Chapter 382- Infinite Online Game (02)

This time, Brother Qi’s hair had turned into short white locks, and a tiger tail swayed behind him. The combination of his commanding presence and a hint of adorable charm made Mu Jin’s heart skip a beat.

He stared blankly at the man in front of him, unaware of the blush creeping onto his face, attributing his reaction to jealousy over Brother Qi’s impressive physique. In this world, the players’ bodies and senses in the game perfectly replicated those of the real world.

Although most people would typically tweak their appearance to look better, the competition’s unique rules disabled the option to adjust one’s avatar. In other words, the way they saw and interacted with each other now was exactly as they were in real life—completely authentic.

So, in the real world, does Brother Qi really have such a great physique? Unlike me, with my skinny arms and legs and not a single muscle on my body, thought Mu Jin.

As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Mu Jin instinctively pinched his soft, squishy belly and sighed inwardly.

When the man in front of him found Mu Jin, he immediately gave him a warm smile, reached out to pat his head, and said sincerely, “Xiao Jin, you look so cute right now!”

Mu Jin blushed slightly at Brother Qi’s affectionate tone. However, Brother Qi’s comment piqued his curiosity—after all, he couldn’t see himself.

Mu Jin quickly took a few steps toward a nearby glass building, using the reflective surface to catch a glimpse of his appearance. But could someone please explain why he looked so different from everyone else?!

Everyone else had animal ears, tails, or scales. Why did he have long, dark green hair, emerald-green eyes, pointed ears, and a large leaf growing atop his head?

Mu Jin’s lips twitched at the sight. Why was his design so overwhelmingly green? The large leaf on his head didn’t seem very auspicious, and the more he thought about it, the more it unsettled him.

He reached up, trying to pluck the leaf off his head, only to find that it wouldn’t budge—it was firmly attached to his body.

The leaf was connected to him and resembled a hat.

A hat… and it’s green… So, what exactly was this big green leaf supposed to imply?

Brother Qi seemed to notice Mu Jin’s frustration. He gently tapped the leaf on Mu Jin’s head with his finger and said warmly, “It’s really adorable. I’ve already gone through all the detailed introductions about this world. Your current role is probably a ‘Plant Person,’ not a Beastman.”

“Plant People have skill boosts and are said to make excellent healers, which works perfectly with my combat strength. In this world, our opposing faction is the Insectoids. They have antennae and carapaces on their heads, and their appearance… well, yikes!”

As he spoke, Brother Qi clicked his tongue in exaggerated distaste. This rare display of emotion made Mu Jin chuckle despite himself. He knew Brother Qi was trying to comfort him, and it did ease his mood somewhat. Turning his head, Mu Jin actually spotted a few individuals with carapaces and antennae, and, indeed, they looked far worse than he did.

Actually, Mu Jin didn’t look bad at all. With his features, he appeared quite charming and elf-like. It was just that the overwhelming “green” theme left him feeling a bit uncomfortable.

After the two reunited, they quickly left the safety zone. Once outside, Mu Jin noticed that the scenery wasn’t nearly as advanced or vibrant as he had imagined. While there were plenty of high-tech structures and devices, the heavy industrial development had caused severe environmental damage. Greenery was almost nonexistent.

The backdrop included the aftermath of an Insectoid invasion, which had further devastated the planet. The world had become a barren wasteland, now serving as their battleground. Everywhere they looked, they saw desolate ruins and a bleak, crumbling cityscape.

Following standard procedure, the two entered a nearby building to search for equipment. Before long, both Mu Jin and Brother Qi had changed into new outfits. Brother Qi donned a black military uniform, which only accentuated his rugged handsomeness. Seeing him like that made Mu Jin’s heart race, feeling as though Brother Qi was practically radiating hormones.

As a healer-type support, Mu Jin’s attire was noticeably simpler and softer in style—a plain shirt and trousers. His long, dark green hair was tied back neatly, giving him a refined and elegant appearance despite the simplicity of his outfit.

As for weapons, Brother Qi was equipped with a variety of firearms ranging in size and firepower. Meanwhile, Mu Jin only had a dagger, clearly meant for close-quarters self-defense at best. The rest of the time, if Mu Jin wanted to activate any skills, he wouldn’t need weaponry—just the right hand gestures.

His character’s attack power was inherently weak, and his defense was even weaker. A character like his would struggle to survive alone unless they followed a strong player. Fortunately, the man he was following was incredibly powerful—exceptionally so.

As they looted equipment along the way, they encountered several people and even formed a temporary team with some of them. Unsurprisingly, Brother Qi became the team leader once again.

Before long, they ran into several waves of monsters and Insectoids. Among the Insectoid group was someone who had been their teammate in the previous zombie world. However, in this world, that person now stood on the opposing side.

When Mu Jin saw the individual, they also noticed him. But the bond of camaraderie from before seemed non-existent. Spotting Mu Jin’s apparent weakness, the person grinned excitedly and, amidst the chaotic crossfire, rushed at him, clearly aiming to claim his life and score points.

However, before they could reach him, the man beside Mu Jin kicked them away with a powerful strike. Brother Qi followed up with a precise shot, completely erasing the Insectoid from this world.

Seeing Mu Jin frozen in place, Brother Qi continued to fend off incoming fire while reassuring him, “Don’t worry, it’s all fake. When a character dies in the game, it’s just their avatar that’s gone. The real player is ejected from the game pod and sent back to the real world.”

Mu Jin nodded in understanding. He already knew this, but he still wasn’t quite used to it.

Even so, he didn’t want to be the one dragging everyone down all the time. Despite his low attack power, he was determined to at least keep his teammates in good condition. Staying close to Brother Qi, he diligently provided healing and buffs. Together, the two of them became the most formidable duo in the group.

Mu Jin’s nerves were on edge. After a while, he realized that when he focused, his senses were still very sharp. Just moments ago, he had even used his dagger to slit the throat of an Insectoid that tried to ambush Brother Qi.

Although Mu Jin felt that with Brother Qi’s abilities, he would likely have avoided the attack even without his help, he couldn’t deny that successfully protecting Brother Qi boosted his confidence. At least now, he didn’t feel like a complete burden.

As a result, Mu Jin became more proactive, and his coordination with Brother Qi became increasingly seamless. The group quickly defeated this wave of Insectoid enemies. Over the following days, they encountered countless waves of enemies like this one, and their equipment gradually improved.

However, despite Mu Jin feeling a bit stronger than before, he still didn’t enjoy this type of game. Moreover, the setting bothered him—the combination of advanced technology and desolation made everything feel bleak and lifeless.

No matter what, the game wasn’t real. Being separated from the real world made Mu Jin feel disoriented. Everything around him, including himself, seemed off, as though it didn’t belong.

The only thing that provided him with any comfort was the powerful man by his side. No matter how many mistakes he made or how many dangerous situations he found himself in, Brother Qi was always there to protect him, like his personal guardian angel.

Carefully handing over a potion, Mu Jin noticed that most of Brother Qi’s supplies were now stored on his own person. Although Brother Qi had space in his own inventory for these items, he’d claimed that it was already full of equipment and other resources.

Mu Jin understood, though. He suspected that Brother Qi had intentionally placed the potions on his person to spare him from the burden, trying to protect his feelings.

When Brother Qi took the potion, he drank it in one go, and the exhaustion displayed above his head quickly vanished, returning to zero.

Afterward, seeing that there was no one around, Brother Qi pulled a gray jacket from his bag and handed it to Mu Jin, saying, “Try it on, see if it fits.”

Mu Jin looked at the plain-looking jacket. When he put it on and checked its attributes, he was surprised to find that its defense rating was extremely high.

Such an excellent defensive item would likely exchange for a lot of valuable things if traded with others. Yet, Brother Qi had secretly given it to him, and it was clear that the jacket had been altered to hide its properties, so others wouldn’t covet it.

Mu Jin, now wearing the jacket, felt deeply moved and didn’t even know how to express his gratitude.

Who would have thought that Brother Qi, seeing this, just smiled at him and leaned closer, gently saying, “It’s okay, we’re teammates. If you hadn’t been by my side helping me buff my stats, my attack power wouldn’t be so high, and our team wouldn’t be in such good shape. Xiao Jin, you’re amazing!”

When the man leaned in to speak, he was so close. Mu Jin felt unsure whether it was because the sensory experience in the game was so realistic, but he could almost feel the man’s breath and warmth. His cheeks involuntarily turned red, and Mu Jin felt his heart pounding fast.

But who would have guessed that at this moment, the man reached out and gently touched his forehead, looking a little worried as he said, “Why is your face so red? Are you feeling unwell?”

“I—I’m not unwell! I’m fine, I just suddenly wanted to walk around nearby.”

When the man touched him, Mu Jin immediately jumped up, flustered. He answered hurriedly, then stood up and walked away, moving to a place farther from the man, hoping his racing heart would calm down quickly so the man wouldn’t notice his odd behavior.

Mu Jin was walking in a hurry, so he didn’t notice the deep affection hidden in the man’s eyes or the smile still lingering on his lips as he left.

Standing by the railing next to the team, Mu Jin spaced out for a long time. Eventually, he felt his rapid heartbeat settle. He had never known he was such an easy person to fluster, or maybe it wasn’t that the man had teased him, but that simply being close to him made him unable to handle it.

But he couldn’t blame himself; he only blamed the man for being so charming.

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Chapter 381- Infinite Online Game (01)

Waking up in a daze, the sound of gunfire, clashing weapons, and monstrous roars filled his ears. The people around him shouted excitedly, but the young man only felt a splitting headache, unable to muster the energy to think clearly.

Someone nearby seemed to be calling him anxiously, pulling on his arm in an attempt to rouse him back to consciousness.

When the young man finally opened his eyes again, the first thing he saw was a creature with sharp teeth and ashen skin, resembling a human, lunging toward him. His heart skipped a beat—wasn’t this the kind of zombie depicted in movies?

Just as the zombie was about to pounce on him, the person beside him swiftly raised a gun and aimed directly at the monster’s forehead, blowing its head apart.

However, there wasn’t the expected scene of blood and gore. Instead, the zombie disintegrated like destroyed data, vanishing completely before his eyes without leaving a trace.

Staring blankly at the scene in front of him, he saw the humans around him fiercely fighting against the horde of zombies. Compared to the creature that had almost injured him earlier, the zombies at the back of the horde appeared more advanced, resembling humans even more closely.

Everyone seemed utterly unafraid of death. Their weapons ranged from firearms to knives and axes; some even charged in wielding nothing more than a frying pan.

In this chaotic battle, the next one to die could be anyone—a zombie or a human. Yet, they all shared one thing in common: at the moment of death, they dissolved like data, disappearing before everyone’s eyes.

Even when a human died, their comrades at most cursed under their breath, their faces showing no trace of sorrow.

Mu Jin stood there, dumbfounded, unable to process what kind of place this was.

“Xiao Jin! Xiao Jin, are you okay?” the person next to him called out anxiously. Only then did the young man realize they were calling his name.

He turned his head and saw a tall man in camouflage combat gear standing beside him. The man had neatly trimmed black short hair, with sharp and handsome features. His light amber-colored eyes were focused on him, filled with concern.

The man was holding a rifle in his hand and had a longsword strapped to his back. It was a somewhat chaotic combination, but even so, it did not diminish his imposing presence.

“Brother Qi?” The young man instinctively called the man’s name, and the man nodded in response. Then, while their teammates moved forward, he quickly grabbed the young man’s arm and dragged him to the back. He said, “Xiao Jin, you rest here for now. Leave the front to us.”

