Chapter 115: That’s too much

"Your kindness and courage will not be forgotten."

Kyle was momentarily taken aback by the sincerity of the man’s words despite being a little rude with his manners he was really humble. He thought he would have at least have little cockiness as a village chief but no he was humble to say the least which.

’Xi Zheng, huh? So that’s my future father-in-law’s name. Plenty humble I would say.’

He quickly pushed the thought aside and returned his attention to the village chief.

"You are too kind, Chief Xi," Kyle replied humbly. "I merely did what I could to survive. I never intended to cause such a commotion, and I certainly don’t believe I deserve all this praise at all."

’That’s right. Praise me a little more. You know what? Bow your heads a little lower, you little downers. That’s the spirit!’

He maintained his modest smile, carefully concealing his inner thoughts. He was getting little bit too much of himself at the movement.

Xi Zheng shook his head.

"Please don’t belittle your own achievements, young hero. Many experienced hunters and martial artists have attempted to deal with that beast. Some never returned, while others were forced to flee. Yet you succeeded where so many others failed."

He glanced at Kyle’s bandaged shoulder, his expression becoming more solemn.

"And you paid a heavy price for it. Had Yue’er not discovered you outside the forest, I fear we would have been attending your funeral instead of meeting you here."

Xi Yue, who had been standing quietly beside Gu Yuan, lowered her eyes slightly.

Kyle noticed the gesture but refrained from commenting.

’Well, that would’ve been unfortunate. Dying twice in such a short period would be a pretty embarrassing achievement.’

Outwardly, however, he merely smiled faintly.

"I’m grateful that Miss Xi found me in time. Without her help and Elder Gu’s treatment, I doubt I would have survived. If anyone deserves thanks, it is the two of them."

Gu Yuan stroked his beard with a pleased expression, while Xi Yue looked somewhat embarrassed by Kyle’s praise.

Xi Zheng nodded approvingly.

"You are not only capable, but humble as well. Such qualities are rare among martial artists these days."

’Oh, come on. Stop keep going with all this flattery. At this rate, I’m going to start believing my own hype and forgot I am nothing but a fly right now.’

Kyle lowered his gaze modestly, pretending to be uncomfortable with the compliments.

"Chief Xi, you flatter me. I still have much to learn, and I can hardly call myself an accomplished martial artist."

The village chief regarded him thoughtfully.

"May I ask which sect you belong to, young hero? With your abilities, you must have received instruction from an extraordinary master."

Kyle’s smile stiffened for the briefest moment.

’Ah, shit. Here we go again. Why bother with all such trivial details.’

He had anticipated questions about his background eventually, but he hadn’t expected them so soon. He couldn’t exactly tell these people that he came from another world and used a magical System to fight beasts.

For all he knew, such a revelation might earn him a strange label, or they might simply consider him delusional. Of course, none of them would likely say that outright to his face. After all, nobody wanted to offend someone they believed was powerful enough to kill the beast that had terrorized their village for years.

He decided to keep his explanation simple.

"My master was a reclusive individual," Kyle answered carefully. "I spent much of my time training away from the world, so I’m afraid I don’t know much about the major sects or their current affairs."

It wasn’t entirely a lie. After all, the System had provided him with abilities that no ordinary person in this world was likely to understand. Besides, he had technically trained away from this world while living on Earth, which was presumably located countless galaxies away from his current destination.

’Thank God he bought it.’

Xi Zheng appeared to consider his answer before nodding.

"I see. A reclusive master would explain your unusual appearance when Yue’er found you."

Kyle’s bandaged face and the scars left by his battle with the Bloodfang Wolf certainly made him look like someone who had recently survived a brutal encounter.

*Well, there are plenty of reclusive masters in martial arts novels. Some train their disciples in isolation to overthrow the heavens, while others hide them away from the outside world until they become powerful enough. If anything, I’m practically following the tradition.’

"Regardless, you are our benefactor," Xi Zheng continued. "Please don’t hesitate to ask if there is anything you require during your recovery. Our village may not be wealthy, but we will do everything within our means to ensure you receive proper care."

