Immortal Paladin

[POV: David_69]

The Animal Soul’s golden fur bristled with energy, its tail wagging in wild excitement before it suddenly leapt toward Dave. He staggered back, arms raised in alarm.

“W-what’s that for!?” Dave barked, more surprised than afraid.

The spirit beast did not answer in words. Instead, it pressed its incorporeal body against his chest, sinking halfway into him until its essence resonated with his. A voice not of sound, but of thought, thundered directly in Dave’s mind.

“Me. You. Friends.”

Dave froze. His pulse pounded in his ears as he realized the creature’s presence was not hostile but familiar and almost comforting.

Tao Long, arms folded behind his back, chuckled quietly. “It looks like the guardian beast has taken a liking to you. I suppose I’ll be lonelier now, with him choosing your side.” There was warmth in his tone, though it was veiled by the weight of his words.

The Animal Soul barked, its spiritual voice overlapping with its wagging tail within his being. “I will help you achieve your goals.”

Before Dave could answer, a groan echoed from the courtyard stones. The five cultivators who had been flattened under Tao Long’s spiritual pressure stirred back to life. Confusion flashed in their eyes as they scrambled to their feet, only for fear to return the moment they recognized the azure-robed figure standing before them. They quickly tightened their grips on spear, axe, fan, staff, and sword, forming a cautious semicircle.

Dave raised his hand sharply, his expression firm but calm. “Stand down, my adventurers.”

The woman with the spear gasped in recognition. “Guild Master!”

The man hefting the axe stammered, bowing his head low. “Apologies, it seems—”

“It’s fine,” Dave interrupted smoothly, his voice cutting through their panic like a steady blade. He gestured toward Tao Long. “This is an old friend of mine, Tao Long. Show him the respect he is due.”

The adventurers exchanged bewildered glances but obeyed without question, lowering their weapons. The oppressive tension began to fade, replaced by hesitant reverence toward the dragon in human form. Of course, not that they knew ‘Tao Long’ was a dragon all along.

Dave turned with a decisive tone. “Let’s return to the camp at once.”

The group fell in step behind him, leaving the temple.

They reached the forward camp before dusk. What had once been rolling plains of waist-high grass was now reduced to a cleared expanse where the foundations of walls were being raised. Adventurers moved with discipline, erecting wooden palisades, digging trenches, and marking out areas for supply depots. Smoke from cooking fires curled upward into the fading sky, while the sound of hammers and shouted orders filled the air. Though crude, the site already pulsed with the rhythm of a war camp, one that would serve as their forward operating base from this day onward.

Tao Long’s sharp gaze swept over the bustling scene. “There seems to be awfully few of you,” he said in a measured tone. “I don’t think this would be enough to siege the Nameless City.”

Dave’s eyes lingered on the rising walls, then shifted toward the horizon, where the sun bled into gold and crimson. His answer was steady, yet heavy with implication. “I am aware.”

The angels were not an enemy to be underestimated. They were neither soldiers nor mere beasts. Instead, they were a force of nature that devoured cultivators, unraveling body and soul, leaving nothing behind. If his Lordship had not contained them within the Nameless City twenty-five years ago, the Hollowed World would have drowned beneath their endless tide. That they remained confined even now was a fragile miracle, one Dave knew would not last forever.

“I don’t need an army to siege the Nameless City,” he declared plainly.

Tao Long’s brows furrowed, his usually calm demeanor giving way to stern disbelief. “I don’t think you understand. I’ve seen what those monsters could do. They would devour your adventurers and turn your so-called base into a graveyard.” His words were not cruel. He was being factual.

Dave turned to him, his eyes calm but resolute. “That’s why I have you.”

“And me.”

The two turned to see Yi Qiu striding toward them, his long red mane blazing in the light of the dying sun.

“Let’s talk somewhere else,” offered Dave. “Follow me.”

The night wind moved over the plains, carrying the scent of dust, steel, and campfire smoke. Adventurers went about their duties, but the heart of the camp beat inside the commander’s tent where three figures sat: the Sacred Sword of the Union, the Divine Flood Dragon, and the Master of the Martial Alliance.

