Because of the name Aipade, Ye Chui decided to follow Old Harry and Hank to their village to meet this Divine Lady.
In this world, it was not as if no one was named Aipade. It was an unremarkable name in itself. But whenever Ye Chui heard it, he inevitably associated it with his iPad spellbook. Going to the village to take a look would not hurt.
If they encountered danger, they had stayed in the hut by the small lake for a full two weeks. Today happened to be invincible Saturday.
As for the wooden hut conjured by Ye Chui’s spell, he had originally planned to dismantle it upon leaving. But from Old Harry’s account, the villagers often came to this small lake, and the distance was far, making each trip time-consuming. Thus, Ye Chui decided to gift the house to their village.
He then invited Old Harry and Hank to board his carriage and set off for the village.
On the road, Ye Chui learned that the grandparents’ village was called Greenleaf Village, a name not even marked on the map.
“Greenleaf Village. Why is your village named that?” Debbie asked curiously upon hearing the name.
“The name has been passed down from our ancestors.” Old Harry had likely never sat in such a luxurious carriage in his entire life. He kept his back rigidly straight, his eyes wide with wonder as he surveyed the carriage’s interior. He continued, “It is said that the Elven Queen died in our village back then.”
“Ahem,”
Ye Chui, who was sipping a cup of coffee, choked immediately upon hearing Old Harry’s words and coughed repeatedly. The others in the carriage had similar reactions. Legend held that the Elven Queen from the age of the gods had died on these plains, hence the name Elven Plains. But where exactly she had perished was unknown to all. Now Old Harry claimed she had died in their village?
This was clearly impossible. If a village truly had such a monumental origin, why would its name not even appear on the map?
Seeing everyone’s expressions, Old Harry’s face grew uneasy. Hank said, “Grandpa, you are talking nonsense again. How could the Elven Queen have died in our village? That is impossible.”
“When I was a child, everyone in the village said so. The Divine Lady even saw the Elven Queen herself…” Old Harry seemed to want to refute his grandson, but his words lacked conviction. He probably knew how unreliable the village legend was. In the end, he could only muster an embarrassed chuckle.
“Guildmaster, these villages have all sorts of legends. They are obviously not true.” Green whispered to Ye Chui. He absolutely did not believe the Elven Queen had any connection to Old Harry’s village. Their Divine Lady had seen the Elven Queen? Hah, that would make her over five thousand years old!
Ye Chui thought the same, but at that moment, Lessa suddenly recalled something. She leaned close to Ye Chui’s ear and whispered, “Little brother, I thought of something…” Her expression appeared somewhat grave as she spoke.
“What is it?”
“Regarding the title Divine Lady… Little brother, do you know the Elven Queen’s epithets?”
“Epithets?”
“I saw records in some books at the abbey. The Elven Queen was the daughter of the God of Gods (Ye Chui: Predecessor!). She had many titles. Elven Queen was just one. There were also Elven Goddess, Mother Earth, Daughter of God, and…” At this point, Lessa paused before continuing, “Divine Lady!”
“So Divine Lady refers to the Elven Queen?” This was the first time Ye Chui had heard this. Could Greenleaf Village’s Divine Lady be connected to the Elven Queen?
As Ye Chui reeled in shock, a series of wolf howls suddenly echoed from outside the carriage window. Jacob, who was driving, poked his head in panic. “Guildmaster, this is bad. Outside, a thick fog has risen suddenly, and there are wolf howls…”
Ye Chui and the others were somewhat surprised. Fog rising in this weather, accompanied by wolf cries?
Old Harry and Hank, however, shuddered violently. They wore expressions of utmost terror. As Ye Chui prepared to peer out, Old Harry, forgetting his earlier restraint, yanked him back. At the same time, Hank frantically pulled Jacob into the carriage.
“Do not look outside. Do not look at the fog…” Old Harry said, his voice trembling with profound fear.
“Fog and wolf howls. What is going on?” Ye Chui was somewhat bewildered. He frowned and asked Old Harry, “Please tell us!”
Was this a trap?
“Magus, this is wolf fog. It envelops Greenleaf Village every so often. Anyone who enters it cannot return. Even a single glance will lure one in with the evil spirits within. It is said… they are the souls of the giant wolves that once roamed these plains, long extinct…” Old Harry explained hurriedly. His aged body curled into a ball, quaking uncontrollably. His grandson fared little better.
“Is it that terrifying?” Jacob asked, his face full of disbelief. “This place is only about a hundred miles from Windrock City. If something so dreadful existed, how could Windrock City remain ignorant?”
“Wolf fog appears only once every few years. The lords in Windrock City would never believe us!” Old Harry explained in terror, trembling even more fiercely. “I never imagined we would encounter wolf fog this time…”
Ye Chui frowned and consulted his spellbook. The map showed only the eight of them and the two horses, detecting no other presences. Yet the chilling wolf howls seemed mere inches away, as if those dreadful wolves prowled right against the carriage. But the map revealed nothing.
The two horses neighed in fright. The carriage shook violently for a moment before halting. Ye Chui saw on the map that the horses were still there, cowering on the ground in terror.
This situation made Ye Chui and the others tense as well. But for seasoned individuals like Ye Chui, Debbie, and Guni, fear was not the issue. Instead, intense curiosity arose. When Jacob asked shakily, “Guildmaster, Vice Guildmaster, what should we do?” Debbie struck a pose like a professional adventurer and said to him, “There are many wondrous things in this world. You will see more and more in the future…”
With that, she turned her head and lifted a corner of the carriage curtain to peer outside.
