*Tat tat...*
Feet fell on dirt and grass. Arms were clenched tight.
Zhang Wei lowered his right hand, feeling a faint pain shooting through it. He took a look and saw traces of red on his skin.
*I was hurt?*
He knew this might be due to his body not keeping up with his power. A person's explosive strength is closely tied to their physical condition. Muscles, tendons, and bones are all key factors in generating force. Without a strong body, even with great strength, one can easily hurt themselves.
It was all thanks to his wind magic that he managed that slash which cut through bone and dug three inches into the rocky soil.
*Now that I think about it, this is my first time fighting someone in the adept realm, right?*
Though it was surprisingly... easy.
He didn't even have his sword with him, but that guy couldn't even survive a single blow. Sure, he had the element of surprise, struck first, and had good positioning. Still, it felt almost too simple.
*Why was that guy so weak? Is it because the magic technique he practiced was low level?*
But since he was just a random thug in this countryside, it made sense.
Mei Yan had explained everything on their walk back, so Zhang Wei had connected the dots. That Zhou Jin guy and his brothers had been so out of control that the villagers finally had enough and hired bounty hunters to deal with them. But with his keen smell and hearing during nighttime, Zhou Jin had managed to escape and hide in the forest, leaving the bounty hunters empty-handed.
Feeling the lingering warmth and tingling sensation in his hands from using the wind magic, Zhang Wei allowed himself a small smile. *Well, I'm stronger than him. That's what matters in the end.*
"Ethan, can you tell me what life was like as the son of a businessman?" Mei Yan asked, walking beside him on the narrow forest path.
Zhang Wei raised his uninjured hand in front of his face as Mei Yan's silky long black hair floated and danced in the gentle evening breeze, getting into his eyes and tickling his nose.
*Wait... silky?*
Now that he thought about it, how did this girl achieve this level of smoothness and shine in her hair? Without any hair products, fancy oils, or expensive treatments, and living the rough, simple life of a commoner in this rural area? Was it because of this world's different climate? Or maybe the fresh mountain air and clean spring water here had some kind of natural effect?
"I'm not the son of a businessman," he replied, shaking his head firmly and moving to his left to avoid the wind direction so her flowing hair wouldn't keep blowing into his face.
"I don't believe it! You definitely aren't a commoner like me!" She paused mid-step, then her dark eyes widened with sudden understanding. "Wait... are you saying you're actually a noble?"
She turned around completely and looked him up and down with curious, examining eyes, taking in every detail of his appearance and posture.
"What? Don't I look like one?" He stopped walking and spread both arms wide as if to show himself off, striking a proud pose.
"You definitely don't act or look like one," she said with a small, amused laugh, covering her mouth with her hand.
Zhang Wei looked down at his clothing. "Is it because I'm not wearing those fancy silk robes and expensive jewelry? Not every noble dresses like that all the time. I don't like wearing those things anyway - they feel too flashy and uncomfortable."
He met her questioning eyes directly. "I mean, look at me closely... Don't I seem impressive to you in some way?"
"Hmm... I believe you," she said with a teasing smile, squinting her eyes playfully and tilting her head. Then she suddenly lifted her arm and pointed ahead through the trees. "Look! It's beautiful, right?"
Zhang Wei perked his ears. Faintly, he caught the sound of running water—gentle splashes, like a stream flowing over stone. His steps quickened.
In front of them, the dense forest trees opened up into a wide, peaceful clearing filled with smooth, rounded rocks of all sizes. The gentle sound of water flowing and splashing could be heard clearly now, echoing softly off the rock walls around them.
It was a large natural spring with crystal-clear water gently flowing and bubbling between the weathered rocks and smooth stones, creating small pools and channels throughout the area.
"Wow!" Zhang Wei exclaimed, stopping in his tracks and staring at the breathtaking scenery spread out before them. The spring water was a perfect light blue color, so transparent and pure he could see straight down to the sandy bottom several feet below.
*Is this the famous spring?*
With wonder and amazement shining in his eyes, he walked closer, stepping carefully on the carved stone steps that someone had built long ago to lead down to the water's edge. The steps were worn smooth by countless visitors over the years. He crouched down slowly and reached out with his good hand.
*Tap!*
*Splash!*
He cupped the cool water in both hands, letting it flow between his fingers like liquid crystal. The water was refreshingly cool and soothing against his skin, instantly washing away the dust and sweat from their long walk.
*So this is real spring water...*
This was the first time in either of his lives that he had touched natural spring water like this. He had never experienced anything quite like it before. In his previous life, he had only known chlorinated swimming pools and the salty ocean water at crowded beaches.
*Tat.*
Soft footsteps sounded on the stones beside him.
"What do you think? It's beautiful, right?" Mei Yan crouched down gracefully next to him, watching his hands move through the water and gazing into the clear depths.
"It's incredible," he said, settling down more comfortably near the closest pool. "I've honestly never seen anything like it in my entire life."
"Wait until you really feel the water," Mei Yan said, settling down on a flat, sun-warmed rock nearby and pulling her knees up to her chest. "It's always the perfect temperature, no matter what season it is. Summer or winter, it never changes."
Zhang Wei reached out carefully and dipped his injured right hand into the nearest pool. The water was pleasantly cool but not cold, refreshing and energizing without being shocking to his system. As the clean water flowed over his torn skin, he felt an immediate, soothing sensation, like the spring water itself was magically drawing out the pain and tension from his muscles.
"It's amazing... can I actually swim in here?" He suddenly turned to look at her, genuine interest and excitement sparkling in his dark eyes.
"Eh!" Mei Yan was caught completely off guard by his sudden movement and almost lost her balance, nearly slipping backward off her rock into the water. She windmilled her arms and managed to steady herself, then looked at him with mock seriousness, trying to hide her embarrassment.
"Um... sorry, I didn't mean to surprise you like that," Zhang Wei said quickly, reaching out as if to help steady her.
After a brief pause, she replied with a perfectly straight face, "It's okay, but you'll have to pay me exactly ten gold coins for swimming privileges!"
"What?! Ten gold coins?!" Zhang Wei exclaimed in complete shock, his eyes going wide. That was more money than most people in this village saw in an entire year.
Just as he was about to protest loudly and argue about the unfair price, her serious expression melted away completely.
"It's just a joke! Hehe~" Mei Yan smiled brightly, her whole face lighting up with mischief, and turned around gracefully. She began stepping carefully onto a winding path of flat, stable rocks that led toward the center of the spring, balancing easily with her arms out for stability.
Then she called out to the water in a way that completely puzzled and confused Zhang Wei: "Ela!"
Suddenly, long strands of jet-black hair appeared beneath the water's crystal surface, floating and moving like dark silk ribbons. Then the smooth water broke apart with a gentle splash, revealing a girl with a fair, delicate face and striking eyes that seemed to glow and sparkle through the tiny water droplets clinging to her long, dark eyelashes.
It was a girl who gave off a strange, otherworldly aura, like someone who didn't quite belong in this normal, everyday world. Her presence felt almost magical, mysterious, and untouchable - as if she might disappear like a dream if he looked away for even a moment.
Then she blinked slowly, and as if an invisible switch had been flipped somewhere, her distant expression became much more natural and human. Along with this change, her mysterious, ethereal aura faded away completely, becoming warm, friendly, and very much alive.
It was Ela.