Myriad Realms Gatekeeper

Prince Norton steadied his spirit, about to speak, when suddenly the notebook on his desk began to flicker with continuous bursts of light.

Military intelligence!

He immediately strode over to the desk, looked down, and read through the message. It turned out to be thus and so, such and such.

"Saint Peiqi! We've won a great victory!"

Unable to contain his joy, Prince Norton said, "The Undead seem to have learned of the legendary assassin's death, and now their battle formation has begun to collapse; our forces are in full pursuit!"

"That's fantastic!" Shen Ye echoed.

Prince Norton laughed heartily, pounding the desk with his hand, "It's all thanks to you, just say the word—what position do you want? I will definitely grant it to you!"

"A position? There's really no need, but, Your Highness, I have a friend who's deeply troubled by a curse. Is there any treasured item that can lift a curse?" Shen Ye asked.

"I see," Prince Norton's guarded look in his eyes dissolved somewhat, and with a playful tone, he said, "It's rare for someone to think of their friends at a time like this—is this friend a man or a woman?"

"A woman." Shen Ye told the truth plainly.

——The truth.

Someone who does not covet power, someone willing to make sacrifices for love or friendship.

Tsk.

Prince Norton's heart eased a bit more, and after pondering, he said, "Such treasure is extremely rare. Why not let the High Priest try his hand? Moreover, you can bring your friend along; the Elf Race might be able to help lift the curse."

"That won't do, my friend is unwilling to show herself to others." Shen Ye said, somewhat troubled.

A lie.

However, this time, Prince Norton smiled knowingly.

Just his personal intervention was an honor in itself.

As was asking the High Priest to help.

But after all, young people in love always have their romantic notions.

And truthfully, a treasured item's effect is stronger than a priest's.

For example, the Holy Compassion Gem hanging around his own neck—its effect—

Wait a minute!

Prince Norton's expression froze.

He looked at Shen Ye and noticed that Shen Ye was indeed looking at the pendant on his chest.

A pause of silence.

The Skeleton's whisper still echoed in Shen Ye's ear:

"The Holy Compassion Gem hanging around the Prince's neck is specifically for lifting curses. It's the strongest in the whole world—"

"At least, of all the known treasures, none is better at lifting curses than it."

Shen Ye scratched his head, feigning surprise as he said:

"Wow, Your Highness, your chest is glowing. Such a valuable item, can it be used?"

...Can it be used.

Prince Norton pondered for a moment, slowly coming to his senses.

"Can it be used?"

This question on the surface had several meanings.

First.

Is this thing good or bad, and can it take effect on a curse?

Second.

Can you give it to me?

Third.

Can I take this very item as a reward?

From the context, Saint Peiqi meant the second with a hint of the third.

——This little rascal!

Prince Norton gritted his teeth, tore off the pendant and threw it over:

"Take it, damn it, that pendant could buy a city! Are you going to give it to your woman?"

"To save someone, to repay a favor." Shen Ye laughed heartily, taking the Holy Compassion Gem.

Done deal!

No matter the end result, he had done his best.

——They were even now, owing nothing to each other!

Prince Norton watched as the gem disappeared into Shen Ye's hand, and couldn't help feeling the sting of loss as he glared and barked:

"Get out and cook! I have to work now!"

"Yes, Your Highness; right away, Your Highness."

Shen Ye left the room in high spirits.

Time slowly passed.

On the third day.

Prince Norton's injuries had further healed.

This brought both him and Shen Ye a sigh of relief.

Yudelia, the Court Grand Mage, arrived at the safe house with a few subordinates to perform rapid healing on the Prince.

His strength finally recovered.

"Your Highness, we have won a great victory at the front; morale is high. Everyone is saying it was due to your expert command, and they are all waiting for your return."

Yudelia reported.

Prince Norton nodded, "Hmm, it's time to return to battle. Peiqi, you come with me!"

No response.

Where is he?

Prince Norton stepped out of the study to find no sign of Peiqi anywhere.

Only on the living room wall was a painting of a pink pig.

Beneath it was a line of words:

"Kill a person within ten steps, never stay for a thousand miles."

The subordinates who followed also saw this scene.

"Your Highness, he left without reporting to you!"

One of the priests couldn't help saying.

Prince Norton huffed coldly, examined the pig image carefully, and muttered to himself:

"This pig is painted so ugly... but why would he use a pig to represent himself?"

"His mind really is in the clouds."

The priest wanted to continue, "Your Highness—"

"There's no need! Peiqi is an assassin, on a secret mission from me, you need not worry about him. Let's go!" Prince Norton waved him off.

...

On the Floating Island.

A sedan chair traveled leisurely along the mountain paths.

Suddenly.

A male voice came from the sedan chair:

"Stop!"

The maids carrying the chair came to a gradual halt.

The curtains were lifted.

Nangong Sirui stepped out, walked seven or eight meters along the mountain path, and with a smile said:

"Brother Guanshu, are you there?"

No response.

The mountain breeze gently blew.

The trees swayed as the leaves rustled.

