Frisi’s sudden awakening filled Wude with immense joy. Frisi, who seemed to know something, was the only clue about Lingyue’s condition—but why had he woken up so conveniently?

To be honest, if Alreis hadn’t been secretly channeling magic into Frisi all along, his consciousness wouldn’t have cleared so abruptly. True, attributeless magic couldn’t heal wounds like Life Magic by being absorbed into the body. Still, large amounts of magic did boost physical and mental alertness. From the moment Alreis entered the house, he’d been feeding Frisi small doses—trivial for him, but more than enough for level-five Frisi.

Seeing Frisi awake, Yilei quickly used her nearly depleted Life Magic on him. The effect was minimal, yet Frisi’s complexion visibly improved.

“In this state, I can’t cast magic,” Frisi murmured after sensing his condition. He didn’t know why his body brimmed with magic, but his frail body couldn’t withstand the internal flow required for spellcasting.

“Frisi, I need to ask you—”

“I know. Wait… let me gather my words.” Frisi understood exactly what Wude sought. He’d stubbornly stayed behind to share this—after all, it concerned Lingyue, and only Wude might know the truth.

“Frisi, you just woke up. Shouldn’t you rest longer?” Yilei asked, concern softening her voice.

“No time. I know I’ve been out long, but we can’t delay. I must tell Wude everything—now.” Frisi struggled to sit up.

“Hey, kid! Come closer. Don’t always sit with these girls,” he barked at Wude beside Alreis, tone as gruff as ever.

Wude obediently moved in front of him.

“…” Frisi scratched his head. “Forget it. You all know anyway—I won’t hide it.” He deliberately ignored Alreis, a stranger to him.

“You all know I confessed to Lingyue before, right?” Even this burly man flushed unnaturally, embarrassment tightening his voice.

Wude and Yilei nodded. Only Alreis heard this tale anew—somehow jarring to imagine this fierce man ever confessing.

“So… why did I like Lingyue? Why confess?” Frisi steadied himself before asking them.

“First—Lingyue’s magical mastery is extraordinary. Wude, you know this too.”

“You know this?” Wude blinked in surprise. Lingyue shouldn’t have shown her strength in the village.

“Really?” Yilei murmured. She’d sensed Lingyue’s power even after recent events, yet struggled to believe it—after all, Lingyue had always seemed just a heavy-drinking woman.

“Hmm…” Frisi paused. “I met Lingyue when I was very young—about twenty years ago.”

Wude and Yilei exchanged stunned glances. Frisi had expected that.

“She likely doesn’t remember. Back then, my grandfather and I encountered her.” Frisi’s gaze drifted inward.

“My grandfather was a skilled hunter and adventurer—you know that. I followed his path. As for my short-lived father… never mind.”

“When I was small, I hunted with Grandpa. Bad luck struck: a level-six beast appeared. For level-four Grandpa and me—a child—resistance was impossible.”

“Then, like legends tell, Lingyue appeared. One strike reduced the beast to ashes.” Awe softened Frisi’s features.

“I’d never seen such power—beyond comprehension. She seemed utterly cold, acting only because the beast blocked her path. And her black hair, dark eyes… rare, like yours.” He glanced at Wude’s hair. “I never forgot her.”

“After returning home, I trained hard—but only reached level five. I often feared I’d never reach her level.”

“Then, five years ago, she reappeared! Grandpa had passed; no one but me remembered her. I was overjoyed… but she was different. Nothing like the cold woman from my memory.”

“She opened a blacksmith shop. When I went for gear, I found her drinking heavily… and flirting with me.” His voice dropped at “flirting.” Wude covered his face—*so* embarrassing.

“I stumbled home dazed, wondering… was there hope? With the person I’d cherished since childhood?”

“So you confessed?” Yilei asked softly.

“Yes.” Frisi offered a bitter smile, then grew solemn. “That’s when I realized… it was all a lie.”

“…What do you mean?” Wude stiffened. Frisi’s gravity hinted at unbearable truth.

“When she rejected me, crushing power pressed down. Her strength was expected—but her eyes… a gaze scorning all creation. It hurled me back to childhood. Back then, I didn’t grasp it. Now, as an adult, that coldness shocked me. Yet in an instant, she reverted to her usual unserious self. So I dismissed it.”

“This time, passing your shop, I saw the door open. Thinking you or Lingyue returned, I entered. She was there. I greeted her… then saw those unforgettable eyes. After that—you know.”

Frisi looked pained, finally unburdening himself.

Yilei didn’t fully grasp his meaning. Frisi himself might not know why he shared it—but instinct demanded Wude hear it.

“Alreis, you’ve listened long enough. Any thoughts?” Wude turned to the quietly observing Alreis.

“…Ah!” Startled from deep thought, Alreis replied carefully, “I still can’t conclude. We must find Lingyue.”

Alreis had been analyzing Lingyue’s condition. Based on Frisi and Tini’s accounts, she suspected a soul-level anomaly.

Such duality appeared in ancient records: a Sage ascending to Ascendant Sovereign once split into two souls—both wielding Ascendant Sovereign power, yet only one manifesting at a time. That Sovereign later used forbidden magic to fully separate them… and both perished battling each other.

Alreis believed Lingyue faced the same fate. But she wouldn’t tell Wude. If true, the one who returned wasn’t *his* Lingyue—the woman he knew—but the other soul, the one locked in struggle.

How crushed would Wude be? She couldn’t bear to see that.