When the torchlight dimmed enough that the shadows from the walls extended into dark grids, Dox suddenly spoke softly in the Mind Ribbon, "Do any of you feel that something is off ahead?"
Of course, Angel knew something was off ahead, as there was a corner in the shadowy area, and just past it lay You Nu’s ambush at the intersection.
Angel was considering whether to use the energy flow from the Magical Energy Array as a pretext to inform everyone that he had already pinpointed You Nu’s location, but it seemed there was no need now.
When Dox quibbles or spouts nonsense, everyone can ignore him; but when he issues a warning, no one takes it lightly.
Along the way, everyone has already witnessed how powerful his inspiration is, so once he starts to warn them, everyone becomes cautious.
Vay asked through the Mind Ribbon, "Could it be a crossroads up ahead?"
Dox couldn’t determine if it was a crossroads, but he felt a sense of pressure on his brow, a feeling that grew stronger the further they went.
As the tense atmosphere enveloped everyone, Angel finally spoke, "Vay’s guess might be true; there’s a high probability of a crossroads ahead."
Pausing for a moment, Angel continued, "If there really is a crossroads ahead, be careful, You Nu may have already discovered us."
Everyone believed in Angel’s judgment because the surrounding atmosphere was indeed becoming increasingly strange.
The dim light sources wouldn’t frighten them, but the chill that seeped into their bones made everyone shiver... this was not a good omen.
Just as Angel said, if You Nu is right ahead, it must have already noticed them. Perhaps that eerie chill was caused by You Nu’s gaze.
As for why You Nu hasn’t made a move yet, it might be waiting for them to walk into its trap. After all, there’s only one path ahead, and it can easily wait for its prey.
Regardless of whether You Nu is ahead or not, everyone’s psychological pressure was already maxed out, and their steps became heavy and slowed.
However, this slowing pace didn’t mean they were afraid, but rather... charging up.
Under Angel’s reminder, they had already begun constructing various speed-enhancing tricks and spell techniques in their Mind Space.
As soon as any change occurs, Angel will throw the Array Plate, and they will burst with all their strength to charge through the crossroads without hesitation.
...
On the other side, in a corner of a grand stone hall, the fire in the fireplace brought a bit of dim light, and the youth formed by the Wise Sovereign was lazily lying on a soft fur carpet.
Beside him was a book, opened but lying face down on the carpet, suggesting he had been reading before.
But now, his gaze was directed at an oval copper mirror with exquisite frame patterns above the fireplace.
In the copper mirror, a young girl with silver-white hair occupied most of the mirror surface, staring indifferently with emotionless exotic pupils at the Wise Sovereign through the mirror.
If Angel and the others were here, they would immediately recognize that this silver-haired, exotic-eyed girl was the same they had seen before... Laplace Glaipnir Luigi.
The Wise Sovereign said, "So, you didn’t give Angel any counsel?"
Laplace replied indifferently, "If you mean that blonde youth named Angel, I indeed did not."
The Wise Sovereign was not surprised by Laplace pointing out that Angel was blonde, not red-haired, because he had seen Angel’s "original appearance" with golden long hair in the True Words Tome.
"Do you know the reason?" the Wise Sovereign asked.
Laplace seemed a bit hesitant, thought for a moment, and then replied, "According to what he himself said, it might be an alchemical tool given by the Thief of Time that concealed the bond."
Hearing the Thief of Time’s name, the Wise Sovereign slightly frowned, but he did not comment on what Laplace said; instead, he asked, "Do you believe it?"
Laplace said, "Generally speaking, I wouldn’t define an uncertain answer, but since the Wise Sovereign asked, I can only give my opinion."
"I believe this possibility is over fifty percent."
The Wise Sovereign said, "So, you’re more likely to trust it."
Laplace hesitated a bit, "I suppose so."
"Since you believe it, then I won’t," the Wise Sovereign suddenly laughed, speaking these rebellious words with a teasing tone.
Laplace asked, "Why?"
The Wise Sovereign said, "Because I’ve always favored the minority."
Laplace let out a light hum, not believing this reason, but she didn’t ask further and instead said, "This time, the counsel was unsuccessful, so the Wise Sovereign’s kindness shall be repaid next time."
Even though only Angel didn’t succeed, to Laplace, one person’s failure equated to failure.
"If the Wise Sovereign has nothing else, I’ll take my leave."
The Wise Sovereign nodded, "Is your main body alright?"
Laplace’s figure gradually disappeared from the copper mirror, and just before vanishing, her voice came through, "The main body still needs slumber..."
After her words fell, Laplace completely vanished.
The Wise Sovereign quietly watched the copper mirror, and after a long time, he softly shook his head, casting aside thoughts of Laplace’s main body.
"A person whose counsel cannot be reflected in the mirror, Angel... heh heh, interesting," he chuckled softly.
He indeed had the intention of further exploring everyone’s identities by having Laplace offer counsel.
However, what he did not expect was that even an entity as powerful as Laplace couldn’t uncover Angel’s true identity.
He didn’t feel disappointed by this; on the contrary, he found it even more intriguing.
To be honest, the Wise Sovereign actually thought that this descendant of Noah was no different from the previous ones who came here. Although that "pretender seeking high status" also came, in this relic, what more could he do?
Instead, Angel, this anomaly, piqued the Wise Sovereign’s interest.
Even the Goddess considered him the greatest threat.
He seemed to be shrouded in mist.
And now, Laplace’s words made the Wise Sovereign even more convinced that Angel was an anomaly.
In other matters, the Wise Sovereign did not like anomalies, because anomalies often lead predetermined things in unknown directions.
But in the matter of the relic, he was delighted with Angel’s emergence.
Because if the relic remained unchanged, under that one’s control, it would forever be a "relic." And the bygone Qingkong Poetry Room might never return.