Get the Gentleman Some Money!

Seeing this, the man fell to his knees with a thud, tears streaming down his face as he repeatedly bowed his head in gratitude.

The refugees in the camp saw this and instantly surged forward like a tide, surrounding Bai Xuan and begging relentlessly.

“My Lord! Save me! The wounds on my body hurt so much!”

“My Lord, my mother is about to die, please save her!”

“Please, My Lord!”

Bai Xuan frowned; he was well aware of the Holy Light Catalyst's side effects.

Conscious people simply could not endure that kind of intense pain. If everyone started screaming and crying, the scene would descend into absolute chaos, potentially even sparking a riot.

He slowly raised his hand, gesturing for everyone to quiet down, before raising his voice. “Everyone, quiet down! Bring over those who are unconscious or insensible first. I will prioritize treating them.”

“For those of you who are conscious, please wait a moment.”

The nearby guards immediately stepped forward to maintain order, carrying the unconscious refugees one by one to Bai Xuan.

Bai Xuan didn't delay any further, treating them one after another.

These were all ordinary people who had never trained, making them much faster to heal than those with Classes.

As the golden light fell, wounds closed rapidly, and the unconscious quickly woke up.

After healing the fifth refugee, Bai Xuan intentionally stopped, pretending to catch his breath and putting on a weary expression.

“That will have to be all for today. I've traveled a long way to get here, and my mana consumption is too high. I can't hold out any longer.”

“As for the rest of you, your injuries aren't too severe. You'll recover after resting for a few days.”

The way the refugees looked at Bai Xuan gradually began to change.

When they had seen him refuse the little girl's request earlier, some had secretly speculated.

They wondered if he was just like those high-and-mighty noble lords, with no real intention of helping them.

But now, he had healed so many refugees for free, and his attitude remained consistently gentle and polite.

That warm, genial face, those calm and gentle eyes, and that white robe dusted with a bit of grime gradually gave him an indescribable air.

He was like a beam of light, warm and powerful, making people instinctively want to draw closer and trust him.

Standing in the crowd, Angela gazed at Bai Xuan's back, her eyes sparkling with a bright light.

The refugees fell to their knees one after another, kowtowing and continuously voicing their gratitude. Some wiped away tears, their faces filled with thankfulness.

Bai Xuan waved his hand gently, saying no more as he turned to look for the steward, Jesse.

What he didn't know was that the moment he turned around, extremely tiny specks of light quietly drifted into the air.

They were like fireflies in the dead of night, or moonlight floating on water—faint yet warm.

Those specks of light rose from each of the refugees, silently landing on Bai Xuan and merging into his body.

No one saw these specks of light.

Even Bai Xuan himself didn't notice them at all.

Bai Xuan walked straight up to Jesse and said in a low voice, “A word in private.”

The moment the words left his mouth, he cast a glance away from the crowd and took the lead, walking off.

Jesse understood immediately and quickly followed him.

Once they had walked some distance away, Bai Xuan stopped, pulled out the inconspicuous piece of coarse cloth from his coat, and gently handed it to Jesse.

Jesse reached out to take it, and the moment his fingertips brushed the fabric, his expression changed drastically.

This fabric seemed rough and ordinary, but hidden in the corner was an almost imperceptible fine pattern. This was the specific token used by the family's secret informants; there was absolutely no mistaking it.

“White Bird is Silent,” Bai Xuan said slowly.

Jesse's pupils shrank violently.

He looked up, giving Bai Xuan a deep look, before lowering his voice and saying respectfully, “I need to set up a barrier. Please do not be alarmed.”

Jesse then pulled a circular device from his breast pocket and slowly activated it.

An invisible ripple of energy radiated from the circular device.

“Carson asked me to bring you a message,” Bai Xuan spoke first.

“He managed to get some crucial intelligence from the Cross family. He nearly lost his life for it, and he's currently hiding in the slums of the Outer Town.”

“Since I was heading to Calais Town anyway, I was entrusted to deliver the information to you.”

He paused, adding a hint of teasing to his tone. “To deliver this intelligence, I was chased closely the entire way and almost didn't make it to Calais Town. You'll have to compensate me handsomely.”

“Of course. Rest assured, sir, we will definitely not mistreat you,” Jesse quickly nodded and promised.

Seeing this, Bai Xuan said no more and recounted everything Carson had discovered.

Zane's Class being related to the undead, that mysterious Gemstone, the shadowy slave-hunting caravan, and the Cross family currently carrying out a dragnet in the dungeon.

