Xiao Yi Xian's Kindness

Xiao Yi Xian and Lin Ze each took a book and went to a corner of the library, where they leaned against the wall.

From this spot, they could see anyone approaching right away.

"You're pretty cautious."

Xiao Yi Xian glanced around the corner Lin Ze had brought her to and quickly understood its advantage.

She lowered her voice. "By the way, why did you come to Fire Wolf Town?"

Lin Ze glanced at Xiao Yi Xian and smiled.

"What if I said it was because of you? Would you believe me?"

"I wouldn't!" Xiao Yi Xian shook her head decisively. "Could you really have known in advance that I'd be coming to Fire Wolf Town today, then come here early just to wait for me?"

Lin Ze rolled his eyes slightly.

"Not quite!"

"After I went to Wan Yao Zhai to get treated that day, I noticed some people from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group following me on my way back."

Xiao Yi Xian was clever, and combined with what Lin Ze had said earlier, she immediately understood.

Lin Ze really had been forced to leave Qingshan Town because of her.

She knew that Mu Li of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group was interested in her.

But she had no interest in him.

She hadn't expected that the man would even have someone follow anyone who spoke to her for more than a few words.

And without the Iron Blood Mercenary Group's protection, Lin Ze was naturally no match for Mu Li's malice.

He could only leave Qingshan Town and try to make a living in Fire Wolf Town.

Xiao Yi Xian frowned.

"That Mu Li from the Wolf Head Mercenary Group is truly detestable. His behavior is disgusting."

"Come to think of it, Mu Li must have ordered the Wolf Head Mercenary Group to frame you, too."

Lin Ze raised an eyebrow. "Frame me? Is that why you wanted to draw the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's people away from me?"

"That's right. The Wolf Head Mercenary Group accused you of killing one of their members, Liu Dali."

Xiao Yi Xian nodded earnestly.

"When I heard about it, I went straight to the Wolf Head Mercenary Group to explain the situation!"

"The day Liu Dali was killed was the day before you came to me for treatment. With the injuries you had then, you couldn't even move freely."

"How could you possibly have killed Liu Dali in that condition?"

"I explained all this to the Wolf Head Mercenary Group, but it didn't seem to help."

"Now I understand. Mu Li may well have ordered them to frame you!"

Xiao Yi Xian sounded indignant. "The Wolf Head Mercenary Group is far too domineering."

After hearing her out, Lin Ze felt a little conflicted.

In a way, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group hadn't exactly framed him.

He hadn't killed Liu Dali with his own hands, but he had controlled a Death Soldier to kill him with a Poisoned Dagger.

Suddenly, Lin Ze remembered that the man he'd killed at the Flame Mercenary Group's base seemed to have been Liu Dali's older brother, Liu Hu.

One Liu brother had died indirectly at his hands, and the other directly.

...That seemed to make the satisfaction of revenge even sweeter.

Seeing that Lin Ze still hadn't said anything, Xiao Yi Xian sighed and spoke to him.

"I'm sorry. It really might have been because of me that you were framed."

Xiao Yi Xian hesitated, then took a Gold Deposit Card from the small pouch at her waist.

"There's more than a thousand gold coins in here. It's payment for treating people in Fire Wolf Town this time..."

Lin Ze smiled and waved her off.

"This started with Mu Li and the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. You're not to blame, and you certainly shouldn't have to compensate me."

"But Mu Li targeted you because of me, and you were forced to leave Qingshan Town."

Xiao Yi Xian tried to persuade him again and held out the Gold Deposit Card.

Lin Ze blocked it with his book.

"I left Qingshan Town for other reasons, though the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's threats were part of it."

"The Wolf Head Mercenary Group has been squeezing the Iron Blood Mercenary Group dry. Given Mu She's personality, there was no way he'd let me stay."

"If the Wolf Head Mercenary Group hadn't still had some veterans from the Iron Blood Mercenary Group to consider, Mu She would probably have acted long ago, for fear of upsetting them."

"It was the Wolf Head Mercenary who followed me who made me realize this. That's why I left Qingshan Town."

Hearing Lin Ze's explanation and seeing how firmly he refused, Xiao Yi Xian hesitated before putting the Gold Deposit Card away.

"Whatever the case, I had something to do with it. I won't let anyone know you're in Fire Wolf Town!"

Xiao Yi Xian spoke earnestly.

Feeling her kindness, Lin Ze smiled and nodded, accepting it.

"Thank you."

After that, the two read their books and chatted quietly.

Lin Ze also learned why Xiao Yi Xian had come to Fire Wolf Town.

Many mercenaries had been injured when the Wolf Pack attacked Fire Wolf Town the day before.

The town's own clinics couldn't treat them all, so the people of Fire Wolf Town had gone to the neighboring Qingshan Town to ask for help.

When Mr. Yao, the person in charge of Wan Yao Zhai, heard about it, he immediately organized a Pharmacist Team.

In his view, the number of people injured in an attack by a Magical Beast pack would probably exceed the number of patients Wan Yao Zhai treated in several months.

With profits at stake, Mr. Yao was naturally eager to help.

The people of Fire Wolf Town had sent someone to Qingshan Town the day before, and Wan Yao Zhai's Pharmacist Team had already arrived today.

After the pharmacists from both towns worked urgently to treat the wounded, the situation had finally improved somewhat.

Xiao Yi Xian had found a little time between her duties to come to the library and read.

She hadn't expected to run into Lin Ze.

As she spoke, Xiao Yi Xian also complained to Lin Ze about Mr. Yao.

He was a thoroughly self-serving man.

Greed was at the heart of everything he did.

Listening to Xiao Yi Xian's complaints, Lin Ze smiled but didn't join in criticizing Mr. Yao. He simply listened quietly, playing the part of a good listener.

Only after a long while did Xiao Yi Xian say, a little embarrassed, "There's usually no one I can talk to about these things. I've ended up going on and on today. Please forgive me."

"Haha, talking about it helps. Even if you can't change anything right away, saying it out loud gives you a chance to let it out instead of keeping it bottled up."

Lin Ze chuckled and comforted her.

Hearing him say that, Xiao Yi Xian once again felt that Lin Ze had grown far more mature than before.

It was just that the price of that maturity was painful.

Xiao Yi Xian gazed at Lin Ze.

"It's getting late, and I've only managed to sneak away for a little while."

"To avoid any trouble, I won't ask where you're staying. I may be in Fire Wolf Town for a few more days, and I'll probably come back to the library. What about you?"

Lin Ze thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"With the Wolf Head Mercenary Group around, I'd better keep a low profile for now."

"I see..." Xiao Yi Xian sounded a little disappointed. She still felt somewhat guilty toward Lin Ze and wanted to find a way to help him.

But then she thought about it. Perhaps avoiding Lin Ze was itself a way to help him.

"Ahem. If you run into any trouble in Fire Wolf Town over the next few days that you can't handle, you can find me beneath the two Withered Trees in the southwest of town. Someone will get in touch with you then."

Hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian looked up at Lin Ze, her bright eyes fixed on him. At last, she nodded firmly.

"Okay. It's a deal."

After watching Xiao Yi Xian leave, Lin Ze paid the shopkeeper a few gold coins to make an exception for him.

He asked to leave through the bookstore's back door.

The Wolf Head Mercenary Group's mercenary might double back and keep watch outside the bookstore.

Better to be cautious.