Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 1383: Section 1384: Bumpy Road

Indeed, from the records, it was apparent that Hua Que had chosen to leave voluntarily. However, Hua Que had not made a clear record of the reasons for her departure.

But since it was a departure, and even leaving the only comfortable zone amidst the undead, there must have been compelling reasons.

Just as Popota had said, the only reasons hinting at why Hua Que might leave mentioned in the records were tied to that bizarre figure.

So, who could he be?

“There’s another point that perplexes me,” Popota turned to the last page of the record book. What did “I have seen much, and only by leaving can I see more” mean?

“It feels like this sentence is implying something,” Popota said.

Angel had noticed this sentence before as well, but what he had focused on was the meaning conveyed by the sentence, which felt eerily familiar.

“It kind of sounds like White Bear’s tone of speech,” Angel murmured.

White Bear was a Prophecy Apprentice, and according to Popota, Hua Que’s prophetic abilities had once been very strong. But that was when she was alive. It wasn’t possible that she retained her Talent after death, was it?

Angel thought it unlikely.

However, based on the clues seen so far, it was impossible to determine the truth. They could only piece together that Hua Que must have been provoked by something, forced to leave. And that reason was very likely the faceless figure.

“Since we can’t find any other clues, and Hua Que is nowhere to be seen, let’s leave this place for now,” Angel proposed.

Staying any longer would be a waste of time; it would be better to leave.

Angel initially planned to put Popota back into the bracelet, but Popota pleaded with him, “Can I stay out a bit longer? I want to take one last look at the place where my sister lived.”

Angel looked deeply at Popota, “This place is far from beautiful, but if you insist, then alright.”

Stepping out of the Illusionary Realm, Popota immediately saw the surrounding darkness and desolation, as well as the faint wails of the undead.

Popota’s expression shifted subtly.

As they continued to walk out, Angel didn’t speak a word, but as they moved away from the Illusionary Realm, the stench of corpses and the presence of the undead grew increasingly intense.

By the time they left the bottom of the well, Popota gazed at the gloomy sky, the world where undead wandered and the heaps of bones in the graveyard, and no longer had the calm in his eyes from before, now filled with darkness, guilt, and sadness.

Although Angel had told him earlier that Hua Que’s Soul was in a deep well in a graveyard, in his own mind, he had unconsciously ignored the grim backdrop of the graveyard and even somehow beautified it because his sister was there.

But having actually seen the state of the graveyard and the terrifying number of skeletons, he could not imagine his sister living in such an environment.

The Illusionary Realm he had seen at the bottom of the well, although small, was like heaven compared to this place – a stark contrast to hell!

“My sister, did she truly live here?” Popota opened his mouth as if to speak, but no sound came out, and his mind went blank.

To say this place was where Hua Que lived would be less accurate than to call it her place of suffering.

“Yes, this place is not beautiful, but in such dire circumstances, Hua Que didn’t complain or fall into decay from the influence of the undead spirit, maintaining her innocence and kindness, lonely at the bottom of that well,” Angel whispered, “She was probably the only beautiful thing here.”

Looking at the ravaged landscape, at the countless bodies, under the oppressive dark clouds, Popota didn’t realize when the tears that had pooled in his eyes began to fall.

His sister had been waiting in solitude here, and without any memories, her waiting had also been aimless.

He could even picture her before she met Angel, curled up alone at the bottom of the well, frightened and confused, yet she didn’t drift with the current or fall into decay and assimilate with the undead.

It was not until she met Angel, met Greya, that Hua Que finally saw a ray of light in the endless darkness.

Her waiting eventually found purpose.

The “big brother” and “young mistress” she had recorded countless times in her book were her eventual goals.

Popota had previously felt a bit jealous, but after seeing this cruel backdrop, he felt empathy with his sister.

In such an almost desperate situation, having such a light to illuminate her dark life was a blessing.

“Thank you.” This was the umpteenth time Popota had said thank you, but he had no other way to express his gratitude; he could only keep repeating it, as if only then could he find a semblance of release from the heaviness in his heart.

