Chapter 1 Girl in the Woods
On the western outskirts of Rubik City, the dense jungle had not yet been completely disturbed by human footprints. The whisper of the evening breeze rustled the leaves, carrying the scent of damp earth and fresh air, as if guided by wind spirits into the forest path.
The twin moons hanging high in the night sky were no longer as full as they were half a month ago, yet they still gently veiled the entire world in a beautiful and ephemeral mist. A cluster of sparkling lakes reflected the soft moonlight.
The lake’s surface shimmered, showcasing a multitude of flowers. The gentle evening breeze stirred a few strands of moonlight caught on the treetops, causing the lake to ripple slightly, dancing with silver radiance.
The girl had already taken off her small white boots and knee-high silk stockings, neatly stacking them beside her.
She sat by the lakeside, her tiny, crescent-shaped feet quietly extending into the clear water illuminated by moonlight, then suddenly retracting as if startled. A few drops of water, attempting to desecrate that touch of white, reluctantly receded, and the soft, lustrous moonlight gently touched the flawless white lotus.
Under the moonlight, the gradually calming lake reflected the girl’s serene and beautiful image.
However, no one could appreciate this tranquil and beautiful scene. The girl rested her delicate hands on her cheeks, swaying her body listlessly. She suddenly kicked her feet again, sending up splashes of white water, each droplet revealing a different expression.
The girl’s bell-like voice echoed in the silent jungle under the moon.
“Ig! Why aren’t you better yet!”
The black-haired youth had no strength to reply.
The youth was bare-chested, the surrounding scarlet liquid gradually fading, but his gritted teeth and face still showed pain as if he had been carved by a knife. Even in the cool, romantic night air, cold sweat broke out.
These two were naturally Verafia, the young lady from the western border Marquisate of Brandenburg, who had traveled from the western border of Luben to Lansiat Duke’s Territory, enjoying food, drink, and hunting magical beasts for gold coins along the way, and her attendant, Ig.
This small patch of jungle and lake was originally occupied by a large group of wind demon wolves. However, under Verafia’s conquest, these pitiful magical beasts not only turned into beautiful magic crystals and merit points representing shiny gold coins, but their territory was also forcefully occupied by her.
—The last one remaining had tragically become a practice wolf for Ig.
Seeing that the youth ignored her, the girl pouted in annoyance, her fair, slender, lotus-like feet vigorously splashing white water.
Although Verafia was initially extremely dissatisfied with Ig’s completely incompetent performance in the Sunset Forest, she generously forgave her attendant for his later “self-sacrifice to save his master” and his sincere apology. She then reverted to her carefree, innocent, and cute demeanor, occasionally showing a spoiled and proud disposition of a young lady.
—At least, that’s what Ig initially thought. But he soon paid the price for his arrogance.
In the pool of blood-red water, Ig clenched his fists forcefully, veins bulging on his originally delicate face. He gritted his teeth tightly, wishing he could shatter them.
Every strand of scarlet was like the sharpest blade, cutting at his skin and will. Ig even longed for the moment when the bowstring would completely give way and he would pass out.
This was likely another result of Verafia adding some strange substance to her magic potion. And from her ill-intentioned expression at the time, Ig found it hard not to believe that she was using this opportunity for revenge.
Every moment felt like an eternity. Ig yearned for that beautiful future of unconsciousness to approach him, to reach him, to touch him…
“That’s it!”
The clear, sweet, and crisp girl’s voice rang out perfectly timed. Ig felt immense pain, and the agony he had been enduring with gritted teeth erupted completely in his consciousness, making him feel sick to his stomach.
Verafia had already put on her shoes and socks again. The girl was wearing a pure white dress today, and her soft, beautiful golden hair was tied with a pair of blue and white butterfly hair ties. She hopped and skipped over to Ig.
The girl waved her slender hand, lifting the youth and then dropping him to the ground.
Ig lay on the ground, motionless, like a dead salted fish.
“Honestly, couldn’t you hold on a little longer? Such a waste… Is it easy for this young lady to refine these magic potions?”
Verafia placed her slender hands in front of her, puffing out her rosy cheeks, and grumbled discontentedly at the youth beside her.
Ig merely rolled his eyes, shifting from a dead salted fish to a lounging salted fish.
He just wanted to rest for a while… As for this little phoenix’s complaints, they wouldn’t cost him anything, would they?
A girl’s mood is always as fickle as the weather. Children as small as this little phoenix before him were even more unpredictable. As long as a small, interesting thing captured their attention, they would quickly forget about their unhappiness.
This was the rather practical experience Ig had gained from Verafia in recent days.
As expected, the girl’s beautiful big golden eyes were soon attracted by a butterfly with shimmering wings. Stepping on the soft moonlight, she began to study it with great interest.
Ig let out a long sigh and was about to continue lounging like a salted fish when a delicate, slender, and tender hand, like fine jade, grabbed his detached clothing and lifted him up.
Ig was caught off guard, nearly being flipped onto the ground.
Ig saw that the girl had already grabbed the butterfly’s delicate wings with one hand, her crescent-shaped, beautiful eyes clear and bright, looking at him with a smile.
“Right, Ig, you haven’t practiced sword techniques today! Come on, let’s spar, it’s getting late, and you still haven’t learned the Starflow Sword Qi Slash, honestly…”
Ig’s face instantly turned sour, showing despair in his eyes.
Once upon a time, being able to learn Master Lothel’s lost sword techniques was Ig’s lifelong dream. However, in the past half-month, it had become his nightmare!
The origin of it all was a routine critique from the girl after she taught him sword techniques. But Ig didn’t know what possessed him to impulsively suggest that the girl spar with him back then.
When the girl’s big eyes suddenly lit up, Ig realized he had made another wrong decision.
Gods above! Forget about talent in elemental mastery, how could this little phoenix, who was born only a few days ago, also have such terrifying sword techniques!
Ig considered his sword skills to be outstanding among the younger generation. However, his experiences from those few days made him greatly doubt his only source of comfort – his talent in swordsmanship.
It was a completely one-sided battle without any suspense!
It was like a newborn infant challenging the world’s most renowned Sword Saint with a sword! Throughout the entire process, there was a sense of powerlessness and despair more profound than facing death!
In Verafia’s effortless defeats of him with a wooden sword, Ig also saw many expressions of lingering interest in her big eyes.
Ig had no doubt about his miserable future.
