Chapter 88: Comfort Overload

Wen Chu became nervous.

Between him and Xiu, one was a demon and the other a dragon, especially since Xiu hadn’t brought anything when he left. It was impossible to think that he could produce a pass.

While Wen Chu was frantically thinking about whether he could bribe the guard with a crystal core, Xiu moved.

He fumbled with the accessories on his clothes, and a long brass-colored metal strip embedded with gears appeared in his hand, with the word “Pass” written on it.

Xiu handed the pass to the dwarf by the window.

The dwarf took it and placed the metal strip on the scanner atop the robot’s head. The robot’s eyes lit up with a blue light, and then it spoke: “Welcome back to the Forging Duchy, Over—”

Before it could finish its sentence, its mouth was stuffed with a fiery red crystal core by Xiu.

The robot’s steel teeth met the crystal core, emitting a tooth-aching “crunching” sound, and the second half of the sentence disappeared without a trace.

The dwarf was startled and jumped up directly: “What are you doing?! This robot is a third-tier robot! Can you afford to pay if you break it?!”

Xiu said calmly: “Just a small gift, for your trouble.”

Hearing this, the dwarf looked closely, paused upon seeing the red crystal core in the robot’s mouth, and then beamed with joy.

“Oh, you shouldn’t have.” While rubbing his hands, he quickly removed the red crystal core stuck in the robot’s mouth.

After seeing the crystal core clearly, the dwarf was even more astonished: “A sixth-tier Red Flame Bird crystal core?”

Taking the opportunity to retrieve the pass from the dwarf’s hand, Xiu just wanted to leave this troublesome place quickly: “Can we pass now?”

Having not been here for too long, he actually forgot that his fake identity in the Forging Duchy was also Overend.

The dwarf nodded repeatedly and respectfully tipped his hat to him: “Of course, my dear friend. The Forging Duchy welcomes all friendly races!”

Xiu didn’t answer, lowered the carriage curtain, and controlled the carriage to move forward quickly.

Just turning his head, Xiu met Wen Chu’s gaze.

Wen Chu looked at him in confusion: “Where did you get the crystal core from?”

Xiu was clearly empty-handed, yet he produced a pile of things like a magic trick.

Xiu breathed a sigh of relief secretly and took the opportunity to divert the topic. He pointed to the strings of gems on his clothes: “These are storage stones I made myself. They contain various supplies needed for going out.”

As early as when he was reading the materials, Wen Chu had noticed the dazzling decorations on Xiu’s clothes. At that time, he thought it was just Xiu’s aesthetic, but he didn’t expect them to be storage stones.

He exclaimed: “Then can I see? How do they store things?”

“Of course.”

Xiu curled his lips happily, held Wen Chu’s hand, and touched the blue gem on his chest.

“Relax, I’ll take your spiritual power into the storage space.”

Wen Chu relaxed as told, and soon sank into the storage stone space.

He looked at the space full of glittering gold coins, too shocked to speak.

The space in this storage stone was fully over a hundred cubic meters, actually packed full of gold coins. Wen Chu couldn’t calculate at all how much money this should be.

Xiu’s voice rang out: “Do you like it?”

Wen Chu nodded blankly.

Money, lots and lots of money.

Xiu seemed to chuckle lightly, then guided Wen Chu out of the storage space.

He took off this blue gem from his chest, wiped away his own spiritual power on it, and placed it in Wen Chu’s palm.

“For you.”

Wen Chu hadn’t reacted yet, looking at the gem in his palm, still out of it.

“As long as you like it, I can give it all to you.”

The blonde man stated unhurriedly, enunciating clearly.

Wen Chu tightened his grip on the angular gem and whispered: “I didn’t mean that I wanted it just now…”

He was just marveling that Xiu had a lot of money, not thinking about taking Xiu’s money.

Xiu leaned back in the chair: “But I want to give it to you, so just keep it.”

With his movement, the various gems on his clothes also swayed and clinked. Wen Chu’s gaze was attracted by these gems again.

“So you wear so many accessories just to hold things?” Wen Chu asked.

“Not really,” Xiu said. “Mainly for decoration.”

He looked at the gems all over his body with great satisfaction: “It’s so pretty this way.”

If he wanted storage, he could totally make a spatial ring big enough to hold everything.

But what dragon could refuse carrying gems on their body legitimately?

He had deliberately compressed every storage space to be so small just to be able to bring a few more gems out.

Wen Chu: …

Wen Chu didn’t understand Xiu’s aesthetic.

