The Obstacle in Reality

As Chen Cheng slapped himself, outside the tent, Hui Dun, having composed himself, nodded to the Knight of Light. He then approached Melinda and Isabel, bowing in a gentlemanly fashion.

"Miss Isabel, thank you very much for rescuing me and my Knight Commander."

His eyes then turned tenderly towards Melinda, a smile on his lips.

"Melinda, you are as beautiful as ever. To be able to have..."

Before he could finish, Melinda calmly interrupted him.

"Alright, cousin. I think what you need now is to return to the city and inform your loyal citizens that you are safe, not to compliment my appearance."

As she spoke, Melinda's eyes inadvertently flickered towards the tent.

She was worried that Hui Dun might discover Chen Cheng's identity inside.

She knew that Hui Dun must be in a terrible mood right now, and if he found out who Chen Cheng was, he might very well order Chen Cheng to be executed on the spot.

Hui Dun also knew that this was not the time for romance. He understood that his reckless actions must have drawn the attention of everyone in the city, especially with such a large contingent of the Church's knights mobilized.

He needed to return to the city now, to show himself to the nobles, bishops, and commoners. He needed them to see that he was still healthy and strong.

Only by returning quickly could he let those who schemed behind his back know the wrath of an Earl.

Torey brought forth a tall white horse, and Hui Dun mounted it. Just as he was about to leave, a smile touched his lips as he addressed Fini, who stood behind Melinda.

"Student Kekebor Fini, I apologize that I cannot personally present you with your reward. However, you may apply to the academy for a Paulownia Wood Staff upon your return. Consider it my reward and apology to you."

Then, he rode off with the horse, escorted by numerous Knights of Light, leaving the camp.

All the students, as well as the soldiers, looked at Fini with envy. The Paulownia Wood Staff was something some high-level mages pursued their entire lives, yet she, a mere apprentice mage, had already obtained one.

This Paulownia Wood Staff was crafted from the core of a thousand-year-old Paulownia tree, unique to the Moonlight Forest, and forged by a master craftsman over several years.

The Moonlight Forest was not human territory; it belonged to the Moonlight Elves.

The elves cherished the trees that nurtured them, and obtaining Paulownia wood could only be done through theft.

Because the Paulownia wood grew in the Moonlight Forest, coexisting with the Moonlight Elves and constantly absorbing the residual moonlight essence from their cultivation, it was an excellent material for channeling magic, making it the best aid for mages when crafted into a staff.

The reason Earl Hui Dun offered such a valuable reward was also because his losses this time were too great. He was, in a way, trying to buy favor with an expensive gesture.

After the knights had completely left the camp, Melinda could no longer hold back and directly pulled open the tent flap.

Just as Chen Cheng was being found by the two of them and prepared to be brought back, a powerful fluctuation of fire elemental energy from deep within the forest had attracted their attention.

Since there were many students present, and for their safety, after handing Chen Cheng over to Fini, who had followed behind, the two women rushed towards the direction of the fire elemental surge. There, they encountered Torey, who was fleeing with a comatose Hui Dun.

Upon returning to the camp, they saw the camp's defenses had been taken over by the Knights of Light, and the Knight Commander was discussing Hui Dun's location.

Meanwhile, Chen Cheng had already been brought back by Fini and placed in the central large tent to rest. Seeing Hui Dun brought back unconscious, they naturally arranged for him to be placed in the same large tent.

It was fortunate that only Melinda and Isabel had carried Hui Dun inside. Otherwise, if others had seen Chen Cheng, a slave, in the same tent as an Earl, lying side-by-side on beds, Chen Cheng would certainly have been dealt with.

Upon lifting the flap, they saw Chen Cheng sitting on the bed, looking somewhat dazed. Seeing Chen Cheng awake, Fini's anxious heart finally relaxed. Coles, who was following behind the crowd, glared at Chen Cheng with malice.

In reality, no one knew what had happened to Chen Cheng. They merely vaguely suspected that Chen Cheng had been attacked by a powerful magical beast while saving Fini.

They also didn't know that Chen Cheng had faced a level six Earth Tyrant Bear and had even killed it.

At this moment, Coles was inwardly cursing the Earth Tyrant Bear. It looked incredibly imposing, a level six magical beast, yet in the end, it couldn't even kill a mere wild man from the mountains.

However, upon seeing Melinda showing concern and care for Chen Cheng, he took out an Image Recording Crystal and captured the scene in an ambiguous manner.

He had seen very clearly just moments before that Earl Hui Dun harbored deep affection for Melinda, while Melinda maintained a lukewarm attitude towards Hui Dun.

"Just you wait, you slave dog. Let's see if you don't die this time."

Before this, he had been excited that Chen Cheng and Hui Dun were recuperating in the same tent. Based on what he knew of Earl Hui Dun from gossip in noble circles, and his obsessive nature regarding noble etiquette, Chen Cheng, a slave, daring to share a room and lie down with him was an absolute insult to his noble status.

He couldn't understand why Hui Dun hadn't dealt with Chen Cheng, but it didn't matter. As long as he placed this Image Recording Crystal before Hui Dun, Chen Cheng, the slave, was guaranteed to not survive.

He couldn't believe that Hui Dun would be so lenient with a slave after seeing this.

