I'm really not a Sanctuary Warlock.

Lynn walked over.

"They will set off in half an hour and leave through the North Gate in a grand manner. I have already made arrangements with the city guards; they will make a huge commotion."

"The entire city of Holy Song will be drawn to them."

The old marquis took a deep breath, as if he were placing all his hopes on the young man before him.

"And you, you need to stay here and patiently wait until it gets dark."

“There is a path leading directly from the back gate of the southern manor to the dense forest outside the city, where there will be no guards.”

Lynn nodded, indicating that he understood.

"Alice, come here." The Marquis beckoned to someone behind him.

The delicate girl, as beautiful as a porcelain doll, timidly stepped out from behind the door.

She changed into a light-colored travel skirt that was easy to move in, and put on a thick white fur cloak over it. Her long golden hair was carefully braided and hung down her back.

But those emerald green eyes were still filled with fear and unease about the unknown.

She walked to the Marquis's side, head down, not daring to look at anyone.

"From this moment on, he is your guardian. You must trust him completely and obey all his arrangements, understand?" Marquis Laurent's voice was incredibly gentle, yet carried a hint of authority.

Alice's body trembled slightly, and she nodded slightly, still without making a sound.

Lynn sighed helplessly as he looked at her.

“Let’s go.” Marquis Laurent nodded to the mercenary leader.

The captain gave a mercenary salute, mounted his horse, and waved his hand.

"Griffin's Heart, Set Sail!"

Twenty elite mercenaries mounted their horses in perfect unison, escorting the magnificent carriage as it sped out of the manor and headed towards the north gate.

……

The waiting time always seems exceptionally long.

Lynn and Alice were placed in a secluded side room of the manor.

The fireplace was burning brightly, making the room warm as spring, but the atmosphere was as cold as the snow outside.

Alice was seated on a soft chair by the window, and from Lynn's angle, only her slender profile could be seen.

She sat there motionless, like a fine sculpture, staring blankly out the window, lost in thought.

Time passed by, second by second.

From dawn to noon, and then to dusk.

Finally, as the last ray of light outside the window was swallowed by darkness and night fell completely, the tightly closed door was gently pushed open.

The old steward carried a lantern and quietly entered.

"Lord Lynn, Miss Alice, it's time."

……

Night is the best cover.

Led by the butler, Lynn and Alice passed through several secret passages within the manor and arrived at a secluded stable.

In the stable, two horses that had been prepared were waiting quietly.

One of them was Lynn's Holy Spirit Unicorn, which seemed a little uncomfortable in the cramped space and was snorting irritably.

The other was a fiery red mare, smaller than the unicorn, and looked exceptionally magnificent, clearly a valuable steed.

"This is Brown Sugar, which Miss Alice raised herself," the butler introduced. "It has a gentle temperament and excellent stamina."

Lynn glanced at the little red horse and nodded.

This makes things much more convenient.

"Lord Lynn," the butler handed Lynn a thick package, "This contains provisions and water for the journey, as well as a map prepared for you by the Marquis."

Lynn took the package and threw it directly into her spatial ring.

Alice skillfully climbed onto the back of the little red horse.

"Let's go."

Lynn didn't delay any longer, mounted his unicorn, and was the first to walk out of the stable.

Outside the stables was a path shaded by tall hedges, which led to an inconspicuous wooden back door.

Once you go through that door, there's no turning back.

Lynn glanced back at the brightly lit manor one last time, then gently spurred his horse.

The unicorn understood immediately, took a step, and silently disappeared into the night.

Alice followed nervously behind on her little red horse.

call.

Lynn finally breathed a sigh of relief when his feet truly touched the soil outside the city and he breathed in the snowy air.

The enormous city behind us gradually receded into the distance at that moment.

……

After a night of rapid travel, Lynn finally found a sheltered mountain hollow and reined in his horse as dawn broke.

Alice was already swaying precariously, her little face was deathly pale from the cold, and her lips were even turning purple.

Lynn jumped off his horse, took out a thick blanket from his spatial ring, and threw it directly to her.

"Take a two-hour break."

Alice hugged the blanket and stared blankly as Lynn lit a campfire not far away, then leaned against a rock and closed his eyes again.

