Chapter 28: The Outsider Youth

Having heard the news about the young novelist, Li Mingxing became even more certain that the man had come from the real world. With this conviction, Li Mingxing was all the more determined to meet him.

After turning a corner with his harpy, he exchanged a signal with Aisha and slipped into the nearby shadows. Of course, this tactic had been learned from the Battle Panther and was not particularly effective in a human city like the Crystal City. Li Mingxing had to not only infiltrate the young author’s room but also take care to avoid being spotted by those guarding the area, which significantly increased the difficulty.

Li Mingxing waited for over half an hour before finding an opportunity to slip into the room. Inside, he saw a young man lying half-reclined on a wooden bed, muttering to himself.

"This life is truly unbearable. Those people won't let me write about the Mercenary Guild anymore, claiming it might incite chaos in the city. What else am I supposed to write about?"

Hearing these complaints, Li Mingxing, hidden in the dark, could not help but chuckle. "You could write about martial arts or xianxia."

"That would be even less popular. Wait—who are you? How do you know about martial arts and xianxia?" The young man jumped up from the bed, facing the direction of Li Mingxing’s voice.

At this, Li Mingxing stepped out of the shadows and sat down before him. "Like you, I ended up here. I saw your book, so I came to ask a few questions. How much do you know about this city? Is it really, as you wrote, using hotels as an intelligence network?"

"Of course not. I think the hotel owner must be furious with me," the youth said with a faint smile. "I haven't been here very long. I only know a few second-generation nobles at best. My plan is to use various stories to boost my reputation in hopes of meeting the Sword Saint. If I can, I want to ask the Sword Saint to let me study magic."

"Life magic?" Li Mingxing thought back to the appearance of the magic tower he had seen after entering the city.

"No, it seems like this place is a variant of Heroes of Might and Magic III. I assume that what you learn in the magic tower is just like in the game—you learn whatever is available."

"If it’s really like Heroes of Might and Magic III, where you just need a spellbook to enter the tower and learn, why do you need to find the Sword Saint?" Li Mingxing asked.

"That’s what you don't know. Some of these spells are strategic-level. Although I don't know exactly what that means, these spells cannot be passed on casually. If you want to learn them, you need the permission of the city's true master."

"What did you say? There are strategic-level spells here?" Li Mingxing was startled. "I wouldn't have guessed. From the outside, the magic tower only has two floors. It seems they are good at deception."

"Brother, judging by your tone, you seem to know what strategic-level spells are?"

"I know a little. I’d really like to take a look at what’s available to learn here. By the way, if there’s a chance, take me into the magic tower with you."

"Forget it. I can't even get in myself. By the way, didn't you say you came here through a portal? Is there any way for you to find that portal again?"

"No, it was a one-way portal. You aren't thinking of using it to travel back and forth, are you? I think you should drop it; you’ve finally found some peace here."

"Of course not. You don't know this, but there is a rumor circulating in the city that the Sword Saint has been searching for a portal."

Upon hearing this crucial piece of information, Li Mingxing lost all interest in questioning the youth further. Instead, he began to weigh the veracity of this report. Judging by the City Lord's age, the Sword Saint had arrived and built the city many years ago. With the Sword Saint's strength, he would be perfectly safe as long as he didn't provoke the two elven cities. It was likely they had already traversed the entire Inner World before the city was founded.

If that were the case, they should have already realized there were no portals, or perhaps they knew the locations of some. Why, then, would such a rumor exist now? Thinking of this, Li Mingxing shook his head. "Something isn't right. This news doesn't add up."

Hearing this, the youth grew curious. "What's wrong with it?"

"Of course it's wrong. Do you think portals grow out of the ground every so often on their own?"

The young man was not particularly sharp. It took him a long time to grasp the implication of Li Mingxing's hint, and he failed to notice the disappointment in Li Mingxing's eyes. Li Mingxing’s comment had merely been a test to see if the young man was worth recruiting.

From their previous conversation, Li Mingxing had gathered that the youth was not gifted in hand-to-hand combat; otherwise, he wouldn't have failed to even qualify as a pikeman or halberdier. Now, his analytical skills were proven equally lackluster, ruling him out as a potential powerful mage. Li Mingxing would not waste a roster spot or black magic stones on someone so mediocre.

After these thoughts crossed his mind, Li Mingxing re-evaluated the youth and began to consider how to exploit him. The poor man, unaware of Li Mingxing's inner thoughts, was still delighted to have found a fellow countryman.

Observing the youth’s expression, Li Mingxing formed a plan. He did not rush to leave, but instead asked more questions about the city and the local nobility. Once finished, Li Mingxing promised to keep an eye out for better opportunities for him. The youth left behind a way to contact him, and Li Mingxing secretly slipped away.

After stepping out of the room, Li Mingxing immediately summoned Aisha. "Do you still have contact with the Night Elves?"

"A little. If there is an emergency, we can transmit messages through the trees in the forest," Aisha replied, not understanding why he asked but providing the information regardless.

"Excellent. Find a copy of the book that man wrote and transmit both the book and a message. State that a prophet has arrived in the Crystal City and that his book of prophecies foretells future events. Remember, use the fastest transmission method available."

"But the fastest method is one that many can intercept."

"That is exactly what I want. I want others to know this news, especially the one in Dragon City. If he hears that an outsider is here, what choice will he make?" Li Mingxing smiled faintly.