Su Cheng actually hadn't gone too far.
She just teleported a few times, moved dozens of miles away, and sat quietly on a hillside waiting.
About half an hour later, Ian's mental power swept over from afar, like a feather falling in the wind, carrying a certain aura of sorrow.
Su Cheng sighed deeply.
It wasn't long before he found her.
Su Cheng could see that Leia had already passed away. "...I'm sorry."
She wasn't very surprised, because from the attitude of those elves, one could basically tell they were very unwilling to help.
The blond youth silently shook his head. "Mom actually ended her own life. She used her last bit of battle aura to shatter her heart. Perhaps she didn't want me to beg them anymore,
or perhaps it was just too painful—"
He spoke somewhat blankly, his beautiful eyes brimming with tears. "It was me being too willful. I made her suffer in agony for so long. Perhaps if I had known, I should have let her go sooner."
Su Cheng really didn't know what to say. "...Then you would probably still regret not coming to try."
"You're right. No matter what I do, I will regret it," he sighed self-mockingly. "Mom didn't like her hometown. I plan to bury her in the cemetery in Green Pine City."
In a town on the outskirts of the prairie, the people at the funeral home prepared the body. Ian bought a coffin and a carriage, driving along the official road toward the city ahead.
He wasn't very adept at handling affairs in human society, and coupled with his low spirits, he was in a daze the whole time, crying many times along the way.
Su Cheng helped him with some things, and along the way, they encountered people deliberately making things difficult for him—Ian didn't hide his ears, so they could all tell he was a half-elf.
Leia was originally from the empire, but her household registration wasn't in Green Pine City, so buying a cemetery plot was a bit troublesome. However, when the staff heard that she was a Great Battle Master, they immediately changed their tune.
By the time the burial was completely finished and the dust settled, the water pine trees in the cemetery were lush and green, their branches and leaves rustling softly in the wind.
"...Thank you," Ian thanked her with a hoarse voice. "If it weren't for you, things wouldn't have gone so smoothly."
Su Cheng shook her head silently. "You're welcome. I really don't know how to say comforting words, and I can only help you up to here."
The blond youth turned his head to look at her. "Do you still have family?"
Su Cheng: "...Only some very distant relatives by blood."
Probably the eighteenth-generation ancestor kind.
Even that number was conservative.
Ian nodded, seemingly asking casually, "Before... you said you're not human. Then how do you view humans?"
"An intelligent race."
"?"
"That's it," Su Cheng said dryly. "To some extent, I think everyone is essentially the same. I've seen many kind and upright humans who sacrifice for others, and I've also seen very terrible ones."
Ian silently stared at his mother's tombstone. "On the territory of the Red Sun Empire, there are hundreds of high elf settlements, large and small: prairie elves, forest elves, mountain elves... In order to attract elves to join the government or work in the emperor's royal guard, the empire actually treats elves quite favorably. Mother said that because of this, many people instead harbor resentment toward elves."
Su Cheng was about to speak when she suddenly realized that thousands of years later, there was no such thing. In a sense, it was because the Red Sun Empire at that time had been reduced to a tool for the Church and the Secret Cult to vie for power, and the elves had already gone off to mind their own business.
Ian looked up. "Mom once said I should seek my future in the human world if I wanted to achieve something. She also said that if I just wanted to live happily, then I could go anywhere."
Su Cheng blinked. "Then what are your thoughts now?"
"I want to," his voice was as light as a fine needle dropping, almost imperceptible, "take revenge on them, and make the noble darlings of the Maggots of Secret-Prying disappear from history."
Su Cheng didn't completely understand the last sentence, but she at least understood who he wanted to take revenge on.
Su Cheng: "...If you need it, I can accompany you back to beat them up. The few elders who came out just now, I can handle them all by myself."
Ian turned his head, looking at her with unclear meaning. "I believe you can do it, but, I don't just want to beat them up."
Without waiting for her answer, the blond youth stood up. "Let's go, I'll treat you to a meal."
Although more than half a day had passed, his mood was obviously still very low. Su Cheng could completely understand; it was perfectly normal for this state to last for days or months.
They immediately stepped into the city surging with heat waves.
Green Pine City was located in the north-central part of the Red Sun Empire. Spring was already quite hot, carrying a heavy moisture that felt like the surface of the sea covering one's skin.
They walked through the bustling long street, surrounded by the shouting and peddling of various vendors, and the clattering sound of carriage wheels rolling over the hard stone ground.
Ian was very familiar with this place. After crossing two streets, he led her toward a lively tavern.
Just as the two stepped onto the stairs, several tall and sturdy mercenaries came out from inside, with no intention of giving way, and bumped right into them.