The young man said “Thank you.” in response. He knew that in his current condition, he could not be of any help and would only be a hindrance. So, he obediently listened to the man’s words, the most important thing being to recover quickly.

After a while, the young man’s dizziness began to subside. He then recalled that he must have just entered this game not long ago. Although he had been lucky enough to qualify for the competition, he still hadn’t fully adapted, and from time to time, he would experience mental exhaustion and dizziness.

The man had called him Xiao Jin because his name was Mu Jin. He had been a student about to enter university, but as an orphan, he could not afford the tuition fees for his college education.

At that time, the world-famous Qiansha Game Company announced a gaming competition, with substantial cash prizes for the winners.

Upon hearing this news, he decided to try his luck and enter the game. If he won, not only would his tuition be covered, but he could also have a sizable amount of startup capital if he decided to start a business in the future.

To participate, he had even borrowed money from his friends and rented a game pod.

In this competition, players would enter the game world through the game pod, with no right to quit midway. However, if they died in the game, they would be deemed to have failed and would immediately exit the game.

Qiansha Game Company was incredibly renowned, with all its games being masterpieces and boasting countless fans worldwide. Ever since the announcement of the tournament, global participation had exceeded tens of millions, but fewer than 5,000 people managed to pass the selection process to earn a spot in the competition.

Mu Jin was truly fortunate to have passed the test by chance. However, after actually entering the game, he realized he had underestimated its complexity. This competition was completely different from what he had imagined. The environments and experiences were crafted with astonishing realism, making it far more brutal than he had expected.

The game’s world changed periodically, and along with it, the roles and factions each player belonged to also shifted. The tournament followed a team-based competition model, where each scenario divided participants into two opposing factions. Which faction a player would belong to was determined randomly.

Teammates could be chosen freely, and there was no upper limit to team size. However, it was highly likely that teammates from one scenario could become members of the opposing faction in the next.

Players could earn points by killing monsters or members of the opposing faction. However, killing monsters yielded fewer points, while defeating players from the opposing faction granted significantly more.

The main system was responsible for tracking these points, which could be exchanged for rewards upon exiting the game. The player with the highest points would ultimately be declared the winner of the competition.

Although Mu Jin had luckily entered the game, he quickly realized he wasn’t particularly skilled at such highly competitive games.

This was just the first scenario world they had entered, set in a post-apocalyptic setting filled with zombies and mutated plants and animals. The factions were divided into the Human Faction and the Advanced Zombie Faction.

Looking at those terrifying zombies, he could even vividly smell their stench. Even though they disappeared immediately after death, Mu Jin couldn’t suppress the fear in his heart. It was thanks to the man called Brother Qi, who had been taking care of him along the way, that he had managed to endure until now.

Mu Jin didn’t know the man’s real name, only that everyone called him Brother Qi, and his in-game name was a simple code: 07. Mu Jin assumed people called him Brother Qi because “Qi” sounded like the number 7 in Chinese.

Since teammates could change with each new scenario, almost no one asked for each other’s real names, instead addressing each other by their in-game names. Only Mu Jin had foolishly set his real name as his in-game name.

When the wave of zombies was finally defeated, everyone stopped to rest. Although players didn’t physically feel fatigue in the game world, their character attributes included a fatigue level. Therefore, they still needed to rest and replenish themselves with potions.

The others looked at Mu Jin, weak and prone to fainting, with a hint of disdain in their eyes.

Mu Jin was aware that a teammate like him was essentially the infamous “deadweight teammate” everyone dreaded, and he felt deeply embarrassed. He stayed alone at the back of the group, not daring to talk to anyone.

Only Brother Qi approached him, deliberately handing him a potion and softly saying, “Drink it. It’ll lower your fatigue, and you’ll feel better.”

Mu Jin nodded at those words, offering Brother Qi a grateful smile. He said somewhat embarrassedly, “Thank you. Brother Qi, it’s all thanks to you taking care of me along the way. I’m really useless, always holding everyone back.”

When Brother Qi heard this, a trace of pity flashed in his eyes. He lowered his gaze to conceal the complex emotions in them and gently shook his head. “That’s not true. You’re doing great. If you don’t like facing those zombies, just stay behind me. Don’t worry; we’ll definitely make it to the end.”

Hearing Brother Qi’s encouragement, Mu Jin felt an indescribable sense of gratitude. Just as he was about to say something, a blaring alarm suddenly echoed throughout the world. Everyone stood up at the sound, looking around nervously.

This was their first time encountering such a scenario in the first world they had entered. Along with the alarm, a dazzling white light began spreading rapidly across the entire world. It was only after seeing the main system’s message in the sky that they realized the alarm signaled an imminent transition to a new scenario.

Uncertain about the kind of world they would be transported to next, Mu Jin couldn’t help but feel a bit anxious.

At that moment, however, Brother Qi firmly grabbed his hand and said, “After the transfer, we’ll all be temporarily sent to a safe zone. You’ll have an hour to stay there. Don’t wander off—I’ll find you.”

Mu Jin stared at the man in a daze, nodding dumbly at his words. Brother Qi seemed like he wanted to say more, but there was no time. In the next instant, the entire world, including the man in front of him, vanished from sight.

Mu Jin’s mind went blank, and he temporarily lost consciousness.

After just a few seconds, Mu Jin opened his eyes again and found himself in a completely different world. It appeared to be a highly advanced futuristic interstellar setting, far more sophisticated than the dimension he had previously been in.

However, the appearance of the people around him struck him as peculiar. While everyone was wearing the default white tank tops and shorts, most had various kinds of tails and ears attached to their bodies.

Some even had scales or other markings on their necks and arms, as if they had entered a world filled with mystical creatures.

It was only after reading the information transmitted by the main system that Mu Jin understood this was a world of interstellar beastmen, which explained why everyone had different animal characteristics.

Most of the people around him hurriedly left, eager to move on and search for equipment elsewhere. But Mu Jin remained motionless, obediently standing in place. He remembered what Brother Qi had told him earlier: to stay there and wait because Brother Qi would come to find him.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before Mu Jin saw the tall man, also dressed in the default white tank top and shorts, striding quickly toward him. It was still Brother Qi’s familiar face, but now a pair of white tiger ears stood upright on his head.

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Chapter 380- Pure-Hearted Prince vs. Giant Dragon Boss (19) END

Mu Jin’s voice was loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. As his words hung in the air, Gardner suddenly found himself unable to cast any magic of other elements, which sent a wave of panic through him.

Feigning confidence, he turned to Mu Jin and threatened, “Do you even know what you’re doing? Accusing a Holy Knight of the Church of Light like this—are you prepared for the consequences?”

Mu Jin, however, merely curled his lips into a smirk, replying nonchalantly, “Then why don’t you keep using your magic? Is it because your little charade of multi-element magic is falling apart?”

Gardner frowned at Mu Jin’s mocking tone. If he refused to continue his attacks, it would make him look guilty. However, if his supposed multi-element magic truly failed him, and he was exposed for using dark magic, there would be no way to explain it to the others.

For the first time, Gardner regretted bringing Mu Jin along on this operation.

To test his magic discreetly, he tried summoning a small stream of water using water magic. Feeling the flow of water in his palm, he let out a small sigh of relief and proceeded to cast a spell aimed at the sky.

He intended to unleash a light-based spell to illuminate the area and silence Mu Jin’s accusations. However, as he poured his magic into the spell, what emerged was pure dark magic. The surge of dark energy rippled through the air, and everyone present witnessed it with their own eyes.

“Oh heavens, are you really a dark magic practitioner?” Several members of the Church of Light, who had followed Gardner here, exclaimed in shock.

“No! Of course not!” Gardner stammered, sweat beading on his forehead. There was no way he could admit the truth in front of the crowd. Yet with his dark magic exposed before everyone, how could he possibly explain this away convincingly?

Seeing the doubtful gazes of his fellow Church of Light companions, Gardner had no choice but to grit his teeth and cast another spell. As expected, it was once again pure dark magic. The corrosive energy was so potent that nearby trees sizzled and smoked upon contact.

Desperation mounting, Gardner frantically communicated with his system in his mind, pleading for assistance. But the system remained completely silent, offering no response.

When he lost the support of the orc and elf clans earlier, a significant portion of his fortune and luck had drained away. Following that, the exposure of his dark magic caused the humans and the Church of Light—his last remaining allies—to turn suspicious of him.

Now, Gardner’s luck had reached rock bottom. Worse, the system within his body had been suppressed by Mu Jin at the perfect moment.

Realizing his plan had succeeded, Mu Jin finally felt at ease. He stepped forward and taunted Gardner, saying, “What’s the matter? Have your fake, fabricated spells stopped working? Or are you just feeling guilty now that your dark magic has been exposed?”

Then, leaning in closer, Mu Jin whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, “Or perhaps… your system has broken down?”

Hearing Mu Jin’s words, Gardner’s pupils contracted sharply. How? How could this person standing before him possibly know about the system?

Overwhelmed with unprecedented fear, Gardner acted on instinct. Without a second thought, he launched an attack on Mu Jin.

Just as Gardner’s dark magic attack reached Mu Jin, Mu Jin let out a deep dragon’s roar. Before everyone’s eyes, he transformed into a massive silver dragon. The dark magic attack, which might have threatened others, was utterly insignificant against the powerful and majestic dragon.

Aside from the elves and Norris, no one knew that Mu Jin was the dragon. When he revealed his true form in front of everyone, the crowd was left utterly dumbfounded. They had never imagined that the seemingly frail mage who had been traveling with them was actually the legendary dragon.

One particular orc began to sweat profusely. Orcs were naturally distrustful of humans, and they had even less patience for fragile mages. He now recalled how he had mocked the diminutive mage along the way and felt an overwhelming urge to turn back time and slap himself.

That wasn’t just a mage—that was a dragon! A being who could destroy their entire clan with a single flick of anger. Having offended the dragon, he now feared that he might become the greatest sinner in orc history if the dragon decided to retaliate.

In contrast to the panicking orc, the goblins and elves were overjoyed. The elves, having known the truth all along, felt a deep sense of pride. Meanwhile, the goblins, realizing that their savior was an immensely powerful dragon, were filled with reverence.

Many goblins even began to see their earlier decision to kneel before Mu Jin and pledge to be his servants as a stroke of unparalleled wisdom.

Gardner, on the other hand, stared at the dragon’s imposing figure, his face pale as he stumbled backward and fell to the ground. Pressed by the dragon’s roar and overwhelming aura, he stammered in disbelief, “You… you’re the dragon. You’ve been deceiving me all along. You set me up to reveal my dark magic… You wanted to ruin me!”

Gardner’s expression teetered on the edge of madness. Without hesitation, he reached for the artifact hidden on his person—a trump card that had cost him nearly all his high-level magic crystals. As he activated the artifact, its embedded gemstones began to glow one by one, radiating an otherworldly brilliance.

But just as Gardner raised the artifact, prepared to deliver a final, lethal strike against the dragon, the artifact’s radiance suddenly dimmed at the very moment it was about to unleash its full power. Not even a spark of its potential energy emerged.

Instead, the artifact’s long handle began to crack inch by inch, and moments later, it shattered explosively in Gardner’s grasp. The resulting blast left his hand mangled, with flesh and blood torn apart. Suffering the brunt of the artifact’s backlash at such close range, Gardner fell to the ground, writhing in agony and howling in pain.

At that moment, the goblins—who had been brought along to maintain and repair the team’s equipment—stepped forward.

