Black Myth: The Legend of Tianpeng Seeking Demons

The streets outside the Earl's mansion were quiet on the night after the banquet. Moonlight, like strands of silver, softly bathed the cobblestones, casting a dreamlike veil over the entire town. The occasional barking of dogs in the distance broke the silence, but seemed to only accentuate the profound tranquility of the surroundings.

Jukeli walked slowly with his head down, his boots making a soft scraping sound as they trod the ground. The lute on his back swayed slightly with his steps, its strings vibrating gently in the night breeze, as if echoing the thoughts in his heart.

Scenes from the banquet replayed in his mind, especially those eyes—Princess Avril's eyes. Those deep blue eyes were profound and sorrowful, containing endless pain and hatred, like the sea before a storm, irresistibly drawing one in, yet also conveying a sense of danger.

“What exactly did she go through…” Zhu Keli’s voice was so soft it was almost a soliloquy, his fingers unconsciously stroking the antique ring on his left hand. The ring was engraved with intricate patterns and faintly emitted a mysterious glow.

Suddenly, a teasing voice broke his reverie. "You're that concerned about her?" The voice belonged to Little White, the mischievous sprite who had long resided in the Jukeli ring. The voice carried its usual sarcasm and nonchalance. "Aren't you always the one who loves gossiping? Why don't you take this opportunity to dig up some secrets about her?"

Juckley couldn't help but purse his lips and sigh, "I just felt that there was something wrong with her eyes, like she was carrying a heavy burden."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but recall Yang Guifei's dying wish. "Moreover, I promised Her Highness that I would help those in need."

"Ha, stop using the Imperial Concubine as an excuse." Xiao Bai's voice suddenly rang out, full of laughter, "You don't happen to have your eye on that princess, do you? Don't forget your mission here! You're here to collect tears, not to be romantic."

Zhu Keli blushed, feeling a pang of shame, but he stubbornly insisted, "No way! I just felt sorry for her..."

However, the inexplicable emotion in his heart lingered. He decided to learn more about Avril's story, hoping to find the truth behind the flames of hatred in her eyes.

The next day, as the sun rose, Jukele arrived at the town's busiest tavern—"Unicorn Horn." This place, a gathering place for adventurers and merchants, was full of noise and vitality, making it the perfect spot to gather information.

The tavern was filled with the sounds of laughter, clinking glasses, and the aroma of roasted meat and ale. Juckley casually found a corner to sit down and ordered a glass of ale and a plate of roasted venison. As he ate slowly, he subtly listened to the conversations around him.

"Have you heard? It seems Her Highness the Princess is secretly recruiting soldiers to fight against that dark mage..." an adventurer whispered mysteriously to the person next to him.

"Shh! Are you out of your mind?" his companion hurriedly stopped him, glancing around before adding warily, "Have you forgotten? The dark mage's eyes and ears are everywhere. Be careful what you say!"

Juckley felt a chill run down his spine and couldn't help but look at the ring on his hand again, thinking to himself, "It seems that Avril's actions are indeed related to the dark mage Augustus."

He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided to ask the tavern owner for information. The tavern owner, Bart, was a burly middle-aged man with a full beard and a booming voice.

“Bart, can I have a word with you?” Juckley called out to him, raising his empty wine glass.

Bart walked over, frowning, and asked, "What do you want to know?"

Juckley gave a friendly smile. "I've heard what Princess Avril has been up to lately. I'm just curious about what's going on with her."

Bart glanced at him, a complex expression on his face. He looked around to make sure no one was paying attention to their conversation before whispering, "Kid, don't go asking around. Her Highness is pitiful. Three years ago, the Dark Mage launched a rebellion, killing the King and Queen, and almost killing her too. After she escaped by chance, she has been secretly plotting revenge."

Juckley frowned. "Does she want revenge? But her opponent is a dark mage..."

A hint of fear flashed in Bart's eyes as he lowered his voice and said, "The dark mage Augustus is not only proficient in powerful dark magic, but he also commands a group of dark knights, each as fierce as a wolf. The entire kingdom is now under his control. If the princess truly wants to oppose him, I'm afraid..."

As Juckley listened to Bart's description, his unease grew stronger. He hadn't expected Avril to face such a powerful enemy, and that he was powerless to help her. He left the tavern, burdened with worries, determined to find an opportunity to continue investigating Avril's movements.

A few days later, Juckley finally discovered Avril's pattern of movements. Every so often, she would quietly leave the castle with a few guards and head to an abandoned manor on the outskirts of the city. Driven by curiosity, Juckley decided to follow her and find out her true intentions.

As night fell, the bright moonlight once again bathed the earth, and Juckley followed silently behind Avril's group. The night breeze caressed his face, and the occasional cry of a night bird echoed through the woods. The dark forest seemed like a colossal beast, subtly engulfing their tracks.

They traversed fields and winding mountain paths, finally arriving at a dense forest. Deep within the woods, a few faint, yellowish lights shone. Jukele concealed himself behind the bushes, holding his breath as he observed everything before him.

"Should we go in?" Xiaobai's voice came from the ring, tinged with hesitation and displeasure. "Do you really like meddling in other people's business?"

Juckley nodded slightly, his expression serious and resolute. "I need to know what she's doing. If she's truly in danger, I can't stand idly by."

"You..." Xiaobai muttered, but did not object further.

Juckley cautiously infiltrated the manor. The once magnificent building was now a scene of utter desolation, overgrown with weeds and its walls crumbling and peeling. However, through a broken window, Juckley witnessed a shocking scene: in the center of the hall, hundreds of armored soldiers were undergoing rigorous training, their swords flashing, and a chilling atmosphere filled the air. Princess Avril stood on a high platform, her face stern, like a general commanding thousands of troops.

"Is she really going to fight against the dark mage...?" Jukeli murmured, feeling both admiration and deep worry.

“Juckley, you need to be careful.” Little White’s voice suddenly turned serious. “I have a bad feeling.”

“I know.” Juklee took a deep breath and continued to observe.

Just then, the tranquility of the night was suddenly broken by a series of hurried footsteps. A soldier quickly approached Avril and whispered, "Your Highness, everything is ready. We can depart tomorrow night."