Qlipoth Fort

When Pela came walking toward him, Jing Yan politely greeted her.

"I'm Pela Sergeyevna, intelligence officer of the Silvermane Guard, reporting for duty. You can call me Pela."

Pela replied meticulously, and Jing Yan responded, "My name is Jing Yan."

"Mr. Jing Yan, we already know who you are. In fact, most people in this city know about you by now." Pela tried to suppress her excitement as she spoke. Along with the seriousness in her eyes, there was also a hint of admiration that was difficult to detect.

"Miss Pela, you seem like a very conscientious young woman. I've come to see Miss Bronya," Jing Yan said frankly.

"Certainly, Mr. Jing Yan. I'll show you the way."

Pela held her notebook in one hand and extended the other with her palm facing upward, her forearm outstretched. She gave a slight bow and a faint smile, then matched Jing Yan's pace and walked beside him.

"Mr. Jing Yan?"

Before the Monument of Everwinter, Bronya had just finished laying flowers and praying. She stood up and turned to look at Jing Yan, whom Pela had escorted over.

"Mr. Jing Yan, you played an invaluable role in liberating Belobog."

"If there's anything you need, as long as it's within my power, I'll do my best to accommodate you."

Bronya smiled.

Then, as if remembering something, she took a teddy bear from her pocket and held it out to Jing Yan.

"Was this the one Miss Natasha found at the orphanage?"

"After what happened on Everwinter Hill, I fell unconscious. Her medicine helped me wake up, and this teddy bear stayed with me afterward. Please take it back, Mr. Jing Yan, and pass along my thanks to Doctor Natasha?"

"I'm feeling much better now. Perhaps another patient would benefit from having this stuffed bear for company?" Bronya said with a smile.

Jing Yan took the stuffed bear from her.

"Miss Bronya, there's something I wonder if you've heard about."

"What is it?" Bronya blinked.

"The Stellaron crisis has been resolved."

"Is there something else I don't know?"

Jing Yan smiled at that.

"Supreme Guardian Bronya, you've misunderstood."

"I'm not talking about the crisis."

"I'm talking about a new beginning."

Bronya looked taken aback.

A new beginning?!

"That's right. Would you be willing to discuss it?"

"Of course. Why don't you come to my office?" Bronya offered.

Jing Yan hadn't struck up a conversation with Bronya just to get close to her for the sake of "checking in." He truly cared about Belobog's future.

The planet's resources were rather scarce, and its environment seemed harsh. Still, it was where he had spent most of his life since he was born. So even though he now possessed the power of a unique Path and was about to board the Astral Express to begin a new journey, he still felt attached to this place and had plans of his own for it.

Of course, Jing Yan held no official position. Even so, Bronya would never dare to underestimate or slight him.

His reputation and contributions could not be ignored.

The two walked together toward Qlipoth Fort, escorted by the Silvermane Guard.

In the distance, Gepard, the guard captain, watched them with a look of longing.

As a member of the Landau family, protecting Belobog was Gepard's lifelong aspiration. Through his older sister, Serval, he had already learned the truth about the previous Supreme Guardian and the Stellaron. He understood that this world had nearly been destroyed by Cocolia.

He felt a deep respect for Jing Yan.

"Of course, I still have a lot to learn as Supreme Guardian," Bronya admitted.

Thinking of Cocolia, she fell into her memories once more.

Jing Yan smiled.

"That's not what I meant."

"Everyone is born, grows old, and dies. Supreme Guardian Cocolia's passing wasn't something anyone could have foreseen. Those who remain have no better option than to cherish their lives and look toward the light. But even the same life can be lived in different ways."

Jing Yan's words still left Bronya somewhat confused. Her brow furrowed as she asked, "What exactly do you mean, Mr. Jing Yan...?"

"Faith," Jing Yan said plainly.

"For a long time, the people of Belobog have believed in Qlipoth, the Aeon of Preservation."

"But we should all know by now that this isn't actually the case."

Jing Yan's words sent Bronya into deep thought.

She hadn't expected him to bring up such a sensitive subject.

Given Jing Yan's status, he certainly had every right to say something like that. Even so, it caught Bronya completely off guard. Especially with so many people around, she hadn't yet decided how to respond. Fortunately, they were still walking, giving her plenty of time to think.

"Are you saying that you intend to establish a new faith, one that differs from belief in Qlipoth, the Aeon of Preservation?"

As Bronya asked this, many thoughts crossed her mind.

When Jing Yan had fought against her mother, Cocolia, the strange yet powerful energy radiating from him was something Bronya could never forget.

She couldn't help admiring him, but then she raised another question. "Mr. Jing Yan, do you intend to preach in Belobog as the representative of a special Aeon?"

At this, Jing Yan paused.

"Perhaps it's not what you think, Bronya. Besides, this is the first time in my life I've seen the Supreme Guardian's office."

By then, Jing Yan had climbed the steps and reached the entrance to Qlipoth Fort. He went inside accompanied by Bronya.

"If soldiers always walk with their heads down, their morale will surely sink..."

Bronya murmured to herself.

Before returning to the Supreme Guardian's office, her face had still held much of its joy. But once they were back, that light dimmed somewhat.

Jing Yan noticed the subtle change in her expression and filed it away in his mind.

"It seems governing a newly reborn Belobog isn't easy?"

Jing Yan walked through the open doorway.

The interior could only be described as a world unto itself.

The office had a ceiling dozens of meters high, while the doorway was only a little over three meters tall.

Inside, they could see a broad green carpet and, at the far end, a symmetrical row of towering arched windows that offered no view of the outdoors. Even though the Frost Wave had receded and the sunlight was brighter than before, the three enormous white windows at the front still revealed nothing clearly.

"Please come in, Mr. Jing Yan," Supreme Guardian Bronya said.