The 'resurrected' wolf led the way, and the knight, holding his horse, walked through the forest under the setting sun.
As the intense sunset gradually dimmed, Xia De ventured deeper into the forest.
Time and Space seemed to become chaotic here; the shimmering light made everything in the forest appear to be covered in a strange glow. In a trance, Xia De felt as if he had walked into the shadows of an Old Town, like a true knight, carrying a sword and leading a horse, pursuing everything he desired.
He stared intently at the wolf. As the trees grew denser, it finally disappeared into the deep undergrowth of the forest. Xia De subconsciously quickened his pace, and when he led his horse out of the bushes, he saw a forest lake with rippling water under the last ray of sunset, and a Lake Heart Island in the center of the lake.
The wild wolf stood by the lake, no longer moving forward. Xia De opened his mouth in surprise, hearing the horse behind him snorting and impatiently stomping the ground with its hooves.
He widened his eyes at the scene before him. The last rays of sunset on the distant horizon dyed Xia De's face red, and Xia De couldn't believe that he had found this mysterious lake under such circumstances:
"But why would the Swamp Witch lead me here?"
He released the reins and subconsciously walked towards the lake with his sword, but at that moment, the mysterious lake under the sunset, like a projected illusion, suddenly swayed, and then the image of the lake gradually faded, revealing the true appearance of the forest.
The keen Xia De had already noticed the spatial change, knowing that this was because the lake only appeared during the day, and night had now arrived.
The wolf, closer to the water, had already plunged into the lake and was dog-paddling towards Lake Heart Island. Although Xia De didn't know what would happen if he disappeared with the lake, he anxiously wanted to get closer:
"Space Stabilization Aura!"
Invisible ripples spread outwards, but the Miracle had no effect on the departing lake.
Xia De was ultimately one step too late, watching helplessly as the mysterious and tranquil lake disappeared before his eyes, leaving only an empty forest bathed in the Moonlight from above.
Around the mysterious lake, there were genuine Miracle elements, but these elements also vanished with the disappearance of the lake. Even due to the departure of the wolf, the surrounding whisper elements completely disappeared, leaving only the reddish-brown horse behind waiting for Xia De.
"The experience of Old Mr. Grete from Lower Luther Village is like a fairy tale. My encounter today is also like a fairy tale."
He re-grasped the reins, preparing to return to Huntington City. He wasn't without Gains; at least he could confirm that 'Lake Cherub', where the Lake Goddess resided in the western part of Huntington City in the sixth epoch, was not the Lost Lake from the fifth epoch when the Witch Emperor visited the gods.
He led his horse two steps, then unwillingly looked back at the forest, at the location where the lake should have been:
"Is this luck good or bad? I clearly found it, but because the timing was wrong, I watched it disappear. Next time, that lake might not appear here, but if I could find it the first time, I can definitely find it a second time."
Although he couldn't step into the lake, Xia De subconsciously felt that what he was looking for was on Lake Heart Island. This mysterious lake, although completely different from the terrifying Lost Lake of the fifth epoch in 5177, both concealed the power Xia De sought to pursue.
The task of pursuing divinity had become increasingly clear. Xia De knew that he had found the right direction. All he had to do next was to find the lake again, and then face the test awaiting him.
After riding back to the city, Xia De did not immediately go to White River Valley Vineyard, but instead found Old Professor Kansas Drake, a retired folklorist living in the Old Town of western Huntington City.
When Xia De pulled the bell outside the fence gate, the entire block was already lit by gas lamps. The air pollution in the Old Town was better than in the main urban area of Huntington, so he could see the brilliant starry sky in early winter.
The plump maid still opened the fence gate for Xia De and led him to the Professor in the study. The maid had already prepared dinner and was about to push the Professor's wheelchair to the dining room, but when Xia De entered the study and seriously stated that he wanted to talk about the Lake Goddess again, the Professor hesitated, then looked at him with surprise, and after a long while, waved his hand and said:
"Alright, Mrs. Sandy, you go out first. We'll call you after we finish talking."
The plump maid closed the door in the hallway. Xia De sat on a chair outside the desk, while the Professor laboriously turned the wheels of his wheelchair back behind the desk:
"Mr. Watson, have you found it already?"
