V1C26

"So what have ye come here to my territory?" Luo asked Matteo as the two of them walk in the silent streets since Matteo decided to use this as a chance for the two of them to talk without interruptions. He already notified the girls so they probably went back to sleep, "Here for a mission, you know what we god slayers do so there is no need to ask" Hearing Matteo's answer Luo nodded her head.

"Very well, this one shall tell her people not to disturb you since you are this one's emperor," Luo said with a faint blush on her face, 'To think I would say such a thing to someone much younger than me' She thought while Matteo began to feel a cold sweat running down his back, 'No no no, What the heck!?' Matteo rubbed his forehead, "You should cherish yourself more and only choose who you like for that position"

Luo nodded feeling the one she chose had indeed a kind righteous heart, despite forgetting he lied to her a little while ago. "Naturally I would only choose someone that fits this one's status" Hearing what Luo Hao said Matteo knew he was not going to get out of this one. "Will you be able to train me in kung fu?" when Luo heard Matteo's question her eyes almost outshone like stars "You wish to become my disciple!? But that would be a problem since it would mess up the seniority of our relationship..."

While Luo was debating with herself, Matteo made a vow to never tease a girl with no relationship knowledge again. After a while, Luo nodded, "Ye have to accept my proposal then I will allow you" Luo muttered with a smile that could shake the hearts of men, Matteo did not answer immediately and glances at Luo before nodding "But you have to first get the approval of the two girls, and accept the fact you are the third" Matteo answered which made Luo stagger a bit since she had the pride of an empress she could not allow others to stand above her.

Matteo knew of her pride so he made use of it, "So will it be fine if I can move around CHina without restrictions?" Luo Hao nodded with a smile, "Since you are part of my family then naturally you are allowed to move as you wish" Matteo sighed with a wry smile and chose to let things go with the flow for once when Matteo disappeared did Lu arrived next to Luo, "Master are you serious about your relationship with him?" Hearing her disciple's question Luo smirked, "I never failed a challenge and I will not fail this one!"

When Matteo arrived inside the room he realized the two girls were still patiently waiting for him, his heart was filled with love and warmth as he approaches the two of them. "Matty / Matt" Erica and Liliana came over to embrace Matteo who arrived, 'No injuries' The two of them thought before nodding to each other as they planted a kiss on either side his cheeks, "Thanks for the reward" Matteo muttered.

Matteo began to explain the events between him and Luo, it was quite a surprise that Matteo managed to give her a light injury although it was mostly because of the fact she did not know his authorities while he had a grasp of hers. "Matty, are you going to take her?" Erica asked with her eyes glistening with water threatening to fall out, Matteo who saw this was quite shocked as it looked so real and if he did not spot her timely smile she tried to hide he would have fallen for it.

"She has to get the permission of the two of you" Matteo answered with his eyes half-open feeling quite tired tonight, "So we can decide?" Erica asked with an excited tone while Matteo nodded. He only felt that outright rejecting Luo would be wrong, so instead, he gave her a challenge which is Erica and Liliana to see if she is willing to put her pride as an Empress aside when their home. A harmonious home is a kind of home he seeks.

When Matteo fell asleep, Erica smirked as she felt she would never get the chance to tease a Campione in her life. It was also by luck she managed to discern personality of Luo, so she knew what can be said and whatnot. Liliana who saw her best friend's smile could only sigh praying for the next victim's safe journey ahead before closing her eyes resting her head of Matteo's arms.

Next morning Matteo went to have breakfast together with the girls only to be welcomed by the sight of Luo who came to eat with them, "Since ye gave this one the challenge, it is only natural this one shall take it as early as possible!" Luo declared, Liliana blushed while thinking she got some new materials she could use to write her book. "Very well, Erica, Lily. Can I leave you girls to keep Luo company while I will be heading to Hotan to investigate the area" Matteo gave his orders, Erica felt quite happy while Liliana was reluctant but still agreed in the end.

Leaving the three girls to talk with one another Matteo made use of his spellbook to teleport him instantly, surrounded by deserts Hotan was a major oasis town in southwestern Xinjiang. "Good morning sir, sorry to disturb but could you tell me the direction to reach Melikawat Ruins?" Matteo asked the first person he came across which was a beautiful young lady.

When the lady heard Matteo's voice she was almost mesmerized by his looks it was only when Matteo repeat his question the second time with a wry smile did she come out of her stupor "It is towards the south of town, I think it is about more than twenty kilometres to the destination" She answered his question, Matteo thanked her while bowing slightly to show his respect before leaving. 'Ah, I forgot to ask his Wechat ID' She thought while sighing unhappily to let such a treasure out of her grasp.

