Chapter 222 - 209

Chapter 222: 209Last night’s bloodshed hadn’t affected the villagers’ lives today; everything proceeded as usual, just with a dozen or so familiar faces now missing from the village.

The Sand mercenary group’s reinforcements arrived at the town in the morning, apologizing to the villagers and strengthening their protection measures, but what use was that, when the dead could never return?

Lina sat on the fence surrounding the fields, her gaze fixed on the fertile land before her, filled with curiosity about the one-armed cripple working in the fields, Lu Hong.

As a young powerhouse who had reached the Third Transition, her perception couldn’t be wrong, and the man before her, despite his disability, was a Second Transition professional.

"Weiwei, do you know how your brother got injured?" she asked.

Weiwei shook her head: "Uncle was brought back home by Grandpa two years ago, and he also lost his memory. Even he doesn’t know how he got injured."

With curiosity, Weiwei then asked, "Sister, are you a knight?"

After receiving an affirmative response from Lina, Weiwei grew excited, "I’ve heard that knights can use the power of the Holy Light to heal people, is that right, big sister?"

"You want me to heal your brother’s leg injury?" Lina explained, "I’m not a professional physician, and your brother’s leg has been a chronic issue for a long time; it’s very difficult to treat, at least in our Parson realm, there is no such physician."

Lina spoke very tactfully, not crushing Weiwei’s hope outright, and though Weiwei would be disappointed, she wouldn’t be in despair.

"Ah?" True to form, Weiwei looked crestfallen, "Is there someone out there in the world who could do this?"

"Of course!" Lina said with a smile, "The Star Sea is vast, and there are always some exceptional individuals, possessing powers beyond common understanding. Surely, someone can cure your brother’s leg injury."

"Yes!" Weiwei nodded emphatically, "When I grow up, I must find the person who can heal Uncle’s injury."

"Perhaps you could be the one," Lina said, smoothing Weiwei’s messy hair, "You can work hard to become a Priest or Druid, and I’m sure you will be able to heal your brother’s ailment."

After chatting for a while and as the midday sun climbed higher, an old man prepared a meal and came to the fields, respectfully saying to Lina, "My Lady, it’s time for lunch."

"Oh, sure," Lina replied as she lifted Weiwei and said to the old man, "And you don’t have to call me ’My Lady’ from now on; I’m not used to it. Just call me Lina."

"I daren’t do that," the old man hurriedly declined Lina’s suggestion. "You are the savior of our village. If someone heard me calling you by your name, the villagers would berate me to no end."

"Alright then," Lina didn’t insist. After all, she was now a Third Transition Knight, and it was normal for someone of her stature to be addressed with respect.

"You rascal! Time to eat!" the old man yelled towards Lu Hong, who was still working in the fields. Seeing Lu Hong turn his head, he said no more and followed Lina back to the house.

Never before had the old man’s home seen such an opulent meal; it featured chicken, duck, fish, and meat, bringing every imaginable luxury dish from the countryside onto the table. Of course, the produce was provided by the villagers. Since the Sand mercenary reinforcements arrived, Lina preferred not to stay in the village. As the old man’s home was situated outside the town, it became her chosen residence.

For this reason, the villagers voluntarily renovated the old man’s home, transforming it from a thatched hut into a solid wooden cottage, a significant upgrade.

"My Lady, please tell me if the dishes are to your taste," the old man rubbed his hands nervously. To be honest, he hadn’t cooked with such ingredients for a very long time and didn’t know if his cooking skills had declined.

Lina smiled, took a bite, and nodded politely, "It tastes very good."

Standing by the door with his farming tools, Lu Hong showed a hint of a smile. Lina, being the daughter of the City Lord, must have been accustomed to luxurious silk and jade, eating exquisite meats from the finest demon beasts. These ordinary country dishes surely weren’t to her taste, and he suspected she wouldn’t be accustomed to eating them.

"As long as the Lady is pleased," the old man finally breathed a sigh of relief.

But in the next second, Weiwei cried out, "Grandpa, you put too much salt; it’s so salty!"

"What?!" The old man’s eyes widened in shock, "This... this... this... "

"It’s fine, you don’t need to worry," Lina quickly intervened to comfort the old man. "I’m not very particular about food; as long as I can eat and fill my stomach, it’s fine."

