“Have you finished your bath or not? Useless creature! My sisters and I have been busy all day and still have to wait for you. You worthless thing. If the Archbishop didn’t think you were still useful, we would have kicked you out long ago!”
The woman in black was actually very beautiful, but her sharp eyebrows and the look of utter contempt on her face instantly made people feel a natural dislike towards her. She noticed the unusual miko outfit Fiore was wearing, paused for a moment, and the corner of her mouth curled in a mocking smirk. “What on earth are you wearing? Who made that for you?”
“I… I made it myself…” Fiore kept her head lowered, clutching the hem of the garment with both hands.
“Hah, how ridiculous. The clan leader we serve is actually someone like this. Trash! Just looking at you makes me sick.” The woman in black spoke with arrogant disdain, as if even standing near Fiore for another second was unbearable. She turned and walked out of the hot-spring enclosure. “Hurry up and get out of here. My sisters and I need to use it soon. You’d better stay obediently in your own courtyard and not wander about. The Ancestral Temple is no longer yours to rule, understand?”
“I understand,” Fiore answered quickly.
“Trash!”
Still cursing under her breath, the woman in black left.
Fiore let out a heavy sigh of relief. She turned towards Ye Chui and the others, her face now full of curiosity. In her vision, their figures slowly emerged from nothingness. She could not help asking, “Is that magic?”
“You’ve never seen magic before?” Ye Chui found it strange. Both his and Green’s grimoires were floating beside them; they should have been easy to recognise. Yet Fiore shook her head and said, “I’ve lived here my whole life and never once gone outside.”
“That’s awful,” Debbie said with genuine sympathy. “Little sister, you’re the Witch clan leader, so why do they treat you so badly?”
At Debbie’s words, Fiore immediately tried to explain, “I’m not…”
“You’re not the clan leader? Didn’t you just say you were the new one?” Green asked, puzzled.
“I am the clan leader, but ever since my elder sister was imprisoned, my position has become far less respected. They say the Witch clan will soon disappear and this place will become a church cathedral. Sooner or later the Church will take me away.” Fiore’s voice trembled with fear; her eyes looked even more pitiful.
Within the Tidal Empire, the Witch clan of the Ancestral Temple had always held a status equivalent to the national religion, an object of faith for the people. But with the Church’s invasion, the Witch clan was on the verge of vanishing. Thus Fiore’s standing as clan leader had become extremely awkward. The people who once served her now treated her completely differently. The “elder sister” she mentioned was surely the current Empress.
Ye Chui frowned. He had come here hoping to make contact with the Witch clan and see if he could borrow their power to resolve the rebellion. But now it was clear the Witch clan had no strength left. This little girl might even need him to look after her.
While Ye Chui was thinking, Fiore suddenly continued, “It’s dangerous for you to stay here. Let me take you to my courtyard. No one else ever goes there. Many Church people are staying in the Ancestral Temple right now. You could be discovered very soon.”
“Church people are here?” Ye Chui was startled. The Ancestral Temple was the most sacred place in the Tidal Empire; outsiders were strictly forbidden. He had assumed that even if the Church controlled the empire, they would not dare violate this taboo so casually. He asked, “What are they doing here?”
Fiore nodded. “They’re looking for something inside the Ancestral Temple…”
“What thing?” Debbie asked curiously.
“The Puppet Graveyard!”
…
At the very moment Ye Chui’s group successfully infiltrated the Ancestral Temple, in a mansion within the capital known as the Frenzied Dragon Courtyard, several armoured swordsmen were escorting a severely wounded man to an imposing, bearded elder who stood in the courtyard.
The elder wore a cherry-blossom robe with a ferocious dragon embroidered on the back. His hands were clasped behind him as he gazed somewhat forlornly at the moon.
“Father, we have captured him. What should we do with him? He is with the Any Name Magic Society. Shall we hand him over to the Church at once…” a tall armoured swordsman asked respectfully.
“Silence!” the elder snapped harshly. “Have you not noticed? He can summon the Divine Dragon phantom beast. The blood of our Frenzied Dragon clan runs through his veins! He… is my elder brother’s son!”
“But the Church wants him…” the swordsman persisted.
“And you are afraid? You would hand over your own kin?” The elder whirled around and glared fiercely at the swordsman. “Coward! Get out of my sight! As far away as possible! I do not want to hear another sound from any of you!”
“Yes, sir…” The tall swordsman jumped in fright, bowed hurriedly, and led his subordinates away.
“Useless son!” the elder continued cursing.
The gravely injured man knelt weakly on the ground, yet his eyes studied the elder with scrutiny. This man was Bart. Earlier, when the Black Pearl had been attacked, Bart had accidentally fallen overboard, been swallowed by the Frenzied Dragon, and sustained heavy injuries. He had hidden throughout the capital but was eventually captured and brought here. He knew the elder was his father’s younger brother, Sherath, leader of the Frenzied Dragon clan.
Years ago, the two brothers of the Frenzied Dragon clan, Sheral and Sherath, had both been prodigies and competed for clan leadership. Sheral lost, yet the Frenzied Dragon phantom beast still favoured him, splitting off the Divine Dragon phantom beast for him. Sheral left for the Star Empire, while Sherath retained control of the original Frenzied Dragon and continued leading the clan.
Bart had vaguely heard his father mention this Sherath, a violent and overbearing man. This was the first time Bart had met him.
“What are you staring at? Don’t you even know to greet your uncle when you see him?” Sherath was over seventy but looked robust, his full beard showing no sign of age. He planted his hands on his hips, walked up to Bart, and demanded angrily.
“Father said that after he was forced to leave the Tidal Empire, he no longer considered you his brother,” Bart replied hoarsely, struggling to his feet.
