Boiling Beast Bloodline
Chapter 1584 - 489: Peeping

Chapter 1584: Chapter 489: Peeping

"You’ve been watching for quite a while now, Atest. Do you have any opinions?" The Witch King in the mirror bit down on a bone-carved pipe emitting delicate, curling smoke, his brows knitted tightly as he gazed at Karu, the dual-ranked Duke.

The situation was bizarre to an extreme. It was as if the mirror had vanished, and the Witch King and the Six-winged Heavenly King had materialized on the wall out of thin air.

Liu Zhenhuan, while helping the Mermaid Wei Zhi comb her hair, comforted her, saying that before he ventured into the sea, he would definitely ensure her safety and would never let her risk her life recklessly.

Wei Zhi had been sitting on the bed, but in that instant, she was intercepted by Liu Zhenhuan, who used his burly frame to block the mirror’s view, then moved her away with a swift gesture, turning her back to the mirror as he began tidying her hair.

With Liu Zhenhuan attending to her at such close quarters, not even a coquettish little vixen from Benniloo, let alone Wei Zhi, could hope to turn back and reveal the horrified expression on her lovely face to the Demon World’s two high-ranking leaders in the mirror.

"What a splendid performance," remarked Atest, the Six-winged Heavenly King, his ever-present glacial expression unmoved. "Your Majesty, Karu’s reckless demeanor when interacting with us earlier doesn’t align at all with the meticulousness he exhibits when dealing with this Mermaid. Such a stark contrast in behavior is truly fascinating."

"I’ve said it before—we mustn’t underestimate him. And the facts so far prove my caution entirely warranted." The Witch King’s half-smile might have appeared gentlemanly, but it carried a veiled sharpness.

Things grew even stranger. Though every word uttered by the two figures in the mirror reached Liu Zhenhuan and Wei Zhi’s ears, neither appeared to realize they were being overheard.

"My King! Indeed, you warned against underestimating him, but you also added that we shouldn’t overestimate him either." The Six-winged Heavenly King actually chuckled. "Now it seems he’s surprised even you, hasn’t he?"

"Surprised? Hardly! Haven’t you noticed? Even while conversing with that Mermaid, he kept subtly signaling his loyalty to me, his ’brother.’" The Witch King expelled a ribbon of smoke with a derisive snort as he coolly concluded, "This is what I call: ’overdoing it.’"

Liu Zhenhuan, holding a lock of greenish hair in his hand, glanced toward the mirror several times before resuming his task.

"Do you think he’s already figured out the functions of the Mirror Flower?" Atest arched his brows skeptically, as if second-guessing himself. "After all, this rare plant isn’t an Arcane artifact—how could he possibly...?"

"The projected Mirror World of a Twin Mirror Flower is akin to the mysterious Heartfelt Induction of twins; it’s entirely beyond the realm of Elemental Power! Even a Silver-Eyed’s sensing ability, no matter how advanced, could never intercept such a communication channel unique to twinned lifeforms!" The Witch King sneered dismissively. "Life’s intricacies—whether plant or animal—are far more enigmatic than mere Elemental Power. Who truly understands the secrets of the Twin Mirror Flower? Since his very entrance, I’ve sensed his suspicions about this mirror. Fine, let him have his doubts—what can it amount to? To him, it’s merely a reflective plant mirror!"

"I agree. Even if he suspects the Mirror Flower holds secrets, it would only be due to the keen reflexes of a master practitioner." Atest nodded emphatically. "Even if he realizes what he’s facing is no crystal sculpture but a living plant, he could never imagine that we are observing his every move from another Crystal Tower half a league away!"

"My dear younger brother acts as if life itself is a grand theatrical performance." His Majesty Clark Gabe removed his pipe, knocking out the charred cattail-like tobacco, and pointed toward Liu. "This fellow dreads misstepping so much you’d think he’s on stage every waking moment. Look at him! Constantly on guard and brimming with mistrust!"

Sensing Wei Zhi’s tension, Liu Zhenhuan softly stroked her trembling shoulder and shifted the topic to discuss submerged Arcane Beasts.

"Your Majesty’s analysis is spot on!" Atest propped his chin thoughtfully as he remarked, "Haven’t you noticed? This Silver-Eyed has very unique interrogation techniques. Every question he poses to that Mermaid is dripping with purpose!"

"Roundabout questioning to probe for information—is that all you’re impressed by? Manipulating someone’s psyche! That Mermaid is too young, so she fell into his trap." Within the mirror, the Witch King’s gaze never left Liu Zhenhuan, who was making small talk with the Mermaid. "But we must admit, he’s asking questions we hadn’t even thought of! Tell me, Atest—if it were you, would it occur to you to interrogate the Mermaid about the mutation of sea Arcane Beasts, then deduce that she might have fled with hidden treasures?"