The goblin leader pointed an accusatory finger at Gardner and declared angrily, “The mark that enslaved the goblins has long since been destroyed by the Abyss Lord! You vile scoundrel! You exploited us and used the goblin mark to control and oppress us like some despicable parasite. A wretch like you has no right to wield an artifact. Someone as evil as you deserves to be burned alive!”

By now, the members of the Holy Light Church were utterly stunned. As they processed the scene unfolding before them, they could no longer deny the truth—Gardner had been deceiving them all along. Worse still, he had committed countless heinous acts in secret.

However, what alarmed them most wasn’t Gardner’s wickedness or betrayal. Instead, they feared the collective fury of the other races. This growing wrath could spell disaster for humanity as a whole.

Anxiously, the church members longed to sever all ties with Gardner on the spot. Some even began worrying that after Gardner’s death, the other races might redirect their anger toward the church itself.

Gardner, now broken and humiliated, scanned the hostile gazes surrounding him. Some were filled with scorn, others with hatred. He never imagined he would fall so far. With trembling hands, he pointed at Mu Jin and spat out bitterly, “If it weren’t for your overwhelming strength, the one lying in ruins today should have been you!”

“You all say I’m wrong, but isn’t it only because the magic I awakened is dark magic? If I had awakened all-elemental magic and was just as powerful as you, wouldn’t they be the ones kneeling before me, begging for my protection?”

But the dragon across from him snorted coldly at Gardner’s words. “Magic is neither good nor evil. Even dark magic is merely a tool. Good and evil lie within the heart. Even if you were truly an all-elemental mage, your heart would remain as black as night.”

“Your wrong doing has never been about the type of magic you possess, but about how you’ve used your power to harm so many. You’ve committed unforgivable crimes, and justice demands that you pay the price.”

As Mu Jin spoke, he raised one massive dragon claw before the crowd and reached toward Gardner. In a moment, he pulled a pitch-black orb of light from Gardena’s body—a dark entity that turned out to be the hidden system within him.

However, as soon as the system was grasped, an unfamiliar surge of energy erupted from it, power that clearly didn’t belong to this small world.

In that instant, a bold hypothesis formed in Mu Jin’s mind. Perhaps this Qian Sha wasn’t merely parasitizing the protagonist but had instead created a facade to mask its presence—a system, hidden within itself, which had allowed it to avoid detection all this time.

With Gardner’s luck nearly drained and the system forcefully extracted, he was left almost lifeless, crumpled on the ground like a pile of broken debris, barely hanging on to life.

Sensing imminent danger, Qian Sha within the system instinctively unleashed its primordial power in an attempt to flee.

But having finally caught the fox by its tail, Mu Jin had no intention of letting it escape so easily. He immediately called out to Teng Gen in his mental sea, urging him to help contain the Qian Sha.

Teng Gen’s essence had a natural restraining effect on such malevolence. At this moment, the Qian Sha was tightly encircled by the combined forces of Mu Jin and Teng Gen, leaving it with almost no room to maneuver. Qian Sha realized that if it didn’t escape now, once it was handed over to Qian Chen, it would never have another chance.

In desperation, it consumed the divine soul it had painstakingly condensed to distort space-time within this plane on a small scale.

Yet even a small-scale distortion of space-time inflicted immense damage on the plane. The sheer force caused Mu Jin and Qiong Qi’s primordial souls to be forcibly ejected from their bodies. Even Qian Chen, who hadn’t fully descended into this plane, felt the threat and was compelled to intervene, forcefully stepping in to halt Qian Sha’s reckless actions.

However, in the instant Qian Chen’s power appeared, Qian Sha seemed to gamble everything in a final act of defiance. It offered its own soul as a sacrifice, amplifying the dark energy surrounding it. The energy expanded wildly, enveloping the souls of Mu Jin, Qiong Qi, and Qian Chen, creating a completely distorted world and trapping them all inside.

Qian Sha seemed to be consumed with hatred for Mu Jin, who had orchestrated its downfall. Using its remaining strength, it launched a ferocious attack on him. The last thing Mu Jin saw before losing consciousness was Qiong Qi, exerting every ounce of its power, desperately trying to shield him from the blow.

Unbeknownst to anyone, just before the distorted space completely sealed itself, a crimson orb of light surged into the vortex with all its might, colliding head-on with Qian Sha’s power…

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Chapter 379- Pure-Hearted Prince vs. Giant Dragon Boss (18)

Norris was furious, but he kept his emotions in check. Every night when he went to sleep, Mu Jin would enter his dreams to meet him, offering comfort through his actions and soothing his frustration. Norris knew all of this was part of Mu Jin’s plan, and that realization finally put his mind at ease.

After Gardner departed on his expedition, however, Norris secretly escaped from his chambers and, together with Owen, headed toward the forest and the abyss beyond.

Gardner was determined to kill the dragon. Ever since the system had merged with his body, nearly every task he attempted had ended in success. The only thing he had failed to achieve was winning over Mu Jin, but in his eyes, that would naturally happen after the dragon was slain. Killing the dragon itself didn’t concern Gardner; he assumed it would be as effortless as all his previous accomplishments.

The dragon’s legends may have spread far and wide across the continent, but Gardner had never seen a dragon before. To him, the dragon was a relic of a long-distant past, likely having lost its former might after so many years of slumber. Even the magical messages the dragon had sent were dismissed by Gardner as mere tricks to intimidate others. In his mind, the dragon was nothing more than a frail, aging beast.

At this moment, Gardner felt like the protagonist of this world, destined to emerge victorious. He was so confident in his triumph that he had already prepared for a triumphant return. To ensure his heroic feat would be immortalized, he brought along several court historians to record his grand achievements for posterity.

With many powerful allies by his side, Gardner wasn’t concerned about any tricks Mu Jin might pull. He even deliberately brought Mu Jin along, planning to showcase his immense strength as he defeated the dragon, hoping to make Mu Jin admire him in awe.

At that point, Mu Jin would see Gardner’s strength and naturally fall into his arms. After all, everyone admires the strong.

This expedition had brought together members of nearly every race. The elves and the goblins, who were tasked with repairing weapons as needed, quietly followed at the rear of the group. The Elven Queen, observing Gardner’s confident, almost arrogant demeanor, couldn’t help but show a flash of disdain in her eyes.

Still, after glancing at Mu Jin, she discreetly signaled her people to keep their distance from Gardner when the time came. She wanted to avoid any accidental harm should that esteemed figure become enraged.

Gardner, however, had not anticipated encountering familiar faces when he reached the entrance to the Abyss.

Norris and Owen were already there, waiting. The prince stood tall, his posture straight, and his appearance showed no signs of travel-worn exhaustion. His expression remained stoic as he gazed at Gardner.

Seeing this, Gardner chuckled and gave an exaggerated bow before saying, “Your Highness, Prince Norris, what a surprise to see you here. Don’t tell me you’ve come to warn the demon dragon? But why are you still lingering at the entrance of the Abyss? Could it be that the esteemed Lord of the Abyss doesn’t wish to see their fiancé?”

Norris ignored Gardner’s sarcastic tone, showing no interest in speaking to him. His sole purpose for coming was Mu Jin. Though Norris knew he might not be able to help his partner, he couldn’t shake the urge to stay by Mu Jin’s side.

He understood that Gardner’s actions today could pose some danger to Mu Jin. Even though he trusted his lover’s immense power, he couldn’t suppress the need to see for himself what might unfold.

Without awakened magical powers and with Owen’s abilities insufficient compared to the others, Norris knew they would likely stand out no matter how well he tried to blend in. So he made no effort to conceal himself.

Gardner saw Norris step aside from the entrance to the Abyss and instead move to stand beside Mu Jin. Seeing that Norris had no intention of hindering his plans, Gardner didn’t bother to have him taken away.

Instead, he smirked sarcastically, confident that everything was unfolding as he had imagined. The dragon must already be old and feeble. Even if Norris had come to warn it, it wouldn’t make any difference. In fact, Gardner was already looking forward to seeing the expression on the prince’s face once the dragon was dead.

Gardner began by instructing the Church members to throw several high-tier lightning scrolls from a safe distance. These scrolls were incredibly valuable, especially as lightning-based ones were known for their immense destructive power.

As the scrolls were cast, a series of thunderous explosions echoed through the area. The entrance to the Abyss shook violently as massive rocks crumbled and fell. Dust and smoke filled the air, creating a scene of apparent chaos and destruction.

However, despite the barrage of scrolls, there was no reaction from within the Abyss. This puzzled the group. After all, just a few days earlier, the dragon had used magic to send a message to the kingdom, so it was clearly awake.

If the dragon truly resided within the Abyss, why hadn’t it responded to the magical attacks on its entrance?

Gardner dismissed the dragon’s rumored strength as mere exaggeration, attributing it to overblown tales. He assumed the dragon had been too intimidated by the display of force to show itself.

Feeling triumphant, Gardner turned to Mu Jin with a mocking grin and said, “What’s the matter? Is your master so scared that they won’t even come out of the Abyss? Hiding inside like a cowardly turtle?”

When Mu Jin remained expressionless, completely ignoring him, Gardner felt a surge of frustration. Once again, no matter what he said, Mu Jin was completely unmoved.

Gardner clenched his fists tightly, then scoffed and turned to the other leaders of the allied races accompanying him. “Fine, let’s all attack the entrance to the Abyss together. I’m sure if we cause enough destruction, we’ll force the so-called demon dragon to show itself.”

Before his words had even fully settled, the Elven Queen stepped forward, her expression cold as she said, “I will not help you attack the Abyss’s master. The great lord is not some ‘demon dragon.’ The lord is a powerful and benevolent protector who has shown great kindness to us elves.

“When you slaughtered the treant race to steal their treasure and destroyed the vitality of the forest, you revealed your true, cruel nature. Since our birth, the treants have been the elves’ closest allies. If it weren’t for the sake of preserving the survival of my people, I would never have betrayed my conscience and followed the orders of a devil like you.”

“It was the great lord who took pity on our suffering and helped us. The lord not only saved the surviving treants but also restored life and vitality to the Elven Forest. Someone so loved by nature and the Earth Mother, someone full of kindness and compassion, could never be a demon dragon. This entire story is nothing more than lies you’ve fabricated!”

“What nonsense are you spouting?!” Gardner’s face turned dark as he realized the Elven Queen had chosen this critical moment to expose his past deeds. Worse still, she was clearly aligning herself with the dragon.

But this was only the beginning.

Right after, the Beast King stepped forward, raising his voice for all to hear. “We beastfolk won’t help you either! I once thought of you as my savior, but now I see it was all part of your scheming!”

“If it hadn’t been for the young beastfolk who happened to witness the truth that day while picking wild fruits nearby, and later told me what they saw, I might still be deceived by you. I even treated you as a brother and thought I owed you my life. The Abyss’s master is far too powerful. There’s no way I would risk my people’s lives for a liar like you!”

The child who stumbled upon Gardner’s scheme against the Beast King was, in fact, discovered by Mu Jin after carefully analyzing the storyline. Once he identified this critical flaw, he entrusted Noris to handle the matter.

The child was quite young and timid. Although they had witnessed the event, they didn’t dare tell anyone about it. It wasn’t until Noris’s people gently encouraged them, playing on their emotions and reasoning, that the child found the courage to speak up.

Among the beastfolk, their king was deeply revered. To know their beloved leader had been deceived and was potentially in danger was a matter of great concern. Through earnest persuasion, the child finally rushed to the Beast King, whom they had always admired, and revealed the truth.

