Long Yixiang sighed, then swiftly scrambled out of the haystack and dashed toward the figure he had locked his eyes on. During the earlier chaos, even the massive land dragon had been overturned by the slimes, rendering the dragon-pulled carriage useless. He had seen the girl jump from the carriage and flee, and now he was determined to chase her down and play the hero saving the beauty.
Sprinting amidst the horde of slimes left Long Yixiang breathless, his heart pounding violently. Fortunately, magic existed in this world, capable of enhancing one's physical capabilities.
During his previous cycle, he had already learned some methods to utilize magical energy, though his newly formed magic circuits were still too delicate and narrow to channel large amounts of mana. He couldn't afford to wait until he had trained to a higher level to execute his plan; for now, he had to rely on his superior technique and application to compensate.
He ran from dawn until dusk, feeling utterly drained, his legs trembling with exhaustion.
The grasslands finally ended, giving way to an expanse of verdant mountains and forests. A river, winding like a white silk ribbon, curled through the green woodland.
Then, a stunningly beautiful figure came into view.
Long Yixiang's heart quivered. She was simply perfect, without a single flaw—like a work of art. She appeared quite young, with a slightly petite figure beneath her dress, and her face, delicate as a porcelain doll, seemed almost fragile to the touch.
She was sitting on a rock by the river, washing clothes soiled by the slimes. Her every movement carried an innate elegance, subtle yet ingrained in each gesture—a grace attainable only through genuine aristocratic upbringing. She was pristine, noble, yet without any air of superiority.
Long Yixiang's breathing gradually grew heavier. After a long moment, he pulled a folding fishing rod from his pack. Gripping it with both hands, he cast the line forcefully onto the water's surface.
A soft plop followed, and tiny ripples disrupted the tranquil water. He sat down cross-legged, waiting for a bite.
He resisted the impulse to approach her immediately, opting for a more subtle strategy.
Although they had shared many experiences in a sense, that was practically a former life. Now he was back at the beginning. Approaching her directly as a stranger could easily raise her guard. Crafting a good first impression was crucial; a misstep could severely hinder future interactions, even getting him permanently blacklisted in her mind.
Though he was fishing, Long Yixiang paid no real attention to the rod, his gaze constantly drifting sideways.
At one point, his target vanished from his sight. Instantly alert, he set down the fishing rod and reached for the weapon at his waist.
"Who are you?!" a cold, sharp voice demanded.
She noticed after all. Long Yixiang frowned slightly, though it was inevitable. This world was turbulent, and no one could travel completely without caution.
"Relax, I don't know you, and I mean no harm," he said, slowly raising his hands as he felt the cool touch of a dagger against his neck.
"You've been following me," the girl stated flatly.
"The slime horde can't move through forests. It's safe here at the forest's edge. This is the forest's edge," Long Yixiang replied.
His explanation was seamless. After a moment, the cold pressure on his neck disappeared.
"My apologies..." the girl said, rubbing her hands together somewhat awkwardly. "It seems I misunderstood you."
Long Yixiang relaxed. "It's fine. I saw you emerge from the Church carriage?"
The girl nodded.
"I'm an adventurer from the town. Our little town has been peaceful for so many years. How did we suddenly run into something like this?" He handed over his adventurer card as he spoke.
The card was, of course, fake. Although it supposedly worked anywhere below the main city, a counterfeit was still a counterfeit—discernible to an expert. But the girl before him was a clergywoman of noble status, living in the light, utterly inexperienced with the shadows. She wouldn't be able to tell.
"Long Yixiang? What a strange name... Are you a local?"
"War orphan. I grew up in an orphanage, never knew my parents. I've been an adventurer for three years."
The girl nodded and returned the card. As he took it back, Long Yixiang sensed the magical fluctuations around her dissipate; she had completely let her guard down.
"I am Lilith, a Priestess of the Redemption Domain in the Truth Church," the girl said, casually sitting on the grass beside him.
"Pleased to meet you, Miss Lilith."
"Would you like to come to the Church with me? Your adventurer rank seems quite good for your age. You could start directly as an initiate priest. I can recommend you for a position in the town."
"Let's first figure out how to get out of here," Long Yixiang replied, curling his lip.
He hadn't thought that far ahead. As a transmigrator, he needed to keep a low profile. If his disguise failed, he could end up in serious trouble like in his first playthrough. He had investigated the matter but never found the root cause. It might be related to his transmigration.
Although he could cultivate and use magic like anyone else in this world, he couldn't undergo the standard test. The moment the crystal ball touched him, it would glow red—a reaction the Church claimed detected demonic bloodline. In his first cycle, when Long Yixiang followed the rules and registered at the guild, the crystal ball shone red, and he was seized on the spot.
He had no way to defend himself, and had Lilith not saved him, he would have been burned at the stake. That was precisely why he needed a fake identity. As for why this happened, Long Yixiang suspected it might be tied to the purpose behind his transmigration.
But delving deeper felt like tracking a snake hidden underwater—elusive and complex. For now, he had no leads.
Maybe I could find a place to live a quiet life with Lilith in seclusion. Joining a kingdom or empire was also an option, but this time he didn't want to draw too much attention. He needed to consider carefully. One thing was certain: he absolutely would not join any Church.
"But... haven't we already escaped the danger?" Lilith asked, confused by his words.
"The slime tide won't recede for a while. Going back now isn't a good idea."
"Will they attack the town?"
"Most likely they're already assaulting it. After all, a small town like ours doesn't have strong enough walls to hold them back." Long Yixiang glanced at the girl beside him, who was bowing her head in thought. "But don't worry, they usually don't take lives—just cause some injuries."
Lilith nodded and fell silent.