The hall of the Demon Hunter Guild was brightly lit. Torches hung upon the stone walls, their orange glow reflecting off the people moving to and fro. Lin Ye stood there, feeling more than a little out of place.
Irene stood before him, her red eyes seeming as though they could pierce through a person's soul.
"The aura on you is very strange," she said slowly.
Lin Ye's heart tightened, but Reg spoke up from beside him. "He's just a newcomer."
Irene glanced at Reg with a faint, knowing smile. "Since when did you start taking on newcomers?"
Reg didn't answer. Irene shrugged. "Fine then."
She turned and walked back to the counter. "Since he's a newcomer, he'll start with a mission." She pulled a wooden board from beneath the counter, covered in inscriptions.
As Lin Ye drew closer, he saw it was a Mission Bulletin Board. It was covered in slips of paper, each containing mission details.
Mission: Clear Wilderness Wolf Pack
Reward: 20 Silver Coins
Difficulty: Tier 1
Mission: Escort Merchant Caravan
Reward: 35 Silver Coins
Difficulty: Tier 2
Mission: Investigate Missing Miners
Reward: 50 Silver Coins
Difficulty: Tier 2
Lin Ye couldn't help but ask, "Is this how Demon Hunters work?"
Su Li nodded slightly. "The mission system was established by the Empire. Demon Hunters, guilds, and adventurers all take on missions this way."
Reg added, "It allows for faster handling of magical beasts."
Irene leaned against the counter, smiling. "Newcomers usually start with the lowest-level tasks." Her eyes settled on Lin Ye. "Though, I'm curious to see how far you can go."
Lin Ye fell silent for a moment before looking back at the board. His gaze stopped on one particular slip.
Mission: Shadow Wolf Remnants
Location: Northern Forest of Iron Rock City
Reward: 30 Silver Coins
Difficulty: Tier 1
Lin Ye couldn't help but give a bitter smile. "It seems Shadow Wolves are truly my old friends."
Su Li noticed the mission as well. "This one suits you."
Reg nodded. "Shadow Wolves are Tier 1 monsters. However, if it's a pack, you cannot afford to be careless."
Irene picked up the mission slip. "Sure you want this one?"
Lin Ye nodded. "I'll try it."
Irene registered the mission in a thick ledger and then handed Lin Ye a small badge. It was bronze-colored, engraved with a small sword.
"A newcomer's badge," she said. "From today on, you're considered a member of the Guild."
Lin Ye took the badge. The metal was cool to the touch, yet he felt a strange weight to it. This was the first official identity of his life.
Su Li suddenly reached out to help him pin the badge to his clothes. Her fingers brushed lightly against Lin Ye's chest, causing him to stiffen instantly.
Su Li clearly realized it too. Her movements paused for a heartbeat. The distance between them was suddenly very close—so close that Lin Ye could clearly see into her eyes, which were as deep as the night sky.
Su Li cleared her throat softly. "There." She took a step back.
Lin Ye felt his heart beating a little too fast. Irene, watching the scene from the side, suddenly laughed. "I see how it is."
Lin Ye felt a bit embarrassed. "What do you mean, 'I see how it is'?"
Irene waved it off. "Nothing."
Reg had already started toward the door. "We leave tomorrow," he said.
Lin Ye nodded. "Understood."
By the time they left the guild, the night was very deep. The streets were much emptier, with only a few taverns still lit. The three of them found an inn. Seeing Reg's badge, the proprietor immediately arranged rooms.
Lin Ye's room was on the second floor—simple but clean. He had just set down his pack when he heard a knock.
"Who is it?"
"It's me."
It was Su Li. Lin Ye opened the door.
Su Li stood at the threshold. She had let her hair down; her silver locks fell over her shoulders, looking exceptionally soft in the lamplight.
Lin Ye blinked, startled. "Is something wrong?"
Su Li walked into the room, glancing around. Then she said softly, "About the Forbidden Book."
Lin Ye's expression immediately turned serious. "What about it?"
Su Li walked to the window. Her silhouette appeared exceptionally peaceful in the moonlight. "What Irene said today wasn't a delusion," she said. "The abyssal aura on you is growing stronger."
Lin Ye was silent for a moment. "I've felt it too."
Su Li turned to look at him. "That's why you must learn to control it."
Lin Ye gave a wry smile. "The problem is, I don't know how."
Su Li took a step closer, her gaze intensely sincere. "I will help you."
Lin Ye was stunned. "Why?"
Su Li was silent for a second before saying softly, "Because if you lose control..." She looked into Lin Ye's eyes. "...it would be very troublesome for me."
Lin Ye couldn't help but laugh. "Just because it's 'troublesome'?"
Su Li didn't answer. She turned and walked toward the door. Before opening it, she paused. "Tomorrow's mission," she said. "Don't die."
With that, she left. The door clicked shut softly.
Lin Ye stood in place. After a long while, he slowly lay down on the bed. Moonlight streamed through the window into the room. His shadow flickered gently on the floor.
That low voice echoed in his mind once again.
"You are growing stronger. Soon... they will fear you."
Lin Ye closed his eyes and did not reply. But in his heart, he knew that this path had only just begun.