After returning to the Demon King’s Castle, Qiaolin finished packing all his belongings and used Folding Warp once again to arrive at Lin City.
This teleportation magic was incredibly convenient.
As Qiaolin used it more frequently, he became increasingly proficient, to the point where he almost never bumped into anything anymore.
Aurora had arranged a secluded attic for Qiaolin, far from the city center.
It came complete with a front and back yard.
The windows on either side faced the Demon King’s Castle and the Celtic Forest respectively, offering a beautiful environment with no one to disturb him.
Qiaolin sat by the balcony railing, gazing at the distant Demon King’s Castle as if he were waiting for something.
“You came here without even saying a word?”
A faint, resentful female voice drifted over.
Qiaolin glanced sideways to see a blonde demon girl sitting on the swing chair behind him.
The girl was currently twining a lock of her red-tinged hair around her finger.
Her small mouth was slightly pouted, making her look somewhat dissatisfied.
“Are you finished with your business, Gabriela?”
“Of course not. How could several months’ worth of affairs be resolved in a single day? And yet, you won’t even help me…”
“I’m also busy saving them.”
The corners of Qiaolin’s mouth lifted slightly as he gestured toward the center of Lin City.
Gabriela swayed on the swing, making a “creak, creak” sound.
“You still haven’t answered my question, Qiaolin,” Gabriela said.
“If I hadn’t been able to sense your Magic Power, I would have thought you left without saying anything.”
After completing her work for the day, Gabriela had gone to find Qiaolin.
The moment she opened the door, she had been greeted by an empty room.
That inexplicable anxiety had instantly surged in her heart.
“Perhaps… my heart has always belonged to the humans, Gabriela. I don’t know how to explain it to you, but at the very least, you should understand the impression many of the Demon Race still hold of the former Celestial Hero.”
Hearing Qiaolin’s words, Gabriela’s pupils shrunk slightly.
In the years since she had become the Demon King and governed the Demon Race, she had been diligent and responsible.
Whether it was cleaning up the mess left behind by Archimondia or facing the covetous eyes of foreign races, Gabriela could say she had a clear conscience.
However, the only thing she had done out of selfishness was intentionally fading the public’s memory of the Hero.
“I slaughtered many of your kinsmen. I cannot live peacefully in a place where I have dealt so much death. And as you know…”
Qiaolin did not continue, and Gabriela understood exactly what he wanted to say.
The two of them fell into silence for a moment until Qiaolin was the first to raise his hand, scratching the back of his head.
“Honestly, why make things so heavy? I’m just simply not used to living in a house as large as a palace,” Qiaolin said with an awkward laugh.
“A size like this is just right. I can grow some flowers in the front yard and set up a grill in the back. We can have a barbecue together when we’re free. I remember that used to be your favorite.”
“I still love it now,” Gabriela said with a faint smile.
“Is that so? It seems you’re still the same as you were back then.”
Qiaolin breathed a sigh of relief, looking much more relaxed.
“Don’t worry, I won’t leave this time. I’ll stay here for a long time,” Qiaolin said softly.
His tone, however, carried a hint of determination.
Gabriela looked up, and her gaze met the man’s, their eyes intertwining.
A flush of crimson brushed across the girl’s face.
She opened her mouth, thinking of the words that had been dormant in her heart for so long—words she should have said to Qiaolin three hundred years ago.
“Qiaolin, I actually…”
“Hey! Are you two going to eat or what?!”
At that moment, Demigula’s voice drifted up from downstairs.
“My legs are going numb from standing here! Lina, if this guy keeps dawdling, just leave him behind!”
Hearing the voice, Qiaolin’s eyebrows arched, and he looked down from the balcony.
“Oh? Isn’t this our Lady Crimson Empress? Why don’t you come up and sit?”
“Sit my foot! If Lina hadn’t insisted on bringing you along for dinner, I would have gone to enjoy a candlelit dinner for two with her already!”
“Wow—”
Upon hearing that, Gabriela’s face turned bright red.
She immediately poked her head out and shouted at Demigula, “What candlelit dinner?! Stop talking nonsense, Demigula!”
“Heh.”
Qiaolin chuckled softly.
He placed a hand on Gabriela’s shoulder, and their figures suddenly blurred, teleporting directly in front of Demigula.
The Vampire girl was momentarily stunned.
Although she had heard from Gabriela that Qiaolin had learned a new type of Space Magic, seeing it displayed before her eyes still left her feeling surprised.
