Chapter 800: Chapter 32: Day of the Duel (Part 4)

The lively old men chatted for a while and left; they wandered in the park for a bit. Mo Yuankai suggested they go to the palace to see the royal family, as it was almost time for the Queen to appear. Gongsun Ce remarked that there’s nothing new about seeing those princes and princesses, he told Mo to go ahead and he’ll catch up later.

Mo Yuankai and Rakael’s wax figures proceeded first, while Gongsun Ce sat on a bench in the park. His posture slightly hunched, he gazed at the large lake not far away. The ice on the lake surface had yet to melt, resembling a giant mirror.

“I’m quite surprised,” Yuliy said.

“Because I didn’t lose my temper?” The Superpower User replied calmly, “The old man didn’t do it on purpose, it doesn’t matter.”

Gongsun Ce remained as still as the lake water, as if wearing a mask to hide all his emotions—joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. However, Yuliy felt a repressive sense of lethargy in his words and eyes, a vague deja vu.

Yuliy remembered that during his spare time, he often helped Sara look after pets, including a large black dog that behaved similarly. It was sociable, playing when others played, barking when others barked. Yet, during rest, it wouldn’t stay with other dogs, instead lying quietly alone, gazing languidly at the flowers outside the window. Sara mentioned it was a bit melancholic because it wasn’t adapting well.

At that moment, Gongsun Ce was strikingly like that black dog, and Yuliy stood quietly beside him, unsure of what to say. They both watched the lake for a while until the hustle and bustle came from the park’s center.

“Is there an event happening?”

Yuliy glanced from afar, “Perhaps an impromptu theater.”

“Let’s go have a look.” Gongsun Ce got up and walked leisurely toward the center. There they saw a wooden temporary stage, with several burly actors performing different roles on it, dressed in costumes and wearing masks signifying their character identities. The one in the center wore a golden mask, portraying a mighty and stalwart figure, clearly recognizable as the classic image of King Morton.

“…The young Morton learned wisdom from the old man by the seaside, and practiced martial arts with warriors in the wilderness…”

It’s a drama about Morton founding the Country, the most popular traditional play. The actors briefly covered the hero’s diligent study from eighteen hundred years ago, moving the plot to “Morton Forging the Sword.”

“A young craftsman ventured into the Crystal Mountain seeking materials, but the mountains were fraught with dangerous beasts; his mentor and companions resolved to accompany him…”

The troupe seemed to have daringly adapted the myth, enhancing the story’s plausibility and adding eye-catching combat scenes. King Morton and his friends ventured into the mountain range, slaying various ferocious monsters, drawing cheers from the audience below the stage. Soon this scene reached its climax as the narrator covered an important prop with a black cloth, which should be a dazzling mineral treasure, intended as the material for the Holy Sword.

“After enduring numerous hardships, the group finally reached the heart of the mountain. There, they made a startling discovery.”

The narrator shook the black cloth, revealing the treasure within the mountain to the audience. It was neither a precious mineral, but rather a black Longsword. The sword’s shape imprinted in Gongsun Ce’s eyes, felt somewhat familiar, as if he’d seen it somewhere before…

“——!” He remembered, it was the Dust Troupe’s play, that hastily seen drama with the black sword at the end of the first act!

“In the heart of the mountain, an exceptional sword had long been hidden; indestructible, surpassing all mortal weapons!” The narrator’s voice suddenly intensified, singing, “The Longsword can slay dragons, but there are more seekers than one. Who shall wield the sword? Who shall be king?”

On stage, the adventurers revealed greedy glances, reaching for the black sword while obstructing each other. They drew their Longswords from their waists, pointing the tips toward one another!

Below the stage, Gongsun Ce grasped his fist tightly, realizing this was no charitable performance but the handiwork of Situ Yi! An invisible force surged forth, simultaneously attacking the actors and the wooden stage. But the narrator raised the black cloth, emitting a dark glow. The light formed a translucent barrier, blocking the Telekinesis!

At the same time, several streams of blood spurted forth. The adventurers fell one-by-one, struck by swords, leaving the sole survivor to discard the blood-stained Longsword, raising the black sword high. The golden mask was stained with blood, appearing devilishly grim!

“Greed triumphs over friendship, desire for power tramples justice! The craftsman slays his friends, monopolizing the Holy Sword’s power. Thus begins the foundation of a millennium dynasty!”