It was after running for thirty kilometres that Matteo came across traces of a large city from the looks of decayed walls grind down by the winds, just from standing on the higher ground looking down than the city. With the walls of the houses without roofs along with the faint traces of border walls, the place appeared to look like a maze. There was several people in the surroundings but nothing out of place, Matteo decided to take his shot at walking within the maze but when he tried to enter it by leaping over the wall he was pushed back out.

'Barrier magic? Since Magic would not mostly work against Campione's physique but I guess there is an exception to Barrier magic which can keep Campione out unless they destroy it intentionally' Matteo thought as he walked along the path till he reached the location that appeared to look like the main entrance of the city, just as he was about to take a step inside he heard a seductive voice from the distance ahead of him "Come, find me... You who seeks to know the future... If you can find me, then I will accept you as my master"

'The heck?' Matteo shook his head but still went ahead since there is rarely anything he needed to be afraid of and the girls were with Luo who will keep them safe so he could take a shot. The moment Matteo fully entered the maze he felt as if his body phased through an invisible barrier as the surroundings that was dead with decayed houses, as now filled with living people walking up and down, the sight of many Buddhist religious practitioners could be seen walking between the people as well from the clothes they wore.

Yet none of the people took note of Matteo's existence, it was like he was not there or they could not simply see him. "Have you heard? King Gurgamoya is going to marry a new Queen, I heard her family name is Gremory and their origins appear to be from the far east" One of the women were chatting with their friends, "Really? I heard the lady had Crimson hair and quite a seductive figure that could make her earn quite a sum of money if she were to become a courtesan" Hearing this the girls giggled ' Did I just time travel or something' Matteo thought

Feeling extremely curious about his current situation Matteo went further ahead of the streets he could hear people bargaining for lower prices with merchants who sold their stuff from stalls unlike those who run their businesses in buildings, there were even more rumours that could be heard "I heard that Emperor Kanishka is also assisting Buddhism to spread their religions towards Han China, but apparently it was stopped because of the sudden emergence of a strange disease. Apparently Prince Siddhartha is currently searching a way to treat it with the monks"

The man who heard this nodded as he continues "There is a rumour Prince Siddhartha took a liking of King Gurgamoya's new wife, apparently Prince Siddhartha fell in love with her while he was treating a sick patient." The man leaned closer to whisper but Matteo still heard them, "According to the guards the king and prince broke out in a fierce argument... I wonder what the Abbot of the Buddhism Temple would do about this or stay neutral since it could affect the spread of religion?"

Matteo thought for a moment thinking about the Vision he saw where the Demon asked him to save her, 'Could it be I have been sent to one of her pasts? Or is this linked to the vision I saw' Matteo thought, he felt it was quite crazy but considering what the history and mythologies tell about her, it is likely to be true. Just as Matteo was about to turn around to walk in a different direction his eyes caught the sight of a few crimson strands dancing with the winds tied against a pole.

Matteo began to follow the strands as he heard one disturbing rumour, " Emperor Kanishka the Great Demon King who is the patron of the Buddhism is also coming to attend the wedding in a week, apparently he wishes to meet this new Queen candidate of the Khotan Kingdom" Hearing this Matteo froze, the term of Demon King is something not lightly mentioned even in the history records he found in his family manor, they VERY rarely used this term.

"Good day dear sir, would you like to hear your future?" Matteo stopped when he heard an aged feminine voice when he turned to glance in the direction of the voice he noticed a person covered in a red robe as well as the cloth covering the face except for the eyes gazing into his. From the tone of her voice, he guessed her to be a female. "Why would you ask this of me without knowing what I seek?"

The elder lady giggled, "Because you are something not meant to be in this time axis, if it was not for my divination eyes I too would have ignored your existence like these people. Although, they probably think I have finally gone senile by talking to you" Matteo glances at the elder lady for a while longer before taking his seat in front of her, ever since he came into this strange place he knew the heretic god set it up on purpose and he had to figure out how to leave.

'Walking back to the entrance sends me back to the entrance facing the city' Matteo thought as he watches how the elder lady took out a candle before lighting it up, she cups her hands holding a string of beads as he began to chant an incantation, because of his power over time Matteo could see traces of TIme power gathering in the eyes of the elder lady which gave him an idea of how to use his time power next time.