Purchasing a Wand

The icy water splashed across his face, thoroughly dispelling the last remnants of sleepiness.

After washing up, Li Ang walked to his desk and pulled open a drawer. Besides parchment and some miscellaneous items, several potions were neatly arranged inside.

He picked up two bottles of [Basic Healing Potion], thought for a moment, then took out a bottle of [Antidote Potion] that could neutralize common toxins, as well as a bottle of [Night Owl Potion].

Li Ang had accumulated all these potions while taking on commissions. Whenever he came across particularly useful potions while completing commissions at the workshop, he would keep a few bottles for himself. They happened to come in handy this time.

He carefully placed the bottles into the potion pouch at his waist.

"Whispering Forest... Though they say there aren't any powerful Demonic Beasts there, it's still best to be prepared."

Li Ang muttered to himself. After checking his belongings and confirming that nothing was missing, he pushed open the door and headed out.

After breakfast, Li Ang went straight to the agreed meeting place.

He stood at the entrance to the Wizard Tower, patiently waiting for the employer of this expedition.

Before long, a petite yet extraordinarily eye-catching figure walked toward him.

When Li Ang saw who it was, he could not help but freeze for a moment.

She was not wearing the brown wizard robe that marked her status. Instead, she wore a suit of exquisitely crafted full-body armor that gleamed with a silvery metallic sheen.

The armor fit her petite body perfectly. Runes that enhanced defense were inscribed at the joints, while an emblem of crossed warhammers was engraved over the chest.

A kite shield nearly as tall as she was hung diagonally across her back, while in her hand, she held a massive warhammer more than a head taller than her entire body.

"Your Highness, what is this...?"

Li Ang could not help looking her up and down as he asked curiously,

"I remember... aren't you an Apprentice Wizard from the Potion School? Why are you dressed... well... like a warrior?"

At his words, Shandra Meiya proudly thrust out her chest, her silver armor giving off a faint metallic scrape.

She swung the enormous warhammer, stirring up a gust of wind. Her movements were coordinated and powerful, making it clear that she was quite skilled.

"Hmph, listen carefully, Sir Li Ang," she explained to him in a voice brimming with pride.

"Every Dwarf King is a king of knights who charges at the very front of the battle formation. Strength and courage are the path worthy of a king. Thus, this princess is first the knight-king of the Maxwell Lineage, and only then a wizard."

Hearing this proud declaration, Li Ang could not help teasing her. "But you're only a princess, not a knight-king, are you?"

Shandra Meiya seemed to have been struck where it hurt. Her emerald eyes immediately widened as she waved her warhammer and said disdainfully,

"Hmph, it's only a matter of time. Once this princess gathers ten of the strongest knights, I will take them back to Ironforge, challenge my royal father, defeat him openly and honorably, and then be crowned the new Dwarf King."

The smile on Li Ang's face instantly stiffened.

Wait? Gather ten knights? Challenge her father? The current Dwarf King?

Li Ang suddenly recalled her knighting ceremony from that morning, as well as his knightly title worth one gold coin...

He subconsciously pointed at himself, his voice a little dry.

"Your Highness, the ten knights you mentioned... wouldn't one of them... include... me?"

"Of course. You are my first knight, the future knight commander who will lead the other knights. Consider it an honor."

Shandra Meiya answered as though it were only natural, even giving Li Ang a look that said, You've struck gold.

Li Ang felt the corner of his eye twitch uncontrollably. What father-daughter harmony? Had he accidentally become part of the rebel high command?

Forget it, Li Ang silently consoled himself. She only had him as her so-called knight for now anyway.

Who knew when she would ever gather those so-called ten knights? This princess would probably forget about it herself after a while.

For now... he would follow this little rich princess and take whatever benefits he could get his hands on first.

If some high-risk mission like chopping down a king ever really came up later... he would definitely be the first to run.

"Let's go, Sir Li Ang."

The proud princess clearly failed to notice that her chief knight, Li Ang, had already begun planning his escape.

She carried the warhammer on her shoulder, head held high and chest thrust out as she led the way. Li Ang silently sighed and hurried after her as though resigning himself to fate.

After taking a few steps, Shandra Meiya suddenly stopped. Her delicate brows furrowed, and her silver armor rang crisply as she turned around.

She looked Li Ang up and down. Seeing that his hands were completely empty, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"Sir Li Ang," she said suspiciously, "where is your wand? Do you intend to follow this princess into the forest to hunt empty-handed?"

Li Ang spread his hands and answered honestly, "Your Highness, to tell you the truth, I've been busy studying and brewing potions ever since becoming an apprentice. I haven't had time to purchase such equipment yet."

At that, Shandra Meiya's emerald eyes widened round as though she had heard something utterly unbelievable.

"How can the chief knight of this princess lack proper equipment?"

With a wave of her little hand, the warhammer stirred up another gust of wind. "No, we're buying one right now. Follow me."

With that, she headed straight for the public carriage stop without giving him any room to object. Li Ang could only hurry after her.

They arrived before a carriage marked with the Tower District–Artisan Street route. The driver was a middle-aged man with a face full of whiskers.

When he saw Shandra Meiya leading the way in such exaggerated attire, especially with that enormous warhammer, his eyelid could not help twitching.

Shandra Meiya nimbly moved to climb aboard, only for the driver to hold out a hand and stop her.

"Wait, little miss..." The driver looked over the warhammer, which appeared immensely heavy, then glanced at the petite Shandra Meiya and smacked his lips.

"This... thing of yours is a bit too heavy. Bringing that aboard costs extra. Hmm... another two copper coins."

Shandra Meiya seemed accustomed to this. There was not the slightest trace of surprise or dissatisfaction on her face as she merely curled her lips and said,

"Got it. I never said I wouldn't pay. Here, this is for the two of us."

She pointed at Li Ang, then briskly counted out four copper coins from a small yet bulging purse at her waist and handed them to the driver.

The driver accepted the money, shrugged, and gestured for them to get aboard.

The carriage was somewhat cramped. Shandra Meiya carefully propped her warhammer against a corner and sat beside it. Her kite shield obscured nearly half her body, and the other passengers in the carriage all frowned at the sight.

However, they had heard the conversation outside and knew that the little girl had paid double fare for this, theoretically entitling her to four seats. So they tactfully said nothing more.

After a bumpy ride, they finally arrived at Artisan Street. Whether because his lung disease had been cured or because his physique had improved, Li Ang did not vomit his guts out this time.