Chapter 118: The Sage Punches the Bandit Leader, Saves the Monkey-Faced Alchemist

South Wind Dense Forest.

On the damp, leaf-covered ground, more than a dozen bandits lay sprawled in disarray, their corpses gruesome, eyes wide and frozen in terror, as if they had witnessed something unimaginable before death.

Crimson blood soaked through the fallen leaves, staining the moist soil with dark red patches, while the forest's natural fragrance was drowned beneath the thick stench of blood.

"Without realizing it, I've already become this strong."

Xia Xia Mingyu held a top hat, gazing at the scene, silently sighing within.

Once, he had been a college student with no strength at all—likely unable to defeat even a farmer wielding a hoe.

Now, with just a snap of his fingers, he had effortlessly slain over a dozen armed, vicious bandits, as easily as clearing a mobile game on Blue Star.

The magic trick, once used only for blossoming flowers and cleansing his body, had now revealed its terrifying potential since his ascent to the Morning Star rank.

"Y-you—who are you?!" The last surviving bandit leader, Eck, stared at him, stammering.

Though his formidable physique had withstood the white pigeons' frenzied assault, his body was crisscrossed with bloody scratches from their sharp claws and beaks; now, his gaze toward Xia Xia Mingyu brimmed with fear and wariness.

Xia Xia Mingyu did not answer, only flicked his right hand, and the flock of flying pigeons immediately rushed back into the hat.

Because the hat's opening was small, one pigeon was squeezed out of the line; its jet-black eyes flickered with a human-like look of grievance.

Only after Xia Xia Mingyu patted its head did the pigeon, satisfied, circle once in the air and chirp happily as it dove back into the hat.

Then, he silently replaced the hat, clenched his fist, and assumed a combat stance.

Seeing this, Eck—who had been on the verge of despair—suddenly lit up with joy.

He feared the man's bizarre abilities, but in hand-to-hand combat, as a Transcendent Warrior, how could he lose to this slender youth before him?

Snap!

Worried Xia Xia Mingyu might retreat from unarmed combat, the bandit leader hurled his greatsword to the ground.

Muscle Enhancement!

In the next instant, Eck's entire body swelled like an inflated balloon; his coarse clothing tore with a sharp "rip" as his bulging muscles burst forth, revealing knotted veins like gnarled tree roots.

"Die!"

The bandit leader let out a beastly roar and lunged at Xia Xia Mingyu in a blur.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Facing death, Eck pushed his body to its absolute limit.

His eyes burned red, every muscle taut; each punch aimed at Xia Xia Mingyu tore through the air with a piercing whistle.

Yet soon, Eck realized in horror that the black-eyed youth moved like an eel—slippery and agile, effortlessly dodging every strike.

How is this possible?!

He's clearly a mage—how could he possess such refined evasion skills?!

"Indeed, Mind Wander is incredibly useful."

As he deftly dodged Eck's frenzied attacks, Xia Xia Mingyu drifted in thought.

He chose not to use magic and fight unarmed primarily to test his current close-combat ability.

Since ascending to the Morning Star rank, his physical constitution had strengthened significantly alongside his surge in magical power.

Now it was clear: Morning Star physique + Mind Wander = holding his own against a Transcendent Warrior.

"Time to test my offensive power."

After dodging another punch, Xia Xia Mingyu's gaze turned cold.

Mind Wander (Flow State)—activate!

In an instant, everything around him slowed; his mental processing accelerated nearly twofold.

Yet all distractions vanished—his mind held only one thought: crush this enemy into pulp.

Shhh! Shhh! Shhh!

A cluster of black flame rose from Xia Xia Mingyu's right fist.

Awakened magic could not only cast spells but also directly enhance the body.

"Black Flash!"

The fist wrapped in black flame struck Eck's abdomen with explosive force.

Boom!

Eck felt searing pain in his abdomen; in an instant, his throat flooded with sweetness, and blood spewed from his mouth.

"You're… Morning Star!"

He stared in terror at the black flame swirling around the fist, instantly losing all will to fight—his only desire was to turn and flee.

Every Transcendent knew the gap between a Morning Star and a Transcendent was far greater than that between a Transcendent and an ordinary person.

Only by reaching the Morning Star rank could one truly defy most rules through raw power alone—even nobles treated such individuals with courtesy.

But choosing to flee now was too late.

Or rather, as a bandit, from the moment he encountered this man, he had lost all hope of survival.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The fist wreathed in black flame rained down on Eck like a meteor shower.

So fast it left behind trails of black afterimages.

As the strongest martialist among Transcendents, his muscular, towering frame was now battered like a ragged sack.

In barely fifteen seconds, Eck was reduced to an unrecognizable mess—his body riddled with dented fists and twisted limbs, lying there in pitiful ruin.

"Phew. First unarmed fight—barely won."

Xia Xia Mingyu withdrew his magic and exhaled deeply.

The dying Eck, hearing this, nearly burst his eyes in rage.

Yet at that moment, a thought flashed through his mind.

