Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
A few days later…
The Blood Breeds had sent people to every corner without holding back, in search of Dahm and Hochman’s whereabouts. However, there were no traces of Death Apostles.
The Holy Fist Palace was hindered by their outdated and deficient intelligence fields. They did not know the exact whereabouts of the Death Apostles and could only wait silently while secretly dispatching manpower and reinforcements. The obstructions by the Blood Breeds resulted in a great reduction of their strength.
Both sides had clashed with each other in a few cities many times. However, they had restrained themselves from creating large-scale conflicts and only confined themselves to localized standoffs.
The weather in America gradually entered spring. During this time, Ninox, who had just returned from Grano, had finally brought Raffaele and a few of her other relatives back. They entered the village residence at the foot of a mountain near Holy Fist Palace.
“This is Holy Fist Palace?” Raffaele raised her head and looked at the lofty snowy white mountain. It was impossible to see the mountain peak as large clusters of white clouds were clustered together, forming a sea of clouds that obstructed her vision while they drifted around the mountainside.
The person who was walking in front and guiding them answered frantically.
“Yes, this is the headquarters of Holy Fist Palace. It is also the Temple of the Waterbird Fist and Shooting Shadow Fist.”
All three guides were fully dressed in black robes. Ninox wore the same outfit and walked in the center before turning her head and smiling at Raffaele after hearing what she had asked.
“Master already knows that you’re here and has prepared the banquet at the mountain top already. The next mountain path will probably require a climb of at least two hours. Of course, we will be using a cable car near the top of the mountain for part of the journey to make it more relaxing.”
“Isn’t there a public road that leads up the mountain here?” Raffaele felt slightly doubtful. She had to climb the mountain alone while the rest were left in the village at the foot of the mountain.
“We had planned to construct one initially but decided against that to preserve the original appearance of the mountain. Moreover, climbing up this mountain on foot also served as a form of training for many martial arts practitioners. This training is beneficial towards both the mind and body. Therefore, no one has bothered to repair the road anymore,” replied Ninox while smiling.
The line of people continued to move forward while walking along the mountain path. Throughout their journey, they would occasionally encounter martial arts practitioners who were going down the mountain.
Most of them were young people that were being led by a specially assigned leader. They were all dressed in black robes that made them resemble religious pilgrims with pious expressions on their faces.
They could occasionally see single martial artists. These people would have determined looks on their withered faces. Moreover, their skinny bodies would be covered in torn clothes while their faces would be sunken and yellow, making them look extremely poor. They would continue inching up the mountain while facing greater heights and colder thinner air without a single sign of cowardice on their faces.
Fortunately, the mountain path was clearly broadened already. It was seven to eight meters wide and neat white steps were built there as well. A few white semi-circular stone pavilions were built within a certain distance from each other, allowing people to rest there.
Along the way, Raffaele looked as if her mind was secretly frightened.
These martial artists were all normal humans who did not have the force fields of Blood Breeds or Witches around their bodies. However, they continued to display determined expressions despite clearly being normal humans.
It was rumored that although Holy Fist Palace had only been built for a few years, incredibly sincere disciples had already appeared. One could only imagine the importance of this powerful organization in the hearts of the human martial arts practitioners.
“These are ascetics. After the recent World Fistfighting Exchange Assembly at Holy Fist Palace, Master’s reputation as the World Fistfighting Master began to spread. As the only remaining great martial arts master, many ascetic martial artists would come over to humbly seek his teachings,” Ninox explained. “According to the rules of Holy Fist Palace, ascetics who are able to hike up Holy Fist Mountain on foot and reach Holy Fist Palace without any supplies will be qualified to take a free examination to enter the palace.”
“Isn’t this actually very simple? There are only two mountainous paths that will only take a few hours to climb up. A regular person would be able to hike up the mountain on foot as long as they were slightly more robust than normal,” Raffaele was rather puzzled.
“If only it were that simple. Walk this way.” Ninox guided Raffaele to the left, away from the path of the ascetics before walking on a different road that seemed more leveled. On the road, they could see many people climbing down the mountain, making the stream of people much denser than before. Most of these people seemed to possess exuberant spirits and ample vigor. They were outfitted with various ornaments and equipment. Some of them even had the faint smell of blood wafting from their bodies.
When they saw how Ninox and the others were dressed, most of the people who were walking down the mountain gave way immediately. They saluted them faintly and waited for the group to pass as a sign of their respect before continuing their journey.
“This place is the real mountain path that leads upwards. Meanwhile, the ascetics travel forward on the road that we were using earlier,” Ninox only replied after returning the salutes of others.
“Are there any differences?” asked Raffaele in a slightly curious tone.
“Of course there are differences, big ones in fact,” Ninox smiled. “Watchmen are placed along the path of the ascetics at certain distance intervals. They are elderly disciples who are participating in voluntarily ascetic practices within Holy Fist Palace. They will test the ascetics after a specific distance. Furthermore, some of these tests are unbelievably dangerous and even life-threatening. For instance, one of the tests requires them to walk a distance of two meters along a precipice that is only the width of a palm. The slightest mistake will send them falling into an abyss. This is a test of courage and carefulness while there are others that will test one’s willpower,” a desolate but respectful look appeared on Ninox’s face.
One of the guides beside her could not help but interrupt.
“Those who are able to pass the tests and arrive at Holy Fist Palace are definitely outstanding elites. They will usually be instantly promoted as official members who are free to choose to enter any of the three great departments that consist of the combat club, Nighthawks, or the Holy Fist Palace headquarters.”
