Evening time.
An Ya came out of the room on the third floor, with tear stains on her face.
The old man had already left.
But he left with a smile, very peacefully.
In the old man's own words: I almost forgot what it's like to breathe freely and easily.
An Ya felt happy for her father while still being very sad.
Suddenly remembered her father's sudden awakening, was it right after Andrew held her father's hand?
Couldn't help but ask, "Where is Andrew?"
"Brother Andrew has already gone."
The little boy who was about to go out to play said.
Andrew waited until the little boy returned, and only after planting the last "Seed of the Water Spirit" in him did he leave the Living People Cemetery.
An Ya asked the little boy, "How are you feeling today? Is your cough better?"
The little boy shook his head, "No, it's still the same..."
An Ya stroked the little boy's hair and looked at the other people in the first-floor hall.
Everyone looked the same as before Andrew came in the morning, showing no signs of symptoms improving.
"So, am I overthinking it?"
An Ya's delicate brows furrowed, a bit confused.
...
...
At the same time, Andrew was on his way back to the temporary camp.
His mood could be described as the best moment since arriving in this Flame Realm!
Firstly, he did another good deed.
The "Seed of the Water Spirit" he planted would probably all explode in one to two days. By then, all patients would recover, no longer suffering from the pain of lung burns!
Secondly, Andrew felt:
Once the Seed of the Water Spirit explodes, it would likely unlock a new magic skill!
It's just this strong feeling!
And the third point—
The one he planted in An Ya's father was "immediate effect," unlike the others' "delayed effect."
At the time, he didn't think much, just thought about curing the old man.
As a result, he successfully unlocked a one-time use magic artifact from the "Tear of the Water God"!
A combat-type magic artifact.
Its name is: Fingertip Series Magic "Water Needle."
Although it can only be used once, at least it's a combat magic.
—This is the biggest difference compared to when he left the camp in the morning.
Finally, I'm no longer a weakling without combat power! Although it's certainly still not enough to deal with Hubert, the shadow over his heart indeed faded a bit at this moment: the Fire Extinguishing Upgrade Method is truly workable and useful.
"Since that's the case, is there any fire extinguishing business in Wildfire Town?"
Andrew couldn't help but think while walking, "Before the deadline of Hubert's prophecy arrives, the more fire extinguishing business, the better!"
"Why run, what's the point?" A voice suddenly laughed, "Do you think you can escape?"
Andrew was startled.
This voice is... Raymond?
Andrew couldn't help but furrow his brows and snort. He had been busy all day at the Living People Cemetery, almost forgetting the trouble Raymond brought in the morning on the way there.
"Forget it... What I need to do now is extinguish fires. This Raymond isn't a fire, so let's not make unnecessary troubles."
Andrew shook his head, planning to continue forward, first go back to the temporary camp to eat something. He hadn't eaten all day, he was really starving.
Yet, following Raymond's voice, another voice rang out intermittently, "Please don't do this..."
It was a girl's voice, sounding about the same age as him.
After that, there were jeering laughter and whistles from the thugs. Also the girl's terrified and desperate screams and sobs.
"..."
Andrew slowly stopped, standing still silently.
The setting sun descended, the warm and hot sunlight shone on Andrew.
At this point, clothing tearing sounds could already be heard, followed by men's sinister laughter.
With a simple thought, you can guess exactly what kind of scene is unfolding!
"Well, this Raymond is extremely fawning towards Hubert, completely showing a lackey's face. How about taking him out first, also counts as cutting off one of Hubert's claws in advance?"
Andrew sighed, "Mainly, in this situation, I really can't bear it."
Without saying a word, he turned and walked toward the source of the voice.
Although there's certainly risk, the difficulty of rescue is probably not small.
But... I'm no longer the weak pushover without combat power like in the morning.
Andrew's eyes were deep, flashing a hint of killing intent.
The setting sun slanted.
This was an almost abandoned, secluded street in Wildfire Town.
A short but very full-bodied young girl was blocked against the wall.
Her clothes had been roughly torn more than half off, her hair messy, arms crossed as she was forced into a corner.
Although she was in the sunlight, she was trembling with fear!
Before the girl was Raymond and his group of lackeys.
"Oh my, you have quite a nice figure."
Raymond faced away from the sunlight, grinning wickedly, not in any hurry.
After all, it's not the first time he's done this sort of thing.
"Alas, this little Wildfire Town is just too boring, I have to find ways to amuse myself." Raymond felt it was really difficult for him, "Can't exactly go outside town to fight Desolate Beasts, right? Can't beat them."
