Lanqi's Farewell to His Friends

On the border of the Horning Empire within the Shadow World stood Lichtenstein Castle. Four days slipped by in the blink of an eye, arriving at the dawn of the Shadow World's final day. The moon had set, and the morning glow began to spread across the horizon, draping the sky like delicate silk. At five in the morning, an autumn morning mist quietly unfolded like a painted scroll across the vantage point atop the tower of Lichtenstein Castle. The castle's spire pierced high into the clouds and mist, where several young men and women stood quietly, their silhouettes flickering in and out of view amid the first rays of dawn. The Civilized Role Models Squad and the three members of the merchant guild stood atop the castle tower, savoring this fleeting, precious tranquility and beauty. "Mr. Lanqi, I hope we can meet again." The merchant guild's young master had become an ambitious, driven young man—as if someone lost had found his path, finally understanding how he wanted to live his life. And Lanqi was his mentor and friend. "Who knows how long we will have to wait for that." Lanqi smiled faintly as he looked down at the forest beyond the stone railing. He could almost feel his connection with the earth below—an expansive clarity and wonder brought by this extraordinary journey, so unlike everyday life. Although the young master hadn't contributed much during combat, he had taken the lead in cooperating throughout the early stages when Lanqi and Frey were screening for traitors. Since the Canberra Kingdom and the Hutton Kingdom were vast distances apart—Canberra lay in the west of the Southern Continent, while Hutton was at the continent's easternmost edge—long-range communication magic between them had to relay through relay stations across several countries, making everyday contact exceedingly difficult. "Perhaps in two years?" the young master said after a moment's thought. The United Kingdom Council held an annual anniversary celebration in the Canberra Kingdom, along with a minor jubilee every five years and a grand jubilee every ten. Two years from now would mark the next ten-year jubilee, featuring a grand and magnificent festival. Beyond massive crowds of tourists from across the Southern Continent, royal families, high nobles, leading scholars, as well as Platinum-rank and Magic Crystal-rank challengers and card makers registered with the Southern Continent's associations would all receive official invitations from the Southern Continent United Kingdom Council to attend as honored guests. The young master believed Lanqi would never miss an event of such caliber, and they would surely meet again in the mortal realm. "See you then," Lanqi said, patting the young master's shoulder. In two years, if all went smoothly, he would be retired. Taking a trip to the Canberra Kingdom then wouldn't be bad at all. The young master nodded. After a brief silence, he spoke up again: "Mr. Lanqi, is there anything else you can teach me?" He treasured every opportunity to converse with Lanqi. "Pay closer attention to the person beside you. If you like her too, don't keep her waiting." Lanqi merely gazed toward the distant horizon without turning to look at the young master. Hearing this, Hyperion, standing nearby, instantly felt a wave of post-traumatic stress. Last time at the Card Makers Association, Lanqi had pulled the exact same line on Prince Ainuoer and Sophia. And the result had been Ainuoer nearly embracing Lanqi right then and there, leaving Sophia completely stranded on the side! Just as Hyperion was fretting, the young master turned to look at the female guard. He watched her quietly, without uttering a word. The female guard froze in stunned silence. Upon the high tower wrapped in morning mist, silence spoke louder than words. Sunlight filtered through the clouds and cascaded over Lichtenstein Castle, draping everything in a layer of golden brilliance. The distant mountains revealed distinct, layered colors beneath the light, while dewdrops sparkled on the nearby trees. "Bye-bye." Lanqi smiled and bade farewell, walking back down from the tower to the castle's fifth floor with Frey and Hyperion, leaving the fairy-tale setting to the two of them. Stepping into the corridor, the temperature grew noticeably warmer. Light, brisk footsteps bounced through the stone hallways, and a joyous mood drifted through the air. Everyone moved cautiously as they departed, terrified of disturbing the pair up on the tower. "That young master isn't completely dense—he understood your words loud and clear!" Hyperion whispered in astonishment to Lanqi. Could it be... Is this guy actually a little angel who loves playing matchmaker? "Mediating disputes is my specialty, and helping arrange blind dates and mixers is no trouble at all. All sorts of civil matters are my strong suit," Lanqi said with a smug smile. He simply loved spreading sweetness. "...?" Hyperion felt that, at this moment, Lanqi looked like an upstanding, fine young man in every respect. Where on earth had things gone wrong, then...? "Mr. Lanqi, thank you so much for taking care of us." The merchant guild's male guard had followed them down from the tower as well. Halting at the fifth-floor stair landing, he expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Lanqi. "Until we meet again." "See you next time." After parting ways, Lanqi and the other two descended the spiral staircase lined with mirror-bright bronze handrails. Their relaxed footsteps echoed in the stairwell, harmonizing pleasantly with the hourly chimes drifting from the distant sanctuary. As they rounded each floor's landing, the occasional birdsong filtering through distant windows wove together into a morning symphony. Before long, they arrived at the