Chapter 29: The White Shroud Forest’s Secret

On the outskirts of Linzhou lay a forest.

Shrouded in mist and clouds year-round, it was aptly named the ‘White Shroud Forest’.

Records stated that the Primal Witch was born within this very forest, and it was here that she ultimately met her demise.

Legend claimed that before her death, she twisted the trees, poisoned the waters, and withered the land, all while unleashing the century-long mist that now permeated the area, cursing every blade of grass and every leaf with her final, searing hatred.

Each year, curious adventurers ventured into its depths, and each year, some vanished without a trace into the swirling mists, never to be seen again.

Now, Knight was tearing through this very forest.

Its breath came in ragged gasps, its body slick with sweat, and its colossal frame trembled uncontrollably from fear and tension as its four hooves clattered frantically through the swirling fog.

The centaur listened to the frantic thumping of its own heart, attempting to soothe itself with constant reassurances.

‘It’s fine, everything’s fine,’ it chanted inwardly. ‘I’m safe here.

This place is protected by the Primal Witch, a forbidden sanctuary where lowly humans dare not tread.’

‘No matter how powerful or terrifying that burning devil, that cursed wretch, may be, she absolutely cannot catch up to me, nor can she pose even the slightest threat!’

‘Th-therefore, that fiery glow hurtling through the mist behind me, rapidly closing in, must simply be a delusion…!’

A ‘whoosh’ tore through the air.

Blinding flames ripped through the mist, tracing an elegant arc in the air before precisely halting directly in front of Knight.

It shrieked, summoning its last vestiges of courage, arching its back and pawing at the earth with its hooves, ready to charge headlong into the fiery light before it—yet before it could even lunge, a sudden, immense force clamped down upon its entire body, rendering it utterly immobile from head to hoof.

Ling Wei pushed aside the flames, her crimson hair and pupils swiftly receding to their original inky black.

Knight watched the young woman’s transformation, utterly dumbfounded, feeling only an escalating terror swell within its chest.

‘It had been mistaken.’

‘This creature was no magical girl; this creature was no human.

The surging magic around her was several times more potent than even its master, Envy.

The mist and flora of the forest swirled around her, bowing in reverence.’

‘She… no, what was it?

What did it truly want…?’

The young woman paid no heed to Knight’s astonishment.

With an amused expression, she meticulously surveyed the centaur from head to hoof, then slowly advanced towards it, clearing her throat.

“’My strength is as the strength of ten, because my heart is pure.’ Those were the words of Sir Galahad from the Arthurian legends; his power stemmed from a pure heart.

“Mr. Vidian, from where does your power originate?”

Knight struggled to compose itself.

It opened its mouth, instinctively uttering a lie.

“I-it naturally stems from years of arduous training.

W-who… who exactly are you?”

Ling Wei offered a faint smile and shrugged.

“You certainly have a sense of humor.

I’ll give you another chance: when, where, and through whom were you introduced to the Heart of the Moon?”

Though the young woman’s tone remained calm and gentle, a wave of goosebumps erupted across Knight’s body, as if it were witnessing a monster in human skin, mimicking human speech.

After considerable hesitation, it confessed:

“A-approximately three months ago.

“A man calling himself ‘the Consultant’ sought out my master, claiming to have retrieved a relic of the legendary Pride from the Corridor of Memories… a pendant named the Heart of the Moon.

“The Consultant stated that he wished to present this treasure to my master, hoping he could use it to ascend to a higher realm.

“My master, though benevolent by nature, always maintained a basic vigilance towards strangers.

“He did not immediately trust the Consultant or rashly use the pendant of unknown origin.

Instead, he sought me out first, instructing me to make contact with the Heart of the Moon to verify the Consultant’s claims.

“I was originally nothing more than a frail, powerless oddity, barely stronger than a common human.

However, the moment I clasped that pendant tightly in my grasp, an immeasurable power surged into my body… transforming me into my current form.”

Ling Wei narrowed her eyes in displeasure.

“Clasped it in your hand, did you… Alright.

