Having just escorted Yusuf back to the Eastern Governor's Mansion, Aurelian Dragon saw the dragon girl who gave him the most trouble, looking radiant.
"Wow, Little Sister Long looks so splendid today!"
Because this beautiful girl had something on him, the man, who knew how to read the room, naturally didn't dare to be negligent and greeted Lyra Draconis with a smile.
Lyra Draconis rolled her eyes at him first, "Do you need to tell me that!"
Aurelian Dragon chuckled and was about to make a hasty retreat when Lyra Draconis suddenly raised her hand and bowed to him very formally, saying, "Commander Lyra Draconis of the Imperial Guards Regiment, please give me your guidance!"
"No, no... I wouldn't dare..."
Aurelian Dragon's polite words came out instinctively, but he quickly realized something was wrong. His eyes widened, and his mouth gradually formed a large circle.
Very pleased with the surprise she had given Aurelian Dragon, the beautiful dragon girl's pretty face broke into a charming smile.
"What? You don't like me taking this position? I still need Lord Aureliano's letter of appointment!"
When Lyra Draconis spoke of "Lord Aureliand," she deliberately drew out the words and spoke them slowly.
"No...no...no way!" Aurelian Dragon snapped out of her daze and quickly denied it. "It's wonderful to have a beauty like Sister Dragon as the commander of this Imperial Guard!" No matter what, flattery always sounds good, and a man with this kind of awareness naturally followed suit.
"But you don't seem to like it at all?" Lyra Draconis said with a grin. "What bad luck, how did she become the leader?"
Upon hearing Lyra Draconis's words, Aurelian Dragon could hardly believe his ears. The last sentence Lyra Draconis uttered was exactly what he had been thinking.
"What on earth is going on?" The puzzled man blinked repeatedly. "Could it be that this dragon girl has also mastered the mind-reading technique that Phoenix mentioned, which allows her to read other people's thoughts? If so, that's terrifying!"
Aurelian Dragon dared not think any further, fearing that his guess might come true, and quickly fled from Lyra Draconis under the pretext of issuing a formal appointment letter.
Upon seeing Phoenix Vane, Aurelian Dragon quickly pulled her away from the crowd and quietly inquired about her in private.
"Tell me, can that mind-reading technique really see through a person's thoughts?"
Phoenix Vane looked at him strangely, nodded, and asked with a puzzled expression, "Is there something you need?"
"Can you tell what I'm thinking now?" Aurelian Dragon asked urgently.
"Wait a moment." Phoenix Vane secretly channeled his inner energy, and his bright phoenix eyes instantly transformed into a seven-colored light, then gradually became deep and dark, like a captivating diamond, or as unfathomable as the deep sea.
"ah!"
Phoenix Vane suddenly jumped up, two blushes rising on her stunningly beautiful face; her shy appearance was truly captivating.
You're so mean!
Phoenix Vane playfully punched Aurelian Dragon on the shoulder, pouting, "How could you think such things in your mind and then expect me to receive such thoughts!"
Aurelian Dragon asked in astonishment, "Do you really know what I was thinking just now?"
Phoenix Vane pounced on him, wrapped his arms around his neck, and gently bit Aurelian Dragon's ear with his lips, then chuckled, "You lecherous man!"
Aurelian Dragon cried out in pain, reached out and pulled Phoenix Vane into her arms, lowered her head close to his beautifully curved ear and said, "Wasn't my idea brilliant?"
"How boring!" Phoenix Vane replied irritably.
"Really?" Aurelian Dragon suppressed a laugh and asked curiously, "If that's the case, why is someone's body getting so hot?"
Phoenix Vane blushed deeply, burying her burning pink face in his shoulder and neck, and mumbled, "Who told you to hug me so tightly? No wonder I'm hot!"
As the fiery and alluring beauty writhed in his arms, her exquisite and voluptuous body rubbing against his skin, Aurelian Dragon's heart stirred, and he couldn't help but whisper, "If you move like that a couple more times, I'm about to turn my thoughts into reality!"
Phoenix Vane was startled and quickly escaped from Aurelian Dragon's embrace, her face flushed as she said, "No, how can we do that now?"
Aurelian Dragon sat down and said with a grin, "Anyway, you can't escape it today. What does it matter if it's something that has to be done sooner or later?"
Phoenix Vane rolled her eyes at him, then thought for a moment and sat down next to Aurelian Dragon, saying in a low voice, "Not now, don't do anything rash!"
