He shook his head, shaking off the three thousand questions of Hestia.
In front of him, Kairui’s refined face was a little nervous.
“Master? Is there something unsatisfactory?”
So respectful as to be cautious.
“No, I once took in a student very different from you. No need to be so tense—I have no needs for now. If I do, I’ll definitely let you know.”
Li Qiuchen explained.
“That senior must have been very powerful, right?”
Kairui asked, curious.
“Yes, powerful—but also never gave me a moment’s peace.”
Li Qiuchen shook his head.
Kaili still slept on the bed in the distance.
Kairui explained, “Miss Kaili is still resting. She woke up once in the middle, ate a lot to recover strength, then fell asleep again. She also asked about your condition. Hearing you were still unconscious… She cried.”
“Ah?”
Li Qiuchen was startled.
Was she moved by camaraderie from the battlefield?
No way.
She couldn’t possibly think that he stood up in the end solely for her sake, could she?
Didn’t he also want to live?
Tait, Squad Four, and the townspeople all needed saving.
A strange doubt rose in Li Qiuchen’s heart.
Since he’d accompanied Kaili out of the mine for the first time, he’d wondered if she misunderstood that he liked her.
But such a misunderstanding was hard to explain—and if guessed wrong, could make things very awkward.
She loves me?
More importantly, wasn’t this classic misunderstanding supposed to happen to him, not her?
Why would Kaili make such a mistake?
How could she?
He must be overthinking.
As a Temple of the God of War elite, she wouldn’t make such a blunder.
Devotees of the Temple of the God of War could never marry.
Li Qiuchen comforted himself.
With Kairui accompanying him, he walked out of the Temple of the God of War and slowly returned to the Oak Barrel Tavern.
On the evening streets, people bustled repairing houses and roads.
Seeing Li Qiuchen pass, they greeted him warmly.
“The funeral’s over. Everyone’s looking forward to the mine reopening—especially with talk of valuable treasures inside.”
Kairui tried hard to suppress a smile.
But Li Qiuchen’s expression grew serious.
“Kairui, Soul Crystals are treasures, but they can also invite disaster. Separate the mining areas—keep coal extraction normal, but limit Soul Crystal mining to a small, controlled group.”
He continued warning:
“Work with the Mayor. You can return wealth to the townspeople in various forms, but this secret must be protected—never let it leak out.”
Kairui listened to Li Qiuchen’s instructions and understood the urgency.
He nodded.
“Understood, Master. I’ll make it clear to the Mayor.”
In the center of the wide plaza stood a group of life-sized bronze statues.
Besides himself, Jo Co’er, White, and Kaili, there was one unfamiliar figure.
“That’s Nai De’s father, Wilson. When the beast invaded, he ordered everyone to evacuate, then set off explosives to collapse the tunnels, wounding the beast.”
Kairui explained, looking at the statue.
“A long time ago, my father proposed a statue for him, but for a town that lost its mine, it wasn’t practical. My father’s funds went entirely into the ceremony instead.”
Li Qiuchen looked at the smiling worker’s statue and felt genuine happiness.
During the years the Demon King’s army ravaged the land, it was the countless brave people standing up that finally defeated the Demon King.
In the distance, the sunset dyed the town crimson, reminding him of the weather three years ago on the march to the Demon King’s castle.
Fortunately, the people here no longer had to fear such things.
He bowed slightly to the worker’s statue.
“Not forgetting the past is a good thing.”
As for his and Jo Co’er’s statues, each had an added hat, the shadow conveniently obscuring their faces.
He didn’t need to guess to know this was Jo Co’er’s idea.
“Miss Co’er said hats are very popular where you’re from, so at her strong insistence, the craftsman gave you both wide-brimmed pointed hats.”
Kairui noticed Li Qiuchen’s gaze and explained again.
Squad Four, well done.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Li Qiuchen nodded and continued toward the Oak Barrel Tavern.
The afterglow of sunset faded.
From far away, the laughter inside the tavern could be heard.