Black magic, black eyes, the black hair revealed when he removed his hat…

"Y-you… are you the Sage Xia Xia Mingyu?" Eck gasped with his last breath.

In consideration of the fact that Eck had helped him test his close-combat ability, Xia Xia Mingyu gave a slight nod—acknowledging it.

"Why… why make the lords do this? What benefit do you gain?"

With all his remaining strength, Eck finally asked the question that had haunted him for days as he hid in the forest.

Knowing the lords as he did, only a reward beyond refusal from the Sage could drive them to purge outlaws so violently.

But what benefit did the Sage gain from this?

"Good deeds don't require benefit—they're simply the instinct of a normal person."

Xia Xia Mingyu said calmly, then extended a finger toward the dying Eck and began drawing a magic rune.

"Freeze, wind."

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

In the next instant, a violent cold wind surged forth, instantly freezing the man on the ground into stillness.

"My lord, this… this person has fainted."

Meanwhile, Boge Chu, having checked the fallen victim, reported.

Monkey?

Had Boge just made a mistake?

Xia Xia Mingyu, puzzled, walked over.

But when he saw the victim's face, he too sucked in a sharp breath.

The man was short and hunched, his elongated face dominated by protruding cheekbones and an outward-jutting mouth; his arms were grotesquely long, far beyond human proportion.

He looked less like a human and more like a monkey—specifically, a deformed, ugly monkey, not the golden-haired Monkey King.

Yet from his clothing and the scattered bags and vials on the ground, he was clearly human.

"My lord, is he one of the beastfolk described in the books?" Boge asked curiously.

"Uh… no, I don't recall any monkey beastfolk, and beastfolk aren't this ugly," Xia Xia Mingyu said after a long pause.

"I remember two bottles of Lady Rosa's healing magic potion in his pack—give him one, then carry him on your back and find a clear spot to set up camp; the blood smell will attract beasts soon."

"My lord, his injuries are severe but not fatal—he doesn't need the healing potion."

"There are no doctors out here in the wilderness. Let's save him properly."

"Yes."

In hazy consciousness, the alchemist Yude felt someone pour a potion down his throat; the moment it touched his tongue, he instinctively recognized it as a healing potion worth its weight in gold—rare beyond measure.

Who would give such a precious potion to this ugly, stunted monster?

Yude tried to open his eyes, but the drowsiness from the potion swiftly dragged him into sleep.

"Monster, monster—how can there be such an ugly person?"

"Throw stones and kill him!"

"Mom, am I really a monster?"

"You're my child—I remember every heartbeat you made inside me. How could you be a monster?"

"But… if I'm not a monster, why did Father drive us out?"

"."

"Mom…"

By the crackling bonfire, Yude murmured unconsciously.

"Is he cold?"

Sitting beside him, Xia Xia Mingyu didn't catch his words, but took off his outer coat and draped it over the man, then instructed Boge Chu, who had returned with firewood, to add more fuel.

Not long after, warmed by the bonfire, Yude gradually awoke, his eyelids lifting to reveal a pair of amber-gold eyes.

"Thank you, Wise One, for saving my life! I am Yude, an alchemist—I am truly, deeply grateful for your aid!"

When Yude saw the young man with black eyes sitting beside the bonfire watching him, he immediately dropped to his knees, his voice trembling as he thanked him.

"How did you recognize me?"

Hearing this, Xia Xia Mingyu felt a flicker of curiosity—he had assumed the man was already unconscious when he removed his hat.

"Because only the Wise One rumored to embrace mad farm women would give a grotesque creature like me a priceless healing potion."

Yude smiled bitterly, a trace of self-mockery flashing across his gaunt face.

"Should I tell him appearance doesn't define a person? Nah, too fake—I won't say it."

Xia Xia Mingyu wanted to comfort him, but after weighing pros and cons for a long while, he found no suitable words, so he simply said nothing.

Because even he could not deny the importance of appearance to a person—he himself was a beneficiary of its advantages.

In the forest's night, darkness fell like a heavy curtain, suffocating.

Fortunately, a blazing bonfire remained, stretching and twisting the shadows of the three figures seated around it onto the surrounding tree trunks.

Crackling.

Boge was intently holding a long branch stripped of branches and leaves, skewered with several large pieces of dried meat, which released a mouthwatering aroma under the flame's heat.

"Master, the meat is ready."

"Hmm, divide it into three portions."

"Thank you!"

Unexpectedly, there was a portion for him—Yude, overwhelmed, accepted the dried meat Xia Xia Mingyu handed him and took a bite.

So hard!

But so delicious!

As he ate, a thin mist gradually clouded Yude's amber-gold eyes.

Since his mother's death, no one had ever been this kind to him.

"Respected Wise One, your mercy rivals the sun in heaven, your generosity unmatched—your kindness to me is beyond repayment."

"I am hideous—I dare not hope to become your servant. Is there any task an alchemist might assist you with? If so, I will devote my remaining life to you."

Yude knelt on one knee, his small frame illuminated by the firelight—ugly, yet brimming with sincerity.

