Chapter 20: Aurora’s Death

Noah didn’t understand what the Fool represented.

She paused for a moment, then asked hesitantly.

“Does this count as… pulling something good?”

The mysterious voice did not answer.

It sighed deeply and said with relief.

[“Fate has finally stepped onto the right track. That’s good, that’s good…”]

Noah was confused.

She looked at the card again.

“What do you mean by that?”

[“Do you want to know your own fate?”]

The mysterious voice didn’t answer Noah, but asked on its own.

Noah was taken aback.

She sensed that the voice really wanted her to say yes.

After a moment of consideration, she nodded.

“Yes, I want to know.”

[“As you wish…”]

The mysterious voice paused slightly, then began to announce Noah’s fate.

[“You will step into the embrace of death time and time again, yet never stay for long.”]

[“You will suffer physical and mental torment over and over, until madness consumes you.”]

[“You will witness betrayal, witness friendship, witness chaos, witness despair.”]

[“In the very end, when you are all alone and even death no longer accepts you.”]

[“The Fool—will appear.”]

After hearing her fate, Noah fell silent.

She glanced at the Fool card in her hand and said in a confused tone.

“My fate… doesn’t sound very good…”

[“Fate will never change.”]

The mysterious voice sighed.

[“But the choice of how to walk this path still belongs to you.”]

Noah didn’t know how to express her feelings.

She looked up at the endless starry sky.

“If I make different choices, will the outcome of fate be different?”

[“You can try.”]

‘Every Death Return might be a node of choices…’

Noah thought to herself.

‘If my choices are different each time, then the trajectory of fate should change direction.’

With that in mind, Noah nodded.

“I understand.”

[“It seems you already have some insight into fate.”]

The mysterious voice was somewhat relieved.

[“Take this Tarot deck. Consider it a gift from me to my believer. Trust me, you will use them.”]

Noah placed the Fool card on top of the deck, then picked up the whole deck.

Before she could speak, the mysterious voice spoke again.

[“Now, time is up. You should go back.”]

Noah nodded.

When she came to again, she heard Suoen speaking in a worried tone.

“Madam… why are you with this person?

Frankly speaking… she is very dangerous.

You should be careful…”

Noah was startled, then immediately understood the situation.

The Death Return had brought her to the time after she had subdued the Heiyiren.

Now Suoen was already her servant.

Noah let out a soft breath, then raised a hand to rub her slightly aching temples.

She nodded and responded in agreement.

“You’re right… have her killed…”

As soon as the words were spoken, the scene fell silent.

Suoen nodded and said with a smile.

“Understood.

You are truly receptive to advice, Madam.”

With that, Suoen signaled to his subordinates.

One of the servants immediately drew a short blade and swiftly grabbed Aurora, who was trying to flee.

Aurora screamed in panic, but there was no escaping the fate of death.

“No!

Wait!

Why all of a sudden…!?”

The next moment, the short blade pierced directly through Aurora’s heart.

The servant pulled it out from her chest, letting the blood spatter onto his black robe.

He wiped the blood off the blade with his clothes, then turned back to rejoin the group.

Noah stepped forward to look at Aurora’s corpse.

She pondered quietly for a moment, then turned around and asked.

“Are you sure she’s dead?”

Suoen also stepped forward, quietly sensing the state of the corpse.

“Yes, Madam.

I can no longer detect any signs of life.

She’s dead as can be.”

Noah nodded in satisfaction.

She waved to her servants, signaling them to come closer and listen.

The Heiyiren stood neatly around Noah as she spoke seriously.

“Since you all came from the Main Gate, you must know that the Sin Organization has a prisoner—a black-and-white Mao Nv.

Our top priority now is to rescue her.

I will go and attract the Sin Organization’s attention.

One of you three, go back and get reinforcements.

Suoen, take the other one to unlock the Mao Nv’s chains.

There’s no time to lose!

Let’s move quickly!”

After hearing Noah’s order, Suoen did not immediately obey.

Instead, he asked in surprise.

“Madam… isn’t this too dangerous?

How can you put yourself in harm’s way?

And if we must rescue the Mao Nv you mention, wouldn’t it be better to return to the organization’s stronghold first and have the Leader lead a team to attack the Sin Organization?”

Noah thought carefully, then shook her head.

“That is indeed a good idea, but there isn’t enough time.

According to the information I have, the Sin Organization is about to torture her right now.

If the Mao Nv is killed while we are gathering our troops for a full assault, all our efforts will be wasted.

So these two things must happen simultaneously.

If we’re late, I’m not sure what will happen.”

Suoen exchanged glances with his subordinates, then asked in astonishment.

“Madam, how do you know what is about to happen?

Could it be…”

“It’s the Tarot deck, the Divination Authority.”

Noah took out the Tarot deck that the mysterious voice had given her.

“Do I need to explain further?”

“I see!”

Suoen was first surprised, then said excitedly, “The Leader said you left the organization temporarily to receive the Gift of the Stars.

I didn’t expect you to actually succeed!”

‘So it was that Madam again?

Fine…’

Noah sighed softly.

‘After all, I’m not her.

I’ll just consider this a stroke of luck.’

“That’s right.

The Stars have guided me to rescue that Mao Nv.

She is the key to breaking the deadlock.

There’s no time to lose!

Let’s move quickly!”

Noah and her group arrived at the Main Gate again.

Although this time she didn’t have Aurora’s cooperation, with Noah’s eloquence and gradually sharpened skills of deception, she still managed to fool Tanlan.

As Noah expected, if she had been any later, that Mao Nv would likely have been tortured to death by the Sin Organization.

She once again tricked the Sin Organization into gathering at the Main Gate, to cooperate with her in the nonexistent divination ritual.

Only this way could she create room for her servants to rescue.

After seeing that Noah had gathered everyone together, Suoen immediately said to the servant beside him.

“Good, Madam has already stalled them.

You immediately return to the stronghold and inform the Leader.

Ask him to bring reinforcements!

Hurry!”

But this servant shook his head.

He quietly drew his short blade and moved closer to Suoen, saying nothing.

“Hm… You want to stay here with me to protect Madam?

That works too.”

Suoen understood his meaning.

He turned to look at the other servant and said in a serious tone, “Then you go.

Remember to be quick!

Use the fastest speed to bring reinforcements to support us!”

The other servant nodded, quickly walked into the corridor on the right, and disappeared.

Suoen didn’t dare to delay.

He quietly approached the front desk, then drew his long blade, ready to cut the chains on the Mao Nv.

But before he could act, the servant behind Suoen suddenly drew his blade and stabbed through Suoen’s heart.

Under the Mao Nv’s shocked gaze, this servant removed his mask, turned around, and shouted to all members of the Sin Organization.

“Sin Organization, hear my order!

Capture that liar!”