Hua Mi glanced over and spotted a bounty mission displayed.
It detailed the occupation of a mine outside Heishi Town by monsters, recruiting brave souls to exterminate them.
He wasn't particularly interested. His purpose here was to get familiar with the environnt, not to stir up trouble for himself. Besides, he wasn't strapped for cash at the mont. Making a fortune by selling honey, why bother risking it all for tasks?
Hua Mi shook his head. "That's a sha."
The innkeeper wiped a glass, his tone unchanged, still gentle. Yet, so patrons, fueled by alcohol, began to tease.
"The boss here thinks he's too good for our little quests."
"Yeah, must be thinking it pays too little, not because he's scared."
"Co on, just because you wear a black robe doesn't make you an adventurer. I could be one too!"
Hua Mi wouldn't be goaded easily, letting their words flow without reaction.
"Where are you from?" The innkeeper, seemingly to ease the awkwardness, casually asked.
"The Black Forest."
The tavern fell silent, then erupted into laughter.
The innkeeper chuckled, clearly not taking the response seriously.
"So, what brings you to our small town?"
"Buying fertilizer."
Soone chuckled, "Ah, a farr!"
The tavern filled with cheerful air. It wasn't so bad, this atmosphere. It made him feel oddly connected.
Initially, arriving in this otherworldly place, he felt a barrier between himself and the world, like watching a TV show through a screen—everything seed real, yet he felt an inherent loneliness.
But amidst the laughter of these people, he felt himself grounded, no longer floating.
Was this a masochistic tendency? A self-deprecating thought crossed his mind, a faint smirk on his lips.
---
Leaving the inn, it was late. Having explored the town enough, Hua Mi decided to head back to the Black Forest.
He had arrived by summoning the Great Strength Bees, three of them that could reach speeds of around 10 ters per second and move in a straight line, far faster than walking.
But it was better to take off from a secluded area to avoid drawing too much attention.
Entering an alley, about to summon the bees, a chill ran down his spine.
Again.
That feeling of being watched.
Hua Mi swiftly turned around.
A semi-transparent milky-white figure lunged at him!
A specter?
After spending so ti in this realm, Hua Mi had acquired so common knowledge. In this world, the souls of the deceased typically journeyed to the spirit realm, with only a few ending up in the Nine Hells—so by choice, others due to sheer misfortune.
The rest lingered in the mortal realm, commonly referred to as specters.
This particular one, however, wasn't ordinary. Hua Mi noticed crimson lines coursing within its milky-white translucent body.
Though he couldn't fathom the reason, this specter was unusually aggressive, bordering on malevolent.
Without thinking, Hua Mi summoned a swarm of Blaze Bees. Two groups arranged themselves before him, igniting pale flas, resembling a myriad of stars that illuminated the dim alley.
The malevolent spirit seed to fear the azure flas, abruptly halting, hands shielding its face, emitting a chilling wail.
Not affording it a chance to react, Hua Mi directed the Blaze Bees like a teor shower, bombarding the spirit.
Sizzle—
A sound akin to searing iron echoed; the malevolent spirit was almost instantly engulfed by the azure flas. Its ethereal form shattered into countless pieces, swiftly consud by the blaze, vanishing completely from this world.
The swarm surrounded him.
Hua Mi stepped out of the alley, scanning his surroundings.
Nothing seed amiss.
He couldn't fathom it. Why would a malevolent spirit suddenly appear here? Heishi Town was a legitimate human settlent, albeit remote and small, but not to the extent where encountering such a spirit was commonplace.
People ca and went. If there were malevolent spirits around, soone would've noticed.
Only one possibility lingered—it was targeting him.
But on his first visit to Heishi Town, with no grudges or vendettas, who would target him?
"Oh my!"
"What was that?"
"Did I... drink too much?"
Hua Mi heard sudden gasps as a few patrons exited the tavern, seeing the pale flas enveloping him, leaving them stunned.
Quietly, he retracted the Blaze Bees.
---
"Resurrection? What's that about?" Cole, overhearing passersby discussing a recent oddity in Heishi Town, found it incredulous. "You think Little Ford turned into a zombie? Should we check?"
Carter chid in, "Impossible, zombies lack cognitive abilities... from the sounds of it, his state seems more like a revenant."
"What's a revenant?"
"It ans..."
Carter paused mid-sentence, fixatedly staring ahead.
"What is it?" Cole inquired, following his gaze, equally surprised.
At the mouth of the alley stood a familiar figure.
Before he could react, Carter strode quickly in that direction.
He had no choice but to follow suit.
---
"Master, welco to Heishi Town."
"... "
Hua Mi hadn't anticipated this encounter with them.
And this term "Master" was just awkward. He always felt like an impostor.
"Are you here to find us?" Cole jumped in before his companion.
Emulating the tone of the master architect Alyss, Hua Mi calmly replied, "Passing through."
Cole was taken aback. "So, you can talk..."
Before he could finish, Carter nudged him, shutting him up.
Unexpected as this eting was, it might serve well. Hua Mi casually ntioned the recent attack by the malevolent spirit to them, hoping they might have so leads.
Cole was no help, baffled by the complexity, mumbling, "Revival and malevolent spirits? When did Heishi Town beco so eventful..."
Carter, after pondering, said, "There are indeed a few specters in the outskirts' cetery, but they never attack humans... going by your description, that specter seed influenced to turn malevolent... there could be various reasons, perhaps due to so dark sorcery or..."
Clearly not Carter's expertise, Hua Mi let it slide, swiftly diverting the conversation.
No choice but to be vigilant in the future.
Initially planning to depart, Carter insisted he stayed.
"It's a courtesy to our guest. Hilia must be eager to et you," Carter earnestly urged. "She's been stuck in her alchemical experints with Unicorn Horn Powder, perhaps your guidance might help."
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