"It's so boring, you guys, always hiding your strength, not vying for the ranks in the Newcomer Card, even taking an exam in such a wretched manner. It's unbearably tedious."

Nangong Sirui said discontentedly.

No one responded.

Nangong Sirui's eyes flickered, and with a huff, he shook his head and said:

"Forget it, forget it. I'll just go back and tell my sister that Wang Guanshu isn't worth a second look—he's a coward who doesn't even dare to show up for an exam."

A voice suddenly rose from the mountainside:

"Do you find this amusing?"

Boom—

The mountainside split open, revealing a small stone chamber inside.

A young man was sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion, having just brewed a pot of tea, and was pouring it out.

It was Wang Guanshu.

Only then did Nangong Sirui, satisfied, enter and sit across from the young man at the tea table.

"I rarely serve this tea to others."

As Wang Guanshu spoke, he placed a cup of tea in front of Nangong Sirui.

Nangong Sirui began to speak casually:

"I heard they lifted the restrictions on killing, yet you're still hiding here. Aren't you going out to enjoy yourself?"

"I'm not associated with anything, so you don't need to test me," Wang Guanshu said.

"Heh, I really don't get you guys—you're incredibly strong but just huddle up here, not even fighting for the ranking—such a shame."

Nangong Sirui rested his chin on hand, sizing up the other while sighing.

A flicker of murderous intent passed through Wang Guanshu's eyes, vanishing as quickly as it appeared.

He spoke in an even tone:

"Not everyone can afford to be as leisurely as you. Besides, I don't care for showing off."

Nangong Sirui lifted the tea cup, took a sip, swirled it in his mouth, then spat it all back into the cup and lazily declared:

"Me, showing off? Don't you know I've been holding back my strength as much as I can?"

"You are strong; let's leave it at that," Wang Guanshu said helplessly.

"Glad you acknowledge it. By the way, which school are you planning to attend?" Nangong Sirui asked.

"Jia Lan, of course," Wang Guanshu replied.

Nangong Sirui nodded, put down his tea cup, stood up, and walked outside.

"Sorry to disturb. I'm off for a walk, see you later."

He said without turning back.

"See you at Jia Lan," Wang Guanshu replied.

Boom—

The mountainside closed again.

Nangong Sirui returned to his sedan chair.

A few maids lifted the sedan, and they continued moving forward.

It was unclear whether it was an illusion or something else—

But the sedan chair seemed to move much faster this time than before.

After a good twenty minutes of walking:

Nangong Sirui's voice suddenly emerged from the sedan:

"Hello? Mom, are you buying supplies? Stop for a moment, find a quiet place. I have something to tell you."

"No, I know buying supplies is important, but what I have to say is even more important."

"Alright, I'll wait for you—make sure no one hears our conversation, or I'll have them killed."

After a few moments.

His voice emerged again:

"Tell grandpa to stop associating with the Wang Family and don't let anyone from their family step into our house."

"Yes, I saw Wang Guanshu."

"...It's quite bad."

"Right, you guessed it.

The voice suddenly became anxious:

"What are you waiting for then? Go see grandpa now, hurry up!"

The call ended.

The sedan chair continued its journey.

After a few moments:

Nangong Sirui's voice emerged once more:

"Hello?"

"Hehe, my dear sister, what are you up to?"

"Pilates? Hmm, young as you are, understanding the importance of staying in shape—very good. But, I have something to tell you, find a place where you're alone."

"If anyone overhears our conversation, I might have to kill them."

After a few moments:

Nangong Sirui's voice emerged again:

"Sister, do you remember Wang Guanshu?"

"Yes, the one who was outstanding as a child, the most formidable in fights, the crew-cut kid whose snot always ran the longest and who was the most annoying."

"You remember?"

"...Well, forget about him from now on."

The voice paused for a while.

Apparently, the person on the other end kept talking.

It was only after more than ten moments:

Nangong Sirui's voice emerged again:

This time, devoid of his previous frivolity and cordiality, it was instead filled with deadly seriousness:

"Sister, I'm warning you, stay away from him."

"I'll tell you the truth."

"His spirit has been devoured by Divine Spirits to the point of being Broken, and he doesn't even dare to show up for the exams because he could lose his sanity at any moment."

"...You see, I witnessed it with my own eyes— that thing crawling on his body."

"Understand?"

There was a sound of sobbing from the phone.

A few moments later:

"That's it... The world is no longer what it used to be, many families' Divine Spirits have…"

"It's unspeakable."

"—How tragic, and that even affected the sanity and emotions of people from those prominent families."

"No, I can't save him."

"—Our Nangong family can only protect ourselves."

"Sister, stop talking."

"From now on, I want you to become a warrior, not a maiden waiting in her boudoir, dreaming of marriage."

"This is the advice of an older brother to you."

The call ended.

The sedan still moved steadily onward.

Shortly after:

A long sigh came from the sedan:

"The tea wasn't poisoned, which made me feel embarrassed to make my move to kill him..."

"Ah, acquaintances are such a hassle..."