Tao Long rested his hand over the haft of his spear, his sharp gaze darting between the two men. “Three Tenth Realm cultivators wouldn’t be enough to fight against the tide. Even your Lord, despite going against all odds, could only contain them there. And that was twenty-five years ago. Not to mention…” his voice lowered, grim, “…a powerful goddess is slumbering within the Nameless City. To accomplish your goals, you would have to defeat her in battle.”

Dave leaned back in his chair, his fingers drumming lightly against the armrest. His eyes glowed faintly with conviction as he answered without hesitation. “I can kill her.”

Tao Long blinked, his composure faltering. “…What?”

Dave’s expression hardened, his voice steady but with an undercurrent of grief. “Aixin… I can kill her. I just need a chance.”

Yi Qiu folded his arms, his mane of red hair catching the lamplight like strands of fire. His tone was pragmatic. “The problem would be those angels. Not to mention, the Nameless City is already occupied by the Heavenly Temple. We don’t know what methods they’re using to avoid the angels’ hostility, but we intend to find out. That’s where this forward operating base comes in.”

He gestured toward the bustle outside, where the silhouettes of adventurers carried lumber, sharpened weapons, and raised watchtowers. “There are numerous demonic beast presences in the vicinity. We’ll send adventurers to scour the area, to gather resources, hunt treasure, and when the timing feels right… make an attempt to raid the Nameless City with an adventurer party.”

Dave nodded, eyes narrowing as he outlined the rest of the plan. “Since the Adventurer’s Guild has become a globally recognized institution with the Union’s backing, we have a logical reason for being here. They will find the Heavenly Temple cultivators inside, and a skirmish will follow. It will go one of two ways: either it escalates to involve the Martial Alliance, the Union, and the Heavenly Temple as a whole…” his voice grew sharper, “…or it becomes a factional dispute over resources, between my Guild, or whoever else decides to claim the Nameless City, despite the agreement that it remain untouched.”

Yi Qiu leaned forward, placing a heavy hand on the table. “If the former happens, and it escalates, I will bring the bulk of the Martial Alliance here with entire armies at my back.”

Dave smirked faintly. “While I represent the Union’s interests, inciting even more chaos in an already rotten situation.”

The two men locked gazes, neither flinching.

Yi Qiu continued, “If the latter happens, and it stays a factional dispute, we send spies their way. We slowly whittle them down with small skirmishes by your adventurers.”

Dave’s smile widened, though there was nothing warm about it. “While we sabotage their supply lines with the Martial Alliance’s help from behind the scenes. Either way…” His voice lowered into something colder than steel. “…we will siege the Nameless City. And they won’t even know what hit them.”

“By all reason, your logic is sound,” Tao Long admitted, eyes narrowing. “However, there’s a problem. The Heavenly Temple might have hidden their strength further than we anticipate. I don’t mean to be rude, Master Yi, but the Martial Alliance and whatever forces the Union can muster cannot compare to the might of the Heavenly Temple. They preceded both the Martial Alliance and the Union. Their history is so deep that we have no idea where it all began. Even I have no idea of it, and that’s saying a lot considering my membership with Ward, and who my master is.”

Dave’s jaw tightened, but his tone carried no hesitation. “We can’t cower now.”

Inwardly, he knew where Tao Long was coming from. The years he had spent building the Adventurer’s Guild from nothing into an institution it was known today had taught him firsthand about power, and how much of the world bent beneath the Temple’s shadow. Their influence was absolute and far-reaching, their control deeply entrenched in every corner of the Hollowed World. Yet, no matter how overwhelming the odds appeared, he would not allow himself to be cowed.

Yi Qiu asked sharply, “What do you suggest, then?”

Tao Long’s voice came low and deliberate. “We involve the Empire.”

Yi Qiu’s brows rose. Then he gave a short, derisive laugh. “It seems you are not aware of recent events, Tao Long. The Empire is suffering a civil war. Right now, their biggest concerns are the hyenas circling their borders, waiting to take a bite out of their territories. And the greater powers are eager to take advantage of their weakness. As of this moment, the factions under me and my officials are probably colluding with each other, scheming how to turn the Empire’s misery into their gain.”

