Chapter 1224
The Black Night Festival of Holy Spring City
“You’re going alone?” Isabel frowned, a hint of worry in her voice. “At least bring Lily. She can protect you from the shadows. With Lily there, it’s like I’m there too. The two of us can help you solve problems that are difficult for you to handle.”
Upon hearing Eivass’s intention to go to Holy Spring City alone, she felt uneasy. She was already over four months pregnant, her abdomen visibly showing.
When Eivass realized a war was about to break out in Anxi, he understood that he could no longer protect Isabel by himself. She was no longer able to participate in intense activities. Although she could transform into someone else and gain the ability to act freely through the Mask of Secrets ritual, the mask was not a substitute. If the person she impersonated was injured or even killed, the injury would still reflect on her true self. Similarly, if the Isabel impersonated by Lily were injured or killed, the injury would feedback to Lily, who was acting as the vessel. In this regard, Lily, who could hide in Eivass’s shadow, was the most suitable vessel for Isabel’s abilities at the moment.
“I’ll ask Lily for her opinion,” Eivass said noncommittally, emphasizing, “This time it might be very dangerous—unlike the previous two Ouroboros Ring rituals, the Abyss Heavenly Envoy is extremely skilled in offense, especially in group attacks. I don’t have the confidence to guarantee your safety this time. Going alone might actually be simpler.”
Considering that he was already deeply entangled in the vortex of fate, Eivass decided to have Isabel retreat to the rear—at least to the vicinity of Rock Cell City. As for the Lord and the Red, they were of no consequence. An enemy of this scale would not be able to harm Isabel or anyone else Eivass cared about under his protection. Eivass now possessed the confidence and power to roam the Material Realm unimpeded; no empire or political system could stop his will.
The only ones who could become his enemies now were those lofty gods. However, if a mortal like Eivass still had the confidence to control the overall situation under such a threat, it could be considered arrogance rather than confidence.
“Also, I plan to ask Zhu Tang and Mu if they want to go,” Eivass added with a nod. “If things get tense, they can at least leave Anxi. If they don’t come this time, they might not have a chance for personal revenge.”
Isabel hummed in agreement. “You should ask them. But, the retainers who were originally supposed to accompany you to Holy Spring City… have them evacuate Heaven City first. They are ordinary people and will be easily crushed by a battle of this magnitude.”
Holy Spring City—this was the border city-state where Zhu Tang had caused trouble in the past. Back then, Zhu Tang had accepted an invitation from his Anxi friend to attend the “Black Night Festival” on the winter solstice in Holy Spring City. It was the most important and grandest festival for the Anxi people, marking the longest night of the year. After enduring the longest night, every subsequent night would be shorter than the one before. As an Anxi poet once said, “All suffering will end, just as the winter solstice comes every year. When the sun rises, hope will arrive as promised.”
In Anxi, whether free people or slaves, life was not easy. Everyone had their worries. Living resources were extremely scarce, making survival difficult and life arduous. Because of this, people yearned for hope. If life had hit rock bottom, every subsequent day would bring improvement. If life couldn’t get any worse, at least hope for a better afterlife lingered. This was precisely why the Anxi people celebrated the advent of the “Uttermost Black Night.”
On this day, even the Lord would show great compassion and grant all free people and slaves in the city a day off. People would roam the streets, shouting with as much enthusiasm as possible—singing, hawking wares, playing musical instruments, or simply shouting. This was to prove they were still alive. If their voices could pierce the heavens and linger after the night, they would carry that vitality into the following year, signifying their potential to survive. The evidence of this Anxi tradition was that on this day, those who no longer had the strength to walk and shout often died during the winter.
Before nightfall, fire basins would be set up on the streets of every city. Each household would have a fire basin at their entrance, and a large bonfire would burn in the center of the city. The oldest elder in each family would be tasked with carefully protecting the fire basin, ensuring it didn’t tip over or extinguish—this symbolized their family’s ability to survive until the next year. On this day, Lords would send their attendants to hand out candies to all the children by the bonfire. Normally, sugar was a poison to the poor, as consuming too much sweet candy would lead to thirst, thus depleting precious water reserves. However, on this single day, water was unlimited. Thus, it was the only day when everyone was permitted to eat candy. This was a memory of unparalleled sweetness.
Those with specialized skills would perform by the bonfire. Even under the dim light of the flames, dances and tricks could be seen, and singing and instrumental performances heard. Whether slaves or free people, on this day, people were equal. Meanwhile, the Lords themselves would feast in their palaces. Free people eligible for the banquet, as well as the dancers and singers, would receive generous compensation. It was also possible that, under the Lord’s favor, the banquet would spontaneously turn into an orgy. If the Lord was not satisfied, he would send people to randomly seize individuals from the bonfire. Free people and slaves alike could be taken away for his pleasure. Some might receive substantial rewards, while others might die that night. On this day, people did not resist. This was the “Uttermost Black Night”—they believed that as long as their lives were strong enough, they could survive the night. Conversely, if they didn’t survive, it meant their lives were not strong enough. All of this was a trial of fate.
