I'll See for Myself

Racing is so much fun!

But that's fun for people who race.

But for Samuel, it wasn't so good.

Upon hearing the report, he went to the town and saw the knight who had been burned alive, the soldiers on the dock who had been pierced, hacked, and chopped to pieces, and another knight who had been brutally murdered.

Oh, among the dead was a sorcerer who had his hair permed.

According to eyewitnesses, the Cathayan had returned and declared his revenge, which turned the Viscount's unease into reality. He was considering how to deal with this escapee when he heard the news from the manor—all his unease turned into hysterical anger.

That was his son.

"What's going on!" the viscount roared as he rushed back. "You piece of trash!"

Samuel raised his hand, and the butler bowed his head in acceptance of punishment. Samuel saw the bloody wound on the butler's leg, took a deep breath, and forced himself to calm down. "How could I have let him succeed?"

"I'm sorry, sir, it's my incompetence."

The butler offered an explanation, but he had only heard Lynch's screams. When he arrived, he was met with traps and attacks from the Cathayan, and he was quite bewildered.

The Viscount's gaze shifted to Hannah.

Hannah was trembling. Seeing this, she rushed forward, grabbed the Viscount's hand, and murmured, "Father, Father, that Cathayan, that Joker, he's gone mad! He kidnapped Lynch, saying it wasn't my turn yet. He's back! He dares to come back! Father, he must be executed!"

Samuel was furious. He was already very worried and anxious after hearing that Lynch had been kidnapped. Seeing Hannah rambling on like a madwoman, he couldn't help but think of Hannah's unauthorized actions the night before.

If Hannah hadn't poisoned that Cathayan without permission...

At this thought, a surge of anger welled up inside him. He forcefully shoved Hannah aside, throwing her to the ground. "Shut your mouth! Your brother has been kidnapped, why are you still here!"

Ultimately, sons can inherit the family business and carry on the bloodline, while daughters are merely tools for marriage alliances.

Hannah fell to the ground, looked up and saw her father's cold and sharp eyes, and was startled.

Then he lowered his head deeply.

The viscount looked at the butler.

The steward continued, "That Cathayan is too cunning. I fell into his trap. Otherwise, if we had faced him head-on, he would have been no match for me! He doesn't know martial arts, and his skills are crude. He's just very strong, and his weapon is strange, but that's all! Please give me a horse so I can go after him!"

Samuel glanced at the man's leg wound and said coldly, "You stay here to treat your injury, then rearrange the defenses. I'm going after them!"

Just then, Master Richard stepped forward. He had heard that his disciple had died at the dock and had followed him there. Now he resolutely declared, "I will have my apprentices and disciples brought back!"

Samuel turned to look at him. "In that case, Glittering Sand's defenses will be further weakened."

"My disciples are dead!" Mage Richard said coldly. "I brought them here to carry out the Crown Prince's orders, not to die for your property! Since there is danger, they must be recalled. As for your Glittering Sand Town, that's your own business..."

Before he could finish speaking, Samuel grabbed his collar and gritted his teeth, saying, "My son has been kidnapped! His fate is unknown! I'm going to rescue him and then kill that Joker from the Cathay! If you want revenge for your disciple, come with me! As for recalling your disciple, don't even think about it!"

"If Glittering Sand Town is destroyed, if this operation fails, then the Good Family is finished! If the Good Family is finished, I will have no more scruples, and I will no longer tolerate you! Do you understand!"

Looking at Samuel, whose eyes were filled with murderous intent and cold, gloomy expression, the mage Richard was momentarily stunned. He subconsciously nodded. "... Alright!"

Then, realizing his earlier cowardice, he added, "Let's go hunt down that killer!"

Samuel, having ascertained the direction Kang De had gone, followed after him with Mage Richard.

The butler had only roughly bandaged the wound, and it wasn't until the Viscount left that he felt a burning pain in his leg. Ignoring everything else, he prepared to return to his room to treat the injury further.

Suddenly, a soft sensation came from my right arm, and a fragrant breeze wafted over me.

The butler was startled. He turned around and saw Hannah getting up and leaning over to support his arm. She was beautiful, with charming eyes and brows, and said softly, "Butler, let me treat your injuries."

The butler blushed and stammered, "This... this isn't necessary..."

"Yes, I will," Hannah said softly, "You were injured protecting me..."

