Yue Wu and Xiao Qing sealed their contract. Yue Wu also established a transfer point within the ruins, ensuring his ability to return at any moment. Finally, he departed the ruins, taking Xiao Qing with him.
While inside, Yue Wu had also discovered a divine artifact: a single-handed sword. It was a slender, silver, feminine single-handed sword, its blade remarkably thin.
A transparent gem was set into one end of the hilt, containing a budding flower poised to bloom.
Name: Xiao Qing
Level: 10 (F-rank)
Race: Nature Spirit
Gender: Female
Age: 300 (Infancy)
Master: Yue Wu
Attributes: Nature
Strength F
Constitution F
Endurance F
Magic A
Spirit B
Agility F
Personal Data: A Nature Spirit born three hundred years ago in a small dimensional space.
Sacred Flame Holy Sword – Karmic Fire
Level: Divine Artifact
Type: One-handed Sword
Description: Originally a divine artifact from the Temple of Light, possessing the power to purify and dispel evil. It was bestowed upon a female angel, who eventually gifted the sword to the Sacred Flame Tribe.
Upon exiting the ruins, Yue Wu was immediately surrounded. Cang Lang and the Silver Wolf Tribe had encircled him.
Yet, nothing untoward occurred. Ultimately, it was Yue Wu who restored the damaged Fenrir Forest. He even established a permanent magic array at its heart, dedicated to the forest’s ongoing regeneration.
After bidding farewell to Cang Lang, Yue Wu returned to Saxony City with Xiao Qing. As usual, they paid the fee to enter the city gates.
“Is this where humans live?”
Having entered the city, Xiao Qing witnessed such a multitude of humans for the very first time.
“Indeed. Humans are gregarious creatures, you see.”
Yue Wu added.
“Greedy. Selfish.”
Xiao Qing was referring to the soldiers at the city gate, who had displayed both greed and selfishness towards certain individuals. They had even shown such traits towards Yue Wu, only becoming somewhat reserved after learning he was an adventurer.
“Ah, well~ Don’t pay them any mind.”
Yue Wu found himself unable to refute Xiao Qing’s words, for she spoke only the truth.
“Daddy, look quickly! That little girl has such long hair!”
A passing father and daughter noticed Xiao Qing, cradled in Yue Wu’s arms, and the girl cried out in surprise.
The girl’s father said nothing, merely giving Yue Wu a slight nod before leading his daughter away.
The deeper they ventured into the heart of Saxony City, the more people they encountered. Many items lining the streets captivated Xiao Qing, yet she seemed unable to express her feelings at that moment.
“Do you want one?”
Yue Wu noticed Xiao Qing’s gaze. Following her line of sight, he saw a bread shop.
“May I?”
Xiao Qing looked up at Yue Wu.
Yue Wu offered no verbal reply. Instead, he led her into the bakery and purchased a freshly baked loaf.
Xiao Qing, filled with curiosity, turned the bread over and over in her hands, as if trying to discern its very essence.
“Try it.”
Yue Wu observed Xiao Qing, who kept clutching the bread without eating, merely staring at it.
Xiao Qing glanced up at Yue Wu, then lowered her gaze to the fragrant bread. She promptly opened her mouth and took a bite, then nestled quietly into Yue Wu’s embrace, eating her bread.
Xiao Qing’s demeanor was utterly adorable, nearly making Yue Wu’s heart melt.
As Yue Wu arrived at his doorstep, reaching out to open the door, Jeanne D’Arc’s voice echoed from behind him.
“Brother, welcome home!”
Having not seen Yue Wu for so long, Jeanne D’Arc disregarded the presence of her friends and rushed forward, embracing him from behind.
“Yes, I’m back.”
Yue Wu turned around, and Jeanne D’Arc released him, standing obediently before him. Yue Wu reached out and gently patted her head.
“Oh, right! Brother.”
“Let me introduce you, these are all my friends.”
Jeanne D’Arc had nearly forgotten the friends standing behind her.
“This is Luoge, Luoge East. She sings beautifully.”
“Your Excellency, greetings.”
Luoge slightly bent her knees, simultaneously lifting the sides of her skirt with both hands, and nodded in greeting.
“These are twin sisters. This is the elder sister, Shavier, Shavier Aznar, and this is the younger sister, Shana Aznar. Their swordsmanship is formidable, and they’ve even taught me some.”
“Your Excellency, greetings. Please forgive my sister; she’s not much of a talker.”
