By then, Li Yuan had already deactivated his invisibility, and the two collided head-on. The youth stumbled back, and the moment he regained his footing, he bowed deeply in apology.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! I—”
Before he could finish or wait for Li Yuan to respond, he turned and bolted. A cold snort came from the guards behind him. They didn’t actually give chase, instead lingering to shout a few more curses before retreating back through the side door.
Li Yuan stood on the steps, watching the boy run across the plaza and disappear into a small alley on the opposite side. Lost in thought, he began to walk unhurriedly in the direction the boy had vanished.
After crossing the plaza and turning into the alley, he quickly found his target at the corner of a narrow lane. The youth was leaning against a low wall, half his body leaning out as he peered cautiously toward the temple.
One hand braced against the wall while the other unconsciously rubbed the shoulder the guards had twisted earlier. He was muttering something under his breath, so focused that he didn’t even notice someone approaching from behind.
Li Yuan stood silently behind him, looking down at the mop of hair. When the boy tilted left, Li Yuan tilted left; when the boy leaned right, Li Yuan leaned right. After a while, the boy finally sensed something was wrong. He whipped around, coming face-to-face with Li Yuan’s faint, knowing smile.
“You—” The boy recoiled in fright, accidentally banging his head against the wall with a painful thud. He winced, clutching the back of his head. Once he realized this was the man he had bumped into at the temple entrance and not a guard, he let out a small sigh of relief, though he remained wary. “Why did you follow me? I already apologized, didn’t I?”
Li Yuan smiled. “It’s not about the apology. I saw you being dragged out of the temple earlier and was curious—what was that they said about desecration and your sister?”
The boy’s expression shifted instantly. He turned his face away and snapped, “It’s none of your business. Don’t go sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.”
The reaction was expected, so Li Yuan didn’t take offense. He continued in a gentle tone, “Let me guess—was your sister taken away by the temple?”
The boy whipped his head back around, his eyes wide. “How did you know?!”
Li Yuan’s smile deepened. This kind of plot was common enough in stories that he didn’t even need to guess. Of course, he didn’t say that. He simply gave a slight nod, his voice carrying more conviction.
“I have my own sources of information. But don’t worry, I’ve always enjoyed making friends. If you can tell me some of the temple’s secrets that others don’t know...”
He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice until it was audible only to the two of them.
“...I might be able to help you find your sister, depending on the situation.”
The boy’s Adam’s apple bobbed as his gaze darted around. Although this young man’s clothes were ordinary, his manner of speaking and the aura of composure he projected were nothing like those of a commoner.
He wrestled with the decision for a long time. Just as he seemed to resolve himself to speak, Li Yuan raised a hand to interrupt him.
“I know you don’t trust me, but...” Li Yuan withdrew his hand into his sleeve and straightened his back. In that instant, his entire demeanor underwent a subtle transformation.
A sharp, scrutinizing glint entered his eyes, and his voice took on the steady, businesslike tone of an official.
“Let me reintroduce myself—Li Yuan, an Imperial Inquisitor directly under the Casnoe Empire’s royal family. I am here on a secret mandate from His Majesty the Emperor to investigate the temple’s illegal activities within the City of Divine Grace.”
He paused, lowering his voice even further, his tone carrying a weight that brooked no argument.
“His Majesty has long been dissatisfied with how the City of Divine Grace disregards imperial authority and is currently waiting for the right moment. I am here to gather sufficient evidence to report back to the royal family, after which the empire will formally step in to take over the city.”
As he spoke, he released a tiny fraction of his spiritual energy, controlling the pressure to a level slightly lower than Hogg’s.
The aura came and went in a flash. But in that brief second, the boy felt as if a mountain had been dropped onto his shoulders, making even breathing feel like a luxury.
He leaned against the wall, gasping for air. When he looked at Li Yuan again, the doubt in his eyes had been completely replaced by awe.
He had only ever felt that kind of crushing pressure from the High Priest’s Captain of the Guard, and it was obvious this man was holding back—which meant his strength was far beyond that of the captain.
The boy swallowed hard, checked to make sure no one was around, and stepped forward to grab Li Yuan’s sleeve.
“Are... Are you really from the empire?”
“What would I gain by lying to you?” Li Yuan spread his hands, looking indifferent.
The boy stared at him for several seconds before gritting his teeth.
“Then follow me.”
With that, he tugged on Li Yuan’s sleeve and led him quickly into the depths of the alley. The boy was exceptionally cautious throughout the journey, walking briskly and constantly checking behind them for tails.
He led Li Yuan through a maze of alleys, passing through several narrow passages cluttered with scrap wood and empty ceramic jars, before finally arriving at a dilapidated residential area on the edge of the West District.
The houses here were much cruder than those Li Yuan had seen near the main street. Most were low shacks built from rough planks and stones, with roofs covered in various grasses and walls plastered with yellow mud that had cracked in many places.
The road was an uneven dirt path. It had rained a little the previous night, and muddy water had collected in the hollows.
The youth led Li Yuan to a low house near the back and fished a polished copper key out of his pocket to unlock the door. After pushing it open, he poked his head inside to ensure no one else was there before stepping aside to gesture for Li Yuan to enter.
The room was small. A wooden bed rested against the back wall, covered with a thin, faded white quilt. By the window sat a simple loom made of wooden slats and gears, with several rolls of unfinished linen wound around its frame.
A few wooden crates were stacked in the corner, their lids half-open to reveal neatly folded hand towels and tablecloths. On a small side table sat a kerosene lamp, its glass chimney wiped clean.
Despite the humble furnishings, everything was organized and tidy, suggesting that the occupant had good habits.
The boy shut the door, braced it with a wooden pole, and pulled the coarse cloth serving as a curtain tight across the window. Once he was sure every gap was sealed, he walked to the low table and dragged out the only chair that wasn't missing a leg, placing it in front of Li Yuan.
“Please, have a seat.”
His voice was much deeper than it had been in the alley.
Li Yuan sat down, his gaze lingering on the boy’s face for a moment. The youth pressed his lips together, hands clasped over his knees, clearly trying to prepare his next words.
The boy took a deep breath and slowly looked up.
“My name is Mokotoba,” he said softly, sounding a bit frightened but with a gaze that was exceptionally firm.
“My sister... she was taken by the temple three months ago, in the name of the God of Light.”
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