Windsor's Night Talk

In the Zi'ao Family, Lei Lin watched the bright moon outside the window in silence, contemplating his next plan.

"Hogg's death cannot be kept hidden for long."

"Once Dylin breaks free, the arrival of the Day of Destruction is a foregone conclusion, and it might even come faster than in the original story!"

"Lin Lei, he needs time to grow!"

"And I..."

"I need time to grow as well!"

As he thought, his brows furrowed slightly, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the edge of the bed.

"What are you thinking about?" A lazy, alluring voice sounded in Lei Lin's ear.

It was Windsor, who had snuggled into Lei Lin's arms, dressed in a thin nightgown that clung to her rose-flushed skin.

Exhausted from their earlier activities, she had been sleeping soundly until the sound of Lei Lin tapping the bed frame woke her.

Sensing Lei Lin's distress, the understanding Windsor snuggled deeper into his embrace, her fingertips tracing circles on his chest as she asked softly.

Lei Lin glanced at Luo Lin on the other side; her hair was matted with sweat, and she was still sleeping soundly after having just drifted off.

Lifting Windsor slightly and placing his hand where it belonged, moving it naturally, Lei Lin finally spoke: "I have a friend."

Windsor paused at these words!

Lei Lin continued: "His father died!"

"Yeah, killed by someone!"

"The enemy's faction is very powerful, and behind them lies an even greater force!"

"Do you think I should tell him the truth about his father's death?"

Windsor's slightly groggy consciousness had snapped to full alertness the moment she heard the phrase "I have a friend."

After all, whenever Lei Lin started a sentence with that, it meant he had truly encountered a problem he couldn't easily voice.

Only after hearing the rest did she resume tracing circles with her finger: "Don't tell your friend yet."

"Wait until he is strong enough, then tell him and let him take his revenge."

Lei Lin: "I originally thought the same, but some things have happened that make me feel it might be bad not to tell him."

"If I don't tell him, I'm afraid some accidents beyond my control might occur."

"In that case, I might not even have the chance to pull him back."

"I'm also afraid he might accidentally join the very faction that killed his father."

Windsor: "The one who killed his mother?"

Lei Lin: "Uh~, my mistake, the one who killed his father!"

Windsor looked up and rolled her eyes at Lei Lin: "Can't he join first and then betray them later?"

"Besides, from what you're saying, the faction his father's killer belongs to doesn't know your friend's background."

Lei Lin shook his head: "Sigh~, but I'm afraid of accidents!"

"I've always been a bit too tense in how I handle things, but lately, I've wanted to relax, spend more time with my parents, and spend more time with you all."

"If an accident really happens, I'm afraid my current strength won't be enough to handle it!"

Windsor bit him playfully and teased: "What is there for you to be afraid of?"

"If you can't handle it, can't the royal family?"

"King Clyde is dying for you to encounter something you can't handle so he can owe you a favor!"

"And even if the royal family can't handle it, can't the Holy See?"

"This is the Holy Alliance; unless the War God or the High Priest themselves attack, what could possibly be unmanageable?"

Lei Lin: "..."

Not knowing how to respond for a moment, Lei Lin shifted the focus: "Well, it's mostly that matters of the heart are hard to explain."

"What if my friend joins the enemy's faction without knowing the truth and develops a master-disciple relationship?"

"Just like me and Master Sa'er!"

"I apprenticed to him early on mainly because of his status and his strength, which were very important to the Zi'ao Family at the time!"

"My feelings for Master Sa'er were more about utility!"

"But after spending so much time together, Master Sa'er has always cared for me!"

"If I watch him jump into a pit of fire, can I really not pull him out?"

"If I don't warn my friend about who his enemy is, and he ends up joining their faction, it will be troublesome if the subsequent betrayal affects his state of mind!"

Windsor rolled her eyes at Lei Lin again: "Master Sa'er's status in the Wild Thunder Guard is currently second only to Master Kaisa."

"Once he breaks through to the ninth rank, he will be the third most important person in the kingdom; how could he be in danger?"

"But Master Sa'er is indeed very good to you; not long ago, when you had trouble in the Chaotic Territory, you went to him for help."

"He didn't say a word before asking for leave to head to the Chaotic Territory to help you hold down the fort in Nifeng City!"

"I heard he and Lord Kaisa even had a falling out over this. Shouldn't you consider visiting Lord Kaisa first and putting in a good word for Master Sa'er?"

Windsor was very worldly-wise. Having spent a long time with Lei Lin, she had gradually come to understand that he wasn't a chauvinist, and that she could just speak her mind directly.

As long as she helped handle trivial interpersonal matters while Lei Lin was away and showed filial piety to his parents, she could solidify her position in the household.

Therefore, she took the opportunity to remind Lei Lin that he should pay a visit to Kaisa!

Lei Lin caught the meaning behind Windsor's words and sighed inwardly: "Visit him after some time?"

"If I wait any longer, the kingdom might be destroyed. What would be the point of visiting then?"

He smiled and said: "Silly girl, there are some things you don't understand!"

Windsor rolled her eyes again and didn't pursue the matter, though she didn't intend to keep discussing Lei Lin's friend either.

She said directly: "Fine, fine, I don't understand!"

"But regarding your friend's situation, I don't think you need to worry!"

"If the enemy's influence is vast and their strength is great, why not just leave?"

"After all, according to what you said, he has great talent."

"He can go hide somewhere else and cultivate properly."

"Once his strength grows and his fists become bigger, he can just come back and take his revenge!"

Hearing this, Lei Lin couldn't help but feel a bit amused, thinking: "In this fantasy world, might makes right—that really is an eternal, unchanging truth!"

Even a woman like Windsor had developed this kind of mindset.

But then, his eyes lit up, and he thought: "Hmm, might makes right."

"I just need to tell Lin Lei that his enemy is a major power within the kingdom."

"But I'll make it so that he can only know who the enemy is once he can defeat me. Before that, I'll just forbid him from joining any other faction."

"Sigh, no, in that situation, he might just guess who the enemy is on his own."

"After all, within the kingdom, the only factions that even make me wary are..."

"I should just have him join the Zi'ao Family directly!"

"As long as Lin Lei announces he is joining the Zi'ao Family, in the eyes of the Radiant Church, it will be practically the same as joining them directly."

"With me acting as a buffer in the middle, dragging things out until the Day of Destruction erupts won't be a problem, and by then..."

He couldn't continue his train of thought, because Windsor had finished resting.

The next day, Lei Lin received an invitation to attend the ceremony for Lin Lei's announcement of his breakthrough to the seventh rank and graduation from the academy, as well as news regarding the Dream Awakening auction.

Lei Lin thought to himself: "The breakthrough to the seventh rank and graduation is one thing, but for Dream Awakening to be auctioned off now—has the Slaughter Blade been found?"