Chapter 233 - Meeting the Gold Lion

Chapter 233: Chapter 220 Meeting the Gold LionThe portal’s coordinates were set to the Hell Sect branch in Tuzhui City.

"You’re back?!"

As soon as he stepped out of the portal, Lu Hong was greeted by a warm hug from Lando.

Lu Hong embraced Lando tightly and kissed her fiercely, only separating after a long moment.

"Ugh~" The Ancestor Dragon lay on Lu Hong’s heart, looking disgusted at the scene before him, "Isn’t it gross to be passing saliva back and forth?"

Lu Hong rolled his eyes in silence and then said to Lando, "Look, I made it."

Lando nodded, "Yes, you’ve really recovered."

Though curious about how Lu Hong managed to regenerate his severed arm, she held back from asking, knowing it couldn’t have been easy. Just from the recent incessant dragon roars from the South Sands, Lando knew it was surely something Lu Hong stirred up – perhaps he even had a fight with the Ancestor Dragon on the Great Snow Mountain?

"Can you help me reach the Golden Lion?" Lu Hong didn’t want to waste any more time. His heart grew more impatient to reclaim Nono’s remains.

"You want to see the Golden Lion?!" Lando was taken aback. Why would he want to meet him? The empire was currently embroiled in a war with the Beastmen. What reason would the Golden Lion have to leave the Endless Forest to meet Lu Hong?

"You only need to help me find someone to pass a message to the Golden Lion. Can you do it?" If Lando had no way, Lu Hong planned to ask Caesar for help.

"I can try, but I’m not sure if the Golden Lion will see you." The Hell Sect’s reach was indeed vast, even managing to relay messages to a Prince of the Beastman Empire.

"Never mind that. You just need to find someone to pass the message, saying, ’Below the Mouse Nest, above the Wilderness, an old friend wants to meet. Also, remember to have Cui Xi bring the Nether Gorge.’"

"Alright." Lando snapped her fingers, and shortly after, a hurried black-robed cultist entered. With simple instructions conveyed, the task was assigned, awaiting only the other’s response.

With business sorted out, Lando’s eyes grew hazy, her breath fragrant as she activated a magic lock on the door: "Tukuru, I want~"

"Ewww~~~" The Ancestor Dragon, feeling queasy again, commented in Lu Hong’s mind, "Do your thing, I won’t look, I won’t look, alright." Saying this, he covered his eyes with his dragon claw, though whether it left any gaps, only the Ancestor Dragon himself knew.

The Hell Sect’s efficiency was impressive indeed. It’s no wonder they could continue to grow even under constant pursuit by the Natural Sect.

Within seven hours of Lando’s instruction, the Golden Lion in the distant Endless Forest received the report from his subordinates.

"Your Highness, someone’s looking for you." Little De scurried to the Golden Lion’s side, pushing his large head forward.

"Get lost!" The Golden Lion kicked him away, "I’m studying the Empire’s troop deployment, and you’re causing trouble!"

"Well, it’s someone from the Hell Sect who relayed a message through Di Mang, saying, ’Beneath the Mouse Nest, atop the Wilderness, an old friend wants to meet. Also asks Cui Xi to bring something called Nether Gorge.’"

"Hmm?" The Golden Lion diverted his gaze from the map, a smile forming on his lips, "He wants to see me?"

"Your Highness, do you know who this is?" Little De asked curiously.

"Of course, it’s my brother." The Golden Lion seemed quite pleased. It was the best news he had heard during his years of battling in the Endless Forest.

"Your brother? Prince Star? No way, if it’s him, he’d just find you directly; isn’t he living next door?" Little De rubbed his head, looking thoroughly baffled.

"Talking to you is useless, move aside! I need to see the Father King." The Golden Lion brushed Little De aside and strode away.

Tai’e, upon hearing the Golden Lion’s report, furrowed his brows slightly and said, "I think you should still be cautious. After all, he grew up in the human empire. If there’s a trap, should I consider your safety?"

