109: Chapter 109 My Foolish Little Brother

The Meng De of Thousand Light City?

Chen You glanced at the little girl beside him, who was clutching the corner of his clothes tightly, her face full of nervousness.

This quest design was truly full of twists and turns.

He silently complained about the game designers in his heart, then led Meng Xiao toward the Meng De's Manor under the awe-filled gaze of that player.

"My Lord, I... my uncle, is he the Meng De?" Meng Xiao's voice trembled with a hint of disbelief.

"Yes," Chen You replied. "Don't be afraid, I'll take you there."

Thousand Light City at night was even more prosperous than Zhao City, and the architectural style on both sides of the streets was more grand and majestic.

This was clearly a stage of a higher level.

The two did not use mounts. Meng Xiao's short legs couldn't walk fast, and by the time they reached the Meng De's Manor, the night was already deep.

Chen You naturally wanted to use auto-pathing, but Meng Xiao would hide far away as soon as she saw the rabbit.

There was no choice but to accommodate the NPC.

In front of the Meng De's Manor, two rows of guards holding halberds and clad in heavy armor stood solemnly. They were all Level 25, with eyes as sharp as hawks.

"Halt!"

The guard captain at the head took a step forward and blocked Chen You.

Chen You spoke concisely: "I am Chen You, an Adventurer from Zhao City. I am escorting Meng Xiao, the daughter of the hero Meng Tu, to seek refuge with her uncle, Meng De Meng De."

The guard captain gave Chen You a scrutinizing look, then shifted his gaze to Meng Xiao, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

He seemed to have some impression of the name "Meng Tu," but in the end, he maintained a professional indifference.

"Wait here."

He turned and entered the manor to report, leaving Chen You and Meng Xiao waiting under the cold moonlight.

After a long while, the guard captain finally returned. He made a "please" gesture to Chen You, though his tone lacked warmth.

"The Meng De is in the backyard. Follow me."

Passing through layers of corridors, the luxury and majesty of the manor's interior were fully revealed.

But the further they went in, the colder the air became. Even the trees and flowers were trimmed to look like blades, exuding a rigid atmosphere that warned strangers not to approach.

The backyard was extremely spacious, with the ground paved by large blocks of bluish-black rock.

In the center of the courtyard, a burly figure was moving under the moonlight.

He was bare-chested, with bronze-colored muscles bulging and knotted, full of explosive power.

He held a heavy war blade in his hand. Every swing was accompanied by a whistle that tore through the air.

The blade wind surged, sweeping up the fallen leaves on the ground and instantly grinding them into powder.

His movements were bold and sweeping, yet incredibly precise, filled with an aura of iron and blood.

【Meng De (Meng De of Thousand Light City)】

【Level: ???】

【HP: ???】

...

A string of question marks showed the massive level gap between the two sides.

The guard captain led Chen You and Meng Xiao to the edge of the field, then bowed and withdrew, not daring to disturb.

Meng De acted as if he hadn't seen them, continuing to practice his blade techniques on his own.

After finishing a set of techniques, he slowly stopped and thrust the war blade onto a weapon rack with a "clank."

He picked up a nearby towel to wipe his sweat, and only then did he cast his cold gaze over.

"What is it?"

His voice was like his blade techniques: cold, hard, and devoid of any emotion.

Chen You gave Meng Xiao a gentle push forward and spoke calmly: "Meng De Meng De, this is Meng Xiao, the daughter of your younger brother, Meng Tu."

Meng Xiao timidly looked up and whispered, "Un... Uncle."

Meng De's gaze stayed on Meng Xiao for less than a second. Those eyes held no joy from a long-awaited family reunion; instead, a flash of imperceptible irritation and disgust crossed them.

It was as if the person before him wasn't his blood-related niece, but a huge trouble.

"That foolish brother of mine always liked to do self-righteous, stupid things," Meng De's tone was full of contempt.

"He died for an irrelevant city. That was his choice. What does it have to do with me?"

He didn't even give Meng Xiao a second look, directly instructing a servant in the corner:

"Go to the accounting room and withdraw ten silver coins to reward this Adventurer."

The servant bowed and obeyed, soon returning with a money bag containing ten silver coins.

