Chapter 008: Who Knows?

Magnus said in a deep voice, “It’s not a big deal. As I said, as long as Young Master Du Fan is willing to do us a favor, I, Magnus, guarantee with my life that I will properly send Young Master Du Fan back to the Gavin Empire. How about that?”
Du Fan sneered inwardly. It was you who captured me, and it was you who said you would let me go. You speak so nicely, yet act as if I’m the one at a loss and you’re the good guy. How shameless!
You barbarians always accuse the Roland people of being shameless, but I guess you’re not much better, are you?
Though he thought this way, he still had to bow his head under their authority. After pretending to consider it for a moment, Du Fan said, “Please go ahead, Chief. As long as it’s within my ability, I will definitely do it. But please make sure to keep your promise then too!”
Magnus nodded slowly and said, “Very well. Then today, I ask Young Master Du Fan to accompany us to the Great Temple for a pilgrimage. As for exactly what you need to do, Ringtone will explain it to you… Ringtone, I leave Young Master Du Fan to you. There are always some little rats that like to cause trouble. Remember to crush them whenever you see them around him!”
Ringtone replied quickly, “Yes, Father!”
Magnus nodded again and gave Du Fan a deep look before saying, “Young Master Du Fan, then go ahead. I still have some matters to attend to. I guess we won’t be able to meet until tonight. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy yourself!”
With that, the chief stood up and strode out of the temple. Stuart hurried after him, but before leaving, he turned around and seemed to glare fiercely at Du Fan.
Du Fan touched his nose, unable to help but smile bitterly. The excuse of sleepwalking could only fool children. What exactly happened last night? Chief Magnus probably guessed most of it. How could someone who led an entire nation be a simple-minded brute?
Fortunately, he had already hinted at everything through his words, and both of them understood each other. Otherwise, they would have turned on each other by now.
Navigating both sides was difficult, just as moving carefully step by step was tough!
Du Fan sighed inwardly. It seemed better not to agree to most of the Fire Tribe’s demands. Although his own conditions offered many benefits, the risks were too great. No matter how you looked at it, his own life was what mattered most!
Du Fan’s expression changed unpredictably, but Ringtone didn’t disturb him.

After standing for a while, Du Fan finally turned to look at Ringo and said, “I’ll have to trouble you today, Miss Ringo!”
Ringo was slightly taken aback and asked, “You know I’m a woman now?”
This time, she didn’t speak in that strange tone but returned to her normal voice. Although her speech in Roland was still awkward, it carried a hint of an exotic flavor.
This woman’s voice was indeed more pleasant than that of a freak, even though the woman before him was extremely strange, she was still a woman after all!
Du Fan sighed inwardly and couldn’t help shaking his head.
“Alright, Miss Ringo,” Du Fan said, his tone carrying an extra layer of meaning. “What should we do now? The clan leader has entrusted me to you, so it’s up to you to explain what to do next.”
Ringo glanced at Du Fan and said, “Today is our Kara clan’s monthly worship ceremony. There will be a rather large market around the Great God Temple. You, Lord Du Fan, might as well take the opportunity to see it. Then, in the evening, I’ll need your help.”
“Oh?”
“In the evening, I’ll take you to the Great God Temple to worship the Great God. By chance, we’ll also meet the High Priest. There, I hope you’ll explain in detail how those two moves of yours work!”
Du Fan smiled and asked, “What if I refuse?”
Ringo sneered and said, “By then, it won’t matter whether you want to or not! Not to mention the High Priest, even I can extract your soul at any time. Just by questioning your soul, I can know everything.”
Du Fan also sneered, “Then I’ll self-destruct the moment my soul is extracted. It might be a painful death, and my soul will vanish from this world forever, but you won’t be able to get anything out of me!”
“You!” Ringo pointed at Du Fan, speechless for a moment.
Du Fan smiled faintly and said, “So, Miss Ringo, if you’re too arrogant, don’t think that just by capturing me, you can make me do anything. There aren’t many people in this world who can use self-destruct techniques, but I happen to be one of them. If you don’t believe it, you can try the power of self-destruct then. I doubt even the most powerful blood sacrifice will allow Ringo to achieve her goals.”
Ringo paused for a moment before, seemingly gritting her teeth, saying, “So what exactly do you want?”

