The Gift

Bai Xuan walked on the road back to Mora's Workshop as the night grew incredibly deep.

The streets were silent, save for the faint, rustling sounds of some unknown creatures.

Carson's words from earlier kept echoing in his mind.

Driven by his own convictions, Carson had insisted on staying behind to search for that family's child.

This matter was highly likely to involve that Mage from Silver Heart.

Yet, wasn't he himself currently risking recognition by sneaking back into Blackcreek Town to rescue Mora?

Carson had his obsession, and Bai Xuan also had a code he must uphold.

Fortunately, everything was going smoothly so far. Mora clearly had her own trump cards and didn't fear the Cross family's harassment.

Looking at it this way, what Peter had told him earlier was probably entirely a lie.

But why would Peter do that? Was he trying to lure Bai Xuan into a trap?

Bai Xuan shook his head slightly. Since he was already here and his goals had been accomplished, there was no point in overthinking it.

He would be leaving tonight anyway, so further speculation was useless.

Before he knew it, he had arrived at the entrance of The Fire God’s Forge.

A dim, yellow light seeped through the gap in the door, accompanied by the rhythmic clanging of a blacksmith's hammer.

Bai Xuan felt a trace of surprise.

Usually at this hour, though the front shop remained open, the workshop in the back would have closed long ago. Today was exceptionally unusual.

He pushed the door open and walked in. Mora and Phoebe were not in the shop; instead, the human girl was there.

Seeing someone enter, the girl greeted him out of habit.

“Welcome! Do you need weapons or armor?” The moment the words left her mouth, she raised her eyes to take a closer look at the visitor.

He wore dusty, coarse clothes and had smudges on his face, looking like an ordinary peasant.

The girl froze for a moment. People dressed like this rarely set foot in this weapon shop.

Dispensing with idle pleasantries, Bai Xuan walked straight to the counter.

“Where is Master Mora?”

As he drew closer, the girl caught a clearer view of his face under the lamplight.

Although his face was smudged with dirt and soot, the unique temperament in his eyes gave her a strange sense of familiarity.

She stared at him for a couple of seconds. Unable to recall where she had seen him, she answered honestly.

“The master is currently in the workshop in the back teaching her apprentice. She's not available to see guests right now.”

Bai Xuan's heart skipped a beat as he pressed,

“Is she teaching a silver-haired girl carrying a double-bitted axe?”

The girl's eyes widened in surprise, and she asked in return,

“How do you know?”

Bai Xuan sighed softly, his tone softening slightly.

“That's my sister. I temporarily left her in the master's care, and I've come to pick her up now.”

The girl finally understood, nodding and smiling.

“Oh, so she's your sister! The master thinks very highly of her. She said your sister's strength is absolutely unbelievable, and she swings that double-bitted axe even more skillfully than the master herself.”

“In all her years of blacksmithing, the master has never seen anyone so talented.”

She was about to praise her some more, but suddenly stopped. Her eyes locked onto Bai Xuan's face, studying it intently as her voice dropped.

“Wait... Are you... that Healer from before?”

Bai Xuan shook his head slightly, his tone flat.

“You have the wrong person. I'm just an ordinary peasant here to pick up my sister.”

There was not a shred of acknowledgment in his tone.

The girl opened her mouth to say something, but ultimately swallowed her words.

She lowered her head and pretended to organize the items on the counter, pressing no further. She simply said softly,

“The master is still in the workshop, so it's best not to disturb her.”

Bai Xuan nodded to show he understood.

“I'll wait here, then.”

With that, he walked over to a chair by the wall, sat down, and slowly closed his eyes.

He planned to wait a bit longer to see if Carson would show up.

If Phoebe came out before Carson arrived, he wouldn't wait any longer and would take her out of town immediately.

From the workshop behind him, the heavy, rhythmic sound of hammer strikes echoed one after another.

With his eyes closed, Bai Xuan rested his fingers lightly on the armrest, listening quietly, his entire being radiating a sense of calm.

Behind the counter, the girl occasionally sneaked glances at him.

She felt certain that the man before her was indeed that Healer.

Even in coarse clothes and with a face full of dirt, the temperament inherent in his bones could not be hidden.

Whenever she saw him about to open his eyes, she quickly looked away, pretending to flip through ledger books or tidy the shelves.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, though whether from the heat of the forge or some other reason remained unclear.

Unbothered, Bai Xuan continued to rest his eyes, waiting for Phoebe to emerge while silently hoping Carson would make it in time.

