The half-elf struggled to push Zoe, who had a “Strong Physique,” and in frustration, sat on the bed, kicking her legs at Li Ang.

“Stop, stop, stop!” Li Ang shouted.

He said to Zoe, “Dinner’s almost ready. Take a shower first, you all need to rest early, as time will be tight tonight.”

Zoe gave him a hug and, following his advice, went to the bathroom in Dorothy’s room next door.

As the young girl left, the half-elf immediately turned to Li Ang with a smiling face.

Li Ang flicked her smooth, flat forehead slightly and sat down beside her, saying, “Let’s start now.”

The teaching of the Priest’s Professional Skills is different from that of the Paladin, focusing still primarily on casting.

Perhaps her level hadn’t yet reached the point where discussions about faith were necessary.

Though she pouted at first, as the conversation went on, Dorothy sat progressively closer to Li Ang.

During their chat, Li Ang learned that she didn’t believe in the Goddess of Kindness, but in the Elf Goddess.

To say “believe” might not be accurate, she simply grew up listening to her mother’s stories. When choosing a profession, this was learned the quickest, so she became a Priest.

Once she finished the teaching, she learned “Shield of Glimmerlight.”

This is a spell using Magic Power to construct a Light Energy Shield, unable to fully absorb damage for the target but reduces some damage fixedly.

Damage absorption methods don’t have advantages or disadvantages, making this a good Protective Spell.

“At least more useful to the team than the Holy Fire Technique that you struggle to perform,” Li Ang said.

“What? I’m clearly good at healing.”

Afterward, Dorothy also went to prepare for a bath. Before leaving, she glanced at Li Ang with intent to act, but hesitated upon seeing ALulu’s innocent gaze.

Later, Zoe pushed the door open, deflating the half-elf.

Once Zoe was seated on the bed, Li Ang turned his attention to ALulu.

The little pink-haired Xiaoniu was startled, lowering her head almost to her snowy peaks.

“ALulu,” Li Ang called her.

“Sorry, sorry.”

The young girl immediately let out a soft sob.

Hearing her cry, Dorothy also paused in her steps.

“No one’s blaming you, really,” Li Ang said softly.

“But, I keep saying that as long as I’m here, I can protect everyone, yet I didn’t, sobbing…”

Li Ang gently rubbed her head, softly applying strength to lift her head up.

Her delicate little face was completely tear-streaked, and seeing the concerned eyes of others, her sobbing grew louder, “I even lost control and almost hit Zoe!”

“It’s okay, really, they were the ones who led it on purpose,” Zoe said.

Dorothy crouched down next to her, wrapping an arm around her, “As I said before, it’s not your fault others conspired.”

“But, during the recent battles, the two difficult ones, I was of no use at all.”

“Li Ang just taught us how to fight the Blood Eagle,” Zoe said, “We won’t lose tomorrow!”

“And after that?”

“After what?”

“Enemies will only get stronger, right? My first encounter with a strong enemy, and I failed twice, I’m way worse than all of you, I hate myself, Fan Gen was right, I’m unworthy…”

“Don’t say that.” Li Ang immediately interrupted her.

ALulu looked at Li Ang with tearful eyes.

“No, you’re not bad, it’s me who’s not as good as you.”

Zoe lowered her head, “If I hadn’t met Li Ang, the first strong enemy I encountered would have killed me. You saw the snake released today, didn’t you? Her name is Xiaohan, and she originally wouldn’t listen to me.”

ALulu wasn’t expecting Zoe to say such things, gaping with surprise, she couldn’t continue speaking.

“Me too,” Dorothy said.

She sighed, “I used to be in the Ignis Sky Realm, where the Holy Speriel Empire was trying to rise, and my family wanted to join this process, so to ally with other families, they sold me off like a commodity.

“My enemy is my destiny, and without Li Ang’s help, I wouldn’t have had the courage.

