Chapter 461: Heading to the Continent

In the deep of night, Rod and Nightingale stood in the annex of the Ice City Lord’s residence. The summer night sky seemed boundless—stars shone brightly, and the moon was exceptionally luminous. The entire land was unaffected by the darkness; everything was clearly visible.

Occasionally, the sound of cicadas could be heard. Of course, the main sounds came from crickets and frogs, their chirping forming a symphony akin to a concert, creating a lively atmosphere.

The night was unusually quiet—though only in this small courtyard. Elsewhere, such as the streets of Ice City, it was bustling with lights and activity, crowded with people, losing none of its former prosperity.

Even inside the lord’s residence, various noble families had gathered to celebrate the return of the troll tribe. For a long time to come, the Source of Darkness would be fully devoted to development, so these people were relaxed and in high spirits, hosting a grand banquet.

Aida, Lucy, and Lilith voluntarily gave Rod and Nightingale some time to themselves. The two enjoyed this rare peace; compared to the outside world, this place seemed like a paradise.

……

“Are you sure it’s him?” Nightingale asked Rod in a serious tone, with a hint of disbelief.

“There’s no doubt!” Rod was filled with emotion. This news had been confirmed long ago, but he hadn’t revealed it, fearing Nightingale might not accept it. But now, it was necessary to tell her.

“What do you plan to do?” Rod took a deep breath and asked, watching Nightingale’s ever-changing expression. He felt concern seeing her pale face—she had just recovered from a serious injury, and her mental state wasn’t good yet; her body was still weak.

“Kill him!” After a long pause, Nightingale suddenly looked up at the starry sky and spoke coldly, her gaze icy, revealing nothing—no emotion at all. It was precisely because of this that Rod was even more worried.

“What’s the reason behind this? He can’t handle this alone!” Seemingly thinking of something else, Nightingale continued to ask.

“The Pro-War faction, the Secret Group—you know them, right? The assassin organization that was once on par with, or even surpassed, yours. He’s allied with them, one of the Pro-War faction’s pawns on the continent!” These details had been confirmed by Rod through Horri and Bianuo.

“Where is that person now?” Taking a deep breath, Nightingale closed her eyes and asked in a low voice. Her complexion turned even paler, making it painful to watch. Rod regretted telling her this news somewhat.
“The Dark Principality!” Rod replied simply. This Dark Principality was a temporary kingdom established by the war faction after sending an army to occupy a territory on the continent. Right now, it was under attack—vampires, wolves, and magical beasts were clashing with human armies, and that person was there.
“When do we set off?”
“In a few days!” After thinking for a moment, Rod replied readily, as he had planned to take Nightingale with him anyway. Knowing this was a source of worry for her, it had to be resolved.
Only by resolving this issue could she truly feel at ease; otherwise, she might never be able to let it go, especially now that she knew the identity of the culprit.
“I’ll go with you!” Though brief, this exchange showed Nightingale’s firm determination, and Rod agreed without hesitation.
After that, perhaps due to the news, Nightingale seemed distracted, lost in thought—perhaps recalling her past life, that wonderful life, though dangerous, yet happy.
A hint of hatred appeared in her eyes. She could never imagine that the one who betrayed her, the one who betrayed her brother and the others, was him! Though she didn’t believe it, hearing it from Rod left her with no excuse or reason.
“Let’s take some time to rest after this!” After a long while, Nightingale finally calmed down and said to Rod in a low voice, clearly in a poor mood.
“Okay!” With the matter of the Demon Soul resolved, Rod also felt relieved and agreed. He had indeed thought the same.
“What about Lucy and Ada?” Seemingly remembering something, concern appeared on Nightingale’s face as she asked Rod.
That question left Rod stunned, not knowing what to say. This had always been a source of worry for him. He thought about taking them along, but since their relationship wasn’t yet settled, it seemed awkward to suggest it. Although he could sense the feelings of those women, he didn’t know how to bring it up. Moreover, he was worried Nightingale might get angry. If he had to choose, he would undoubtedly choose to be with Nightingale.

