Chapter 1337: That which follows

[Soul Points offered to the Laws of the world: +300]

[+300]

[+300]

…

Watching these messages continuously popping up on the War God UI, Gu Qing Shan was in no mood to join some sort of random banquet.

This is an endless expenditure.

I need to come up with a way to get more Soul Points.

——-but until the Viscount comes back, the conferring ceremony wouldn’t begin, and I wouldn’t be able to leave.

Gu Qing Shan sighed helplessly and looked for a place in the corner to sit down.

I wonder how things will proceed.

If I’m a person with actual authority in my hands like Viscount Warren, I might be able to participate in the upcoming incidents.

While he was thinking, Crow walked up and sat down next to him.

“The first dance is about to begin, tsk tsk, so many beautiful young girls as well as alluring mature ladies, unfortunately, I…”

Crow sighed and hung her head backwards, sitting cross-legged without minding appearance.

“No need to pay attention to them, or this entire ball, we need to think of a solution to deal with the Apocalypse of this world, only then would the three of us be able to return to how we were” Gu Qing Shan muttered in a low voice.

Crow glanced at him, then said: “I think that duck plushie probably doesn’t want to turn back”

“What do you mean?” Gu Qing Shan asked.

Crow gestured with her eyes.

Gu Qing Shan followed her gaze and saw a group of pretty aristocratic young ladies.

The duck plushie was being passed around their hands, rubbing a bit here, being hugged a bit there.

Gu Qing Shan hesitated a bit, then sent his voice to the duck plushie: “Yu Juan, you want me to save you?”

The duck plushie’s excited voice immediately returned:

“No no no! This is the highest point of my entire life, give me a bit of time to commit this to memory!”

Gu Qing Shan: “…”

Seeing Gu Qing Shan’s expression, Crow smirked teasingly: “Are you curious why those aristocratic ladies are so interested in a small plush toy that’s only worth one copper coin?”

“A little bit” Gu Qing Shan replied.

“Because it belongs to you” Crow replied.

Gu Qing Shan was surprised by that answer.

Crow observed him for a bit, then continued: “A handsome 15-year-old young man, confirmed as the first Condemner in hundreds of years, courageous enough to face monsters head-on, being personally received by the Viscount as soon as you arrived, and you’ll soon be conferred a Baron title. I have no doubts that many of the ladies here are thinking of nothing but how to approach you”

As soon as she finished, music began to play.

“The first dance is about to begin, look at those ladies, all of them look like they’re preparing themselves to get on a battlefield——”

Halfway through, Crow stopped talking.

“Greeting, Rhode, may I have this first dance?” an aristocratic young lady approached Gu Qing Shan and gracefully asked.

Gu Qing Shan quickly stood up, apologetically telling her: “My apologies, I think I’ll sit still for a bit longer”

The young girl giggled, then continued: “You are probably saving the first dance for the young lady of the Viscount; that is fine, I’ll take this loss and accompany you for the second dance”

Without waiting for Gu Qing Shan to refuse any further, she turned around and left.

Gu Qing Shan raised his hand halfway, but couldn’t really pull the other party back, nor could he shout his answer at her.

——that would draw the attention of the entire hall.

Under everyone’s scrutinizing gazes, how could he publicly refuse a young girl’s invitation?

Wouldn’t that cause her trouble?

Dejectedly, Gu Qing Shan lowered his hand.

Crow commented on the side: “See, this is the lady’s way, backing off as a way of advancing. Not only did she display her grace and etiquette, but she also ensured that you couldn’t reject her for the second dance”

Gu Qing Shan complained: “I’m not here to dance, I’m——-”

Before he finished his words, another aristocratic young lady slowly approached.

“I saw what happened earlier, Rhode, I’d like to reserve your third dance”

The girl then silently winked at Gu Qing Shan and lowered her voice: “Rhode, I’m a high-ranked worshipper of the Goddess of Enjoyment”

She put up one finger and drew a small circle in the air, implying that none of the girls here were better than her.

She then left.

Watching this, Crow frowned in dejection and muttered: “Enjoyment… I really want to experience that once, how unfortunate that I’ve become a woman”

A butler suddenly approached Gu Qing Shan and quickly informed him: “Young master Rhode, the Viscount had returned. Once the first dance is over, he will personally confer your title and peerage”

“I understand, thank you” Gu Qing Shan replied.

The butler nodded, then turned to leave.

Gu Qing Shan relaxed a bit.

It seems Count Heath’s matter was over.

With these bigshots’ discerning eyes and strength, they should be able to issue a warning against the Apocalypse’s invasion to everyone.

At this time, the first dance had officially begun.

