ATAPOW Chapter 200
Previous Chapter|Index|Next Chapter
Chapter 200: The Tense Crisis
The early morning wind had always felt as warm and gentle as a mother’s touch, no matter if it was at the height of a vibrant summer or in the middle of a severe winter.
Ke’er had finished packing various household items, such as a toothbrush, towels, blankets, and other valuables the day before departure.
She had gone above and beyond her meticulousness; Factoring items that might not be necessary, such as umbrellas or tents into the packing list as well.
On the day of departure, Ke’er stood with her hands placed before her skirt hemline, appearing like a caring and gentle bride who had arrived to bid Ji Bai farewell on his journey.
“Thank you so much. Without your help, it’s possible that I might have had to depart a bit later.” Fully armed to the teeth, Ji Bai picked up the small and large packs of luggage that had been placed on the floor and nodded his head at the petite figure before him.
The ice cold visor of his cross-shaped helmet prevented her from seeing his current expression.
“It’s fine~ Don’t worry and go, Mr. Ji Bai. Ke’er will tidy up and look after the house properly until you return.” Ke’er shook her tail in an extremely obedient manner.
The thoughts of the pair were invisible to anyone at that moment.
‘Is he not even willing to call me by my name anymore…’
A faint hint of bitterness surfaced on the corner of Ke’er lips which contrasted with the endearing smile on her face.
This went completely unnoticed by Ji Bai, who inwardly nodded with a trace of gratitude in his heart.
‘I see that she’s gradually emerging from the shadows of self-isolation. She’s now willing to face the world with a smile and harbor an open mind towards strangers. Perhaps she’s beginning to adjust to a life without me around?’
“Maybe with time, I will be able to let go, allowing her to soar freely and embrace a life that truly belongs to her.”
A slight smile flashed across Ji Bai’s face underneath his helmet as he reached that conclusion.
‘Would she still remember this passerby who once crossed paths in her life years later?’
A sense of gratification mingled with a hint of disappointment welled up within him.
It was a realization akin to a parent witnessing their child, whom they had raised for many years, embarking on the path of independence, no longer reliant on their guidance and capable of pursuing their own ambitions.
He believed that life was what she truly deserved.
Upon seeing the beaming smile on Ke’er’s face, Ji Bai felt as if he had been cured.
Suddenly, he was reminded of his initial purpose in becoming a knight.
He recalled encounters with knights, who despite lacking aspirations of their own, willingly step forward to defend and safeguard the dreams of others after being touched and inspired by their glow.
A question arose within him. Is reputation or glory more important to a knight? Or are wealth and power the highest priority?
Ji Bai couldn’t say for certain, but he knew that his sister was the one who gave him the courage to wield his sword for the first time.
And in the wake of that moment, were the smiles directed towards him.
If his memories served him right, the muddied, rough, and simple garland that a young innocent girl had once given him should still be resting on a bookshelf in his old bedroom, even though it had long since decayed.
He could still vividly recall the simple, honest, and unblemished smile that blossomed on the girl’s face, as if it had just happened yesterday.
As for the pure gold and jewels that the fawning nobles had offered him in attempts to gain his favor, they had long been forgotten and cast aside into some forgotten nook or corner.
The definition of a knight was something that Ji Bai interpreted rather loosely.
He would never use his identity as a senior to denounce the knights that were motivated by money, fame or position.
As long as they followed the principles of a knight and did not act out of line.
The warm and gentle sunlight bathed Ke’er’s hair in a lustrous, pink glow, while her angelic smile captivated Ji Bai and caused him to be lost in a slight daze.
He felt as if he had been transported back into the past.
‘If conditions permit, I’m willing to be the knight that protects you for the rest of your life. But your life shouldn’t be limited to just me.’
“I’m leaving.” Ji Bai had originally intended to reach out and gently stroke Ke’er’s head and hair, just as he had done in the past. However, the dominant force of logic that governed his thoughts prevented him from doing so.
His original intention was for Ke’er to grow accustomed to a life without him. Petting her would only defeat that purpose.