The butler, still dazed, was helped to her room by Hannah. The young woman carefully tended to his wounds, and the scene was quite harmonious. The butler was completely captivated by their tender affection.

Hannah certainly had her own plans.

Her heart pounded because her father had gone after her younger brother; the look in his eyes just now had made her uneasy.

Kang De said it wasn't her turn yet.

In other words, it will eventually be her turn.

She recalled how Kang De had used traps and ambushes to fight the butler, but was still easily defeated by the injured butler. Although the butler was injured in the leg, his fighting Dou Qi remained strong.

In other words, staying by the butler's side is the safest option.

Because her father loved her brother more than she did, Glen was dead, she had no choice but to seek new protectors... Should she choose a few more knights? she wondered.

The butler pulled down his trouser leg and gently patted his bandaged wound. "Thank you, Miss, thank you. I'm much better now. I should go check the manor's defenses..."

Hannah immediately said, "I'll go with you."

The butler hesitated, then said, "You..."

Hannah's eyes reddened, and at this moment, she decided to tell the truth and use her emotions.

She sobbed, "Because... I'm a little scared. I'm scared that Joker will come back. He kidnapped Lynch, what if he comes for me? He... he... I'm so scared! Butler, will you protect me?"

As she said this, Hannah threw herself into the butler's arms.

The butler, captivated by the woman's warm fragrance and soft skin, revealed an expression of lust and desire.

The frail woman whimpered for protection, a moment that gave the man a chance to display his prowess. He immediately said, "Don't worry, young lady! I've already repelled that Joker, and the master and Wizard Richard are in pursuit. They might have already chopped off his head! Even if he dares to come back, I know his methods and tricks, and this time I will definitely kill him!"

Hannah took a step back upon hearing this, looked at the butler with an expression of admiration and respect, and nodded gently. "Yes, I trust you. Please allow me to accompany you on your patrol..."

Immediately afterwards, her face turned deathly pale, filled with horror and fear, as she looked behind the butler.

The butler was startled, then his hair stood on end, and he turned around abruptly!

The door was opened without anyone noticing, and a person silently walked in and then rushed towards him!

"Joker!"

The butler turned around and roared, his Dou Qi surging, as he threw a punch. "You dare to come here! Where is the young master?!"

Based on our recent encounter, this Cathayan, though incredibly strong, is unskilled in martial arts and lacks supernatural power—meaning a significant disparity in strength.

They're really courting death!

He threw a powerful punch and prepared to shout a warning, calling for guards and knights to surround the man and keep him there forever, but the next moment, the unarmed Cathayan grabbed his arms!

Kang De smiled brightly, "When did you get the idea that I can't beat you?"

The butler was startled, and his Dou Qi erupted. He tried to shake off the other man's hands, but he sensed a vigorous and sharp power within the Cathayan's body. This power was also... Dou Qi!

He exclaimed in surprise, "You...!"

Kang De kicked him in the wound on his right leg.

The butler let out a painful roar, then felt two scorching heat currents flow to his wrist guards. In an instant, the steel wrist guards became as hot as branding irons, scorching his flesh and stinging his nerves. His hands went limp, and he screamed in agony as Kang De's knee slammed into him.

"Those otherworldly beings are just pathetic. They underestimated their opponents, they're stupid, and their brains aren't working properly."

In the blink of an eye, the butler collapsed to the ground.

Kang De shrugged.

Then he looked at Hannah.

Hannah froze on the spot, her body trembling and shaking.

She had placed her hopes on the butler's protection, but who knew that this good-for-nothing... would be so utterly vulnerable!

She then thought of what Kang De had said to her before he kidnapped Lynch.

It's not your turn yet.

She feared Kang De's impending retaliation, but she hadn't expected it to come so quickly...

The woman's body was trembling; she wanted to beg for mercy, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Just then, Kang De moved.

He bent down, grabbed the butler by the hair, lifted him up, and then looked at Hannah with a gentle, calm, and harmless smile.

Put your other hand to your mouth and shh.

"Don't rush, don't be afraid, it's not your turn yet."

He said this.

Then, dragging the butler, they jumped out of the window.

Another angry roar and commotion came from outside.

Hannah stood there stiffly in her room, motionless, sweat dripping down her back, her body trembling, fear in her eyes, and a chilling coldness enveloping her.

