Chapter 331:

The village before them was merely a microcosm of the world. Yet, as the Netherworld crept closer, there would come a day when the entire world would resemble this scene—civilization lost, the living no more, and only wandering spirits roaming the silent, lifeless earth.

“Master Sorcerer,” Sylvia murmured from beneath her hood. “If I ever get the chance to meet the culprit behind all of this, I want to cut them down with my own sword.”

Xu Xi replied, “When that time comes, strike one on my behalf as well.”

To better observe the land, Xu Xi decided to settle near the edge of the mountaintop. As he took another step forward, the thick soles of his boots crunched against the broken stones beneath him. The rhythmic sound of his footsteps echoed in the desolate village, with Sylvia closely following beside him, fulfilling her duty as a guardian knight.

The yellow wind howled through the gaps of the ruined buildings. It carried away the thatched roofs. It knocked loose the bricks.

In the desolate and bleak village, only Xu Xi and Sylvia’s footsteps resonated in the silence. The dry soil was barren, with hardly any weeds, as if this place had been utterly forgotten by the world. And this—this was already in a world where the sun had returned to normal. Had it been the era of the Black Sun, the scene atop the mountain would have been even more terrifying.

Yet, in such an environment, Xu Xi and Sylvia encountered someone unexpected—two frail, elderly farmers, their life force barely perceptible. Their expressions shifted from initial shock and confusion to sheer terror. Instinctively, they tried to kneel.

Xu Xi reacted in time, using the Hand of the Sorcerer to support the two elders and prevent them from falling to their knees.

“How could this be? Survivors here?”

[You, along with the undead girl, land atop the peak of an unnamed mountain, preparing to wait out the world’s changes—to remain unchanged amidst the shifting tides.]

[In your heart, you quietly plan how to increase your strength and research the girl’s body.]

[The crisp sound of your footsteps echoes through the abandoned village.]

[You never expected—]

[That in such a ruined village, there would still be living humans. And not just any humans, but two elderly survivors.]

[Farmer Hansen. Farmer’s wife Mena.]

[Once subjects of the Toregu Barony.]

[The nameless mountain before you was once part of the baron’s territory.]

[Back then, the baron ruled over the mountain and the lands beneath it, levying taxes. But as the tide of undead grew overwhelming, the baron perished decades ago.]

[The villagers either fled or barely clung to life atop the mountain.]

[Now, only the trembling old farmer and his wife remain before you, dressed in tattered linen garments, their eyes full of fear and uncertainty, repeatedly addressing you as “My Lord” and “Master.”]

“You don’t have to do this. I’m neither a noble nor a lord.”

“I’m just a sorcerer passing through.”

The elders were far too humble in their demeanor. Xu Xi remained indifferent. He explained that there was no need for excessive formality, urging them to speak as they normally would.

And so, their form of address changed.

“Master Sorcerer!!”

Xu Xi: ?

Left with no choice, Xu Xi could only reassure them again and again, trying to calm the two frightened elders. He assured them that he was not here to collect taxes or take anything from them. With Sylvia’s help in persuading them, they finally began to relax. Though still somewhat reserved, Hansen and Mena now believed that Xu Xi was a kind sorcerer and that Sylvia was a noble lady of good character.

They would not harm them. From experience, they knew that ill-tempered nobles—such as the former Baron Toregu—would have already drawn their whips and lashed out violently instead of patiently explaining anything.

“Master Sorcerer, may I ask… why have you come here?”

Farmer Hansen’s hair had already turned white at the temples, and his voice trembled slightly as he mustered the courage to ask Xu Xi. Cautiously, he expressed his willingness to serve in any way he could—so long as it did not involve his wife, Mena.

“You don’t need to worry.”

Xu Xi looked at the two elders’ weathered faces, then at the desolate surroundings. This scene reminded him of the people from Green Ox Town during his third simulation. Softly, he reassured them, “I simply wish to stay on the mountain for a while.”

“You don’t need to concern yourselves with me. Just continue living as you always have.”

“If you insist on helping…”

“I do have a few questions for you.”

The world was ruined. The mountaintop was barren. The once-thriving land was now nothing but an empty husk. Xu Xi was curious—how had these two elderly survivors managed to evade the undead and survive in this village for so long?

Upon hearing the question, Hansen and Mena exchanged glances. Their faces, rough and wrinkled from years of hardship, bore the deep marks of time. They hesitated, unable to understand why such an important figure would ask them about this. Nevertheless, they answered honestly.

Halfway up the mountain, there was a natural spring. It was their only source of water. Using this spring, they managed to grow a few meager crops, just enough to sustain themselves. And because the mountain path was treacherous, filled with rocks blocking the way, the mindless undead often stumbled and fell from the cliffs. By doing nothing, the elderly couple had gained a natural sanctuary.

But loneliness was inevitable. So was fear.

Everyone who had stayed in the village had either left or perished. Only Hansen and Mena remained.

There were times when they considered ending their own lives. But in the end, they chose not to.

Because they realized—they were already at the end of their lifespan.

A strange feeling came over them. Knowing that their time was running out, they no longer feared the darkness.

Hansen and Mena made a promise to one another. To live out their final days in peace. To wait for death to come in their world of solitude.

As they spoke of this, the two old, weathered faces—marked by time and hardship—showed brief smiles.

“I see…”

Xu Xi slowly rose to his feet. He never expected that, in the nameless mountain he had randomly chosen, he would come across such a story. It was small. Not grand or heroic. Yet, in the current world of sorcerers, Xu Xi believed there were few who could be as content and fulfilled as these two elderly people.

They lived in a world shrouded in darkness. And yet, they walked a path of light.

With his curiosity now satisfied, Xu Xi gazed at their timeworn faces and bid them farewell.

“Thank you for sharing your story. I wish you happiness.”

“Sylvia, let’s go.”

As they continued toward the mountaintop’s edge, Sylvia’s mood was unusually bright. Her emerald-green eyes sparkled like jewels, replacing the scars on her face with an expression brimming with emotion.

“Master Sorcerer.”

“Grandpa Hansen and Grandma Mena’s story is truly moving!”

Though she had matured greatly over the years, at this moment, the seasoned warrior seemed like a young girl again, endlessly praising the love and resilience of Hansen and Mena.

“Yeah, it really is touching,” Xu Xi said with a smile.

He understood Sylvia’s happiness. The world of sorcerers had become too dark and oppressive—filled only with killing and survival. To witness the existence of people like Hansen and Mena was, indeed, something worth cherishing.