"Father King, my younger brother shouldn’t be that bad, should he? After all, we share the same bloodline." The Golden Lion wasn’t concerned, "Although we haven’t spoken much, I believe this person shouldn’t be bad. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have become a hero of the empire, only to be betrayed, disappearing for five years."

The Golden Lion was very attentive to Lu Hong’s movements, aside from the efforts of organizations like the Sahhemi Spies, Black Guards, Natural Sect, Hell Sect, and Black Eye in seeking Lu Hong. He also tried various ways to inquire about Lu Hong’s whereabouts.

"Of course you must go. I also want to know why your brother is looking for you. If it’s unrelated to the Endless Forest, you must try to satisfy his request. After all, we owe him too much." Tai’e said, "However, you cannot choose the meeting place within the Sacred Empire, nor within the Beastman Empire. Our homeland is now vulnerable, and our dealings with the Dark Tower’s master have ceased due to the appearance of the Divine Blood River. Choosing a place within our borders also isn’t safe."

"The Exile Lands, then?" The Golden Lion understood Tai’e’s concerns and suggested, "The Exile Lands are a neutral plane. It should be relatively safe without any faction having complete control over it."

"That’s acceptable. Go, and return quickly," Tai’e waved his hand, "Once you secure the Divine Blood River, you can achieve even greater heights. I can then happily pass the throne on to you."

"Yes, I will strive to do so," The Golden Lion knelt again in reverence.

The next morning, Lando received the Golden Lion’s response: Two days later at Windbreak City in the Exile Lands – Baca Tavern. Three o’clock in the afternoon, I and Cui Xi await your visit.

"The Exile Lands?"

"That is an ancient battlefield located beneath the Star Sea, abandoned by the Empire, Beastmen, and Eagle Alliance. Over time, it has become a refuge for fugitives, filled with all sorts of dangerous individuals." Lando explained, "Choosing there for a meeting is likely afraid of impacting the battle situation in the Endless Forest, after all, he is still a Prince and a King."

Lu Hong nodded in understanding and, with Lando leading the way, set off for the Exile Lands.

Windbreak City was the friendliest city in the Exile Lands toward the three major factions. Their arrival did not provoke any hostility from local powers, allowing them to enter the city smoothly and find the Baca Tavern.

Cui Xi had long been standing waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing Lu Hong, she hurried forward to greet him, "Baron, it’s been a long time, Cui Xi greets you."

"Yes, it has been a while. How have you been in the Beastman Empire?" Lu Hong smiled in return, considering it as a courtesy.

"Fine, thanks to your help back then, the Kangrey family can now sustain itself without relying solely on commerce. Our first batch of family warriors have reached the Second-Transformation Peak." Cui Xi led the two through the bustling tavern, arriving at a secluded room.

Pushing the door open, the Golden Lion was leisurely sipping the fine wine he had brought from the palace, avoiding the cheap local brew.

"Oh? You’re here, little brother?" The Golden Lion smiled, beckoning Lu Hong over, "Come, have a seat. This must be your wife? You too, have a seat."

With one phrase, "your wife," Lando’s affection for the Golden Lion rose rapidly, and she smiled demurely, "Thank you, Your Highness, Zhen Luo King."

"No need to be so formal, you’re my brother’s woman, naturally family."

Cui Xi poured two glasses of wine and presented them to Lu Hong and Lando.

The Golden Lion directly ordered, "By the way, Cui Xi, hand over that Nether Gorge to Lu Hong."

"Yes." Cui Xi took the last Nether Gorge from her space ring and carefully handed it to Lu Hong, "Baron, this is the Nether Gorge you requested."

Lu Hong accepted the delicate flower, saying solemnly, "Thank you. I won’t take it for free. If you ever need anything in the future, just ask."

"No need, His Highness has already compensated me sufficiently." Cui Xi smiled, though whether the compensation was enough for the Nether Gorge, only she knew.