But he had to admit, even with such a nouveau riche style of dressing that seemed like showing off wealth, paired with Xiu’s cold and heroic face, it appeared exceptionally high-class.

Like some overly avant-garde combination that would be displayed in a high-end fashion show.

Xiu raised an eyebrow. Seeing Wen Chu staring at the strings of gem necklaces on his body, he simply raised his hand, took off all the necklaces on his neck, and hung them around Wen Chu’s neck.

Wen Chu was caught off guard by so many gems weighing down his neck and almost lost his balance. He asked in surprise: “What are you doing?”

Xiu was concise: “Giving them all to you.”

Too many gems were also a burden. Wen Chu struggled to place the heavy gems on his lap to lighten the load on his neck: “I didn’t say I wanted them.”

Xiu was certain: “You looked at them one more time, so you wanted them.”

Wen Chu: …

Wen Chu stared at Xiu: “Then I looked at you many times too, why don’t you give yourself to me?”

Xiu was stunned for a moment, then laughed happily.

“Of course,” the evil dragon said in a low voice. “Whatever you want, I can give to you.”

What kind of bandit logic was this?

Thinking this, Wen Chu’s heart unconsciously skipped a beat.

No matter when, he always couldn’t help being moved by Xiu.

Like a moth to a flame, knowing it’s impossible but doing it anyway.

And Xiu gave him the courage to continue liking him. Even regarding a principled issue like the princess, Wen Chu wanted to try to trust.

Xiu had been telling him over and over again how much he cherished him.

He should also… grow up a little more.

But the gem necklaces were really too heavy.

Finally, under his strong protest, and after Xiu discovered that he was really being weighed down breathless by the gems, he regretfully took back most of the necklaces, leaving only one around Wen Chu’s neck.

The beautiful youth and the gem matched exceptionally well.

The Little Gem wearing his gem; this realization made Xiu’s mood even better.

After meeting Wen Chu, he always easily got into a good mood.

Wen Chu finally caught his breath. By this time, the carriage had also entered the city.

Lifting the curtain to look out, on the wide streets, tall robots were patrolling back and forth to maintain order. The shops on both sides were bustling with people from different races.

Humans, liches, demons… Wen Chu even saw a few elves busy moving things in front of a weapon shop.

Xiu explained at the right time: “The dwarves’ talent lies mainly in forging. Compared to the elves who specialize in archery, they are more fragile without robots. That is also why, after the unification of the Guangming Continent, the Kingdom of Forging changed to the Forging Duchy. The dwarves opened their gates and welcomed any race to come and trade.”

“It’s just that before trading, one needs to provide proof of identity to the Dwarf Forging Association to prove that they are not heinous criminals and receive a pass. The pass is also similar to an alternative ID card, containing the person’s credit information. Everyone’s initial credit is 50 points, and they can bring one person in. If they violate the dwarf’s legal system within the Forging Duchy, credit points will be deducted.”

As soon as Xiu finished speaking, Wen Chu saw a lich who had accidentally let his skeleton attendant run a red light standing dejectedly in front of a patrolling robot.

The dwarf on the robot took his ID card and said seriously with a straight face: “Violating traffic rules, one credit point deducted. You have 43 credit points left. Below five points, you will be blacklisted by the Forging Duchy.”

Wen Chu was surprised.

Such an advanced social credit system; he had only seen it in the last world.

He turned to ask Xiu: “Then how many credit points do you have?”

Xiu was silent for a moment: “Six points.”

Wen Chu: ?

Wen Chu: “Did you fight with dwarves in the street?”

Xiu turned his head awkwardly: “No… just a little misunderstanding.”

Wen Chu suddenly realized: “So that’s why you gave that dwarf such an expensive crystal core when entering the city gate; you didn’t want him to make things difficult for you?”

Xiu felt even more guilty: “…Mn.”

He purely wanted to shut that robot’s mouth and didn’t care at all what he took out.

Wen Chu had only intended to buy some basic furniture, but at Xiu’s insistence, they went directly to the sales office.

“You mean, you need a castle?!”

The female dwarf at the sales office covered her mouth and exclaimed.

“En.” Xiu nodded. “I need you to build the castle at the location I designate, within a week. Can it be done?”

The female dwarf’s eyes were shining: “Of course! What we dwarves are best at is construction. Whether it’s a mountain of knives or a sea of fire, as long as you provide enough budget, we can build a castle from the ground up for you!”

Xiu’s fingertip slid across the map, paused when passing the barren land, but then firmly moved away, pointing to the mountain range behind the Dwarf Duchy: “Here…”

“Here.”

