Chapter 254: Chapter 253: Assassination Bait, Awaiting for a Long Time

Night.

"Yaaawn..."

"Muer, what are you doing here?"

Nais yawned and rubbed his eyes.

But then, his pupils contracted sharply. A shiver ran down his spine, and he was instantly wide awake!

"You? You? What is this...?"

Nais stammered.

His face was a mask of astonishment. He looked Muer up and down several times, but his gaze ultimately... focused on what Muer was holding.

A blood-soaked sword!

’What’s going on?’ Nais’s thoughts were a mess.

"Long story short, I killed the two Warriors under your rival’s command."

Muer said it as casually as if he’d just killed two chickens.

And in reality... was it any different?

He had gathered intel beforehand and confirmed the target’s location.

Using the silver ring’s Divine Sense to scan the area, he completed his preparations, executed the assassination smoothly, and ended it with a single strike.

Just like that, they were dead.

Very simple.

"Huh?!"

Nais was dumbfounded.

His mind reeled in confusion.

But Muer didn’t pause for even a moment at Nais’s shock, continuing calmly.

"I’ve come to bid you farewell."

"Huh? But why...?"

The words slipped out of Nais’s mouth. A moment later, he bit his tongue.

His expression shifted several times before he finally composed himself, though a hint of helplessness remained...

"Sigh, you really didn’t have to do that. Inside the city, even Bishop Moluo has to tread carefully..."

"Well, what’s done is done..." He shook his head in resignation.

"Good riddance!"

Nais took a deep breath. "Wait for me a moment!"

He then turned, rushed into his room, and came striding out a dozen or so seconds later.

He shoved five Wind Talismans into Muer’s hands.

Then he added an insignia, as well as a hooded cloak.

"Wind Talismans."

"And this is a temple insignia. It’ll let you leave the city legally at night. Otherwise, it would be a huge hassle... And this cloak. Put it on. It’ll help cover your tracks."

Nais explained everything in a rapid-fire speech.

"I won’t say anything more."

"Lord Muer, take care!"

The young Priest gave a long, solemn bow.

"Mm."

Muer gave him a long look, nodded, took the items, and turned to leave.

SWOOSH.

He moved swiftly, his black cloak whipping in the wind. He was like a phantom gliding through the empty, nighttime streets.

Using the temple insignia, he successfully left Aino City.

Then, without pausing for a second, he used a Wind Talisman to accelerate and sped off into the wilderness outside the city!

To bait the hook, he’d drawn maximum aggro. Now, all he could do was run for it!

...

Near the pyramid.

A luxurious residence.

KNOCK KNOCK.

A frantic knocking echoed.

"Your Grace, something’s wrong!"

’What the hell?’

Bishop Moluo frowned, reluctantly pushing away the two companions who were with him in bed.

’So annoying.’

’These subordinates of mine are so clueless!’

’I, your Bishop, toil day and night. During the day, I’m busy presiding over the Divine Combat Tournament and preparing for my plans. At night, I’m not idle either, as I must impart some precious life experience to the little ones...’

’I work so hard, and yet... I’m still disturbed by sudden incidents?!’

Bishop Moluo’s face darkened with displeasure.

He threw on a Priest’s robe and walked out of the room.

"What is it?"

"Didn’t I say not to disturb me tonight?"

Bishop Moluo stepped out of his room, his gaze sinister as he stared at the Warrior kneeling before him.

He had already made up his mind.

If this interruption wasn’t for something important, he would send this Warrior to "enjoy his glory" at the next Divine Combat Tournament...

"Your Grace, it’s about the young master..."

"What happened to him?!" Moluo’s heart skipped a beat. His expression turned grave as he demanded sharply.

"The young master himself is fine... but his two Warriors were assassinated a short while ago. They died in a tavern."

Phew.

Hearing that his protégé was unharmed, Moluo felt a brief sense of relief.

But the second half of the sentence made his eyelid twitch, and he erupted in fury.

To lose Warriors under his command during the Divine Combat Tournament... This kind of loss was devastating!

At this stage of the Divine Combat Tournament, even for him, replacing two titled Warriors would be an extremely troublesome matter.

’This is bad...’ Calculating the damage, Moluo’s expression grew grim.

"Who... did this?!"

"Muer of the Gale."

"What?!"

’That wandering Warrior, how could he...?’

’I wasn’t even ready to make a move yet...’

Moluo’s brow furrowed as if he’d realized something. "Did you take matters into your own hands, only to get yourselves counter-killed?!" he asked coldly.

His face was stern, wearing a "wise" expression as if he had seen through the truth, and he cursed them.

"No, absolutely not! Those two Warriors were just out for a drink and some roasted meat when they were suddenly assassinated..."

"Really, they didn’t do anything..."

The Warrior, on the verge of tears, cried out his grievance.

’Is he putting on a good act?’

Moluo shot him a suspicious glance, his once-certain judgment beginning to waver.

’Could it be true?’

"Never mind. The how of it doesn’t matter anymore."

"Right now, the most important thing is to capture that wandering Warrior... and then, force him to confess that the little brat Nais was the one who ordered it..."

A glint appeared in Moluo’s eyes.

He suddenly realized that this might actually be a good thing.

A perfect solution!

Priests have immunity; it’s hard to convict them of ordinary crimes.

But an assassination within the city is different. He could use this opportunity to sacrifice Nais directly and protect his own protégé!

"Where did that wandering Warrior go?"

"He left the city through the north gate ten minutes ago."

"I see."

Moluo sneered. Spiritual Power surged within him, lifting him into the air.

Flight!

Hmph.

’Trying to escape?!’

’Impossible!’

"Aino City will not permit such an insolent, wandering Warrior to continue living."

’I have to deal with him!’

...

WHOOSH.

The moon was bright, the stars were few.

Muer was sprinting across the barren plains.

He was moving at high speed, rapidly draining his stamina, but he had no intention of slowing down. In fact, he even used a Wind Talisman to speed himself up further.

Because he knew his speed was nowhere near enough!

CRACKLE.

A great gust of wind howled.

Muer whipped his head around, his pupils shrinking. In the distant sky, a human figure, like a great bird, was riding the wind toward him, robes whipping about!

Second-rank Priests of the Far South Continent couldn’t use Magical Escape Light, but they could still ride the wind and defy gravity!

Bishop Moluo was extremely fast.

After spotting Muer, it took him little more than ten breaths to catch up!

"Got you now, you pathetic wandering Warrior!"

Moluo dove like a goshawk, a cruel smile on his face. His right arm, like a withered tree trunk, was covered in a layer of ebony armor that glinted with a sinister light!

However, at that very moment, the air suddenly froze.

BZZZZ!

Formation flags rose on all sides, creating a grand array. A web of spiritual light materialized, trapping him completely!

"I’ve been waiting for you."

A handsome, otherworldly youth in black robes, with a face as fine as jade, sat cross-legged on a green-tinged stone, a smile on his face.

"You..." Bishop Moluo’s pupils contracted.