Chapter 35: Choosing a Task

At the sound of a familiar voice, Dongbo Xueying couldn’t help but smile slightly. Instantly, he grabbed the Feixue Divine Spear resting beside him. With a whoosh, his figure flashed, leaving behind only a fading afterimage, and he had already arrived atop a mountain hundreds of meters away.

Near the bamboo pavilion at the back of the mountain stood a young girl wearing a Fadedpurple robe, gracefully poised as she held a basket and looked around.

This was none other than Kong Youyue, who had now grown up and was nineteen years old. The once innocent young girl had blossomed into a truly elegant and charming beauty. Because of her long-time immersion in magical studies, her skin had become slightly pale, making her appear even more delicate. Her aura carried the unique mysteriousness typical of a mage. Indeed, she was a girl who could easily stir one’s heart.

At the very least, among the disciples of Grand Magus Baiyuanzhi, many male apprentices were quite fond of Kong Youyue, even going so far as to pursue her.

“Youyue,” Dongbo Xueying appeared beside the bamboo pavilion, placing the spear aside with a smile.

“Xueying Gege, you shouldn’t overdo your spear practice. Master said that cultivation should be balanced between tension and relaxation,” Kong Youyue smiled as she walked to a stone table beside him, pulling out some pastries from her basket. “I just made some pastries that you like. Try them.”

“Mm.”

Dongbo Xueying walked over, sniffed the pastries, and smiled. “Smells great.”

He picked up a soft little cake, took a bite, and said with a grin, “Youyue’s cooking skills are getting better and better.” When he was young, he had always loved the pastries his mother made. But after she left, he had never tasted them again. The servants at home tried to make them too, but they were never quite the same. Youyue’s cooking was quite good—though it couldn’t quite match the taste of his mother’s in his memory, it was still much better than what the servants made.

“Hmph, I specially studied how to cook them,” Youyue said proudly.

“I’m heading back to the castle later today. Let’s have lunch together,” Dongbo Xueying said as he sat down and began eating the pastries quickly, one after another.

“Okay, Xueying Gege hasn’t returned to the castle in a while,” Kong Youyue stood beside him, watching Dongbo Xueying eat.

Soon, he finished.

“Let’s go,” Dongbo Xueying stood up.

“Mm.”

Kong Youyue nodded.

Side by side, the young man and woman walked together.

Since the winter of her twelfth year, Kong Youyue had lived at Xueshi Mountain, mostly staying at the castle. Back then, she often came with the younger Qing Shi to watch Dongbo Xueying train at the back mountain. Over time, Dongbo Xueying had naturally grown close and familiar with Youyue.

Six years of companionship…

To be precise, Youyue was the girl Dongbo Xueying had interacted with the most. He found her company very comfortable. His mind was fully set on cultivation, eager to rescue his parents as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Kong Youyue would silently watch from the side, never disturbing him.

Sometimes, Dongbo Xueying had even considered—

Perhaps marrying Youyue wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Though it wouldn’t be the same kind of life-and-death love his parents shared, Dongbo Xueying had never interacted with any other girl. He thought to himself that as long as they could live happily together, that would be enough.

Moreover, Kong Youyue never paid any attention to the other male apprentices who pursued her. Her heart was solely set on Dongbo Xueying, something everyone could see clearly.

As for Kong Youyue’s father, Kong Hai, he had been actively trying to bring about this marriage.

“There’s no rush.

“Youyue is still very young. I’ll think about marriage only after rescuing my parents,” Dongbo Xueying had no intention of marrying before saving his parents!

Because knights and mages usually married later in life, devoting themselves primarily to cultivation. His father, Dongbo Lie, had married his mother when he was nearly forty! Kong Hai, Youyue’s father, had also married and had his eldest daughter, Youyue, when he was around forty.

For a female mage, being nineteen was still very young. It was normal to marry at thirty, and even marrying in one’s twenties was considered early.

“And to rescue my parents, I need a total of twenty thousand merit points. That means taking on many dangerous Bronze-level missions,” Dongbo Xueying thought to himself. “Though I’m confident in my abilities, no one can guarantee absolute safety. Perhaps I might even die during a mission. Until everything is accomplished, I shouldn’t think about anything else.”

