Pillar of Yita

Fang Hong and Aleph entered the side hall and unexpectedly found a ’familiar face’ waiting for him.

A noble girl with golden hair was dressed in the traditional robe of the Istania people, with gold patterns on a red background, and was glaring at him coldly. Unlike in Bain, the Earl’s daughter now had her hair tied up, looking much more mature than before. Lavali said nothing, merely watching him and Aleph, then extended her hand to block their way.

At the moment Fang Hong saw the Earl’s daughter, he instinctively wanted to turn around—but two Knights of Sand were motionless by the entrance, watching this direction, and even if he tried to run, escape seemed unlikely.

Lavali smirked and coldly said, ”We meet again, Great Alchemist.”

Aleph appeared slightly confused, looked at Lavali, then Fang Hong. He obviously recognized the Earl’s daughter, and asked, ”Lavali, what are you doing here, do you know Ade?”

But Lavali only glanced at Aleph and returned her gaze to Fang Hong, staring intently. ”How bold of you to come here, I suppose you’re here for that Grand Princess, aren’t you? Truly loyal. But being Elfendo’s Dragon’s Alchemist, it’s understandable.”

Her voice was laced with sarcasm and ridicule.

Fang Hong froze.

The other had recognized him.

But he should have expected this, though he initially believed his reputation in Fanric hadn’t reached Istania yet. Isn’t it said that Istania nobles don’t care much about the northern Colin Kingdom? It’s been only two or three months, weren’t the Desert People’s supposed to be aloof?

Still, he had been careless.

Aleph hadn’t yet figured it out, and confusedly asked, ”Lavali, what are you talking about, what is Dragon’s Alchemist?”

Lavali, with an indifferent expression, motioned towards Fang Hong.

”Naturally, it’s this great hero behind you, you might as well ask about his identity, isn’t he the one who ’saved’ Fanric as Dragon’s Alchemist?”

Her green gemstone-like eyes narrowed slightly, sparkling with dangerous light, and she sneered, ”I don’t know if I should call you brave or foolish, Great Alchemist. Did you think no one recognized you back then, and yet you dare to come before the King of Sand?”

Fang Hong froze on the spot, but his mind quickly calmed down.

He had no chance to consider so many things back then—from being captured by the Arcanist to holding this Earl’s daughter hostage, everything happened suddenly, how could he have covered every detail? Managing to escape Bain intact was a stroke of luck, and what seemed like a flawless plan then looks riddled with holes now.

Reviewing this now was pointless.

He wasn’t so much regretting his past carelessness as surprised at encountering the Earl’s daughter here.

Just weeks ago she was in Bain, and now, after the dust storm, she’s at Quistack for this celebration—this girl, being Nulman’s precious gem, was naturally accompanied by Lord Earl. Her appearance in the Royal Capital was indeed unexpected.

He thought they would continue searching in Bain for some time. Even if some returned to the Royal Capital, he’d assumed the Arcanist, not this father and daughter pair. Their presence suggested they departed around the same time as him, was he wrong, was Affia not that important to them?

He silently refrained from speaking.

Aleph seemed to just realize something, turning to Fang Hong with surprise: ”Dragon’s Alchemist, is that your title, Ade?” This question left Fang Hong speechless, wanting to say his name isn’t Ade, but Xiaya, yet he abandoned that name long ago, besides—now that she knew who he was, wouldn’t she know his name?

Clearly, now wasn’t the time to dwell on that—

Aleph looked at the Earl’s daughter again: ”Lavali, you know each other?”

”More than just knew,” Lavali said through gritted teeth, but she glanced coldly at Fang Hong, changing her tone: ”Aleph, if I were you, I’d take him and leave immediately.”

Aleph and Fang Hong looked surprised.

Fang Hong couldn’t help but look up at her, surprised.

Aleph was utterly confused. ”What are you saying, Lavali, Ade is someone Father wants to see, why would I take him away?”

He seemed to realize something more, looking at her, ”Lavali, if Ade offended you, I apologize on his behalf. But in this scenario, you should step aside, it’d be troublesome if Father gets upset.”

But Lavali only watched Fang Hong, without lifting her eyelids, calmly asked, ”Aren’t you going to say something, Great Alchemist?”

Fang Hong was surprised, looking at the Earl’s daughter, unsure why she said this—since she only needed to shout, and guards would naturally come to stop him. Then, with her, Lord Earl, facing the King of Sand, he’d certainly be doomed.

Yet, she seemed to have other intentions, he dared not think more, as this seemed to be the only way out of this dilemma; he understood Lavali’s meaning, seeing the King of Sand would likely implicate Aleph. And Fang Hong looked at them, wondering if the Earl’s daughter was letting him go because of this connection.