The Strongest Talent Tree

After crossing a few deserted streets, they finally found an open hotel.

But unlike hotels in other cities, this one had almost no staff. Only a middle-aged couple sat by the counter, idly passing the time.

"Excuse me, are you open for guests?" Mei Meimei stepped forward first and asked.

The middle-aged couple started, scrambling to their feet. Their eyes were filled with confusion and fear. "You... you’re not from around here?"

"Please, don’t be alarmed," Feng Hao said with a disarming smile. "We’re from Mu Country, just passing through. We were hoping to stay for the night."

Seeing how polite Feng Hao was, the couple couldn’t help but relax. The woman managed a smile. "Please, have a seat, honored guests. The inn isn’t in the best shape, so please don’t mind its state."

"It’s no problem. As long as there’s a roof over our heads, we’re fine," Feng Hao said casually. "By the way, sir, why are all the town’s residents hiding in their homes? And why isn’t there a single Mage stationed here to guard the town? Don’t the War and Magic Alliance Countries manage this area?"

At his words, the couple exchanged a look, then shook their heads with bitter smiles. "You two wouldn’t know. Our Yuanfu Town is in a remote location, so we never had many Mages stationed here to begin with. And while this place has produced its share of Mages, most of them move away to the big cities."

"So there *are* Mages stationed here? I didn’t sense any," Mei Meimei said, surprised.

The owner’s smile turned bleak. "There used to be a few Mages on guard. But a little over a year ago, a group of powerful Mages came to town. They slaughtered every last one of our guardian Mages and built a temple on Qi Lang Slope, about three miles from here. Every so often, they come to the nearby villages and towns to abduct young men and women. After more than a year of this, the town has become... what you see now."

"What?" Feng Hao frowned, stunned. "Something this major is happening, and the War and Magic Alliance Countries are doing nothing about it?"

"There’s nothing to be done. There are no Origin Nodes for hundreds of miles around here. With all the Mages slaughtered, it’s almost impossible to get a message out. Besides, those demons from the temple have blocked off all the roads. We common folk have no way of leaving," the owner sighed, his voice cracking.

"That’s outrageous! Those people are utterly vicious!" Mei Meimei seethed, filled with righteous anger.

The owner’s wife gave a helpless, bitter smile. "You two look so young. I suggest you rest for a short while and then leave this place as quickly as you can. If that gang of demons from the temple finds you, you’ll never get away."

"Don’t you worry, ma’am. My little brother and I are plenty strong," Mei Meimei said nonchalantly.

Feng Hao shot her an exasperated look before turning back to the couple. "Do you two have any idea where this temple came from?"

"We don’t," the couple said, shaking their heads.

"I see." Feng Hao nodded pensively. He continued, "Right, you said the temple abducts young men and women periodically. Where do they take them?"

The couple shook their heads, their smiles bitter. "How would we know? All we know is that we’ve heard nothing from any of those young men and women since. It’s likely they’ve met a grim fate."

"Strange. Why would they be capturing ordinary people?" Feng Hao wondered aloud.

Mei Meimei looked just as confused, then slammed her hand on the table in frustration. "Who cares why! Let’s just go over there and beat it out of them, then we’ll know! Hmph! If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s scum like this who prey on ordinary people!"

"You can’t! You mustn’t!" the owner warned frantically. "That gang of demons is numerous and powerful! Their strength is terrifying! Even the two Fourth-rank Mages we had in town were no match for them!"

The wife added, "If you two honored guests could just relay what’s happening here to the War and Magic Alliance, that would be enough."

"Don’t you worry. We’re not ordinary people. We can handle a bunch of scum," Mei Meimei said, brimming with confidence. "Xiaowu, you up for going with your big sis to pay that trash a visit?"

"That’s exactly what I was thinking," Feng Hao agreed with a slight smile.

The couple exchanged a look, their faces fraught with terror. "Please, don’t act rashly!"

"Thank you for your kind concern," Feng Hao said with a faint smile, his lips pursed. "By the way, which direction is Qi Lang Slope?"

"It’s... just to the southeast of town," the owner said, hesitating.

"Alright then. You two just wait for our good news," Mei Meimei said, patting the armor on her body before grabbing Feng Hao and pulling him out of the inn.

Then, before the couple’s astonished and disbelieving eyes, the Magic Energy Flying Vehicle shot off to the southeast with a WHOOSH.

Inside the vehicle, Feng Hao looked a bit puzzled. "Fourth Sister, you seem unusually invested in this."

"Of course! Your big sister is a famous righteous thief, you know. I can’t stand to see Mages preying on ordinary people," Mei Meimei laughed nonchalantly, but a flicker of inexplicable sorrow crossed her eyes.

Feng Hao’s senses were sharp, and he naturally picked up on her strange mood. He couldn’t help but ask cautiously, "Fourth Sister, is something bothering you?"

Mei Meimei suddenly glanced at Feng Hao, her expression surprisingly serene.

After a long silence, she spoke in a quiet voice. "It’s nothing, really. When I was a little girl, I lived in a small village in the Celestial Cyan Country. Later, the entire village was massacred by a depraved Mage... all because he lost some trinket while passing through. It’s laughable when you think about it."

"I was off playing outside the village at the time. When I went back, bodies were strewn everywhere. That bastard was still there. When he saw me, he was about to kill me to silence the last witness. Luckily, the Thief Master happened to be passing by. He saved me... and he let me kill that monster with my own hands."

"So, that’s more or less what happened. In short, the Thief Master is my savior, and my family," Mei Meimei said, secretly wiping a tear from the corner of her eye before forcing a wistful smile. "And of course, there’s you, and the boss, and the others."

Feng Hao nodded in understanding, his heart feeling incredibly heavy. He never would have imagined that the perpetually carefree Mei Meimei was hiding such a tragic past.

For a moment, Feng Hao was at a complete loss for words.

"Let’s go. We’ll wipe them out, leave no one standing!" Feng Hao said, his eyes firm.

Sometimes, a seemingly unrelated phrase can be more comforting than any words of solace.

Mei Meimei gave Feng Hao a deep look, and in an instant, she seemed to snap back to her usual self. A wide grin spread across her face as she laughed. "Xiaowu’s right! Let’s wipe them out first and ask questions later!"

Three miles was a journey of only a few minutes for the flying vehicle, but since they didn’t know the exact location, they were delayed for a while.

Despite the delay, they still found the Qi Lang Slope the couple had mentioned after a dozen or so minutes.

"This must be the place." Stepping out of the flying vehicle, Mei Meimei gazed at a strangely shaped little temple on the slope. "This temple is a little too small, isn’t it?" she asked, a hint of doubt in her voice.

"It is a bit small," Feng Hao agreed, his brow furrowed in thought. "The temple is probably just a front. There’s likely an Earth Palace underneath."

"Could be. Let’s sneak in and check it out first," Mei Meimei mused with a nod. A blurry shimmer of light enveloped the armor on her body, and then she slowly vanished from Feng Hao’s sight.

Feng Hao activated [Shadow Sneak] as well and began to carefully creep toward the temple.