Kyle’s expression softened.

"Thank you, Chief Xi. Your hospitality is already more than enough. I wouldn’t want to trouble the village any further."

’Although, if you’re offering, I certainly won’t refuse a comfortable place to stay and a few decent meals.’

Xi Zheng smiled at his response before exchanging glances with the elders accompanying him.

"Everyone, I believe we should do more than simply offer our words of gratitude. The Bloodfang Wolf has plagued our village for years. Its death is something every household deserves to celebrate."

One of the elderly men immediately nodded.

"Chief Xi speaks wisely. That beast killed our people and destroyed our livestock. Now that it has finally been slain, the villagers deserve to celebrate without fear. We should organize a feast in honor of our benefactor!"

"Indeed!" another elder agreed. "We should announce his achievement throughout the village. Let everyone know that the beast which tormented us for years has finally met its end."

The remaining elders voiced their agreement, their expressions filled with enthusiasm.

Xi Zheng turned back toward Kyle.

"Then it is settled. We shall hold a village celebration in your honor, and the village will prepare a suitable reward to express our gratitude."

Kyle was taken aback.

"A celebration? Chief Xi, surely that isn’t necessary. I really don’t deserve such a grand reception. I was merely trying to survive, and the fact that I managed to kill the beast was fortunate enough."

’Wait, an entire village celebration? Damn, I’m already becoming a celebrity.’

He was tempted to accept immediately, but he reminded himself that maintaining a humble image was probably the wiser choice and also he didn’t wanna attract a lot of attention right now. He needed to get plenty stronger before he become famous enough to be recognized by miles.

Xi Zheng, however, shook his head firmly.

"Young hero, this is not merely a matter of rewarding you. Your deed has restored peace to our village. The people deserve to know that they no longer have to live in fear, and you deserve recognition for making that possible."

The elders said in agreement.

Kyle could tell that they were genuinely determined to repay him. Refusing everything outright would probably accomplish nothing except making the conversation unnecessarily awkward.

Still, he didn’t particularly need a grand celebration or a mountain of gifts. What he needed was somewhere safe to recover while learning more about this world.

After a moment’s thought, he spoke again.

"If you truly wish to do me a favor, then I have a small request."

Xi Zheng immediately straightened.

"Please, speak freely. If it is within my power, I shall do my best to fulfill it."

Kyle smiled faintly.

"I am unfamiliar with this region, and my injuries make traveling rather difficult at the moment. If possible, I would be grateful if you could arrange a place for me to stay within the village until I have recovered. I don’t wish to impose on Elder Gu any longer than necessary."

’And, preferably, somewhere close to your daughter. But let’s keep that little detail to ourselves.’

Xi Zheng stared at him for a moment before breaking into a hearty laugh.

"Is that all? You have saved our village from a calamity, yet your request is merely a place to stay?"

He turned toward the elders.

"Since our benefactor requires accommodation, I shall arrange for him to stay at my residence. There are several available quarters within my household, and he will receive the best care we can provide."

Kyle’s eyes widened slightly.

’Wait. Your residence? As in, the village chief’s residence?’

That was considerably better than he had expected.

Not only would he have a comfortable place to recover, but he would also have a convenient opportunity to become better acquainted with Xi Yue.

’Father-in-law, you really are a generous man. You won’t regret your decision at all.’

He quickly lowered his head in gratitude.

"Thank you, Chief Xi. I am truly grateful for your generosity. I shall do my best not to inconvenience your household."

"There’s no need for such formalities," Xi Zheng replied warmly. "From this day forward, consider yourself an honored guest of my household. Your recovery is our priority."

The elders expressed their approval, and Gu Yuan nodded with satisfaction.

Kyle returned their gestures with a modest smile.

"Then I shall gratefully accept your kindness."

’And I shall remember your daughter, too.’

He kept that final thought firmly to himself, feeling rather pleased with how things had turned out. Perhaps his luck in this world wasn’t entirely terrible after all.