Chapter 402: Brave Hero and Tranquil Hill

Just as Shuang Tu had anticipated, Lan Zao regained consciousness that very afternoon.

Lan Zao was also placed in a private ward, which made it convenient for Shuang Tu to have a private conversation with him later.

“Where am I? And who are you?" Lan Zao asked upon waking.

Shuang Tu introduced himself: "This is Flower Skirt Island. I am Shuang Tu, the island's physician, a snow elf druid, as you can see. You were brought here for treatment by Bing Xiao's group."

Hearing this, Lan Zao felt a wave of disappointment washing over him.

When he had regained consciousness in this unfamiliar place, a faint glimmer of hope had flickered within him.

He had hoped that during his unconsciousness, some unexpected event had occurred, allowing him to escape the perilous situation aboard the Divine Wind.

But he was disappointed.

“Now I have more important matters to discuss with you,” Shuang Tu said, his expression turning serious.

Lan Zao stared at him.

Shuang Tu continued, "First, please rest assured and try to relax. A magic formation has been activated in this room. Any conversation we have from here on out will be completely confidential."

“Second, what I'm about to say may be emotionally jarring. Please don't get worked up, stay calm.”

He paused here, giving Lan Zao time to process, before continuing, “I know you're part of the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps.”

Clang!

The next instant, Lan Zao leaped violently from the bed, arms outstretched, lunging toward Shuang Tu.

Several deep green vines suddenly sprouted, snatching him mid-air and binding him tightly.

Lan Zao was tightly bound, suspended in mid-air, unable to move.

He struggled desperately but couldn't break free from the vines. He glared fiercely at Shuang Tu, his eyes burning with murderous intent.

Shuang Tu's expression darkened, the earlier smile vanishing.

In the adjacent hospital room, the human ringleader witnessed this scene through the magic projection and couldn't help but sigh.

Lan Zao's impulsiveness deeply disappointed him.

Then he heard Lan Zao speak: "I've never heard of any Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps! Don't think you can use me! Bing Xiao! Lord Bing Xiao!"

Lan Zao cried out for help.

This action caused the human ringleader to lower his head, covering his face with his palm.

Lan Zao was being foolish. Denying it now was pointless; his earlier extreme actions had already spoken volumes.

His attempt to summon Bing Xiao revealed his desperate attempt to rectify his mistake, his bid to break the deadlock through external forces.

Clearly, it was all self-defeating!

Shuang Tu manipulated the vines with his mind, slowly pulling Lan Zao toward him.

His face was clouded with worry as he sighed, “I already told you, this room is sealed by a magic formation. It's completely isolated and hidden. No matter how loud you scream, no one outside can hear you.”

“Calm down. I'm on your side.”

“Hah! Don't even think about using me!” Lan Zao, immobilized and choked red by the vines, struggled desperately.

Suddenly, he snapped his jaws shut and bit through his own tongue!

He intended to bite his tongue off and kill himself.

This scene stunned both Shuang Tu and the human ringleader.

Neither had anticipated Lan Zao's ruthless resolve!

They had underestimated Lan Zao's loyalty to the dragonman youngster. According to the intelligence they had obtained, in their view: Lan Zao was merely a mercenary recruited by the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps on Snake Rat Island. Having served under the dragonman youngster for only a short time, it was a series of unfortunate coincidences that led to his misunderstanding by Bing Xiao and subsequent boarding of the Divine Wind.

“This guy's real ruthless!” The human ringleader suddenly recalled the magic footage he'd seen earlier. Lan Zao had indeed fought with extraordinary bravery and utter disregard for his own life during the Bayonet Gang's escape battle.

The human ringleader was unaware of Lan Zao's state of mind at the time.

Lan Zao had always believed he had consumed a fatal potion, that his days were numbered and his body was collapsing. He wanted to contribute as much as possible before dying.

That was his mindset then, and it remained unchanged upon waking.

Thus, he lunged at Shuang Tu without hesitation, thinking to take down one more enemy if possible.

Now, biting his tongue to end his life, he showed no hesitation either. He feared some mysterious magic means might force him to reveal secrets like Mystifying Monster Island, thereby endangering the dragonman youngster.

