Volume 5: Gathering Storms Chapter 20: Redemption

  Afternoon was just about to code words, suddenly three tender and lovely girls called to go to their dormitory to play!

  Oh my god, I'm such a pure and holy person, I've never thought about having a threesome, 4P, harem or being a stud!!!

  Then I turned off the computer and ran away happily...

  When I pushed open the dormitory door... (Please refer to tomorrow's update for the rest of the story, and fill in the blanks with your imagination...)

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  In the end, Tasia still followed the young man. This wasn't because the young man had some kind of aura that attracted people, but rather because Tasia discovered that from a certain point on, the refugees in single-layer clothing around her had already begun to look at her with green eyes. Tasia didn't doubt for a moment what would happen to her if she were to fall behind alone.

  Although she had a natural aversion to nobles in her heart, she still boarded Dufan's carriage.

  This was an ordinary carriage to the extreme, although it was winter, but inside the carriage was too clean, with only a few cold benches and a square table.

  The young man shivered as he looked at Tasia and said, "How...do you think this carriage is very common?"

  "Not..." Tasia shook her head slightly and said after a moment, "I just think... you seem very poor... it's better to return this dress to you."

  Young man burst out laughing and said: "Poor! Haha, someone actually says I'm poor! But it's good this way... at least no one will always be trying to take advantage of me... This piece of clothing, since I've given it to you, is naturally yours... Ah yes... there are other things I can give you too..."

  As he spoke, the young man rummaged through his clothes for a moment and pulled out a piece of cheese that still retained some body heat, handing it to Tasia and saying, "Here, you can have this. People in your world should like eating things like this, but I, the young master, have no interest in such cloyingly sweet things. You just help me finish it off."

  Tasya hesitated for a moment, but still grabbed the cheese and ate it in big mouthfuls.

  The young man smiled and watched her finish eating, then suddenly laughed and said: "By the way... what's your name?"

  Tasia slightly shook her head and said: "My name is... Tasia."

  "Tasia... what a mouthful of a name," the young man chuckled, pointing to himself and saying, "I'm Du Fan, a minor noble with no great reputation, and I'll soon be becoming a priest. So if we meet again next time... you can just call me by my name. By then, who knows, maybe I'll even pray for you."

  Tasya's eyes flickered and she said faintly, "What's the use of praying? If prayers were useful, could they bring redemption to people?"

  Du Fan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled lightly and said: "Miss... redemption is not something that can be prayed for, nor is it something that someone else can give you. The only person who can give you redemption is yourself. In this world, no one is anyone's savior. No matter what kind of person you are, if you want to get something, you have to pay the same price... even if you think about getting God's salvation, you still need to pay with your faith... isn't that right?"

  As he spoke, Du Fan looked out of the carriage window at the large number of refugees and suddenly let out a bitter laugh: "For example, who can bring redemption to those people? Moreover, at this time, they probably don't even believe in themselves, so how can they have faith?"

  Tasia was taken aback for a moment, unsure of how to respond. Although she looked several years older than Du Fan, in terms of experience, how could she be compared to someone like Du Fan who had lived through two lifetimes?

  Du Fan looked at her expression, and suddenly smiled again: "Tasya, you and I met today, it's also fate. Since I helped you, it's also destiny. In the distant Eastern Continent, there is a saying 'rescue people to the end, send Buddha to the Western Paradise'. If you are willing to pay with your faith... then I can give you redemption, how about that? The key is... are you willing?"

  Tasuya thought for a moment and suddenly said: "If... you can give me an answer, I don't care if it's faith, even if it means being a slave or servant from now on, I'm willing."

  Du Fan smiled lightly, looking at Tasia's dark face. After a moment, he asked in a low voice: "What do you need to know the answer to? Go ahead and ask, I'm Du Fan, not a scholar or philosopher, just a useless young nobleman. If you think someone like me can give you an answer, then go ahead and ask."

  Tasia looked at the young boy in front of her, and for a moment, she felt dizzy. He looked like he was only ten years old; his smile was clean, but it still had a hint of childishness. Although he seemed confident, there wasn't a single trace of maturity about him. But could someone like this really give her the answers she sought?

