Hearing a familiar voice, Dongbo Xueying couldn't help but smile. He immediately picked up the Feixue Divine Spear beside him, and with a whoosh, his body vanished, leaving only a fleeting shadow, and he was already on the mountaintop hundreds of meters away.
Beside the bamboo pavilion at the back of the mountain.
A young girl in light purple robes stood gracefully, holding a basket and looking around.
She was Kong Youyue, who had grown up and was now nineteen years old. The once-naive girl had transformed into a true beauty with a refined demeanor. Due to her long-term study of magic, her skin was slightly pale, which made her appear even more delicate, and her aura carried a hint of the mystique unique to mages. She was indeed a very charming young girl.
At least among the disciples of Great Mage Baiyuan, many male disciples liked Kong Youyue, and some even pursued her.
"Youyue."
Dongbo Xueying appeared beside the bamboo pavilion, casually placing the spear aside and smiling.
"Brother Xueying, you shouldn't overwork yourself practicing spear techniques. Master said that the path of cultivation should have a balance of tension and relaxation," Kong Youyue smiled, standing beside a stone table and taking out some pastries from the basket. "I just made some pastries that Brother Xueying likes. Come and try them."
"Okay."
Dongbo Xueying walked over, leaned over the plate, and sniffed, smiling. "They really smell good."
He picked up a soft little cake and took a bite, smiling. "Youyue's skills are getting better and better." When he was a child, he loved the pastries his mother made, but after she left, he could never taste them again. The pastries made by the servants at home... were never the same as those made by his mother. Youyue's skills were excellent, and even though they didn't match his mother's, they were much better than those of the servants.
"Hmph, I practiced specifically for this," Youyue said proudly.
"I'll be heading back to the castle later. Let's have lunch together today," Dongbo Xueying said, sitting down to eat the pastries quickly, one after another.
"Sure, Brother Xueying hasn't been back to the castle for a long time," Kong Youyue stood beside him, watching him eat.
He finished eating quickly.
"Let's go," Dongbo Xueying stood up.
"Okay."
Kong Youyue nodded.
The two walked side by side.
Since that winter when she was twelve, Kong Youyue had been living in Snowstone Mountain, mostly in the castle. Back then, she often came to the back of the mountain with the younger Qing Shi to watch Dongbo Xueying. Over time, Dongbo Xueying became close and familiar with Kong Youyue.
Six years of companionship...
To be precise, Youyue was the girl Dongbo Xueying interacted with the most. Being with Youyue was very comfortable. He was focused on cultivation, wanting to save his parents as soon as possible. Youyue quietly watched by his side, never disturbing him.
Sometimes, Dongbo Xueying had thoughts—
Perhaps marrying Youyue as his wife would be quite nice.
Although it wasn't the kind of love his parents had, which transcended life and death, Dongbo Xueying hadn't interacted with other girls, and he felt... as long as they could be happy together, that was enough.
Moreover, Kong Youyue never paid attention to the other male disciples' advances, focusing all her attention on Dongbo Xueying, which was obvious to everyone.
As for Kong Youyue's father, Kong Hai, he had been working hard to arrange this marriage.
"No rush."
"Youyue is still young. Let's wait until we save our parents," Dongbo Xueying had no plans to marry before rescuing his parents!
Because knights and mages were dedicated to cultivation, they usually married and had children later in life. His father, Dongbo Lie, didn't marry his mother until he was in his thirties, nearly forty. Kong Youyue's father, Kong Hai, also married and had his eldest daughter, Kong Youyue, around the same age.
For a female mage, nineteen was very young. It was normal to marry at thirty, and even in her twenties was considered early.
"Besides, to save our parents, I need a full twenty thousand merit points, which means I can only take on some very dangerous Bronze-level missions," Dongbo Xueying thought. "I'm confident, but no one can guarantee absolute safety. I might die on a mission. I won't think about anything until the mission is completed."
...
In the main building of Snowstone Castle, in the dining room.
Dongbo Xueying, Zong Ling, Tong San, Qing Shi, and Kong Youyue were all seated.
"Qing Shi, I heard from Youyue that you've had a girlfriend for almost half a year?" Dongbo Xueying smiled at his younger brother, who was truly handsome! There were enough soldiers in the castle, and Dongbo Xueying had also been to Yishui City, but he could confidently say that among all the young men he had seen, his younger brother was the most handsome!
His brother's eyes were very bright, captivating! He had been handsome since childhood, and now at sixteen, he was even more impressive. Just by his looks, he wouldn't have to worry about food. He was also skilled in ice magic, like his mother, and had a faintly cold aura, making him a cool and handsome young man. Many female disciples in the Mage Tower were pursuing him.
Dongbo Xueying was very proud of this.
At the same time, he was also very moved. The little kid who used to sleep on his chest and drool when he was two years old had grown up so quickly.
"Youyue, you really are meddlesome, telling my brother about this," Qing Shi frowned, helpless.
"You've been hiding it for almost half a year, and I only found out now. Of course, I had to tell your brother, he is your brother after all," Kong Youyue laughed.
"If your girlfriend doesn't mind, bring her over for me to see sometime," Dongbo Xueying said.
"Alright, we'll see if she agrees," Qing Shi said with a pout.
"By the way, I plan to go out for a while, probably for ten to fifteen days," Dongbo Xueying said.
"What's up? Not going to the Destruction Mountains again, right?" Qing Shi asked, and Zong Ling and Tong San also looked at Dongbo Xueying in surprise.
"I promise I won't go to the Destruction Mountains," Dongbo Xueying grinned. "I'm just going out for a trip, to see more and practice my spear techniques."
He didn't go into details.
He didn't want to talk much about taking on missions.
...
In the evening.
In the study.
A fire crystal lamp on the desk cast light throughout the study. Zong Ling and Tong San were both there.
Dongbo Xueying sat at the desk and said, "Uncle Zong, Uncle Tong, I plan to take on a Black Iron-level mission first to practice. Next, I'll apply for a Bronze Token and start Bronze-level missions."
"Be careful," Tong San said.
In the entire Snowstone Castle, only they knew about Dongbo Xueying's strength, knowing that he had already reached the level of a titled warrior!
"I don't doubt your strength, Xueying, but you've had too few battles with experts. Starting with a Black Iron-level mission to gain some experience is a good idea," Zong Ling nodded. "Gather more combat experience before taking on Bronze-level missions."
"Okay," Dongbo Xueying nodded.
A titled warrior taking on a Black Iron-level mission would naturally be very easy.
"I've looked at the mission list, and there's a good one coming up," Dongbo Xueying said.
"What mission?" Zong Ling and Tong San asked.
"Take a look."
Dongbo Xueying picked up the mission list on the desk, which had a mission circled. Zong Ling and Tong San came over to look closely.
It clearly stated—
"In the Qinghe County, there is a territory castle. Investigation shows that the crime is punishable by death, and the castle's strength is very strong. Five experts are needed. The mission is dangerous, and it is recommended that the mission takers have the strength of a Silver Moon Knight! Mission reward: one hundred merit points. Must gather at Longshan Tower in Qinghe County by June 1st."
Dongbo Xueying said, "I'll inform Lord Sian, and then immediately set out for the county to gather! This mission requires five Silver Moon-level experts, so it will be quite challenging. It should be good practice for me."