The shout was closer than he expected, it was coming from a woman.

Seeing her arms covered with blood it was apparent she was having a hard time dealing with the beast she was facing off.

He wanted to lift off and help immediately but judging from her voice she seems young and might be also taking the adventurer exam and getting aid from others means disqualification so he had to ask first if she needed assistance no matter how awkward it might seem.

“Do you need help?” Joban softly shouted.

However, contrary to his belief the woman laughed like a lunatic and answered, “I’m dying here, so do you think I need help?”

Joban’s eye twitches involuntarily he could not comprehend what she was saying, is she being sarcastic or does she want help.

“Slow-witted aren’t you?” the woman said turning her head.

Their eyes met and locked.

Between them, a spark passed which was not to extinguish as they saw each other’s hearts.

“It’s you.”

Joban can hardly believe his eyes. It was she, the beautiful woman.

“I knew with see each other again and do you mind giving me a hand?”

The woman looks tired but she had a happy smile in her face.

Joban recalled from the mission scroll that she stole from him was to kill and collect golems core turning his gaze to the beast it does looks like a golem.

Seeing through his eyes the woman said, “I’ve already gathered ten cores but I made a mistake and venture deep to their territory and received the full wrath of a group of golems.” dispelling the uneasiness in Joban.

That means by now she already passed the exam and helping her at this time will not get her in trouble.

He nodded his head and readied his sword.

He launch and strike towards the golem boss triggering his skill ‘Strike of Destruction simultaneously, on normal occasion he wouldn’t do such a thing.

One of the basic rules of an adventurer is to save aura as much as they could and learn how to use it efficiently. Running out of aura in the middle of Ibis Forest where beasts are lurking everywhere and could attack anytime is not a wise thing to do.

Unless, you never want to leave this place. But, as of now he could not attend to such a thing he needs to make a good impression in front of the beautiful woman. Like a brave knight saving a damsel in distress. However, things did not turn out as well as he thought.

“You… you killed it easily, excessive and careless.”

His reckless bravery had earned him rebuke.

“You could have done it needless of skill.”

The beautiful woman lamented her lack of strength. She was, however, right, with Joban’s level of strength he could easily kill a single golem with just normal attacks.

Golems are slow and use guileless attacks but she could never understand the heart of a young man in love. Joban unable to refute her criticism himself could just laugh dryly, scratching the back of his head.

“Regardless, thank you for saving me.”

She treaded to him, pulled his collar down and kissed him on the cheek.

“My name is Lena Ying. Let’s just wish our future child won’t take after you, hehe.” Warmth invaded her cheeks and she giggled nervously.

Joban Faust and Lena Ying coming from two hostile clans fell in love with each other after going on an adventurer’s exam together by chance. It was love at first sight for the both of them but their love story is not all sweet. They had to hide their relationship for four years up until both of their families got the tail of it.

He the son of Faust Patriarch of a declining clan almost on the verge of extinction and her daughter of Ying Patriarch of a large wealthy clan in the eyes of both factions they were not matched for each other. In addition, Lena was already promise to marry the child of an allied force.

Moreover, the bad blood between Faust and Ying run deep for many generation, it still does and would rather welcome a blood bath over wedding cakes.

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Both Patriarchs were repugnant of their relationship and rigorously warned them that marriage is not an option. However, unlucky for them the rice has already been cook.

Upon finding out, Lena was then expelled by the Ying Clan.

On the contrary, due to the Faust Clan’s history of struggling fertility each child of the main family considered a blessing and then given big importance by the clan.

The Faust Patriarch himself has only managed to produce four children and he has the most children out of all his ancestors. In the end, the Patriarch did not have the heart to reject his unborn grandchild and the Faust Clan then sheltered Lena.

“Ahem, fourth master the Patriarch is calling for you.”

The husband and wife lovely moments was, interrupted short by the call of the fourth master’s personal steward.

“Go on, don’t keep father-in-law waiting.” She sweetly smiled at him.

“Fourth brother we've been waiting for you”

“Haha, forgive me for being late second brother.”

“Hmph, it’s that woman of yours making you irresponsible!”

“Now, now first brother this is not the time for a quarrel. Greetings, second brother, fourth brother. Father has given his order; we brothers are to bring our wife and children to give praise to the King and his newly born son.”

“Don’t worry third brother, my wife and son is all set on their chariot.”

“I’m glad to see you all here.” said the Patriarch in a stern voice. Their bodies instantly stiffen.

“Father” The four choruses.

A man of age ranging fifty to fifty-five nods his head in approval at the four young adults facing him. He is Gary Faust the Patriarch of the Faust Clan.

“Here we go again that damn King and his imperial order.”

The Patriarch sighed.

 “He order us his subjects like dogs, you go to war, and you come back join me on my banquet. The damn, does not even bother remembering the names of the generals who fights for his kingdom and here he keeps on giving nonsensical orders were in a middle of warring against the beast tide on the northern mountain and he wants us all to come back and get together for a meal. For crying out loud not for a strategical meeting but for a meal to gloat again about their damn fertility! The damn, why doesn’t he feed the common people there's a lot of them dying out of hunger!”

 He waved his arms dismissing his depression out. “This time, it’s for the birth of a prince. Remember to be on your best and try not to offend those high officials on their high horses.”

“Yes father.”

The brothers lost count on how many times did the Patriarch used the word damn. They did not give a thought about their father swearing at the king. They got used to it.

“Was it a Prince again this time but what is the use of having a man as a son if he sheltered them like a turtle hiding in its shell, the first prince only recently reach the bronze stage of third level a thirty years old to boot can’t even be considered a beginner in the cultivation realm. Sigh, go and prepare convey our greetings, eat some meat and bid our goodbye. I don’t want to share the same air to those no brawns no brains aristocrats, well not all of them there are decent and respectable ones but you get my point.”

This Patriarch surely is not a timid, stupidly loyal subject but a wise a man who knows better than to fight when the odds are against him. However, this does not stop him from deprecating them.

He has been in a lot of stress lately warring against beasts and guarding against his daughter-in-law’s clan. They have been tirelessly harassing them in every little way.

“Ready the horses.” He ordered at the man behind him.

“Yes Patriarch.”

“Fourth Master, Fourth Master!” The footsteps were far away but this wailing cry had a strong piercing quality to it.

“The madam… madam Lena is about to give birth!” The rapid sound of footsteps accompanied this wailing howl. He is Joban’s personal steward.

Joban Faust felt like his brain turned mush. “Did… did something happened? How could she give birth? She’s… she’s only five months in her pregnancy.”