The vampire's face revealed a rather aggrieved expression.
Sasha: "I knew you liked the commander, you don't love me anymore."
Su Cheng: "Why are you using that verb tense, as if I actually ever loved you?"
He gave her a deeply resentful look. "...Anyway, I don't have a very good impression of those people, they're all—"
He ultimately didn't finish what he wanted to say, "...they're all the kind of humans who are hard to understand."
Su Cheng felt that this guy wasn't very easy to understand either.
The ruins of Miselos, under the influence of curses and various magics, had become a sort of independent domain that was very difficult for the outside world to interfere with.
Therefore, it forever drifted under the night sky of the Bronze Mountains, rejecting the entry of clerics and ordinary people.
Clearly, the spellcaster hated the followers of the God of Light, and ordinary people without battle aura or magic could not pass that entrance test at all.
"Your spiritual power is already a bit stronger than elemental mages of the same rank, yet accepting those memories still makes you fall unconscious—"
Although there wasn't any harm.
But if it were an ordinary person, they might have been injured.
Sasha stood up, "Want to go out and have some fun?"
When night fell, the bonfire party was held as scheduled. The town's streets were illuminated by lanterns and fireworks, lighting up dazzling rivers of golden-red light among the mountains.
The streets also became very lively. As soon as Su Cheng stepped out of the tavern, she was swept forward by the flow of people. The aroma of burning wood blew against her face, sweeping through the town along with waves of heat.
In the center of the square stood a giant bonfire made of oak. A group of young people were busy pouring pine resin onto the fire, the oil sizzling as it dripped.
Amidst the people's singing, the flames suddenly shot up, sparks crackling and splashing, flying in the night wind like countless tiny pieces of gold leaf.
Drumbeats echoed from all directions, and musicians played by the fountain.
Long wooden tables were set up around the square, covered with brightly colored checkered tablecloths and laden with all sorts of food.
Roasted meat covered in spices, vegetable skewers coated in sauce, and fruit wine exuding the aroma of cinnamon and orange peel.
Su Cheng took out a silver coin. In order not to have her pockets filled with the copper coins given as change, she had to buy a large bucket of skewers, even promising to return the bucket later.
A few minutes later, when she squeezed out of the noisy crowd and met up with her teammate on the outskirts of the square, she was subjected to the vampire's merciless ridicule.
Sasha was overjoyed, "So you're peddling these roasted mushrooms and apple chunks? How many copper coins have you earned tonight?"
Su Cheng held the bucket in one hand and gnawed on a skewer with the other, "...Can't be bothered with you."
She spoke indistinctly. The silver-haired young man smiled and raised his hand to wipe away the sauce smeared near her mouth, which happened earlier when someone accidentally bumped into her.
Su Cheng subconsciously said thank you, then realized, "What did you use to wipe that?"
Sasha moved his fingers and held up a small tavern advertisement, "I picked it up from the ground—"
Su Cheng kicked him in annoyance.
The vampire dodged it with a flash, flipped his wrist, and brought out a clean handkerchief, "Just kidding."
Su Cheng gave him a hard eye-roll.
They passed a group of dancing young people. Those people held hands, formed a circle, and spun to the rhythm of the music. Their exquisitely embroidered skirts fluttered like petals, and their waist chains threw out beautiful arcs in the firelight.
"When the heretics' black mist swallows the silver moon, we still sing his name..."
"His sword blade condenses the starlight of winter, the runes he engraved guide the shepherds back home..."
"He brings withered grains back to life, and lets feverish children break free from nightmares..."
"Until the minions of darkness destroyed him..."
Listening to those lyrics, Su Cheng thought of the memories left by that lord and suddenly lost her interest again.
Sasha had disappeared to who knows where. She held the small wooden bucket and silently gnawed on her skewers.
Perhaps because she didn't look very happy, a young couple passing by couldn't help but strike up a conversation with her.
