Volume 3 Chapter 242
by Need_More_SleepVolume 3 + Chapter 242: Former Disciple
“Quick, quickly evacuate the residents in the city!”
“This is the highest level of emergency!! Everyone, move!!”
“An evil dragon has invaded our homeland!!”
The Temple Knights all sprang into action, moving throughout the city.
The residents within the city were fleeing in panic, rushing to escape this place.
And the Temple Knights gathered together as if they were an army, blocking Xia Yi’s path forward.
She gripped the Rose Staff, and after not walking far out of the alley, she was once again surrounded by these tin-canned men.
The banner of the Temple Knights unfurled.
“Charge!!”
The vanguard assault squad of the Temple Knights formed up in a battle array and charged toward Xia Yi.
Xia Yi lifted the Rose Staff and tapped it on the ground. Under the blessing of the Silver Dragon royal bloodline, she displayed Chant Restriction, skipped the chanting segment, and poured magic power into the earth.
Then flames blew the ground apart, a blazing wall of fire shot skyward, swallowing the knights of the assault squad.
Amidst the scorching fire, their consciousness was stolen away, and they collapsed to the ground, defeated in an instant.
“When she used magic just now, why didn’t she chant any spell?”
“Even a human grand mage can’t do this, right? Instant casting without preparation?”
“Be careful, her strength is very great!”
The Temple Knights had already come to some understanding of Xia Yi’s power.
If it had been a grand human mage, they still could not reach this level, irrationally wiping out a large swath of Temple Knights in a second.
“Don’t retreat! Don’t be afraid!”
The captain of the Temple Knights raised his lance and roared.
“Behind us are the common folk! How could we allow an evil dragon to so wantonly ravage our homeland!! We are the Temple Knights who bear glory. If we retreat, then who should our people place their trust in?”
The captain’s voice shook the heavens.
The Temple Knights one by one steeled their resolve. Those able to join the Temple Knights were all elites among humankind.
On the very first day they entered the Temple Knights, they had already been told that one day they would fight enemies even stronger than humans.
The Temple Knights had also sworn that, even when facing mighty foes, they would not shrink back, and would use their lives to guard the honor of knights.
Now, the day had come to realize that knightly spirit.
“For glory!!”
The Temple Knights shouted together, rallying themselves.
Xia Yi furrowed her brows.
The Temple Knights truly were troublesome.
If it had been an ordinary human army that saw her strength, they would have known they were no match and chosen to retreat, yet the Temple Knights still held firm to their faith and continued to fight.
If that’s the case…
Xia Yi raised the Rose Staff, the flower upon it blooming, surging magic power pulsing forth.
A magic array appeared beneath her feet, and she began chanting in Dragon Tongue.
“Not good, quickly interrupt the evil dragon’s spellcasting!!”
The captain of the Temple Knights realized something was wrong and thus commanded all the knights to launch an all-out attack.
The vanguard and shield bearers charged together.
The central archers loosed a rain of arrows.
The rearmost magic knights also began chanting attack spells in the shortest possible time.
Only…
Bang!
A shield of ice manifested around Xia Yi. With these human means of attack, it could not be broken through in a short time.
Dual Casting.
This was the high-level magical technique taught to the little princess by Grandmaster Gran.
While chanting Dragon Tongue to cast magic, she simultaneously split her mind, using the Chant Restriction ability of the Silver Dragon royal bloodline to release no-chant magic, creating protective magic for her Dragon Tongue spell.
Without unparalleled magical talent, it was impossible to accomplish this.
The air’s temperature kept falling, cold gathering above Xia Yi’s head, forming a frigid storm. Amid the howling winds, fine ice shards gradually coalesced into crystalline blades of ice.
“Ice Blade Storm.”
Xia Yi completed her Dragon Tongue chant.
The magic array beneath her feet shone with ice-blue radiance, the cold winds sweeping in every direction, the ice blades shattering the weapons of the Temple Knights and piercing their armor.
“Despicable dragon…!”
“Isn’t this exactly the power bought by the Fallen Sword Saint trading away his dignity?”
“…Utterly… shameless…!”
The Temple Knights fell before Xia Yi as if wheat were being cut down. After a full minute of rampage, none were left standing before her.
Xia Yi still had not dealt lethal blows, otherwise, these humans would not even have been able to cry out, their bodies cut to pieces outright.
“All right, I’d better leave this place quickly.”
Xia Yi walked toward the city gates.
It seemed just now nearly all the Temple Knights had already gathered here, close to a thousand in number.
Arriving at the gate, she discovered a lone Temple Knight standing at the entrance, as if waiting there specifically for her.
This Temple Knight was different from the others, judging by his attire, he should be the commander here.
“So you’ve finally come.”
The Temple Knight drew the sword in his hand and charged at Xia Yi.
Xia Yi didn’t take him seriously. Raising the Rose Staff, she fired a magic missile.