“That’s amazing, right?” Raffaele was slightly intrigued. As a Sun Witch, she had always been unconcerned about the powers of normal people. However, after seeing the proud look on the other person’s face while she was speaking currently, she was unable to control her mouth and asked the question suddenly.
“Of course!”
That person was a girl who possessed a competitive temperament.
“Only the two great marshalls and the Four Major Generals are qualified to practice the Royal Fist Technique. Its powers are completely beyond your imagination!”
Raffaele smiled but was slightly unconvinced. Although she had heard that Holy Fist Palace was indeed very powerful, those rumors were only based on the great strength of the Holy Fist. Was it really possible that he managed to cultivate subordinates that were equally strong within a few short years? She did not believe it.
However, her expression froze quickly when she saw a few familiar figures walking down the mountain.
They were the Blood Breed witnesses that she had once met at the Witches meeting. They were previously members of the Light Party and one of them was an old Middle-level Blood Breed woman. She was currently walking down the mountain with a calm expression on her face. Apparently, the other woman did not recognize her as Raffaele had initially belonged to the Lower level. The difference between them was too great and they did not have any chance to socialize at all.
As she watched the old woman stroll down the mountain slowly, the shock in Raffaele’s heart increased suddenly.
Soon, she saw more Blood Breeds that were emitting Middle and Lower level Qi while walking down the mountain. They were speaking casually and happily with a few people who looked like completely unassuming regular humans. Apparently, they were all on equal footing.
This caused her small mouth to gape open slightly.
Ninox and the others looked at her while faint feelings of pride and dignity flashed through their minds.
The line of people quickened their footsteps and climbed up the mountain hurriedly. They soon arrived at the location of the cable car. After providing the proof, they clambered into the cable cars before traveling up the mountain along the sturdy steel cords speedily.
When the steel cords passed through the sea of clouds, the entire stretch of whiteness around them made it impossible to see the edges.
An intrigued expression flashed in Raffaele’s eyes.
“How beautiful…”
“Of course,” Ninox smiled.
Time ticked by before the cable car approached the Holy Fist Palace quickly. The lofty and huge white building gradually became bigger while a large cylindrical passage spouted white gas that resembled water outwards continuously.
“What is that, the thing that is coming out?” Raffaele pointed towards the white gas and asked.
“A specialized gas. It’s a type of gas that is extracted from the insides of the mountain. Since the temperature here is too low, the difference between the temperature of the water inside is too great, forming this white gas that gushes out. In reality, it is merely a normal ventilation installation,” answered Ninox patiently.
As the steel cords approached slowly, a few other cars in front of them that traveled downwards along the steel cords had appeared.
There was a person in a thick coat who was with a few of his subordinates. There was a somewhat uncomfortable look on his face as he sat in the cable car.
Raffaele glanced at one of the people before feeling her heart jump suddenly when a brutal Qi radiated from their bodies naturally. He glanced over unexpectedly and it seemed as if a ray of white light flashed in his eyes suddenly when he looked over.
Raffaele’s mind was shocked and she lowered her head immediately. She had gained a new understanding of the strength of Holy Fist Palace.
The convoy got down from the car and entered the palace while being guided by the people in charge. They passed through various areas before entering the inner cavity of the mountain.
Half an hour later, Raffaele was finally taken into an area that was filled with little warm water fountains everywhere.
A familiar figure was standing in front of a bright stone hall there, waiting for her.
Ninox took her into the stone hall and stopped walking before leaving quietly. Once she had entered the stone hall, the stone door behind Raffaele was quietly closed, and she was alone in the room with Garen.
There was a large wall of floor-length glass on the other side of the white stone hall. It was possible to see the endless sea of white clouds there, making it seem as if one was standing up high in the clouds.
“Long time no see, Raffaele,” the figure turned around and looked at her calmly. The person was wearing a mask on his face, but Raffaele was able to recognize his voice and tone immediately as the same Garen that she’d once known.
“Yes, long time no see. How many years has it been since we last met?” Raffaele walked towards a chair beside Garen and sat down.
It looked as if he was still stuck in his old ways. He still looked like a regular person from the past. However, she understood that his current self was far from the simple identity that he’d once possessed in the beginning. Perhaps he never had never been simple from the start.
“Almost a year and two months,” answered Garen casually. “Since you’ve come all this way, you should rest properly here. There will be people who are in charge of going down the mountain to buy anything you need. You could even go to the little village at the foot of the mountain if you want.”
“Are Uncle Emmer and little sister Vivien there?” Emotions stirred inside Raffaele’s eyes slightly.
“They’re both in the little village at the bottom of the mountain,” Garen did not conceal anything.
“I’ll go and be with them then,” said Raffaele while lowering her head and biting her lip. “Frankly, I’m not in the position to say this, but the things between us ended quietly a long time ago, right?”
“Who knows?” Garen chuckled before lifting her chin gently. “Stay with my family for me. It’s inconvenient for me to accompany them constantly now, and you’re the only one who can help me.”
“Don’t do this,” anger flashed in Raffaele’s eyes before she pushed Garen’s hand away. “I don’t like actions like that. They make me feel very disrespected.”
“Alright,” Garen was slightly shocked. Only then did he remember that Raffaele had finally become one of the leaders of the Witches. “Okay, you should go and rest for a while first. I still have things to sort out.”
“Okay,” Raffaele turned around and walked out of the main door of the stone hall quickly with slightly flushed cheeks.
Suddenly, she felt her waist tighten as her waist was embraced by Garen from behind. Next, a slightly warm feeling began to creep up her neck.
“Don’t worry, I will take care of everything,” Garen’s voice echoed behind her.
