NOVEL NEXT chapter 7
7
Dusk Descends
A priest dressed in black clerical attire and Gu Ming together opened the door to the hotel room.
Gu Ming looked towards Tina, who was sitting on the bed, and greeted her,
“Tina, sorry to keep you waiting. Your brother has brought you some tasty food. Would you like to try some?”
Gu Ming shook the lamb meat in his hand. Tina, who was seated on the bed ready to greet him, shook her head but her tail honestly wagged a few times.
Seeing her contradictory actions reminded Gu Ming of his early days with Mia and he subconsciously reached out to pat her head.
“If you want to eat, go ahead. No one will bully you anymore; your brother will protect you from now on.”
Tina’s eyes welled up as she nodded,
“Mm, thank you… master… brother.”
Tina swallowed hard as she took the skewer of lamb meat; her tail happily wagging non-stop.
…
Gu Ming discreetly signaled to the old priest beside him before speaking kindly to Tina who was enjoying her meal,
“Tina, could you stretch out your foot for your brother to see?”
Tina paused in eating; a panicked expression crossed her face. it was clear this topic made her sensitive.
With a crying tone she said,
“Cough cough… Master, please don’t abandon Tina. I don’t eat much and can do many things too. please don’t leave me ಥ_ಥ”
Realizing he might not have been clear enough earlier, Gu Ming quickly corrected himself,
“Don’t worry Tina; your brother isn’t going anywhere. I just want this grandpa here to treat your foot.”
Sniffling slightly, Tina asked,
“Really?”
Gu Ming quickly nodded.
“Truly, truer than true gold.”
Tina nodded in agreement, and Gu Ming let out a sigh of relief.
“Ah, the contrast between the young heroine now and when she grows up is just too great. But I must say, hehe (^_^), these little heroines who cling to you are really cute; I feel like my heart is about to melt.”
Gu Ming carefully lifted her injured foot and looked at the old priest.
“Can it be healed?”
Old Priest Frank looked at the darkened area on her ankle and frowned in response.
“I’ll try.”
Frank began chanting strange incantations while a white light emanated from his hands like particles slowly drifting towards Tina’s ankle.
“Do you feel anything?” Gu Ming asked Tina.
Tina thought for a moment.
“It’s a bit itchy.”
Gu Ming briefly assessed the situation:
Name: Frank
Race: Human
Level: 70
Profession: Priest
Skills: Holy Light Protection (can cause significant damage to dark creatures), Intermediate Healing Arts (can heal many injuries)
Equipment: Holy Scripture (a book that every member of the clergy possesses)
A few minutes later, Frank wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“My lord, the injury has been mostly treated. Take a look.”
Frank rubbed his fingers together.
Gu Ming looked at Tina’s small face, asking with concern, “How do you feel, Tina? Shall we try walking a few steps?”
Tina walked as if on thin ice. Although her right leg seemed a bit shaky, it did not dampen her excited mood as she eagerly reported to Gu Ming, “Master, I can walk! I really can walk…”
Pleased, Gu Ming handed a bag of gold coins to Frank who accepted it joyfully and tucked it into his chest.
“Thank you for your kindness, sir. May the Lord be with you always. Amen.”
Gu Ming gave a smile devoid of emotion and inwardly scorned the words he had just heard.
“What a joke! Your so-called ‘Lord’ is still out there trying to kill me. If God were with me, I’d have been in hell long ago.”
With a casual wave of his hand indicating that Frank should leave, Gu Ming watched him happily exit the inn with the money bag.
…
“Master, thank…”
“Hmm?”
Tina was cut off mid-sentence by Gu Ming’s gaze.
“What should you call me?”
“Mas…ter… Master.”
Gu Ming walked over somewhat helplessly as Tina bowed her head like a child who had made an error.
“Tina,” he said softly. “I truly want to be closer to you and fulfill my duty as an elder brother. If our statuses make you distant from me then…”
Pulling out the slave contract from his pocket, he tore it up on the spot. As the pieces fluttered down like confetti; Tina’s slave mark faded away along with any invisible chains around her heart.
