novelraw Chapter 695: A Stir in His Impassive Heart
Chapter 695: A Stir in His Impassive Heart
“She is like the moonlight that illuminates my heart.”
A handsome young nobleman, dressed in a lavish, almost ostentatious outfit, spoke these words with genuine passion.
“He wears a mask of lies, and every word he speaks is a deceit,” rasped a short old woman with an ugly hooked nose and a hunched back, looking for all the world like a wicked witch.
The young man flushed with anger. He drew a thin rapier, leveling the tip at the old woman, and strode forward, his white silk trousers rustling. “Witch, I will not tolerate your slander! Be gone, or face the consequences!”
“Foolish boy... You will pay for the choice you’ve made today.”
The young nobleman continued to advance. The old woman opened her mouth, spewing shrill curses. Her cloak, like the wings of a bat, billowed on unseen strings as she retreated backstage.
The play, performed in the town square, hadn't drawn much of a crowd. Only a few children and a handful of listless old men were clustered before the stage, while the occasional passerby spared it a fleeting glance.
“Does anyone actually take these shows seriously?” Elena scoffed, clearly unimpressed by the plot and the acting alike.
However, as she and Lu Li crossed the square, they inadvertently witnessed the story’s conclusion.
The heroine entered the stage. During her conversation with the young nobleman, it was accidentally revealed that she had, in fact, been deceiving him. The young man, who had trusted her completely, could not forgive the betrayal and walked off into the wilderness alone.Before Lu Li left the square, the disheveled, barefoot heroine appeared on stage, desperately clutching the hem of her dress as she searched for her beloved.
A few minutes later, Lu Li and Elena stood before the gates of Viscount Khamis’s estate. They were stopped by the guards.
“I am a spirit exterminator, and your exorcist guest is my companion,” Lu Li stated.
The guards exchanged glances. One of them went into the estate to relay Lu Li’s message. He soon returned with a red handprint on his cheek.
“Lord Khamis is currently undergoing an exorcism ritual. He doesn't wish to be disturbed,” the guard mumbled, though without a trace of resentment. “My apologies, but I cannot let you pass.”
Lu Li’s brow furrowed. “You can call for the steward.”
“The steward... was eaten by a monster...”
Elena gripped the shaft of her spear, ready to force her way inside, but Lu Li stopped her.
“Let’s go,” he said calmly, and despite Elena’s protests, he led her away from the gates.
“Those guards can only intimidate common folk. I would have made short work of them,” Elena grumbled. “The chance to deal with the Helentown anomaly was right there, and we just walked away!”
“There was no need for that.”
Lu Li circled the estate and, spotting a two-meter-high wall, climbed over it without hesitation.
He landed silently in an overgrown garden.
Elena silently handed him her spear and, nimbly scaling the wall, followed after him.
The guards paid no attention to what was happening inside the estate grounds. The servants, meanwhile, assumed Lu Li was one of the viscount’s guests, especially after he entered the house and addressed one of the maids.
“Where are the exorcist and Viscount Khamis?” Lu Li asked. “I’m her companion.”
The maid glanced curiously at Elena, but then her attention was completely captivated by Lu Li. Taking a deep breath, she replied, “The exorcism ritual is complete. The exorcist has gone to rest in the guest room, and Lord Khamis has returned to his study...”
“Take me to the exorcist.”
“Yes, sir,” the maid nodded respectfully and led Lu Li and Elena to the third floor.
She knocked on the door of the guest room, but there was no answer.
Then, to the maid’s alarm, Elena pushed the door open.
The room was empty.
“Your companion isn’t here,” Elena stated.
Lu Li looked at the maid. Asking him to wait, she found another servant and asked her, “Where did the exorcist go?”
“Lord Khamis invited her to his study. Is someone looking for her?” the second maid asked, glancing curiously at Lu Li and Elena.
“Yes.”
“You can wait here. The mistress exorcist will be back soon,” the maid replied, and with another furtive look at Lu Li, she departed.
“You can...” the first maid began, addressing Lu Li, but then faltered, realizing she shouldn't make a guest wait in the hallway. “...wait in the guest room. The exorcist will be back shortly.”
Inviting guests into someone else’s room was a breach of etiquette, but the maid figured that Lu Li and the exorcist must be good friends.
“Thank you.”
Lu Li gave a slight nod. Once the maid had left, he and Elena entered the room.
Elena took in the surroundings: a burgundy carpet, a pristine white bed with a lace canopy, and expensive paintings on the walls.
In her attire of animal hides and with a spear in hand, she looked entirely out of place.
Elena walked over to the window. Outside, she could see withered bushes, and beyond them, the low, gray rooftops of the town stretched out.
“Why does everyone seem so... drawn to you?” she asked, turning around.
“Perhaps it’s due to my high level of humanity,” Lu Li suggested.
“But I can’t seem to feel it...” Elena approached Lu Li and, looking at him with curiosity, asked, “Can I try?”
“What?”
Without waiting for an answer, Elena seized his hand.
In the quiet room, her quickened breathing was audible.
“Something is wrong with you,” Lu Li said, pulling his hand free.
Breaking contact didn’t bring Elena to her senses; on the contrary, it seemed to intensify her desire to touch him. With surprising strength, she shoved Lu Li, sending him tumbling onto the soft bed. Elena fell on top of him, her face moving clumsily toward his.
When their faces were about to touch, Lu Li stopped her, placing a hand on her cheek and pushing her away.
Unwilling to give up, Elena wrapped her arms and legs around him, pressing her body against his. Lu Li struck her sharply in the stomach with his knee. There was a dull thud, and Elena, doubling over in pain, fell to the floor, unable to get up.
Thanks to the enhancement from the Book of the Apocalypse, Lu Li’s strength far surpassed Elena’s.
Lu Li stood up and frowned down at Elena, who lay on the carpet, clutching her stomach and breathing in ragged gasps.
Was this simply Elena’s impulsiveness, or a side effect of his high level of humanity?
“Get a hold of yourself,” Lu Li said.
Elena seemed to try to say something, but her words were lost in a hoarse gasp.
At that moment, approaching footsteps sounded in the corridor.
Lu Li shifted his gaze to the door. The footsteps grew louder until they stopped right outside.
The lock clicked, and a girl in a cloak appeared in the doorway.
She had a beautiful face, framed by short, soft hair. The girl looked in surprise at Lu Li standing in the middle of the room, and then at Elena, who was writhing in pain on the floor.
“Who are you?” she asked.
It was not Anna.
Lu Li remained calm, merely lowering his gaze slightly.
“I am the spirit exterminator, Lu Li. I mistook you for my companion. My apologies, we will leave now.”
He walked over to Elena and helped her to her feet.
“Lu Li.”
Suddenly, a familiar, gentle voice called out.
A stir of emotion flickered in Lu Li’s dark eyes. He raised his head and looked toward the balcony.
The ghostly figure of Anna was perched on the railing. Her bare white feet swung gently, while her familiar white dress and soft hair fluttered in the breeze.