Zephlin's Investigation

Su Ming also breathed a sigh of relief. Zijin had indeed kept her promise and wouldn't act recklessly without a good opportunity.

With the drone running low on battery, he performed a SAR scan, pressed return-to-home to retrieve the drone, and stuffed it into his backpack.

The two walked toward Turkmen City. The cold wind whipped up the snow on the ground, stinging their cheeks. Zijin shrank her neck and wrapped her scarf tighter around herself.

Su Ming adjusted her hat for her. "Zijin, once we get to Bubing City, will Katharine be allowed to leave?"

"Yes, I know her Divine Heart," Zijin replied. "I've already had her establish a formal contract based on this, so there won't be any problems."

"Divine Heart?" Su Ming asked.

"It's about choosing the core of your faith," Zijin explained. "The faith in the God of Light is a large system, and the specific name of the god you invoke in your heart and the core doctrines you practice are not the same for everyone."

"It's so complicated," Su Ming said. This system in another world, which uses faith to strengthen spiritual power, is completely different from his previous understanding.

"Both Katharine and I rely on our faith in the God of the Mind to solidify our spiritual world, using it as a foundation for enhancing our power," Zijin explained. "Therefore, the price of a collapsing Divine Heart is extremely high. The specific details are also top secret, otherwise it would be easy to be targeted."

"Then how do you know Katharine's Divine Heart?" Su Ming asked.

"Because I helped her choose it," Zijin replied. "Chastity, isn't that good!"

"You're choosing Chastity for Katharine??"

Su Ming's eyes widened. What kind of grudge could this be?!

"So, little Tuanzi is actually—" Su Ming immediately thought, "Katharine actually only has one partner, "Who is also your nephew?"

"No, that's the opposite. Little Tuanzi and Yise are not related to me at all," Zijin replied. "They are definitely not my brother Weiaoyasi's children. They don't resemble me at all. Can't you tell?"

This is a bit of a challenge for Su Ming. He's not really good at discerning these kinds of details. While he's not exactly face-blind, he often makes the mistake of not recognizing someone he's met once a few days later when they meet again.

"As for whose children they are, it's not necessarily that of that good-for-nothing Yignaxiu, but it's definitely one person's," Zijin asserted.

"Then why did Katharine say that?" Su Ming was a little confused.

"She's just habitually using smokescreens to conceal her true Divine Heart," Zijin replied. "If I don't tell her this secret, who could possibly guess it?"

Su Ming thought to herself, this was indeed very different from the impression Katharine gave off; it seemed that those who played tactics were all cunning.

"May I ask about your Divine Heart?" he asked curiously, though he was secretly wondering if it was also a kind of "spirituality." Zijin immediately replied, cutting off his further thoughts, "So don't guess, and whatever you do, don't reveal it!"

Spirituality is indeed very suitable for scholars, but there's one thing Su Ming doesn't understand.

"If this Divine Heart of spirituality is known, what is there to target?" he asked, puzzled.

"Spiritual influences my decision-making style, and at Katharine's level, it's something she can judge and utilize," Zijin sighed. "That's why I can never beat her in tactical games. Knowing each other inside and out is just that complicated!"

"Does spirituality make you more inclined to use creative methods?"

"Yes."

He's fine with general matters, but when it comes to tactical choices, he tends to take unconventional approaches. This is indeed something that can be easily countered, and Su Ming understood that.

"But you've helped me overcome this weakness," Zijin said. "Now that we're using 'creative' methods, it doesn't matter which way we're being targeted."

So what if you can guess it? The method you're going to use doesn't exist in your understanding!

****

The two quickly returned to the city, picked up the odds and ends they had purchased, and headed towards where the snowmobiles were parked. Zijin offered to take the corn wine, the jar swaying back and forth in her hands, making a soft clinking sound.

The girl even hummed a song happily. Su Ming sighed and quickly followed her.

"What do you mean by mastering the Natural Rhythm Domain?"

"Literally, I can now use this field freely," Zijin replied casually.

Su Ming was extremely shocked. He stopped and looked the girl up and down. "So you've entered the Saint Rank?"

"What's the problem?" Zijin asked curiously.

Because she was afraid of the cold, the girl was dressed very bulkily, wrapped in a thick scarf and wearing woolen gloves, looking exactly like a little teddy bear. In addition, her disguised face was chapped and wrinkled, making it really hard for Su Ming to equate this image with the highest combat power in the other world.

