Traveling with a Beauty

Watching Li Shaolin descend the magic tower, Seokreitus seemed to have a flicker of deep meaning in his eyes. However, Li Shaolin was currently overjoyed—with the Noggenfogger Potion, his Skeleton Warrior might finally be able to show itself in public, and he'd also obtained a Space Belt that was bound to him, so he no longer had to worry about accidents with his belongings. Naturally, he didn't notice the Archmage's unusual expression.

The female gnome servant opened the heavy stone door, handed him a plate of bread and a map, then closed it again.

Stepping outside, the Clay Golem was pacing around the well, as if it couldn't stay still by nature. According to Seokreitus, this type of golem was an earth elemental summoned by Eastern warlocks using the power of the land, and it hadn't been seen in many years. He advised Li Shaolin not to reveal it in front of ordinary people to avoid unnecessary trouble. But if Seokreitus knew he could also summon a Skeleton Warrior, what expression would he make?

Li Shaolin stored the land deed for Fargodeep Mine and the gold coins from selling the Malachite into his Space Belt, finally feeling at ease. He unfolded the map the gnome maid had given him and saw a small path clearly marked beside Azshara's Tower, leading to the Official Road. Standing up to look around, he spotted a winding, weed-covered trail curving along a fallen Elwynn Ancient Tree.

Munching on bread as he walked, it wasn't long before he saw the white gravel road of the Official Road ahead.

He dismissed the golem and stepped onto the Official Road. Where to go? Back to Goldshire? Li Shaolin hesitated. After all, in Elwynn Forest, Seokreitus could monitor his every move through a crystal ball at any time. If he ever discovered his Skeleton Warrior, who knew what would happen. Based on his memory, at his current level 8, traveling elsewhere would be quite dangerous—if something went wrong, it wouldn't end well. Maybe he should head to Eastvale Logging Camp to find Jack and the others?

Just as he decided to go to Eastvale Logging Camp, he heard hoofbeats approaching from a distance. Amidst the dust, a woman in red with fiery long hair galloped toward him on a large red horse!

"Whoa!" The woman stopped beside him, dismounted, and took out a silver-white insignia. She tapped it on the horse's forehead, and the red horse vanished in a flash of white light!

"Amazing!" Li Shaolin's jaw dropped, unable to react.

"Hey, handsome, I'm talking to you. Can you tell me where Blackwell's Pumpkin Patch is?" The woman wore a red robe, matching her light red hair. She looked about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, full of spirited elegance!

"Uh... let me check." He didn't know the location, but he'd just gotten a map—it should be marked there.

He spread out the map and quickly spotted a large area marked below Azshara's Tower: Blackwell's Pumpkin Patch.

"Oh, handsome, your map is really detailed—it even has names marked. Where did you buy it?" The red-robed woman glanced at it curiously, surprised.

"Well... beauty, this isn't for sale. A friend gave it to me." Li Shaolin quickly explained.

The woman looked him up and down, then said with a smile, "Handsome, you're a professional, right? Looks like you're around level 7 or 8. How about helping your big sister out? Deal?"

Though a beauty was inviting him, his life came first. Li Shaolin asked cautiously, "Help with what? Is it dangerous?"

"Hehe, not dangerous. I'm a level 10 Warlock, learning to summon a Voidwalker. I need to get a necklace from a traitor at Blackwell's Pumpkin Patch. That traitor is only level 10, no match for me, but he's joined the Defias Brotherhood, so it's a bit troublesome. How about it? Five gold coins when it's done?"

"Damn, that generous?" Li Shaolin was startled. He quickly patted his chest and said, "Beauty, say no more. This old Li is in!" Though he was a mine owner now, income was still far off—he needed to earn more to prepare for the unexpected.

"Alright, but I'm warning you—we're a temporary team, but the heavy work is yours. And don't try anything funny with me, or I'll teach you a lesson!" The beauty said sternly.

"Hehe, of course. How about one more gold coin?" Li Shaolin grinned fawningly, seizing the chance to haggle.

"Fine, add it!" This beauty seemed to come from a wealthy family and didn't care about such things, nodding immediately.

