Qingshamu and White Feather Dove arrived at a small town called [Bobo Village].
They negotiated with the Village Chief and quickly managed to rent a small courtyard at a low price, settling Feini and Heiqi Long there.
Once everything was arranged, Qingshamu sat at the bedside, lost in thought.
Feini lay quietly on the bed without the slightest sign of life, her body stiff as iron—yet she did not decay, just like Sleeping Beauty.
Heiqi Long’s condition was much better. After sleeping for several days, she had already woken up, could get out of bed and walk a few steps, and seemed on track for a full recovery.
One had to know—she’d been battered by the Red Dragon, all her bones shattered, and eighty percent of her skin severely burned. To recover from that was practically like getting a new body.
“You’re much cuter when you’re quiet than when you’re talking.”
Finally finding some leisure after their journey, Qingshamu looked over at her a few times, gently holding her icy-cold little hand, and couldn’t help but let out a couple of bitter laughs.
Now that everything was quiet, recalling it all, she realized that in the end, Feini would rather be beaten to death than betray her.
Such loyalty—there was nothing more to say. Even if she lost everything, she would bring her back no matter what.
But when she thought about it carefully, as a Hero, she didn’t even own any property in the United Kingdom, nothing at all.
All she had was a tenuous connection with the Holy Church, and that was her only asset.
—————
Night fell, and a group of mysterious Saintly Officials arrived in this remote little village, banging on the door.
Earlier, Qingshamu had revealed her identity precisely for this. The resourceful Holy Church would surely receive word and dispatch Saintly Officials—like cockroaches—to make contact.
But she couldn’t let her guard down. After all, she’d brought three demihumans back into human lands.
If the Holy Church found out, she’d be in serious trouble.
“This is what you wanted. I brought it to you.” Qingshamu pulled out a bundle of God-Demon Meat Chunks and handed them to the Saintly Officials.
The Saintly Officials solemnly produced a black box, carefully storing the God-Demon Meat Chunks inside, then turned to leave at once.
“Is there nothing else you want to tell me?” Qingshamu asked.
“Tell you? What more do you want? Don’t you realize how long you’ve delayed this mission?” the mysterious Saintly Official retorted.
“You’ve disappointed us greatly. You have been stripped of the Hero title. From now on, do not act in the name of Hero again.”
“What about my honor?” Qingshamu was frozen in place.
“You wasted so many resources. Be glad we aren’t punishing you. Yet you ask for honor.”
The mysterious Saintly Official threw down a large bag of coins on the floor.
“This is your final reward. It’s enough for you to live out your life in peace. Keep your mouth shut. I don’t want to hear any rumors harmful to the Holy Church.”
With that, the mysterious Saintly Officials left—aloof, unwilling to spend even another moment in this shabby little village.
So, the very first thing that happened when Qingshamu returned from her mission was being stripped of her title, turned into an ordinary countryside Adventurer.
Yet, strangely—
Qingshamu didn’t feel sad at all. In fact, she almost wanted to laugh. She quickly scooped up the heavy coin pouch, closed the door, and went back inside.
To her, this bag of money was now the most important thing of all—far more important than the Hero’s title.
As for why the Holy Church had so decisively kicked her out? It was easy to guess—they had probably found an even stronger, sharper Hero and no longer needed this old one.
A Hero was just a position; it didn’t represent any particular person.
The Holy Church had always been a muddy pond that devoured everything. Now that she could get out clean, wasn’t that exactly what she’d wished for?
After Qingshamu entered, she found White Feather Dove hiding behind the wall, eavesdropping, hand on the hilt of the Rune Sword, ready to strike at any moment.
“It’s fine. They just came to deliver money,” Qingshamu said.
“Those are your superiors? Why so sloppy? They can’t even be bothered to search the place?” White Feather Dove was speechless at the amateurish behavior of the Saintly Officials.
“They’re busy people. They don’t have time for someone as insignificant as me.” Qingshamu laughed.
“You finished the mission and they kicked you out? Aren’t you angry?” White Feather Dove pressed.
“Not at all.” Qingshamu shook her head.
“Why?” White Feather Dove asked.
“Because money is what matters most, and because I have you all now.” Qingshamu smiled.
“……” White Feather Dove fell silent.
“Everything will get better.” Qingshamu said, “Get ready. We’re moving.”
“Where to?” White Feather Dove asked.
“To the Adventurer camp near the Chaos Mountains. We need to earn Medicinal Herbs and Magical Beast Bones to heal Feini. That’s the only place to find them,” Qingshamu explained.
“I understand.” White Feather Dove nodded.
Just then, Heiqi Long hobbled over on her cane and asked, “Big Sis, Sister Shamu, is there anything I can help with?”
“Child, you should rest for now. Don’t worry, we have money now. You can eat something good for a change.”
The next morning, Qingshamu went out to buy a nice meal and paid the rent to the Village Chief, but when she came back, Feini was still lying there, and none of the other three knew how to cook.
They had no choice but to go out and eat, but someone had to stay behind to watch over Feini.
In the end, Heiqi Long stayed, while White Feather Dove and Qingshamu went to a restaurant to pack up food and bring it back for everyone.
After a satisfying meal and a day of rest, they bought a high-end carriage, borrowed two big-headed horses from the border camp, bought two more new horses, and continued heading inland.
With money, everything was so much easier. Back within the United Kingdom’s borders, money could even make the impossible happen.
For the former Hero Qingshamu, everything suddenly became so much clearer.
In fact, since breaking free from the Holy Church, she was much more bold in her actions—no more shackles, no more worrying about the dignity of honor.
……
A few days later, Qingshamu arrived at the Preparation Plain at the border of the Chaos Mountains and the United Kingdom, and bought a Manor outright.
The price for such a Manor was not high—after all, it was built in a place that could be attacked by Magical Beasts at any time.
But there were many such Manors scattered throughout this dangerous region.
For Adventurers, these Manors were group strongholds—what people commonly called [Adventurer Guilds].
Of course, buying a Manor didn’t mean you had to set up an Adventurer Guild. For now, it was just a temporary base.
“Dabai, you’re also a weapon demon. Only you know how to save her,” Qingshamu said.
“We need a powerful Weapon Soul to awaken Mother,” White Feather Dove replied.