Chapter 969: Chapter 162: In Bell, Do Not Fall in Love

The wind and snow linger at the entrance, weeping.

Entering the quiet passage, a faint oil lamp casts its light on the walls, stretching into the depths.

A trail of unmelted snow likewise extends inward.

The connection with the Shadow Church deepens once more.

Lu Li examines the first oil lamp.

The flame flickers as he approaches, the uniquely shaped hand-held oil lamp akin to a piece of art.

A thin layer of dark kerosene remains at the bottom, soon to dry and extinguish.

Looking once more into the depths, Anna’s silhouette stands at the visible end, silently waiting for Lu Li to approach.

They continue forward, along the gradually fading snowfall, and the flames held by metallic hands.

…

The oil lamps in the passage illuminate as an elegant silhouette passes by.

She reaches the end of the passage, where the empty echoes border the underground hall.

“Do you wish to work for me?”

Sniffing his numb nose, Jon nods, despondent: “Showing up outside like this, I’ll be seen as a monster… Besides, you saved me.”

“I don’t need subordinates,” she says.

Jon desperately calls out, “A servant or—”

“But indeed, there is something you can do.”

Upon hearing this, Jon bows, the pressure tearing the wounds brings sharp pain, yet he cannot feel the loss of life force.

“Please, give your instructions.”

“Light all the oil lamps in the hall.”

The Shadow of the Maiden gracefully turns, seemingly gazing at the passage she came from.

“Prepare to welcome the… incoming guests.”

…

“The… master… of this place… knows… of our… arrival.”

Entering the underground hall of the stone forest.

More oil lamps illuminate this artificial underground construct, and peculiar, eerie shapes stand within.

These are artworks yet to be moved. Mostly metallic due to their weight, left behind in the stone forest.

However, some lighter or more valuable artworks have been moved, leaving faint imprints where they once existed.

These artworks, veiled in dust and shadow, stand silently in the empty, quiet underground hall, like guards of a tomb—

The underground hall indeed gives such a feeling, even when the stone forest still existed.

This can be attributed to Duke Valentin’s unique aesthetic and twisted taste.

Lu Li and Ophelia focus on their surroundings as they pass by these uniquely abstract, or recreations of certain creations, artworks.

Interwoven shadows and outlines create many illusions, but no conscious life hides within.

This underground hall is also larger than imagined, resembling a tomb more than a museum.

Perhaps Duke Valentin had such an intention within?

A distance later, Anna… Ophelia hints to Lu Li to look to the left front.

There, a metal tree stands on the slate, extending its branches.

Ruins, abyss, believers, tree, brown coach.

The metal tree is much taller than the surrounding artworks, its crown nearly three meters high, almost shading the surrounding artworks.

Due to the chaotic shadows of the underground hall, Lu Li didn’t notice it at first, but a closer distance reveals it.

This is not a coincidental placement.

It is conspicuous enough and lies on their inevitable path.

Now, the Eternal Dreamer’s prophecy only leaves the final “brown coach.”

But until now, there is no presence occupying this place, neither strange nor Shadow Church.

Only the oil lamps that silently burn to welcome them.

At a certain moment, Lu Li and Ophelia reach the interruption in the stone forest, a shadow glowing with obscure pupils emerges from a stele’s shadow, stumbling forth.

“I’m… so hungry!”

Ophelia’s body emits flowing magma from its gaps, scalding steam rushes toward the charging person.

But he completely ignores the steam hot enough to boil flesh, lunging at Lu Li, grabbing his left hand in desperation: “Food… please give me food!”

“The Lost One.”

Ophelia identifies its identity.

A malevolent spirit, the Lost One.

When it appears, it takes away food, water, light, or anything related to survival.

This time it needs food.

Lu Li is already responding. He takes out a can he carries and opens it for the Lost One, but it is not enough. The Lost One nearly devours the can, continuing to plead with Lu Li, while the grip on his left hand tightens.

The power of redemption corrodes the Lost One, yet making it vanish will take a very long time. Ophelia’s attack might speed up this time.

However, they have no need to provoke a malevolent spirit over food.

“Merchant, bring out the food.”

Handing the second can, also the last can he has, to the insatiable Lost One, Lu Li speaks to Merchant Anthony.

Merchant Anthony pulls a box of cans from his backpack, Ophelia opens the wooden box, takes out cans, opens them, and hands them one by one to the Lost One.

The ravenous Lost One chews nothing, swallowing everything in the cans in large gulps.

The entire box of cans dwindles, and only after a few remain does the Lost One finally stop, releasing Lu Li, but still clutching its belly, hunger drooling from its mouth: “So hungry… I’m so hungry…”

“More food exists.”

The Lost One suddenly reacts to Lu Li’s words, raising its gaunt face as if observing Lu Li.

“I cannot do that… you all still have to continue living… Thank you…”

The rare thanks of a malevolent spirit, crying out “so hungry,” it dashes into the depths, its sounds fading into the darkness.

After the interlude, they continue forward, finally halting deep within the underground hall.

A black iron coach is parked by the roadside.

It is one of the stone forest’s artworks, the lack of detail and blurriness may not seem exquisite now, but at the time it was certainly crafted by a master.

The dark metal carriage, covered in dust, has turned into an almost brown coach.

The final link in the Eternal Dreamer’s prophecy now appears.

Meanwhile, silhouettes manifest at the edges of the underground hall.

One silhouette walks from the depths of the stone forest, cloak covering its outline, arriving before Lu Li.

“Noble Master Lu Li, congratulations on passing the test, we have awaited your arrival for a long time.”

It gently bows, candidly revealing the truth of the Lost One’s appearance.

“Shadow Church.”

Lu Li utters its identity.

“Indeed… I am the Bishop of the Shadow Church that worships the Shadow of the Maiden, due to your close relationship with my lord, you may call me by my name… Jon.”

The bandaged hand beneath the sleeve rises to lower the hood, revealing a middle-aged face marked by approaching age, piety, and fervor.

“We have finally awaited your return…”

…

The dimly lit underground hall with illuminated oil lamps, the elegant silhouette faces the depths of the passage.

“Why have you come here…”

“I came to find you.”

At the edge of the oil lamp held by the hand, a worn yet determined face emerges.

The Shadow of the Maiden whispers his name.

“…Tesla.”