“Sir, you must not look outside…” Old Harry hurriedly tried to stop her.
“Old man, do not worry. My will is steadfast. No thing can beguile these eyes of mine. I am a professional adventurer, I…” Her voice cut off abruptly. The girl’s large eyes widened enormously, and she cried out, “Old, old man!?”
With that shout, the girl swiftly flung open the carriage door and jumped out. Lessa tried to grab her but could not.
Everyone in the carriage: “…”
Bloody hell, they had almost forgotten Debbie’s ditzy side after so long!
“You lot stay here. Do not leave!” Ye Chui shouted quickly. He summoned his spellbook, handed the Fire Ant Giant Sword to Guni, and rushed out after her.
Outside, it was bitterly cold. White fog blanketed everything in all directions. The wolf howls echoed as if resounding around his very body. But turning to look revealed nothing. Only at the edge of his vision did he glimpse fleeting shadows…
Ye Chui could no longer see Debbie. Visibility in the fog seemed limited to about two metres. Fortunately, he could track her on the spellbook map. But the white dot representing Debbie flickered erratically, as if it might vanish at any moment. Not just Debbie, the white dots for Green, Lessa, and the others in the carriage behind him, as well as the two horses, also flickered.
His brows furrowed tightly. He hurried towards Debbie’s position.
In the fog, Debbie’s figure had apparently come to a halt.
Ye Chui saw an elderly man standing before her. A kindly old fellow in opulent robes, with grey-white hair and beard. His hand, adorned with jade rings, reached for Debbie’s shoulder. Unquestionably, this was Debbie’s father, the old man she often mentioned, the former head of the Anduin family.
But… the map showed no sign of this old man!
It was as if he did not exist at all!
This was a situation Ye Chui had never encountered before. Whether demon, undead, or harmless beast, all could be detected by the spellbook!
“Debbie!” Ye Chui called out.
Debbie did not respond.
The eerie old man looked up at Ye Chui, a sinister grin seemingly curling his lips. His hand was about to land on Debbie’s shoulder.
Ye Chui acted decisively, extending his finger.
Destruction spell: [Spark Bombardment]
Bang!
The old man’s head exploded outright. His body toppled slowly, merging completely into the white fog before it hit the ground and vanishing without trace.
“Ah!” As the old man was blasted, Debbie snapped awake with a startled cry. Then she realised what had happened, whirled around hastily, and upon seeing Ye Chui, rushed to him and clutched his arm. “What is going on? Why, why am I here…”
“You looked into the white fog and were lured.” Ye Chui scanned their surroundings warily, explaining swiftly.
“That is impossible. I am a genius summoner. My will is the strongest!” Debbie said incredulously.
“…Girl, are you still deluding yourself about your will?” Ye Chui could not help but retort. He pulled Debbie, preparing to return to the carriage. The spellbook’s detection range was about ten metres. He had just exceeded it by leaving the carriage. Walking back a short distance in the original direction should locate it. Yet, after Ye Chui led Debbie back a few steps, the map showed no trace of the carriage!
“What is happening? Have I lost my bearings? Or has the carriage vanished?” Ye Chui said in shock.
At that moment, Debbie suddenly patted Ye Chui’s arm. “Ye Chui, look over there… How did he appear!?”
Ye Chui turned to see a youth emerging from the fog with a smile. It was the legitimate bastard son of the old emperor, Wade and Lessa’s childhood playmate, Rickon. He approached with arms open. “Wade, how have you been? It has been so long since we met. Do you remember me? To think I am the emperor’s bastard. I never imagined I would be someone of such esteemed status. My friend, I did so many wrong things before, but I always considered you my companion. Come, embrace me…”
Bang!
Rickon’s phantom was blasted in the head, his body toppling backwards.
“I have no interest in embracing men.” Ye Chui shook his head. He and Debbie both understood now. “This fog manifests shadows of the deceased dear to us, luring and devouring us.”
Earlier, Debbie had seen her old man’s shadow and dashed into the fog. Ever since learning of her transmigration, though she appeared outwardly recovered and vibrant, she still wept into her pillow every night missing him. That was why she had fallen so easily.
As for Ye Chui… The fog seemed to detect those cherished by Wade who had passed. For instance, Rickon. If it were Wade, he might have lost himself instantly. But to Ye Chui, Rickon was nothing but an enemy, nothing more.
As Rickon was blasted away by Ye Chui, another phantom approached swiftly. This time, it was Old Matron Rosie from Stan Town.
She called in her kindly voice, “Wade, the boy I treated as my son. I am your old matron. Do you remember me? Do you recall how you used to frolic in my arms? Let your old matron embrace you once more. Come…”
Bang!
Ye Chui shot the old matron in the head.
He continued scanning the surroundings. If he was not mistaken…
“Wade, I am your foster father. You are my son, my most beloved son…”
Sure enough, this phantom was Old Bond, the dark believer who had once adopted Wade. He shuffled trembling towards Ye Chui.
Bang!
Ye Chui raised his hand and shot, blasting Old Bond away.
Then he looked around with bold defiance and shouted, “Come on then, keep going!”
“…”
The fog fell silent for a moment. Then a childish, petulant voice rang out suddenly, laced with frustration.
“I am not playing with you anymore!”
With that voice, the surrounding wolf howls ceased abruptly. The fog began dissipating rapidly, vanishing entirely in an instant. But… the carriage, which should not have been far from him and Debbie, was now completely gone.
In the distance, a village built on a gentle hill came into clear view.
