"Yes, that was me. Thank you for rescuing me from that monster's lair. May I know your name?"
Shichen could only admit it helplessly.
On that day, Guizhong hadn't yet simplified the crossbow design. During the hunt, the team was ambushed by wolves. As their leader, Shichen drew the wolves away, slipped down a slope, broke his leg, and—unfortunately—wandered straight into the territory of a Geovishap.
The wolves and the vishap fought, buying him time to crawl away, but his injured leg couldn't carry him far. When the Geovishap won and turned its fury toward him, despair had already swallowed his last hope.
Then—
a white-haired child descended from the sky and struck the beast down with a single Cryo spear.
The child spared him only a glance before vanishing.
Young yet overwhelmingly strong…
Human-shaped…
and harboring goodwill toward a stranger—
Shichen assumed he must be a yaksha under the Geo Archon.
After being rescued and carried back by his people, he told Lady Guizhong about the mysterious child, asking that if she ever met such an immortal, she would help convey his gratitude.
By chance, he now had the opportunity to say it himself.
"My name is Xue Kui. She's the one who gave it to me."
He proudly announced the name—finger pointing at the God of Dust.
Shichen's eyes widened. Named personally by an Archon?
Some gods were said to excel in creation… could it be?
No wonder Lady Guizhong treats him differently.
But the yaksha clearly had no interest in forming bonds.
"No need for thanks. I was just itching for a fight that day and happened to run into you. Honestly, I'm surprised you managed to live long enough for me to show up with that busted leg."
Xue Kui sized him up, expression disappointed.
"Shame you're too weak. Otherwise, I could've traded your life for a fight."
Shichen scratched his cheek. The weakness of his race was something he couldn't change.
But the invention in his hands—
that helped a little.
"I may not be your match, but with this, I might pose some threat."
He raised the crossbow, stubborn pride bracing his voice.
"What's that? A sideways bow?"
Xue Kui crouched, leaned around, jumped up, inspecting it from every angle like some curious animal.
"May I see it?"
Xue Kui took it, ran his hands over its frame—
then suddenly applied force.
Snap.
The crossbow split neatly into upper and lower halves.
Shichen froze, face bleaching.
"Let him be."
Guizhong's calm voice stopped him. Her eyes had turned serious.
Xue Kui hadn't torn it apart out of recklessness.
His fingers had found the connecting seams precisely—disassembling without damaging a single component.
Guizhong recalled Morax's words about the yaksha's innate talent. She had assumed those feats were instinct—accidents.
But looking at him now…
No. This one truly has a delicate, ingenious mind.
In a short time, the crossbow lay on the ground, disassembled into every small part.
Xue Kui yawned, already bored.
His hands blurred—
and a fully restored crossbow returned to Shichen's hands.
"Here. Low ceiling, high floor. Something like this could never hurt me."
Shichen's eyes whipped to Guizhong.
Wow. He really just said that—in front of the god who designed it?
"And the structure's simple. Not hard to make."
Cryo gathered around Xue Kui's hands.
A faintly transparent ice crossbow formed, identical in shape.
He conjured an ice bolt, knocked it, drew the string, and fired.
Thwip.
The bolt sank deep into a dead tree.
Xue Kui raised his chin proudly.
"Nothing more than that."
He tilted his head—
Shichen wasn't looking at the shot, but behind him.
"What?"
"You think it's simple and useless?"
Xue Kui froze.
Slowly turned.
Guizhong was staring at him, smiling.
He discovered something new that day:
A smile does not always mean happiness.
"Er—simple structure is an advantage! Easy to make, uh, very efficient for humans—so it's extremely good and totally not useless, haha, ha… guu—"
Seeing her expression grow darker, Xue Kui swallowed hard.
"Xue Kui. Haven't you been looking for an opponent?"
Guizhong brought her hands together and casually rubbed her palms.
Her next sentence made Shichen shiver.
And made Xue Kui's soul leave his body.
"Then let me play with you."
Hearing the words squeezed out through teeth—
Xue Kui knew:
I have angered a god.
He just hoped he'd still be alive tomorrow to eat grilled meat.
A sandstorm surged, swallowing him whole.
Shichen watched the massive sphere of sand enclosing god and yaksha.
He had no idea what to do.
…Forget it. He lived alone anyway. No one is waiting at home.
He sat and stared at the sandball.
Time passed.
The sun rolled from overhead toward the horizon.
Dusk gathered.
When the wind finally settled, Shichen shielded his eyes.
"Hmph."
Guizhong floated out, chin lifted high, sleeves flicking dramatically as she flew away—leaving only two cold words drifting on the wind.
"Nothing more than that."
Shichen lowered his hand—
And saw—
…a snow-white butt.
Xue Kui was kneeling on the ground, cheek pressed against the cold dirt, rear stuck up.
Eyes vacant.
Soulless.
Guizhong had reshaped the land itself, conjuring every monster Xue Kui had ever seen—from Geovishaps to hilichurl chieftains—to gang up on him.
Unlike Morax's three days and nights, where energy and stamina found balance, today had been high-intensity combat without pause.
For a young yaksha, it was torturous—
and exhilarating.
"You… okay?"
Shichen asked carefully.
"I'm fine… just need… a moment. …Oh. You're still here?"
"I had nothing to do. And you're my benefactor. I haven't repaid you yet."
"I told you—no need—"
"How about coming to my home and letting me treat you to a good meal?"
Xue Kui shot upright.
"Let's go!"
Eyes blazing.
This man—
was a good person.
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