Chapter 10: Seeds of Doubt and a Grand Plan Interrupted

The mark shimmered faintly beneath the dark feathers.

Lu Chen parted the feathers, examining it closely for a moment, then placed Zero on the windowsill and limped towards his desk.

After all, he was no professional sorcerer, and he hadn’t committed the methods to memory during his studies.

Perhaps he had misremembered the way to determine when a contract was signed.

He needed to consult the relevant books to confirm.

The desk was haphazardly piled with magazines and documents, resembling a megalithic structure from some ancient tribe.

Lu Chen navigated through the chaotic stacks for a while before locating the book he sought.

He turned to the chapter on determining contract signing times, noted the method, and slowly, deliberately, returned to the windowsill, parting the feathers on Zero’s nape—

However, the mark that had been so clearly visible just moments before had vanished, leaving behind only a faint scar.

Though the sun outside shone brightly and warmly, a sudden chill crept down Lu Chen’s spine.

He stared incredulously at the bare skin, as suspicion, like a serpent, coiled around his mind, proving increasingly difficult to dislodge.

‘Had the crow played some trick on him?’

‘But Morning Star had already bound it; it should be incapable of casting spells.’

‘Was it the work of another monster?’

‘Yet he had noticed no signs of any monster intruding.’

‘Aside from himself, the room clearly contained only—’

“Are you alright?”

A clear female voice sounded in his ear, interrupting Lu Chen’s thoughts.

Startled, his face paled as he hastily turned, meeting Xia Shi’s gaze from only a short distance away.

The young woman, evidently perplexed by his reaction, tilted her head.

“My apologies, I noticed your expression suddenly looked off, so I thought I’d come check on you. Did I scare you?”

Gazing at the young woman’s usual serene face, Lu Chen breathed a slight sigh of relief.

‘It’s good that Xia Shi is alright.’

“It’s nothing. Actually—”

Lu Chen recounted everything he had just witnessed, even showing the young woman the crow’s nape.

Upon hearing his explanation, Xia Shi narrowed her eyes thoughtfully, her gaze lingering between the crow and Lu Chen.

After a moment of silence, she picked up the ‘Monster Taming Guide’ Lu Chen had been perusing from the desk, opened it to a page, and placed a slender finger beside a line of print.

“There’s nothing strange about it. Look, the book states that there’s a small chance for contract marks to spontaneously detach and disappear after the contract becomes invalid.

“It seems we’ve encountered precisely that situation.”

Lu Chen read the explanation on the page, which was exactly as the young woman had described.

Yet, a sense of unease still stubbornly clung to his heart.

“…I see, truly the professional. However, how do you explain the contract’s signing time?”

The young woman lowered the thick guide, silently taking two steps closer to Lu Chen.

“This crow’s feathers are quite thick, obscuring most of the mark. Are you certain you didn’t misread it?”

Lu Chen was about to immediately reply, “No,” but upon seeing Xia Shi’s unruffled, placid eyes, he began to waver.

‘Had he truly seen it clearly?’

‘Perhaps he had simply mistaken a mottled shadow for part of the mark?’

After all, Morning Star and Xia Shi had both been in the room just minutes ago.

It was utterly impossible for any monster to have simultaneously evaded their notice and signed a contract with the crow.

‘Conversely, if there truly was a monster capable of such a feat, it would surely be able to devastate and warp the entire city of Linzhou, transforming it into a living hell unfit for humanity.’

As he wrestled with his thoughts, a warm touch met Lu Chen’s face; the young woman had cupped his cheeks.

She whispered,

“Please open your eyes wide. Tell me, what do you see?”

The young woman’s gaze was both concerned and tender, and Lu Chen found himself almost lost within it.

“Only you.”

Hearing his reply, Xia Shi’s lips curved, revealing a faint smile.

She gently caressed Lu Chen’s cheek, her voice soft as a dream:

“Exactly right. I am here, and I will never again leave without a word, never again leave you alone.

“So, rest assured. Don’t be too nervous, and don’t put too much pressure on yourself, alright?”