Boom!
The magic missile grazed past the Temple Knight’s body and exploded on the ground.
Her aim was off?
No…
It didn’t seem so.
Only now did Xia Yi realize that the Temple Knight before her was not like the others — he had just dodged her magical attack.
“Swift Shadow Sword!”
The Temple Knight displayed an extraordinary sword technique. The speed of his sword was beyond the ordinary, shadows of his blade covering this space.
Xia Yi raised the Rose Staff, blocking the final strike.
In her heart, a familiar feeling surged.
The Temple Knight before her was someone she knew.
“You… you are…?!”
Daniel.
That name immediately surfaced in Xia Yi’s mind.
This sword technique — it was the very secret move she had helped Daniel develop.
Clang, clang, clang!
The other struck rapidly with his weapon, slashing out several arcs of sword qi.
Xia Yi countered each one, blocking them all.
After the final clash, sparks flew in the dark night as the two of them drew apart.
“So it really is you. To so easily see through my secret move — just like before.”
From beneath the helmet came a bitter voice.
Then Daniel removed his helmet and gazed at Xia Yi.
“Teacher, to think that we would meet again like this, as teacher and student.”
“Daniel…”
Xia Yi’s heart was in turmoil.
She had never expected that a student she once taught would one day raise weapons against her.
It was truly lamentable.
“Teacher, I still remember that day,” Daniel said. “The Silver Dragon princess I encountered in the land of dragons — that was you, wasn’t it?”
That had been some time ago.
Xia Yi and Serra had gone together to the dragon nation’s border to drive away the human exploration party that had invaded dragon territory.
Among them had been Daniel.
Daniel was one of the disciples taught by the human Sword Saint. Though he was born lowly and lagged behind his peers in many ways, he was very diligent, brought out his own talent, and achieved certain accomplishments.
“You are a Temple Knight?”
“Yes, Teacher,” Daniel nodded. “I have already joined the Temple Knights. After that mission, I became the commander of one of the knightly hosts within the Temple Knights. Coming to this city, I also accepted a mission — to find the evil dragon that entered the human world, and then devote all strength to slay it.”
“I see. To become a warband commander within the Temple Knights at such a young age — you should be proud of yourself, Daniel,” Xia Yi said.
“Teacher, may I ask you — what is your position now?”
Daniel fixed his gaze on Xia Yi.
“Do you now stand with the dragons, or with humans?”
“……”
“Teacher, lay down your weapon. For the sake of our teacher-student bond, I will not harm you, and will ensure your safety,” Daniel pleaded. “Right now, you are making yourself the enemy of the entire human world.”
“I will not lay down my weapon, Daniel.” Xia Yi shook her head.
“Teacher… have you truly become our enemy?”
Faced with Daniel’s question, Xia Yi did not know how to answer.
“Teacher, I have always admired you, held you as my model, my goal to strive toward…” Daniel lowered his head. “I never imagined that one day, things would turn out like this — that I would stand opposed to you.”
“Nor did I.”
“I already understand your intentions.”
Daniel gritted his teeth, hardened his resolve, and raised his sword.
Xia Yi also readied herself for battle, gripping the Rose Staff tightly.
But then Daniel made a move that startled Xia Yi — he flung his sword aside, then picked up an ice blade from the ground and drove it through his own body. Blood sprayed out, and he collapsed to the ground.
“Daniel?!”
Xia Yi hurried to him, not understanding why Daniel had made this choice.
“Teacher, don’t come near, I’m fine. Soon, Grand Knight Fearless Knight will lead the warband to arrive here. By then I will say that after you defeated me, you fled south… You should leave from the north now, that way you can avoid the Holy Knights.”
“You…”
“Teacher, no matter which side you choose, or what you become, I can never forget the great kindness you showed me. Without you, I would have died in the slums long ago,” Daniel said weakly. “In my eyes, you will always be like a father.”
“You are still the same as ever, Daniel — far too sentimental. If you had fought me, I could have understood.”
Xia Yi was deeply moved.
She seemed to understand now — from the very beginning, Daniel had wanted her to escape, which was why he had ordered all the Temple Knights to gather here.
“After all, that is my nature. But isn’t this also what you taught me, Teacher? To act according to one’s heart. Right now, my wish is that you be safe…”
Daniel coughed a few times, clutching his wound.
“Go quickly, Teacher. The Holy Knights are almost here. I haven’t told anyone your identity — no one knows you are the Silver Dragon Princess.”
“Daniel, your swordsmanship and your growth — they make your teacher feel very gratified. Farewell.”
Xia Yi’s face showed deep reluctance. Then she turned and left through the city gate, heading north.
Daniel leaned alone against the city gate. As Xia Yi’s silhouette vanished into the night outside the city, he silently prayed in his heart.
“Teacher, you must be safe…”