Chapter 1318: Gains
If things had proceeded according to Qi Xuansu’s estimate of two hours, then Qi Xuansu certainly would not have seen the Baron again.
However, the City Council took four hours to encircle the Baron’s residence. That delay gave Qi Xuansu the chance to see the Baron once more.
When the Baron returned, he looked utterly miserable. He almost crashed through the window and fell inside, barely clinging to his last breath. If Qi Xuansu’s restriction had not allowed entry, he might have smashed himself to death against the barrier.
The Baron’s condition was extremely grim. Half of his body had already been charred. Even the powerful regenerative abilities of vampires showed no sign of improving his condition. After all, not just anyone possessed Little Yin’s exceptional physique, allowing her to leap about even after being bombed.
The Baron’s other half was no better, showing signs of mutation. Murky yellow-green eyes split open across his skin, densely packed, as though he had been contaminated by something. Even on half of his face, horrifying eyes kept growing, only to be suppressed by his regenerative ability. But this cycle kept repeating itself—a horrific sight.
Seeing the Baron’s condition, Qi Xuansu finally understood why Leopold and the other senior councilors had not intercepted the Baron’s plans earlier. They all knew the tomb was extremely dangerous, so none of them wanted to take the risk themselves. Instead, they waited for the Baron to bring the treasure back and then planned to bargain with him by tossing him a few scraps.
In a sense, the Baron did not have it easy either. Before great figures, he, too, was just a minion risking his life for meager gains. His daughter, Molly Oxley, was also part of the reason. If she had not caused such a great disaster that required Leopold’s help, he could simply have revealed the location of the tomb entrance instead of risking his life like this.
Of course, Qi Xuansu had the same intention of reaping benefits without effort, so he was no more noble than those senior councilmen.
Qi Xuansu looked at the Baron, who seemed close to death, and called Madam Wu over to take a look.
Madam Wu only glanced once and clicked her tongue. “Well, now he triggered Kukulkan’s trap and Chak Chel’s curse. But he’s still alive and even managed to make it back. That’s some incredible luck and resilience!”
Qi Xuansu asked, “Who’s Chak Chel?”
Madam Wu replied, “Chak Chel is the same as Ixchel, two sides of the same being, like the various manifestations of the Buddha. According to the natives, Ixchel is the Full Moon Goddess, appearing as a beautiful maiden who governs harvest and fertility, possessing the power of blessings. Chak Chel, on the other hand, is the Star and Moon Goddess, depicted as a fierce old crone, a goddess of punishment who possesses the power of curses.”