However, the Beast King chose this crucial moment to disclose the matter because Mu Jin had subtly suggested it earlier. After all, when the mighty dragon lord personally issues instructions, who would dare disobey?

Moreover, since the lord had already anticipated Gardner’s plan to strike, Gardner’s demise was all but assured. Knowing this, the Beast King had no reason to fear Gardner any longer.

Additionally, Mu Jin had blessed the beastfolk’s farmlands, significantly improving their future harvests. The Beast King was profoundly grateful for this kindness and, recognizing the dragon’s overwhelming power, wisely decided to submit to its authority.

Still, whenever he thought about how Gardner had once manipulated him so thoroughly, the Beast King felt a surge of anger. If not for knowing he wasn’t Gardner’s match in combat, he might have already rushed over to give the boy a well-deserved beating.

After speaking, the Beast King took a few steps back and stood alongside the Elven Queen. Although their two races rarely interacted, they were clearly willing to unite against a common enemy in this moment.

The two races, already formidable on their own, appeared even stronger when united. Gardner looked at the Elven Queen and the Beast King, and for a moment, he knew better than to confront them directly.

He pointed at them with a mix of anger and frustration, saying through gritted teeth, “Fine, very fine!” Inside, however, he was thinking that once he slew the dragon and absorbed its power, he would gain complete control over the demon army. When that time came, he would make sure the elves and beastfolk paid for this slight.

Fortunately, the Church of Light was still on his side. No matter how many tricks he had played, as long as they weren’t aimed at humans, it didn’t matter. The church wasn’t a beacon of purity, so the clergy naturally wouldn’t stand up to criticize Gardena.

With this reassurance, Gardner’s gaze turned dark as he fixed his eyes on the abyss’s entrance. If no one else was willing to help, he would simply take matters into his own hands.

He strode to the entrance of the abyss and raised his hands, casting a powerful multi-element spell that rained down on the entrance with devastating force.

Gardner’s magic, incorporating all elements, was dazzling and spectacular. His high-level mastery drew gasps of admiration from the Church of Light’s members.

Some even murmured in awe, remarking that geniuses were truly extraordinary. Gardner had managed to refine every type of magic to such an impressive level, making it no wonder he had the strength to lead them.

However, the elves and beastfolk merely retreated to a safe distance, observing the scene coldly from afar.

As Gardner was putting on his magical display, Mu Jin suddenly let out a derisive chuckle. Almost as if speaking to himself, he remarked, “A façade of multi-element magic, no more than a disguise. To think that a dark magic practitioner could deceive everyone so thoroughly.”

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Chapter 378- Pure-Hearted Prince vs. Giant Dragon Boss (17)

Even the immense magic released from the destroyed insignia was compressed by Mu Jin within his palm, allowing the destructive energy to dissipate slowly and harmlessly into the air.

The goblins, feeling the bond deeply etched in their souls suddenly vanish with the insignia’s destruction, erupted into cheers, embracing one another with tears of joy.

Once their excitement subsided, they collectively knelt before Mu Jin, bowing deeply as they exclaimed, “Thank you, my lord! You have freed our goblin race from the fear of enslavement forever.”

The lead goblin declared, “My lord, even without the goblin insignia, we are still willing to serve you as our master. Whatever orders you have, we will carry them out with all our might. Please allow us to express our gratitude to you.”

Mu Jin, knowing their words were spoken in the heat of the moment, did not take them entirely to heart. After all, no one truly enjoys being enslaved. Furthermore, he had no interest in keeping a group of goblins as his servants.

However, since he had gone to great lengths to destroy the insignia, he indeed had a task for them. Gesturing for the lead goblin to come closer, he leaned down and whispered his instructions.

Hearing Mu Jin’s request, the goblin eagerly nodded, then pounded his chest in assurance, saying, “Rest assured, my lord! Leave this matter to us!”

Satisfied with their promise, Mu Jin and Norris left the goblins behind and exited the courtyard of the weapon shop.

Despite their departure, the continent remained tranquil, as though nothing had changed.

To Gardner, Mu Jin and Norris appeared to have simply returned from their travels without leaving any significant impact on the kingdom. The elven queen still seemed favorably disposed toward him, and the goblins continued working diligently under his command.

Not long after, good news arrived from the goblins: the god-tier weapon Gardner had commissioned was nearing completion. This news greatly excited him.

The only thing not going as planned was his repeated failure to win over Mu Jin. Every attempt to curry favor was met with rejection, which only fueled Gardner’s growing obsession and desire to conquer Mu Jin.

Then there was Norris—constantly cold and disdainful toward him, publicly humiliating him on several occasions. This only deepened Gardner’s resentment and determination to turn the tables.

Now that the weapon was almost ready, Gardner decided it was time to act. Killing a dragon was no small matter, and he wanted to ensure it was done in a way that would bring him both fame and fortune.

The problem, however, was that the human kingdom’s fondness for the dragon had grown significantly. Thanks to the dragon’s gifts, the people had enjoyed reduced taxes and tangible benefits. On top of that, the dragon had pledged to protect the kingdom, making it unlikely that killing the dragon would earn him any public praise. This was a scenario Gardner was unwilling to accept.

He realized he would first need to tarnish the dragon’s reputation before he could position himself as a hero. With the help of the system, Gardner quickly devised a plan.

He began spreading rumors that the abyss was tainted with demonic energy and that the dragon’s prolonged residence there was proof of its true nature as an inherently evil demon dragon.

The dragon had supposedly been using the demonic energy to modify its body, intending to one day absorb all the dark energy and grow even more powerful. On that day, the demon dragon would plunge the entire continent into purgatory.

The rumors also claimed that the dragon had avoided coming to the capital to meet Prince Norris in person because it was waiting for its strength to peak. Once the demon dragon reached its full power, the day of its bonding ceremony with Norris would mark the kingdom’s destruction.

Of course, rumors alone weren’t enough. Gardner actively backed his claims with evidence. Using the dark magic he carried, he created signs of decay and ruin in various places, making it appear as though an apocalyptic prophecy was coming true. This spread panic among the people.

Many who witnessed these ominous scenes began to believe the rumors that the dragon was, in fact, a demon dragon destined to bring death and disaster to the kingdom.

Norris grew increasingly angry as he noticed more and more people speculating about the dragon’s nature. Though these rumors and whispers were subdued due to the dragon’s formidable reputation, their persistence still grated on him. He felt immense sorrow for Mu Jin, his mate, who had done so much for the continent. Instead of gratitude, the people were spinning lies behind his back.

Even Owen, who usually trusted Norris’s instincts, started to worry. The bond between the dragon and Norris was now too tightly intertwined. If the dragon’s reputation suffered, Owen feared that the prince’s standing with the people might also falter. As for the dragon itself, Owen didn’t believe it would be a victim of anything, given its overwhelming strength.

What surprised Owen, however, was Mu Jin’s reaction—or lack thereof. The dragon, who he thought would retaliate, seemed entirely indifferent to the growing rumors. Mu Jin appeared calm and unbothered, almost as though he found the entire situation amusing.

Mu Jin understood that rumors, once seeded, were nearly impossible to quell. As the saying goes, “Three men repeating a lie can make it seem like the truth.” Instead of futilely trying to suppress the gossip, he seemed content to let the situation develop further.

When the crowd grows, sometimes herd mentality makes people seem foolish. However, Mu Jin remained calm because everything was unfolding exactly as he had anticipated.

As for Norris, though still annoyed, he managed to suppress his irritation after being reassured by Mu Jin. He could only wait patiently for the day when Mu Jin would deliver a decisive blow that would utterly ruin Gardner’s reputation.

Meanwhile, Mu Jin enjoyed his comfortable lifestyle, idly watching Gardner scurry around like a clown. Despite his amusement, he couldn’t help but be impressed by Gardner’s abilities—particularly how he had managed to persuade even the Church.

Shockingly, the Church of Light had begun propagating the idea that the dragon was, in fact, a demon dragon. They claimed that only by slaying the dragon could true light be restored to the world. If the dragon were allowed to absorb all the demonic energy from the Abyss, the demon army would revive, plunging the continent into chaos and despair.

When Mu Jin heard Owen’s report on the Church’s statements, he raised an eyebrow in surprise. He hadn’t expected them to bring up the demon army, and it made him realize that Gardner seemed to know far more than anticipated.

It became clear that Gardner must have been aware of the existence of the demon army in the Abyss for some time. As a practitioner of dark magic, and with the system aiding his growth, Gardner had likely gained the power to control the demon army. Feeling confident with the divine weapon in hand, he boldly incited the Church to spread such claims, hoping to sway public opinion before heading to the Abyss to kill the dragon and claim both fame and fortune.

Mu Jin almost felt like applauding Gardner’s cunning. The protagonist’s scheming was truly remarkable, and events were indeed spiraling as Gardner had planned.

However, Gardner clearly didn’t expect everyone to wholeheartedly believe his claims. When he felt the rumors had gained sufficient traction, he began mobilizing his allies. He rallied his followers, declaring they would accompany him to the Abyss to slay the dragon and save the continent.

By this point, Gardner had already obtained the divine weapon from the goblins. The Elf Queen and the Beastkin King had both pledged to stand by his side. Even the Pope of the Church of Light had dispatched their strongest knight order and most skilled light mages, all placed under Gardner’s command.

Perhaps others found it astonishing that someone as young as Gardner could lead so many powerful figures. This sentiment was reinforced by the Church of Light’s propaganda, where the Pope proclaimed Gardner as a paragon of virtue, favored by the God of Light, and the most promising youth of his generation within the Church.

However, Mu Jin, knowing the truth, scoffed at the Church’s praises. After all, he was well aware that Gardner was steeped in dark magic—hardly a fitting match for the Church of Light. In reality, while magic existed in this world, gods did not. This wasn’t a multi-dimensional universe with divine beings. As for Gardner, his ability to command so many strong allies was shrouded in unspeakable secrets.

Setting aside his calculated act of saving the Beastkin King and the forced allegiance of the Elf Queen, the Church of Light’s support was riddled with corruption. Gardner had, with the system’s help, uncovered the Pope’s dark secrets, forcing him to concede substantial benefits to Gardena.

The Church’s endorsement of Gardena’s dragon-slaying mission stemmed from his promises of generous rewards. When Gardner mentioned the dragon’s palace was overflowing with treasures, the Church’s higher-ups immediately took the bait.

Before setting out, Gardner deliberately avoided informing the royal family of his plans. In his mind, Norris was clearly siding with the dragon. The dragon had even made generous promises to the royal family, and Gardena suspected Norris might alert the dragon to his plans.

To safeguard his mission, Gardner stationed several Church members to monitor Prince Norris closely. As for Mu Jin, Gardner went a step further, sending him back to the Church of Light under strict watch. Over the following days, Gardner visited Mu Jin several times, attempting to persuade him to “abandon the darkness and embrace the light.”

The royal family made no effort to oppose Gardner’s plan to slay the dragon. With so many influential factions involved and the Church’s approval, the endeavor was difficult to challenge. After all, the Church of Light wielded considerable power across the continent.

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Chapter 377- Pure-Hearted Prince vs. Giant Dragon Boss (16)

Mu Jin noticed Norris’s gaze and could easily guess what was on his lover’s mind—clearly, the vinegar jar had tipped over again. Secretly amused, Mu Jin decided to handle his jealous partner with care.

With a slight sigh of regret, Mu Jin gently picked up the little tree spirit and called out to an elf hiding nearby, “Hey, catch!”

