Windsor's Late-Night Conversation

At the Zi'ao Family estate, Lei Lin quietly gazed at the bright moon outside the window, thinking about his plans.

"Hogg's death won't stay hidden for long."

"Now that Dylan has escaped, the Day of Destruction is inevitable. It might even come sooner than it did in the original story!"

"Lin Lei needs time to grow!"

"I..."

"Need time to grow, too!"

As he thought, his brow furrowed slightly, and his fingers tapped restlessly against the edge of the bed.

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

It was Windsor, nestled in his arms. She wore a light nightdress, and the skin beneath it was flushed rose-red.

She had been sleeping soundly after their exertions, but Lei Lin's tapping against the bed had woken her.

Noticing his troubled mood, considerate Windsor slipped back into his arms. Her fingertips traced lightly across his chest as she asked softly.

Lei Lin glanced at Luo Lin on the other side. Her hair clung to her sweat-damp skin, and she was still sleeping deeply, having only just begun to rest.

He lifted Windsor slightly, placed his hand where it belonged, and began moving naturally before saying, "I have a friend."

Windsor paused at that!

Lei Lin continued, "His father died!"

"Mm, he was murdered!"

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

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

Windsor's still-drowsy mind had snapped fully awake at the words "I have a friend."

After all, whenever Lei Lin started a conversation that way, it meant he had run into a real problem but found it hard to bring it up directly.

Only after hearing the rest did her fingers resume tracing circles as she said, "Why not keep it from your friend for now?"

"Tell him once he's stronger, and let him take revenge then."

Lei Lin said, "That was what I thought at first, too, but something happened that made me feel it might be better to tell him."

"If I don't, some unexpected 'accident' might happen—something beyond my expectations."

"If that happens, I might not even get the chance to help him."

"And I'm worried he might accidentally join the faction of the person who killed his mother."

"His mother's killer?" Windsor asked.

"Uh, I got it wrong. His father's killer!"

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

"From what you said, the faction his father's killer belongs to doesn't know your friend's background."

Lei Lin shook his head. "Sigh, but I'm worried about an 'accident'!"

"I've always been a little tense about everything I do. Lately, I've wanted to relax and spend more time with my parents and with all of you."

"If an 'accident' really happens, I'm afraid I won't be strong enough to handle it."

Windsor bit him, teasing, "What do you have to be afraid of?"

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

"King Clyde would be delighted if you ran into a problem you couldn't handle. He'd get the chance to do you a favor!"

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

"This is the Holy Alliance. Unless the War God or the High Priest comes knocking, what could possibly be beyond their reach?"

Lei Lin fell silent.

Not knowing what to say, Lei Lin changed the subject. "Well, feelings are hard to explain."

"What if my friend joins the enemy's faction without knowing the truth, and then they become teacher and student?"

"Like me and my master, Sa'er!"

"When I first became his disciple, it was mainly because of his status and strength, which were important to the Zi'ao Family at the time!"

"My feelings toward Master Sa'er were mostly self-serving!"

"But as time passed, Master Sa'er kept showing me concern!"

"If I watched him walk into a trap, could I really not pull him out?"

"If I don't warn my friend who his enemy is, and he ends up joining that enemy's faction, then betraying them later might affect his character. That would be trouble!"

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

"If he breaks through to the ninth rank, he'll be the kingdom's third most important figure. How could he be in danger?"

"Still, Lord Sa'er really has treated you well. When something happened in the Chaotic Territory a while back, you asked him for help."

"He didn't hesitate to take leave and go to the Chaotic Territory to help you hold Nifeng City."

"I heard that he and Lord Kaisa had a falling-out over it. Maybe you should consider visiting Lord Kaisa first and putting in a good word for Master Sa'er."

Windsor was adept at handling people. After spending so much time with Lei Lin, she had gradually realized that he wasn't a male chauvinist. She could simply say whatever was on her mind.

As long as she helped take care of the little social obligations when Lei Lin wasn't home and was filial to his parents, she could secure her place in the family.

So she took the opportunity to remind Lei Lin that he should visit Kaisa.

Lei Lin understood what Windsor meant and sighed inwardly. "Visit him later?"

"By then, the kingdom might already be on the verge of collapse. What's the point of visiting now?"

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

Windsor rolled her eyes again and dropped the subject, but she also had no intention of discussing Lei Lin's friend anymore.

She went straight to the point. "All right, all right. I don't understand!"

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

"If his enemy's faction is powerful and strong, can't he just leave?"

"Anyway, from what you've said, he's very talented."

"He can go somewhere else, lie low, and focus on cultivating."

"Once he's strong enough—once he has the bigger fists—he can come back for revenge!"

Lei Lin couldn't help finding that amusing. In a fantasy world, might makes right. It really is an eternal truth!

Even a woman like Windsor had come to think that way.

But then his eyes lit up. Right. Might makes right.

I only need to tell Lin Lei that his enemy is one of the kingdom's major factions.

But I'll only tell him who his enemy is once he can defeat me. Until then, I'll forbid him from joining any other faction.

Sigh, no. In that situation, he might figure out who his enemy is on his own.

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

Better to have him join my Zi'ao Family directly!

As long as Lin Lei announces that he's joining the Zi'ao Family, the Radiant Church will see it as little different from joining the Radiant Church itself.

With me acting as a buffer, holding out until the Day of Destruction begins won't be a problem. Then...

He couldn't think any further, because Windsor had rested enough.

The next day, Lei Lin received an invitation from Lin Lei to attend the ceremony announcing his breakthrough to the seventh rank and graduation from the academy, along with news about the Dream Awakening auction.

Lei Lin thought, "Graduating after breaking through to the seventh rank is one thing, but Dream Awakening is being auctioned now? Has the Slaughter Blade been found?"