"I was entirely focused on using this Mermaid to barter with the Sea Clan for White Shell Coins and overlooked this aspect entirely. Please forgive my ignorance, my King." The Six-winged Heavenly King lowered his head in shame.

"You can’t be blamed—our perspective is inherently elevated. His strength lies in his deep-seated paranoia. It’s his flaw but also a strength. Such rampant mistrust makes it hard to earn the loyalty of subordinates, yet, at critical junctures, it uncovers secrets! Let’s view his guarded nature as prudence. Given his precarious situation, he has no choice but to proceed cautiously." The Witch King smacked his lips contemplatively.

"An Arcanist of his caliber shouldn’t even be mingling in mundane power struggles! Misstep after misstep—he’s now too far gone to turn back. His only path is to enlarge his influence until he’s ultimately rejected by heaven and earth." His Majesty Clark Gabe let out a series of cold laughs.

"To master Elemental Spirits on such a level—it truly sounds mythical." Atest’s tone carried hints of admiration and envy. "Though our informant suggests his Elemental Spirits are not true lifeforms, that level of control is still impressive."

"Jia Bao lacks expertise—what does she know? Elemental Master? Laughable! Just three Elemental Spirits! If he could truly summon an Elemental Spirit Master, would he need to cobble together a team to claim power?" The Witch King scoffed. "Don’t let preliminary impressions fool you! He’s all smoke and mirrors. If he were truly strong, he wouldn’t have been entangled with Hollywood’s three Dreadlords for so long. Mark my words—the golden ray that struck down the Dreadlord Zenden? It cost him dearly; I’d wager he’s half spent himself."

Inwardly, Liu Zhenhuan couldn’t help but admire the Witch King’s perceptiveness, as the latter had deduced so much about his abilities merely through inference.

"So the Sea Clan harbors intentions of attacking land after all. The Demon World has never faced an amphibious race before. Their mystery is truly unsettling!" Atest expressed unease as the conversation between Karu and Wei Zhi again touched upon the Sea Clan. "Given their resources and population, if they ever find a way to safely come ashore, no land race on the Three Mainlands of the Demon World would have any chance of survival!"

"This isn’t a concern for our generation of Witch Kings," Clark Gabe shrugged indifferently. "Let our descendants figure it out! By the time the Sea Clan masters terrestrial survival methods, we might have found ways to build colonies in the sky!"

Liu Zhenhuan found the remark refreshingly practical. The Sea Clan of the Sea of Mist wasn’t the same as the Aegean Sea Clan. The former specialized in Poison Magic, while the latter focused on Water Magic. Developing a moisture-retention Formation for terrestrial life was at best a distant pipe dream even for the Aegean Clan, who hadn’t succeeded themselves—though they held the upper hand in magic specialization.

"Your Majesty, this Silver-Eyed distrusts and doubts everyone. Alone with this Mermaid, he is so guarded it’s almost ridiculous. Presumably, he harbors similar misgivings toward us!" Atest commented to the King. "If he ever turns on us, should we prepare a pre-emptive measure to guard ourselves?"

"He’s already questioning our motives! With his intellect, that much is inevitable. My intentions weren’t to hide anything from him. I actually want him to grasp his precarious situation." The Witch King paused, holding an unlit bone pipe between his teeth, clicking it idly. "There’s no doubt—once this fellow gains some power, he’ll begin plotting for himself! A man like him is incapable of becoming anyone’s subordinate. His eyes carry nothing but the ambition to conquer!"

By now, the conversation between the dual-ranked Duke and the Mermaid had shifted to topics concerning lethal Arcane disciplines.

To Wei Zhi, a native of the Sea of Mist, her understanding of this Arcane branch was akin to the Aegean Mermaids’ mastery of Water Magic. She spoke fluently and in depth.

Poison Magic’s development on the Aegean Continent was regarded as an unorthodox path. Liu Zhenhuan seized the opportunity to expand his knowledge, and under his deliberate flattery, their conversation grew more intimate.

"Looks like this fellow is dead set on venturing underwater. Learning about sea Arcane Beasts, Sea Clan species, and their Arcane practices," Atest remarked after eavesdropping for a while, only to grow disinterested. Turning to the Witch King, who was still engrossed, he asked, "Your Majesty, may I inquire about your specific intentions?"

"For now, it’s imperative to curb his growth. The longer we can tie him to our agenda, the better for us. While this Silver-Eyed may be adept at disguising himself, I can feel his genuine hatred for Jia Bao. It’s precisely for this reason that I’ve invested so heavily in him." Clark Gabe sighed at his subordinate. "Were it not for Bollywood’s deteriorated strength, I wouldn’t bother with someone like Karu."

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