As he spoke, Mu Jin tossed the tree spirit toward the startled elf. The elf, realizing they’d been spotted, hurriedly revealed themselves and caught the little tree spirit securely in their hands. Mu Jin nodded at them with a calm smile.

Embarrassed, the elves—now fully aware that their secret observations hadn’t gone unnoticed—bowed apologetically to Mu Jin and Norris before quickly retreating from the scene.

Once all the elves were gone, Mu Jin snapped his fingers, creating a barrier around the lake and the area where he and Norris were sitting. Turning to face Norris’s suspicious gaze, Mu Jin flashed a cheeky grin before launching himself into his lover’s arms, whining, “Norris, we’ve been here for so long, and we still haven’t caught a single fish! Why won’t they take the bait?”

Norris, watching Mu Jin abandon his usual aloof demeanor to act adorably clingy, felt his mood lift a little. He reached out to ruffle Mu Jin’s silvery hair and replied with a helpless smile, “Maybe it’s because the fish in the Elven Forest are smarter than average.”

Seeing Mu Jin’s disappointed expression, Norris quickly added, “Don’t worry. Even if we don’t catch any fish, I can grill some meat for you. And didn’t you really like those moon fruits the elves picked last time?”

Mu Jin pouted at those words, pretending to be willful. “But I want fish! I want fish grilled by your own hands!”

As he spoke, his eyes gleamed mischievously. Stepping back a few paces, he suddenly transformed. In an instant, a massive silver dragon appeared before Norris.

After glancing at his colossal form, Mu Jin shrank himself slightly and, with a loud splash, leaped into the lake opposite them. It wasn’t long before the dragon shot out of the water like a cyclone, sending a cascade of water everywhere. Along with the whirlwind, dozens of fresh fish were flung into the air.

“See? Isn’t this a quick way to catch fish?” Mu Jin returned to his human form while still in the water and proudly called out to Norris, seeking praise.

However, the earlier splash from the dragon’s ascent had drenched Norris from head to toe. Wiping the water from his face, Norris looked up, only to see Mu Jin casually lounging in the crystal-clear lake. His bare form glistened under the sunlight, as if he were a spirit born of the water itself.

That ethereal sight left Norris utterly captivated. The struggling fish on the ground were entirely forgotten as his focus stayed fixed on the breathtaking figure before him.

Noticing Norris’s unwavering gaze, Mu Jin rarely found himself feeling shy. With a faint blush on his cheeks, he deliberately teased, “Norris, do you want to join me in the lake? The water is really nice. Don’t worry, I’ve set up a barrier—no one will see us.”

Hearing the invitation, Norris nodded, quickly shedding his clothes before entering the water. But playing in the lake was far from his real intention. He swam slowly toward Mu Jin, closing the distance until he pulled him into his arms. Holding Mu Jin’s petite form securely against him, Norris felt a wave of satisfaction. Without hesitation, he leaned in and claimed Mu Jin’s soft, sweet lips in a passionate kiss.

After receiving an outpouring of passionate affection, Mu Jin leaned against Norris’s shoulder, breathless and languid. His entire body rested bonelessly in Norris’s arms. After a while, he lazily murmured, “Norris, let’s go back to the shore and grill the fish.”

To his surprise, Norris, seeing Mu Jin’s flushed cheeks and hearing his husky voice, felt a tightening in his throat. Instead of responding, he held Mu Jin tighter and pulled him closer against his body. Mu Jin noticed the changes in Norris’s demeanor and widened his eyes in shock, exclaiming, “You’re… at it again?”

Norris only smiled in response, lowering his head to gently kiss the tip of Mu Jin’s nose. With a soft chuckle, he said, “You haven’t fully enjoyed yourself yet. Be good. Your body is special—you shouldn’t overexert yourself. Let me take care of you properly.” With that, he silenced any protest from Mu Jin with another deep kiss.

‘Who’s taking care of whom here? This big liar! And why does a dragon have… two?!’

Mu Jin inwardly wailed, but he couldn’t resist as Norris once again pulled him into a whirlwind of overwhelming sensations.

It wasn’t until the next day, after waking up, that Mu Jin finally got to eat his grilled fish. Sitting by the shore, savoring the meal, he couldn’t help but sigh in his heart—he had gone through so much just to enjoy this fish!

A few days later, after Mu Jin and Norris had explored nearly every corner of the Elven Forest, the Elven Queen returned. She appeared travel-worn, but her face lit up with a smile when she saw Mu Jin. That expression alone told him everything had gone according to plan.

As expected, the Elven Queen approached Mu Jin without hesitation. From within her cloak, she retrieved the seal she had swapped from Gardner and handed it over to Mu Jin.

Mu Jin took it with satisfaction, nodding as he tucked it away. Then, with a casual wave of his hand, he bestowed a blessing upon the Elven Forest. Though his powers in this small world were suppressed, as the Flower God, granting blessings to vegetation was still within his ability.

The Elven Queen sensed the flourishing vitality spreading throughout the Elven Forest, and her heart was filled with awe. Overcome with reverence, she dropped to one knee and performed a deep bow to Mu Jin.

At this moment, the Elven Queen felt immense gratitude for aligning herself with Mu Jin. The figure before her was not merely a legendary-level powerhouse; she even suspected that this dragon might have attained divine-like power. How else could he so effortlessly restore the entire Elven Forest to such vibrant life?

Since the destruction of the Treant tribe at Gardner’s hands, the forest’s vitality had been steadily waning. Yet now, Mu Jin had not only revived the small Treant, aided in avenging their fallen, but also fully restored their homeland.

The elves were profoundly grateful to Mu Jin, sending him off from the Elven Forest with the utmost respect. They repeatedly assured him that if he ever needed anything, he only had to command them—they would serve as his most loyal followers.

Upon exiting the Elven Forest, Mu Jin and Norris were greeted by Owen, who had been anxiously waiting outside. It was only then that they remembered the “task” they had left behind.

Norris, realizing that they had completely forgotten about their companion outside the forest, felt a flicker of guilt. However, he quickly composed himself, cleared his throat, and walked over to pat Owen on the shoulder. “Owen, you’ve worked hard,” he said casually.

Seeing that Norris and Mu Jin were unharmed, Owen finally breathed a sigh of relief. As long as they returned safely, he didn’t feel his efforts were in vain. After all, this was the legendary Elven Forest—a place countless people dreamed of entering to marvel at its beauty and meet the elusive elves.

But even if someone had the courage to enter the forest, very few could make it out unscathed. Unfortunately, Mu Jin had told Owen he could only bring one person along, or else Owen would have loved to experience it himself.

Feeling the valuable dagger tucked safely in his coat, Owen couldn’t even muster any frustration toward Mu Jin. After all, having accepted such an extravagant gift, it was only fair he obediently continued playing the role of their loyal companion.

Meanwhile, in the bustling center of the royal capital, Gardner remained oblivious to the recent events. He was currently fawning over a high-ranking water mage he had recently set his sights on. Though a bit older, her elegance and mastery of magic were captivating to him.

The princess had been persistently urging him to slay the dragon, but how could a dragon be so easily killed? Gardner had already instructed the goblins to craft a weapon using the magic cores he had painstakingly collected. According to his system’s prompts, this would be the ultimate tool to take down the dragon.

Despite explaining this to Bernice countless times, she still didn’t trust him, constantly probing him with veiled suspicions. Her behavior had begun to irritate Gardner, and he had started avoiding the palace altogether.

With the appearance of this alluring water mage, his focus had completely shifted. Enchanted by his “new flame,” he poured all his energy into impressing her, leaving Bernice as a forgotten afterthought.

While Gardner busied himself displaying his charm, Mu Jin and Norris had happily concluded their journey and returned to the capital.

Upon arriving, Mu Jin instructed Owen to part ways for now, leaving him and Norris to visit the goblins they had encountered earlier in the back courtyard of the weapons shop.

Although the goblins’ lives were still far from ideal, Mu Jin and Norris had ensured they fared better than before. Prior to their departure, Norris had instructed a trusted servant to secretly check on the goblins in the courtyard from time to time and provide them with some assistance.

As a result, while the goblins still faced significant hardships, they were no longer struggling with hunger and had retained a decent amount of strength.

When the goblins saw Mu Jin and Norris arrive, they immediately abandoned their work and rushed over with joy. They knew that the powerful mage had likely set up a protective barrier upon entering the courtyard, so they had no reason to worry.

Over the past days, thanks to the two kind benefactors, the goblins had received food, healing potions, and occasional aid that had significantly improved their condition. Moreover, the two had promised to help them further. With their hope rekindled, the goblins now appeared much healthier and more spirited than when Mu Jin first saw them.

When Mu Jin pulled out the goblin insignia from his pocket, the goblins were overwhelmed with emotion. They immediately dropped to their knees, prostrating before him as if acknowledging him as their new master.

Though the idea of being enslaved was distasteful, having a master like this generous and gentle individual was far better than enduring Gardner’s cruelty.

Observing their behavior, Mu Jin could guess their thoughts. He simply smiled, waved his hand, and said, “Stand up. As for this goblin insignia, I don’t intend to keep it for myself.”

Hearing this, the lead goblin grew visibly nervous and cautiously asked, “Then, my lord, to whom do you plan to give the insignia?”

The goblins understood that the insignia determined their master. If their new master wasn’t Mu Jin, who would it be? What if the insignia fell into the hands of another malicious person? Would their suffering begin anew?

Unaware of their concerns, Mu Jin, in front of their eyes, calmly pinched the insignia between three fingers and crushed it into pieces.

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Chapter 376- Pure-Hearted Prince vs. Giant Dragon Boss (15)

Some of the elves might not have noticed, but as the most powerful being among the elven race, the Elven Queen naturally perceived the extraordinary nature of Mu Jin’s method for reviving the young treant.

Reviving a treant was far more complex than it appeared. Even the Elven Mother Tree was incapable of such a feat. Yet, with a single gesture, Mu Jin unleashed an overwhelming surge of vitality from his fingertips, channeling it directly into the sapling’s body, thereby fully restoring it to life.

Moreover, observing how close the young treant was to Mu Jin, it was evident that this man was far more than a mere high-level mage. Reflecting on her inherited memories, the Queen could think of only one being with such immense power.

Her heart trembled with realization. She immediately dropped to one knee and, bowing toward Mu Jin, exclaimed, “My lord, Abyssal Sovereign! We are eternally grateful for your mercy in saving the treant race!”

The other elves, upon hearing their queen’s words, were momentarily stunned into silence. But it wasn’t long before they, too, followed her lead, dropping to one knee and bowing in reverence to the most formidable presence on the continent.

Though tens of thousands of years had passed and the dragons had long slumbered, both elves and treants had never forgotten the unparalleled might of the dragons—a power so overwhelming that no other race could compare.

Standing to the side, Norris wore an expression of pride and exhilaration, clearly feeling honored to be associated with Mu Jin.

Mu Jin’s lips curled slightly into a faint smile, but he did not deny the title bestowed upon him by the Elven Queen.

Revealing such a display of power and being recognized was well within his expectations.

He was fully aware that his strength alone would compel the elves to submit. Yet, Mu Jin found little satisfaction in relying solely on force to coerce others, especially since he already knew that the Elven Queen harbored deep resentment toward the protagonist, Gardner.

As long as Mu Jin helped the Elven Queen revive the treant race, the elves would undoubtedly be willing to serve him. Moreover, perhaps because Mu Jin’s current worldly form was also plant-based, he felt an innate closeness to the treant race.

