As a villain, he could do whatever he wanted.

Page 175

The temple is not particularly large, but its architectural style is full of ancient and sacred atmosphere. The huge stone pillars are carved with intricate and unfamiliar patterns, and the temple door is half-closed, as if silently telling the story of the vicissitudes of time. The temple is surrounded by weeds, and it has obviously been abandoned for a long time without any trace of human presence.

"Hmm? This place...it feels so familiar."

Standing at the temple entrance, Miss System tilted her head slightly. For some reason, she felt a sense of familiarity, and a hint of drowsiness appeared on her face.

As for Lius, he was quite curious about this ancient temple.

Pushing open the heavy stone door, an ancient scent mixed with dust and moss rushed out.

Sunlight poured down from the broken curved roof of the temple, forming bright beams that dispelled the gloom inside and made the swirling dust particles clearly visible.

The temple's interior structure is very simple. Directly in front is an empty altar. The place where the statues of gods were once enshrined is now just a cracked base, in no good condition.

What truly captured their attention were the enormous, continuous murals on the walls on either side of the temple. "Hmm? This is the scene before us," the system exclaimed in surprise, her eyes widening in astonishment at the murals before her…

Chapter 403: A Date with Miss System (Part 4)

"Oh? Are these... murals?"

Looking at the wall in front of him, Leus glanced at it slightly.

The paint on these murals has long since faded, and in many places, it has peeled off, making the images blurry. But even so, the content depicted on them can still be barely discerned.

The first mural depicts a world filled with chaos and darkness.

In the second mural, a beam of light pierces the darkness, and a goddess draped in stars, her features blurred, is born from the light. In the third mural, tiny humans appear at the bottom, kneeling on the ground, devoutly praying to the goddess. In the fourth mural, the goddess bestows divine power upon humanity, enabling them to fight against those beast-like demons, and continuously supports and blesses them. "The murals after that are all blurred; only the general outline can be discerned. Are they telling stories from ancient times?"

Lius pondered for a moment, then turned to look at the system beside him. "Hmm?"

The next moment, he found that Miss System was standing there motionless, staring blankly at the mural on the wall.

Those blue eyes, which always sparkled with lively light, now seemed to be covered with a layer of mist, empty and sad. Her body was trembling slightly, and her small hands were rubbing tightly. The mischievous smile that was always on her face had vanished without a trace.

An indescribable, profound sense of loss and loneliness emanated from her small body, which caught Lius's eye, and he gradually came to his senses.

This mural depicts her story.

The dusty murals and the abandoned temple tell the story of this goddess who was once revered by all people, and then forgotten by them.

"System Miss... are you alright?" Lius called softly, slowly walking to her side. The System Miss seemed not to hear him, still silently looking at the last broken mural.

In the end, a sigh escaped her lips. She had always known that the people of today no longer worshipped her, their former goddess, and she had already resigned herself to this reality.

But knowing is one thing, seeing this oblivion so clearly recorded in the form of murals is another. The sense of loneliness that transcends millennia overwhelmed her at that moment.

"This system... well, forget it. Faith and all that doesn't matter. That's just how humans are. It's not a big deal. At least there are believers like Xiaoyou who remember me, and that's enough."

Lius didn't speak, but instead stretched out his arms and gently and tenderly embraced her from behind.

The system girl's body stiffened abruptly, and then, the hard shell she had been maintaining seemed to melt away instantly in the sudden warmth.

She fell silent, simply nestled quietly in Leus's arms, burying her face in his chest. A sigh escaped her lips again, and Leus gently stroked her long, flowing golden hair, whispering in her ear in the tenderest of voices, "The world changes, people's hearts are fickle; these are things you cannot foresee." He paused, then pulled her closer. "Even if the whole world forgets who you are, even if all the temples have fallen, all the murals have faded… won't I still be here?"

"I, Lius=Fren, will always remember you, Miss System, remember who you are, and remember everything you have done for this world." The delicate body in Wuming's arms trembled even more violently, and the suppressed, soft sobs that had been lingering for so long finally escaped from his chest.

After an unknown amount of time, the sobbing gradually subsided. "After letting out a breath, Miss System lifted her head from his arms, her eyes red-rimmed, like a wronged little rabbit, but her blue eyes regained a glimmer of light."

