Chapter 6: Hidden Motives

The wind across the wasteland remained bitterly cold.

The howling gusts stirred up scattered dust, slapping against the thin, makeshift tents of the camp with a faint, sorrowful rustling.

In the distance, within the abandoned mine shaft, the wounded who could still move leaned against the pitch-black cave walls, coughing up blood as they ate the dwindling supply of dry rations…

Even the water was now rationed, sipped sparingly.

The entire camp was shrouded in a shadow of death, morale sinking to its lowest point.

Lin Lan was carried back late at night.

If not for the desperate efforts of the remaining loyal guards who risked their lives to rescue her, she would have long since become food for the mutated vultures roaming the wasteland.

Her entire body was soaked in blood, resembling a corpse dragged from a pool of blood.

In a daze, low, whimpering moans escaped her throat as she muttered fragmented names.

“Sister Lin!” Nurses rushed over as soon as they recognized the leader, their faces a mix of relief and sorrow.

“She’s still alive! Bring the medicine quickly!”

“Use all the remaining anti-inflammatory and hemostatic drugs!”

Amidst the chaos, Lin Lan was placed on a makeshift cot in the corner, where nurses hurriedly treated her wounds.

Her left arm was severely injured, swollen and purple-black like a bruised bun, making everyone’s heart sink.

Her mouth was smashed, teeth loosened, blood mixed with saliva continually dripping from her lips onto the blanket…

The bruises on her legs were just as horrifying.

“Lin went to Aisenburg?” a nurse whispered.

“She charged in alone… was thrown out by those bastards…” the captain of the guards said with difficulty, his eyes full of hatred and frustration.

If the “Oasis” hadn’t turned into this barren wasteland, they wouldn’t be so powerless now…

Lying on the blood-soaked cot smelling of herbs, Lin Lan’s body throbbed with pain, nearly tearing her consciousness apart.

But more unbearable than her physical injuries was the scorched despair and confusion consuming her heart.

Sweat beaded on her forehead, bangs clinging to her brow as she suddenly woke from a nightmare, struggling to sit up.

“Sister Lin! Don’t move! Your wounds…”

Her chest heaved violently, her teeth chattering uncontrollably.

“Commander… drink some water…” a young guard with tear-stained cheeks gently urged, holding a rough pottery bowl.

Lin Lan slowly turned her bloodshot amber eyes toward the murky water but lacked both the strength and desire to reach out.

“No need… give it—cough cough… to the severely wounded…”

The Oasis is gone…

Mi Li is gone too…

She had lost—utterly and completely.

The cold, arrogant face of Seraphina replayed in her mind, stabbing her bleeding heart over and over.

The fire of hatred burned fiercely in her chest, but with no outlet, it only consumed her utterly…

“Am I… worthless?” Lin Lan’s voice was rough and dry, each word dragging blood from her lips.

The guard opened his mouth to console her but found no words.

The atmosphere in the camp was thick and oppressive, like a heavy storm cloud pressing down, suffocating everyone.

At that moment, a slight commotion came from outside the tent.

A sentinel responsible for the watch lifted the curtain and stepped inside, his expression strange as he lowered his voice:

“Commander, outside… there’s a woman.”

“She says she’s from the Purification Sanctuary and wants to see you.”

Lin Lan was silent for a long moment.

The Purification Sanctuary—

One of the most notorious yet strangely coveted fanatic organizations on this land.

The Sanctuary was huge, claiming to “purify” while actually eliminating dissent and spreading terror.

They were at odds with the Oasis, practically mortal enemies.

Moreover, investigations into the devastating assault on the Oasis, which was close to suicidal, uncovered numerous clues pointing to the Golden Wanderers alliance—

And also shadows of the Sanctuary…

Though no concrete evidence had yet surfaced.

“What does someone from the Sanctuary want here?” Lin Lan’s voice was cold and wary.

The sentinel looked troubled: “She says… her name is Morphecia, and she’s here to… help you.”

Help?

She scoffed inwardly.

How could wolves from the Sanctuary benevolently aid a dying prey?

“Let her in.” Despite her suspicion and disgust, Lin Lan decided to meet the visitor.

She wanted to know what schemes these lunatics were up to.

Besides, now…

She had nothing left to lose.

Moments later, the tent curtain was lifted again.

A woman dressed in a dark purple, intricately embroidered robe entered gracefully, followed by several Sanctuary guards in white uniforms.

The robe’s elaborate tailoring and silver-gray mystical patterns at its edges clashed starkly with the ruined, blood-soaked camp.

Her movements made the flowing fabric billow like shadows in the dim light.

The girl’s face was so exquisitely perfect it seemed almost unreal, as if carved by a divine hand—soft, flawless, ethereal.

Her skin was pale to translucence, emitting an unnatural pale glow under the mine’s faint light.

Her unique ash-gray hair was braided intricately, fixed with bone hairpins inscribed with Sanctuary runes; each strand appeared meticulously combed, gently swaying in the breeze like a celestial being untouched by mortal dust.

Her violet eyes shimmered with a melancholic compassion; at first glance, they seemed pure and gentle, but prolonged gazes revealed a chilling, otherworldly glow.

She held a heavy ancient tome, inscribed with divine oracles, and wore a faint, pitying smile—as if a goddess descended to earth.

“May the holy light shine upon you, dear Dawn Knight,” Morphecia’s voice was soft and slow, like gentle spring rain nurturing the heart, laced with an almost magical sincerity:

“Please allow me to introduce myself—I am Morphecia, the Oracle Envoy of the Purification Sanctuary.”

“Sanctuary lackey… what do you want here?”

“Commander Lin, how long has it been since we last met?” The girl chuckled lightly, her delicate voice inviting closeness.

“Seems the fall of the Oasis has caused you quite some trouble, Lin.”

Morphecia stepped closer to Lin Lan’s bedside, the Sanctuary guards forming a line behind her.

She casually picked up a tattered medical notebook from the table, flipping it open as her slender fingers traced the pages thoughtfully…

Her gaze swept over Lin Lan’s wounds, eyes reflecting genuine sorrow:

“I’ve heard of your fate with the Oasis, Commander Lin. The entire Sanctuary grieves… Those who betray the light shall be punished by divine justice.”

“Grieves?” Lin Lan sneered, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “The Sanctuary always hunted us as targets. Now you come to weep fake tears? Don’t you find that hypocritical?”

Morphecia’s smile did not falter, as if she had not heard the sarcasm.

“I know, Lin.”

“You’re searching for the girl the White Night Queen took.”