The morning mist had not yet dissipated, but there were already scattered movements in the tent area.
Luo Ge rolled over, his hand grasping at empty air, and he suddenly opened his eyes.
Nanahoshi Shizuka's blanket was neatly folded and placed in the corner of the tent, but she was nowhere to be seen.
Luo Ge frowned, lifted the curtain, peeked out, and scanned the area, but the black-haired girl was nowhere to be seen.
He stood up, dusted off his clothes, and was about to go out to look for someone when he saw Nanahoshi Shizuka running back hurriedly from the other end of the tent area.
He was still clutching a piece of black bread in his hand, as if he had just picked it out of a garbage bag.
"Where have you been?"
Luo Ge asked.
Nanahoshi Shizuka's ears flushed slightly. She shoved half a piece of leftover black bread into Luo Ge's hand and muttered softly, "Um... I was hungry, and I just happened to see someone handing out free food over there, so I lined up and got some. But honestly, the food here is really awful."
Luo Ge glanced at her, but didn't press further. His tone was crisp. "Alright, stop nitpicking. Hurry up and pack your things, let's leave here."
"Huh?"
Nanahoshi Shizuka was taken aback. "Why are you in such a hurry? Didn't you plan to go to the nearby Adventurers' Guild yesterday to inquire about your family?"
"No need."
"I already have a new goal."
"Hmm? You seem to be in a hurry... What happened?" Nanahoshi Shizuka asked tentatively.
Luo Ge paused for a moment, then answered decisively, "My enemies are coming after me, so I have to leave quickly. You don't want to get dragged into this, do you?"
"Enemies?"
"Is it that impressive?"
"Um."
"He's very powerful. If I encounter him, I'll most likely die, and you'll be implicated as well."
Luo Ge glanced at her sideways, his tone calm, "What, scared?"
Nanahoshi Shizuka clenched the hem of her clothes, then shook her head. "I'm scared, but if we really encounter that situation, I can't just leave you behind and run away, can I?"
Luo Ge looked at her for two seconds, a slight smile playing on his lips, but didn't reply.
The two packed their meager belongings, lifted the tent flap, and prepared to go outside. But after taking only two steps, they heard a commotion coming from the group of refugees not far away.
A little girl's crying came from over there.
Luo Ge paused, looking in the direction of the sound. A girl of about three or four years old was standing in the middle of the dirt road, her face streaked with tears, her little hands clutching the hem of her clothes, trembling, and she was calling out "Papa" intermittently.
People came and went around; some glanced at the child and walked away, while others frowned and muttered, "Whose child is this that's lost again?" But no one stopped.
One man, however, stopped.
The man was wearing a drab, old padded jacket, was thin, and had an unsettling smile on his face.
He squatted down in front of the little girl, saying, "Little sister, don't be afraid, uncle will take you to find your father," but his hand was already reaching for the girl's arm.
The little girl instinctively shrank back, but the man's hand was already about to touch her.
Some people around frowned, and the two young adventurers even took half a step forward, but hesitated and then retreated.
Meddling in other people's business at a time like this—who knows who they are?
Getting into a lot of trouble would be a huge loss.
The little girl's eyes were filled with tears, her lips trembled, and she tried to scream but couldn't make a sound.
Then a hand reached out from the side and gently gripped the man's wrist.
"That's enough."
The man's smile froze on his face. He tried to pull his hand away, but found it gripped tightly, as if caught in a pair of iron clamps.
He turned around angrily, muttering, "Damn it, brat!"
What are you doing?
"Let go of me right now!"
Luo Ge's gaze was indifferent, devoid of any extra expression.
He simply looked at the other person, his lips moved, and he uttered a single word. "Get lost."
The word was spoken softly, without any murderous intent or threat, yet it sent a chill down the human trafficker's spine.
He swallowed hard, pulled his hand back, staggered two steps backward, and pointed at Luo Ge: "Fine... you win, kid. Don't you dare leave here, you just wait!"
Then he turned and disappeared into the crowd, slinking away in disgrace.
Luo Ge didn't even look at him directly; instead, he squatted down and looked directly at the tearful little girl.
He softened his voice. "It's alright, don't be afraid. Did you get separated from your family?"
The little girl looked at him timidly, and after a long while, she whispered, "My dad went out alone today. I wanted to find him, but then I got lost."
"..."
After hearing this, Luo Ge couldn't help but curse inwardly.
What kind of father is he, leaving his daughter alone at home?
Although they had never met, Luo Ge's impression of this father, whom he had never met, had plummeted.
"May I have your name?"
"Luo Ge asked."
"I... I'm called Norn."
The little girl answered.
Luo Ge paused for a moment.
Norn?