The more Jesse listened, the more solemn his expression became, his brow furrowing tightly.

Once Bai Xuan finished, Jesse fell silent for a few seconds before slowly speaking. “I understand the gist of the situation.”

He paused, seemingly weighing his words, before adding.

“There is one more matter we might need your assistance with. Once we see Lord White, we can discuss the details.”

Bai Xuan glanced at him but didn't press for details, simply nodding in acknowledgement.

Afterward, Bai Xuan said to Jesse, “That girl...”

Jesse immediately turned around and called over two guards, instructing them, “Take that girl and her aunt, and have them come with us.”

The guards were startled for a moment but immediately complied.

Led by a guard, Angela still looked somewhat dazed, her gaze frequently turning back to look at Bai Xuan.

Her aunt clutched her hand tightly, following closely beside her with a highly tense and cautious expression.

Bai Xuan took his Chocobo's reins and followed Jesse deeper into Calais Town.

The Chocobo took long strides with its slender legs, walking with a steady, majestic, and high-spirited gait.

A mere bird actually walked with an imposing, tiger-like stride, drawing the curious gazes of the pedestrians along the road.

The guards around Jesse quietly exchanged looks, their hearts filled with confusion.

There were very few people in their memory whom the steward treated with such courtesy. What on earth was the background of this seemingly ordinary young man?

Upon first entering Calais Town, Bai Xuan felt it was no different from Blackcreek Town, also divided into inner and outer walls.

But after walking inside for a bit, he noticed the differences.

There were many more children running around on the streets, with several of them chasing and playing on the open ground by the roadside, their crisp laughter echoing in the air.

This kind of scene was extremely rare in Blackcreek Town, where adventurers and adults were everywhere on the streets.

The children there mostly curled up at home or in secluded alleys, not daring to come out as they pleased.

“What's going on with those refugees outside the town?” Bai Xuan couldn't help but ask. “I didn't see any in Blackcreek Town, nor did I come across them on the road.”

Jesse sighed softly, his tone heavy. “The monster tides have been getting more and more frequent lately. Several surrounding villages have been attacked by monsters, and those people are all refugees who fled from them.”

Hearing this, Bai Xuan recalled his own village, which had been destroyed by monsters, and his expression darkened slightly.

“Why did they all run to Calais Town?”

Jesse let out a bitter smile. The words reached the tip of his tongue but he swallowed them back down, only saying vaguely, “Other towns are somewhat... unwilling to accept them.” Pausing, he continued.

“Our Lord is kind-hearted. He allowed them to set up camp outside the town. Those who have labor to offer and can work can even come in to work in exchange for food.”

“It's just that there are too many refugees, and the town is already not short on hands. We can only temporarily settle them outside the town and send guards to watch over them to prevent any chaos.”

Bai Xuan nodded slowly.

Back when he was in Blackcreek Town, he had heard Owen mention that the White family was considered extremely benevolent among the nobility. Looking at it now, Owen hadn't lied.

The two chatted along the way and soon arrived at the gates of the Inner Wall.

The guards only cast a brief glance at Jesse before immediately letting them through, completely unlike the tense atmosphere in Blackcreek Town.

Bai Xuan noticed that adventurers only needed to pay 5 silver coins to enter, which was far cheaper than the 50 silver coins in Blackcreek Town.

The streets inside the Inner Wall were much wider than those outside, and there were also far fewer pedestrians.

There were adventurers and merchants dressed in various attire and carrying weapons, weaving in and out without any of the tense, oppressive feeling found in Blackcreek Town.

As Jesse walked, he warmly introduced the sights to Bai Xuan, a hint of subtle pride in his tone.

“This side is the Class Hall. If townspeople or visiting adventurers want to learn skills, they can come here.”

“Over there are the supply shops, and the quality of the items inside is quite good. A bit further ahead, there's also a tavern. The dishes they make are highly praised by adventurers...”

Bai Xuan smiled casually. “Your side is indeed very different from Blackcreek Town. In Blackcreek Town, the adventurers inside the Inner Wall aren't this carefree.”

Jesse smiled, his tone sincere. “Our White family has always been eager for talent. As long as someone has genuine capability, we are willing to forge a good relationship, so we naturally won't deliberately constrain them.”

As they were speaking, Jesse's voice suddenly cut off, and his footsteps slowed down slightly.

Bai Xuan followed his gaze and looked up, only to see a church towering not far away.

Its spire pierced the clouds, and its stained-glass windows reflected colorful light under the sun, making it look more than twice as grand as the simple church in his village.