…

Inside the main dining hall of Xueshi Castle’s main tower.

Dongbo Xueying, Zong Ling, Tong San, Qing Shi, and Kong Youyue each took their seats.

“Qing Shi, Youyue told me you’ve had a girlfriend for nearly half a year now?” Dongbo Xueying smiled as he looked at his younger brother. His brother Qing Shi was truly handsome! Though the castle had many soldiers, and Dongbo Xueying had also visited Yishui City, he could confidently say that among all the young men he had seen, his younger brother was the most handsome!

His younger brother’s eyes were bright and Enchanting, charming since childhood. Now sixteen years old, his handsomeness had only increased. With looks like that, he probably wouldn’t have to worry about food. His magical cultivation, just like their mother’s, was most proficient in ice-type spells. The boy exuded a faintly cold aura, making him a cool and handsome youth. It was said that many female apprentices at the Mage Tower pursued him.

Dongbo Xueying felt proud of this.

At the same time, he couldn’t help but feel nostalgic. The little kid who used to drool while sleeping on his chest when he was only two years old had grown up so quickly.

“Youyue Jie, you really shouldn’t have told my brother about this,” Qing Shi frowned helplessly.

“You were hiding it so well. I only found out you had a girlfriend half a year ago, so of course I told your brother. He is your older brother after all,” Kong Youyue laughed beside them.

“If your girlfriend doesn’t mind, why don’t you bring her over sometime so I can meet her?” Dongbo Xueying said.

“Alright, I’ll see if she agrees,” Qing Shi said with a shrug.

“Oh, by the way, I’m planning to go out for a trip recently. It might take ten days or half a month,” Dongbo Xueying added.

“What’s going on? Don’t tell me you’re going to the Destruction Mountains again?” Qing Shi asked anxiously, while Zong Ling and Tong San also looked at Dongbo Xueying with some surprise.

“I promise I definitely won’t go to the Destruction Mountains,” Dongbo Xueying grinned. “I’m just going to go out for a bit, travel around, and practice my spear techniques.”

He didn’t elaborate further.

He didn’t want to talk much about the mission-taking business.

…

That evening.

Inside the study.

A fire crystal lamp illuminated the desk, casting warm light throughout the study. Zong Ling and Tong San were both present.

Dongbo Xueying sat at the desk and said, “Uncle Zong, Uncle Tong, I plan to go out and take on a Black Iron-level mission first to get some practice. Then I’ll apply for a Bronze Token and start taking on Bronze-level missions.”

“Be careful,” Tong San immediately warned.

Within the entire Xueshi Castle, only the two of them truly understood Dongbo Xueying’s strength, knowing that he already possessed the power of a Named Rank warrior!

“I have no doubts about Xueying’s strength. You’re just lacking experience in fighting against powerful opponents. Practicing with Black Iron-level missions first is something I fully support,” Zong Ling nodded. “Accumulate more combat experience before taking on Bronze-level missions.”

“Mm,” Dongbo Xueying nodded.

Taking on Black Iron-level missions with the strength of a Named Rank warrior would naturally be easy.

“I’ve already reviewed the mission list. There’s a very suitable mission recently,” Dongbo Xueying continued.

“What mission?” Both Zong Ling and Tong San asked eagerly.

“Take a look.”

Dongbo Xueying picked up the mission list on the desk. One mission had already been circled. Zong Ling and Tong San both came closer to examine it carefully.

The mission description was clear:

“A castle within Qinghe County has been identified as harboring criminals guilty of capital offenses. The castle’s power is extremely formidable. Five experts are needed for this mission. It is dangerous and is recommended for participants with strength at the Silver Moon Knight level or above! Mission Reward: One hundred merit points. Participants must gather at Longshan Pavilion in Qinghe County’s capital city before June 1st!”

Dongbo Xueying said, “I’ll inform Master Si An first, then immediately set off for the gathering at the county capital. This mission requires five Silver Moon-level experts, so it will definitely be challenging. For me, it should be good practice.”