However, what no one saw was Hui Dun, after leaving the camp, looking back at Melinda as she anxiously entered the tent.

His mind was filled with the dying words of his teacher. He had to adjust his mindset. He would no longer be a mere Earl content with his small territory. He would become the king who would shatter all obstacles in his path and ascend the throne.

Then, his gaze turned resolute, and he led the knights back to the city.

After Melinda and Isabel examined Chen Cheng's body and found no serious injuries, Isabel nodded to Melinda, and then led the many students out of the tent.

Fini, who was called out along with them, still had a look of worry on her face.

Seeing Melinda left alone before him, Chen Cheng awkwardly touched his head and said, "That, Melinda, Teacher..."

Before he could finish speaking, Melinda came forward and hugged him tightly. Just as Chen Cheng was about to speak, his cheek felt wet.

Then, tears trickled down Melinda's cheeks and onto his face. Chen Cheng, unintentionally, stuck out his tongue and licked it, finding it salty.

Only then did he remember that they were Melinda's tears.

"Do you know, when I heard you were being chased by that Earth Tyrant Bear, my heart nearly leaped out of my chest. In this world, besides Teacher Adolf, you are the only two people who have truly entered my heart. Even though your status is low, you are the only one who truly thinks about what I need. I don't want anything to happen to you, do you understand?"

At this moment, Chen Cheng listened to the rapid beating of Melinda's heart and felt the tears flowing down Melinda's cheeks onto his face.

His gaze also changed, losing its previous distant feeling. Instead, he let out a soft hum in her embrace.

Although he didn't know Melinda's past, Chen Cheng could guess some things from her words. He knew that what Melinda needed now was someone to confide in.

Feeling Melinda's embrace loosen slightly, Chen Cheng broke free and gently wiped away the tears from her face and the corners of her eyes with his hands.

Then, in this atmosphere filled with warmth and ambiguity, this guy surprisingly said:

"Teacher, according to the third-rate stories the wandering poet told, shouldn't we have a passionate kiss next?"

As he spoke, Chen Cheng also flashed a mischievous smile.

At this moment, a blush spread across Melinda's tear-streaked, charming face. She then reached out and playfully patted his head, saying:

"Where did you hear such third-rate stories? I only see you as a younger brother, a brother, do you understand?"

Seeing Melinda like this, Chen Cheng let out a sigh of relief. Although he wasn't foolish and knew that Melinda's inexplicable gratitude towards him had transformed into an inexplicable affection, he also constantly remembered what Isabel had told him back then: in this world with strict hierarchies, without recognition of his status, he was not worthy of loving anyone.

Seeing that Melinda's emotions had already erupted and the blush on her face had subsided considerably, Chen Cheng, in order to break the somewhat awkward atmosphere, continued to tease her:

"Honestly, Teacher Melinda, you looked so captivatingly beautiful just now. I almost fell for your act and was mesmerized by you.

But who am I, if not a genius? At the last moment, I saw through your test. My heart for magic is unwavering!"

Melinda, having snapped back to reality, gave him a glare and then reached out to grab Chen Cheng's ear:

"You still dare to say your heart for magic is unwavering? How did I teach you in class? You actually dared to forcibly engrave such terrifying magic within yourself.

Do you know that without the maintenance of energy storage magic, engraving these spells is courting death?"

Chen Cheng felt the pain in his ear and knew that Melinda's emotional knot had been untangled. At the same time, he also knew that Melinda truly cared about him.

At this moment, he also knew that in their playful scuffle, they had both made the right choice for themselves. Chen Cheng then broke into a happy smile.

However, after smiling, his heart skipped a beat. He was being bullied, yet he was smiling so brightly. Did he have some strange fetish deep down?

Shaking off some unsavory images from his mind, and after a round of apologies and assurances, Melinda finally let go of Chen Cheng's ear.

After a bit of roughhousing, Melinda's expression also relaxed, and then she said seriously:

"Your condition is very bad, but don't worry, your sister will definitely find someone to cure you.

And you must promise your sister, you absolutely cannot do this again."

Chen Cheng also nodded and promised:

"Don't worry, little brother won't do anything so uncertain next time. Besides, I can solve this problem within myself. If you find someone to help, it will create a debt of gratitude."

Melinda wanted to ask when she heard this, but thinking that this was Chen Cheng's own opportunity, she dismissed the idea.

"Some things are best kept to yourself. And about this debt of gratitude, your sister is finding a professor from the academy for you. Moreover, if this professor truly learns of your deeds, he will surely be eager to treat you."

Speaking of which, Melinda then asked again:

"Do you need today's events to be kept confidential? Don't worry, if necessary, your sister will definitely not let anyone outside of the three of us know about this."

Previously, Melinda only wanted to make decisions for Chen Cheng herself. However, now she knew that Chen Cheng had his own opinions, and some matters still required his own judgment.

Chen Cheng also thought for a long time before replying:

"It's fine, let's let this matter take its course. Besides, I'm a member of the academy now. I believe showcasing some talent would be beneficial, right?"

Melinda listened and thought about it before nodding.

"Although you are the first to become a student with your background, the academy's rules are there. There is no distinction between high and low status within the academy, so it's fine for you to showcase some talent now."

"And even if there are troubles, isn't Dean Adolf here?"

As she said this, Melinda chuckled.