Aurelian Dragon shook her head and said, "You mean we can do it when the time comes, right?"
Phoenix Vane playfully retorted, "I didn't say that! What you think is your business!" Despite her words, her expression made the man in front of her overjoyed.
After a moment of smug satisfaction, Aurelian Dragon returned to the main topic. He picked up where they left off, looking at Phoenix Vane, whose face was flushed, and said, "So it seems you've mastered mind reading. When can you teach me?"
Phoenix Vane regained his composure and shook his head, saying, "No, I'm just a beginner. I need some time to practice before I can use it. If I master it completely, I can use it without any special techniques."
"It's over!" Aurelian Dragon thought to himself. He had assumed that the use of Mind Reading Technique involved circulating one's mind like Phoenix Vane had just done, which meant that the beautiful dragon girl had not yet mastered the skill. But now, hearing Phoenix Vane's words, he felt a great sense of unease.
"Do you know that Little Dragon Sister can read minds?" Aurelian Dragon thought for a moment and asked Phoenix Vane tentatively.
Phoenix Vane smiled slightly and said cheerfully, "She's much more capable than me. She's already a master of mind reading without even practicing this technique, which is why I made her the commander of the Imperial Guard Infantry Regiment. Anyone with ulterior motives can be detected by her at a glance..." At this point, Phoenix Vane noticed something was wrong with the man in front of him and quickly asked, "Hey, Aurelian, why do you look so pale? Are you feeling unwell?"
Hearing the most unbelievable thing from Phoenix Vane, the Aurelian Dragon finally understood why he always suffered in front of Lyra Draconis. It was because this hateful dragon girl had grasped his every thought. How could he possibly win?
Seeing Phoenix Vane ask this, Aurelian Dragon gave a wry smile and said, "It's nothing. I was just thinking about something. Standing in front of you and Sister Dragon, wouldn't I be completely naked and exposed?"
Phoenix Vane chuckled at the Aurelian Dragon analogy and said with a smile, "Is there something you're trying to hide from me? Or do you feel there are things I shouldn't know?"
Seeing that Aurelian Dragon still looked worried, Phoenix Vane couldn't help but tease her, "Don't worry, if you're doing something shady behind our backs, as long as you don't have that thought in front of me, I won't know!"
"What's going on?" Lynette Quill's voice rang out from the doorway. "Do you two have some secret you're keeping from us?" She had noticed that Aurelian Dragon and Phoenix Vane hadn't come out for a while and couldn't resist coming in to see what was going on.
Aurelian Dragon quickly waved his hand and laughed, "What else could I possibly want to hide from you!" He suddenly thought of a way to deal with that beautiful dragon girl, and his mood brightened considerably.
Aurelian Dragon stood up and smiled at Lynette Quill, who had just entered the room, "Phoenix and I are discussing tonight's program. Would you like to join us?"
"Great!" Lynette Quill readily agreed. "How could you forget me when something good happens?"
"Of course, of course!" Aurelian Dragon said with a grin, "Not only my good Lynette, but also Obsidia Shade and the others are included!"
"What kind of show is it?" Lynette Quill, her curiosity piqued, quickly asked.
Aurelian Dragon glanced at Phoenix Vane, who was looking at her with a half-smile, and couldn't resist leaning over to kiss her smooth, pink cheek. Then she looked up at Lynette Quill and said, "Let Phoenix tell you!"
Phoenix Vane glared at the smug Aurelian Dragon, then said to Lynette Quill, "Don't listen to this guy's nonsense!"
Aurelian Dragon deliberately feigned surprise, saying, "Huh, Phoenix, didn't we just agree? Why didn't we tell Lynette?" Before Phoenix Vane could speak, she dashed out of the room, adding a comment as she passed Lynette Quill.
"Get ready, everyone! Tonight I'm going to give you pleasure you've never experienced before!"
When Phoenix Vane stood up, Aurelian Dragon was already gone. She couldn't help but shake her head, thinking about his strange ideas, and couldn't help but chuckle to herself. Only this man would think like that, right?
Lynette Quill's curiosity was piqued by Aurelian Dragon's words. Since she couldn't catch the man who was prepared, she had no choice but to pester Phoenix Vane to find out the truth.
After being pressed by Lynette Quill several times, Phoenix Vane could only blush and whisper a few words in Lynette Quill's ear. Lynette Quill's pretty face immediately turned red, and she smiled shyly.
