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"Your Highness, thank you for your generous help. But we still have some business to take care of. Now that we're in the city, we'll take our leave. We'll visit you properly another day to express our gratitude."
The carriage had already entered the city some time ago. Aether only spoke now because the small blue dot in his elemental vision was getting close to the location of Xue Qinghe's carriage—it meant they were near the destination of their commission.
"Eh? Oh right, we still need to rescue Keke!"
Paimon suddenly remembered their main objective and scratched her head, a little embarrassed.
"Qinghe, we'll tell you more next time. We're off to beat up some bad guys!"
"A rescue? Is there anything I can help with?" Xue Qinghe asked instinctively.
But then he remembered how mysterious the pair before him were. Would he even be able to assist them? He quickly added, "I mean… perhaps I could offer a bit of help within Heaven Dou City, if needed…"
"No need, thanks Qinghe. We have the Traveler. As long as we find those bad guys, we'll be fine."
Paimon was mindful not to owe him any more favors—they had just received his help, after all.
"If you're looking for someone, I can help with that! Can I come with you? You two just arrived here, so you're probably not familiar with the city, right?"
Xue Qinghe was eager to spend more time with them and wouldn't give up so easily.
"Hmm… you've got a point. Qinghe's a prince, and he's strong too."
Paimon stroked her chin thoughtfully, then turned to Aether, clearly leaving the decision to him.
"Alright. With His Highness around, things might be a lot easier."
Aether nodded, agreeing to Xue Qinghe's request.
He was already thinking ahead—once they found the culprits, dealing with them might be smoother with royal backing.
"I'll do my best to help!" Xue Qinghe nodded enthusiastically.
...
In a remote corner of the western district, Aether signaled for the group to disembark.
Xue Qinghe dismissed his attendants and coachman, then began surveying the surroundings.
The area was mostly filled with small courtyards, home to ordinary citizens. The people passing by didn't recognize Aether's group, but from their clothing alone, it was clear they belonged to nobility, and so most kept their distance, wary of causing offense.
Xue Qinghe didn't find it unusual, but he did ask curiously, "Pardon me for asking, but who exactly are we here to rescue?"
"Keke, of course! She's a poor little girl who was taken by bad people. The Traveler and I have been chasing them for days just to reach here!"
Paimon looked to Aether and continued, "Traveler, there are so many houses here. Which one is Keke in?"
"Follow me."
Aether led them into a nearby narrow alley. After twisting and turning through a few more paths, they finally arrived at a long-abandoned courtyard.
"This should be the place."
Aether used his elemental vision and confirmed the location had overlapped with the small blue marker.
"Shhh. I'll take a peek first. There might be bad guys inside."
Paimon whispered and flew up to the edge of the courtyard wall, cautiously peeking over.
"…Traveler, I see someone! There's really someone in there!"
Scout Paimon returned immediately to report.
"Yeah, I see him too."
Aether and Xue Qinghe crouched by the door, peering through a gap to get a clear view inside.
Aside from a smooth little path, the yard was overgrown with weeds and looked completely abandoned.
Leaning against a pillar in front of one of the side rooms was a burly man, dozing off.
"…!" Paimon puffed her cheeks in frustration.
What the heck!
They were stealing her job!
She wanted to be useful too! A little credit wouldn't hurt!
"I'll go in with Paimon. Your Highness, perhaps it's best if you stay out here. It might be dangerous inside."
They hadn't seen Yu Keke yet, which meant she was likely being held somewhere inside. With the situation unclear, Aether turned to Xue Qinghe and offered a warning.
"I'm going in with you. I won't be a burden," Xue Qinghe replied firmly.
He wasn't worried about the danger at all.
Aether cast a glance toward the rooftop opposite them, as if sensing something, then gave a small nod in agreement.
Bang! With a single kick, Aether knocked the door open and stepped in. Paimon and Xue Qinghe followed close behind.
From the rooftop across the yard, two shadowy figures observed them from behind cover.
"She Long, did that boy just look our way? Could he have spotted us?"
One of the figures frowned and spoke in a low voice.
"Yeah, he probably noticed us a while ago."
She Long, the man addressed, looked surprisingly unfazed.
"Back when he and that strange flying creature were in the young master's carriage, I tried probing with my soul power in secret… but a bizarre, overwhelming force repelled me. My head's still spinning from the backlash."
"You should've said something earlier! What if the young master is in danger?"
The other figure's tone turned tense.
"I don't think so. Didn't you see how well they got along?"
She Long shook his head and added, "Besides, if they truly wanted to harm the young master, you and I wouldn't be able to stop them anyway."
"…They're that strong?"
The other man—Ci Xue—was stunned. Though they acted as the young master's secret guards, they were in fact elders of the Spirit Hall, and both possessed Titled Douluo level soul power.
Across the entire continent, there were barely a dozen Titled Douluo. The two of them were among the strongest human combatants alive. Yet She Long had said even they might be helpless?
"What do you think? I got injured just by testing him. If we really fought, I doubt I could last ten rounds against that boy."
She Long was still shaken by the experience.
Earlier, when he tried probing from the carriage, his spirit had been violently thrown back.
He figured the boy hadn't meant to offend them—if he had, She Long might be dead already, not just dizzy.
"…Should we report this to His Holiness, the Pope?"
The sudden appearance of a mysterious powerhouse around the young master made Ci Xue uneasy.
"No need for now. Let's wait and see. The young master likely has his reasons for befriending them."
She Long shook his head. If the young master took the initiative to build ties with them, they probably weren't enemies.
While the two whispered, Aether and the others had already subdued the man in the yard.
"Spare me, please, mighty lord!"
The burly man was now on his knees, pleading desperately.
It had been his turn to stand guard today, and during a brief nap, these mysterious figures had stormed in.
Especially the youth now pointing a sword at him—he himself was a Rank 43 Soul Ancestor, but in this boy's hands, he felt as helpless as a baby. He couldn't even summon his spirit, and began to wonder if he was dreaming.
"Speak! Where are you scumbags hiding Keke?!"
Seeing the bad guy caught, Paimon crossed her arms and barked at him with authority.
"I-I don't know! I'm just the gatekeeper, I don't know any Keke…"
The man bowed his head and begged.
"The little girl you kidnapped—where is she?"
Aether's sword hovered inches from the man's forehead. It looked like it could pierce through at any moment. The man trembled, nearly plastering himself to the ground.
"She's… she's in the hidden chamber inside! All the slaves we captured are kept there!"
Knowing his life was hanging by a thread, the man spilled everything he knew.
_
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