NOVEL NEXT Chapter 638: Return to Somerset
— A few Days later - New Atlantis —
At New Atlantis Airport, a short-haired young man wearing sleek black glasses and a sharp suit, exuding the charisma of a K-pop star, walked beside a middle-aged man in spectacles. The older man's expression was stoic and stiff, though his occasional glances toward the younger man betrayed a mix of complex emotions, as if a thousand unspoken words were caught in his throat.
"Ahahaha! This place is nice, isn't it, Ah-San?" the young man remarked casually, his tone carefree. He addressed the older man as though speaking to a subordinate.
Women at the airport couldn't help but swoon over the young man, who was clearly enjoying the attention.
"Ancestor, please. Respect yourself. You're already over 2,000 years old," the middle-aged man said with a weary sigh, his tone carrying a hint of exasperation.
"I always respect myself, Ah-San. That's precisely why I make sure to enjoy the rewards and pleasures I deserve!" the young man—no, the Ancestor—replied with a gleeful smile.
"Sigh~~~" The middle-aged man could only let out a long, tired exhale. He now fully understood where his idiotic son had inherited his behavior. It's in the DNA! Fortunately, he had taken after his maternal side more than the paternal one, and for that, he was deeply grateful for heaven. Otherwise he might be a frivolous idiot like his ancestor and his son.
"Ah-San~ I can tell you're thinking something rude about me, but it's fine," the Ancestor suddenly teased, a mischievous smile playing on his lips, causing the patriarch to shiver involuntarily.
These two men were none other than the patriarch of the Peng Clan, the father of the Peng Clan's young master, Peng Rui, and the Ancestor of the Peng Clan himself—Peng Jun.
The two check in to the hotel, after they kept their luggage and take some rest they immediately go to Astral Corporation HQ.
At the busy street of the business district, a highrise tower that used to be the highest tower of the New Atlantis, the Astral Corporation HQ. Now with the building of the Ivory Tower that's a HQ of the Order of Ember include embassy and lodging of the people from the Curtained World, make this old building a little inferior in comparison.
The two men from the Peng Clan stared in awe at the two towering structures before them. The Ivory Tower, not far from the Astral Corp building, stood just across the adjacent city block. Though slightly shorter, the Astral Corp building radiated the prestige of a top-tier tech company, its futuristic design exuding an aura of innovation and dominance.
Peng Jun's gaze fixed on the peak of the Astral Corp Tower, where he sensed an overwhelming power emanating from its pinnacle. It was clear to him, that was where the Empress of the West resided.
"Let's go. We mustn't keep the Empress waiting," Peng Jun said firmly, leading the way into the building.
After a brief wait for confirmation from the higher-ups, the receptionist greeted them with a professional smile and escorted them to the VIP elevator, which whisked them to the rooftop where Tian Xingyun awaited.
On the rooftop, the two men were greeted by an unexpected sight: a woman sat enjoying a set of traditional Han sweets with a little girl, her expression soft and full of affection. The woman was dressed simply, in a plain one-piece blouse and a long skirt that gave her the appearance of a traditional housewife. This serene figure was none other than Tian Xingyun, the Empress of the West they had come to meet.
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"Er… Your Majesty…" Peng Jun stammered, attempting to gain her attention while still careful not to appear disrespectful.
Tian Xingyun turned her gaze on them, her eyes briefly flashing with a cold, piercing glare that sent shivers down their spines. For a moment, the sharp killing intent was palpable, but as quickly as it appeared, it vanished. Her expression softened as she turned to the little girl beside her.
"Little Sylvy, go inside and play with Mama Penthesilea for now, alright? I have a meeting with these two uncles, but I'll come to you shortly, okay?" Tian Xingyun's gentle tone was a stark contrast to her earlier demeanor, leaving the two men nearly dumbfounded.
Is this the same gloomy and stern woman who oversees the Heavenly Palace?! Are we crazy, or is the world crazy?! they wondered, their perception of the infamous Empress utterly shaken.
"Okay, Mama Xingyun." The little girl nodded obediently and then turned to her pets. "Sat, let's go!" She hopped onto the back of the mongrel dog, whose comical face was accentuated by a patch of black fur around its right eye, making it look like it had been punched.
The two lizards and the alligator followed. The yellow iguana hopped onto Sylvana's head, perching there like a crown, while the black rabbit attempted to do the same. However, the iguana smacked it down with its tail, forcing the rabbit to follow on the ground alongside the alligator.
The absurdity of the scene left the two men questioning their sanity. What has happened to our Empress?. Did she get replaced by someone with the same face and cultivation? In their memories, the Empress had always been a cold, domineering figure, yet now she seemed more like a happy mother.
Once the little one entered the house, Tian Xingyun's eyes shifted back to the cold, commanding gaze the two men remembered all too well.
"Follow me to the gazebo. We have a long talk ahead," Tian Xingyun said curtly, leading the way to a nearby gazebo.
Peng Jun stood respectfully beside the gazebo, not daring to sit at the same level as the Empress. This was a standard display of etiquette when dealing with beings of her immense power and authority.
Tian Xingyun said nothing at first. She simply sat silently, her piercing gaze fixed on the two men. Their nervousness was evident; beads of cold sweat formed on their foreheads and trickled down their necks. Only after she was satisfied that their discomfort and nervousness had softened them enough did she finally speak.
"Tell me," she said, her tone icy and authoritative, "What is the current situation in the Immortal World?"
— Meanwhile - Somerset —
The greenery of the countryside stretched out to the horizon, dotted with small flocks of sheep grazing peacefully. Scattered among the fields were old medieval-style houses and farmsteads, with a quaint, medieval church standing in the background. This was the county of Somerset.
Envy stood in front of an ancient castle—her old home. She had long since transferred ownership to her former butler, Henry Pembroke, as an apology for being unable to reciprocate his feelings at the time. But... there was something she had forgotten back then.
Hidden within the castle was a secret cache—a treasure trove of invaluable relics from ages past. It contained artifacts of immense power: an obelisk unearthed from Egypt's Valley of the Kings that could tear a battleship apart when infused with mana, a fragment of the legendary Aegis shield of the goddess Athena, and even the staff of Merlin himself.
As Envy stepped onto the castle grounds, she noticed the garden had fallen into disrepair. Vines and wild weeds grew unchecked, and patches of mud and grime marred the stone pathways. It was clear no one had been maintaining the place. She remembered the many servants who once tended the estate. But where were they now? The castle looked abandoned, as though it had been left untouched for years.
She approached the front door—a large wooden double gate that led to the main building. Her objective lay inside: the secret compartment in her old bedroom.
Knock, knock, knock.
Envy used the iron knocker ring, its cold touch sparking memories of the days she once lived here. This place held so many fond memories. She could almost see the silhouette of the man who was her first love… the one who had guided and strengthened her on the path to becoming the strongest witch... Merlin.
"To think I believed I could move on…" she murmured. "But the moment I return here... I'm still the same. How pathetic of me." She sighed, clutching the faint memory of that silhouette in her mind.
After waiting a few minutes without a response, she pushed the door. It creaked open—it wasn't locked.
She stepped into the living room, which was now but a shadow of its former grandeur. The once-opulent hall was in shambles. The seating by the grand old fireplace was gone, replaced by empty wine and alcohol bottles scattered across the floor. A chandelier had fallen and shattered, leaving glass and crystal fragments everywhere. Yet amidst the ruin, she noticed a cleared path through the debris, as though someone had carefully made a trail for walking.
Despite the disrepair, the magical artifacts remained untouched. Swords, muskets, and other enchanted relics from her long life were still displayed in their cases and on their stands.