Chapter 21 Part 1

Xia Xifeng and Qin Lang told Amuruo they needed to leave for a day.

Amuruo muttered to himself, these juniors are really unlucky. So weak and already having to go on missions?

The Heavenly Father was even more demanding of them than He had been with him and Suer back in the day.

“Damon, take charge of the Knight’s Domain’s construction for a day. Leo, Perila, you two will act as guards for Xia Xifeng and Qin Lang for a day. No one else is to enter their bedroom. Don’t worry about the Dwarf Caravan matter; I’ll handle it.” Amuruo said, “Don’t be nervous. Saying ‘guards’ is just for peace of mind. They won’t be in any danger.”

The only danger on the mission would be if an enemy happened to be waiting for them when they returned.

“Things will be better once Suer wakes up.” Amuruo sighed.

With Suer around, he could afford to be lazy and not think.

When would Suer realize he’d been played by “Fate” and hurry back from his meditation? He hadn’t had to think properly in so long; his scalp was itching, it was truly uncomfortable.

The amount of information today was too much for anyone to handle, and everyone was exhausted.

The most comfortable master bedroom was given to the little Dwarf girl; Leo’s mother was also staying in the master bedroom to look after her.

The housekeeping golems quickly prepared three other rooms. Damon had one to himself; Leo insisted on sharing with Perila; Xia Xifeng and Qin Lang naturally stayed together.

Although the System would provide supplies during the quest, Xia Xifeng and Qin Lang could also bring their own backpacks.

Just in case, they still packed food, drinks, medicine, and a change of clothes in their backpacks.

Qin Lang also made a book list.

Since the System said that no matter how much time passed in the dungeon, only 24 hours would pass in reality, this was essentially “extending” the time they had before the Apocalypse arrived.

Extended time couldn’t be wasted.

Xia Xifeng looked at the long list of books on civil engineering, Magitech, and Alchemy, and his scalp went numb.

Qin Lang: “Aren’t you the one who loves base-building games?”

Xia Xifeng ruffled his hair into a messy chicken coop: “I like base-building games where you can just click on a screen and things get built! I didn’t say I wanted to become a real-life civil engineering bro!”

Qin Lang offered insincere comfort: “You can call yourself an Architectural Designer.”

Xia Xifeng sighed deeply and gritted his teeth, adding another pile of books to the list.

He didn’t know if he’d have time to read them, but he’d bring them first. Channeling the spirit of the Gaokao college entrance exams, he could do anything!

While stuffing books into his backpack, Xia Xifeng muttered quietly, “Qin Lang, you’re really amazing. I can’t calm down, my brain is all tied up in knots.”

Qin Lang was currently, with thick skin, persistently pestering Amuruo—who really didn’t want to use his brain—asking Amuruo to recommend courses and send people to deliver the books.

Back when Amuruo and Suer had built Green Sand City from scratch, Amuruo was still a diligent Half-Elf. Green Sand City was his own design; he was a world-renowned architectural master. Now though… a hero’s past is best left unmentioned.

With Suer absent, Amuruo could only reluctantly shoulder the responsibility of teaching the juniors.

He liked teaching people how to fight; he truly disliked these tedious matters. But the juniors were just too eager to learn; he had to force himself to recall the times when he was full of passion for everything.

Ah, Suer, please come back soon. My head itches so much… I’ll go wash my hair again to calm down.

Hearing Xia Xifeng’s dejected mutter, Qin Lang shifted his gaze from the Communication Magitech Device and looked at Xia Xifeng. “Xia Xifeng, you should be clear that your reaction is the normal one. Mine is abnormal.”

A university student raised in the ivory tower of a peaceful environment, suddenly facing life-threatening transmigration, and within less than half a month, being hit with one major event after another, even witnessing the brutal, bloody scene of Dwarves being slaughtered… it would be abnormal not to be mentally tied up in knots.

That Xia Xifeng hadn’t fainted from fright at the recording already meant he had an exceptionally strong mental fortitude.

It was someone like Qin Lang, whose emotions barely fluctuated, who was the anomaly.

Xia Xifeng stuffed another book into his backpack, then turned and gave Qin Lang a bear hug.

He patted Qin Lang’s back heavily. “Bro, you’re just overly rational, braver than most people. What’s abnormal about that? Your bro won’t allow you to call yourself abnormal. Even the doctor said you’re perfectly normal—you don’t even trust the doctor’s words? Just wait, I’m great too. I’ll adjust my mindset immediately and won’t hold you back! Ouch! Qin Dog! I’m comforting you, and you repay kindness with enmity?”

Qin Lang pushed Xia Xifeng away and twisted his arm. Xia Xifeng yelped in pain. “Oww!”

“You’re half an hour younger than me,” Qin Lang said. “I’m your bro.”

Even with his arm pinned, Xia Xifeng still craned his neck and yelled, “Bull! You’re clearly half an hour younger than me!”

The two were not only born in the same hospital on the same day of the same month of the same year; their birth times were less than half an hour apart.

As for who was the earlier half hour, both sets of parents had forgotten. Only Xia Xifeng and Qin Lang had been arguing about it since childhood until now.

Qin Lang was just as childish as Xia Xifeng about this particular matter.

After messing around for a bit, Xia Xifeng’s dejection and guilt dissipated. As for Qin Lang, his emotions probably remained scarce; his expression didn’t change much.

Xia Xifeng continued stuffing things into his backpack; Qin Lang continued harassing Amuruo.

Next door, Damon was rolling around furiously on his bed.

Heavens, I know too many secrets, this is terrifying!

