Chapter 1079: Chapter 74: Searching for the Princess_4
"Esteemed guests, if there is anything you need, please feel free to order," said the Steward. "There are attendants available in the building, ready to heed your commands at any time."
Yan Shi seemed a bit impatient and replied, "You can go now. If there’s anything, I’ll call them."
The Steward still appeared somewhat reluctant and asked, "Are you sure you don’t want to visit the casino for a bit of fun? Our facilities are top-notch. The brothel also has high-quality hostesses with full-service hospitality that is sure to satisfy you."
Yan Shi did not outright refuse, stating indifferently, "We have come from afar and need to rest. Let’s talk about it after a good rest." After speaking, the four of them entered a room together, leaving the Steward shut outside.
The room’s interior was truly magnificent, but the accommodations fee of one hundred Gold Coins per day still seemed exorbitant.
Yan Li flopped down onto the large bed at the center of the room and asked, "Big brother, are we going to start acting now?"
Yan Shi shook his head and answered, "Not yet. We’ll begin our operation at night. It would be too conspicuous to summon Her Majesty, the Elf Queen, in broad daylight."
Zhuo Yun, removing the Bamboo Hat from her head to reveal her pointed ears, said, "Then let’s make it tonight. As soon as Her Majesty arrives, we’ll immediately take action." The expression on her face remained fraught with worry; her anxiety would not dissipate until the Elf Princess was liberated.
Ah Dai thought for a moment and uttered, "Sister, I don’t know why, but I have a feeling that tonight’s operation won’t be smooth."
Zhuo Yun was taken aback and asked, "Why? With our strength, coupled with Her Majesty the Queen and several of the elders, even the mightiest Noble would be unable to stop us."
Ah Dai replied, "I don’t understand why I have this feeling either, but it’s still best to be cautious. Let’s cultivate for a while now, so we can be at our best for the operation tonight."
Zhuo Yun nodded her head. She had great respect for Ah Dai, who was the strongest among them. After all, it was Ah Dai who faced the majority of the enemies during their rescues, displaying a strength in her eyes no less than that of the greatest Elf Envoy. "All right, then. I’ll go and rest in the next room." She left the room, watched silently by Yan Shi.
Watching Zhuo Yun depart, Yan Shi frowned and asked, "Ah Dai, is there something on your mind?" From the wooden expression on Ah Dai’s face, Yan Shi had long sensed something was amiss. It seemed as if Ah Dai was constantly worried about something but hadn’t shown it in front of Zhuo Yun.
A flash of cold light crossed Ah Dai’s eyes as he sighed, "Big brother, I’m truly afraid that the Elf Princess will end like those Elves before her." The last time they had rescued an Elf was two months ago; they had prevented that female Elf from committing suicide three times, but the deeply traumatized spirit ended up demising by severing her own True Qi meridians. The death of fourteen Elves had profoundly impacted Ah Dai, filling him with loathing and hatred toward those greedy, corrupt Nobles. The name of the Grim Reaper had appeared again and again in Noble households, but this was not enough to soothe the sorrow in Ah Dai’s heart. Nearly a year and a half had passed since Ice’s death, and throughout that time, his inner turmoil had been steeped in darkness. Now, as they were about to rescue the last Elf, who was also the crucial Elf Princess, Ah Dai’s heart was filled with trepidation. If the Elf Princess also resorted to suicide, then their mission would be a failure. Repeated setbacks had brought Ah Dai to the brink of collapse. In front of Zhuo Yun, he certainly couldn’t reveal his concerns, knowing full well that the pain of watching her kin die, one by one, had struck Zhuo Yun even harder than him; he couldn’t upset her further.
Yan Shi sighed and said, "Brother, how could I not understand your concerns? Now we can only hope that the Elf Bloodline the Queen mentioned is able to preserve the Princess’s purity. Otherwise, we’d indeed have a hard time explaining to Her Majesty." How could he not be worried? Zhuo Yun’s anguished state and the Elves’ deaths had equally shaken his own soul.
Ah Dai bitterly said, "Those beasts of the Empire of Sunset City, they employ every conceivable vile tactic, I fear, even with the Elf Bloodline, it might be too difficult..."
Yan Shi patted Ah Dai’s shoulder and remarked, "It’s useless to worry now. Everything is dictated by fate. If destiny allows the Elf Princess to be defiled, there’s nothing we can do."
Suddenly, a fierce light glinted in Ah Dai’s eyes as he spoke forcefully, "Fate, what is fate? If there really is a Sky God, why does he not pity these good people and let evil forces run rampant? Even if the heavens try to stop me, I will contend against it. If Princess Xing Er has been dishonored, I’ll make sure all the Nobles of the Empire of Sunset City accompany her in death."
Under the immense murderous intent radiating from Ah Dai, Yan Shi tensed involuntarily, and the brothers exchanged uneasy glances. Yan Shi summoned his internal fighting energy to fight back against the overwhelming pressure emanating from Ah Dai, grabbed his shoulder, and said, "Brother, the murderous intent in your heart is too strong. If this continues, you’ll become what you despise. Haven’t you noticed that Sword of Hades seems to be gradually influencing your nature?"
Ah Dai was taken aback and, coming to his senses from the towering rage, he looked down and murmured, "Big brother, how could I not be aware? The Sword of Hades is indeed powerful, but it is also corrupting my body and soul. If it weren’t for my True Qi constantly keeping it in check, I would have long lost control of my mind to it."
