"My na is Li Mu, Li Mu·Shadow."
As he spoke, he glanced up and down at the clothes and shoes on Old John, pondered for a mont, and with a flash of light in his hand, a brand-new set of human civilian clothes appeared as if by magic:
"Your clothes are pretty badly damaged, try on a new set, though I don’t know if it will fit."
Old John widened his eyes at the brand-new clothes.
By the True God! This fabric... definitely good material from the Aries Kingdom!
He had only seen it on the affluent civilians in the inner city!
I’m afraid this set of clothes alone would be worth fifty silver coins!
This level of gesture is well-asured, because wearing clothes at this value on him, though a bit high-profile, wouldn’t make him a target.
Anyway... it doesn’t carry the risk like a gold pound would.
"This... this..."
Old John felt inexplicably reserved.
Until the Elf stuffed the clothes into his hands:
"Take it, I have many sets, and it’s ti for you to change your clothes."
Old John trembled as he accepted the clothes, feeling inexplicably moved.
He had been in the Northern Territory for a year, and during this ti, no one had treated him so well.
His ho was destroyed by Demons, he encountered chaos soldiers who ruined his family, was cheated of travel expenses by a black-hearted rchant transporting refugees, and then encountered robbers who stole his last remaining property...
Upon arriving in Luck City, he was first bullied by other vagrants, and once he found work, his wages were deducted. Every day he ate rough and slept outdoors, his health deteriorating steadily, and he didn’t know how much longer he could hold on.
Not to ntion, he was previously beaten up by nobles.
If he hadn’t t these Elves, with his previous injuries, he really didn’t know how he would manage or survive.
Perhaps... he might not have survived this year.
Unable to work, losing his source of inco, his health worsening... a refugee like him could only wait to die slowly.
Such dying refugees could be seen everywhere in the territory, eventually cremated by the church out of concern over arising undead.
It can be said that refugees like them, even in death, are not cared for by anyone.
Amidst growing despair, the Eternal Church he worshiped did not extend a helping hand to him, but instead, it was those Elves, whom the Church spoke of as brutal, who helped...
Though it was just a cup of wine and a set of clothes, they were like a beam of light in the darkness, penetrating his heart.
Thinking of this, Old John’s eyes began to moisten.
"Thank you... thank you, kind Elf Lord... thank you..."
He kept bowing, his voice choked, and eventually burst into tears.
As an adult male, Old John was both strong and vulnerable.
Neither the destruction of his family nor a year of destitution crushed him, but the Elves’ kindness at this mont beca the straw that broke the cal’s back, touching the softest part of his heart.
It had always been the hidden, soft part deep in his heart, pretending to be strong.
Pain, grievance, and sadness surged in an instant, breaking out completely.
"Stop crying, hurry and change your clothes, this is what we should do."
Li Mu, the Elf Druid, sighed and patted his back.
Old John sniffed, bowed deeply, then ran to the back of the tavern with the clothes in his arms.
He rembered there was a warehouse there, just right for changing clothes.
And after a few minutes, when Old John returned to the Elves, he had already changed significantly.
In the tidy clothes, he looked much more energetic, no longer like a seventy-year-old man, finally showing so youthfulness.
Wearing soft and comfortable clothes and shoes, Old John felt as if he had been reborn, as if even the sky was bluer than before, and the sunshine warr.
"Not bad, not bad, it fits well."
Seeing his appearance, the Elves’ eyes lit up, nodding approvingly.
Old John’s foundation was not bad after all, and after this makeover, he unexpectedly looked handso, like an old gentleman with stories of his own.
Feeling embarrassed by the Elves’ complints, Old John pinched the new clothes and said sowhat shyly:
"The clothes fit because it’s what you gave , lord."
"It’s nothing, this is what we should do."
Li Mu, the Elf Druid, waved dismissively with a smile.
And the self-proclaid Demacia warrior also nodded, saying with a devout face:
"That’s right, the Goddess also taught us that all beings are equal, and the strong should help the weak; only by working together can we create a beautiful future."
As he spoke, he drew a Life Scepter symbol on his chest, with a look of sanctity.
"Goddess... Goddess..."
Seeing the fervor in his expression, Old John muttered, feeling a deeper touch within.
Minstrels spoke of the Life Goddess as a rciful and powerful Divine, and now it seed, indeed she was.
The Eternal Church had deceived him once again!
The Life Goddess was not as they claid, but a kind and just presence!
Otherwise, why would the Elves who worshipped her be so kind and friendly?
Their spirits were as beautiful and noble as their appearances!
At this mont, Old John’s heart surged with imnse goodwill towards the Elves and the Life Goddess...
Simultaneously, he beca slightly curious about the fabled Life Church.
What kind of church is the Life Church...?
Is the Fengyue Free Territory really as dreamy as the rumors say?
However, he knew he still had important tasks at hand, so he suppressed his curiosity.
Taking a deep breath, Old John displayed a radiant smile and respectfully said:
"Lord Li Mu, Lord Demacia, Lord Dongdong, thank you, I am ready, shall we head to the mines now?"
"No rush, no rush, we have other companions in the inner city; they’ll be here soon, let’s wait here for a bit."
Li Mu shook his head and said.
Speaking, he looked again at Old John, his gaze pausing on his darker skin, hair, and deep-set eyes, curiously asking:
"I see so characteristics of an Aries Kingdom person in you, why not go south, how did you end up fleeing to the northern continent?"
Hearing this, Old John scratched his head and said:
"Yes, I indeed have half of Aries Kingdom blood, my father was from the empire, my mother from Aries Kingdom; however, they were killed by noble soldiers in a war years ago."
"I was originally a farr on the empire’s border; after the Demon invasion, they destroyed our village and blocked the path south, so I had to take a rchant caravan’s ship north."
"Were you alone in your family?"
Dongdong asked, curious.
Old John was silent for a mont, his expression somber:
"My wife and my two children, they are all dead."
Upon hearing this, a trace of apology crossed Dongdong’s face:
"Sorry... I shouldn’t have asked, Demons are so evil and brutal, destroying many happy families..."
"No... it wasn’t the Demons."
Old John shook his head.
"Not the Demons?"
Dongdong was slightly taken aback.
Old John clenched his fists, eventually releasing them powerlessly.
He sighed, sadness mixed with a trace of bitterness:
"It was the chaotic soldiers!"
"I was initially fleeing with my wife and children, but during the escape, we encountered chaotic soldiers from the nobles... soldiers dispersed by the Demons!"
"At that ti, I left my family at a refugee camp and went to the city to find a rchant with a caravan."
"When I returned, my wife and children were already..."
Recalling painful mories, Old John’s face grew pale, his expression deeply pained:
"They had all been killed by them..."
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