An Unexpected Obstacle

When Li Lin opened his door early the next morning, he saw Mina and Fina standing there, both looking at a loss.

"What happened?"

He raised an eyebrow, curious why the sisters had come to his door instead of staying in their own room. Although Angela had never again mentioned giving the two of them to Li Lin to eat after taking them as servants, Li Lin knew perfectly well that this was merely an excuse Angela had used to train them more effectively.

"Since they are already my servants, they must naturally be taught proper manners. If they were to scream and shout before you on their first night, it would reflect poorly on me."

Even without asking, Li Lin could easily imagine Angela's answer.

After looking at the sisters for a few seconds, Li Lin had initially wanted to warn them, but then gave up on the idea. It was no great matter anyway, and it would be interesting to see what Angela could do. With that thought, Li Lin swallowed what he had been about to say and returned to his original question. In truth, Mina and Fina could hardly be blamed. Although they had only just been turned, vampires were vampires, and both their sight and hearing were extraordinary. As a result, the sisters had been forced to listen to Li Lin and Angela "fighting" for the entire night. For the two of them, who had yet to experience such things, it had been rather too stimulating. Although vampires' bodies rarely grew tired, their minds were no different from those of humans. So after listening to that "live broadcast," it was only natural that the two of them were a little dazed.

"We came to help Miss Angela get dressed..."

Seeing that her older sister refused to speak, Fina could only steel herself and report to Li Lin.

Angela had originally told them to "help me and Master get dressed," but unfortunately, the two had only ever been priests, and priests did not need to help their gods get dressed, let alone deal with a naked man... Since Li Lin was already dressed, Fina decided it was better not to bring it up if she could avoid it.

After stepping aside to let the sisters into the room, Li Lin went downstairs. The tavern was clearly not very busy during the day. Only Old Jack was there, scrubbing a tabletop vigorously with a rag, working hard to serve his customers better. When he saw Li Lin come down, he greeted him with a smile, then turned his attention back to the table before him.

Li Lin nodded to the old man in return, then went to the window and carefully observed the scenery outside. He quietly recited an incantation, and as magical runes flowed and shifted across his body, several protective spells covered him in the blink of an eye. As a mage, he had to pay attention to his own protection first, wherever and whenever he was. That was the most important basic principle.

The town was not large. Through the crude wooden walls surrounding it, Li Lin could even see the wilderness stretching endlessly beyond. It seemed that some places would not change much even after another thousand years. These backward lands seemed to have been completely forgotten by time. Apart from a few minor changes, it was as though the whole land had never been touched by its passage.

Perhaps it was because of that atmosphere.

"Good morning, Master."

Angela's voice came from behind him. Li Lin turned to look at the little devil as she came down the stairs.

Nearly everyone instinctively looked up to find the owner of that clear, sweet voice, but they soon opened their mouths wide, wondering whether they were still dreaming.

As Angela slowly descended the stairs, she looked just like a beautiful, adorable young lady, elegant and graceful in her manner. As always, her black dress set off her flawless white skin and long hair. The twin sisters behind her, with their beautiful, nearly identical faces, were also quite eye-catching. At a glance, they looked just like the beautiful maidens bards sang of only in legends. Then there was Li Lin...

Most people did not take Li Lin for Angela's lover. After all, on this continent, a girl Angela's age was nearly an adult, and having a lover would not have been strange. But her manner and innocent, lovely face made people wish she would remain as she was a little longer, neither growing up nor growing old-although that was indeed already the case.

Li Lin was clearly much older than Angela, both in appearance and in actual age, which led everyone to think they were brother and sister rather than lovers. Of course, they did not understand what she meant by "Master," but judging by Angela's manner, it was clearly affectionate.

"Feeling satisfied?"

Li Lin patted Angela on the head as she threw herself into his arms. Fortunately, the little one knew her limits and had not used the strength of a vampire when she pounced, or several of the defensive spells hidden beneath Li Lin's clothes would probably have activated at once.

"Of course, though I do wish Master would be a little more vigorous."

Angela raised her head from Li Lin's embrace and giggled as she answered in a low voice. Her reply made the sisters behind her freeze for a moment. Fortunately, they had lost the ability to blush after becoming vampires, or they would probably have been as red as furnaces by now.