Alice snuggled under the blanket, savoring the hard-won warmth, and before she knew it, she had fallen into a deep sleep.

When she woke up again, she was awakened by a ray of warm sunlight.

The snowstorm that lasted all night had stopped sometime ago.

The warm winter sun shines through the sparse branches, casting its glow on the snow.

Most of the snow had melted, revealing the moist black earth beneath, and the air was filled with a fresh, earthy scent.

"Get ready to leave as soon as you wake up."

Lynn's voice came from not far away. He had already cleaned up the traces of the campfire and was standing next to the unicorn, packing his belongings.

Alice then realized that a man's coat had been placed over her without her noticing, and it still retained his body heat.

Her cheeks instantly became burning hot.

This was the first time in Alice's life that she had seen the outside world so clearly.

Not through a small patch of sky visible through the high walls of the manor, but truly standing between this vast expanse of heaven and earth.

The crisp chirping of birds, the silhouette of distant mountains, the shimmering stream in the sunlight...

Everything made her feel novel and excited.

Her courage seemed to grow a little with the warmth of the sunlight.

The two rode their horses one after the other along a country road.

“That… Lynn.”

Alice's voice was very soft; if Lynn hadn't had exceptional hearing, it would have been almost drowned out by the wind.

Lynn didn't turn around, but simply gave a faint "hmm".

Having received a response, Alice seemed to have mustered tremendous courage.

Can I... ask you a question?

"ask."

"Is this world... more good or more evil?"

She asked a naive question that only a sheltered hothouse flower like herself would ask.

amount.

This question left Lynn momentarily speechless.

How should he answer?

Tell her about the cruelty and reality of this world? Tell her about the wickedness of people and how they can stop at nothing for profit?

Looking at the girl behind him, who was full of curiosity about the world, Lynn suddenly felt that it was not her responsibility to tell her about those dark things.

He remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

Whether the world before us is good or evil depends on our individual actions.

"When you encounter evil, purify it."

Lynn's tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable power.

"Then what's left is all kindness?"

Alice was stunned.

She had never heard such an answer before.

The Marquis taught her about weighing options and making choices, while her teacher taught her about history and classic texts.

But the man in front of her gave her a completely new perspective in the simplest and most direct way.

Purify evil, and what remains is goodness.

Yes, what a simple yet powerful truth.

A different kind of light shone in Alice's eyes, and she nodded vigorously.

"I understand."

The atmosphere between the two seemed to become much more harmonious at that moment.

"Hurry up, if all goes well, we can reach the first rest stop marked on the map before dark."

Lynn's voice interrupted Alice's thoughts.

"it is good!"

Alice responded crisply, gently spurred her horse, and the little red horse neighed merrily, quickening its pace to catch up with the magnificent unicorn ahead.

The two men hurried along, heading towards the first rest stop given by the Marquis Laurent.

It was an abandoned hunter's hut, which was said to have been repaired in advance by the Marquis's men and was stocked with food and water, making it an excellent place to stay during a journey.

As the sun sets, it paints the clouds on the horizon a brilliant orange-red.

Just as they crossed a hill and caught sight of the silhouette of the small house nestled at the foot of the mountain, both of them stopped in their tracks.

In the distance, the hunter's cabin, which should have been their warm haven, is now engulfed in flames.

Thick black smoke billowed into the sky, appearing particularly glaring against the orange-red backdrop.

Chapter 174 Let's Help Him

Under the orange-red sky, the hunter's cabin, which should have been their warm haven, was engulfed in flames.

Thick black smoke billowed into the sky, like an ominous monster baring its fangs and claws on the horizon.

Lynn's pupils suddenly contracted, and he instantly tightened the reins, causing the Holy Spirit Unicorn beneath him to let out an uneasy low hiss.

"How could this be... how could this happen?" Alice murmured to herself.

Her bright green eyes reflected the distant firelight, and her face instantly turned deathly pale.

“We can’t go there.” Without the slightest hesitation, Lynn took out the parchment map from his spatial ring again and quickly spread it out.

"Stop looking, let's go," Lynn said without turning her head.

Alice was startled back to her senses by his voice, and the panic in her heart was suppressed by an inexplicable emotion.