She looked at Lius, sniffed, and then pushed him away forcefully, pretending to be relaxed. "Hmph! This system is not that fragile." Her voice still had a strong nasal tone, but she tried her best to straighten her back and put on an "I'm fine" look.

"That was just a tactical show of weakness! It was to test your reaction, host! To see if you would say anything that would disappoint this system in this situation! As for the result... barely passing!"

"Another excuse like this? Ha, that's so typical of you, Miss System..."

This stubborn explanation made Leus smile helplessly, and he felt an overwhelming surge of affection for her. "So, it was our great System who put me under pressure. Did I pass?" "I already said, barely. You passed." With that, the System raised her delicate chin, regaining some of her usual haughty demeanor, then pressed herself against Leus's chest, revealing a mischievous smile.

"Furthermore, considering your decent performance, this system will mercifully explain some of the details of these murals to you personally!"

"Oh? Do you want to tell me about your past, Miss System?"

"That's right, it might be a sudden urge to reminisce, so I'm taking this opportunity to have a good chat with you, host." Haha, I'm really looking forward to it, to the story told by the goddess herself!

Looking at Miss System, Leus smiled slightly, gently took her delicate little hand, and led her into the empty temple. He watched as Miss System stretched out her hand and pointed to the "historical details" on the murals one by one.

"Look here, when this system deals with demons, it's far more impressive than what's depicted in this painting! The sky is filled with countless demonic dragons; it's practically the end of the world!"

"And here! Meeting the former ruler of humanity, the seven female protagonists were all blessed by this system! They obtained the system's divine artifacts."

"As for the last one... um... something's not quite right. This system never showed such a serious expression. This system has always been very gentle, and I always have a smile on my face when dealing with people. I'm never that serious!"

Sunlight streamed through the curved roof, illuminating Miss System's face, which had regained its radiance and was still buzzing with excitement. Her words were full of vitality, as well as a nostalgic reflection on the past.

As for Lius, he didn't interrupt her, but listened quietly and gently with a smile to her "explanation".

He knew that as long as he was here, as long as he could still hold her hand, this forgotten temple would no longer be her lonely witness, but rather their unique, secret rendezvous place.

Chapter 404: An Unexpected Encounter (Part 1)

And so, as time went by, it grew dark.

The date with Miss System ended in a warm yet slightly complicated atmosphere. As Lius embarked alone on his journey back to the mansion, the sun was already setting.

The golden afterglow cast a long shadow over him, and the evening breeze swept across the fields, bringing with it the fresh scent of earth and grass. "Ah... This system is a little sleepy and will go to rest first. Host, you should go home by yourself. I won't stay with you any longer."

"Didn't you say you wanted me to stay by your side all day? Why do you want to sleep now?" Leus asked with a mischievous grin as he looked at the System.

"Oh dear... you should rest properly when you need to, otherwise even if you force yourself to go on a date, you won't be able to concentrate on appreciating everything around you. So, this system is going to rest now, bye-bye host."

Miss System was probably a little tired, or perhaps she had exhausted too much energy in that temple that witnessed her being forgotten. At this moment, she yawned and waved to Lius, then disappeared and sank into the depths of his consciousness as usual for a short hibernation.

"Ha... This system is both lovable and frustrating."

Looking at the gradually dimming System Girl, Lius smiled slightly, pleased with the peace and quiet, and couldn't help but yawn softly as he stretched his body in his seat.

Sitting in the carriage, he stretched and yawned while reflecting on everything that had happened that day.

From their initial picnic to their unexpected discovery in the temple, and then to her timeless loneliness and her forced strength and pride, all of these led Leus to develop a deeper understanding and affection for this companion who was called "System" but was actually a "goddess."

His relationship with her had long transcended the simple relationship between host and system. It was a wondrous symbiosis, a confidante, a lover, and also... one of the most indispensable and intimate beings in his life.

"I must spend more time with Miss System after this, and I can't let her cry again, otherwise wouldn't I be a very unqualified boyfriend?"

With this thought in mind, Leus gently twisted his body, then moved his fingers, and a pale blue magic appeared in his seat. He waved the reins in front of him, and like an invisible servant, he drove the carriage forward.

Meanwhile, Leus used magic to drive the carriage, then moved towards the back of the carriage, entered, and lay down on the seat, preparing to rest for a while on the return journey, just like the system lady.

"Help! Is anyone there?! Please help me!"