※ ※ ※
When Aurelian Dragon came out, Garrick Stonewall was already waiting there. As soon as he saw Aurelian Dragon approaching with a smile, Garrick Stonewall stepped forward and whispered, "Lanxin requests that you step out for a moment, sir."
Aurelian Dragon stopped in her tracks, remembering her promise to Zuo Lanxin, and nodded. Accompanied by Garrick Stonewall, she left the Eastern Governor's Mansion.
The meeting took place in an ordinary family's home, or at least a seemingly ordinary residence.
Garrick Stonewall greeted a man sitting by the door, half-leaning against the wall and dozing, then led Aurelian Dragon through the gate. They walked through a hallway and several doors before entering a windowless room.
Opposite the door stood a lampstand, emitting a dim light that cast a hazy glow over everything in the room, giving it an eerie and mysterious feel. Behind the lampstand, a person shrouded in a black robe sat comfortably in a chair. Because even their face was covered, it was impossible to determine their gender or age; only their piercingly bright eyes revealed their terrifying power.
Garrick Stonewall bowed very respectfully to the person above and said, "Lord Aureliano Buendía has arrived!"
The black-robed figure above remained silent, only staring intently at Aurelian Dragon with a piercing gaze. Aurelian Dragon snorted coldly, grabbed Garrick Stonewall's shoulder, and said, "Old Zuo, let's go!"
Garrick Stonewall was taken aback, looking at Aurelian Dragon with confusion. Aurelian Dragon pointed at the black-robed figure above and said loudly, "Is this bastard the owner of this place? Didn't we come here to see him? Since I promised Miss Zuo I would see someone, and now that I have, we can naturally leave!"
"How dare you!"
The person above could no longer remain seated. He roared in a deep, angry voice, exuding authority and a truly intimidating aura. Judging from the voice, it was a man, a man of considerable age, and one who seemed accustomed to being respected. His words radiated a powerful confidence and an air of authority.
But he was facing a fearless man, and Aurelian Dragon wasn't buying it. Ignoring Garrick Stonewall's repeated winks, he sneered, "What business is it of yours how bold you are? As a host, you don't even know the most basic hospitality. What's the point of talking to someone like you!"
"You…" The black-robed man sitting there suddenly stood up, his anger turning into two terrifying beams of cold lightning, even dimming the lights in the room. What an intense aura!
As Aurelian Dragon's words became increasingly absurd, beads of sweat appeared on Garrick Stonewall's face. He clasped his hands in a fist salute to the black-robed figure above and said, "Lord Divine Master..."
The man in black robes waved his hand to interrupt Garrick Stonewall, walked up to Aurelian Dragon, stared at him intently for a long time, and then suddenly burst into laughter.
Aurelian Dragon, who was already on guard, took a step back upon seeing this guy's inexplicable behavior and shouted, "What are you laughing at?"
"Very interesting!" A kind look appeared in the black-robed man's eyes. "Indeed, extraordinary courage and unique demeanor!" Then he turned to Garrick Stonewall and said, "You've found a worthy lord to serve!"
Garrick Stonewall was immediately relieved and said to the two of them, "You two continue talking, I'm going outside!"
"Lord Aureliand, let's have an open and honest talk!"
Before Aurelian Dragon could even call out to Garrick Stonewall, the black-robed man in front of him had already lifted his black robe, revealing his true identity.
This was a middle-aged man with a slightly pale complexion, a hooked nose, and a clean-shaven chin. He was a man who had lived a life of luxury, and also a man of unwavering character. Aurelian Dragon made this judgment to herself.
"Sit down!" After Aurelian Dragon's commotion, the man became polite to him instead, gesturing for him to sit down, and then sat down next to Aurelian Dragon himself.
"I think Lady Aureliand knows my identity, right?" the man asked kindly.
Aurelian Dragon shook her head, a hint of surprise flashing in the man's eyes. "Haven't you heard of the God of War?"
Aurelian Dragon scratched his head and said, "Priest, that must be a position in the temple, right? I don't know much about the temple, I only know the title of priest."
"I see!" the middle-aged man said with a smile. "Then I'll give Lord Aureliand a brief introduction to the temple."
This man was no ordinary figure; he was one of the most powerful people in the temple, ranking third among the three high priests, primarily responsible for internal affairs and rarely appearing in public. Meanwhile, Fallon, who had just been appointed Royal High Priest by Emperor Andre III of Fast, did not hold a high position in the temple; he was merely a disciple of the high priest.
