A Stardew Valley farmer came to Gensokyo.

As he spoke, the captain of the guard looked at Xia Xun with pleading eyes, but did not speak directly.

After all, as the captain of the guard, he also knew that those who possessed such extraordinary power had limited energy.

He just hoped that Xia Xun could rescue some of his comrades when he had free time.

Xia Xun understood the captain's gaze and thought for a moment before saying, "If the captain doesn't mind, may I also participate in the guard duty tonight?"

"However, since my main purpose is to learn magic from my teacher, I will not join the guard team, but I will do my best to help if anyone is injured."

Upon hearing this, the captain of the guard looked at Xia Xun excitedly and nodded quickly in agreement: "No problem, no problem!"

"Lord Xia Xun, please come. I will have my servants reserve a safe place for you to practice magic. All you need to do is use the magic you just used to purify some of the demonic energy for us."

"You don't need to waste your precious magic power on this injury. Just purify the demonic energy, and it'll be fine. Apply some medicine and it'll be healed in six or seven days."

Chapter 122 The Promise with Alice

Because we were delayed at the gate for a while.

When Xia Xun returned home, Alice was already waiting for her in the courtyard.

She watched as Xia Xun led another unfamiliar girl in, her gentle expression momentarily froze, and then she unconsciously became more serious.

Just how popular is Xia Xun?

Why has this strange guy appeared after only one day of absence?

Alice gazed at Tatara Kouu, and as a knowledgeable magician, she saw through her true form at a glance.

"Xia Xun, why did you bring this Tsukishima-neko (spirit of death) home?" Alice asked calmly.

Xia Xun felt that Alice's voice was a little cold. He glanced at Tatara Kouu, who was hiding behind him in fear, and quickly introduced her: "Alice, this is Tatara Kouu."

“I took Xiaosan in today; she had been hungry for several days before this,” Xia Xun said with a sigh, but her eyes were secretly watching Alice’s expression.

Alice was not unexpected to him.

Upon hearing about the scene when he encountered Tatara Kosuke earlier that day, the expression on his face softened instantly.

Alice looked at the little girl who was hiding behind Xia Xun and was a little scared, and sighed helplessly: "Xia Xun, you are too kind. What will you do if you encounter a monster in disguise in the future?"

Xia Xun smiled upon hearing this, looking at Alice and saying, "But when we first met, Alice wasn't exactly a stranger either!"

"When Alice appeared before me in the Enchanted Forest, I felt as if I had seen the most beautiful angel."

Alice's face instantly turned crimson, even her small earlobes turned pink.

She looked up at Xia Xun, who was looking very serious, and didn't know how to say anything.

Finally, she could only turn her head away shyly, reaching out to brush away a few strands of golden hair, covering her flushed cheeks like a thief burying his head in the sand.

"Xia Xun is so cunning. You know how to say things like that now. What can I do?" Alice murmured softly, trying to compose herself.

Alice glanced back at the small umbrella behind Xia Xun and said, "Since you've made your decision, Xia Xun, I have no further objections."

"However, since you've decided to take in this Miss Tatara Kosuke, you must take good care of her."

"I will." Xia Xun nodded, feeling relieved.

That hurdle is over.

However, Alice was indeed worried about herself.

Xia Xun looked at Alice and felt very happy.

But then his gaze fell upon the pile of books next to Alice, which was taller than a person.

At that moment, an extremely terrifying sense of foreboding rose in Xia Xun's heart.

Alice also noticed Xia Xun's gaze, and seeing his retreating eyes, a mischievous smile involuntarily appeared on her lips.

"Don't run away, these are all magic teaching materials that I carefully prepared for Xia Xun." The beautiful girl had a smile on her face that seemed like a devil to Xia Xun.

"Knowledge is a mage's most important power," Alice said happily. "This is just the most basic material; there's much more to learn after this!"

At that moment, Xia Xun felt her heart was dead, and she no longer had any love for this world.

but.

