Picking up a rock to deal with the little underling who hit him during the day wasn't entirely for revenge or silencing.
It was more to test his current combat power.
The conclusion was: he still had a chance, to break through the "fire net" surrounding him from all directions with Barbara.
This brand new "Water Soul Constitution" was very strong!
The change in mindset was directly reflected in his tone and attitude.
Andrew's tone and voice had become cold for a while.
Now they had become gentle again.
"Huh? Oh... oh."
The girl holding Barbara still looked dazed.
Logically, seeing someone die in front of her, she should have screamed.
However, for some reason, seeing that it was Andrew who acted, the girl wasn't too scared.
"What exactly happened?"
The girl asked quietly.
While asking, she supported Barbara, helping Andrew to carry Barbara over his back.
Andrew thought to himself, I'm just beginning to understand the situation, how can I explain it in a sentence or two?
He pondered for a moment and then said in a low voice, "The town's not peaceful now, it's hard to explain clearly. In short, don't go home yet. Find a secluded place to hide first."
This girl had been bullied by Flame Warrior Raymond before, and Andrew thought, if I wanted to put out the fire completely, I should really send this girl home too, to consider it done. But the current situation in the town really didn't allow him to do that. If the girl continued to follow him, she'd be in danger instead.
The girl paused and wanted to ask, "What about you and this sister (Barbara)?"
But she saw that Andrew was already carrying Barbara, disappearing at a speed that startled her.
The girl watched Andrew's back, in a daze for a moment, and then vaguely understood something.
She silently wished in her heart, "Good luck, Andrew!"
Then she turned around and jogged off to find a secluded corner, as Andrew had just said, to hide.
...
...
The last ray of sunlight finally disappeared completely at the junction of the desert and sky.
Night fell.
The magic apprentices failed to catch Barbara at the edge of the town.
So a small group pursued outside the town.
The majority of the apprentices then started a reverse grid search within the town.
Like a net that was beginning to tighten.
And each strand of this net was burning with fire!
"... This girl isn't as skinny as she looks."
Andrew was carrying Barbara, moving silently like a cat.
Though Barbara was heavier than he expected, not the bone-thin type but with some flesh.
However, this made Andrew realize that his "Water Soul Constitution" had very good load endurance!
So, while carrying Barbara forward, he unfolded "Water Spirit Sensing" to detect enemy positions in advance, adjust routes, and evade them.
At the same time, Andrew consciously directed his sensing towards the Living People Cemetery he had visited during the day.
"The 'Seed of the Water Spirit' planted in the Living People Cemetery can't wait until later to be broken."
Andrew thought, "Since I've decided to take this 'thigh of the thigh,' then... let the seed sprout in advance."
The Water Soul Constitution was good, and the Water Spirit Sensing was also good, but ultimately not an offensive-type water element magic like "Water Needle."
Andrew had to prepare for the worst-case scenario and still needed a combat-type water element magic. Like Water Needle.
"Breaking all the 'Seeds of the Water Spirit' planted in the Living People Cemetery should unlock a new water element magic from the 'Tear of the Water God'."
Thinking of this, Andrew no longer hesitated, using "Water Spirit Sensing," to painstakingly sense the seeds of the Water Spirit he had planted in the cemetery during the day inside the residents.
Then... remotely crushed those seeds!
After that, Andrew cleared his mind of distractions, focused entirely, and carrying Barbara, moved through the narrowing "Surrounding Fire Net" holes.
Heading towards the temporary camp located northwest of the town!
What Andrew didn't notice was:
The Barbara on his back, who had been frowning tightly even in a coma, now her brows relaxed significantly.
There was even a faint smile of relief at the corner of her lips.
Neither Barbara nor Andrew knew at that time: Humboldt's pursuit of Barbara was just a "miniature" of a much bigger scheme. The overall picture was actually a long-conspired "big action" by the Magic Guild against the Warm Fire Commerce Association. Getting Humboldt to capture Barbara alive was just one segment of this grand plan.
Currently, Wildfire Town was in chaos, and Barbara's situation was very unfavorable. Once captured, it would have a significant impact on everything connected to it.
"But... they shouldn't have expected the existence of an invisible variable like me."
Andrew thought.
Obviously a mage, Andrew's physical abilities seemed endless. Even carrying a person, his speed underfoot was getting faster and faster.
Acceleration, heading toward the temporary camp.
...
...
The night wind blew over the temporary camp.
In the concept of the magic apprentices conducting searches, this was the least likely direction for Barbara to choose to break through.
Though the temporary camp was also considered north of the town, and continuing north after leaving the town, about thirty miles away, was the nearest town to Wildfire Town, "Baal Town."
But not far outside the temporary camp, there was a stretch of quicksand.
It's like a swamp in the desert, even the Desolate Beasts wouldn't dare to venture lightly.
Only a fool would choose this dead-end as a breakout route!
