Chapter 4: Lanqi, You Trouble Me!
1035 Words
At the same time, inside a vast yet dim palace, several faint magical lamps were fixed to the grand stone pillars. On the main seat of the hall sat a figure completely wrapped in a black robe. His right hand gripped a staff leaning against the floor, and the hand that held it was dry and withered, covered only by a thin layer of rough skin over bone.
Below the platform stood two rows of dark, eerie beings—yes, beings. There were staff-holding skeletons, a dignified-looking man with wings on his back who resembled an angel but whose feathers were pitch black—clearly a dark angel—and another tall figure with black hair, whose appearance was so perfect that only he looked remotely human among them.
Kneeling on the floor before the dais was a human. His attire, if Yoshua Brave had seen it, would have shocked him: an undead mage. Indeed, it was the same attire as the undead mage Yoshua had slain.
The atmosphere in the hall was strange and heavy. Suddenly, the figure on the throne tapped his staff lightly, and an eerie, unpleasant voice echoed:
“Oronte, you know that the eight fragments of the Demon God must be gathered. Only then can the Demon God be fully revived. If even one is missing, his power will be reduced. Tell me your investigation—where is the fragment?”
Oronte trembled as he said,
“Your Holiness, forgive me. I have learned that Ratchet, who was responsible for gathering souls for the eighth fragment, has been killed. His ring could not be found even within ten kilometers, so it must have been taken by the one who slew him. The Demon God's fragment was inside that ring.”
The Dark Pope’s raspy voice replied:
“Who killed him? Who obtained the fragment? Oronte, why did you not recover it?”
Oronte answered,
“According to the investigation, a human named Yoshua Brave suddenly appeared at the border of the Dark Forest. Ratchet was slaughtering a village to collect souls at the time. That human appeared out of nowhere—strong, and accompanied by a high-level Ninth Rank magic beast, the Flaming Sky Tiger. The beast helped the villagers destroy all undead creatures, and Yoshua forced Ratchet to flee. Although he did not kill him then, he now resides at the Grand General’s estate in Serost and serves as an instructor at the Magic Martial Academy.”
The Dark Pope turned to the black-haired man.
“Lia, you shall go. Retrieve the Demon God’s fragment from that human. If you succeed, I will reward you with the Dark Conch.”
The black-haired figure immediately stepped forward with joy and bowed.
“Thank you for Your Holiness’s trust. I will do everything in my power to retrieve the fragment as soon as possible.”
Yoshua Brave looked at the seven students before him: Adela, Harold, Hill, Jonathan, Kenan, and two younger ones—Roselyn, whose eyes could change colors, and the silver-haired Sanhi. These were the only ones who had passed his illusion trial and still dared to come to class.
Their talents were good, but what he valued more was their determination—their courage to face bloodshed and their calmness in danger. They were excellent material for martial training.
However, he noticed something unusual. Unlike other noble youths, these seven seemed to lack proper early martial education. The strongest, Hill, was only at the level of an intermediate swordsman.
Yoshua nodded and said:
“Congratulations. Passing my test proves that you are exceptional. You are worthy of learning from me. The techniques I will teach you are powerful. If you train diligently, becoming a Sword God will not be just a dream.”
Their eyes immediately lit up with determination.
Based on their different affinities, Yoshua taught them the cultivation methods and battle techniques he had personally refined and created. Roselyn, especially, possessed a rare human ability, so Yoshua taught her techniques for awakening and guiding her inner energy—though the main focus remained on martial training.
The students were shocked when they learned Yoshua’s cultivation methods and even more astonished by the unique martial style he taught them. It was unlike the continent’s usual fierce, heavy techniques—his were elusive, precise, yet extremely dangerous.
Even the weapon he taught them to use differed from the usual greatswords preferred by warriors. Instead, he taught them to use a long, narrow blade similar to an extended dagger—a perfect match for his combat techniques.
He also tailored the martial arts to each student’s elemental affinity: Wind students learned Storm Sand Technique, Ice students learned Mystical Frost Technique, Water students learned Tidal Surge Technique, and so on.
After spending five days teaching them everything, Yoshua allowed them to train independently. He then began dividing his time between teaching and social matters.
Lan Ya was his future wife, and among those close to her were Lanqi, the lively Hong, Selina—strong-willed and bound by her family duties—and finally the mischievous young Rainfeir. Yoshua saw all of them often, though Rainfeir always ran away after teasing him, leaving him sighing helplessly.
One night, Yoshua lay on the grass in the back garden, gazing at the stars. The deep sky was filled with a divine brilliance, and the power of the stars flowed into his body through his cultivation technique—another advantage of the Faith Sword’s "Three Harmonies Method."
A gentle fragrance drifted by. Lan Ya sat beside him, hugging her knees as she looked at the sky. Yoshua, moved by her presence, gently drew her into his arms. Lan Ya’s heartbeat quickened, but she rested quietly against him.
Yoshua held her softly, cherishing the warmth of the moment. But just as the atmosphere deepened, a voice echoed across the garden:
“Sister? Sister, where are you?”
Recognizing the voice instantly, Lan Ya hurriedly straightened herself. Flustered, she adjusted her clothing. Yoshua could not resist teasing her lightly, earning himself a fierce glare before she quickly left.
Yoshua watched her go, still smiling, then sighed toward the stars:
“Lanqi… you really trouble me.”
- Writer
