As the echo of Huang Wen's voice died down in the workshop, an oppressive, heavy silence filled the space. He didn't wait for a response he knew wasn't coming. Sitting back down on the makeshift bedding by the fireplace, he crossed his legs and closed his eyes.
He needed to move his energy. The "Self-Inflicted Trouble" of the previous night had left his mind cluttered. He focused on his spiritual power, trying to refine the raw, chaotic energy swirling in his sea of consciousness.
The reality of his situation was a bit frustrating. Almost all of Huang Wen's "Godhood" was tied to the Regeneration Dragon Seal. Without that external boost, his actual divine power was a measly 1.2 points—barely a step above a normal human in the grand, legendary scheme of things. His internal energy was growing at a snail's pace. He was essentially a powerhouse with a glass engine.
Even his special abilities, inherited from the "God of Gamblers" and others, were hitting a ceiling. A master gambler in the system only had a divine power of 0.2. To someone like the Ancient One, that was basically static noise.
'I'm lifting weights with toothpicks,' Huang Wen thought bitterly. 'I have the potential of a mountain, but the tools of a gardener.'
What he didn't realize was that while he was struggling with his "toothpicks," he was being watched.
In a corner of the house where the shadows seemed a little too thick to be natural, Maurice wasn't sleeping. Or rather, the man who looked like Maurice was engaged in a silent, telepathic conference.
"So? What do you think of the boy?" the 'Maurice' entity projected into the void. His eyes, usually clouded with age, were now sharp, glowing with an ancient, terrifying intelligence. "He's a bit more capable than that furry prince we stuck in the castle, don't you think? And it looks like Belle has taken quite a liking to him."
"He's certainly an upgrade," a mysterious, ethereal voice replied, vibrating through the very fabric of the room. This was the entity observing Huang Wen from the trees earlier. "I wouldn't have let him walk your 'family' out of that cursed castle otherwise. But he's a strange one. He's like a book written in a language I haven't mastered yet. Even with my sight, his secrets are... blurry."
The voice paused, sounding almost amused. "Look at him. He has the spiritual capacity of a young god, yet he's using that primitive 'meditation' technique. It's pathetic. If he actually manages to get Belle out of this pocket dimension, I might take pity on him and give him a real technique. If not... well, he can stay here and play house with her until the stars go out."
"You're really going to make him find his own way out?" Maurice—or the thing wearing his face—seemed surprised. "You wrapped this village in space-time layers that would make a Sorcerer Supreme dizzy. How is a kid supposed to break through that?"
"If he can't, he doesn't deserve the girl," the voice chuckled, the sound fading into the ether.
The entity in the house turned its gaze toward Huang Wen's wrist. Specifically, the watch. "A Super AI? In this era? Technology has certainly taken a weird turn in the outside world." A small, cryptic smile played on Maurice's lips before he finally closed his eyes, pretending to be the simple clockmaker once more.
Huang Wen was completely oblivious. His "realm" was high for a human, but he was still a fish swimming in an ocean controlled by sharks he couldn't even see yet.
Morning came with a chorus of screams from the village square.
The bodies of Gaston and LeFou had been found. The village was instantly plunged into a frantic, buzzing panic. However, the "investigation" was short-lived. In a world without forensics, the evidence was clear: two men, known for their tempers and guns, were found dead after shooting each other at point-blank range.
The villagers, eager to scrub the "bad omen" from their town, didn't ask questions. They didn't wonder why two best friends would suddenly decide to have a duel in the dark. They just dug two holes, threw them in, and tried to pretend the "Hero of the Village" hadn't turned out to be a murderous drunk.
Back at the cottage, the atmosphere was bleak. Belle hadn't left her room. The door remained a silent, wooden barrier. Huang Wen sat at the table, picking at the breakfast Maurice had prepared. He didn't use his sensory powers to peek into Belle's room. He felt he owed her that much privacy after shattering her worldview.
He sighed, feeling a heavy weight of "inexperience" pressing down on him. When he first saw Belle, he'd felt that spark—the "fair lady for a gentleman" instinct. Between the Ancient One's cryptic hints and his own attraction to her, he'd thought this would be a simple fairy tale. He'd save the day, she'd fall for him, and they'd ride into the sunset.
But real life—even in a magical pocket dimension—was messy. You don't just kill a girl's childhood friend (even a jerk like Gaston) and expect her to hop on a horse with you five minutes later.
