The Thunder Serpent dissolved into fine arcs of electricity, leaving the acrid sll of ozone in the air. The crow was blown apart, unable to hold its form, and beca a piece of crystal bone resembling a bird's skull that clattered to the ground.
Avera was sprinting through that very spot. With a nimble tap of her toe, she flicked the crystal-bone skull into the air without breaking stride and snatched it with one hand.
Fang Zhen could still feel the lingering electrical energy in the air, making the skin beneath his armor tingle.
He glanced at Avera as she ran toward him, a look of appreciation in his eyes.
No words were exchanged, but Fang Zhen's favorable impression of Avera grew—not because of her looks, but because she clearly understood the principle of returning a favor.
He had saved her, and she hadn't proven to be ungrateful.
No one could have blad Avera if she hadn't used her Crystal Bone Crow to block that attack for him, yet she had. It spoke volus about her character.
"Get on!"
Fang Zhen kept his voice low as he stood, holstered his gun, and straddled the Jue Ying.
Avera hesitated for a mont before quickly making up her mind.
The Jue Ying's design ant it was built for a single rider. The only way for a passenger to get on was to sit in the small space in front of the driver.
With a light leap, Avera landed in the space in front of Fang Zhen, making it look as though he were embracing her.
Fang Zhen started the Jue Ying, swung the bike around, and gunned the engine, speeding away from the lake.
Another six or seven seconds passed before the Night Domain enveloping the Half-Armored Man began to dissipate.
The Night Domain likely inflicted debilitating effects like confusion and disorientation. Despite its modest size, the Half-Armored Man had been unable to find his way out. He only regained his sight once the darkness vanished.
By then, Fang Zhen had already carried Avera far from the scene of the fight.
The Half-Armored Man had no hope of catching them.
His face flushed crimson with rage.
"AHHHHH!" The Half-Armored Man let out a furious roar. Four or five bolts of lightning crashed down from the sky as if venting his fury, splintering several large trees.
The display of power was imnse, but utterly useless.
And so, the Half-Armored Man could only watch helplessly as Fang Zhen rode off with Avera.
…
Fang Zhen rode the Jue Ying along a forest path for over twenty minutes.
At this distance, there was no way the n from the Lei Ming Family could catch them.
He slowed the bike down.
'The Isle of Rest is pretty big. I'd better conserve fuel.'
'Even though I have spare gasoline in the Holy Garnt's container, I don't want to run out and get stranded.'
"Stop."
Avera, sitting in front of him, suddenly spoke.
Avera's voice was mature and controlled, with a cool, almost aloof quality.
The bike had already slowed, and it quickly ca to a stop.
Avera dismounted with a light hop.
Once on the ground, she turned and stared at Fang Zhen for a mont.
Fang Zhen, who had been wearing a faceplate, now raised it to reveal his eyes and face.
Avera studied his face carefully.
"I'm a little surprised. You're quite handso," Avera said. "Judging by your features, you aren't from the Lansit Kingdom, but you don't look like one of the northern barbarians, either."
"You're not from one of the Thirteen Families, and you don't look like an assassin from the Black Garden."
"Who exactly are you?"
Fang Zhen's tone remained casual. "You can call
a traveler. As for a na, I'm Fang Zhen."
"I'm a traveler who goes wherever my interests lead. During my journeys, I heard the legends of the Isle of Rest and Anlon Lie Feng, which piqued my curiosity. I ca to the island to seek out people and events that I might find exciting."
"Of course, I won't deny that I'm also quite interested in Anlon Lie Feng's treasure."
Avera looked him straight in the eye.
After a mont, her expression softened slightly.
"You're refreshingly frank, and you don't seem to be lying."
"Plenty of people are interested in the legendary treasure Anlon Lie Feng left behind. You're just one more."
"I'll take you at your word."
After a brief pause, her gaze grew wary again. "Then why did you help ?"
"Do you know who I am? What is it you want from ?"
Fang Zhen could hear the wariness in her tone.
'It's understandable.'
'Avera may be from one of the Thirteen Families, but she's from the weakest of them.'
'The other families all brought their Warriors to the Isle of Rest, but Avera ca alone.'
'It seems the Fei Niao Family isn't doing too well.'
'It makes perfect sense for a relatively vulnerable woman to be wary of help from a stranger. That's doubly true since Avera seems to possess valuable knowledge and intelligence, which would only make her more guarded.'
"Back in the mountains, I ran into so of the Lei Ming Family's n and learned a few things."
"As for why I saved you, part of it was that I saw you being ganged up on and it didn't sit right with . The other part is that I wanted to make contact and discuss a potential alliance."
"You've seen my strength, so you have a general idea of what I can do. However, I don't know much about the Isle of Rest, Anlon Lie Feng, or our other rivals here. You, on the other hand, seem to be very knowledgeable, but your combat ability is lacking."
"I believe an alliance between us would be mutually beneficial," Fang Zhen said.
Avera looked at him, her eyes filled with doubt.
"An alliance? Between you and ?"
"It sounds good in theory... but your identity and origins are a complete mystery to . How can I possibly trust soone so enigmatic?"
"I can't even tell if you're friend or foe."
"How can you prove that I should trust you?"
Fang Zhen narrowed his eyes at her.
"Avera, I think you're misunderstanding sothing," Fang Zhen said.
"What?"
"Your attitude makes it seem as though I'm the one who desperately needs this alliance, as if I have to prove myself to you. But why should I?" Fang Zhen countered.
"I made the proposal because, under the current circumstances, I judged it would be mutually beneficial. I'm not begging you for anything."
"It was only a suggestion. If you agree, then we agree. If you don't, it's not like I have no other options."
"I have nothing to prove to you, and I don't need to. If you don't trust , then let's part amicably and go our separate ways."
"And you don't need to feel you owe
anything. Just consider it my way of satisfying a heroic impulse."
Fang Zhen finished, his eyes fixed on Avera.
Avera looked down, silent.
"If you don't trust , then there's nothing more to say. I'll be on my way. Perhaps we'll et again."
Fang Zhen started the engine and made to turn the bike around and leave.
As he did, he began counting down in his head. 'Three... two...'
Before he could even finish his three-second countdown, Avera stepped in front of the Jue Ying and held out her arms to block his path.
"Wait," Avera said.
She looked at him, her expression and attitude softening considerably.
"I was wrong. You helped , and it was hurtful of
to treat you with such suspicion. I apologize."
"You're right. We both stand to gain by working together, and nothing by going our separate ways."
"Could you explain in more detail? How do you envision this alliance working? What would our respective responsibilities and obligations be?"
Fang Zhen smiled.
'I read her perfectly.'
'This woman from the Fei Niao Family ca to the Land of Rest despite having no chance of success on her own. That ans she has an incredibly strong motive for obtaining Anlon Lie Feng's treasure.'
'I want the treasure too, but not as desperately as she does. That gives
the upper hand.'
'The more desperate party is always the first to compromise.'
'Besides , Avera has no better options for an ally.'
'Even with her doubts, she has to swallow them for now.'
'Besides, even if my little gambit had failed, it wouldn't have mattered. My strength gives
options. Avera's are running out.'
"I need the knowledge and intelligence you possess to claim Anlon Lie Feng's treasure."
"I want to know what Anlon Lie Feng's treasure, the one the Thirteen Families are after, actually is."
"Also, what's the story behind the Thirteen Families? And who are the key players from the factions on this island, and what can they do?" Fang Zhen asked.
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