The Borrowed Blade

“Excellent! Francis, you've once again delivered a most pleasant surprise!” Bairu clapped his hands, a smile playing on his lips, then inquired, “Now, where is our ‘knife’? And how do you intend to ‘borrow’ this ‘knife’?”

Du Chen replied, “I require a word with this ‘knife,’ Your Excellency. I shall present a more comprehensive plan no later than two days hence!”

Bairu's gaze held an unfathomable depth for Du Chen. After a moment of contemplation, he smiled, “It's a deal. In two days, I shall hear your proposal. However, you truly have only two days, for should you fail to ‘borrow’ this ‘knife,’ we will still require time to prepare alternative strategies.”

“Very well, two days it is!”

Du Chen rose to escort Bairu and Mars to the door. Mars, his gaze settling on the Shieb who had just been 'dealt with' by his subordinates, furrowed his brow. “Francis, it is best not to employ Shieb slaves. Historically, no one who dared to heavily rely on the Shieb has ever met a good end!”

The gag had already been removed from Harry's mouth. Upon hearing Mars's derogatory remark, he scurried forward, tumbling to his knees before Mars, and stammered, “Noble Lord, I am most sensible! Rest assured, for the next few days, unless commanded by my master, I shall confine myself to the dungeon and not emerge!”

Mars snorted dismissively, admonishing Du Chen to keep Harry's mouth in check, then vanished into the night alongside Bairu and their retinue.

Du Chen dismissed Harry, then cast a glance towards the brightly lit attic next door.

Helen had not left.

*Heh, you defiant lass, I shall grant you a chance to save your father!*

Du Chen strode towards the door, but then a thought struck him. He couldn't simply go to Helen's now. Not only were there two 'gate guardians' outside, but if they saw him entering a lady's quarters in the dead of night, who knew what interpretations they would concoct? Moreover, Bairu and Mars's agents had very likely established surveillance around his own lodging.

Helen was currently a trump card in his hand; he could not afford to expose her.

Pondering this, Du Chen ascended to the attic's roof. He summoned forth a Precious Lotus Scripture, settling upon it. Subsequently, Du Chen's body began to shrink in tandem with the lotus, ultimately diminishing to the size of a mere mosquito.

This was the newest function of his Sacred Artifact—Lotus Concealment!

*Swoosh!* Activating the Precious Lotus Scripture, Du Chen soared out the window, tracing an elegant arc across the night sky, a trajectory imbued with the profound truths of heaven and earth. With a graceful pirouette, he entered Helen's attic.

Inside the attic, Helen was conversing with Sulan. Sulan reported, “Miss, there was some commotion next door just now. As per your instructions, I dared not investigate too closely, but it seems Francis has many guests.”

“Guests, you say? Never mind. It's best we don't meddle in his affairs. Our priority should be to swiftly acquire intelligence on the nineteenth layer…” As she spoke, Helen suddenly noticed Sulan, who stood before her, staring at something behind her with an extremely peculiar gaze, as if she had just witnessed an impossible phantasm.

“Excellent, your choice remains quite sound! Meddling with individuals or matters that do not concern you will only invite trouble—trouble you cannot resolve!” Du Chen materialized out of thin air behind Helen, casually retracting his Lotus Sacred Artifacts.

His appearance was utterly bizarre, as if he had conjured himself from nothingness.

Even Helen's father or Zigurd lacked the ability to accomplish such a feat!

Both Helen and her attendant trembled with dread, secretly rejoicing that they had not investigated him further. Otherwise, with such terrifying power, Francis could easily dispatch the mistress and servant duo at any given moment, with but a flick of his hand!

“Your Esteemed Eminence, you have arrived!” Helen, recovering from her fright, forced a smile and gestured for Du Chen to be seated. However, she simultaneously used her Battle Soul to transmit a message to her Divine Pet, Sulan: “Sulan, did none of your companions detect him?”

Sulan, in turn, replied via telepathic link with her mistress: “No, not only my companions, but even my own extraordinary abilities detected not the slightest ripple of power! Miss… there is only one explanation! His power is too terrifying! He is absolutely not someone we can contend with, even Master does not possess such formidable strength!”

Du Chen, who barely understood what a Battle Soul even was, much less their telepathic exchange, adopted the persona of a profound master, sitting imperiously upon the chair.

His lofty bearing and enigmatic demeanor astonished Sulan even further. She transmitted telepathically, “Miss, this might be his true self. Last time… we were far too reckless in our dealings with him! I believe, had he not known in advance that it was you, Miss, he could very likely have annihilated us with a mere gesture! The thought still sends shivers down my spine!”

“Indeed, I was too impetuous last time. Let's not speak of it further for now!” Helen clasped Sulan's hand, standing respectfully attendant before Du Chen.

Du Chen emitted a soft 'hmmph' from his nostrils, then slowly declared, “On March third, your father will be dissected by Philip!”

Helen’s head drooped in despair. “Yes, Your Eminence, I have also just received this news from a friend. You…” With these words, both she and Sulan knelt, humbly imploring, “Please, Your Eminence, extend your benevolent hand.”

“Rise!” Du Chen picked up a wine glass from the table, sipping its contents as if recounting an utterly mundane matter. “I can summon a few individuals to aid you. Their strength is quite passable; it should be more than sufficient for your predicament.”

Sulan, quick to speak, immediately asked, “Your Eminence, what rank are the individuals you are summoning, and how many are there? Philip's subordinates are quite—” She quickly stuck out her tongue under Helen's sharp gaze, then gave a forced laugh. “My apologies, I did not mean to question the strength of your friends. They must undoubtedly be masters among masters.”

“Hmph, you 'naughty one' are still somewhat sensible!” Du Chen set down the wine glass, nonchalantly remarking, “They're not exactly 'masters.' Just two Nine-Star Battle Gods, accompanied by a dozen or so 'little ones' who are slightly less capable than themselves.”

Helen was ecstatic! *What?! Two Nine-Star Battle Gods? And a dozen more experts only slightly inferior to them! What caliber of individuals are these? Sulan herself is merely a Nine-Star Unusual Beast!*

*Oh, of course, in the eyes of this peerless expert before her, Nine-Star truly wasn't considered much of a master.*

“Your Eminence's profound benevolence, Helen shall never forget!” She knelt once more, formally bowing in gratitude.

“Do not hasten your thanks. Where is what I desire?” Du Chen asked coldly.

“This…” Helen hesitated briefly, then gritted her teeth. “Your Eminence, rest assured, before March third, I will spare no expense to find you all information concerning Phil!”

“It's good that you remember. Bear this in mind: the prerequisite is that I do not wish to alarm Philip, understand?” Du Chen poured himself a drink, downed the wine, then stood up. “Hurry and gather this intelligence for me. Do not disturb me again!” He walked to the window, pointing at the two tents outside—the abodes of those two eccentric individuals, Jamis and Bovin.

“Do you see those two? You already know Jamis. The other is named Bovin. I am quite interested in them now, too.”

Helen nodded gravely. “I understand. All their intelligence will be delivered to you alongside Phil's.” As she spoke, she lowered her head somewhat diffidently. “Your Eminence, are they also peerless experts like yourself?”

Du Chen snorted. “Observe for yourself with your own eyes!”

Helen and Sulan instinctively looked towards the tents outside. Just then, Du Chen snapped coldly, “Before March third, do not disturb my life. I will seek you out then!”

He spoke these words with such speed that by the time Helen and Sulan turned to look, Du Chen had already vanished without a trace.