On the surface, Bai Xuan remained as calm as ever, but he could not help the shock welling up in his heart.
One hundred gold coins was no small sum. He had originally thought the Starlight Wood was the entirety of the reward and that the gold coins were just a token gesture.
He never expected to receive so much.
He could not help but recall how he had risked his life on the seventh floor of the dungeon just to scrape together those forty gold coins, nearly dying in the process.
Later, he had taken on the White family's mining commission, working himself to the bone just to earn a dozen or so gold coins.
After that, he had sold off the rings and jewelry he obtained, scraping together whatever he could to pay off a portion of his debt to Mora.
As for the remaining thirty gold coins, he had been granted quite a bit of extra time to pay them back slowly.
Yet now, simply by playing the charlatan once, one hundred gold coins had easily fallen into his lap.
Bai Xuan knew very well that Edmund was trying to win him over; otherwise, he would never have offered such a handsome reward.
Jesse moved efficiently, returning quickly with the money and handing over a heavy pouch.
“You may count it, sir, to see if the amount is correct.”
Bai Xuan took the pouch and gave it a light toss. Without opening it to count, he stored it directly into his Space Ring.
“No need. I trust Steward Jesse would never play tricks over such a minor matter.”
Hearing this, Edmund could not help but burst into laughter.
“These hundred gold coins are the reward for saving my daughter,” Edmund said slowly. “Consider it a deposit for the interception plan as well. Once the matter is resolved, regardless of the final outcome, I will pay you another hundred gold coins.”
Suppressing another surge of emotion in his heart, Bai Xuan nodded slowly and uttered just two words: “Very well.”
After some small talk, the three sat in the parlor and went over all the currently known information once more.
Since the route of the slave caravan was still unconfirmed, they could only dispatch more men to scout in different directions without a moment's negligence.
Edmund immediately instructed Jesse to arrange for men to head toward the Glay Forest and the dungeon area as soon as possible to contact their informants there, stressing that they must determine the caravan's movements.
By the time they finished their discussion, the sky outside had already grown dark.
Lights were lit in the parlor, filling the room with a warm yellow glow that cast long, stretched shadows of the three men.
Edmund stood up, gently stretching his stiff shoulders, his tone softening a bit.
“It is getting late. You have traveled all this way and spent so much time helping us, sir. You must be hungry. Why don't you stay and join us for dinner?”
Bai Xuan nodded. He was indeed hungry; from the time he treated the refugees until now, he had only had a few cups of tea, and his stomach was already empty.
“I will go check on my daughter,” Edmund said to the two of them, before instructing Jesse, “Take the gentleman to the dining room to wait first.”
Jesse bowed respectfully and led Bai Xuan out.
On the way, Bai Xuan asked about the arrangements for Angela and her aunt.
“Rest assured, sir, they have been properly settled,” Jesse answered warmly. “They are staying in the servants' quarters. I will have them join us in the dining room for dinner shortly.”
Bai Xuan's heart stirred slightly. Inviting commoners to a noble's dining table was clearly done out of respect for him.
He did not say much, merely nodding slightly and keeping this gesture of goodwill in mind.
The dining room was even more spacious than the parlor. A long dining table stretched from one end of the room to the other, covered in a snow-white tablecloth, with unlit candles set in exquisite silver candelabras.
Bai Xuan glanced around, thinking to himself that this was indeed the style of nobility, emphasizing luxury.
Jesse guided him to a guest seat and stood respectfully to the side.
“This time, the master specifically instructed the kitchen to prepare a special dish for you, sir,” Jesse said, his tone respectful yet measured. “This dish is not commonly made; it is only specially prepared when hosting honored guests.”
Bai Xuan naturally caught the deeper meaning behind these words; this was the White family's way of showing how highly they valued him.
He nodded slightly and said calmly, “The master is very thoughtful.”
Just then, the door was gently pushed open. Bai Xuan set down his cup and turned to look.
Edmund walked in first, with Julia affectionately holding his arm as they entered side by side.
Julia had changed into a clean, light blue gown, her hair neatly combed and draped over her shoulders.
She entered with her back straight and her chin slightly raised, looking like a completely different person from the girl who had been shivering in the corner of the bed just moments ago.
Angela followed behind them, and Bai Xuan barely recognized her.
She had also changed into clean clothes—a grayish-white cotton dress that had clearly been altered. The waist was a bit too loose, and the sleeves were slightly long, which she had casually rolled up twice.
