School Transmigration: I, Chosen as the Saint by Dragons at the Start-Chapter 244 --Blood Sacrifice

The man inside the room was undoubtedly National Preceptor Blois, his gaunt physique being unmistakably recognizable.

As for the identity of the woman, the two men were at a loss.

"Your Highness, looking at those two in the room one is definitely the National Preceptor Blois. But who could that female silhouette belong to? I haven’t heard about National Preceptor Blois having a wife. Do you know anything, Your Highness?"

Armando, equally puzzled, responded offhandedly, "How would I know? I’m not him."

"Aren’t you two related?"

"Are you asking for a beating?"

"I wouldn’t dare. Let’s get closer and listen to what they’re up to. Who knows, we might catch an interesting show."

With a mischievous grin, Marwan leaped down to the study window, eager not to miss any potential drama.

Armando, with a stern expression, followed suit.

Hiding beneath the study window, they overheard the conversation inside.

"Bessi, how have you been treated in my residence? Has anyone bullied you?"

"Thanks to the National Preceptor’s concern, no one has mistreated me."

"Oh, that’s good to hear. Do you have any family?"

Upon Blois’s inquiry, Bessi couldn’t help but tear up.

"Why are you crying? If there’s any trouble, feel free to tell me. I’ll certainly help you."

Gratefully, Bessi shared, "Thank you, sir. Since my father passed away when I was young and my mother has always been frail and sickly, I was sold to serve in the National Preceptor’s residence as a maid. I haven’t seen my dear mother for many years and have no idea how she’s been."

With that, Bessi quietly shed tears for the injustices of the world.

Upon hearing Bessi’s background, Blois showed no particular reaction and asked, "Bessi, can you write?"

"No, I have always been engaged in menial tasks and serving others in the National Preceptor’s residence; I haven’t learned anything else."

"Do you have any item that would be immediately recognizable as yours by your mother?"

"There is something. May I know why the National Preceptor asks for it?"

"Just bring it to me."

Bessi removed a pendant made from an unremarkable type of jade that hung around her delicate neck.

Taking the pendant from Bessi’s hand, Blois then picked up a brush and wrote a few lines.

Bessi, illiterate, did not understand Blois’s intentions and did not disturb him, waiting silently by the side.

After finishing his writing, Blois inquired, "Bessi, where is your home?"

"I left my hometown when I was very young. All I remember is that it’s a small village about fifty miles from the imperial capital."

"Alright, I understand. I will send someone to bring your mother from your hometown. I assure you she will have no worries regarding clothing or food for the rest of her days."

Hearing this, Bessi was puzzled.

Everyone knew the National Preceptor as a merciless killer, so why was he showing her such care?

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Bessi suddenly knelt down, tears in her voice as she thanked him, "Thank you, National Preceptor. Thank you so much."

She continued to kowtow to Blois in gratitude.

Even Armando and Marwan, who were eavesdropping outside, were taken aback by this turn of events.

They exchanged looks, both visibly surprised.

Could it be that the image they had of the National Preceptor wasn’t his true nature after all?

As they pondered, the voice inside the room spoke again.

"Bessi, as the National Preceptor, there’s something I must ask of you. Would you be willing to oblige?"

"National Preceptor, just say the word! No matter the task, even if it’s climbing mountains of swords or descending into seas of flames, I would not hesitate."

Blois laughed heartily, "Is that so?"

"Truly."

"Alright, then strip off your clothes right now."

Bessi’s face turned red with shock, "What, sir, you want me to..."

"What, are you unwilling?"

"No, I am deeply grateful for your kindness. Whatever you ask of me, I am willing."

"Then proceed. There’s no one else here."

Meanwhile, the two eavesdroppers outside simultaneously cursed in their minds: Beast! An absolute beast!

Blois, suddenly sneezing, wondered: Who’s cursing me? There are plenty in this empire who despise me, but they can only badmouth me behind my back.

With this thought, a smile crept upon Blois’s face.

Seeing Blois smile, Bessi thought to herself: Could it be that the National Preceptor fancies me? But that’s impossible! I’m not exceptionally beautiful.

