Chương 8: Part 1

Ming Xuan Ji rode through the fortified gates of Theloca in a sleek, horse-drawn black carriage, its lacquered panels gleaming like polished obsidian under the fading, bruised purple of the evening sunlight. The heavy vehicle moved with a quiet, practiced grace over the uneven cobblestones, the faint, rhythmic creak of its wooden wheels and the clatter of hooves the only sounds accompanying her perfect poise. Inside the cabin, she sat completely still.

The vivid crimson accents embroidered along the sleeves of her flowing black hanfu caught the dying light through the carriage window, flickering like restless embers in the gathering dusk. Despite the fact that the massive troll horde had been decimated just a moment prior, the city beyond the glass did not feel like a place that had just been saved. It felt like a city holding its breath. The streets were far quieter than she had imagined a victorious settlement would be.

Many of the timber-framed shops had their heavy iron-reinforced shutters half-closed or fully barred. Groups of people moved with grim, exhausted purpose, their faces smeared with soot and dirt. Militiamen carried heavy bundles of iron-tipped arrows and bloodied bandages, pushing wooden carts loaded with emergency supplies toward the outer walls. From the temporary forges set up in the alleys, the rhythmic, deafening clang of hammers on anvil metal rang out, refusing to cease even at this late hour.

As the carriage rolled through a main square, she spotted a makeshift medical pavilion erected beneath large canvas tents. Healers in simple, blood-stained robes darted between rows of cots. Even through the enclosed carriage, the faint but unmistakable, metallic smell of fresh blood, bitter medicinal herbs, and cold sweat drifted into her nose.

Further down the thoroughfare, a squad of burly dwarves worked without pause under the watchful, bloodshot eyes of the city guards, their thick, braided beards tied back securely as they shaped spearheads with practiced, desperate speed.

'They're still preparing for a siege,' Xuan Ji thought, her mind automatically cataloging the defensive formations, supply lines, and civilian morale the exact same way she used to study enemies in the game world.

'Even after what happened at the walls, they're not relaxing. Smart'. She cracked the carriage window open just a sliver, allowing her enhanced senses to sweep over the street. It was then that she caught the frantic, hushed whispers of the citizens and off-duty guards huddled around the supply wagons.

"Did you feel the ground shake?" an older man with a bandaged arm muttered, passing a water skin to a younger guardsman.

"I was on the inner wall. The sky turned completely white."

"The horde was breaching the western gate, and then... nothing," the younger man replied, his voice trembling.

"The screaming just stopped. Do you think Lord Vael finally ended it?"

"Must be a secret weapon from the treasury," a nearby merchant chimed in, wiping sweat from his brow.

"Nothing else could vaporize a vanguard of Deep-forest trolls like that. The Marquess must have unleashed a relic to save us." Xuan Ji closed the window, her lips twitching in a faint, imperceptible smile.

'Ah. So that's how it is.' Because only Drelion Vael and a handful of frontline knights had actually seen her unleash her catastrophic martial arts upon the battlefield, the rest of the city had only experienced the blinding flash and the localized earthquake of her arrival. They didn't know a single woman had wiped out the threat; they simply assumed their ruling lord had detonated a hidden trump card. It was a convenient misunderstanding.

It would keep the unwanted attention off her back for at least a little while longer. Across from her in the plush interior of the carriage, Marquess Drelion Vael sat in heavy silence. His presence was steady, but noticeably subdued for a man whose domain had just narrowly avoided complete annihilation. He glanced at her occasionally, his silver-threaded blond hair catching the sunlight from the window, but he said very little, allowing the city's tense, bruised ambiance to envelop them both.

She appreciated the silence. It gave her time to observe, process, and think. Years of reading fantasy novels and playing immersive fantasy games had prepared her for the broad strokes of this exact scenario. Save the frontier city from an overwhelming monster threat? Get treated like royalty by the local nobility. It was practically a genre staple. The fact that Drelion had personally escorted her in his own private carriage, leaving his battered army behind, told her everything she needed to know.

The local power structure was treating her with an extreme mixture of desperate reverence and absolute terror. It took another fifteen minutes for the carriage to navigate the crowded, winding streets and reach the heart of Theloca, where the Vael manor stood. It was less of a traditional noble estate and more of a small, heavily fortified keep made of thick gray stone and dark, reinforced timber. Its high exterior walls were etched with protective mana runes that glowed with a faint, pulsing azure light.

