Chapter 238 – Bell and Pi Pa (1/2)

Chapter 238 – Bell and Pi Pa

Translated by: YX

Edited by: XRCO, Earl and De Andre

The station was bustling with a motley of people dressed in disparate colours when Bell stepped out of the carriage. As she strolled down the crowded walkway, her anxiety soon subsided after she immersed herself into the familiarity of her hometown.

This was her hometown, Bright Ford City of the Qi Dong Star. Bright Ford City was the most prosperous city in Qi Dong Star, and was the most important and iconic business center. The human traffic here was concentrated and caravans come and go. The variety of goods sold here were many and varied, attracting a large quantity of merchants to come. This was due to the position of Qi Dong Star. Qi Dong Star belonged to the Southern Sky Forty two constellations, and was just an ordinary planet. But this ordinary planet, actually possessed numerous starry doors. These starry doors allowed it to link to six other constellations.

Naturally, it became the converging point for many travellers and boats.

Bell who was extremely familiar with the place, upon dropping from the carriage, disappeared into the sea of people.

Bell disappeared into the crowd for safety. She navigated the streets with utmost caution, always looking to her back to ensure no one was tailing her. The city area was renowned for prowling freedom hunters, who were always on the hunt for Onyx Soul Horses. Each Onyx Soul Horse possessed an abundance of secrets within their information system, which the hunters eyed for. It was a common hobby among the freedom hunters to capture Onyx Soul Horses to extract the secrets hidden within them.

In this brutally chaotic world, the slightest mistake could land you in danger. Most of the Onyx Soul Horses who Bell knew had been hunted down. It was not too long ago that Bell raised her level to the Silver level. Though her social status had risen, possessing the Silver level made her a more valuable prey for the freedom hunters.

Bell turned into an alley with individual households embedded into the sides of the walls. The alley was so narrow that only three people could fit at any time. But at least it was safe. Strolling along the narrow brick-paved path away from the crowd, she could hear the sweet tinkling sounds of the wind chimes hung along the doors of each household. Due to the city’s damp climate and a spring-like temperature all year round, potted plants teeming with flowers leaned along the sides of the walls. The fragrance of the flowers and the home-cooked rice emanating from the households invoked a tinge of happiness in Bell.

Bell tilted her head slightly and took a quick glance at a potted plant a few feet away. A minute mirror was protruding halfway out of the soil. It was facing the entrance of the alley. She placeed it there to ensure that no one was tailing her.

There was no one.

She was not careless this time, having walked a longer route before reaching the steps of her house.

She pushed the door open and shut it swiftly.

“Who is it?” a feminine voice called out from the room.

“It’s me,” Bell replied rather solemnly. She loosened her elbows, breathing a sigh of relief. She dashed to the inner room nested at the far end of the courtyard.

“Bell’s back!”, Pi Pa, her twin replied ecstatically. Besides her paler complexion and longer hair, Bell’s sister was so similar to her that no one could tell them apart. She looked lethargic and demure. She held a book tightly in her hand, still surprised at the presence of her sister.

Bell snatched the book away from her hands. “Didn’t I tell you not to read books when you are unwell?”

“I was bored, it was to spend the time away!” she showed her tongue.

Pi Pa had been sick since she was of a young age. Pi Pa seldom ventured into the outside world, aside from the few escapes she had with Bell. Reading was the only remedy to quell her boredom. Bookcases surrounded every corner of the room, with books piling up to the ceiling.

Bell sighed. “Just remember to rest your body ok?”

“Yes, yes! I will!” Pi Pa replied.

Bell took an apple that was placed at the center of the table. She rubbed the apple against her shirt and started chomping voraciously on it.

“It isn’t washed!” Pi Pa yelled.

She took another big bite out of the apple. “It is clean, don’t you thi…”

Bell dropped the half-eaten apple, grabbed Pi Pa by her waist and dashed to the back of the room. She gently pushed open a slit in the window. Peering out cautiously into the open, she could see several men who were wandering suspiciously outside the house.

Carrying Pi Pa by her waist, Bell shuffled gently across the room. Once she reached the side of a bookshelf, she pulled a hinge on it. The shelf swung open, revealing a dark tunnel. She gently lowered herself into the abyss as the shelf slammed shut behind her.

Moments later, the courtyard door smashed into bits and pieces.

Several men trained in martial arts stomped into the room. After sweeping around, and realizing no one was in, their faces turned dark.

One of the men found the half-eaten apple left behind by Bell, and said, “They just left, Search the place! There must be a secret passage somewhere!”

The men dispersed, checking every inch of the room and knocking the bookshelves over.

After two minutes, six passageways appeared in front of them.

Everyone looked surprised.

No one had expected Bell to be so meticulous as to install six different passages to throw off her pursuers.

Everyone’s gaze turned to the man who was assumed to be the leader, which way do we go?

The leader’s face turned green, he had spent so much effort and time to plan and find this place, never did he think that…..

This woman is so crafty!

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Bell reemerged from the end of the passage. She looked around intently for any signs of danger or suspicious individual. They were safe, for now. From a distance, she could hear a horse carriage approaching. Holding Pi Pa tightly in her arms, Bell quietly slipped into the carriage.

There was no one inside.

Half an hour later, Bell spotted a long-distance carriage stationed at the side of the road. Although it wasn’t luxurious, the box car offered a spacious room for the both of them.