The awkwardness on Kaili’s face slowly faded.
“Of course, I went to investigate the vampire incident. What are you two doing?”
This time, it was Li Qiuchen and Jocelyn’s turn to feel embarrassed.
Fortunately, neither of them had thin skin.
“The night is long, sleep won’t come, so we decided to exercise a little.”
“Then why not show me the way and take me to the East Abandoned Mine?”
Kaili took the opportunity to suggest, knowing that having two locals as guides would save a lot of exploration time.
Li Qiuchen was immediately tempted.
He really needed a Blue Crystal.
On Reina’s side, the pressure had clearly increased.
The Zhesi Gem gave no response, and the power of Dreamland had become too overwhelming to resist with willpower alone.
Jocelyn placed a hand on his shoulder, answering slowly, “The town is under curfew. It’s not convenient to go out.”
Kaili pulled out the letter of commission signed by the Lawkeeper.
“With this, no one will trouble you.”
“That area is sealed off. It’s not easy to get in. But for us, who grew up in this small town, we know a little path.”
Jocelyn yawned, seeming a bit sleepy.
Li Qiuchen understood at once, moving into his role as the sidekick, and scolded in a low voice, “Old Four! Why do you have to spill everything?! Shut up and stop blabbering.”
He turned to Kaili with a slightly apologetic smile.
“Hunter Miss, we’ll rest for now. Wish you a safe journey.”
Kaili snorted disdainfully and tossed two ten-Tuck copper coins onto the table.
The two hooked arms, looking up at the ceiling in perfect unison.
Kaili tossed another two copper coins.
With synchronized movements, they each pocketed twenty Tuck, their words growing uncharacteristically concise.
“Let’s go!”
Jocelyn put the iron block that triggered the Destruction Armor into her bag, added a few pieces of cured meat, and led the way.
At first, Li Qiuchen was a bit worried they’d be found out, but to his surprise, Jocelyn really did know the way, leading them to the outskirts of the East Abandoned Mine.
“How do you know this place?”
Li Qiuchen whispered.
Jocelyn replied in a low voice, “I got up early yesterday and ran around the whole town.”
Li Qiuchen felt a surge of admiration.
Jocelyn was still as reliable as ever, quietly handling these things within the team.
He hadn’t even noticed.
Truly, he’d failed as a leader.
“After careful comparison, the Bread Shop has the most fragrant food.
Of course, it’s also the most delicious.”
Jocelyn explained seriously.
Li Qiuchen rolled his eyes silently.
He swore he’d never feel guilty over any of Jocelyn’s actions again.
Of course, it wasn’t the first time he’d made such a vow.
“Where’s the path you mentioned?”
Kaili pressed.
“Uh, looks like it’s been sealed off.
They’re really strict these days.
But no problem.”
Jocelyn put her hands on her hips.
“I’ll take you another way.”
Neither Jocelyn nor Li Qiuchen worried about being exposed.
On one hand, the money was already in their pockets.
On the other, the little tail following behind seemed even more eager to get inside than they were.
Compared to her and Li Qiuchen, “that one” was a true local.
The three of them walked along the high wall surrounding the mine.
Kaili’s patience was wearing thin.
Just as she was about to lose her temper—
A timid girl’s whisper came from behind.
“If you want to go in… you can use the east side. There’s a hidden tunnel there.”
Kaili drew her sword warily.
From the shadows, Naili’s lovely, delicate face slowly emerged.
“Why are you following us?”
Kaili immediately recognized the inn’s front desk girl, but her Knight’s Longsword remained precisely pointed at the girl’s throat.
Naili jumped in fright.
“Because… my friend… no, my brother, he went into the mine and then disappeared…”
Kaili pressed further.
“Is it your brother or your friend?
Did you want to go inside to investigate because you haven’t heard from him in so long?”
Naili’s eyes turned red, her lips trembling.
Under the oppressive atmosphere, she couldn’t utter another word.
Li Qiuchen reached out, pressing down on the blade.
“Hunter Miss, she’s a town resident and one of your employers—not your enemy.”
Kaili was about to scold her, but as she looked into the northern boy’s star-bright eyes, she suddenly felt a strong sense of threat, as if he had become a hundred times more terrifying than a Magical Beast encountered on the training grounds.
Kaili stepped back.
The strange sensation vanished.
Before her stood only an ordinary inn helper, his face still swollen and battered.
How could she have been frightened by someone like this?
