Chapter 40 Part 2

A Holy Word Knight was the same combat profession as Green Sand City’s Guard Captain, Leila—an “Oath Knight.” When an Oath Knight swore an oath to their god, declaring themselves a faithful follower of the deity, they called themselves a “Holy Word Knight.” Players generally referred to this class as Paladins.

Finally, a piece of information related to the Silver Moon. Xia Xifeng breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed the plot direction he’d chosen was correct.

“What a coincidence! My partner and I also follow the Silver Moon.” Xia Xifeng rummaged through his inventory, trying to find anything Silver-Moon-related he might have in storage.

Although the Silver Moon had fallen alongside Hope’s Sun and been replaced by the Blood Moon, players had excavated enormous amounts of Silver Moon-related materials from the ruins. Forging, smelting, alchemy—all of it often required Silver Moon materials.

“Oh?” Xia Xifeng pulled a greatsword from his inventory.

The very same greatsword recently blessed by the Silver Moon, the one used to shatter the illusion—the heirloom greatsword of Blackstone Town, which by all rights should still be in that altar, serving as a glow stick.

Why had it automatically ended up in his inventory? Was it a required quest item? Awkward… he’d told the mayor to stand guard by that sword.

Without the Silver Moon’s blessed greatsword, hopefully the mayor wouldn’t be too terrified.

Taylor froze at the sight of the greatsword Xia Xifeng produced.

He drew his own sword, pointing at the crest engraved upon it. “You… where did you get that greatsword? Why does it bear my family’s crest?”

Xia Xifeng looked at Taylor’s greatsword, then at the one he’d pulled out.

Though there were subtle differences in their shapes, Xia Xifeng’s expert smithing eye—alright, he didn’t have that yet here.

The System’s Identify skill, innate to players, told him these were, in fact, the same greatsword.

[Taylor’s Greatsword.]

[Blackstone Town’s First Lord Taylor’s Greatsword (Reforged), after Silver Moon’s Blessing.]

“A gift from the God of the Silver Moon,” Xia Xifeng casually fabricated. “Maybe some ancestor of yours had their sword… tidied up by Her.”

Taylor fell silent for a few seconds, then said gravely, “Though you may indeed be a demigod, I must still ask you to speak of the gods with a tone of respect.”

“Oh.” Xia Xifeng turned equally grave. “It is an honored gift from the great God of the Silver Moon. You should ask the God of the Silver Moon yourself.”

Taylor: “…” He’d experienced more speechlessness today than in the entire previous year combined.

Xia Xifeng’s solemn face eased. “We follow the same god. Surely you can trust me now? By the way, are you a God’s Favored of the Silver Moon?”

Taylor shook his head. “No, I am not. The lord of this city is.”

This time, it was Xia Xifeng’s turn to be “…”

What? The city lord also followed the God of the Silver Moon? Then who was his enemy in this dungeon?!

After a few seconds of hesitation, Xia Xifeng chose to follow his instinct.

He asked, “Is this city lord a bad person?”

Taylor answered, “He is extremely cruel and tyrannical.”

Xia Xifeng nodded. “If what you say is true, I hereby declare him expelled from the ranks of the Silver Moon’s God’s Favored.”

Having served as a background prop for ages, Qin Lang finally spoke: “Did you waver in your faith toward the Silver Moon because a cruel tyrant was Her God’s Favored?”

Taylor immediately straightened, his expression solemn. “No. I will never waver in my faith toward the Silver Moon.”

Qin Lang: “Even if the Silver Moon stands on your enemy’s side?”

Taylor replied, “I follow the Silver Moon because the Silver Moon grants peace equally to all living beings. The Silver Moon knows neither good nor evil. It is Her followers who are good or evil. Just as the sun shines upon the earth, granting warmth to all living beings equally.”

Xia Xifeng wholeheartedly agreed. “The right and wrong of mortals are mortal affairs. There is no need for gods to descend and take sides.”

That both Elves and Humans could have God’s Favored from the same deity was entirely normal. When mortals fought over territory, aside from their own Ancestor Gods occasionally getting worked up, other deities largely ignored them. Those gods didn’t care about mortal morality.

Yet Xia Xifeng still believed this Elven city lord was no true God’s Favored of the Silver Moon.

Gods didn’t distinguish between human good and evil; they chose their Favored purely based on personal preference. The Twin Suns’ preference was clearly for the Halfling-esque innocent, happy-go-lucky types.

Could the “True Moon, False Moon” title mean they were supposed to distinguish true and false Silver Moon Favored?

Xia Xifeng looked at Qin Lang. “Shall we investigate tonight?”

Qin Lang replied, “Sure. I’ll test if I can just kill him outright.”

Xia Xifeng had been about to question whether outright killing was too extreme, but after considering it, this solution didn’t seem problematic—provided Qin Lang could actually kill the Elven city lord. “Alright, be careful. Blind runs against new bosses are dangerous.”

Qin Lang’s gaze drifted to the door. “Not dangerous. He’s only Legendary rank too.”

Xia Xifeng also looked toward the door and cast an Identify spell.

The Elven city lord was right outside, Level 119.

Level 119? Wouldn’t that be an instant kill?

Qin Lang used Mage Hand to yank the knocking city lord inside, seating him next to Taylor.

Xia Xifeng deployed a Barrier Scroll to seal the room, cutting off all outside interference.

The Elven city lord immediately recognized Taylor, the Resistance leader attempting to overthrow his territorial rule.

Taylor also instantly confirmed this Elven city lord was the genuine article, not a body double.

Both had assumed their next meeting would be on the final battlefield.

The moment they met would be the moment the war between oppression and resistance was decided.

But reality had played a massive joke on them.

The two stared at each other.

