Chapter 82

Holding a cup of hot tea, Xiaolan leaned by the window in the room.

The street was much quieter than usual, the bustling crowds and traffic that once filled it seemed to have vanished overnight. Through the faint white mist rising from the cup, her blurred vision occasionally caught glimpses of hurried figures.

In her mind, she suddenly recalled the conversation she had with Tielante when they left the Royal Central Academy.

"What are you planning to do?"

It was just dawn, the sky was tinged with the pale light of dawn, and the dim purple moon still lingered. The earth seemed to be shrouded in a silver-gray mist. Standing by the moss-covered thick wall, Xiaolan looked at Tielante, who was bent over, panting and exhausted, and asked.

"I won't leave the capital." Taking a deep breath, Tielante said seriously.

"That's not a good choice. You should be aware that many people in the capital want your life," Xiaolan reminded him.

"I can't leave the capital." He emphasized again.

"Then how will you evade their relentless pursuit?" Xiaolan asked a very practical question.

Tielante leaned against the wall, trying to stand up straight and managed a smile, "Don't forget, the capital is a big place."

"But you should also understand that for some people, the capital is very small," Xiaolan said.

"That's not a reason for me to back down." After a moment of silence, Tielante said in a low voice.

Xiaolan sighed inwardly. She knew she couldn't persuade him with his determined will.

"I'm afraid we won't be able to meet for a while. Where do you plan to hide?"

Since she couldn't change his mind, Xiaolan changed the subject. If he chose to stay in the capital, he would certainly choose a safe place to hide.

"Do you think I would tell you?" Tielante smiled.

"Of course." This time, he was very sure.

"Lanluo District, Fourth Street, No. 78."

After a moment of confrontation, Tielante spoke.

"An ordinary residential area?" Searching his hazy memory, Xiaolan thought for a moment and asked.

"Yes, it's the home of my father's old butler," Tielante looked up at the gradually brightening sky, as if lost in past memories, his face showing a hint of bitterness and helplessness.

"Is there no problem?"

"When I was young, every time my father came to see me, the old butler would always be by his side. If he didn't trust him, my father wouldn't have done so," Tielante sighed. "After my father died, the old butler also retired and returned home. Over the years, he has given me a lot of help in secret."

Xiaolan frowned, trust between people?

"Are you sure he won't betray you?"

"Ha ha—" Tielante laughed and shook his head, "I owe my life to him. If he betrays me, then his kindness to me can be written off, and we'll be even."

"I didn't realize you were so carefree about this," Xiaolan said.

"Carefree? No, I'm just afraid that I won't be able to repay the kindness of the living when I die," Tielante said.

"Do you need my help to get there? I think the journey won't be safe."

Ending the topic, Xiaolan pointed to his body.

"No need!"

Tielante shook his head and pointed to the ground near Xiaolan's feet, "If possible, I hope you can open the manhole cover."

"I didn't expect you to think of this as well." Looking at the manhole cover, Xiaolan understood why he refused.

"The capital's sewer system has been well-developed for hundreds of years, and it is already well-connected. In my plan for a failed escape, the sewers were the key to leaving the capital. But... I didn't expect to be alone now," Tielante said with a bitter smile.

Sewers?

Xiaolan squatted by the manhole cover and easily lifted it with two fingers.

"How can you tell directions in such a dark sewer?"

Tielante walked to the dark opening and said, "Don't worry, we have already placed lighting objects below."

"I'm afraid we won't be able to meet for a while. How will I contact you then?"

"Knock on the door of No. 78, and just say you're a friend of the illegitimate son," Tielante, with half his body in the hole, looked up and said, "So, goodbye."

When Tielante completely disappeared into the dark sewer, Xiaolan kicked the manhole cover back into place.

...

Sitting on a soft, comfortable sofa, the cup of hot tea long drained and placed on the table, Xiaolan gently rubbed his temples, easing his fatigue and drowsiness.

Because many things had happened when he returned.

A large number of capital security officials were out, dispersing and investigating every pedestrian, and even many security officials began to search house by house! When did the capital's security officials become so efficient? Their purpose was probably not just to track down Tielante.

On a smooth wall, he even saw a wanted notice for Tielante!

10,000 gold tols!

Such a large bounty, he really didn't know whether to be happy or sad for his partner.

The panic and unrest in the capital also caused him considerable trouble, at least his plans had to be put on hold for a while.

Calming down, Xiaolan closed his eyes and summoned the system.

Because, the level-up after completing the mission also unlocked his skill tree.

Each branch of the skill tree was a serious choice for future career development, and the current environment did not allow Xiaolan to have any extra thoughts, so the skill tree was temporarily put aside. When he returned to the inn, his tense nerves relaxed, and his thoughts returned to the skill tree.

The warrior's skill tree branches were divided into five: Air, Strength, Speed, Technique, and Passive.

Although each branch could be chosen, the system's stinginess made the skills Xiaolan obtained extremely rare. If it were a game, at his level, he would probably have already maxed out most of the skills in one branch.

But this was a real world that was like a game but not a game.

Among his important skills, "Disguise" came from the Technique branch, "Swift Movement" from the Speed branch, and "Sword Mastery" and "Death's Edge" from the Passive branch. This seemingly broad and not deep choice was the result of Xiaolan's careful consideration.

"Disguise" to match the mission needs, "Swift Movement" to assist in assassination and escape, and "Sword Mastery" to improve killing methods.

If he specialized in one branch, it might bring great power, but Xiaolan probably wouldn't have survived until now.

He was very clear that the reason he could survive until now and win against stronger opponents of the same level was due to the skills on the skill tree.

After witnessing the powerful strength of the royal guards and the black-robed men, and the life-and-death struggle during the black-robed men's pursuit, if he wanted to complete this mandatory mission, he had to become even stronger.

And the path to strength came from skills.

Among the grayed-out skills on the five branches of the skill tree, his gaze fell on a skill in the Technique branch.

It was a sword skill.

"The White Wolf Sword Technique."

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