Du Fan smiled and said, “It’s very simple. I’ve already thought it through. Since I’ve been captured, I have to reveal those two techniques whether I like it or not. But I want something in return… In other words… you have no right to force me to tell you what those techniques are. Instead… it’s you who need to offer something in exchange, understand? By the way… I assume you’re also a shaman priest, so you must know a bit about alchemy, right? There seems to be a saying in alchemy that if one wants to obtain something, they must pay an equal price—that’s the principle of equivalent exchange in alchemy!”
“And you…” Du Fan pointed at Ringtone, “want to get those incredibly powerful techniques, but you definitely have to pay a price… But can you afford it?”
Ringtone seemed furious, trembling with anger, but he didn’t dare say anything harsh. He could see determination in Du Fan’s eyes. If it became impossible, this guy would definitely blow himself up without hesitation. Were the Roland people always cowardly and afraid of death? Could this guy really not fear death?
Ringtone stomped his foot in anger and rushed past Du Fan like a whirlwind. Only after a moment did his voice come from outside the temple: “Lord Du Fan, please go ahead…”
Du Fan touched his nose, his gaze a bit distant. He wasn’t sure whether he was talking to himself or to someone else, murmuring, “Magnus, Magnus… Your biggest mistake was letting me know that Ringtone is a woman, and apparently, even a little girl. If her identity had remained hidden like that mask, then I wouldn’t have been able to do anything. But if she’s just a woman… vain, fickle, anxious, irrational, and eager to be conquered… Isn’t that a common trait among all women?”
So, if I can’t even deal with a woman… Do I, Du Fan, still have any purpose?
Du Fan smiled faintly, whether out of sarcasm or self-mockery, it was hard to tell.
…
Sunlight shone down on the earth through the clouds. In this basin surrounded by mountains, a few rays of sunlight broke through, dispersing the year-round humidity and bringing a refreshing feeling.
On the towering peak in the basin, a small market had formed. Ringtone had explained earlier that such markets were similar to the prayers of the Holy Church, held once a month among the barbarians.
Every month at this time, it was not only a day to worship the great god but also a good opportunity for various tribes to trade with each other. This rather large gathering existed for that very purpose!

On the road, there were crowds shouting nonstop everywhere, and some people were crawling on the ground, constantly worshipping in the direction of that towering mountain.
“These are those who wish to become shaman priests,” Reine explained. “To become a shaman priest, devotion is of utmost importance. These people start from their own tribes and make their way toward the sacred mountain, bowing at each step.” She pointed at the towering mountain. “Only by reaching the summit through those stairs and having one’s devotion recognized by the great gods can one become a shaman priest.”
“What if they’re not recognized?” Du Fan asked maliciously.
Reine frowned and sighed softly. “Then it’s up to them. The brave jump straight off the sacred mountain; the valiant draw their weapons and commit suicide. As for the cowardly, they go back home and get themselves a rope… This is the price of becoming a shaman priest…”
Du Fan sighed, thinking, If only all of you barbarians were this brave. They deserve to die! They truly deserve it!
After walking a few more steps at the gathering, Du Fan suddenly wondered, “Miss Reine, have you noticed something? No matter where we go, even in the busiest crowds, a path is always made for us. And those who usually do business also run away as if they’ve seen a ghost. I wanted to take a look around… but this isn’t working… Isn’t your barbarian way of treating guests rather poor? Although I’m your enemy, the Roland people, I can understand throwing eggs at me. But running away at the sight of me… I really don’t get it.”
“Maybe it’s because of me.”
There was a hint of embarrassment in Reine’s voice. Although she had changed out of that strange robe and put on colorful leather armor, revealing her curvaceous figure and making Du Fan stare for a while, she refused to take off her mask at all costs.
So, anyone who saw her first noticed her full breasts, slender waist, and slightly raised hips. With lustful eyes, their gaze would rise to her mask, causing any man who had just started to build up courage to immediately give up. What a disaster for barbarian men, Du Fan thought with a sigh.