Chapter 129: In the Name of the Moon!
“What are you two doing here?”
As Luoyong approached the Empress Boya, their presence inevitably stirred some attention.
Those originally standing at the back of the Fearless Squad were growing bored—half spectators, half participants. When something happened, they’d shout out to bolster morale; when nothing did, they idled away the time.
At this moment, spotting two strangers drawing near, they seized the opportunity to stir up some trouble and shouted loudly.
“I hope you can accept my affection…”
Empress Boya said calmly, then lifted the hood of her cloak, revealing a visage that stunned all who beheld it.
As the few people facing her looked on, she blew a kiss. A surge of pink energy blossomed, and a giant heart floated into the crowd.
Some with weaker resolve even reached out instinctively to catch the floating pink heart.
Smack!
The heart exploded amid the crowd, scattering pink energy everywhere, filling the Fearless Squad with an unusual aura.
“Traitors without loyalty, filial piety, kindness, or righteousness—be destroyed!”
With a wave of Empress Boya’s hand, those nearby trembled, instantly losing their senses and attacking their own comrades. Fists and kicks flew wildly.
Chaos erupted within the Fearless Squad.
“Hey, who kicked my butt?”
“Oh ho ho…”
“Who the hell kicked my crotch?! I’m gonna fight you all!”
“You bastard! How dare you ambush me? I’ve been watching you all along! Take this—Monkey’s Peach Theft!”
“What’s going on?” Orlan was scrutinizing the beautiful heroines opposite him, pondering how to recruit such talent.
If not for their leader’s death, if not for the mysterious demise of the Swift Wind Squad’s captain...
If not for the Fearless Squad’s fractured unity, no matter what, he wouldn’t have had the chance to step forward.
Yet fate had positioned Orlan here, blocking the Swift Wind Squad.
Apart from a rather unremarkable fat man and a disliked cursed witch, the rest were captured to be dealt with later...
However—
At this precise moment, the Fearless Squad descended into turmoil, reminiscent of when their leader Handsome had died—the same chaotic confusion!
“Everyone, quiet down!”
Orlan shouted angrily, glaring at those warring behind him, watching them fight relentlessly, even using heavy blows.
Some were utterly broken.
Some had changed completely...
Ahem.
Then, he saw a stunning figure across the crowd gesturing toward him, drawing a heart symbol.
And truly, a heart appeared!
“What is that?” Orlan was briefly confused.
Swish, swish, swish!
A flurry of red arrow feathers enveloped the Fearless Squad members. There was no significant energy fluctuation, and in the dreamy glow, no one resisted.
These energy arrows were far weaker than real arrows, unable even to cause pain.
“What the hell is going on?”
Orlan didn’t think this was a prank. Though a shameless lackey, he had survived this long by being quick-witted.
Still, at that moment, he was bewildered.
He stepped back two paces, deciding to watch quietly, then motioned to have the little girl brought closer to prevent any mishap.
Then—
He saw those he had painstakingly gathered all turn into stone statues!
“Sto-sto-stone petrification?!”
At that moment, not only Orlan but everyone present was horrified. Looking at the beautiful figure responsible, their eyes filled with awe.
“So this curse truly exists!”
Meanwhile, in the Swift Wind Squad, the members exchanged glances, observing the situation, ready to rush forward to rescue Selly.
If not for the burly man guarding her closely, they would have already sent the Death Dragonflies to strike.
But now, seeing everyone around turned to stone, the guard abandoned Selly, shoved past a few unaffected comrades, and fled.
Running wherever the crowd was thickest.
“Damn it!”
“You bastard!”
“Where are you running? Drawing aggro?”
Onlookers quickly dispersed, distancing themselves from the Fearless Squad.
Clearly, while other curses might be broken, petrification was nearly irreversible.
Who knew if the legends were true? If any remedies actually worked?
No one wanted to test it firsthand.
Then, as they processed how these stone statues appeared near the Stonehenge, something even more shocking happened.
Smack!
A loud crack.
Everyone turned toward the sound. The man standing beside the enchantress who cast the petrification spell unslung his mercenary spear and struck a stone statue hard.
The freshly formed statue shattered instantly!
