"My name is Andres, and you give me a different feeling than everyone else," the young man said.
"Andres, haha, Andres." After seeing Andres' appearance and hearing his name with his own ears, Li Fenghuang was absolutely certain: it was him...
【General Andres Lv.20 (???)
Lawful Good Alignment
HP: 150/150
Tip: Hmm... General is a good profession, at least his archery is accurate. The name Andres seems to have appeared somewhere before. Think hard, and also, don't you think he looks familiar?
For some reason, this young General is not very willing to touch hot things; it seems he has some unpleasant memories.】
"Hehehe, you are the Guide," Li Fenghuang said weakly, looking at him.
"What Guide? What is a Guide?" Andres calmly looked at this strange young stranger, who was about his age. "Judging by your appearance and clothes, you are definitely not from the Kingdom. Tell me, who are you and why did you come here?"
"Why did I come here? Ha, how would I know! I'm still wondering how to get back," Li Fenghuang said with a helpless bitter smile.
"Your face looks like that of a person from He Island, no, your temperament is more like that of an Eastern Empire person. If someone who had seen those two countries were to identify you, everyone would give the answer Eastern Empire. So, are you from there?" Andres remained calm, his heterochromatic eyes beneath his brown hair showing no ripples.
"No, neither," Li Fenghuang slowly walked over and picked up his bronze short sword, which Wilfa had just knocked out of his hand. "Never mind, I don't know what to say either."
"You are the Guide, you should know something, right?" Li Fenghuang looked at Andres with anticipation. If anyone knew how to get him back, Guide Andres was undoubtedly one of the most likely characters to know.
"I am not the 'Guide' you speak of; don't keep mistaking me," Andres remained calm and did not show any dissatisfaction despite Li Fenghuang repeatedly mistaking him for some "Guide." Moreover, Andres, who had always been indifferent to other people and things, actually felt a strange curiosity towards this guy in front of him. "What is your name?" Andres finally shed his previous expressionless demeanor.
"Li Fenghuang." Since he was a key NPC, and so polite to him, and potentially held crucial information, Li Fenghuang was naturally willing to talk to him calmly.
"Li Fenghuang, is that your surname?"
"No, Li is the surname, Fenghuang is the given name."
Andres nodded. "Indeed, it's very similar to the names of people from the Eastern Empire. You can go there and see it if you have the chance."
"Understood, thank you for the information. I will go see it later," Li Fenghuang put away his bronze short sword. "May I leave now?"
"You may leave, no one will stop you," Andres' hand, which was gripping the bow, relaxed. "However, I suggest you stay."
"Why?" Li Fenghuang stopped and turned to look at Andres.
"Because the Blood Moon is coming soon..." A hint of anxiety and unease suddenly flashed in General Andres' eyes, and he tightened his grip on his bow and arrow again.
"I think you are very suitable... Although your combat ability is not outstanding, and you are very inexperienced in combat. However, you have great potential, and your body contains immense energy, or rather, even you don't know your true strength."
"Blood Moon?!" Hearing this, Li Fenghuang's expression, which had been like a poker face, finally changed, becoming tense and bewildered. At the same time, a system prompt appeared in his eyes:
【Blood Moon Approaching
Synopsis: The continent's moon phase has shifted significantly, becoming incredibly ominous. Slumbering flesh is gradually reawakening, restless monsters are stirring in the darkness. This slaughter will sweep across the entire continent, but who will be the prey and who the hunter?】
【Tip: The ancient seal is loosening even more violently, and the creatures of the world are gradually falling into a frenzy. Who knows what kind of unbearable monsters will appear this time... This truly is an exhilarating death...】
"It really is the Blood Moon... This situation is not good..." Li Fenghuang stared at the system prompt in front of him. "With my current strength, if I encounter the Blood Moon, I'm afraid I can only experience an exhilarating death..."
Finally, Li Fenghuang made up his mind and looked at Andres. At this moment, Andres was also looking at Li Fenghuang with great interest. When Li Fenghuang looked up, Andres spoke again: "How is it? Have you made up your mind?"
"But the Blood Moon is still quite a threat to me, isn't it?" Li Fenghuang looked at Andres with burning eyes. "Someone like me, there's no need for a General who can't even defeat a Knight to personally invite, right?"
"However, the moment you looked up, you already had your answer, didn't you?" Andres looked at Li Fenghuang with a half-smile. "I am a General of the Kingdom, from the Royal Capital—Linus. My main purpose is to find something, and then recruit some Soldiers to fight against the Blood Moon that will come soon. You are stronger than ordinary people, and also the most unusual thing I've encountered on this trip. This is my reason for recruiting you."
"Okay, I accept. I will find you before the Blood Moon, but during this time, I still have some matters to attend to." Li Fenghuang nodded, accepting Andres' invitation.
"It's been a long time since I met someone who spoke to me in that tone. How long ago was that?" Andres sighed, and at the same time, he nodded.
"I will be stationed in Carriburg, in the western suburbs of Solarial. I look forward to your arrival." Saying this, Andres re-shouldered his bow and arrow. "Oh, right, the equipment only provides a few potions, armor is self-provided, and as for weapons, I think you already have them."
"Okay, I'll visit you in person in a few days." Li Fenghuang's expression had now returned to his usual poker face, but he secretly thought, "Blood Moon... it seems I won't be able to go back for a while. Also, facing the Blood Moon, let's just focus on surviving first. And these NPCs here are really human-like..."
The sun still hung high in the sky, shrinking people's shadows directly beneath their bodies. People seemed to fear such heat, and at some point, they had gradually dispersed. The originally bustling street was left with only occasional greetings, and then the street fell into a brief calm.
Andres walked along the midday street with his bow and quiver on his back. The scorching midday wind blew through his cloak, rustling his brown hair. In Li Fenghuang's eyes, he left only a silhouette in the light, gradually fading into the distance...
"See you!" Andres said.
After Li Fenghuang had walked far away, Andres showed a relaxed expression. "I don't know why, but I always feel like I've found what I was looking for..."
...
【Host completed quest: Andres' Invitation
It seems you are ready to stay here, wandering traveler... Good, this is just the first step. I hope you can write your own epic.
To commemorate that lost history...
Quest Reward: EXP +100, Copper Coin * 10, Recipe: Cactus Sword, Item of Legend: Awakening】
【Host has leveled up to Lv.2
Attack +1 Defense +1】
Li Fenghuang, however, did not notice the system's level-up at this moment. Instead, his gaze was drawn to the soul-like object in his hand—the Item of Legend: Awakening.
【Item of Legend: Awakening
The Dragon's Tomb trembled slightly. I looked up and saw ancient dust dancing down from the towering cliffs.
These magnificent wings... How long has it been since I became a hero worthy of their name?
I only blinked my eyes, but it felt like centuries.
Look at the unparalleled achievements I once made, now all turned to rubble. No one dares to seek my whereabouts, and no one treads my path.
In this cruel world, only nothingness awaits them.】
Ancient words, imbued with ancient aura, carrying ancient memories, slowly unfolded before Li Fenghuang's eyes...