Not only was there no casting movement to speak of, but there was also no external leak of Magic Power.
It was truly an instantaneous movement.
“Hey, why are you looking at me with such hostility? We’re all old friends here.”
“Because as soon as you show up, Lina’s soul gets snatched away by you! I’m very angry! I’m going to—”
“Oh, Demigula, shut up! Just shut up!”
Gabriela hastily covered Demigula’s mouth.
Witnessing this scene, Qiaolin could only laugh helplessly.
‘But I still want to hear those words from your mouth, Gabriela…’
A soft murmur drifted from the man’s lips.
***
In the following days, the effectiveness of Qiaolin’s treatment plan became evident.
The patients using the New-style Potions saw their wounds heal rapidly, and there were no further cases of wound deterioration.
As for those who were “poisoned,” their symptoms gradually vanished after they stopped taking the previous medication.
All of this confirmed Qiaolin’s diagnosis and suspicions.
The people’s impression of him was not that of some extraordinary Healing Mage, but rather an experienced and highly skilled Physician.
Their relationship with him naturally grew closer.
Power can cause fear, but people do not fear a mentor who is good at providing guidance and advice.
“This man’s wound seems to be recovering well… He won’t need any more medicine starting today, right, Master Qiaolin?”
Aurora asked Qiaolin.
“Yes. Hmm? What did you just call me?”
“Master Qiaolin? Oh… sorry, it just slipped out…”
Aurora gave an awkward smile.
She couldn’t help it; Qiaolin’s performance was far too much like a mentor, and his way of speaking often felt earnest and profound.
“Heh, if you’re used to calling me that, then it’s fine.”
Qiaolin didn’t dislike the title; he just hadn’t expected to be called “Master” by someone one day.
After finishing the door-to-door checkups on the injured, the day’s work was mostly concluded.
“Master Qiaolin, I’m treating you to a meal this time. You can’t refuse me again.”
Faced with Aurora’s half-joking persistence, Qiaolin could only shrug.
“Don’t worry, I don’t have any appointments today.”
“Haha, then let’s go right now—”
“Clatter, clatter!”
A frantic sound of galloping hooves echoed through the street.
With a loud “crash”, a carriage ahead was knocked over onto the ground.
Seeing this, Qiaolin’s group rushed to the scene.
With one look, Aurora recognized the rider lying on the ground.
He was the archer from the adventurer team she had hired previously.
“Damn it, I can’t delay any longer. The captain and the others are going to…”
“Why are you here?”
Aurora asked in surprise.
Seeing the chaotic scene of overturned horses and people, she immediately guessed that the man must have been in such a hurry that he collided with a passing carriage.
“Lady Aurora?! I was just looking for you…”
“Don’t talk yet. Your head is bleeding.”
Aurora knelt down and prepared to treat him.
However, the man grabbed the girl’s wrist with such force that Aurora furrowed her brows.
Seeing this, Lockes stepped forward, prepared to intervene.
Qiaolin held him back and shook his head.
“My injury doesn’t matter! Quickly, go to the Outpost on the outskirts of the forest! We were attacked by a massive swarm of Magic Beasts! Several squads suffered heavy losses, and ten people, including the captain, are critically injured! If they aren’t treated in time, they’ll die!”
“What?! How could…”
Aurora’s mouth hung open.
She had never expected such a severe outbreak of casualties to occur so suddenly.
Qiaolin stepped forward to check the rider’s condition, having heard what the man said.
“This man’s injuries aren’t urgent for now. If what he says is true, our priority is to get to the Outpost immediately!”
“You… you’re right, Master Qiaolin.”
Aurora took a deep breath and then commandeered a carriage on the spot.
Since she already had her medical supplies with her, she didn’t need to make extra preparations.
“Inform all departments of the city-state to heighten their alert! Prevent any Magic Beast incursions!”
“Yes, Lady Aurora!”
After Aurora issued her orders to the soldiers, the group boarded the carriage and sped away.
‘The Celtic Forest… I wonder if that Level 7 (King Class Intermediate) Magic Beast from back then is still alive?’
Qiaolin gazed deeply at the distant forest as the memory of a giant wolf with a body of pure silver surfaced in his mind.
He squeezed his palm, and a wisp of white magic returned to his hand.
On the forehead of the rider Qiaolin had touched earlier, the wound had already completely healed…
All of this was witnessed by a black-haired girl standing on a nearby rooftop.
“Hehehe, finally, I get to watch you perform.”