Being a knight is not easy

Chapter 358 Surveillance
The cave was deathly silent; even the dust floating in the beams of light filtering through the vines seemed to have solidified.

Wind Chime channeled her full mental power; her abilities as a second-tier Order Wizard granted her a newfound control over the energy flow of her surroundings. She could clearly "depict" the source of that malevolent force—not an invincible entity, but rather a pair of eyes hidden behind the void, a delicate energy projector.

It lurked in the shadow of a clump of low bushes in the dense forest outside the cave, extremely well hidden, silently "watching" the spot where they had just been.

Robin slowly opened his eyes, a cold glint in them. He, too, locked onto his target. "Not the real body, but a reconnaissance method." His voice was chillingly menacing as he looked at the wind chime. "Can it interfere? Or cause a backlash along the energy trajectory?"

A flash of blue light appeared in Fengling's eyes, and the newly acquired power pulsed at her fingertips. Her precise control over energy was a strength of the Order Wizards. "I'll try sealing and disrupting! This power trajectory... is unfamiliar, not belonging to any of the known major wizarding schools!" She formed profound hand seals, and an invisible force of order instantly condensed, like a finely woven net in the void, silently enveloping the probing source!

Almost the instant she made her move, that cold malice suddenly turned sharp, like a snake being pricked by a needle!

The shadow of the locked bush trembled violently, followed by a subtle but explosive energy fluctuation that tried to break free from the constraints of the net of order!

"It's going to self-destruct and annihilate itself!" Wind Chime hissed, simultaneously tightening its control. The probing energy projection, like a firefly gripped by an invisible giant hand, flickered and twisted wildly, and then—poof!

A muffled thud exploded on the spiritual level. The probing energy core was forcibly crushed by the power of order, but a final, sharp spiritual fragment, full of warning, like a poisoned ice needle, suddenly rushed back along the energy net threads sealed by the wind chime!

"Hmph!" Feng Ling was prepared, and her newly formed mental barrier was instantly erected, like the hardest ice shield, which blocked the mental fragments with a "clang".

Although she managed to block it, the chilling killing intent and arrogant contempt contained within the fragments still made her slightly tremble, as if she were seeing a blurry yet powerful, icy phantom from afar.

“The traces have been erased… The counter-tracking setup is very sophisticated, eliminating all direct clues pointing to the source.” Alina silently slid back into the cave, her face grave. Her investigation had yielded no physical traces.

Robin's face darkened; his earlier praise was now completely replaced by a chilling expression. He looked at the wind chimes: "Was this Mrs. Aishar's doing?"

Feng Ling frowned, carefully recalling all the characteristics of the energy she had just experienced—cold, arrogant, with an ancient, scrutinizing quality, and extremely subtle in its manipulation. "I can't be 100% sure it was her… but the feeling this energy gave me is very similar to the description of the 'Frosty Eye' spying technique that Lady Aishar is rumored to possess! That… cold, condescending feeling, like looking down at a chess piece." She paused, then added, "And the timing is too perfect."

Just as they finished refining the magic fruit, when their mental fluctuations were at their most pronounced? Robin's eyes deepened.

“It seems we’ve been exposed to an even more dangerous eye of the storm.” Robin’s voice was unusually calm, but beneath that calm lay a turbulent undercurrent.

He looked at the wind chimes, his gaze no longer filled with mere admiration, but with a sense of solemnity and entrustment as they faced a formidable foe side by side. "The magic fruit... is probably even more dangerous than we imagined. It has attracted covetous eyes of this caliber."

Fengling straightened her back. The powerful strength and confidence she gained after advancing in level were not diminished by this sudden prying, but instead ignited an even more fervent fighting spirit.

She felt the surging power of a new order within her, a power that belonged to her alone, the capital to break free from her shackles.

"Who cares if she's Lady Aishar or not." Wind Chime's voice was resolute, her eyes sharp as a drawn sword. "Anyone who tries to spy will have their eyes cut off. Anyone who tries to steal will have their claws crushed! Robin, you're right, we need to acquire more Magic Fruits! I need them to become stronger! Only by standing high enough can we truly have the power to choose, and only then can we truly... crush those troublemakers who have designs on us!"

"Let's leave here first!" Alina's voice was noticeably tense.

As a newly ascended knight, being so close to that chilling gaze and the invisible, oppressive force field of order emanating from the Wind Chime after its instant breakthrough to the second tier made her instinctively uncomfortable, even causing her scalp to tingle.

Feng Ling also suppressed the powerful energy field that had naturally dissipated from her body due to the breakthrough, and the invisible pressure lessened slightly. She looked at Alina, understanding her unease.

Not all systems are suited to the rigorous and highly manipulative energy fluctuations of the Order Wizard, especially at this moment when breakthroughs are clearly evident.

“As for Lady Aishar…” Alina’s voice hesitated, tinged with confusion, “Would she… really do this to us? Hasn’t she been providing intelligence support all along, making her… our ally?”

This question caused the wind chime to pause for a moment.

As a newly promoted second-tier Order Wizard, her thinking speed is faster and her considerations are deeper.

The sharp light in her eyes dimmed slightly, replaced by a more somber and thoughtful expression.

Yes, on the surface, Mrs. Aishar was indeed an important source of intelligence for them, an "ally." But Wind Chime recalled the woman's undisguised, predatory gaze towards Robin, the manipulative desire that always seemed to creep into her words, and the chillingly high prices behind her past "deals"...

alliance?

Feng Ling sneered inwardly.

In the face of real power and core interests, so-called alliances are as fragile as a piece of paper.

"Alliances can be torn apart at any time, Alina." Wind Chime's voice was calm, yet it carried a chilling undertone. "Especially when you hold something the other party desires." She gently weighed the empty silver box in her hand. "The power of the Mana Fruit is beyond imagination; no wizard can control their greed for it."

She didn't directly identify it as Mrs. Aishar, but her analysis had already pointed the way.

Robin didn't immediately express his opinion, but silently led the way out of the cave.

His steps were light, but each step carried a sense of impending doom, as if he were about to step into the hunting grounds.

The vines at the cave entrance parted silently.

Stepping outside the cave, I was once again bathed in the dappled sunlight filtering through the trees.

(End of this chapter)