Chapter 84: The Knight Returns
Inside an unknown painting world.
Cotton-like burning ash drifted in the sky, causing the sunlight here to last less than an hour each day. Even so, green grass stubbornly pushed through the cracks in the stones. As long as it hadn't been destroyed, it would continue to live.
A tall figure walked forward, clad in slightly scorched black armor with a short cape behind him. Every step he took stirred up choking ash, yet he felt a certain nostalgia for the sensation.
The old knight pressed against the armor on his chest. The bulging feeling of the scroll fragments inside seemed to ease the pain in his body by a fraction. He had once been a knight, until later, everything he had was taken from him.
The old knight was different from the Blazing Sun Monarch. He had no grand ideals. Searching for scroll fragments to repair the ancient city was neither his dream nor his duty. It was simply that someone had hoped for it, and he didn't know why else he should go on living.
The long-standing hope and trust of the ancient city's residents had made the old knight feel a renewed sense of responsibility. For a single moment, he felt like a knight again—though it was only for that moment.
Thinking of this, the old knight quickened his pace. As the ancient city grew closer, a sense of melancholy settled in his heart. He would find eternal rest here.
Passing through the city gate, the old knight entered the ancient city. The buildings were exceptionally dilapidated, covered in cracks. The streets were empty, exuding a desolate atmosphere.
The old knight was not surprised. This was how the ancient city always was. Most of the time, the people here remained in slumber. Only by doing so could they survive in this place of scarce resources.
He glanced at the sun above. It was not dim, nor did it have black spots. Confirming this, the old knight breathed a sigh of relief. The ancient city was as it had always been. But all of this would change today. This place would become a paradise—no madness, no beasts, abundant food and clothing, a peaceful and happy life.
As that scene appeared in his mind, a faint smile formed on the old knight's face beneath his visor. He stopped beside a bronze bell, pulled the striker from its rack, and struck it.
Dong~
The sound of the bell spread throughout the entire ancient city, awakening the people here. Repairing the ancient city was not something the old knight could do alone. Even with enough scroll fragments, it would take the help of many people over a month to possibly restore this place.
After the bell rang, the surroundings remained silent. A sense of foreboding rose in the old knight's heart.
Footsteps came from diagonally behind him. The old knight turned to see a monster, half-human, half-wolf, clad in tattered clothes and covered in black fur, limping toward him.
"Milord, you've returned. We... have waited a long, long time."
The half-wolf monster limped forward, a stained woodcutter's axe in hand.
"Sir Knight, have you brought back canvas fragments? We seem... to be sick."
Another monster, dressed in women's clothing and also half-human, half-wolf, approached. Its collar was stained with mottled bloodstains and half a shriveled eyeball.
"Knight Grandpa, I... I'm scared."
A little girl in a light pink suspender dress walked over. Her fair, slender little arms had grown ugly black bristles. The black of these bristles, against the whiteness of her skin, was particularly glaring.
As the little girl walked forward, she looked up. Her face was covered in black keratin, and her pupils were a murky brownish-yellow. She trembled, struggling to restrain herself.
"Roar!!"
The little girl suddenly lunged forward. Her clawed hands pierced into the old knight's shoulders. Her mouth, filled with jagged teeth, bit down on the side of his neck. With a crack, the fangs pierced through the armor, and blood seeped out.
The old knight stood still. A small, bun-like face and the face he saw before him flickered alternately in his mind.
"You've... waited long. I have returned."
The old knight wrapped one arm around the little girl who was biting and clawing at him. His other hand grasped the hilt of the greatsword on his back.
Inside the ancient city, countless beastified beings crawled out from wells, surging from all directions toward the location of the bronze bell. Viewed from above, the scene was both spectacular and horrifying. This place had long since fallen.
The knight had returned, but unfortunately, those who had trusted him were no longer there.
...
Main Painting World, Sanctuary Hall on the second floor of the ancient castle.
Su Xiao's negotiation with the oily man, Room 2's resident, was not going smoothly. This guy knew quite a bit, but he always spoke in half-truths.
If this guy had said nothing at all, Su Xiao wouldn't have cared. These people had no connection to him, so keeping quiet was normal. But this bastard only spoke in halves.
The Knife Lady tactfully indicated that she could make the oily man very uncomfortable.
The Knife Lady's main job was to serve the Young Miss, and her side job was to deliver meals to the residents of Rooms 2, 3, 4, and 6.
These residents also needed to eat, one meal every two days. The Knife Lady didn't say where the food came from, but it was likely from some painting world.
The Knife Lady's suggestion was that the next time she delivered food, she would "arrange" something for the oily man.
Su Xiao turned and walked toward the safe room. Pushing open the door, he saw the ghostly maid, Anas, floating in mid-air, wearing a long, gorgeous red dress.
"Guest, you've returned."
Maid Anas slightly bowed before drifting off to prepare a meal.
Su Xiao sat back on the sofa. Bubu Wang and Baha were also resting. Amu and Beini were not in the room.
Picking up a note on the table, Su Xiao saw Beini's handwriting. It read:
'I've discovered a key clue: the Traces King and Pure White Blood. I'm using the nightmare as a springboard, from the Main Painting World → Ancient Land. My goal is to find the "Pure White Blood." With it, I can ignore the erosion of madness for a period of time. I will definitely find it—Beini.'
...
Beini had left the ancient castle. Su Xiao was not surprised by this. Although Beini wasn't great at treasure hunting, she was very good at exploration. This cat had actually used the nightmare as a stepping stone to enter some painting world.
As for where Beini got this information, it was probably from the residents of Rooms 2 to 6. The treatment was vastly different.
Amu had gone as a bodyguard to protect Beini. For now, Su Xiao didn't plan to have Amu fight. His strategy was to have Amu enter the battle at the critical moment, catching the opponent off guard.
With Maid Anas around, Su Xiao's sanity value recovered quickly during sleep, aided by her lullabies.
Whether or not to explore the Nightmare: Ancient Castle Ward, Su Xiao was still hesitating. If he changed into the Sun Church set, entered the ward, and then used a [Sedative], he could explore for about 12 minutes, provided he didn't encounter any enemies.
In the next painting world, he might be hunted by the Sun Bird, Taihakak. Increasing his own advantages as much as possible was an urgent matter.
Su Xiao decided that once his sanity was fully restored, he would explore the ancient castle ward. Earlier, on the rooftop, he had found a medical record stating that the doctor had left the blood of Rosa... (obscured by bloodstains) in the ward.
This person named Rosa... was not only a key figure in the ancient castle but also appeared in a commission Su Xiao had seen within the Sun Church. Why was the latter part of this person's name obscured by bloodstains? What was so special about her blood that it could cause a beastified being to evolve to the seventh stage?
Exploring the ancient castle ward, Su Xiao didn't have much confidence. So he decided to open the treasure chests he had on hand to improve his ability to deal with nightmares as much as possible. He took five treasure chests from his storage space:
[Holy Spirit Chest (81%)], [Nightmare Chest], [Arcane Chest], [Immortal Chest (81%)], [Immortal Chest: Dark Demon Shadow].
He took out the Destiny Redemption, lit a cigarette, and after exhaling a wisp of pale golden smoke, the Lucky King buff was upon him.
[You have opened the Holy Spirit Chest (81%).]
[You have obtained: Foolish Bird Egg: Zakawa.]
[Warning: This item is related to the Abyssal Jar.]
[The Abyssal Jar is actively resonating...]
[You have received an additional reward: Abyssal Jar Fragment (Acquisition rights only, no ownership rights).]
Seeing this prompt, Su Xiao was surprised, but then he figured out what was happening. It seemed he had just opened up Wude's father.