Liu Nong

The rain pattered outside. While the sound might annoy some, Li Yue loved this kind of torrential weather. She wasn't entirely sure why; perhaps she simply enjoyed the rhythmic clamor and the psychological silence it brought. It satisfied her sensory craving for noise while providing the true stillness she needed.

She opened the carriage door. Rain swirled around her, gradually forming a water barrier that fended off the downpour. She stretched lazily.

“Since they won't let us through, I'll just walk in myself.” Li Yue massaged her temples. “I'm feeling a bit restless; I want to walk in the rain.”

Helen opened her mouth to speak, but Clo shot her a look. In the end, neither said a word, watching as Li Yue's figure receded into the rain.

“She needs some external help to soothe her mood. She likes rainy days, so let her wander,” Clo said, propping her head up as she watched Li Yue walk slowly through the rain. She knew that restless urge had likely found her again; it was unavoidable.

“It's a bit rude, but under these circumstances, it's certainly one way to voice our dissatisfaction.” Helen slightly raised her chin, focusing on the hazy silhouette in the rain. Li Yue strolled at times, then skipped lightly, splashing through puddles and hopping on one foot. The water never touched her. With her demigod body, she would not easily be stained by the world's filth.

“She probably isn't dissatisfied; she's not the type to care about such details. It's the nobles hiding in their carriages who care more.” Clo suppressed her magical aura, trying her best not to let her time magic leak. She had applied the magic-weakening formation, originally intended for Li Yue, to herself to prevent her vast mana from dissipating.

In the hazy downpour, the medium-strength barriers couldn't entirely stop the rain from seeping through. The black cloaks worn by the neatly dressed soldiers were soaked, some even dripping onto the ground. The wet fabric clung to their armor in a messy, jet-black mess.

“I've walked over myself. Can you let me through? The view of the lake must be beautiful, and I'd like to walk ahead.” Before her lay the road to the castle. On either side were the clear waters of the lake, with layers of fine mist rising in the heavy rain, creating a faint sense of mystery.

The soldier suppressed the urge to kneel. His pupils trembled as he looked at the young lady; he felt the hair on his body stand on end. To him, she exerted an incredibly powerful pressure, as if the tyrant king himself were standing before him, looking down. It was an intense fear born from long-term oppression.

Many nobles inside the carriages currently being inspected were quietly observing her through their windows. They didn't believe for a second that her white hair was the result of a disease. They had come prepared with thorough investigations, yet they knew nothing of this lady's background or anything else about her. One could say that this lady representing the Raven's Beak Covenant was the biggest variable of this banquet, or perhaps... she truly represented the Royal Court.

“You... please, go ahead.” The soldier stepped to the right, allowing the lady he was supposed to block to cross the boundary they were guarding. Under the instructions of the great man in the castle, those nobles were supposed to be kept waiting outside for a while...

Li Yue let out a soft breath. A faint white mist escaped her lips, starkly visible in the chilly air. As she looked at the curtain of rain filling the sky, her mood relaxed slightly. She gazed at the castle shrouded in mist; strangely, she could see tendrils of death energy swirling around it.

The black-robed soldier felt sweat constantly trickling from his forehead. He let a nearby carriage pass and adjusted his uniform, feeling his clothes were even wetter than before. He wondered if his erratic breathing had weakened the magic barrier, causing so much rain to leak in.

“Is it rain... or sweat?” He touched the skirt of his armor with his gauntlet. “It's urine. Facing someone like that... how could I just be sweating?”

He sighed softly, feeling his body go weak.