“Would you have taken me with you, Mr. Ji Bai, if I let go of my reservations?” Ke’er muttered softly to herself, lowering her head.
“Is there anything else?” Ji Bai asked.
Ke’er shook her head with a hint of disappointment, but when she lifted her gaze, an impeccable smile that seemed to lift one’s spirits blossomed on her face.
“It’s nothing. Have a safe trip, Mr. Ji Bai. If possible, try your best to come back early. Ke’er will be waiting for you at home…”
“Mhm.” Ji Bai finally let go of his fears as he observed Ke’er’s newfound open-mindedness and optimism, which were a far cry from the despair she had exhibited months ago.
As she watched his figure retreat into the distance without looking back even once, the smile on Ke’er’s face instantly faded away.
“If Ke’er learnt to be a bit more assertive, will you not forget her?”
一一一一一一一
Barron City, the Scarlet Blood region. An area under the administration of the Setis Duchy.
Despite the impending arrival of spring, the grip of severe winter remained unyielding, as congealed frost adorned the lofty castle walls like glistening crystals.
The harsh winter wind was accompanied by the scarce presence of pedestrians on the streets.
Even the completely disease-resistant vampires were unwilling to face severe winter wrath head-on.
In the midst of icy wind, the fireplace of one’s home beckoned them like a strong magnet.
Inside the magnificent castle of the domain lord.
“Young lady, the detailed map of the surrounding region that you requested is here.” The personal maid, Xiao Yuan, swept into the hall through the open doorway while grasping onto the hemline of her skirt.
“Mhm, good work.” Sitting by the fireplace, a girl with long, amber hair opened her eyes after a brief rest. Wearing a simple and elegant smile, she received the parchment that Xiao Yuan had been guarding in her hemline and spread it on the table to have a closer look at its contents.
“Young Lady, may I ask why you needed this regional map? What will you be using it for?” Xiao Yuan curiously moved to the side of the amber-haired girl.
“Hehe, my dear Xiao Yuan~ Are you truly unaware of what I had in mind when I asked you to bring me this map?” The girl named Mylar playfully stuck her tongue out.
“Ehh? Don’t tell me Young Lady wants-… But wouldn’t that be somewhat overstepping our boundaries without the Queen’s decree…”
Seeing Mila’s profound smile, Xiao Yuan instinctively fell silent.
After all, the fact that direct descendants of the royal household were the pillar of the vampire race had been deeply ingrained in their minds.
“Overstepping? Hehe, the queen didn’t raise any opposing motion against it, did she? Besides…” Mylar changed the topic, her gorgeous agate eyes narrowing into a line.
“Every blade of grass and every single soldier in my duchy lies under my jurisdiction. Even the queen is unable to meddle too much in our affairs…” At that moment, the young lady wore a gentle smile, yet for some unknown reason, Xiao Yuan suddenly felt as if she was facing a viper with its tongue out, deadly and dangerous.
Seeing apprehension growing in Xiao Yuan’s heart, Mylar giggled softly before shifting her gaze back to the map once more.
No one would ever figure out her motives, which were actually rather straightforward.
She had come to realize that the Asiatic Cats were actually a pretty interesting race.
Moreover, the more she got to know them, the more she grew fond of them. Hence, she fixed her gaze on the Ancestral Lands of the Asiatic Cat, a place also known as ‘Nolan City’.
During the second epoch, the ancient vampire race, who had been the most powerful beings in that era, were the descendants of the royal household and made all decisions unilaterally.
The tyrannical power radiated by their royal primordial vein suppressed countless people and every minister, leaving none with any intentions to decentralize.
While the royalty of the modern times still carried an extraordinary meaning to vampires, their prestige had greatly diminished.
While the nobles still held respect and reverence for the royal household, a growing majority of them, who carried diluted royal bloodlines, were gradually contemplating the idea of reducing the military power and influence of the royal family. Their aim was to reduce the royal household into mere figureheads.
This became an undeniable truth in the royal court, where it eventually led to the division and formation of two factions in broad daylight.