Inside the temple, beneath the Statue of the God of Rock and Protection.
"You are a true divine artisan! We have no idea how to properly thank you!"
Grand Lord Algom came forward with genuine excitement and took Lanqi's hands into his own.
"How on earth did you manage to restore the missing divine script, and even bestow an entirely new magical effect upon it?"
Algom was thoroughly bewildered. He had consulted scholars of numerous races in the past, yet not one had told him that these divine inscriptions could ever be mended.
"Some artisans excel in painting, some in sculpting, and others prefer scholarly study. If one understands ancient relics just a bit, one might still manage to piece them together," Lanqi explained modestly.
"Then what are you best at?"
Grand Lord Algom glanced back at the Statue of the God of Rock and Protection, unable to fathom what kind of artisan Lanqi actually was.
"I know a little bit of everything," Lanqi replied with a smile.
"Haha, as expected of you!" Grand Lord Algom said, thoroughly convinced.
Applause and cheers from the bear-folk echoed throughout the entire temple. Amid this celebratory atmosphere, Grand Lord Algom repeatedly offered his most sincere gratitude to Lanqi.
He ordered the temple guards and priests to temporarily clear and attend to the crowd, keeping company with this imperial artisan to converse with him in private.
"Mr. Luoqi, the skill and dedication you displayed today have deeply moved us all. You have not only restored our sacred statue, but you have also restored our trust in human artisans. I will personally write letters to the other grand lords, asking them to extend the utmost hospitality to you."
Grand Lord Algom's voice was low yet resonant, his gaze brimming with reverence.
"What you did just now was not merely art, but a sacred contribution. We are profoundly grateful, Mr. Luoqi. Please remember that whenever and wherever you need help, we will support you without hesitation."
He added this as though he felt even such basic assistance could never repay the debt.
An artisan of this caliber willing to travel and assist with repairs for a negligible reward could only be acting out of pure goodwill.
"There is no need to make it so heavy, Lord Algom. I simply want to be friends with you all, so do not feel pressured. Even without payment, and no matter how perilous it might have been, I would have done my absolute best on this journey through the Land of Eternal Night to repair your statue. If you ever have any other relics related to the God of Rock and Protection that require maintenance, you may send someone to Hersalem to find me anytime, or reach out to Empress Khesia."
Lanqi waved his hand with a breezy smile, looking Algom in the eyes.
"...Is that so?"
Grand Lord Algom held Lanqi's gaze for a long time before smiling faintly in relief.
He had never seen eyes so clear.
He was willing to believe that this artisan harbored no ulterior motives whatsoever, and that all of this stemmed purely from his sense of responsibility.
"Do you not find it troublesome? After all, as far as I can tell, you do not necessarily believe in the gods," Grand Lord Algom remarked as he walked beside Lanqi.
He had led Lanqi away from the clamor along the inner corridor of the temple, strolling and chatting idly.
At this moment, his curiosity about this human master artisan was piqued.
He had met many humans whose springs of the soul surged ceaselessly—vast and radiant, able to carry out their wills without relying on any faith. Yet the feeling this human gave him was especially intense.
"No, not at all."
Lanqi shook his head and waved his hand.
After a moment's thought, a gentle smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.
"Thoughts that surface in the mind are like a lover standing right before your eyes. I deeply admire your spirit. You revere the gods, protect your land, and discipline yourselves. In this world, possessing such admirable faith is truly worthy of heartfelt praise," Lanqi answered.
He then humbly shared his thoughts and experience with statue maintenance, discussing with Algom his own interpretation of the Chapter of Rock and Protection from the Tome of Creation. His words revealed a deep love of craftsmanship and respect for cultural diversity, and he offered suggestions on how Algom's subordinates might clean and maintain the statue on a regular basis.
Grand Lord Algom listened with rapt attention, nodding in agreement from time to time, becoming thoroughly engrossed before he even realized it.
The sky gradually paled, and the temple in Little Stone City looked all the purer in the morning light.
"Lord Algom, I must head to the next city-state. We will surely have many opportunities to meet again in the future, if you are willing."
The time for departure had arrived. Lanqi checked the clock and apologized for cutting the warm hospitality short.
"Of course. I look forward to our next meeting."
Grand Lord Algom gripped Lanqi's hand tightly, reluctant to see him go as he wished him a safe journey ahead, presenting him with a commemorative badge of friendship.
