CHAPTER 280: CHAPTER280-FAREWELL

Although the odd gaze from Anderson was rather uncomfortable, Owen still opened his arms to embrace Bloodbane, knowing well that Bloodbane yearned to experience a real hug.

"Owen, who is this?" Perini, usually reserved, couldn’t help but ask, though her expression carried a hint of nervousness.

With a smile, Owen gently ruffled Bloodbane’s head and introduced her to everyone, "This is my Sword Spirit, Bloodbane. It was thanks to her that I was able to make a breakthrough earlier."

"Hello, Sister Perini," Bloodbane said, peeking her little head out from Owen’s embrace and greeting Perini with a cheerful smile.

Hearing Owen’s explanation and seeing Bloodbane’s youthful appearance, Perini felt a wave of relief and affection for the pure and youthful Bloodbane, smiling back, "Hello, little Bloodbane."

Bloodbane then greeted Anderson and the others, earning their fondness as well.

"It’s getting late. How about we camp here and have a few drinks?" Yashum suggested, glancing at the sky and smiling at Owen and the rest.

"Sure," Owen agreed with a smile.

He knew their parting was imminent, yet he chose not to dwell too much on the emotions.

Taking out a flask and some mythical beast meat that their teacher had given them, Owen distributed them among the group.

Noticing Bloodbane’s longing gaze, he hesitated before also handing her a flask and some mythical beast meat, then asked, "Can you actually consume these?"

"Of course, I can. Aside from the fact that I’m not human in essence, there’s no difference between us and humans in other aspects!" Bloodbane fixed her eyes on Owen, softly speaking.

After several rounds of drinks and a myriad of dishes, everyone started to drink with more fervor, especially as their parting loomed near, leaving no room for restraint and taking hearty swigs.

Perini, not quite able to hold her liquor, soon succumbed to its effects and lay asleep on one side.

To Owen’s surprise, Bloodbane seemed to have a remarkably good tolerance for alcohol, showing no signs of drunkenness and remaining as lively as ever.

"Master, try my drink; it’s very sweet!"

Bloodbane ran over to Owen, offering her flask to him.

"Is that so?" Owen, puzzled, took the flask and took a sip.

The liquor was refreshing and aromatic without being too strong.

However, Owen couldn’t taste the sweetness Bloodbane mentioned, but he quickly realized something, glaring at Bloodbane, who was snickering on the side.

"Master, give me back my flask," Bloodbane said with a sly look, not waiting for Owen to hand it over and quickly snatching it back herself.

Owen watched her helplessly, not bothering to dodge, letting Bloodbane take the flask.

With a cunning glint in her eyes and a chuckle, Bloodbane cradled the flask in her arms as if it were a treasure, taking a careful sip with a triumphant smile.

A figurative black line crossed Owen’s forehead, deciding not to engage with Bloodbane any further.

Instead, he turned to drink with Anderson and Yashum.

With Yashum and Perini soon departing, they naturally wanted to drink to their heart’s content.

"Here’s to you, Yashum!"

Owen raised his flask with a hearty laugh, with Anderson doing the same in Yashum’s direction.

"Cheers!"

Yashum roared in response, clinking his cup with Owen and Anderson’s, and took a big gulp, with some of the liquor spilling from the corners of his mouth.

In just the span of a breath, Yashum had emptied his flask, with Owen and Anderson not far behind, nearly simultaneously finishing their own.

"Another round!"

Anderson, ever the spirited one, tossed aside his flask and pulled another from his storage ring, offering it to Owen and Yashum.

"Let’s!"

Owen chuckled lightly, taking out another bottle of liquor.

They were within a ten-mile radius safeguarded by a barrier set by an elder ancestor, so there was no fear of anyone taking advantage of their drunken state.

...

The night was exceedingly long, yet it felt all too brief.

Bloodbane, too, succumbed to the effects of alcohol, transforming back into a sword and returning to rest behind Owen.

The voices of Owen and the others dwindled over time, eventually falling silent as they all succumbed to deep sleep on the ground.

As the sunlight broke through, Owen and Anderson slowly awoke, looking over to where Yashum and Perini had been sleeping, only to find them gone, leaving behind only a letter.

Owen stood up to retrieve the envelope, opening it to read: Owen, Anderson, we chose not to bid you farewell in person to avoid the sadness.

Over the past several months, it was thanks to you that we were able to survive in the Endless Contraption.