Shavier offered the greeting on Shana’s behalf.
“This is Windy, Windy Feron. She’s a shy child.”
“N-no, I’m not!”
“G-greetings.”
Upon meeting Yue Wu, Windy became exceptionally nervous.
“And this one…”
“Me, me, me! I’m Alisa Dragon! You can call me Alisa~”
The hyperactive Alisa introduced herself directly.
“My name is Yue Wu. Thank you all for looking after my sister, Jeanne D’Arc.”
Yue Wu was delighted that Jeanne D’Arc had made friends.
“Brother, who is this?”
Jeanne D’Arc noticed the infant girl nestled closely in Yue Wu’s arms.
“She is Xiao Qing, my…”
However, before Yue Wu could finish his sentence, Xiao Qing interjected.
“Daddy.”
Xiao Qing clutched Yue Wu’s clothes with both hands, her eyes fixed on Jeanne D’Arc from such close proximity, seemingly wary of her.
“What?! Brother is your daddy?”
Jeanne D’Arc was stunned. Not only Jeanne D’Arc, but Yue Wu was also dumbfounded, completely unable to react.
“Let’s go inside to talk. Don’t leave your friends standing at the door.”
Yue Wu suddenly felt a throbbing headache. Luoge and the others were whispering amongst themselves behind them, while Jeanne D’Arc, as if her soul had been snatched, followed behind Yue Wu.
“So, she’s your spirit, Brother!”
After Yue Wu’s explanation, Jeanne D’Arc and the others finally understood Xiao Qing’s origins, though Yue Wu refrained from revealing his true identity as Merlin.
“As for why she calls me ‘Daddy’… well, it probably happened on the way back.”
Yue Wu recalled the father and daughter he had encountered shortly after entering the city. He surmised that Xiao Qing had imitated the girl, especially since he had told her not to call him ‘Master’.
“Then, Brother, where have you been for over a week? Can you tell me?”
After the matter of Xiao Qing had settled, Jeanne D’Arc was eager to know where Yue Wu had been during that time.
“Over a week?”
Yue Wu was bewildered. He had only been gone for two or three days; when had it become over a week?
“Yes, Brother, you left on the 10th, and now it’s already the 22nd.”
Jeanne D’Arc nodded.
“Never mind. During these days I was away, did you slack off, Jeanne D’Arc?”
Yue Wu couldn’t be bothered to ponder the lost twelve days.
“I’ve become stronger.”
Jeanne D’Arc raised her fist, brimming with confidence.
“Is that so? Then let me assess you.”
Yue Wu stood up. In an instant, the interior of the house where Jeanne D’Arc and her friends had been standing transformed into a plain dotted with colossal boulders.
“The synergy between comrades is also a form of strength. All of you, come together.”
After a moment of thought, Yue Wu wanted to gauge the precise strength of Jeanne D’Arc’s friends.
“Is that alright?”
Although Jeanne D’Arc knew Yue Wu was powerful, could he truly take on six of them alone?
“It’s fine. Consider me your sparring partner. Don’t worry about me; just unleash your full power.”
Yue Wu placed Xiao Qing in a safe spot, then removed his long robe and handed it to her.
“This humble one cannot miss such an excellent free sparring opportunity.”
Luoge had long wished to discover the extent of the “Brother’s” strength, as Jeanne D’Arc often spoke of him.
“I’ll join too.”
Finally, Jeanne D’Arc and her six companions stood opposite Yue Wu. One side held weapons, poised for action, while the other held nothing.
It might have seemed that the unarmed side was at a severe disadvantage, but in reality, they were not, for that person was Yue Wu.
“Oh, right, I’ll try my best to suppress my strength~”
This time, Yue Wu activated several passive skills from his Warrior and Fighter classes.
Sixth Sense, Activated.
Martial Arts, Activated.
Mind’s Eye, Activated.
Fighting Techniques, Activated.
Judo, Activated.
Afterimage, Activated.
Weighted Training, Activated.
Seven passives, six augmentations, one reduction.
Name: Yue Wu (Can change name)
Level: 500 (Max Level)
Race: Human
Gender: Male (Can change)
Age: 17
Profession: Priest (Can switch professions: Warrior, Fighter)
Affiliation: Ten Rings of Authority (Adventure Group)
Good/Evil Value: 0
Strength A++ (?)
Constitution SS (?)
Endurance SS (?)
Magic SS (?)
Spirit SS (?)
Agility S (?)
Personal Data: ???