Eldritch Horror Theatre

Theoretically, taking this cup down into the museum's Underground might very well capture whatever was hidden there, forming a transcendent item with special effects.

If the item's Rank matched the Holy Grail used to conceal it, the trip would absolutely be worth it.

Turning the Golden Cup over in his hands, Fu Qian took another lap around the area.

It quickly became clear that Yul had already scavenged everything of value.

All that remained was rotting decay and thick dust.

As for how this sect had deduced the patterns on the cup—the one thing Fu Qian was actually interested in—he couldn't find a single clue.

Fortunately, he had expected as much, so he wasn't too disappointed.

He didn't linger. After confirming there was nothing else to take, Fu Qian left the Underground, returned to Yul's room, and resealed the entrance behind him.

That done, he slipped silently out of the Monastery.

The rather amiable woman had most likely been forced to leave.

...

It was late outside, a canopy of stars glittering across the deep blue night sky.

Logically, now that he had the item, his next move should be marching straight into the museum's Underground to capture the monster.

There was just one problem.

His trump card for breaking through the Holy Grail—the Eternally Lucid Mind—was still on cooldown.

Returning home and coming back later wasn't an option either.

The Emissary anchored his return location to Shangjing; he would have to make the entire trip back here all over again.

So for the next twenty-odd hours, he just had to kill time in this small city.

Naturally, killing time was no challenge at all for someone as used to solitude as Fu Qian.

Not to mention the place truly was picturesque.

Hopefully, the people of Fenghou City could gradually pull themselves out from the shadows and go back to enjoying life!

Strolling down the empty streets under the starlight, a sudden thought struck him, and he reached up to rub his face.

His facial features shifted rapidly, quickly settling back into his original appearance.

Walking the streets of Fenghou City with his true face suddenly made the place feel a lot more welcoming.

Such was the importance of immersion!

Fu Qian breathed in the cool night air and sighed in appreciation.

It was a pity it was so late. The crazed residents had long since gone home, leaving the streets far too deserted.

In a small city like this, there probably wasn't a single shop open at this hour—holy shit!

Fu Qian stopped in his tracks. Staring at a small, warmly lit shop in the distance, he recognized a familiar mop of messy hair.

Normal people definitely wouldn't be open for business right now, but it seemed a certain abnormal person was still hanging around.

Fu Qian walked over and pushed the door open.

"It's you?"

Sitting at his counter, Bernard glanced up from his work at the sound of the door and spotted the uninvited guest.

He frowned at Fu Qian for a few seconds before his gaze naturally drifted down to the Golden Cup in Fu Qian's hand.

"Bringing your own cup. Good habit."

Bernard nodded, gesturing for Fu Qian to put the cup on the table, then grabbed the coffee pot beside him and poured a serving inside.

"Here."

He pushed the cup back to Fu Qian with a curt reply.

Huh?

Despite crossing paths a few times by now, it was incredibly rare to see him act so hospitable. Fu Qian felt a twinge of curiosity.

"Loretta's treat."

Noticing Fu Qian's confusion, he offered a cold explanation.

Oh?

Fu Qian blinked.

"Did you go looking for her at the Monastery?"

"No."

Bernard shook his head.

"Then how did you get this?"

Fu Qian picked up the steaming cup and took a sip. It was actually pretty good.

Though drinking coffee out of a Golden Cup felt more than a little extravagant.

"If you tell me she visited you in a dream to treat me, that'd be taking it a bit too far."

"A dream?"

Bernard looked as if he'd just heard something hilarious.

"For people like us, dreaming and knowing you're in a dream is an absolute luxury."

"Understood."

Fu Qian nodded, perfectly understanding what he meant.

The chaos that he and Loretta were caught in meant there was simply no such thing as a dream for them.

Still, his tone made it obvious that he assumed Fu Qian knew something.

"After all these years, she finally managed to relax a bit."

Sure enough, Bernard gave him another dead-fish stare.

"That's your doing."

"Where did you get that idea? I've been relying on her hospitality myself."

Fu Qian offered a smile.

"Sending you to her was the right call."

Bernard looked back down, speaking to himself.

"I felt it the first time I saw you. Compared to those so-called normal people, you absolutely reek of what they call depravity."

"You flatter me. You're not half bad yourself."

Faced with such an evaluation, Fu Qian acted completely oblivious to the insult, offering deadpan modesty.

"Speaking of which, if you haven't seen her, how do you know she finally relaxed?"

"If her mindset hadn't shifted, why would she bother leaving this for me?"

Bernard downed his own coffee in a single gulp, his tone turning distant.

"It's been a very long time since I last saw her."

"But we agreed on some special ways to leave messages for each other."

"Like what?"

"Aside from sending letters without ever knowing if the other would receive them, we have other methods. Like buying a shop, hiding the key in a specific place, and leaving a bit of information inside."

What a bizarre yet profound way to leave a message!

Fu Qian glanced around the small shop.

"Where did you get the money for that?"

Even as he asked, he already had a faint idea of the answer.

"Gambling."

Bernard made a gesture.

"We both have a rather impressive talent for it—whether it's luck, or superhuman observation skills."

I fucking knew it!

Fu Qian wasn't surprised by the answer in the slightest.

Loretta must have guessed that Bernard might come—or even that he was already here—and left this little gift for her friend before losing herself completely?

It seemed she really had found some peace of mind.

The peace of accepting one's fate.

Fate was a funny thing. According to the previous mission summary, both Bernard and Loretta were undeniably lucky souls born with innate transcendent abilities.

Had it not been for the Nightmare Corridor, they wouldn't be suffering like this. Instead, they would be highly celebrated transcendents.

Of course, the price was that both of their consciousnesses had long since been obliterated, replaced entirely by the "things" growing inside them.

Fu Qian sighed inwardly as he recalled his final encounter with Loretta.

Deep down, the tormented woman was truly a kind person.

Bernard was right when he said she hadn't been able to relax before.

But considering her circumstances, few people could have faced them with ease.

Speaking of which, he still owed her his thanks for her cooperation in completing his last task.

Unfortunately, there was absolutely nothing he could do to help either of them right now.

Maybe someday, if he ever learned something like the Skill Dissolution Great Method, he could just wipe their slates clean and return them to being ordinary mortals.

If Lady Loretta could ever come back, that is.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!