Chapter 204: Alar's Confession, Departure, and Arrangements
Hearing the familiar, crisp voice, Tang Zheng turned his head toward the sound while stroking the goshawk's stiff, sleek feathers.
Alar, a radiant smile on her face, trotted over with light steps. It was clear she was extremely happy.
With the threat of the Gray Dwarf Race that had long loomed over the human tribe finally resolved, all the humans in the Oasis let out a genuine sigh of relief.
Ever since Tang Zheng had met Alar, she had always displayed a maturity and composure that belied her age. At this moment, however, he could see in her the liveliness appropriate for a girl her age.
"Lord Hero, you... why aren't you joining the bonfire party? There's a lot of delicious food."
Alar began happily, but halfway through her sentence, her voice subconsciously grew quieter.
Gurgle~
A fine spray of water bubbled up from beneath the living water source, forming crystal-clear droplets that rolled in the moonlight.
A warm night wind rustled the leaves of the trees surrounding the water source, creating a soft sound.
In Alar's view, Tang Zheng sat casually beside the living water source, while the goshawk, half a man's height, squatted silently by Lord Hero's side, perfectly still.
The man and the hawk shared a strange harmony with the tranquil environment in the Depths of the Oasis. Her sudden arrival, it seemed, had broken this atmosphere.
In that instant, a touch of sadness flickered in Alar's bright pupils.
She suddenly realized that Lord Hero didn't seem to belong to this Oasis, nor to Despair Valley.
Alar suddenly recalled that when Lord Hero had introduced himself, he had said he was a "traveler." She had even privately asked her Father what a traveler was.
"Lots of delicious food, you say? Then you all should eat your fill." Tang Zheng chuckled upon hearing Alar's words. He then shrugged his shoulders and spoke gently, "I've already eaten. Speaking of which, you all are a bit too enthusiastic. I'm still not quite used to such a fervent welcoming ceremony."
Alar fell silent for a moment. She glanced at him cautiously and asked in a small voice, "May I sit here, Lord Hero?"
"Of course," Tang Zheng nodded.
Alar took a deep breath, pursed her lips, and bent down. Reflected in the moonlit water, her figure, with its beautiful, firm curves, settled beside Tang Zheng.
"I'm starting to get the hang of the martial techniques Lord Hero taught me," Alar said in a clear voice, hugging her knees.
A look of surprise flashed across Tang Zheng's face.
Whether it was *Four Light Consecutive Slashes* or *Instant Reflection*, only a few days had passed, yet Alar had already managed to grasp the basics.
Such talent was even greater than he had initially expected.
"Thank you, Lord Hero," Alar said softly.
"Hm?" Tang Zheng responded.
"Actually, I'm also not used to everyone's excessive care and expectations."
"Ever since I was very young, everyone has been very lenient with me. No matter what mistake I made, I could easily get everyone's forgiveness. For some mistakes, people would even take the blame for me."
"Especially when I was eight, after I single-handedly defeated the tribe's hunters with ease, the tribesmen became even more lenient, and their expectations grew even higher."
Alar's hands tightened around her legs, her delicate, pointed chin resting on her knees. Her bright silver pupils stared at the churning living water source before her.
"From that time on, I trained seriously every single day. I wanted to become strong, to protect my Father, to protect everyone in the tribe."
"I wanted to live up to those expectations, and more than anything, I didn't want to let everyone down."
"But I knew... I couldn't become a powerful individual like my Grandfather, one who could truly protect everyone."
"If Lord Hero hadn't appeared back then, I suppose... I would already be dead."
As she spoke, Alar lifted her head slightly, her eyes glistening.
"I'm not afraid of death at all, truly, Lord Hero. I just... I just felt sorry for everyone, for failing to live up to the tribe's expectations."
"For... for not... protecting them."
Seeing Alar with the corners of her eyes glistening with tears, Tang Zheng raised his hand and gently placed it on her short, silver hair. He ruffled it firmly and said warmly, "You've already worked very hard, and you've done very well."
Whoosh~
Alar suddenly threw her wheat-colored arms out and hugged Tang Zheng's outstretched arm tightly, then rested her head on his shoulder.
The sudden movement stunned Tang Zheng.
For a moment, the air fell quiet.
The evil spirit hound, in its goshawk form, turned its head to watch the scene, then looked away, shuffling a little to the side.
In the sky above Despair Valley, countless stars twinkled, and the moon had moved to its zenith.
Sensing Alar's breathing beside him even out, Tang Zheng pondered for a moment before rising slightly and lifting her up by her waist.
He opened the wooden door of the cabin behind him and gently placed Alar on the wooden bed.
Tang Zheng looked at Alar, who was turned on her side, her face obscured by the darkness. A troubled look flickered across his face before he turned to leave the wooden cabin.
Thump!
Suddenly, Alar reached out and grabbed Tang Zheng's hand.
"Lord Hero, you're leaving, aren't you... I... I..." Alar's faint voice sounded from the darkness.