Thinking of this, he took a deep breath and said, “Let’s go the two of us!” Yet, a hint of disappointment could be seen in his eyes.
“Are you really willing to part with them?” Nightingale asked, amused by Rod’s expression. For some reason, seeing him like this instantly improved her mood.
Hearing Lucy’s words, Rod looked at her in confusion, unsure what the girl was thinking.
“Take them with us. I can tell they all like you, and you feel the same for them. There’s no need to deceive yourself. We get along very well; you really don’t have to worry about me,” Nightingale said with a sigh.
It was somewhat depressing—who would want to share their man with others, even their best friends? No one would do that, not even the most generous person.
But she also knew that someone like Rod was destined to be extraordinary, never living an ordinary life like ordinary people. He was already a legend now, and such a man couldn’t belong to just one person. Perhaps if she asked, he would agree, but would he really be happy? And would she be happy?
What would happen then? No one knew. Nightingale had known this before, and now even more so. Besides, she knew Lucy and the others as well. So, he was willing to share them. For Rod, this was what love meant—tolerant love.
Unexpecting Nightingale to say such things, Rod didn’t know how to respond for a moment, and the two continued in silence.
Walking side by side by the lake, they enjoyed the gentle breeze and the coolness of the night, listened to the chirping of insects, and gazed at the starry sky as they moved forward slowly.
“It’s getting late. Let’s go back and rest!” Nightingale said to Rod after a while.
“I really meant what I said. I’ll only be happy if you’re happy. Don’t force yourself to do anything. Do whatever you want—otherwise, you’ll get too tired. I don’t want my man to be so tired!” Taking another deep breath, Nightingale added.
Hearing her words, Rod felt a warmth spreading through his heart. His throat seemed choked, preventing him from speaking.
It seemed as if the words Nightingale had said to him back in Iron Bar Town echoed in his mind: “In life, let us encourage each other; in death, let us rest together!”
Rod still remembered those words vividly, as if they had happened just yesterday, crystal clear.

After seeing Nightingale off to his residence, Rod was still filled with emotions. In the deep silence of the night, it always sparked more thoughts, bringing a sense of profound melancholy.

…

A few days later, news of the trolls’ return and their decision to retreat once again reached every corner of the Source of Darkness, arousing awe among countless people—some expressing regret, some confusion, and others admiration. The trolls’ formidable strength could not be ignored. Who could now rule the Source of Darkness? It was the trolls, yet they had no such ambitions. This also revealed how despicable the actions of the war advocates had been. In no time, the trolls became a symbol of justice and became widely renowned throughout the land.

Naturally, as time passed, the people gathered in Ice City began to leave. Yet even so, Ice City remained bustling—a war had made it famous throughout the land.

The members of various families also started to depart at this time. However, a small group set off on a new journey—Rod and his companions. Before heading to the continent, they had to visit Water Curtain City first.

On the other hand, Sognar, Bianuo, and others had already set out for the continent earlier, while the Wolf King and others went to the Hundred Thousand Mountains. The matter of divine status needed to be resolved quickly, so Rod could only regretfully miss the chance to witness the spectacular scene. Nightingale, Lucy, and the others originally didn’t want to go either since Rod wasn’t there, but under his insistence, they were forced to head to the Hundred Thousand Mountains. This experience would bring them unimaginable benefits—at least it would save them many detours on their path to the Heavenly Dao. It was an opportunity others could never hope for, and Rod certainly wouldn’t let them waste it.

As for him, it didn’t really matter. Whether he watched or not made little difference; the matter of the Demon General was more important.

Not many people went to Water Curtain City—Merk, Rod, and Elder Andrews. The three of them were enough to seal the Demon General. No one else was needed; their presence would only waste time.

As for the continent, everyone was prepared. Twenty days later, they would gather in Water Curtain City and set off for the continent.