With the mine reopening, everyone hoped for a return to the prosperity of old.
As Tide would say: The funeral is over—now let’s hold a festival for the living.
Li Qiuchen stopped at the door, hearing the familiar sound of the lute.
Tide cradled the lute, cleared his throat, and began to sing.
The song, “Dream of Gold-tooth Grubb,” had spread in the past two years.
It told the tale of the Goblin Magician, who, under the Dream God’s guidance, uncovered the meaning of dreams.
“Oily firelight lit the laboratory. The goblin Grubb bit his gold tooth, with crystals and scrolls piled to the ceiling. He vowed to unravel the mysteries of dreams!”
Tide’s deep, resonant voice filled the tavern, drawing everyone in.
He continued: “He created a great magic, freeing people from the prison of nightmares! All admired his talent, eager to befriend him.”
Someone who had heard the song before burst out laughing.
The drunkard White banged the table, singing along:
“Until he revealed the magic’s secret—if you eat the poisoned cake in your dreams, the dead corpses are tossed to the nightmares for a look!”
The crowd roared with laughter and dispersed.
Who would pay money to be poisoned by cake in a dream?
Some had come to town as workers and were hearing the joke for the first time, laughing until they fell over.
Tide strummed the strings and sang on:
“But Grubb believed treasures lay deep in dreams. Late at night, the Dream God’s whisper sounded at his ear: ‘Go into the dreams of thousands—find the truth.’ The Dream God’s fingertip touched the goblin’s eye. Grubb’s spirit split in two: One half remained in the Magic Academy Laboratory, the other leaped into the dreams of all beings, searching for truth.”
Li Qiuchen entered the tavern.
The crowd erupted in cheers, banging their cups on the tables.
Tide stopped playing, climbed onto a table, and shouted:
“Everyone, everyone! Our great hero has arrived. Raise a glass to our hero!”
“To the hero!”
Everyone raised their drinks.
White poured wine for Li Qiuchen and Kairui with lightning speed.
They drained their cups in one go.
The shadow over Blackwater Town was swept away.
The sunset faded, the sky turned pitch black, but no one was afraid.
There was no curfew, no taboos—tonight, everyone gathered to drink.
To celebrate the dead’s peaceful rest in heaven, and the living’s new beginnings.
Legend says the birth of the Yanaweis Principality was when a black bird was reborn in fire, soaring to the heavens as a divine bird, striking the Taya Empire’s Crown.
The Duke with White Hair declared independence, defeating the empire’s armies three times.
Thus, the people of the principality see life and death as intertwined.
The dead reach their end.
The living savor the present.
Jo Co’er slapped Li Qiuchen’s shoulder.
“Everyone! Tonight’s drinks are on Young Master Kairui!”
Kairui smiled shyly and nodded.
“Cheers.”
“Cheers!”
Everyone lifted their glasses once more.
The scent of fresh beer filled the cabin.
Joy lit every face.
Let the darkness fade.
Laugh, rejoice, and sing!
The melodic lute, accompanied by the rhythm of cups on tables, drifted far into the night.
***
Taya Culture Note:
On page four of Weekly ‘Archmage,’ a missing person notice was published:
The pride of Grand Magician Gold-tooth Grubb, the Goblin Magician Silver-tooth Uluru, lost contact with his family en route to the Empire’s Magic Association for the Golden Wand award ceremony.
If you have any information, please contact your local Magic Association or Goblin Magician Association immediately!
A reward of one hundred Gold Tacks will be given to anyone providing leads.
[Note] Uluru’s trip to the imperial capital for the award was seen as a rare reconciliation between the Magic Association and Goblin Magician Association.
The sudden incident cast a shadow over the peace.
An Osses School professional reviewer commented under the missing person notice:
“In my irresponsible opinion, it might be the work of the Light and Shadow Magicians’ Alliance. These guys are ruthless. The reconciliation of the two great associations made them feel threatened. Of course, it’s just my guess.”
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