Blinded by his own preconceptions, Nathan had imagined that a village would consist of ramshackle houses—dilapidated, simple, and old. He couldn't have been more wrong.

Emberwood was surprisingly modern, with sturdy architectural structures, freshly painted surfaces, and high-quality brickwork. The only thing that looked out of place was a small temple situated on the far side of the village, furthest from the entrance, atop a gentle slope.

The houses weren't crowded together but scattered about, creating a spacious, comfortable atmosphere. Between them lay meticulously tended gardens with colorful flowers swaying in the breeze. Despite this, the roads connecting them maintained a sense of closeness for the fewer than one thousand inhabitants. Slightly to the left ran a small stream, and if one listened carefully, they could hear its lively bubbling.

To Nathan's surprise, this didn't look like a place that had just suffered a monster attack. The peacefulness and completeness contradicted his expectations. This was like the rural paradise he wished his mother could live in—a haven within magnificent natural surroundings.

Villagers poured out of their homes, rushing straight toward the entrance gate. Their eyes gazed upward with curiosity, excitement, and anticipation. They pointed, waved, and called out Gideon's name. Children, brought along by their families, stared wide-eyed with fascination at the beauty of the monster.

With a wing flap that sent everyone's clothes fluttering, Cloud Glider successfully landed, standing there looking down with a proud demeanor.

Gideon nodded to everyone and pulled the lever.

The commotion finally reached their ears. Words blended together, making it impossible to distinguish anything clearly.

Gideon jumped down, and the cheering grew louder.

Over a hundred people surged forward, eagerly greeting the young man.

"Gideon! Gideon! You've grown so much."

"You're the pride of our village!"

"Gideon has returned! He's back!"

Young and old alike joined forces to shout loudly, as if afraid Gideon might not hear them.

Nathan glanced at Qingfeng who had just jumped down. The girl merely shrugged and said, "This is normal. Watch out, you're next."

Nathan furrowed his brow, not understanding what she meant. But he soon found out.

A girl in the crowd pointed toward him and shrieked loudly, "Oh my goodness! Is that Nathan Reed? The young man who reached the top 64 at the recent event in Maelivar?"

"That's definitely him." Someone else pulled out a tablet device similar to what Jessica once owned and held it up for comparison. "Can't be mistaken!"

"Nathan Reed is Gideon's friend! Heavens!"

Nathan felt a chill run through his body and looked to Qingfeng for help.

"How should I handle this?"

"Just accept it." Qingfeng laughed loudly. "Better get used to it, idol!"

Nathan grimaced at his teammate's mockery. Meanwhile, the crowd had split in half to surround him, with mostly village girls in his group. The boys' eyes widened with admiration, constantly asking Nathan to teach them a thing or two.

Surrounded by everyone, the group moved into the village toward the central square. There, a hunched elderly figure with a bent back waited with fond eyes.

As they approached him, the surrounding crowd instinctively fell silent, returning sound to nature with flowing water and rustling leaves.

"Gideon! You've returned!" the elderly man stretched his arms forward, his voice trembling with age.

Gideon stepped forward, embraced the man before him, and smiled happily.

"Elder An, I'm back."

The old man with long white eyebrows reaching his chin pushed Gideon away, holding his shoulders with both hands.

"How long has it been? From when you left to find a sect until you found your place at Verdant Spire Sect."

"It's been two years already, Elder An."

"Well, it feels like you've been gone for decades. Doesn't it, everyone?"

The villagers all covered their mouths and giggled.

"The village head really missed Gideon."

"That's so unfair."

"Be as good as Gideon first, then talk."

Then, An turned his gaze toward Nathan and Qingfeng standing to one side.

"And who might they be?" he asked.

Gideon leaned sideways, gesturing toward his two teammates.

"My fellow Verdant Spire Sect disciples."

Elder An narrowed his wrinkled eyes as he looked at the two young people. But soon after, his eyebrows curved upward in a smile.

"How wonderful, how wonderful. You've truly troubled yourselves to come here."

Nathan and Qingfeng bowed solemnly and respectfully, following the teachings of their sect.

An turned to Gideon, speaking in a scolding tone.

"Why trouble them to come here? And you didn't even tell me beforehand so I could prepare."

Gideon scratched his head, looking like an obedient child as he explained.

"Sect requirements demand additional people for my first monster-handling mission. I didn't say anything in advance to avoid complicating matters."

