The moonlight spilled across the endless road, washing the world in silver. In the quiet that followed the wind and chaos, a lone figure, half-faded into the night, pressed on.
Under the vast, starry sky, a young man hurried towards the town on the edge of the Magical Beast Mountains. His blue shirt was dyed a dark crimson, and though he looked battered, his injuries were not severe. He didn't dare slow his pace, not until the looming silhouette of the mountains was safely behind him. Only then did he allow himself a quiet sigh of relief.
Red-Ice Snake King... Fire Fox... I'll remember you both.
He had fought Magical Beasts before, but there was a world of difference between a beast in a cage and one in its natural, deadly element.
Today's ordeal had taught Chen Guan a harsh lesson. To survive out here, you had to maintain peak condition at all times. You could never, ever let your guard down. If he had been at his best, he could have faced that Snake King with confidence, exploiting its weaknesses instead of being thrown into such a desperate struggle.
Ignoring the curious glances from the mercenaries lining the streets of Magical Beast Town, Chen Guan initially headed for the inn. He paused, then a wry smile touched his lips. He changed course, turning towards the Wanyao Pavilion.
Since I'm injured, isn't this the perfect opportunity to meet the Little Fairy Doctor?
The Wanyao Pavilion was as lively as ever. The moment he stepped inside, he became the center of attention. Eyes followed him—some held suspicion, others surprise, but most were filled with raw envy. In this town, only those with genuine injuries earned the privilege of going to the second floor, where the Little Fairy Doctor herself offered treatment. No uninjured mercenary would ever be given the chance.
Chen Guan paid the whispers no mind. He didn't spot the familiar face of Manager Chang, but it didn't matter. He knew the rules from the mercenaries' chatter last night. Clutching his wounded arm, he headed directly for the stairs.
The second floor was spacious, set up like a small, private clinic. The Little Fairy Doctor had her own room where she tended to the town's battered warriors.
When Chen Guan arrived, she was already with a patient, checking the pulse of a large mercenary. Chen Guan found a seat and waited quietly. The treatment was over in a few minutes. As the other man left, Chen Guan stood and took his place.
"Pardon the trouble," he said, offering a slight nod.
"It's no trouble at all," the Little Fairy Doctor replied, her voice soft. She recognized him from the night before. Her eyes briefly scanned his blood-soaked shirt. "An injury from a Magical Beast? You'll need to take off your shirt so I can bandage it properly."
Though her curiosity was piqued, she didn't pry. They were, after all, strangers.
Chen Guan nodded and complied, shrugging off his outer robe and the soft armor beneath it. His torso was lean and strong, marked only by a faint bruise on his chest. The angry claw marks on his arm, however, were far more conspicuous.
"I was ambushed by a Fire Fox," he explained as she prepared her tools. "I'll be going back for it tomorrow. I'm going to catch it and roast it. I've already memorized its scent; it won't get away."
The Little Fairy Doctor paused, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "You hold quite a grudge. The Fire Fox is a Rank 2 Magical Beast. I've heard they taste awful—very gamey."
She began cleaning his wounds with practiced hands, her light chatter filling the otherwise quiet room. "It isn't a grudge," Chen Guan corrected her with a grin. "It's a culinary challenge. The little thing looks delicious. I just need to handle the smell, and there's no one better with food than me."
The Little Fairy Doctor didn't respond, merely lowering her head to hide a quiet eye-roll. Of course. Just as a sycophant never sees himself as a sycophant, one who holds a grudge will never admit it.
Chen Guan continued, "You treat the mercenaries here for free, don't you? I saw the last guy leave without paying."
After carefully applying a secret wound salve of her own creation, she began wrapping the bandage. "It depends," she said without looking up. "Some pay with gold coins. Others offer herbs or even Magical Beast Cores. It makes no difference to me whether they give something or not; the work is simple enough. Of course," she added, "if they require herbs from the Pavilion's own stock, that's a different matter."
"You're very generous. It's no wonder they call you the Little Fairy Doctor."
"I don't lose out," she explained. "Often, what they give me is more valuable than a simple consultation fee. Besides, I frequently go into the Magical Beast Mountains to gather herbs myself, and they provide me with protection. Sometimes, they even volunteer to help me test new medicines."
Chen Guan nodded. He knew her true dream was to become a renowned Alchemist. Unfortunately, she lacked the specific elemental affinity required, so she had settled for becoming a doctor instead. Doctors were respected, especially in a place like Magical Beast Town, but for someone who possessed the legendary Poison Body, it was an undeniable waste of a terrifying talent.
He kept these thoughts to himself for now. Soon, the wound on his arm was neatly bandaged, the dressing tied with a small, practical bow. It looked a bit odd, but a quick flex of his arm confirmed it didn't restrict his movement in the slightest.
"Thank you very much," he said sincerely. "My name is Chen Guan. I have a feeling I'll be troubling you again in the future."
After pulling on his soft armor, Chen Guan produced a clean set of clothes from his storage ring and put them on. Then, as payment, he placed two worn notebooks on the table. He had come prepared, anticipating what the Little Fairy Doctor would appreciate most.
Just as he'd hoped, her eyes lit up the moment she saw them. She picked one up and began flipping through the pages, her fascination with the handwritten notes on rare herbs and unique poison formulas immediately overshadowing any curiosity she had about his storage ring.
"These notes... they're incredibly valuable," she said, her voice filled with awe. "You're taking a loss using these as payment. I really shouldn't accept them, but... I can't resist. Thank you."
"You deserve them," Chen Guan replied with a smile. "What is useless scrap paper to me is a treasure to you. Things should be in the hands of those who can realize their true worth."
"You have an answer for everything."
"Haha, it's just the truth. Goodbye for now. Next time, I'll treat you to braised Fire Fox head."
"..."
The Little Fairy Doctor watched him leave, a thoughtful expression on her face. He was an interesting person. For someone who claimed not to hold a grudge, he certainly couldn't let go of that Fire Fox. And to possess a storage ring... he was clearly no ordinary mercenary.
Her curiosity, however, was quickly overwhelmed by the treasures in her hands. Closing the door to her clinic, she settled down to happily "recharge," immersing herself in the new knowledge.
As night gave way to a new day, Chen Guan was already back in town, purchasing a batch of seasonings and cooking utensils. With his supplies secured, he turned and headed back towards the Magical Beast Mountains.
After taking a Rank 2 healing pill and having his arm bandaged by the Little Fairy Doctor, the injury was no longer a concern and wouldn't hinder his fighting ability.
Today's goal was simple: get even. Especially with that Fire Fox.
He really didn't hold grudges. The seasonings and cookware were purely for convenience. After all, most beasts in the mountains were either too large or too small to make a decent meal. The Fire Fox was just the right size. One couldn't let good food go to waste, and you always had to be prepared.
Just as he was about to step past the tree line and re-enter the forest, two men—one tall, one short—appeared at the base of the mountain path. They stood there, shifting nervously, their faces a mask of conflict as they hesitated to go any further in.
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