Traveling Between Two Worlds: From Bread for Maids to Fantasy Overlord

As night faded and dawn broke over the walls of Qin Family Fortress, bathing the blue bricks and gray tiles in a warm gold, the lingering fragrance of grass and trees on the evening breeze mingled with the sounds of children playing below the city walls, dispelling the oppressive atmosphere of the past few days. Having just finished the noisy distribution of supplies, Huang Yiming led Qin Yuling to patrol the city walls, while Qin Hu stayed at the warehouse to hand over duties, and Yang Xiu went to look after the elderly and infirm temporarily housed next to the warehouse. The group gradually disappeared into the morning mist.

On the city wall, a slightly stronger wind caused Qin Yuling's hair ribbon to flutter gently. Her light blue outfit accentuated her slender yet upright figure, and the tassel of the sword at her waist swayed lightly in the wind. Gone was her usual aloofness; she now possessed a gentler demeanor. She turned her head to look at Huang Yiming beside her. He was gazing at the dense forest outside the city, his brows slightly furrowed, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the pistol at his waist. His composed aura made Qin Yuling feel increasingly at ease.

Ever since Huang Yiming returned with a massive amount of supplies, Qin Yuling has often unconsciously paid attention to him. From her initial curiosity about his "immortal artifacts" to being moved by his composure, wisdom, and sense of responsibility, that naive affection had already quietly taken root in her heart. However, due to the reserve of a young girl, she never dared to express it directly. Only in these moments of solitude did she dare to secretly hide her feelings in her eyes.

"What are you thinking about?" Huang Yiming noticed her gaze, turned his head to look at her, a faint smile appeared on his lips, and his tone was gentle, shedding the aloofness and sharpness he showed when facing strangers, and becoming more affectionate.

Qin Yuling's cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly looked away, feigning composure as she gazed at the fortress below the city wall. Her voice was barely audible, carrying a hint of panic: "N-nothing, I was just wondering if the Black Stone Sect really came to attack, could we defend the fortress and our supplies?" As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt a pang of annoyance—she was thinking of him the whole time, yet she had chosen such a clumsy excuse.

Huang Yiming glanced at her reddened earlobes, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes. He didn't point out her panic, but followed her words, saying, "Don't worry, supplies are plentiful, the city defenses have been reinforced, and Qin Hu and the guards are on duty. If the Black Stone Sect dares to come, they will be sure to never return." He paused, his gaze falling on her tense profile, and added, "With me here, I won't let anything happen to you or Qin Family Fortress."

A simple sentence, yet like a warm current, instantly flowed into Qin Yuling's heart, causing her tense shoulders to relax slightly. When she turned to look at him, the panic in her eyes faded, replaced by a touch of determination and shyness: "I believe in you. Ever since you took out that 'magical artifact' at the city gate, and ever since you saved my father with Western medicine, I have always believed in you."

The two stood side by side at the edge of the city wall. The morning mist gradually dissipated, and sunlight shone through the clouds, casting long shadows on them. The atmosphere grew increasingly intimate and intimate. Huang Yiming could clearly smell the faint fragrance emanating from her, and he could also read the unspoken feelings in her eyes. A warm feeling welled up in his heart—Qin Yuling's pride and sincerity, Yang Xiu's gentleness and steadfastness, were his most precious bonds in this other world.

"You've worked so hard these past few days," Huang Yiming said softly, his gaze falling on the bloodshot eyes of her. "You've personally handled everything from distributing supplies to deploying city defenses, and you've been busier than me." Since Qin Cang fell ill and began recuperating, Qin Yuling had taken on the heavy responsibility on her own, managing the miscellaneous affairs within the fortress and assisting him in deploying defenses. Her resilience and competence far exceeded what a young girl should be expected to shoulder.

Qin Yuling's cheeks flushed even more, and she quickly waved her hand, "It's not hard work, it's what I should do. Protecting Qin Family Fortress is my responsibility, and besides, with you by my side, it's all worth it." As soon as she said it, she realized that her words were too blunt, and she quickly lowered her head, her fingertips tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, even her ears turning red. She looked shy and cute, completely lacking the decisiveness she usually displayed when commanding troops.

Seeing her like this, Huang Yiming couldn't help but chuckle softly. He reached out and gently brushed a fallen leaf from her shoulder, his movement natural and tender. This unintentional touch made Qin Yuling stiffen, her heart race instantly, her breathing quicken, and her cheeks burn like boiled eggs. But she didn't pull away; instead, she tilted her head slightly, her eyes filled with girlish shyness and adoration.

Just then, a rough shout came from below the city wall, instantly breaking the ambiguous atmosphere: "Brother Huang! Sister Yuling! What are you two doing up there? I've finished inspecting the warehouse, so I'm here to let you go down and rest!" Qin Hu carried a wooden stick and strode up the stairs, his face still covered in dust. His honest face was full of doubt, completely unaware of the subtle atmosphere on the city wall.

Qin Yuling was startled by the sudden shout and quickly took a step back, distancing herself from Huang Yiming. Her eyes darted around in a panic, and even the blush on her ears deepened. Huang Yiming shook his head helplessly. Qin Hu's honest and straightforward nature always managed to perfectly disrupt the atmosphere, making him a veritable "atmosphere destroyer," yet he was somehow impossible to hate.

