The silver-haired man cast his eyes down at her for a few seconds. Suddenly, with a flip of his wrist, he grabbed the fingers wandering around his cuff.
"You really are..."
The slender, soft fingers twisted restlessly in his palm, but he suddenly released his grip as if he had touched a scalding iron.
Her fingers grasped empty air, and she subconsciously tried to catch onto something else.
Then she tugged at his collar, haphazardly pushing aside his draped coat and grabbing the buttons of his shirt. A popping sound followed.
The silver-haired man stiffened again. He leaned forward slightly, wanting to inspect the source of her chaotic magical condition.
He could already sense that the problem originated from her back.
If it was a curse, the mark should be on...
His words came to an abrupt halt.
The young girl in front of him was messily burrowing into his arms, the fluffy crown of her head rubbing against his chest, her high-bridged nose pressing against the gap of his clothes.
Then she bit down on the button at his chest.
The silver-haired man: "..."
The young girl buried her head in his embrace, like a teething young beast, lightly biting and tearing at the button, her teeth grinding against the smooth metal edge.
Then she licked the pattern in the center of the button. The raised lines were completely soaked, covered in glistening saliva, and she held it in her mouth to suck.
She even made a clearly audible wet sound.
The silver-haired man looked at her in astonishment. "You—"
In the millennium from his birth to his ascension to godhood, no one had ever dared to do such a thing to him!
Even knowing that she was not in her right mind right now, he nearly sent her flying.
He gritted his teeth, a blush spreading from the roots of his ears all the way to his cheeks, and his fingers even trembled slightly.
"..."
In her daze, Su Cheng suddenly felt a pure and icy magical power.
That power flowed in slowly but firmly, like sweet rain nourishing parched land, temporarily suppressing the surging heat within her body.
Her rationality briefly returned.
That silver-haired man was still standing in front of her, his broad shoulders blocking the sunlight from outside the corridor.
He looked down at her with a deep frown, appearing very displeased. One of his hands was pressing against her shoulder, pinning her entirely against the pillar.
The magic flowed in continuously, yet the portion absorbed by the curse was not much.
"You're actually a mage," Su Cheng pressed her hand over the back of his hand. "This might not be enough. Since you are a mage, you should know how to dispel potions related to lust—"
The silver-haired man's expression grew even gloomier, an indescribable emotion roiling in his eyes. Suddenly, he raised a hand and supported the back of her neck.
Given their height difference, he had to bend down further, making it look as though he had completely pulled the young girl into his arms.
The distance between the two vanished completely.
Su Cheng could smell the cool, crisp scent on him, like a forest after a snowfall.
As her eyes widened slightly, the silver-haired man lowered his head, his fine hair brushing against her cheekbones, and pressed a slightly cool kiss to her forehead.
The touch of the kiss on her forehead was gentle, falling like a fragile snowflake, yet it rippled with a coolness that carried an undeniable presence.
The magic instantly found a more effective pathway, rushing into her back like a breaking dam.
And then it was absorbed by the brand of the curse.
Su Cheng: "?!"
Su Cheng jolted awake.
What was going on?!
This time the effect was noticeably better. That coolness rapidly spread through her body, dispelling the bone-deep heat that had occupied her limbs and bones.
She sighed comfortably, her tense body finally relaxing.
The silver-haired man straightened up and let go.
But she lost her balance slightly and couldn't help but grasp again, tugging at his shirt. Several buttons popped open one after another, revealing a stretch of strong, marble-like chest.
The silver-haired man: "..."
That look of embarrassment and anger appeared on his face once more. He grabbed the young girl's slender wrist, simultaneously feeling her breath brush against his chest.
Even though she was intentionally controlling her power, that faint, sweet fragrance still wafted out.
The authority of the ancient gods, even for him, could not be completely resisted, especially in his current state.
The most headache-inducing part was that he himself couldn't explain what was going on.
This rude, detestable, baffling person—if it had been anyone else, he would have killed her long ago.
But now...
He had only been following the Supreme God's decree, wanting to see what other excellent qualities could be unearthed in her, and she just so happened to appear here.
Who knew it would turn out like this!
Even though his human body was merely a form condensed from power, he still felt uncomfortable.
That crumpled shirt and torn-open collar, as well as the delicate wrist twisting in his palm, made his whole body feel uneasy.
