Cheng Xiaoyu

China, Bo City.

"Xinxia, I'm heading out!"

At the entryway, a boy in a tight-fitting assault suit sat on the floor, tying the laces of his boots as he called into the house.

He was lean, with rather delicate features. Perhaps he was what the older generation called "clean-looking"—the sort of person who made a good first impression.

His bangs fell over his forehead, slightly obscuring his eyes and hiding a trace of exhaustion in them.

"Big brother."

A voice like silver bells rang out, and a frail, lovely figure emerged. Though "emerged" wasn't quite right—the girl steered her wheelchair to the entryway and gazed at the boy with concern.

"Why didn't you tell me you were going out today? I didn't get any food ready for you. You'll be hungry while you're out."

The girl sat upright in her wheelchair, slender yet graceful as a magnolia in a courtyard. Her black hair was loosely gathered at the nape of her neck, with a few strands falling against her cheeks. Her skin was as fine as fresh snow, glowing faintly with the warm luster of a pearl.

She wore a pale green silk dress. The soft fabric draped over her bent knees and fell beside the wheelchair's footrest, its folds gathering with a gentle, watery softness.

Her waist was slender, and the lines of her shoulders and neck were smooth and elegant. Though still young, she had already begun to develop, her figure clearly outlined beneath the soft fabric, giving her a tranquil, sculpted beauty.

The boy slowly rose, hiding the exhaustion in his eyes. He turned, reached out to ruffle the girl's hair, and smiled.

"It's okay. I'll probably be back around evening. Just stay home and make dinner for me, okay? And stop by the hospital to see Mom."

Feeling the warmth of his hand on her head, Ye Xinxia felt reassured. She looked at the boy who shouldered their family's burdens, nodded firmly, and smiled.

"Mm! I'll make dinner and wait for you to come home, big brother!"

"Good."

Watching her brother leave, Ye Xinxia closed her eyes and clasped her hands together, praying for him.

My name is Cheng Xiaoyu. I'm sixteen years old, a first-year high school student. The girl just now was my younger sister, Ye Xinxia. Today, my task was to follow a Hunter Team outside the Safe Zone to gather medicinal herbs.

When I was young, my mother, Ye Chang, fell into a coma after an accident. Not even a Healing Element Mage could help her. In medical terms, she was in a vegetative state: her consciousness was still there, but she hadn't woken up since.

As for why a first-year student like me was going outside the Safe Zone... Obviously, it was to make money.

According to the books, you had to be at least fifteen to undergo Magic Awakening. Otherwise, your Mental Power might not be strong enough, and something could go wrong.

Thankfully, my awakening went off without a hitch, and I was lucky enough to awaken the Shadow Element. Otherwise, all the money I'd scrimped and saved would have gone to waste.

After nine months of hard training, I could finally cast Shadow Element Magic. Mu Ningxue had taken eight months, so I'd say I was a genius too.

Though Novice-level Shadow Element Magic wasn't particularly useful, it was still rare in Bo City. In the right environment, it could be surprisingly effective, and it had helped me join a Hunter Team.

Even as a rookie hunter, I'd completed several missions and earned my share of the rewards. At last, I had enough money to continue my mother's treatment at the hospital.

It was December, and the weather had grown bitterly cold. Even a breath of warm air showed clearly in front of me.

When I reached the team's meeting place, a cute woman in blue spotted me and waved cheerfully.

"Xiao Yu, over here!"

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Cheng Xiaoyu hurried over and apologized.

"Sorry, I'm not late, am I?"

"No, we just got here ourselves."

A burly man waved his hand. His name was Wang Dakun, and he was a Fire Element mage at Novice Level 3. He was the Hunter Team's leader.

"Hahaha, we were just waiting for you, kid. We can head out now."

Another stocky, middle-aged man patted Cheng Xiaoyu on the shoulder and gave him a good-natured smile. He was the team's Earth Element Mage.