"If," Alice said shyly, her voice soft and sweet, "if Xia Xun seriously studies these magic textbooks and gains my approval."

"I can grant Xia Xun one not-too-excessive request~"

Alice, the spiritual healer, rekindled Xia Xun's despair with a single sentence, propelling him to the top.

The two words, "I will learn!" revealed an unprecedented determination.

Alice blushed as she looked at Xia Xun, a faint smile appearing on her lips.

Sure enough, Xia Xun also has feelings for me.

Her gaze then involuntarily fell upon Ibuki Suika, who was holding Natsumi's hand with one hand and rubbing her eyes while yawning with the other.

The next moment, Alice saw Ibuki Suika smile at her and then give her a thumbs up.

Alice reacted like a kitten whose tail had been stepped on, quickly averting her gaze, yet a surge of emotion welled up inside her.

Then she thought of Okunoda Miyo, who was obviously with Natsumi, and her old friend Hakurei Reimu, who had also shown unusual emotions at the banquet that day, and whom she had forgotten.

For a moment, Alice, who had been quite happy, couldn't help but sigh.

I finally fall for someone, but how come the person I like is so popular?

"Oh, right, Alice." Xia Xun's voice brought Alice back to her senses.

She looked up at Xia Xun and heard him say, "Starting tonight, I want to change my magic training to practical combat training."

"The guards in the Human Village have been seriously injured recently due to the attack by magical beasts. I thought that since I was going to practice magic, I might as well help them out."

Seeing Xia Xun's earnest concern for others, Alice's somewhat disheartened mood lifted.

Alice Margotrovid, you can do it! Keep it up!

“I understand.” Alice nodded. “That’s good. Practice is indeed essential on the path of magical cultivation.”

“Originally, I wanted to wait until Xia Xun finished learning the first stage of knowledge before I became your magic combat teacher. However, experiencing combat in advance might be better for your subsequent magic learning.”

"I will revise your magic training plan next."

"Thank you, Alice." Xia Xun thanked her gratefully, knowing that her sudden decision would definitely increase Alice's workload.

"It's alright. After all, it was my decision to make Xia Xun train in magic more rigorously." Alice shook her head, a gentle smile on her delicate face.

Seeing this, Xia Xun also put aside her guilt and cheered herself up.

Even without Alice's promise, this sentiment alone was enough to motivate him to give it his all.

“Then let’s not delay, let’s head straight to the Human Realm.” Xia Xun said excitedly, turning to look at Ibuki Suika and Tatara Kouuka: “Suika, please inform Miyo that I can’t see her tonight.”

"Little Umbrella, could you please help watch the house from now on?"

Upon hearing this, Ibuki Suika looked up at Alice and nodded: "Yes, I'll inform Misaya. Natsumi, you can't do anything reckless either."

"Also, remember to come back early tonight." Ibuki Suika winked at Natsumi: "You haven't kept your promise from last night yet."

Upon hearing this, Xia Xun quickly glanced at the skill panel, becoming even more determined to fight tonight.

If he doesn't upgrade his skills tonight, he probably won't be able to get up tomorrow morning.

When Tatara Kosuke heard Natsumi's request, although she didn't want to leave Natsumi, she also knew that she couldn't hold her back.

"Don't worry, Master, I will definitely protect the home."

Xia Xun smiled and ruffled Duoduo Liang Xiaosan's hair: "Then I'll leave it to you, Xiaosan."

"no!"

But then Alice made a sound of resistance.

Xia Xun turned around and saw an angry-looking girl.

Alice glared at Xia Xun resentfully and said quickly, "I know you want to help others as soon as possible, but I absolutely will not allow you to do it in a way that will hurt yourself."

“You just got back from a long day of work and haven’t even eaten yet, how can you go and participate in dangerous battles again?”

Upon hearing this, Xia Xun reached out and touched her full stomach. Looking at Alice, who looked angry, she took out a snack.

"Here you are, Alice."