After a brief conversation, Li Lin led the others out of the tavern. The other three did not need to eat, and Li Lin was in no mood to eat, so he politely declined the breakfast the owner recommended and planned to leave early. According to what he had learned from the owner, the journey from here to the next town was a long one. If they did not set out early, they might not make it by evening.

Although Li Lin was very interested in the employer behind the mercenaries he had encountered the previous night, he had no intention of investigating. Anyone obsessive enough to spend such precious treasure on a vague, uncertain hope was surely dangerous. Li Lin had little power left at present, and although magic had declined over the years, it was always better to be careful. There were no fools among Arcane Mages, much less anyone rash, arrogant, and conceited. Li Lin knew perfectly well that while his current power could keep him from losing against some people, he would have little chance of winning against a mage of his own level. The necromancy, enchantment, and general spells he currently possessed were not enough to support him in a fight against such a mage, because compared with those of his level, Li Lin had forgotten most of his magic.

That was also why, during the God of Justice's Divine Descent, Li Lin had needed Angela to manipulate Fina into shaking Mina's resolve and thereby driving the god away. With his current strength, confronting a divine avatar head-on would have been most unwise. In the past, let alone an avatar, even the God of Justice himself would probably have been beaten until he was crawling around looking for his teeth. Arcane Mages had gained the standing to speak with gods as equals for more than simply being able to help them or possessing the power to control the Great Book of Law.

An ordinary man was innocent; possessing a treasure made him guilty.

If Arcane Mages had lacked that kind of strength, they probably would have been wiped out by those gods, just as Angela had said.

After they left the town, the carriage sped onward. There was no one in the driver's seat, but to avoid attracting attention, Li Lin cast an illusion to make it look as though a coachman were driving. It was no great task for him.

Inside the carriage, Li Lin began teaching Fina magic.

The sisters really were strange. Mina had good reflexes, so Angela had taken her to train in physical combat. Fina, however, was no good at it. Although her reflexes should have been no slower than Mina's after her body was transformed into that of a vampire, she was noticeably a beat slower than Mina when reacting to Angela's attacks.

Angela's explanation was, "Her soul isn't resilient enough. She isn't suited to being a guard."

So Li Lin decided to make her a mage.

At first, Fina had protested vehemently. She had never imagined becoming a mage, nor did she want to be one. But Angela had suppressed her protest almost as soon as it began. The poor girl had surrendered obediently without even putting up a decent fight.

Once she began learning magic, however, Fina's earlier dislike and aversion vanished, replaced by fascination. Of course, Li Lin's skill at teaching was one of the reasons. As an Arcane Mage, he had been responsible for training the empire's next generation of elite mages. Although none of his students had been qualified to become an Arcane Mage, most had gone on to become prominent figures. Moreover, Li Lin always spoke in a gentle, calm tone that made it easy for people to relax and become absorbed-though whether it contained candy or poison was something they would only find out once they were inside.

If there was one thing Li Lin and Angela, the two who had crossed planes, had in common, it was that although both possessed great power, they preferred to deal with others through means that required less of it. Of course, when they needed to use their strength, they would strike without mercy and give it their all.

Inside the carriage, Fina was quietly chanting a magic incantation, while Mina and Angela watched with interest. This kind of magic lesson was just as new to them.

When a faint light slowly appeared in Fina's hand, her face lit up with excitement.

"I did it!!"

She cheered softly, but just then, as though sensing the surge of her emotions, the faint ball of light vanished with a pop, like a bubble.

"You're too impatient."

Li Lin spoke calmly, without a trace of impatience on his face, like a tolerant and serene sage. In truth, teaching Fina magic was merely a game Li Lin played to pass the time. If you got angry at your own game, were you playing it, or was it playing you?

"Magic is a delicate process. Only after you have fully achieved the result is there time to savor the joy. If you lose your composure because you're dazzled by victory within reach, you'll fail."

After warning her once more, Li Lin repeated the incantation for Fina.

"Try it again."

"All right..."

Fina was only halfway through her answer when her expression changed. Almost at the same moment, Mina had the same reaction.

"What happened?"

Li Lin asked Angela. Although the little devil showed no change at all, since both sisters had reacted, Angela presumably sensed it too.

"A pack of male dogs is blocking our way."

Angela narrowed her eyes, looking perfectly at ease.

"And their teeth and claws seem sharp."

Just then, accompanied by a neigh from outside, the carriage slowly came to a stop.