she gripped the hilt of her sword with both hands.

The Knight’s Longsword erupted with dazzling holy light, like the dawn breaking through endless night.

Where the sword light passed, the violent shockwave was split in two and instantly dissipated.

In the next moment, she landed steadily.

Her boots struck the ground with a crisp echo, just in time to stand between Li Qiuchen and the surging destructive energy.

Her back was straight, the holy light undimmed, like an unassailable Valkyrie descending before Li Qiuchen.

Such a familiar way of making an entrance—overbearing longsword, breathtaking beauty—beauty so sharp it hurt.

Li Qiuchen shook his head, trying to dispel the messy thoughts.

“Miss Kaili, thank you for saving me. How did you end up here?”

Li Qiuchen asked.

“I came to help you clear out the Contaminated by Dark Energy.”

Kaili replied.

“Old Four… Ah, no, what about Jocelyn?”

Li Qiuchen asked first.

“I’ve already finished helping them. They carried two barrels of fresh beer from the Oak Barrel Tavern and went back to the Castle to drink.”

Kaili replied.

Li Qiuchen was speechless.

Eat roasted meat, drink beer—was Old Four here for a vacation or a struggle for survival?

“Miss Ke’er thought there wouldn’t be danger on your side.”

Kaili thought he was blaming Jocelyn for not coming to help.

What a joke.

Li Qiuchen had never expected that one to come help.

If she didn’t pass by just to mock him for being too slow, that was already a sign of brotherhood.

The group moved quickly.

For the Contaminated by Dark Energy they encountered later, Li Qiuchen would use Taunt Spell to lure the monsters, Kaili would slash them down and then Purify, and the cavalry took care of the perimeter.

“Your magic seems pretty strong?”

Kaili asked as she walked beside Li Qiuchen.

“Ah? Taunt Spell is very effective against low-intelligence monsters. It makes them feel extremely insulted and rush over mindlessly. But it’s actually just a Tier 1 spell.”

Li Qiuchen really liked this spell.

Especially when facing the Demon King Army’s monsters, it was particularly effective on those who only knew slaughter.

Li Qiuchen had simulated it before.

When he cast Taunt Spell on these monsters, in their eyes, it was like a human covered in blood wildly dancing in front of them.

It would instantly ignite their fury, push their urge to kill to the extreme, and make them feel unbearably itchy unless they killed him, unable to sleep.

“I know, but your spellcasting… is quite skilled.”

Kaili tried to find magic terms unrelated to combat in her mind, hoping her praise sounded more professional.

“Especially that one that cancels out others’ magic, it’s very… impressive!”

She wasn’t good at giving compliments and didn’t know much about magic outside of combat.

“I met a mage while fleeing. He taught me a few tricks.”

Li Qiuchen tried to explain.

“I learned slowly, couldn’t use a Magic Staff well, and couldn’t sense Mana properly. He didn’t seem happy.”

“My teacher disappeared one Morning Departure, and I just kept fleeing.

Interestingly, as time passed, my understanding of those spells grew clearer.”

Li Qiuchen knew that when lying, you had to pay attention to details.

Describe your feelings more than events to make it believable and uncatchable.

Lastly, remember to end with a rhetorical question to reinforce credibility.

Li Qiuchen looked into her eyes with a reliable smile.

“Isn’t it amazing?”

“Of course,”

Kaili nodded gently, her eyes full of a tolerant smile that said, “I understand, I really do.”

To her, this “pitiful person” not only fabricated a “Morning Departure” teacher to appear capable in front of her, but also made it sound so light.

He attributed all his outstanding abilities to “the accumulation of time”.

Sigh!

This carefully maintained self-esteem was… so heavy.

She changed the subject.

“Qiuchen, are you interested in joining the Temple of the God of War?”

Li Qiuchen hesitated a bit.

She believed him just like that, without even a hint of doubt?

Doubt about his identity, his story—what was with this person?

He looked directly at the Valkyrie’s beautiful face.

Her straight nose and deep features were like a finely painted portrait.

Her smile was bright and warm.

Not the kind of sharp or arrogant feeling.

Noticing his pause, Kaili grew hesitant.

Should she have seemed more surprised?

After all, he had repeatedly neutralized that fake priest’s spells with Dispel Spell.

Unfortunately, she knew almost nothing about magic.

Compared to priests who skillfully used magic, she preferred to treat magic as just another tool for enhancing combat.

She had even wished this world didn’t have magic, so she could win more easily in battles.

So in magic classes, she slept through anything not related to improving combat power.

Because of her ignorance of magic, she didn’t understand how impressive Li Qiuchen’s nullification really was.

Praising it only highlighted her lack of knowledge.

After all, mages were said to be very proud.

Sigh, inviting him to join the Temple of the God of War was already the highest praise she could think of.

