"Stop, Kimhant!"

Kitsune commanded, halting his pursuit of Chang Long.

"Why?"

Kimhant asked, puzzled. He saw that Chang Long was still striding ahead, showing no sign of waiting for anyone. If they did not hurry, they might lose sight of her.

"Fool! We need to give Siegfried a chance to clear things up with her alone,"

Kitsune scolded Kimhant, sounding like an adult reprimanding a naive child.

"(Wow, even a pet is calling me a fool!) Oh! That's what it's about. So, where should we wait?"

Kimhant responded with a harsh voice, internally he was thinking about how knowledgeable this three-tailed fox was.

"Hide first!"

Kitsune ordered again, quickly pushing Kimhant to the side of the path as Siegfried emerged from around the corner.

Thunk!

"Ouch! My headddd!"

Kimhant cried out as his forehead collided with the trunk of a cherry blossom tree. In no time, a bump the size of a kaffir lime swelled up on his head.

"Geez, you're so clumsy. Hurry and hide!"

Kitsune shook his head in exasperation and pulled Kimhant behind the tree to hide.

Siegfried hurried out from the corner of the road, which was quite deserted. His focus was solely on the back of one person, not noticing that someone was groaning under the tree. Siegfried quickly followed Chang Long, determined to clear the air between them, even though he still did not know what had upset her.

After walking for a while, Chang Long noticed that no one was following her. She sighed and entered the tranquil yet eerie Samurai Cemetery. She wanted Hulu to undergo its first evolution in a place away from people. But before she could call Kimhant, Siegfried called out to her.

"Chang Long... why are you here alone?"

Siegfried asked, concerned.

"Siegfried..."

Chang Long was startled to see him and momentarily froze.

"I need to talk to you if you don't mind..."

Siegfried said, taking a deep breath to gather his courage. Seeing no objection, he approached her.

As he drew closer, Chang Long pretended to be uninterested and continued to explore the cemetery, mentally communicating with Davy-Chan. Despite her indifference, Siegfried did not give up. He kept following her, hoping she would eventually talk to him.

"This is hopeless. What should we do, boss!"

Kimhant shook his head at Siegfried's timid approach. He no longer seemed like the formidable leader of the Pendragon Guild when facing Reaper Chang Long.

"Let's watch a bit longer. Hey, where did Hulu go?"

Kitsune and Kimhant had been so focused on Siegfried confessing his feelings that they lost track of Hulu. Now, they had no idea where it had gone.

"Oh, what's that!"

Kitsune and Kimhant turned towards the excited exclamation of a group of players and saw them gathered around Hulu, who was comfortably lying on a long bench under a cherry blossom tree. The players looked at Hulu with excitement, then glanced around, searching for its owner.

"Wow, what kind of creature is this? Its color is so beautiful!"

One of the female players in the group exclaimed excitedly, seemingly falling in love with Hulu at first sight.

"It's alone, too. I don't see any owner!"

Another player in the group remarked, looking like he wanted to claim Hulu for himself.

"But there hasn't been any announcement from the system. Could it be an AI pet?"

Another player in the group speculated.

"Who cares? I'm going to try and pet it!"

The female player stepped forward, intending to hug Hulu, but Hulu was quicker. It leapt away from her grasp and walked over to Kitsune and Kimhant, who had just emerged from behind the Samurai Cemetery wall.

"Hulu, there you are. If I couldn't find you, master would kill me,"

Kimhant sighed with relief, approaching Hulu, who turned its head away haughtily.

"Pick up Hulu and let's get back to observing, no! Cheering for master,"

Kitsune instructed Kimhant, ready to head back into the cemetery.

"Hey, don't tell me you're saying that strange creature is your pet?"

A male player from the group called out, noticing Hulu walking over to Kitsune and Kimhant.

"Huh... no, it's our master's pet,"

Kimhant replied politely, aware that the players in front of him were quite high-level.

"So where is this master of yours?"

