"Yiya~~~!" The sudden tickling sensation made Mengdie tremble all over, and she jumped away with a frown, "Didn't I say not to lick me from time to time? It's hot and itchy..."

"Ha... ha... Maybe it wants you to ride on its back and carry you..." Xiu, sitting on his horse and gasping for breath, said.

However, due to the promise made to Grandma Gluma not to harm Viva, and the comprehensive defeat in the training battle five days ago, Mengdie had been forcing herself to train continuously during this period. She no longer rode in the carriage like before but insisted on running on foot in an S-pattern. Even if she was too tired, she refused to remove the weighted sandbags tied to her arms, legs, waist, and back. Even when she was too exhausted to run, she would still walk in an S-pattern, never in a straight line, let alone ride on the wolf.

Edward, Xiu, Father Cotton, and Nia's horses were far ahead, probably due to the presence of the white wolf, as they refused to accompany Mengdie and walk slowly.

"Mengdie... Aren't you too tired...? Can you rest for a bit?"

Edward, unable to bear the sight, dismounted and came to Mengdie's side. Seeing her sweating profusely under the scorching sun and advancing in an S-pattern, he looked worried.

Mengdie didn't respond, just gritted her teeth, took a deep breath, and suddenly surged forward! The sandbags wrapped around her arms and legs had already left deep marks on her skin.

Sweat flew under the sun. The white wolf, not to be outdone, accompanied the girl, moving in an S-pattern. Finally, they reached the moat. Confronted with the deep and wide river and the tall walls, they gasped heavily.

Not enough... I need to be stronger, much stronger!

Mengdie clenched her fists and looked at the clear river water! Then, she weakly raised her hands, reaching towards the moat. Obviously, the girl seemed not to want to go through the city gate but to swim across...

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But...

"Grumble..."

Woo... I'm so hungry...!

Finally, the constantly training Mengdie could no longer hold on, blacked out with intense hunger, and collapsed...

"Really, does this girl know what moderation is?"

The white wolf approached and carried Mengdie on its back. Xiu came forward to remove all the weights from Mengdie's body and tossed them away, speaking helplessly.

Mengdie gasped heavily, struggling to get up from the wolf's back. Even so, she couldn't fully stand up. Only her tail managed to prop itself up in front of Xiu and the others.

"Grumble..."

Lying half-dead on the white wolf's back, Mengdie's stomach growled again. Her face flushed, and she weakly covered her belly, remaining silent.

Edward stepped forward, saying, "Mengdie, you'll be able to eat soon! How about this, after entering the city, we'll go to the best restaurant and order the best dishes!"

Mengdie had no interest in Edward's suggestion, unlike Nia might. Her tail swung listlessly, seemingly bored.

"Whatever... Oh! Before we eat, Edward, can you lend me some money? I've used up all my magic conduits except for 'Fire,' and I think I have over 4000 Sular stored with you, right? Is it there? Lend me a few hundred Sular first."

Suddenly hopeful, Edward became slightly elated. He quickly reached into his pocket: "I have it! I'll give you all my Sular!... Sular?"

Edward's expression suddenly became strange. He fumbled in his pocket for a long time without finding any reason. Finally...

"Xiu... Xiu! How much Sular do you have?"

Xiu's face turned awkward. After hesitating, he said dejectedly, "Me? How could I have Sular in my pocket. Keep looking, hurry up and look again! Do you have it or not?"

The situation was actually very simple, even laughably so. Two months ago, when the four split up, Mengdie gave Edward and Nia a total of 180 Sular. Afterward, when Mengdie and Xiu left Mavi City, they gave the few thousand Sular looted from the general's house to Emily for living expenses. Since Mengdie was used to being poor and had high survival skills in the wild, she didn't need much money besides buying two horses. Later, in Luowell City, Edward and Nia, who didn't know much about money management, had spent most of the 180 Sular. The remaining money was used up quickly on the road, leaving the four penniless...

Mengdie looked up, speechless, at the two men. She checked her pocket, only two Sular left. With such funds, buying magic conduits was a dream!

But suddenly, she noticed Father Cotton, who had been standing there since earlier...

"Father! I was thinking..."

"Sorry, young lady." Father Cotton interrupted Mengdie before she could finish, "You're right, the Grand Church as the national church of the Luowell Empire does have many sources of funding, and not a small amount."

Mengdie didn't know what to say and didn't interrupt. Father Cotton continued seriously, "But just because the Grand Church has money doesn't mean I do. I am a priest, just a part of the Grand Church, and I cannot represent the church itself. Even now that I have the honor of being a clergyman involved in politics, I don't have the authority to use the church's financial budget, not even a Sular. So, I only have seventy Sular as travel expenses. If you want to borrow, I can lend it to you. Or, for the sake of the Goddess, I can give it to you. But more than that, even I am powerless."