So in the end, bullying ordinary civilians is still more enjoyable!
"By the way, I remember your house is opposite the Living People Cemetery at the town entrance, right?" Raymond stared at the girl, suddenly remembered something, and pretended to be generous, "Just answer one question for me obediently, and I'll be gentle with you later, how about that? Haha, don't be scared."
My question is simple: today, is the 'Warm Fire Commerce Association' team coming from the town entrance—"
"Hey..."
A cold voice suddenly echoed over.
Raymond paused and turned to look.
His underlings also looked over.
Soon, they couldn't help but show strange expressions.
They saw a person standing under the setting sun, with a shadow stretched long by the sunlight.
The long shadow reached out, directly extending to Raymond and his followers, seeming like a big stick about to knock them all down!
Andrew stood at the end of that shadow, and said coldly, "Let go of that girl."
"..."
The scene fell silent for a moment.
Raymond and his underlings looked at Andrew with bizarre expressions, as if seeing something unbelievable.
Then someone suddenly burst into laughter.
"Oh, it's hero Andrew trying to play hero again!"
Raymond's underlings, as if hearing some hilarious joke, quickly couldn't help but laugh uproariously, "The problem is... don't you have any self-awareness? We don't cause you trouble, yet you come to risk your life on your own?"
Raymond also laughed.
Thinking, there's a road to heaven yet you don't tread, but you barge into hell where there's no gate? Since you're so eager to deliver yourself here... I won't hold back!
Casually made a gesture: "Grab him, I want to play with this in front of him."
Once done, he turned back to look at the girl.
Took off his jacket and stepped forward.
This is a bully.
Not just extorting for protection fees and the like, far beyond that. But truly being reckless, doing whatever he wants!
The Flame Realm is vast, though Wildfire Town is located at the very center of the Inner Sea Desert, and the Inner Sea Desert is at the center of the Flame Realm, which means geographically speaking, Wildfire Town is actually the center of this Flame Realm.
Yet at the same time, Wildfire Town is the most backward, most remote place in the Flame Realm.
In such a Wildfire Town, today welcomed an unusual envoy—
Miss Barbara from the Warm Fire Commerce Association, personally led an envoy here.
Raymond, known for his sycophancy, how could he miss such an opportunity?
"So originally today, I intended to host the Warm Fire Commerce Association's envoy, see if I could curry some favor and find a chance to rise up."
Raymond cursed inwardly while taking off his jacket, "But damn it, I ended up being rejected by that old Hubert!"
Thinking of this, Raymond felt increasingly displeased, a sense of violent emotion held in his chest: "Today, I'm going to vent my anger!"
One of Raymond's underlings walked up to Andrew at this point.
This person smiled cheekily, clearly not taking Andrew seriously, "Come, come, come, I'll play with you first."
Suddenly, a fist directly punched Andrew in the face!
Andrew stumbled backward involuntarily. The laughter of the underlings grew even louder.
However, as they laughed, gradually, they couldn't laugh anymore.
Soon after, all stopped laughing.
This made Raymond somewhat curious, he turned back to take another look.
He saw—
The underling who punched Andrew's face, swayed slightly, fell to the ground with a thud, twitched twice, and then didn't move.
Then blood silently began to spread from beneath him.
"Alright, let's play along."
Andrew looked at the corpse of the underling and thought.
Aside from him and the guy dead on the ground, no third person saw: At the moment Andrew took the punch on the face, he simultaneously retaliated with a fingertip strike to the opponent's throat.
The magic artifact "Water Needle," had quietly activated.
On the surface, it just looked like a vague layer of water blue glow emanated from his index finger. Like a semi-transparent blue finger sheath.
In reality, this unassuming blue glow made Andrew's finger as sharp as a knife.
This fingertip strike directly pierced the opponent's throat.
Leaving a deep bloody hole on the neck.
The ease of it was akin to a hot knife slicing through butter.
Andrew himself was surprised at the strength of this "Water Needle"!
So, after successfully landing the hit, he immediately withdrew his hand, tucking the finger with the "Water Needle" into his sleeve to hide it.
Meanwhile, he raised his other hand to wipe the blood from his mouth's corner. His lips had been slightly torn by the opponent's strike.
The girl shrank back and looked over, full of pleading in her eyes.
Raymond then paused his steps towards the girl, looked at Andrew, and gradually furrowed his brow.
An underling exclaimed, shocked: "Andrew, you—!"
"What do you mean, you?"
Andrew slightly gritted his teeth, "Don't make me repeat it a third time—I'm telling you, let go of that girl!"