Choosing a Mission

Hearing the familiar voice, Dongbo Xueying could not help but reveal a smile. He immediately picked up the Flying Snow Divine Spear resting nearby, and with a whoosh, his body flickered, leaving only a fading afterimage as he arrived at the mountaintop hundreds of meters away.

Beside the bamboo building at the back of the mountain.

A young girl dressed in pale purple robes stood gracefully, holding a basket and looking around.

She was Kong Youyue, now grown up and nineteen years old. The once green, adolescent girl had transformed into a true beauty with an elegant temperament. Because she had spent so long studying magic, her skin was slightly pale, which only made her appear more delicate, and her aura carried the faint, mysterious air unique to mages. She was truly a girl who could easily stir one's heart.

At the very least, among the disciples of the Great Mage Bai Yuanzhi, there were many male disciples who were fond of Kong Youyue, and some even pursued her.

"Youyue."

Dongbo Xueying appeared beside the bamboo building, casually setting his long spear aside as he smiled.

"Brother Xueying, you shouldn't push yourself too hard with your spear practice. Teacher always says that the path of cultivation requires a balance of tension and relaxation." Kong Youyue stood by the stone table to the side, smiling as she took some snacks and food out of her basket. "I just made some of the pastries you like, Brother Xueying. Come and have a taste."

"Mm."

Dongbo Xueying walked over, leaned toward the plate, and took a sniff, revealing a smile. "It smells wonderful."

As he spoke, he picked up a soft little cake and took a bite, laughing, "Youyue's skills are getting better and better." He had loved the pastries his mother made when he was a child, but after she was taken away, he could never eat them again. The ones made by the servants at home... they just never tasted the same as his mother's. Youyue's cooking was quite good; although it didn't match the taste of his mother's in his memories, it was still far better than what the servants made.

"Hmph, I learned them specifically for you," Youyue said proudly.

"I'm heading back to the castle in a while. Let's have lunch together at noon," Dongbo Xueying said, sitting down to eat the snacks. He ate quickly, finishing one in a single bite.

"Alright, it's been a long time since Brother Xueying returned to the castle," Kong Youyue said, standing to the side and watching him eat.

He finished quickly.

"Let's go." Dongbo Xueying stood up.

"Mm."

Kong Youyue nodded.

The man and woman walked side by side.

Since the winter he was twelve, Kong Youyue had lived on Snow Stone Mountain, mostly staying in the castle. Back then, she would often go to the back mountain with the younger Qing Shi to watch Dongbo Xueying. Over time, Dongbo Xueying had grown close and familiar with her.

Six years of being together...

To be precise, Youyue was the girl Dongbo Xueying had the most contact with, and being around her was very comfortable. He was single-mindedly focused on his cultivation, wanting to rescue his father and mother as soon as possible. Kong Youyue would simply watch him silently from the sidelines, never disturbing him.

Sometimes, Dongbo Xueying had even had the thought—

Perhaps taking Youyue as his wife would be quite nice.

Although it wasn't the kind of life-and-death romance his father and mother had, Dongbo Xueying hadn't been in contact with any other girls, and he felt... as long as they could live happily, that was enough.

Furthermore, Kong Youyue never paid any attention to the pursuits of the other male disciples in the mage tower, keeping her heart entirely on Dongbo Xueying; this was something everyone could see.

As for Kong Youyue's father, Kong Hai, he had been working hard to try and facilitate this marriage.

"No rush."

"Youyue is still young. I'll wait until after I've rescued my parents." Dongbo Xueying had no intention of taking a wife before he had saved them!

Because knights and mages focused on their cultivation, they tended to marry and have children relatively late. His father, Dongbo Lie, didn't marry his mother until he was nearly forty! Kong Youyue's father, Kong Hai, had also been nearly forty when he married and had his eldest daughter, Kong Youyue.

For a female mage, the age of nineteen was truly young; marrying at thirty was normal, and even in one's twenties was considered early.

"Besides, to rescue my father and mother, I need a full twenty thousand Merit Points. I can only take on very dangerous Bronze-level missions." Dongbo Xueying thought to himself, "Although I am confident, no one can guarantee absolute safety. Perhaps I might die on a mission. Until everything is accomplished, I shouldn't think about anything else."

