Flaying (2)

“He is the Flaying Battle God!?”

Du Chen’s heart churned with tumultuous waves. Under the moonlight, he scrutinized the figure. Indeed, though the face was identical to Frith’s, there were subtle differences in physique. After all, Frith was merely a fifteen-year-old youth, whose build naturally couldn't match an adult’s stature. Yet, the ‘Frith’ before him possessed an incredibly well-proportioned physique. Though not tall, his slender waist and broad back, coupled with finely honed muscles, clearly belonged to someone who had practiced martial arts for many years.

It’s good that Flaying has arrived, thank the heavens. Brother, you’re finally not a step behind this time!

“Flaying, though Francis is the Saintess’s son, he has, after all, interrupted my Dark Sacred Punishment twice in a row! Rules are rules, after all!” The shadowy figure on the wall spoke sternly, but the iron hook in its hand slowly moved away from Du Chen’s neck.

Du Chen wasted no words, striding swiftly to Flaying’s side. He gasped a few times, catching his breath to calm his nerves, then said, “I am truly sorry, I genuinely had no idea you were performing a sacred punishment tonight. Furthermore, esteemed sir, please clarify: besides tonight, when else have I ever interrupted your Dark Sacred Punishment? If it indeed happened, I would never deny it! By my mother’s name!”

Flaying put his arm across, shielding Du Chen behind him, and coldly stated, “He is Steve’s Guardian. Louis publicly shamed Steve; he deserves death! But that night, your scheme to trap Louis indeed interrupted his Dark Sacred Punishment!” As he spoke, he glanced at the crescent moon in the sky. “If the Dark Sacred Punishment is interrupted, it will be executed again on the same day next month. If it is interrupted three times consecutively…”

The shadowy figure within the opposite wall roared, “Then I must atone to the Yessar God!”

Du Chen was stunned; this was completely beyond his expectations. Though he didn't know what form of atonement the shadowy figure was referring to, judging by their cruel methods of execution, it would be an act of extreme self-flagellation, if not outright suicide!

Indeed, the minds of religious fanatics are beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

Flaying slowly shifted his stance; his hands, at some unknown moment, had reversed their grip on two flaying daggers. He walked towards the wall, stating, “I don’t care about your Dark Sacred Punishment, Deboning. Francis is under my protection. Are you certain you wish to challenge Francis? Or perhaps you wish for another lesson from me!”

“Hmph! Matters of greater importance demand my attention. I shall not argue with you today, Francis. On this day next month, I do not wish to see you near Louis! Otherwise, even if Flaying is your Guardian, I will certainly not let the matter rest!”

With that, the shadowy figure on the wall—Deboning—vanished!

However, the streetscape had not yet returned to normal; the buildings still felt utterly alien to Du Chen.

Du Chen and Flaying faced each other. Gazing at Frith’s countenance, Du Chen first chuckled, “The human skins you collect can be made into masks, very good, very convenient!”

Flaying also stared at Du Chen, his eyes the same color as Frith’s. It was unclear if this was a disguise or his natural hue. He coldly stated, “Francis, you surprise me greatly! I had intended for you to live an ordinary life, yet you have still embarked upon the Battle God’s Path!”

Du Chen shrugged helplessly, vaguely replying, “Destiny is always unfathomable, isn’t it?” As he spoke, Du Chen mused, just how much did Flaying truly know about him? The Precious Lotus Scripture, his lock-picking skills… surely he wouldn't know about those, right?

“Indeed, destiny is always unfathomable! With great power often comes great responsibility. You can now learn some things! Your mother, Phil…”

Without waiting for him to finish, Du Chen interjected, “My mother is a Saintess of the Yessar Church, and also Philip’s experimental subject. You and three others are Yessar Saints. And Philip, he must be a traitor to the Yessar Church. He performed a heinous experiment on my mother, and now, that experiment has extended to me!” Du Chen, seeing Flaying’s astonished gaze, chuckled, “Whether for my mother or for myself, I will make an enemy of Philip! Philip must receive the punishment he deserves!”