Looking at the tiny treant in his palm, clutching his finger and acting adorably, Mu Jin extended a finger to gently touch the young treant’s cheek. The little treant immediately struck a shy pose, swaying its two small branches as though bashfully responding to Mu Jin’s affection. This widened the gentle smile on Mu Jin’s face even more.

Seeing Mu Jin’s calm and kind demeanor as he interacted with the young treant helped ease the tension among the elves. This great being seemed far less intimidating than the legends suggested—at least, he was exceedingly gentle with the treant. A figure so deeply loved by plants and nature must surely possess a kind heart.

However, the Elven Queen’s thoughts ran deeper than those of her people. Mu Jin’s lack of denial earlier confirmed that her guess was correct. She never would have imagined that the delicate and elegant human before her was, in fact, a powerful dragon in his true form.

Though she remained profoundly grateful for Mu Jin’s act of reviving the young treant, she now felt an even greater sense of reverence. The Elven Queen doubted that Mu Jin’s actions were without purpose, so she cautiously probed, asking, “My lord, may I ask what business brings you to the Elven Forest?”

Hearing the Queen’s inquiry, Mu Jin nodded in satisfaction and replied, “You must despise Gardner, don’t you?”

The Elven Queen’s eyes widened in shock. She had not expected Mu Jin to know about this matter. Yet, considering his immense power, it wasn’t entirely surprising that he was aware of Gardner.

What truly caught her off guard was Mu Jin’s next question: “Do you want revenge?”

This statement was deeply tempting to both the Elven Queen and her people. They loathed the villain who had destroyed their homeland and killed their friends.

Hearing Mu Jin’s words, a surge of resolve rose in the hearts of the elves. In the past, they had been powerless against Gardner’s might. But now, with this great being standing behind them, what was there to fear?

“Of course we want revenge!” the Elven Queen declared firmly to Mu Jin. “My lord, we beg for your assistance. We must make that wicked man pay for his crimes!”

As soon as the Queen finished speaking, the surrounding elves straightened their backs, brimming with a fierce determination as if they were ready to charge into battle against Gardner immediately. Seeing this, Mu Jin chuckled softly. He hadn’t come to the Elven Forest to turn the elves into soldiers sent to die on the battlefield.

He raised a hand, motioning for them to calm down, and said, “There’s no need for such excitement. I didn’t come here to put you in harm’s way. I will help you because I’ve always had a deep love for the forest and nature. You have done an excellent job preserving and caring for everything around you, which pleases me greatly.”

“Moreover, the treant race is one of my favorites. Gardner annihilated the entire treant race while I was in slumber. There’s no way I’ll let him get away with that.”

Hearing Mu Jin’s words, the elves were deeply moved. This powerful being had chosen to oppose Gardner for their sake—it was truly noble and kind of him.

However, Norris was less pleased. Hearing Mu Jin say that the treants were his favorite race made a twinge of jealousy rise in his heart. He couldn’t help but feel a little sour about it. But when he glanced at the tiny treant in Mu Jin’s hand, he forced himself to suppress his jealousy. Consoling himself, he thought, ‘This little thing doesn’t pose any threat at all.’

Mu Jin dismissed the other elves, leaving only Norris by his side as he discussed a plan with the Elven Queen.

The Elven Queen wasn’t surprised that Mu Jin knew about her false, ambiguous relationship with Gardner. After all, the surprises Mu Jin had given her that day were already too many to count. However, she still felt a deep sense of shame. To protect the Elven race, she had been forced to feign affection for that despicable man.

She did not object to any of the tasks Mu Jin asked of her. She now fully trusted the inherited memories that had described Mu Jin’s overwhelming power—a level of strength far beyond their comprehension. Whatever this lord wished to do was not something she could question.

Over the next few days, Mu Jin spent his time leisurely in the Elven Forest with Norris. He admired the stunning scenery, basked in the harmony of nature, and enjoyed the unique delicacies of the forest. He even stayed in an enchanting treehouse, living as if on a honeymoon.

Meanwhile, the Elven Queen left the forest and secretly traveled to the human kingdom to meet Gardner.

Gardner was overjoyed to see the Elven Queen taking the initiative to visit him. Compared to the innocent charm of a princess, the Queen’s ethereal and otherworldly beauty suited his tastes far better.

In her presence, Gardner maintained a polished and courteous demeanor, putting some effort into cultivating what he believed to be a bond between them. Little did he know that the Queen, whom he thought harbored deep affection for him, actually loathed him to the core.

When the Elven Queen told Gardner that she had come because she missed him, he was filled with smug satisfaction. As they chatted, Gardner naturally sought to present his best side. Proudly, he even gifted her one of the most exquisite magical artifacts recently crafted in the goblin workshops.

The Elven Queen feigned an expression of surprise and admiration as she exclaimed to Gardner, “Gardner, how on earth did you manage to make those goblins work for you willingly? You know, goblins are notoriously difficult to deal with. Even I would need to put in significant effort to acquire top-tier artifacts like these.”

Pleased by the compliment, Gardner immediately began boasting. “It’s all thanks to this,” he said.

As he spoke, he pulled a black object resembling a stamp from his pocket. The item bore an intricate and complex design etched onto its surface.

The Elven Queen’s eyes flashed with interest as she picked up the stamp and asked curiously, “What is this?”

Gardner grinned and explained, “This is the Goblin Mark. With it, I can control the goblins and make them work for me. I happened to come across it by chance.”

“Incredible! A mark with such magical properties!” the Elven Queen exclaimed in astonishment, her tone filled with admiration. She then praised Gardner warmly, her affectionate words making him feel even more smug and elated at her apparent adoration.

…

Meanwhile, Mu Jin and Norris were relaxing by a lake filled with fireflies, fishing under the soft glow of the tiny creatures. The tranquil and picturesque setting was serene, though slightly marred by their lack of success—despite sitting there for a long time, not a single fish had taken the bait.

A few elves had gathered nearby, whispering among themselves. To them, dragons were awe-inspiring, powerful, and fearsome beings. However, looking at Mu Jin in his human form, with his delicate and adorable appearance, he seemed far more like one of their own than the majestic creature they had imagined. Their curiosity was inevitable.

Norris, noticing the elves’ fascinated stares, began to feel a little annoyed. This knowledge about Mu Jin was supposed to be their special secret, something just between the two of them. Now, not only did others know, but there was also a clingy little tree spirit constantly following Mu Jin around.

Feeling jealous, Norris glanced sulkily at the tiny tree spirit near Mu Jin’s feet, busying itself with catching earthworms.

---

Chapter 375- Pure-Hearted Prince vs. Giant Dragon Boss (14)

Norris looked curiously at the surrounding elves. Normally, elves were even more reclusive than goblins. They lived deep in the Elven Forest and rarely ventured out. In fact, Norris had never seen an elf in person before; he had only heard stories about them.

However, upon seeing the elves’ faces, he felt somewhat disappointed.

The legends always described elves as exceptionally beautiful, saying they were the gift of nature to the forest. Elves protect the forest, guard nature, and are said to be extraordinarily enchanting.

But today, after seeing these elves, Norris quickly lost interest. He thought the descriptions had been exaggerated. These elves didn’t even compare to his own little Jin in terms of beauty.

In fact, his own little Jin seemed more like an elf than these elves did. With his silver hair, translucent pale skin, and those water-like cat eyes, even the green color of his pupils was much clearer than the green eyes of the elves. All in all, his partner was a thousand times more beautiful than these elves.

While he was observing the elves, they were also staring at them intently. The Elven Forest wasn’t a place that just anyone could enter, but compared to their curiosity, the elves harbored more hostility toward Mu Jin and Norris.

Previously, a powerful figure had entered the Elven Forest. Not only had that person killed their treeman friends, but he had also seized much of their treasure. Even their queen had been forced to bow to him.

Having felt the immense power of that individual, the elves, though they despised outsiders like Norris and Mu Jin, didn’t dare approach or provoke them easily. They feared that these two might also possess powerful magic, and if they couldn’t resist, they might end up sacrificing their lives in vain.

After a short wait, the Elven Queen arrived swiftly. Her attire and appearance were more ethereal and regal than those of the other elves, but in Norris’s eyes, she was just average. As expected, no one could compare to his Little Jin. To him, his partner was the most beautiful person in the entire world!

Norris’s thoughts wandered far at that moment. He couldn’t help but think: ‘My partner is not only immensely powerful but also extraordinarily captivating, with not a single flaw on him. Yet, someone as perfect as him chose me. I must be the luckiest person in the world!’

As Norris dwelled on these thoughts, he couldn’t help but glance at Mu Jin and nod happily.

Mu Jin noticed Norris looking at him with a slightly dazed and smitten expression and twitched his lips in mild exasperation. He had no idea what his man was imagining again.

It always felt like his lover’s imagination veered off in strange directions, but to Mu Jin, it was also endearing in its own way.

One had to admit, this couple’s way of thinking was remarkably in sync no matter the situation. Their mutual possessiveness and affection for each other never diminished even a fraction.

While Mu Jin and Norris were busy exchanging affectionate glances, the Elven Queen had run out of patience. After all, she was the revered ruler of the elves—someone whose presence usually left others awestruck and speechless. Yet here she was, standing before these two humans who claimed to seek her out, only to be utterly ignored.

As the leader of her people, the Elven Queen had her own sense of dignity. She promptly tapped her staff against the ground, drawing their attention back to her.

She addressed Mu Jin and Norris with an air of authority: “So, it’s the two of you who claim to have a way to revive the treants? If you’re lying to me, you should be well aware of the consequences!”

Hearing the Elven Queen’s words, Mu Jin finally snapped out of his daze. Realizing he had been distracted for too long, he gave a small, awkward cough. However, when he turned to the Queen, his expression instantly became cold and detached.

He gave her a curt nod and replied, “Yes, I do have a way to revive the treants. But given your attitude, it seems you’re not particularly interested in their revival. If that’s the case, then never mind.”

With that, Mu Jin casually grabbed Norris’s arm and made a motion as if to leave.

After Mu Jin finished speaking, there was no way the Elven Queen would simply let him leave. She raised her staff and summoned vines from the surrounding area, intending to bind Mu Jin and Norris to prevent their departure.

The vines shot out swiftly, surging toward Mu Jin. Interestingly, they only targeted Mu Jin. Even the vines meant to restrain Norris shifted course mid-air and charged straight at Mu Jin instead.

However, when the vines reached him, they didn’t bind him as the Queen had intended. Instead, they twisted themselves in a strange manner and began rubbing affectionately against Mu Jin’s robes.

It was as though they were puppies eagerly seeking their owner’s affection. The sheer number of vines surging forward from all directions to “seek favor” became overwhelming. Eventually, they tangled themselves up in their competition for attention, almost appearing to fight among themselves.

The surrounding elves were left utterly dumbfounded by this scene. They, who were known as the closest beings to nature, had never witnessed anything like this. Even as beings beloved by plants and trees, they could never command such adoration from nature.

Their relationship with nature was more like a mutual and equal partnership. Yet, observing the way the vines behaved toward Mu Jin, even without facial expressions or words, the elves could clearly sense their unabashed sycophancy.

As the elves calmed their minds and observed further, they noticed that not just the vines, but the surrounding plants were also expressing joy and excitement at Mu Jin’s presence.

‘Who is this person? Why does he receive such overwhelming favor from nature itself?’

The Elven Queen couldn’t help but reevaluate the two individuals before her. Someone so deeply cherished by nature was unlikely to be their enemy.

