Chapter 563: Shiki
Lana remained silent for a moment.
’I want to keep a low profile.’
Of course, that wasn’t entirely true.
The real reason was much simpler.
She was terrified of being surrounded by crowds.
The thought of people constantly thanking her, following her around, or worse, having reporters discover her identity, gave her a headache.
She could already imagine newspapers twisting the story and spreading nonsense about her.
Looking at Gloria hopefully, Lana waited for an answer.
Gloria eventually nodded. "I understand."
Then she hesitated again. "However, whenever new members join the charity group, they are informed about your identity. We do that to ensure nobody accidentally offends you."
Hearing that, Lana became completely speechless.
After several seconds, she let out a long sigh.
"Fine. I’ll have a serious conversation with the so-called friend who keeps spreading my photos everywhere."
Gloria couldn’t help but laugh softly.
Afterward, Lana turned and walked away.
Gloria watched her departing figure with admiration shining in her eyes.
Only after Lana disappeared from sight did Gloria return to her friends.
That night, Lana quietly prepared her bag.
Once she finished all of her preparations, Lana went to inform Lucian.
The moment Lucian learned that Lana was the person who would be leading the mission into the restricted area, he immediately proposed accompanying her without the slightest hesitation.
"I’ll go with you," he said firmly. Lana frowned and immediately shook her head.
"No need."
Lucian looked at her in confusion.
Lana sighed softly before continuing. "If you keep paying so much attention to me, I’ll become spoiled."
A teasing smile appeared on her lips.
"My alertness will gradually decrease. Then what happens if one day I get attacked while you’re not around?"
Hearing those words, Lucian paused. After thinking about it carefully, he realized that her reasoning made sense.
"Alright."
He reluctantly nodded. "Then I won’t follow you."
However, after a brief pause, he added, "But if you’re ever in danger..."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small silver button. The button felt cool to the touch and carried a faint trace of his spiritual energy.
Passing it to Lana, he spoke seriously. "Just press this."
Lana looked at the button before chuckling. "You know, nowadays I keep feeling like you’re some kind of overprotective mother."
Lucian immediately laughed. "Only because someone keeps running toward danger."
Lana rolled her eyes before accepting the button. "Fine."
She carefully placed it away. "Then I’ll definitely contact you if I need help."
After Lana left, Lucian remained standing in the same spot.
His gaze lingered on the place where she had been standing moments earlier.
A helpless sigh escaped his lips. ’Why couldn’t she just turn twenty-one in the next two hours?’
The thought made his headache worsen. Unfortunately, he had no choice but to suppress his frustration.
Compared to the calm twenty-five-year-old Lucian everyone knew, he was the thirty-year-old Lucian who was burning with passion for Lana, only to be teased by her repeatedly.
He was a Lucian who had spent an entire lifetime loving Lana. A Lucian who had worshipped her like a goddess. A Lucian who had patiently waited through countless years.
Even now, despite the headache she constantly gave him, he remained unbelievably patient.
Closing his eyes, he silently prayed.
’One day. I’ll marry her. And she’ll finally be completely mine.’
Meanwhile, the person occupying all of his thoughts was completely unaware. Back in her room, Lana was busy packing supplies into her storage talismans.
The room was filled with scattered equipment, medicinal herbs, talismans, weapons, and emergency resources.
After finishing, her gaze landed on the pile of clothes nearby. Originally, she had never been particularly interested in fashionable clothing.
In fact, most of the time she preferred simple and practical outfits. However, after staring at the clothes for a few moments, she ended up packing several additional sets anyway.
’Better to be prepared than regret it later.’
Once everything was finally organized, Lana stretched lazily. Her muscles ached slightly from all the preparation.
Without bothering to cultivate any longer, she threw herself onto the bed. The soft mattress embraced her immediately.
Within minutes, she had fallen asleep. The next morning, she woke up feeling refreshed.
Breakfast had already been prepared. After eating together, Lana and Axel headed toward the university.
Several familiar faces were already waiting there.
The moment they spotted Lana, smiles appeared on their faces.
Truthfully, none of them could explain why they naturally gravitated toward her.
Perhaps it was because Lana always gave people a strange sense of security.
Or perhaps it was because she treated everyone sincerely. Whatever the reason was, they enjoyed being around her.