"Right, here. Sign the contracts, and we'll head out as soon as we're done."

Wang Dakun pulled out a stack of documents and handed them around. He took a pen and signed his own name.

Cheng Xiaoyu read through the contract. It was the usual stuff: if they died, no one would be held responsible. A hint of resolve flashed in his eyes as he signed his name.

Once everyone had signed, Wang Dakun put away the contracts and addressed the group.

"All right, let's go."

They were all Hunter Magicians, used to walking the line between life and death. They knew this was just a formality. No one on their team had ever died.

The group climbed into an off-road vehicle, and their leader, Wang Dakun, explained the mission.

"Today's job is simple. We just need to go outside the Safe Zone and gather an herb called Bone Healing Grass. Once we've collected it, we can come back and collect our reward."

"Gather Bone Healing Grass..."

Luo Hao, the team's Wind Element mage, froze and asked, puzzled,

"Captain, it's just gathering herbs. Why would they send a Hunter Team?"

"According to the report, the Bone Healing Grass grows in a cave. A Servant Class Magic Wolf is probably roaming nearby, which is why they put out a bounty for a Hunter Team."

Hearing Wang Dakun's explanation, Cheng Xiaoyu sighed to himself. That was just how cruel this world was.

Mages and ordinary people belonged to different social classes, each with their own way of life. Generally, they didn't interfere with each other. That was why Magic Awakening was so important—it could change a person's entire life.

Besides, ordinary people had their rich and poor, while mages were divided between commoners and prestigious families. When the former suffered a serious injury, they usually thought of finding a pharmacist to make medicine. The latter, on the other hand, would seek treatment from a Healing Element Mage.

Take me, for example. I also hoped a highly skilled Healing Element Mage could treat my mother and wake her from her slumber.

Wang Dakun glanced at the rearview mirror and looked toward Cheng Xiaoyu in the back seat, smiling as he spoke.

"Xiao Yu, it's your turn to do some work this time."

Cheng Xiaoyu nodded firmly. If they were going into a cave, the Shadow Element would be the most useful. Besides, he'd get a bigger share of the money afterward, which would make things easier for his family.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the woman in blue sitting beside him. She'd been quiet the whole way, so he asked softly,

"Xiao Ke-jie, are you okay?"

The woman named Xiao Ke came back to herself, turned to Cheng Xiaoyu, and gave him a sweet smile.

"Xiao Yu, I'm fine. After this mission, I'll be joining the City Demon Hunter Squad."

Xiao Ke had been eligible to join the City Demon Hunter Squad earlier, but her father had been seriously injured in an accident and urgently needed money. So she'd temporarily joined this Hunter Team to earn some quick cash.

"Then congratulations!"

Cheng Xiaoyu smiled at Xiao Ke. The City Demon Hunter Squad's work was easier and safer than that of Hunter Teams operating outside the Safe Zone. If you weren't in a hurry to make money, it was a pretty good choice.

"Hahaha, Xiao Ke was always qualified to join the City Demon Hunter Squad. Everyone should congratulate her!"

Team leader Wang Dakun laughed. He wasn't sad to lose a Water Element mage from the team; instead, he was happy for Xiao Ke.

"That's true. After this bounty mission, our team will be disbanding anyway."

The stocky Earth Element Mage in the passenger seat sighed. It was hard to tell whether he felt relieved or regretful.

Wang Dakun turned to Cheng Xiaoyu with a smile.

"Don't worry, Xiao Yu. I've already talked to another Hunter Team. They'll let you join."

Xiao Ke chuckled and ruffled Cheng Xiaoyu's hair.

"Hehe, Xiao Yu, your Xiao Ke-jie won't be around anymore, so you'd better take good care of yourself."

"Mm, thank you, everyone."

Cheng Xiaoyu looked at them and thanked them sincerely. The whole team had looked after him during this time. They were all good people.

Still, if I could help it, I didn't want to keep making money with my heart in my throat every time...