076 Grand Escape

076 Grand Escape

"One last thing," I fixed my gaze on Ren Xun. "Why not the Black Clan? They wear black masks too. Who’s to say they’re not involved?" I gestured toward Hei Mao. "You might not know his full story, but it’s written in his eyes—he wants vengeance. So tell me, are you hiding something? What are the odds that the Black Clan are the true culprits? What if you are misleading us?"

“That’s…” Ren Xun tensed, a bead of sweat forming at his temple. Yet, to his credit, his voice remained steady. "Senior, I cannot say for certain. I have no proof of their innocence or their guilt." He exhaled, glancing at Hei Mao. "And yes, I know his story. He told me two nights ago. As for my motives, I only follow my father’s orders—to ensure you don’t… er… slaughter the wrong people."

I barked out a laugh. "So you were worried about that." I clapped him on the back. "Relax. I don’t make a habit of massacring innocents."

Hei Mao gave me a deadpan look. "You’re mean."

I snorted. "What, you wanted me to go berserk?"

"It would be cool."

Ren Xun muttered under his breath, "No, it would not."

I ignored them, turning my thoughts to the real issue. The Black Clan or the Shadow Clan—one of them had a hand in Hei Mao’s tragedy. Maybe both. Maybe neither. But this was bigger than just masked assassins.

Gu Jie tapped her fingers against her arm, her expression unreadable. "We should act under cover of darkness," she said. "Midnight is best."

A solid plan. Fewer eyes, fewer interruptions. I nodded. "Agreed."

I glanced at the others. "Objections?"

Ren Xun shook his head. "Night suits our purpose."

Hei Mao’s wavering resolve solidified. The others followed, nodding one by one.

"Then we wait."

I turned to Lu Gao and handed him Ren Jingyi’s bowl. "Watch her."

Lu Gao scowled. "I’m not a fish sitter."

"She trusts you," I said flatly. "Consider yourself honored."

He opened his mouth to argue, but I was already moving on. "The rest of you, return to Iron Kettle. Lay low until midnight. Dave, stay."

The group dispersed. I waited until they were gone, then turned to Dave. "You’ve been on edge. What’s wrong?"

"My Lord, I am fine. Thank you."

I started walking, and he followed without further instruction. The streets bustled around us, the city's rhythms shifting with the hour. Too many ears to speak openly. I switched to Voice Chat.

"Anything to add to Gu Jie’s report?"

"Gu Jie reported signs of misfortune looming over the city, though she could not pinpoint its source. With her counsel, we agreed that cooperation with the local law enforcement would bring the least calamity." Dave’s response was immediate, steady. "The lass wished to protect you, My Lord, in her own way. Forgive her impudence."

I waved it off. "And this misfortune—what did you find?"

"I dealt with it, My Lord. There was a vampire in the next cell I was kept in."

I frowned. "A vampire?"

"Yes, My Lord. Or something close to one."

"You’re certain? Could’ve been a demonic cultivator. Plenty of those dabble in arts that make them resemble the undead."

Dave hesitated. "That was my first thought."

I gave him a sharp look. "But?"

He exhaled. "It claimed to offer me immortality."

My fingers twitched. "And?"

Dave’s voice remained level, though I caught the edge of restrained frustration. "It planned to turn both the detainees and the enforcers into its familiars. Said it was going to start a riot."

I clicked my tongue. "Bold of it to assume things would go that smoothly."

Dave snorted. "It was boastful about it. Said it had already laced the city's food and water with dormant blood. Just needed the right trigger to activate it. Apparently, it was caught right before it could turn the entire city into its slaves." He paused. "A low-level creature, but confident in its master plan. Kept mentioning a ‘benefactor.’"

I narrowed my eyes. "And this benefactor?"

Dave hesitated. That pause told me everything.

"No name. Only that vampire was gifted a formation method. Something tied to its transformation scheme."

I rubbed my temple. First devils in Riverfall, now this.

"Did it suspect you?" I asked.

"No, My Lord. Likely took me for a low-tier cultivator who have an odd technique."

That tracked.

"He even wanted to make me a vampire kin rather than a mere familiar."

I scoffed. "Let me guess—he wouldn’t shut up because of your Charisma stat?"

