The Weeping Tear

“This was my Maternal Grandfather’s ship!?” Du Chen exclaimed, rising in shock. “Are you certain you haven’t made a mistake!?”

“Judging solely by the paintings, there should be no error!” Deboning stated firmly. “Since this ship now belongs to Young Master, I can be absolutely certain once I see it with my own eyes! The old Grand Pontiff’s Ross harbored special secrets known only to the Holy Yessar Church! For instance, the old Grand Pontiff favored Serene Sandalwood, which aids in cultivating plant-element battle qi. His Ross was meticulously crafted from this exceedingly rare, unique wood!”

“The timber on the Belkus was remarkably fragrant!” Du Chen swiftly tidied away the confidential items in the room, then declared, “Though your severe injuries remain unhealed, making movement inconvenient, this matter is of paramount importance. You must accompany me to the ship and witness it firsthand immediately!”

Deboning shook his head with a wry smile. “Can I refuse?”

After instructing Harry to care for his daughter, Du Chen stepped out and hired a sedan chair, ordering the bearers to carry Deboning to the seaside.

This small gesture earned Deboning’s considerable goodwill. Even if Francis’s actions were likely a calculated pretense, he had, at the very least, publicly afforded him sufficient respect and concern!

At least in the future, he wouldn't have to fear serving a tyrannical master; he could retain a minimum of dignity.

The two arrived at the seaside. Pied’s subordinates were already on board, making some minor adjustments to the ship as per Du Chen’s instructions.

“Stop everything! Restore all modifications!” Du Chen commanded the foreman loudly. He then added, “Immediately request Mr. Pied to find Rogliff and inform him I have an urgent matter requiring his presence!” After a moment’s deliberation, fearing Rogliff might decline due to pressing engagements, Du Chen added, “If Mr. Rogliff is delayed by worldly affairs, please convey to him that I am willing to wager another round against him!”

The artisans hurried off. After ordering the sedan bearers to carry Deboning onto the ship, Du Chen told them to wait below. He and Deboning then stepped onto the deck.

“Indeed, it is the Ross!” A fleeting hint of nostalgia actually flickered across Deboning’s gaunt, grim face. He rested a hand on the deck railing, inhaling the faint, ethereal fragrance wafting from the ship’s wood. “Young Master, there’s no need to inspect the cabins inside! Compared to when this ship vanished over thirty years ago, virtually nothing has changed, save for those two paintings!”

Deboning pointed at the two dark-gold giant dragon Portraits on the hull, exclaiming furiously, “Damn it, who dared to paint on this?! I’ll debone them, bone by bone!”

Du Chen was slightly taken aback. Judging by Deboning’s prior contention for the Grand Pontiff’s position and his opportunistic alliance with Flaying, he wasn't a nostalgic man; in fact, he seemed rather cold-blooded and ruthless. Yet, upon seeing this ship, he reacted as if encountering a long-lost family member!

Now that Deboning was bound by a Spiritual Contract and absolutely incapable of betrayal, Du Chen candidly asked, “Judging by your reaction… does this ship hold some special significance?”

*“Huh? Even if Francis hasn’t seen the Ross with his own eyes, he should have at least heard of its significance! Didn’t he inherit the divine power of Yessar God? Did Flaying not tell him?”* Deboning pondered.

Deboning felt a surge of doubt towards Du Chen, but then, his head began to throb faintly, the pain intensifying rapidly. Startled, Deboning thought, *“Damn it! That girl’s Spiritual Contract is truly vicious. Can I not even doubt my master!? How tyrannical!”*

*“Sigh, never mind. Better a living dog than a dead lion. Besides, Francis is a direct bloodline descendant of the old Grand Pontiff. Serving him isn’t a demotion, neither in status nor title. I’ll just accept my fate!”*

With that thought, Deboning cast aside his doubts and said, “It seems Flaying never told Young Master about the Ross. In that case, allow me to explain in detail!”

