Chapter 324 — Gaosong's Vision

Gao Yang returned the salute with equal solemnity and raised up this old friend (at least the old friend of this body, the old friend in the inherited memories): "Welcome indeed. But for now you must first rest and heal your wounds properly."

Peyun laughed from the side: "My lord, rest assured. With my salves and healing spells, he will be fully recovered in a few days."

Gao Yang gave this old druid a deep look. He could be certain that this was the first time the other had used the word "my lord" in such a formal tone.

He nodded: "Then the wounded man is in your care."

One by one the people left, and soon only Gao Yang and Amber remained in the study.

"Weren't you just muttering that I was going to kill you to keep you quiet? So why are you still shamelessly staying behind now?" Gao Yang looked with a smile at the half-elf lady remaining in the study, deliberately teasing her.

For the first time, Amber did not rise to Gao Yang's teasing. She only looked at him seriously, and after a long while broke the silence: "I'm thinking about how much of it you actually meant when you were talking big."

"All of it was meant," Gao Yang said with perfect frankness, but then immediately nodded. "Though now that I cool down and think it over carefully, there's nothing wrong with you calling it talking big. After all, Cecil Territory has only just gained a firm foothold at present; to dare plot the kingdom's situation at this moment is indeed a bit early."

Amber shot Gao Yang a look: "Such modesty isn't like you at all. And others may not know, but can I not know? Cecil Territory has indeed only just gained a firm foothold, but those hidden lines and pieces you've laid out... they are not confined to Cecil Territory alone."

She paused here, folded her arms, and looked at Gao Yang: "Until today, I finally understand why you did so many strange things. You... really never intended from the very beginning to be a quiet, well-behaved pioneer noble, did you."

"Actually, I really did intend to build things up steadily and quietly," Gao Yang spread his hands. "If I could, I had no intention of meddling in the contemporary Ansu noble system. But then again... they're foolish and rich, so why wouldn't I?"

"I'd have to be a ghost to believe you!"

Gao Yang: "..."

At the same time, in a hidden underground palace near the border between Ansu and Typhon.

Within a side hall covered in vines and roots, a mutated plant suddenly bulged, and as the bud-like structure at its top rapidly swelled, ripened, and split open, a woman in priestly robes with dark green hair stepped out from the split pod.

Beiyila's face was gloomy and pale. She glanced down at her own hands and arms, confirmed that all her injuries had healed completely, and only then began to walk, dragging those daunting roots and vines toward the black-robed figure that seemed to have been waiting at the side hall's entrance for some time.

"Elder Hiten," Beiyila looked at the black-robed figure before her, her tone rather cold. "I never expected that the first thing you would do upon emerging from the Abyss of Flesh and Blood would be to come welcome me. That is truly surprising."

"That Elder Beiyila, who almost never errs, should have such a wretched side—now that is even more surprising," said Elder Hiten, gaunt in figure and stern and resolute of countenance, his face set. "But I have not come to welcome you. I have come only to tell you that during the days you were away, the Grand Elder has awakened, and he ordered that you go see him at once upon your return."

"The Grand Elder has awakened?" Beiyila's brows furrowed slightly, and then she nodded coldly. "Good. I understand."