Three days after the Harvest Festival ended, Morning Breeze Town returned to its usual calm.
In the afternoon, Lu Xin was drying herbs he had gathered from the edge of the forest in his yard, still relying on the plant manuscript he had obtained from the old scholar.
Just then, heavy footsteps and panting came from outside the door.
Lu Xin walked out of the wooden house and looked up. The first thing he saw was a round figure hurrying toward him.
It was Town Mayor Field.
Lu Xin stood still and thought. ‘This mayor lives in the “wealthy district” in the center of town. Why would he come to the edge of town?’
“Mr. Lu Xin!” Field squeezed through the fence in front of the house and came up to Lu Xin, looking very ingratiating.
“It’s great that you’re home.”
Lu Xin put down the herbs in his hands, wiped his hands, and observed the mayor’s expression without changing his expression.
That round face was full of smiles, and his hands were rubbing together in front of him.
“Mayor, is there something you need?”
“It’s like this, Mr. Lu Xin.” Field took another step forward and lowered his voice.
“You went into the forest before to help Lina find her cat, right?”
“Mm.”
“So, Knight Captain Audrey of the Knight Order heard about it and is very interested in you.”
“Oh~, could it be that she’s taken a liking to me and is planning to recruit me as a son-in-law?”
“Ah, yes… yes… ah… no!”
Field realized his mistake and quickly denied it. He grabbed Lu Xin in fright. “Do you have a death wish? How can you say such nonsense?”
“Mayor, why are you panicking? It’s just the two of us here. You’re not going to tattle, are you?”
Seeing Lu Xin’s smiling expression, Field decided not to drag it out any further and got straight to the point.
“In short, Knight Captain Audrey wants you to be their forest guide and lead the Knight Order deep into the forest.”
“Don’t worry, this is definitely a good gig. You’ll be completely safe by Captain Audrey’s side, and you can name your price.”
“If you do well, you can even move into the Kingdom with the money, and maybe even earn Captain Audrey’s approval.”
“Oh~ Then why don’t you go?”
When Lu Xin said “Oh,” Field’s nerves had already relaxed.
But when Lu Xin said the latter half, Field’s expression turned somewhat ugly.
Field looked at Lu Xin’s smiling face, wanted to say something but stopped, and could only continue to put on a flattering smile.
“Lu Xin, let me be straight with you. Captain Audrey specifically designated you as the guide.”
Lu Xin fell silent. Field’s one sentence blocked the words of refusal he was about to say.
He had long guessed that the Knight Order would eventually notice him, but he didn’t expect it to come so quickly.
And judging by the mayor’s demeanor, this wasn’t a request at all—it was clearly a notice.
Field also knew his words were a bit too much. He reached out his thick palm and patted Lu Xin’s arm, trying to be as amicable as possible.
“The Knight Order has been searching for something in the forest for almost a week now. Not only have they made no progress, but several people have been injured or killed.”
“Captain Audrey is under a lot of pressure now, and the Kingdom is pressing as well…”
“If you agree and handle this matter well, when Captain Audrey puts in a good word for you at the Kingdom, your future will be immeasurable.”
“But… if you don’t agree, then your days ahead…”
Field didn’t continue, but anyone with normal comprehension could hear the weight behind those words.
Threats and bribes, hard and soft tactics.
Lu Xin was silent for a long time, but in the end, he shook his head.
“Mayor, I’m sorry. I can’t help with this.”
Field’s expression turned very ugly. His lips moved slightly as if he wanted to say something more.
But seeing Lu Xin continue drying his herbs, he finally let out a heavy sigh.
“Fine. I’ll explain it to Captain Audrey.” He turned and took a few steps, then looked back.
“Mr. Lu Xin, please think it over. You can still change your mind before tomorrow.”
Watching the mayor’s retreating figure, Lu Xin withdrew his gaze and continued his work.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to help, but he knew his own limits all too well.
Back when he encountered the Poison Lizard, if Ailya hadn’t been there, he didn’t know if he would have survived.
With his few skills, going deep into the Misty Forest would be no different from seeking death.
Moreover, that group of knights from top to bottom reeked of arrogance. He didn’t believe they would protect him when danger came.
…
In the evening, Ailya came back from dance practice and heard about this from Lu Xin. Her expression turned unpleasant.
“You refused?”
“Mm.”
Ailya nodded and said nothing, but she also knew this matter wouldn’t pass so easily.
After they finished dinner, Ailya wanted to stay with Lu Xin, but he persuaded her to go back.
Lu Xin sat alone in the yard, reading the animal and plant manuscript by moonlight.
After a while, footsteps came from outside the fence.
Lu Xin looked up and saw a tall figure standing in the moonlight.
Her long golden hair was not tied into a ponytail but draped over her shoulders, and she wore a white casual dress.
Lu Xin looked at Audrey and breathed a sigh of relief—it didn’t seem like she was here to fight.
But the fact that Audrey herself came still surprised Lu Xin.
“Sorry to disturb you.” Audrey’s voice was very soft. She nodded slightly, her movements elegant and proper.
“May I come in and sit for a while?”
“Of course. The captain of the Knight Order gracing my humble abode truly honors my shabby home.”
Audrey looked at Lu Xin’s exaggerated gestures and words, covering her mouth with a light laugh.
“I’ve heard rumors about Mr. Lu Xin for a long time. Now that I’ve met you in person, you really are very interesting.”
As she spoke, Audrey stepped into the small broken wooden house.
Lu Xin watched Audrey as she passed by him, raising an eyebrow slightly. He could sense that Audrey was a bit tired.
It wasn’t that he had become so perceptive, but because [Nourishing Therapy] itself came with this passive ability.
She sat down across from Lu Xin, natural and casual, without the condescending aura she had during the day.
“The mayor came to see you during the day, right?”
Lu Xin nodded without replying.
Audrey tucked a strand of golden hair behind her ear. This action made her look less dignified and more like an ordinary woman’s softness.
Lu Xin shifted his gaze slightly, but immediately snapped it back to Audrey.
‘Damn, is this what charisma is?’
Lu Xin decided not to look away anymore and stared intently at Audrey. He wouldn’t lose in this contest of presence.
This caught Audrey off guard. Could it be that he had figured out why she came?
Thinking this, the tips of her ears turned slightly red. She cleared her throat.
“That mayor sometimes acts too hastily. If he was rude, I apologize to you on his behalf.”
“?”
“Of course, you don’t need to be nervous. I’m not here about the forest.”
“? ?”
At this point, Audrey slightly turned her face away. Not only were her ears red, but even her cheeks were slightly flushed.
“I heard you have a kind of magic that can relieve fatigue and such…”
“And it seems to have some other effects as well.”
“So… could you help me relieve it?”
“? ? ?”
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