With the dirt washed off her face, her naturally fine features were revealed.
Her hair was hastily tied up. Though a bit messy with a few loose strands hanging by her ears, she looked worlds apart from her mud-caked appearance this afternoon.
However, she was far too thin. Her cheekbones protruded sharply, her chin was pointed, and her neck was so slender it looked as if it might snap at the slightest touch.
The cotton dress hung loosely on her frame, looking as though a gust of wind could blow her away.
As she entered, she seemed completely at a loss. Her hands clutched her skirt tightly before letting go. She wanted to put her hands behind her back but felt too awkward, so she ultimately let them hang stiffly at her sides like two straight wooden posts.
Her aunt followed closely behind. Although she had also changed into clean clothes, her expression was even more uneasy than Angela's.
She kept her head lowered, staring intently at the floor, not even daring to look up.
Bai Xuan stood up and nodded slightly to Edmund. His gaze swept over Julia as he said softly, “The young lady looks much better.”
Edmund laughed heartily, reaching out to pat the hand Julia had wrapped around his arm, his voice filled with relief.
“She is still my daughter, but now, she has grown up.”
Julia offered a gentle smile, one that held a touch of composure.
But when she looked at Bai Xuan, her poised demeanor as a noble lady cracked, her eyes sparkling with a hint of childish adoration.
“It is all thanks to you, sir,” she said softly, before turning to Edmund with a slightly coquettish tone. “Father must not treat the gentleman poorly.”
“Yes, yes, of course,” Edmund agreed with a chuckle, his tone doting. “I certainly won't treat him poorly.”
With that, he walked to the head of the table and sat down, while Julia took her seat to his left.
Meanwhile, Angela and her aunt remained standing at the doorway, as if rooted to the spot.
They had never imagined that they would one day sit at the same table as nobles, let alone have the right to take a seat.
Sensing their awkwardness, Edmund pointed to the chairs opposite them, his tone gentle yet carrying an undeniable authority.
“Sit down. Since you are here, you are guests, and guests naturally have the right to sit.”
Angela instinctively looked at Bai Xuan. Seeing him nod slightly with a warm smile, she finally gathered her courage and walked over carefully.
However, she only dared to sit on the very edge of the chair, her feet pressed tightly together, not daring to stretch them out, and her hands clenched into fists on her knees, her entire body stiff with tension.
She stole a glance at Edmund and Julia. Seeing their friendly expressions, the anxiety in her heart eased slightly.
Yet her aunt still stood in place, not daring to move an inch.
Edmund glanced at her. His tone was not harsh, but it carried the authority of the head of the household.
“If you do not sit, you are showing disrespect to me.”
The aunt's face turned pale. She quickly complied and sat down, her body as stiff as a board. She even slowed her breathing, terrified of disturbing anyone present.
Just then, Jesse clapped his hands lightly from the side, and several maids entered in a single file carrying exquisite plates, placing the dishes on the table one by one.
Most of the dishes on the table were things Bai Xuan could not name, but each was exquisitely prepared and smelled delicious.
Standing to the side, Jesse softly introduced the names and origins of the dishes to everyone.
When he spoke of the pristine white fruit in the center, his tone grew a bit more solemn. “This is the Shatterflower Fruit, a natural shedding from the Shatterflower Beast. It can be obtained without hunting,” Jesse explained. “It has a sweet, clean taste and offers minor benefits to the body upon consumption. While not a miraculous cure, it is still a rare delicacy.”
Bai Xuan quietly swept his mental power over the plate of fruit, and a status panel notification immediately popped up before his eyes:
【Shatterflower Fruit: A natural shedding of the Shatterflower Beast. It has a sweet, dense taste. Consuming it slightly increases constitution.】
His eyes flickered slightly. It actually increases constitution? This fruit is quite decent.
Bai Xuan's gaze slowly swept across the tableware on the table, suddenly pausing next to the head seat.
There was an empty seat there, fully set with a plate, wine glass, and utensils, clearly reserved for someone.
“Are we not waiting for the lady of the house to join us?” he asked casually.
The moment the words left his lips, Jesse paused, and Edmund's hand holding his wine glass froze slightly.
Bai Xuan's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly realized he might have asked something he shouldn't have.
