Wandering Swordsman |

As soon as he finished speaking, the shadows rippled out like water.

Hua Tianyou walked out slowly, his silver robe glowing with a soft, holy light under the candlelight, as if he were a part of this sanctuary.

His face was calm, his eyes showing neither joy nor anger, only compassion and solemnity.

Baron Mason was startled, his pupils shrinking sharply.

He was so preoccupied with the sins of his two sons that he hadn't even noticed the third person in the room! What shocked him even more was that this "missionary" was able to conceal his presence so well that even he, a seasoned lord, was completely unaware of him.

"You...you've been here all this time?" The baron's voice trembled slightly, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"I've been here ever since the assassin entered through the window." Hua Tianyou nodded slightly, his tone gentle. "Young Master Adrian set a trap to lure the enemy out, and I was merely fulfilling my duty of protection."

Baron Mason's eyes welled up with tears, his knees buckled, and he knelt down on the spot, his forehead slamming heavily against the floor with a dull thud: "I, Mason, can never repay the Holy Envoy's great kindness! If it weren't for you... I would not only have lost my son, but I would have committed a grave mistake and almost been deceived to death by my rebellious son!"

Hua Tianyou quickly stepped forward to help him up, his movements gentle yet leaving no room for refusal: "Baron, you flatter us. We are here by the Holy See's mandate to spread the gospel, solely for the purpose of saving the world from suffering; how dare we claim credit?"

Baron Mason stood up, tears streaming down his face. Then, as if remembering something, a deep sense of shame and unease appeared on his face.

He looked down at his disheveled robe and messy hair, then glanced at the broken medicine bottle and bloodstains on the floor, his voice choked and low:

"Holy Envoy...I am...I am truly ashamed. To have you witness such a vile and shameful act of fratricide within my Mason family...this...this farce..." He could barely continue, his hands trembling as he covered his face. "I have failed my ancestors, and I have failed the Holy See's mercy!"

Hua Tianyou gently patted his shoulder, his gaze as clear as the moon reflected in a cold pool: "Misfortune for one's family is a common occurrence. It is precisely because of darkness that the light is all the more precious. Young Master Adrian's ability to see through the conspiracy and uphold his benevolence is proof that the Mason family's traditions have not been corrupted. Baron, there is no need to blame yourself."

Adrian stepped forward, took his father's trembling arm, and said firmly, "Father, from now on, Silvermane City will only move forward and never look back."

The candlelight flickered gently, casting the shadows of the three people onto the wall, gradually merging into one. Outside the window, the moonlight remained as cold and clear as ever, but the night in Silvermane City was already quietly revealing the faint light of dawn.

......

The following morning, Silvermane City was bathed in the golden light of the rising sun.

The bronze bell on the spire rang nine times, its distant echoes announcing a solemn ceremony—the formal succession of Adrian Mason.

The castle's main square is covered with a scarlet velvet carpet that leads directly to the high platform.

Both sides were lined with silver-maned iron cavalry, their armor gleaming, their halberds like a forest, their banners fluttering in the wind, and the lion embroidered with the Mason family crest roaring proudly in the morning breeze.

The entire city gathered, gazing up at the tall figure on the high platform—Adrian, dressed in a dark blue robe, with a silver mane-patterned cloak draped over his shoulders and a family heirloom lion-head jade pendant on his chest. Although his face was still slightly thin, his eyes were like a tempered sword, calm and sharp.

At the climax of the ceremony, he suddenly stepped down from the platform and, amidst the attention of the crowd, walked straight towards Hua Tianyou and Shen Mo, who were sitting quietly in the audience.

The entire venue was silent, save for the sound of the wind rustling through the flags.

He stopped in front of the two men, bowed deeply, and his voice clearly echoed throughout the square: "Today, I, Adrian, stand here to inherit my family business, not because of fate, but because of gratitude and righteousness."

He pointed at Hua Tianyou, "If it weren't for the two Holy Envoys removing the miasma from my body, I would have long since turned into a cold corpse; moreover, thanks to the Holy Envoys' discerning eye and their help in uncovering my own brother's plot, Silvermane City was spared from internal strife!"

He then turned to Shen Mo, who had remained silent, his eyes filled with respect: "Silvermane City will never forget your kindness!"

