It's so painful! So hard! So difficult!

After listening to this, Katie lowered her head in thought. She knew about so-called natural disasters. She hadn't expected that, besides humans, the high-level demons would be so unscrupulous in treating these innocent residents.

Seeing that the two believed it, she covered her face and looked like she was crying, but in fact she was laughing.

With this narration, her mission was accomplished.

"I stand alone, guarding my homeland. I don't ask for much, I just hope you'll come visit me more often. Under my command, most monsters will no longer be hostile to you... but you still have to be careful."

Bai Lin put on a very determined expression, "Well, I will definitely come to accompany you when I have time. When I become strong enough, I will go and kill those so-called demons and avenge you and your enemies."

Clearly, the two were just going through the motions again. The naive hero treated the downtrodden queen. A flicker of surprise flashed across Chris's eyes, and then she nodded.

"Well, that's up to you."

After making an appointment with Chris, she began to explain some things about the ice field.

Chapter 57 Divination

"Due to some regulations, I cannot give you more specific information..."

Kress seemed to be thinking about something, and her eyes were erratic as she spoke. But she soon made up her mind and took out her staff.

Katie took two steps back as if by reflex, while Chris smiled awkwardly. "This is divination. Although I can't reveal anything as the Elf Queen, I can still give you some tips through divination."

Bai Lin nodded. The fist-sized orb was filled with rippling starry sky and ocean, making it quite convincing to call it divination. The purple-black color created a sense of mystery, blending the stars and the ocean into one color, attracting the attention of the two.

At this moment, Claire waved her staff to draw their attention back: "Don't stare too long, it'll bewitch you."

As soon as these words came out, the two of them quickly looked away. Chris pointed at Katie with her free hand.

"Little girl, you go first."

Katie took two steps forward and, at Claire's instruction, touched the orb protruding from the top of the staff. Unlike what she'd imagined, the orb existed somewhere between an energy body and a crystal surface. Its feel was roughly like a liquid with a certain tension.

The moment her hand touched the crystal, countless blurry images suddenly flashed through Katie's mind. In that instant, her sensations were infinitely prolonged, and an indescribable pressure overflowed from Katie's chest, gradually turning into pain.

She couldn't help but scream in pain, then regained consciousness. Katie, panting heavily, saw Chris, whose expression was slightly grim, and Bai Lin, who looked worried. The latter took two steps forward and supported Katie, who was a little unsteady on her feet. Katie quickly recovered and took the initiative to walk to the other side.

"Are you okay?" Bai Lin asked with concern.

"Well, go do your divination." Katie said calmly.

The scene I just saw, if nothing unexpected happens, could be the future I will face. If that's the case, staying calm is the most important thing.

If you start to panic now, the above scene will definitely become a certainty, so you have to observe and then break the deadlock.

From Chris's expression and Katie's own feelings, it was completely clear that she had just witnessed a dangerous future. Bai Lin also had a slight sense of something. After all, just then, the magic ball burst out with an ominous, glaring red light, which also made her feel seriously uncomfortable.

She grabbed the dazed Chris's hand and asked, "Why do you look so speechless? What happened?"

Chris shook her head and said, "Don't be so anxious. You two are going forward together. After you see your result, there may be changes."

Bai Lin obediently released her hand and touched the sphere instead. She could clearly hear her own heartbeat and a series of blurry images jumping around.

Although it might be a future existence, the scenes were mostly dull. Bai Lin loosened his hand in frustration, while the expression of Claire in front of him had returned to a relatively calm state. She pointed at Bai Lin and said:

“If you follow your own ideas, you will get unexpected rewards.”

"Why are you so similar to the sorcerer from my original place? You speak ambiguously and make people suspicious at first glance." Bai Lin said this with his head tilted, and Chris said angrily, "Believe it or not."

"By the way, within that icy snowy mountain, there are beings more powerful than me. This is my advice as the forest's master: be extremely careful."

After saying this, Chrissy retracted her staff. She steadied herself and slowly sank into the lake with the sacred tree, waving goodbye. Bai Lin was about to chase after her to ask more questions, but Katie grabbed her hand and shook her head, signaling no. Bai Lin gave up.

On the way home, the atmosphere was quite gloomy. It was not until we returned to the warm tent that Bai Lin said his first words.

"What did you see? Was it dangerous? Answer me, Katie."

Katie glanced at Bai Lin and said, "There's no reason for Chris to deceive us. She gave us her advice calmly, so just do it honestly and don't mess up."

"That's nothing. My thoughts change thousands of times every day, and even I can't figure it out..."

"Don't worry. Just like you, I'm not going to die that easily..." Katie said with a lighthearted yet somewhat cunning smile. "Compared to that, since you can always be resurrected, what did you mean by leaving this world before?"

Bai Lin, who was brooding over this question, was suddenly choked by it. She actually still remembered this sentence? If you hadn't told me, I would have almost forgotten it, okay?

She immediately began to think about how to deal with this problem, and Katie's laughter reached her ears.

"It's okay. Everyone has their own little secrets. It's okay if you don't tell them. But there's no need to dwell on questions that are difficult to answer and far in the future. Look, I don't think there's anything wrong with them myself."

