Reverse Wind Port, a humble fisherman's cottage. The fisherman's daughter, Vella, hummed a lively tune as she deftly laid fish out to dry in the yard. Years of handling brine-soaked goods had coarsened her hands, her skin bronzed and weathered, a stark contrast to others her age.
In any world, the voices of the underprivileged often go unheard, excluded from the realm of what is deemed "normal" by the elite and those who consider themselves above.
"Little lad, little lad... with your satchel on your back, head to school… unafraid of the blazing sun... unfazed by the stormy winds..."
The lyrics of Vella's song were peculiar, said to originate from Liang Xiaohao's homeland. When she inquired about this "homeland," Liang Xiaohao initially evaded a direct answer, later conceding it was a "place one cannot return to."
Vella did not quite understand. Born and raised in Reverse Wind Port, she had never visited another town, struggling to fathom the distance implied by "a place one cannot return to." Surely, it must be farther than the capital?
Though saddened by Liang Xiaohao's plight, a small part of Vella felt a selfish joy.
"If he cannot return home, then here can be his home..."
Amidst such musings, she heard a creaking sound behind her. Turning, she saw Liang Xiaohao emerge from the back door, laboriously maneuvering with crutches.
"Hey! You shouldn't move around, not when you're finally getting better..."
"It's fine, moving helps with recovery."
After a year and a half, Liang Xiaohao had become fluent in the "local language of the game." Already adept at learning foreign languages in reality, adding another posed little challenge.
"Does moving really help you heal faster?"
Vella cocked her head in confusion, admiration shining on her face: "You know so much!"
Seeing her expression, Liang Xiaohao couldn't help but chuckle ruefully.
Inwardly, he sighed—such a simple country girl, easily swayed by mere words until she lost her bearings entirely...
Gritting his teeth, he gingerly reached out to assist Vella in drying the fish, enduring the excruciating pain that shot through his body with every movement!
In those initial days after Hu Yan Wu had struck him, rendering him severely injured, Liang Xiaohao had been plunged into despair. Realizing he could neither voluntarily exit the game nor passively escape through death, since death was unattainable.
After months of lying bedridden like a discarded piece of flesh, he eventually came to terms with his reality, finding his anxiety somewhat alleviated.
If he couldn't return to "reality," so be it; at least he was still alive in this "game world."
With Vella's tireless care and the occasional magical potions brought by the old fisherman Bernie, Liang Xiaohao's condition had seen marked improvement, allowing him some tentative mobility.
To Vella, this man was exceedingly learned, possessing knowledge she couldn't comprehend. Seeing his health improve and his despondence fade was the greatest cause for her joy!
As they worked together to dry the fish, they exchanged jokes and laughter, teasing each other about which lines in the nursery rhyme were sung off-key.
Gradually, Vella found herself leaning against Liang Xiaohao's shoulder, causing him to wince in pain, yet he refrained from pushing her away. Allowing this naïve country girl to lean against him was his way of repaying her for the care she had provided for so long...
Gazing up at the clear blue sky, Liang Xiaohao became lost in thought.
Unbeknownst to him, just beyond the garden wall, a small eye was observing them.
The "Wizard's Eye"!
Customarily, the orb conjured by a wizard using this spell would be a pale green, exuding a somewhat sinister aura. Yet the "Wizard's Eye" at the fisherman's cottage was almost colorless, virtually invisible unless one specifically looked for it!
Meanwhile, in the second-floor study of Liliya's residence, Wang Hui covered his left eye with his hand, the scene unfolding in the fisherman's cottage vividly visible in his mind's eye.
"Such a convenient trick, akin to surveillance..."
Having thoroughly grasped Liliya's spells, many of the questions that had troubled Wang Hui were resolved.
Simply put, spells and martial techniques were refined applications of source energy.
Life force corresponded to the "form transformation" of spells and techniques, while soul force related to "nature transformation."
For instance, Wang Hui's previously favored Source Hand was akin to the wizard's "Wizard's Hand" or "Force Field Wave"—manifestations of life force form transformation, differing only in exhibition.
To imbue spells with a specific nature required employing the soul force within source energy, materializing the envisioned effect!
Having grasped this principle, executing various spells posed little challenge for Wang Hui.
After all, sorcerers and knights lacked legacy artifacts, unable to perfectly harness and utilize source energy, needing incantations or special items to resonate with source energy for spellcasting or martial techniques.
Wang Hui faced no such limitations, granting him the ease of "casting spells without incantations"!
Currently, he could only utilize the source energy within himself, but once he acquired the Bay World's legacy artifact, he anticipated being able to directly draw source energy from the clouds, effortlessly unleashing far more formidable spells!
Observing Liang Xiaohao's current state from afar, Wang Hui felt a twinge of sentiment.
While he had merely slept, this player had spent a year and a half in the Bay World, living as a disabled man.
Compared to the persona obsessed with garnering popularity online through unscrupulous means, the present Liang Xiaohao seemed to have undergone a transformation.
From a superficial rich scion, he appeared to have gained a touch of "humanity"!
This ordeal might lead to the mitigation of some of Liang Xiaohao's more unsavory traits.
Yet, from the perspective of the microcosm's owner, Wang Hui had no intention of disregarding this individual because of it!
Their positions were inevitably antagonistic, at least until he obtained the legacy artifact and fully ascended to godhood within the Bay World. Remaining vigilant against outside players remained crucial!
Dispersing the "Wizard's Eye," Wang Hui imparted a few more instructions to Justin before planning to set off for the Thunder Kingdom.
By chance, he encountered Liliya returning from her lessons and spoke, "You have passed your assessment; Justin will inform Hu Yan Wu that the divine realm will soon begin preparations to formally establish diplomatic relations with the island elves. If you wish to return, he can arrange for a ship to escort you."
"I..."
Liliya hesitated, about to speak when Wang Hui noticed the witch Mag standing behind, incessantly wiping her hands with a silk handkerchief.
The bluish-purple jelly-like wrist guard on her forearm oozed a saliva-like substance...
No, it wasn't like saliva; it was the saliva of the slime, Gulu Mi!
Wang Hui recalled his promise, pledged to the little creature that if it helped resolve the threat posed by the submerged Nicholas Geiki and others, it would be rewarded with a new, grand, delectable treat...
"Before heading to the Thunder Kingdom, let's fulfill that promise!"