Grand banners bearing the Vael family crest, a stylized silver tree on a field of deep blue, fluttered defiantly from the watchtowers. The heavily armored guards stationed at the wrought-iron gates snapped to attention the moment they recognized the carriage. The heavy oak doors swung open seamlessly, and the carriage pulled into the serene, lantern-lit courtyard. When the carriage came to a halt, Drelion stepped out first, adjusting his cloak before turning to offer her a gloved hand.

"Welcome to my humble abode, Lady Xuan Ji," Drelion said, his voice warm but weighed down by deep exhaustion and careful respect.

"It is modest compared to the grandeur you must surely be accustomed to, but I hope it provides the comfort you deserve tonight". Xuan Ji ignored his hand, stepping down from the carriage with a fluid, weightless grace that seemed to defy gravity. As her boots touched the cobblestones, she didn't flare her Qi, nor did she intentionally project any hostility. But the sheer, compressed density of the Heavenly Demon Scripture circulating through her meridians was impossible to completely mask.

A nearby guard, holding a halberd at attention, suddenly swallowed hard. A bead of cold sweat rolled down the side of his face. The carriage horses whinnied nervously, stomping their hooves and pulling at their reins to edge away from her. Stolen novel; please report. She stepped across the manor's threshold, her face a mask of perfect, serene apathy. The interior of the Vael estate was refined and immaculate.

Polished marble floors gleamed underfoot, reflecting the smokeless light cast by enchanted crystal lanterns. Rich, heavy tapestries depicting heroic, historical battles against the beasts of the Zel'Mora forest lined the stone walls. Servants in crisp, uniform attire lined the grand hallway. As Xuan Ji walked past, they bowed deeply, folding themselves almost in half. There were no dramatic whispers of awe; instead, there was a heavy, suffocating silence.

A young maid holding a silver tray visibly trembled as Xuan Ji's shadow fell over her, the woman's breathing turning shallow and frantic, like a rabbit sensing a predator in the tall grass. Xuan Ji noticed the visceral, instinctual fear her presence commanded, filing the reactions away with clinical interest. Drelion led her away from the grand hall and into a spacious, private antechamber. The room was furnished with plush velvet chairs, rich mahogany shelves, and a low table set with crystal decanters.

A massive hearth crackled warmly at the far end of the room. The light here was steady and inviting. It felt like stepping into an entirely different dimension compared to the tense, bleeding city outside and the savage wilderness she had survived for the past hundred days.

"My lady," Drelion began softly, gesturing toward one of the velvet chairs.

"Would you prefer to dine first, or retire to your chambers to rest? The day's events must have been… taxing, even for one of your stature". Xuan Ji considered the offer. A large part of her ached for nothing more than a scalding hot bath and the silence of an empty room. But the analytical gamer within her, the part that had spent years dominating leaderboards, knew that sharing a meal with the Marquess was strategically vital.

It was a necessary opportunity to observe him up close, probe for information, and establish her footing in this new world's hierarchy.

"A meal would be welcome," she replied, her voice calm, melodic, and perfectly controlled.

"It has been quite some time since I enjoyed a proper dish. Just… nothing too heavy, please". Something flickered in Drelion's tired blue eyes, a profound understanding, and perhaps a touch of deep respect for her restraint. He turned to the doorway and gestured. An elderly butler with a neatly trimmed silver beard and impeccable posture stepped out from the shadows of the hall.

"Rowen," Drelion said.

"Inform the kitchens to prepare something at once. Focus on our finest, yet simplest dishes".

"As you wish, my lord," the butler, Rowen, intoned with a deep, sweeping bow, gliding away with a silent, practiced grace that hinted at years of service. While they waited for the kitchens, Drelion moved to a side table and poured a steaming cup of tea from an ornate, heavy silver pot. The delicate aroma wafted into the air, notes of sweet jasmine mixed with faint, earthy herbs. It was an unfamiliar scent, yet oddly soothing.

"Please, try our estate's signature blend," Drelion offered, presenting the porcelain cup to her with both hands, a gesture of deep deference.

"The leaves are harvested by specialized rangers from the very edges of the Zel'Mora forest, infused with a touch of natural, ambient Qi. I hope it suits your palate". Xuan Ji accepted the cup, her slender, pale fingers brushing the warm porcelain. She inhaled deeply. The complex scent evoked memories of the ridiculously expensive, high-end teas she'd occasionally sampled back on Earth during rare splurges after a massive streaming payout. But this was richer.

It was laced with a subtle, thrumming energy that tingled against her heightened senses. She took a slow sip. The flavor unfolded across her tongue like a gentle wave, light, floral, and carrying a lingering warmth that immediately sank into her chest and spread harmoniously through her meridians.

"Good tea," she murmured softly, allowing a fraction of her cold mask to melt.

"Subtle, yet deeply invigorating".

