Chapter 398: Heading to Dark Moon City (Part 2)

Seeing Lucy in such a state, Rod couldn’t help but smile genuinely, with a hint of indulgence. For some reason, being with Lucy always made him feel relaxed and at ease, as if no difficulty could overwhelm him. He truly didn’t want to refuse her requests! It seemed that whatever she asked, Rod couldn’t resist agreeing to it.
“Big brother, take me with you, okay?” When Rod didn’t respond, Lucy tugged at his arm and coaxed him, her voice making Rod’s scalp tingle.
After pondering for a moment and weighing the pros and cons, Rod still preferred to keep Lucy here, as Dark Moon City was too dangerous.
“Boss, take her along too!” Viski, who had been standing five meters away, unexpectedly spoke up. His tone remained cold, but it carried a hint of intrigue.
Rod glanced at Viski, then at Lucy, puzzled. He knew exactly what kind of person Viski was—he was the type who never showed interest in outsiders. It was rare for him to speak up for Lucy. Could the two have some secret relationship? The thought weighed on him, but he quickly dismissed it. With a wry smile, he shook his head, unsure what trick the two had planned.
“Big brother, please?” Lucy continued to plead, forcing Rod to smile bitterly.
After much deliberation, he sighed and said, “Alright, let’s get ready.” Although Dark Moon City was dangerous, Lucy’s strength now couldn’t be underestimated. If she went, few could hurt her. With him by her side to protect her, things should be fine. After the Nightingale incident, Rod had become more cautious about those around him, determined not to let them face such danger again.
“Great! Big brother is the best! I knew you’d agree!” Lucy jumped up excitedly.
She quickly turned and ran to her room, clearly to pack. Watching her bounce along, Rod touched his chin and sighed. This little girl seemed never to grow up!
But if Rod could have seen Lucy’s other side, he would surely be shocked by her transformation.
“Boss, why are you staring at me?” After Lucy left, Viski felt Rod’s gaze shift to him and asked, slightly uncomfortable. That look seemed to pierce straight into one’s heart.

“How come you’re defending that girl? She doesn’t seem like that kind of person!” Rod asked, looking at Viski with a teasing gaze.
“It was my elder sister’s request! She told us to protect Lucy—only by being by her side can we protect her best. Also, my elder sister said Lucy’s aura suits you well!” Recalling Nightingale’s words to him, Viski felt a sudden heaviness in his heart. It was because of Nightingale’s words that he had completely accepted Lucy!
“Nightingale!” Rod was stunned to learn it was Nightingale’s instruction. His expression turned grim. What was happening to Nightingale now? Had she arrived at that place already?
Taking a deep breath, he slowly stepped forward. The atmosphere was somber. Everyone could understand the meaning behind Nightingale’s words. He never expected her to say such things. Thinking of this, Rod felt troubled as well.
…
The sky was overcast, and the gates of Water Screen City were already open. At this moment, a group of people had gathered in front of the city gates.
“Kid, be careful. If needed, feel free to come to us anytime!” Merk said in a deep voice, looking at Rod. The situation in Dark Moon City was clear enough. As his ally, it was necessary for the Black Phoenix clan to send reinforcements to help against the opposition, but Rod had refused. Since that was the case, he didn’t say much more. He knew Rod must have his own plans, and nothing serious would happen.
“I leave this little girl to you. Please take care of her for me!” Merk said with a wry smile, staring closely at Lucy beside Rod. A father knows his daughter best—how could he not understand what she was thinking? Looking at Rod, a hint of concern flashed in his eyes. A father always wishes for his daughter’s happiness. He doesn’t expect her man to be extraordinary; he just wants him to cherish his daughter. But was Rod such a person? Clearly not.
“Father, don’t worry. Brother Rod is here. What could possibly happen to me?” Under Merk’s piercing gaze, as if seeing through everything, Lucy blushed slightly and said unhappily.
“Alright, alright. I’m getting old. You’re starting to dislike me, right? I won’t say more. Just be careful!” Merk said with a wry smile, his daughter finally growing up.
“Don’t worry. As long as I’m alive, nothing will happen to her!” That was Rod’s promise to Merk.

