Chapter 91 - 89: I Could Have Tolerated the Darkness

Chapter 91: Chapter 89: I Could Have Tolerated the Darkness

"Then it’s settled. I’ll come find you tomorrow afternoon."

After about ten minutes, Lu Wei had accomplished his goal for this visit with Aryan.

Tomorrow afternoon, Aryan would take him to meet the foreman named Theodore, who was also her uncle.

Truth be told, Lu Wei could have gone by himself without any problem.

After all, Theodore was just the head of the Artisan Association, not the mayor of Heitai Town; he didn’t have the standing to put on such airs.

But considering this was a big deal involving dozens of Gold Coins, Lu Wei still wanted to give it a try. Even a ten percent discount from Theodore—given for Aryan’s sake—would save him several Gold Coins.

Since he had this connection, it would be a waste not to use it.

"Thank you so much. If you’re free tomorrow evening, I’ll treat you to dinner."

Standing up, Lu Wei said with sincere gratitude, "You’ve really helped me out a lot."

"You’re welcome. It’s to help my big brother, after all."

Aryan’s voice was sweet, and she looked very happy. "So, how has business been at your general store these past few days, big brother? I’ve been recommending it to a lot of my patients, you know."

"Really?"

Lu Wei was taken aback, a little surprised.

He had just said it casually at the time and never expected Aryan to actually take it to heart.

’What a considerate girl!’

’She’s optimistic and hardworking, with high EQ and IQ, and she even calls me her big brother.’

’As for the other one...’

Glancing back at Bai Ya, who was distractedly grinding herbs, Lu Wei pursed his lips before turning back to thank Aryan again.

"Thanks to you, business has been great."

"That’s good. I knew you’d be fine, big brother~"

"Haha, I just got lucky."

"That’s not true! There are so many freelance merchants in town, but only you, big brother, dared to open a shop in the forest. That has nothing to do with luck."

Aryan said with a serious expression, "But you need to be careful too, big brother. Staying safe is more important than making money."

"..."

’Look at her! Just look at her!’

’The emotional support! The genuine care!’

Aryan’s few words had coaxed a wide smile onto Lu Wei’s face.

But when he walked over to Bai Ya, the smile immediately vanished.

"Are you done grinding?"

"Almost. Just a little more."

Bai Ya sped up, grinding a few more times before looking up. "Done."

Lu Wei urged, "If you’re done, let’s go."

"Oh... but I haven’t had a chance to talk to Aryan yet."

"What do you two have to... ahem. Go ahead and talk. I need to take care of something in the backyard."

After all, with Aryan standing right there, Lu Wei couldn’t completely embarrass Bai Ya. He planned to use the time to go to the bathroom.

But Bai Ya just asked blankly, "What are you going to do?"

’She just had to ask!’

Glaring at her, Lu Wei couldn’t be bothered to answer and walked straight out the door.

Aryan quickly picked up the conversation.

"Big Brother Lu Wei should be back in a moment... Big Sister Bai Ya, how’s your injury?"

"Ah, it’s fine now."

Pulling her gaze away from Lu Wei’s departing back, Bai Ya, who didn’t understand the concept of subtlety, gave her answer and then immediately asked with great eagerness:

"Aryan, can I see your necklace?"

"Hm? My necklace?"

The topic shifted so quickly that Aryan couldn’t quite process it.

But after a brief pause, she still took the little swan Pendant out from under her clothes and whispered happily as she showed it off:

"Big Brother Lu Wei gave it to me."

"..."

Before long, Lu Wei returned from the bathroom to find Bai Ya waiting for him outside the small clinic.

Her lips were pressed tight and her cheeks were puffed out, looking like an angry pufferfish.

But when he asked what was wrong, she wouldn’t say, leaving him completely baffled.

The whole way back, she just walked with her head down, occasionally shooting Lu Wei an angry glare that seemed to say "How could you do this?" before quickly turning away before he could look at her.

This left Lu Wei utterly confused.

After wracking his brain and still not figuring out what had happened, he couldn’t be bothered to think about it anymore and went straight to sleep after returning to the small cabin.

And while he was sound asleep, Bai Ya was in her little room, sulking.

’He’s the worst! How can he be such a womanizer!’

Bathed in moonlight, she looked at the swan Pendant necklace in the small Wooden Box—the one she herself hadn’t even brought herself to wear—and felt incredibly wronged.

But then she’d remember that Lu Wei had given her something as precious as the [Imitation] Skill Book, and her anger would fizzle out.

Besides, if it weren’t for Lu Wei, she would have died in the forest long ago...

’Hmph! So what if there’s one more! I won’t be scared!’

’Aryan is only 15, anyway! She shouldn’t be a match for me!’

’As for Mirana... as long as I start Learning Skills quickly and my Power surpasses hers, I’ll definitely achieve final victory!’

’That’s right!’

Pumping her fist, the look in Bai Ya’s eyes became Firm again.

To be honest, when it came to self-consolation, both she and Furen were top-tier.

Lu Wei didn’t even know anything had happened, and here she was, having already talked herself down.

Then, after quickly washing up, she drifted off to sleep clutching the small Wooden Box, her thoughts seesawing between ’He’s so annoying’ and ’He’s so good to me’.

...

...

The next morning, Lu Wei woke up to find that Bai Ya was suddenly back to normal.

Not only had she made breakfast, but she had also thoughtfully organized the loot he was planning to take to the market to sell today.

It was truly baffling.

However, a true man would never waste time trying to guess a woman’s thoughts, so after finishing breakfast, Lu Wei headed straight for Old Fenris’s weapon shop. He first sold off the few battered weapons, then went to find Old Yor to get rid of the pile of trinkets found in the Wooden Box.

In total, he earned 2 gold and 6 silver.

Afterwards, he went to the inn to find Mirana, planning to go to the Adventurer Association together to turn in their quests.

The time limit for both quests was five days, and today was the last day.

"How’s Kairos?"

Lu Wei asked casually as they walked toward the Association branch, "Is he still at the clinic?"

"Yes, he needs someone to look after him, so he’s been staying at the clinic."

Mirana nodded, her voice a little quiet. "But the caregiver said he often refuses to eat, and his spirits are very low."

"Well... sigh. Suddenly losing both legs... it’s certainly hard to accept."

Lu Wei sighed. "You haven’t told him you’re trying to find a solution?"

"No." Mirana shook her head.

"Huh? Why not tell him?"

Lu Wei was a little surprised. "If you told him, he’d probably be more positive, wouldn’t he?"

"I understand, but the plan to get him Regeneration Magic treatment isn’t guaranteed to succeed."

Mirana replied softly, "I won’t promise something I’m not one hundred percent certain I can do."

’Wow, she’s quite principled.’

"I’m not asking you to promise one hundred percent. Can’t you just tell him the truth of the situation?"

Lu Wei glanced at her. "No matter what, it’s still a glimmer of hope, right? Even if you can’t pull it off in the end, he would surely understand."

"No. If I tell him, then in his mind, it will be one hundred percent."

Mirana shook her head and answered calmly, "If I fail, he will be even more hopeless than he is now. He might even lose the will to live."

"..."

His footsteps faltered. Hearing her words, Lu Wei was suddenly stunned.

Because when he really thought about it, what Mirana said might actually be right.

In the eyes of a desperate person, any glimmer of hope is magnified hundreds, even thousands of times.

And if that hope is shattered, they will inevitably plunge into an even deeper despair.

’Who knew you were a philosopher...’

"Alright, you’re right."

Nodding, Lu Wei started walking again and casually summarized, much to Mirana’s surprise:

"I could have tolerated the darkness, had I not seen the sun."