castle's ground floor. At the bottom of the stairs, a solemn set of double doors stood before them, the gilded motifs inlaid across the massive panels gleaming with holy brilliance under the reflection of stained-glass windows. Pushing the doors open, they were met by the faint scent of candles from inside the sanctuary. Inside the sanctuary, three clergy members were conducting their morning prayers. Beneath the sanctuary's rose window, they knelt shoulder to shoulder before the altar, heads deeply bowed and hands clasped together, their lips murmuring prayers. Every breath of air in the sanctuary was imbued with serenity and harmony. The massive chandelier hanging from the soaring ceiling appeared all the more dignified in the tranquil setting, flooded with natural light that illuminated the entire chapel. The whispered devotions of the clergy, their pious prayers, and the occasional flicker of candlelight crafted the stillness of the morning. Lanqi and his companions stood quietly to the side without interrupting the morning prayer, watching the clergy members pray with rapt devotion. Not until the prayer concluded did the three clergy members walk toward them. "If only we could have the chance to meet you again in the Northern Continent in the future," the lead priest said, offering a salute. They bore heavy responsibilities. With the Northern Continent currently in turmoil, they could not abandon their posts. Only if peace was restored in the future would there be any possibility of being dispatched on a mission to the Southern Continent. "Who knows? Destiny guides all things," Lanqi said with a smile, spreading his hands. "..." Hyperion remained silent. In truth, three months from now, she and Lanqi really were heading to the Northern Continent. She only hoped they wouldn't run into these three there. By then, the two of them would be concealing their identities and playing bandits. If cops and robbers crossed paths, the awkwardness would be unbearable. Everyone shared their final farewells. With only a few minutes remaining, the Shadow World would come to an end at five-thirty in the morning. This dreamlike five-day vacation was finally drawing to a close. "Oh, right. I'm going to go see the princess," Lanqi said, glancing at the grand clock. "Go ahead. See you in the threshold space." Once the Shadow World ended, all challengers would return to the Void Gate entrance where they had first entered according to their teams, and each squad would enter a separate threshold space to complete the settlement and distribution of rewards. ... Castle second floor, Room 201. Princess Alexia sat quietly on the bed, gazing out the window. Golden leaves drifted in the gentle breeze, rustling softly as they fell. All around the castle, morning mist swirled, draping the valley and woods in a mystical veil. If she could have had her wish, she didn't want this Shadow World to end. Because she did not want to return to that nightmarish mortal realm teeming with the Blood Clan. Even if she were imprisoned in this room forever within this Shadow World, she was willing, for this place brought her peace of mind. Hearing the lock click, she looked up in surprise as the door opened and Lanqi walked in. "Your Highness Alexia, it's time to bid you farewell for now," Lanqi greeted her, offering his goodbye. "You came alone?" Alexia asked. "I figured fewer visitors would help you feel more at ease," Lanqi replied with a smile. "..." Alexia hesitated. In her heart, she truly had hoped Lanqi would come alone, for Lanqi was the one who had seen her cry the most. "Normally, I appear as an aloof, dignified princess. It's only because you've seen my most disgraceful moments that I act so casually," she said, opening her hands like an innocent girl letting him in on a little secret. "So if you meet me in private next time and I remain completely cold and distant, it means danger." As she spoke those words, Alexia seemed to revert to her aloof, imperial bearing, her expression turning sharp and stern. Because she was also telling Lanqi: If, when they met next time, she had already been turned into a puppet of the Blood Clan, he must never trust her again. "Princess Alexia, you must never expose yourself, nor must you ever bow to the Blood Clan." Without a moment's hesitation, he answered immediately. Her response was silence. She seemed momentarily struck dumb. After a long pause: "Lanqi Wilfort." "Yes?" "I'll be waiting for you in the Creti Empire." In other words, it was a plea for him to come. It was just that Alexia could not bring herself to say, "Please, come save me." When she parted her lips, it came out as different words entirely. "I will definitely come." The white silhouette of Lanqi's back had already disappeared outside the door. Yet that calm, unhesitating voice reached her with utter clarity. Meanwhile, as the hour hand of the sanctuary's grand clock pointed to five-thirty, time seemed to slow in an instant, awaiting the arrival of a change. The imperial princess of the Creti Empire sat in a daze. Toward the hazy silhouette emerging in the white expanse, she reached out a hand, like a plea for rescue. "This time, there clearly wasn't that demon manipulating my emotions... then why...?" Even though she was still locked inside a caged high tower, a fragile sliver of hope had sprouted in her heart. Alexia murmured, frantically wiping away the tears welling endlessly from her unseen eyes. Radiance diffused through the swirling mist, and the entire castle began to ascend like phantom bubbles. Flecks of dawn's faint shimmer slipped delicately and silently through the dissolving walls into the sanctuary. This five-day, five-night [Banquet of Sanctuary Villains] had finally reached its ultimate moment of settlement.