Jesse bowed slightly, his voice dropping a bit lower than before as he explained respectfully, “You might not be aware, sir, but the mistress returned to the embrace of the Goddess many years ago.” After a brief pause, he added, “The master was deeply devoted to her and has never remarried all these years.”
Bai Xuan looked at Edmund and saw that the smile on his face had faded slightly. He showed no anger, but his expression was tinged with a hint of melancholy.
“Forgive my intrusion,” Bai Xuan said with a slight nod, his tone carrying an apology.
Edmund waved his hand and said calmly, “No matter. It is only natural that you didn't know, sir. Since we will be working together in the future, there is no need to hide such things.”
He set down his wine glass, his gaze resting on the tablecloth, his eyes growing distant as if piercing through the present to look back into the far-off past.
“Many years have passed,” he said softly. “She only left me with Julia. I have always doted on her, which ended up spoiling her instead.”
With that, he looked at Julia, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly with relief. “But now, thanks to your treatment, sir, she has finally grown up.”
Hearing this, Bai Xuan thought to himself that Edmund was clearly steering the conversation back to him again.
It seemed he was absolutely determined to win him over, trying to leave a good impression at every turn.
He raised his glass and said slowly, “The young lady's transformation today is entirely due to her own realization. There is no need to thank me, Lord White.”
Edmund smiled and did not press the topic further, picking up his fork and gesturing to everyone.
“Let us eat.”
He first served a piece of food to Julia, then turned to welcome Angela and her aunt.
“Please, help yourselves. Enjoy the meal.”
Angela stole another glance at Bai Xuan. Seeing that he had already started eating, she carefully picked up her fork, took a small bite of food, and put it in her mouth.
After chewing a couple of times, her eyes suddenly widened, her face filled with utter disbelief.
She looked down at the food on her plate, then up at the delicacies on the table. Her lips parted, but in the end, she could not utter a single word.
Her aunt sat to the side, not daring to pick up her fork for the longest time. It was only when Edmund urged them again that she tremblingly picked up her utensils, her movements so stiff they were almost clumsy.
Bai Xuan picked up a Shatterflower Fruit and put it in his mouth. The sweet flavor dissolved on his tongue, its dense texture feeling like chewing on a cloud.
In the next second, a warm current slowly spread from his stomach, and another notification popped up on his panel:
【Maximum Health Increased! 1100/1100 → 1105/1105】
Hmm? He calmly popped another one into his mouth, only to find that it had no further effect.
Edmund noticed this and said with a smile, “If you like them, sir, feel free to take a few with you when you leave.”
Bai Xuan did not stand on ceremony and nodded slightly.
“Then I shall thank you, Lord White.”
Opposite him, Angela kept her head low as she slowly chewed her food. Although she was trying her best to eat as quietly as possible, she was still eating faster than the others.
She had never even seen such delicious food before, so she naturally found it hard to slow down.
Seeing her fork pause in front of a plate of meat before pulling back to reach for the vegetables instead, Bai Xuan spoke up softly, “Eat the meat.”
Angela froze, then looked up at him, her face filled with bewilderment.
Bai Xuan gestured toward the plate of meat with his chin, his tone remaining flat. “Eat that.”
Angela stole a quick glance at Edmund. Seeing that he was talking softly with Julia and not paying attention, she hastily grabbed a piece of meat and stuffed it into her mouth.
After chewing a couple of times, her eyes instantly went wide.
Edmund set down his spoon, his gaze lingering on Angela for a few seconds before slowly turning to Bai Xuan.
“I have heard about this child's situation,” Edmund began. “Do you intend to train her to be an adventurer, Mr. Bai?”
Bai Xuan set down his cup and answered slowly.
“Yes and no. She wants to become stronger to avenge her family; I am merely lending a hand.” He paused, his tone growing more firm. “Furthermore, this child possesses remarkable talent. She is indeed worth training.”
Edmund nodded slightly. “Since you think so highly of her, sir, it means this little warrior must have something unique about her.”
Bai Xuan continued, “I cannot train her well on my own, so leaving her here is actually more appropriate. The things I must do next are too dangerous; it would be unsafe for her to remain by my side.”
Of course, once she truly grows up, whether she still wishes to follow me will be a matter for the future.
Bai Xuan added silently in his heart.
Edmund nodded, casting another meaningful look at Angela as his tone gradually grew serious.
“Once you step onto this path, you step over the threshold of danger. Even daily training can lead to accidents.” He looked at Angela and asked solemnly, “Have you thought this through?”
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