Apprenticeship at Lionhead Mountain

Evan Xiao asked, "When did this happen?"

"It's been two days!" Suddenly, Colin Gu's voice rang out from the darkness ahead.

At that moment, the lights around them blazed brightly.

It seemed Colin Gu had been lying in wait at the entrance of the military camp, just waiting for them to walk right into his trap!

"Your Majesty, why have you come?" Evan Xiao asked respectfully.

"This battle is crucial," Colin Gu said. "I thought it best to lead the campaign myself, so I hurried over."

He paused, then looked at the three of them. "General, Prime Minister, why are you stationed here instead of advancing?"

"The five batches of Spirit Cavalry we sent out earlier need time to set up. We're camped here waiting for their reply," Evan Xiao explained. "Once the arrangements are in place, we can move forward and catch them like fish in a barrel!"

"Is that so? The General's tactics are always unrivaled." Colin Gu smiled. "But where have you three been? I've waited here two days and none of you returned."

How were they supposed to answer that?

"Should we say we went to gather military intelligence?"

It doesn't make sense for the two top commanders to go out and gather military intelligence themselves...

For a moment, Evan Xiao and Minister Zhuo were both silent.

"Your Majesty," Grace spoke up. "It's all because of me."

"Because of what?" Colin Gu asked.

"Not far from here is Lionhead Mountain, where a reclusive Spiritual Alchemist lives. I wanted to become his apprentice," Grace said. "But there are many spirit beasts on the mountain and I couldn't handle it alone, so I asked the General and my father to help, and we all went together."

"Lionhead Mountain?" Colin Gu raised his eyebrows. "I know the place, it's definitely dangerous. But is there really a Spiritual Alchemist living there?"

"Yes," Grace replied.

"So, did you succeed in becoming his apprentice?"

"No. There was a maze array where he lived, and we got lost inside," Grace said. "After we finally got out, we didn't want to delay the journey, so we hurried back."

Even if this mountain really exists, where would they find a maze array?

And where would they find a reclusive Spiritual Alchemist living deep in the mountains?

Grace's wild story was probably impossible to keep up...

What were they supposed to do now?

He glanced at Evan Xiao out of the corner of his eye.

Evan Xiao's face was expressionless.

But Grace looked clever and excited, asking, "Your Majesty, really? You'll really help me go up the mountain to become an apprentice?"

Of course! You have the Celestial Five-Element Root, you're the first in our Blue Moon Kingdom! If you can't get a good master, wouldn't that be a shame?

Grace beamed, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Minister Zhuo and Evan Xiao exchanged a silent glance, both feeling a headache coming on.

Colin Gu seemed completely unaware of their distress, simply smiling at Grace.

Tomorrow's trip to Lionhead Mountain was set in stone.

Grace was already planning what she would say to the Spiritual Alchemist.

Minister Zhuo was mentally preparing for another round of chaos.

Evan Xiao just hoped nothing else would go wrong.

The next morning, everyone set out for Lionhead Mountain, hearts full of mixed emotions.

Grace bounced along, her Dimensional Bracelet gleaming on her wrist.

Whatever happened next, it was bound to be exciting.