“Damn…”
“Forget the legends! Those remedies might be useful, but when it’s shattered like this—broken to pieces—there’s no saving it!”
“Too brutal!”
“The Fearless Squad’s scoundrels are in deep trouble!”
“Hmph! Wait till I personally smash the statue of the one who bullied me in that squad!” someone growled hatefully, grinding their teeth and staring fiercely at a particular statue, as if nursing a deep grudge.
Smack!
Another crack.
Another statue shattered.
“Ah! Revenge is served! Revenge is served!”
Someone cheered from afar.
“...”
Luoyong paused briefly, wondering if these people were too weak. How had such enemies lived so long?
“Bullying my teammates, kidnapping the future of my squad—unforgivable!”
Luoyong muttered quietly, not wanting to be overheard. He brandished his spear and advanced step by step.
Each step shattered a statue.
With each shattered statue, his aura intensified.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
A path of shattered stones formed beneath his feet.
Though no blood was visible, everyone knew it was paved with blood and bones.
“Wh-what do you... want to do?” Orlan faced the cloaked mercenary slowly approaching him, trembling in both body and voice.
His nearby comrades who hadn’t turned to stone fled, but he stood frozen, unable to move.
Not because he didn’t want to run, but because an inexplicable qi had locked onto him.
Reluctantly admitting it, he knew the other was coming for him. If he dared flee, death would be immediate.
Smack!
Luoyong shattered yet another statue and slowly raised his spear, pointing it a few meters in front of him at Orlan.
With his back against the blood moon in the sky, he spoke emotionlessly:
“I will purge you in the name of the moon.”
His voice was heavy with sorrow, yet his tone was so calm.
His words, so defiant...
Yet at this moment, no one found it laughable. Everyone could feel the mercenary’s genuine murderous intent.
“No! You can’t kill me! There are still the Hero Association and the Mage Guild, and—”
“Yes! And the Mercenary Guild! I’ll report you there! You’re a villain who kills innocents! You won’t have a good end!”
Orlan’s screams descended into hysteria. At this moment, his heart was utterly desperate.
Neither the woman who cast petrification nor the mercenary seemed to pose any challenge to killing someone like him.
“Demon! You shouldn’t exist in this world!”
“Is that your last word? Finished speaking?”
Luoyong slowly withdrew his spear, clasped his hands across the shaft, planted his feet firmly, and assumed an offensive stance.
At this moment, those who hadn’t fled, as well as the Swift Wind Squad, watched silently.
No one spoke; most held their breath.
Everyone knew what it meant when a mercenary took an attack stance.
The next moment would be a thunderous strike!
“No! Don’t kill me—”
“Flash attack!”
A sharp shout rang out. In a blink, shadows flickered, figures weaved, and the mercenary appeared behind Orlan.
Under the blood moon’s glow, the spear tip seemed stained with fresh blood.
“No… this can’t be real…” Orlan’s voice hoarse, words failing him as his body wavered and collapsed with a thud.
“I’m Wendy, deputy captain of the Swift Wind Squad.”
At this moment, Wendy stepped forward and extended her hand to Luoyong.
“I truly appreciate your help this time…”
“Move aside. Don’t block my path.”
Luoyong said emotionlessly, passing by Wendy without a glance.
By now, Selly had been brought back by the Storm Sorcerer and the Wilderness Hunter. A careful examination revealed no injuries.
The cursed witch and barbarian shaman had already taken off, riding several Death Dragonflies to pursue those who fled.
“Hmph!”
Empress Boya drew her hood back up, passed by them, and followed Luoyong into the Stonehenge.
The portal to the secret realm opened, and two figures stepped inside.
The commotion seemed to end just like that.
“That man just now gave me a very familiar feeling,” Wendy said.
“Is he the captain?” Selly lifted her head to ask.
“Probably not. The captain...”
“Waa... I miss the captain, I want the captain...” Selly suddenly began to cry.
“Just two people, and they dared to enter a secret realm,” Lillian said, glancing toward the Stonehenge.
“Because they’re powerful, probably,” Mira sighed.
“That man, the mercenary, should be the legendary ‘Forbidden Technique Guardian,’” the fat man Gel said, showcasing his appraisal ability again.
“And the other one? The one using petrification?”
“Uh...”