Chapter Thirty-Six: Guardianship

ICP registration number: Xiang B2-20100081-3 Internet Publishing Qualification Certificate: New Online Certificate (Xiang) No. 11 Network Culture Business License: Wen Wang Wen [2010] No. 128

In the jungle of Purgatory Island, a boy and a girl were strolling.

"Shui, you’re daydreaming again! I order you to play with me properly right now!"

"I told you to call me Avril, but you keep calling me Princess!" Avril shouted discontentedly.

"Oh, if I call you Avril, you can’t speak to me in that tone, Your Highness. You know friends don’t command each other," Shui replied.

Avril’s eyes widened, but after thinking for a moment, she lowered her tiny fists, walked over, and took Gong Hao’s hand.

"Fine, Shui, you’re always so reasonable, even though I don’t like it. But as my only friend—yes, I mean I hope you can be more attentive, more focused, not always thinking about those annoying spells and alchemy," she said.

"You’re the first person to call spells and alchemy annoying," Gong Hao laughed. Avril was quite pleased that he didn’t use the formal address anymore.

She asked, "Shui, did Cross teach you anything yesterday?"

"Yes, he helped me a lot. He explained many things I didn’t quite understand before, taught me spell usage, and gave me a few magic books. Oh, those spells are so complicated and so hard to pronounce—they’re in a completely different language. I have to memorize them carefully and master them before I can use any magic," Gong Hao replied.

"Is it tiring?" Avril asked.

"Yes, very tiring," Gong Hao admitted. Last night, to quickly master the four basic wind spells, he had studied magic incantations all night and barely managed to memorize them.

Avril sighed, "I really don’t understand why men always live such exhausting lives. You’re always busy, never knowing how to enjoy life." The little girl spoke in a mature, almost world-weary tone, probably echoing the words of some cloistered, discontented women she’d overheard.

"I suppose when God created mankind, he must have first made women according to the most beautiful standards—lovely, gentle, and enchanting. But he realized women had a major flaw: they refused to work for the sake of their beauty. So God grew angry and created a new kind of human: men—diligent, honest, brave, and wise. That’s why men always have such hard lives," Gong Hao joked.

The little princess’s eyes widened again. "Oh, you dare say men are more perfect than women?"

"Aren’t they?" Gong Hao smiled at her.

The princess put her hands on her hips. "Of course not. God must have created men first. Then he saw they were ugly, filthy, savage, and rude. Wanting a more perfect human, he created women. Women make the world more beautiful, richer, and more colorful! They teach men courtesy, generosity, kindness, and compassion! So God made men first, then women."

Gong Hao’s expression grew solemn. "It seems we have a fundamental disagreement."

The princess was equally serious. "As a princess, I demand you accept my version."

"Trying to pull rank again, princess?" Gong Hao teased.

The princess lifted her chin high. "On this matter, I will not yield."

They stared at each other, then suddenly burst out laughing. Gong Hao said, "Very well, Avril, I admit: women are the perfect version of men."

After thinking for a moment, the princess added, "Or perhaps God created women first, then realized they needed protection, so he made men. God’s purpose was for men to protect women."

"Yes, that’s entirely possible. The one created later isn’t necessarily better," Gong Hao laughed.

The princess gently leaned into Gong Hao’s embrace. "So, Shui, will you protect me?"

"Yes, Your Highness," Gong Hao replied, his heart stirring. He felt the warmth of the body pressed against him, an irresistible attraction.

"When I’m in danger, will you come to my rescue? Be my guardian knight, like a true hero, shielding me from wind and rain?"

"...Yes."

"Never leave me? Never hurt me? Never let me be sad?"

Gong Hao fell silent.

He gazed at Avril in his arms. The girl was nestled completely against him, eyes half-closed, waiting for his answer. Her eyes were beautiful, like bright stars in the sky. Even with her eyes shut, her long lashes trembled, betraying her nervousness.

Gong Hao swallowed. "Yes, Avril. I will always protect you, never hurt you, never let you be sad."

Avril leaned heavier into Gong Hao’s embrace.

Neither spoke again.

At that moment, silence spoke more than words.

Just then, a piercing cry shattered their quiet world.

A fiery cloud danced down from the sky, landing beside the young couple.

"It’s a lovebird!" Avril opened her eyes, realizing a Flamebird had landed near them. "Are you red or green?" she called out.

"Red," Gong Hao answered. "Today is his free day."

He approached the bird. "Hey, Red, why are you here? You don’t seem like the sort who enjoys ruining others’ fun, you meddlesome creature."

"Shui!" Avril blushed.

Red raised his head, letting out several urgent cries, then frantically pushed Avril with his long beak.

Gong Hao’s expression changed slightly.

"What’s wrong, Shui?" Avril asked.

"Red’s call is anxious. He seems to want us to leave quickly," Gong Hao said. He knew Red would never force them out of the jungle without reason. "Is something happening in the jungle, Red?"

Red cried again, pushing Avril insistently with his wings, clearly urging her to leave at once.

Gong Hao sensed danger and grabbed Avril’s hand. "Hurry, there must be a terrifying magical beast approaching."

"Are magical beasts not all under the castle’s control?" Avril was astonished.

"Impossible," Gong Hao said, dragging Avril in a desperate run. "Any magical beast that makes a Flamebird urge us to flee is not easy to deal with. Even Lancelot never dared venture into the deepest part of the central region. He said there are truly terrifying and immensely powerful beasts there, ones even top warriors can’t withstand. Looks like Red thinks you’re in danger—strangely, he seems to mean you, not me..."

"Oh, heavens!"

