Campfire Talk

As the conversation flowed, the atmosphere gradually relaxed.

Kane recounted several old stories from his time with the Knights, with Harold and Renn occasionally chiming in, and even the shy Elaine couldn't help but chatter a few words, and low laughter echoed around the campfire.

As they chatted, Kane looked at Ye Weian's calm profile illuminated by the firelight and felt a surge of emotion.

Recalling the rumors he had heard before setting off, and the other party's composed command and powerful magic during the day... he blurted out: "To be honest, young master, you are very different from the rumors I heard before."

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere around the campfire visibly froze.

Harold and Ryan, standing nearby, lowered their heads and stared intently, as if they had suddenly developed a great interest in the dry bread.

Both of them felt a pang of unease: Why is our boss acting up again! Mentioning his reputation in front of a notorious illegitimate son is like rubbing salt in the wound! What if we anger Young Master Ye Wei'an and end up without a tent tonight?

Harold and Ryan underestimated Yevian's magnanimity.

The so-called bad reputation was the original owner's problem, and had nothing to do with him, the transmigrator.

Ye Wei'an didn't feel any ill will towards Kane, who had low emotional intelligence.

Rather, it's precisely because Knight Kane is this kind of person that he tricked her into participating in an operation where "the mastermind might be her own mistress."

"You mean, my performance isn't like the rumored good-for-nothing illegitimate son who hasn't improved at all in four years of academy, good for neither academics nor martial arts, right?" Ye Wei'an continued, following his words.

Kane then realized he had said something he shouldn't have.

"Uh... this..."

The knight, usually so composed and decisive, was unusually clumsy at this moment. He wanted to explain but didn't know where to begin. In the end, he could only nod awkwardly: "I'm sorry, young master. I misspoke, but I had no intention of offending you. Please forgive me."

"It's nothing. Anyone would be curious if they found out that what they saw with their own eyes didn't match the rumors," Ye Wei'an said, expressing his understanding.

"Thank you... for your forgiveness, young master." Kane breathed a sigh of relief.

"Besides, I can also answer your questions," Ye Wei'an continued, his tone as indifferent as if he were talking about something unrelated to himself: "After all, I am an illegitimate child. In aristocratic circles, I am already considered inferior. Those self-important fellows naturally won't have any nice things to say about me. 'Mediocrity,' 'cowardice,' 'good-for-nothing'... I can probably guess what those words are."

With that, he chuckled nonchalantly, "My esteemed younger brother Lucas in Firefall Keep is the rightful heir. Someone like me should just be a 'useless' figurehead who poses no threat. Isn't that better for everyone?"

After he finished speaking, there was a moment of silence around the campfire.

Harold and Ryan exchanged a glance, both seeing the indignation in each other's eyes.

Unlike knights like Kane, these lower-ranking soldiers loved to gossip about the nobles' private affairs, using it as fodder for idle chatter... about which knight was having an affair with which lady, or which nobleman was at odds with his brother... the more sensational and dramatic the story, the more they enjoyed it.

As their lord's family, they had naturally heard about the affairs of Xia Xing's family.

In the past, people mostly viewed such news with a spectator's mentality, thinking it was just "dogs fighting."

Now that they hear the person involved talk about this matter firsthand, and with such candor, they can't help but empathize with Ye Weian.

Today, Young Master Ye Wei'an demonstrated strength, courage, and compassion for the wounded. How could he be considered "useless"?

On the contrary, it was the "legitimate" heir in the castle...

The two of them lowered their heads simultaneously, chewing the dry bread that had lost its flavor, a certain balance already tipping in their hearts.

Eileen's eyes reddened as she listened, and she couldn't help but blurt out, "Young Master isn't a good-for-nothing! Young Master is the most amazing! Those people... those people are just jealous! Jealous that Young Master is smarter than them, jealous that Young Master is more handsome than them!"

Ellen's childlike protectiveness instantly lightened the somewhat somber atmosphere around the campfire.

Ye Wei'an patted her head: "You're so good with words."

Eileen puffed out her cheeks, wanting to say something, but Ye Weian quickly stuffed a piece of chicken leg meat into her mouth and shut her up, saying, "Eat your meat, don't let it get cold."

"Young Master," Kane suddenly spoke, his tone firm, "I don't understand the complicated rules and calculations among nobles. I only know who led us to defeat the enemy today, who lent a helping hand when our brothers fell, and who is truly worthy of our loyalty."

"That's right!" Harold pounded his chest in agreement.

Raine didn't speak, but nodded vigorously, his eyes equally serious.

"Thank you, you're so kind." Ye Wei'an raised his teacup and drank the hot tea in one gulp.

A camping trip and a frank conversation were enough to win over a seasoned knight and two warriors who expressed their feelings to each other in person. He was very satisfied with this start.

But this incident made it impossible for the casual conversation to continue.

Just as the silver moon was high in the sky and it was almost midnight, Ye Wei'an used magic to refill the pot with hot water, then bid farewell to the three of them and returned to his tent with Ai Lian.

"Thank you, young master." Kane and his companions thanked the two men again as they watched the hot water appear out of nowhere, and then saw them off.

On the way back to the tent, Ye Wei'an vaguely heard Harold and Ryan complaining about their boss's inability to speak.

Back in the tent, Ellen pulled out the folding bathtub and spread it out on the thick carpet.

"Young master, you've been traveling all day. Would you like to take a bath to relax?" she asked, looking up at him with concern. "I've heard that a hot bath is the best way to relieve mental fatigue, and it's especially beneficial for a monk."

"Alright."

Although using a 0-ring spell doesn't require a spell slot, it still puts a considerable strain on one's mental capacity.

After a day of using magic tricks, Ye Wei'an was indeed feeling a bit tired.

"Then I'll get ready!" Eileen's eyes lit up, and she immediately turned around to rummage through the toiletries and clean towels she had brought.

Ye Wei'an then aimed at the bathtub:

"The Four Symbols Method - Water".

A stream of clear water filled most of the bathtub.

Then he extended two fingers and drew a circle on the water's surface, arcane energy condensing into red light at his fingertips.

"A magical trick!"

Within seconds, wisps of white steam rose from the icy water.

Ellen tested the water temperature, a satisfied look on her face, and sprinkled a few drops of the valuable Amr Rose essential oil into the water.

The air inside the tent immediately became warm and sweet.

Then she walked to Ye Wei'an's side, naturally reaching out to help him untie the sash and buttons of his outer robe. Her movements were gentle and practiced, her fingertips occasionally brushing unintentionally against his neck or collarbone.

The moment the underwear slipped off, the air inside the tent seemed to freeze.

That was a body that had been reshaped by the system and possessed 18 points of charm.

Unlike the exaggerated and rough muscles of a warrior, Ye Wei'an's lines are long and powerful, and his skin is so white that it seems to glow.

As he stepped into the tub, the water flowed down the perfect grooves of his spine, every inch of his muscles resembling the painstaking work of a master sculptor.

Eileen knelt by the tub, rolled up her sleeves, and her previously steady breathing suddenly became erratic.

The moment her fingers, holding the silk towel, touched Ye Wei'an's shoulder, she felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

The young master's skin was burning hot, hotter than bathwater. That masculine aura, derived from his high charisma, mixed with the scent of primal arcane magic, rushed straight to Ellen's head.

"...Why aren't you moving? Is something wrong?" Ye Wei'an leaned against the wooden tub, tilting his head slightly back.

Eileen could clearly see the man's sexy Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he spoke.

"N-nothing..." Ellen's voice was barely audible. Her small hands trembled as she foamed at Ye Weian's chest.