“Set off!” Without further delay, at Rod’s command, the remaining less than thirty members of the Reaper Scythe Squad followed him in unison as they headed outside the city. The crisp sound of horse hooves shattered the silence of dawn. Rod led the way, with Lucy closely by his side, followed by Viski and the others. The horse team moved in perfect formation, as if they had received long-term, thorough training. These horses were carefully selected hybrid beasts from Merk, known for their exceptional endurance and speed, giving them a lightning-fast pace when pushed to their limits. The wind whistled past their ears, and Rod’s mind was already with Dark Moon City, hoping he would make it in time!

…

This was a small town within the Dark Source, not belonging to any larger city. It had gradually grown in size due to its location at a crossroads with many travelers passing by, becoming a resting place for them. There was a constant stream of people coming and going every day, making it quite lively.

“Did you hear? Water Curtain City has also been taken by the Black Phoenix Clan!” In a hotel in the town, a man spoke in a hushed voice. As soon as he said this, everyone around him looked at him with strange expressions.

“What? You don’t know? Well, I’ll explain it to you!” Feeling their reactions, the man became excited, filled with pride. “This news came from my brother—he has a very close relationship with the Black Phoenix Clan, which is why I got the news first!” He began boasting proudly.

“Damn it, you wildman, where did you come from? I already knew it yesterday!” But another voice quickly made his face turn ugly.

“Who doesn’t know? The Black Phoenix Clan is rising fast now. Water Curtain City has fallen—this time, the pro-war faction has really lost face!” Everyone agreed. This news had already spread throughout the Dark Source in the past couple of days. Not only those who were always on the move and well-informed, but even children knew about it. Now, this guy was bragging like a fool here, so naturally, he was met with disdain.

To them, anyone who didn’t know this news must be a country bumpkin from some remote place.

As the crowd chided him, the man’s face turned red, and he couldn’t say a word.

When this topic came up, the small hotel immediately became lively. The people there started chatting among themselves, with the Black Phoenix clan, which was currently rising in power, being the main focus. Of course, there was one famous figure among them—Rod. By now, who didn’t know that Rod was associated with the Black Phoenix clan? He had appeared in every battle so far. Some rumors claimed he was the illegitimate son of the clan leader, while others said he was the fiancé of the clan’s lady, Lucy. All sorts of stories were circulating. The hotel was in an uproar at that moment.

However, in a corner of the hotel, a few tables away, a group remained unusually silent and didn’t join in the chatter. They stood out sharply—a group of men and one woman. The woman wore white clothes and was as beautiful as a fairy, making many people swallow hard. But these details were quickly overlooked because the men around her exuded icy coldness and murderous intent, making others reluctant to provoke them. Having traveled extensively, they knew how to judge people. The discussions seemed to have shifted to Lucy and Rod.

In the distance, the woman sitting in the corner turned red as if her face were bleeding. She lowered her head, too afraid to look at the man across from her. The man had a bitter smile on his lips but couldn’t speak. He hadn’t expected the rumors about him to escalate to such extremes—things like being supported by the clan’s lady. Anyway, every kind of rumor existed. That group was Rod’s party. As dusk fell, days of travel had left everyone exhausted. They stopped in this town for another night, only to hear such talk.

News spread quickly. By the previous two days, the news of Water Screen City’s occupation had reached every corner of the Dark Source. Ice City and Worry-Free City had already taken action, but the army from Dark Moon City remained inactive, which puzzled Rod. “Let’s go up and rest!” Rod said with a bitter smile as the discussions grew more absurd. Staying here, they might hear even more outrageous things. Viski and the others were already radiating murderous intent. If things got out of control, it would be troublesome.