Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 2040: Chapter 2035: Attitude Outweighs Ability

The Thorn Crown, it’s not too hard to imagine as an ornament.

Simply hearing the name suggests sharp spikes piercing into the skull.

However, the fact that it’s actually woven from real thorns rather than being a symbolic craft is somewhat surprising.

For instance, what Fu Qian immediately thought of was originally the Sins Thorns belonging to the Goddess of Sin and Punishment, but now it appears to be somewhat closer to nature.

"But there are no thorns in the Night Watchmen Base?"

In a flash, Fu Qian pondered the special news brought by Lanaia and casually inquired.

"No, and it wasn’t woven by Lily, although she seems quite fond of it."

Lanaia’s tone was a bit peculiar, as if it was hard to judge whether this development was good or bad.

"So now we have to find someone? She doesn’t know who sent it?"

Fu Qian could understand the source of Lanaia’s perception, even though after the invitation incident, the victim has never been seen again, but Lily’s condition being relatively severe is not surprising.

"That’s for sure... although Lily wasn’t harmed, the fact that such a thing appeared directly in the Night Watchmen Base can’t just be treated as if nothing happened.

"As for why they are in such a hurry to find you, I really don’t know."

Lanaia clearly couldn’t understand why Professor Fu would become the direct target for help, just empathizing a bit with the Night Watchmen.

"But you’re not even sure of the situation and yet you agreed so readily?"

Of course, the next moment, she didn’t forget to be curious about Fu Qian’s proactive stance.

"You don’t understand, the core of such unexpectedly low-precedence projects lies in the response speed, now the critical part is completed, the rest is just to wait and receive them."

To this, Fu Qian just waved his hand, leaning comfortably and sharing his experience with the leader.

"True enough, at least the Night Watchmen’s current attitude toward us has significantly softened from before... you contributed greatly to that."

As the head of the Punishment Department, Lanaia undoubtedly sensed certain things distinctly; the current harmonious situation between the Academy and the Night Watchmen indeed couldn’t exist without the contribution of the person beside her.

Additionally, considering Professor Fu’s past actions, an inexplicable longing for "reception" is oddly reasonable too.

...

"Once again, it’s back to hard work for Professor Fu."

Arriving at the Night Watchmen Base for the first time, one had to say that compared to the Chief of Shangjing’s domain, this place was much more low-profile.

Yet the style was similar, with a central structure that was also sharp and black, like a knife.

And the local Chief Yuan was already waiting there, immediately greeting the pair of Fu Qian upon their arrival.

"It’s nothing, I’m just quite curious about how you plan to work hard."

With a forthright attitude, Professor Fu immediately expressed the theme of this trip—don’t set your expectations too high.

"Let’s talk as we walk... Professor Lanaya might have given you a rough introduction to the situation?"

Yuan Fang clearly found it odd as well, displaying a slightly helpless smile and leading the way ahead.

"Yes, the Thorn Crown, the invitation victim, among other things."

Fu Qian nodded, observing the base which wasn’t overly staffed.

This still showed the Night Watchmen’s confidence in the Academy’s self-correcting capabilities, as they hadn’t yet stationed heavy forces.

"That’s right, the crown is still on her head, and while those thorns indeed cause considerable pain, we haven’t forcibly removed it."

The route Yuan Fang led actually went straight into that black building, even going downward, evoking memories of Yuan Shan’s tour of the Shangjing Base.

"Lily requested it herself, hoping for a place as quiet as possible."

Before Fu Qian could wonder, Yuan Fang explained why the person would be here.

"Given her unstable condition, we eventually decided to fulfill this request.

"And the particularly unusual aspect of this incident was that Lord Aike attempted to treat her just last night, leading to this change first thing this morning..."

Clearly, Lord Aike wouldn’t be too pleased.

Listening to more information, Fu Qian pondered without voicing his thoughts—because they were approaching the individual involved.

"You’ve had a hard time."

One must say, compared to some colleagues, Aike was considerably polite.

With an expression not quite cheerful, she greeted them and directly opened a door beside her.

...

Not behind the door, but behind glass.

Resembling a setup similar to an interrogation room, Fu Qian followed inside, surveying the further room with that quietly standing figure.

Though it was just a side profile, it wasn’t hard to recognize her as the young matron he had once greeted at a ball.

Even in the absence of sunlight, she looked remarkably well, as if there were always waves of blood surging within—and on her head, too.

Indeed, it was a genuine Thorn Crown, the inward-facing spikes not lacking at all, and placed on the head, the blood droplets from the piercing had yet to fully coagulate.

Moreover, despite Yuan Fang mentioning it would be quite painful, Lily seemed utterly oblivious.

With a smile at her lips, she gazed at another wall, as if looking through a window into the infinite distance.

"When we found her this morning, she was in this exact posture."

At this moment, Yuan Fang softly introduced.

"Professor Fu, can you spot anything unusual?"

And Aike, too, dropped any pretense, softly asking Fu Qian about his observations.

"Before Ian died, he did attempt to transform into a tree-like form, but the material was more flesh and blood, quite different from this."

Fu Qian responded quickly, albeit the object of comparison sounded a bit strange at first, but Lord Aike’s eyes flickered for a moment then.

Ah... why was I called here?

As a consultant and strategist, besides giving advice, an equally important task is understanding what the person asking the question wants to do.

Though this was indeed a strange occurrence, the Night Watchmen always had some pride, not likely to casually seek outside help.

It seemed to Fu Qian that the reason Lord Aike had urgently summoned him over was because he was irreplaceable in certain ways.

And in what way?

It concerned "Ian’s lover," Lily—Ian.

The execution of Ian was something only this executioner witnessed firsthand.

Certain bizarre elements, Aike wanted to know if they had manifested at the time, to help confirm the nature of this crown.

The answer was clearly no.

Compared to the Tree of Ecstasy, the crown on Lily’s head had become a different entity, not only devoid of any transcendent aura but with fresh sap at the cut.

Still, the answer given by Fu Qian was somewhat ambiguous.

"But—the Virtue and Compassion Assembly?"

Amid Lord Aike deep in thought, Fu Qian added a remark next.