Ian subconsciously dodged to the side.
However, the man seemed to be deliberately making things difficult for him, intentionally thrusting his shoulder toward that excessively handsome face.
The blond youth simply stopped in his tracks.
Bang!
The mercenary let out a miserable scream.
His shoulder collided with the boy's nose, as if hitting a steel nail, and he instantly grimaced in pain.
"You!" The mercenary cursed, clutching his shoulder. Suddenly catching a glimpse of the youth's ears, his expression instantly turned more vicious. "You pointy-eared monster! Why did you bump into me?!"
Saying that, he angrily swung a fist over.
Ian didn't seem adept at facing this kind of scene; obviously, Leia had handled these matters in the past.
After a brief moment of bewilderment, he revealed a look of disgust, casually waved his hand, and the man's arm was completely broken.
The mercenary stumbled back a few steps and fell to the ground, clutching his twisted arm, with pale bone splinters even exposed near his elbow.
"My bones are broken! My arm—"
The mercenary tore his throat open, shouting loudly with a crying voice full of grievance and resentment.
"Hey!"
Su Cheng was about to speak when Ian pulled her back.
"Don't," a strange look appeared on the latter's face. "Let him speak. I want to see what he's going to do."
This place was originally near the commercial street, and being at an intersection with people coming and going, it quickly gathered quite an audience.
The man clutched his gruesome arm and began to wail, "Look at this, everyone! This is the empire's honored guest! A noble long-lived species! I merely didn't make way for him, and he broke my arm!"
As he spoke, he squeezed out a few tears, his voice filled with grief and indignation. His several companions also showed indignant expressions and chimed in to support him.
"That's right! We humans have short lifespans. We either toil in the fields or risk our lives on the edge of a blade, exhausting all our strength just to earn a few silver coins so our families won't starve to death and can buy medicine when sick—"
"But what about them! They are born with a lifespan of thousands of years. Not only do they stay forever young, but they are also far from illness and disaster, and can easily learn battle aura and magic!"
One of the mercenaries got more and more worked up as he spoke, reaching out to thump his own chest. We work until our hair turns white, yet they still look like teenagers. A single nap for them lasts longer than our entire lifetimes...
The surrounding crowd began to stir. Many were whispering among themselves, and quite a few looked rather irritated.
Those men grew even more emboldened.
The Empire gives them preferential treatment. His Esteemed Majesty the Emperor, and the lords of the Royal Council, all want to recruit these ancient wise ones, the familiars of the God of Truth—
The injured man shouted at the top of his lungs, The Empire gives them high positions and handsome salaries, gives them gold and silver treasures. They get noble titles just by their identity, things that ordinary people could never achieve even if they worked hard their whole lives! And what has it brought us now! Their wisdom is used against us short-lived species, flaunting their arrogance right in front of us! Look at that handsome face, look at that golden hair, without a single trace of hardship. Does he know what it means to struggle to survive? Does he know what it means to starve? Does he know the joys and sorrows of mortals? He does not. He only looks at us like we are livestock rolling in the mud. So what right do they have to lead us—
Like a stone stirring up a thousand ripples, these tearful accusations seemed to ignite the emotions of the onlookers. Many faces showed sympathy, indignation, and stark hostility.
They looked at the beautiful blond youth.
A parent pulled their child close and whispered, Never mess with those snooty elves. They could kill you without paying any price—
Someone spat on the ground. Bah, they are right. We work from dawn to dusk for a few years and ruin our bodies, while that same time passes for them just sleeping in the woods...
A person holding a book shook their head. Any elf willing to register for citizenship can receive a hefty subsidy just for that. That is enough to send dozens of kids to magic school, and is it not all funded by our tax money...
Yeah, what wisdom do they have! They just rely on living a long time. If I could live a thousand years, I would know way more than they do...
Go back to your mountains!
Careful! Do not provoke him!
The shouts rose and fell. Although the people yelled fiercely, no one actually dared to take a step forward. In fact, many stepped back after shouting.
Thus, the empty space in the middle grew larger and larger.
Ian saw those faces filled with jealousy and anger. They did not dare to get physical, but they enjoyed the thrill of dragging the so-called noble people down into the mud with their words.
As if this could smooth over the injustice of being treated harshly by fate.
He exhaled and said nothing, just turning around to look at the slender figure still standing behind him.
The black-haired girl stood motionless, her face looking terrible. She seemed to be suppressing something and looked ready to rush out and pick a fight.
Or commit murder.
Ian gently tugged at her sleeve. ...Teleport me once, far away from here, could you?
Su Cheng actually really wanted to go and argue with them properly.
That man had not even seen his ears at first, nor did he know the youth in front of him was a half-elf.