"This boy," Elder An tapped Gideon's head. "Always overthinking things."

The old man looked at the crowd, waving his hand.

"Sophie, come."

A slightly older woman stepped forward, approaching politely and saying, "What can I do for you, Village Head?"

"Find accommodations for our esteemed guests. Use the building near the stream for them."

"But..." Sophie looked up.

"It's fine," Elder An waved his hand, cutting her off. "That empty room isn't being used for anything."

"Yes, Village Head." Sophie bowed once more.

Then he turned to Gideon.

"Son, come with me. Tell me about your experiences during this time."

"But the case," Gideon hesitantly spoke up. "We..."

"With you all here," Elder An, whose hand held no staff, turned his head back, his time-worn gray eyes looking directly at Nathan. "With this young man stationed here, there shouldn't be any problems. I just want to spend some time catching up. Besides, we can't gather everyone for you to question right now. They're all working."

Nathan nodded, not minding.

"Then we'll meet everyone this evening," Elder An said. "The witnesses will be available for you to carry out your mission. Now, Gideon. Follow me."

Nathan and Qingfeng were led by Sophie toward the west after dispersing the crowd. As the sound of the stream grew clearer, they reached their destination.

A house that looked newly built, with a style that was both natural and modern. Part of it had been refined like a cool pavilion, with chairs and tables woven from bamboo. In one corner stood equipment that appeared to be for outdoor barbecuing. It was quite an attractive location where one could relax while admiring nature.

They stopped before a locked brown wooden door leading into the house. Sophie stepped forward and entered the code on the control panel beside it. Without a sound, the door opened smoothly. The paint inside, like outside, was pristinely unmarked. The interior provided a warm atmosphere thanks to sunbeams penetrating through sliding windows on both sides.

"Please stay here until your work is finished," Sophie said gently, standing in the living room.

"Will the homeowner be okay with this?" Nathan asked while Qingfeng wandered around examining the layout.

Sophie's face suddenly stiffened, her eyes downcast.

"Oh, sorry." Nathan raised his hand. "They were victims of the monster attack?"

"That's correct." Their guide nodded.

As he was about to ask more, Sophie raised her head and quickly stepped toward the door.

"Please rest," she said hastily. "If you need anything, use the room's control panel to contact me. I'll come this evening to take you to meet Elder An."

Like a gust of wind, Sophie vanished after a click on the door.

Nathan narrowed his eyes, observing the room once more. He walked to the wooden table and sofa placed in the center of the living room, his hand skimming the surface. Not a speck of dust.

The furniture was all new. If what Sophie said was true, it was truly unfortunate for the homeowner, whether an individual or an entire family.

Qingfeng appeared, pointing to the right.

"I call dibs on this room. It looks out over the stream."

Nathan waved dismissively, not paying attention.

"What's wrong?" Qingfeng asked when she saw him deep in thought.

"I didn't expect to be welcomed like that at the village entrance."

"What do you mean?"

"It doesn't seem like a village that just faced danger. Five people have died, yet everyone was so jubilant."

Qingfeng plopped down on the sofa and said, "What else should they do? The most recent disappearance was seven days ago. Pain or trauma only lasts a few days. It's mainly the victims' families who surely weren't there to welcome us so warmly."

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Nathan nodded, not voicing his observation. Using [Better Vision] and [Martial Arts Mastery], he had observed most of those present. If anyone carried pain or sadness, he would have seen it. However, this might well be due to his own bias, so he couldn't use it as evidence for anything.

"You're just being paranoid." Qingfeng laughed. "These cases aren't rare. You're being so serious probably because it's your first mission."

"Maybe that's it," Nathan agreed.

"But keep that vigilant spirit. We might need it."

Knock knock!

They opened the door to find a group of children gathered outside. Their eyes were all round and sparkling.

"Adults say you're both very strong," a bald kid shouted. "Can you teach us?"

"Teach me, teach me," another little girl pushed in. "Someday I'll become as talented as Gideon."

"Brother Nathan. My father has never feared anyone but is nervous about you. You must be very strong, right?"

They each spoke over the others, not allowing Nathan or Qingfeng to answer.

The bow-wielding girl pouted and blew, causing all the small children to fly backward without hurting them. They even laughed at experiencing such a thing.

"Let me." Qing patted Nathan's shoulder and eagerly stepped forward.

