Time rewound to three days ago. Yilei, busy with chores at home, suddenly heard a deafening crash from the neighboring house—Wude’s blacksmith shop.

Worried it might be a thief, she dropped what she held, grabbed a small knife for protection, and hurried toward the door.

But she hadn’t even stepped outside yet.

*Bang!* A violent shockwave slammed her to the ground. The house shuddered, walls groaning on the verge of collapse.

Yilei struggled up. She didn’t know what happened—but the source was unmistakable: Wude’s place. Something was terribly wrong!

*Boom!* Something smashed straight through the flimsy wall and crashed into her home.

"Frisi!" Yilei gasped. The flying figure was Frisi—the village’s strongest warrior aside from her own daughter!

Confused and alarmed: How had Level 5 Frisi been blasted out of Wude’s house? What force could do that? She knew she lacked the strength to intervene. Still, she rushed to his side, slapping his cheeks firmly. If the attacker meant to finish him, hiding wouldn’t save them. Waking Frisi was the only hope. *Thank goodness Elisa and Wude are away on their trip…*

"Cough! Cough!" Frisi twitched, eyes fluttering open as he saw Yilei. He pushed her away weakly.

"Old hag, get out!" Frisi snarled. "Stay here and you’ll die!"

"…" Yilei paused. "Fine. But first—tell me who did this."

"Lingyue." Frisi whispered the name. A flicker of pain crossed his eyes.

Jade-green light shimmered over his body—Life Magic pushed to its physical limit, a common path for adventurers in the Nation of Life. His pupils tightened. In one motion, he scooped Yilei up, leaped aside, and rolled clear. Where they’d stood, a black pillar pierced through—obliterating everything.

The impact finished the house. It collapsed with a roar, dust swallowing them both.

Another colossal boom shook the village. A shockwave flattened every building. Luckily, the structures were modest—most villagers escaped with minor injuries, dazed and confused.

Beneath the rubble, Frisi shielded Yilei with his back, stones thudding against him.

"Frisi!" Yilei shouted desperately. *I’m too weak to dig us out…*

Soon, uninjured villagers cleared the debris and pulled them free.

Later, Frisi lay on a makeshift bed inside a field tent. Yilei tended his wounds with basic first aid. The village chief debated relocation—homes destroyed, their strongest protector injured. Wild beasts would be deadly. They decided: head to town, report to the mayor, request national aid.

As they prepared to leave, Frisi stirred awake.

"I’m staying," he rasped, voice strained but resolute. "I must wait for Wude. There’s something I have to tell him."

The chief couldn’t refuse. Adventurers held privilege—and despite Frisi’s sharp tongue, everyone knew he’d always protected the village. (He’d even overpaid Wude for gear. If Wude still lost money? Well…)

Yilei volunteered to stay. "My daughter’s with Wude. I need to tell her what happened." Elisa was a skilled student of the Academy of Life Magic—her status might speed up disaster relief. The chief agreed, left usable tools behind, and led the villagers away.

Frisi slipped back into unconsciousness. Day by day, Yilei used her Level 1 Life Magic to soothe his wounds—waiting.

After hearing Yilei’s account, Wude fell silent. Lingyue was the attacker—undeniable. Yet… she hadn’t killed Frisi. Not that he wished harm on him. But Lingyue’s power? A Level 5 like Frisi shouldn’t have survived. Even Alreis, master of spatial magic, once failed to dodge her ambush. *She held back…* Wude’s mind raced. If this were the old Lingyue—the one Tini knew, who slaughtered for magic experiments—mercy would be impossible. He glanced at the still-unconscious Frisi. Answers would come only when he woke.

"So you’ll just stand there and watch your maid get manhandled?!" Alreis, squished and kneaded in Yilei’s arms, stared blankly at Wude.

Wude looked away. *It’s Yilei… no choice. Sorry, Alreis.* He remembered how she’d taught him every survival skill—and the sheer terror of her dominance when he first arrived.

Alreis’s eyes turned icy with contempt. *My master sold me out. Time for self-rescue.*

Earlier, the moment Yilei spotted Alreis behind Wude: "What is this adorable creature?!" she’d cried, sweeping her into a hug. Since then, Alreis had been treated like a plush doll. She struggled—until Yilei tapped a few *very* sensitive spots. Alreis went limp, face flushed, silently weeping in her arms.

"By the way, Wude… where’s my Elisa?" Yilei finally remembered.

"Elisa said she wanted to grow stronger… returned to the academy," Wude explained.

"Just like her…" Yilei sighed. "Guess she still didn’t succeed this time."

"What do you mean?"

Yilei eyed Wude’s clueless face. *How did my brilliant daughter fall for this guy?* He *was* diligent, gentle, thoughtful… and *maybe* passably handsome. But Elisa deserved better! If it were *her*… grandchildren would already be toddling. She glanced at the flustered Alreis. *Where’d he find this rival? Calling him "Master"? If Elisa doesn’t move fast…*

Instinctively, Yilei reached to tease Alreis again—but *pop!* Alreis vanished, reappearing behind Wude via spatial magic.

"You’re terrible!" Alreis snapped, cheeks burning. "A master shouldn’t sell out his maid!" (To Wude and Yilei, her fury was utterly endearing.)

Yilei blinked. *She’s powerful…* Wude really was strange. Lingyue’s strength was unknown—yet lived with him. Her gifted daughter adored him. Now this fierce girl, willingly serving as his maid? This felt like a third-rate hero fantasy… unfolding right here.

"Could you… keep it down…?" A weak, annoyed voice murmured.

"Frisi? You’re awake?" Wude turned, eyes lighting with relief.