That night, they talked late into the evening, exchanging a multitude of words and citing numerous examples, all to convey a single message to the group: the world around us is far from safe!
Whether you are poor, wealthy, or possess extraordinary powers, you will face various dangers, and encounter the malice of this world.
Living in this world requires vigilance against all potential threats around us, as well as the continual strengthening of oneself. Only by doing so can we truly survive and savor the beauty of this colorful world.
Zhao Lun was well aware of how dangerous this world could be, and his warnings were not mere alarmist tales. His caution was a result of his understanding of these dangers; even with extraordinary powers and the privileges of a divine kingdom, he had remained discreet, avoiding any grandstanding and focusing on gradual development.
In the early stages, Zhao Lun had utilized some resources from the divine kingdom, which propelled his company's rapid growth. Once the company became stable, they began to scale back and adopt a more low-profile approach.
Even in the darkness, fireflies stand out, and no matter how discreet one attempts to be, attention will inevitably be drawn. Once the initial troubles were swept away, they temporarily stabilized, but as their influence expanded, they could no longer remain hidden. They were now like a delicious cake, attracting the greed of many.
These new dangers were no longer the simple threats from a rootless mutant like the former boxer they had dealt with before.
Instead, they faced much larger, more ferocious creatures—true predators. In the face of such a dire situation, precaution was the only way forward.
Now, their small town had become a veritable fortress, invulnerable to any immediate threats. As long as they could withstand the pressure of the surrounding forces, the challenges would be significantly fewer.
He believed that they would weather through it, though there would certainly be some bumps along the way. Zhao Lun felt the need to give them some advice, to help them grow stronger.
This strength was not physical, but spiritual. It is the strength of the mind that can command the body's power, allowing one to mount the most effective offense and defense.
Zhao Lun's words had an impact, and the group's attitudes shifted. They became more resolute. Nicole and Monica, though accepting Zhao Lun's belief in personal growth, were skeptical of his statement that the world was "too dangerous." They found it exaggerated and somewhat negative, which they did not quite embrace.
Zhao Lun, however, paid no mind. Whether the world was dark or not, time would reveal the truth, and facts would speak for themselves. There was no point in debating it now.
Throughout their conversation, Mulan had remained silent, listening attentively while quietly eating her meal, showing no intention of engaging in the discussion.
Everyone knew her nature, so they were not surprised. After the conversation, they began thinking about future plans.
Zhao Lun's words had distracted them from the witch problem they had encountered earlier, and they no longer cared about the sounds of beasts outside. They did not know when they had fallen asleep, but when they awoke, dawn was nearly upon them, and the sweet aroma of food filled the air, signaling that someone had risen earlier than them.
Without needing to look, they knew it was Mulan preparing breakfast. Zhao Lun had kept the ingredients with the intention of enjoying a bit of extra rest, but that was not meant to be.
After breakfast, they set off, heading back to Anna's house. The route was a bit longer, but much safer. Along the way, they encountered beasts which they swiftly overcame, their aura menacing. They also encountered some minor creatures that, sensing the group's strength, wisely decided to retreat.
They did not bother with these cunning creatures, merely noting them for later reference. At some point, they would have Anna investigate, as this world was full of mutated monsters, but Zhao Lun had no time to delve deeply into it for now.
In Nikolai City, despite suffering many attacks from magical creatures, they had gathered valuable data on these monsters, which had been tightly hidden by the nobles. In the past few days, they had only managed to gather bits of information, unable to examine the records in full.
Anna's family was of old nobility, and now that they had escaped their predicament, a new rise was inevitable. She was much better suited to handle these matters.
"Yo, yo..." Along the way, they heard the soft call of a fawn.
Following the sound, they saw a confused white deer fawn calling out, not running away as it noticed the group.
"Brother?"
The little creature was frail and weak, its white fur dull and lacking luster, trembling and visibly fragile. It looked pitiful, and the group was moved, unwilling to leave it behind.
"This must be an abandoned or lost fawn," Zhao Lun mused. "Since you all want to take it in, let's bring it along."
Adopting a little white deer wasn't a big deal, and seeing that everyone wanted to keep it, Zhao Lun nodded in agreement.
Without letting this unexpected encounter delay them, they continued their journey. Ahead, they came across some skeletal remains, the flesh eaten away, leaving only the incomplete bones behind.
These were human bones, likely from the bandits who had fled the previous day.
They passed by quickly, disturbing a few crows picking at the remains, which fled into the air, filling the atmosphere with a strange sense of unease.
They had passed these bones on their way here, and now, seeing them again, the sight no longer stirred their emotions. They merely glanced at them before continuing on their way.
This time, they traveled with urgency. Although the route was longer, they ended up taking less time to return than when they had come.
From afar, they could already see the town of Transyl. As they drew closer, it felt oddly familiar, even comforting, with a faint sense of anticipation.
When they arrived, the feeling of familiarity only grew stronger. It was clearer than ever before.
Although this town wasn't as large as Nikolai City, it had a certain charm to it, with a warm atmosphere—a result of the purifying light.
No dark forces had intruded here. This was, in essence, a sanctuary, and it was precisely this purity that made everything here feel so inviting.
When they encountered the townspeople again, they were taken aback by how much they had changed. The people were now lively and cheerful, their faces beaming with smiles of happiness. Upon seeing the group, they greeted them warmly.
The women were a bit disoriented by this sudden transformation, recalling how, when they first arrived, the townspeople had viewed them with suspicion, as if they were enemies. Had they not been formidable themselves, there was no doubt the people would have acted violently. Now, this drastic change seemed almost too sudden for them.
They politely declined the townspeople's offers of hospitality and soon arrived at Anna's house, only to find that she was not there. It was said that she had gone up the mountain and would be back shortly.
"I'll go find Anna on the mountain!" Maria, a little excited to be back, didn't want to wait. Despite her exhaustion, she insisted on flying up the mountain on her broomstick to find Anna.
"Don't be silly! Just wait here for her to return," Zhao Lun admonished.
It was late, and there was no need to go looking for Anna. She would be back soon enough. Zhao Lun was not at all comfortable with the idea of Maria going out and refused her request.
The presence of Anna's servants had always been subtle, and though they lacked combat abilities, they still managed to ensure the group was well taken care of.
Anna returned soon, and the group was startled by her weary appearance.
"Anna, you look exhausted. Has something bad happened?" they asked, concerned. (To be continued.)