CHAPTER 779: CHAPTER 479: MAGIC

This startled Wayne, he quickly withdrew his hand, and the ash of the rose turned into powder, drifting away with the wind...

If the rose magic earlier was commonplace, then the incinerated rose now was an even more stunning show of magic.

Everyone in the audience widened their eyes.

But Wayne was terrified.

He was so close and yet he couldn’t feel what kind of magic Sui Yi had used, so it had to be a Special Ability.

Could this person be one of those fearsome Gifted Ones?

Wayne’s gaze flickered between shock and nervousness, but he quickly regained his composure, convinced this person was not an Ability User, otherwise, the Adventure Guild would have had some record of him, and things had to go according to plan.

"Such a pity for the rose... well, since this rose cannot accompany Miss Sui Yi, let me do the honor then..."

He reached out his hand, intending to be Sui Yi’s male companion.

At banquets, men and women pairing up was the norm and proper etiquette. Did Sui Yi really plan to stick with that attendant behind her?

Wayne felt that she couldn’t possibly refuse his friendly gesture in front of so many people.

So...

The hand Wayne extended was seized by another slender yet strong hand.

It was Ye Zixu.

This man, with a common weapon tied at his waist and carrying a sword belt on his back...

Silently moved forward and grabbed Wayne’s hand.

Without saying a word, he just held his hand.

Inner Strength surged!

The attendant was actually a B-grade Master! Damn, there was such a master beside this woman!

Wayne narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip!

A silent contest ensued.

The onlookers only saw the man who had been following behind the Oriental Beauty suddenly step forward, appearing like... a knight in shining armor?

It was somewhat romantic~

Cao Ling made faces at Cao Yu, who gave her a detached glance. Cao Ling was taken aback, "What, you didn’t?"

"Just admiration, nothing more."

Cao Ling pondered; so, those occasional odd behaviors these days weren’t because of Sui Yi.

It seemed indeed that her brother respected and valued Sui Yi more than other women, but he really lacked any admiration or pursuit of love.

Then, who was the woman that occasionally made him daydream and frown?

Uh... it couldn’t be a man, could it?

Cao Ling’s gaze immediately slanted.

"Indeed, a brave man... What do you think, Xiluo?" Mu Sang said to Xiluo.

Xiluo remained noncommittal.

But he knew that this man from China, named Ye Zixu, was no ordinary person.

Sui Yi was taken aback by Ye Zixu’s intervention, but she wasn’t worried about him, and the contest ended quickly.

No result.

Because...

An unexpectedly elegant gentleman wearing a nice suit and shiny shoes came up to her and extended his hand, bowing slightly...

"Beautiful lady, may I have the honor of being your knight?"

Well, Sui Yi had to look downward... at the incredibly cool Mister Chark.

What can one say, Sui Yi’s expression of helplessness, speechlessness, and amusement was rarely seen by Cao Ling and the others.

Then, she extended her hand, her slender, soft fingers gripping that chubby hand.

Chark was overjoyed, winking at his parents...

All the ladies and gentlemen were like: "...."

Was this family really trying to steal the show from all the singles?!

The tumult on the red carpet ended there, and a group of people boarded the ship, stepping onto the deck. Sui Yi suddenly felt as if someone was watching her but turning around, she saw only the usual coming and going of servants and some guests.

An illusion?

Sui Yi leaned against the deck railing, viewing the many guests below, with Cao Ling explaining the identities of some of them, some of whom she needed to be especially wary of.

As time ticked by, almost none of the guests were fashionably late - punctuality was an important quality, they generally arrived within the same time frame, and a significant portion of the media also had invitations, playing their part in recording the event. The ship soon set sail...

In just four hours, they would arrive in the early evening at the famous Hellfire Castle.

"I really find it strange that Prince Yale chose this place for the banquet. I mean, Hellfire Castle does have a bit of a terrifying background," Fatty Gao said, bewildered, while Cao Ling smirked, "It’s not surprising. You don’t know, the customs overseas are quite different from ours in China. We like everything auspicious, while they prefer excitement and adventure. Hellfire Castle sounds terrifying but has a famous reputation, fitting their curious and adventurous spirit. And don’t you think it creates a greater buzz?"

Indeed, many in the media were discussing Hellfire today, nearly turning past stories upside down under a magnifying glass for deeper analysis, even speculating whether anything interesting might happen at the banquet...

Of course, with several centuries passing, nothing had happened at Hellfire for over a hundred years. Plus, due to some exaggerated old tales, people on site did not take it too seriously.

At least not Wo Er and the young elites, who were having a great time on the deck... taking selfies.

Probably updating their social media.

After four hours, if you weren’t a social butterfly or someone who could really handle the bustle, you’d typically retire to your room to rest.

Including the Duke and Duchess... and Sui Yi.