The warm yellow light from the grape-shaped gas lamp in the study illuminated Professor Drake's face, which showed various expressions such as worry, surprise, fear, and anticipation. The elderly man had received countless young people eager to find legends, but this was the first time he felt such anticipation.
Xia De nodded slightly, but then shook his head:
"You could say I found it, but also didn't. To be precise, I saw that lake at the last moment before sunset. But when I got close, it disappeared. I can confirm that it wasn't an illusion; that lake truly appeared briefly before me."
He described the scenery of the lake and the vague appearance of Lake Heart Island to the Professor.
The Professor on the wheelchair suddenly widened his eyes, leaning back slightly and breathing heavily:
"This is truly... Mr. Watson, you found it so easily, but it was at the last moment of sunset, this luck..."
His face turned red, and then he suddenly covered his forehead. Xia De immediately got up at the sight, but the Professor waved his hand, telling him not to worry, and instead took out a small bottle from his desk drawer, trembling as he put a black, sesame-sized pill into his mouth:
"My blood pressure has been a bit high these past few years, and I've had some heart problems, but my friend prepared herbs for me. I never thought that before I die, you could bring me such a surprise."
He composed himself, closed his eyes to adjust his breathing, then shook the small bottle at Xia De, and asked:
"Could you tell me what you encountered today?"
"Of course, I also have some questions I'd like to ask you."
Xia De began from his arrival at Lower Luther Village today, skipping the experience of riding his horse around Luther Lake to enjoy the scenery, and directly spoke of encountering a pack of wolves in the evening.
This startled Professor Drake:
"I know there are wolves outside the city. You actually ran into them?"
"Yes, thankfully I brought my gun."
Xia De said, then mentioned that he was chased by the wolves into the forest, and after reluctantly shooting one of them in self-defense, the other wolves dispersed. And the wolf that should have died resurrected and led him deep into the forest until he saw the mysterious lake.
Professor Drake sighed endlessly after hearing Xia De's 'story':
"Every story I've recorded of encountering the Lake Goddess is so captivating, Mr. Watson, and your story is just as fascinating. Of course, it's also one of the most dangerous. Wolves in early winter are extremely aggressive. If you hadn't brought your handgun, I truly don't know what would have happened."
After obtaining Xia De's consent, he decided to add this story to his records, and Xia De's reason for coming here specifically was to ask another question:
"I heard that in recent years, more citizens in eastern Huntington City have encountered the Lake Goddess than in previous years.
Do you have more specific information about them? I'd like to visit them. Since I was able to find that lake nearby based on the experiences of the villagers of Lower Luther Village, perhaps I can find that lake again in other areas where others have encountered the Lake Goddess."
The information Professor Drake gave Xia De respected the privacy of those who provided stories, so only a few older records, such as Old Grave with one blind eye, contained the true identities of those people.
Xia De wanted to know the true identities of citizens who had encountered the Lake Goddess in recent years, or even this year, from the Professor, but the Professor hesitated:
"Mr. Watson, I know you want to truly set foot on that Lake Heart Island. But in current records, no one has ever been able to see that mysterious lake twice."
"But my experience this time is clearly unique. Only I saw the lake but couldn't cross over."
Xia De emphasized very seriously:
"So, that lake might give me a second chance. This way, I might also be able to help you figure out what you encountered back then."
The Old Professor pursed his lips and frowned slightly, as if deep in thought. Although he longed to know the truth of his past encounter, those who shared their experiences with him did so out of trust, revealing their stories. Professor Drake wanted to know the truth, but he also didn't want to violate his principles because of it.
He wanted to refuse the young man in front of him, but looking at his serious expression at the moment, he subconsciously believed that he would surely succeed. Neither of them spoke. Under the bright gas lamp in the study, Professor Drake suddenly felt that this guest was so approachable, so reliable.
Finally, he sighed:
"Alright, young man, you've convinced me. But I must tell you in advance, I've hired people to investigate all the locations mentioned in the records, and they found nothing."
Not only the Professor, but Xia De believed that the Orthodox Church in this diocese must have also dispatched Ring術士 teams to investigate the situation, but also found nothing:
"That's alright. You just need to give me the names and addresses, and I'll take care of the rest."
He extended his hand to the Professor, who closed his eyes:
"Some people aren't so easy to get their stories from."
Xia De smiled:
"That's alright. You just need to tell me one thing."
"What thing?"
"Among these people, is there anyone who likes to play rhode cards?"