"What's the rush?" Huang Yiming patted Qin Hu on the shoulder with a smile and teased him. "Your sister and I are inspecting the city defenses. You've come at the right time. Go check the guards at the city gate again. Don't slack off again."

Qin Hu scratched his head, looking aggrieved. "I didn't slack off! I kept a tight watch on the warehouse; not even a fly could get in!" As he spoke, his gaze swept over Qin Yuling's flushed cheeks, then looked at Huang Yiming. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed with a look of sudden realization, "Oh! I know! You two are alone together! I won't disturb you; I'll go on my patrol now. You two continue!"

"Qin Hu! What nonsense are you spouting!" Qin Yuling was both ashamed and angry. She glared at Qin Hu, her clear voice carrying a hint of reproach. She reached out to hit him, but Qin Hu nimbly dodged her.

"I'm not lying!" Qin Hu shouted back as he ran, "Brother Huang, you'd better treat my sister well! I'm waiting to drink your wedding wine!" His honest shouts echoed throughout the city tower, and even the guards on duty below couldn't help but chuckle, their eyes full of good-natured teasing as they looked at the two of them.

Qin Yuling was so embarrassed by his shout that her cheeks burned. She wished she could disappear into the ground. She glared at Qin Hu's fleeing back, then looked at Huang Yiming with a mixture of shame and anger, her eyes full of embarrassment: "Don't listen to his nonsense. He's just honest and outspoken."

Huang Yiming couldn't help but smile at her embarrassed and shy appearance, his tone gentle: "I know, he was just saying it casually, don't take it to heart." He paused, his gaze becoming serious, "However, Yuling, I understand your feelings. It's just that the Black Stone Sect is eyeing us covetously right now, and the trade has only just gotten on track. I can't be distracted. Once we've dealt with the Black Stone Sect and stabilized the situation, I will definitely give you an explanation."

Hearing this, the embarrassment in Qin Yuling's eyes gradually faded, replaced by joy and anticipation. She nodded vigorously, her voice soft yet firm: "I'll wait for you, no matter how long it takes. Even if it's just to stay by your side, helping you manage the fortress and deploy defenses, I'll be willing." She no longer concealed her feelings; the love in her eyes was direct and passionate, devoid of her former pride and reserve.

Looking into her sincere eyes, Huang Yiming felt a warmth in his heart. He nodded gently, saying nothing more, but turned to look at the dense forest outside the city, his gaze gradually becoming serious. Just now, when Qin Hu shouted, he vaguely sensed a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy, fleeting and indistinct, yet carrying the unique chilling aura of the Black Stone Sect cultivators—it seemed that the Black Stone Sect had already quietly approached, and the threat of a sneak attack had never disappeared.

"Let's go," Huang Yiming said, withdrawing his gaze and regaining his composure. "Let's patrol the western city wall again. It's low-lying and a weak point in the defense. If the Black Stone Sect wants to launch a sneak attack, they will most likely start from there."

Qin Yuling nodded quickly, suppressing her shyness and joy, and regained her usual competence, following closely beside Huang Yiming. The sword at her waist was slightly drawn, and her eyes vigilantly scanned the surroundings. The two walked side by side on the city wall, their steps steady, occasionally exchanging whispers about the city's defenses. The atmosphere remained ambiguous, but there was a hint of tacit understanding between them as they fought side by side.

Just as the two reached the corner of the west city wall, Huang Yiming suddenly stopped, raised his hand to signal Qin Yuling to be quiet, secretly gripped the pistol at his waist, and looked coldly at the dense forest below the city wall—that cold spiritual energy fluctuation had reappeared, even clearer than before. Obviously, the Black Stone Sect cultivators were already lurking nearby and could launch a sneak attack at any time.

Qin Yuling instantly understood. She held her breath, placed her hand on the hilt of her sword, and warily scanned the depths of the dense forest. Her aura instantly sharpened, all her shyness vanished, and she regained the majesty of the young master of the fortress. She turned her head to look at Huang Yiming, her eyes filled with determination, silently conveying her meaning—no matter what happens, she will be by his side to face the crisis together.

Huang Yiming felt her gaze, turned his head and nodded slightly to her, a hint of warmth flashing in his eyes, which was then replaced by coldness. He slowly drew his pistol, pointed the muzzle at the depths of the dense forest, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth—since the Black Stone Sect cultivators dared to come to his doorstep, then let them not leave alive. He could take this opportunity to intimidate the Black Stone Sect and let them know that Qin Family Fortress was not a place they could spy on at will.

Deep within the dense forest, two dark figures lurked silently, their eyes greedily fixed on the two men on the city wall. They glanced again at the distant warehouse, a chilling smile playing on their lips. They had already ascertained the defenses of Qin Family Fortress and understood Huang Yiming's strength. They were simply waiting for the opportune moment to launch a surprise attack, seize the supplies and the "immortal artifact" on Huang Yiming's person, and return to report. Completely unaware, their movements had already been detected by Huang Yiming, and an invisible net was silently closing in on them.