Fang Yue also found it a bit hard on the eyes.

But he couldn't just throw up like those players without any restraint; that would be too impolite. He was, after all, the vice-captain, and couldn't do something so unbecoming.

He gave a dry laugh, raised a thumb, and drawled, "Gooood~~~"

"As expected of the village's acknowledged belle, she has the figure, she has the beauty."

"To have such a beauty accompanying me on this escort mission is truly the luck of a lifetime for this Ye!"

Ma Ling'er's face flushed slightly, and she smiled faintly.

"Thank you for the praise, Vice-Captain Ye. Ling'er doesn't deserve it."

The smile was fine, the blush was fine, but paired with that exaggerated figure…

Fang Yue felt a slight physiological discomfort and shifted his gaze slightly. From the room behind him, he could hear the intermittent sounds of several people gagging, rising and falling again.

Stop throwing up, stop throwing up, or I'll throw up too!

At least, her face is still very pretty! Isn't beauty supposed to be justice? You bunch of undisciplined fellows!

"Ahem! Well, Master Ma, I've met Miss Ma, and I'll do my best to keep her safe on the road. Also, there's something else I wanted to ask. I wonder if you happen to have any… Black Embers on hand?"

The blacksmith didn't hide anything and said frankly, "I do."

He really has it!

Fang Yue's face lit up, but then he hesitated. "I wonder, would you be willing to sell some to me? You know, the wilderness is a long and dangerous journey…"

"There's no need for such trouble. This 5g of Black Embers was left here by a traveler who commissioned a weapon from me in the past. I'll give it to Vice-Captain Ye today. I only hope that when Vice-Captain Ye returns to the village in a few days, my daughter will still be in the team, safe and sound."

5g of Black Embers!

Fang Yue stared intently at the thing in the blacksmith's hand and quickly promised, "No problem! I assure you, as long as I can return to the village, Ma Ling'er will return to the village!"

"Good!"

Hearing this, the blacksmith directly handed the 5g of Black Embers to Fang Yue.

"I'll take Vice-Captain Ye at his word. I hope you'll keep your promise."

"A gentleman's word is his bond!"

"Good."

5g of Black Embers, just obtained so easily?

Fang Yue felt a little incredulous and suddenly felt that this escort mission seemed quite lucrative!

Next, he'll immediately go to the next house to rake in some more benefits!

After thanking the blacksmith, Fang Yue left in a hurry.

After Fang Yue left, Ma Ling'er's faint smile slowly faded, her eyes gradually turned cold, and a sharp chill emanated from her body.

The blacksmith got up, glanced at his daughter, and said faintly, "Come with me."

"..."

Ma Ling'er didn't reply, but silently followed.

The two entered the next room one after the other and closed the door.

The blacksmith frowned at his daughter. "A-Duan's death has nothing to do with Vice-Captain Ye."

Ma Ling'er didn't speak.

"I know you have resentment in your heart, feeling that the guards didn't handle the anomaly well and didn't protect A-Duan."

"I'm also angry, I'm also furious. But this was A-Duan's own choice. I tried to stop him, told him not to go out."

"But A-Duan has been an orphan since he was a child. He was born in Gu Yue Village, grew up in Gu Yue Village, and regarded Gu Yue Village as his home. All the villagers are family, and if family is in trouble, he can't sit still! If he could turn a blind eye to the rallying order, then he wouldn't be the A-Duan we know."

Ma Ling'er still didn't speak, but turned her head away, not wanting to look directly at the blacksmith.

"In short, don't bring your emotions to the escort team. Once you leave Gu Yue Village, only the people in the escort team can keep you safe. You're my only daughter. If something happens to you, I can't bear it."

Ma Ling'er suddenly turned her head, her voice rising sharply, "Then A-Duan died in vain? The guards don't have to pay the price?"

"Keep your voice down!"

The blacksmith covered her mouth, glanced at the door, listened carefully for a while, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Don't you know what your identity is? Hiding in Gu Yue Village for so many years, and now you want to stand up for a dead man?"

"A-Duan isn't just some dead man! He's our family!"

"...I know, but he is indeed dead. And you're still alive, we're still alive. The appointed day is coming soon. As long as we contact the envoy group, everything will usher in a beautiful ending. When that time comes, we'll leave together, and you can deal with Gu Yue Village as you please. Even Lord Han won't be able to stop you!"

"I want everyone in Gu Yue Village to be buried with A-Duan! Including Lord Han!"

A fierce glint flashed in Ma Ling'er's eyes, her voice icy.

"Whatever, the envoy group will listen to you. But right now, miss, be patient! The ten-year plan cannot be ruined by a moment of impulse!"

"...I understand."

As she said this, Ma Ling'er's body, like a female bodybuilder, slowly shrunk, changed, and finally turned into the figure of an ordinary sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl. Coupled with her cute face, it was simply astounding.

The blacksmith gave a wry smile.

"Never mind, just keep your previous strange physique. I told the villagers that your body changed drastically due to excessive eating because of A-Duan's death. The villagers all know about the incident five years ago and won't be surprised by your physical changes."

"Understood."

Ma Ling'er's body changed again, returning to her bodybuilder form.

"Remember, as soon as you get to Mo Village, immediately contact the envoy group and have them verify your identity! Also… in the wilderness, you must protect yourself and stick close to that Ye guy. He's strong and can keep you safe."

"The first person I'll kill after I contact the envoy group is him!"

"...Whatever, but until then, you can only rely on his protection. With your current strength, which isn't even [Black Grade Initial Stage], you can't act alone in the wilderness."

"I know."

"Yeah. Then let's go out. Remember, hide your emotions well and don't reveal any flaws, or we'll all be finished. A thousand-mile dam is destroyed by an ant hole. We must not allow any accidents at the final step!"

Finally, the blacksmith said meaningfully, "Our hard days are finally coming to an end."

"...Yeah."

The two left the room, everything proceeded as usual, and no one suspected the father and daughter.

...

Gu Yue Village.

"What? You don't have it? But you're the skilled River Tailor!"

"Ah? Brother Jian, you've been selling jewelry for so many years, haven't you seen what Black Embers looks like? You're such a failure… ah, no, I mean, don't hit me! Don't hit me! It hurts, it hurts! I'm leaving, I'm leaving, okay…"

"Thief Mo, you're not easy to find! Don't be nervous, I'm not here to arrest you, I'm here to ask you for something… What?! You don't have it either? You, you, you, you're a master thief! Lord Han won't let you steal? Lord Han won't let you, so you don't steal? Don't you have any professional ethics… Okay, Lord Han is indeed terrifying, but you really don't have any Black Embers?"

As the sun set, Fang Yue was at a loss.

He thought that there were many capable people in the village, so getting some Black Embers would be easy.

But as it turned out, other than the blacksmith, no one else could give him Black Embers.