Had they not shared the same basic church layout, it would have been almost impossible to associate the two.

Jesse's gaze swept over the church, the smile on his face gradually fading, and his tone became flat and tasteless, as if he were mentioning something of no consequence.

“This is Calais Town's church.”

Having said that, he quickened his pace and hurriedly walked past.

Bai Xuan was somewhat surprised by his cold attitude toward the church, but he didn't ask further and silently followed.

Further ahead, a heavy iron gate appeared at the end of the street. Behind the gate was a straight stone-paved path, lined on both sides with neatly trimmed dwarf trees.

Looking inside through the iron gate, one could see a spacious courtyard.

Deep within the courtyard, a three-story stone building stood quietly. Its grayish-white walls paired with dark green window frames looked simple yet still exuded the grandeur of a noble manor.

The White family's manor had arrived.

The two guards standing at the entrance immediately bowed in greeting upon seeing Jesse, quickly pushing open the iron gate.

Jesse led Bai Xuan through the courtyard, walking straight toward the main building.

The moment they entered the main building's doors, several neatly dressed servants immediately came forward, standing respectfully to the side.

“Take that girl and her aunt down to settle them in. Be sure to look after them properly,” Jesse turned and instructed a maid.

He then said to a nearby stable hand, “Take the gentleman's Chocobo to the stables. Take good care of it, and do not neglect it.”

The stable hand looked at the Chocobo, which was taller than himself, and couldn't help but swallow.

He stepped forward cautiously, gently grasping the reins, and slowly led it toward the stables.

Led inside by the maid, Angela's gaze still frequently turned back to look at Bai Xuan.

Only when Bai Xuan gave her a gentle nod did she put her mind at ease, turning around to follow the maid away.

Afterward, Jesse led Bai Xuan through a long corridor, continuing his introductions as they walked.

“This side is the parlor, used for receiving guests. Over there is the study, where the Lord usually handles affairs and reads. Upstairs, there are also several guest rooms, all cleaned very neatly...”

As Bai Xuan listened, his gaze swept across the decorations on both sides of the corridor.

Several elegant paintings hung on the walls, and exquisite vases were placed next to the corridor pillars. Every spot was arranged in a tidy and proper manner, exuding noble refinement at every turn.

Crossing a quiet corridor, Jesse came to a halt in front of a carved wooden door.

He then turned around and said to Bai Xuan, “Please wait a moment, sir. I will go consult the Lord.”

Having said that, he turned to the servants on the side and ordered, “Quickly serve some tea for the gentleman.”

Several servants withdrew in response, and Jesse gently pushed open the wooden door, walking inside before carefully closing it behind him.

Standing in the corridor, Bai Xuan casually swept his gaze over the servants standing in attendance.

There were both male and female servants, though mostly female, each possessing delicate features and elegant manners.

A few young maids accidentally met his gaze, their cheeks flushing slightly as they quickly lowered their heads, looking rather bashful.

Soon, a maid walked over carrying a teacup, gently placing it on the stone table next to Bai Xuan. She kept her eyes lowered the entire time, not daring to look up at him.

She quietly murmured to herself in her heart.

Bai Xuan picked up the teacup and took a light sip, a crisp, refreshing tea fragrance spreading across his tongue.

Although he didn't know how to appreciate tea, even a layman like him could tell this was excellent tea. It was rich upon entry, with a lingering, sweet aftertaste.

At this moment, footsteps echoed from the other end of the corridor, unhurried. Hearing the sound, Bai Xuan set down his teacup.

In the next second, a middle-aged man walked in.

The man was dressed in dark casual wear, his temples already dusted with frost, yet his back remained as straight as a pine. An air of long-held authority was etched between his brows.

Jesse followed closely behind, turning slightly to stand respectfully at his flank.

Bai Xuan immediately stood up, and Jesse quickly took two steps forward, respectfully introducing him.

“My Lord, this is the Mr. Bai Xuan I mentioned to you. He was the one who resolved that matter in the mine, and he risked his life to deliver this intelligence to us.”

Saying that, he turned back to Bai Xuan, introducing him solemnly, “This is our family's lord, Edmund White.”

Bai Xuan bowed slightly in greeting. Edmund nodded plainly, a faint smile finally gracing his originally tense face.

“To have such capability at such a young age, and even manage to deliver the intelligence under the Cross family's pursuit...”

He turned his head to Jesse, his tone crisp. “Get the gentleman twenty gold coins.”