After watching the seascape on the deck for about fifteen minutes, she left.

Because one too many people coming up to strike up conversations had become somewhat bothersome.

Once in her room, Sui Yi took off her coat... gently touched her left hand, frowned, sighed, and lay down on the bed, falling into a deep sleep from exhaustion.

If Ye Zixu and the others were here, they would have been worried.

Since when had Sui Yi become this frail?

She fell into a deep sleep.

After an unknown amount of time, Sui Yi felt someone caressing her face... it was chillingly cold.

She opened her eyes.

Only the fluttering window remained, outside was the beautiful dusk twilight, warm and intoxicating, massively blooming over the horizon...

She remained silent for a while, looking at the window... reflecting a figure.

Someone was there!

Sui Yi turned her head, looking towards the person who had been sitting by her bed for an unknown period.

"You shouldn’t have come," she said.

Her voice was very hoarse, her hair draped over her shoulders, her face pale, indescribably haggard.

A haggardness unknown even to Cao Ling and Gong Jiu.

And the person beside the bed just looked at her like that.

Somewhat silent.

After a moment of silence, he spoke softly, "Brother has disappeared."

Her voice was very cold, devoid of any warmth.

As if indifferent to Sui Yi’s condition and not coming for any other reason but because... her brother had disappeared.

"Ziliu? What happened to him?"

"I don’t know, after I recovered, he just left, leaving a message saying he was out on business."

But that was the problem.

For a brother who had just returned to her side not long ago and had just been snatched back from the brink of death, based on Sui Yi’s understanding of Zhuang Ziliu, he might have been ready to retire to live a quiet life with his sister.

Yet, he had left at that critical moment.

Business, that matter was very important, very tricky.

So that’s why Zhuang Ziyi was worried, and then came to her?

Was there any logical connection?

"After this matter, I will go find him with you," Sui Yi said softly.

Zhuang Ziyi did not delight in her agreement but instead said, "You’re barely protecting yourself, yet still thinking about helping others... Since when have you become such a saint?"

That didn’t sound very nice.

Sui Yi was taken aback and said, "You are not outsiders."

Zhuang Ziyi lowered his eyes, "He might have gone to fulfill a promise to that woman, just as you are also fulfilling your promise."

The origin of the promise was her life.

Wu Jue, that woman, would never casually save a person without sufficient conditions, she would never make a move.

Zhuang Ziyi looked at Sui Yi.

"What did she ask you to do?"

"Fetch something."

"Did she need more things?" Zhuang Ziyi’s expression was cold, showing no fondness for the woman who saved his life.

A suit of Rongwei Armor, and there were other things she meddled in... Sui Yi knew of two or three occasions, let alone the unknown ones, and even more so before they had met.

This woman was terrifyingly frightening, as if she was preparing for something horrific.

But the frustrating thing was that they were all involved, inevitably becoming her pawns.

Sui Yi looked out the window.

"That’s her business... I just need to fulfill my own promise," she said.

"Did she cause your health condition?" His appearance at first glance made one think it was she who had been on the brink of death three months ago.

Zhuang Ziyi’s fingers unconsciously played with an iron-colored ring on his hand.

She didn’t know what exactly had happened after she "died," when she asked Zhuang Ziliu, she wouldn’t say, and asking that woman, she only received a contemptuously dismissive look.

It was as if she was disgusted.

"Hmm?" Sui Yi looked at Zhuang Ziyi, smiling slightly: "You’re as talkative as when you were a child."

Zhuang Ziyi’s brows furrowed coldly like an ice sculpture, turning away, "But after all, I have grown up, and there are some things you may not like to hear."

Yes, he had grown up, and there was no going back now.

Sui Yi reached out her hand and picked up a hair tie from the table beside the window, gently brushed her shoulder-length hair, and tied it up.

The setting sun streamed in, falling on her slender, frail body, strand by strand of hair over her delicate neck...

As a child, this girl was thin, her hair was a mess, and she always looked half-awake.

Zhuang Ziyi watched coldly, then saw his grown-up reflection in the glass window opposite.

Short hair, cold-looking eyes. As a child... this person used to say he looked like a steamed bun.

Steamed bun...

She stood up.

Sui Yi got out of bed, and as she picked up her coat... she turned around to see Zhuang Ziyi handing her a piece of clothing.

This was...

"Put it on," Zhuang Ziyi said coldly.

Sui Yi saw the clothing... warm clothes?

"I’m not cold."

"That was before, now you, a mere touch of cold water might chill you to the bone, how could that woman possibly make your life too easy..."

Zhuang Ziyi pursed his lips and said, "She hates you."

Sui Yi’s expression faltered slightly; ultimately, she didn’t refuse but rather obediently took the clothes without saying anything.

She didn’t engage further on why his attitude was like this. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit qidian.com to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)