A slender finger reached out, speaking before him.

Wen Chu pointed to the mountain range where Xiu lived in the barren land and said to the female dwarf: “I want to build a castle here. Can it be done?”

“Of—” The female dwarf’s voice stopped abruptly when she saw clearly what place it was.

She trembled: “Here… seems not very safe?”

Wen Chu exchanged a glance with the surprised Xiu, curved his eyes into a smile: “It doesn’t matter. If you are worried about the Dragon Race, I can solve it for you. You only need to be responsible for the construction. We are willing to bear the risk of subsequent destruction by the Dragon Race.”

The dwarf was still hesitant: “This… you wait a moment, I’ll go discuss with the manager.”

After speaking, she trotted away with the map, leaving only Wen Chu and Xiu sitting on the sofa.

Xiu looked at Wen Chu and asked: “Why choose the wasteland? If the castle is near the Forging Duchy, your food, clothing, housing, and transportation will be much more convenient.”

Wen Chu blinked: “Spending your money, and making you leave your home with me, wouldn’t that be too excessive of me?”

He had seen Xiu’s nightmare and knew the significance of the barren land to Xiu.

For Xiu, that place was not only a nightmare but also the homeland he lost.

Rather than fleeing with Xiu, Wen Chu wanted to accompany Xiu to personally fill the wasteland with green grass and flowers.

Xiu had treated him like this before.

Of course, there was another reason that couldn’t be stated clearly—

He hadn’t found out what was in that storage room yet.

If Xiu really hid someone, how could he allow Xiu to build a castle on one side to keep a mistress in a golden house, and keep a lover on the other side, enjoying the blessings of having both?

Want to send him away? Impossible.

Wen Chu picked up the tea served by the dwarf lady with a smile and took a sip.

Just as he finished drinking, the manager walked out hurriedly.

Wiping his sweat, he said: “Two guests, must you build the castle in the wasteland? You also know the danger there…”

Xiu, who had been silent since Wen Chu finished speaking just now, threw a gem over: “Is it enough?”

The manager caught the gem, keenly detected the fluctuation of spiritual power on it, and widened his eyes after seeing clearly the gems filling the storage space.

Xiu threw another one over: “Can construction start?”

“Of course!” The manager saluted directly. “We will start work tomorrow!”

“No.” Xiu pondered for a moment.

Remembering Mary’s words, he chuckled lightly: “I have a little trouble to solve in the next few days. When construction can start, I will come to send you a message.”

“No problem!” The manager’s face flushed with excitement. “We can draft the contract now.”

Xiu leaned back lazily on the sofa and pointed at Wen Chu: “Let him sign. He is the owner of the castle.”

Wen Chu wanted to refuse immediately, but the next moment, Xiu’s voice rang in his mind.

【Sign your name. I use a fake name for passing through the Dwarf Race; it has no legal effect.】

Wen Chu shut his mouth, looked at Xiu, and nodded.

While the manager prepared the contract, he lowered his eyes.

The voice that sounded unexpectedly in his mind was really…

Wen Chu suddenly said: 【System.】

System: 【Hmm?】

Wen Chu: 【Nothing, just calling you.】

System: 【…】

Wen Chu pursed his lips and smiled, saying no more.

After signing the contract, he and Xiu walked out of the sales office.

Xiu looked at the sunset in the distance and turned his head to say to Wen Chu: “Shall we stay here for a night? Is there anything else you want to buy? Or eat first?”

For better shopping, the carriage was temporarily stored at the sales office. Wen Chu and Xiu walked leisurely on the wide streets of the Forging Duchy, watching people come and go.

In the distance, the elves who had been moving things back and forth beside the weapon shop seemed to have reached their last trip. Four or five elves were carrying a huge heavy sword together, struggling to move it onto the carriage.

The sword body was red, the handle was shaped like a dragon head, and a fiery red crystal core was embedded in the center.

Wen Chu sharply recognized that it was the sixth-tier Red Flame Bird crystal core Xiu had given away.

Was the circulation speed of crystal cores actually this fast?

Wen Chu was surprised. Xiu keenly sensed his gaze, glanced at the heavy sword, and explained disdainfully: “That’s a heavy sword used by Berserkers. generally, only weak races like humans would think of ways to forge so many fancy weapons to improve their strength.”

The weak Wen Chu: …

Weapons can improve strength?

Wen Chu was moved. He asked carefully: “I also want a weapon, can I? I can buy it with my own money.”