According to your account, the Heart of the Moon should now be with Envy, correct?”

“No, that is not the case.

“Upon witnessing my transformation, my master was, of course, ecstatic and eager to accept the pendant.

“However, the Consultant stated he needed to return first, to spend several months imbuing the Heart of the Moon with energy for a further reinforcement.

Thus, my master and the Consultant agreed to proceed with the ascension during their next meeting.

“Yet, when he visited again recently, the Consultant did not bring the pendant as promised.

He tearfully recounted to my master that the resurrected Fireworks… that is to say, you… had forcibly stolen the Heart of the Moon, which rightfully belonged to him.

“This is all that I know.

I swear there is not a single word of falsehood in my statement.”

Ling Wei, possessing a perfectly clear mind, and having not been run over by a large truck on her way to meet Lu Chen, naturally suffered no amnesia.

Consequently, she certainly didn’t recall encountering or robbing any mysterious individual calling himself ‘the Consultant’.

Furthermore, the Heart of the Moon required no charging.

One simply needed to persuade her to assist, and she became instantly plug-and-play, remarkably convenient… Lu Chen, for instance, was clearly already holding hands and partying with her, the half of the Heart of the Moon residing within him.

‘This Mr. Consultant had been lying from start to finish.

Only a narcissist like Envy would have believed him.’

‘What was his objective?

Why was he running around with the Heart of the Moon, distributing it to random strangers?

He was like some wretched elementary schooler who stole a classmate’s toy only to sell it off.’

‘…Insufficient information.

Only inconclusive theories could be formed.

However, the fellow before her was clearly not lying.’

Ling Wei filed the gathered clues away in her mind, then offered Knight a smile.

“Thank you for your candor.

You’ve been a great help.”

“! Th-thank you for your understanding!”

A flicker of joy appeared in Vidian’s eyes, and its tense body visibly relaxed.

Yet, it quickly realized that the restraints gripping its body showed no sign of loosening; instead, they tightened even further.

A chill of dread and terror shot up its spine, and Knight gazed at the young woman in utter panic.

“I truly have told you everything!

I swear I have not uttered a single lie!”

The young woman disregarded Knight’s pleas, her face still adorned with a gentle, sweet smile.

The centaur’s panic reached its peak.

Racking its brain, it blurted out anxiously:

“R-right! The Consultant also visits my master regularly.

“If you would be so kind as to spare my life, I will tell you the time and location of his next meeting with my master!

Ah, yes, you might not even know my master’s current whereabouts; I can tell you that too!”

The centaur’s voice was a frantic tremor, yet the young woman responded with a gentle smile:

“That sounds quite promising.

A worthwhile trade.”

Vidian paused, then broke into a wild, ecstatic grin, its entire face contorting with sheer delight.

“Excellent! I’ll just—”

Ling Wei extended her fair, delicate hand, aimed it at Knight’s massive form, and gently clenched her fist.

“Had you not harmed her, my other half of the Heart of the Moon, I would have been quite willing to make that trade.”

****

Several minutes later, Lu Chen sat beside a carousel, observing the rapidly healing wounds on one arm while using the other to eat a small cake.

Lily of the Valley stood two carousel horses away from him, silently eating her own cake—or rather, she was repeatedly licking an already empty cake cup, clearly too embarrassed to ask for a second one.

Lu Chen hesitated for a moment, then picked up another cake, intending to go over to Lily of the Valley and offer it, when a soft hand gently tapped his shoulder.

He startled slightly, turning to see Xia Shi had silently returned to stand behind him, her pale face streaked with crimson blood.

The young woman gazed at the cake in the youth’s hand, her voice as somber as a ghost’s:

“Are you being unfaithful?”

“…No, of course not.”

Xia Shi offered a faint smile.

“Just kidding.

I merely wanted to say that while my face was still bloody.

Let’s head back together.”

Lu Chen returned her knowing smile, using his thumb to wipe away the bloodstain from the young woman’s cheek.

“Mm.

Let’s go back.”