Gu Qing Shan glanced around, only to see the two daughters of the Viscount glancing at him.

Their eyes contained a…

Something that caused Gu Qing Shan to feel scared.

“Crow”

“What?”

“Dance with me”

“What——”

Before the words could be said, she had already been pulled by Gu Qing Shan onto the dance floor.

The music became louder.

Everyone officially began to dance.

“Do you have… gynophobia?”

While dancing, Crow curiously sent her voice and asked.

Gu Qing Shan replied: “No, we don’t have time to be doing these unnecessary matters”

Crow displayed a disapproving expression: “The joy of life comes from the sum of all these unnecessary matters”

Gu Qing Shan glanced at his War God UI.

His Soul Points value was still going down, 300 points every second.

“Right now, we need to focus everything we have on resolving the issue of this world” Gu Qing Shan replied.

“I’ll remind you; you’re pushing up against my chest” Crow said with a very stern expression.

Gu Qing Shan looked down, then silently stepped back a bit.

Suddenly, some commotion could be heard outside.

A group of men wearing cultivator robes and yaksha masks entered the hall.

They spoke a bit to the butler, but didn’t join the ball and instead went into a secluded corner, silently standing still.

Next to Gu Qing Shan and Crow, an aristocratic lady whispered: “Why did these guys come here?”

Her dance partner was a gentleman, explaining: “These men are known for their careful working attitude, so the Viscount occasionally allows them to participate in these events. Consider it a kind of reward for them, if you will”

The aristocratic lady smiled jokingly: “I understand, so they’re like the hound dogs that my family raises; whenever I’m in a good mood, I’d throw them a bone or two”

“That’s exactly what they are”

Gu Qing Shan and Crow exchanged glances.

“Look, the people of this world have already gotten used to the existence of the wraiths” Crow whispered.

Gu Qing Shan glanced around.

Just like the previous pair, the other young ladies and gentlemen only gave them a curt glance before ignoring them completely.

——the air of the banquet wasn’t affected at all, still full of enjoyment and festivities.

On the other hand, Gu Qing Shan became more cautious.

He could sense the gazes of these wraiths occasionally wandering towards him.

When the song was over.

As soon as Gu Qing Shan left the dance floor, a wraith walked up and clasped his fist: “Esteemed young master Rhode, we of the Wraith realm have a gift we would like to present to you, please follow me”

Gu Qing Shan stood still and asked: “Do you present a gift to every noble at their title conferring ceremonies?”

Behind him, another noble chimed in: “That’s right, Rhode, for the last few thousand years, they had always respected the strong like us. Go, accept the homage and dedication of these off-worlders”

Gu Qing Shan stayed silent for a moment before smiling: “Then I suppose I shall”

At this point, several things had occurred at once——

Two lines of glowing text suddenly popped up on the War God UI:

[You’ve completely grasped the Sword Dance of Offering, and you’ve performed a normal dance]

[Attention, when the next dance begins, your dancing skills will be improved]

At the same time, at the end of the hall, the Viscount suddenly showed himself.

His appearance was celebrated by everyone.

“He had returned, I wonder how things are going on the other side” Crow muttered.

“There should be no issues, such monsters would definitely draw the attention of stronger Combatants” Gu Qing Shan replied.

“——Rhode, come” the Viscount smiled and called out to him.

He was holding an intricate ceremonial sword in his hand.

“I would like to ask for everyone here to bear witness, for I shall officially confer Rhode as a Baron” the Viscount loudly declared.

Everyone began to clap.

Gu Qing Shan told the wraith: “It seems you will have to wait a bit”

“That is natural” the wraith stepped out of his way.

Gu Qing Shan began walking towards the Viscount.

Suddenly, he felt a burning sensation on his wrist.

——the proof of entry was being triggered!

Whispering voices resounded by his ears:

「 You have unveiled the beginning of the Plague Apocalypse to the upper brass of this world, successfully rousing their caution 」

「 The living beings of this world should now be able to make the early preparations to fight against the Apocalypse 」

「 Even so, important historical moments of history would still occur one after another as time continuously goes by 」

「 That is the first moments of the wraiths’ destruction of this world 」

「 This incident has concluded; your mission has been perfectly completed 」

Within Gu Qing Shan’s inner sight, the indigo sword pattern on his wrist began to burn, turning into a completely new pattern.

——-a skull.

「 You have received our recognition, as such we shall explain to you the origin of this world’s previous destruction 」

「 The betrayal of the wraiths began from a minor incident 」

「 That incident would occur on this day in history, exactly one hour from now 」

「 Historians would later call this incident: Death of the young Baron 」