Xiu: “…But then again, a staff is actually a necessity for mages, especially for races like demons that only cultivate magic power.”

The elves got on the carriage and left. Wen Chu followed Xiu into the weapon shop.

The dwarf in the weapon shop was forging iron and said without looking up: “Hello, Edward’s Weapon Shop. Swords on the first floor, staffs and bows on the second floor, the rest on the third floor. Special customization requires providing materials.”

After speaking, he inadvertently glanced at the two people who came in, stopped his movements, and showed a suspicious look at Xiu: “This gentleman, you look a bit familiar.”

Xiu silently took a step back: “Maybe you mistook me. It’s my first time in the Forging Duchy.”

Intuitively feeling that there might be some grudge between Xiu and the dwarf, Wen Chu hurriedly said: “Mr. Edward, I want a magic wand.”

Only then did the dwarf cast his gaze on him.

He looked at Wen Chu’s swaying heart-shaped tail and small horns, asking confusedly: “Do succubi also need magic wands?”

Wen Chu: “I am a Nightmare.”

Although he looked a bit like a succubus, he didn’t eat essence; he ate dreams.

The dwarf suddenly realized: “Sorry, I can’t distinguish the difference between you guys very well. You demons almost all look about the same. If it’s a Nightmare…”

He pondered for a moment: “Nightmares’ magic power leans more towards soothing, while the principle of a magic wand is to serve as a medium for conducting magic power, amplifying the effect of magic power, which is contrary to the original intention of soothing.”

Hearing the theory about magic power for the first time, Wen Chu pricked up his ears.

Immersed in his own world, the dwarf stood up muttering to himself: “Follow me to the third floor. I remember making something similar before…”

Wen Chu and Xiu followed the dwarf upstairs.

On the stairs, while the dwarf turned his back, Wen Chu whispered to Xiu: “Do you have any grudge against him?”

Xiu was silent for a moment: “My grudge with the entire Forging Guild is quite big.”

Wen Chu was shocked. Just as he wanted to ask Xiu what exactly he had done, the dwarf’s surprised voice came from upstairs: “Found it! It’s this one!”

Wen Chu’s eyes lit up, he walked quickly upstairs, and then fell silent looking at the thing in the dwarf’s hand.

In the dwarf’s hand, he was holding a tuning fork.

It was also fancifully paired with a bunch of golden forks, golden spoons, etc.

Wen Chu: “This is…?”

The dwarf explained excitedly: “This is one of the alien magic wands I made. Inspired by the ethereal sound of the tuning fork, it weakens the influence of magic power while not reducing the original effect of the spell.”

As he spoke, he excitedly shoved the tuning fork to Wen Chu: “Try it, it absolutely suits you!”

Wen Chu took the tuning fork and tentatively tapped it with the metal fork.

“Ding—”

A crisp, ethereal, and penetrating pure tone echoed in the small room, entering straight into the ears of the two people present.

Carrying the soothing magic power of the Nightmare, it circled the auricle, leaving a numbing itch. A warm current spread from the scalp to the back, and then to the limbs.

The whole person seemed to become comfortable. Even Xiu’s tense muscles relaxed unconsciously.

“Ding—”

Another rhythmic tap.

An indescribable sense of stability surged into his heart. Xiu’s pupils constricted, wanting to focus his attention, but inevitably he was pulled into the warm current by Wen Chu.

Chaotic emotions completely calmed down at this moment. Even the restless heart that wanted to devour Wen Chu at all times seemed to be filled.

“Ding—”

Xiu stumbled, almost falling asleep due to being too relaxed.

Also because of this stumble, he finally woke up from the strange feeling just now.

Deep in Xiu’s heart, there was even a faint regret.

If only the time could be a little longer. This kind of warm comfort from complete relaxation of body and mind was a feeling he had never experienced before.

The dwarf’s condition was obviously much better, just closing his eyes and enjoying it intoxicatedly.

“That’s enough,” Xiu said hoarsely.

Wen Chu stopped, holding the tuning fork and looking at him: “Did you feel anything?”

“The effect is very good,” Xiu said truthfully. “I almost fell asleep.”

The dwarf also opened his eyes and looked at Wen Chu with appreciation: “I thought this tuning fork was going to gather dust. I didn’t expect to finally wait for someone who can use it. I have another special staff…”

Saying this, the dwarf rummaged through boxes and cabinets again.

After a while, he handed a slender stick more than ten centimeters long into Wen Chu’s hand.