Dave leaned back slightly, his fingers laced before him. He understood what Tao Long was truly pointing toward, though he hesitated to say it aloud. His heart was pulled between the risk of exposing their intentions and the need to seek strength beyond their own. Finally, he broke the silence. “He’s suggesting we involve Da Wei.”

Yi Qiu blinked, confusion flashing across his face. “What? Who? Wait… Isn’t he dead?”

Tao Long’s eyes darkened, though his tone was steady. “It looks like you are the one who is not aware of what’s truly happening around you. I can’t blame you. Your officials, after all, are the ones who whisper into your ears.”

Dave shook his head, disbelieving. “How is that even possible? The last time I heard of my Lordship was his bounty increasing… and that he was still on the run…”

A sudden warmth pulsed within him. The Animal Soul, tethered to his heart, stirred and projected its thoughts in a steady rhythm. “It’s a misunderstanding.”

Dave’s eyes flicked toward Tao Long, uncertain.

Tao Long answered his unspoken question, his tone grave. “He’s in the Empire, right now. He’s very much alive, and he is working to end the civil war as soon as possible.”

Yi Qiu’s expression darkened, his voice rising with a heat Dave had rarely heard from him. “We can’t trust him. He’s the Unholy Taint! The one who sundered the Summit and broke the peace between the four powers. I know. I’ve been there. His preaching might be well-intended, but as all good men know, hell is sometimes paved with good intentions.”

Dave winced at the strength of his resistance. He could hardly blame him. The humiliation Yi Qiu had suffered at his Lordship’s hands was not something easily forgotten. Still, the vehemence struck a chord with Dave, who recalled just how thoroughly Da Wei had dismantled Yi Qiu’s pride back then.

Admittedly, the Heavenly Temple had done an excellent job smearing Da Wei’s name, twisting victories into atrocities, and casting his principles as heresy. Even Yi Qiu, who prided himself on standing apart from the Temple, had been swayed by their campaign.

Yi Qiu pressed further, his mane of red hair shaking as he gestured. “Moreover, what kind of help can he even offer when he’s in the Empire, like you claim? I imagine he doesn’t have many soldiers or resources to spare. I just can’t see it.”

Tao Long’s tone was firm but not without respect. “The strategy for this siege is unorthodox, and any military tactician would commend its ingenuity. But it doesn’t really solve the problem that the angels represent. Their exhausting numbers and their strange abilities were enough to even cower a Tenth Realm practitioner. Mao Xian, you can’t really expect me and Yi Qiu to repel them on our own. Do you?”

Dave’s eyes hardened. “If I manage to slay Aixin, the angels should stop.”

Tao Long’s head tilted slightly, his voice low with skepticism. “You can’t know that. You assume that because Aixin was their summoner. And Yi Qiu… Do you really think the Heavenly Temple is limited to two choices? No. There’s a third path they could take: deny their involvement with the Nameless City altogether and de-escalate the situation. What would you do if they voluntarily step back and settle it in a court of law? The Adventurer’s Guild would be put at great risk. If your direct involvement comes to light, so goes your reputation… and likely your impeachment.”

The words cut deeper than Dave wanted to admit. Tao Long was right. They needed someone else to shoulder the consequences, a shield to deflect the Temple’s inevitable blame. For a moment, silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.

Within Dave, a pulse stirred. The Animal Soul’s thoughts rippled into his mind, carrying the familiar timbre of Da Wei. “I’ll do it. Let me be your scapegoat.”

Yi Qiu asked the obvious. “Why would Da Wei even agree to such a thing? No one sane would willingly accept becoming a scapegoat.”

“I think Da Wei would agree to playing the scapegoat,” Dave leaned back, letting out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. A thin smile crept across his lips, humorless but sharp. “I imagine… he just likes screwing with the Heavenly Temple. And this is an opportunity for him. The question is… how do we insert ‘Da Wei’ into the equation without complicating our existing strategy?”