Courtyard House: Report enemy agents at the start, and you'll take off immediately.

Page 208

Chapter 295 The Prophecy of Twins

The mysterious man smiled slightly, a smile that seemed to contain endless vicissitudes and wisdom: "I have traveled far and wide, witnessing countless changes of the times. I know something about the prophecy about twins. One is in the light and the other in the dark, one is good and the other evil. Only when the two meet can the balance of the world be maintained or overturned."

"One righteous, one evil?" Zhao De repeated, a chill creeping into his heart. "This Zhao De, and the woman I met, could she be..."

"This is precisely the answer we are looking for." The mysterious figure slowly approached, taking out a shimmering gem from beneath his cloak. "This gem can sense the aura of the Child of Prophecy. If you wish to find the answer, you may follow its guidance and personally unveil her veil."

Zhao De accepted the gemstone, sensing a faint fluctuation within it, as if a real force was guiding him. He gave the Prime Minister a deep look, then nodded: "There's no time to lose, I'll depart immediately."

Outside the royal city, Zhao De mounted his steed and, guided by the gemstone, traversed dense forests and crossed mountains and rivers. Along the way, his movements attracted the attention and gossip of countless passersby.

“Look, isn’t that General Zhao De? Why is he in such a hurry?” A farmer stopped his work and pointed at Zhao De’s departing figure, saying to the people around him.

"I heard something big happened in the capital recently. Could it be related to this?" another villager guessed, his eyes full of curiosity and worry.

In a remote town, Zhao De stopped to rest. In the tavern, he overheard a conversation between several merchants:

"Have you heard? The royal city is searching for some twins, who are said to be able to change the fate of the world."

"Hey, this matter could be big or small, but if it's true, we ordinary folks are probably going to get caught up in some big storm."

"Don't even mention it. These days, it's good enough to just live a peaceful life."

Zhao De silently sipped his ale, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He realized that his actions were no longer just a personal exploration, but also concerned the peace of the entire kingdom.

As night fell, Zhao De finally arrived at the destination guided by the gemstone—an ancient temple hidden deep in a valley. Under the moonlight, the temple appeared exceptionally sacred and mysterious.

Just as Zhao De stepped into the temple gate, a familiar voice rang out: "You've finally arrived, General Zhao De."

Turning around, he saw the mysterious Zhao De, whose smile seemed to hide countless secrets.

"It's you! What on earth happened?" Zhao De gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his heart pounding. Zhao De slowly approached, and in the moonlight, her eyes gleamed with an unusual light.

“I am Alia, the guardian of the prophesied child.” Her voice was soft yet powerful, each word striking Zhao De’s heart. “The answer you seek lies within this temple.”

Zhao De followed Aliya deeper into the temple, where ancient totems were carved into the walls, seemingly telling a story from a distant era. Each step intensified the tense atmosphere until they arrived at a secret chamber.

“Only true warriors and those with pure hearts can open this door.” Alia stepped back, gesturing for Zhao De to step forward. He hesitated for a moment, then gently touched the keyhole to the door with the gem in his hand. After a soft mechanical click, the door slowly opened, revealing a gentle blue light.

In the center of the room, two stone statues stood silently, one illuminated and one in shadow, their forms different, yet their faces bore an inexplicable resemblance. Zhao De felt a powerful force surging within him, as if he had resonated with the two statues in some way.

Chapter 296 Peaceful days are not easy to come by.

Chapter 296 Peaceful days are not easy to come by.

“They represent twins,” Alia explained. “Your appearance, and the questions in your heart, are all arrangements of fate.”

Suddenly, a commotion of footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by the Prime Minister's urgent voice: "Zhao De, come out quickly! There's an emergency!"

Zhao De was startled and hurriedly turned around, but was stopped by Aliya: "Remember, your choice will determine everything. The fate of the twins, and the future of this world, are all closely related to you."

Zhao De hesitated for a moment, then decided to leave Aliya behind and go ahead to handle the urgent matter. When he rushed out of the temple, the Prime Minister was waiting anxiously, with several solemn-looking generals standing beside him.

"Zhao De, the eastern front is in dire straits! The orc tribe has launched a sudden attack. We must immediately return to the capital to deploy defenses!" The Prime Minister briefly explained the situation, his worry evident in his eyes.