The female player asked irritably, still upset that Hulu jumped away when she tried to touch it.

"Master is busy, so I'm taking care of Hulu for now,"

Kimhant explained.

"Oh! By the way, what exactly is that rainbow-colored creature, and how did your master get it?"

One of the players in the group asked again, seemingly not willing to let Kimhant, Kitsune, and Hulu leave easily.

"Hulu is a Kirin. As for how master got it, I don't know because I wasn't told,"

Kimhant responded again, starting to feel uneasy. Kitsune narrowed his eyes at the group, clearly displeased and on guard, ready to defend against any potential threat.

"A Kirin? One of the sacred beasts?!"

The group of players exclaimed in shock.

"If that's all, we'll be leaving now,"

Kitsune said curtly, grabbing Kimhant, who was holding Hulu, and heading towards the entrance of the Samurai Cemetery.

"Isn't that a bit too easy. Answer a few more questions?"

One of the players that were talking to Kimhant and Kitsune stepped forward, drawing a weapon and surrounding them.

"Tch! thugs,"

Kitsune muttered under his breath, glaring coldly at the four players blocking their way. Of all the times to be interrupted, it had to be now, when Kitsune was eagerly following the development between its beloved master and the dense Siegfried. Kitsune was thoroughly annoyed!

Meanwhile, Chang Long continued walking along the old stone path of the beautifully decorated Samurai Cemetery. The gravestones were finely carved, and each had the owner's sword planted nearby. Siegfried, unable to bear the tension any longer, quickly approached Chang Long and grabbed her hand, determined to clear up any misunderstandings.

"What are you doing!"

Chang Long was startled when Siegfried grabbed her hand. She tried to shake it off, but he was much stronger, forcing her to resign to him holding her hand.

"I... I don't know why you're angry with me, Chang Long. But I want to apologize. I'm sorry for anything and everything that upset you. Can you forgive me?"

Siegfried looked straight into Chang Long's eyes as he spoke. He wanted to show her his sincerity, that no matter what, he would readily always stand by her side. Even if she was angry with him for some reason, he was willing to apologize and make amends.

"Huh! Uh... I'm not mad at you,"

Chang Long said softly, looking into Siegfried's eyes and seeing the earnestness in them. Her cheeks turned red uncontrollably.

"Really!"

Siegfried was still unsure, but he was very happy with her response. He almost wanted to pull her into an embrace, but his hands and feet felt stiff.

"Yes, you can let go now..."

Chang Long bit her lip, finding it hard to meet Siegfried's eyes at that moment. She turned her flushed face away unnaturally.

"Okay!"

Siegfried agreed, slowly releasing her hand reluctantly, even though he wished he could hold it longer. Chang Long smiled faintly and walked on, turning her back to the young man so he would not see how flustered she was. Knowing that Chang Long was no longer angry, Siegfried followed her, intending to finally express his feelings.

"Chang Long, I... I (Boom!!) Long..."

The last part of Siegfried's sentence was drowned out by a loud explosion. Chang Long, who had turned back to listen, furrowed her brows.

Siegfried clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked. He walked towards the source of the noise, determined to eliminate whatever was the source of the sound that was ruining the romantic moment with Chang Long. When he reached the entrance of the Samurai Cemetery, he saw a group of people fighting intensely. The group of players, consisting of a mage, knight, wandering martial artist, and priest, seemed to have the upper hand.

"What's going on, Siegfried?"

Chang Long, who had been following him, asked. But when she saw Kitsune and Kimhant lying on the ground, covered in wounds and blood, with Hulu still safe in Kimhant's arms, her usually calm face changed immediately.

A wave of anger emanated from Chang Long's body uncontrollably. The once pleasant atmosphere of Kirisakura turned into a chilling one that pierced the spine. Everyone froze and turned to look at Chang Long, who now had a grim reaper standing behind her, scythe in hand. The reaper scanned everyone with cold eyes and gave a chilling, menacing smile to all.