Meng De waved his hand as if shooing away a fly.

"You may leave."

He then pointed at the pale-faced Meng Xiao beside him and added to the servant:

"As for this child, find a servant's room in the backyard to settle her. Don't let her come out and cause trouble for me."

The entire process was cold to the extreme.

Ten silver coins?

In the eyes of ordinary players, it might be a decent income.

But for Chen You, it wasn't even enough for his potions.

Moreover, this wasn't a question of money.

Chen You's brow furrowed slightly.

He wasn't angry because of the contempt he received; he just felt... this plot was wrong.

According to normal game logic, escorting the orphan of a hero to find their relative should involve being moved, acceptance, and then a generous reward to start the next quest chain, right?

How did it turn into dismissing a beggar here?

"My Lord..." Beside him, Meng Xiao's little face was deathly pale, and her lips were trembling.

She looked at the tall, cold figure in the courtyard in disbelief. That was her blood-related uncle, yet he was colder than any stranger.

The servant had already walked up to Chen You with the money bag, bowing slightly with a professional fake smile on his face.

Chen You didn't look at the money bag.

His gaze fell on Meng Xiao, whose body was shaking like a leaf in the wind due to fear and sorrow.

The last bit of light in the little girl's eyes had gone out.

"Is the quest glitched?" The first thought flashed through Chen You's mind.

He quickly recalled every step from accepting the quest until now.

Zhao City, Centurion Luo Yi, the White Feather Badge, the Tranquil Graveyard... right, the graveyard!

That hidden quest he had accidentally triggered, "Disturbed Rest."

Could it be that because of that quest, the subsequent plot direction had shifted?

Game designers, you really don't follow the beaten path.

Chen You complained in his heart, moved his gaze from the servant's face, and looked back at Meng De.

Meng De had already turned around, seemingly not bothered to give them another look, preparing to return to the house.

"Wait."

Chen You spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear.

Meng De's footsteps paused. He didn't look back, only asking coldly, "Think it's too little?"

His voice already carried a hint of impatience and killing intent.

The pressure belonging to a high-level powerhouse enveloped Chen You.

Under this pressure, an ordinary player probably wouldn't even be able to stand steadily.

But Chen You just stood there quietly, as if he felt nothing.

He ignored the servant who was still holding the money bag, walked to Meng Xiao's side, and gently patted her shoulder.

Then, he took something out of his backpack.

A plain and simple wooden box.

It was the special reward he obtained when completing the graveyard's hidden quest—"heros gaze."

He had tried this box before; he couldn't use it, nor could he open it.

But now...

The moment Chen You took it out, the originally unremarkable wooden box suddenly vibrated slightly.

A faint, warm white light surfaced on its exterior.

The light was soft, carrying an air of solemnity and holiness that could not be desecrated.

It's working!

Chen You felt certain and applied gentle force with both hands.

"Click."

With a light sound, the wooden box opened.

The moment the box opened, there was no imagined brilliant golden light, nor any divine weapon.

Inside lay quietly only a single badge.

A badge also carved from a white feather, identical to the one Chen You had given Meng Xiao.

But within the patterns of this feather, there was a faint, flowing golden light.

Beneath the badge, there was also a piece of yellowed letter paper.

Chen You didn't take the badge; instead, he took out the letter.

At this very moment, Meng De, who was about to walk away, suddenly stiffened.

He turned around abruptly, staring fixedly at the letter in Chen You's hand. For the first time, intense emotional fluctuations appeared in those cold eyes.

It was shock, disbelief, and a hint of... fleeting resentment.

"What is that?!" His voice became hoarse.

Chen You didn't answer him, only slowly unfolding the letter.

On the letter, there were no handwritten words, but instead, intersecting streaks of flowing light.

As the letter unfolded, an illusory silhouette projected from within.

Under the cold moonlight, it condensed into a slightly blurry figure.

It was a man wearing the standard armor of Zhao City. His face was ordinary, but his eyes were exceptionally resolute, and a gentle smile hung on his lips.

It was Meng Xiao's father, Meng Tu.

"Brother."

The Meng Tu in the projection spoke, his voice carrying a hint of fatigue, yet remaining gentle.