Free Web NovelChapter 193: Chapter 108: Sensory Sharing! No Treat? So What If I Insist?
"Is this okay?"
Su Xuan asked Lucia as he adjusted his position.
"Mm... This will have to do."
Lucia whispered. She had tried to keep her distance from Su Xuan to avoid excessive contact. However, the combined effects of the blood-colored Withered and the Sensitive Authority forced her to press her delicate body tightly against his back.
This led to a rather awkward situation: the more tightly she clung to Su Xuan, the more pronounced the effects of the Sensitive Authority became.
If it weren’t for Lucia’s own formidable strength, the consequences would have been unthinkable.
But the tremors running through her skin kept her body in a highly sensitive state. To eliminate this feeling...
Lucia extended a finger, its tip gently touching Su Xuan’s waist.
"?"
A strange, inexplicable sensation suddenly washed over him, making Su Xuan turn his head toward Lucia in astonishment. ’What on earth did she do?’
’Why can I feel some of what Lucia is feeling?’
’It’s a sensory link, isn’t it?’
Seeing Su Xuan’s confusion, a faint smile graced Lucia’s face. She leaned close to his ear and whispered softly, "Well then, I’m counting on you~"
Mmm~
Her gentle voice sent a jolt through Su Xuan.
’That tone of voice... is really coming from the Saintess of the Bright Church Court?’
For the first time, Su Xuan felt Lucia’s reliance on him.
’Nice~’
’It really gets you fired up for a fight~’
The group advanced toward the ancient castle in a spread-out formation.
The various Guilds maintained a distance of about ten meters from each other.
At the very front of the formation was the second-ranked C+ Level Guild team, which included four Adventurers above Level 50. Their strength was not to be underestimated.
"We’re about to reach the castle, so why haven’t any of the Demon Race appeared?" Roxia scanned their surroundings, her expression vigilant.
They were on the verge of arriving at the ancient castle, yet they still hadn’t seen a single member of the Demon Race.
Su Xuan was also quite puzzled. Since entering the Demon Cave, they hadn’t encountered a single creature or member of the Demon Race. Yet the stench of blood grew ever stronger, and despite being enveloped in Lucia’s Holy Light, the metallic scent inevitably found its way into their nostrils.
Some of the others had even begun using their Magic Power to disperse the bloody aura or wearing face coverings to mitigate the smell of the blood mist.
"They’re probably all asleep inside the castle," Lu Bo, who was walking ahead, said slowly. "Vampires are creatures that are usually active at night. We haven’t woken them up yet."
Su Xuan didn’t respond to Lu Bo’s words immediately.
He felt that the blood mist permeating the area wasn’t just a feature of the environment. It was more likely a medium for relaying information to the Vampires in the castle.
And the blood-red sun above the castle was constantly monitoring everything in the Demon Cave, like a giant eye. This trip to the Demon Cave was probably not going to be so simple.
Soon, the group arrived at a wide, open area in front of the ancient castle. The old fortress stood before them, exuding a creepy, sinister aura.
"There it is."
Sunset City Lord Rupert gazed at the castle two kilometers away, a subtle, strange glint flashing in his eyes, as if a memory from the past had surfaced in his mind.
"Then we’ll have to ask the City Lord to provide support here and wait for our return after we defeat the Demon Race."
A male Player cupped his fist in a salute to Rupert and spoke with determination.
"Mm."
Rupert nodded and said solemnly, "I will await your triumphant return here! When you do, I will treat you to Sunset City’s finest delicacies and most fragrant wine."
The Knights of Sunset City had no intention of entering the castle. They would act as battlefield support, waiting at the front line.
Of course, this was a decision the Players had made after careful consideration.
They considered that the combat power of Sunset City’s forces was likely inferior to that of two Guilds’ worth of Adventurers; only the Sunset City Lord himself had decent strength.
But they also didn’t want the Knights competing with them for members of the Demon Race. After all, every single one represented precious Contribution Points, which they couldn’t possibly give up so easily.
Therefore, having the Knights of Sunset City wait here was the best option.
"Then we thank you in advance, City Lord."
"Let’s move out, Adventurers!"
With that command, the various Adventurer’s Guilds advanced on the castle in unison.
"I’m going with you."
