Chapter 82: Enemies in the Shadows

Kingdom of Rayton, Royal Palace.

Within a grand and opulent hall, Lin Wei lay in a finely crafted wooden bath. His eyes were gently closed, his upper body emerging from the water, the lines of his physique clear and striking. Behind him, a beautiful maid was kneading his shoulders, her cheeks flushed with fascination as she watched him.

"No wonder Bansani is so enthralled by the pleasures of mortal life..."

Lin Wei felt the delicate fingers of the maid behind him, softly tracing his skin with unconscious intimacy.

Suddenly, Lin Wei reached out, grasping the maid’s smooth, pale hand.

"My lord..." The beautiful maid was caught off guard, letting out a startled gasp, but soon her neck was stained with a blush.

She had been assigned by Bansani to serve Lin Wei, and had long prepared herself to give everything to him. Even without Bansani's command, from the very first moment she saw Lin Wei, she had been captivated by his handsome features and the aura he exuded.

A young, handsome sorcerer possessed a charm that no ordinary woman could resist.

Lin Wei drew her hand before his eyes, examining her slender fingers intently—delicate, smooth, fragile as if boneless.

"What’s your name?" Lin Wei asked idly.

"Nienna..." Her voice trembled with nervousness. Living within the inner court, she knew secrets unknown to common folk—such as the fact that the young, handsome man before her was the legendary and mysterious sorcerer.

Lin Wei nodded, releasing Nienna’s hand and closing his eyes once more.

In the year since his rebirth, he had never enjoyed such physical comfort. Nienna’s eyes flickered with disappointment, but the emotion quickly faded.

"She’s truly alluring, but now is not the time..."

Just moments ago, with Nienna tending to him, Lin Wei felt a primal spark ignite within. Before his journey between worlds, Lin Wei wasn’t exactly a seasoned lover, but he’d had experience with several women. After crossing over and becoming a youth, he had managed at first, but as his body matured, the fire within grew stronger, leaving him with a sense of restless energy.

Now, with a beauty by his side, Lin Wei was indeed tempted, but remembering his current circumstances, he restrained himself. The Royal Palace of Rayton was a place rife with intrigue; he could not afford to relax, but instead had to stay even more vigilant, ready for whatever might occur.

With a rush, Lin Wei stood abruptly from the bath, water cascading down his body, his entire form exposed before Nienna's eyes.

Nienna felt her cheeks burning, stunned for a moment.

She had been chosen for the palace at a young age and knew her fate well. Either she would become a favored concubine of the nobility, or serve as a pawn in their schemes. Alongside her companions, she had been required to learn the arts of etiquette, culture, and the skills of pleasing a man.

As the years passed, her companions dwindled, most becoming playthings for the nobles. Nienna, however, was always kept apart, never allowed to approach anyone. She understood that her exceptional beauty made her a more valuable... possession. Yet, no matter how she looked at it, she would eventually be handed over.

Until this afternoon, when the matron who trained her hurriedly informed her that she had been chosen by Lord Bansani. In that moment, Nienna’s feelings were complex. She was relieved to finally leave the suffocating environment, and her future master was a sorcerer more esteemed than the King himself. Yet, she felt a chill—she would no longer be herself, but merely an object.

But to her surprise, her master was not Bansani, but a young and handsome man. And from Bansani’s respectful—even humble—demeanor toward Lin Wei, she learned Lin Wei’s true identity.

Ten years of repression had ignited in a single moment upon seeing Lin Wei. Nienna knew this was not love at first sight, but the release of despair accumulated over years, illuminated by a ray of hope.

Such a man, whom even noble ladies could not approach, was now within her reach. Nienna was grateful for Lin Wei’s presence.

“What are you staring at?” Lin Wei’s voice suddenly sounded at her ear.

“I’m so sorry, my lord… I…” Nienna was flustered, the thin veil she wore revealing glimpses of her graceful figure.

Abruptly, Lin Wei pinched Nienna’s chin, bringing his face close to hers, studying her features intently.

“Go and dress yourself,” Lin Wei commanded, releasing her.

...

In the bedchamber,

Lin Wei wore luxurious nightclothes, sitting quietly on the vast bed.

“Core Sphere, retrieve my physical data.”

Lin Wei had no intention of sleeping. Potential enemies lurked nearby, their strength unknown. He had to advance to a Level Three Sorcerer Apprentice as soon as possible.

“Retrieving data…”

[Lin Wei of Nolan Mountain; Strength: 16.5; Agility: 16.7; Constitution: 16.4; Mental Power: 7.1; Skills: Fencing, Hammer Technique; Sorcerer Meditation: Shadow of Holy Light; Sorcery: Darkened Eye, Starlit Sand]

“Ever since I reached Level Two Sorcerer Apprentice, my physical attributes have barely increased,” Lin Wei analyzed. “Mental power, after condensing the fourth rune shard, is at 7.1. As long as I persistently meditate on the fourth rune, reaching the max of 8 for Level Two is only a matter of time.”

“I must hurry. The enemy lurking in the shadows possesses dimensional mimicry—still a significant threat,” Lin Wei understood clearly. “Yet danger always accompanies opportunity. If I can trace the mastermind behind all this, I could uncover secrets about dimensional mimicry and perhaps even more…”

Lin Wei sensed his surroundings and speculated, “Perhaps tonight, someone will come to test me—or even… assassinate me…”

“Let’s wait. If I can draw the enemy out from the shadows, that would be a worthwhile move.”

Lin Wei ordered the core sphere to shut down his senses and activate security measures.

...

Night passed.

The first rays of sunlight pierced the clouds, golden light flooding the land.

Lin Wei slowly opened his eyes, thoughtful. “A whole night, and not a single test?”

The room was vast. Lin Wei stood, walking toward the window.

Just as he was about to breathe in the morning air, the core sphere’s voice sounded at his ear, and his once calm gaze abruptly narrowed.

“Sorcerer’s power residue detected!”