The people were in an uproar, which was followed by a deafening cheer.

Some people knelt and kowtowed, while others shouted, "Your divine grace is boundless!"

Sunlight shone on Hua Tianyou's silver robe, making it gleam; Shen Mo, dressed in black, lowered his eyes and remained silent, yet his gaze was like the sun reflected in an abyss, making people afraid to look directly at him.

......

After the ceremony, Adrian personally led the two into the study.

He took out a scroll of gilded sheepskin from the sandalwood box and solemnly handed it over: "You two are about to travel to the Caliphate in the northwest. The journey is long and fraught with danger. This is a travel document personally signed by my father, stamped with the seal of Silvermane City and the Papacy's covenant seal. You can pass through all the checkpoints along the way without any hindrance."

He then unfolded another letter, sealed with the Mason Lion emblem: "Furthermore, the lords of the northwestern cities are either former subordinates of my father or related to Silvermane City by marriage. This letter can serve as an introduction, and all who carry this letter should be treated as honored guests."

He paused, his gaze sincere: "Although the Tsarist Empire and the British Empire are neighbors, they belong to different races, and there is mutual hostility between the people of the two countries. If you two leave the border of the British Empire, for your safety, please destroy the letter of introduction immediately."

......

The morning mist over Silvermane City had not yet dissipated, and the echoes of the closing of the East Gate still lingered, when a fast horse galloped in from the northwest official road.

Horse hooves shattered the dewdrops, splashing up dust like smoke. The knight wore a black and gold coat of arms cloak with the Holy See's emblem shining brightly on his chest, and a "three-ringed scepter" symbolizing his deacon status hung at his waist—he was none other than Augustine Raven, the true holy man of the Diocese of England.

He had been summoned by the second young master, Leonard, in order to treat Adrian, who was "on the verge of death." But when he stepped into the main hall of the castle, he saw Adrian in good spirits, discussing military affairs with his father. His face was rosy and his steps were steady; there was no sign of poisoning whatsoever.

Baron Mason and Adrian immediately went to greet them, their attitude respectful but not servile.

Adrian stepped forward personally and bowed deeply: "Your Excellency, I am truly sorry to have troubled you. My illness... has been cured by two passing papal missionaries."

His eyes gleamed with heartfelt gratitude, and his tone was fervent: "Those two holy envoys were truly miracles incarnate! One was named Hua Tianyou, dressed in a simple silver robe, his words gentle and refined; the other was his silent assistant, clad in black as night, never uttering a word. They used 'divine power' to expel the miasma from my body; if it weren't for them, I would have already perished in the canyon!"

Baron Mason nodded repeatedly, his voice trembling with excitement: "Yes! If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have known that divine power could transcend ordinary reason, allowing one to levitate in mid-air..."

However, the Holy Envoy Augustine's expression grew increasingly grim.

His brows were furrowed, his knuckles tapping the scepter unconsciously, and his eyes were filled with suspicion.

After Baron Mason finished speaking, he finally spoke, his voice deep and sharp:

"You mean... they expelled the miasma from the Thousand Mile Canyon from Adrian's body?"

"Exactly!" Adrian affirmed.

"He even used the 'Sky-Stepping Step' technique?"

"Absolutely true! I saw it with my own eyes. That silent servant was three zhang (approximately 10 meters) in the air, his robes not fluttering, as steady as a rock!"

Augustine slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping over the father and son like a hawk's, his tone suddenly turning cold: "Baron, young master Adrian... forgive my bluntness—you have been deceived."

He took a deep breath, his voice carrying the unique authority of a high-ranking Vatican official: "The miasma in the Thousand Mile Canyon is a mixture of the resentment of ancient battlefields and the turbid energy of the earth's veins. Even I, as a deacon-level holy envoy, can only slow its spread with holy water; there is absolutely no way to completely eradicate it! Such purifying power can only be achieved by the cardinals of various dioceses, using the power of the 'Holy Spring of the Vatican'!"

He paused, a flicker of fear crossing his eyes: "As for 'Walking on Void'... that's beyond the realm of 'divine power,' it's... a miracle beyond human limits! Even His Holiness the Pope has never demonstrated such a divine skill with divine power!"

The hall fell into a deathly silence.