Reflecting on her earlier attitude, combined with Mu Jin’s claim that he could help revive the treants, the Queen found herself beginning to believe his words—if only a little.

The Elven Queen quickly adjusted her demeanor, bowing respectfully toward Mu Jin and saying in a courteous tone, “I apologize, honorable mage, for my earlier impatience. I hope you can forgive my rashness.”

Mu Jin nodded in response. Since he had no intention of making enemies, he wasn’t about to dwell on the Queen’s earlier behavior. Seeing her humble herself, he replied in a calm and gentle tone, “You should still have a sapling of the treants in your possession, correct?”

The Elven Queen’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing his words. This was a closely guarded secret of the elves, known only to a handful of her most trusted advisors.

After the treant race had been decimated by Gardener, all the treants had perished, leaving the elves heartbroken.

However, treants were known to be among the most resilient of beings. Suppressing her sorrow, the Queen had painstakingly searched through the remains of the treants. Finally, she had found a small, still-living twig from one of the fallen treants.

She had brought it back and nurtured it with great care. Unfortunately, despite her efforts, it had only sprouted a few leaves and showed no sign of becoming a treant again. Even if it managed to survive, it seemed destined to become an ordinary tree, never regaining its former sentience.

‘How does he know about this?’ The Queen was astonished, but she refrained from asking Mu Jin. She understood that someone who could uncover such a secret was far beyond her control. Instead, she nodded obediently.

Mu Jin, seeing the Queen’s cooperation, felt satisfied and said he wished to see the piece of treant that had been preserved.

The Queen, now completely deferential, dared not refuse. She personally led the way, inviting Mu Jin and Norris deeper into the heart of the Elven Forest.

There, Mu Jin and Norris saw the Elven Mother Tree, the sacred tree responsible for nurturing the elves. As soon as the Mother Tree sensed Mu Jin’s presence, its branches began to sway joyfully, rustling as if expressing its affection for him.

This scene left all the elves utterly stunned. Even the revered Mother Tree showed its fondness for this person! Surely, this meant he was their ally. Perhaps he truly did possess a way to revive the treants.

Filled with renewed hope, the Elven Queen eagerly led Mu Jin to the location where she had planted the small remnant of the treant.

The treant sapling was carefully kept near the Mother Tree, under its protection. The soil there was fertile and ideal for the growth of the sapling.

Mu Jin examined the sapling that the Elven Queen had so diligently nurtured and nodded approvingly. In truth, he had a fondness for the nature-loving elves, given that his true form was also plant-based.

Seeing the sole surviving sapling of the treant race, Mu Jin’s resentment toward the protagonist deepened. Simultaneously, he felt a deep compassion for the fragile little sprout.

Reaching out, Mu Jin gently touched the sapling. Everyone watched in amazement as a green magical aura encircled the tiny plant. Before their very eyes, the small twig began to grow, sprouting vigorously at an incredible speed.

In no time, the twig transformed into a palm-sized treant.

The young treant resembled a blend of tree and human, with facial features but no ability to speak. Its head was adorned with small green leaves. Perhaps due to its infancy, it appeared endearingly tender and innocent.

The newly-formed treant seemed lively. After opening its eyes, it promptly pulled its roots out of the soil. It wiggled its arms and legs, looking around with a slightly dazed and curious expression.

However, as soon as the young treant spotted Mu Jin, it immediately scurried over to his side. Seeing Mu Jin extend his hand toward it, the little treant quickly embraced his hand and affectionately nuzzled against his palm.

The moment the sapling transformed into a young treant, all the elves erupted in cheers. Even the Elven Queen, with tears welling in her eyes, clasped her hands together and wept tears of joy.

Treants are a unique race, inherently possessing complete ancestral memories and the ability to reproduce independently. Now that the sapling had recovered and grown into a young treant, nurturing it to adulthood would allow it to propagate. Once matured, branches from the adult treant could be replanted to grow new treants.

Thus, reviving just one treant was enough to restore the entire species. Although the process might take an incredibly long time, time was the least of concerns for the elves and treants of this forest.

---

Chapter 374- Pure-Hearted Prince vs. Giant Dragon Boss (13)

“Here, it’s yours.” Mu Jin spoke casually, handing the dagger to Owen without a second thought. Owen, startled, quickly set down the packages he was carrying and scrambled to catch the dagger, his face lighting up with joy.

The dagger was clearly a high-quality item, something he could never afford with his modest savings. After the revelations about the goblins earlier that day, Owen had developed an instinctive dislike for Gardener. Watching Gardner’s gift to Mu Jin being casually dismissed and given away brought him immense satisfaction.

Gardner hadn’t anticipated this outcome. He had presented the finest weapon from the shop as a gift, yet Mu Jin showed him no regard whatsoever. Not only did Mu Jin give the gift to someone else, but he also left without so much as a polite word or even a second glance.

Staring at Mu Jin’s retreating figure, Gardner clenched his fists tightly. The arrogance in Mu Jin’s demeanor only fueled his competitive spirit.

Initially, Gardner’s interest in Mu Jin stemmed purely from a system-issued task. But now, seeing Mu Jin’s aloof and untouchable attitude, he became determined to conquer him. He fantasized about the day Mu Jin would be hopelessly devoted to him, humbled and at his mercy. Then, he thought, ‘we’ll see how cold and distant you remain.’

Gardner might have been indulging in grandiose schemes, but Mu Jin gave him no chance to act on them. The very next day, Mu Jin packed his belongings and informed the king that he would accompany Prince Norris on a journey, planning to return after some time.

The excuse, of course, came from Norris, who proposed the idea. Mu Jin claimed he was merely following the orders of the dragon to ensure the prince’s safety and had no choice but to remain by his side.

The king, seeing Mu Jin’s dutiful demeanor toward Norris, was somewhat reassured and granted their request. He even thought it might do Norris some good to venture out for a while.

Besides, with Owen, a capable knight, and Mu Jin, a powerful mage, accompanying him, there was no need to worry about the prince’s safety.

Once they departed, Mu Jin set their course for the Elven Forest, a significant distance from the human kingdom. Although it would have been far more convenient for him to transform into a dragon and carry Norris there, their journey also included Owen, making walking the more practical choice.

However, considering that their schedule wasn’t particularly tight, walking across the continent while sightseeing seemed like a delightful idea. This thought kept Mu Jin in good spirits. Even Norris found himself enjoying the journey, especially because Owen proved to be an extremely considerate companion.

One clear example of Owen’s thoughtfulness was how he arranged their accommodations. Without a word, he booked a single room for Mu Jin and Norris to share. When he wasn’t busy with tasks, Owen quietly followed them, making an effort to keep his presence as unobtrusive as possible, practically lowering his “wattage as a third wheel” to the minimum.

Although Mu Jin and Norris had departed, the impact of their earlier actions lingered. The dragon’s proclamation in the square had sparked widespread discussions, leading people to reconsider their preconceived notions about Norris.

During their journey, Mu Jin and Norris made frequent stops, doing numerous good deeds along the way. Thanks to Mu Jin’s guidance, Norris’s reputation underwent a remarkable transformation. Mu Jin even commissioned songs to spread tales of Norris’s virtues, turning him into a symbol of kindness and integrity. In a short span, Norris became so well-regarded that his popularity surpassed that of Princess Bernice.

When Bernice heard the news, she was consumed with jealousy and rage. No matter how hard she tried to fabricate lies to tarnish Norris’s reputation, she failed miserably. The dragon’s endorsement had left an indelible mark on public opinion, shielding Norris from further slander.

This turn of events filled Bernice with dread. If things continued as they were, public favor might completely shift to Norris, jeopardizing her claim to the throne and her dream of becoming queen.

‘Why is that foolish brother of mine so lucky?!’ Bernice thought bitterly. ‘Norris is nothing but a useless waste who hasn’t even awakened his magic. I, on the other hand, possess Light Magic, chosen and blessed by the God of Light himself. Even the Church supports me!’

Yet, despite her superior standing, Norris was now in the spotlight. People were already discussing the bright future of the kingdom if Norris inherited the throne, especially with the dragon as his advisor.

This outcome was unbearable for Bernice, who had always enjoyed a smooth path to success. After much deliberation, she decided to seek out the male protagonist, Gardner. After all, Gardner had once promised her that he could kill the dragon.

If the dragon were dead, Norris would lose his only advantage. Without the dragon’s support, he’d just be a powerless prince, someone Bernice was confident she could easily defeat.

Of course, outwardly, Bernice maintained her usual image of gentleness and virtue. She merely wept to Gardner, pleading that he kill the dragon. She explained that, while the dragon promised many benefits, it wasn’t human, and she couldn’t bear to see her brother bound to such a monstrous creature in her place.

Gardner was naturally swayed by Bernice’s sweet and sorrowful words. Besides, killing the dragon was already part of his plan. If the dragon lived, Bernice could never become queen.

Moreover, considering the system’s tasks, Gardner believed that eliminating the dragon would leave Mu Jin without support. Without the dragon, Mu Jin would just be an ordinary high-level mage. Even with his formidable strength, what could a lone mage do against the might of the entire Church?

Once the dragon was gone, Gardner could claim Mu Jin without hesitation or concern. Killing the dragon was clearly an unavoidable step in his plans.

With their respective motives in mind, Bernice and Gardner feigned affection for each other, playing along with each other’s schemes. Their pretense of intimacy made them seem like the perfect match.

…

Meanwhile, nearing the Elven Forest, Mu Jin asked Owen to rest in a nearby town rather than follow them into the forest. Mu Jin explained that elves were a notoriously xenophobic race, and having too many people present would only make them less accepting. Mu Jin had important business to attend to with Norris, and it was best if it were just the two of them.

Though Owen felt uneasy, Norris backed up Mu Jin’s decision, and Mu Jin reassured him repeatedly that he would ensure Norris’s safety. Ultimately, Owen relented, finding a lodging in the nearby town and preparing to respond at a moment’s notice if needed.

As night fell, Mu Jin and Norris shared a simple meal before venturing into the forest.

Norris couldn’t quite understand why they had to travel at night when visibility was so much better during the day. However, Mu Jin only gave him a mysterious smile, took his hand, and led him deeper into the forest. They finally stopped by a small lake.

Mu Jin had already extended his spiritual sense to survey the area beforehand. The Elven Forest was indeed breathtaking, especially under the cover of night. Mu Jin wanted Norris to experience its beauty, as humans were generally not allowed into the forest.

The elves had set up a barrier around the forest to keep outsiders out. However, such obstacles posed no challenge for Mu Jin. He effortlessly brought Norris to the lakeside.

As Norris gazed at the moonlit lake, with its shimmering reflections dancing on the surface, a faint blush crept onto his cheeks. It no longer felt like they were here for anything important—more like a leisurely romantic outing.

Could it be that Mu Jin sent Owen away just so the two of them could share a private moment together?

This thought made Norris both bashful and delighted. Looking at Mu Jin, whose emerald eyes gleamed softly as he admired the lake, Norris couldn’t help but lean in. He pressed a light kiss to the corner of Mu Jin’s lips and pulled him into an embrace, eager to let the enchanting surroundings amplify their intimacy.

But before he could take things further, Mu Jin suddenly stepped forward, slipping out of his arms. With a playful smile, he snapped his fingers. What happened next left Norris completely stunned.

In response to Mu Jin’s gesture, a swarm of fireflies rose from the bushes around the lake, illuminating the entire area. The scene was otherworldly, a mesmerizing display of light and shadow that Norris had never encountered before.

