The Truth

The Marquis of Three Elements' residence, Fenlai Royal Capital.

Haoyue sat in the study, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. A yellowed piece of parchment lay spread out before him, bearing a map of the Yulan Continent.

"Wushan Town..." he murmured. "It's time to pay a visit."

He had already spent three days in the residence. King Clayde had kept his promise, granting him a wealth of precious magic materials and specifically assigning scribes to copy the incantations for spells of the seventh level and above from every element.

Fire, water, earth... every high-level incantation was priceless.

But Haoyue had not lost himself in these rewards. One matter had never left his mind: Hogg Baruch of Wushan Town, and the truth that had been buried for years.

"Mother." Haoyue rose and left the study. "We're leaving tomorrow for Wushan Town."

Martha was pruning flowers in the garden. Hearing him, she looked up in surprise.

"Wushan Town? That's Linley's hometown, isn't it?"

"Yes." Haoyue nodded. "I have something to take care of."

Martha asked no further questions. She simply smiled gently. "All right, I'll go get ready."

She knew her son had been different since childhood: independent and willing to shoulder responsibility. If he said he had something to take care of, it had to be important.

Early the next morning, Haoyue quietly left Fenlai Royal Capital with his mother and Wang Xun, his contracted magical beast-a massive Velociraptor King.

"Wang Xun, you're the fastest. Go ahead to Wushan Town and scout things out," Haoyue told the enormous beast beside him.

Wang Xun let out a low growl and raced ahead, vanishing over the horizon in the blink of an eye.

A magical beast at the peak of the eighth rank was far faster than an ordinary horse. In just half a day, Xun returned to report.

"Boss, Hogg Baruch is at home, and everything is normal. Also, I heard them say that young master Linley's younger brother, Wharton, is about to leave to study at the O'Brien Empire Warrior Academy. Hogg is making preparations."

Haoyue nodded slightly.

The timing was just right.

By evening, Haoyue and his companions had reached Wushan Town.

Wushan Town was as peaceful and tranquil as ever. Surrounded by mountains, its wood-and-stone houses stood in an orderly array, wisps of cooking smoke curling into the air. It looked like a paradise untouched by the outside world.

"Brother Haoyue!"

A delighted voice called out from the distance.

Linley came running over, his face alight with excitement. The eleven-year-old boy had grown considerably taller over the past three years, and his features had gained a touch of maturity. But when he saw Haoyue, he still broke into a childlike smile.

"What brings you here?"

"I came to see you." Haoyue smiled and ruffled his hair. "And take care of something while I'm here."

"That's great!" Linley's eyes lit up. "Father will be delighted to know you're here! Come on, I'll take you home!"

Led by Linley, Haoyue and his companions arrived at the Baruch Clan's residence.

Hogg Baruch was already waiting at the entrance. The former Level Six Warrior was now middle-aged, with a little gray at his temples, but his gaze was as sharp as ever.

"Haoyue." Hogg came forward and solemnly cupped his hands in greeting. "Welcome to Wushan Town."

"Uncle Hogg." Haoyue returned the greeting.

The two exchanged smiles, everything left unspoken.

Linley had already told his father that Haoyue was a Tiger-Striped Warrior. As a descendant of Dragonblood Warriors, Hogg naturally understood what this resonance between their bloodlines meant: Haoyue was his son's companion and a future ally of his clan.

"Come, let's talk inside." Hogg stepped aside to let them pass.

They entered the sitting room and took their seats as host and guests. At Hogg's arrangement, Martha went to rest first.

Haoyue, however, had no mind for pleasantries. He looked straight at Hogg.

"Uncle Hogg, I came because I have something important to tell you."

Hogg's expression turned grave. "What is it?"

Haoyue fell silent for a moment, considering how to begin. Then he leaned close to Hogg's ear and said, "It's about... Aunt Lina."

Hogg's body went rigid.

Lina was his wife, the woman he had married in his youth, and Linley's birth mother. She had disappeared many years ago, and it had remained the deepest wound in Hogg's heart.

"Lina?" Hogg's voice trembled. "You... what do you know?"

"Linley, please step outside for a moment," Haoyue said to him.

Linley was somewhat puzzled, but he nodded. Although he already knew part of the truth, he did not know the details.

After Linley left, Haoyue took a deep breath.

"Uncle Hogg, what I'm about to tell you may be hard to accept. But please hear me out before you decide what to do."

Hogg gripped the arms of his chair tightly, his knuckles turning white.

"Tell me."

"Aunt Lina..." Haoyue spoke each word distinctly. "She didn't simply disappear."

Hogg's pupils contracted sharply.

"The current king of Fenlai, Clayde, happened to discover that Aunt Lina's soul was exceptionally pure," Haoyue continued. "He reported his discovery to the Radiant Church."

"The Radiant Church?" Hogg's voice grew hoarse. "What... what did they do?"

Haoyue did not look away from him.

"They had Claire abduct Aunt Lina and sacrifice her to the Radiant Sovereign."

"Boom-!"

A violent aura erupted from Hogg. The full pressure of a Level Six Warrior swept through the sitting room like an enraged lion.

"I'll kill him!" Hogg's eyes turned red as he sprang to his feet. "Clayde! I'll kill him!"

The sudden turn of events frightened Martha, leaving her pale.

Haoyue, however, did not budge.

"Uncle Hogg." His voice was calm, but it carried an unquestionable force. "Calm down."

"How can you expect me to calm down?!" Hogg roared. "They killed my wife! They sacrificed her to some so-called god!"

"I know." Haoyue stood and looked directly into Hogg's bloodshot eyes. "But if you go after Clayde now, what can you do?"

Hogg froze.

"Can you defeat the Fenlai Kingdom's royal guard? Can you defeat the Holy Union's experts? Can you defeat the Saint-level experts of the Radiant Church? Even Claire himself is at the level of a Level Nine Warrior."

Haoyue pressed him with one question after another.

"If you charge in now, there's only one possible outcome: death. And both your sons, Linley and Wharton, will lose the only person they have to rely on."

Hogg breathed rapidly, his chest heaving. But his grip had gradually loosened.

"I know you're furious." Haoyue's tone softened somewhat. "But revenge takes strength. And right now, you're nowhere near strong enough."

"Then what am I supposed to do?" Hogg's voice was hoarse. "Just let it go?"

"Of course not." Haoyue shook his head. "But not now."

He walked to the window and looked toward the distant mountains.

"Uncle Hogg, I didn't tell you this so you'd throw your life away on impulse. I told you because I hope you understand: only by staying alive will you have a chance."

"Stay alive?" Hogg gave a bitter smile. "How? Watch my enemy's kingdom enjoy peace and prosperity every day while I can do nothing?"

"No." Haoyue turned around, his gaze burning. "You need to train. Get stronger. Wait for your sons to grow up."

"Linley..." Hogg murmured.

"That's right." Haoyue nodded. "Linley is a descendant of Dragonblood Warriors. His talent is far beyond that of ordinary people. I've seen him train. Given time, he'll surely become a Saint-level expert. And then it will be time for revenge."

Hogg fell silent.

Of course he knew how talented Linley was. The boy had displayed astonishing talent in both magic and combat from an early age. He was already a Level Four Mage and a Level Four Warrior, far surpassing others his age.

"There's one more thing," Haoyue continued.

"What?"

"Aunt Lina... might be able to come back to life."