He looked down and examined the little face in front of him closely—bright, sparkling eyes, a pert little nose, chubby cheeks, and a mixture of dirt and tear stains on her face.
This face bears some resemblance to Paul's, yet also possesses Zenith's soft features.
I like Luo Ge more and more the more I look at him.
He couldn't help but reach out and gently stroke Norn's little head. " Norn, what a lovely name."
"Ugh!"
Norn was a little confused by the strange older brother's action of wiping her face, but the gentle touch gradually relaxed her tense body.
Her little face was slightly flushed, as if she were a bit embarrassed.
Luo Ge stood up and held out a hand to her. "Um, where do you live?"
"How about I take you home?"
However, before Luo Ge could finish speaking, a series of chaotic footsteps sounded behind him.
He turned his head to look.
The human trafficker did indeed bring someone back.
Seven or eight fierce-looking, burly men blocked the middle of the road, carrying wooden sticks and iron chains. The leader of the traffickers had a vengeful grin on his face.
"Finally found you."
"Kid! You think you're so arrogant? Now let's see who should get lost!"
The surrounding refugees all retreated and made way, and no one dared to step forward.
Nanahoshi Shizuka's face paled, and she instinctively leaned closer to Luo Ge's back. Then, she clenched her fists, positioned herself half a step behind him, and whispered, "I'll fight alongside you."
"Need not."
"Just stand further away."
Luo Ge gently pushed Norn behind her. "Miss Nanahoshi Shizuka, please look after her for me. It'll be quick, just a blink of an eye!"
The moment the words left his mouth.
Luo Ge drew his sword.
Swish!
The sound of the elegant dragon sword being drawn was short and crisp, like a snapped string.
His figure vanished from his spot, and in the next instant, he had already cut into the midst of those seven or eight burly men.
There were no superfluous movements, no fancy moves; every sword strike landed precisely on the opponent's joints.
Wrists, back of knees, shoulders.
The cracking sounds of dislocated joints and screams rang out almost without pause, and in less than five breaths, the ground was littered with people lying haphazardly.
"Huh?"
"Where did they all go? How could they all disappear in the blink of an eye?"
The ringleader stood at the very back, watching helplessly as his men fell one by one, his sinister grin turning deathly pale.
He could no longer laugh.
When Luo Ge's sword tip stopped three inches in front of his nose, his legs went weak and he collapsed to his knees with a thud.
"You, you... who exactly are you?"
Luo Ge sheathed his sword, the blade reflecting his unbelievably young face.
He curled his lips slightly, his tone nonchalant. "You're not worthy to know."
Then, with a flash of sword light, a thin red line, as fine as a hair, appeared on the trafficker's neck.
He fell to the ground with his eyes wide open, never understanding who he had offended until his death.
Luo Ge sheathed his sword, turned and walked back to Shizuka and Norn, his tone as flat as if he had just swatted a mosquito. "Let's go, take this child home, business is more important."
"You killed someone?"
Nanahoshi Shizuka opened her mouth; had she really killed someone with just a few casual words?
This scene was simply too cruel for Nanahoshi Shizuka, a sheltered flower who had lived in the modern world for so long.
Luo Ge sneered, "Should we keep this kind of scum alive for the New Year instead of killing him?"
"Aren't you afraid of being caught by the police...?"
Nanahoshi Shizuka then realized that she was in another world where there were no police.
Nanahoshi Shizuka originally thought that Luo Ge was just an ordinary person like her, who had just lived in another world for a longer time.
But to his utter surprise, Luo Ge possessed such formidable strength, far exceeding his expectations.
Nanahoshi Shizuka hates killing and violence.
But she didn't dislike people who would wield their swords to kill villains in order to protect others.
Nanahoshi Shizuka glanced down at Norn in her arms.
At this moment, Norn stared with a pair of round, gray eyes. Although he looked somewhat afraid, a hint of admiration for Luo Ge also appeared on his face, a genuine expression of respect.
"Big brother is so amazing!"
Norn called out in a childish voice.
Luo Ge chuckled at her antics and reached out to ruffle her hair. "Come on, where's your dad? I'll take you there."
Norn tilted his head and thought for a moment, then pointed in the direction of the north of the city. "Dad said he's going to the Adventurers' Guild. If we go to the Adventurers' Guild, we can find Dad."
"OK."
Luo Ge nodded, then gestured for Nanahoshi Shizuka to hurry up and follow.
However, just as Luo Ge and Nanahoshi Shizuka were about to head to the Adventurers' Guild, two figures came running towards them in a hurry.
Two girls with animal ears, one with cat ears and the other with dog ears, dressed in matching maid outfits.
They were panting heavily, their faces filled with anxiety.
"Miss Norn!"
"We've finally found you!"