Chapter 2289 - 95: Legends of the Northern Territory (3)

When he entered the city just now, he noticed that although the inspection was quite relaxed when leaving the town, upon returning, a group of Crow's Claw Knights checked them several times.

He then turned back and asked, "What's happening outside again?"

"That occurred while you were away," Hilveld replied, "Luo Hao and Gita went to deal with it."

"What happened again?"

"Someone attacked a noble estate outside Grey Owl Town, seems like the same people as last time. Shortly after, the Crow's Claw Sanctuary sealed the town and sent people to investigate. Luo Hao and Gita went to negotiate with them. He was worried you might not find anyone upon your return, so he had me rush back first."

Fang Hong felt a bit surprised.

Those people had just rescued someone from the Judgment Ground a day ago, and he thought they would lie low for a while. Yet, after only a day, such an uproar unfolded. It was hard to tell if these people were too bold or if they were seizing this opportunity to act in reverse.

There were indeed Invokers among those people, yet he couldn't understand why they constantly opposed the Crow's Claw Sanctuary.

But while he wondered, Mei sitting beside them looked at the armor, and suddenly recalled something, saying: "Like intertwined light and shadow, the changing Flames, Mr. Ade, when the black mist ignited just now, did it somewhat fit this description?"

Fang Hong couldn't help but be taken aback.

This description pertains to the Shadow People.

He turned back and asked, "Do you think that was a Shadow Person?"

"I'm not too sure," Mei shook her head and said, "But the situation at the time reminded me of something. My teacher told me about encountering a similar monster. She said they too were engulfed in purple Flames but resembled human forms..."

She paused, furrowing her good-looking brows, "The description differs greatly from the black mist, but when it ignited in the end, it immediately recalled this memory to me. I'm wondering if the monsters my teacher mentioned were the Shadow People?"

Listening more and more familiarly, Fang Hong finally couldn't help but interrupt: "Wait, Miss Mei, where did your teacher encounter those monsters?"

Mei was slightly surprised looking at him, "Let me think, Mr. Ade, my teacher never told me in detail, but she should have been in Nevade at that time. I heard—"

"Nevade, Fairy Residence?" Fang Hong couldn't help but interrupt her again, "Wait, Miss Mei, when did your teacher go there?"

"I'm sorry I forgot to mention this, Mr. Ade," Mei replied politely, "My teacher is Leiya Senar, you call her..."

"Holy September?" Fang Hong finally realized, "You're Sister Little Nine's student, Mei?"

Mei adorably widened her eyes, looking at Fang Hong in surprise, "How did you know, Mr. Ade?"

"I was there too at that time," Fang Hong suddenly realized that saying this wasn't quite appropriate, so he corrected himself: "No, not really..."

"You're that genius Alchemist?" Though Mei was a bit confused, she wasn't stupid. She immediately realized: "Ade—That's right, you are Mr. Ade, my teacher has mentioned you more than once!"

But then, this adorable Miss Knight furrowed her brows suddenly, seemingly recalling something: "By the way..."

Fang Hong looked somewhat guilty at her, he just knew it would come to this, but still pressed on asking: "What's wrong, Miss Mei?"

Mei glanced around, "Where is Mr. Parker?"

"He... he's temporarily not here right now."

Mei looked at him once, lowered her head, placed her hands on her knees, and said nothing.

The room became quiet for a moment, Fang Hong couldn't help but turn to Hilveld for help, but Miss Ship's Officer was smiling, what could she do about it?

But if the Shadow People were indeed those flame-like monsters encountered by Miss Leiya, Fang Hong began to feel a bit of cold feet. He had seen those things firsthand; even Miss Leiya nearly found them too much to handle. Wouldn't they be heading to their doom?

Realizing he impulsively went to investigate such ghostly things, Fang Hong couldn't help but wipe off a cold sweat, planning to consider carefully next time he comes across such situations.

But admittedly, the armor they faced, albeit powerful, seemed far distant from those flame-like monsters. He vividly remembers witnessing the dragon Rider battling those flame-like monsters alongside Leiya.

With such power, dealing with them should be a breeze, shouldn't it? Why would there be a back-and-forth battle with them, ultimately leading to their defeat and victory? So perhaps the armor itself isn't the Shadow People, but then what about those purple Flames burning within the black mist?

Now Hilveld seemed to have thought of a way to help him unwind the current situation. She pondered a moment and said: "Speaking of, there's another rumor about the Clevo Family."

Both raised their heads to look at Miss Ship's Officer.

"It is rumored that their family, starting with ancestor Edwin, has inherited a magic sword."

"Magic sword?"

...

Xiangzi silently listened to Istrael's narrated story.

In truth, he wasn't intentionally listening to this story, just standing there motionless, and those bizarre tales didn't stir any feelings in him. After the tale ended, he looked at the other person and asked, "Why tell me this?"

Istrael gazed at him somewhat surprised: "You're not curious?"

"Why be curious?"

Istrael realized this young man was evidently different from his impression of a Holy Chosen, chuckling: "What a peculiar fellow, but I told it and it's told, do you need a reason to tell a story?"

Xiangzi thought about it and agreed with this point: "No need."

Istrael couldn't help burst into laughter, "But remember this story, it might come in handy sometime later." He then lowered his head, patted the little girl beside him, implying she step forward.

The little girl timidly approached Xiangzi, looked at him somewhat afraid, then bowed to him. After bowing, she swiftly held onto her basket, and like before, sprinted off, disappearing into the lane.

Xiangzi glanced in that direction.

Right then, Istrael said to him: "I left you something, you didn't take it last time, but now that you're here, you should take it with you."

Xiangzi turned back, looking a bit surprised at him.

"What is it?"

"Something from the Clevo Family, leaving it here wouldn't be useful, but perhaps it might help you all."

If Fang Hong were here, he might want to ask how the other person knows who they are, but Xiangzi seemed to think this was naturally normal, he simply looked at the item.

Yet Istrael didn't engage him in idle chatter; he merely pointed at a box partly buried in snow, then quit speaking, turning around, returning to his shop. He appeared indifferent whether Xiangzi took the item or worried whether the box might be taken by others.

However, Xiangzi only pondered for a moment, then stretched out his hand, letting the box fly directly into his hand.

He thought Fang Hong warned him not to cause trouble, but never said anything about not taking other people's things.

...