Angel looked at Popota, who was weeping profusely, and sighed softly to himself. Everyone’s life is a journey filled with hardships.

Popota had considered himself the last of his kind from the Baiyuan lineage, heaping the responsibility of reviving his lineage onto his own shoulders, leading to a series of muddled consequences.

Pitiful, yet also contemptible.

Tap tap tap—

As Popota was immersed in his own emotions unable to extricate himself, he heard footsteps approaching. Lifting his head, he saw Angel standing in front of him.

Floating beside Angel was a ghastly white skeleton.

The tiny skull, the small frame, even the limbs were short. Clearly, it belonged to a child.

“This skeleton is…” Popota pointed at the child’s bones, seeming to realize something.

“This skeleton is Hua Que’s. The pendant that I gave you was found on this skeleton,” Angel said as he handed to Popota. “The intact state of the skeleton at least indicates that Hua Que did not suffer greatly before death.”

As Angel revealed this answer, tears streamed even more from Popota’s eyes. It was hard to imagine such desolate grief and imageless crying from someone who had once sabotaged the Frostmoon Alliance and foiled Lord Monty’s plans.

“Take good care of it, and it’s time to go,” Angel whispered. “If you still want to find your sister.”

Popota hugged the skeleton, light as a sheet of paper.

“Okay, thank you. I’ll enter the bracelet then. I… noticed earlier that there was something odd about an egg of a Pliant Worm. I’ll go in now to record it,” Popota said, his voice hoarse and urgent. Repaying Angel was all he could do by diligently nurturing the Pliant Worm as long as his body hadn’t yet collapsed.

Angel nodded. Although Popota’s research on the Pliant Worm would accelerate the breakdown of his body, it was still better than being a burden on the outside.

“… Also, if you find any trace of Hua Que, please be sure to tell me.”

After taking Popota into the bracelet, Angel then approached Sanders.

After emerging from the well, Sanders had not paid attention to what was happening on their side but had been staring at the Black Castle on the distant ridges, trying to capture any strange spiritual power to get in touch with someone from the Black Castle.

However, after observing for most of the day, the Black Castle was indeed like a house of the dead—no energy fluctuation or spiritual power emanated from it.

Extremely odd.

To say that this place was the main base of a Witcher Organization, no one would believe it.

“I cannot detect any presence. Either there’s a shield inside the castle, or… there’s no one inside,” Sanders said.

Angel frowned. No one being there meant that the Black Castle had abandoned its base? That obviously couldn’t be.

Such a major development could not have happened silently without any leakage of information.

“Let’s go take a look,” Sanders pondered for a moment before deciding to approach the Black Castle. If they could find traces of people, that would be best. If not, they could just enter directly.

Sanders glanced at Angel. Originally, he wanted Angel to enter the Gravity Garden; he could venture out alone. But considering Angel’s strength now, especially his ability to escape and protect himself, perhaps was even stronger than a regular wizard.

Angel was not one to stay in the Ivory Tower. His actions since entering the Wizards’ Realm showed that much.

In the end, Sanders said nothing, turning his head and heading toward the graveyard’s gate.

They followed the road outside the graveyard, making their way toward the mountaintop.

The somber atmosphere, the uneven path, the chilling Black Forest, along with the mournful wails of the undead near the roadside, and the Black Castle in the distance packed dense like an undead The Nest… The winding road up was like a passage to death’s hell.

For most people, even Transcendents, this horrifying amount of undead was terribly frightening.

But for Angel and Sanders, these undead were actually insignificant.

Even if faced with these undead alone, Angel would not be afraid.

Angel took the Samsara Overture out of the bracelet, ready to face any situation where they might be discovered by the undead.

However, just as they were about to step into the rugged, rocky area or halfway up the mountain range, Sanders suddenly stopped.

“What’s wrong?” Angel looked over, confused.

Sanders raised his eyebrows slightly: “I think I’ve caught some information.”

Caught some information? While Angel was doubtful, Sanders suddenly leaped toward the forest, “This way; follow me.”