Wash Up

Carson nodded and led the children into the cabin.

Bai Xuan led Phoebe to the stream, knelt down, and carefully washed the bloodstains from his hands.

He looked down at his coarse linen clothes, which were already covered in dust and dark blood.

Then he turned to Phoebe; her clothes were also tattered and stained.

“Go wash up and change into some clean clothes.”

He took out several outfits he had bought earlier from his Space Ring and laid them one by one on the stones by the stream.

“I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I bought a few extra. Take your pick.”

Phoebe looked down at the clothes on the stones, reaching out to gently turn them over.

There was a white cotton dress, dark blue trousers, and a gray cloak.

She looked at them one by one, finally picking up a sleeveless black mini dress.

The hem reached just to her knees, and the waist was perfectly fitted. She then picked up a pair of black ankle boots and placed them next to the dress.

Seeing this, Bai Xuan turned around and walked upstream to clean himself.

Phoebe remained squatting by the stream, looking down at the black dress on the stones.

She extended a fingertip to gently touch the fabric, then quickly drew it back, a hint of hesitation in her eyes.

She stared at the clothes for a while, as if deep in thought.

Then she slowly stood up, removed the coarse cloth garment, stained with dust and blood, and placed it gently on the stones before walking step by step to the stream.

She lifted her right foot, her toes gently touching the water's surface, feeling the current, then slowly stepped into the stream.

The stream water slowly rose past her ankles, calves, and up to her knees.

She slowly squatted down, immersing her entire body in the water.

Her long silver hair fanned out, floating on the surface like a soft, silver net, beautiful and captivating.

She washed slowly and meticulously, as if performing a task of utmost importance.

First, she carefully cleaned her arms and fingers, slowly washing away the dried blood from beneath her nails.

Then she cupped the stream water and gently combed through her long hair, strand by strand.

The water flowed through her fingers, meandered down her collarbone, glided along her arms past her waist, and finally rejoined the stream along her thighs.

Moonlight spilled onto the water, fragmenting into silver, bathing her silhouette in a soft halo.

Meanwhile, Bai Xuan, having changed into clean white robes, walked back from upstream.

As he walked, he looked down, adjusting his cuffs and muttering softly to himself.

“This is much more comfortable.”

But when he looked up and saw the silver figure in the stream downstream, he instantly froze, his steps halting.

Phoebe stood in the water, her back to him, her wet silver hair clinging to her back, obscuring most of her form.

The moonlight and water shimmer intertwined, making her figure appear soft and beautiful.

Bai Xuan became thoroughly uncomfortable. He quickly turned around, his back to the stream, his voice flustered and his speech much faster than usual.

“Sorry, sorry! I didn’t know you weren’t finished washing!”

A faint splash came from behind him.

Bai Xuan froze in place, unmoving, not even daring to turn his head.

Footsteps sounded from behind him, the distinct sound of toes pressing on wet stones particularly clear.

Phoebe walked up to him, tilting her head slightly to look at him, her golden pupils still expressionless.

But now there was a hint of curiosity, as if she were observing something interesting.

Bai Xuan grew even more uncomfortable under her gaze and said,

“You… you should put on your clothes first. I’ll wait for you up ahead.”

With that, he walked away as if fleeing.

No footsteps followed him. After walking a dozen paces, Bai Xuan slowly slowed his pace, calming the heat and panic in his heart.

He stood before a tree, his gaze fixed on the fallen leaves on the ground, yet in his mind, that silver silhouette replayed repeatedly, refusing to fade.

Not long after, Phoebe walked over from the stream.

She had changed into the sleeveless black mini dress, holding the remaining clothes and her axe in her arms.

Her wet silver hair draped over her shoulders, making the black dress appear even deeper in color, and her skin glowed with fairness.

She walked up to Bai Xuan, handed him the clothes, then held her massive axe, as if the small incident had never occurred.

Bai Xuan put the clothes into his ring, then quickly glanced at her before immediately averting his gaze and softly saying,

“Let’s go.”

With that, he walked towards the cabin, Phoebe silently following him, her steps light.

They returned to the front of the cabin, where they lit a bonfire. The firewood crackled, and the flames dispersed the surrounding chill.

Bai Xuan sat under the tree, his staff resting across his lap, his gaze fixed on the dancing flames.

Phoebe didn’t go inside; she walked over and sat beside him, holding her massive axe.

She rested her elbows on her knees, her chin on the back of her hands, quietly watching the fire with him, her silver hair shimmering with a soft, warm glow in the firelight.

While Bai Xuan was still replaying the recent incident in his mind, Carson emerged from the cabin.

He paused noticeably when he saw the two figures under the tree.

He was already familiar with Bai Xuan’s cleric attire.

But the girl beside him, he hadn't taken a close look at her in his haste earlier.

Only now did he realize that, in her changed clothes, she was as exquisite as if sculpted from moonlight.

Carson gently shook his head, dispelling the distracting thoughts, and quickly approached Bai Xuan, saying earnestly,

“I’ll leave the children in your care. I’m going to contact someone now.”

Bai Xuan looked up at him, nodded slightly, then pulled a long sword from his Space Ring.

He had bought it earlier in the dungeon specifically to try out different weapons.

However, for someone already accustomed to staff-like weapons, it wasn’t practical and had been gathering dust.

“Use this for self-defense on the way. If you can’t reach anyone, just tell them I requested it, and they will cooperate with you.”

Carson took the long sword, his eyes filled with gratitude, and without another word, turned and vanished into the vast night.

Bai Xuan watched his retreating back, silent for a moment, before turning to Phoebe beside him and softly asking,

“It seems you don’t have a Class yet. I’m not sure if the current Class acquisition methods are suitable for you. Do you have any leads?”

Phoebe turned her head, the firelight reflected in her golden pupils.

She raised her hand and gently pointed to Bai Xuan’s finger, where his Space Ring was.

Bai Xuan paused, looked down, and touched his ring, then realized and took out the Silver-Wrapped Crystal Covenant Pendant from it.

The pendant shimmered with a dark silver luster in the firelight, its back engraved with two tiny names—Ethan and Ramona.

“Is it related to the dungeon?” Bai Xuan asked tentatively.

Phoebe nodded, then gently shook her head.

Bai Xuan instantly understood a few things and pressed on,

“So it’s not just the dungeon, but also this pendant?”

This time, Phoebe didn’t shake her head again; she quietly assented.

Bai Xuan put the pendant back into his Space Ring, leaned back against the tree trunk, and mused to himself.

The Ancient Glayde Kingdom. It seemed Phoebe’s Class could only be acquired in that dungeon.

He turned to look at Phoebe, only to find her gaze already returned to the bonfire, still maintaining her quiet demeanor.