As for Lana and Axel being together all the time. The relationship between Lana and Axel was pure and innocent.
There was absolutely nothing inappropriate between them.
Soon, everyone boarded the specially prepared luxury van.
The interior was surprisingly spacious. Soft seats lined both sides, while various facilities allowed them to rest comfortably during the journey.
Some people could even cultivate inside if they wished.
Naturally, Lana immediately focused on cultivation.
Among everyone present, she knew the upcoming mission would depend heavily on her.
The others, meanwhile, treated the trip almost like a vacation.
Betty and Layla were busy gossiping.
Fay was attempting to flirt with Axel every few minutes.
Richard and Quinn remained immersed in their own conversation.
The atmosphere was relaxed and lively. However, that peace didn’t last long.
Suddenly, Fay’s voice echoed through the van.
"If only Wade hadn’t betrayed us."
The moment those words left her mouth, silence descended.
Everyone’s expressions remained calm on the surface.
Yet if someone looked closely, they would notice the sadness hidden deep within their eyes.
Wade’s betrayal remained an open wound. Lana immediately noticed the shift in mood.
She smiled lightly. "Let’s not talk about negative topics."
Everyone looked toward her. "We should discuss something more interesting."
Her voice was gentle yet firm. Slowly, the tension faded.
The group exchanged glances before nodding. Soon the conversation gradually returned to normal.
Several hours later, they finally arrived at their destination. The moment they stepped out of the vehicle, everyone’s expressions became serious.
This time, nobody was relaxed. The reason was simple.
They were about to enter a Twin Forest.
A location frighteningly close to the city. Yet despite its proximity, it remained one of the most dangerous areas in the region.
The forest was officially classified as an Orange Ghost Zone.
Rumors claimed that a thousand-year-old ghost resided within its depths.
The forest looked dark and oppressive even during daylight.
Ordinary people would never be allowed inside.
Fortunately, a secure access route had already been established. Without it, entering the forest would have been nearly impossible.
The moment they arrived at the checkpoint, Axel looked at everyone. His expression was serious. "Stick close to me."
His voice carried unquestionable authority. "And make sure none of you get separated."
Everyone immediately nodded. Soon they reached the main entrance station.
Numerous guards stood watch. Each guard wore specially designed equipment that prevented ghost possession.
After carefully verifying everyone’s identities, the guards turned their attention toward Axel.
The moment they confirmed that he was a Spirit Monarch capable of protecting himself, their attitudes immediately became respectful.
Many of them even looked relieved.
After all, having a Spirit Monarch and Mystic Cultivator operating within the zone significantly increased everyone’s chances of survival.
Some of them secretly hoped Axel would directly eliminate the final boss. A terrifying fifteen-hundred-year-old ghost.
If that happened, the government could finally proceed with its long-term plan to completely cleanse the entire zone.
After passing through the checkpoint, Lana and Axel noticed that numerous other teams had already entered.
Many cultivators wandered around cautiously. Some examined maps. Others observed the surroundings with vigilant eyes.
Seeing the unusual crowd, one of their companions couldn’t help asking,
"What are all these people doing here?"
Richard narrowed his eyes. "Maybe some kind of treasure appeared in the Twin Forest."
He looked around thoughtfully. "Otherwise there wouldn’t be this many people."
Before anyone could continue guessing, Lana calmly spoke.
"They’re here for a Shiki."
The moment those words left her mouth, everyone froze.
Even Axel raised an eyebrow. Layla’s eyes widened. "A Shiki?"
Her voice rose several octaves. "Are you serious?"
Excitement immediately exploded throughout the group.
After all, what cultivator wouldn’t want a Shiki? What spiritual cultivator wouldn’t dream of obtaining a powerful companion?
Everything suddenly made sense.
When Lana nodded, everyone’s eyes lit up.
Meanwhile, Axel simply shook his head helplessly.
’If I were in her position,’ he thought, ’I would never have revealed the truth.’
He glanced at the suddenly energized group.
’I’d have let them discover it on their own.’
The reason was fairly simple.
When people fought over resources, they could no longer afford to view everyone around them as friends.
Even close companions could become competitors the moment a valuable treasure appeared.
As Axel thought about it, he silently decided something.
’I need to teach Lana how to stay silent in situations like this.’