The two of them continued to explore the surroundings of Black Snow Mountain. The cold wind blew fiercely, rustling the few remaining dry leaves while their footprints trailed faintly across the snow. Hansen, with his sharp eyes, observed every detail around them, as if searching for something hidden. Serisya, on the other hand, studied the rocks, the formation of trees, even faint carvings that might serve as clues."Do you see anything unusual?" Serisya asked softly as she brushed snowflakes off her sleeve.Hansen shook his head slowly. "Not yet. But… this place is definitely not ordinary. There’s a hidden pattern, it’s just not obvious yet."Serisya bit her lip, hesitating before asking again. "Do you think… my mother’s legacy is really here? Or maybe we’ve taken the wrong path?"Hansen glanced at her, his gaze calm though he concealed the unease within. "I’m certain it’s here. Your mother would have left signs for her heir. Every symbol on that map must point to something. We just

The mysterious figure darted like a black gale, carrying Serisya without giving her the slightest chance to resist. At last, they arrived at an ancient cave, damp and dark. Moss clung to the walls, and a chilling wind seeped through, biting into the skin.Without a word, he threw Serisya onto the flat stone floor.Thud!Her frail body hit hard, forcing a groan from her lips. Slowly, she stirred from unconsciousness. Her hand lifted to rub her heavy eyes, while her head spun violently."What… happened to me? My body… it feels shattered…" she whispered weakly, struggling to sit though her knees trembled beneath her.Her gaze swept the surroundings, realizing she was trapped in darkness lit only by faint light from cracks in the stone. Fear crept into her heart. "How could I end up here? Wasn’t I just with Hansen? Didn’t he defeat them all?"Before she could answer herself, a deep, harsh cough echoed from the shadows of the cave."Hmph."Serisya jolted. She raised her head, eyes widening

Hansen gave no respite. As soon as the two attackers fell, his steps shot forward, like a lightning strike. The Sky Dragon Sword in his hand vibrated even more intensely, its energy condensing until it was almost visible to the naked eye."Sky Dragon Sword Technique, First Form - Slash of a Thousand Deaths!"Hansen's shout echoed, accompanied by a terrifying visual. His sword seemed to multiply, creating thousands of sword shadows that swept across the area in front of him like a destructive storm of metal. Every shadow was an abyss of death, every slash a promise of demise.The remaining opponents, whose numbers were already few, tried to dodge in panic. Their eyes widened, filled with profound fear. They realized a completely different level of power, a chasm they could not hope to bridge. But it was all too late. The speed of Hansen's attack far surpassed their reaction capabilities. Short screams and the sounds of severed bodies were heard before everything fell silent again. No o

Serisya walked beside Hansen while holding his hand tightly, as if she had no intention of letting go of the man who had accompanied her through so much.Her fingers gripped his hand firmly, yet they felt warm.As they began walking toward the city gate along with the flow of people, Serisya’s body stayed a little closer to him than usual.Hansen suddenly felt something soft pressing against his arm.Soft.Warm.He glanced to the side from the corner of his eye.Serisya walked calmly as if nothing was happening… yet her full chest was clearly pressed against Hansen’s arm due to how close they were.A faint smile appeared on Hansen’s face.“Serisya,” he said softly.The woman turned slightly. “Hm?”Hansen whispered in a relaxed yet teasing tone, “If you keep walking like this… other people might misunderstand.”Serisya looked at him for a few seconds without releasing his hand.“What would they misunderstand?” she asked flatly.Hansen let out a small chuckle.“That we’re a couple.”Ser

The atmosphere inside the tavern gradually returned to normal. Hansen and Serisya enjoyed their meal leisurely, as if the earlier incident had never happened. The aroma of roasted meat filled the air, while the chatter of the guests grew lively once more. Serisya occasionally glanced toward the door and windows. Her eyes were alert. Noticing this, Hansen simply smiled faintly. “No need to worry,” he said while pouring tea into his cup. “People like that just want to extort us.” Serisya turned to him. “Extort?” Hansen nodded casually. “We’re outsiders. Our auras aren’t weak either. In the eyes of people like him… we look like easy prey.” He took a sip of his tea. “This kind of thing happens everywhere.” Serisya fell silent for a moment, then nodded slowly. As a princess, she rarely faced situations like this directly. “So… we just stay quiet?” she asked. Hansen smiled faintly. “If we’re in the right… then we simply stand our ground.” His tone was light,