Dave allowed himself a smirk. "Indeed, My Lord."

Figures. High Charisma was a cheat in more ways than one. Even enemies turned into monologuing fools.

"And what did you do next?"

"Multiple Holy Smites from the next cell over."

I blinked. "Wait, what—"

"Turned him to ash."

I let out a low whistle. "That explains the delay in your release."

"Yes, My Lord. The enforcers were scrambling over the sudden ‘disappearance’ of a detainee."

I sighed. "I would’ve preferred you consulted me first. And Gu Jie, too." I shook my head. "You didn’t leave any traces, did you?"

"I ensured there was nothing left before they found the remains." Dave’s tone was more serious now. "Hid the ash. Apologies, My Lord. It happened too quickly, and I wished to report directly to you."

Honestly, I didn’t mind.

“Next time, hold nothing back. Speak to me first,” I said, halting mid-step and turning to face him fully. “And?”

Dave met my gaze, his expression grim. “I found a black mask.”

I exhaled slowly.

Hellspawned devils in Riverfall.

Blood-drinking pretenders here.

And now, black-masked figures lurking behind it all?

Just what was so special about this world that calamity kept converging upon it?

I exhaled through my nose. “Keep the vampire matter to yourself for now.”

Dave nodded. We continued walking in silence until I abruptly turned into an alleyway. He hesitated for only a moment before following.

“My Lord,” he said, glancing around warily. “What are we doing here?”

I pulled out a Magic Scroll of Great Teleportation, holding it up for him to see. “I’d rather not embarrass myself if this doesn’t work.” The entire escape plan depended on my ability to get everyone out. Calling it ‘embarrassing’ if I failed was an understatement.

Dave raised an eyebrow. “My Lord intends to bypass the city’s spell formations with that?”

“More or less.”

He hummed, tapping the chin of his helm. “The theory holds merit. The city’s formation arrays function on distinct principles; interference may not be an issue. Still, caution is best.”

“See, this is why I keep you around.” I grinned.

Dave inclined his head. “I am honored, My Lord.”

I focused on the scroll. The wax seal remained intact. Running a finger over it, I felt the faint pulse of magic thrumming beneath. Just as I was about to break the seal, Dave’s hand shot out, gripping my wrist.

“I should do it, My Lord.”

I frowned. “What?”

“If the formation reacts, My Lord can simply dispel me.”

I gave him a flat look. “Dave.”

“Better yet,” he continued, unbothered, “if instant death awaits on the other side, at least My Lord won’t suffer.”

I narrowed my eyes. “That’s a rather dramatic way of saying ‘let me be the guinea pig.’”

Dave shrugged. “I prefer ‘calculated risk.’”

Annoyingly, he wasn’t wrong. Handing him the scroll would be the smart choice. But if I was being honest, I wanted to experience the sensation of using genuine magic. Faith-based spells had their limits. If I studied teleportation long enough with my Divine Sense, perhaps I could replicate it…

Yeah. I was making excuses.

Dave crossed his arms. “My Lord has only one life. My Lord should cherish it more.”

I sighed. “I could just use Castling on you if I get caught in the formation.”

“And if it’s an area-wide countermeasure?”

Damn him for being reasonable.

“Fine,” I relented, shoving the scroll into his hands. Then, pulling out another, I handed it to him as well. “I want to test its accuracy. Go, then report back.”

Dave smirked. “Understood, My Lord.”

And with that, he tore the scroll open.

Dave vanished in the blink of an eye. One moment, he stood beside me, Magic Scroll in hand. The next, he was gone—snuffed out like a candle in the wind.

I waited. A second. Then a minute longer.

Our connection remained intact. The Voice Chat link still held. Good.

"How are you doing?" I asked.

Dave’s voice came through, steady as ever. "My Lord, I have arrived at the spell’s maximum range. The incantation was true, and I remain unharmed."

I exhaled, tension easing from my shoulders. Step one was a success.

"I’d like to scout the location myself, get a proper estimate," I admitted. "We need the best possible route to the Floating Dragon." But I wasn’t the one there. Dave was. "For now, you’re my eyes. Recon first. If anything feels off, use the Magic Scroll of Great Teleportation to retreat."

"As you command, My Lord," Dave answered without hesitation.