A hint of a smile touched Flaying’s grim face. “How do you know all this?”

Based on that single sentence, Du Chen could deduce that Flaying wasn't constantly by his side, and therefore, likely unaware of many of his affairs.

Du Chen pointed to his temple. “I merely wish to convey that I am no longer an idiot! Esteemed Flaying, your Excellency, please tell me everything you know! Not just ‘some’ things!”

“Hah, haha!” Flaying laughed, his laughter hearty and open, utterly unlike the chilling reputation of his name and methods. “Very well! Since you already know about the Church’s affairs, I shall begin from the day the Grand Pontiff, your Maternal Grandfather, disappeared!”

Maternal Grandfather? He truly wasn’t the small noble of legend! He was, in fact, the Grand Pontiff of the Yessar Church!

“The third day of the third month, Battle Qi Convergence, Mount Tianshan! Thirty years ago, on that very day, the Grand Pontiff vanished without a trace while attempting to seize the Tianshan Treasure! Along with him, the Left Elder of the Sacred Hall also disappeared. Following the scriptures, we four Saints then placed Philip, the Right Elder of the Sacred Hall and highest in succession, onto the Grand Pontiff’s seat! Little did we know, this event sowed the seeds of future calamity!”

He paused, then continued, “Philip is not a consecrated Grand Pontiff by heritage, and thus possesses no ability to inherit the divine power bestowed by the Yessar God upon previous Pontiffs. Yet, he was unwilling to remain merely a minor Battle-Warrior, an incompetent Grand Pontiff! So, he devised a method to acquire the Yessar God’s divine power. And that method, naturally, was his most proficient art: alchemy!”

Du Chen listened intently, his mind racing. “I understand. To study how the Yessar God’s divine power is inherited, one must research previous Grand Pontiffs. Since my Maternal Grandfather disappeared, Philip used my mother—Saintess Phil—who possesses my Maternal Grandfather’s bloodline, as an experimental subject!”

Flaying nodded. “Philip’s use of the former Grand Pontiff’s daughter for experimentation led to the schism among us four Saints. The intricate details are not convenient to discuss tonight; suffice it to say that Deboning and I currently support Phil! Furthermore, I don’t understand much about alchemy, but I know Philip implanted something called a ‘Spirit Seed’ into Phil. Now, that ‘Spirit Seed’ has very likely been inherited by you, evidenced by your golden-blond hair, which resists the Sigurd bloodline!”

Du Chen interjected, “So, that’s why Philip wants to use me as an experimental subject!”

He held up three fingers. “I generally understand everything. I have a few questions for you. First, why does Deboning, the Guardian Battle God, appear by my eldest brother's side? He has red hair, so he didn’t inherit the ‘Spirit Seed,’ did he? Second, what exactly lies beneath Mount Tianshan that led to my Maternal Grandfather’s disappearance? Third, does my second brother also have a Guardian Battle God? And the most crucial question…” Du Chen chuckled, “If my brothers have Battle Gods protecting them, do they know any of this?”

Flaying answered concisely and precisely, “I can answer these questions clearly for you. Firstly, Deboning simultaneously guards both your brothers. However, Charles possesses exceptional talent and a strong personality, rarely needing protection! As for you, you inherited Phil’s Spirit Seed, which is why a stronger individual like myself is assigned specifically to protect you! Secondly, to this day, there is only one legend about Mount Tianshan: a treasure is buried beneath it, and every third day of the third month, that treasure emanates powerful battle qi. This is the meaning of ‘The third day of the third month, Battle Qi Convergence, Mount Tianshan’!”

Here, he hesitated. “Steve likely doesn’t know! But your father, Arges, probably understands some things. It’s highly possible he believes you were born of the Spirit Seed, not his biological son, but a monstrosity!”

Du Chen didn't care about Arges's attitude. However, what did ‘Steve *likely* doesn’t know’ mean? Just as he was about to ask, Flaying continued speaking.

“Enough of the past matters. Now, you must know what you need to do!”

Flaying fixed his gaze on Du Chen. “Your mother, Saintess Phil’s, tomb is empty!”