And so, the temporary two-person team for exploring Blackwell's Pumpkin Patch was formed. After introductions, Li Shaolin learned that this beauty was Aili Eberlock, daughter of Duke Aerol Eberlock, the administrator of the Town of Dusk. No wonder she was so rich and generous.

Li Shaolin led the way, holding his Infantry Shortsword, cutting through thorns and brambles along the path. Aili summoned her demon servant, a Hell Imp, and followed behind, holding a staff embedded with a black gem. The gem radiated a dark energy, clearly a powerful amplifier for shadow spells—top-notch!

"Hey, beauty Aili, how did that horse of yours just disappear? That's amazing!" Li Shaolin, bored from cutting, started chatting with Aili. Aili, being open and easygoing, naturally answered.

"Country bumpkin, amazing, right? Envious? Well, you wouldn't understand." Aili teased him a few times before explaining, "When professionals reach a certain level, they gain the ability to seal mounts. Like me, I can carry my mount with a badge—super convenient. Inside the Sealing Emblem, the mount doesn't need food or water; it's like sleeping, and even injuries slowly recover. Amazing, right?"

"Well... that is amazing. What I want to know is, can you seal at level 10?" Li Shaolin felt something was off—this was too big a change. As for the Sealing Emblem, wasn't it just like his Book of the Dead?

"Well... this badge of mine is a special heirloom; it doesn't depend on level." Aili said a bit sheepishly, lowering her voice.

"Your sister's! A family heirloom!" Li Shaolin felt incredibly unfair. He was a transmigrator, after all—why didn't he get such high-end goods? Not giving up, he asked, "Can other people ride horses?"

"You idiot, do you even need to ask that? Of course they can, they just don't have a Sealing Emblem. If you want to buy a horse, head to Eastvale Logging Camp up ahead. As for the badge, wait until you reach level 20. For a special one like this, it costs at least 1,000 gold coins to make." Aili explained.

"1,000 gold is nothing! Once my mine starts making money, I'll buy two—use one and throw one away!" Li Shaolin said fiercely.

"Tch, vulgar, uncultured. You know, a person can only have one badge. And what mine?" Aili sneered at him, then asked curiously.

"That mine... well..." Though Li Shaolin was a bit of a show-off, he felt it was better not to mention the mine. If too many people knew and it leaked, he could get robbed or kidnapped.

Just as he hesitated, "Hah!" a shout rang out, and a large man wearing a Red Linen Mask charged out with a blade.

"Where did you two brats come from? Got anything valuable? Hand it over now! Oh, hey, this little lady's not bad—come here, let uncle give you a hug!" The man spoke as he reached them.

Li Shaolin used Detection, and the man's details were laid bare: Defias Bandit, level 8.

Hearing the man's crude remarks, Aili was furious. She chanted a spell, and flames blazed up in both her hands. At the same time, the Hell Imp screeched, "Is this really necessary?" Its claws also burst into flames.

The man shouted and swung his blade at Aili! He clearly knew she was a caster and couldn't let her cast freely from the back. But Li Shaolin wasn't just dead weight—after all, she'd promised him 5 gold coins. He raised his Infantry Sword, and with a sharp "clang," he parried the short blade. "Such strength!" He felt his hand sink, barely holding the block.

Just then, a "hissing" sound rang out, and the man was engulfed in flames, burning fiercely. A small fireball from the Imp struck his chest with a "bang."

"Ah!" The man roared in pain. The flames radiating from him made even Li Shaolin feel hot. He quickly stepped back two paces, conjured two Fangs, and shot them with a flash of white light, hitting the man's waist. Barely dodging, he saw Aili cast another spell—a black skull formed above the man's head, and he lost control of his steps, stumbling wildly through the trees—Fear Spell! Then, two red beams landed on the man. Aili waved her hand, and a blue light shot out, steadily draining something from him—Soul Sacrifice!

This chain of moves was smooth and fluid, leaving Li Shaolin in awe. He hadn't expected this girl to be such a skilled fighter. Bold and brash, and a duke's daughter—she'd make a good wife!

"Bang!" The man fell backward, the flames on him extinguishing. Strangely, the fire didn't burn the plants or trees, unlike a mage's flames. Was this a Warlock's Soul Sacrifice?

"Hey, are you a warrior or a mage? Useless! I'm disappointed in you!" Aili said bluntly.