"Thank you for everything, Maurice," Huang Wen said, standing up abruptly. His voice was a bit rough. "I think it's time I moved on. There are things I need to handle, and I've stayed long enough."
Maurice looked up, surprised. "Leaving? Already? You haven't even seen the sun reach its peak. Stay a few days. Let the dust settle."
"No." Huang Wen's smile was tinged with bitterness. "I think my presence here is only making things harder for Belle. When she finally comes out... just tell her goodbye for me. Tell her I hope she can eventually find a way to forget what happened last night. She deserves a world that isn't so... violent."
He turned and walked out the door without looking back.
Maurice watched him go, scratching his chin. Once Huang Wen was out of earshot, he turned toward Belle's bedroom door and yelled, "If you don't get out here right now, you're going to lose the only interesting thing that's ever happened to this village!"
CLANG!
The door didn't just open; it hit the wall. Belle stumbled out, her eyes red-rimmed but her expression fierce. She looked dejected, her gaze darting toward the empty doorway.
"He's gone?" she whispered, the heartbreak evident in her voice.
"Almost," Maurice said, leaning against the table. "Look, Belle. You've spent your whole life reading about adventures. You've wanted to 'see the world' since you were old enough to hold a book. Now, a man who actually is an adventure wants to take you with him. Are you really going to let a couple of dead idiots like Gaston and LeFou stop you?"
"I... I was just so shocked," Belle stammered. "And I can't leave you, Papa. Who will take care of the shop? Who will make sure you eat?"
Maurice burst out laughing, a deep, hearty sound. "Belle, I was a man long before you were a thought. I've survived this long. Besides, the two biggest threats in this town are currently being eaten by worms. I'll be fine. You can't stay here forever, rotting in this little valley just to make sure I don't burn my toast."
"But..."
"Go!" Maurice pointed toward the door. "Go find out what's actually out there. If you don't go now, you'll spend the rest of your life wondering 'what if.' Take Philippe. Just... make sure the horse finds his way home eventually."
Belle didn't need another word. She threw her arms around her father in a crushing hug. "I love you, Papa. I'll come back! I promise!"
She turned and sprinted out the door, her skirts fluttering behind her.
Maurice watched her go, the "old man" persona slipping away for a second to reveal a satisfied smirk. "Good luck, kid. You're going to need it. And Huang Wen... you'd better treat her right, or I'll show you what 'divine power' actually looks like."
A mile down the road, Huang Wen was trudging along, his head down. He felt like a total failure. 'Great job, hero. You saved the girl and then made her hate you in record time.'
"Achoo!"
He sneezed violently, rubbing his nose. 'Is someone talking about me?'
Then, he heard it. The rhythmic thud-thud-thud of hooves. His heart did a triple-flip in his chest. He turned around, and there she was, riding Philippe like a woman possessed.
As she skidded to a halt, Huang Wen found himself grinning like a complete idiot. He couldn't help it. The gloom of the morning evaporated in a heartbeat.
"What are you standing there smirking at?" Belle demanded, jumping off the horse and stomping toward him. She tried to look angry, but her eyes were sparkling. "You're a terrible guest, you know that? You don't just leave a 'goodbye' note with my father. Where's the formal invitation? Where's the 'please come see the world with me' speech?"
Huang Wen felt a surge of confidence—a rare "enlightenment" moment. He dropped to one knee right there in the dirt, looking up at her with genuine warmth.
"Beautiful Miss Belle," he said, his voice steady and sincere. "I was a fool to think I could leave without you. Would you do me the immense honor of leaving this place and traveling the world by my side? I can't promise it'll be safe, but I promise it won't be boring."
Belle's lips twitched, fighting back a smile. She huffed, placing her small hand in his calloused one. "That's better. But Philippe is going back home. Does your 'traveling the world' involve us walking the whole way?"
"Actually," Huang Wen stood up, his heart racing as he felt the soft warmth of her palm. "I've got a better idea. How about a little magic?"
He didn't wait for an answer. He activated the Dream Butterfly Escape.
"Hold on tight," he whispered.
In an instant, the world around them blurred. The trees, the path, and the village dissolved into shimmering specks of golden light. Belle let out a small gasp, clinging to his arm as the reality of the pocket dimension began to warp and bend around them...