I listened as he described the scene in real time. The layout of the streets. The enforcers’ patrol routes. The formation engravings embedded in the walls. He even noted how the moonlight reflected off certain rooftops—because of course he would. Knightly types always had a flair for poetic details.

For thirty minutes, I absorbed everything. Then, in another blink, Dave reappeared beside me, as if he had never left.

"The scroll was incredibly accurate, My Lord," he reported. "I suspect our bond refined its precision. It placed me exactly where I envisioned—no deviation."

I smirked. "Good. That means we can use it without worrying about misfires."

We had a way out. Now, it was just a matter of making our move.

I activated Voice Chat again. "Hei Mao, how are the others?"

"They are fine," Hei Mao responded immediately. "Everyone is lying low at the Iron Kettle, as you instructed."

"Good. Meet me at the shop."

"As you wish."

I turned to Dave. "Follow me."

As we walked, I filled him in. "We haven’t been idle these past four days. Ren Xun secured me roughly Class 4 knowledge in book form. Lu Gao handled supplies and secured a shop deal. And Hei Mao acted as a deterrent—his Fourth Realm cultivation is enough to dissuade most troublemakers."

Dave nodded, saying nothing. He was waiting to see where this was going.

We reached the blacksmith’s shop. Hei Mao was already there, arms crossed, waiting.

The shopkeeper, Old Hua, spotted us the moment we stepped inside. His wrinkled face split into a grin.

"Ah, you’re here," he said. "It’s done."

He led us to the back of the shop—where an armor set stood displayed on a sturdy wooden stand.

The moment I saw it, I knew.

Styled after the armor of the Round Table—the mother organization of the first Paladins—it gleamed under the dim lantern light. The breastplate bore intricate engravings, a radiant cross entwined with celestial runes. The pauldrons, shaped like noble beasts—lions and gryphons—exuded an air of guardianship, their fierce visages frozen in a silent vow. The gauntlets had finely layered plates, balancing dexterity and defense, while the greaves were sculpted for swift, unburdened movement. A flowing blue cape, embroidered with silver, completed the ensemble, its fabric carrying the dignity of a knight’s oath.

Regal. Righteous.

It was for Dave.

He stood motionless, gloved fingers tracing the engravings. Though his helm concealed his face, I could picture the expression—pure, unfiltered surprise.

Man, I just made Dave speechless.

That gotta be an achievement.

Old Hua cleared his throat. "This here is the Puppet Armor, built according to the blueprints you provided." His voice carried a hint of pride as he gestured to the gleaming set. "Lightweight but durable. The internal mechanisms are reinforced, allowing flexibility without sacrificing defense. I adjusted the puppet framework, so it doesn’t strictly follow Buddhist methods—figured that wouldn't suit your request."

"Good call," I nodded.

The blueprints weren’t entirely my own. I had copied them from the pile the Cloud Mist Sect provided, then cross-referenced them with the knowledge at my disposal. A refinement here, an adjustment there—until the final design became something practical.

"Tested the joints myself," Old Hua continued. "Automation functions work as expected. Pour Qi into it, and it'll act on command. Not perfect, but a damn fine piece of work, if I say so myself."

"That’s all I needed to hear." With a flick of my wrist, I stored the Puppet Armor into my Item Box.

Old Hua stretched out a hand, palm up. "Now, about my payment."

I reached into the Item Box and retrieved two handfuls of Lost Legends Online gold coins, letting them clink into his waiting palm.

The old blacksmith whistled. "Good stuff. Tougher than standard metals, too—these'll make fine materials for my next projects." He weighed them briefly before pocketing the lot.

I cupped my fist and bowed. "Many thanks, Master Hua."

He grunted but returned the gesture. "Don't get yourself killed out there."

“What’s the Puppet Armor for?” Hei Mao squinted at me, arms crossed. “What am I even doing here?”

His current disguise—a red-haired martial artist with a wild, untamed look—was striking. Then again, with the sheer variety of eccentric cultivators flooding the streets, he fit right in.

Dave was the one to answer. “My Lord, I have an inkling as to its purpose.”

“Of course you do," I said. "It’s for you.”

I led them into another alley, away from prying eyes. Once we were clear, I pulled the Puppet Armor from the Item Box. Dave stepped forward, straightened his back, and activated Divine Possession.