Kaili could only add,

“Don’t overthink it. I just think your abilities are impressive. I hope you can use them well.”

Li Qiuchen nodded slightly.

Kaili saw his mood drop and spoke again.

“Don’t misunderstand, of course I believe you’ll use your abilities well. Qiuchen, do you have faith?”

Li Qiuchen shook his head slightly.

“No, but I learned a bit about the Time Temple from a friend.”

“I see.”

Kaili nodded.

“He must really want you to join the Time Temple, right?”

“She…”

Li Qiuchen was at a loss.

How could he explain?

The situation was too complicated.

It wasn’t just that she wanted him to join—she wanted to tie him down and force him in.

Holy Maiden’s Eminence even tried to seduce him personally.

Luckily, he resisted.

She tried to hypnotize and brainwash him, but fortunately, he was sharp and didn’t fall for it.

Seeing the complicated expression on the youth’s face, Kaili thought she’d said something wrong.

She kindly comforted him.

“The requirements for the Time Temple are indeed very high. But if you’re interested in joining the Temple of the God of War, be sure to find me.”

Li Qiuchen nodded.

After handling the remaining Contaminated by Dark Energy, the two returned to the Castle.

The Town’s order was temporarily restored, but the sorrow in the air was heavier than the Magic Corruption.

People returned to the Castle.

Some faces showed excitement from battle, others deep anxiety.

“The streets have been temporarily cleared,” Li Qiuchen reported to the worried crowd inside the Castle, taking a beer from beside Jocelyn and drinking it in one go.

“But unless we eliminate the source, this black mist won’t dissipate. More people will become Contaminated by Dark Energy. This Town will eventually be wiped from the Map.”

Kaili stood by the window, staring at the ever-churning, living entrance of the Mine in the distance.

Her gaze was determined.

“We must go down.”

She turned to the crowd in the hall.

“Organize an elite team, go deep into the Mine, and completely Purify the source. Otherwise, everyone will die here.”

The hall fell silent.

To enter the Mine meant to face Aescher and that forbidden existence no one dared approach.

It was almost certain death.

“I’ll go.”

Kairui was the first to step forward.

There was no longer cowardice or confusion on his face—only the fire of vengeance and a determination inherited from his father.

“For Father, and for… redemption.”

“I’ll follow Young Master, to the death.”

Kemel, clutching his still aching head, stood behind Kairui.

Kaili shook her head.

“The number of Contaminated by Dark Energy under the Mine isn’t high, so those going down will be facing the Magical Beast. In such a narrow space, numbers mean little.”

“To seek redemption, it’s better to live well.”

Li Qiuchen patted the youth’s shoulder, advising him seriously.

“But…”

Kairui still struggled.

He wanted to do something—anything, rather than wait idly.

Li Qiuchen stared at him.

The yellow crystal in his left hand provided Mana again.

Under the [Discern] state, the black energy inside Kairui was slowly increasing.

“If you really want to do something, sit cross-legged right here and don’t get up. Do your best to suppress all distracting thoughts.”

Li Qiuchen gently pressed him down and continued to instruct.

“If you feel your thoughts boiling and can’t control yourself, just knock yourself out.”

Kairui opened his eyes in confusion, looking at Li Qiuchen.

“Mr. Li…”

Li Qiuchen nodded in encouragement.

“Did you forget? You have to get stronger and suppress the Magic Corruption.”

Kairui clenched his fists, closed his eyes, and began to restrain his distractions.

Kaili’s gaze turned to Li Qiuchen and Jocelyn.

Li Qiuchen and Jocelyn exchanged glances.

Li Qiuchen nodded.

“We’ll go down together.”

Finally, everyone’s eyes fell on Wright.

The Bread Master slowly tucked his Magic Staff into his coat, borrowed a longsword from a knight, and slung it across his back.

“Thank you for your care all this time.”

His tone was calm, as if simply deciding to fetch another bag of flour from the cellar.

Li Qiuchen glanced around at this odd team—a former militia member, a coachman, a Bread Master, a heavy-armored foodie, and Temple of the God of War elites.

He felt a strange sense of retracing the path of the Sealing Demon.

As always, the girl with the longsword delivered a stirring pre-battle speech.

Kaili raised her sword and shouted.

“We have nowhere left to retreat. The teachings of the Temple of the God of War say that when there’s nowhere to turn, the only path is forward.”

“The thing beneath the Mine is a sword hanging over the heads of all the living. Now, it’s time to cut it down.”

“This isn’t going to die—it’s to open a path for the living. In the name of the Goddess of War, I’ll lead this Purification mission to the end.”

Outside the window, the black mist of the Mine swirled like a demon’s breath, silently mocking their courage.

And deep within the Mine, the Mankor Magical Beast, wounded and slumbering for five years, seemed… to stir, making the earth tremble slightly.