The rooster crowed as the sky lightened in a gray haze.
The church bells rang, and a flock of white pigeons flew into the blue sky.
People gradually filled the main street of the town.
The knights and town guards, who had been bustling all night, slept in the corners against the walls.
Yilin's soldiers had formed a line early in the morning in front of the inn. In the entourage, she mounted her white horse. After casually rewarding the innkeeper with a silver coin, she led her men through the crowds, out of the town, and continued south.
During times of peace, the gloom brought by evil forces always came quickly and vanished just as fast, especially when the forces hardly harmed anyone. Sometimes, it even looked like a joke, and some conspiracy theorists began to suspect that all of it might just be a fabrication by the church, claiming that demons and the Lich did not exist.
Since late at night, the Lich Gray had not been seen. So, after just one night, except for those knights still thinking about their achievements, no one remembered that there had once been a Lich living on the neighboring hill.
Vendors had already set up their stalls, hawking their wares on the street.
Women buying vegetables shouted angrily over trivial matters like short weights.
Hardworking farmers were already laboring in their fields.
Children, who didn't need to go to school and had nothing else to do, chased the knights still searching for any trace of Gray, occasionally cheering.
If there was anything notable, it was that the blacksmith discovered that the armor he forged a few days ago was missing. He couldn't remember if he had delivered it, lost it, or drank too much and forgot to make it.
The vendor selling persimmons found that the straw shed the Lich destroyed last night was precisely the one he used to shield himself from the sun, causing him great distress.
As for the bookstore owner, he didn't notice that a book called "A Knight's Guide to Development" was missing. In fact, he had so many unsold books that unless someone asked, he couldn't remember what he had. Finding the door kicked open was the only odd thing—no items were stolen.
After just one night, the town had returned to its usual peace. The storm brought by the Lich had passed like wind, leaving nothing behind.
...
A kilometer outside the town, Gray and his Bone Horse poked their heads out from a bush. Confirming no one was around, they sneaked out, dragging along a nearly lifeless Black Cat.
"Let me check what we should do next." Lowering his head, Gray began flipping through "A Knight's Guide to Development."
*The Black Cat, battered with countless broken bones, said with a face full of grievance,* "I think... we urgently need a doctor, preferably a vet."
"But we have left the town, and there are no doctors here."
"Then find one."
"Hmm... that's troublesome. I have a better idea. I could kill you and summon you as a Bone Cat. Then you wouldn't need a doctor."
The Black Cat's eyes almost popped out.
"You wouldn't need to eat or defecate. How convenient is that?"
"No! I think I'm fine now!"
"But you look like you're dying."
"No! I'm fine! Get your paw off me! I'm healthy! I don't need a doctor!" The Black Cat screamed in fear.
"Alright..." Gray's flames dimmed in his eye sockets. *He sincerely thought it was a good idea. Unfortunately, the Black Cat seemed very resistant. Having no choice, he lowered his head and continued flipping through his book,* "Hmm... Next, I should find a lord to swear allegiance to."
The Black Cat and Bone Horse looked at him expressionlessly.
"The book says that knights must have a lord to pledge allegiance to, or else they're not knights."
"Do you think any lord would accept a Lich's allegiance?"
"Let's look around; maybe there is one? Also, we need to find a church. The book says knights are devout believers and must attend weekly services, or they aren't qualified knights."
"Uh-huh, a Lich going to church, that's creative." *The Black Cat despaired.*
Gray, however, cheered excitedly: "Do you think so, too? Such a creative idea would make it impossible for anyone to suspect I'm a Lich!"
Just as he was speaking, the Bone Horse stumbled and fell to pieces with a "clank."
...
"How much farther to Salted Fish Port?" Yilin asked.
Abi Robbs, riding beside her, replied, "Respected Miss Yilin, it's not far. Heading south, at our current pace, we'll feel the sea breeze by evening."
Walking on the other side, Huoersi occasionally slapped his helmet, trying to stay awake.
"Do you need to stop and sleep for a while?" Yilin asked.
"No need, Miss Yilin." Lowering his head, Huoersi muttered incessantly, "Where the hell did that damned Lich run off to?"
...
"Where should we go first?"
"South..." The Black Cat, weakly put back into its helmet, said, "We can't go north. Heading south, we will eventually encounter a city. Any city will have nobles. Whether they accept your allegiance, only God knows."
"Are there also churches?"
"Yes~" *The Black Cat rolled its eyes helplessly. At this moment, as a Ghost Cat, he couldn't help but want to cry.*
And so, a Lich, torn Bone Cat, and Bone Horse shakily set off southward. After walking only a few steps, they both fell off the horse with a "thud," then clumsily climbed back up.
The Bone Horse looked disdainfully.
...
The sun slowly climbed.
They passed mountains, crossed streams, traversed fields.
Birds chirped and flew overhead, rabbits scurried away.
Farmers wearing wool hats leaned on hoes and stared from afar, wild grass in the fields swayed gently.
Gray's position on the saddle changed as he became familiar with horse riding—from sitting normally to sitting backward to lying flat. Viewed from afar, it looked like the Bone Horse was carrying a bundle.
The Black Cat drifted off to sleep while Gray enthusiastically flipped through "A Knight's Guide to Development," not only alert but even chuckling out loud.
"This book is wonderful, much more interesting than magic books."
"Really? Then read more."
"Don't you want to glance at it? I just got to the eight virtues of knights."
"No."
"But if you don't read, I can't discuss it with you."
"Shut up! Who wants to discuss this stupid book with you! I want to rest. Heaven help me, you won't let me find a doctor, at least let me rest. Are you a demon?"
"I'm a Lich."
"I know! Bone Horse! You can talk, too. Persuade him a bit!"
"The great Tenidas fights toward the sunrise..."
"Okay, you can shut up now!" *The Black Cat was about to cry,* "Can you keep still? I beg you! I just want to sleep, hoping it was all a dream when I wake up for a perfect ending."
"Alright, I won't move." Gray said helplessly.
...
The sun set.
Everything around them slowly darkened.
After rushing all day, Yilin's group finally saw Salted Fish Port—a coastal city rich in fish production.
From a distance, the whole city looked like a crescent moon. The houses aligned neatly with orange tiles, exuding unique charm under the sunset.
Seagulls squawked constantly, returning fishing boats counted their harvest at the port, people busy all day headed home, children played in small groups on the streets.
Along the straight road beneath her feet, Yilin clearly saw their destination—a towering castle at the center of the town. And there... Gray sat on horseback at the town gate, gazing blankly.
Yilin cautiously raised a hand, and the whole team stopped. Her shield bearers lined up to form a wall between the two.
Across the shield wall, Yilin looked at Gray. Gray looked back at her. At the town entrance, they both sat on horseback, silently staring at each other.
"Excuse me, knight, do we know each other?" Yilin asked.
"I... don't think so."
"Then why are you blocking my way?"
"I'm waiting."
"Waiting for what?"
"Waiting for my cat to wake up."