“Later on, when leaving the island, there were those terrifying knights in black armor. If one of them comes here, that Blood Eagle would be sliced with one strike.

“Li Ang took me and fled, hahaha, even during the engagement ceremony, romantic, right?”

Andasu added from the side, “You all know my situation. I can’t figure out how to defeat such a demon.”

Listening to them, ALulu seemed to understand, looking towards Li Ang.

Li Ang nodded, “Indeed, this world is very dangerous.”

“In the future as you proceed, there may be more enemies to lose against, more times when you’ll need to run.

“It’s not about being weak, the world is just like this.

“Life is a journey of overcoming challenges. Even if you retreat, the pain won’t disappear.

“But I think it’s best to keep moving forward because doing nothing in place only brings inevitable pain, and failing to act on time leads to the most hurtful powerlessness.

“ALulu, aspiring to be a Ranger-like person, helping the weak you’ve seen is a great thing, giving you every reason to move forward.

“Move forward. None of us will dislike you, and you have no reason to dislike yourself.”

After Li Ang finished, Zoe smiled beside him, “Yeah, you can rely on us more.”

Dorothy lovingly patted Xiaoniu’s head.

ALulu looked at them, then at Li Ang again.

“Tomorrow you will definitely win, proving what I said,” Li Ang stated.

ALulu got up, somewhat at a loss, walking over to Li Ang and extending her hand to him.

When her small hand touched Li Ang, a faint light enveloped her.

“Indeed, the warmth I feel from Brother Li Ang is real.”

Li Ang replied, “Believe in yourself, call upon the Paladin’s power, and the Goddess will answer you.”

“I want to feel a bit of strength from you, is that okay?”

“Hey, all this talking wasn’t for you to cling to him,” Dorothy exclaimed.

Startled, ALulu retreated two steps like a startled animal.

“Did I do something wrong again?”

Zoe glared at Dorothy but began to hesitate herself. After a few seconds, she struggled to say, “I agree, but only for a little while.”

The pink-haired young girl jumped forward and hugged Li Ang, her soft and heavy curves pressing against him before bouncing back.

She bowed and ran back to her room.

“Remember to come down for dinner,” Li Ang said.

“Got it,” ALulu’s voice came from outside the door.

“She definitely won’t forget,” Zoe laughed.

“I’m leaving too.” Andasu said as she walked out the door.

Stopping at the doorway, she suddenly turned back, “Tomorrow, I’ll give my all. You’ve been pampered too much, though I’m in no place to say it now, but I need to fight for more.”

“What?” The half-elf furrowed her brow.

“Then just try,” Zoe replied, expressionless, gripping the sword hilt at her waist.

…

On the third day of the Flowing Silver Combat Skill tournament, the first match of the losers’ bracket, the Sand Beast Gang, after proper treatment and rest, easily defeated last year’s champion Rock Breaker Team, who had just fought through three rounds.

The Defender Knights’ transformed Half Dragon People were all eliminated by the Star Flower Travel Corps. Originally set to face another opponent, the Defender Knights were left with an open round and faced Andasu and her team instead, similarly defeated by Blood Fragrance they were unsure how to deal with.

Thus they arrived at the finals of the loser’s bracket.

Reed continued stirring up the atmosphere, but for the girls who had faced defeat yesterday, they had pushed aside everything external, wearing serious expressions, ready for battle.

Andasu assumed a starting position of a Fist Technique and told the Liger Sisters, “Today I’ll take the lead.”

In the stands, Mort exuded imposing aura, asking beside Li Ang, “Is it today?”

“Yes, today, everything will be resolved here,” Li Ang confirmed.

“Great, I’ve waited long enough,” Mort said, gripping his sword’s hilt as his gaze went past the stands towards the Platinum King on the central high platform.

Seated in the chair, the plump giant was brimming with energy today, continuously conversing with the maids beside him. Behind him, in an inconspicuous spot, stood a red cloak that had never been seen before.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep