Change

"Please wait."

Seeing that Li Lin and Angela were about to turn and leave, the male paladin immediately called out to stop them. He respectfully removed his helmet, revealing a thick head of flaxen hair and a weather-beaten face. The paladin bowed to Li Lin with great solemnity.

"Thank you both for stepping in and helping us destroy that evil soul."

"Don't mention it. We were just passing by. Besides, he isn't really dead."

Li Lin wasn't lying. The most troublesome thing about liches wasn't their ability to create undead puppets or spread plagues. Rather, it was that they were exceedingly difficult to destroy. Every lich had a phylactery, even a newly made, half-baked specimen like that one. As long as the phylactery remained intact, the lich could not die. That was common knowledge to anyone who dealt with undead creatures. Liches' phylacteries also came in all shapes and forms and were difficult to detect, making it far harder to destroy a lich than to defeat one.

During the Magic Empire's era, there had been a powerful lich who, for some unfathomable reason, had followed nature's rule of big fish eating little fish and little fish eating shrimp. He had hidden his phylactery inside a fish's belly and released it into the sea. Though the lich committed countless atrocities and was blasted apart dozens of times by arcane mages and priests of the various gods working together, no one could find his phylactery, so he always found a way to resurrect himself. Finally, having exhausted every other option, the arcane mages made an exception and permitted the gods to descend. Only when the King of the Dead forcibly took his soul away could they finally rest easy.

Fortunately, such lunatics were outliers. Most mages who chose to become liches clung to life and feared death, and had no habit of gambling their lives on the unknown. Otherwise, people across the continent would have to steer clear whenever they saw a lich-there was no point killing one anyway.

Although Li Lin had noticed that the female paladin wasn't looking at Angela very kindly, he wasn't worried. The Goddess of Dawn's domain was hope, and her followers acted to bring hope to others. At first glance, she might have sounded like a benevolent goddess, but that wasn't the case. Whether it was an old person hoping a child would grow up quickly or a scoundrel hoping the old man above him would die sooner, both fell within the bounds of hope. Of course, most of the time, the Goddess of Dawn's followers still protected the living and fought beings that threatened their lives-once dead, there was no need for hope.

"Then may I ask where you two are going?"

The more mature and composed-looking paladin spoke again. Perhaps noticing Li Lin's impatient gaze, he carefully explained himself. Strange and suspicious as the two before him appeared, they were still capable of blasting a lich to death with a casual gesture. It was best to be careful.

"You two appear to be from out of town. If there's anything you need, we can help..."

It was understandable. Li Lin was still wearing the black coat he'd brought with him when he crossed over, while Angela's clothes were far more lavish and colorful than those of this world's nobles. It was hardly surprising that they had been mistaken for travelers from afar.

"We're going to Samaranch Town."

Li Lin had intended to brush him off and continue on his way. But then a thought struck him, and he changed his mind. A thousand years had passed. Would the little town still exist?

"Samaranch Town?"

Sure enough, the paladin paused in surprise at the name. Clearly, he had never heard of a town by that name nearby.

"I'm sorry, but there doesn't seem to be a place like the one you're looking for around here..."

"Do you mean Giant Wood City? Just head east from here, and you'll reach it in half a day."

At that moment, the female paladin, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. She finally looked away from Angela and turned to the man before her.

"Giant Wood City?"

Li Lin paused, then smiled and nodded at her.

"Thank you."

The two paladins finally breathed a sigh of relief as they watched the pair leave at a leisurely pace. They had wanted to find out who the mysterious man was and what organization he belonged to. But the little girl accompanying him was far too frightening. Ever since they had begun talking, her scarlet eyes had kept shifting between the two paladins. The powerful sense of pressure and fear was more than the two battle-hardened paladins could bear. The female paladin in particular could keenly sense that the little girl's gaze was fixed almost constantly on her neck, even giving her the illusion that a venomous snake was watching her.

"Who on earth are they?"

"I don't know, but..."

The female paladin frowned slightly and fell into thought.

"But what?"

"It's the place name they mentioned that bothers me. The name Samaranch was abandoned five hundred years ago. Now, hardly anyone knows it except mages who are well versed in history or study ancient ruins."

"You mean he's a mage?"

The male paladin had some doubts about his companion's assessment.

"Although he did cast a spell that looked extremely powerful, he... doesn't dress like a mage."

"Forget it."

The female paladin clearly didn't want to dwell on the question. She had only just escaped that perilous situation, and though warm sunlight now fell on her armored body, she still felt a chill in her heart. She shook her head vigorously, then put away her longsword, sliding it back into its sheath.

"In any case, the mission is complete. We should leave."

Meanwhile, Li Lin was walking along another road, listening to Angela complain.

"Master, if you hadn't stopped me, I could have tasted a paladin's blood. And I could have made that woman your slave. A woman of her caliber might not be first-rate, but she'd make a nice diversion."

