"Anyway..." Eula paused for a moment, "I... I'm very glad to meet you."

It was the first time she had ever said those words to anyone.

She felt a little awkward saying it, but it didn't feel bad either.

"Yeah, I'm glad to meet you too." Yu Xie smiled and repeated the same words.

"Well, I'll leave now. You should rest here. I'll come back tomorrow morning." With that, Eula turned and walked out the door.

Yu Xie quickly followed her.

"Be careful on your way back."

"I've walked this road countless times. I could find my way with my eyes closed. Don't worry." Eula didn't look back as she walked, but she smiled as she continued on her way.

The moonlight illuminated Eula's figure, and Yu Xie couldn't help but notice something. Even though Eula was still a young girl, barely past her teenage years, she had already started to blossom into something beyond simple beauty. The word "beautiful" didn't even begin to describe her.

It wasn't until her figure disappeared into the distance that Yu Xie turned back and entered the cabin, closing the door behind him.

Yu Xie took a moment to look around the cabin again.

It seemed to have been built only a few years ago. The walls were made of ordinary wood, but it had been treated for insect and moisture resistance, showing the care put into its construction.

Although the cabin was simple, it offered more than enough shelter from the wind and rain.

Eula had said this was her "secret base," a place she came to when she needed peace of mind. It was clear that this place held special meaning for her, and yet she had allowed Yu Xie to stay here. He felt a bit guilty. He couldn't even offer her anything in return at the moment.

Indeed, Eula was a kind girl. Despite being raised in the Lawrence family, in an environment that bred arrogance and privilege, she still knew what was right and what was wrong.

As the night grew deeper, Yu Xie lay on the simple straw mat that served as a bed. It wasn't as comfortable as a plush mattress, but he felt more at peace here. It was easier to fall asleep in this humble setting than in something more luxurious.

......

The next morning.

Eula left Mondstadt with a piece of bread for breakfast, heading towards Whispering Woods.

As she entered the forest, however, she immediately sensed something unusual in the air.

She glanced around. Everything appeared unchanged, but there was a nagging sense of unease that wouldn't leave her.

Her heart felt inexplicably anxious, and before she knew it, her pace quickened.

Suddenly, she spotted strange footprints on the ground ahead. Eula stopped in her tracks.

She knelt down to examine the tracks closely.

The footprints were headed in the direction of the cabin in the woods. There were a lot of them—more than just one or two—and from the shape, they didn't appear to be human. They seemed to belong to some kind of wild animal.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

However, the animals of Whispering Woods didn't typically venture this far out from the deeper woods.

Most importantly, the size of the prints was unusual. The creature that made them had to be much larger than the usual forest animals.

"Could it be... monsters?" Eula furrowed her brow.

If it were just one or two monsters, she could handle it herself, but based on the number of footprints, there were at least five or six.

It was best to notify the Knights of Favonius and have them deal with the situation.

However, if she waited for the Knights, it would take too long for them to arrive, and in the meantime, Yu Xie, still at the cabin in the woods, would be left vulnerable to an encounter with these monsters!

Eula's gaze sharpened, an anxious expression flashing across her face.

She hesitated. If she rushed in without thinking, both of them might fall victim to the monsters' attack, but...

This hesitation in Eula's eyes was quickly dispelled. She gritted her teeth and rushed toward the cabin in the woods.

....

The morning sunlight filtered through the slightly open window and illuminated the inside of the cabin. Yu Xie suddenly opened his eyes, fully awake, the remnants of sleep gone.

He got up from the bed and walked over to the window, opening it slightly.

"One... two…"

Perhaps sensing the presence of someone inside, two four-legged beast-like monsters slowly approached the cabin. From their size, these creatures' height when on all fours was already close to that of an adult male.

"There are more," Yu Xie muttered, turning his head to look in the other direction. The wall blocked his line of sight, but the presence of the monsters was unmistakable.

[Skill: Mastery of All Weapons (Elite), Asura's Flash (Elite), Pure Soul Blessed Land (Elite)]

[New Skill: Passive – Imperial Defense (Common)]

A system prompt flashed in his mind. Yu Xie thought for a moment and then opened the door, stepping outside.

Five beast-like monsters, resembling wolves, were slowly closing in, their throats growling deep within, almost as if they were warning Yu Xie.

"The outskirts of Whispering Woods shouldn't have monsters like you," Yu Xie muttered under his breath. A flash of golden light appeared in his hand as Cloud Cutter materialized.

The sword was still sheathed, but it seemed to hum sharply in the air, as if already cutting through the space around it.

One of the monsters let out an angry roar. Drool dripped from its mouth as it suddenly leapt forward with a lunge.

Cloud Cutter was unsheathed in an instant. A white flash of blade light sliced through the air, seeming to tear through the very fabric of the atmosphere.

Accompanied by a sharp buzzing sound, the monster's head was cleaved from its body.

Yu Xie stood calmly, holding the sword. His expression was indifferent.

The remaining four monsters, witnessing this, instinctively hesitated.

From this young human, they felt an unusual pressure.

But perhaps driven by extreme hunger, they bared their fangs and howled, their four legs tensing as they prepared to pounce.

The next moment, their howls abruptly stopped.

The blade flashed again and again, and the heads of the remaining four monsters fell to the ground.

Yu Xie sheathed his sword.

The bodies of the monsters lay around him, and Yu Xie couldn't help but feel a little annoyed.

"Cleaning this up will be a hassle."

....

The sound of roaring came from the direction of the cabin, and Eula quickened her pace once again.

The cabin finally came into view.

She saw Yu Xie sheathing his sword, and around him lay the corpses of five monsters.

"Yu Xie!" Eula stopped in her tracks.

"Eula, you're here," Yu Xie was slightly startled when he saw her, and seemed a bit embarrassed. "Sorry, these monsters suddenly attacked, and I had to deal with them. It'll take some time to clean up the mess, please give me a moment."

"Are you alright?" Eula quickly walked up to him, inspecting him carefully.

"I'm fine," Yu Xie replied with a smile.

"Did... did you take care of all these... by yourself?" Eula was a little incredulous.

Yu Xie was around her age, but could he really handle so many monsters on his own?

"Ah... yeah," Yu Xie answered.

Eula paused for a moment, surprised.

"Can... can you teach me how to use a sword?" Eula hesitated, but then spoke resolutely. "Although I've trained before, there's no doubt that you're much stronger than I am." After a brief silence, she added firmly, "The things you told me last night, I've thought about them for a long time. I've made up my mind. I want to join the Knights of Favonius! And to do that, strength is essential."

Her words caused Yu Xie to pause for a moment as well.

The girl before him looked at him with unwavering determination in her eyes. Her gaze was as solid as a mountain, as though nothing could shake it.