She put her hands on her hips, pointing at each child and ordering them to line up. Then she began instructing them to be good, listen to their parents, and not fight with their peers. Afterward, she started teaching them basic martial stances. But children could only focus for so long, and in less than five minutes, they wanted to play.

Qingfeng obliged, using mana to juggle the little ones in the air, letting them experience what it felt like to run as fast as the wind. The small courtyard was filled with the crisp, infectious laughter of children.

"You're really good with kids," Nathan said, handing the girl a bottle of water from inside.

"This is nothing," Qingfeng brushed a sweat-dampened lock of hair aside. "Back at Prep School, it was much more intense."

"Prep School? They have those here too?"

Qingfeng snorted and laughed once, sitting down beside Nathan, looking at the children. They were exhausted now, either playing near the stream or sprawled asleep on the grass.

"Do you think entering Verdant Spire Sect is simply a matter of having good potential?" Qingfeng asked.

"You don't need to ask such a barbed question for the benefit of a traveler like me." Nathan crossed his arms.

"Many young children are sent to Prep School," Qingfeng said. "They train in simple martial arts, study languages to eventually receive education from the Sects. Most importantly, it helps them exhibit potential earlier for Sects to notice. You know, the earlier you train, the better habits you build, creating a foundation for a more distant future."

"And you went through such a situation?"

Qingfeng fidgeted with the scars on her hands.

"A time of hell," she said. "Sometimes I'm rather envious of travelers like you, blessed with what's called The System."

"It doesn't help that much," Nathan said. "My friend has already been expelled from Eclipse Academy."

The girl heard this, tilted her head in thought, and smirked.

"So you mean you succeeded through your own efforts?"

"What else," Nathan puffed up his chest, trying to hide the uniqueness of his Passive System. Darkan and the white-robed person knowing was enough. There must be some reason information about Special Systems was concealed and almost impossible to find on PsiLink.

"If that's the case," Qingfeng mused, "I'll be less annoyed about losing to your actual strength. You must be one of those geniuses who can't be measured by ordinary standards."

The bitterness in Qingfeng's words made Nathan scratch his head, feeling somewhat sympathetic. He had also been in that position, always wondering why he kept falling behind despite trying harder than anyone else.

Of course, he wouldn't mention the price paid for power. Before, he would've unhesitatingly told her to show him the path to power, and he would pursue it regardless of cost. But knowing what must be given up, he wasn't so sure anymore.

If given the choice between living peacefully or being hunted by unstoppable powers with danger constantly hanging over his head, he would hesitate now. Some lessons could only truly be learned through experience. Just talking about them was nothing but empty words.

"Afterward, I returned to Prep School to teach the little ones," Qingfeng said, avoiding the sensitive topic. "Trying to show them that learning can be fun rather than boring. That's where my experience with children comes from."

They chatted for a while until the sun set. The children had gradually gone home, no longer paying much attention to the two people they had considered celebrities once their stomachs demanded food. Especially since tonight would be a feast thanks to Gideon's presence.

The village center had somehow been filled with stalls, with tables and chairs placed here and there. Smoking grills wafted the aroma of beef, vegetables, and fruits. Beer and wine bottles were placed randomly for easy access. Lights were strung on lines crisscrossing overhead. Although modern, Emberwood couldn't afford the suspended glowing globes like those in towns or cities.

The villagers bustled about, laughing and pointing. They stopped at stalls, requesting what they wanted without needing to pay anything. The cooks simply said it was because of Gideon, because Elder An was hosting everything.

Qingfeng quickly blended into the crowd, going here and there to taste the food and play with the children.

Nathan was more cautious about the situation before him. He still worried about those missing lives. The discovered body parts signaled a deeply unsettling scenario. So he stood in a corner, arms crossed, watching. What confused him even more was that the warm welcome from the female villagers hours ago had disappeared. This was slightly suspicious, but he considered it a blessing for now.

When people kept arriving in increasing numbers, Elder An led Gideon down from the hillside from the ancient temple.

Gideon had changed into different clothes to match the villagers. He wore an outer cloak with a simple brown shirt underneath, with buttons down the middle. His feet were in leather boots that reached above the ankle, and a plain belt around his waist. He no longer looked like a Verdant Spire Sect disciple, but like a farmer who diligently tended the fields.

The Emberwood villagers' eyes lit up when they saw Gideon like this. The previous distance seemed to vanish. Their eyes curved with smiles and whispered fond memories about the young man.