Time flowed silently. The noise from the workshop gradually subsided until it faded completely.

The hammering had stopped for a while, yet there was still no sign of anyone coming out.

Bai Xuan sat on the chair for a moment longer. Though his fingers remained on the armrest, a growing sense of unease began to settle in his heart.

Perhaps the sheer exhaustion of traveling for days had made him overly sensitive, but he knew he couldn't wait any longer.

He opened his eyes, looked at the girl behind the counter, and asked,

“How much longer do you think they'll be?”

The girl shook her head and replied honestly,

“I'm not really sure. Usually, once the hammering stops, they come out pretty quickly.”

Bai Xuan remained silent for a few seconds before standing up, his tone more urgent than usual.

“Apologies, but it's an emergency. I need to go in and check.”

With that, he headed toward the workshop in the back.

The girl opened her mouth as if to speak, but ultimately did not dare step forward to stop him.

As Bai Xuan reached the workshop door and raised his hand, before he could even touch the wood, a click sounded as the door was unlocked from the inside.

The door slowly swung open, and Mora and Phoebe walked out one after the other.

Mora wore a sleeveless vest, her arms stained with black forge residue and her face smudged with soot, giving her a rather disheveled appearance.

Phoebe followed behind her, also covered in a fair amount of dust. A black smudge was stamped on her pale cheek, making her look endearingly cute.

She was cradling something in her arms, holding it close to her body so that its shape was hidden from view.

Both of them froze slightly upon seeing Bai Xuan standing at the door.

Bai Xuan spoke first, his tone carrying an apologetic yet urgent edge.

“Master, it's not that I don't want her to learn blacksmithing, but the circumstances are exceptional right now. We must leave immediately. Time is of the essence, and any further delay might invite trouble.”

Mora waved her hand, a broad smile on her face.

“You misunderstand. I just saw that she had some interest in blacksmithing, so I let her try her hand at it.”

Turning to Phoebe, she said,

“Go on, show him.”

Phoebe pulled something out from behind her. Holding it with both hands, she gently presented it to Bai Xuan, handle first.

Bai Xuan looked down to see a dagger. Though the edge was not yet sharpened, the sleek outline of the weapon was already apparent.

The hilt had been polished smooth and fine, showing a touch of clumsy earnestness.

Bai Xuan was slightly taken aback, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

“Is this... for me?”

Phoebe did not speak. She simply pushed the dagger a bit closer to him and nodded gently, a faint trace of anticipation hidden deep in her eyes.

Standing nearby with her arms crossed, Mora spoke with a touch of pride.

“She forged this with her own hands. I only offered a few pointers.”

“I have to say, she really has a gift for blacksmithing. This is her very first creation, so it holds great meaning.”

Bai Xuan nodded. Keeping his eyes on Phoebe, he reached out and took the dagger.

It was still warm to the touch, retaining the heat of the forge. It had a substantial weight, and it was obvious that the materials used were not cheap.

He stared down at the dagger for a few seconds, then raised his left hand to gently rest it on Phoebe's head.

Her hair was soft and smooth, still holding the residual warmth of the furnace. Bai Xuan stroked it gently a few times and said softly,

“Thank you.”

Phoebe's body stiffened slightly, but then she slowly tilted her head, leaning it gently into his palm.

Those golden eyes, usually as calm as still water, along with her glacier-like aura, softened noticeably at this moment.

Although there was no major change in her outward appearance, Bai Xuan could clearly sense her emotions.

Perhaps it was shyness, perhaps reliance, or perhaps something else entirely.

An indescribable warmth welled up in Bai Xuan's heart.

As Bai Xuan withdrew his hand, before the warmth in his heart could dissipate, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.

He reached into his Space Ring and pulled out a silver chain, at the end of which hung a polished, smooth, dark stone.

This was the magic item Lorrain had traded with him, the Guardian Pendant.

It could sense surrounding danger and block a fatal blow.

He had originally planned to wear it himself, but on second thought, Phoebe needed this protection far more than he did right now.

Phoebe's level was still low, and she hadn't officially obtained a Class yet. On the other hand, he was not only strong enough,

but also had the Divine Crest of Light on him, allowing him to resurrect even if the worst happened.

“This is for you,” Bai Xuan said, gently offering the pendant to Phoebe, his tone as casual as if he were discussing a mundane matter.

“It can block a fatal strike in a moment of crisis. Wear it, and don't take it off.”

Phoebe looked down at the pendant, not reaching for it immediately.

Her gaze lingered on the dark stone for a few seconds before she slowly raised her head to look at him.