Shuang Tu watched Lan Zao spewing blood from his mouth and hastily cast healing spells upon him while showing him a magic projection.

The magic projection showed the Snow Bird Harbor City Lord, Zong Ge disguised as Long Fu, and Zi Di posing as Magician Yao Ma, signing a secret magic pact.

The pact's core concern was Lan Zao.

At the projection's end, Zong Ge, as Long Fu, gazed at Lan Zao through the image and left a message: "Don't give up hope. Hold on. Trust me. When the time is right, I'll come for you."

“Commander...” Lan Zao murmured inwardly, his eyes quickly reddening. He had no doubt about the “Long Fu's” promise. For he knew the dragonman youngster was precisely such an outstanding, reliable, and admirable leader!

Lan Zao failed to recognize that the "Long Fu" in the magic image was actually Zong Ge in disguise.

Zong Ge had assumed the role of the dragonman youngster after Lan Zao was forcibly taken aboard the Divine Wind and carried away.

He had once again employed the Deceptive Disguise spell to alter his appearance. This was a fact unknown to Lan Zao, so he could not discern Zong Ge's true form.

But Lan Zao could recognize the figure of Magician Yao Ma in the magic image.

In his eyes, Yao Ma appeared as Zi Di.

He knew the secret that Zi Di was impersonating Yao Ma. Thus, this Deceptive Disguise spell on Zi Di was ineffective against Lan Zao.

Such is the peculiar nature of the Deceptive Disguise spell.

Zi Di also left words for Lan Zao: "Staying alive is what matters most. Don't dwell on it too much. Everyone is waiting for your return."

Her words held profound meaning, though Lan Zao failed to grasp it.

After confirming the magic image's authenticity, Lan Zao suddenly calmed, his entire body relaxing.

“Then who are you?” Lan Zao stared at Shuang Tu and demanded.

The human ringleader who had been spying on this exchange frowned, letting out another sigh.

Lan Zao had let down his guard and trusted this stranger, leaving the human ringleader deeply disappointed.

“He's far too gullible!”

“Didn't he consider that this magic image could be forged?”

“How can someone like this cooperate with me during future undercover missions?”

“How can I possibly dare to work with someone like that?”

Shuang Tu's estimation of Lan Zao dropped another notch.

Neither realized Lan Zao had already verified the image's authenticity through the Deceptive Disguise spell's properties.

Shuang Tu showed Lan Zao a second magic image.

This was the same one the human ringleader had viewed earlier that morning.

It captured the Bayonet Gang's desperate battle as they fled Snow Bird Harbor's docks. The footage had been edited to focus solely on one protagonist, Lan Zao himself.

Upon seeing this, Lan Zao suddenly recognized Shuang Tu’s identity.

He had long known that the mage tower at Snow Bird Harbor’s docks possessed the ability to record history.

He deduced, “So you’re one of Snow Bird Harbor City Lord’s men.”

Shuang Tu’s face softened into a faint smile as he nodded, “You’ve guessed correctly.”

"So I can go back now? When can I return?" Lan Zao grew excited.

Shuang Tu shook his head slightly, then nodded. "You've already seen the first magic image. You're also aware of the magic contract's signing."

“Once you complete your mission, you may return.”

“Not only that, but you'll receive a generous reward!”

"Though your acceptance by Bing Xiao was a tremendous surprise, it turned out to be a fortunate mistake, giving us a glimmer of hope."

“To put it plainly, the Bayonet Gang members were deliberately released by the city lord.”

Lan Zao was utterly astonished, “Why would the city lord do such a thing?”

“Because of Tranquil Hill.”

“Tranquil Hill?” Lan Zao furrowed his brow, utterly perplexed, “What in the world is that?”

At this point, the human ringleader could no longer bear to watch.

He rolled his eyes, flopping back onto his sickbed, utterly drained.

Lan Zao hailed from the Dragon Lion Mercenary Corps, an organization of pure outsiders.

Thus, he knew nothing of place names like Tranquil Hill.

Shuang Tu proved far more patient than the human ringleader. He briefly recounted the legend of Tranquil Hill to Lan Zao.