The four members who had been harassing Chang Long's pets were shocked by the sudden coldness in the air. Kitsune and Kimhantt looked at their master with admiration, feeling the intense power and malice radiating from Chang Long's body, even without Davy-Chan's possession.

"You guys again!"

Chang Long said sharply, recognizing the group that had caused trouble for her on the Starting Island.

"You!"

Lost Martial Artist pointed at Chang Long angrily, remembering how she had bested them before.

"What are you trying to extort from my people this time?"

Chang Long asked in a low voice, glaring at the Lost Martial Artist, the rudest of the group.

"Your people? Is that strange kirin your pet?"

Rose, the only woman in the group, asked in astonishment.

"So, the master they mentioned is you."

Boron, the quietest member of the group, spoke up, scrutinizing Chang Long for the first time.

"Enough talking. You attacked my people. This time, you won't get away with it!"

Chang Long glared at the four of them with fury. There were hundreds of items to find in the game, yet for some reason these people specifically chose to snatch items from other players who had worked hard for them, especially targeting her belongings twice now.

"Hehe. Do you think you can do anything to us?!"

Merlin's Top Protege scoffed, though inwardly he was worried about the power he sensed from Chang Long. They had all died once before, hunted down by the Ocean Dragon Beast God in the sea.

"She definitely can because she won't be fighting alone!"

Siegfried stepped up to stand beside Chang Long, ready for a fight.

"I'm not too injured to fight either!"

Kitsune said coldly as he stood up, glaring at Lost Martial Artist.

"Sorry, Master! Boss was hurt protecting me and Hulu."

Kimhant, clutching Hulu tightly, said apologetically as he ran to join Chang Long and Siegfried.

"I know. Take Hulu and hide behind us,"

Chang Long ordered calmly. Kimhant, wiping away tears that almost fell, quickly took Hulu to hide behind the Samurai Cemetery wall.

"Are you planning to gang up on us!"

Lost Martial Artist asked, panicking. He remembered Siegfried from the Pendragon Guild, who had a level of around seventy.

Siegfried was at level 72 before coming to Aseana Island. After the underground quest in Kirisakura, his level increased to 75. Chang Long was at level 61, Kitsune at level 59, Hulu at level 50 and was about to undergo its first evolution, and Kimhant at level 53, though his combat skills were very weak. If he fought other players, he would surely die. Kitsune had been injured protecting Hulu and clumsy Kimhant from an attack.

"How could we gang up on you? There are three of us and four of you,"

Chang Long said coldly.

"Hey, Siegfried from the Pendragon Guild. We have no quarrel with you. I suggest you stay out of this,"

Merlin's Top Protege tried to negotiate with Siegfried. He thought Siegfried had nothing to do with this, not realizing that the pet-snatching incident was what made Siegfried furious. He had missed his chance to confess his love to Chang Long because of this, so how could he not be angry?

"Who said it's unrelated..."

Siegfried's voice was icy as he looked at the group who had interrupted his confession and still did not realize it.

"Enough talk. Come at me, or I'll make the first move!"

Chang Long said, then swiftly charged at her opponents. The grim reaper behind her also lunged forward, startling the four Black Horse Guild members. They had not expected the silent figure who had been listening in on the conversation quietly to join the fray.

The four members of the Black Horse Guild barely had time to be shocked before they had to raise their weapons to defend against Chang Long's attack. She swung her sword, over one meter and a half long, in a wide arc, attacking all four of them at once. The grim reaper was not to be outdone. No one saw him draw his scythe, but its large, curved blade was now slashing towards them with alarming speed.

Weapons clashed with loud clangs. Lost Martial Artist and Merlin's Top Protege were struck deeply in the arms and stomach by the Sovereign Sword and the reaper's scythe, collapsing to the ground. Rose, the group's only priest, rushed to tend to her fallen comrades. This left Boron alone, standing and sweating, facing Chang Long and her reaper.

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