Chapter 599 — Face to Face

"I have heard of the sabotage traces you discovered in the Sentinel Tower... the menace of the cultists is shocking," Luo Yan Augustus said in a deep voice, his expression grave. "When the courier Suoyou spoke of this matter, he also spoke of your concerns... Frankly, I not only consider those concerns entirely necessary, but believe we should raise our vigilance against the Embershadow cultists even higher. I have already dispatched shadow masters to inspect the Sentinel Tower near here, though no signs of corruption were found. Next, I will arrange for a domestic search for traces of Embershadow cult elements—they operate not only in Ansau, but also in Typhon's north and west."

"Clearing out these dark cults requires the efforts of all of us, just as repairing the Grand Wall requires the concerted effort of all human nations," Gao Yang said, as if moved by Luo Yan's sincere and candid manner, following the thread of the topic. "The seven centuries of peace and tranquility were built upon the shared sacrifices of that generation of pioneers. To speak as one relying on seniority—I am glad to see that your generation can still unite in the face of crisis. Even if you have your conflicts and disputes, when facing a disaster looming over all humanity, rational people can always set aside prejudice and division."

Here he paused, giving Luo Yan no time to ponder, and continued: "Seeing the nations of humanity come to repair the Grand Wall brings back memories of those years... of those friends who fought side by side. I still remember Roland Augustus... he always wore a stern face, told outdated jokes. He once agonized over how to improve his sense of humor, and even consulted Charlie about it..."

As it turned out, a man resurrected from seven hundred years ago holding a wine cup and discussing your own ancestors with you, going on about how they laughed and talked back in the day, was absolutely the most awkward and bizarre thing in the world. Even the great Emperor Luo Yan, with all his grand strategy, had to lower his head and adopt the posture of a diligent listener when hearing such topics, unable to interject.

Seeing this, Gao Yang naturally continued the topic: "And then there was Beiyila... she was the most powerful druid I ever knew. Countless people owed their healing to her..."

No additional emotional fluctuation appeared on Luo Yan's face. He remained placid and slightly stern, deep and reserved.

He merely nodded gently and said, unhurried: "Hearing about one's ancestors from you is a novel sensation... In your words, they are no longer symbols in the history books, but have become flesh and blood."

"Of course they were flesh and blood. We are all mortals," Gao Yang said slowly, while quietly watching Luo Yan's eyes. "...I hear you have still not found the remains of Beiyila Augustus... Is that so?"

"...I ought to feel ashamed," Luo Yan said in a deep voice. "The family saint Beiyila went missing during her pilgrimage to Mount Mingcen. To this day her sacred remains are still lost abroad. Seven hundred years have passed... I fear our hope of recovering her has grown slim."

Gao Yang looked at Luo Yan quietly for two seconds, then withdrew his gaze.

He did not mention the possibility that the "missing" Beiyila, like most of the druids near Mount Mingcen at the time, had thrown herself into the darkness—because doing so would exceed the limits of "probing" and appear overly provocative and offensive. Though he could afford to be a bit willful in this regard by virtue of his status as an ancestor, he decided not to bring it up, to avoid ruining the atmosphere too early.

If Luo Yan showed no particular reaction upon hearing the name "Beiyila Augustus," then even if Gao Yang probed further, the other would likely maintain his composure.

After that, Gao Yang consciously steered the conversation toward lighter and more natural directions, sampling the food and wine on offer, and gradually began discussing certain customs and legends of the two nations, Ansau and Typhon.

The atmosphere gradually grew relaxed in the process. Both tacitly avoided any topic concerning the two nations having been on the brink of war three years ago, or the lingering threat of war to this day—as if all opposition and friction did not exist, as if Luo Yan knew nothing of it, and Gao Yang cared nothing about it.

One was an ancient from seven hundred years ago, the other a contemporary emperor. One recounted the customs and manners of the Great Exploration era, the other described the evolution and development of modern society. They conversed as happily as old friends, topics seeming endless—which left Amber, who had just finished foraging, eaten her fill contentedly, and was strolling over with a chicken bone in her mouth, staring dumbfounded.

The half-elf lady halted her steps and murmured under her breath, "Old fox..."

Then she heard Gaoyang pick up a thread related to trade from over there: "...In fact, we could well extend our cooperation into fields broader than merely repairing the barrier—trade, for instance. We could supply each other's needs."

Amber blinked, crunching the chicken bone in her mouth with a loud crack.

Another sacrifice was about to fall into the pit.

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