It had been two days since he parted ways with Colin and his daughter.
Bai Xuan walked alone along the trade route leading to Blackcreek Town.
The sun was setting, casting long shadows over the path marked with the ruts of countless wagon wheels, flanked by endless stretches of forest.
The weather had been quite pleasant over the past few days, but the constant silence along the road made him feel as if something was missing.
The inexplicable surge of anger and impulse he had felt upon hearing the name “Zane Cross” was what had driven him to head toward Blackcreek Town.
However, after two days of trekking through the cold wind, that fire had gradually cooled and settled into the depths of his heart.
Thinking back now, why hadn't he been more rational? If he had followed Colin and Nora to Calais Town, he would have arrived by now.
He could have had a bed to sleep in! A hot meal to eat! And he could have gathered more information.
But here he was, walking alone in the middle of nowhere for two days.
The only sounds were the crunch of gravel under his boots and the whistling of the wind through the treetops.
He could even hear the occasional rustle of something scurrying through the distant bushes.
Sometimes, he even thought he could hear the crackle of the campfire Nora used to tend.
Sigh. Why hadn't he controlled his emotions back then? It was truly strange.
Just then, Bai Xuan noticed a few slimes wriggling in a muddy puddle by the side of the road.
“Time to get to work!”
He stepped forward, raising his Goldsand Iron rod, and dispatched the slimes in a few swift strikes.
【Pleasure +4】
“As expected, still no experience points.” Bai Xuan shook the residue off his rod, his face clouded with worry.
Ever since his experience bar had been stuck at 98%, he had been desperate to find monsters to kill.
He had finally reached Lv.3 upon killing the last monster before.
【Level Up! Lv.2 → Lv.3!】
【Maximum Health increased! 200/200 → 310/310】
【Maximum Mana increased! 100/100 → 155/155】
But that was where the problem started.
Over the next two days, he had taken out several stray low-level monsters, yet the experience bar on his status panel remained stubbornly at 【Lv.3 (0%)】, not moving an inch.
This was starting to make Bai Xuan genuinely anxious.
If he couldn't level up, it meant his physical attributes were capped. What would he do when he faced more dangerous enemies?
“Is there some kind of hidden leveling rule in this world?”
His grip tightened on the Goldsand Iron rod.
The most important thing right now was to reach Blackcreek Town and figure out what was going on with this experience gain.
Bai Xuan focused his mind to check his status again:
【Name: Bai Xuan】
【Level: Lv.3 (0%)】
【Class: None】
【Health: 310/310】
【Mana: 155/155】
【Potential: ￥%…*&】
【Active Skills: Holy Light Catalyst Lv.1 (11%), Redemption Strike Lv.1 (13%)】
【Passive Skills: Strength Enhancement Lv.0 (2%)】
【Current Pleasure: 79, Draws Available: 3】
【Wealth: 13 gold coins】
【Items: Omitted】
Comparing his attributes to Nora’s, even though they were both Level 3, his Health and Mana were significantly higher.
“Does this mean my potential is higher than hers? But that gap shouldn't be so large that my potential can't even be displayed!”
“No, I have the skill level upgrades providing enhancements, but she should have something similar too...”
Bai Xuan eventually gave up on the train of thought because the post house marked on his map was finally in sight.
A cluster of buildings enclosed by a wooden fence appeared ahead on the trade route.
The structures were low-slung, made of earth and wood. A faded wooden sign hung by the entrance, carved with the symbols of a chalice and a bed.
The sign on the door identified it as the 【Wazhuang Post House】.
Bai Xuan’s spirits lifted, and he quickened his pace.
As he approached the fence, he suddenly felt a prickle of being watched.
He looked up, his gaze sweeping toward a crude lookout tower built into a corner of the fence.
There, a figure sat half-hidden in the shadows cast by the eaves.
The man sat on the wooden platform with one leg hooked up. His posture seemed casual, but his eyes were locked onto the approaching Bai Xuan.
His face bore the rough, weathered marks of years spent outdoors. There wasn't much emotion in his eyes, only the flat, analytical gaze of someone accustomed to seeing travelers come and go.
Their eyes met briefly in the air.
Bai Xuan stopped and gave a slight nod as a greeting.
The man on the lookout tower let his gaze linger on Bai Xuan’s youthful face, his dusty white robe, and the dark iron rod for a moment before scanning the road behind him.
A few seconds later, he gave a nod in response and shifted his gaze back to the wilderness and the trade route, returning to his silent vigil.
Bai Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and continued toward the post house's wooden door.
As he pushed open the heavy door, a mixture of scents hit him: the slight sourness of ale, the savory aroma of stew, sweat, old leather, and dry hay.
The post house wasn't large. The common area held seven or eight rough wooden tables, only three of which were occupied.
Two travel-worn men were quietly eating black bread, while a lone figure wrapped in a cloak sat with nothing but a cup of water in front of them.
Behind the counter stood a bald, burly man, idly wiping a pewter mug with a cloth.
Hearing the door, he looked up and his eyes brightened when he saw Bai Xuan.
Bai Xuan’s appearance was somewhat striking.
His plain white robe was covered in dust and grass stains, with several tears at the hem from thorns, but the style was clearly not something a common laborer would wear.
His clean, handsome features were completely out of place in this wilderness post house, and the solid, dark iron rod in his hand added to the incongruity.
A few of the guests glanced at him. Some turned back with indifference, while others eyed his rod for a moment before losing interest.
At first glance, he looked like a down-on-his-luck clerical apprentice, but upon closer inspection, he lacked that specific temperament and the accompanying gear.
“Young man, staying the night or just eating?” the bald owner asked in a booming voice, setting down the mug.
“Both,” Bai Xuan said as he walked to the counter. Being able to escape the silence of the past few days and hear a human voice made him relax slightly. “Food first.”
“Right then! Today’s recommendation is stewed beans with pea bread—guaranteed to fill you up! Want a mug of our ‘Fatigue-Relieving Ale’ to go with it? After a day of walking, a drink will help you sleep like a log!” the owner pitched enthusiastically.
“No alcohol. Do you have juice or water?”
A look of “you don't know what you're missing” flashed across the owner's face. He muttered, “Young people don't know how to enjoy themselves... Fine, well water is free, but fruit cordial with honey costs extra.”
“Just water then. And an order of stewed beans.”
While the owner turned to shout toward the kitchen, Bai Xuan asked casually, “Boss, I wanted to ask about something. Is the road ahead to Blackcreek Town safe?”
“I heard there’s a... rather powerful Cross family over there?”
The owner’s hand paused slightly as he scooped water. He glanced back at Bai Xuan, his voice dropping a notch. “Are you there for business? Or visiting a friend?”
“...Just looking into some things.”
“Oh.” The owner placed the water cup on the counter. “The road is safe enough. It’s a main trade route, after all, and patrols pass through occasionally. As for the Cross family...”
He smacked his lips. “Around Blackcreek Town, if you have business to settle, just remember to follow their rules. Keep your paperwork in order and don't pick a fight. They control several of the trade routes around there.”
Controlling trade routes... Bai Xuan noted the keyword and walked over to an empty table to wait.
Just then, the door to the post house was pushed open again.
The sound of weary footsteps and the clinking of metal armor plates filled the room.
Five people entered.
They wore matching brown leather armor covered by worn travel cloaks, with longswords or hand-axes at their waists. They were travel-worn, their faces marked by the sun and fatigue.
The leader was a man with a scar running from the corner of his eye to his chin; he looked like their captain.
They entered in silence, leaned their weapons against the wall, and took the largest table. Their movements were practiced, yet they couldn't hide their exhaustion.
Rate on N.U.
