Three luxurious carriages, their bodies carved with intricate vine patterns and their window frames edged with dark gold metal strips, shimmered with a low-key, opulent luster in the morning light.
Each carriage was drawn by four pure-colored steeds with glossy coats, their rhythmic strides perfectly in sync.
More than a dozen mounted guards surrounded the convoy, wearing uniform deep blue—nearly black—uniforms over light breastplates.
They scanned the woods on both sides of the road with sharp, vigilant eyes, their hands habitually resting on the hilts of the swords at their waists.
If Bai Xuan were awake and checked with his panel, he would be shocked to find that these guards were all uniformly 【Lv.7 (Practitioner)】.
The cold-faced middle-aged knight leading them had even reached 【Lv.9 (Transcendent)】.
Finally, there was the third carriage, which emitted an invisible aura that slowly rippled outward, silencing the nearby chirping of insects.
This was clearly a warning, a direct deterrent to any lurking magical beasts.
“Oh, there really is a post house!”
A crack suddenly opened in the window of the second carriage, and a soft, sweet girl’s voice drifted out.
A fair hand reached out to grip the window sill, followed by a face as delicate as a porcelain doll.
Long, straight pink hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her amethyst-like eyes blinked curiously as she surveyed the dilapidated little post house.
She wore a pale primrose-yellow dress with delicate lace at the collar and cuffs, clutching a snow-white plush rabbit doll in her arms.
“It looks so small, like a mushroom house from a story!”
The girl turned back to the person inside the carriage. “Sister Anna, how about we go in and take a look? Maybe we can find some delicious berry cookies!”
The woman sitting opposite her was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, wearing a well-tailored dark gray traveling suit with her black hair neatly pinned behind her head.
Hearing this, she frowned slightly and spoke in a gentle tone, “Miss, these border post houses usually only provide basic food and lodging. They won't have the snacks you like. Besides...”
Anna’s gaze swept over the post house, where various traces left over from the battle had not yet been completely cleared away.
“Places like this have a complicated mix of people, and there are traces left from the battle last night. It’s not very safe. It’s better if we head straight to Blackcreek Town.”
“Ugh...” The girl pouted, her hands tightening around the rabbit as her eyes flickered toward the battle scars.
Deep within those amethyst eyes, an imperceptible glint flashed by in an instant.
In her vision, the world glowed with different layers of faint light.
Not much time had passed since a small-scale surprise attack.
The fresh claw marks on the walls left behind dark, murky mana traces in addition to the physical damage—low-level magical beasts, most likely wolverines or Corrosive Hounds.
Near the scattered fungal fragments on the open ground in front of the door, a few wisps of faint green mana remnants had not yet fully dissipated, likely left by poisonous mushroom-type monsters.
Her gaze quickly swept across the ground.
Beside some messy but clearly directed footprints, there were four or five areas where the traces were visibly mixed with the dark hues of pain. People were injured, about ten of them.
There were two gray spots of “lifelessness” where the light had completely gone out—two people had died.
At the entrance of the post house, two workers were cleaning with buckets of water. The “glow” on them was steady, though tinged with the pale gray of fatigue. It seemed the most intense phase had passed.
Roughly estimating, the number of magical beasts was around a hundred. About fifteen guards and adventurers at the post house had fought back. Many were injured, but they held their ground.
Inside the post house, there was a zone of bright radiance. There was a healer, but it was different from the radiance of a clergyman... Interesting.
All of this analysis took place in her mind in the span of a single breath.
“The battle looks like it was quite scary.”
A well-timed mix of worry and curiosity appeared in the girl’s purple eyes. “Sister Anna, look at the ground... Are those people okay? If they’re hurt, does it hurt a lot? We have medicine...”
Anna followed her gaze but only saw ordinary battle marks and bloodstains.
She sighed inwardly; the young lady was always so soft-hearted.
Anna said helplessly, “Our potions are specially made by the family. Each one is precious and cannot be given away casually. Besides—”
“In the borderlands, conflict is inevitable.”
“They have their own ways of survival. Look, people are already cleaning up, which means it wasn't a major issue. We shouldn't disturb them.”
She glanced again at the guard captain outside the window, who gave a slight shake of his head to indicate there were no problems.
“The guards have confirmed there is no strong scent of blood in the post house, which means casualties were light. You don't need to worry.”
“I see...” The girl seemed convinced, her little mouth pouting slightly in reluctance.
She sat back down and half-buried her face in the soft rabbit doll, as if seeking comfort.
But she stole one last glance at the post house.
That unique radiance is quite rare. I really want to see who used it.
Oh well, whatever!
The corners of her mouth curled into an unnoticeable arc before she quickly returned to her innocent expression.
“Then... how much longer until we reach Blackcreek Town? Is that ‘Glay Dungeon’ Father mentioned really fun?”
“Are there sparkling treasures and ancient ghosts inside, just like in the stories?”
Seeing that she was no longer insistent, Anna breathed a sigh of relief, and her tone lightened.
“We will definitely arrive before evening. As for the Glay Dungeon... it is indeed very special, one of the few relatively well-preserved ancient ruins known.”
“But as for treasures and ghosts,” she smiled, “you'll see for yourself when you get there.”
“The Head of the House has permitted you to tour the safe outer areas under the accompaniment of the guards.”
“That’s great!” The girl immediately looked up, the gloom on her face vanishing instantly as she became radiant again, as if her previous worry had never existed.
“I’m definitely going to find the most beautiful ancient coins or gems to bring back! Sister Anna, you’ll help me look for them, right?”
“Of course, Miss,” Anna replied with a smile.
Inwardly, however, she was thinking about how to ensure this overly curious young lady wouldn't actually cause any trouble during her “tour.”
There had been many rumors about the Glay Dungeon lately, which was part of the reason the Head of the House had agreed to let her come and “gain some experience.”
The convoy resumed its journey, gradually receding into the distance toward Blackcreek Town.
Inside the third carriage, an elderly man who had been resting with his eyes closed slowly opened them, a flash of golden light passing through his cloudy pupils.
He looked toward the post house for a moment before slowly closing them again.
...
Bai Xuan was woken up by the direct sunlight hitting his face.
He opened his eyes groggily, but the blinding light forced him to close them again immediately.
After waiting a few seconds to try again, he found that the sun was already high in the sky, nearing noon.
Faint voices and the clatter of dishes drifted in from outside the window. It seemed lunch was already being prepared downstairs.
“I overslept...” he muttered, sitting up and rubbing his bleary eyes.
After washing up and tidying his robe, he gripped the Goldsand Iron rod and turned to head downstairs.
Rate on N.U.