Deboning led Du Chen to inspect the ship’s hull, recounting the Ross’s history as they went. Along the way, he acted as if he were back in his own home, casually opening many secret compartments and hidden chests – all of which were empty.

“This Ross has a history of over a thousand years. It was originally the personal yacht of the first Grand Pontiff. Church records state that Yessar God himself once blessed this ship. In its earliest days, it was one of our Holy Church’s sacred sites, enshrining our Holy Relic — the Weeping Tear!”

At that moment, Deboning led Du Chen to the ship’s bow, pointing to the rhomboid crystal figurehead. “However, fifty years ago, a catastrophic celestial calamity struck. A frenzied divine lightning annihilated the Ross, and the Weeping Tear enshrined within vanished without a trace, mysteriously gone! The old Grand Pontiff, your Maternal Grandfather, had just assumed his position then. He ordered the reconstruction of the Ross, using the surviving remnants of its frame combined with Serene Sandalwood. To constantly remind himself not to forget the quest to recover the Holy Relic, the Weeping Tear, he had the figurehead sculpted in its likeness!”

Du Chen nodded slightly, comprehending Deboning’s deep affection for this vessel. The Ross of yesteryear, now the Belkus, was an ancient relic of the Holy Yessar Church. Though rebuilt, it still held a special place in the hearts of its members.

The Weeping Tear… The enigmatic Flaying had never mentioned this object to him. Why hadn’t he told him…?

Wait! Heavens!

Du Chen’s heart pounded as he gazed at the shape of the crystal on the bow. Subconsciously, he touched the necklace around his own neck – the one Flaying had given him for protection – inside which lay a single crystalline tear!

The pendant of his necklace and the form of the figurehead seemed strikingly similar!

Du Chen hastily removed the necklace from his neck and presented it to Deboning. “Flaying gave me this. Do you recognize it?”

“This… this pendant…!” Deboning’s expression shifted drastically. He practically snatched the necklace, examining it intently. “Young Master, in shape, this pendant is nearly identical to the Weeping Tear—no, it *is* identical! However, it’s far smaller. The original Weeping Tear was the size of a newborn infant!”

His hands trembled slightly, and Deboning’s voice brimmed with unparalleled excitement. “But the feeling it emanates… it is truly the Weeping Tear! That faint, mournful crying, the weeping of a sorrowful woman – there’s no mistaking it!” Deboning respectfully held the necklace out to Du Chen. Knowing exactly what Du Chen wanted to understand, he stated directly, “My deduction is that this object is most certainly connected to the Weeping Tear!”

Du Chen silently accepted the necklace, pondering inwardly. The Weeping Tear had vanished fifty years ago, long before Phil was born. Yet, Flaying claimed this object was left to him by Phil.

If Flaying wasn’t lying, then Phil must have discovered a clue to the lost Weeping Tear!

There were definitely some matters between Flaying and Phil that he remained unaware of. Damn Flaying, why couldn’t he just be clear!

Du Chen put on the necklace and said, “Continue with the story of the Ross!”

“Yes. After the Ross was rebuilt, the old Grand Pontiff discovered a clue regarding the Weeping Tear within Battle God Academy. He then led us in a covert infiltration of the academy. Philip, with his extraordinary alchemy, gained Zigurd’s trust and later even became the Vice Dean, publicly investigating the Weeping Tear. Meanwhile, the old Grand Pontiff, along with us Four Saints, pursued the clues in secret. Finally, on Mount Tianshan, we obtained a lead…”

Deboning shook his head. “The old Grand Pontiff and Left Elder, accompanied by a dozen Holy Knights, sailed on the Ross towards Mount Tianshan. However, the Battle Qi Convergence on Mount Tianshan, and the old Grand Pontiff and his party never returned. That’s how so many subsequent events unfolded!”

So, the schism of the Four Saints, Phil’s disappearance, Philip’s attempt to use him as a guinea pig… all these events were triggered by the disappearance of the Weeping Tear from the Ross!

And now, the Ross had reappeared.

As the two conversed, Pied hurriedly arrived. “Francis, are you urgently seeking Mr. Rogliff? And who is this…?”

