It's Getting Cold, Put On Another Layer

Xuezhi stood on tiptoe, stretching herself as tall as she could, her eyes sparkling as if she wanted to engrave Dugu Qing's figure in her mind.

Dugu Qing wiped the blade with his sleeve and, in front of everyone, returned the Sacred Sword to the stone.

"Huh? Dugu Qing, you pulled out the Sacred Sword, so why are you putting it back?"

Stark looked puzzled.

"I'm not ready to save the world. I need some time to clear my head, so I'll leave the Sacred Sword here in the meantime."

Dugu Qing spoke frankly about his plans.

"You're leaving it in the Sacred Domain?"

Hearing that, Xuezhi quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, Dugu Qing had no plans to take the Sacred Sword away.

For generations, Xuezhi's family had made it their mission to guard the Sacred Sword.

Because of that, Xuezhi's family, who controlled the Sacred Domain Barrier, had also served as village chiefs of Sword Village for generations.

If Dugu Qing really took the Sacred Sword away, there would be no more monsters attacking it, but her family's position as village chief, handed down through the generations, would probably be lost too...

Dugu Qing, if you're not ready, then keep preparing!

Xuezhi would guard the Sacred Sword in the Sacred Domain.

"Why? Isn't it just a sword? What's there to prepare for?"

Stark folded his arms and pouted, venting the inexplicable jealousy he felt.

"In that case, you take it."

Without hesitation, Dugu Qing pulled the Sacred Sword out again and handed it to Stark.

Grinning, Stark reached out with both hands and gripped the hilt and blade.

Dugu Qing let go.

The Sacred Sword crashed to the ground and clung tightly to it like a magnet.

Stark's hands turned red, and his fingers looked as if a large truck had run them over. Grimacing and gasping, he screamed,

"It hurts! That really hurts! What's wrong with this sword? Why can only Dugu Qing lift it?"

"Maybe it's a clean freak!"

Under everyone's gaze, Dugu Qing once again returned the Sacred Sword to the stone with ease.

"So to use the Sacred Sword, you have to earn its recognition?"

"Damn it, I was hoping to sneak a touch myself! Looks like I won't get the chance now!"

"Maybe this is what a child of destiny looks like!"

"I'm so jealous! Not only does he have two beautiful girls with him, but he also pulled out the Sacred Sword. He's sure to become a great man someday."

Those with ulterior motives looked at Dugu Qing, their teeth aching with envy.

Dugu Qing looked at Xuezhi. "Xuezhi, if I leave the Sacred Sword here, you'll watch over it, right?"

"Yes, Lord Dugu Qing. I'll guard the Sacred Sword with my life, just like my grandmother did."

Xuezhi knelt on one knee, placed a hand over her heart, and swore her loyalty.

"Good girl." Dugu Qing ruffled Xuezhi's long hair, then turned and left.

Frieren and Fern left one after the other, and Stark hurried after them.

At the cave entrance, the captain of Sword Village's guards stepped forward in full armor, holding a yellow robe.

"It's getting cold, Hero. Please put on another layer!"

Dugu Qing was slightly startled. Closing his eyes, he sighed with a complicated expression.

"You people! You've really made things hard for me!"

The guard captain draped the yellow robe over Dugu Qing's shoulders and fastened it.

Seeing Dugu Qing dressed in white with the yellow robe over it, Fern found the sight strangely comical and covered her mouth with a chuckle.

Frieren smiled a little too. White clothes and a yellow robe didn't go together!

Dugu Qing didn't resist. After descending the mountain, he gave the yellow robe to Stark.

"Stark, your birthday's coming up, isn't it? This robe is yours."

Stark looked disdainfully at the shit-yellow robe. Who knew how many years it had spent at the bottom of a chest or how many hands it had passed through? He was about to refuse.

Then he suddenly remembered that the robe was a symbol of the Hero!

He might not be able to pull out the Hero's Sword, but couldn't he still put on the yellow robe and borrow the Hero's prestige?

"Since you're being so sincere, I'll accept it."

Stark took the robe and draped it over his shoulders, then excitedly circled Dugu Qing like a true Hero.

"What a child."

Looking at the red-haired Stark in the yellow robe, Frieren felt mildly nauseated. She quickened her pace, hurried back to the village chief's house, and slammed the bedroom door shut.

"Doesn't this outfit look good on me?"

"It does."

Looking at Dugu Qing's icy face, Fern silently grumbled,

"It's a crime to deceive a fool..."

The next morning.

An old man from the east end of the village brought two bundles of scallions, an auntie from the west end brought two baskets of dried chilies, and the village blacksmith brought two buckets of cured meat...

A long queue formed outside the village chief's house, and people scrambled to visit Dugu Qing. It had become quite the trend.

Dugu Qing got up early and accepted everything everyone brought, piling it all into a small mountain.

"Wow, that's a lot of stuff!"

Hearing the noise, Stark, Fern, and Frieren came out one after another.

"There's fabric in here too! Perfect, now I can make Dugu Qing a blue robe to match the Sacred Sword's blue hilt."

Fern looked at the bolts of fabric, the corners of her mouth lifting.

"Well, we were going to stock up on supplies, but now we don't have to. Dugu Qing, it's all thanks to you!"

Frieren patted Dugu Qing on the shoulder in satisfaction.

Outside, visitors came in an endless stream.

Dugu Qing stood at the door and accepted their gifts.

A frail old woman wearing a headscarf approached unsteadily, carrying dried sweet potatoes.

"Hero, since the Sacred Sword has been pulled out, that means a great calamity that will destroy the world is brewing. What should ordinary people like us do? I hope you can help us find a way to survive the disaster."

Dugu Qing thought for a moment and remembered the apocalypse novels he had read in his previous life. The protagonists in them often dug a hole in their homes and stored large quantities of supplies, dried food, and water.

"That's easy. In short, dig a hole and stockpile supplies. As long as you hide well, you can survive even if an army of tens of thousands of demons attacks."

"That's wonderful. Thank you, Hero."

The old woman left the dried sweet potatoes and slowly departed.

"We've got snacks!"

Stark happily grabbed a handful of dried sweet potatoes, thinking it really was nice to stick with Dugu Qing.

When they were short on money, the thoughtful Lord of the City sent them some.

When they were short on snacks, a thoughtful old lady brought them some.

Well!

Aside from being handsome enough to make people jealous, Dugu Qing was pretty impressive in other respects!

At ten in the morning, Dugu Qing saw off the visitors and packed all the gifts into the suitcase.

Frieren, Dugu Qing, Fern, and Stark waved goodbye to Xuezhi and set off on their journey once more.

"Don't forget me! I'll take good care of the Sacred Sword."

Waving her little hand, Xuezhi watched the four leave, then withdrew her expectant gaze.

An epic war destined to be grand in scale was about to break out. Born human, with a short life span, one could devote that limited life to a great war and have one's name remembered in history for all ages.

She had to practice her magic diligently.