Within those golden eyes, a subtle emotion flickered.

“Take it,” Bai Xuan urged softly, nudging the pendant a bit closer to her.

Phoebe finally extended her slender fingers and took the pendant.

She held the cool stone, turning it over to examine it a few times.

Then, lowering her head, she slipped the silver chain over her neck, letting the pendant rest against her chest.

She gently touched the pendant with her hand, as if confirming it was secure, then let her hand drop and looked up at Bai Xuan once more.

Bai Xuan nodded slightly. Without saying anything more, he turned to face Mora.

“Master, please calculate the cost of the materials for this dagger.”

Mora waved her hand dismissively.

“No need for money. It was just practice material for her, it's not worth much. This is her gift to you, so just accept it.”

Bai Xuan did not decline further. He was indeed short on funds at the moment, so any savings were welcome.

“Then thank you for taking care of her, Master.” He wasted no more time, his tone growing urgent.

“We need to make our escape while it's still dark. Farewell.”

He told Phoebe, “Let's go,” and turned to walk toward the exit.

Phoebe bent down to pick up the wrapped Rock-Crushing Mountain from the floor and strapped it onto her back.

She then quickly followed, staying close behind him, afraid of falling behind.

As they stepped out of The Fire God’s Forge, the night was even darker than before. The streets were deserted, with only the moonlight casting a faint silver glow on the pavement.

Phoebe followed behind Bai Xuan, carrying her axe. A few strands of silver hair slipped out of her hood, gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

The girl at the counter watched Bai Xuan's figure vanish into the night before whispering to Mora,

“Master, is he the one from before...?”

Mora raised a hand to cut her off, saying nothing.

Standing at the doorway, she watched the direction Bai Xuan and Phoebe had gone. After lingering for a moment, she turned and walked back into the workshop.

The workshop door shut softly behind her, sealing away the night and the noise of the outside world.

The shops on both sides of the street had long since closed, and most of their lights were extinguished.

Only the occasional chirp of some unknown insect drifted from afar in the night, making the surroundings feel even more serene.

Walking ahead, Bai Xuan kept close to the base of the walls, moving with light steps.

Every time he passed an alley entrance, he would pause to peer inside, only continuing forward after confirming there was no danger.

Phoebe followed quietly behind him, her footsteps so light they made almost no sound.

The cloth-wrapped Rock-Crushing Mountain on her back swayed gently with her stride, yet it didn't make the slightest noise.

Bai Xuan sighed softly in his heart.

Carson hadn't come after all.

He had secretly hoped the man would follow.

It would have allowed him to lead Carson out of danger while also doing the White family a favor.

But he also knew Carson had chosen to stay behind to search for the missing children.

Everyone had their own path to walk, and he had no right to force him. Besides, he couldn't afford to wait any longer.

The closer they got to the main town gate, the stronger the unease in Bai Xuan's heart grew, a persistent tightness clutching at him.

He couldn't explain why. Perhaps everything was going too smoothly, to the point of feeling unreal.

The elites had been deployed elsewhere, the guards were drastically reduced, and nothing had gone wrong on Mora's end. Every piece of the puzzle seemed perfect.

Yet, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was overlooking something, making him feel entirely on edge.

Peter's words suddenly flashed in his mind.

Bai Xuan couldn't help but wonder if that guy had lied to him, deliberately baiting him to return and walk into a trap.

What if Zane hadn't left at all and was waiting in the shadows for him to fall into a snare?

He shook his head vigorously, forcing himself to stop overthinking.

He had to leave regardless. As long as he was extra cautious, he could avoid the risks.

Hiding and dodging along the way, the two managed to avoid the sporadic night patrols and finally reached the edge of town.

A tall stone wall loomed before them.

Torches were planted along the top of the wall at regular intervals, casting flickering shadows across the ramparts and outlining the figures of the patrolling guards.

Though there were far fewer guards on the wall than during the day, several squads were still patrolling back and forth, their vigilance unrelaxed.

The main town gate was slightly ajar, but a considerable number of guards were gathered there.

Bai Xuan knew that the giant axe on Phoebe's back was too conspicuous. If a guard recognized it, they would easily be exposed.

He stood watching for a long time, quickly figuring out the patrol patterns.

The patrol squads on the wall crossed paths at the midpoint, leaving a substantial gap in between—more than enough time for them to scale the wall.

Although the stone wall was high, climbing it wouldn't be difficult given his physical conditioning.

As long as they moved slowly and quietly, they could keep any noise to an absolute minimum.