The silver-haired man let go and abruptly stepped back two paces, leaving her with the cold, sharp profile of his face.
His voice was cold and stiff. "You can leave now."
Although he said this, he was the one who hurriedly left first.
It took Su Cheng a few seconds to fully recover.
She looked down in disbelief at her neat clothes.
—Did they do it just now?
She remembered being kissed on the forehead, and she remembered gnawing on him, but other than that, everything was a blur.
"Sorry!"
The priest from earlier hurried back. "I just heard the bell and remembered I still had things to deliver to the High Priest. Huh, what's wrong with you?"
Su Cheng shook her head. "Are there any descendants of Mayor Wayne still in your town?"
"Oh, they don't live in town," the priest said immediately. "There are quite a few people in the Wayne family, all living in those villages, but they come over from time to time. Sigh, a few years ago, there was a Madam Wayne who sacrificed herself during a beast tide riot. She saved a lot of people, but she was injured too heavily. Before we could get there, she..."
She sighed regretfully. "They also built a statue for her, right in the village."
It wasn't placed in the town, naturally because the incident didn't happen here.
Su Cheng nodded gently.
Hearing this, it sounded like the person from just now was likely this Madam Wayne's child.
However...
Su Cheng thought for a moment. "Four of Mayor Wayne's children sacrificed themselves. Were those all of her children?"
The priest shook her head slightly. "I don't know. These are the only records we have, and it happened many years ago. Perhaps you could ask His Eminence the High Priest? She is very knowledgeable. There's also the Bishop, but she isn't here right now..."
Su Cheng: "...I have another question. Has any deity ever descended here?"
The priest blanked for a moment. "What? No, this isn't the imperial capital, nor is it a place like Golden Amber City. Oh, I heard a few days ago that the God of Purity manifested in Golden Amber City. I heard it was to select a new Blessed One. Ah, I wonder who is so lucky to receive His Highness's favor. If only I could serve His Highness Cessia..."
Su Cheng suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of guilt. She chatted aimlessly with the other party for a few more sentences and then took her leave.
After stepping outside, she saw the Town Hall building and noticed it was indeed slightly larger than the temple. The rumors about its expansion were probably true.
Iron Cage Town was quite bustling. Countless people came and went in front of the Town Hall's main entrance, and the enclosure alone was packed with over a dozen small and medium-sized magical beasts.
She strolled aimlessly along the street, spotting the red glow of a blacksmith shop flickering in the morning light from afar.
Inside the workshop, there were two dwarves—or perhaps half-dwarves—swinging their hammers to strike a strangely colored metal plate, sending sparks raining down.
The owner of the blacksmith shop was wiping the curtains. Turning his head and seeing her, he smiled and asked if she wanted to buy anything.
Su Cheng paused. "Do you have any greatswords? The kind suitable for a beginner Tier One warrior?"
The owner immediately invited her in to take a look. As she stepped into the shop, a wave of heat mixed with the smell of iron filings washed over her. Orange-red flames danced in the forge.
"This one is forged from Starlight Ore."
He pointed to a row of weapons displayed on the wall, starting with a greatsword on the far end. "It's elven craftsmanship, incredibly lightweight..."
"And this is the Rock Shatterer, the work of a giant artisan..."
The owner chattered on, introducing the greatswords. He then asked about her fighting habits, offering to custom-make a weapon for her, saying the size and style could all be negotiated.
Su Cheng looked around but couldn't find a single sword whose appearance could rival the commander's weapon, so she lost interest.
If she were really going to have a weapon custom-made, she definitely wouldn't choose to do it in a small town.
Her gaze paused as she noticed various weapon maintenance tools displayed on another wall.
The owner keenly caught her line of sight and immediately walked over to pick up a dark blue whetstone.
The stone's surface was as smooth as glaze, shimmering with faint blue ripples in the firelight.
"This is Blue Quench Crystal, mined from the snowy mountain veins of the Fenlai Kingdom. It's perfect for sharpening ice and water-attribute weapons..."
Su Cheng remained silent.
Seeing her reaction, the owner picked up a gilded square box. Inside sat two neatly arranged crystal vials, each about an inch long.
The liquid inside sloshed gently, refracting a hazy golden-red halo.
"Black sand resin mixed with dragon blood. Coating a sword with this prevents rust and keeps the edge as good as new."
