In the stillness of the midnight hour, Night Watch refrained from questioning Weng Ling about her reluctance to expose the Yang family to the Holy Silver Church or unveil their sins to the public. He was no fool.
Likewise, the Yang family was not foolish either.
In reality, Weng Ling's continued existence was already perplexing, indicating that the Yang family possessed the means to counter her. Exposing them? Weng Ling surmised she couldn't even leave Loran Territory!
Yet, Night Watch was more intrigued by the term "Undead Calamity." He yearned to understand what deeds his kin had committed to be deemed a calamity.
Casting a puzzled glance at Night Watch, Weng Ling questioned, "Has no one ever informed you about this?"
A sudden realization struck Night Watch; perhaps this matter was well-known, a common knowledge of sorts?
"Oh dear, this might be awkward!"
Just as Night Watch contemplated whether to seal his lips, Weng Ling sighed.
"Well, you have a steward; perhaps you've lived in a warm castle since childhood, oblivious to such horrifying matters."
"Indeed, that's precisely it!"
Night Watch nodded eagerly. "Could you share the story with me? I do enjoy hearing tales."
Weng Ling, seemingly unaccustomed to such lengthy conversations, moistened her lips and began recounting the history of the continent:
"In the annals of the Saintstone Continent, two great wars erupted. One was the Undead Calamity initiated by the Undead Queen Louise, and the other was the Demon Cataclysm caused by the Demon Emperor."
"In truth, the Demon Emperor's ambition was stirred after witnessing the devastation suffered by various races during the Undead Calamity. Thus, the origin of the world's turmoil can be traced back to the Undead Calamity."
"Go on," Night Watch nodded.
"The undead had always existed worldwide, but people abhorred these restless beings. Even if these undead were once their kin, they would not hesitate to kill them. Amidst countless conflicts, a leader emerged among the undead—their Emperor."
"Queen Louise!"
"After her resurrection, Queen Louise began gathering the undead, profaning every graveyard. From villages to cities, and even entire principalities, the undead's power grew stronger."
"Wait, you're saying they only resurrected the dead, desecrated corpses, and did not attack the living?" Night Watch suddenly questioned in bewilderment.
For undead to remain active, they needed to consume soul energy. Apart from Night Watch, undead could only replenish soul energy by devouring flesh or souls, making attacks on the living inevitable.
Weng Ling shook her head with a complex expression and then nodded. "Initially, they were like a group of hungry hunters, preying on unintelligent beasts or retaliating against attackers. They did not actively invade any principality."
"However, later, whether due to internal conflicts among the undead or the inability to sustain their energy through hunting, they declared war on the living. Cities turned into hell, with all inhabitants devoured by the undead. Unfortunate ones would become part of them. As half of the Saintstone Continent succumbed to the fear of the undead..."
"At that moment, the Holy Silver Church, predominantly led by humans, suddenly rose. They persuaded 108 principalities, both large and small, to besiege the undead. Churches were established everywhere, teaching people the Holy Light Arts to combat the undead. This marked the inception of the first clerics."
"With their unique ability to inflict great harm on the undead through Holy Light, even a simple farmer proficient in the basic Holy Light Flash Spell could easily eliminate two or three low-level undead. Thus, all races began to counterattack the undead, culminating in the defeat of Queen Louise in the southern principality of the Tianwei Empire."
"With this victory, the Tianwei Empire and the Holy Silver Church swiftly rose to prominence, becoming the most renowned empire and church on the Saintstone Continent. The Holy Silver Church, in particular, established churches and followers among almost all races."
"Quite formidable!" Night Watch exclaimed.
This was a classic example of rising to power by stepping on the heads of the undead.
"Yes," Weng Ling nodded, continuing:
"Afterward, in their quest to eliminate all undead on the Saintstone Continent, the Holy Silver Church trained numerous Holy Knights stationed in churches across the land. Upon detecting any undead presence, the Church would immediately notify the corresponding Holy Knights to carry out the extermination. Each undead killed earned great merit and rewards within the Church."
"No wonder that Yang fellow dared to charge in without extinguishing the flames," Night Watch mused.
Seeing Night Watch's mocking expression, Weng Ling opened her mouth, ultimately offering a reminder, "Despite Yang's questionable conduct, he managed to rise to the rank of Temple Knight at the age of twenty. It indicates a certain level of skill. I suggest you keep your distance when encountering him in the future!"
Night Watch shrugged. As an innocuous and adorable little undead, he wondered why Weng Ling seemed perturbed by Yang's attention.
"Cough, are we still listening to the story?" Weng Ling, seemingly realizing the pivotal point of the narrative, blushed slightly and pretended to scratch her ear.
"Continue!"
"So, after the Undead Calamity, were there no undead left?" Night Watch inquired.
After contemplating for a moment, Weng Ling nodded emphatically.
"The Holy Silver Church's undead detection has been scanning the entire Saintstone Continent. Any undead attempting to resurrect will undoubtedly face pursuit and extermination by the Holy Silver Church. Besides, they also have that cat."
"The cat? Are you referring to the black cat from earlier? What's its origin, and why did it..."
"Experience a sudden heartache, as if on the brink of death?" Weng Ling interjected.
Night Watch, still feeling the throbbing pain in his chest, nodded in agreement. His sensations seemed eerily similar to those of a human. But what about the immobilization of his body?
Nevertheless, he refrained from asking; it wouldn't be wise to reveal too much.
"That cat was Queen Louise's pet during her lifetime. Initially sentenced to death after her demise, the Holy Silver Church discovered, through a stroke of luck, that it could sense the presence of hidden undead. Consequently, it was spared as a forbidden creature."
"Unexpectedly, Yang brought the cat along this time. Seems like that undead is quite extraordinary!" Weng Ling sighed.
Ordinary newly revived undead could be dealt with by an average cleric, and a more skilled Holy Knight could handle trickier situations. Yet this time, it was led by Yang, a Temple Knight, accompanied by that ominous cat.
Thinking about it, Night Watch wondered if Yang's visit might not have been solely to disturb her. Considering the deployment of a Temple Knight, two Holy Knights, and that black cat, what kind of existence were they facing?
Observing Night Watch's constipated expression, Weng Ling found it peculiar.
"What's wrong? Did your wound reopen? Do you need me to heal you with Holy Light?"
Shaking his head, Night Watch refrained from expressing his desire to eliminate that cat. As long as Yang amused himself by waking up the cat again, even an idiot could figure out who the undead in question was!
"No, no, everything's fine. I just suddenly felt a bit hungry..."
"Hungry? I happen to have some dry rations. Would you
like a late-night snack?" Weng Ling inquired, lifting her head.