When news spread that Fenric had returned, General Shaw and the others were pleasantly surprised.
But no one was happier than Commander Lin Mei.
Ever since Fenric left, she had been restless, plagued by a sense of loss she couldn’t explain. It was only now that she realized just how much influence this man had on her heart.
"Sir, did everything go smoothly?" General Shaw asked with a smile.
"All went well," Fenric replied casually, his gaze sweeping the room—only to rest on Lin Mei and linger there.
General Shaw and Strategist Lau exchanged a glance, amusement flickering in their eyes.
"Commander Lin," General Shaw said, his tone teasing, "I’ll leave it to you to entertain Sir Fenric."
Lin Mei’s cheeks flushed crimson, but she didn’t refuse. She simply bowed slightly and said softly, "As you command."
The rest of the day was theirs.
The two wandered across mountains and rivers, side by side, talking and laughing as they explored the Great Wall’s vast expanse.
Fenric couldn’t help but sigh inwardly as he stole a glance at the woman beside him—so shy and gentle despite her commanding presence in battle.
An ancient woman, through and through.
Even someone as strong and proud as Lin Mei softened in the presence of someone she cared for.
Unlike many modern girls, who often behaved... worse than men.
Time slipped by quickly. Before long, dusk painted the skies, and the Great Wall glowed under the moonlight.
When they finally reached the women’s quarters, Fenric stopped at the entrance.
"Mei, I’m leaving now. I’ll see you the day after tomorrow."
"Mm." Lin Mei nodded lightly, her voice soft as silk. "Brother Ric, take care of yourself."
Their relationship had deepened considerably over the course of the day.
Though that final layer of thin paper between them remained unpierced, their closeness now rivaled that of lovers. Even the way they addressed each other had grown intimate.
After agreeing to meet again soon, Fenric vanished into thin air—returning to his personal world’s gateway, then stepping into the Samsara Space.
The moment Fenric appeared on the plaza, he made a beeline for the Inquiry Hall.
Also known as the Novice Guide Room, it was staffed by numerous system spirits designed to answer every possible question about Samsara’s mechanics.
As soon as Fenric entered, a bright-eyed spirit floated over.
"Dear Samsara Player Shura, welcome to the Inquiry Hall! How may I assist you today?"
"I have a question," Fenric said calmly. "Can I bring my own belongings into my personal world?"
"Of course!" The spirit nodded.
"A personal world belongs exclusively to the Samsara Player who conquered it. It is exempt from standard item-management rules within the Samsara Space."
"However," the spirit continued, "any non-special items brought back into Samsara Space must be cleared within three hours. Items left beyond that period will be confiscated. Please keep that in mind, Shura."
Fenric’s eyes brightened. That was exactly what he needed to know.
He had come here to confirm this so he could bring some modern gifts the next time he visited Lin Mei.
In other words... he could bring betrothal gifts and settle the matter properly.
Otherwise, if word spread that he kept taking Lin Mei out privately, tongues would wag.
Unlike the modern world, The Great Wall’s society was deeply traditional. An unmarried woman spending her days with a man could ruin her reputation.
But if there was a marriage contract... everything changed.
Alright then. Tomorrow, I’ll go shopping for a proper engagement gift.
Decision made, Fenric left the Samsara Space and returned to the real world.
Reality – Past 1 A.M.
Fenric barely hit the bed before drifting into a deep, satisfying sleep.
Elsewhere
Isla Wynn, however, lay awake, tossing and turning.
They say women have a sixth sense, and hers was screaming a possibility she couldn’t ignore:
The Fenric who saved her today... might be connected to Shura.
But neither of them had admitted anything, and she had no proof.
She understood why Shura would keep his identity hidden. That name carried too much weight in Samsara Space—so many sought him, some as allies, others as enemies.
Even knowing this, Isla vowed to keep her suspicions to herself. One careless word could spell disaster for him.
The Next Morning
Fenric woke refreshed, only to be greeted by his father returning from work.
"Didn’t I tell you to quit that job?" Fenric frowned. "Why are you still working night shifts?"
Father Eric scratched his head with a sheepish grin. "Boss Parker’s always treated me well. He’s short on staff, so I agreed to help for a few more days. Once he hires someone new, I’ll leave."
Fenric’s brow furrowed. "I don’t mind you working a few extra days, but what if he keeps stalling? What then?"
"No, no. He promised—no more than a month at most," Father Eric said quickly, then paused to look his son up and down. His eyes widened in surprise.
"Ric... why do you look so different? Taller—almost a whole head taller than me now! Yesterday, I thought it was my imagination. Not just your height... even your aura feels different. When you’re serious, you’re... intimidating."
Fenric smiled faintly. That was the natural pressure of someone with real power.
"What’s so strange about growing taller at my age?" he lied smoothly. "We barely see each other. Feels like a big change all at once, that’s all."
Father Eric blinked, then sighed. "It’s my fault. I should’ve taken better care of you."
"I didn’t mean that." Fenric’s voice softened. "I just want you to find a stable job. You’re not young anymore. Staying up all night isn’t good for your health."
"Mm. You’re right. I’ll listen to you," Father Eric nodded solemnly.
Satisfied, Fenric didn’t press further. "Get some rest, Dad. I’m heading to school."
At school, things were finally calm. No one whispered about Shura anymore, and the internet frenzy had cooled. Life returned to normal.
Barely had Fenric sat down when Jitto leaned over, grinning like a fool.
"Ric! Big news. A girl from the next class just stopped by. They want to know if you’ll treat them to lunch today. If you say yes, they’ll all come—even the school flower!"
Then, almost in a whisper: "You got enough cash? A meal for that many will run you at least six, seven hundred. If not, I can pitch in."
Fenric sighed. Looked like this lunch was inevitable after all.
"I’ve got it covered," he said. "By the way, how are we getting there? Bus?"
Jitto shudder and shook his head vigorously. "No way! Not after what happened. Never taking the bus again!"
Fenric chuckled under his breath.