Bai Lin nodded gently after receiving the answer. While it was reasonable to worry about Katie, sitting here and wondering and getting angry was pointless. Without any information, there were too many answers to come from sheer fantasy, and the results would be the same as if he hadn't thought at all.

As long as I take good care of her, it should be fine.

Seeing that Bai Lin's expression was no longer conflicted, Katie spoke again, "However, there must be a punishment for deceiving me."

Bai Lin looked at Katie with a wry smile, "Tell me, what is the punishment."

Katie thought for a moment and poked her cheek with her finger, "Come here and kiss me."

"Uh…"

It's okay, after all, I've always wanted to protect Katie as an elder, so a kiss is nothing...

Although I never feel like an elder.

The moment the lips touched the cheek, it was Katie who blushed. She moved her body instinctively like a frightened rabbit, and Bai Lin quickly moved her head away. She reached out and stroked Katie's head.

"That's good, it cancels it out."

Although her face was flushed, Katie touched her cheek as if she was still unsatisfied. She looked at Bai Lin with a strange look, and Bai Lin also felt a little uneasy.

"No, you have to do this every day before you tell me the truth!"

Chapter 58 Exercise

……

Of course, Bai Lin definitely wouldn't agree to that, so he just dealt with it perfunctorily.

Both Katie, nourished by the spring water, and Bai Lin, who had returned from the dead, were overworked today. After a leisurely dinner, they fell into a peaceful sleep, without incident.

The next morning, as if it had been a long time since they had breakfast together, Bai Lin hurried to the guard team.

She had many questions and things she wanted to do. Through Katie's words, Bai Lin deeply understood her opponent's strength. If there were even more powerful opponents within the glaciers and snowy mountains, then if she died, Katie might not even have a chance to escape.

It was impossible to persuade her to stay here and let him act alone. All he could do was improve his own strength and be able to cover Katie's retreat if an emergency arose. Her magic was not something he could worry about.

As she was thinking, she had already arrived at the guardhouse's entrance. The village wasn't very large, so it would only take her a few minutes to get there on foot. Bai Lin knocked on the door as a formality, then walked in without waiting for a response.

I might bother you more often in the future.

Upon entering, he immediately spotted the guards already training and Leidenhal, who was scolding them nearby. He quickly noticed Bai Lin; after all, a beautiful woman suddenly appearing among such a crowd of men was quite eye-catching. He called out a young man, as if entrusting him with a task, and walked towards Bai Lin.

"How's it going, little girl? Have you completed the mission?" Leidenhal looked at her with a smile.

"I'm halfway done. I think I need to train a little more before heading to the glaciers and snowy mountains."

Leidenhal patted Bai Lin's shoulder. "What can you possibly learn? We only have the basics of swordsmanship here. Combat between humans and monsters is different, and your physical fitness is incredibly good..."

"If we want to fight in real life, isn't the Ice Witch a good choice? She can ensure you survive while still providing enough pressure."

Leighton gave his own advice, as if he thought Bai Lin must have escaped death from the witch last time. Bai Lin smiled noncommittally.

"Ice Witch, we've already won once."

The reason I said "once" was because as long as Claire existed, there would be an infinite number of Ice Witches. It was better for the villagers not to know about Claire's existence. After all, Claire had only promised that most monsters would not attack her and Katie.

It’s rather troublesome to explain, so I just avoid talking about it.

"What?" Leighton widened his eyes as if in surprise.

The Ice Witch, whom he regarded as his lifelong enemy, was defeated by Bai Lin just like that?

Bai Lin smiled bitterly and said, "Actually, there was a certain element of luck involved. How could I possibly be her opponent if I were alone?"

This was not wrong. If Katie's third magic circle hadn't killed the witch who froze the world with its unique properties, the two of them would have been defeated. Upon hearing this, Leidenhal suppressed his shock and returned to his usual natural and rugged appearance.

"So, what did you come here to learn today? I know very well that an opponent like the Ice Witch is definitely not something you can defeat by luck. You must have the corresponding strength."

He stroked his beard, and Bai Lin nodded perfunctorily. It was no wonder the other party thought so, after all, he didn't know Katie's magic level.

"To be honest, I was planning to let you graduate naturally once you returned from the Icefield... but you've clearly already exceeded your requirements in the Ice Forest."

Bai Lin stretched out a hand, signaling him to stop: "Don't say that, I'm here today to study."

Leidenhal pressed her hand seriously. "Then tell me what you want to learn. As long as I know it, I will teach you."

The legendary Son of God, as her first teacher, was naturally an immense honor. Although Leidenhal didn't care about these things, for him, from the little girl who was pushed to the point of losing her temper in front of the campfire at the beginning to the strong warrior with a firm gaze now, Bai Lin's figure had unconsciously become taller in his eyes.

This kind of growth makes him feel very satisfied, a kind of satisfaction that is like raising a daughter.

Bai Lin also looked back at Leighton with a serious look, "Learn another weapon."

"Hmm?" Leighton asked doubtfully.