Just as he closed his eyes, about to drift off to sleep, a cry for help suddenly came from around the corner of the road ahead, reaching the boy's ears. At the same time, a somewhat ravaged scene appeared outside the window, interrupting his thoughts.

"At this very moment, outside the window, a rather exquisitely decorated caravan carriage was leaning at an extremely awkward angle by the roadside."

Its left rear wheel was completely shattered, the axle was tragically stuck in the mud, and a few scattered pieces of wood lay to the side, showing how violent the accident had just occurred.

Upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent that the carriage itself appears to have been deformed by the sudden impact, with the doors and windows tightly wedged into the door frames, presenting a locked state that cannot be opened.

"Thump, thump, thump" In front of the carriage, the two horses pulling it were pawing the ground anxiously and snorting from time to time, seemingly quite frightened by the accident. It was clearly an unfortunate incident, and it seemed that the coachman had gone to seek help nearby, leaving the lonely carriage parked by the roadside in the desolate countryside.

The only sound that rang out was a faint but urgent, tearful cry for help, which escaped from the closed carriage and echoed in the surrounding space.

"Excuse me... Is anyone outside? Help! Can anyone help me?" The voice belonged to a girl, who sounded young, with a soft and delicate tone, and a touch of childishness. At that moment, due to fear and helplessness, her voice was filled with obvious trembling, like a lark trapped in a cage, her cry full of pitiful emotion.

Upon hearing this sound, Libians immediately waved his finger, withdrawing his magic and stopping the carriage.

He wasn't one to stand by and watch someone die, especially when the other person sounded so helpless. He couldn't possibly ignore them. Taking a deep breath, he looked at the overturned carriage. Lius took a few steps and walked over to the carriage. He gently knocked on the jammed door, trying to make his voice sound gentle and trustworthy.

"Hello, miss, I was passing by and heard your cries for help. Do you need any assistance?"

Upon hearing the response from the outside, the voices inside the carriage, after a moment of shock, immediately became excited, filled with a joy akin to surviving a catastrophe, and they spoke incoherently:

“There’s someone! Thank goodness! Someone’s come to save me! Sir, my carriage wheels are broken, and the doors and windows are all stuck; I’m trapped inside and can’t get out… Can you help me?”

"Of course, just protect your body a little and I'll help you right away."

Lipian pondered for a moment, examining the sturdy carriage. He realized that using brute force to pry open the door might cause secondary damage to the carriage and could even injure the people inside. After thinking it over, he came up with an idea.

Taking a few steps back, Leus gripped his mage's staff tightly, gently closed his eyes, and slowly channeled his spiritual energy into the magic crystal embedded at the top of the staff.

“Listen, lady inside.” His voice was steady and clear, with a calming power. “I will now use magic to help your carriage. There may be some shaking during the process, but please don’t panic. Stay put and trust me.”

"Magic? Sir, are you a magician?"

The girl inside the carriage let out a small gasp, her voice filled with surprise and a hint of respect. Lius, however, offered no explanation, simply raising his cane and pointing the tip directly at the crooked carriage.

"Levitation!"

With a deep chant, the crystal at the top of the staff suddenly lit up, and a soft yet bright pale blue light surged out from it, spreading rapidly like living water.

These blue rays transformed into countless slender vines of light, like a giant net, deftly and silently wrapping around every corner of the carriage—from the broken wheels to the sturdy carriage body and the heavy frame.

Soon, the entire carriage was enveloped in a thin, dreamlike blue halo, as if encased in magic...

Chapter 405: An Unexpected Encounter (Part Two)

"Get up."

As the gentle voice faded, the heavy carriage emitted a soft, groaning sound as the wood rubbed together. Then, amidst the incredulous gasp of the girl inside, it smoothly and slowly rose from the muddy ground, finally coming to rest about half a meter above the ground, firmly supported by the pale blue aura of magic, without swaying at all.

Wow! It really does! It really floats! That's amazing!

"Ha, it's nothing, just a small matter, nothing to worry about." Hearing the girl's voice, Lius smiled slightly. "I've already lifted your carriage. Now, I'll escort you to the nearest town, where you can find a craftsman to repair it."

"Really... really...?"

