"...Don't mind those details," Chen Xuan turned and made a hushed gesture, lowering his voice, "The attitude is just a facade; it doesn't represent the status of the guests in this store."
Liu Shuyue uttered a meaningful "oh."
Fortunately, her voice was always controlled within a range that only the two of them could hear.
"Long time no see." He ignored Liu Shuyue's teasing, nodded at Joan and said, "I heard about you from General Gildre. He prayed to Lord, willing to pay any price to save you, so I appeared here. What about your abilities? The shackles shouldn't be able to lock the Spirit Sword Technique, right?"
Joan anxiously explained, "I don't know what that evil witch did to me. She pricked me with a needle, and I just can't use the Spirit Sword Technique anymore. If you encounter her, you must be very careful... She exudes weirdness all over, and is a very difficult foe!"
"Her energy flow has been disrupted, you should be able to see that, right?" Liu Shuyue said in a voice that only he could hear.
Chen Xuan had indeed noticed. Before him, Joan was as bright as a golden flame, but the flame's trajectory was twisted and disjointed, whereas according to Heart Method experience, the flow of energy, no matter how it functions, should follow a complete, uninterrupted cycle.
"Can it be fixed?"
"Give her this to take."
Suddenly, Chen Xuan felt his hand being lifted by a delicate hand, as a round pill was placed in his palm.
This thing clearly looked more sophisticated than the goods he had refined.
He handed the pill to Joan, "Try taking this."
Joan trusted him unreservedly, dragged her iron ball slowly to the edge of the cage, and since her hands were bound, she simply took the pill with her mouth.
In less than ten seconds, white smoke started coming out from above her head.
"What is this medicine?" He asked curiously, "Why isn't it recorded in Herbalism?"
"Clear Vein Pill. It's not recorded because I can't refine it either." Liu Shuyue said candidly, "I brought it out from the Sect, once used, it's gone."
Chen Xuan suddenly didn't want to ask further.
Because things that are unique are usually very expensive.
"Lord above, I feel... my strength has returned!" Joan suddenly whispered. She clenched her fists, pulling outward with force, shattering the wooden shackles instantly.
It seems that disrupted energy flow not only affects one's abilities but also basic attributes like strength… Chen Xuan thought to himself, evidently that witch has something special up her sleeve.
After freeing her hands, she directly turned her palms into swords, wrapping the white light of the Spirit Sword Technique around her hands, cutting the shackles on her feet and the iron lock of the cell door in two strikes.
"Thank you, Envoy, for rescuing me, I can't repay this great kindness." Joan directly knelt on one knee before Chen Xuan, "If there's a next life, I am willing to become your knight, serving by your side forever."
"This is also... a facade?" Liu Shuyue's voice floated gently, lighter this time, almost as if it resonated within the mind.
Chen Xuan was amused and lifted Joan quickly, "What are you saying? Lord granted you abilities not to protect the envoy of the Lord. Let's get out of here first, we'll talk about the rest later."
Joan shook her head, "Please forgive me for not agreeing. I must immediately head to the Imperial Palace to eliminate Mad Judy. She has spiritually controlled His Majesty, and each day we leave her unchecked increases the nation's risk to fall into a catastrophe."
"In the eyes of others, you now appear as the witch!" Chen Xuan felt a chill in his heart, suddenly sensing impending doom, "Even if you find her, can you defeat her?"
"I was framed, not defeated in a direct confrontation. Certainly, I might die at the hands of His Majesty, but if I can save France, even death would be worth it!"
Seeing her extremely sincere expression, Chen Xuan knew he couldn't persuade Joan.
That's why she said, "if there's a next life."
She was probably prepared to die.
Though such determination is commendable, isn't it a loss in business terms? If Joan dies here, not only does he lose a customer, but previous investments also become sunk costs. More importantly, it would allow Liu Shuyue to witness his failure, further affecting the store's reputation and shaking customers' confidence in the shopkeeper, ultimately leading to total ruin.
The question is how to dissuade Joan?
Her loyalty to her country is undeniable, and sacrificing herself isn't a joke.
While Chen Xuan was still in difficulty, a cold voice suddenly came from the other end of the corridor, "No need to go to the Imperial Palace for me, we can settle it here."
"Mad—Judy!"
Joan's expression changed instantly, her gaze fixed on the direction of the voice, each word filled with anger.