Wen Chu looked at the small stick in his hand with a pink heart at the tail and a small spoon at the front, silent for a long while: “…This seems to be an ear pick?”

The dwarf jumped up: “What ear pick! This is a magic wand that can turn into an ear pick, tweezers, goose feather stick, and change size arbitrarily, possessing a magic ear-picking mirror screen!”

Wen Chu finally sensed something was wrong.

Why did he feel like he was doing ASMR for sleep aid?

But Nightmares seemed to indeed have a little similarity with sleep aid ASMR…

Seeing Wen Chu hesitate, the dwarf was even more eager to prove himself. He pointed at Xiu, who was still feeling a sense of loss beside him: “If you don’t believe me, take it back tonight and let your companion try it first. If it can’t make your companion paralyzed to the point of being completely unable to get up, I won’t charge you money and will give it to you for free!”

Hearing this, Xiu recalled the not-so-wonderful dream and shuddered.

A thoughtful look flashed in Wen Chu’s eyes.

He smiled and happily wagged his heart-shaped tail: “Of course I trust you. How much for these two ‘magic wands’? I’ll pay you.”

The dwarf was very honest: “They are all bottom-of-the-box items that can’t be sold. I’ll just charge you for the materials. Two packaged together for one thousand gold coins.”

Wen Chu could afford this money. He readily took gold coins from the system space to pay, his tail wagging happily back and forth.

Carrying the shopping bag and hugging Xiu’s arm, Wen Chu walked downstairs with Xiu: “Xiu, let’s find an inn to try it out after we finish eating, okay?”

Recalling the numbing sensation all over his body just now, Xiu was subconsciously a bit fearful and didn’t answer immediately.

Too comfortable. Comfortable to the point that he almost lost consciousness in front of a strange dwarf.

Such a feeling was a bit terrifying for Xiu.

Every inch of his skin was itching and numbing. It was like being hypnotized by a succubus; his whole person was in a trance, without even the strength to resist.

Xiu didn’t really want to show too much weakness in front of Wen Chu, otherwise he would be outdone by Louis.

“Please—”

The youth’s voice came.

Xiu lowered his head and saw Wen Chu holding his arm, palms pressed together, looking up at him eagerly: “I didn’t have a staff before and always went hungry. This is my first time having a staff. Please let me try it, okay?”

So cute.

Xiu was in a daze for a moment and subconsciously agreed: “Okay.”

Just as Wen Chu and Xiu were about to walk out of the weapon shop, with a “bang,” the door was kicked open.

The dwarf was startled: “Who? Who is trespassing in Edward’s Weapon Shop??”

“That sounds really unpleasant,” a familiar voice rang from outside the door.

Wen Chu’s footsteps paused.

In the next moment, a mighty group of people appeared before his eyes.

Behind this group of people were dozens of carriages. Silver-armored soldiers made up the majority, and in the middle were heroes of various races.

And the person who kicked open the door at the front had black horns and red eyes, with powerful demonic energy fluctuations on his body.

It was Louis.

Louis sneered: “We are here to pick up things. Show some respect… Huh?”

His voice paused.

Because he also saw Wen Chu.

Louis was surprised. He hadn’t expected to see the little trash he drove away here at all. He looked Wen Chu up and down.

After so many days, not only was the youth not in a sorry state at all, but his face was rosy, his body covered with gems of various colors, and he was carrying two shopping bags in his hands, obviously having just finished purchasing from the weapon shop.

Louis looked at Wen Chu, then at Xiu whom Wen Chu was holding, and laughed mockingly: “I was wondering why you were so tough. Turns out you found a sugar daddy in advance?”

“This sugar daddy of yours doesn’t seem to have any magic power fluctuations. for money, actually clinging to an ordinary person. Truly worthy of being trash.”

What kind of person is this? Randomly spreading rumors about his relationship with Xiu.

Wen Chu was angry, but before he could speak, he was interrupted by Xiu’s voice beside him.

“Louis.”

Xiu took a step forward to protect Wen Chu, a dangerous dark glint flashing in his eyes.

“Since you don’t have the ability to protect him, don’t come to disturb our lives like a lingering ghost. You personally broke his heart, so don’t blame me for stealing his love.”

“We are already preparing to live together. Now you are the mistress.”

Wen Chu: ?

Louis: ?

The crowd eating melons behind: ?

Wow, the rumors are true?

Louis is actually such a demon city lord.

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Note:
“Mistress” here translates “Xiao San” (Little Three), referring to the third party in a relationship, often derogatory. Xiu is turning the tables by claiming legitimacy.