Free Web NovelTiya didn’t say the name out loud, but for a fleeting instant, the three people present all understood who she meant.
“Mu Li,” Tiya said softly as she looked at her. “Among the Great Khan’s more than one hundred children, you were the one my teacher valued the most while he was alive.”
Mu Li froze.
She had many wishes she’d never fulfilled, but those all belonged to the time when the Great Khan was still alive.
As for now, she no longer intended to think about ideals or dreams. She only wanted to live on—and to live on together with the tribespeople who supported her from behind.
Thud!
Under Marlam’s astonished gaze, Mu Li dropped to her knees the moment she heard those words, placing her hands before her knees as she spoke in a low voice,
“Mu Li is fearful and unworthy—this responsibility is beyond me.”
Tiya seemed not to hear her at all, nor did she notice the change in Marlam’s expression. She simply continued speaking to herself, freewёbnoνel.com
“The people of the Western Continent who live on the grasslands— in the eyes of some from other continents, we are uncivilized barbarians. Backward. Burdened with cruel and ignorant customs. But those of us who grow up on the grasslands live close to slaughter and battle from childhood onward, whether against monsters or other races... ah, right.”
Tiya suddenly asked, “Do you know why, even though I am a grassland priestess, I went to study the Alliance’s weapons—firearms, blades—and the crafting of formation engravings?”
Without waiting for Mu Li’s answer, she pulled a magic-crystal rifle from beneath her cloak and slammed it onto the table with a loud bang.
The dazzling silver sheen along the gun’s surface made Mu Li’s breathing hitch—then turn rapid.
“Imitation Crocodile C6. Length: 1.2 meters. Weight: forty pounds. One of the Alliance’s current top-tier firearms. The body is engraved with twenty-six layers of amplified defensive formation patterns. It can be loaded with all types of magic-crystal rounds, anti-magic stone rounds—even the wielder’s own compressed magic power.”
“Hold this, and even an ordinary person can kill a battle-hardened heavy cavalryman from our grasslands with a single shot. From several kilometers away—before they even see the enemy’s shadow, they’re already dead!”
Tiya handed the firearm over. Mu Li stared at the silver-white body, fluid as water. Her callused hands gently traced the shimmering formation patterns, trembling despite herself. Lips pressed tight, she grasped the stock.
“Both hands!” Tiya barked.
Mu Li hurriedly switched to a two-handed grip, forcing herself to hold ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) it steady.
To the side, Marlam—who had just emerged from seclusion in the mountains—couldn’t help but look over after hearing this. That look was exactly like a country bumpkin stepping into a grand estate for the first time.
“Human technology really advances fast,” Marlam said with feeling. “The last time I came out for some air, they were still mainly using magic swords and blades... now they’ve started combining firearms with magic. Who knows—maybe someday a Hero or Demon King who governs the authority of guns will be born.”
“Priestess Tiya... this world is far too big.”
Mu Li held the heavy firearm in her hands, her gaze suddenly unfocused.
“When I was little, I wanted to become someone who could stand tall beneath the heavens—just like those legendary Heroes of the orthodox path. When I got a bit older, I felt that becoming someone like the Great Khan would already be incredible. Now... being able to guard the tribal legacy my mother left behind, and protect the people and things I cherish—that would be enough.”
Still gripping the firearm, Mu Li looked at Tiya. A trace of sorrow surfaced in her brown eyes—not the sorrow of weakness or pain, but the sorrow that appears when one decides to abandon something important.
She asked softly, “High Priestess Tiya... can you tell me why you chose me?”
Tiya paused, then said slowly,
“My teacher said that our Western Border tribes must not become the initiators of a human civil war. So he chose you. I am only fulfilling my teacher’s last wish.”
“So... that’s the only reason?”
“That’s all.”
“Then, Priestess Tiya—will you stay and assist me?”
“No.”
Tiya answered immediately. Her expression was proper and solemn, without a hint of joking or absent-mindedness as she continued,
“Someone entrusted me to assist another child of the Great Khan. I agreed, and I will honor that promise. But I will not intervene excessively in this competition. The First Prince and Third Prince are already dead. Aside from this Imitation Crocodile C6, I can also provide you with a batch of other weapons.”
“These weapons are enough to push your overall strength into the top ten of this battle royale. As for the rest, that depends on you. Additionally, according to grassland tradition, on the day the Great Khan is chosen, I will appear to accept the position of the next High Priestess, and then select students across the grasslands.”
“Then... if I win,” Mu Li paused, then suddenly said, “If I defeat the one you’re assisting—will you, like the High Priestesses of past generations, support me as well?”
“No,” Tiya said calmly. “Once matters here are concluded, I will continue pursuing my destiny. At that time, the position of Grassland High Priestess will be handed over to my student.”
Mu Li remained silent for a long time. Then she closed her eyes and touched her forehead to the ground.
“Mu Li understands.”
Tiya stood up and turned to leave.
Behind her, Mu Li still did not raise her head, remaining bowed over the soft grass.
Suddenly—
Tiya stopped in her tracks.
“You who grew up on the grasslands must have heard the stories of the god Kulkan. Like us, He too began as someone insignificant—as small as an ant.”
“Unfortunately, we can never reach the level of the god Kulkan. Even if we wager everything, we still won’t reach it. So I can only offer you this advice: endure. On these grasslands, giving up means death.”
“Mu Li understands.”
“......”
Tiya fell silent for a moment, then looked toward Marlam.
The next second, Marlam finished the last mouthful of her mixed-vegetable soup, patted her backside, and followed after her.
The grasslands lay beneath the same unchanging stars.
They walked a long distance—until the campfire glow of Mu Li’s tribe was no longer visible.
“Ah, thanks for the meal.”
Marlam rubbed her stomach contentedly. She tied Pike—so stuffed he couldn’t even fly—with a rope around her waist, then asked casually,
“Priestess. Can you divine for me now, where the person I’m looking for has gone?”
......
The Elven Royal Court. Night ends; dawn breaks.
Vieya, who had stayed up all night without sleeping, left the fairy village with a small bag of medicinal herbs on her back and returned to the city.
She hadn’t expected that simply sorting useful herbs would take an entire night. The moment she stepped out of the fairy village, still wreathed in purple miasma, the glaring sun made her squint.
Ordinary slimes have pathetically weak eyesight and mostly rely on sensitive little tentacles to perceive direction.
“Ugh... Aislin didn’t even come to pick me up. Don’t tell me she’s still grinding merit points.”
Vieya pinched her fingers and calculated the time, then hurried back along the road she’d come from toward the Elven Royal Court.
However, she didn’t immediately go look for Aislin or return to her daughter’s side. Instead, she first went to the area near the elven healing house.
While finding the elven physician Ruoye to compound medicine, she also took the opportunity to check on the mermaid Isabelle, who was already able to get out of bed and move freely.
“Doctor-sis, I gathered some herbs that can nourish and strengthen the body. Could you help me prepare them? I’ll take them back and boil them for my daughter to drink.”
Standing on tiptoe, Vieya slipped off the backpack stuffed full of herbs and lifted it onto the counter.
Then she clung to the edge of the counter, revealing gem-like eyes as she looked up at Ruoye, waiting for her reply.
“Oh my, little one—our healing house doesn’t open until ten in the morning. It’s not even eight yet. Go back and rest a bit before coming again. It’d be best to come in the afternoon...”
On a vine-woven recliner, a green-haired elf with voluminous waves was holding up a medical tome and studying it intently, completely indifferent to the small customer who had appeared at the counter.