After a lengthy round of apologies from the old man, they finally moved on from the incident.

After eating a simple meal, Lu Hong leaned by the door with a jar of tea, staring blankly at the distant fields.

Lina walked over, and emulating Lu Hong, sat down on the ground, not minding that her pristine white dress was dirtied by dust.

"You aren’t ordinary, are you?" Lina asked directly.

Lu Hong didn’t look at the other person but still nodded in acknowledgment.

"What profession?"

This time, Lu Hong didn’t write with wet fingers, but instead mustered the power of his blood and qi to write the two red characters for "warrior" before promptly wiping them away.

"You’re a warrior?" Lina looked at Lu Hong curiously. "The warrior profession is very rare. I really didn’t expect you to be a warrior."

Surprised? Lu Hong continued to write: The warrior is just an ordinary profession that has lost its heritage and has long since declined.

"Declined? How is that possible?" Lina shook her head. "Two years ago, a warrior emerged, breaking the Gold Family in the Yuanhua Plane and saving the day in the Endless Forest. How could the warrior profession be in decline? I’d say it’s on the rise."

Lu Hong smiled, not expecting this woman to have heard of his own legend. He then wrote: Have you seen him?

"No, I’ve only seen his image. You do bear some resemblance to him." Lina looked carefully at Lu Hong. In the images, Lu Hong was mostly shown from the back, and even when his profile was occasionally revealed, his face was covered in blood, making it difficult to see clearly.

Too bad I am not him.

Lu Hong continued to write: How is he doing now?

Lina sadly said, "I don’t know. It’s said he was banished by the Hui Navy for delaying military intelligence, and there has been no word of him since."

Lu Hong took a deep breath. Was that the result announced by the Summer He Family?

That’s truly a pity, Lu Hong wrote.

"Yes." Lina whispered while hugging her knees, "If he had been able to fight for the North, I believe the Snow Clan would have retreated a long time ago, instead of the prolonged battle that persists to this day."

A year ago, Lina had still been at the Hanguguan Pass battlefield, but after she had an epiphany and finally broke through, she could no longer participate in the imperial homeland’s wars due to the restrictions of ancient covenants. Those above the Third Transition were not allowed to participate in continent-wide wars, or they would be annihilated, both in body and spirit.

This covenant was jointly signed by hundreds of Heavenly Gods during the Era of the Gods, the vast Holy Light continued to this day without weakening, and naturally, nobody would want to challenge the will of the gods.

"Have you really lost your memory?" Lina asked. "Or are you hiding your identity and staying here to escape your enemies?"

Does it matter? Lu Hong wrote: I am already a cripple. Whether I remember the past or not, what difference does it make?

"Of course, it matters. If someone did this to me, I’d spend my life seeking revenge!" Lina continued, "Aren’t you, as a man, without even this ambition?"

Lu Hong just smiled, saying nothing, as Lina was trying to provoke him.

Sure enough, seeing that her words elicited no response, Lina dropped the subject and turned to another topic: "Weiwei has a good aptitude. If she starts training, perhaps she could reach the Third Transition before thirty like me, becoming a contemporary powerhouse."

The Third Transition? Lu Hong nodded; he knew Weiwei very well after their years together. The girl was clever and full of potential.

"That’s why I want to take her back with me. Her talent shouldn’t be buried in a remote village, living in vain."

Just talk to her grandfather.

Lina didn’t agree with what Lu Hong had written: "Even though you can’t speak, I feel that if you agree with something, Weiwei’s grandfather won’t refuse."

Understood.

Lu Hong knew Lina was worried that he’d refuse to let Weiwei leave with her, fearing the old man would be reluctant, so she came to him for support.

"Alright then, don’t forget your promise when the time comes." Having settled the matter, Lina didn’t stay longer. She stood up, dusted off her hands, and went back inside.

And Lu Hong turned his gaze back to the fields. Although winter was approaching, the wheat here was not afraid of the cold. With proper care, there might be a good harvest at the end of the year.

Lock Fan, where are you now?

Lu Hong was convinced he wasn’t dead. Lansa had once fought Tai’e, the Lion King, and escaped unscathed; he certainly could have withstood the attacks from Natiyas.

He should be... He could only firmly believe in that outcome.