"Set off immediately!" Zhao De commanded decisively, but his heart was far from calm. The mystery of the twins, Alia's words, and the impending war—everything seemed to foreshadow a major turning point.

The sound of horses' hooves echoed through the valley once more, and passersby watched Zhao De and his entourage hurry away, discussing among themselves.

"Look, isn't that General Zhao De? Why is he rushing back again?"

"Something serious must have happened, otherwise why would they be in such a hurry?"

"Sigh, it's not easy to have a peaceful life in this world."

"Have you heard? The orcs have been very active lately. This is not a good sign," an old man said, stroking his beard with worry in his eyes.

"General Zhao De is the guardian of our kingdom. With him around, what do we have to worry about?" the young man beside him said with admiration, his tone filled with unwavering determination.

As the convoy sped along, villagers in the villages along the way stopped what they were doing and cast admiring and worried glances their way.

"Look at that figure, no wonder he's a legendary hero!" the peasant woman said to the child beside her, her eyes shining with hope. "You will become a great hero like him someday!"

The child opened his eyes wide and nodded with longing, as if he could already see himself wearing armor and riding a horse.

That night, Zhao De and his entourage arrived in the capital. Inside the brightly lit palace, the atmosphere was unusually tense. Zhao De went straight to the military conference room, where the generals had been waiting for a long time. The map was covered with markings, clearly indicating the critical situation.

"Report the latest situation." Zhao De's voice was steady and powerful, his brows revealing an unwavering determination.

"The orcs are numerous, at least three times the number they used to be, and they seem to have been blessed with some kind of power, making them exceptionally fierce in combat," the intelligence officer reported, sweat clearly visible on his face.

The discussion continued late into the night, finally resulting in an emergency response plan. After the meeting, Zhao De strolled alone in the palace gardens, his mind still preoccupied with Alia's words and the mystery of the twins.

Just then, an elderly gardener approached silently. "General, if I may be so bold as to ask, is something troubling you?"

Zhao De was slightly taken aback, then smiled wryly: "Old man, sometimes, the responsibility is so heavy that it's hard to breathe."

The gardener smiled slightly, his weathered eyes gleaming with wisdom: "I've heard it said that a true hero is not one who is without fear, but one who chooses to move forward even when afraid. You are such a hero."

Chapter 297 Totem

Chapter 297 Totem

Upon hearing this, Zhao De felt a warmth in his heart, as if he had found a direction to move forward: "Thank you, sir. I will find the answer, for this land, for all those who long for peace."

The next day, Zhao De led his army out, leaving a letter to the Prime Minister before departing. The letter detailed his plans and his confusion about Aliya and the twins, entrusting the Prime Minister to find the answers and protect the unknown power if he failed to return.

On the battlefield, Zhao De was like a war god descended to earth, brave and fearless, repelling the orcs' attacks time and time again. But whenever there was a lull in the fighting, his gaze would unconsciously drift into the distance, as if something was calling to him from there.

Finally, during a fierce battle, Zhao De unexpectedly discovered a secret hidden deep within the orc camp—a forgotten ancient altar, engraved with totems similar to those in the temple. The orcs' sudden rise to power seemed to be inextricably linked to this place.

Just as Zhao De was preparing to explore further, a familiar voice rang in his ears: "I knew I hadn't misjudged you, Zhao De."

Alia had appeared beside him unnoticed, her eyes gleaming with a complex light: "The answer to all of this, and our destiny, lies here."

Zhao De whirled around, his sharp gaze locking onto Aliya, and the surrounding noise seemed to freeze instantly. "You've always known?" His voice trembled almost imperceptibly.

Alia nodded gently, her voice soft yet firm: "Yes, I know more than you think. This altar, and the source of the orcs' power, are all closely related to the secret of the twins."

Although the soldiers around them couldn't understand their conversation, they sensed something extraordinary from the two men's demeanor and began whispering among themselves.

"General, what's going on? Who is that woman?" a young soldier asked in a low voice, his eyes full of curiosity.

Another veteran looked on with awe: "Quiet, kid, that's Lady Alia. It's said that she possesses ancient knowledge and can predict the future!"