He simply saw a handsome person of the same gender and, out of jealousy, wanted to bully someone who looked relatively weaker.
If he had truly been just an ordinary pretty boy, there was a high chance he would have been knocked down, rolling down the stairs and bleeding from his head.
If the angle was bad, he might have even fallen to his death.
Alright.
Su Cheng nodded, then backhandedly threw out a wind blade.
While that mercenary covered his face and screamed shrilly, she grabbed Ian and directly activated her spatial magic.
Su Cheng was not very familiar with this place, so she just subconsciously chose the furthest diagonal direction.
They landed in a wide square. Ahead of them were towering, pure white stairs connecting to a magnificent, palace-like building.
The building was carved from white jade, and its dome was inlaid with polished lapis lazuli, resembling a starry sky that would never fade.
Dozens of people were densely gathered at the bottom of the stairs, with some ornate carriages parked nearby, and more people continuously joining the crowd.
What is this?
...That is the library of Turquoise City, Ian said in a low voice. It was built by the lord's ancestors, and their family has funded its maintenance for generations...
In front of those massive doors carved with epic scenes stood a middle-aged man with luxurious clothes and an arrogant expression.
His robes were deep purple, embroidered with his family crest in gold thread: a winged horse taking flight.
Everyone, please look at the city beneath our feet, a miracle built by the wisdom and strength of our ancestors. Then look at ourselves: mages, warriors, scholars, and noble divinely favored ones, those bathed in blessings.
His voice was high and piercing. Why are we able to stand here, receiving the grace of the gods, drinking the sweet rain of knowledge, and being nurtured by art, while the unwashed masses in the lower city can only steal and commit crimes for a few copper coins by the filthy gutters!
The audience below listened quietly. Many nodded in agreement or showed disdain in their eyes.
The answer lies in our bloodlines! the man raised his arms and shouted. Our ancestors were great men who once danced with dragons and swore oaths with elves! Their descendants have therefore been endowed with power from noble races. We have sharper perception, smarter minds, and talents that mortals can never reach. The gods will also favor us first!
As he spoke, he looked into the distance with a contemptuous gaze.
Su Cheng noticed that the direction he was looking was exactly where she and Ian had come from.
However, our sacred bloodlines are facing the danger of being polluted!
The man changed the subject and spoke in a deeply pained tone, I have already heard rumors that some families, for the sake of wealth and land, are actually willing to condescend and intermarry with commoners. What a willing descent into depravity! Do they not understand that a single drop of sewage will ruin a clear spring!
The crowd stirred, and many murmured in agreement.
We have inherited the power of dozens of generations of ancestors. Our children are born nobler, a step closer to the true essence of magic. If you let a man or woman flowing with mundane blood become the father or mother of your child, that is diluting the most precious legacy we inherited from our ancestors! It is a betrayal of our past, and even more so, the strangulation of our future!
The crowd below broke into enthusiastic applause.
They did not shout roughly, only conversing in restrained, low voices, but their faces were full of approval.
I appeal here and now, in order to maintain the purity of our bloodlines and guard the foundation of this city, we must draw a clear line. Do not let those filthy desires pollute us—
Well said!
Indeed, those people who cannot even read all the words on a tavern menu should not live in the same city as us...
Yes, the Viscount spoke wonderfully. My daughter married a dragon-born husband, and now my granddaughters have all tested for top-tier talents. Our family has worthy successors...
Su Cheng gradually tuned out what they were saying.
She and Ian had already walked quite a distance.
"Seriously," she looked back, "are there any normal people left in this city? Even just one?"
Ian looked as if he was lost in thought.
A couple of seconds later, he suddenly snapped back to reality.
"Sorry," the young man said helplessly. "I originally wanted to treat you to coral shrimp skewers and fish soup dumplings. They are really delicious. Before I tasted those things, I only ever ate fruits and vegetables..."
His voice trailed off, his thoughts seemingly drifting away again.
"They are all so ignorant, aren't they?"
Ian suddenly said. "Those people we just saw."
"Huh?"
Su Cheng looked at the bustling crowd in front of the library, which was clearly made up of the rich and the nobility.
"If you ask me, whatever anyone just said was complete nonsense. Don't pay it any mind. Every race has its own share of idiots—"
"I don't mind it," Ian shook his head. "I used to think that if I were to live in human society, I had to make them accept me. But these people? Their approval is utterly worthless. They are so easily manipulated. Just give them a little sense of resonance, and their emotions can be incited. Cries of suffering or hymns of glory are actually just excuses for them to vent their anger and stress, or to seek a sense of superiority. If you can pull those strings, they will all become your puppets."