It happened during the Barbarian and Dragon Era.

The pact between the barbarians and the dragons had shattered.

On the Frost Continent, two leaders emerged.

One was the hero Man Ying, who led the barbarians. The other was the warrior Xue Yong, who commanded the snow elves.

Man Ying and Xue Yong were the two strongest beings on the Frost Continent. Both harbored the grand vision of unifying the world and bringing peace to the land.

Through their encounters and clashes, they recognized shared ideals and aspirations, gradually developing mutual respect and forging a deep bond.

The cunning Black Dragon King, unwilling to see such a powerful alliance, struck first. Using deceit and trickery, he orchestrated a series of misunderstandings, successfully driving a wedge between the two races.

As the barbarians and snow elves stood on the brink of all-out war, Man Ying and Xue Yong found themselves compelled to fight with all their might, determined to win the weapon for the person they most admired in this world.

Man Ying, wishing to avoid a large-scale conflict, proposed a personal duel to Xue Yong.

Xue Yong, equally reluctant to see his people shed excessive blood, accepted the challenge. They agreed that the outcome of their duel would determine the fate of their respective tribes.

The barbarians urged Man Ying to gather their bravest warriors in advance and launch a surprise attack on the snow elves, striking first.

Man Ying refused, rebuking them: “That dishonors our fighters!”

The snow elves proposed a scheme to Xue Yong: to poison and assassinate Man Ying. Snow Yong rejected it: “That tramples upon our friendship.”

On the day of the duel, both Man Ying and Xue Yong brought an ice coffin.

Man Ying said to Xue Yong: "Though I must fight you, my will is as transparent and pure as this ice. My dear friend, I vow to fight this battle without resorting to any underhanded tactics."

Xue Yong also declared solemnly: "My friend, our friendship is as unbreakable as this ice coffin. Yet our people must contend, and the Frost Continent can have but one royal lineage. I pledge to you: no schemes, no poison. I will fight with all my strength and accept whatever outcome befalls us."

The two further agreed: should either fall in battle, the survivor would seal the fallen's remains within an ice coffin and carry them to Tranquil Hill for burial.

A breathtaking duel commenced.

They fought for three days and three nights, both perishing in the clash.

Countless black dragons descended like a storm, slaughtering all in their path.

The Black Dragon King seized the opportunity to slaughter the barbarians and snow elves. With Man Ying and Xue Yong dead, no one remained on the Frost Continent to challenge the Black Dragon King.

The Black Dragon King placed their bodies in two ice coffins, displaying them as trophies in his cavern to flaunt his brutal conquests.

Raging ice and snow from the Frost Continent surged into his lair, carrying the two ice coffins away.

The coffins slid swiftly down the snowy mountains, bouncing over endless glaciers and snowdrifts before finally landing in a valley.

Not a hint of cold wind touched this valley, where spring lingered year-round, adorned with blooming flowers and lush foliage. A rainbow of colors arched high in the sky, while diamond-like springs tinkled softly.

This was Tranquil Hill.

Here, the two heroes found their final resting place, yet they could not rest in peace. They awoke simultaneously.

Though Tranquil Hill offered a serene environment, it could not grant them eternal slumber.

For their kin were being slaughtered by the black dragons. Peace hung precariously over the Frost Continent, blood staining nearly every patch of snow-white land crimson.

Returning from Tranquil Hill, the two led their respective people to unite and slay the Black Dragon King, nearly exterminating the entire black dragon race.

Only two black dragons escaped by sheer luck.

After finishing the mythical tale of Tranquil Hill, Shuang Tu explained to Lan Zao, “This is the legend of Tranquil Hill, and also the origin of the custom of the heroic duel.”

Lan Zao realized, "No wonder the challenger in the heroic duel carries ice. Does ‘heroic’¹ refer to Man Ying and Xue Yong?"

"Does Tranquil Hill truly exist in this world? Isn't this just a mythical tale?"

Shuang Tu smiled: “This isn't mere hearsay.”

“According to the intelligence we've gathered, Spring Boxer is Teng Dong Lang's coffin bearer.”