Chapter 307

Just as he was about to attack, screams and cries of fear suddenly came from behind him. The sunlight that had been shining on them suddenly dimmed, its languid comfort vanishing, replaced by a chilling cold. Hua Xin, while keeping an eye on Mu Feng, slowly turned her head to look. "... What kind of creature is this?" she murmured, somewhat bewildered, looking at the giant, several meters tall and surrounded by nine green venomous dragons, his body riddled with needles and bulging with muscles. Side Story: The Adventure of Hero Hua Xin 5 "I am Xiang Second Dipping Sauce Xiang Guan the Nine Dragon Coffin King!?" "You little ants think you can kill our Demon King, humans and elves? Oh, I almost didn't see the dwarf who's a tiny speck of dust?" Xiang Guan's bulging muscles spoke volumes about the terrifying power of this giant. The Magic Power he exuded was even stronger than Mu Feng, who was posing in mid-air. The faint aura of majesty in the air instilled a sense of awe, even a slight reluctance to fight. This feeling seemed to arise only when facing... facing someone several times stronger, someone one lacked the confidence to defeat. But for the team members who had just boasted and assumed battle stances, this wasn't the most shocking thing. According to the giant, he was merely a general under the Demon King. How could he possess such powerful Magic Power energy and intimidating presence to suppress these battle-hardened prodigies from various races? If even a general was so powerful, then... those who had pointed their weapons at Demon Mu Feng in mid-air earlier silently lowered their weapons, a hint of apprehension and gravity flashing in their eyes. This seemingly carefree Demon King was probably not as simple as he appeared; he was likely hiding his true strength... no, or perhaps he was deliberately making them underestimate him so he could use that time difference to annihilate them all! The elf girl who had first uttered those arrogant words swallowed hard, her feet moving silently to conceal herself behind several warriors and tanks. Things had changed; escape was the best option. The hero Hua Xin pondered for a moment, still not making the first move. Her hand on the Hero's Sword at her waist remained motionless, simply observing everything unfolding before her. She had a feeling that something was wrong, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. "Lord Hero..." "Please be careful." At this moment, Dong Miao stretched out his arm and placed it in front of Hua Xin. His look of being on high alert and his earnest words showed how much he cared about Hua Xin's safety. The force with which he gripped the Magic Staff seemed to have left red marks on his hand. His usually gentle and silent eyes now looked at Hua Xin with the ferocity of a docile dog that had been guarding the house for many years and had suddenly encountered someone who wanted to harm their master or was in danger. "You too." "We still have the Return City Magic that the Great Sage just cast on us, so we don't need to worry too much. Just be careful not to lose your equipment..." Seeing Dong Miao's worried look, Hua Xin felt a warmth in her heart. The scenes of the two of them fighting side by side for more than a year and experiencing countless life-and-death moments once again surfaced in Hua Xin's mind. Although friendships and understanding often last for years or even decades, a little over a year seems to leave little impression and feels rather short. Without prolonged interaction and observation, one cannot truly know a person's character. This is a point Hua Xin firmly believes in. But their situation is different. The ultimate purpose of spending time together is to see if someone will put on one face in public and another behind closed doors, deceiving others and themselves. But when someone faces a life-or-death moment, do they really have time to consider how to maintain their "persona"? Hua Xin has no doubt about this when looking at Dong Miao. It was a dark and stormy night a year ago. According to the kingdom's official report, a massive Monster Tide destroyed two large villages, leaving a scene of utter carnage. The surrounding guards and troops were almost instantly overwhelmed by the overwhelming attack. If this continued unchecked, the threat would extend beyond the villages and towns to the entire capital. At the height of her fame, Hua Xin, as the captain of the Royal Knights, naturally had to represent the royal family's attitude towards its citizens. She was also the only Saintly Body in the country capable of facing an army of thousands single-handedly. Yes, at that time, Hua Xin had not yet become a hero and awakened her own magical talents, nor had she transformed into the dashing and beautiful young woman she is today. Entrusted with a critical mission, Hua Xin naturally took the newly joined mage Dong Miao, to the location of the beast tide to intercept and clear it out. Hua Xin remembered that night; she lost count of how many blades she had shattered. The shouts and curses of her teammates, the howls of the monsters, the roars of humans... the beast tide, like a raging torrent, was enough to make anyone's legs go weak at the mere sight of it, causing them to fall from their horses and tremble, utterly devoid of any will to fight. Everyone else could think of retreating, but she couldn't. She was the commander of the Knights, and she had the duty and responsibility to protect the empire and its people. Hua Xin had originally intended for Dong Miao, the newly joined mage, to stay behind and provide support, like the other young knights who had been terrified. However, his strength and courage exceeded her expectations. He, like her, was among the first to charge into the beast tide. During the battle, Hua Xin didn't know how many magical beasts she had killed. But instinctively, she entrusted her comrades to this newly acquainted mage, working alongside him to survive the beast tide and resolve the crisis. Shortly after this, she awakened her magical talent. During this time, she and Dong Miao strengthened their trust in each other through countless battles. Dong Miao was a good boy who greatly admired her. She had seen him in the roster; Dong Miao was the same age as her, but two months younger. To achieve such success and courage at such a young age, and to be selected for the demon-slaying team, was enough to demonstrate Dong Miao's magical talent. Thinking of this, Hua Xin's gaze towards Dong Miao couldn't help but carry a hint of relief, and that uniquely masculine sense of camaraderie slowly rose within her. "You must survive, Brother Dong." "We'll always be the best comrades." "The best brother?" Hua Xin choked out, tears welling in her eyes. Extra Chapter: Hua Xin's Adventure Journey 6 "Lord Hero..." A feeling of unprecedented emotion slowly surfaced in Dong Miao's eyes, and the Magic Staff he gripped involuntarily pointed towards...