"But shouldn't there be changes when you advance in rank?" Su Ming gestured, "Like a sudden surge in mental power or Magic Power."

"Why?" Zijin was even more puzzled. "Power increases gradually. The so-called ranks are just evaluation criteria—does obtaining a university degree on Earth suddenly increase your knowledge level?"

"Of course not."

"That settles it then. The path to advancement after reaching the Saint Rank is still long," said Zijin. "I've successfully removed the key obstacle of the Domain, but there's still much cultivation to come."

Su Ming suddenly remembered, "Didn't you say before that you wanted to fight me when we got back?"

"Yes!"

"So you're planning to use the power of your domain to bully me?"

"A domain is the mark of Saint Rank. I'm training you on how to fight against Saint Rank beings." Zijin smiled.

"No, please let me do what a newbie at this level should do." Su Ming resolutely refused.

"Don't worry, I'll go easy on you."

"No way!"

****

Father Zephlin, who was abandoned in the Lisi City, has lost a lot of hair in the past few days.

Originally, he was supposed to be working alongside Yise and Jielusi, simply following orders step by step. But unexpectedly, Katharine had an accident, and the two of them quickly left, leaving him, the assistant, to become the leader.

Their mission remained unchanged: to continue investigating the abduction of Northern Lands girls. Akosita was merely a "supplier."

There are potential buyers above him. We must find out their identities and rescue any other possible victims.

As for why Akosita was so audacious as to kidnap the princess of the Cold Mountain Royal Family family, or even how he kidnapped her and what his purpose was, those are matters for the Cold Mountain Royal Family to worry about. It would be good enough if he could even figure it out.

With Princess Dafulin in his possession, protecting her safety was naturally the top priority. After handing over Princess Dafulin to the guards of the Cold Mountain Royal Family, Zephlin led his priest squad back to Lisi City to continue his investigation.

They discovered that during their absence, the merchant Akosita's house had been completely cleared out, all the corpses and remains had vanished without a trace. A fire had even been set on the ruins, burning everything beyond recognition.

Zephlin immediately approached Lord Morton, who controlled the Lisi City, demanding an explanation. Morton stated that the Lisi City security force had suffered heavy losses.

They were powerless to stop the vandals, and knew nothing about their identities or origins.

Regarding the appearance of a puppet identical to his son at the scene, Lord Morton was not surprised to drag out the unconscious Alessandro.

She claimed that her son was attacked and detained, and that his identity was stolen during that time.

Even Zephlin wouldn't believe such nonsense. But without concrete evidence and a clear direction for the investigation, he wouldn't know how to even begin to back down!

The damaged puppet at the scene was hastily inspected at the time. Although there were no markings on it, its craftsmanship was extremely high, with excellent materials and workmanship. There was no doubt that the only puppeteer in the Northern Lands with this level of skill was Lord Bunanlunfu.

Zephlin used the town's communications tower to send a message to the church priest in the Bunanlunfu territory, only to learn that Bunanlunfu had just announced his death from illness. The priest had come to pay his respects and had seen the body with his own eyes. Bunanlunfu had no external injuries, but his face looked very uneasy.

Zephlin calculated the time and found something suspicious. But the man was already dead, and it was unlikely that he would come to control the puppet when he was seriously ill and dying. This clue was also puzzling.

Ultimately, Zephlin concluded: He was simply not suited for this job!

As a priest, besides studying magic and doctrine to elevate his spirit, he spent his free time listening to confessions. He knew exactly who had slept with whom in Shafeng'er Town, but seriously investigating cases was too difficult for him.

****

It was lunchtime when Zephlin walked into a restaurant, ordered a bowl of bean soup, and then became secretly saddened.

But before the soup was even ready, a travel-worn figure walked in—it was Rupert, the sheriff of Shafeng'er Town.

Zephlin saw an acquaintance from the same town and waved. The other person's eyes lit up when he saw him and he immediately came over.

"I've finally found you!" Rupert took off his coat and sat down opposite Zephlin.

"You were looking for me?" Zephlin asked, puzzled. "Captain Rupert?"

Although the Lisi City is not particularly far from the Shafeng'er Town, traveling there in the dead of winter is not easy.

"I'm no longer the sheriff," Rupert said, then began to explain.

