Chapter Eighty-Eight: A Kind-Hearted Person

This is territory belonging to Sailor City!

The captain fixed his gaze on him, trying to read something from his face.

"Sailor City? This is Sailor City?"

Zhou Tian said in astonishment, as though he had encountered something impossible.

"How could that be? We had only entered that village for less than a single night—how could we have come to Sailor City? This place is nearly ten thousand li from our Anvil City!"

"Captain Musu, what happened?"

A soft voice came from within the procession. The curtain of the white carriage was drawn aside, and the woman in white robes stepped out, having evidently noticed that the carriage had long since stopped and come out to see what was amiss.

"Your Holiness, it is nothing. Merely a traveler seeking aid."

Musu first turned back to explain to the saintess, then said coldly to Zhou Tian:

"My apologies. I do not know where the Anvil City you speak of is. We must still proceed to Sailor City, so we cannot help you. Please move aside."

"Wait, no—sending me to Sailor City would be fine too. I can manage the rest myself."

Zhou Tian was still trying his best to bargain.

"Move aside!"

With a cold snort, Musu hurled the long spear in his hand. It stopped at Zhou Tian's throat, its sinister chill almost brushing his skin. If he took even one more step forward, the spear would surely pierce straight through him.

Before Zhou Tian could speak, a sharp cry rang out from the line behind Musu.

"Captain Musu!"

The white-robed girl stepped forward with an indignant expression.

"Captain Musu, how can you treat a traveler seeking help like this? Have you forgotten the teachings of Bishop Mudu? The Lord does not abandon anyone who comes seeking aid!"

Her face was flushed red, her chest rising and falling in agitation, as though Musu had committed some unforgivable crime.

Zhou Tian looked utterly baffled. In the Land Forsaken by the Gods, there was actually such a brainless... no, such a kindhearted girl? What a rare species indeed.

He had already been ready to give up. At worst, he could simply trail this convoy from a distance and still reach his destination. He had only wanted to ask around for some information. Since they were unwilling, so be it. If he were killed here, that would only waste another day; then it would take him an immense effort all over again to find signs of habitation.

"Your Holiness, what if he is a follower of the evil god..."

Musu explained, no longer as cold toward Zhou Tian as before.

A follower of the evil god? You lot probably have no idea that your own lord is in cahoots with them, Zhou Tian grumbled inwardly.

The girl glanced at Zhou Tian. Light lit up in her hand, and a white tassel shot forth from her palm, circling around Zhou Tian once before returning to her hand.

"This gentleman bears not the slightest trace of evil divinity. Can we let him follow us now?"

The radiance in her hand faded, and she said to Musu, still brimming with anger.

"But..."

Musu's brow furrowed deeply, his expression troubled. What Anvil City, what Scythe House—just hearing those names made it obvious they were made up. Did they really think he was stupid? Not killing Zhou Tian on the spot already counted as him faithfully upholding his father's teaching.

"If the Lord were here, he would never abandon this gentleman to such a fate!"

If your lord were here, he'd probably slap me to death, Zhou Tian muttered to himself, saying nothing as he watched the oddly amusing scene unfold.

"Sir, come with me. Since he refuses to help you, I will."

Seeing that Musu still would not answer, the girl took Zhou Tian by the hand and led him toward the procession, apparently intending to bring him into the carriage.

"No need, Miss. I am already very grateful that you will let me follow along. How could I trouble you further? Just give me a horse, and I can ride behind you all."

Zhou Tian hurriedly waved his hands. Judging by this girl's intelligence, he feared that after only a couple of sentences with her, his own intellect would be dragged down. Better keep his wits intact and stay away from her.

Musu breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed his murderous glare had worked; this boy at least knew when to be tactful.

The girl turned toward Musu, eyes wide, and said:

"See how noble this gentleman's character is? Why are you unwilling to help him, Sir Musu?"

Musu rested his spear on the ground. The one-horned warhorse stood with muscles coiled and sinews bulging, as if sharing a mind with its master, its two copper bell eyes fixed tightly on Zhou Tian.

"Very well. Let him follow us. But we have no spare mounts to lend him. He can ride with me."

In the end, Musu relented.

On the surface, Zhou Tian smiled with delight and said, "Thank you, Your Holiness. Thank you, Captain Musu."

The girl replied with a look of devout sincerity:

"Do not thank us. If you must thank anyone, thank the Lord."

This brainwashing is terrifying! No wonder this path can never be widely spread. If it truly were, the Nine Provinces would be turned upside down. Zhou Tian watched her with amazement. This ancient divine realm did have something to it.

The girl returned to her carriage. Zhou Tian swung himself up onto Musu's warhorse and sat behind him. The back of the one-horned steed was broad enough to bear the two of them with ease.

Musu's body was clearly a little stiff. This should have been his first time sharing a warhorse with a man, especially a stranger.

Seeing how awkward he was, Zhou Tian could not help patting his shoulder.

"Relax. Everyone is like this the first time. You'll get used to it. I'm settled now, you can move."

Musu had to fight down the urge to turn around and stab him to death with the spear. What nonsense was this supposed to be? With a wave of his hand, the convoy set off again.

"Captain Musu, how far is it to Sailor City?"

Not long after they had begun, Zhou Tian asked.

"We should arrive before sunset."

Musu's cold voice came from ahead. Then he lowered his voice and said:

"I know everything you have said is a lie. I do not know, nor do I wish to know, what your purpose is. Once we reach Sailor City, we will part ways. We do not need any repayment from you. If anyone on the road comes looking for trouble with you, I will hand you over without the slightest hesitation!"

Zhou Tian smiled and said with implied meaning, "Captain Musu, if trouble arises along this journey, it should not be because I drew it here."

Musu gave a cold snort and said nothing.

Zhou Tian's eyes flickered. Musu, though young in appearance, had a keen mind—far more intelligent than that "kindhearted" saintess. The only thing lacking was a touch of ruthless decisiveness. Perhaps that had something to do with the environment in which he was raised. Judging by the saintess's intellect, the education she had received since childhood had likely been nothing but brainwashing. For Musu to have grown into this state was already quite impressive.

How wonderful it would be if everyone were like that "kindhearted" saintess.

Time passed slowly. Zhou Tian did not have the kind of cultivation the others possessed, nor their boundless vigor. Jostled along atop the warhorse, he unknowingly ended up asleep against Musu's shoulder.

Huff... huff... huff...

Musu wore an expression as if he had been utterly cursed. Where on earth had this kid come from, to just fall asleep like that? His heart was truly enormous. Still, as a righteous knight, he did not deliberately wake Zhou Tian. He simply let him sleep on.