Chapter 589 - 372: Feilengcui (2)
Chapter 589: Chapter 372: Feilengcui (2)
Meanwhile, among the common folk, most civilians merely sized up the procession with curiosity. They only knew there was a Dragon Knight from Debei within and wanted to see what a legendary Dragon Knight actually looked like.
Along the way, they encountered quite a few adventuring parties fighting Magical Beasts that were destroying crops or killing people. The Lord unhesitatingly dispatched his Griffin Knights to help them, which led to the Elf girl in one party looking at the Lord with a sparkling gaze, her eyes practically overflowing with admiration.
The consequence was that Tiffany’s mouth was set in a pout so high it resembled a white-scaled fish from the Bengyong River.
The Lord had to spend a whole night coaxing her before she felt better.
After the Delegation traveled for another half a month, they finally arrived at the capital of the eastern Holy Sith Kingdom—Feilengcui.
This was a city built entirely of colorful bricks and stones, where graceful Rococo-style buildings peeked over the high city walls, on display for all to see.
As their carriage wheels rolled slowly into the city, Feilengcui finally revealed itself in its entirety.
Unlike the classical grandeur of Debei’s Gothic style, the architecture here was filled with softness and elegance.
Exquisite fountains and flowers could be seen everywhere, surrounded by Rococo-style buildings. Their sharp corners were softened, straight lines were made to curve, and they were painted in vibrant colors. The exterior walls favored shades of red, yellow, and pink; black and gray were almost impossible to find.
If Gonda exuded magnificence, splendor, and grandeur—an atmosphere of imperial majesty—then Feilengcui was as elegant as a woman.
This was said to be the result of the Holy Sith Kingdom having been ruled by an empress for three consecutive reigns, and within the kingdom, the status of women had clearly risen considerably. Even on the streets, one could see many commoner women dressed boldly. Moreover, some men were also slick-haired and powdered, their faces caked with some unknown substance.
’Like corpses dead for three days and three nights,’ the thought surfaced in the Lord’s mind, and he felt a wave of revulsion.
The influx of newcomers drew the attention of Feilengcui’s citizens. Many hearts fluttered upon seeing the handsome young man peeking out of the lead carriage’s window, but a glance at the surrounding burly guards—all wearing forbidding, keep-your-distance expressions—was enough to make them dismiss any ideas.
’Those winged, eagle-headed Magical Beasts look like the Griffins from Debei.’
However, a group of Priests in Mage Robes stepped forward to greet them.
"Good day, Lord Levi."
Their leader was a very young man, stubble just beginning to grace his upper lip. He waved energetically from afar, and after the Lord gave a signal, the Griffin Knights allowed him to approach the main carriage.
"And you are?" Levi poked his head out of the carriage window. Tiffany, leaning against his chest, also watched with curiosity.
This was her first real exposure to the Human World, so she was curious about everything.
"Me? I’m the new Red-robed Archbishop of Talisi, Muslim." The young man scratched his bird’s nest of hair, looking a little nervous. "I’m also the head of the Talisi Delegation this time."
"I really didn’t expect to run into Lord Levi right here. The Celestial Father be praised."
"Compared to those powdered and rouged men around here, you don’t seem so annoying," Levi yawned and spoke his mind.
’I didn’t expect Talisi to appoint a new Archbishop so quickly after the death of Rillo, the one who gave me the Mermaid. Still, this kid looks young, but the Magic Power in his body is incredibly dense. He’s easily on par with a Mage.’
"Really?" Muslim’s face lit up with joy. Standing right outside the carriage, he began to chatter endlessly. "Those damned Priests have been nagging me from morning till now, saying that as a Bishop, my untidy appearance damages the image of Talisi. They just don’t get it! Among the common folk, this is called... it’s called..."
"A life of wild abandon, a love of freedom?" the Lord offered tentatively.
"Yes, that’s it exactly!" Muslim’s eyes lit up, and he instantly felt he had found a kindred spirit. "Lord Levi, you’re the only one who understands me!"
’Like hell I do!’
Levi pressed his forehead in resignation. ’It’s just that I, this Lord, used to be a cringey teenager too.’
The Priests behind him all covered their faces in unison, unable to watch any longer. Although this new Bishop was easier to get along with, he also seemed completely unreliable.
However, the Pope himself had admitted that the young man’s Talent was extremely high, even stronger than Rillo’s, and that his Magic Cultivation had already surpassed that of the old Priests. Therefore, everyone accepted Muslim’s position as Red-robed Archbishop.
"Ahem, we’ve been blocking the road for a while. So, Muslim, would you like to come aboard the carriage to chat?"
Levi was subtly expressing two things: if there’s something important, say it quickly; if not, then get the hell out of the way.
"Is that okay?" But Muslim’s simple mind couldn’t grasp the subtext. He immediately flashed a wide, toothy grin. His mouth said he was embarrassed, but his body was very honest, grabbing onto the carriage and preparing to climb inside.
The Lord’s face instantly darkened, causing Tiffany, in his arms, to cover her mouth and giggle nonstop.
In the end, however, Muslim didn’t make it into the carriage, because the terrified Priests behind him scrambled to pull him back.
"What are you doing? Let me go! Let me go! Lord Levi invited me in! I want to have a heart-to-heart talk about our ideals with Lord Levi in person!" Muslim’s voice grew fainter and fainter, until it was like a melodious bell tolling from some unknown place.
"Well, I’ve seen an Undead in broad daylight!" Levi was speechless. "Logically speaking, even though Rillo’s death wasn’t really my fault, they shouldn’t be this enthusiastic toward me."
’Their Archbishop just died, and he died in Debei, and in a duel with me, no less. No matter how you look at it, there’s no way they should be acting like nothing happened. To be honest, I was prepared for this group of Priests to give me the cold shoulder.’
"Ahem, this Bishop Muslim has always had a reputation for being pure of heart, so it’s not that strange for him to do something like this," Prince Luo Fu explained.
"So, he’s just a simpleton," Levi scoffed.
"That’s not wrong, either," Prince Luo Fu said with a chuckle. "But it just so happens that people like him progress extremely quickly in their Magic Cultivation, because they can meditate without distractions, unaffected by the petty squabbles of the secular world."
"But I truly didn’t expect that he would be meditating constantly."
Speaking of this, Luo Fu couldn’t help but exclaim in amazement, his face full of admiration.
As is well known, not only do Mages require a quiet environment to meditate, some even need to burn special incense that aids meditation to reach the optimal level.
But this Bishop Muslim could actually meditate even in a bustling city. As a fellow Mage, Luo Fu could perceive this. No wonder his Magic Power concentration was on par with his own at such a young age.
"Humans truly are the darlings of the gods." As an Elemental Master, Tiffany also knew how powerful this Talent was and couldn’t help but comment.
...
The Noble Garden of the Holy Sith arranged a separate residence for the Debei Delegation, which was the last to arrive: a small manor featuring a square, emerald-colored dome, fronted by a small green lake.
"My lords, Feilengcui has many interesting places, as well as all sorts of delicacies and local customs. If you are interested, you can have the Attendants show you around, which will save a lot of trouble. If you don’t like being followed, you may also go on your own, but you will need to wear these special badges."
The one in charge of all arrangements for the Delegation was a meticulous, middle-aged man with a handlebar mustache, dressed in noble attire. He was said to be the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Holy Sith Kingdom.
Frankly, even if they hadn’t come to attend the Three Kingdoms’ conference on the declaration of war against the Persian Gulf Empire, Feilengcui was definitely worth a visit for the sightseeing and local culture alone.