Roxia, following behind Su Xuan, declared with a determined gaze that she would also be going into the castle.
"..."
Su Xuan was silent for a moment but ultimately agreed to Roxia’s decision. After all, she was safest by his side.
Before long, the Adventurers successfully reached the main gate in the castle’s outer wall. A burly Beastman Warrior pushed open the heavy, ten-meter-tall gate, and a frigid, sinister air immediately washed over them, making them shudder.
Once the gate was open, they were presented with six paths leading deeper into the ancient castle, all of them dim and gloomy.
"Since there are six paths, how about our three teams each take two?" the C+ Level Player suggested, his gaze turning to Lu Bo.
The twenty Players who had entered the Demon Cave were roughly divided into three factions. Lu Bo’s side had six people, the C+ Level Player’s faction also had six, and the remaining eight formed a temporary team of unaffiliated individuals, whose overall strength was slightly weaker.
"Suit yourself." Lu Bo stroked his small mustache, his attitude nonchalant.
No one objected to this plan, and they quickly assigned paths for each group.
Su Xuan naturally chose to follow Hong Lian and the others down the second path. Shen Jun and Shen Siqi went with them as well.
Lu Bo, along with the other two C+ Level Players from his team, chose the third path.
"This castle is magnificent. Its scale is probably comparable to the Imperial Palace of the Star Kingdom."
Shen Siqi said with great curiosity as she looked around.
"You know the Star Kingdom’s Imperial Palace well?" Su Xuan asked Shen Siqi.
"I do!"
Shen Siqi smiled and nodded, then pointed to the Royal Knight behind her. "I have a Royal Knight in my party. He once gave us a tour of the Star Kingdom’s Imperial Palace. I was even lucky enough to meet Princess Vivian back then."
"Vivian..."
Hearing that name, Su Xuan was lost in thought for a moment.
The Princess of the Star Kingdom, now the current Dark Witch, had certainly left a deep impression on him.
"By the way, Su Xuan."
Shen Siqi asked curiously, "What’s wrong with your Adventurer? Is she injured?"
She had noticed Su Xuan carrying Lucia on his back and was a little confused.
"Mm, she’s not feeling well," Su Xuan explained with a smile, while gently squeezing Lucia’s soft, fair ankle.
This action made Lucia’s beautiful eyes narrow slightly, and she immediately reached out to pinch the flesh of Su Xuan’s waist.
Hiss~
Su Xuan immediately withdrew his hand, mentally reminding himself, ’The Holy Maiden’s feet are off-limits! I can’t just touch them whenever I want when we’re outside!’
"But I’ve been meaning to ask you since last time, why are all your Adventurers so good-looking?" Shen Siqi asked in a low voice, her tone a mix of curiosity and teasing. "Look at my brother’s Adventurers—they’re all ugly as sin. One’s got a dog head, and another has a crocodile head."
"Pfft~"
A smile touched Su Xuan’s lips as his gaze swept over Shen Jun’s team of Adventurers. They were indeed as Shen Siqi described—the two Adventurers had rather peculiar appearances. ’But isn’t calling them ’ugly as sin’ a bit harsh?’
’Besides, I bet Shen Jun has a 5v5 multiplayer battle arena game on his computer.’
"Hm?"
Just as Su Xuan was talking with Shen Siqi, Hong Lian’s senses suddenly flared. She seemed to perceive a strange aura approaching.
But the strange aura vanished in a flash, leaving her with a puzzled expression.
Soon, they passed through a side door of the castle and entered what appeared to be a dining hall.
However, the dining hall was surprisingly empty. The only conspicuous object was an open coffin placed in the center of the room.
"Everyone, be careful!"
Instantly, everyone raised their guard. Hong Lian and the Centaur Female Warrior were the first to approach the coffin, but the sight inside left them slightly stunned.
There was no corpse lying in the coffin, but a portrait.
The woman in the portrait had deathly pale skin, eyes as red as fresh blood, and a head of golden hair that shimmered in the light. Her beauty was breathtaking, but it was a beauty tinged with an indescribable strangeness and evil.
[Portrait of a True Vampire Ancestor (?): This is a portrait. When you find three such portraits, you will acquire the Rare Trait "Vampire."]
