Lu Mingfei, become the King of Elden!

Chapter 113 The Blue-Skinned Four-Armed Monster Couldn't Sit Still Anymore

As the last rays of light were about to sink below the horizon, an ancient stone arch bridge spanning a wide river finally appeared at the edge of Lu Mingfei's vision.

Saint Bridge!
Lu Mingfei perked up and urged Torret to speed up.

He dismounted, patted Toret in gratitude, and the spirit horse vanished as starlight.

Lu Mingfei's gaze swept across the bridgehead.

Sure enough, just as Subaru had described: a warm and soft golden light was quietly suspended in the air.

He approached, like a traveler returning home, letting down his guard, and sat down, a gentle warmth beginning to flow through his limbs and bones.

However, this brief peace did not last long. Lu Mingfei's brows, which had just relaxed, slowly furrowed again.

Not right.

The blessed light can indeed dispel those creatures that cannot see it, but... it's far too quiet here.

It was eerily quiet.

Where is that crazy pumpkin-headed soldier from my memory who wandered on the bridge all day, banging his head on the ground with dull thuds? Where are those birds that should have been perched on the bridge piers?
There wasn't even a name for the insect or a sound of wind.

The entire Ponte Saint was shrouded in a deathly silence. Only the rushing river beneath it continued to flow, a testament to the passage of time.

at this time.

Wisps of eerie, icy blue mist began to drift wildly from the bridge surface, the rock walls, and even the churning river beneath it without warning!

The fog gathered at an astonishing speed, enveloping the entire bridgehead in the blink of an eye.

Bathed in the cool moonlight and faint starlight, a figure slowly appeared in the mist.

A wide, pure white long dress enveloped her slender figure, like frozen moonlight. Her long, icy blue hair cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall, flowing with a cold, eerie sheen. A heavy, dark cloak hung down her back, and a snow-white pointed hat topped her head.

Witch.

The word came to Lu Mingfei's mind subconsciously.

bass--

A clear, resonant sword cry.

The Storm Sword was already drawn, its blade pointing diagonally forward.

Lu Mingfei's body tensed, silently confronting the snow-white figure in the mist. The air was thick with the tense smell of gunpowder.

“Faded Ones…” From the depths of the mist, a clear yet slightly magnetic female voice drifted over, “Come here. Can we talk for a few minutes?”

Lu Mingfei's eyes narrowed slightly, his sword tip remained motionless, and his voice was full of vigilance:
"Can't we just talk here?"

He paused, then added:
"The fog is quite thick, and we can't see the road clearly."

The witch seemed unconcerned by his wariness and slight teasing; moonlight seemed to shimmer beneath her hood.

"...Nice to meet you, Faded One. I am the witch Lena. I heard there are Faded Ones riding spirit horses, so I spent some time looking for them..."

It seems it was you.

The spirit horse named Torret—
You can summon it, right?

"Ah."

Lu Mingfei nodded slightly, but his grip on the sword hilt remained firm.

"……very good."

Lena's voice seemed to carry a very faint hint of satisfaction:

"I have something to give you. It was entrusted to me by Toret's former owner."

She slightly raised her hand, and an ancient, faintly emanating spiritual energy, bell-like phantom materialized at her fingertips.

"The Summoning Bell," she said. "The ashes that did not return to the Golden Tree can summon souls from them. Those souls will temporarily recognize you as their master and relive their battles in life."

She let out a soft, ambiguous sigh:

"...Use it as you please."

Lu Mingfei hesitated for a moment. In the end, he maintained his vigilant posture, gripping the sword hilt tightly with one hand, and slowly reaching out with the other to take the cold soul-summoning bell and a heavy little box from the witch's fingertips.

"Faded One, excuse me."

Lena's voice began to fade, dissipating like the mist itself:

"I don't think we'll ever see each other again."

The figure gradually faded into the thick fog, leaving only a final sentence, drifting away:
"Savor the flavors of this border region..."

"I eagerly await...when will you finally walk the path of kingship?"
-
Lu Mingfei scratched his head, somewhat at a loss.

No, what is this?
When you're sleepy, someone will bring you a pillow?
He sensed the faint traces of magic left by the witch and frowned deeply.

"Divinity?"

Lu Mingfei looked down at the cold, ancient-looking soul-summoning bell in his hand and the heavy urn containing ashes, his brows furrowing even more.

"The Summoning Bell... the ashes that did not return to the Golden Tree..."

He repeatedly pondered the words of the witch Reina in his mind:
"Entrusted by Toret's former master? Melina?"

A windfall?
No, the old knight told him that at the border, such a "gift" often meant deeper water.

The timing of the mysterious witch Reina's appearance was too bizarre, and what she brought was exactly what he urgently needed next; it was like a meticulously arranged stage play.

"Melina!"

Lu Mingfei no longer hesitated and whispered that familiar name.

Golden light gently gathered around him, and Melina's familiar silhouette gradually took shape, sitting on the stone beside the blessing. However, this time, her appearance seemed somewhat different.
Her figure appeared thinner and blurrier than usual, like a flickering projection with a poor signal.

"Lu Mingfei."

Melina's voice came through, sounding tired, far from its previous ethereal quality.

"You called me? Is there anything I can guide you through?"

Lu Mingfei noticed her change and his heart sank. He had always been indifferent to his own situation, but he was always very caring towards his friends.

"what happened to you?"

His voice was low, his gaze fixed on the frail figure.

Melina's figure seemed to struggle to gather itself, managing to sit up slightly:

"Just now, for a period of time, my senses were completely blocked by some force."

"shield?"

He frowned deeply:

"Just now, on the Bridge of Saints, a cloud of icy blue mist suddenly surged out, and then a woman who called herself the witch Lena appeared and gave me this bell and an urn containing ashes. She said it was entrusted to her by Toret's former owner."

This is definitely related to her. Do you know her?

Melina didn't speak; she remained silent, seemingly deep in thought.

Lu Mingfei stared intently at Melina's flickering afterimage and added:
"Long, icy blue hair, a white dress, a cloak, and a pointed hat—she looked like a ghost made of moonlight. Even stranger, she possessed a... well... how to put it, a similar demigod aura to Grek, but very faint, like a lingering residue."

"...I'm not sure."

She slightly raised her head, and the night breeze gently brushed against her cheek.

Melina's gaze fell on the summoning bell in Lu Mingfei's hand and the small, exquisite urn containing ashes.

"I neither saw her figure nor sensed her presence. But in the borderlands, there may only be one person who can shield my senses, is connected to the moon, and possesses the aura of a demigod."

Melina's voice carried a slight solemnity, as if she were touching upon a distant and forbidden name.

"Lani, the Moon Witch".

　Ten more chapters.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)