Chapter 123 The Battle at Night

The roaring campfire dispelled the darkness outside the door.

When Xia Xun brought Alice to the west gate of the Human Village, the air was already filled with the smell of burning vegetation and a faint odor of blood.

He was about to raise his hand to greet the patrol captain when the captain turned around first, his eyes lighting up as he looked at the two of them.

"Your Excellency Xia Xun, you've arrived!" The captain of the guard strode forward, looking at them with a warm expression.

His gaze fell on Alice beside Xia Xun, and he suddenly realized, "So Alice, the puppet master, is your magic teacher. No wonder you were able to master such exquisite healing techniques in such a short time."

"Great teachers produce outstanding students, that's certainly true!"

"Hehe, yeah, yeah." Xia Xun chuckled and nodded repeatedly, "Alice is the best magic teacher, the best in the world!"

Upon hearing this, Alice's fair cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She reached out and gently tugged at Xia Xun's sleeve, whispering, "Don't, don't praise me like that. Aren't we here to cultivate? Don't let it interfere with our business."

Seeing this, the captain of the guard laughed heartily and quickly stepped aside to lead the way: "I was being nosy. This way, please. I've already had seats prepared for you two."

He led the two to a simple open space enclosed by a wooden fence next to the campfire.

The area is well-lit and has a wide field of vision. Several squads of guards patrol on both sides, keeping the area away from the most intense conflict points on the front lines while allowing them to keep abreast of movements in the darkness.

It is a place that balances safety and practical combat needs.

Xia Xun carefully looked around, understanding the guard captain's intentions, and felt relieved.

"Please tell me where you are injured and recovering. I will go there every morning after I get up to clean up the wound for you."

"It's my duty." The captain of the guard waved his hand, his expression turning serious. "Your willingness to purify the demonic energy of your wounded brothers every morning is truly precious."

"The wounded soldiers are temporarily housed in the barracks on the left side of the gate. I will give the order later, and you may go there at any time."

Xia Xun nodded seriously: "I will. I'm just doing my best to help protect the village."

The captain of the guard gave him a deep look, then suddenly stepped back and bowed: "On behalf of all the brothers, I thank you, Your Excellency."

Having said that, he said no more, turned around and strode towards the patrol team, giving them instructions in a low voice.

Seeing the captain of the guard walk away, Xia Xun turned back to Alice and said, "Then let's begin."

“Okay.” Alice’s expression turned serious upon hearing this. “From now on, I will not intervene unless your life is in danger.”

"The main purpose of tonight's sparring is to give you a better understanding of combat."

"I understand." Xia Xun nodded and took a deep breath.

He looked out at the desolate wilderness swallowed by thick darkness, and could vaguely hear the clash of weapons, the shouts of guards, and the low howls of some inhuman creature in the distance.

Amidst the flickering flames, Xia Xun calmed his mind and breath, his inner magic slowly circulating.

He raised his right hand, palm up, and a stream of clear water appeared from the void, swirling and circling around him, transforming into a supple, flowing water ring.

By creating the water body in advance, the speed of launching attacks and defenses will be greatly increased.

Immediately afterwards, he waved his left hand, and more water gathered and condensed, forming two half-person-high arc-shaped water shields in front of him and on his sides.

Behind her, Alice had taken out a snack at some point and was taking small bites, her gaze always fixed on Xia Xun.

Seeing his initial gesture, she nodded slightly, a hint of approval flashing in her eyes.

However, Xia Xun's ability is truly amazing; she can even make such delicious food that can restore energy.

If I could eat it every day, my research into magic would definitely progress much faster.

Xia Xun took a step forward.

After walking a dozen meters, the glow of the campfire gradually weakened, and darkness surged in from all directions, enveloping his figure.

Almost simultaneously, he felt several greedy and bloodthirsty gazes fixed on him.

rustle.

A faint friction sound rang out in the darkness, which Xia Xun amplified and became aware of.