The moonlight quietly slipped through the window and bathed the room, casting shadows on the floor like a deep pool.
It was like the eyes of Water Stream.
For some reason, Kent felt an intense desire to see Water Stream.
Perhaps it was because of Old Iron Hammer's story that touched him. In that moment, the souls of the time-traveler Ryan and the bastard son Kent had fused together, just as the blood and flesh had. Old Iron Hammer, heartbroken after the death of his wife and children, had wandered aimlessly for years, until he found Udo, which reignited his hope for life.
This was, in a way, another form of rebirth…
Over the past six months, Kent had often felt as though he was merely playing a game. Although this world was real and his transmigration was real, the reality seemed like a virtual experience. It felt like he could someday just close his eyes, shut everything down, and return to another homeland.
Developing territories, recruiting slaves, advancing technology, rewarding subordinates, expanding the population...
Everything seemed like a game, like a dream.
He could easily order the annihilation of an entire slave camp, leaving no survivors. It felt like the guards there were just NPCs in a game, and the way he earned the satisfaction of his people felt the same—treating them as if they were merely NPCs.
But today, he truly realized that they were all real people.
With flesh and blood, with emotions of love and hate, with desires and ambitions—they were living, breathing individuals.
They could have their own dreams, maybe small dreams like becoming a blacksmith or a hunter, or simply working hard to have a meal with meat.
They could marry and have children, people they cared about and protected. Why did the slaves in the camp willingly join the Free Army and give their loyalty for a year? Was it not because they hoped to one day return to their tribe, to be with those they missed and who missed them?
So for him, what was the purpose of all this? What was it all for?
And who could he share joy, sorrow, warmth, and the unknown with? Who would live and die with him?
His mind conjured up the image of Water Stream.
"Ah…" He sighed deeply, setting down the goose-feather quill and chuckling softly at himself.
On the starry-patterned paper before him, he had been writing plans for the development of his territory. But somewhere along the way, the paper had become covered in the words "Water Stream," written haphazardly across the page.
A faint, teasing laugh seemed to echo in his ears, as if Water Stream was mocking his fantasies.
He must be out of his mind, he thought, as he slapped his head. Had he begun to hallucinate? Fortunately, no one else was in the room—only the moonlight on the floor and the… shadow?
With a sudden jolt, he looked up sharply, his body tensing, and he retreated, a dark red flame forming in his palm.
His back slammed into the wall behind him, and the fireball was ready to strike the would-be intruder. But the next moment, it dissipated into nothingness.
Water Stream stood by the window, seemingly surprised by his swift reaction, her gaze now filled with admiration and an indescribable emotion.
"You… you're back…" Kent's heart raced as he felt a rush of dizziness. It was as if a huge wave of joy was breaking down his mental defenses.
The question caught Water Stream off guard. It didn't sound like a lord speaking—there was too much emotion in his words, as if she had just returned from a long journey and was home at last.
Yet, for some reason, she liked this feeling.
"Yeah, I'm back," Water Stream said, her face flushing slightly as she jumped down from the window.
Kent blinked. This was the fourth floor of the lord's castle, over twenty meters off the ground, and the walls were smooth with cement—there was nowhere to climb. Could Water Stream's skill be like the legendary "kill with a step, leave no trace for a thousand miles"?
It felt like a strange bond. He had missed her so much, and now she appeared. After a month apart, Water Stream seemed a bit worn, yet still wearing simple animal skins with rope straps for her arms and a pendant hanging from her neck. In the moonlight, her eyes glowed with a clear light.
"Did you come back alone?" Kent asked, trying to keep the conversation going and appear calm. "What about the others?"
There was an odd tension in the air, and he needed something to say to make himself seem normal. Wasn't Water Stream supposed to bring the Blood Rose Adventurers back to the valley? Why was she the only one to show up, and in such an unconventional way?
"They're on their way. They should arrive tomorrow afternoon," Water Stream replied, noticing his awkwardness and smiling. "I thought they were taking too long, so I came back first."
Kent couldn't help but smile. "I see."
Her face flushed again.
"Too slow? Came back alone? What's the rush?" Kent wondered. Was there something so urgent about returning to the valley?
Without needing to say more, it was clear she had come back to see him.
Kent nearly shouted his excitement, but he forced himself to remain composed. "I missed you too," he said softly, as though responding to her unspoken thoughts.
Once the words left his mouth, both of them froze. They looked at each other, unsure of what had just happened.
Kent's heart raced, feeling as if a thousand horses were galloping through his mind. Why did he say "missed you too"?
Water Stream was also in a daze. What had she just said? Did it slip out?
She almost wanted to laugh, but it didn't feel like the right moment. Still, there was something about this strange man that made her want to relax and smile.
She had never met anyone quite like him—no one on the grasslands, no one in the highlands, and no one in the forests.
How could such a person exist in the world?
He was a leader, yet lacked the typical air of power. Instead, he gave people a sense of stability and warmth. And yet, so many people gradually came to trust him, protect him, and respect him.
He was a noble from the highlands, yet there was not an ounce of arrogance in him. His mind was filled with all sorts of strange thoughts. How could he have known she wanted to see him? Had she given something away?
He liked her. She looked wonderful…
"I saw the words on the wall," Water Stream said, her gaze flickering with a subtle emotion as she looked at him.
Kent smiled. Despite her absence, their "revolutionary friendship" had not diminished. In fact, something had shifted between them over the past month.
"It's a gift for you," he said.
"I know. Thank you," Water Stream replied.
During the past month, Kent had arranged for something big to be done.
On the high city wall, he had carved two massive characters: Peach Blossom.
The goal for the construction and development of the Spearhead Territory was to become a city at the border of the Northern Wilds, with the mountains as its walls and endless valleys as its foundation—a city like none other, one that transcended tribal and racial boundaries.
Peach Blossom City.
In this world, Water Stream was the only one who knew the origin of the name. She had made the decision to lead the Blood Rose sisters to relocate to Spearhead Valley because she longed for the kind of life Kent had described—one filled with peace and prosperity.
Now, seeing Kent officially name the territory "Peach Blossom," the impact on Water Stream was more profound than it would be for anyone else.
A strange noise echoed.
Water Stream's face turned red again.
"I'm hungry."