Deep into the night, outside the City of Shadows.
In the middle of a man-eating shrub, a black shadow suddenly appeared with a "bang" sound. The black shadow smashed into a swaying man-eating flower, directly breaking it in half.
A pungent smell of blood suddenly emanated from the dark figure. The smell of blood seemed to possess the most powerful allure. It caused all the man-eating plants in the patch of man-eating shrubs to become excited.
Tenacious branches covered with sharp thorns and banana leaves flowing with intense corrosive liquid suddenly moved from their motionless state. All of them flew towards the dark figure. In but an instant, the dark figure vanished. Layers of entangling branches and leaves appeared, wrapping the dark figure into the shape of a human.
The night was cool and refreshing. Time passed silently …
The man-eating plants wrapping around the dark figure wriggled and tore at the creature with all their might. The tighter and tighter they wrapped around the creature, as though they were trying to choke, grind, and devour the creature inside …
Crack … Strange noises sounded from the center of the human-shaped creature. The tenacious branches that tightened around the creature gradually loosened and retreated at an even faster speed.
Crack … Crack … The branches, leaves, and roots of the man-eating plants that were retreating a little slower suddenly split into pieces and scattered all over the ground.
…
Slowly, Han Shuo moved his arms and legs. He felt that every ounce of strength was ten times more difficult than before. His eyelids also seemed to have grown several times heavier. Even the act of keeping his eyes open had become extremely difficult.
With great difficulty, Han Shuo sat cross-legged on the ground and recovered some of his strength. With one thought, Han Shuo's two avatars flew out of his body at the same time. The two avatars stood on the left and right side, vigilantly observing their surroundings.
Han Shuo did not immediately return to the City of Shadows. Instead, his two avatars led his main body to a secluded underground cave amidst the many mountain ranges outside the City of Shadows. They carefully concealed all traces of their existence. The two avatars made some arrangements outside the cave. Only then did the avatar of death silently leave.
In the dead of the night, the City of Shadows was devoid of the hustle and bustle of the day. It appeared very tranquil.
When the avatar of death arrived outside the city walls of the Lavers Residence, it silently released a few demon generals. However, its main body did not dare to enter the city. If he didn't pass through the city gates and entered the city from other areas, he would have to face the merciless attacks of the barrier towers surrounding him. Han Shuo didn't have the confidence to safely avoid them, so he could only stay outside the city.
The incorporeal demon generals could pass through the barrier towers that targeted physical attacks. Han Shuo lurked in the dark and observed the situation around him through a few demon generals.
After confirming that the target was the Lavers Residence, the demon general bypassed the barrier towers and arrived at the Lavers Residence.
The boundary inside the Lavers Residence was even more detailed, but it was not strong enough to prevent the demon generals from entering. The demon generals circled around the Lavers Residence and soon found Cage and Eve's room. Two demon generals hid there and secretly observed the duo's every move.
"Brother, why doesn't father allow us to leave the Lavers Residence?" The gods on Elysium had very little need for sleep. Even in the dead of night, they would spend most of their time meditating. At this moment, Eve was clearly not meditating. She was complaining to Cage.
"Father naturally has his reasons for his decision. We just need to listen to him," Cage appeared very calm. Cage seemed very calm. He glanced at the agitated Eve and said solemnly, "Father is really angry this time. I'm sure that we'd better behave for the time being and don't cause any more trouble. Do you understand?"
"But, but that guy has destroyed three of our shops. We have been bullied to this extent. Aren't we going to retaliate?" Eve's voice grew softer. She had rarely seen Cage so obedient. She knew that the situation wasn't as simple as it seemed.
"Don't worry, father said that he will take care of it!" Cage put on a cold smile and said, "I heard from the divine guards that father drank quite a lot tonight. Do you know what it means for father to drink?"
Eve was startled for a moment before she seemed to recall something. She became overjoyed and said, "You mean … you mean …"
Cage nodded and confidently said, "Someone is going to be in big trouble!"
"That's great! I knew father wouldn't let us be bullied for nothing. Haha … that youngster … we probably won't be able to see him again …" Eve's mood was much better than before. Her face was filled with a cold smile.
The two demon generals that were placed to spy on Cage and Eve were withdrawn. They silently retreated towards Han Shuo who was hiding outside the city wall.