“This is my Battle God attendant…” Du Chen paused; he hadn’t yet asked Deboning his name. Deboning glanced at Pied and said coldly, “Brook!”

“Ah, Mr. Brook, a pleasure to meet you, a pleasure!” Pied spoke casual pleasantries. In his eyes, the severely injured Deboning, with his pale complexion and unsteady gait, was merely an ordinary, minor Battle-Warrior. Though his face held a hint of ruthlessness, his aura was negligible. Surely, Francis, a Two-Star Fighter, couldn’t possess a truly powerful attendant.

Nevertheless, Francis was his benefactor, so Pied treated Deboning with some courtesy. “Should Mr. Brook ever require anything in the future, just find me directly at the Red Sand Casino!”

A cold sneer touched the corner of Deboning’s lips. Du Chen waved him off, signaling him to inspect the ship, then asked, “Has Mr. Rogliff arrived?”

Pied shook his head. “Mr. Rogliff left the casino to meet Dean Zigurd. When I sent someone to find him, Dean Zigurd said he had already departed Battle God Isle!”

“Dean Zigurd? Oh, I see. By the way, I wanted to inquire about Mr. Rogliff’s detailed background!”

“This…” Pied looked troubled. Among masters of gambling prowess, it was an unwritten rule that wagers were settled solely at the table, with no inquiries into an opponent’s background or intelligence afterward. This implicit understanding signified acceptance of defeat and a promise of no retaliation.

Francis, with his profound gambling prowess, should know this unspoken rule. He hadn’t asked during the day, so Pied had assumed Du Chen was aware.

Du Chen certainly knew, which was why he hadn’t asked earlier. But now, things were different – how could Du Chen *not* inquire when the Ross, missing for decades, had suddenly reappeared in Rogliff’s possession?

Seeing Pied hesitate and refuse to speak, Deboning couldn’t help but let out a cold “Hmph.”

“You, a mere Battle God attendant, dare to ‘Hmph’ at me?” Pied felt a surge of anger, but out of respect for Du Chen, he merely gave Deboning a cold glance and pretended not to hear. He sighed, “Francis, you saved my life. To talk about those old rules with a life-saving benefactor would be utterly dishonorable… I’ll make an exception just this once. Mr. Rogliff appeared three years ago. His background is exceedingly mysterious, accompanied only by a single ship and about two dozen attendants. In these three years, he has traversed the Three Continents, challenging and defeating gambling masters across the land, never once losing—until today, when he lost to you. This is his sole defeat to date.”

Pied paused, then added, “Some who lost to him have also investigated Rogliff, but they’ve only uncovered three things. First, he first appeared three years ago in Antwerp Port, Lanning Empire, on the southern Aethelgard Continent, accompanied only by this ship and about two dozen attendants. Second, all his companions are formidable experts. In these three years, many ill-tempered gamblers sought revenge, but none succeeded. Third, he holds the title of a God-Granted Duke and is well-acquainted with many influential figures, such as our Dean Zigurd!”

“Zigurd knows him; that’s good!” Du Chen secretly nodded. After thanking Pied, he found an excuse to part ways.

On the way back to the dormitory, Du Chen initially intended to have the sedan bearers carry Deboning back, but he refused.

Du Chen looked at Deboning’s grim expression and couldn’t help but chuckle. “Are you upset?”

“Indeed!” Deboning nodded slightly. “A tiger fallen to the plains is mocked by dogs. I can’t believe Pied, a mere Eight-Star Battle God, dared to look down on me! Hmph, if I were in full health, I could easily impale him with a single hand!”

The two ‘youngsters’ of the Holy Church, of course, referred to Bairu and Mas, both Nine-Star Battle Gods.

Deboning continued, “To think, I, a Nine-Star Battle God, was actually scorned by an Eight-Star Battle God…”

“You’re also a Nine-Star? Like Bairu and the others? But your demonstrated power gap on Mount Tianshan was enormous. Are there differences even among Nine-Stars?” Du Chen was greatly astonished.