  Tasia didn't know, her eyes suddenly became a few points hazy, for a moment she was stunned and couldn't speak.

  Du Fan looked at her and nodded thoughtfully, then asked after a moment: "Tasya, where did you come from..."

  "...the northern country..." Tasia replied after a moment, "I've been walking for half a month, all the way to the imperial capital, because I heard that here, you can find food, so...I came..."

  "The northern country..." Du Fan furrowed his brow, if he hadn't misremembered, the situation in the northern country should have improved by now. But instead, he became interested in Tasia, and asked her: "Why did you come...if I'm not mistaken, shouldn't the provinces around the Imperial Capital be the ones most affected by the snow disaster? This province of the northern country...seems to have been hardly affected at all."

  "Do you have to be a victim of the snow disaster to become a refugee?" Tasia's voice was hoarse, "If you're willing to listen... can I tell you my story?"

  Du Fan smiled faintly and said, "What can't be done?"

  Tasia paused for a moment, then said: "I was born in a small town in the North Country. Although it's always snowy and windy there, our family lived a very happy life. But three years ago, that guy came to our town and everything changed."

  Originally, everyone in our town lived a rich life, and the noble lord of the town was also good to us. However, after that noble lord died, another person took over his title. This person is completely different from the past lord. Not only did he demand we pay large amounts of taxes, but he's also greedy and lustful. Two years ago, he set his sights on my mother and sent people to take her away. My father went to reason with him but was beaten and thrown out. Last year, my father died, and then he set his sights on my sister, so she was taken away too...

  Three days later, my sister's corpse was hung outside his castle... It wasn't until later that I found out she had refused to be humiliated by him and had killed herself by crashing into a wall. And it turned out that my mother had died two years ago...

  Then he set his sights on me again.... If it weren't for the townspeople protecting me, I would have fallen into his hands long ago and been worse off than dead...... At that time... I don't know how many times I prayed to the great God of Light, praying that someone could save me, but... was there anyone? ... Was there anyone? ...... So you say... what should I believe in at this time? How can I have faith?”

  Tasia's voice was dry and hoarse, with an inexplicable hatred and sorrow in her eyes that made Dufan unable to look directly at her.

  After a long time, Du Fan finally let out a sigh and said: "I'm sorry, I also can't give you an answer, nor can I give you redemption. However... I can help you with one thing...... Can you tell me what that noble's name is, and where your town is?"

  Tasia hesitated for a moment before answering quickly: "Cort Province, Black Mountain Town, Viscount Brock"

  It's clear that she had silently recited these words countless times in her heart, which is why she could say them so fluently.

  "Is Korte stingy?" Du Fan nodded slightly and suddenly shouted loudly, "Grandpa Mark..."

  The horse carriage stopped abruptly. Mark lifted the canvas curtain and turned his head to look at Du Fan, saying: "Third Master, what's wrong with you again?"

  Du Fan smiled slightly and said: "Grandfather Mark, if I'm not mistaken, Father said you're a sixth-level knight?"

  Mark nodded and said: "Yes..."

  "So, Grandpa Mark," Du Fan said, "what is a knight's spirit?"

  "Modesty, honor, sacrifice, bravery, compassion, spirit, honesty, justice..."

  Du Fan nodded and said: "I see, so as a knight, Grandfather Mark, can I ask you to help me with something?"

  Mark bowed slightly: "Of course, young master..."

  "Then... help me kill someone, will you? His name is Broke, a viscount, probably in the Black Mountain town of Kote Province. After killing him, take his head and deliver it to Miss Tasia, can you do that, Grandpa Mark?"

  "Yes...young master..." Mark took a deep look at Du Fan and then lowered the carriage curtain again.

  Du Fan smiled faintly and turned back to look at Tasia, saying: "You said, with this, is it considered giving you an answer or giving you redemption?"

  Tasia was taken aback for a moment and couldn't say anything for a while.

  Du Fan didn't even glance at her, but instead said: "Do you see? I've already given you redemption, yet are you still willing to believe in the gods?"