Zhu Tang was watching the performances by the bonfire, enjoying himself, when he saw a group of camel riders suddenly appear and start seizing children. Faced with this unprovoked, inexplicable act of violence, only the families of the children attempted to resist, only to be killed in the street by the riders. Some families, numb with despair, even chose to accept their fate. Not to mention the indifferent gazes and schadenfreude of those around them. Hearing the desperate cries of the children struggling to resist, Zhu Tang could no longer suppress his anger. He didn’t know why the Lord wanted these children or why the bystanders were turning a blind eye, but this middle-aged Ritualist, who was nearing the age of having grandchildren, chose to intervene. As he had said, “A gentleman in this world knows what to do and what not to do. To turn a blind eye is also injustice!”
However, this act of intervention led to trouble. On the Black Night Festival, everyone in the city was considered the property of the Lord. They were gathered around the bonfire, awaiting the judgment of fate. It was like lambs in a pen scattering when the shepherd entertained distinguished guests and chose sheep. Whichever sheep was caught was simply unlucky or too slow; the other sheep would calmly return to graze and wander. Zhu Tang’s intervention, however, made him appear as a “wolf attacking the shepherd.” Not only did the riders attack him, but the free people—even the parents of the children—turned hostile towards him, chilling Zhu Tang to the bone. Unwilling to be captured, he fled through the city in the darkness, his retaliatory ritualistic spells causing widespread chaos. Some took advantage of the confusion to commit crimes, others to abduct people, and the entire Holy Spring City was placed under martial law because of him. It wasn’t until Zhu Tang was rescued by Mu that Holy Spring City was illuminated by countless torches.
This was why Eivass brought Zhu Tang along, allowing him to personally settle his past grievances. Furthermore, east of this point lay the towns of Taichu. This also fulfilled Zhu Tang’s request—to take him home across the Anxi desert and through the various city-states. Mu, being a Horus person, was not heading in that direction. However, the martial monk was quite interested in the Taichu Empire and wanted Zhu Tang to take him there. This would also serve as proof that Zhu Tang had not defected. After all, Zhu Tang, a criminal exiled thrice, had mysteriously disappeared from the border for half a year without leaving any letters, which was highly suspect. As a martial monk who had taken a vow of silence, Mu’s testimony was highly credible. They had traveled west together, crossing deserts and enduring immense hardships to escape the Ancient Kingdom of Anxi, forming a camaraderie like fellow soldiers. Mu was undoubtedly willing to help for the sake of his brother’s life.
As expected…
When Eivass informed the convoy of the sudden situation and his intention to evacuate Heaven City, and after arranging for most of the convoy to escort Isabel away, he detailed his plan to Zhu Tang and Mu. Upon learning that it was extremely dangerous and there might be no return, neither Zhu Tang nor Mu hesitated. Sherlock, however, firmly refused to leave with the group and once again rejected any protection or accompaniment. He insisted on guarding Heaven City alone until the last refugees had left. Otherwise, if they all left, these people might be abducted by slave traders with evil intentions, or they might fall into chaos and even kill each other in their confusion. According to Sherlock, with the protection of the Heavenly Envoy Fragment of the Water Icosahedron and his supreme authority over the element of water, even the Abyss Heavenly Envoy might not be able to harm him, and the city’s supplies would be sufficient. He intended to guard the city alone until Eivass returned to pick him up. Lily, on the other hand, readily accepted the invitation to accompany him. Ever since arriving in Anxi, she had felt a strange stirring. Participating in such a dangerous mission instead calmed her. Lixia chose to go to the Harpy lair, intending to lead those stubborn and barbaric creatures away from their cherished nests to seek refuge in the west, identifying herself as the “only winged one in this world.” Since Lixia did not obey Calamity Red, her Fifth Tier Path of Authority power was temporarily sealed. However, she still possessed the abilities of a newly acquired Sixth Tier Transcendent Path “Ascencist,” so acting alone would not be too dangerous. Even without paying any price, simply by nominal allegiance, Lixia still chose to refuse. This Grand Arbitrator, once blessed by a Crown Lord, had thrice rebuked Calamity Red in her dreams and rejected the overtures of the new Pillar God. The price was the complete abolition of her Dragon Blood Edict. If she hadn’t obtained the power of the winged ones through the Ascencist, she would likely have been reduced to an ordinary person by the wrathful Pillar God.
However…
Besides these former comrades who had fought alongside him, there was one person Eivass had never expected, who voluntarily offered to join this extremely dangerous adventure with a high probability of death—Haina.
