Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 322 - 315: Intentionally Concealing

Chapter 322: Chapter 315: Intentionally Concealing

"Anyway, let’s put that aside for now. After all, our mission is to conduct military reconnaissance in Lipei. I don’t think anything significant will happen in the direction of Yazhi City for now. After all, there were no casualties among the five largest local gangs. Expecting them to initiate a retaliatory attack isn’t realistic." Luo’er shook his head, deciding to end this topic.

"I wonder what’s going on back in Yazhi City. Now, with Church Court people firmly controlling the Otherworld Gate, it won’t be as easy for the folks from Headquarters to pass through it anymore," Cheng Ziang sighed with some worry.

"Let’s deal with that when we get back. I believe they can handle it," Luo’er reassured.

"Alright, let’s continue with our mission," Cheng Ziang glanced at Luo’er, then asked, "Luo’er, I hope you won’t cause any more problems. Look at how tired I’ve been without you as the captain these few days."

"You’re the vice captain. What’s wrong with temporarily taking charge?" Luo’er rolled his eyes at him, smiling.

"Ah, I feel lighter with nothing to deal with. Indeed, leaving you in command is the best choice. Saves me the trouble." Cheng Ziang shrugged his shoulders, looking tired.

"Alright, let’s forget all that for now. Everyone, assemble and get ready to carry out our mission. We’ll discuss any problems when we get back." Luo’er looked around at everyone, then rallied up the team to depart.

Only then did he notice Yalunte and Feliz, hence he asked somewhat hesitantly, "Erm, Mr. Sword Saint and Feliz, are you also intending to join us?"

"I was originally assigned by Headquarters to assist you," Yalunte spread his hands while donning an innocent expression.

"Alright then," Luo’er nodded, then turned to Feliz and asked, "What about you? We are from the Otherworld, enemies of your world, are you also planning to follow us?"

"I can’t go back now, you’re the only ones who can protect me. Besides, the Church Court just killed so many people. I want to stay and do something for you guys, atoning for my sins as a believer," Feliz said, lowering her head.

"Rest assured, I vouch for this girl. She won’t leak any information about our team," Yalunte patted his chest and said from the side.

"That’s not what I meant," Luo’er cleared his throat, then looked at Feliz once more and said, "Our mission might offend the people of Otland, are you okay with that?"

"It doesn’t matter. If you want to kill them, it means they are bad people," Feliz said, looking at him.

"Just because they are enemies doesn’t mean they are bad people..." Luo’er mumbled softly. Apparently, Feliz must have other reasons for staying. Although Luo’er was unwilling to admit it, it was very likely that she did it for him.

When Hu Daoke ran to Meiliya Camp for help, he was given a high attention by Melia. After knowing that Luo’er’s team was short of horses, she once again replenished the mounts for the team. However, due to Hu Daoke’s oversight, he only brought back four horses. Including Yalunte’s own horse, the whole team of seven members only had six horses in total.

"Girl, get on the horse!" Yalunte mounted his horse and then beckoned Feliz.

"Uncle, you stink so much, I don’t want to squeeze with you anymore!" Facing Yalunte, Feliz expressed her distaste outright.

Yalunte sniffed himself, then defiantly retorted, "What smell? How can you just slander me like that?"

"Feliz, if you don’t mind, you can squeeze with me!" Tangmo timidly interjected.

Feliz looked at Tangmo’s attitude and was taken aback. She then nodded and said somewhat reservedly, "Thank you, Audrey."

About ten days after the team had rested and replenished, the advance team set off again towards the northern Lipei to investigate the military situation there. According to the information Hu Daoke got from Melia, Masya’s army had already crossed the stone bridge of Roen River and headed directly to Lipei a few days ago. They should ideally reach Lipei when Masya’s army arrives. That way, they could use the chaos of the two armies’ exchange to infiltrate Lipei and explore the reason of their assembly.

Along the way, Cheng Ziang remembered the conversation he had with Feliz earlier and deliberately approached Yalunte. At this point, Yalunte was still brooding over what Feliz had said earlier and didn’t notice him.

"Master!" Cheng Ziang called to him.

"What happened?" Upon hearing Cheng Ziang’s voice, Yalunte reacted more excitedly than anyone else.

"Um, are you okay?" Cheng Ziang looked at thrilled Yalunte, temporarily forgetting what he wanted to say.

"Oh, no, no...did you, did you come to ask about me?" Faced with Cheng Ziang, Yalunte was unexpectedly a bit restrained.

"There’s something I wanted to ask you." Taking a deep breath, Cheng Ziang finally plucked up courage.

"What’s the matter?" Yalunte asked back, looking at him.

"You..." Cheng Ziang turned his head and looked at him, hesitating for a moment before asking, "Why did you leave Otland thirty years ago? If I remember correctly, you were the corps commander of the Royal Knights, weren’t you?"