Shortly after parting ways, Lanqi exited the temple along a discreet secondary passage.
At the end of the corridor, he paused to change his attire.
Taking off his artisan work clothes, he packed them into his suitcase and changed back into his Protos Empire-style formal suit.
Emerging from the temple, Lanqi looked up at the sky and saw the dawn breaking over the horizon.
The air was infused with the scent of a new day, mingled with the distinctive crisp chill of Little Stone City.
Lanqi drew a deep breath, savoring the breath of this land.
"Wait, I remember Xigelei left midway through."
He scanned the temple entrance, but Xigelei was nowhere to be seen.
Walking alone across the stone plaza past the neatly arranged stalls, Lanqi looked around and finally spotted Xigelei in a corner outside the temple.
She was sitting beneath a protruding stone pillar, surrounded by several young orc ruffians.
They were playing cards together, with a few paper notes lying on the ground, the atmosphere appearing quite relaxed and merry.
With an intent expression on her face, Xigelei sat on the dirt, placing bets with the band of loafers.
Judging from the notes in her hand, she seemed to have won a bit of pocket money just now.
Very likely, the bet they had placed earlier was on whether Lanqi could successfully complete the restoration.
Lanqi walked over slowly and stood beside Xigelei.
He did not rush her, merely furrowing his brow slightly.
Xigelei looked up and caught sight of Lanqi.
His silence made her rather uneasy.
It felt just like being picked up from school by a parent.
"Take your time. Finish this hand," Lanqi noted.
The surrounding orc ruffians stared at Xigelei in surprise. They never would have guessed that this scruffy-looking girl had a well-dressed, wealthy gentleman coming to pick her up.
"Forget it, no fun anyway."
Xigelei stood up from the ground, dusted off her trousers, and signaled for Lanqi to leave with her.
The two walked along the streets of Little Stone City.
They were heading toward the post station to retrieve the Snowfield Nether Deer.
For a long while, Lanqi said nothing at all.
"I didn't waste any time, did I? Why do you look unhappy?" Xigelei glanced at Lanqi and asked bluntly.
"I am not unhappy," Lanqi answered naturally.
"Oh, please. If you say you're angry, you aren't really angry. If you say you aren't angry, that means you're actually a bit pissed," Xigelei said, throwing her hands up.
The nun at the orphanage had been the exact same way. Whenever the priest made her upset, that was how she responded.
"..."
Lanqi fell silent for a moment.
"While I won't tell you what hobbies are good or bad at your age, nor will I say things like 'what a girl your age ought to be doing'—after all, my best friend has always enjoyed a bit of light gambling for fun—I still believe there are a couple of things that need to be said."
Lanqi's gaze was calm, as if communicating: *You asked me to speak, so whatever I say, you are not allowed to get mad in return.*
"Go ahead," Xigelei nodded.
He had already lectured her earlier about drinking; now that he had caught her red-handed gambling, he was bound to start nagging again.
"Good people do not frequent bad places, but bad people will readily come to good places. You must learn where to draw the line."
Lanqi tilted his head slightly, watching Xigelei with genuine concern.
Xigelei was stunned for a long while.
She had never heard anyone preach to her like this before.
"Tch. Deep down, you look down on me too, don't you?" After mulling it over, Xigelei clicked her tongue and turned her head away.
"..."
Lanqi did not answer. He merely looked ahead.
"Just now, you could have stepped into an elegant hall alongside me, yet you chose to linger outside."
Lanqi continued walking toward the city gate on his own.
"Sometimes, the choice has always been in your hands."
Everyone has the chance to become better; it was just that without a reminder, it could be hard to realize.
He was simply stating a fact, almost as if telling her that while she possessed the makings of a ruler, she might also choose to let herself sink into depravity.
Perhaps Lanqi had quickened his pace slightly, or perhaps Xigelei's footsteps had momentarily wavered.
After a long silence, Xigelei broke into a jog to catch up with him.
"Oh," Xigelei responded.
The little black cat perched on Lanqi's shoulder.
It looked down at Xigelei's diminutive figure.
It had never expected the two of them to get along so smoothly.
Though Xigelei appeared unruly on the surface, she was surprisingly receptive to Lanqi's guidance.
Chapter 550