Chapter 581: Forsaken Land?

After staying silent for a moment, the old man spoke, "Young master, I don't why, but little Rou started aging backwards when she was sixteen years old. It's been almost four years since then. She is in reality 20 years old now, but looks to be only twelve.

Seeing Max's eyes widened in surprise, the old smiled wryly, and added, "I don't know why it's happening. I'm worried she will continue to age backwards until she..." His voice broke, and he couldn't finish his sentence.

Then with a painful look on his face, he continued, "This isn't the only thing that pains me. What pains me even more is that even though she is getting younger, her intelligence isn't regressing with her body, but is developing with her age. I wish her intelligence would also regress because if it did, her mind would also become childlike and she wouldn't have to suffer with the knowledge of her eventual fate."

By this point, the old man had tears in his eyes, "Although she tries her best to not show it, I know how much she is suffering. Sometimes, when I wake up, I find crying and shivering in her bed, and I, her grandfather, can't do anything about it."

Max sighed deeply. He could only imagine what she was going through. He then asked, "Did you try asking doctors about her condition?"

The old man shook his head, "The one I can get in touch can't even believe that such a strange illness exists, and those high level doctors are out of my reach, but I can tell even they may not have a cure for it."

"I understand." Max nodded. "I'll try to find a cure for..."

Before he could complete his sentence, a voice sounded in the room, startling them, "It's impossible to find a cure for her..."

Swoosh!

The door was pushed open and Durden walked in with a light smile on his face and his hands behind his back. "...because it's not an illness, or a disease."

After saying this, he glanced at Max and chuckled, "Yeah, I know I shouldn't have eavesdropped. So, I will apologize for that."

He then casually took a seat behind him and said, "The only reason I did that was because I had noticed her peculiarity when I saw her, and wanted to talk to this old man."

Hearing this, Max relaxed his furrowed brows and withdrew his look of displeasure because his words seem to indicate that he had an idea about her strange condition, and he might also have a solution.

The old man also seemed to have realized this and his expression underwent several changes, the most prominent among them hope and excitement. After forcefully suppressing them, he asked in a trembling voice, "Y-Young master, y-you mean you know about her ill... condition?"

Durden drummed the table with his finger for a moment and his expression turned solemn as he said, "Her situation is very... rare. It's rare to the point I dare say no one, even the supreme mages in this forsaken land would know about it."

Max's eyes widened and a strange look flashed in his eyes.

Forsaken land...?

Durden briefly glanced at him, and seemed to sigh. Then, a tiny sly smile appeared on his face as he said, "Fortunately for you, I have read of a similar case in my ancestral records. That's why I know about it. Now, tell me, do you want me to save your granddaughter?"

Max frowned upon hearing this. From his interaction with him, he could tell Durden wasn't a person who would take advantage of someone's misfortune.

So, the question was, was there something special about little Rou's condition for which he would go against his principals?

Thinking this, he wanted to stop Durden, but did not. What was he going to do after stopping him? Did he have any way to resolve little Rou's situation. No, he didn't have. So, was he going to just let her die? The answer was obviously a no. He wasn't someone so cold hearted, and apathetic to others' plight.

The old man didn't hesitate and immediately stood up and bowed deeply to Durden, "Please save her, young master. I'll be eternally grateful to you."

Durden nodded in satisfaction and helped him up with a wave of his hand, "Good, but tell me tell you, if you want me to save her, she'll have to leave with me. If she does, you probably won't be able to meet with her ever again."

The old man was dazed for a moment. He was clearly a bit reluctant to part with her, but his eyes flashed with determination as he said, "It's alright. I'll be more than satisfied if she no longer have to suffer with her strange illness, and could live a safe life."

Saying this, he hesitated and said, "I just hope... you won't treat her badly, young master."

"Don't worry. I assure you, she live be safe and no one will dare to bully." Durden assured.

"Good." The old man nodded heavily, and was about to say something when a melodious cry resounded in the room.

"I won't go anywhere without my grandpa even if I have to die!"

The old man was surprised. He had thought she was asleep and was about to tell Durden to take her away because he knew she would absolutely not go when she woke up.

Unlike him, and Max, Durden wasn't surprised. Clearly, he already knew she was awake. But his brows were furrowed as he glanced at her and said, "Little girl, I know how close you are with your grandpa. If I could, I'll definitely take him with us, but just taking you with me is already my limit."

"Then I'll not go!" Little Rou didn't hesitate at all.

"Little Rou..." Her grandfather became anxious but before he could say anything, little Rou interrupted him and she spoke through tears,

"Please don't say anything grandpa. Just like you love me more than anything, I also love you, and won't ever leave you. So, please don't try to convince me otherwise."

The old man smiled bitterly. He still wanted to convince her, but knew she would never agree. Therefore, he turned to Durden and carefully asked, "Young Master, is it possible for me to go with you? Don't worry, I won't be a burden to you. I can be your servant."

Durden sighed, and shook his head, "Old man, didn't you hear me just now? It's not that I don't want to take you along, it's that I'm incapable of doing so. Even just taking her would strech my limits."

The old man looked at him in puzzlement. Why couldn't he tag along? Because of demons?

On the side, Max's eyes flashed. After a moment, he waved his hand and conjured to pinkish red sound isolation barriers around the old man and little Rou.

Thanks to his training, and his increasing familiarity with his bloodline energy, it had become easier to do something like this.

Seeing this, Durden looked at him, frowned and said, "I know what you want to ask. So, don't bother saying it because I can't, and won't tell you anything."

Max frowned even though he had expected something like this. So, after a moment, he only asked one question, "The place you are from is outside this continent, right?"

"I said I can't and won't tell you anything." Durden repeated but Max got his answer and took a deep breath.

"I understand. Also, if you can't take both of them with you when you leave, then just leave them here."

For the first time, Durden revealed a hint of killing intent, causing Max's blood run clood, and a never felt before sensation of terror appeared in his heart.

Fortunately, Durden immediately withdrew it, causing Max to sigh in relief. Now, his eyes had the wariness and caution when he looked at him.

'How uncomfortable!' He muttered in his heart. This feeling of wariness and caution wasn't anything new to him, but this didn't make him any less uncomfortable, and strengthed his resolve to get stronger so he won't feel the same again.

"Do you want her to die by asking me to leave her here?" Durden coldly asked.

Max scoffed, his tone equally cold, and continued, "Since you can't take her grandfather too, it's impossible for her to agree. Since that's the case, what else can you do apart from leaving them here to fend for themselves?"

"Don't tell me you are going to take her away forcibly? Heh, if you do that, she will hate you all her life, and I can guess here lifelong hatred is the last thing you want. Isn't that right?"

Durden kept silent.

Max then continued , "And of course, I don't want her to die."

Saying this, he looked him in the eyes, and declared with determination, "Not to far in the future, I'll leave this so-called forsaken land and come to your homeland with them. I'm sure, unlike here, you aren't the only one in your homeland who knows about her condition."

His words stunned Durden, then he...