We are but members of an ordinary family, with talents nearly at their limits.

We know it will be difficult to repay this debt in our lifetime, but we will forever hold this gratitude, until we, or our descendants, can fully repay it.

Lastly, Owen, Anderson, strive for your original goals!

...

Owen surmised that Yashum and Perini must have written this letter unbeknownst to them.

Owen put away the envelope; while he was reading it, Anderson had also scanned it with his soul power, so there was no worry that Anderson hadn’t seen it.

"Shall we continue our quest to uncover the cause behind Elder Steve’s demise?"

Owen pondered for a moment.

If they were not heading back to the Sanctuary now, their only option was to stay and seek out the reasons for Elder Steve’s fall.

Anderson nodded, pulling out a map of the Ancient Ruins and started to pinpoint their current location.

He then pointed to a large mountain on the map, "Let’s head to Violetower Peak near the Ancient Ruins first. The Ancient Ruins are too perilous."

Owen agreed with a nod.

Indeed, as Anderson had said, seeking clues to Elder Steve’s demise at Violetower Peak was plausible, and certainly less dangerous than venturing into the Ancient Ruins.

Their previous foray into the Ancient Ruins could only be chalked up to good fortune, stumbling into the Endless Contraption, which posed little challenge to them, practically handing them benefits on a silver platter.

Had they not entered the Endless Contraption, they might have encountered individuals with nefarious intentions, whether of nirvana-tier or rule-tier.

Such individuals, desiring their demise, would have found them defenseless.

Perhaps, at that time, the ancient ancestor might have appeared in time to save them, but with the ancestor gone, should danger arise again, there would be no one to rescue them.

Waiting a few more days for a rule-tier elder to arrive might have offered them more security.

However, Owen and Anderson were not ones to settle down and wait days for the sect’s elders, though they also wouldn’t recklessly venture into overly dangerous territories.

"Let’s set off, then."

Owen and Anderson exchanged glances, transforming into two streaks of light that vanished into the sky.

Four hours later, the sky had begun to dim.

Owen and Anderson finally arrived near Violetower Peak, seeking a secluded path to enter the mountain.

Violetower Peak was home to a plethora of mythical beasts, a sight rare in other regions.

Many mercenary groups would venture here to capture these mythical beasts.

Stretching for thousands of miles, Violetower Peak was enveloped in low-hanging clouds, giving the impression of a mountain shrouded in clouds.

"Be cautious, Owen. Though we are only on the outskirts, mythical beasts often venture out here to hunt," Anderson warned with a serious tone, slowing his pace.

Facing a rule-tier mythical beast now meant only death, so they were on high alert, ready to evade before being discovered by any beast of rule-tier strength.

Owen, however, was not particularly worried.

His understanding of the essence of space was nearing perfection, allowing him to easily escape with Anderson if necessary.

Yet, he intended to keep the rules of space a secret, not to be used lightly unless absolutely required.

The allure of the rules of space was evident from the behavior of the rule-tier expert who had pursued Owen.

Owen even suspected that enlightenment-tier powerhouses would be tempted upon seeing it.

Not everyone could cherish him like the elder ancestor of the Sanctuary, who treated him as a treasure.

The higher his talent, the more it threatened others.

Who could say for sure there wouldn’t be those who, disregarding future calamities, would kill to seize his powers?

The rustling of leaves echoed from a distance as Owen and Anderson quickly looked up, their soul power sweeping outwards.

"Hmm? Is that woman from our Sanctuary, Rufie?"

Anderson’s soul power detected a woman in tattered clothes frantically fleeing in the opposite direction, chased by five or six youths, among them two women and three men, all dressed in the uniform of the Tyrant Cult.

Owen, too, spotted the disheveled woman and recognized her immediately as Rufie.

He had some dealings with her in the past and knew her on sight.

Rufie had told him she was off to undertake a mission, and since then, he hadn’t seen her again.

He had even wondered if Rufie had lost her life on her mission and lamented the possibility.

"Owen, should we save her or not?"

Anderson glanced at Owen, unsure if the woman was indeed Rufie from the Sanctuary, nor did he know why she was being pursued.

"Of course, we save her."

Owen withdrew his gaze, offering a slight smile.

There was no question of standing by idly.

With a step, he had already moved close to Rufie.

"Rufie, no need to run anymore." Owen’s calm voice reached Rufie’s ears.

The frantic woman, upon hearing his voice, trembled and slowed her steps.