"You and your friends have been trying to kill me for months now, after all."

The words were spoken quietly, but Lin Fang realized that they might not be ex-couple, but there must be something else between them, as this stranger used the words, friends, and not simply you or your people…

As if confirming the bad blood between them, Vivian leaned forward, her voice low and venomous. "And I will kill you if I get the opportunity. Someone like you shouldn't exist in this world."

Alexander chuckled at that too, as if he didn't take her words seriously. "That righteous tone again… always so noble, so predictable. It doesn't suit a hybrid like you."

As Vivian stiffened at those words, Alex looked past her, his gaze landing on Lin Fang.

For the first time, Lin Fang met his eyes directly, and he instantly felt something. He could see a kind of calm dominance that stripped away any illusion of equality between them. He knew that the other party was strong, but when they met eyes, Lin Fang felt as if the other party was a superior being."

Alex's smirk softened into something almost playful. "That mask of yours is quite cute," he said lightly. "But it doesn't really suit someone who's bonded to a Spirit King, does it?"

Lin Fang's entire body went rigid.

A faint hiss escaped Vivian's lips as she turned toward him, eyes wide. "Why don't you get…"

Alex raised a hand casually, cutting her off. "I'm not talking to you, Vivian."

He sighed, almost theatrically as he gazed at Lin Fang, looking into his eyes. "Unfortunately, though, you've already hit your cap, and at the current stage, you'll never be able to draw out the full potential of that Spirit King. Here…"

He took out his business card and slid it across the table, toward Lin Fang, "But someone like you is worth keeping. If you are ever looking for a job, a place where you can be protected and also the place where you can unleash your talents to your best, you can contact me."

His tone then shifted slightly—colder, almost like a warning whispered from a god to a mortal. "But if you are not, you should remember this, mister. There are techniques and artifacts out there that can sever your bond with the Spirit King… and even capture it. So be careful when offending the whales."

And with that, he straightened up again, his smile back in place.

"See you around, Vivian," he said casually as he turned to leave.

Vivian's eyes blazed as she clenched her fists beneath the table, her knuckles turning white. "Get lost."

Lin Fang, meanwhile, didn't move.

He sat frozen, his heart hammering in his chest—not from fear, but from shock. That man had seen through his bond with Alpha.

"He saw through… that?" Lin Fang thought, forcing his breathing to stay steady.

Then a soft, calm voice echoed in his head. "Remember this, Lin Fang," Alpha spoke gravely. "Never offend that man. And it is also best if you don't get in contact with him."

"Yeah, I can see that," Lin Fang replied inwardly, but slowly slipped the business card into his pocket.

He exhaled softly, leaning back in his chair as Alex and his men took their seats across the hall. "I know… my reserves were never high."

His words weren't filled with self-pity, but with a quiet, heavy determination. Inside his mind, Alpha hummed lightly, sensing his thoughts ripple through their bond.

Lin Fang continued, speaking inwardly, "But lately, because of your divine blessing, I was starting to feel… confident. Too confident, maybe. Until now, I only cared about facing monsters—strong ones, higher ranks. That's what I thought power meant. But seeing these people… these humans with mana reserves in hundreds of millions, and this guy even in billions…"

He clenched his fists under the table, feeling the fabric tighten around his knuckles. "It's truly an eye-opener. I have to work harder. Much harder."

A pause followed. Then he added quietly, "I need to start seeking out dungeons again—stellar rifts, open fields, wherever I can find them. If I can kill enough monsters and gather more spirits, maybe I can finally pay off my system's debt."

Something clicked in his mind at that thought, and he suddenly asked, "By the way, Alpha… you're not against me killing monsters, right?"

The spirit's tone turned curious. "Hmm? Why would I be?"

Lin Fang's eyes narrowed beneath the mask.

"You know everything about the system and the quests I get. The next step needs me to absorb more spirits—to awaken a second guardian spirit. One that, I assume, will be chosen by the system itself."

For a moment, Alpha was silent, as if pondering carefully before answering.

When the reply came, it carried a tone of calm wisdom. "I'm not against killing monsters, Lin Fang. Nor against absorbing their spirits."

"But you expelled me from Spirit..."

"I was against where you were planning to take those spirits from," Alpha interrupted gently.

Lin Fang blinked.

Alpha's voice softened, almost melancholic. "The Spirit Valley is a sanctuary—one for those poor, lost spirits. Many of them were once companions to summoners like you. They lived, fought, and died with their masters. Their essence lingers there not because they're wild or corrupted, but because they're still bound to the emotions of their past. To take them away would be no different than desecrating a grave."

Lin Fang stayed silent for a while, letting that sink in.

Then Alpha added firmly, "Your duty as a Guardian isn't to consume such spirits. It's to protect them."

A faint smile formed on Lin Fang's lips beneath the mask. "I see… So that's what you meant."

He leaned back slightly, his eyes glinting through the mask's slits. "So, as long as I don't touch the spirits in the Valley, you're fine with me hunting monsters in the wilds and absorbing their spirits?"

"Yes," Alpha replied. "And if they're corrupted or untamed, you'll be even helping the world."

Lin Fang chuckled quietly under his breath. "Good. Then we're on the same page."

He lifted his gaze toward the massive chandelier above, light flickering like stars caught in glass.

Next chapter will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.