The temple, now restricted by Emperor Fast, is not as influential as it once was. As the highest leadership of the temple, the three priests naturally need to consider the future path. Due to their vastly different beliefs and ambitions, the paths they want to take are also very different.
The High Priest, who was determined to restore the temple's former power, was the most supported by people at all levels of the temple, and he was doing a remarkable job. Through cooperation with Gilimans, the temple's influence was slowly expanding. The recent appointment of Fallon as Royal High Priest greatly solidified the High Priest's position, and his influence reached its peak. Many clergy members unanimously believed in the High Priest and thought he could lead the temple into a new era.
However, the insightful members of the temple also saw the potential dangers. The expansion of the High Priests and the mutual exploitation of powerful and ambitious individuals could provoke a strong backlash from other influential figures. If things went wrong, it could again threaten the interests of the Fast royal family, leading to even more severe repercussions. Therefore, they suggested that it was best to simply serve the gods peacefully; why should clergy participate in worldly struggles? However, the faction advocating retirement was extremely small and had almost no voice within the temple. If it weren't for the support of the two High Priests, they might have been purged by the radicals long ago. Even so, their lives and status within the temple steadily declined, and they were gradually squeezed out of the central leadership.
"So which faction do you support?" Aurelian Dragon couldn't help but ask curiously.
The Three Gods smiled but did not answer the question; instead, they cleverly changed the subject.
"Lord Aureliand now holds great power, and I hope to receive your assistance in gaining His Majesty's favor towards our temple."
"It would be more appropriate for you to talk to His Highness the Third Prince or the Left Minister. This task seems a bit too big for me." A relaxed smile appeared on Aurelian Dragon's face.
"Good heavens!" the Three Gods thought to themselves. "I didn't realize you hadn't been blinded by this sudden power!" Of course, their expressions didn't betray their true feelings. They maintained a sincere demeanor as they spoke to Aurelian Dragon, "Lord Aurelian is too modest. Now, Lord Aurelian enjoys His Majesty's deep trust. With your word, our temple will receive even greater support."
"Moreover, this matter is beneficial to both of us." The Three Gods continued to exert his persuasive power. "I trust my judgment. Lord Aureliand's future is far more than this. With the help of our temple in the future, he will have a more stable path ahead."
Aurelian Dragon remained silent, but his mind was in turmoil. The Three Gods were absolutely right; at least for now, cooperation seemed to be mutually beneficial, while discord appeared to be more detrimental to him. But could he truly represent the temple?
Aurelian Dragon raised her head and asked with a smile, "My Lord, please forgive my bluntness, but which faction within the temple do you represent? Or rather, are you only a part of the temple? If I cooperate with you, does that mean I will be at odds with other factions?"
The three priests nodded without hesitation and said, "Absolutely correct. Since Lord Aureliand is so straightforward, I'll be direct as well. The High Priest is completely on Gilimans' side and has no goodwill towards you whatsoever. If you cooperate with us, you can also gain some of the temple's support. Although our power is not strong at present, if we can get a favorable opportunity, we will become a powerful ally for you."
"Putting everything else aside, Garrick Stonewall is a student of our school. Who wouldn't want to have a talent like him?"
Upon hearing this concrete example, Aurelian Dragon could no longer resist the temptation. Looking into the eyes of the Three Gods, he readily agreed, "Very well! Since the Three Gods think so highly of Aurelian, there's no point in saying anything more. Let's work together and help each other."
The three gods were overjoyed. They stood up, took the outstretched hand of Aurelian Dragon, and said, "This is an agreement where each party benefits. Let's work together for our common good!"
Aurelian Dragon found the Three Gods' directness quite frank. If the man before her were to say anything high-sounding, it would mean he had ill intentions. Since things were out in the open, it would make things much easier for everyone in the future.
Garrick Stonewall was overjoyed upon learning of the outcome. He had feared that Aurelion Dragon and the Three Gods would fall out, putting him in an awkward position, as he was originally a disciple of the Three Gods. However, working under Aurelion Dragon had made him feel completely at ease, leading him to believe that this man was the wise ruler he had been searching for for many years. Therefore, this was the result he most desired.
"Lanxin will be very happy to hear this news!" Garrick Stonewall said with emotion to Aurelian Dragon.
