Chapter 425: Caroline
Li Meng glanced sideways and found the source of the voice.
At a nearby table, a woman was pleading with an adventurer team.
The four adventurers looked troubled.
"Caroline, he's already dead. Just give up. That's a random teleportation magic circle. I won't risk my teammates' lives on luck. As the captain, I have to be responsible for them. Sorry."
The blunt refusal left the woman devastated.
But she didn't give up and continued begging the stronger adventurer teams.
Many adventurers seemed to recognize the woman.
When Caroline approached, they quickly lowered their heads.
"Caroline, don't be sad. We'll help you!"
As Caroline dejectedly passed by another team,
one of the adventurers stood up and blocked her path.
He looked at her with a lecherous smile.
"Really, you'll help me?"
Caroline's face lit up with joy,
clutching at the man's offer like a lifeline.
The man wore exquisite rune armor and had short, bright golden hair.
He looked about thirty,
with a rugged face marred by a ferocious scar.
He had the strength of a senior swordsman.
"Yeah, we'll all help you!"
His three teammates chimed in with malicious grins.
"But we don't want money."
The man's eyes fixated on Caroline's full chest.
As a woman, Caroline instantly understood what he meant.
Her face turned pale, hesitation and struggle flashing in her eyes.
The surrounding adventurers looked at the man with contempt.
"Caroline, don't believe a word they say."
An adventurer couldn't stand it and warned her.
The blocking adventurer frowned.
"Who said that? Come out!"
He glared around at the other adventurers.
But because of his strength, no one dared speak up.
Seeing no one respond, the man sneered.
He looked greedily at Caroline
and stepped toward her.
"Relax. I, Duke, always keep my word!"
Duke reached out to grab Caroline's waist.
The adventurers in the hall shook their heads.
They all knew Duke's reputation.
If Caroline, a mage, joined his team, her life would be ruined.
"You... what are you doing?"
At that moment, a boy suddenly grabbed Duke's hand.
No one even noticed when the boy appeared behind Caroline.
Li Meng expressionlessly released Duke's wrist.
Duke grimaced in pain and stumbled back a few steps.
Li Meng turned to Caroline.
"I'm interested in the random teleportation magic circle. Let's talk."
Caroline stared blankly at the boy beside her.
After a while, she blushed.
"O-okay!"
"Kid, you're dead!"
Duke recovered and angrily charged at Li Meng.
His three teammates also stood up menacingly.
Seeing Duke charge at him,
Li Meng casually slapped his incoming arm.
"Ah!"
A scream echoed through the hall,
accompanied by the sound of bones snapping.
Duke's right arm twisted grotesquely, completely broken.
"W-who are you?"
Duke clutched his right hand, his face pale with fear,
staring in terror at the handsome boy before him.
Even men would feel their hearts race looking at his face,
but Duke was more terrified of his strength.
He hadn't even seen the boy's move.
Before he realized it, his arm was broken.
One slap had shattered his arm,
even through fine steel armor.
Even a Sword King would find that hard to do.
Li Meng ignored Duke.
He grabbed Caroline's hand and led her back to his seat.
Caroline blushed even more as she was pulled along.
The adventurers in the hall looked at the black-clad boy in astonishment.
They hadn't seen how Duke's arm was broken either.
But seeing Caroline pulled away,
many of them sighed in relief.
Caroline and her husband had worked with many adventurer teams.
They didn't want to see her fall into Duke's hands.
"Kid, you..."
Seeing their captain injured, Duke's teammates were furious.
They were about to chase after him.
"No, he's tough. Let's go. To the temple, quick!"
Now wasn't the time to pick a fight.
The priority was healing Duke's broken arm.
If they delayed, Duke feared his right hand would be permanently crippled.
So Duke and his teammates fled in a hurry.
"Um... thank you."
Sitting opposite Li Meng, Caroline looked gratefully at him.
Though she knew Duke's intentions were bad,
she was willing to risk anything to save her husband.
Li Meng shook his head and took a sip of fruit wine.
"U-um, could you help me?"
Caroline looked at Li Meng with hopeful eyes.
Seeing no response, her face dimmed.
"I know I'm asking too much. I shouldn't be pushing you after you helped me. But I... I just want to know if Landon is okay. There's still time. If we wait too long, even if he's alive, he'll starve or die of thirst. I..."
Blushing, Caroline hurriedly took off her money pouch and placed it on the table.
"This is all of our savings. It's yours. And... and me too. If Landon is dead, if you find his body, I'll belong to you for the rest of my life. If he's alive, I'll spend one night with you. My husband and I will repay you with everything we have in our next life."
Caroline pleaded tearfully at the boy.
At that moment, she had a strong premonition.
Facing Caroline's desperate eyes, Li Meng set down his cup.
"Do you love him?"
"Yes, very much. He's my everything."
Li Meng calmly looked at the teary-eyed woman.
From her eyes, he saw the deep love she had for someone.
If a man loved a woman this much, it wouldn't be surprising.
But for a woman to love her man to this extent,
it could only mean one thing:
He had finally witnessed true love.
Although this love wasn't his,
he saw that unwavering love truly existed between a man and a woman.
For the sake of that loyal love,
he decided to help her.
"Alright, I'll help you."
He... he actually agreed?
Caroline stared blankly at the boy.
She hadn't expected him to agree so easily.
Although she didn't know how strong he was,
he was definitely not weaker than Duke.
"That's wonderful, thank you!"
Caroline looked at him gratefully.
"I'm Caroline. What's your name?"
"Li Meng."
"Li Meng, do you have a place to stay?"
"No."
"Then come to the inn where my companions and I are staying."
"You have companions?"