“Of course there are differences. Bairu is merely a Nine-Star, initial-stage, still in the ‘Soul Refinement’ phase. Whereas I have already achieved the ‘Twin Souls Unification’!”

Du Chen flushed with embarrassment. Lately, he’d been too busy, barely attending any classes, and constantly skipping lectures. Now, he could barely comprehend these profound theories. But this wasn’t the time to study theory – he could just ask Aunt Sherine in a few days, and she’d explain everything!

“Uh, the power levels of High-level Battle Gods are quite complex. Let’s not discuss that for now. Instead, give me a ranking! Specifically, an order of power for everyone present on Mount Tianshan, including Zigurd and Roland!”

With such a power ranking, he’d have a clearer understanding when dealing with them in the future!

Deboning, seeing Du Chen’s lack of understanding regarding High-level Battle God power, felt a flicker of doubt, yet he proceeded. “First, let’s set Roland aside. Apart from him, Zigurd and Flaying are roughly on par with each other. Both have transcended Nine-Stars, entering the threshold of Ten-Stars, but they aren’t truly Ten-Stars, or in the Divine Realm! However, in the eyes of the world, they are already capable of earning Titled Battle God status!”

“Next, Tendon-Severing, Corpse Dissolution, and I rank sequentially. Following us are Bairu and Mas. These two are merely Nine-Star, initial-stage. Although they are only half a level below us, it’s a difference in cultivation realms, which is why I can easily defeat them! Then there’s that Divine Pet, Sulan. Her battle qi is relatively negligible, weaker even than Mas, but she possesses the Innate Racial Power of an Aberrant Beast, so her combat prowess cannot be underestimated!”

Du Chen nodded. Indeed, Sulan’s ability to poison Zigurd and incite a siege by ten thousand serpents was enough to command the respect of any powerful expert.

“As for Ted and Helen, I didn’t personally witness their actions, so I can’t say.”

“Hm, this is enough! Finally, why did you exclude Roland?”

Deboning smiled strangely. “Because his power is rather peculiar!”

“Peculiar?”

“Yes. Many years ago, Roland was hailed as the Emperor of Swords. With a sacred artifact longsword, he swept across the Yakun and Aethelgard Continents, unchallenged! In his prime, he was a true Ten-Star, reaching the Divine Realm! Alas, he has now buried his sword and sworn a Battle God Blood Oath never to wield a sword again in this life!”

“No one knows what happened to Roland. Now, he is plagued by old ailments, often suffering from mental fog, and his power is roughly comparable to Flaying’s present state! However, never underestimate Roland; he is, after all, the Emperor of Swords from yesteryear! Should he ever draw his sword from the Icy Jade Pool, the Three Continents would likewise undergo a drastic upheaval!”

“What about the mutated Philip you saw before you collapsed?”

“Him?” Deboning mused for a moment. “Very strong. Undead Battle Qi, Ten-Star Divine Realm. Unless Roland draws his sword, he wouldn’t be able to defeat him in a one-on-one battle!”

Roland was the strongest, followed by Zigurd and Flaying, then the other three Saints. Du Chen silently committed this order to memory, simultaneously formulating his approach toward each individual.

Suddenly, an idea sparked in Du Chen’s mind, and he asked curiously, “I have a friend named Arthur, the grandson of the Lionheart King. How strong is the Lionheart King?”

Deboning curled his lips in disdain. “After Mount Wanliu, there are no true gods. That lion is old; Young Master, you needn’t concern yourself with a useless wretch!”

“The lion is old?” Du Chen was about to ask more, but at that moment, they arrived at the entrance of Dormitory Number Eighteen. Pushing open the gate, they entered the courtyard. The attic inside was securely locked; Harry must have taken little Beibei out to play.

Everything seemed normal. But what was Du Chen’s profession?

He stepped forward, pulling out a key from his pocket while picking up the padlock on the door.

Then, with a single glance, he realized: his dormitory had been burgled!