"What's wrong?" the girl asked, "Are you heartbroken, outlander? If so, we have plenty of lovely young men here too—"
She paused for a moment, then giggled, "Or young ladies."
The boy next to her looked at her, "Are you feeling unwell? My mother is an apothecary. If you need anything..."
"I'm fine, thank you," Su Cheng shook her head. "I just heard those songs and, well, thought of some things."
The young couple both looked at her curiously.
They looked to be only fourteen or fifteen years old, clearly having tired themselves out from dancing and resting on the side. They were just bored at the moment, which was why they were talking to a stranger.
Su Cheng blinked, "I thought of my swordsmanship teacher. He, he was probably a lord too—"
As she spoke, she couldn't help but lower her head. Thinking about her presumptuous claim of taking him as a master, she couldn't help but feel a little guilty.
"Ah!" the girl suddenly clapped her hands, as if she had discovered a big secret, "You like him, right!"
"Cough," Su Cheng pretended to be embarrassed, "Don't say that, it's just... um, what happened to the lord in your lyrics? Was he killed by the followers of the God of Darkness?"
She looked like she was changing the subject. The young couple nodded at the same time, not feeling anything amiss, and then revealed indignant expressions.
"Even though it happened many years ago, just thinking about it still feels despicable!"
The girl clenched her fists and said, "When I cultivate my battle aura, I'm going to be a paladin too. I must punish these heretics and stop them from harming people anymore!"
The boy also nodded vigorously. "We have been grateful for the lord's kindness for generations. I heard that the false god's lapdogs even cursed him to force his submission, but his loyalty to the God of Light was unshakable. Before he died, he used magic to protect all of Miselos—"
Su Cheng: "..."
Su Cheng: "Then why doesn't the ruin allow people from the Church to enter?"
"Because," the girl said without thinking, "it's very dangerous inside, and there are the undead of the evil god's believers. The lord did it to protect everyone!"
Su Cheng suddenly smiled.
The young couple looked at her strangely.
"I just understand now," Su Cheng sighed. "I know someone, someone who is cold and smart, powerful and ruthless, who could easily shatter the provocations left behind by his enemies, yet chose not to do so. Instead, he just hid the truth and left behind a story that's like a joke..."
The two kids were completely confused, not understanding what she was saying at all.
"Perhaps he felt that this would humiliate his opponents even more," Su Cheng stood up. "I'm going to return the bucket now. Good night."
She returned the small wooden bucket to the skewer vendor and strolled casually around the square, before suddenly stopping.
The dense crowd ahead was surrounding a group of performing musicians and dancers.
Right in the middle was a giant drum, and the dancer on top of it spun and leaped.
His curly hair, black as ink, was half loose. The silver bells on his ankles swayed with the music, and his toes, painted with rose-red polish, landed gently on the vibrating drum surface.
This person was tall, his deep red short shirt half open. The fabric was so thin it was almost transparent, and the hem was adorned with a dazzling array of pendants. His lean, snow-white chest was faintly visible among the strings of beads.
The garment had no sleeves, leaving his long, well-muscled arms completely bare, with strings of silver rings clinking on his forearms.
Amidst the increasingly rapid drumbeats, the dancer spun and bent backward in mid-air. The hem of his clothes rolled up, revealing a strong, powerful waist and abdomen taut as a drawn bowstring.
Or like a venomous snake tempting one to bite into the forbidden fruit.
He wore a skirt with extremely high slits, adorned with pearls and gemstones. With a casual spin, it would reveal his well-muscled thighs, as well as what was hidden in the shadows—
Su Cheng tried her best to keep her gaze away from impolite areas.
The dancer sat on the drum head amidst thunderous applause. He tilted his head slightly, his Adam's apple gleaming faintly in a thin layer of sweat.
He wore a decorative half-mask, with colorful feathers cascading under his eye sockets, making his already handsome face look even more bewitching.
The mask's concealing effect wasn't great. Su Cheng could clearly see his features and was very certain she had never seen him before.
