Chapter 167: Meeting the Witch Again

"Delilia, hasn't that guy come out yet?"

The young tiger rested his chin in his hand, toying with a short silver dagger whose hilt was chained to his wrist.

Delilia let out a soft "mm" and continued organizing the thick stack of documents on her desk.

"Delilia, what are these?"

"The intelligence Mr. Yiran requested," Delilia replied. Seeing the young tiger casting a sidelong glance, she smiled. "That costs money, Little Tiger."

"Oh~ I wasn't looking at the intelligence. I was looking at someone's ironing board..."

"Thump."

That damned hooligan! Delilia hugged the documents, boiling with anger. This organization called the Twelve Demons was truly bizarre; the people in it were weird, and the people who interacted with it were bizarre beyond measure. Having interned for less than half a year, Delilia was still far from accustomed to this place.

Yet, at the same time, she was filled with a lingering curiosity.

She walked up to Yiran's room, knocked on the door, and upon hearing his slightly cold voice, she pushed the door open, clutching the heavy stack of documents.

"Mr. Yiran, here is all the intelligence you requested."

As she spoke, her feet involuntarily took a step back, and her pretty face changed slightly.

The ruthless young man before her had somehow become shrouded in murderous intent. His hair had turned crimson, his eyes were as blood-red as fresh gore, and the blood-moon mark on his forehead cast a reflection on the floor like a pool of deep green water.

"Thank you." Yiran did not look up at her, merely offering a brief expression of gratitude. She hurriedly retreated, closing the door behind him.

After she left, Yiran lay quietly on the bed, staring at the ceiling as a chaotic storm of thoughts surged in his mind.

Anai indeed already knew his identity.

To this day, a faction of the rabbit-kin still dedicated themselves to searching for the descendants of the Moon Clan, and Anai was one of them. She had long suspected that he was a descendant of the Moon Clan, but had never been able to obtain confirmation.

Anai's letter stated that the Moon Clan was divided into three branches: the Watching Moon, the Blood Moon, and the Ghost Moon. During the Battle of Rest, the Watching Moon branch was almost entirely wiped out, while the Blood Moon and Ghost Moon each left behind two bloodlines, though only one of each remained now.

She stated that the Blood Moon survivors of fifteen hundred years ago did not simply vanish by chance, but were hunted down and killed by nine demigods from the three divine shrines acting in concert. The divine race had constantly searched for the remaining Moon Clan bloodlines—not to make amends for the mistakes of the past, but to silence witnesses and completely obliterate that chapter of history.

Although the demon race had long since forgotten that history, what attitude they would adopt if the Moon Clan reappeared remained unknown. At the very least, when a Blood Moon survivor had sought out the Great Demon King Crixin in the past, nothing good had come of it.

The Ghost Moon survivor had also been found. Just as he had guessed, it was Alisa, and the rabbit-kin were already sending people to contact her.

However, whether for himself or for Alisa, Anai's warning consisted of only a single word: "Endure."

Betrayed by the divine race a thousand years ago, and with the offending party resorting to murder and silencing witnesses a thousand years later just to cover up that mistake—how utterly laughable was this world?

It was dusk when Yiran finally emerged from his room. The blood moon on his forehead had receded, and his hair and eyes had returned to their original appearance, yet Delilia always felt as though he had turned into a completely different person. She kept her eyes fixed on his retreating back until he disappeared from sight.

The dim, bustling streets were thick with dust. It was only after returning to his residence that Yiran learned Charlie had already taken Freya to the Notary Department to register their temple. After hurriedly swallowing a little food, he rushed off to catch up with them.

Constantinople's Notary Department was connected to the Security Hall, housed in a towering building a full fifty meters high. By the time Yiran arrived, Charlie and Freya had already emerged from the Notary Department.

The two of them stood on the steps at the entrance, Freya wearing a dejected expression while Charlie squatted down to offer comforting words.

Catching sight of Yiran, Freya covered her face with her small hands and turned away.

Yiran forced a smile and asked, "What's wrong? Did it fail?"

Charlie sighed. "People from the Sixth Day Temple had already made arrangements well in advance. There was simply no way to persuade them."

The Sixth Day Temple—their reaction had certainly been swift.

Yiran walked up to Freya, gently pulled her little hands away from her face, and seeing that there were no tears in her eyes—she was merely putting on a very sad act—he couldn't help smiling. "It doesn't matter. Even if we can't register the temple, it won't affect my plans for the future. Freya, how about I take you to buy some candied hawthorns?"

"Yiran, what do you—"

"Giggle. Yiran, long time no see."

Suddenly, a wave of fragrant wind wafted over, stirring up turbulent ripples in Yiran's heart. Frowning slightly, he raised his head, and a familiar figure came into view.

Dressed in all black, a small cape draped over her shoulders, and thin gloves clinging tightly to her hands, she possessed an peerless grace that made one forget the ordinary world. Just the fleeting elegance of her descent down the stairs drew a vast multitude of gazes.

Had it not been for the tall knight and the sickly pale young man standing behind her, no small number of people would have surely stepped forward to strike up a conversation.

Pandora. After half a year's separation, he was seeing this witch once again.

Charlie quietly pulled Freya behind her, casting a glance at the three figures approaching at a leisurely pace while her mental energy naturally pulsed and rippled.

Not only Pandora, but accompanying her were also the Demon Son of Slaughter, Shifan, and... the Crimson Lotus Knight, Alphart. The sight of the Crimson Lotus Knight left both of them momentarily startled.

Recovering from his brief astonishment, Yiran composed himself and said, "Long time no see, Pandora."

"Yiran, you've become much more reserved," Pandora said, covering her mouth with a laugh. "Ever since you left, Zier and I have missed you terribly."

Yiran replied, "Not long ago, I found myself thinking of you as well."

"Oh~" Hearing him say this, a flash of brilliant light crossed Pandora's captivating eyes as she smiled. "Yiran, I seem to have some things I'd like to say to you."

"As it happens, I have some things I'd like to say to you too," Yiran said.

"Lady Pandora..."

"Yiran..."

There was a heavy note of lingering grievance in the Crimson Lotus Knight's tone; his pursuit of Pandora had been arduous indeed.

Charlie was also quite surprised. Although Yiran looked no different than usual, today she sensed some ineffable, obscure change about him.

"Knight, I believe you should head back. We can share some tea together another day."

With a radiant smile, Pandora neatly dismissed the pitiful knight while still leaving him with a shred of hopeful anticipation.

Yiran turned back, nodded to Charlie, and said, "I'll be right back."

Pandora chuckled softly. "Are you sure? The men who are with me always wish time could last a little longer."

Her words were laced with smiles and overflowing temptation.

"Mm." Yiran gave a perfunctory nod, his gaze turning icy as he swept a cold look over Shifan. Seeing Shifan glance toward Freya, Yiran apparently felt that such a look of warning was not enough. He said coldly, "Call yourself the Demon Son of Slaughter or Shifan—if you ever dare harbor any ideas about Freya, I will slaughter you."

To his threat, Shifan responded with a cold sneer.

"Alright now, you've frightened my subordinate."

Smiling, Pandora took his hand and led him out of the Notary Department amidst a sea of envious gazes.

"Yiran, your growth has been quite unexpected," Pandora said as they walked into a deserted alley, tugging playfully at the brim of her hat in the posture of a cute, delicate young woman.

Yiran nodded. "The current me doesn't mind making a deal with a demon, which is why I'm willing to have this conversation with you."