“That old bastard may not treat me as his brother, but I still treat him as mine. What can he do about it? Now his son has fallen into my hands. I’ll make him come begging in person.” Sherath roared irritably, glaring at Bart. “You have a younger brother, right? That boy called Evans. Where is he now?”
“I won’t tell you where Evans is,” Bart said, taking a deep breath. Sherath stood right in front of him. This seemed like an opportunity. He suddenly shouted, the phantom of the Divine Dragon spreading over his right arm and coiling around his fist. He punched straight at Sherath’s chest. He knew this man was his uncle, but they stood on opposite sides. The Frenzied Dragon that had attacked the Black Pearl earlier had been summoned by Sherath, its power even greater than Sheral’s Divine Dragon.
Although Sherath clearly still felt deep brotherly affection for Sheral, Sheral was utterly disappointed in this younger brother. Whenever he spoke of him it was with faint anger and sorrow. Influenced by his father, Bart had no hesitation in striking.
Yet faced with Bart’s sudden assault, Sherath showed no panic. A cold smile even appeared on his bearded face. He puffed out his chest and let the fist land squarely.
Bang!
A muffled thud. The next instant Bart was sent flying by a tremendous rebound force and crashed to the ground.
“Even if you were unharmed, your attack couldn’t hurt me. I am far stronger than your father,” Sherath declared proudly. “That old fool finally became the top guild in the Star Empire, only to be surpassed by some brat. He’s getting more useless with age, while I just keep getting stronger. I…”
“Hey gay guy, someone’s pulling down my zip—”
Just as Sherath was boasting about how great he was, a clear shout rang out behind him. Evans turned into a streak of light, his powerful [Slash] following instantly.
Joy flashed across Bart’s face. Of course he had never expected to injure Sherath. He had only wanted to distract him so his younger brother could strike. After Bart was captured, Evans had been hiding nearby the whole time.
The lightning-fast attack made Sherath’s expression turn grave. He had no time to dodge or turn. A layer of yellow Frenzied Dragon phantom beast aura instantly covered his entire body, protecting every inch.
Screech!
[Slashes] struck him like a shower of sparks.
Evans flashed past, then immediately turned into light again, charging at Sherath.
Swish, swish, whoosh. In just a few seconds he attacked more than a dozen times.
Yet his powerful [Slashes] could not breach the layer of Frenzied Dragon phantom protecting Sherath. Finally, when Evans rushed in once more, Sherath’s hand shot out like lightning and seized Evans by the throat!
Sherath was far taller. He lifted Evans until his feet dangled half a metre off the ground. Evans struggled desperately but could not break free.
“You little bastard! I’m your uncle and you actually attacked me! How did your brother raise you two? Sneak attacking your own uncle… Your skill is impressive, I’ll give you that. If I hadn’t sensed you hiding nearby and prepared myself, that attack might actually have wounded me. Applying the Divine Dragon phantom beast to a weapon, interesting, worthy of praise… but you used such a deadly move on your own uncle! Where is family love? Where is blood kinship? Trying to kill your uncle, you’ve broken my heart. No matter what, we are blood relatives. How can you be so ruthless? I’m truly heartbroken!”
Besides his explosive temper, Sherath apparently also possessed the gift of the gab. While choking Evans he kept ranting nonstop.
Evans struggled, his throat constricted, half his face already turning blue. “Guh… guh…”
“Today I’ll teach you in your father’s place: blood is the most important thing. No matter the hatred or grudge, you must never harm blood kin. Do you understand!?” Sherath continued shouting.
Evans: “Guh… guh…”
“Stop! You’re going to kill Evans!” Bart cried out anxiously when he saw the situation.
“Huh?” Sherath jumped, hurriedly released Evans’s throat. “I didn’t notice, sorry, sorry… But how dare you attack me casually? And what is that hideous armour you’re wearing? It’s ugly as hell, I hate it. Take it off right now!” Saying this, he irritably bent down, grabbed Evans’s arm, and tried to yank the “armour” off.
“No!” Bart and Evans shouted in horror at the same time.
Evans was not wearing armour. That was his actual body, the new body Ye Chui had condensed for him after his severe injuries. But Sherath moved too fast. The moment their voices rang out, there was a series of popping sparks. Evans’s entire arm was torn off by Sherath.
Evans let out a muffled groan. Sherath stood stunned. “You’re a puppet?”
For a moment he was lost. “How can this be… Doctor! Somebody get a doctor, now!” he bellowed.
Moments earlier he had thrown a tantrum and driven away his son and all the subordinates, even threatening that he did not want to hear a sound from them. As the domineering leader of the Frenzied Dragon clan whose word was law, no one dared disobey. Now there was absolutely nobody within several dozen metres of the courtyard. He shouted several times with no reply.
Sweat beaded on Sherath’s forehead. He hurriedly scooped Evans into his arms and started running towards the courtyard exit. “Useless idiots…” he cursed.
“Where are you taking my brother!?” The gravely wounded Bart struggled to his feet to block him.
Sherath was moving too quickly and collided hard with Bart. Bart screamed and was flung several metres, collapsing unconscious. In his panic, Sherath’s strength was comparable to a top expert’s full-power strike.
“Brother!” Evans cried.
“Ah! Sorry, sorry!” Sherath was now like an ant on a hot pan. He rushed to Bart, slung the unconscious man over his shoulder, and charged out of the courtyard. “You useless lot! Find me the best doctors in the capital, and a puppet master, now!”
Evans’s inner monologue at that moment: I shouldn’t have ambushed you, that was my mistake, but is this really how you treat blood kin? Being related to you must be eight lifetimes of bad luck!
