Chapter 120: The Awakening Priest

The kobold craftsmen worked with impressive speed. With the villagers pitching in, they managed to construct a sizable prison right next to the city walls in no time.

All the prisoners were stripped of their weapons and armor, issued identical fiber tunics and trousers, and tossed into the jail. Without their gear, even the strongest among them could not hope to escape.

General Zhuoma, the most formidable of the captives, was held in solitary confinement, his iron chains remaining firmly in place. He was simply too powerful; he might well have been capable of breaking out of the prison with his bare hands.

Christina, the priestess, was held in a smaller holding cell within the city, under Tina’s care.

Buddy led a crew to clear the battlefield, collecting the bodies of both the fallen soldiers and the kobolds. They were quickly cremated to prevent them from rising as skeletons during the Blood Moon.

The town guards who had followed Alex, upon seeing their former colleagues being treated well within the city, surrendered one after another and joined the ranks.

The only one left unaccounted for was Alex.

Perlin did not disappoint Jia Zhengjin. About half an hour later, she returned to the city dragging Alex, whose hands and feet were bound with vines and whose body was covered in wounds.

The young man had managed to run quite a distance, hiding deep within a dense, thorny thicket where Perlin had nearly missed him.

As it turned out, he was rather unlucky. His hiding spot happened to be occupied by a spiny beetle. When the beetle moved, it bumped into his backside, and in its fright, the creature raised its sharp quills.

Unable to bear the agony of being pricked, Alex had let out a shout and leaped from the bushes, only to be spotted by Perlin. Even though he fought back with everything he had, he was easily subdued by Perlin, bound, and hauled back.

Seeing the miserable state of the village head’s son, Jia Zhengjin felt a sense of satisfaction. "Well, well! Why didn't you manage to run away this time?"

"Pah!" Alex spat at him in fury.

Jia Zhengjin dodged the spit in time and shook his head at him.

"Do not be disrespectful to Lord Gean!" Perlin said expressionlessly, striking Alex on the head with the hilt of her sword.

"Don't be so rough," Jia Zhengjin waved a hand. "Take him to the prison as well."

"Yes!" Perlin escorted Alex toward the newly built jail.

The villagers gathered around, expressing their admiration for how easily Lord Gean had defeated the city guards, and began preparations for a grand celebration. That evening, the city was filled with a festive atmosphere.

When Christina awoke, it was still somewhat dim outside.

Thinking that night had just fallen, she tried to stand up, only to realize her hands and feet were tightly bound.

She examined her surroundings. She was in a solitary cell made of stone bricks. The room was empty, save for a bag-like object beneath her, meant for warmth.

She did not recognize such a thing as a sleeping bag.

How had the battle gone?

She sat up with difficulty, then recalled the terrifying dragon. That was right—with a dragon present, even the city guards couldn't have won that war!

Had the guards all died in battle? Or were they being held elsewhere?

She never imagined that in her first time seeing combat, she would end up a prisoner of war. She suddenly remembered the moment before she lost consciousness: Alex, the man she adored and who she believed adored her, had used her as a human shield to block a sword aura, completely indifferent to her life or death!

She felt her heart shattering into pieces; the pain was indescribable. She lay listlessly on the sleeping bag, her eyes devoid of any luster.

If General Zhuoma hadn't stepped in, she would surely have already been summoned by the Light God to serve in the heavens!

Light began to filter in from outside, and she could faintly hear the voices of the villagers. It wasn't night, but dawn.

Christina looked up blankly at the cold, iron-barred window.

The villagers outside were chatting happily, as if the war from yesterday had never happened. Their words were filled with worship and respect for "Lord Gean."

Lord Gean—the master of this city. Was he the man so powerful that he could make a dragon bow before him? He hadn't even made a move yesterday, nor had he even ordered the dragon to attack; otherwise, the guards would have been defeated even faster.

How could any human hope to contend with a figure like a god? Even if her teacher were to come in person, there would likely be no chance of victory.

He appeared to be around her own age; how could he be so strong?

It was a pity that such a powerful man was a wicked foreigner who wanted to invade the Xiongfeng Empire, a man who had taken the lives of Alex’s father and countless villagers, and even kidnapped and controlled Alex’s lover.

Could the Xiongfeng Empire possibly withstand an enemy who possessed a dragon?

Her mind was in chaos. Suddenly, she heard the prison door creak, and she shrank back into the corner in fear.

"Time for breakfast." It was Perlin. She entered, expressionless, carrying food, and stopped before Christina.

"You... you are Alex's lover..." Christina looked up at her, feeling a slight sense of relief. "I remember, your name is Perlin, right?"

"I am Perlin, but I am not Alex's lover," Perlin replied coldly, placing the food on the ground.

"That is because you have been controlled by the evil Gean!" Christina exclaimed.

Perlin blinked, then said calmly, "No one here is being controlled, and Lord Gean is not an evil person."

"Then will you let me cast a 'Detect Evil' spell?" Christina asked.

"Go ahead," Perlin said, her face blank.

"You have to untie my ropes; I can't cast magic like this," Christina said.

Perlin stared at her coldly.

"I am a priestess, and I have lost my staff. I have no ability to resist," Christina said, meeting her gaze.

Perlin hesitated for a moment, then drew her sword and gently sliced through the ropes on her hands and feet.

Christina stretched her limbs to restore circulation. She then raised her hand and channeled magic toward Perlin: "Detect Evil!"

A milky-white glow enveloped Perlin. Aside from a feeling of warmth, Perlin felt nothing unusual.

Christina waited for a few seconds. After the light faded, she was stunned. "It’s true... I really cannot sense any trace of evil magic..."

"Mm," Perlin repeated expressionlessly, "no one is being controlled."

"But Alex said you were his lover! And the way he looked at you didn't seem fake..." Christina found it hard to accept.

"Unilateral," Perlin said, her expression unchanging.

"You mean... Alex lied to me?" Christina’s face twisted in pain. "He only loved you unilaterally, and you aren't his true lover?"

"Mm," Perlin nodded calmly. "I don't know what he told you, but I would wager that more than eighty percent of it was a lie."