Otherwise, with this level of attractiveness, she would have had some impression if she had seen him even once.
However, the dancer was staring at her.
They were a pair of soul-captivating, magnificent purple eyes.
Like melted amethysts, or the deepest hues of twilight clouds, swirling with gorgeous ripples of light in the burning bonfire.
His black, feather-like eyelashes trembled slightly. His gaze fell upon her face, sweeping across her skin as if it had physical substance.
The dancer raised his hand, his fingertips sliding slowly down his neck, passing over his sharp collarbones, and stopping at his heart.
Then—
He gently tugged at his lapel.
Su Cheng: "..."
She heard the crowd boiling over, and heard some young people screaming.
Then she also heard the sound of her own blood surging. The clamor of her heartbeat was like thunder, exploding all the way from her eardrums to her brain cavity.
The heat of the surrounding fire suddenly became unbearable. A layer of fine sweat broke out on her back, followed by a faint burning sensation spreading across it.
The curse was acting up.
Su Cheng had no time to curse or sigh; she only wanted to find a familiar figure in the crowd, anyone would do—
If the damn vampire really wanted to suck blood, she would even let him do it.
Although she wouldn't die from the curse anymore, if it wasn't alleviated, the brand on her back would keep burning, which was truly uncomfortable.
Su Cheng stumbled out of the crowd, apologizing several times in a row.
The vampire's height was quite conspicuous. She couldn't find Sasha, which meant the bastard was at least not nearby.
She leaned against the wall to catch her breath, starting to ponder going further away to cast a spell, which might just attract someone over.
Now most people were gathered in and around the square, and the streets outside were almost empty. She staggered a few steps and encountered two elderly people.
Su Cheng panted by the wall.
The two looked at her as if she were a lunatic, probably thinking she had suddenly fallen ill, and then hurriedly walked away.
Su Cheng: "..."
Su Cheng prepared to go back to the tavern to lie down, or perhaps ask out a certain young bartender.
She vaguely remembered a boy who looked pretty good and would blush when he saw her.
Wait.
That guy didn't look like he had battle aura.
Suddenly—
A warm and powerful hand supported her.
Su Cheng looked up in surprise, meeting a pair of smiling purple eyes.
The young and handsome black-haired dancer was standing beside her, a look of concern on his face. "How are you feeling? Did you enjoy yourself? With all of this?"
Su Cheng hesitated to speak, then thought about it and asked directly, "Have you practiced battle aura?"
He looked a bit confused, then tilted his head. "Hmm... I can have it."
Su Cheng: "???"
She could smell the rich aroma of wine wafting from him, unsure if it rubbed off on him at the banquet or if he was also drunk.
Is that even human language?
Su Cheng didn't want to waste time. She formed a wind blade and made a gesture to stab him.
The black-haired young man grabbed her hand, and the swirling wind spirits instantly dissipated, looking exactly as if they had been shattered by battle aura.
Su Cheng grabbed his clothes. "Make a vow with me."
"Okay," he was still smiling. "As long as you believe me—"
Delayed by two seconds, the mark of the God-favored reacted.
Su Cheng raised her head. "I'll believe you if you make the vow."
"Alright," he chuckled. "However, there are still many things in this world that vows cannot bind, you know that, right?"
"...Say whatever you want."
Su Cheng reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"You swear you won't hurt me in any way, you won't pester me afterwards, and you won't make me take responsibility... Damn, that sounds a bit awful. If you need it, I can give you a few gold coins—"
The next second, she was swept up into his arms.
Their loose black hair flew and intertwined in the air.
She grabbed the pendant on the young man's chest, feeling the wind howling around them as if they had leaped onto the roofs.
A laugh came from above her head.
The voice was deep and soft, yet carried a hint of coolness, bringing forth a hazy sense of familiarity.
"Then it's a deal..."
Su Cheng suddenly felt as though she had heard the same voice somewhere before.
But no matter what, she just couldn't remember.