So, when the entire Wildfire Town went into chaos due to the carpet search for Barbara.
When that "Fire Net" burned like an "Electric Net," rendering the entire Wildfire Town almost crispy outside and tender inside.
The temporary camp here, in contrast, was temporarily unaffected.
Temporarily.
"...Mom, why hasn't Brother Andrew come back yet."
Little Sophie gazed expectantly at the camp entrance, waiting for quite some time already.
Aunt Sofia absentmindedly mumbled an "Hmm," unusually not responding to her daughter's words.
For some reason, starting from dusk, Aunt Sofia began to feel a bit uneasy.
Firstly, the search for Barbara was becoming increasingly intense.
The camp here was gradually beginning to hear the sounds of noise and commotion coming from the town.
Secondly, Sofia deliberately went to look for Ivan today, wanting to thank him for the extra box of fruit he gifted.
As a result, she discovered: Ivan had left at some point, not in the tent at all!
"Considering the timing, this year's 'Sand Tide' is almost here. Even if Ivan is a Desert Hunter, he couldn't survive the Sand Tide. He has no reason to leave now!"
Sofia pondered in her heart, "Could it still be because of... Andrew?"
Her speculation was entirely logical.
Because Andrew had just visited Ivan last night, and today Ivan was missing!
It naturally led people to believe there was a causal relationship between the two.
"Mom, why hasn't Brother Andrew come back yet?"
Little Sophie asked again, "Mom, Mom, did you hear me?"
Aunt Sofia casually replied, "Hmm, he should be back soon."
Her mind still pondering: "Ivan deliberately gave an extra box of fruit and then left silently; this most likely has something to do with Andrew! Now, the commotion in town... Andrew hasn't returned yet; could something have happened to him..."
Regarding Andrew, Sofia practically watched him grow up, never thinking that the kind but slightly timid child would achieve anything significant.
But after last night's fire, everything seemed to have changed.
At that moment, deep down in Aunt Sofia's heart, there was even a vague thought: Could the town's unrest be related to Andrew?!
Oh my god, could that child have... gone to seek revenge on Grand Mage Humboldt?
This... this...
Aunt Sofia felt like she had figured out something.
But her face inevitably turned somewhat grim.
Although Andrew saved little Sophie, and Aunt Sofia would be eternally grateful for that, willing to go to great lengths to repay him.
But if Andrew went and provoked Humboldt again...
Aunt Sofia furrowed her brow deeply.
After all, she's a mother, and maternal love is often selfish.
If Andrew really provoked Humboldt again and brought trouble to the temporary camp—
"Ah! Mom..."
Little Sophie spoke up again.
"Alright, little Sophie, be quiet for a moment."
Aunt Sofia, a bit annoyed, whispered.
Little Sophie felt a bit aggrieved: "But... but I wanted to say... Brother Andrew is back."
Aunt Sofia was startled, quickly looking toward the camp entrance, but it was empty, no one in sight?
"Mom, it's over there." Little Sophie pointed to the right side.
Aunt Sofia looked over again, finally seeing: In the twilight, a figure like a spirit cat leapt over the seemingly simple but actually robust defensive fence around the camp, sneaked in, lowering his center of gravity, moving silently all the way to the front.
Is it... Andrew?
Honestly, Aunt Sofia didn't recognize him at first glance.
Thinking to herself, with such coordinated physical capabilities, how could it be Andrew?
Compared to when he left the camp in the morning, Andrew had clearly changed again.
Under the starlight, Aunt Sofia instinctively scrutinized the rapidly approaching Andrew.
Then the word that naturally came to her mind was: fresh.
"Spit, spit, what am I thinking? Andrew is still a child."
Aunt Sofia scolded herself slightly.
But right after scolding, another word popped into her mind: appetizing.
"Wh-what the heck? What's wrong with me?!"
Aunt Sofia was speechless at herself, "Even if I didn't find Ivan today, I shouldn't have strange thoughts about my daughter's savior."
What she didn't know was—Andrew himself also didn't know yet—this was merely a natural aura change brought by the "Water Soul Constitution."
Although the ability "Water Soul Constitution" is not very mage-like, after acquiring the Water Soul Constitution, Andrew indeed became fresh and appetizing.
The change in aura is entirely at a magical level!
So there wasn't anything wrong with Aunt Sofia; it was just the most normal reaction a woman would have.
The subtle yet immense changes in appearance, especially aura, directly caused Andrew's attractiveness to the opposite sex to soar.
So much so that, until Andrew sneaked back into the camp and gestured for Sofia and her daughter to remain silent.
Then beckoned the two women to enter the tent with him—
Only then did Aunt Sofia realize: Andrew did not return alone.
This made Aunt Sofia's heart sink.
Instinctively sensing the breath of trouble, even danger!
And as a strong mother who alone raised her daughter in the difficult Flame Realm, her core principle is: keep trouble and danger away from her daughter.