“Sigh,” he continued earnestly looking at her hopeful eyes. “I hope you understand one thing: from now on Krite Gu Ming will be like your brother. a support for you. so treat me as family too; do you understand?”
“Mmm.”
Tina clung to him tightly, sobbing.
“I’m sorry, Master Brother, I’m just scared this is all a dream. I’m afraid that if I suddenly wake up, you’ll be gone. I’m sorry.”
Gu Ming patted her head.
“Don’t worry, silly girl. I will always be by your side. Please believe me.”
“Mmm, I believe you, Master Brother.”
…
A few minutes later.
“By the way, it’s getting late. You stay here and sleep peacefully; I’ll go next door. Call me if you need anything.”
After saying that, Gu Ming closed the door and went to the next room.
…
In the middle of the night.
“Miss Tina, can you tell me why you are here?”
Gu Ming asked as he looked at Tina beside him.
“Master Brother, I’m a bit scared. Today…I want to stay by your side all day.”
Gu Ming inwardly complained,
“Darn it! Why does it feel like you’re starting to act like Mia too?”
“This won’t happen again.”
“Mmm.”
Tina wagged her tail happily.
…
The next morning, Gu Ming left the city early with Charlie and others, their carriage slowly heading towards Cologne Village.
…
Inside a tavern in Cologne Village, a dwarf with streaks of white hair looked at Gu Ming in confusion.
“Kid, how did you know I was here?”
Gu Ming smiled.
“That’s my secret.”
“Ha! You say nothing and yet seek to become my apprentice. Do you think I would agree?”
Haimer watched him with amusement.
“One thing is one thing; another is another. They don’t conflict. Today you will definitely take me as your disciple.”
“Oh? You’re so confident. What makes you so sure?”
Gu Ming slowly began,
“I know where the dark elf Sehir is.”
Haimer’s hand paused from drinking; he drew his sword and pointed it at Gu Ming, his gaze stern.
“Do you know what the cost of deceiving me would be?”
Suddenly, Gu Ming felt incredibly heavy; his legs uncontrollably began to bend as if to kneel before him.
As a top swordsman in the game world, Haimer’s imposing presence was an overwhelming force for someone like Gu Ming who was just over level ten. But Gu knew this was Haimer’s test for him while also clinging stubbornly to his own resilience, gritting his teeth to withstand it.
Gradually, Haimer withdrew his imposing aura and picked up the fine wine from the table. As he drank, he said,
“You’ve passed. I can take you on now. Tell me then lad. where is my mother?”
Gu Ming took deep breaths of fresh air, calming himself before he spoke.
“She’s now at the border of the demon realm, running a tavern in the small village of Westdel.”
“Really? She’s still alive… Is she doing well?”
“As far as I know, she’s living quite well.”
Haimer touched his sword sentimentally.
“Running a tavern, haha, that sounds just like something she would do.”
Haimer took a big gulp of his drink and said to Gu Ming,
“Kid, I can teach you swordsmanship, but I have one condition.”
“What is it?”
“I will only teach you for four years. After that, whether you’ve mastered it or not, I will leave.”
Gu Ming shook his head; Haimer looked somewhat disappointed.
“What’s the problem?”
Gu Ming held up two fingers.
“I don’t need four years; two years will be enough. After that, you can leave whenever you want.”
Haimer was slightly surprised.
“Oh? Interesting. The sword technique I practice isn’t easy to master. Don’t boast too much and end up biting your tongue.”
Confident in his cheat panel abilities, Gu Ming smiled and replied,
“Just wait and see what happens after those two years.”
“No regrets?”
“Absolutely no regrets.”
The two exchanged glances for a moment before Haimer burst into laughter, lifting his drink.
“Good lad, I like your spirit! That’s how young people should be, haha! Come, let’s drink!”
“Thank you.”
Gu Ming tentatively took a sip and felt an intense spiciness in his mouth.
“Cough cough…”
Haimer mocked him, “Looks like you still have a long way to go in this area, haha!”
…