This has happened twice.

She didn't know why Kang De hadn't laid a finger on her.

She didn't know what this meant.

No, she knew, but... she dared not think about it.

When Kang De's laughter faded and the servants in the hallway called her name, Hannah shuddered and snapped out of her boundless fear. She suddenly clutched her head and let out a scream that was not human, hoarse, frantic, and desperate.

The second attack.

The Cathayan launched their second attack on the manor.

No one expected it.

Even the shrewd and calculating Samuel hadn't considered this.

The Joker from Cathay used the town's tragedy to lure the Viscount and the mage away, and took the opportunity to attack Glimmering Sand Castle, kidnapping the Viscount's beloved son. The Viscount went to track him down, and everyone was still shaken. Everyone's thoughts followed this line—the other side had kidnapped the young master Lynch, and must be planning to use this to set up a conspiracy, either to threaten the Viscount or to take him hostage. That was what everyone thought.

No one expected that Kang De would suddenly return.

Moreover, they only kidnapped one steward.

By the time Samuel, who had found nothing, received the news, a considerable amount of time had passed.

"This is the second time. I think Viscount Samuel should have learned his lesson by now."

Behind the town, in the mountains, lies a dark cave. The walls inside are perfectly square and smooth, clearly not natural, nor were they dug out with ordinary tools.

The lights were on inside.

The butler was tied to a chair made of mud, his body covered in blood, and he was convulsing.

He looked at Kang De with despair and fear in his eyes; his initial toughness had vanished.

"The equipment here is very basic; we can only make do with what we have."

Kang De tossed aside a pair of blood-stained pliers and asked, "Thirsty? Want some dish soap? Not the household kind, but the restaurant's stock."

"No... no..."

The butler whispered, "Please, stop torturing me. I'll tell you everything, I'll tell you everything you ask, I'll tell you everything..."

He has lost all courage.

Kang De nodded. "You're right about one thing, and wrong about two things."

The butler looked up, a hopeful expression on his face.

He longed to hear Kang De speak, because that would mean the other would no longer torment him.

You're right, I do want to know some things.

A glint of light flashed in the butler's eyes, and he exclaimed repeatedly, "I know! I can tell you! I'll tell you everything!"

Kang De slowly said, "This brings us to the matter you misunderstood... I want to know, but I won't listen to you, because I don't trust you, not a single word of yours."

"No, no, no, don't!"

The butler pleaded, "I won't lie, I swear, I never will! I will never lie to you! Really! Please stop torturing me, I promise I'll tell the truth!"

I don't believe your vows.

Kang De calmly shook his head, then reached out and pressed down on the butler's head. "This brings us to the second thing you said was wrong—I tortured you not because I wanted to force you to talk, nor because I'm a psychopath who takes pleasure in your screams and pleas."

"Normally, I don't like to make things so bloody. I can't become a scumbag just because you guys are scumbags. Even if I'm going to take revenge, I want to be a classy Avenger. I want to have more fun."

"I just want you to become weaker, even weaker—I mean, weaker in your soul."

The butler, seemingly realizing his impending doom, pleaded loudly, "I'm sorry! I was only acting on the Viscount's orders! I can help you! I can provide information! I can help you deal with him! I will tell you all the secrets I know—his secrets, his weaknesses, his..."

"Shh..."

Kang De pressed one hand against his head, and held the other hand to his mouth, "Shut up, you don't need to say anything."

"I'll see for myself."

Intense light, violent screams—everything about the butler was stripped away and extracted, turning into light that was absorbed into Kang De's eyes. His life's memories turned into countless fragments that wandered in the sea of souls, and Kang De examined all of this.

Until the other party completely disappears from this world.

After a long while, Kang De flicked his head. "This is really suffering... Sure enough, spell slots are limited, but you can choose to absorb or not absorb. If you don't absorb, you can just look at the fragments of memory."

He was organizing the information he had seen earlier.

Perhaps his mental strength was limited; before the butler completely disappeared, he could only see limited fragments. However, if the target was clear, he could find relevant moments.

He jotted down the most important clues in his notebook.

"Mercenaries, a treasure vault, and..."

"Little beggar."

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PS1: Second update! 4000 words!

PS2: I'm going out for a meal, I'll write another chapter when I get back.