Danger.
The instinct of a cultivator bestowed upon Lin Qiyou by slaying demons, hunting monsters, and killing dragons and Phoenixes warned him so.
But just how dangerous could this beautiful woman before him be?
Lin Qiyou couldn’t help but ponder the question.
This Saintess Yue Lan was not an immortal being; she was a pure-blooded human. If the information was correct, she was merely a girl no older than twenty.
So, where exactly did her danger lie?
“Ah! Saintess, good day to you. It’s an honor to meet you. I am the Halfling Akya, but everyone calls me Little Ya. I come from—”
Upon seeing the church’s most esteemed presence, Akya hurriedly lifted her still-unsitting bottom and adopted a reverent prayer posture to greet Yue Lan.
When she finished, she immediately turned her head to look at Lin Qiyou.
Just as expected, Lin Qiyou showed no reaction; still sitting with one leg crossed over the other, propping his face with his hand, utterly relaxed.
His gaze toward Saintess Yue Lan contained not a trace of respect—only scrutiny.
And Yue Lan, just like Lin Qiyou, ignored Akya. Her blue eyes blinked, curiously returning Lin Qiyou’s gaze.
The atmosphere was somewhat strange—at least, that’s what Akya felt.
She didn’t dare breathe too heavily; neither of them showed any expression, and she couldn’t quite read the emotions in their eyes.
After a long while, Lin Qiyou moved his neck, switched to crossing the other leg, and said to Yue Lan, “I suppose you know who I am.”
Huh? Is that how you answer?!
Akya felt like she was about to faint upon hearing that.
“That’s right, dark-haired beauty, white-clad swordsman, the lone warrior who hunts the young dragons, Lin Qiyou.
Indeed, I granted you special privileges by inviting you to the Rose Royal Capital to see me. I’m glad you came.”
While speaking, Yue Lan didn’t forget to add to Akya, “Of course, that includes you as well.”
The words ‘Saintess’ made Akya float on air; her excited face flushed red.
“Then may I ask, Saintess, what is the reason for your invitation to the Rose Royal Capital?”
“It concerns the selection of the Hero.”
“Oh?”
Lin Qiyou had already anticipated this, but she still feigned surprise. She looked at Yue Lan sitting across from her and asked, “The Hero selection?”
“Surely at the border checkpoints of the Rose Kingdom, you’ve already witnessed the Demon King’s ambition. His minions now spread across the entire continent. Although the civilian-led ‘voluntary’ monster hunts are in full swing, the monsters’ numbers resemble a locust plague.
If this continues and the Demon King’s forces infiltrate further, then when the next war breaks out, the situation will be extremely unfavorable for us.
We must amass strength faster than the Demon King’s army to strike them with a lightning attack.”
As Yue Lan spoke, Akya exaggeratedly took out a small notebook to jot down something.
Hearing this, Lin Qiyou smiled and interrupted Yue Lan, asking, “So… that means I’m the Hero now, right?”
At these words, both Yue Lan and Akya were stunned.
Lin Qiyou continued, “The matter of selecting the Hero appears well-known, but its spread is kept at a reasonable level.
The church’s emphasis on this matter compels belief—it’s about accumulating strength to face the future clash with the Demon King’s forces.
But in truth, this is only a façade, isn’t it?”
“A façade?” Yue Lan narrowed her blue eyes.
“We use the Hero selection to attract the Demon King’s attention, letting him know roughly when the Continental Allied Forces will act. Meanwhile, the real Hero has already been decided in secret, poised to strike the Demon King’s army off guard at the right moment.”
After Lin Qiyou finished speaking, Yue Lan closed her eyes, nodded, and praised, “You’re truly clever.”
“Eh? So that’s how it is!”
Akya’s face was full of surprise upon hearing the news.
“Indeed, the Hero selection is a mere illusion, designed to show the Demon King’s forces that we are in a state of chaotic preparation, making them lower their guard.”
“Very well, I agree to your proposal, Saintess, but I have one condition.”
Lin Qiyou said, turning to Akya, “My companion must be allowed to join the Hero’s team alongside me.”
“That’s perfectly acceptable; she can act as your strategist.”
Yue Lan nodded promptly and decisively.
To think a teenage girl could wield such authority left Lin Qiyou somewhat surprised. Yue Lan’s power was indeed beyond imagination.
But a Hero’s strategist, huh?
“I want to know about the previous Demon King Castle massacre.”
After a while, Lin Qiyou suddenly changed the subject.
“The Demon King Castle massacre… Our allied forces suffered heavy losses.
The treacherous Demon King planted spies in our camp, and during the chaos caused by the espionage, he launched a surprise attack on the camp… many died.”
Yue Lan’s face was full of regret as she spoke.
“So, how many of the previous Heroes remain?”
“Most are dead, including my sister…”
As Yue Lan spoke, the pinky finger on her left hand trembled uncontrollably.
Lin Qiyou noticed the detail and narrowed his eyes before continuing:
“I heard there was a very formidable Hero strategist named Aoki…”
“Aoki…”
Yue Lan raised an eyebrow and asked back, “What about Aoki? Why do you ask?”
“Where is he?”
“I can’t tell you. Church secrets.”
“Why not?”
“Church secrets.”
“What happened to him?”
“Church secrets.”
At this point, Lin Qiyou knew there was no point in pushing further. He changed his posture and looked at Yue Lan.
“What are you asking about Aoki for?”
Yue Lan’s expression and tone were calm.
“Nothing much, just simple curiosity. Shall we move to the next topic?”
“Of course.”
…
After another ten minutes of conversation, the meeting concluded.
Yue Lan inquired about Akya’s and their accommodations, then stood and bid farewell to the two before leaving the room.
In the sacred corridors of the Rose Cathedral stood several guardian mages and knights. Upon seeing them, she said, “I’m going to rest for a while. You don’t need to follow me for now.”
With that, she walked alone down the corridor and returned to her resting chamber.
The resting chamber was very peculiar; every mirror in the room was covered with a cloth.
Yue Lan silently approached one mirror, lifted the cloth, and revealed her own face twisted with madness and rage.
“You demon! Is that Lin Qiyou your minion? You want to lay your hands on my Aoki again, don’t you?
I’ll kill you, kill you, kill you! I’ll kill you again, Yue Qi! You demon!”
In the mirror, there was not only her but also a blonde, green-eyed naked woman—her sister, Yue Qi.
Yue Qi looked at her expressionlessly, just standing behind her, her head emerging from behind Yue Lan’s shoulder, the rest of her body hidden by Yue Lan.
“I won’t let you succeed, Yue Qi! What should I do, what should I do, what should I do!”
Yue Lan crawled on the floor, face full of sorrow as she reached a locked cabinet. She took out a syringe and hurriedly injected it into her arm, shouting, “I’ll kill your minion. I’ll kill Lin Qiyou!”
Not long after, Yue Lan issued a secret order:
Assassinate Lin Qiyou.
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