"Little brother, is there anything else you’re here for this time? Are you planning to return to my Beastman Empire?" The Golden Lion asked straightforwardly, without the slightest reservation.

Lu Hong paused for a moment, "You call me brother, yet I still can’t bring myself to call you elder brother."

The Golden Lion understood, "I know you grew up in the human Empire. I’m not in a hurry, nor is Father King. Take your time. When you can accept your bloodline, I believe you’ll come back to us."

Lu Hong wasn’t oblivious to his own Lionheart bloodline, especially with the Golden Lion’s ambiguous attitude, confirming without a doubt that his biological father was none other than the current Lion King, Tai’e.

"Little brother, I see your physique is stronger than before. Has your bloodline progressed?" The Golden Lion, unaware of Lu Hong’s loss of bloodline, felt an itch to spar, "Shall we spar?"

"No, maybe another time." Lu Hong declined the offer.

"Alright, what a pity." The Golden Lion shook his head, visibly disappointed, and then asked, "You’re not going to the Divine Blood River battlefield, are you?" The Golden Lion didn’t want to clash with his brother.

"No, that’s the Empire’s affair, not mine. I have more pressing matters to attend to." Lu Hong’s words relieved the Golden Lion slightly.

"You’re going to retrieve the Queen?" Through the Nether Gorge, Cui Xi had surmised what Lu Hong was up to next.

"Indeed."

"You plan to bring the Queen’s body out of Hanguguan Pass?" The Golden Lion frowned, "Little brother, even if your bloodline advances to a level five, it’s unrealistic to expect to come out alive from amidst thousands of troops. The Lionheart bloodline may be strong, but it’s not invincible."

"Thanks, I’ll be careful." Lu Hong nodded, accepting the goodwill.

"Ah! I’m aware of the situation in the Northern Front. This time, the Snow Clan Great Emperor has gone too far. I won’t stop you from heading to the front lines, but be cautious. There’s someone called Zhu Guan who’s become quite active recently. Nobody at the Second-Transformation Peak in the Northern Front is his match. He’ll be your biggest hurdle."

"No matter, soldiers come and generals resist, water comes and earth subdues." Lu Hong noted down the name, convinced that this Zhu Guan must have been present during the ambush of Nono. This person must be eliminated!

"Baron," Cui Xi continued, "if you use Nether Gorge to summon a Nether Specter from the Underworld, afterward you can find Bai Tianhang. He might know the path to the Underworld."

"Hmm?" Lu Hong’s eyes widened, "He knows?"

Cui Xi shook her head, "I’m not entirely sure. They say the Bai family was once among the five great families under the old lord of the Underworld. Why they’ve fallen to this state, only Bai Tianhang knows. If you find him, you might learn some information about the Underworld from him."

"Alright, thank you so much for this," Lu Hong expressed his gratitude to Cui Xi again, while Lando produced an exquisite bracelet, "My man doesn’t like hoarding precious items. Since this information is crucial to him, let me present you with this token of gratitude."

"This...," Cui Xi looked toward the Golden Lion. She couldn’t decide on her own whether to accept it.

The Golden Lion nodded slightly, "Since it’s from my sister-in-law, you should take it."

"Thank you, Lady Lando," Cui Xi accepted the exceptional magical item, expressing her gratitude hastily. This trip accompanying the Golden Lion had undoubtedly been rewarding. Once nearly forgotten by Eferot, she was reinstated by the Golden Lion due to Lu Hong’s mention, and with her acquaintance with Lu Hong, her status in the Beastman Empire was sure to rise a notch in the future.

Having obtained his final objective, Lu Hong did not linger, exchanging a few pleasantries with the Golden Lion before leaving in haste. With Lando’s assistance, the portal to the Northern Front finally appeared before Lu Hong.

With a deep breath, Lu Hong, accompanied by Lando, arrived at Hanguguan Pass, where the wind and snow had just ceased.

Hearing could never compare to seeing. When he saw the bodies hanging on the distant city wall, Lu Hong’s pupils contracted sharply, and rage surged to the heavens.