On the other side, in the other room, Perila and Leo lay quietly side-by-side on the bed, silent for a long time.

Perila’s mind was a mess.

Halfling life was simple and joyful. They had small calculations, small cleverness, but didn’t attract large conspiracies.

This was because they had the power to protect themselves and disliked stirring up trouble, so conspiracies generally didn’t come looking for them either. Besides, Sunflower Valley had Green Sand City’s protection.

Although Perila’s parents had died in an accident when he was very young, he had relatives from an older generation to care for him. All the aunts and uncles in the valley treated him like their own child.

Among Halflings, a village was one big family, and everyone was very loving towards each other. Perila only occasionally missed his parents; he was just a bit more reclusive and cautious by nature compared to Halfling children with both parents, without too many dark emotions in his heart.

Perila was good-looking and very promising. His disguised plant-warlock talents were a great help in farming. He was far more popular with the clan than the equally promising but wildly attention-seeking Leo.

Growing up in a simple and friendly environment, only experiencing the world’s darkness when traveling abroad, no matter how smart and cautious Perila was, he lacked awareness of conspiracies. He truly couldn’t imagine how those monsters wearing Dwarven skin intended to scheme against him.

Unable to guess what the other party planned to do, Perila felt very panicked.

He couldn’t just rely entirely on the City Lord and Mr. Suer for protection. That would be too shameful and too helpless.

“Perila, don’t think about it anymore. Thinking won’t make it clear. We just need to do what we can right now, listen to the teacher, and protect Feng and Lang.”

Leo’s voice reached Perila’s ears.

Leo’s tone was very calm, smoothing out the irritation in Perila’s heart.

“Hm.” Perila closed his eyes.

Although he and Leo slept in the same bed, they used different blankets.

This time, Perila took the initiative to quietly reach out from under his blanket and hold Leo’s hand that rested by his side.

Leo gently held back the hand of his brother—related not by blood, but as close as if they were—just as he had when they were young: when Perila missed his parents, or was scared by thunder, hiding and crying silently under the covers or in a cabinet, quietly accompanying his brother.

Everything would be alright.

Leo closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep.

Perila slightly turned his head, glancing at Leo’s sleeping face.

He also closed his eyes, listening to Leo’s steady breathing. The anxiety and fear in his heart were drawn out thread by thread. Sleepiness finally came.

Yes, everything would definitely be alright.

The next day, Damon had two dark circles under his eyes.

Leo and Perila both seemed in good spirits.

To their surprise, Xia Xifeng was full of energy, while Qin Lang kept yawning.

Wasn’t Qin Lang supposed to be very calm? He hadn’t slept well?

So Qin Lang was the type who acted calm in front of others, but secretly panicked when alone?

That was actually kind of cute.

Unaware his reputation was being harmed, Qin Lang deeply regretted his actions. Knowing full well that the more emotional stimulation Xia Xifeng received during the day, the worse his sleeping posture would be at night, why had he gone soft on him?

Xia Xifeng said he was scared, worried, and couldn’t sleep, so Qin Lang agreed to share a blanket with him and didn’t tie him up.

People with terrible sleeping posture should be tied up like zongzi when sleeping. Qin Lang reminded himself in his heart: next time, absolutely do not fall for this trick again.

Knowing he was in the wrong, Xia Xifeng specially spent a few gold coins to unlock the cooking recipe for Cream Cake and made Qin Lang sweet, Honey Mini Cakes.

Qin Lang: “I don’t like sweets.”

Xia Xifeng happily stuffed the Honey Mini Cakes into his backpack as rations. “I know. But I do.”

Then you still say you specially made them for me? Qin Lang laughed in exasperation.

Most of his rarer, stronger emotional fluctuations were thanks to Xia Xifeng.

Qin Lang didn’t like them, but Damon, Leo, and Perila loved them.

The natives of this Western Fantasy world were, much like old Europeans, all sweet-toothed.

Eating the sweet and delicious Honey Mini Cakes, which also provided a “Stamina Consumption -5%” buff, soothed the fatigue that Damon, Leo, and Perila had felt from yesterday’s barrage of bad news.

“Come back soon.” Leo ordered with thick skin. “Feng, can you make Cream Cake when you come back tomorrow? Perila likes jam cake; Damon likes cake with coffee powder.”

Xia Xifeng spread his hands. “Haven’t unlocked the recipe yet. I can’t cook dishes whose recipes I haven’t unlocked. If you want to eat them, then don’t blame me for ruthlessly exploiting you when I get back.”

The implication of Xia Xifeng’s words was that he intended to reveal more secrets to them. Leo laughed and flashed an OK sign.

Damon started worrying again. Ah, knowing too many secrets felt so dangerous; should he hide somewhere?

Perila wiped the cake crumbs from the corner of his mouth. “Come back safely.”

Xia Xifeng waved at them. “We’ll be back soon.”

He and Qin Lang walked into the bedroom, locked the door from the inside, and set up the defensive Magitech Device Amuruo had given them.

“Departing?” Xia Xifeng tightly grasped Qin Lang’s hand, so nervous fine sweat beaded on his forehead.

“Mm.” Qin Lang clicked “Initiate Quest.”

In an instant, the two figures were erased, vanishing instantly.

Outside the room, Leo and Perila exchanged glances, their expressions grave.

If City Lord Amuruo hadn’t warned them in advance, they definitely would have been frightened by Xia Xifeng and Qin Lang’s suddenly disappearing auras.

Leo said, “Their secrets are definitely even greater than ours. They’re too weak right now. We must protect them well.”

Perila nodded heavily, gripping his staff.

……