“Lead the way.”
Kaili sheathed her longsword in frustration.
Kaili led the three to a hidden mineshaft behind the bushes.
Inside the narrow passage, the four crawled forward one after another.
The glow from Li Qiuchen’s abdomen became the only light source, drawing curious glances from those ahead.
Li Qiuchen looked down at the white light still flickering beneath the burlap wrap around his stomach.
Strangely, ever since leaving the inn, he hadn’t been dragged back into Dreamland.
Could it be that Belinda and Hestia had shattered the Dreamland?
Counting back, from yesterday to today, both times the Dreamland had been dominated by Reina.
He should have realized sooner—on that day in the alley, when he unconsciously used Holy Light Healing, the White Tattoo had taken control within his body’s power system.
So, as long as he used a fire element…
As soon as the thought arose, the Red Judgement Tattoo below his stomach began to burn uncontrollably.
Just imagining Belinda taking over Dreamland, and recalling those chains and “discipline,” made him shudder and immediately abandon the idea of using the tattoo’s power.
***
At that moment, in Li Qiuchen’s Dreamland, the magic circle Reina had painstakingly prepared was easily shattered by the Royal Mage Belinda had invited.
Just as Reina tried to resist, Hestia summoned countless ancient Elf Mages and activated a magic array, ejecting her directly from Dreamland.
Hestia’s mocking laughter still rang in her ears.
“Fourth uncle, fifth uncle, little aunt, she’s the one who bullied me. Her! That sanctimonious, self-righteous Holy Light woman—bleh bleh bleh…”
Reina Saint Radiance, the Pope’s most prized disciple, always calm, renowned as the Holy Maiden’s Eminence of the Time Temple since its founding, felt utter humiliation.
It was easy to understand.
After all her painstaking preparations, Ellen had escaped effortlessly.
Even after tapping into the Pope’s internal magic reserves, she still failed.
In the end, she was jointly expelled from Dreamland by Belinda and Hestia.
She could clearly identify the source of her anger, but no matter what, she couldn’t suppress the storm of fury inside her.
An arrogant royal princess and a foolish little brat, for the sake of sealing the Demon King, she had tolerated them within the team, but now—
“Summon all the Order of the White-Robed Bishops to the hall. Discuss… the matters of the Great Ceremony at Month’s End.”
Though Reina’s tone remained melodious and formal, the priests most familiar with her could still sense the tremor and rage beneath the Holy Maiden’s Eminence’s calm voice.
“As you command.”
The priest folded their hands and retreated from the hall.
It seemed the war was about to escalate once more.
***
Meanwhile, Li Qiuchen, who had just emerged from the mine, remained completely unaware of everything unfolding in Dreamland.
Before them lay a vast open-pit coal mine.
The town was likely named Blackwater Town because of this mine.
The four walked along the edge, heading toward the pit’s center.
“Five years ago, a Magical Beast caused havoc here, killing many in the town. It fled into the mine. The miners all ran, except for Nai De’s father, who stayed inside.”
Along the way, Kaili recounted the events.
“Later, the mine was temporarily sealed.”
“What about the Magical Beast?”
Jocelyn asked, puzzled.
“I heard Nai De’s father detonated explosives, causing a cave-in that crushed the beast. But after that, strange and terrifying things kept happening in the mine. Kairi’s father—that is, Lord Horne—ordered the mine sealed.”
Kaili’s expression turned serious.
“Then, a year later, a terrifying Black Magician appeared in town. He wore a pointed hat and could fling people away with a wave of his hand. Many people in town were hurt. Lord Horne confronted him. No one knows what he said, but in the end, he tricked the arrogant Black Magician into the mine.”
“And then detonated explosives, causing another collapse?”
Li Qiuchen sensed something was off.
Why did both the Magical Beast and the Black Magician end up in the mine?
“Yes.
Since then, the mine has been taboo, completely sealed off.”
Kaili glanced at Li Qiuchen, continuing, “Of course, ever since Lord Ellen and Lady Hestia defeated the Demon King, the town has discussed reopening the mine these past three years. After all, the miasma has faded considerably.”
She hoped to catch a reaction on Li Qiuchen’s face, but saw only a thoughtful profile, cheeks still swollen.
As the four drew closer to the mine’s center, a tall, black-robed figure stepped into the mine from the outer path they had just taken, his eyes fixed on their small silhouettes.
He glanced around at the warning signs posted nearby, his thoughts swirling.