Elder An wore the same clothes as before, needing no staff despite his thin back and frail limbs. He placed his hand on Gideon's shoulder, his voice contrasting with clear and articulate speech.

"Our shining star has returned to the village. Our hope! The boy who once hid behind me is now an inner disciple of one of the most powerful organizations, Verdant Spire Sect! And we, his family, are immeasurably proud. Not because of the effort we put into raising him, but because of the love we have for Gideon."

Everyone applauded, showering praise.

"A village having someone go as far as he has is already rare," Elder An continued. "Yet Gideon has exceeded all expectations. Becoming an inner disciple in such a competitive place. Gideon, do you want to say something to everyone?"

Gideon raised his index finger to scratch his cheek, his back seeming to shrink a whole size. He looked around, seeing two people in the red uniform of the Sect grinning, making him shrink further.

"Thank you, everyone," he mumbled.

"Still so shy," Elder An said affectionately, patting Gideon's back.

Then, he turned to everyone, spreading his arms and saying, "To celebrate Gideon's return, our pride's return, tonight everyone should eat and drink to their heart's content. This is Gideon's gift!"

All present bowed their heads, forming their hands into a strange symbol.

"We cherish the gift of Gideon," they said in unison.

Then everything erupted into chaos. The children who had been held back all rushed to the stalls, searching for sodas and refreshments.

Gideon was obligated to meet the villagers, exchange a few words, and raise glasses with them. He was so busy he didn't notice his hair had become a disheveled mess from constantly running his fingers through it.

"He looks different, doesn't he?" Qingfeng clicked her tongue. "Gideon at the sect never showed this side."

"Who doesn't act differently when returning home?" Nathan replied.

The scene before him reminded him of his mother, making him wonder if she was panicking over her son's disappearance. Each passing year, then month, then day, there was never a free moment when he didn't think of her gentle smile. The longing was so heavy and persistent that sometimes he wondered if forgetting him might be a medicine for her ailment. She wouldn't have to gnaw on loneliness alone anymore.

In such quiet moments, he wished he could become a sheepish boy in the arms of that strongest woman in the world.

A loud laugh brought him back to the present situation.

Gideon had finally managed to make his way to where Nathan stood.

"You don't like the food here?" Gideon asked.

"Not in the mood," Nathan said.

"Is something troubling you?"

"I don't know." Nathan pressed his lips together. "Hard to tell. It just seems like everything."

Unlike Qingfeng's dismissal, Gideon nodded, looking toward the villagers dancing under the lights, laughing and enjoying themselves.

"I also didn't think a welcome evening would take place," Gideon said. "I thought we would begin investigating immediately."

"Have you mentioned this to the village head?"

"Yes." Gideon nodded. "He simply said what's done is done. And delaying my welcome wouldn't serve any purpose. With danger present, now that we're here, nothing can happen."

"Sounds reasonable enough." Nathan clicked his tongue, as this explanation was quite similar to Qingfeng's.

He felt something was off but couldn't pinpoint exactly what.

"So will we question people about the monster tonight or tomorrow?" Nathan asked.

"I already suggested tonight," Gideon answered. "Initially I was refused because they said everyone might be drunk and unable to remember details. But I insisted on separating the witnesses to avoid wasting your and Qingfeng's time. The sect will monitor whether its resources are being used optimally."

After speaking, Gideon returned to the crowd, fulfilling his duty as a member of his village.

Nathan remained like a statue leaning against a pillar, staying in one place.

It wasn't until several hours later, when the number of people in the square began to sway and walk unsteadily, that Elder An announced the end of the feast. Children sleeping peacefully in the arms and on the backs of adults were carried home. Some stayed behind to clean up the mess.

Gideon signaled for Nathan and Qingfeng to follow Elder An toward the eastern part of the village.

When they were close, Nathan finally asked, "What does that temple worship, Village Head?"

The time-worn gray eyes looked nostalgically at the ancient structure that had withstood time.

"Just an ancient deity according to village beliefs," the old man chuckled. "But knowing cultivators exist now makes this deity seem rather 'fake,' doesn't it?"

The raspy laughter made Nathan uncomfortable for reasons he couldn't explain. Checking his system revealed no notifications. He assumed it stemmed from some hidden mockery from the elderly man.

"Many gods or one god doesn't matter," Elder An said. "What's essential is who will protect us. And in times of need, only he was there."