"I am exceedingly pleased it meets your approval," Drelion replied, a genuine, exhausted smile finally softening his lined, battle-weary features.

"If you'd like, I can arrange for a generous supply of the leaves to accompany you whenever you decide to depart our city".

"That would be appreciated," she said, inclining her head just a fraction. It was a small luxury, but after months of drinking river water and eating roasted monster meat, she wasn't about to turn it down. Before long, the heavy doors to the antechamber swung open, and a procession of silent servants entered, bearing silver trays laden with steaming food.

The rich, savory aromas hit Xuan Ji like a physical blow: roasted meats, fresh-baked artisan bread, and vibrant vegetables seasoned with crushed herbs that instantly made her mouth water.

'Finally,' she thought, maintaining her outward serenity while her stomach did backflips.

'Something with actual flavor'. The spread was exactly as requested: elegant but simple. There were thick slices of tender steak glazed with a light, aromatic herb reduction, roasted woodland fowl with perfectly crisped skin, a medley of steamed greens drizzled in rich oil, and whole loaves of warm, crusty bread accompanied by whipped butter infused with subtle spices.

"Please, enjoy," Drelion invited, gesturing to the feast.

"I apologize for the haste of the preparation. For dinner tomorrow, I will ensure my head chef prepares a banquet truly befitting of your status".

"There is no need for apologies," Xuan Ji said. She selected a piece of the glazed steak, cutting into it with a graceful, measured precision. The first bite was nothing short of a revelation. It was juicy, perfectly seasoned, and melted on her tongue. The explosion of culinary flavors after a hundred days of brutal wilderness survival almost made her sigh out loud.

'God, this is heaven. Better than any five-star restaurant back home.' Not that she had experienced many; as a recluse in her past life, she mostly ate frozen food or ordered through Grab. She ate methodically, savoring every single morsel, projecting an outward demeanor of refined, aristocratic elegance while inwardly reveling in the pure, simple joy of eating real food. Drelion sat across from her, eating sparingly.

He watched her with a quiet, lingering satisfaction, clearly relieved that his terrifying guest was pleased. As the plates were slowly cleared, the Marquess set down his wine glass. His expression grew incredibly solemn, the fatigue in his posture replaced by a rigid, formal dignity. His bright blue eyes met hers with an unwavering, desperate sincerity.

"Lady Xuan Ji," Drelion began, his voice thick with emotion.

"Words alone cannot express the depth of my gratitude. You arrived on our walls like a divine intervention, turning a certain doom into our salvation. Fifty thousand souls... my wife, my children, my people… we all owe our lives to you today. I wish to repay this monumental debt. Not just with a warm bed and a hot meal, but with something of true, lasting value". Xuan Ji paused, dabbing her lips delicately with a silk napkin. She tilted her head, her curiosity genuinely piqued beneath her calm facade.

"And what exactly do you have in mind, Marquess?" Drelion leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice as if sharing a state secret.

"Offering you mundane gold or jewels would be an insult to an expert of your caliber," he said smoothly.

"But artifacts… the Vael family has amassed quite a collection over our centuries guarding this border. Many of these relics are immensely powerful, yet they sit gathering dust. They are bound by ancient restrictions, specific bloodlines, strange elemental affinities, or unknown conditions that render them completely dormant in the hands of lesser men. Perhaps, with your profound martial insight, you could unlock their potential." He held her gaze.

"I offer you free, unrestricted access to the Vael treasury. Choose whatever you will. It is yours". Xuan Ji raised an elegant, perfectly shaped eyebrow, her dark eyes gleaming with sudden, intense interest.

'Artifacts.' In a world governed by stats and skills, artifacts were massive game-changers. They provided the crucial efficiency boosts, Qi manipulation, and raw enhancements necessary to break through power ceilings. Her [Heavenly Demon Raiment] was already a pinnacle defensive piece, but a warrior could never have too many tools. Versatility was the key to survival.

"Intriguing," she said, keeping her tone measured and cool.

"What sorts of artifacts are we speaking of? And you are certain you would part with your family's heirlooms so freely?"

"Without a single second of hesitation," Drelion replied firmly. She nodded thoughtfully, taking one last, slow sip of her tea.

'This could be exactly what I need. My raw damage output is devastating, but utility artifacts could push my build even further. And if there are unidentified items… my [Divine Eye of Veritas] might reveal the secrets that his appraisers couldn't'*.

"Very well," Xuan Ji said, setting her cup down with a soft clink.

"I would like to see this treasury immediately".

"As you wish," Drelion said, standing up with a renewed burst of energy, palpable relief evident in his posture.

"Please, follow me."