Zhao De turned around, nodded slightly to the soldiers around him to signal them to remain vigilant, and then turned back to Alia, "So, tell me, what should we do?"

Alia reached out a hand and gently touched the totem on the altar. The ancient runes seemed to activate, emitting a faint blue light. "To unravel this mystery, the ritual must be performed by someone with a pure heart and great power. That person is you, Zhao De."

"A ceremony?" Zhao De frowned, his doubts growing wildly like weeds in his heart.

“Yes, a ritual that can balance light and darkness and quell the rampaging power of the orcs,” Alia explained, her tone filled with unwavering conviction.

At that moment, a messenger rushed over and interrupted their conversation: "General, the orcs are gathering and preparing to launch a new offensive!"

Zhao De looked at the dark mass of orc soldiers in the distance, then turned to Aliya and said, "We don't have time. Tell me the specific steps of the ritual."

Aliya quickly informed Zhao De of the ceremony's process, emphasizing that every detail was crucial and could not be overlooked. After listening, Zhao De took a deep breath, his eyes becoming more resolute than ever before.

"Let's begin." His words were like a bugle call, inspiring the soldiers around him. Although they didn't understand why, their trust in Zhao De made them stand beside him without hesitation, forming a solid defensive line.

Chapter 298 The Ceremony Proceeds

Chapter 298 The Ceremony Proceeds

As the ritual progressed, Zhao De felt an unprecedented power surging within him, a fusion of light and darkness, both warm and cold. The light on the altar grew brighter and brighter, gradually enveloping the entire orc camp.

The orcs sensed the change in this power and were immediately thrown into panic, their attack coming to an abrupt halt.

"Look! What's happening over there!" An orc soldier pointed in the direction Zhao De was, his face full of terror.

“That light… was that a miracle?” another orc said, trembling, his eyes filled with both fear and awe.

"No, that's a human trick!" roared an elderly orc chieftain, his eyes unable to leave the strange light. "Prepare for battle! We cannot let this ritual complete!"

Within the orc ranks, low growls echoed as they began to reorganize, attempting to break through the sudden barrier. On Zhao De's side, the soldiers huddled together, their faces showing fear, but even more so, a thirst for victory and unconditional trust in Zhao De.

"Hold on, the general won't let us down!" a soldier shouted, his voice ringing out loudly in the tense atmosphere, inspiring those around him.

Aliya stood to the side, her hands clasped tightly, chanting incantations, providing Zhao De with mysterious power. Bathed in blue light, her figure appeared exceptionally solemn and sacred, drawing complex glances from even the beastmen—a mixture of fear and unspeakable reverence.

"Look, the sky!" A human soldier suddenly pointed to the sky. Everyone looked up and saw that the sky, which had been covered with dark clouds, was slowly dispersing, revealing a dazzling starry sky.

"A miracle, it really is a miracle!" Exclamations of amazement rose and fell among the crowd, and even the most pessimistic soldier felt an indescribable force of hope.

As the ceremony reached its climax, Zhao De radiated a dazzling light, his eyes growing ever more profound, as if he could perceive the very essence of all things. The intertwined forces of light and darkness within him finally reached a delicate balance, forming a new energy powerful enough to reshape the battlefield.

"Let's end this!" Zhao De shouted, clenching his fists and swinging them forcefully into the air. Instantly, a visible energy wave emanated from him, spreading outwards and crashing directly into the orcish soldiers.

The orcs appeared so small in the face of this power. No matter how fierce the orcs were, they were all knocked off balance by this power. Some orcs were even affected by the purifying power, and the savage look in their eyes gradually disappeared, replaced by an unprecedented peace.

"What's going on?" a young orc muttered to himself. He looked down at his hands, which were no longer trembling, and it seemed that in that instant, the wildness deep within him had been replaced by a kind of tenderness.

"Peace...is it possible?" an old orc chieftain asked in a low voice, a hint of hesitation appearing for the first time on his scarred face.

As everyone was still in shock, Zhao De slowly descended back to the ground. The light emanating from his body gradually subsided, but the aura he exuded from within was completely different. Alia walked towards him, and the two smiled at each other—a smile of finally seeing the dawn after weathering a storm.

"You did it, Zhao De," Aliya said softly, her voice filled with satisfaction.

Chapter 299 The Era of Coexistence