Xiao Xun extended his hands to grip the staff. "What do you mean by this?"
The High Priest did not reply. Instead, he slowly closed his eyes and leaned towards Xiao Xun. Xiao Xun shifted his body, and the High Priest fell straight to the ground, presumably dead.
This scene stunned the guards behind Xiao Xun. They quickly rushed over to help the dust-covered High Priest to his feet. "Are you alright!"
If the High Priest were conscious, he would have surely cursed Xiao Xun, but now he could not utter a single word.
The soldiers discovered several poison needles, as thick as thumbs, embedded in the High Priest's chest. They resembled a wasp's stinger, but were much thicker.
Xiao Xun did not linger. He was worried about Celeres's safety and continued deeper into the catacombs with his staff. The ground was littered with burnt remains, the unfortunate souls who had no time to escape.
Reaching the center of the catacombs, Xiao Xun finally saw Empress Celeres.
The two dragons in the catacombs, no, three of them, had vanished.
"Your Majesty, what happened?"
Hearing the voice, Celeres turned to look at Xiao Xun. Just as she was about to speak, she spotted the staff in his hand.
"Isn't this staff my teacher's? How did it end up with you?"
Xiao Xun held the staff with one hand. "He just gave it to me, asking me to take good care of you."
"What happened to him?"
Xiao Xun's mouth twitched. Finally, he said, "He's likely gone."
Celeres's eyes reddened, her lips trembling. After a long moment, her expression turned stern. "If this revenge is not taken, I am not human."
Xiao Xun quickly asked, "Who did it?"
Celeres's expression became dazed. "I don't know."
The two returned to the surface. The entire city was striving to restore itself.
The captain of the guards approached and saluted them. "Your Majesty, the High Priest's sacred body has been placed in the coffin."
Celeres nodded and asked the captain, "Has Duke Horton arrived?"
"We were notified three days ago. He should be arriving soon."
Celeres pointed to the collapsed area of the catacombs. "Inform them not to restore this place. Convert it directly into an arena."
The captain acknowledged, "Yes," and turned to leave.
After the captain departed, Xiao Xun curiously asked, "Who is this Duke Horton?"
"By the calculations of that world, he is my cousin! Known as the Phoenix Lord."
Xiao Xun patted his money pouch and found no gold coins. "Say whatever you wish!"
Celeres frowned. "You're saying that again. How can you be called Xiao Xun, but others cannot use this name? Did you apply for a patent?"
"Not exactly, but in this situation, it feels too similar."
Celeres glanced back at the catacombs. "The morning court is about to begin. Let's go!"
The two boarded a carriage and headed to the Fire Shield Divine King's Palace. As Xiao Xun entered, he muttered, "Fire Shield, Horton... there's no necessary connection, is there?"
Celeres had already gone upstairs. Xiao Xun entered from the first floor and proceeded to his seat.
The two individuals below Empress Celeres on the steps were gone. The faces of the dukes and ministers were grim. Many also cast their gaze upon the staff in Xiao Xun's hand.
"The High Priest was assassinated, and all arrows are now pointing towards Winter. Today's council meeting is to elect a new Prime Minister to lead the House of Commons and soon launch a campaign against the Winter Kingdom. As for the High Priest's position, he passed the staff to Svein before his death. I believe no one will have any objections, right?"
No one spoke from below, but all eyes were fixed on Xiao Xun, their minds occupied by three words: "Why?"
Although Xiao Xun had led the army to victory against the barbarians and pacified the northwest, the position of High Priest was a crucial state instrument, not something that could be earned merely through military achievements.
However, due to Xiao Xun's current prestige in the army and the Empress's favor, no one stepped forward to object.
After the court adjourned, Xiao Xun waited at the staircase for Celeres to come down.
Just then, a guard approached the descending Empress. "Your Majesty, Duke Horton has arrived."
"Have him wait for me in the side hall."
The guard replied, "Yes," and turned to leave.
Xiao Xun watched as Celeres extended her left hand, and the Empress naturally placed her hand upon it.
This gave Xiao Xun a feeling of having traveled back in time and become a young eunuch close to the Empress Dowager of the West.
The two, sharing a moment of telepathy, seemed to have the same feeling and couldn't help but smile.
The so-called side hall was actually a rather large reception room.
Duke Horton, a golden-haired man in a blue cloak, stood by the window, gazing at the scenery outside. Hearing the door open, he turned and saluted Her Majesty. "Your Majesty, I have returned."
"I've called you back mainly for two things. The first is for you to preside over the High Priest's funeral; the second is that I want to borrow your Phoenix Army to cooperate with my Royal Guard, and the Celtic Fearless Vanguard Legion, to jointly resist and suppress Winter."
Duke Horton nodded. "That's not a problem. For the entire Phoenix Army to arrive here, it will take at least a month."
Celeres's expression was grave. "You don't have a month. I'm giving you a week. I want to see the entire Phoenix Army appear in the capital."
Duke Horton's expression turned displeased. He shifted his gaze to Xiao Xun. "You must be Svein, known as the peerless strategian! I heard you pacified the barbarian territories."
Xiao Xun looked at Duke Horton, who had a large, hooked nose, and did not feel much affection for him. This was because when he was a child, the village elders had told him that people with such features were cunning and full of tricks. Thus, his first impression was that this man was a villain, and he needed to be cautious.
Despite his poor impression, he had to maintain appearances. After all, this was a Duke, and the Empress's cousin. "That's correct. It is I."
Duke Horton nodded at him and repeated three times, "Very good, very good, very good!"
He then turned to Celeres and said, "Your Majesty, if there's nothing else, I'll be going to the House of Commons. I need to discuss the funeral's specifications with those 'old guys'."
With that, without waiting for Celeres's consent, he strode past her and pushed the door open to leave.
Xiao Xun turned to watch Duke Horton's departing back and whispered, "He doesn't look like a good person at all."
Celeres said softly, "Yes! If it weren't for him, perhaps my brother wouldn't have died."
Seeing that he had reopened her painful memories, Xiao Xun felt very apologetic.
He recalled a poem and softly recited it: "Life brings joy and sorrow, the moon waxes and wanes. Such things have always been difficult to perfect."
Celeres turned to look at him, her expression softening considerably. "What's the next line?"
Xiao Xun blinked. "I only hope you can be happy and not so angry, or you won't be beautiful."
Celeres let out a soft 'hum,' then, blushing, whispered, "Annoying."
After they left the Fire Shield Divine King's Palace, they got into the carriage and, under the protection of the guards, headed towards the castle.
As they passed through Big Street, twelve figures in black robes, wearing black 'masks,' blocked the caravan's path.
Celeres calmly said to Xiao Xun, "These twelve people are here for you. I'll go on ahead."
Xiao Xun looked at Celeres, curiously asking, "How did you know?"
Celeres explained to Xiao Xun, "Did you forget? These twelve people are my teacher, the High Priest's, twelve apostles. You are now the heir to the High Priest, so they naturally came to find you."
Just as Xiao Xun was about to get out of the carriage, the captain of the guards approached and saluted the car. "Lord Svein, they are..."
Xiao Xun, who directly opened the car door, interrupted him. "I know. They're looking for me. You all go on ahead!"
With that, holding his staff, he approached the twelve individuals. "You're looking for me, is it because of the staff, or for some other reason?"