There was no need for further investigation. Han Shuo already knew who attacked him tonight. The strong smell of alcohol on the assailant's body couldn't have been faked. After comparing it with Cage and Eve's words, Han Shuo was immediately certain that the assailant was the Chief of the Fifth Corps, Avery!
Han Shuo knew that Avery was planning to kill him tonight. If he died, even if the House of Sainte figured out that it was Avery who did it, they wouldn't go to war against Avery. After all, Avery was the Chief of the Fifth Corps and represented the entire House of Lavers.
Han Shuo might have some value when he was alive, but he was worthless when he was dead. A dead man who couldn't even refine medicine wasn't worth the House of Sainte going to war against him. Perhaps only Carmelita would avenge him. Han Shuo thought in a self-deprecating manner.
However, if Carmelita doesn't know who my enemy is, how is she going to avenge me?
A series of thoughts flashed across Han Shuo's mind. Although Avery's drunken attack seemed reckless, after careful consideration, Han Shuo realized that Avery was a decisive and ruthless person. Avery's actions must have been carefully thought out before he pretended to be drunk.
How could a highgod be drugged by alcohol?
After figuring all this out, Han Shuo suddenly felt a chill in his heart. He no longer dared to underestimate any highgod in the City of Shadows. If a mere Avery was this terrifying, then wouldn't the other Chiefs of Divine Guards and patriarchs of major family clans who were even stronger and more powerful than Avery be even more terrifying?
Han Shuo, who had recently become famous in the City of Shadows due to his medicines, immediately calmed down. He realized that his recent smooth sailing had led him to underestimate the experts in the City of Shadows. It was also because he had underestimated how terrifying Avery and the House of Lavers could be that he was almost killed tonight!
"Huh?" Han Shuo softly cried out. His demon generals who were retreating from the Lavers Residence suddenly discovered a shadow outside Cage and Eve's house. That shadow had completely merged with the darkness and was gently twisting about as though it was searching for something …
"Where is it? There must be something nearby. What could it be …" The figure of the Fifth Corps that Avery referred to as Number Three looked all around in the darkness, trying to find the unknown threat lurking in the darkness. However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't find anything.
After letting out a soft cry, Han Shuo hastily ordered his demon generals to retreat. Through his demon generals, Han Shuo discovered the shadow in the darkness and immediately determined that it was a midgod with extraordinary strength and an expert in concealment.
Han Shuo had more or less guessed the truth of the matter. Fearing that his demon generals would be discovered, Han Shuo immediately ordered his demon generals to retreat.
That night, Han Shuo's avatar of death silently returned to the cave where his main body was. He had no intention of returning to the City of Shadows for the time being.
…
Two months passed in the blink of an eye.
Thanks to Anito's efforts, the Celestial Pearl Pharmacy had been refurbished to the point where it looked brand new. During these days, members of various large family clans visited Anito one after another, inquiring about Han Shuo's whereabouts. They were eager to purchase new medicines.
Many of those who purchased a few bottles of medicine from the Celestial Pearl Pharmacy had tried the miraculous effects of the medicine. Every single one of them was full of praise for the medicine. They spread the word about the miraculous effects of the Celestial Pearl Pharmacy everywhere. More and more members of the aristocratic families in the City of Shadows began to pay attention to the Celestial Pearl Pharmacy that had just risen to prominence.
Anito knew nothing of what happened that night. Naturally, he couldn't give the people a satisfactory answer about Han Shuo's mysterious disappearance. Erebus, the Chief of the Third Corps, had sought him out several times. But as the person in question was not around, where could Anito go to purchase the medicine?
Another month passed. The Celestial Pearl Pharmacy's reputation in the City of Shadows grew. Many large family clans began to grow suspicious when Han Shuo did not show up for a long time. Some family clans even mobilized their forces to search for traces of Han Shuo in the mountain ranges around the City of Shadows.
Carmelita's complexion had become more and more normal after she walked out of her meditation. Carmelita, who was originally extremely ugly, was now only ordinary ugly due to the changes in her complexion and skin, even though she was still far from the word "beautiful".
