Chapter 31: Odin Town · Long Haochen
In response to Sidi's question, Lin Ze chuckled.
"What's the difference? The Star Demon God only took an interest in me after learning I might change the future. In the end, no matter who I choose, I'm just a tool being used…"
"His Majesty the Demon God Emperor is the same. He only cares that I can help him find his daughter."
"Sister, you don't need to overthink it. I chose to follow you simply because, by your side, it's easier for me to get the nourishment I need. There's no deeper reason. Don't worry… I know you don't want to get too emotionally attached to me. I'll be more careful in the future…"
"I want to say goodbye to Leng Xiao and the others before leaving. Please wait for me."
Without waiting for a response, Lin Ze turned and rushed toward Leng Xiao's residence.
Sidi stood in place, watching Lin Ze's fading figure. His cold tone just now echoed in her ears again and again.
For some reason, Lin Ze had just said exactly what she had wanted to hear—but she couldn't feel happy at all.
---
After Lin Ze found Yue Ye, Leng Xiao, and Xiao Yun, he told them he was returning to the Love Demon Palace to absorb the Crown of Inheritance, and that he might be heading to Odin Town afterward.
Of course, Lin Ze didn't tell anyone the true reason for going.
He had promised the Demon God Emperor not to speak of it.
Before he left, though, Lin Ze promised Yue Ye that when he returned from the human world, he would join the Yue Ye Chamber of Commerce.
---
Time passed quickly.
In the blink of an eye, another year went by.
—
Evening — Odin Town, a small remote human town at the southern end of the Temple Alliance.
Two young boys, each carrying a wooden sword and dressed in white training uniforms, walked through the bustling streets.
"Go home early and rest. The test is tomorrow."
"Mm. Jiang Hu, you should go home early too."
"Alright. See you tomorrow."
The boy named Jiang Hu trotted off with a wave.
The other boy in white smiled and waved back.
As he was about to jog home to get in some last-minute exercise, he noticed something—or rather, someone—out of the corner of his eye.
A youth in black clothing stood in the street, map in hand, looking around. His features were strikingly handsome—sword-like eyebrows, starlike eyes. For a brief moment, the white-clad boy felt a hint of inferiority.
The boy in black seemed to be looking for something, but even after a long time, he remained still.
Curious, the white-clad boy finally gathered the courage to approach.
"Hey there, I've seen you standing here a while. Need help?"
"Judging from your appearance, this must be your first time in Odin Town. I'm a local—and an apprentice knight. My name is Long Haochen."
"Long Haochen?!" the black-clad youth was momentarily stunned. He looked at the hand stretched toward him, then extended his own to shake it.
"Hello. Yes, this is my first time here. I'm Lin Ze."
"Lin Ze? That's a nice name," Long Haochen repeated with a smile.
Lin Ze returned a faint smile. "Your name's not bad either, Long Haochen."
He was genuinely delighted—he had found the person he was looking for on the very first day.
Hearing the compliment, Long Haochen blushed slightly. "Really? By the way, are you looking for something? I saw you staring at that map for quite a while."
"Yeah, I'm looking for the Warrior Temple to register, but even though the map says it's nearby, I haven't found it…"
Lin Ze held the map up toward Long Haochen.
But instead of taking it, Long Haochen just chuckled. "No wonder you can't find it. The Warrior Temple branch here in Odin Town is about to be shut down."
As he spoke, Long Haochen lifted his arm and pointed toward the large windmill nearby.
Following his gaze, Lin Ze saw a weary old man in battered armor dozing at a small desk under the windmill.
A gust of wind flipped the signboard resting beside him.
On the tattered wood, the words were faint but legible: "Odin Town Warrior Temple Branch."
Lin Ze: "…"
Seeing Lin Ze's speechless reaction, Long Haochen laughed. "Actually, you could join the Knight Temple instead. I can take you to see my instructor if you're interested."
"No thanks, let me register first. Wait for me—I'll have some questions afterward."
Seeing Long Haochen nod, Lin Ze immediately dashed toward the snoozing old man.
"So fast!"
Long Haochen was surprised.
In his memory, only his instructor could move like that.
Lin Ze, meanwhile, didn't pay it much mind. Seeing a form labeled "Registration Form" under the old man's arm, he picked up a fallen pen from the ground and filled in his name quickly.
Then he hurried back to Long Haochen.
"Long Haochen, is there a place I can buy a house? I'm not familiar with the area… I don't even know where I'll stay tonight."
"Ah—" Long Haochen looked up at the setting sun and replied, "There's no real estate office in Odin Town. If you want to buy a house, you'd have to find someone selling one themselves…"
"It's getting late. Why not just stay at my house tonight? Coincidentally, there's a family next to mine that's moving to Haoyue City. You can check with them tomorrow."
"Really? Thank you so much!"
Lin Ze hadn't expected Long Haochen to offer his home so readily. He had originally planned to slowly build rapport, then find out where he lived.
"It's no problem. Come with me," Long Haochen said, turning down a side street. "But you're really brave. You look about the same age as me, and yet you dared to come to a strange place all alone."
Lin Ze shook his head. "Not really. I came with my elder sister. She just doesn't like crowded places, so she had me sign up on my own. By the way, is it okay if I bring her along?"
Hearing that there was someone else, Long Haochen hesitated briefly. But once he heard that Lin Ze's sister disliked crowds, he subconsciously thought of his own mother and nodded.
"It's fine. If my mom sees we have guests, she'll probably be happy."
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(End of this chapter)