He lowered his voice. "One vial is enough to last half a year. I guarantee it can be used on weapons of almost any grade, and it's convenient to carry around."
This actually seemed useful.
Su Cheng picked up the small vial and weighed it in her hand. "How much?"
"One hundred gold coins."
Su Cheng couldn't help but shoot him a sideways glance. Even though she knew items in this field were expensive, a single vial costing what amounted to many people's life savings was truly extravagant.
She twitched the corner of her mouth. "...Are you sure it's genuine? If it's a dragon blood item, shouldn't the price be even higher?"
"Of course it's genuine. But as you know, if certain things are sold through official channels, we have to pay heavy taxes and explain their origins..."
Su Cheng understood.
Who knew if this was stolen from some noble's warehouse or dug out of someone's grave.
"How can you be sure it's real? Can you swear on it? The kind of oath where you'd immediately trip and fall if it's fake?"
"Hahahahaha, you are truly humorous. Of course I can..."
Five minutes later.
The owner finished counting the gold coins and escorted her out with a face full of smiles.
She stuffed the box into her coat's large pocket. Walking down the steps, she looked back and saw the owner was still standing there perfectly fine.
A thin morning mist drifted across the street, carrying a faint scent of rust in the air.
There weren't many people on this street yet. After walking a few steps, Su Cheng spotted a familiar figure in the distance.
Across the street, a tall, black-haired man stood at the entrance of a shop, talking to a few people who looked like mercenaries.
His burly figure, carrying a massive sword on his back, was very conspicuous. Even from at least a hundred meters away, she recognized him instantly.
...Perhaps her eyesight had also been enhanced by battle aura?
Su Cheng thought, feeling somewhat uncertain.
Her gaze only lingered for a second or two before Kai sensed it and immediately turned his head.
Su Cheng couldn't clearly see his expression, but she figured he could see her. Feeling a bit awkward, she was just about to wave and say hello.
Suddenly, something felt wrong.
To her left was a leather goods shop. A mirror hung at the entrance, reflecting the bustling street and a black-haired girl leading a horse.
The air behind the girl rippled with a bizarre fluctuation, spreading outward like concentric waves.
"?"
Su Cheng immediately cast Wind Step on herself. Then, utilizing the aura-channeling speed she had honed in the rainstorm, she fiercely poured battle aura into her legs.
In front of the shop sat a half-human-tall wooden tanning barrel. Unprocessed animal skins soaked inside, with a layer of oily foam floating on the surface.
Propelled by magic, she leaped up, stepped on the rim of the barrel, and lightly vaulted off. Grabbing the eaves with one hand, she hoisted herself directly onto the roof where some cheap leather materials were laid out to dry.
Almost simultaneously—
Thick frost spread across the paving stones right where she had just been standing.
Within the continuously rippling air, a thin, short figure revealed itself.
It was a fully armed assassin wielding a short white dagger. A face guard obscured his features, revealing only a pair of cold, sinister eyes.
Wisps of icy mist coiled around the weapon in his hand, indicating it was either an enchanted tool or a manifestation of his own battle aura.
If it was the latter, he was likely at the Tier Three level.
Su Cheng was speechless.
The figure vanished once more.
In the very next second, his form abruptly materialized right in front of her.
The assassin's dagger slashed horizontally, on the verge of severing her neck.
The patterns in Su Cheng's eyes shifted.
However—
A majestic, pitch-black sword beam eerily sliced through the long street, tearing apart the thin mist.
The sound of flesh and blood bursting echoed in quick succession.
The assassin's body suddenly froze in mid-air, his limbs grotesquely separating from his torso.
His right arm was cleanly severed from the shoulder, and his left leg, cut below the knee, spun through the air and smashed into the wall. Splattering blood drew a blinding arc.
"Ah—"
The agonizing scream rang out half a beat late.
The mutilated body fell heavily at her feet. The cross-sections of the severed limbs were incredibly neat, so much so that the stark white bone splinters and writhing blood vessels were clearly visible.
Su Cheng turned her head.
A large shadow cast over her.
Someone had quietly appeared beside her, just a single step away.
He casually sheathed his massive sword back onto his back.
Those bright golden eyes remained gentle, yet a lingering trace of the dark sword beam seemed to remain in his pupils. His handsome features looked even more profound against the backlight.
"Are you alright?"