Carmelita was so excited that she had even thought of how she could repay Han Shuo. But unfortunately, Han Shuo's mysterious disappearance had greatly disappointed her. Carmelita had heard from Han Shuo about the time when he went to gather medicinal herbs and Han Shuo's daily practice. In addition, she also heard from Anito that Han Shuo had already gathered all the medicinal herbs when he returned. With that, Carmelita started to feel anxious.
By the fourth month, not only Carmelita, but almost all the members of large family clans who were preparing to purchase medicine from Han Shuo believed that something must have happened to Han Shuo. Many believed that Han Shuo might have been killed when the Celestial Pearl Pharmacy was destroyed.
But Carmelita did not believe it!
She had returned from the Miasma Cloud Mountain Range with Han Shuo. She had heard from Han Shuo that his life-saving skills were top-notch. The fact that a lowgod like Han Shuo was able to walk out alive from the perilous situation in the Miasma Cloud Mountain Range and even brought her along with him, made her believe it deeply!
Carmelita was truly anxious. She ordered the divine guards of the House of Sainte to search for Han Shuo everywhere. Not only in the City of Shadows, but also in some of the cities and fortresses under the City of Shadows. A large-scale search for Han Shuo was carried out in full swing under Carmelita's leadership …
Meanwhile, Andre, an important figure of the House of Sainte, had begun to investigate the matter.
"How is it?" Andre narrowed his eyes. His left pupil turned dark purple and emitted ice-cold killing intent. If Han Shuo were here, he would surely discover that Andre was a completely different person from his usual amiable and amiable self!
A man wearing a white mask was kneeling in front of Andre. Under the white mask, there was only a pair of empty eyes. He looked like a lifeless corpse, giving off a very uncomfortable and inhuman feeling.
"That night, Lord Avery of the Lavers Family drank to his heart's content!" Said the old-fashioned, indifferent voice from the man wearing the white mask. It sounded as though there was no emotion in his voice.
"Continue!" Andre's dark purple left pupil suddenly closed. He looked at the man with his right eye.
"Avery's son, Cage, went to the Fifth Corps. The two talked in a secret chamber for a while before Cage returned to the Lavers Residence. He has not stepped out of the Lavers Residence to this day!" The emotionless voice paused for a moment before continuing, "However, there are eyewitnesses who claim that Avery did not step out of the Fifth Corps building that night. He fell into a deep sleep after getting drunk and did not wake up until dawn!"
"It would be fine if he wasn't there. But since he was at the top of the Fifth Corps' Sky Tower all this time and someone saw him, it must be him! It seems that I have to go and have a talk with him! " Andre stood up. His left eye opened and turned into the same dark gray color as his right eye. His entire temperament had changed and he had once again become the smiling and gentle Andre.
… …
In the Fifth Corps, at the top of the Sky Tower where Avery was drunk, Andre suddenly appeared out of thin air and sat on the seat that belonged to Avery. He calmly gazed at the azure sky above his head and gently rocked the chair he was sitting on.
Avery who was handling government affairs suddenly bunched his brows and instructed the few people in front of him, "That's all for now. All of you are dismissed!"
"My Lord, there are still a few matters that I need your …"
"Back off!" Before he could finish his sentence, Avery's voice turned cold, and he shouted.
The few people were startled and did not dare to utter another word. They obediently retreated and only heaved a sigh of relief when they walked out of the room.
Avery's body blurred and in the next instant, he appeared before Andre.
"Lord Andre, I didn't expect to see you here. What can I do for you?" Avery was holding a bottle of wine in his hand. As he spoke, he casually poured wine into his glass. Upon finishing his words, he handed a crystal goblet filled with amber wine to Andre and said, "This is the Hundred Fruit Wine from the Northwest Forest of the Life Dominion. Have a taste."
Andre accepted the goblet with a smile and took a sip. He put on a pleased expression and said, "Hmm … Not bad, not bad … You sure know how to enjoy life!"
Avery was full of smiles and was extremely modest.
"So, is Brian dead or alive?" After drinking all the wine, Andre gently swirled the wine glass and looked at the empty glass. Then, he asked casually.
The smile on Avery's face stiffened. He suddenly stopped refilling his goblet. After a long while, he resumed refilling his goblet but with a bitter smile on his face. Avery shook his head and said, "I don't know …"
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
