As the sun was about to set, Hainowei couldn't help but float to the surface.
“Why isn't that guy back yet?” Hainowei's watery brows furrowed slightly. Just as she was about to mobilize the water elements of the entire canyon to locate Zhang Ye, a tired shout suddenly came from afar.
“I'm back!”
Hainowei looked over.
She saw Zhang Ye dragging several massive magical beasts, struggling as he walked out of the forest.
Those magical beasts were all Tier Nine or above, and one had even reached the Tier Ten late stage. The wounds on their bodies showed just how intense the battle had been.
Zhang Ye, meanwhile, was covered in dirt and grime. Even his academy uniform was torn to shreds, covered in wounds with blood dripping down.
“Sorry, this guy was a bit tough to deal with.” Zhang Ye patted the corpse of the Tier Ten late stage magical beast, flashing a grin.
His white teeth looked incredibly clean against the crimson backdrop of blood.
That guy was indeed tough to deal with, but to Zhang Ye, it wasn't really that big of a deal.
With his current combat power at full throttle, there were basically very few opponents below the Saint-tier who could match him.
But to make his “tragic state” look more realistic, Zhang Ye had even taken off his magic garments, refrained from using any healing magic on himself, and intentionally took a few hits just to end up looking like this.
It hurt like hell.
One had to know that Zhang Ye was extremely afraid of pain.
However, to make Hainowei feel pity for him, he did it anyway.
It was safe to say that if Lina's father, Oscar, saw this performance, he would hand over his namesake statuette to him.
Truly a veteran actor.
Sure enough, seeing Zhang Ye in this state, Hainowei's eyes trembled slightly.
In her eyes, Zhang Ye was just a little guy who hadn't even reached Tier Nine, yet to build a magic circle to help her recover from her injuries, he had gone to fight a Tier Ten late stage magical beast.
The battle must have been incredibly fierce and dangerous, right?
He did this all for her...
She naturally represented gentle water; her personality was just like that—gentle as water, sentimental as water.
Seeing this scene, her heart couldn't help but soften a bit.
Dropping the magical beast corpses, Zhang Ye plopped onto the ground, only to grimace as the cold water seeped into his wounds.
This part wasn't acting; he really was afraid of pain.
However, being afraid of pain and being able to endure it were two different things.
When necessary, he could endure extreme pain, but when it wasn't, he would immediately whine and complain, looking utterly spineless.
That was just how Zhang Ye was.
Watching this, Hainowei ultimately couldn't help herself. With a wave of her hand, streams of warm water enveloped Zhang Ye's body. Wherever the water passed, his wounds healed. This astonished Zhang Ye, who quickly analyzed the Tier Ten spell called 【Water Spirit's Healing】.
Hainowei, however, put on an indifferent front and said coolly, “I'm only doing this because I'm afraid your blood will ruin the water quality.”
Zhang Ye almost burst out laughing, but he still nodded and expressed his gratitude to Hainowei.
In his eyes, it was completely normal for women to be a bit tsundere. It was actually quite cute.
Even if a Water Spirit wasn't human... it wasn't much different anyway~
With his injuries healed, Zhang Ye stood up, looking full of energy. “Alright, let's get started... cooking!”
Hainowei: “?”
Watching Zhang Ye already starting a fire, Hainowei couldn't help but ask, “Aren't you going to start building... the magic circle?”
While prepping the magical beast ingredients, Zhang Ye smiled. “We can work after we're full. That's the only way to be efficient. My cooking is great; you can experience it for yourself in a bit.”
Hearing this, Hainowei turned her head away. “I don't need to eat. Water is enough for me.”
Zhang Ye couldn't help but ask, “Are you made of water?”
“You could say that,” Hainowei replied, watching Zhang Ye's knife work move so fast it was a blur.
Perhaps because she hadn't spoken to anyone in too long, she didn't choose to ignore his questions.
“Can you absorb any kind of water?” Zhang Ye asked again.
“Not all water, but basically most of it,” Hainowei said.
Zhang Ye: “Then if you drink chicken soup, will you become a chicken-soup-flavored Water Spirit?”
Hainowei: “???”
Listen to that. Is that a question a normal person would ask?
“No!” Hainowei said testily.
Zhang Ye laughed heartily.
Soon, the fragrant aroma of roasted meat drifted over, and Hainowei's small nose twitched.
What was this smell?
It smelled so good!
Having not smelled cooked food for who knows how long, she was instantly drawn in by the aroma.
Once the roasted meat was almost done, Zhang Ye simply waved his hand.
【Flavor Enhancement】!
Instantly, the aroma grew even more intense!
Hainowei's eyes instantly lit up, her watery gaze looking incredibly beautiful.
“What is that?” Hainowei couldn't help but swallow her saliva and ask.
She had no need for food, but smelling this fragrance, even she couldn't resist.
“This is my special secret roasted meat that I stole... cough, learned!” Zhang Ye chuckled. “Want to try some?”
“Can I?” Hainowei asked.
“Of course!” Zhang Ye handed her a piece of roasted meat. She reached out to take it, sniffed it with her delicate nose, and then opened her cherry-like mouth to take a gentle bite. Instantly, juices splurted, and an exquisite flavor exploded in her mouth.
At this moment, she completely threw her tsundere attitude to the wind and began to feast.
Watching Hainowei eat with her cheeks puffed up like a hamster, Zhang Ye smiled gently.
Is this your true self?
That mature demeanor and gentle temperament were just a facade. Was this little-girl-like state the real her?
It made sense. Wasn't a calm, deep ocean made up of countless sparkling drops of water?
Water droplets should be lively and cheerful.
“Eat slowly, there's plenty more. I'll boil a pot of soup to let you taste what true earthly delicacy is,” Zhang Ye said with a warm smile.
“Okay!” Hainowei nodded, her mouth full of meat.
She remembered the last time she had eaten food made by humans was a thousand years ago. She had almost forgotten what it tasted like.
She only knew that she really liked human food.
In fact, she really liked humans.
She believed humans were creative beings, symbols of wisdom. She was full of curiosity and yearning for everything humans invented.
That was why she chose to get close to humans, chose to help them, chose to believe in them, and in the end...
...ended up being deceived and hurt.
“Is it good?” Resting his chin on his hand, Zhang Ye asked with a smile as he watched Hainowei hold the bowl and sip the soup.
Hainowei paused and looked at him.
Under the orange-red glow of the campfire, his profile looked so ethereal and gentle.
Hainowei set down her bowl, remained silent for a moment, and nodded. “It's delicious.”
“I'll be cooking every day from now on. Do you want me to make a portion for you?” Zhang Ye asked. “Eating well helps with recovering from injuries, doesn't it?”
Hainowei nodded gently. “Okay.”
Setting down the bowl and roasted meat, Hainowei seemed to return to her mature, elegant self.
“Alright, time to work!” Zhang Ye stood up, stretched, and then walked toward the altar with the magic cores and materials left over from dismantling the magical beasts, beginning to construct the altar.
Watching his departing figure, Hainowei gently clutched her chest.
“Are you the one who can be trusted?”
“Black hair and black eyes... Are you the person in the prophecy?”
“Will you... bring the dawn of hope?”
...
...
Rate on N.U.
