# 1281
Chapter 1282: The Norns
"Sister, I can't see this big brother's future."
The voice was crisp and childish. Lin Qiye and the other person turned sharply to see a girl with two colorful long braids sitting on a tree branch, curiously打量着 them. From her appearance, she looked no more than sixteen or seventeen.
"'Future' Goddess, Skuld?" Si Xiaonan murmured.
At the sound of this name, Lin Qiye's heart skipped a beat.
Skuld? She was the "Future" Goddess Wang Mian had mentioned, the one with the law of time flow?
"It's normal that you can't see his future—even his past has a corner hidden…" Urd stared at Lin Qiye, muttering, "Interesting… Who exactly are you?"
Under the gaze of the "Past" Goddess, Lin Qiye took a deep breath and answered honestly:
"My name is Lin Qiye."
"I know your name is Lin Qiye, what I'm asking is…" Urd paused, then shook her head helplessly, "Never mind, it seems you don't know either."
"Come with me."
Urd turned and walked directly toward the depths of the valley.
Lin Qiye and Si Xiaonan exchanged a glance, then followed closely behind.
The actions of Urd and Skuld made Lin Qiye even more certain of his judgment. The Norns were not supporters of Asgard, nor did they favor either Loki or Thor. They had seen through his outsider identity and Si Xiaonan's spy status, yet instead of taking action, they simply brought them along.
What did they… want to do?
Though surrounded by two goddesses, Lin Qiye felt no panic. Hidden within him was the Assassin God, Number 27, who had transformed into smoke. If it came to a life-or-death moment, he wouldn't sit by and watch Lin Qiye die—as long as he could buy some time, he could use the Holy Grail to wish for an escape.
Just as Lin Qiye was contemplating this, a delicate hand reached out from behind and tugged at his sleeve.
Lin Qiye turned to see the "Future" Goddess Skuld, clutching his sleeve and gazing at him curiously:
"Big brother, there's an uncle hidden inside your body, right?"
The moment he heard these words, Lin Qiye's heart lurched!
As expected, Urd walking at the front frowned and turned to look at Lin Qiye:
"Who?"
Before Lin Qiye could explain, Skuld spoke again:
"I vaguely saw the future… Big brother will breathe out, turning into an uncle holding a dagger, and he'll kill a god in one go!" Skuld gestured with her hands, "About this tall, lots of stubble on his face, looks scary but his gaze is very gentle."
Lin Qiye looked at the girl with the colorful braids, utterly astonished.
Based on height and build, what Skuld described was indeed Number 27 inside him. But things like stubble and gaze—she had never seen him in person, yet she could say it so easily?
Even the shattered Grey Arena had failed to detect the Assassin God's presence, yet this girl had spoken of it directly. So this was the legendary "Future" Goddess?
Urd's cold gaze fell on Lin Qiye. With no alternative, he exhaled deeply, and heavy smoke billowed from his lungs, forming a blurry shadow that stood behind him.
Urd studied him for a moment, her brow slightly raised:
"Anonymous survivor of ancient myths, shadow god who hunts all beings… You hid within his perfectly disguised body. Almost let you slip through."
Number 27 stood silently behind Lin Qiye. Beneath the wide black brim of his hood, a pair of deep eyes also gazed at Urd.
Silence descended upon the air.
After staring at Number 27 for a long while, Urd finally shifted her gaze. Her eyes were complex beyond measure: "You… come along too."
Lin Qiye glanced at Number 27 behind him with a puzzled expression.
Before the "Past" Goddess Urd, no one's past could be hidden. Since she had identified Number 27 so readily, she must have already read through his history… Yet she still chose to let Number 27 accompany them?
What had she seen in Number 27's past?
After passing through half a forest, Lin Qiye and the others followed Urd along the winding mountain path upward. Soon they reached the summit of a grassy peak.
The moment they stepped onto the mountaintop, the dim evening sunlight broke through the clouds like scattered gold, falling upon Lin Qiye's face. He saw, at the edge of the cliff, a woman in purple robes with long hair cascading like a waterfall, sitting cross-legged facing the setting sun.
Due to the angle, Lin Qiye could only see her back. Her jet-black hair flowed like ribbons in the wind, and the sunset traced her upright silhouette, outlining a dazzling golden rim. As if sensing Lin Qiye's arrival, the figure slightly turned, revealing an exquisitely beautiful and cold profile in the twilight.
She rose slowly. Her towering three-meter-tall form stood like a small mountain on the cliff. Her purple robes fluttered, and those sharp eyes narrowed slightly.
"This is…" Lin Qiye sensed the terrifying aura emanating from her and murmured.
"The 'Present' Goddess, Verdandi." Si Xiaonan gazed at that incomparably beautiful face, utterly transfixed. "She is the future of the past and the past of the future. The past exists because of her, and the future changes because of her… She is the leader of the three goddesses and the most powerful among them.
Legend says that if the 'Present' Goddess takes action, not even Thor or Loki could contend with her."
"She's really that strong?" Lin Qiye asked in surprise.
"Sister! We brought these intruders here!" Just as Lin Qiye and the other person were still in awe, Skuld bounced forward, hugging the purple-robed woman's arm and bobbing her head as she spoke.
Verdandi looked down at Skuld, and a hint of warmth appeared in her sharp eyes. She patted the girl's hair. "Sister has something important to do right now. Skuld, go play by yourself for a while, okay?"
"Okay~"
Skuld nodded obediently and hopped toward the distant forest.
Halfway there, as if remembering something, she sidled up to Lin Qiye, her black eyes sparkling as she looked at him.
"Big brother, I want to play with that little cutie wrapped all in bandages!"
Lin Qiye froze.
He seemed to think of something, his expression turning peculiar. He drew a summoning array in the air, and with a flash of light, Mumu stood好奇ly at the center of the array, tilting its head to打量 its surroundings.
Lin Qiye pointed at Mumu: "You mean, it?"
"That's the one!" Skuld's eyes lit up the moment she saw Mumu. She looked at Lin Qiye with a plea: "Big brother, please let me play with it for a while!"
Lin Qiye: …
"Skuld!" Urd glared at Skuld, who immediately hung her head, looking aggrieved.
"It's fine, it's fine. Mumu, go accompany this… um… this lady for a bit." Lin Qiye quickly reached out, embracing the confused Mumu, and stuffed it into Skuld's arms.