Aurelian Dragon glanced at Garrick Stonewall silently, sensing something else in his tone that reminded him of past events. It seemed Garrick Stonewall had a special affection for his sister, which was why his tone was always strange whenever he mentioned Zuo Lanxin's name.
"I hope this is just my own paranoia and sensitivity!" Aurelian Dragon thought to himself as he rode back to the Eastern Governor's Mansion with Garrick Stonewall.
※ ※ ※
After parting ways with Aurelian Dragon, the three gods returned to their home next to the temple, feeling quite relieved. They were very satisfied with their performance that day; after all, the country bumpkin, who had never seen anything like this before, had been easily drawn into their circle with just a few words.
"You're back!"
A deep voice came from inside the room, and he couldn't help but pause. This voice was not from any servant he knew, and no servant would dare to speak to their master in such a tone unless that guy had a death wish.
"No need to look any further, come in!"
The person inside spoke impatiently, and their powerful authority and aura made the Three Gods shudder. He suddenly realized who the voice belonged to.
He habitually looked around, because it was said that this man would be surrounded by a large number of skilled guards, enough to defeat an army.
"There's no need to look anymore, you won't see it even if you keep looking. I want to have a serious talk with you! Don't be afraid!"
The Three Gods gritted their teeth, strode inside, and shouted, "I haven't done anything wrong, what's there to be afraid of!"
Inside the room, a tall, slender man stood with his hands behind his back, his outstanding bearing inspiring envy.
"You haven't done anything wrong?" the man's voice began to shrill. "Then where did you go just now?"
"Uh, I just went to see a friend."
"Just a friend?" the man pressed, staring intently at him.
"I don't think I need to report my itinerary to you," the Three Gods suddenly realized, and said without backing down, "I don't seem to be your retainer or your servant, Your Highness Prince Elnario!"
The man in the room turned around; he was none other than Prince Elnario, so handsome that women dreamed of him and men envied him. Prince Elnario sneered, "Indeed, you're just a clergyman!"
"You," the Three Gods' expression changed, suppressing his anger, and began to dismiss him, "I am very tired. If Your Highness has nothing else, please excuse me."
Prince Elnario gave a low shout, picked up a cup from the table, and began to fiddle with it.
"Did you know that everything has a limited capacity? If you force something into it that exceeds its capacity, then this will happen..."
As Prince Elnario spoke, he began to pour water from the teapot into a teacup. Slowly, the tea filled the cup to the brim, but Prince Elnario showed no sign of stopping and continued to add water. Strangely, the overflowing tea did not flow down; instead, it formed a cylindrical column above the rim of the cup, standing upright.
Prince Elnario's display of skill didn't particularly surprise the Three Gods. They knew this handsome prince possessed strength beyond what others imagined, and doing this was effortless for him. However, they didn't understand the connection between Prince Elnario's act of pouring tea and his words. They suspected that Prince Elnario's actions weren't simply to demonstrate his power or show off.
When the cylindrical column of water reached halfway up the cup, the teacup shattered silently, its eight pieces arranging themselves in a neat pattern on the table, resembling a blooming white flower. The tea remained intact, still a single, upright column of water standing before the Three Gods.
"Have you seen the consequences of exceeding one's capacity?" Prince Elnario said leisurely, as he gently put down the teapot in his hand. The cylindrical column of water on the table seemed to echo Prince Elnario's words, crashing down and scattering into an irregular pool of water.
The three gods finally changed their expressions. They understood what Prince Elnario meant. Prince Elnario also saw the change in the gods' expressions. A silent smile appeared on his lips, elegant and charming, yet it made the gods' hearts skip a beat for no reason.
"People are the same. If their ambitions exceed their capacity, their fate will be just like this teacup, or perhaps even more tragic!"
Prince Elnario looked at the three gods and said softly, "So people should still act according to their abilities!"
The Three Gods shuddered, knowing this man was issuing a warning. He smiled wryly, "Your Highness is truly formidable. I was just with the Aurelian Dragon..."
Prince Elnario waved his hand at him. "That's more like it! The thing I hate most is anyone who dares to lie to me or play tricks on me." Then he walked to the three gods who were standing there dumbfounded, a victorious smile spreading across his handsome face. "I don't care what you talked about with the Aurelian Dragon; that man is just a clown who's insignificant in the grand scheme of things. All I want you to remember is our agreement, and to dutifully fulfill your obligations!" His words became somewhat stern towards the end.
The three gods nodded weakly, lowered their heads, but their eyes, gazing at the ground, flashed with anger.