noveltune Chapter 20. This village is actually full of hidden talents?!
Chapter 20. This village is actually full of hidden talents?!
Under the moonlight, the Western noblewoman he had just rescued was slightly out of breath, one hand lightly pressing her chest, which was heaving from running, as she stopped a few steps away.
Her pale golden hair was streaked with grass, her fine clothes were torn, and her cheeks were flushed. Only her azure eyes, clear and bright in the moonlight, held the lingering fear of surviving a calamity and a hint of barely perceptible stubbornness as she stared straight at him.
Eyes facing each other.
The girl saw Youfeng's appearance clearly.
A black-haired boy of similar age, dressed in simple Eastern village clothing, possessed a calmness beyond his years, even a touch of aloofness.
She took a deep breath, straightened her back—though disheveled—and gazed at Youfeng with her bright blue eyes, her voice clear and earnest:
"Good evening, duelist."
"My name is Aria von Veltrren."
"Could you...please help me?"
The night was as still as water, and the moonlight as soft as gauze.
You Feng looked at the complex light in her eyes, a mixture of lingering fear and renewed hope, remained silent for two seconds, and then simply turned away.
"There's nothing I can do to help you."
His tone was flat, devoid of emotion, as if he were simply stating a fact.
Arya was taken aback, clearly not expecting such a direct refusal. She quickly caught up, her voice tinged with barely perceptible urgency: "You...you haven't even asked what it is, how do you know you can't help?"
She adjusted her tone slightly, trying to make her reason sound reasonable and harmless: "I've gotten lost in these mountains and forests, and I've also lost my luggage and money. I'm hungry and tired now. Could I rest here for a while and get something to eat?"
She slightly raised her chin, striving to maintain an aristocratic demeanor as she made her promise: "Rest assured, I will not eat or stay for free. Once I contact my family, I will reward you handsomely."
Youfeng yawned, not stopping his steps, and simply said, "If you like the food in the village, then come along."
Arya's eyes lit up with surprise: "Really? Thank you so much!"
However, after speaking, You Feng said no more and just walked forward on his own, showing no intention of walking alongside her or talking to her.
This made Arya feel both delighted and inexplicably depressed.
In the outside world, given her looks and family background, when has she ever been treated with such near-ignorance?
This young man from the East seemed genuinely too lazy to pay her any more attention.
She jogged to catch up, trying to find a topic of conversation, but also with a hint of probing: "By the way, were you around here the whole time? Did you see any other duelists who looked very powerful pass by?"
You Feng didn't even turn his head: "I didn't see it."
Arya frowned slightly, her suspicions growing stronger.
strangeness……
Based on her observation, the cat-eared elf warrior who saved her had clearly come from this direction.
The fleeting glimpse of that figure and its speed under the moonlight, along with the terrifying outward projection of its spiritual power, were not something an ordinary elf could possess. Its owner must have been a formidable duelist.
Could it be that the powerful figure has already left? Or is he living in seclusion in one of the nearby villages?
Her gaze involuntarily fell on the boy's back again, and then she shook her head secretly.
Impossible. This young man is about the same age as me, dressed simply, and his aura doesn't seem particularly unfathomable.
How could it be him who could control such a powerful, intelligent, and even speaking spirit?
There must be another expert, but they simply don't want to show themselves.
She suppressed her doubts and silently followed You Feng toward the village where firelight and noise could be faintly heard in the distance.
"You crazy little devil?! How come you went out to take a piss and brought back a girl?"
As soon as he stepped into the glowing area of the village square, Qin Jian's highly recognizable loud voice rang out.
He stared wide-eyed at the blonde girl following closely behind You Feng, who, though disheveled, exuded an air of nobility.
Poseidon, arms crossed, leaned against the millstone, his lazy gaze sweeping over Arya. His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and his voice, though flat, carried a certain scrutiny: "Just a little Western girl."
You Feng keenly sensed something unusual in their reactions.
The village seemed to have some unspoken avoidance or wariness towards outsiders, especially Westerners.
Arya felt a little awkward under those gazes and subconsciously straightened her back.
However, when she could see the village clearly by the light of the campfire, a hint of curiosity flashed in her azure eyes.
This small village, located on the eastern edge of the mainland, is quite different in style from the western villages and towns she passed through along the way.
The architecture is simple and ancient, and the layout subtly follows a natural rhythm. The air is filled with an indescribable, calm and ancient atmosphere, as if stepping into some Eastern secret realm forgotten by time.
What alarmed her even more was that the spiritual energy fluctuations emanating from these adults were far from ordinary!
Could a seemingly ordinary border village actually harbor hidden talents?
"Guests are always welcome."
An aged yet gentle voice rang out at just the right moment, breaking the slightly delicate atmosphere.
The old village chief, leaning on his cane, slowly rose from beside the campfire, a reassuring smile on his face. He nodded to Arya: "Young lady, you must have been frightened on your journey. If you don't mind the simple village food, please come and have some to warm yourself and calm your nerves."
A warm feeling welled up in Aria's heart, and her tense nerves relaxed slightly. She gave the old village chief a standard and elegant curtsy, saying, "Thank you for your hospitality, sir. I apologize for disturbing you."
She was truly hungry. From the moment she encountered danger to her escape, she had suffered immense physical and mental exhaustion.
At this moment, the meat pieces roasting over the campfire emitted an enticing aroma, mixed with the peculiar scent of unknown spices, constantly tantalizing her taste buds.
She disregarded all aristocratic dining etiquette, accepted the skewer of grilled meat kindly offered by Liu Bingbing, thanked her, and carefully took a bite.
As your teeth pierce through the slightly charred and crispy outer skin, the tender and juicy meat, along with a rich and layered aroma, instantly fills your mouth!
"Mmm!" Arya's eyes lit up instantly, her cheeks puffed out slightly, and she couldn't resist taking another big bite. "Delicious! What a unique aroma! What kind of meat is this? I've never tasted anything like it before!"
You Feng found a rock nearby and sat down. Upon hearing this, a subtle, enigmatic smile appeared on his lips as he casually replied:
"Oh, this."
"Goblin meat."
"..."
Time seemed to stand still for a second.
Arya's chewing motion suddenly froze, her azure pupils slowly dilated, and the color drained from her face at a visible speed.
She stared blankly down at the skewer of golden-brown, sizzling meat in her hand, which she had just found incredibly delicious, when suddenly her stomach churned violently.
"Goblin...?"
"defecate--!!!"