At the same time, above his head, a line of emerald text appeared—Alchemist.

In this world, among non-combat professions, alchemists were as vital as blacksmiths, capable of healing, poisoning, and crafting countless magical potions.

The career path generally went: Apprentice Alchemist, Alchemist, Master Alchemist.

Hearing this, Xia Xia Mingyu knew that unless he offered something, this ugly but kind-hearted alchemist would remain burdened by guilt.

So he fell into thought, searching for a task the man could perform for him.

When his gaze fell on the tiny remaining piece of Bear Attractant in his satchel, inspiration struck.

"My servant and I came to the South Wind Dense Forest to hunt the Earth Bear, but unfortunately, our Bear Attractant is nearly exhausted and we've seen no trace of it. Do you have any way to locate the Earth Bear?" Xia Xia Mingyu said.

"Wise One, may I first examine your Bear Attractant?"

Xia Xia Mingyu nodded; Boge retrieved the small piece of Bear Attractant from the satchel and handed it to Yude.

Then, under the slightly astonished gazes of the two, Yude sniffed, licked, and even scraped off a pinch of powder to swallow.

"Wise One, I was born with an unusually keen nose and tongue, and as a child, I accidentally received a blessing that lets me analyze certain drug effects by ingesting them—forgive my oddness."

After finishing, Yude awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

"This is the world's protection granted to you—many beg for such a gift and cannot obtain it. Why would I laugh?" Xia Xia Mingyu said calmly.

Truly, one cannot judge a man by his appearance!

He thought to himself—he never expected that the alchemist he'd randomly saved was a Blessing-bearer like Haidon.

Ignoring his appearance, the man was undoubtedly an alchemical genius.

Then Yude closed his eyes and activated his Blessing, silently analyzing the substance's effects.

"Wise One, your Bear Attractant is already of high quality—it would certainly attract ordinary bears, but for a beast like the Earth Bear, its allure is greatly diminished, making it hard to draw one near."

After about fifteen minutes, Yude opened his eyes and explained.

"But there is a solution: when Bear Attractant is freshly made, its attraction to bears is overwhelming—even the Earth Bear would be drawn to it."

"And from my analysis, its core ingredient is honeycomb. If we can find a honeycomb in the dense forest, I can replicate the Bear Attractant and lure the Earth Bear."

Before Xia Xia Mingyu could speak, Yude added further.

"Master, earlier, when I activated my enhanced perception, I heard many bees buzzing—it must be a hive, and not far from here," Boge said.

The matter had been resolved so easily—Xia Xia Mingyu was surprised, and a phrase came to mind: Those who follow the Dao receive much aid; those who stray receive little.

"Good. We set out at dawn to find the hive. Now, sleep."

Xia Xia Mingyu stretched and said.

Before sleeping, he summoned a flock of white doves from his hat to stand guard.

Hmph—he'd caught a glimpse of a summoner's thrill, but unfortunately, this world lacked the profession that was even better than a mage.

At dawn, mist flowed like gauze through the dense forest; morning light pierced the layered canopy, forming golden threads of radiance within the haze.

Xia Xia Mingyu, still asleep, was gently awakened by Boge; rubbing his bleary eyes, he followed Boge and Yude on their search for the hive.

"By the way, Yude—did you come to the South Wind Dense Forest to gather herbs?"

As they walked, Xia Xia Mingyu noticed Yude's small frame straining under a large satchel and asked curiously.

"Yes, Wise One. I need to prepare medicine for my employer—it's missing Moonlight Grass, the core ingredient in healing potions. I couldn't afford it in Dusk City, so I came here hoping for luck."

As Yude spoke, he remembered how Xia Xia Mingyu had given him a healing potion to save him, and his protruding lips twitched slightly.

He felt his own life wasn't worth even one Moonlight Grass, let alone a finished healing potion.

"Don't you know there are bandits plaguing the South Wind Dense Forest?"

"I know—but my employer's condition is critical. I couldn't wait."

"How much did your employer pay you? Was it worth risking your life?"

"One copper coin." Yude was silent for a long time before answering.

Xia Xia Mingyu froze mid-step, staring at Yude with shock and disbelief.

One copper coin—in Dusk City, that barely bought a single wheat cake!

"My employer is a little boy. His mother fell gravely ill from overwork—only Moonlight Grass can save her."

"He came to me with his only copper coin. Other alchemists refused him. I was going to refuse too—but…"

"A child without a mother suffers terribly. I know—I've lived it. So, somehow, I took that coin."

Yude pulled the yellowed copper coin from his pocket, his expression sorrowful.

Perhaps he wasn't trying to save the boy—he was trying to save his younger self.

Xia Xia Mingyu said nothing, only walked over and gently patted the monkey-faced alchemist on the shoulder.

Those who've been rained on don't necessarily snatch others' umbrellas—sometimes, they want to hold one over someone else's head.

At this moment, Xia Xia Mingyu was glad he hadn't hoarded that healing potion.

(End of Chapter)