Hearing his words, Yalunte’s heart involuntarily thumped, he swallowed his saliva and then asked, "Do you know something?"

"Know what?" Cheng Ziang looked at him puzzledly.

"It’s nothing..." Yalunte bowed his head.

"You haven’t answered my question!" Cheng Ziang continued to urge.

Yalunte heaved a soft sigh, conjuring up memories he believed he’d rather forget, a shade of sorrow crossing his face: "It’s for... it’s for some things..."

"Matters related to Princess Odelanqi?" Cheng Ziang asked pointedly.

Hearing this, Yalunte’s heart quivered again, his body giving a tremulous shudder, almost throwing him off his horse. He looked at Cheng Ziang with wide-eyed astonishment, then asked: "What did you come know exactly?"

"Your story with the princess is quite famous in Odelanqi," Cheng Ziang replied with a nonchalant face.

"Ah," Yalunte breathed a subconscious sigh of relief, his countenance once again placid, "Well, the princess yearned for freedom, so I accompanied her in her pursuit of it."

He looked upwards, squinting slightly, as images of Lin’s countenance and laughter filled his mind.

"And then?" Cheng Ziang continued to prod impatiently.

"Afterwards," Yalunte stole a glance at him, the fleeting happiness on his face disappeared as soon as it had come, "A lot of things happened. As expected, the princess was unused to the world outside. In retrospect, perhaps it was my mistake. Compared to freedom, I would have preferred her to remain within her constrained world. At least, we would have been able to spend more time together."

"Did anything happen between you? I mean, something like... the princess being pregnant?" After a moment’s hesitation, Cheng Ziang ventured to ask.

Hearing his words, Yalunte grew increasingly restless. He peered at Cheng Ziang, then frowned, "Who told you these things?"

"It’s all the rage in Odelanqi," Cheng Ziang responded, avoiding Yalunte’s gaze, seeming somewhat awkward.

"Impossible, only a few people know about these things!" Yalunte refuted with a frown.

"Well, it was Feliz. She said she heard it from her elders," Cheng Ziang promptly sold out Feliz.

"That damned girl!" Yalunte sighed, finally feeling at ease. The Uzistas Family, to which Feliz belonged, was a martial family. The knights that pursued him and the princess at the bar back then were members of the Uzistas Family. It wasn’t surprising that they knew of these matters.

"So, was it true?" Cheng Ziang probed again.

"Why do you ask such a question?" Rather than answering his question, Yalunte countered.

"Ah, I, I was just curious," Cheng Ziang could not meet Yalunte’s gaze and started to evade.

Yalunte stared at him. He knew Cheng Ziang wasn’t one for gossip. So if he was asking this, it meant that he must have known or guessed something, prompting these queries.

He wrestled with whether or not to spill the whole truth. But thinking about Wang Xu’s request, he hesitated again. Yes, what would knowing about their relationship do for Cheng Ziang? He couldn’t take him away anyway. Besides, they were still in the middle of their mission; Yalunte didn’t want their affairs to affect Cheng Ziang.

After much hesitation, Yalunte decided to give a somewhat ambiguous answer and let Cheng Ziang guess. As far as he was concerned, as long as he could still be with Cheng Ziang, he was satisfied. He didn’t need to consider whether he was his apprentice or son.

"A lot happened later on, the princess, she... she was diagnosed with Magic Erosion Disease. Her condition was further exacerbated by her pregnancy, causing her health to deteriorate," Yalunte sighed, then proceeded at a slower pace.

Magic Erosion, it was Magic Erosion again! Cheng Ziang remembered that Luo’er’s father had died from this disease. He had thought that the disease would only affect people from Earth and didn’t expect it to since afflict Otherworld inhabitants as well.

"What happened after that, didn’t you go to Yazhi City?" Cheng Ziang inquired urgently.

"I indeed went, however..." Yalunte shook his head, a helpless bitter smile appearing on his face, "The princess’s illness was too severe; there wasn’t a thing I could gain. I pledged my lifelong loyalty to the Headquarters in the hope of saving her, but in the end, she left me..."

"Even the child..." Cheng Ziang asked, looking shocked.

"Nothing at all..." Yalunte shook his head helplessly.

Cheng Ziang was taken aback. He was initially expecting to get a clue about his background from Yalunte. He never thought that the outcome would turn out as such.

It was evident that Yalunte was lying, because he wouldn’t have continued serving Headquarters if not for the child. Yet, Cheng Ziang, caught up in his shock, completely forgot to ask him why he was still slaving for the Headquarters.

Seeing his dumbstruck expression, Yalunte let out a faint sigh. He wanted to acknowledge Cheng Ziang, but the time wasn’t quite right. For now, it would be best to let him misunderstand. Once they had the time, they would sort everything out.

"Can you tell me about the princess?" After a long silence, Cheng Ziang finally asked.