Four Split Personalities

Game Time PM 18:31

Violet Empire, Marshal Territory’s western boundary, outskirts of Stacked Rock City

A stooped figure flickered in and out of visibility in the dark of night. He had black hair interspersed with strands of silver, his appearance was average, and he looked to be between the ages of forty and fifty, rapidly walking down a narrow path.

There were many travelers like him. With the news of the Marshall Family’s downfall not yet spread across the entire Empire, even on this land destined to change rulers, too many people were continuing with their daily lives. After all, for residents and travelers alike, it didn’t really matter who ruled over them.

However, there wasn’t a large number of people who would walk this path alone after nightfall. Especially since further west lay the Boundary, and Fire Claw Territory wasn’t a place for sightseeing or business. So, apart from the occasional mercenary or adventurer who would take this road for various missions and rewards, few would loiter around here without reason, especially at night.

The months of the Song and the Poem were the least liked of the year. Not only did many Demon Beasts become highly active, but the nights were the longest and the temperatures the coldest. Without sunlight, walking alone in such sparsely populated areas at night was definitely not intelligent.

"I’ve been waiting for you for a long time..."

Suddenly, an aged voice unexpectedly resonated through the air, causing the silently progressing traveler to abruptly halt.

"Who’s there?"

He looked around warily, his hands hidden in his sleeves subtly gripping two short blades. His gloomy eyes darted around anxiously but failed to detect even a shadow.

And yet, that voice continued to sound smoothly from all directions, its tone undisturbed by emotion: "Who I am is not important. What is important is that you should not be here, Bafi Marshal."

"Although I don’t know how you saw through my disguise..."

The man paused, then sneered, the wrinkles on his face vanishing as the stoop in his back straightened forcefully. In an instant, his entire demeanor underwent a radical change. Despite still wearing inconspicuous linen clothing, nothing could conceal his inherent superiority or the malice and resentment hidden deep within his eyes.

"Show yourself!"

His previously genteel expression twisted frighteningly, veins bulging at his temples as he ground his teeth vengefully: "Your disguise is futile!"

Two seconds later, a patch of black cloud in the sky silently dispersed slightly, shedding a bright moonbeam that shone directly onto an elder not far in front of Bafi Marshal...

"Although it might seem like an assertion of strength, I would still like to explain."

This was an aged human clad in an old Priest’s Robe, at least eighty years old, with a goat beard. His somewhat shriveled right wrist was wrapped with a faded cross of indistinguishable material, and he held a thick Holy Scripture in his arms. His hair and beard were pure white, and he regarded Bafi Marshal with calm grey eyes: "It is not some evil magic of yours that made me appear. Rather, you happened to use some evil magic at the moment I was preparing to appear."

Bafi Marshal licked his cracked lips and replied coldly, "What difference does it make?"

"Of course, there’s a difference because... um, sorry, please wait a moment."

The old man first turned the upside-down Holy Scripture in his arms 180 degrees to hold it correctly, then continued: "Being forced out by you would bring dishonor to my Lord."

"Heh, your ’Lord’ seems to care quite a bit about face," said Bafi.

Bafi leaned slightly forward, crossing the two black-bladed short knives in front of him, a silvery Qi Force flickering on his body as he glared murderously at the elder before him: "Perhaps I should send you to see Him?"

"You can try, Bafi Marshal..."

The elder lifted his right hand slightly, the severely faded cross also gleaming with a hint of silver as he spoke gently: "Try to attack me... or kill me."

...

At the same time

City of Light, inner district, Dawn Great Cathedral

"I don’t know why, but every time I come here, I feel uncomfortable all over."

Motan chuckled nervously to the girl beside him as they were eyed from all around, shrugging his shoulders: "I really shouldn’t have agreed to come here to eat with you."

"The food here is particularly good."

Yu Chen stuck out her tongue and playfully swung the pastry in her hand covered in a thick layer of cream, saying cheerfully, "And as long as you promise in the name of the Goddess to finish eating properly, you can even take leftovers home!"

As Motan walked arm-in-arm with the girl up the spotless marble staircase, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on her cheeks until he had stared Yu Chen into blushing deeply, he sighed softly: "You’ve worked hard..."

"Hm? Worked hard on what?"

"Dieting..."

"Eh?"

"I noticed the first time we met, you ate very little of the main course, and you almost didn’t touch meat or desserts at all."

"Ah..."

"So it wasn’t that you didn’t like them or they weren’t to your taste, but simply because you were on a diet, right?"

"Wu..."

"You don’t have to..."

"Don’t say it!"

Yu Chen stuffed the half-eaten "Potato Light Cream Mochi" into Motan’s mouth, her face flushed red as she muttered, "It’s rare to be able to eat without worrying about Absorption or getting nutrients, so what if I admit I’m a bit greedy!"