The Puppet Armor responded instantly. The formations along its surface flared to life. Runes glowed, Qi circuits thrummed, and with a final pulse of energy, the armor moved.

A tremendous pressure erupted from it.

Hei Mao tensed beside me, his stance subtly shifting as the oppressive aura of a Seventh Realm cultivator filled the alley. It was the same pressure I had felt when facing the Heavenly Demon.

Dave’s was slightly stronger.

I raised a brow. “Not bad. You probably could’ve been stronger.”

Dave turned his armored hands over, clenching and unclenching his gauntleted fingers. “Stronger, indeed. Normally, Divine Possession would halve my attributes, yet I find myself unaffected.”

I clicked my tongue. “That’s unfair.”

But it made sense. The Puppet Armor was designed to house an artificial spirit. If the Cloud Mist Sect’s records were accurate, it should be a perfect vessel for Divine Possession.

“However, my Ultimate Skills are beyond my reach.” Dave nodded and then thought about it. “Thankfully, my other skills remain usable.”

I hummed in thought. “Sounds like Brukhelm’s situation back at the Yellow Dragon Festival.”

The method was different, of course. Brukhelm had been confined to a specific form of power, while Dave’s possession of the armor was a far more refined approach. Regardless, this was a major boon. A cultivator whose strength could be measured in this world's system should deter plenty of trouble.

I gestured toward him. “Can you lower the pressure you’re releasing? No need to invite unnecessary eyes.”

Dave straightened. Slowly but surely, the oppressive energy receded until it matched Hei Mao’s level.

I grinned. “Perfect. Now, let’s move. That spike in pressure will have drawn attention.”

Midnight arrived.

We gathered in our room at the Iron Kettle. The atmosphere was tense but determined as I handed each of them a Magic Scroll of Great Teleportation. One by one, they accepted the scrolls like fragile treasures. Even the bowlfish got one—I dipped a scroll into its fishbowl, watching it float at the surface.

…I really hoped that would work.

I swept my gaze over them. “Gu Jie, you lead the way.”

She nodded, rolling her shoulders. “Understood.”

Gu Jie went first, activating her scroll. She relied on Sixth Sense Misfortune to scout ahead, waiting for any premonition of disaster before confirming the path was safe. When nothing struck her down, she sent word through Voice Chat.

“It’s clear. Proceed.”

That was all the others needed. One by one, they activated their scrolls, vanishing in bursts of light.

And then… only Ren Jingyi, Dave, and I remained. He stood beside me, ever the vigilant knight. “My Lord, I shall protect thee in this moment of vulnerability.”

I exhaled and focused. My awareness sank into the depths of Divine Possession.

Ren Jingyi stirred. I exerted fine control, carefully manipulating her delicate fins. Her tail flicked upward, curling just enough to tear the scroll floating in her fishbowl.

A flash of light engulfed the water. The bowlfish vanished.

Back in Voice Chat, Gu Jie made a startled sound. “I—I caught it!”

I stared at her, noting her half-scared, half-relieved expression.

Good. That was one less worry.

I released my hold on Ren Jingyi and returned to my body. A faint golden light shimmered beside me as Dave emerged from the Puppet Armor, dissolving into his Holy Spirit form. With a swift motion, I reached out and stored the empty suit into my Item Box.

“We shall move as one, My Lord,” he said, his voice steady.

I nodded. No need to waste an extra scroll.

Without hesitation, I tore mine.

The world blurred. Space twisted.

And then we arrived.

The others were already gathered, crouched in the shadows near the docks. The Floating Dragon bobbed gently in the water nearby, looking as unassuming as ever.

As I approached, Ren Xun whispered, “I’ve already snuck aboard and disabled the formations. It didn’t take long.”

I raised a brow. “You’re unexpectedly good at this.”

“It’s my second talent,” He smirked but was already moving, his voice low. “Let’s avoid flight for now and take the river…”

We wasted no time. Under the cover of darkness, we boarded the boat, slipping into our positions.

The Floating Dragon glided across the water, slow but steady. No creaking wood, no splashes—just the faintest ripple disturbing the surface.

No alarms. No pursuit.

Only the quiet, careful rhythm of our grand escape.