"You really haven't listened to a word I've said, have you?" A figure draped in a black robe slowly emerged from the shadows. "If you truly wish to save your beloved France, you should have died earlier to clear the path for His Majesty Charlie, instead of clinging to life like this, making those big shots above restless."
Chen Xuan finally saw what this witch looked like—most of her face was hidden under her hood, revealing only a few strands of hair on her forehead and a pair of pitch-black eyes. Under the torchlight, her hair reflected a vivid red, as if dyed with blood.
Not only that, she had a lip ring, with a thin silver chain stretching from her lower lip to her earlobe, accompanied by many glittering ornaments on her ear. Such a style would have been deemed outrageous during the witch-hunting era.
Yet even so, she hadn't been bound and burned like a witch, a stark contrast in treatment compared to Joan of Arc.
"That's just—the lie you concocted!"
Joan paused halfway through her sentence.
Chen Xuan looked at her, keenly capturing that hint of uncertainty.
"You should know whether what I say is true or false, right? After all, you're the savior blessed by the Lord," Judy said indifferently. "The distrust and rejection from the nobles towards you isn't something new... After all, who would want to see a France led by a woman? The British Army is no longer as invincible as before, if you continue to perform, wouldn't the glory of liberation be yours alone? Even His Majesty... he may not say it, but he's worried about one fact: if the invaders are all driven back to Britain, then there will always be a great Holy Maiden between him and the army."
"I don't deny there are nobles who dislike me...but His Majesty's mind cannot be as narrow as you claim!" Joan couldn't help but retort, "It's you who used evil magic to tempt him! You are the real culprit that plagues the court!"
Judy shrugged, "What if I told you, I don't even know the evil magic you're referring to?"
"Wha—" Joan was stunned.
"Yes, you felt it..." the witch chuckled lightly, "My appearance just gave them a choice, a way to get rid of the Holy Maiden without dirtying their own hands. All the sins will be borne by me, and in the aftermath, they just need to claim they were bewitched by a witch, then hang me to death."
"Are you saying... you call yourself Mad Judy, dress like a witch, meddle in military and political affairs... all to be eliminated as the scapegoat after getting rid of me?" Joan couldn't believe her ears. "I don't understand... why go to this extent?"
"Of course, it's the same reason as you—I love France deeply!" Judy tilted her head with a twisted grin resembling a lunatic. "To set this country back on the right track, my sacrifice is insignificant. You know, when I told His Majesty about this plan, he approved immediately. Without his push, how could the trial against you proceed so smoothly?"
Joan's face turned pale.
"What are they saying? Can you translate a little for me?" Liu Shuyue complained quietly.
"Hmm... it's complicated..." Chen Xuan said halfway and suddenly stopped, because he saw the witch's gaze shifting towards him.
"As for you... trying to seize others' abilities, disrupting the normal timeline, you are the true villain that makes the world filled with chaos and evil," Judy's voice was icily cold. "You have two choices: either surrender and accept judgment, or be buried here forever!"
Chen Xuan finally realized where the previous discordant feeling came from.
The words the witch was speaking to Joan were entirely based on the history after Joan's death...as if she had witnessed the events firsthand. Even if this could be explained by the witch's divination magic, her later words completely exceeded the scope of the era!
"Seizing others' abilities" made Chen Xuan's heart skip a beat. This at least meant she knew about the existence of abilities and could even plunder them! But the Ability Store was all about fair trade, and her accusations were worlds apart.
In retrospect, he realized he had overlooked one issue.
That was the name Mad Judy.
In French, Judy also means Thursday...
If not by coincidence, could it be that she hadn't taken it seriously when naming herself, just casually choosing something that sounded nice?
"What's she saying now?" Liu Shuyue asked.
"She said... she wants to take me down, at any cost." Chen Xuan moved his lips slightly and said, "Looks like this battle is unavoidable. You'll help me, right?"
"Hmm..." she hummed softly, "But talisman spells aren't suitable for a head-on confrontation. She probably hasn't noticed me yet, so to catch her off guard, I'll need a few minutes to prepare, so you'll have to start on your own."
Chen Xuan blinked, huh? Why didn't you say so earlier?
"Looks like you're not planning to surrender, so..." Mad Judy—Crazy Thursday raised her magic staff, pointing straight at Chen Xuan.
The magic staff was hollow, with nothing but a dark hole inside, looking just like a gun...
What do you mean, "like"!
Chen Xuan felt his hair stand on end!
It was clearly a gun!
"—Bang!"