The scoundrel Bennyfinn deserved to die, but he was Lord Huikete's brother. When the capture of the murderer in Shafeng'er Town failed, the lord began to vent his anger on the townspeople.

The mayor and officials of the town of Shafenger were all punished. Rupert, as the captain of the sheriff's team, was not spared. He was sentenced for failing to maintain order, dismissed from his post, and given an additional twenty lashes.

"Twenty lashes?" Zephlin was somewhat surprised. Caning involved stripping the victim naked and lashing them with a large, barbed whip; twenty lashes would leave them severely injured, if not dead. "This is completely inhuman." He then looked Rupert over, noticing that his rough face was still quite rosy. "You don't look like you've been tortured."

"I have to thank that adventurer gunslinger for giving me a few gold coins. I bribed the executioner and only got a few scratches before being thrown out," Rupert explained. "I've done my duty by keeping his secret; he should have given me more than he paid. He should have given me more in the first place!"

"If you dare to reveal anything about his affair with Yise, you won't even get a flogging; you'll be beheaded on the spot!" Zephlin exposed. Nobles don't care about redemption; letting a suspect go is enough to get him executed immediately.

"However, I can't stay in Shafeng'er Town like this. I want to go to Dawn Territory," Rupert said, revealing the purpose of his trip.

Zephlin now understood his purpose. "You've come to me for a guarantee, huh?"

For ordinary citizens, Dawn Territory will accept them after a simple review. However, for someone as capable as Rupert, a guarantor is required to prevent the infiltration of those with ill intentions.

"You oak leaf seeking the protection of the light, aren't you afraid your god will be displeased?"

"What's there for a casual believer like me to be particular about?" Rupert ripped the wooden emblem of the God of Nature from his neck. "I'll immediately replace it with the sun emblem—wherever I can get a proper meal, that's where I'll go!"

"There's no point in expecting anything from this guy," Zephlin sighed.

The restaurant waiter brought over the bean soup; although it contained a few slices of meat, it was so bland it barely had any fat. Zephlin tapped the table with his finger. "As for the guarantee, it depends on your sincerity."

Rupert immediately understood. He quickly reached into his pocket, pulled out a gold coin, and slammed it on the table.

"Hey, there's still one coin left from the gunman's payment!" He waved to the waiter, "Bring two plates of vegetarian cakes! Father, you can start eating."

You can eat your fill today!

Zephlin laughed in exasperation, "You invited me to dinner, but you couldn't even afford a pie with filling!"

But then he suddenly remembered something, and looked at his old friend again, his eyes gradually turning malicious.

The waiter brought over the flatbread, and Rupert asked for a clove of garlic, which he devoured with gusto. He tucked the gold coin and the Nature's Emblem back into his pocket, exchanging them for a dozen or so copper coins, completely unaware that Zephlin's gaze had shifted to one of admiration for cattle and horses.

"How wonderful! They even offered it to me willingly!" Zephlin exclaimed, his previously gloomy mood vanishing instantly.

****

When Su Ming and Zijin returned to the Youth Civilization, the train's preparations were nearing completion, and Gospel, Hansite, and Younier were becoming increasingly proficient in their duties.

"You saw the White Graupel Cavalry's camp in Turkmen City?" Katharine, somewhat surprised. She unfolded a map. "It's quite far from Bubing City."

Bubing City is the largest city in the Northern Lands Icefield and the only stronghold of the Cold Mountain Royal Family there. It is located in the middle of the second-tier icefield, and the White Graupel Cavalry should normally be deployed within the Bubing Province centered around the city.

It's really strange that they've come all the way to Turkmen City.

"Winter training?" Su Ming asked.

"There's a slight possibility," Katharine said. "I really want to grab one and interrogate him."

This is also a restless one, Su Ming thought to himself.

He checked the train's preparations and assisted in completing the cleanup work. Once everything was in place, the boiler began to preheat, and Hansite and Younier brought out the fish cakes they had prepared long ago from the kitchen.

Su Ming had smelled the aroma long ago and began to savor the seasonal food of the Winter Solstice Festival in this other world. The food was soft and tender, full of the fresh aroma of fish and meat, truly worth the painstaking preparations of these two foodies.

Zijin picked up a small piece of fish cake and reached out to feed the little Tuanzi, but her hands were grabbed by Younier and Su Ming at the same time.

Faced with two questioning gazes, Zijin had no choice but to give in, "Fine, I won't feed her anymore."