"You really are direct, aren't you…" Tianlang sighed at Yaohui, clearly exasperated. "Well, looks like we'll have to head to Red City to find the Blood Matron. Though I doubt her answer would be much different from yours."
"If you already knew that," Yaohui said coldly, his stern face unmoved, "then why not go to someone who's actually knowledgeable? Among the Guardians, the ones who know the most are Ice Emperor Lecoas and Shadowlord Redenos. Especially Ice Emperor—he was the first to follow the High Sovereign, and he knows far more than most. But I wouldn't recommend that either. Rather than chasing false hopes from other Guardians, you'd be better off heading straight to Dreamhaven and asking the Sovereign directly. That's the fastest way."
Tianlang tilted his head back and sighed. "Of course I know that. But you also know—it's impossible to set foot on Dreamhaven without a summons from the Sovereign. And the only Guardians who can contact him directly are the Ice Emperor and the Shadowlord."
"That's your problem. Not mine." Yaohui shut his eyes and said flatly. Then he stood up. "If you're done asking questions, I'll be leaving now."
With that, he turned and strode toward the exit.
"Wait, hold on a sec!" Kaelin suddenly called after him.
She wanted to snap at him for being so vague, for brushing them off—but the moment Yaohui shot her a cold glance over his shoulder, her words caught in her throat.
"I'm only here because of Tianlang," he said, voice like steel. "Don't waste my time by testing my patience. I'm not as easy to deal with as he is."
Then, without another word, he pushed open the door and walked out, leaving Tianlang behind with an awkward smile—and Kaelin trembling in place.
"…He really is Evilbane," Zixuan said, wiping the sweat from her palms.
Mo Yan looked toward Tianlang and asked, "Is he always like this?"
"To outsiders, yes," Tianlang replied. "But he's not a bad person, really."
"Are we talking about the same guy?" Kaelin muttered, still shaken, as she cautiously sat back down.
"You can't really blame him," Tianlang said, sighing. "Yaohui, like me, was just an ordinary villager before becoming a Guardian. When he first took up the mantle, even I got the cold shoulder. It took a lot of persistence before we became friends. He may look like a ruthless brute, but honestly, he's more meticulous than anyone I know."
Tianlang paused, eyes a little distant. "He's just… not good at dealing with people. Over time, he shut himself off. And the reason for that likely ties back to something that happened in the past."
"Something in the past?" Kaelin asked, curious.
Tianlang shook his head and spoke with regret. "It happened five thousand years ago. Yaohui hates people talking about it behind his back, so… if you want to know, you'll have to ask him yourself."
A heavy silence fell over the group.
Zixuan, frowning thoughtfully, finally said, "Withdrawing into oneself... That sounds a lot like a psychological condition in our world."
"A condition?" Tianlang perked up, suddenly hopeful. "So it can be treated?"
Zixuan nodded. "Where we come from, we call it autism. It's often caused by the death of loved ones, or by traumatic environments."
"Losing a loved one…" Tianlang murmured, eyes darkening. "Back then, the only person he had was her…"
He trailed off, thinking deeply.
Zixuan continued, "Medication can help manage symptoms, but if you want a real solution… there's only one: as we say, 'Only the one who tied the knot can untie it.' In other words, healing comes from the person or the thing that caused the trauma. Of course, companionship, warmth, and environment are also critical."
Tianlang let out a long breath, his brief hope fading. "I see… But after all these years, Yaohui's only friends have been me and Sister Xueqi."
"No way?" Kaelin said in disbelief.
Tianlang gave a weary smile. "Kaelin, I get what you're thinking, but I'm afraid it's not that simple. The Guardians weren't chosen for camaraderie. We were selected by the High Sovereign for various reasons and gifted with his power. Outside of that, we're just coworkers—nothing more. In fact, some Guardians even see their duty as a burden."
"Evilbane hunts the wicked. Blood Matron manipulates power and fools. Flame King wages endless war. Poison Spirit sacrifices himself to save others. Thunder Lord is a master of slaughter. Shadowlord acts on his own terms. And the Ice Emperor? He's the most loyal to the Sovereign."
"We all came to the role with different ideals. And because our personalities are so different, it's hard to truly connect with one another."
He let out another sigh, then forced a small smile. "Anyway, enough about the past. Let's focus on what's next."
Zhao Heng nodded. "Agreed. Since we didn't get much out of this, there's no point staying here. But where do we go now?"
"Let's go find the Blood Matron," Tianlang said. "Northwest of the Black Domain is Bloodpeak Ridge. Cross that, and you'll reach Red City—her territory."
"Huh? But didn't Evilbane say we should look for the Ice Emperor or the Shadowlord?" Kaelin blinked, confused.
"He did, but their domains—the Abyss and the Glacier—are even farther than Red City. We'll have to pass through that direction anyway. Might as well stop and try our luck."
"I guess that makes sense…" Kaelin muttered, deep in thought. "So, when do we leave?"
"The sooner the better," Mo Yan answered before anyone else could.
No one objected. After confirming their plans, the five of them stepped out of the restaurant. The streets, while not overcrowded, were lively and bustling. Zhao Heng, ever discreet, tried to stop Kaelin from pulling out her off-road vehicle.
"We're not in a rush. Let's just walk," he said.
BOOM!
Just as they took their first step, a thunderous explosion erupted in the distance. People on the street scattered in panic, running in all directions. The only ones left standing were Mo Yan's group, bewildered.
"What just happened?!" Kaelin shouted.
Tianlang stared at the rising dust cloud ahead, expression darkening.
"That direction… it's not far. And that aura… it's laced with a dark-type contract… Don't tell me—!"
Eyes wide, he turned and bolted toward the source of the commotion.
…
In the distance, the street had been torn apart, the ground cracked and upheaved. A hulking man in heavy armor stood proudly in the center, wielding an oversized golden battleaxe. The area around him was wrecked—but he didn't care. In fact, he seemed to revel in it.
"Oi, ladies! I'm looking for Evilbane. Tell me where he is, and you won't have to suffer."
From the rocky debris, Clorinde and Obsidian staggered to their feet, both furious.
"I don't know. And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you!" Clorinde snapped.
"Right! The Blight God Brigade's got some nerve sending just you to stir up trouble. What, you think the Black Domain is defenseless?" Obsidian growled.
The man laughed. "Fine, if you won't drink the wine of peace, then I'll make you drink the wine of punishment!"
With that, he raised his massive axe and slammed it into the ground. The impact split the earth like a cleaver through stone, and deadly spikes of rock surged forward like a tidal wave.
The two women exchanged a look—then sprang into action. Obsidian launched herself forward, fists blazing, forcing the brute into a defensive stance. Meanwhile, Clorinde flanked him from the side, peppering him with gunfire. As Obsidian's first wave of attacks ended, Clorinde closed the gap with superior speed, sword and bullets combining in a relentless onslaught.
His axe had power, but it was slow. Clorinde's strikes were swift, and Obsidian's punches hit like boulders. Under their coordinated assault, the brute was quickly put on the back foot.
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