"How long has this deity existed?" Qingfeng eagerly asked.

"One hundred years, two hundred years?" Elder An shook his head vigorously. "We don't know anymore. This world is vast, but there are always foolish groups like those who first established Emberwood. You see, in such a deep forest, people setting up a place far from cities can't avoid being somewhat backward. Without specific records from our ancestors, we can't know for sure. We only know that since we were born, this deity has been what we worship."

"And how old are you, Village Head?"

"Me? I'm nearly one hundred. All thanks to the medicine Gideon here sends back."

Once again, Gideon lost his daily mature demeanor, nodding his head like a hungry chicken.

They arrived at a house near the end of the road, quite far from the crowded central square. A robust middle-aged man stood guarding the entrance.

After Elder An gave instructions, all five people entered. The space was quite spacious with a desk placed near the exit. Various weapons from batons to simple guns hung on the wall. Beside them sat a large screen displaying cameras installed in various alleys. In Nathan's assessment, the coverage wasn't complete, only covering key places like the school and infirmary.

To the right, inside a glass-enclosed room, was a metal table. On top lay the body parts found from the villagers.

Among the various parts, clearly visible was a tiny foot no larger than a palm.

Nathan covered his mouth to stop the churning rising in his throat. Within him rose a flame of anger that he and everyone had just been feasting lavishly without devoting time to urgently finding that child. No matter how faint the hope, it couldn't be abandoned.

"Dead," Elder An said.

Nathan spun around, shuddering at those two gray circles.

"How do you know?" he heard himself ask.

"Even if still alive, they would have died from blood loss by now," Elder An sighed. "And don't say we didn't search. We couldn't find anything."

"Then why not seek help from the nearest capable person instead of waiting for Gideon?" Nathan lowered his eyes, heat radiating around him.

The middle-aged man, considered the village policeman, trembled under his pressure.

Gideon and Qingfeng remained silent, each thinking the same thing.

Only Elder An remained calm. When he spoke, his voice carried a sharp coldness.

"Truly, youth haven't experienced life. Don't think you're smart when suspecting us. Every year, the village has countless issues to resolve. Calamities, epidemics. Is this the first time we've encountered monsters? Of course not. Yet, those sent to protect the region don't come when we call for help."

"Why?" Gideon frowned and asked.

"Because they see no benefit. The first few times they were eager, but less so each time after. Calamities pass, epidemics have cures, and monsters usually attack once and then leave."

"And you hid this from me?" Gideon's face contorted.

Elder An stretched out his hand, patting the young man's head.

"Why should you come back, young Gideon? Do you have enough influence to ask others for help? Are you capable enough to face these challenges? If not, when you are, I'll call. Like now. You know I don't hesitate when it comes to the safety of the village."

"But..."

"Enough," Elder An cut him off. "We're not here to argue about this."

Then, he turned to Nathan, his voice venomous.

"Mr. Reed, are you satisfied with my answer?"

Nathan took a deep breath, calming his mood, withdrawing his aura field.

He bowed his head, clasping his hands.

"I apologize for doubting you."

Elder An waved his hand, looking ahead, speaking to the security officer.

"Take them to question the witnesses. Bring water and food too."

Nathan accepted the water bottle the officer handed him, ignoring the man's fear.

Water flowing down his throat cooled him somewhat. He still wasn't entirely convinced by that answer. The probability of this happening with other organizations might be high, but with Verdant Spire Sect, it was very low. Take this mission, for instance: Gideon could have gone alone but still had two companions. This came from the quality control set by Alaric himself. Initially it might seem wasteful, but it allowed for cross-checking each person's abilities. Subsequent missions would sometimes also require observers.

Allowing an incident to drag on for months, even a year, seemed quite unlikely.

Triggered [Poison Processing]. One credit given.

The system notification startled him. His eyes stared at the water bottle in his hand, then looked toward the friendly village head.

Remembering the food in the square, and how Qingfeng had eaten without hesitation and hadn't detected anything. Tier 2 Cultivators could use their spirit to sense basic poisons, as Mirela had once said.

Nathan had just hastily drunk without thinking. So there was a poison so deeply hidden that only when swallowed did it trigger the system's skill.

He quietly closed the cap, trying not to squeeze it out of shape. Maintaining a calm demeanor, he followed the group.

In his mind, however, a storm was brewing.

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