No wonder Mu Jin had been so secretive, insisting they wait until nightfall to continue their journey. He had orchestrated all of this just so Norris could witness such an unforgettable spectacle.

Norris felt deeply touched, his heart swelling with emotion. He grasped Mu Jin’s hand tightly, overflowing with affection. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to lay down under the open sky with his beloved and savor the romance of the moment.

But just as he was about to express his feelings further, something—unfortunately—appeared to ruin the perfect atmosphere.

The sound of rustling leaves came from around them. Even though Norris didn’t understand magic, as a warrior dedicated to body and sword techniques, he still had sharp instincts. He immediately realized that someone seemed to be lurking in the shadows, watching them from a distance.

Having been interrupted twice when trying to share intimate moments with his beloved, Norris’s expression darkened. He looked around the lake, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, ready to strike at any moment.

Seeing Norris’s reaction, Mu Jin knew that his man had sensed something unusual around them. He casually clapped his hands and called out to a certain direction, “Come out now, and tell your queen that I want to see her.”

“What makes you think you have the right to ask to see our queen?” The elves, realizing that Mu Jin and Norris had detected their presence, stopped hiding. One elf emerged from the tree canopy, shouting at Mu Jin.

“Tell your queen that I have a way to revive the treemen. If she doesn’t want them brought back to life, she doesn’t need to see me.” Mu Jin’s tone was relaxed, as if he didn’t care about the elves surrounding them with weapons.

The elf who had shouted immediately fell silent upon hearing Mu Jin’s words. Though he felt that what Mu Jin claimed was nearly impossible, a glimmer of hope arose in his heart, and he quickly ran deeper into the forest toward the Great Mother Tree.

As the elf left, the other elves came out from their hiding places, revealing their delicate faces.

---

Chapter 373- Pure-Hearted Prince vs. Giant Dragon Boss (12)

The goblin leader, seeing the person before them not only feeding them but also healing his wounds, was overcome with emotion. He dropped to his knees and fervently said to Mu Jin, “Thank you, kind sir! You are so generous, so compassionate. May the gods bless you!”

Hearing this, Norris nodded in agreement, thinking the goblin’s words were entirely true—his partner indeed had a kind and gentle heart.

However, Norris quickly turned his attention back to the goblins and asked, “Why are you here? As far as I know, your people have a homeland, don’t you? I’ve heard that goblins generally dislike living in human cities. And yet, seeing your condition now…”

In Norris’s eyes, goblins were physically weak but exceptionally clever and skillful. Their craftsmanship was renowned, and their tools and creations were highly sought after across various races. This prosperity allowed goblins to live comfortably and independently.

Moreover, goblins were known to live in seclusion, only interacting with other races through designated emissaries who handled trade. To see them in such a miserable state was truly unusual.

The goblin leader sighed deeply at Norris’s question, his weariness clear. Nearby, the young goblin who had eaten first could no longer contain his emotions. He threw himself into the leader’s arms, sobbing pitifully.

The leader, recognizing that these two humans were not a threat, began to explain, “To be honest, we never used to step foot into cities belonging to other races. For generations, we lived freely in the forests along the border between the Beastmen Empire and the Human Empire. Our lives were fulfilling and happy.”

“But one day, someone discovered the markings of our tribe…”

“Thousands of years ago, goblins were enslaved, and the primary reason for our enslavement was the Goblin Mark. It was created by an immensely powerful and wicked mage. The mark allowed him to control our entire race, forcing us to obey his every command,” the goblin leader explained, his voice tinged with bitterness.

“Later, it was the Abyssal Lord who saved us. Perhaps even he found that mage too evil to tolerate. He killed him and freed us, allowing all goblins to live better lives. Unfortunately, that great being has since slumbered in the Abyss, and the mark disappeared along with him.”

“But not long ago, the mark was rediscovered, and once again, all goblins fell under its control. We were forced to hand over all our possessions to this individual and toil endlessly, crafting various items to supply these shops and make them profits.”

“We were driven from our homeland and made to live in the territories of other races. Every day, we suffer from hunger, and abuse—both verbal and physical—is a constant threat.”

“What? The Abyssal Lord saved you?” Norris’s voice rose in astonishment. He instinctively turned to look at Mu Jin, his heart swelling with admiration. His partner seemed so virtuous, having not only subdued the demon army but also, it appeared, liberated the goblins. Who knew what other good deeds Mu Jin had done in the past?

Mu Jin, hearing the goblins claim that he had saved them, blinked in surprise. Then, he searched the original owner’s memories and, to his surprise, found that it was indeed true. Thousands of years ago, the original owner had killed that mage.

But the act had been entirely incidental—merely because the mage’s dark magic had polluted the surrounding environment to an unbearable degree. Annoyed, the original owner had killed him without a second thought, completely unaware that the goblins had been liberated as a result. Even if he had known, the original owner wouldn’t have cared about such trivial matters.

It must be said that the goblins have preserved their history remarkably well. In this world, whether it’s goblins, elves, or treants, their historical heritage is usually complete and intact.

The goblins have specialized priests who meticulously record every major event that has happened to their people throughout history. Elves and treants, on the other hand, rely on inherited memories. In contrast, humans and beastfolk are somewhat lacking in this regard.

The various races don’t interact much with each other. Goblins, elves, and treants, in particular, are highly resistant to contact with humans and beastfolk. It’s no wonder they’ve forgotten much of what the dragons did in the distant past.

Seeing Norris’s astonished expression, Mu Jin pulled him back to reality. He then turned to the goblins and asked, “Can you tell me who this person is that found your mark?”

At this question, nearly all the goblins showed expressions of fear. It was the little goblin from before who finally choked out a response, saying, “Sir, that person’s name is Gardner. He is the one who found the mark and enslaved our people.

Now, our people are scattered everywhere. Across the entire continent, there are stores run by him, all built on the exploitation of goblin labor.

My mother isn’t skilled in crafting enchanted weapons and can only do manual labor. So he sent her to the Beastfolk Empire, where she works day and night weaving clothes and shoes for the beastfolk. I haven’t seen her in a long time!”

The little goblin began sobbing uncontrollably as he spoke, and Mu Jin’s anger towards the world’s protagonist, Gardner, grew. The magical world truly defied conventional logic—how could a single mark enslave an entire race?

Still, Mu Jin refrained from taking drastic action. He comforted the goblins, gave them more food, and healed their injuries as much as he could. However, he didn’t make any immediate moves beyond that.

Mu Jin understood that without finding and destroying the mark, even if he rescued these goblins now, they would still fall under Gardner’s control. Nevertheless, the goblins were deeply grateful for his help.

After finishing everything, Mu Jin bent down and said to the goblins, “Don’t tell anyone about our visit here today. Rest assured, we’ll find a way to help you.”

Having received Mu Jin’s assistance, the goblins fully believed in his words. Forced to endure their plight for so long, they were overjoyed to have a full meal and see their wounds healed. Their gratitude toward Mu Jin was beyond measure.

Hearing Mu Jin promise to help them gave the goblins hope of escaping their suffering. This hope ensured they wouldn’t tell anyone about what had happened.

After leaving the weapon shop’s backyard, Mu Jin retracted the protective barriers he had set up. He then noticed Norris beside him, who was looking excited as he sidled closer and asked, “Xiao Jin, what do you plan to do?”

“How do you know I have plans?” Mu Jin asked with a smile, observing Norris’s eager expression.

Norris glanced at Owen, who was following behind them, and then leaned in close to whisper into Mu Jin’s ear, “Of course, I know. My partner is the strongest and kindest person I know. You asked those goblins so many questions just now—it’s obvious you’re planning to help them.”

“Why don’t we deal with this Gardner right now? He’s done so many terrible things and used the goblins to amass wealth. We can’t just let him get away with it!”

Hearing this, Mu Jin gently patted the back of Norris’s hand. With his power, killing someone like Gardner would be a simple task. But if Gardner died, what would happen to Qian Sha?

Mu Jin was counting on using Gardner to flush out Qian Sha and eliminate the threat entirely. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have hidden his identity as a dragon and simply claimed to be a messenger.

Mu Jin turned to the eager Norris and patiently persuaded him, “Killing someone isn’t difficult, but I feel there’s something strange about Gardner. He might have committed other heinous acts. If we kill him now, those crimes might remain hidden, leaving the innocent victims without justice.”

“Moreover, the goblins’ mark is still in his possession. If we kill him now, the goblins may gain temporary freedom, but as long as the mark exists, there’s always a risk they’ll be enslaved again. It’s better to figure out a way to get the mark first. Once we destroy it, we’ll eliminate the threat forever.”

Hearing Mu Jin’s reasoning, Norris nodded vigorously, feeling that his beloved was indeed wiser and more thoughtful than he was.

Owen, who was following behind them, was also taken aback by Mu Jin’s words. Initially, he simply thought this mage was immensely powerful, with exceptional looks and bearing. He hadn’t expected him to also be wise, kind, and meticulous in his thinking. ‘If only our prince’s partner were this person,’ Owen thought wistfully.

With a sigh, Owen glanced between Mu Jin and Norris, shaking his head in regret. Although the two clearly shared a deep bond, the prince was destined to be the dragon’s partner.

Mu Jin, while explaining the solution to Norris, didn’t provide the specifics of how to proceed. But seeing Mu Jin’s confident demeanor, Norris decided he’d simply follow Mu Jin’s lead and assist as needed. After all, Mu Jin’s power and experience far surpassed his own. Trusting Mu Jin’s judgment seemed like the safest course of action.

Mu Jin already had a rough plan in mind. Having obtained valuable information on the first day of their outing, he was satisfied. As night fell, he decided they should return to the palace early to rest.

However, upon arriving at the palace, they unexpectedly encountered Gardener, who was just leaving the main hall.

Gardner’s eyes lit up when he saw Mu Jin and immediately approached. But Norris, who had no goodwill toward this man, stepped in front of Mu Jin and blocked Gardner’s path. He said curtly, “Sir, this is the palace. Unless you have official business, unauthorized individuals are not permitted to enter.”

Gardner raised an eyebrow at Norris’s hostility but smiled and said, “I am here on official business, of course. I came to convey some new decrees from the Pope to His Majesty. It’s just a coincidence that I happened to see His Highness and the esteemed envoy returning to the palace, so I thought I should offer my greetings.”

Turning his attention to Mu Jin, Gardner extended his hand in a gentlemanly manner and said, “It seems we meet again, Your Excellency. It must be fate.”

Mu Jin nodded slightly but made no move to shake Gardner’s hand, clearly uninterested in further interaction. Gardner, unperturbed, withdrew his hand and noticed the parcels Owen was carrying behind them, evidence of their recent shopping trip. Smiling faintly, he reached into his coat and produced an intricately crafted dagger, presenting it to Mu Jin.

“Your Excellency, I felt an instant connection with you. I recently came across this dagger and thought it would suit you perfectly. I wonder if you’d like it?”

Mu Jin raised an eyebrow, glancing at the dagger Gardner placed before him. It was not only finely crafted but also engraved with advanced runes and four intricate magic arrays—a weapon of undeniable value.

Recalling what he had learned earlier that day, Mu Jin immediately understood the dagger’s origin. ‘So, this is another product of the goblins’ toil. Borrowing their sweat and tears to curry favor—how clever of him.’

Still, Mu Jin acknowledged the dagger’s quality. He reasoned that such an excellent item was better in the hands of someone deserving than with this scoundrel. Without hesitation, he accepted the dagger and casually tossed it to Owen, who was standing behind him.

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