In the dining hall of the main building of Snow Stone Castle.

Dongbo Xueying, Zong Ling, Tong San, Qing Shi, and Kong Youyue all sat down separately.

"Qing Shi, I heard from Youyue that you've had a girlfriend for almost half a year?" Dongbo Xueying looked at his younger brother with a smile. His brother Qing Shi was truly handsome! There were enough soldiers in the castle, and Dongbo Xueying had been to Yi Water City, but he dared to pat his chest and say—among all the young men he had ever seen, his own brother was the most handsome one!

His brother's eyes were very bright, a pair of truly charming eyes! He had been handsome since he was a child, and now at sixteen, he was even more extraordinary. Just based on his looks, he would never have to worry about a meal. His magic cultivation, like their mother's, was best suited for ice-type spells, and his brother carried a faint, cold aura about him—a cool, handsome young man. It was said that many of the female disciples in the mage tower were pursuing his brother.

Dongbo Xueying felt very proud of this.

At the same time, he felt deeply moved. That little brat who used to sleep on his chest and drool when he was only two years old had grown up in the blink of an eye.

"Sister Youyue, you're such a busybody, telling my brother about this," Qing Shi frowned, helpless.

"You hid it so well. You've had a girlfriend for nearly half a year and I only just found out. Of course I'd tell your brother; he is your brother, after all," Kong Youyue said with a smile.

"If your girlfriend doesn't mind, bring her over sometime for me to see," Dongbo Xueying said.

"Alright, I'll see if she agrees," Qing Shi pouted.

"By the way, I'm planning to go out for a while soon. I'll probably be gone for ten days or half a month," Dongbo Xueying said.

"What for? You aren't going to the Destruction Mountain Range again, are you?" Qing Shi asked quickly. Zong Ling and Tong San also looked at Dongbo Xueying with some surprise.

"I promise I definitely won't go to the Destruction Mountain Range," Dongbo Xueying said with a grin. "I'm just going out for a trip, to see more of the world and practice my spear techniques."

He didn't go into detail.

He didn't want to talk much about taking on missions.

Evening.

Inside the study.

The Fire Crystal Lamp sat on the desk, its light spilling across the room, where Zong Ling and Tong San were both present.

Dongbo Xueying sat before the desk and said, "Uncle Zong, Uncle Tong, I plan to head out and take on a Black Iron-level mission first to get some practice. After that, I intend to apply for a Bronze Token and begin Bronze-level missions."

"You must be careful," Tong San urged immediately.

Within the entire Snow Stone Castle, only the two of them knew the true extent of Dongbo Xueying's strength—they knew he already possessed Title-level combat power!

"I don't doubt your strength, Xueying, but you have too little experience fighting against experts. I agree with your idea to start with a Black Iron-level mission to get a feel for things," Zong Ling nodded. "Accumulate more combat experience before you take on Bronze-level missions."

"Mm," Dongbo Xueying nodded.

For someone with Title-level combat power to take on a Black Iron-level mission would naturally be very easy.

"I've looked over the mission list, and there is a very good one available recently," Dongbo Xueying said.

"What mission?" Zong Ling and Tong San both asked in succession.

"Take a look."

Dongbo Xueying picked up the mission list resting on the desk, where one entry had already been circled. Zong Ling and Tong San both walked over to examine it closely.

It was written very clearly—

"Within the territory of Qinghe Prefecture, a certain castle has been investigated and found guilty of capital crimes. The castle's strength is formidable, requiring the recruitment of five experts. The mission is dangerous; it is recommended that the takers possess Silver Moon Knight-level strength! Mission reward: 100 Merit Points. Must assemble at the Dragon Mountain Tower in the Qinghe Prefecture capital by June 1st!"

Dongbo Xueying said, "I will inform Lord Si An, and then I will depart immediately for the prefecture capital to assemble! Since this mission requires five Silver Moon-level experts, it will certainly be quite difficult, which should be perfect for me to get some practice."