Logically speaking, mastering a single weapon is a difficult feat in a lifetime. Even the most basic sword swing can differ significantly from the first to the hundredth time, and every moment of actual combat requires years of accumulation. Even a peerless genius, mastering multiple complex martial arts techniques, wouldn't abandon their beloved weapon in just a few months.

This statement gave people the impression that Bai Lin was ambitious, but in Leiden's impression, he was not such a person. He smiled awkwardly.

"Little girl, are you sure? If you're not proficient in using a sword, trying to find another way will only lead to wasting time."

Bai Lin shrugged nonchalantly. Leighton's idea wasn't surprising to her; it certainly wasn't for most people. But she had the system to support her. As long as her thoughts were clear and her actions were decisive, she would achieve her best results.

What she wanted to learn might not be a new weapon, but rather a skill similar to the katana's "Mi-kiri." She didn't even need to change weapons; if she could unleash some unusual skills with the sword, that would be a great success.

Even if the worst-case scenario was to only learn the basics, Bai Lin still didn't mind. Many skills are always a burden, and even his own sword techniques were mostly based on the basics. He'd figured out the arc double slash himself. The Guards really only taught the basics.

But if she didn't receive Leighton's guidance, she would have to take a lot of detours to obtain the technology recognized by the system, so she came here to study.

"Don't worry, just think of it as a way to stretch your body when you're bored. You don't have to help me equip weapons, it will save our village some iron."

Bai Lin said carelessly. Although Leighton frowned, he soon relaxed. He nodded.

"Okay, I'll teach you. But don't use what you've just learned in actual combat. It wouldn't be worth it if you lose your life."

Seeing that he still looked very worried, Bai Lin could only laugh dryly, "Don't worry, I'm the Holy Son, I learn things quickly. Didn't I learn swordsmanship very quickly before?"

Leighton shook his head noncommittally, but also smiled.

Chapter 59 Rumors

The new "martial art" that Bai Lin practiced was the spear.

After a morning of training, Leighton once again said, "I have nothing more to teach you," and stopped teaching. The training before entering the forest was more about mastering the scorching iron forging method than learning sword skills.

Bai Lin could say that she mastered these basic techniques after just one try. Whether it was stabbing or slashing, for her, it was as easy as drinking a glass of water in her daily life.

To show his appreciation for Bai Lin, Leiden treated her to a feast at the tavern today. Bai Lin naturally wouldn't refuse, as she still had many things she wanted to ask Leidenhal. After all, he was the oldest member of the guards, and if he didn't know, no one else would be able to ask.

"Uncle, do you know what's in the ice field?" Bai Lin picked up a piece of meat and put it into his mouth.

Leidenhal didn't hesitate at all, saying, "I don't know." He had never once set foot outside the Ice Forest, which was an insurmountable obstacle for most of the village.

Although they had long known that continued combat with monsters or making excessive noise would only attract more monsters, even if they knew, there was nothing they could do. Even with everyone working together, their monster-killing speed might not be as fast as Bai Lin's. Furthermore, she was just one person, making her movements more concealed.

Bai Lin's current physical abilities probably make him a monster to ordinary people. Can a human who can wrestle with a monster still be considered a human?

But she was still easily slaughtered by powerful monsters. There were definitely many monsters as powerful as Chris. And this was only the outskirts of the Novice Village. Although Chris had explained her special reason for coming here,...

It seems that there are even stronger existences on the other side of the ice and snow mountains.

Therefore, Bai Lin was not complacent at all. She was in urgent need of becoming stronger and acquiring knowledge.

"Rumors or something, that's fine too. Just treat it as a story for me?"

Leightonhal propped up his head and thought for a moment before nodding. Admittedly, the story was real, a kind of bedtime story circulated among the villagers, used to coax children.

Although it wasn't a very long time ago, it was deliberately blurred, like a weathered trace, with only a trace left to be seen.

Decades ago, a noblewoman from a distant land was rescued by a brave man passing through the Ice Forest. The two came to the village for help, but the man, covered in wounds, was taken in by a contemporary witch doctor.

After all, the witch doctor's residence is on the side closest to the forest.

Hearing this, Bai Lin couldn't help but say, "Why put the witch doctor's residence in such a dangerous place? Shouldn't it be placed in a safer place closer to the center?"

"It was built there precisely so people could get treatment as soon as they could leave the forest..." Leighton explained. "Originally, there were supposed to be a lot of residents living there, so it was a form of maintenance. After all, all the young and middle-aged people in our village are soldiers."

"I don't need to explain why it disappeared in this generation."

Bai Lin was stunned. Is this really necessary? Haven't they considered that after the witch doctor really died, the only ones who would suffer would be them who had no medical knowledge.

"At least it's safer now that you're here. It's a pity that the little girl's sister died... She was originally a witch doctor and a guardian, otherwise she should have learned more magic."

Hearing this, Bai Lin finally understood. Klein was not only a witch doctor but also had combat abilities. Since she and Katie were both studying witch doctoring, the villagers had no concerns at all.

"During battles, the witch doctors are evacuated to the safer central area to provide treatment." Leighton shrugged. This was obviously why Katie wasn't present when Bai Lin was fighting the minotaurs.

She nodded and said, "Let's continue with the previous story."