First Encounter with the Goddess

Zhang Ruofeng nearly tumbled to the ground in an instant, instinctively performing a few backflips. His face flushed hot, but a bone-deep ache suddenly blinded him, and he nearly lost his footing. Zhang Ruofeng was all too familiar with this sensation; every time he grew closer to a girl or felt a flicker of a heartbeat, his heart would ache as if it were about to explode.

"You... do you actually carry such a heavy heart wound?" The goddess's expression furrowed instantly.

"What?" Zhang Ruofeng failed to catch what the goddess said for a moment. "Also, what is your Familia?"

"That's right, just as you think. Sign a contract with me and become my Familia. I will grant you power that ordinary people cannot possess and infinite potential for growth. You might even become a super powerhouse in this world, fulfill the long-cherished wishes of generations of adventurers, and perhaps even find a way home, you know?" the goddess said steadily, though her eyes seemed to carry a trace of loneliness.

"Has something happened to your Familia?" Zhang Ruofeng asked as carefully as he could.

"Oh, your observation skills are quite good." The goddess smiled sadly. "Let me introduce myself formally: I am the Goddess of Flowers, Flora."

"Nice to meet you, Goddess. I am Zhang Ruofeng." Zhang Ruofeng stood straight and replied solemnly.

"Pfft, no need to be so tense. Gods are actually quite common in this world." Seeing the serious Zhang Ruofeng, the goddess laughed, and the faint melancholy flowing in the air vanished.

"I hope you will join my Familia. Although the current number of members is zero, I still hope you will join." The goddess looked down at the flowers in her hands. "You have just arrived in Orario, so you might not know, but I have a nickname: the 'Unlucky Goddess'."

"Unlucky Goddess?" Zhang Ruofeng frowned. Normally, no one would dare give a goddess a nickname, let alone one so ominous.

"Yes. The reason I earned this nickname is actually because of my previous Familia. There were six children in total." A look of sorrow welled up in the goddess's eyes again. "But for some reason, they all died in the Dungeon at the critical point of leveling up from Lv.1. Although many adventurers die trying to cross that wall, in the seven years my Familia existed, not a single person succeeded in leveling up, and not a single person remained by my side. They all passed away."

"..." Zhang Ruofeng looked at such a beautiful goddess wearing such a sorrowful expression and didn't know what to say. This topic was very heavy, and Zhang Ruofeng was not actually a very emotional person. Most friends felt that Zhang Ruofeng's emotions were three parts less than a normal person's, but sometimes they would erupt instantly like fireworks—just like the few times Zhang Ruofeng had fought like a madman since he was a child, which basically happened only when he was pushed to a point where he refused to retreat another step, causing his emotions to explode violently.

"But it's okay. It's been a long time since a newcomer joined my Familia, so it's fine if you don't come." Goddess Flora smiled lonely. "You are a person from another world. As a god who loves the unknown, no god would refuse you joining their Familia."

"Hmph, what do I have to fear?" Zhang Ruofeng's expression suddenly brightened. "I am already a person who should have died once; am I afraid of dying again? Besides, I don't believe it's caused by you, Goddess!"

As soon as Zhang Ruofeng finished speaking, he immediately quieted down, muttering to himself, (Damn it, my high school personality is showing again.)

"Hahahaha, you really are an interesting person." With tears in the corners of her eyes, the goddess giggled. For a moment, Zhang Ruofeng was stunned. In a trance, a youthful and somewhat familiar face seemed to flash before his eyes, along with the shy smile Xin Mu had when she first greeted him, and then the heart-wrenching pain spread once more.

"So, so, so, what should I do?" Zhang Ruofeng shifted back to his goofy style and asked in a panic.

"Then let me ask you one more time, seriously: Zhang Ruofeng, are you willing to become my—the Flower Goddess Flora's—Familia and become an adventurer?" the goddess asked solemnly.

"I am willing." Zhang Ruofeng stood straight and replied seriously.

"Very well, close your eyes." The goddess said, then stepped closer to Zhang Ruofeng, who obediently closed his eyes. "From this moment on, you, Zhang Ruofeng, shall become a member of my Familia. Now, I will sign the contract with you." Zhang Ruofeng felt his nose tickle; the faint fragrance he had smelled earlier drifted into his nose once more. Just as he wondered why the goddess was so close, he felt a soft touch on his forehead, accompanied by that fragrant scent. Zhang Ruofeng instantly jumped back twice, putting three steps of distance between them. He felt his heart was about to leap out of his chest; he didn't need to touch his face to know it was burning. When he looked at the goddess, her face was a mix of joy, anticipation, shyness, and playfulness. Her slightly flushed cheeks and the graceful posture of her standing on tiptoe left Zhang Ruofeng completely stuttering.

"You, you, you..." Zhang Ruofeng pressed his forehead, his tongue tied in a knot.

"Don't be so panicked, you're making me shy too." Goddess Flora looked down, twisting the corner of her dress. "The way to sign the contract is like this. Although everyone's method is a bit different, this is the one I chose."

After hearing this, Zhang Ruofeng calmed down; his somewhat indifferent personality allowed him to return to composure quickly.

"Then, I look forward to working with you, Zhang Ruofeng." The goddess looked at Zhang Ruofeng with a gentle expression, and Zhang Ruofeng nodded, feeling slightly happy. Then, a searing pain erupted on his back. Zhang Ruofeng reached for his back in surprise, and when it didn't subside, he took off his shirt.

"It's fine, it's fine," the goddess said with a smile. "It's just that after my blood entered your body, the inscription began to form." As she spoke, the goddess moved behind Zhang Ruofeng, looked at the status inscription written in divine characters, touched it lightly, and said happily, "No problem, the basic stats are all I0. Oh? There seems to be a pretty girl behind the house whose style of dress is similar to yours watching us."

What?! Zhang Ruofeng turned his head and locked eyes with the peeping girl. His heart panicked for a moment. "Xin Mu, why...?"

Xin Mu walked out from behind the house where she had been hiding, looking awkward. She looked at Zhang Ruofeng, then at the goddess, appearing a bit conflicted.

"Why are you here?!" Zhang Ruofeng's face was full of astonishment. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Xin Mu looked at Zhang Ruofeng, who was shirtless, revealing muscles that didn't look overly bulky but were well-proportioned and toned. She blushed, then watched as Zhang Ruofeng walked to her side with concern. The care on his face made him appear incredibly gentle. Finally, unable to hold back the fear she felt after arriving in this unknown world where she knew nothing, and disregarding her usual cold demeanor toward everyone, she threw herself into Zhang Ruofeng's arms and began to sob. Zhang Ruofeng was a bit confused by this sudden situation, but he reacted immediately, gently stroking Xin Mu's long hair and whispering, "It's okay, I'm here. Don't be afraid."