‘…Nervous?’

‘Perhaps he truly was too tense.’

“Mm, thank you. You shouldn’t push yourself too hard either.”

After offering his thanks, Lu Chen wrapped his arms around the young woman’s slender shoulders, pulling her into a tight embrace.

Within the soft, warm embrace, he swiftly managed to cast aside the lingering unease, no longer dwelling on it.

—However, once a seed of doubt is planted, it can only be buried; it will not disappear.

It will draw nourishment in the shadows, growing silently, until it thrives so robustly that it can no longer be ignored, eventually breaking through the earth one day.

****

Three days later, on a Sunday, the city center’s streets were bustling.

Today was the day Ling Wei would retrieve the Heart of the Silver Moon, and the young woman’s mood was consequently excellent.

Although there had been a few bumps along the way, and she had even nearly been exposed by that boy Lu Chen, almost capsizing in the gutter… she had, against all odds, won! Victory was hers! A magnificent future lay before her!

—Nevertheless, the young woman did not head straight for the Corridor of Memories.

Instead, she was huddled in a damp alley, watching the men, women, and children bustling along the pedestrian street.

She squinted her eyes with keen interest, while telepathically communicating with her familiar:

“Tell me, Zero, have you seen anyone suspicious during your patrol?”

Zero, who had been circling in the air on patrol, paused mid-flight upon hearing her, then glided down to perch on a utility pole, answering respectfully:

“Of course, Master, your current behavior is highly suspicious; you’re practically a textbook stalker.”

This crow had completed its registration two days prior, becoming an honorable and righteous probationary contracted beast.

Under Lu Chen’s supervision, it was contributing to the safety of Linzhou City, currently patrolling the city center as a volunteer, while also continuing to work for Ling Wei.

Ling Wei replied:

“It seems Mr. Lu’s methods for educating you are far too gentle. Tonight, I’ll recommend some medieval beast-taming techniques to him.”

“Begging your pardon. What exactly do you mean by ‘suspicious person’?”

“To be precise, I mean the monsters working for that old fellow, Envy.

“I can faintly sense their magic, but I can’t pinpoint their exact location.

“You’ve been circling in the sky for a while; have you noticed anyone particularly unusual?”

Apart from Ling Wei, who couldn’t be bothered with idle chatter, every Incarnation of Sin had cultivated a large following of minor monster minions.

The magic of these minions carried the distinctive characteristics of their respective Incarnations of Sin, making them identifiable.

Incidentally, despite being fellow Incarnations of Sin, the seven generally operated independently, and their relationships were far from amicable.

Envy, in particular, harbored a deep-seated hatred for Ling Wei due to various reasons.

Zero, looking down at the pedestrians on the street, replied:

“Regrettably, I have no recollection. Would you like to choose a different time to retrieve the Heart of the Silver Moon?”

“Zero, urgent question: if a lion and a wild rabbit meet on the savannah, who should turn and flee?”

“The rabbit?”

“So you haven’t forgotten that fundamental principle after all.

“There’s no such thing as the strong avoiding the weak.

“With Mr. Lu not around to get in the way today, it wouldn’t matter even if Envy himself showed up.”

“That’s absolutely right, it truly moves this demon!

A mere one or two small-fry monsters can’t possibly impede your grand advance… Ah.”

The crow let out a short gasp, its flattery abruptly cut short.

Ling Wei said, surprised:

“What is it? Did you spot a suspicious target?”

“It’s not a question of suspicion…

“Please look for yourself in the nine o’clock direction, at the person in gray clothes.

“Or you can check the Eye of Scrutiny’s projection.”

Following Zero’s guidance, Ling Wei looked, and immediately spotted Lu Chen limping towards them.

As their eyes met, the young man immediately waved at the young woman, his smile particularly bright under the sun.

Ling Wei also immediately responded with a smiling nod, the veins on her forehead notably prominent under the sunlight.

‘Seriously, big brother, what trouble are you stirring up now?’