The girl inside the car was clearly taken aback by these kind words. After a long while, she spoke hesitantly, her voice tinged with gratitude:

"Thank you! Thank you so much, Mr. Unknown Magician! You are like a legendary hero! How can I ever repay your kindness?" It was nothing at all. As long as you cherish this opportunity to be rescued, that would be the greatest reward for me.

Lius smiled faintly and waved his hand. The carriage that was floating in the air seemed to have a life of its own, obediently following behind him and moving calmly and steadily along with his carriage.

To ease the girl's tension in the carriage and to pass the time on this rather arduous journey, Lius initiated a casual conversation. "You're traveling alone on roads like this; you really have courage. Are you with a caravan?"

“Yes, sir.” The girl’s voice was still soft, but the initial panic had disappeared, and it had become much calmer. “I…I belong to Ms. Aurora’s caravan.”

"Oh? It's actually Ms. Morola? I've had a lot of contact with her too. I never expected to meet someone from the same caravan here today; what a coincidence, haha."

Lius spoke with a smile, but upon hearing this, the girl's voice suddenly stopped, as if struck by something, and she suddenly sounded dejected and lost. "Oh?"

Leus astutely noticed this change in mood and gently inquired, "What's wrong? Why are you suddenly silent?"

“No, it’s nothing, it’s just… this shipment was specially given to me by Ms. Aurora, so that it would be my first time… my first time delivering goods alone.” The girl’s voice was filled with resentment and self-blame. “She trusted me so much, thinking that I could handle things on my own… but I messed everything up. I just accidentally ran over a stone on the side of the road, broke the wheel, and got myself stuck here. I’m so… useless.”

As she finished speaking, her voice trembled with emotion, and even through the thick wooden planks of the carriage, Lius could clearly sense her deep sense of loss.

Lius could sense that this was a girl who had high expectations of herself, but had fallen into deep self-doubt because of her first failed attempt. Lius could understand this feeling very well.

That's why he needed to comfort him. "Ahem."

He slowed his pace, coughed lightly a few times to make his voice sound more sincere, and then continued, "One failure doesn't mean anything, and you can't define yourself by the word 'useless'."

“But… this is my first solo mission.” The girl pursed her lips, her voice filled with self-reproach. “I failed on my first try. Ms. Aurora will be very disappointed in me, and the others in the caravan will definitely laugh at me…” They might be surprised, they might be skeptical, but those who truly care about you will never laugh at you because of one accident. “Lius patiently comforted her,” he said, “Listen, let me tell you my story.”

He paused, as if organizing his thoughts, before continuing, "As you can see, I am a magician. You might think that magicians are powerful, omnipotent, and very glamorous, right?"

The girl nodded gently.

"But what you don't know is that in the early stages of my magical training, I spent three whole months practicing an extremely basic 'Light' spell."

"What? Three months? Really?" the girl asked in surprise. Of course it's fake.

This kind of simple magic is something you can learn at a glance; why would you spend so much time trying to understand it?

But in order to comfort the girl, it wouldn't be a problem to make up a few stories at this moment, right? "Ahem... Yes, of course it's true."

Lius nodded, a self-deprecating smile in his voice, and continued to recount his "past."

"During that time, my teachers shook their heads, and my classmates laughed. They could easily light up a ball of light, but no matter how much I concentrated or how much I recited the mantra, my fingertips could only emit a tiny, faint light, like a firefly, before it quickly went out."

"During that time, I felt the same way you do now. I thought I was a piece of trash, a complete failure, with absolutely no talent for learning magic. I even thought about giving up, going home to inherit the family business, and never touching these damn magic books again."

Silence fell over the carriage as the girl listened quietly to his story.

"However, my teacher told me something that I still remember very clearly to this day."

At this point, Leus's voice became deep and powerful, carrying an undisguised sincerity as he continued to the girl: "She said, 'The path of magic is never a smooth one. Behind every dazzling success you see are hundreds, even thousands, of failures. Failure itself isn't terrible; what's terrible is losing the courage to try again because of one failure.' From that day on, I stopped thinking about talent, stopped caring about other people's opinions. I simply spent twice or even three times more time practicing than others every day. When I failed, I analyzed the reasons and started again. After countless failures, one day, a ball of light, brighter and more stable than anyone else's, shone in my palm. From then on, I truly took my first step on the path of magic.'"

"Gulp" As Lius uttered these powerful words, the girl in the carriage swallowed hard, a surge of heat coursing through her body.