Elf Lord: “Your reinforcements?”

Taylor found the gallows humor to crack a joke: “I’m not worthy.”

Both confirmed to each other that neither recognized these two sudden, powerful strangers.

They stared at each other again.

A person capable of effortlessly suppressing Legendary Professionals had to be on the verge of godhood. Weren’t gods forbidden from interfering? Demigods were also not allowed!

Taylor introduced on behalf of Xia Xifeng and Qin Lang: “These two sirs said they’re still half a step from demigod.”

Xia Xifeng nodded rapidly like a pecking chick. “Exactly. Half a step short. So we haven’t broken the pact.” He then addressed the Elf Lord, “So, Elven city lord, I hear you claim to be a God’s Favored of the Silver Moon? Where’s the proof?”

He laid the newly Silver-Moon-blessed greatsword across his lap and raised an eyebrow.

The freshly blessed greatsword gleamed brilliantly.

Taylor clearly hadn’t seen a divine artifact blessed by the Silver Moon before; that’s why his attention had been caught by the crest on the greatsword.

But the Elven city lord, perhaps having truly encountered the Silver Moon’s divine power, was immediately terrified by the exceptionally rich Silver Moon energy emanating from the blade. “You… you two are also God’s Favored of the Silver Moon?!”

Xia Xifeng replied haughtily, “Drop the ‘also’.”

While Xia Xifeng impersonated a Silver Moon Favored to squeeze information from the two NPCs, Qin Lang focused his attention on the door.

The Elven city lord hadn’t come “visiting” alone. He’d brought quite a few guards.

But he hadn’t wanted to immediately start a conflict with two strange and powerful humans, so he’d first extended courtesy, asking their purpose.

However, none of the guards he’d brought were stronger than himself. When the city lord was effortlessly yanked through the door with zero resistance, the guards outside dared make no rash moves.

Both Taylor and the Elven city lord reacted too normally. They seemed entirely unrelated to Evil Gods.

And relative to Qin Lang, they were simply too weak.

With a seventy-to-eighty level gap, Qin Lang handling them felt almost comparable to Amuruo training Leo and Perila.

The last parallel-world dungeon involved fighting an Evil God. It was impossible this dungeon would be so easy.

Where was the true enemy hiding?

Qin Lang withdrew his gaze from the door.

He looked toward the window. “It’s getting dark,” he stated.

The Elven city lord was racking his brain, trying to figure out how to prove his identity as the Silver Moon’s Favored to this bizarre, probable-demigod.

Hearing Qin Lang’s words, his gaze involuntarily followed toward the window.

“What about the night… Ah! The moon!” Xia Xifeng snapped back to attention and shot up from his large, plush chair.

He walked to the window, frowning at the sky.

Only then did Xia Xifeng notice the problem he should have noticed far sooner.

This city had been in daylight before, but the sky was a hazy, featureless white. There was no sun to be seen.

During the day, not seeing the sun could be normal.

Overcast days obscured the sun.

But this was a dungeon related to the Silver Moon. The fact that “the sun was unseen” might not be normal at all.

“The moon is out.” Xia Xifeng looked at the silver moon hanging in the sky and instinctively felt a deep sense of wrongness.

Qin Lang’s short sword pressed against the Elven city lord’s throat.

The Elf’s hands went up, a smile on his face. “I didn’t expect that even after my power increased, I still couldn’t see through yours. But can I now prove I am the Silver Moon’s Favored?”

Xia Xifeng whirled around.

System Identify showed the Elven city lord’s level had skyrocketed—Level 167.

And it wasn’t just him. The Elven guards stationed at the door had also experienced a massive level spike.

A fanatical smile spread across the Elven city lord’s face. “The God of the Silver Moon… stands with us! Taylor, you have been abandoned by the Silver Moon!”

Xia Xifeng barked: “Qin Lang! Sap!”

A single Sap from Qin Lang sent the Elven city lord crumpling to the ground.

Xia Xifeng looked at the fallen Elf, then raised the greatsword in his hands. “Say that again while looking at my sword! If you want to call yourself a God’s Favored of the Silver Moon, first get past me!”

Qin Lang almost retorted, “Why don’t you go fight him yourself, then?” but just barely managed to swallow the words, preserving the mood.

The light emanating from the greatsword in Xia Xifeng’s hands grew brighter and brighter. It seemed intent on pushing back the radiance cast by the “Silver Moon” outside.

As if sensing something, the light from the Silver Moon in the sky also intensified, growing so bright it lit the city like day.

The Elven city lord pushed himself up from the ground, glaring darkly at Xia Xifeng, who now cradled the glowing greatsword.

When the “Silver Moon” emerged in the sky, Taylor had brought his hand to his forehead.

When Qin Lang’s Sap struck the Elven city lord’s skull, Taylor let out a laugh.

This Silver Moon Holy Knight—who was not actually a God’s Favored—painfully used his greatsword as a crutch to stand tall.

“The Silver Moon selflessly grants peace to all beings, without distinction of good or evil.”

“I believe in the Silver Moon. Even if it means standing against Her own God’s Favored.”

“No matter how many Cycles of Rebirth I endure, I will never forsake my oath.”

“And what if your enemy is the ‘Silver Moon’ itself?” The Elven city lord’s twisted expression shattered the beauty of his features.

Taylor’s expression was solemn. “Then it must be an Evil God impersonating the Silver Moon. I will defend the Silver Moon with the sword in my hand!”

Xia Xifeng watched Taylor, whose form now seemed to merge with the radiance of the “Silver Moon.”

He had already sensed that the power Taylor now emanated felt identical—exactly identical—to that of the Elven city lord.

Which meant, identical to the “Silver Moon” in the sky.