With the National Preceptor’s stature, what type of woman couldn’t he have? Why would he be interested in me?

Dismissing her doubts, Bessi began to remove her clothes, one piece at a time, revealing her pale skin.

Blois, observing the woman before him, smiled satisfactorily.

He then retrieved a black wooden box from beneath his desk, carved with various strange symbols.

The sight of the black box made Bessi’s skin crawl with goosebumps, a sense of danger she had never felt before rising within her.

Blois, noticing Bessi’s trembling, smiled reassuringly, "There’s no need to be afraid."

Bessi couldn’t understand why she felt such an involuntary fear, a dread that seemed to stem from the depths of her soul.

Even the two men outside felt a chill run down their spines.

Indeed, Blois was up to no good, and it seemed the girl’s fate hung in the balance.

Armando, determined to intervene and save the girl from whatever Blois intended, was about to act when Marwan held him back, shaking his head to signal that intervening now would be meaningless and might even endanger the girl further.

Armando glared at Marwan, his gaze questioning what should be done.

Marwan gestured to wait.

Left with no choice, Armando reluctantly stood by, ready to see how events would unfold.

Inside, Blois opened the black wooden box, which contained nothing terrifying, just a brush and a piece of blood-colored ink.

Dipping the brush into the ink, Blois walked over to Bessi, whose trembling intensified.

Without another glance at Bessi, Blois began to draw strange symbols on her body.

Armando whispered, "What is that old dog doing to the girl? He doesn’t have some twisted fetish, does he?"

Marwan, with a grave expression, replied, "No, if I’m not mistaken, this seems to be a ritual from an ancient sacrifice."

"What do you mean?"

"Your Highness, it appears Blois might be conducting an ancient awakening ritual, though it’s unclear what he intends to awaken.

"Are you suggesting this old cur is trying to awaken someone dead?"

"Yes, essentially. It could be said to be a person, or perhaps something else. But definitely not anything benevolent; certainly something malevolent."

"Why so?"

"Because this kind of awakening ritual, also known as a blood sacrifice, requires the girl as a sacrificial offering. Anything awakened by a blood sacrifice cannot possibly be benign."

"I see. And how do you know all this? You seem quite knowledgeable."

Marwan paused, thinking to himself that the Crown Prince was more perceptive than he expected. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"I’ve always been interested in studying various obscure and ancient practices, so I know a bit, just a bit."

Armando could tell Marwan was brushing him off, so he didn’t press further.

Seeing that Armando had stopped questioning, Marwan knew the Crown Prince was unsatisfied with his answer.

But what could he do?

He couldn’t very well tell the truth now.

The truth would reveal itself in time.

Their attention returned to the room, where Blois had completed drawing a myriad of blood-red symbols over Bessi’s bare body, covering every inch of her skin without leaving a single spot untouched.

Bessi no longer trembled.

Her gaze was vacant, her expression blank, standing there without showing any sign of life.

Blois, satisfied with his work, turned to pick up something else.

It turned out to be a rare bloodstone.

Seeing the bloodstone, Marwan excitedly whispered to Armando, "This bloodstone must have been part of the offerings. Now we can confirm that National Preceptor Blois has indeed embezzled from the palace’s offerings."

"So what are we waiting for? Let’s go in and apprehend him now!"

Marwan nodded in agreement.

The two burst into Blois’s study, only to be taken aback by the scene before them.

"Where are they? Where have they gone?"

They looked at each other, puzzled.

They had clearly heard Blois’s voice from outside just moments ago.

How could it be that upon entering, everyone had disappeared? It seemed impossible.

While they were bewildered in the study, Blois, leading the zombie-like Bessi, was heading towards the basement under the study.

Armando and Marwan had almost brushed shoulders with Blois and Bessi; had either party been slightly earlier or later, they would have collided.

Perhaps it was fate’s intervention.

Armando scanned the room and noticed a letter on the desk, confirming Blois had been in the study just moments ago.

Yet, now their whereabouts were a mystery.

As Armando puzzled over their disappearance, he noticed Marwan fiddling with the bookshelf, seemingly searching for something.

Annoyed, he asked, "Marwan, what are you doing?"