"Get a good night's sleep, Alar."
Without waiting for Alar to continue, Tang Zheng gently took her soft, calloused hand, placed it back on the wooden bed, and said warmly, "This will be a good sleep."
After speaking, Tang Zheng walked out of the wooden cabin, closing the wooden door behind him. He stood silently beside the living water source, gazing calmly at the Oasis.
Time passed, bit by bit. About half an hour later, Tribe Leader Diyelong's figure appeared in the center of the Oasis. Seeing Tang Zheng standing by the water source, his eyes widened in a clear daze before he quickened his pace.
"Lord Hero..." Tribe Leader Diyelong began to speak respectfully.
But he was only halfway through his sentence when an inexplicable chill ran down his spine. The temperature of the air around him seemed to have dropped by several degrees in an instant.
"Tribe Leader Diyelong, the bonfire party has just ended, correct?" Tang Zheng's faint voice drifted over.
Tribe Leader Diyelong carefully raised his head, his eyes meeting a gaze completely devoid of emotion. A shiver ran through Tribe Leader Diyelong's entire body, and he was too frightened to reply.
A long while passed.
"Alar... her Grandfather was a powerful individual of the Heroic Realm. She has the bloodline of a 'hero'..." Tribe Leader Diyelong's voice trembled.
"Enough. I'm not interested in your thoughts."
Tang Zheng raised a hand, cutting Tribe Leader Diyelong off, his tone still completely flat.
"I have something for you to do."
...
The next day.
At dawn, the scorching sun once again beat down on Despair Valley.
Groups of humans stood at the edge of the Oasis, looking at Tang Zheng, who had already walked out of the Oasis with the goshawk on his shoulder. Their faces were filled with deep reluctance to see him go.
Tribe Leader Diyelong stood at the very front of the crowd. He had long anticipated that Tang Zheng would leave, but he hadn't expected it to be so soon. He couldn't help but let out a low sigh.
"Gray Armor Knight!!"
Someone in the crowd suddenly shouted. In the next moment, a massive roar echoed across the desert.
"Gray Armor Knight!"
"Gray Armor Knight!"
"......!"
"Gray Armor Knight!"
Tribe Leader Diyelong went down on both knees, his entire body prostrating on the ground, performing the highest rite of his tribe.
Following Tribe Leader Diyelong's actions, the rest of the humans prostrated themselves as well, burying their heads in the sand.
"Honestly," Tang Zheng shook his head, a helpless look on his face as he saw the humans' actions.
The yellow sand swirled.
Tang Zheng's figure had already vanished.
Only after a long moment did everyone raise their heads again to look in the direction Tang Zheng had disappeared, a somber atmosphere spreading through the crowd.
Swoosh!
Suddenly, a slender figure shot out from the Oasis behind them, arriving before Tribe Leader Diyelong.
"Father, has Lord Hero left?" Alar asked, her long neck craned as she stared intently in the direction Tang Zheng had gone.
Seeing his daughter asking the obvious, Tribe Leader Diyelong's eyelid twitched. "Alar, I seem to recall you've never slept in. You've always woken up very early to train."
"What happened? Did you oversleep this time?"
Faced with her Father's teasing, Alar's expression was downcast, showing no intention of replying.
The corner of Tribe Leader Diyelong's mouth twitched. He shot a resentful glance at Alar before turning to face his equally dejected tribesmen.
"Everyone, speed up the clearing of the Gray Dwarves' oasis! Once all the supplies are moved back from the Gray Dwarves' oasis, we will completely withdraw from it."
Tribe Leader Diyelong's voice boomed, his expression stern. He continued, "Next, we will form a party and prepare to head to the Half-Orcs' oasis to give the Gray Dwarf Race's oasis to the Half-Orcs."
The moment these words were spoken, the crowd immediately erupted into an uproar, with clamorous voices rising from all directions.
"Father! What are you doing!" Alar was the first to look at Tribe Leader Diyelong, her face turning ugly. "Lord Hero helped us win this! How can we just give it to another race!"
Facing Alar's question and the uproar from his tribesmen, Tribe Leader Diyelong's expression remained surprisingly calm.
"These are Lord Hero's arrangements!" he roared, taking a deep breath.
Everyone instantly fell silent.
"Our population is too small. Lord Hero instructed that even if we could take the Gray Dwarves' oasis, we wouldn't be able to hold it. Since that's the case, we might as well give it to the Orc Race."
"Furthermore, we are to use this matter to investigate and gather information for Lord Hero about the Orc Race and the lands beyond Shadow Valley," Tribe Leader Diyelong's voice rang out once more.
A look of sudden realization appeared on everyone's faces.
Alar's silver pupils lit up, and she stared intently at Tribe Leader Diyelong. "Father, are you saying that Lord Hero will return?"
"Of course," Tribe Leader Diyelong said wryly, looking at Alar, who had regained her spirits in an instant.
(end of chapter)