They sprinted like the wind. Just as they neared the castle, Gong Hao suddenly stopped.

"Shui, what’s wrong?"

"Damn it, Lancelot! He’s still in the jungle!" Gong Hao shouted.

He yelled to Avril, "Go back to the castle quickly! There’s a protective barrier—no magical beast can enter. Red, help me keep Avril safe!"

Red circled overhead, letting out a long cry.

Gong Hao turned and ran toward the jungle.

"Come back, Shui! You’re my guardian knight—you promised never to leave me. You promised to protect me!" Avril screamed.

Gong Hao spun around. "Yes, Avril, I will protect you, but you need to understand something."

"What?" Avril stared wide-eyed at Gong Hao.

Gong Hao shouted, "The true meaning of friendship. It’s not just about having fun together, but mutual sacrifice. Lancelot is my friend—perhaps my last and only friend on this island. I don’t care what he thinks, but that’s how I see it. So I must find him. He may be injured, needing me. I must save him!"

"What about me?"

"You’re safe. We’ve already left the jungle. Just keep walking forward and you’ll reach the castle."

"But you can’t leave me alone."

"Avril!" Gong Hao roared. "You need to grow up! Even as a princess, you must learn to respect others’ decisions!"

"Respect?"

"Yes, learn to respect—that’s the most basic requirement for a friend. If you only need a bodyguard, the castle has plenty of servants, warriors, and magicians. They don’t need your respect. But I’m different. If you want me as your friend, then please respect my decisions."

Avril stared dumbfounded at Gong Hao as he ran into the depths of the jungle without looking back.

It was the first time in her life anyone had so ruthlessly abandoned her. She couldn’t hold back and burst into tears.

"No, Shui, you’re a jerk! I swear I’ll never think of you again! I swear!"

She sobbed as she ran back to the castle.

The deeper Gong Hao ventured, the more he sensed a tremendous presence emanating from within the jungle. Indeed, a powerful magical beast was lurking inside, so fierce that not even a bird, ant, insect, or beast could be seen around the forest’s edge.

Having been here for more than a year, Gong Hao had only ever heard Lancelot mention there was an extremely powerful top-tier beast in the jungle, but it spent most of its time in deep slumber, rarely awakening.

"Lancelot!" Gong Hao shouted. "Where are you?"

No answer came.

Gong Hao grew anxious.

He quickly calmed himself, seeking resonance with the wind elements around him.

"Omnipotent spirits of wind, let me sense your presence, let me bask in your radiance... Wind Spirit Art!" A string of awkward magic incantations poured from Gong Hao’s mouth.

In the next moment, the wind elements gathered swiftly, forming a small whirlwind around him.

The wind carried distant scents. Gong Hao sensed roars from the depths of the jungle, thunderous footsteps that shook the ground as if causing earthquakes.

He opened his eyes and ran toward the source of the aura.

The wind swirled, enveloping Gong Hao in a small cyclone, lifting his body. This was the effect of the Wind Spirit Art. Gong Hao’s heart stirred; urging his battle energy, his feet sped him forward. He felt like an arrow shooting through the forest.

He never imagined that combining magic and battle energy would yield such remarkable results. The Wind Spirit Art lightened his weight, while his battle energy propelled him, increasing his speed several times over.

Though still just an ordinary second-rank warrior and a novice magic apprentice, the combined effect was astonishing.

But Gong Hao had no time to study the synergy; his only concern now was finding Lancelot quickly.

In the depths of the jungle, he could already see traces of sword energy flashing and hear thunderous roars.

The deeper he ventured, the more clearly he sensed a fierce battle underway.

"Spirits of wind, heed my call!" Gong Hao shouted.

The wind elements in the air condensed rapidly.

Gong Hao pointed with one hand, reciting a series of incantations he’d learned from Cross’s book yesterday. This spell didn’t create a powerful magic, but allowed the wind element to accept basic commands and respond to the summoner. Wind mages usually used this to increase the elemental density for meditation, but unexpectedly, in Gong Hao’s hands, it produced a different effect.

In the next moment, the mist in the air thickened, and under the influence of the wind element, Gong Hao kept it from dissipating, making it even denser.

The increasingly thick fog nearly blocked out the sunlight, making the already dark and gloomy forest even more obscure and shadowy.

"Lancelot, come out quickly!" Gong Hao shouted, the wind carrying his voice far.

He clearly heard a furious roar, and then, amidst sword flashes, a figure burst from the depths of the jungle, grabbing Gong Hao and dragging him toward the castle.

It was Lancelot. He was covered in blood, his armor in tatters, and even his magic sword had lost its former brilliance.

A grim wound marred his face, making him look terrifying.

Yet Lancelot managed to laugh.

He shouted, "I broke through! I broke through! Damn it, I’m a Star Warrior now!"

His roar echoed far and wide, provoking even greater rage from the beast behind.

Star Warrior? That was the highest rank below the Sanctuary!

Could it be that he’d broken through to the Star Warrior realm in his battle with that unknown beast?

Then Lancelot looked at Gong Hao, saying, "Shui Glaire, you’re remarkable. Your magic was perfectly timed—otherwise I wouldn’t have escaped so easily. You saved me. Thank you."

Had he really managed to rescue Lancelot? That was wonderful. Gong Hao breathed a sigh of relief.

But what was lurking in the depths of the jungle, powerful enough to send a Star Warrior fleeing?

As if sensing Gong Hao’s doubts, Lancelot rasped, "It’s a dragon. A dragon from the Abyss of Nine Hells. Its wings were severed—it can never fly again, imprisoned in the central region. A supreme creature beyond the twelfth rank..."