"There'll be plenty of time for that."

Li Lin watched the road ahead, silently calculating their travel time.

"I don't object to you hunting for food, but I'm slightly acquainted with the goddess those two worship. It wouldn't be very proper to let you have them for a lunchtime dessert. We'll have plenty of chances to meet followers of other gods later. When that happens, you can taste not only a paladin's blood, but even a saintess's. As for slaves... I don't think I need any at the moment."

"But I don't trust them. Especially that female just now. What she said was all jumbled up. I think she mixed up the place name and deliberately tried to send us down the wrong road."

Angela didn't seem very happy.

"That's a form of speech used exclusively by clergy. They put two words with heavy consonants side by side and leave out the connecting words between them. It sounds more authoritative that way."

Li Lin explained this to Angela. Though the little one had long since used her own intelligence to learn the common language of this world from him, actual conversation was a test in itself, just as passing the CET-4 and CET-6 English exams in that world required more than being able to write answers on a test paper.

Looking at Angela's little cheeks puffed up in displeasure, Li Lin said no more. Though the little vampire girl had all sorts of flaws and could sometimes be excessively cunning and vicious, she could still be considered a good child. Whether as a familiar or a companion, Angela was obedient and worked hard to complete the various tasks Li Lin gave her. Of course, Angela's curiosity accounted for much of that, but even so, Li Lin greatly appreciated the girl who was willing to abandon her own world and follow him to this unfamiliar kingdom. Although Angela had said from the start that her world no longer held any appeal for her, Li Lin understood that making the decision had not been easy for her.

He knew very well where the little one had gone during the five days she disappeared after he told her he was about to return to his own world. Li Lin had originally thought Angela would choose to dissolve their contract and continue living carefree in that world. But clearly, Angela had not made the choice Li Lin had thought she would, the one he considered right.

"Master, you seem very familiar with Samaranch Town?"

"It used to be a supply base for the empire's military fortresses."

Perhaps sensing something, Angela asked another question, and Li Lin answered her.

"I went there once while inspecting the border fortresses. It was a beautiful little town, with lovely mountains and clear water. And at the time... there was no war."

Li Lin had never mentioned what the Magic Empire had gone to war over, or how it had been defeated. Angela also seemed to understand that this was a forbidden subject for Li Lin and never touched on it.

The scenery gradually began to change. Traces of man-made roads appeared with increasing frequency on the once-deserted plain, and a somewhat rotted signpost could even be seen nailed up by the roadside. In fact, Li Lin didn't need it to guide him; he could easily see the majestic city walls in the distance.

"Giant Wood City."

Li Lin murmured the name, a bitter smile appearing on his face.

It was a fine name.

But when Li Lin approached the walls and saw the flags flying above them, his eyes still betrayed an undisguisable anger and hatred.

And before long, Li Lin was stopped.

"This is the border of the Kingdom of Kuris."

Soldiers carrying sharp spears blocked Li Lin's path, their expressions stern and fierce.

"Show us documents proving your identity! Otherwise, we have the right to arrest you!"

"Incompetent, stupid vermin."

Though Li Lin said nothing, Angela sensed his anger from the slightest movements her master made. She didn't know why, but the lovely, beautiful vampire had decided not to pass up any opportunity or means to crush and trample others.

"What gives you male dogs, useless for anything but breeding, the right to stand in the way of me and my master?"

Her scarlet eyes gave off a faint glow that was reflected in the eyes of every soldier.

"Now, tuck your tails between your legs and get lost."

Faced with Angela's vicious, icy words, the soldiers guarding the border did not grow angry. Instead, the stern expressions they had worn gradually vanished, replaced by a vacant, almost bewildered look.

"We're... male dogs..."

"That's right..."

A little hand in a white silk glove swept gently forward, extending a finger toward the soldiers' eyes. Their gazes gradually grew dull, reflecting a faint, bewitching red light.

Angela's smile was innocent and adorable, yet tinged with a pure malice.

"You're a pack of male dogs in heat. Don't block the way. Go somewhere else and do your courting. Those bitches are wagging their tails, waiting for you."

Without another word, the soldiers blankly dropped their weapons. Then they got down on all fours and, barking "woof, woof," turned and left the posts they were supposed to guard, imitating dogs as they went.

"Wasn't that a little too much?"

Watching everything that had happened, Li Lin felt his anger suddenly seem to dissipate. He smiled and patted Angela's little head, deciding not to think about what would ultimately happen to the unfortunate soldiers.

"That is the fate those rude people deserve for standing in your way and mine, Master."

Angela returned to her usual self, skipping along beside Li Lin.

"Master, we should get going."

"That's right."

Though vampires had an unmatched advantage in hypnosis, things would still become very troublesome if the soldiers woke up. So Li Lin said nothing more and led Angela through the city gate.