Chapter Thirty-six: The Spring Fairy

A peculiar person? Well, whether they're peculiar or not, Xianyu doesn't know. Even though the person claimed to have seen the Spring Sprite, it didn't necessarily mean it was Fench. But then again, it seemed unlikely. Fench, while a bit enigmatic, didn't quite fit the bill of being "weird" either. So he couldn't be certain if the people in those cottages were familiar to him.

Xianyu isn't sure if the inhabitants of those cottages are familiar to him.

Reflecting on Finch's extraordinary story, Xianyu can't help but feel a sense of wonder. The bond between an almost immortal being and a mere human, whose life spans only a few decades, truly seems improbable.

"No one has seen it? Hah..."

He chuckled softly, not saying anything more, simply turning his gaze toward the nearby mountain spring.

At the same time, Hopkins spoke up.

"Around here... is where I normally fill up my 'Holy Water.'"

In fact, it wasn't necessary for him to say it; Xianyu had noticed as well. Although the elemental concentration in that location wasn't particularly strong, it was still stronger compared to other places, and if you didn't get close, it was easy to overlook.

"Yeah, I see it. You can go back now."

Pausing for a moment, he added, "Of course, you can stay if you want, but if any danger arises later, I won't be responsible."

Xianyu's words made Hopkins, who had considered going further, immediately halt. As someone who had been around for many years, he understood the meaning behind those words.

"Ahh, I understand. I'll be on my way then," replied Hopkins, not wanting to push his luck with this mysterious stranger.

As Hopkins turned to leave, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. He had made a good deal and earned a substantial amount of Mora. It was a risk, but it seemed to have paid off.

Xianyu had no real connection or friendship with Hopkins; it was merely a business arrangement. However, he couldn't risk his "business partner" getting into danger.

Elemental creatures like the Spring Sprite could be dangerous to ordinary people. Even if the elemental concentration reached a certain level, it would make them uncomfortable. Given the long existence of the Spring Sprite, its strength couldn't be too weak; it might even be classified as a "lord."

The Spring Sprite not revealing itself was a good thing. If it appeared, the elemental balance in the area would likely change dramatically. The current environment was a result of the Spring Sprite's efforts to conceal its presence. If the less intelligent elemental lords approached, they might fall before even getting close.

"Perhaps that's one of the reasons the Spring Sprite has been avoiding Finch."

Standing on a protruding rock, Xianyu observed the water's surface. After a while, he spoke, "I know you can sense my presence, and I'm aware of your existence. I have some questions that I need your answers to. Would you be willing to come out and talk?"

"Of course, if you have some tasks that need to be handled, I can do that as well."

Xianyu's words resonated through the tranquil forest, but after a long while, the calm spring remained undisturbed, showing no sign of acknowledgment.

"It seems there's no room for negotiation. In that case, I'll have to use a little trick."

"Crystal Butterfly, freeze this spring."

This form of coercion would undoubtedly provoke the other's displeasure and hostility, and Xianyu was fully aware of that fact. However, there weren't many alternatives. It wasn't feasible for Xianyu to dive into the water himself. It was better to force the other party to come out.

As a "lord" of the Cryo Crystal Butterfly, its strength might not compare to those powerful beings, but it was still relatively "strong" in this context. Even with the low ice elemental concentration in this place, completely freezing the small spring wasn't a difficult task.

Upon receiving the command, the spring slowly began to crystallize, and snowflakes drifted through the air. The surrounding environment started to grow colder. These environmental changes indicated that the other party was taking action. If not, it would have frozen rapidly instead of this gradual process.

The elemental confrontation was beginning to make the environment more complex, transitioning between dampness with mist and chilling cold with scattered ice crystals.

"Human! Why have you come here? I have been within this spring for a long time, rarely venturing outside. I may not know what you seek."

The ethereal voice suddenly resonated, prompting Xianyu to stop his actions. The Cryo Crystal Butterfly ceased its freezing, and the Spring Sprite's presence receded.

At this moment, the Spring Sprite didn't take advantage of the opportunity to attack, which suggested that the other party had little desire for combat.

Both sides stopping their actions led to a calmer atmosphere.

Xianyu: "Actually, this behavior was not my intention. It's just that your concealment is truly remarkable, forcing me to take these measures. I hope you can understand.

"And the matter I'm inquiring about doesn't concern the outside world; it pertains to your kind."

The Spring Sprite seemed somewhat confused by this, as if not fully comprehending the meaning behind Xianyu's words.

Despite having intelligence rivaling that of humans, she couldn't quite grasp his message.

Somewhat uncertain, she asked, "My kind?"

"Yes, your kind!

"I've heard that Hydro elemental beings like yourselves can merge with each other, enhancing your strength and evolving. That's why I specifically came here to seek traces of your existence."

Xianyu didn't hide his true purpose, as it was the main objective. There was no need for concealment.

The Spring Sprite seemed hesitant to respond. This method of merging was indeed a way to strengthen themselves, but it also had its hazards. It was easier for weaker individuals, but when facing powerful beings, maintaining one's self was a concern.

Moreover, this method was unique to water elemental spirits. And once taken to a certain extent, it wouldn't yield any further benefits.

However, looking at the extraordinary young man before her and the Cryo crystal butterfly fluttering in the air, she decided to speak up.

"Such rumors, I don't know where you've heard them, but judging by your circumstances, it seems you want that Cryo crystal butterfly to continue growing stronger, right?"

"But I'm afraid it's unfortunate. This method is unique to us water elemental spirits. It's almost instinctive for us to know how to do it, but we don't know how to share it with others."

Pausing for a moment, she glanced at the Cryo crystal butterfly again and continued, "Moreover, with the strength of the Cryo crystal butterfly on your head, even if my method could be applied, its effect on it wouldn't be significant."

The Spring Sprite didn't understand why the Cryo crystal butterfly possessed such power or how the other person had managed to tame it. But she did understand one thing: this man was not someone she could contend with.

Just dealing with the Cryo crystal butterfly in the sky posed a significant challenge, not to mention facing an enigmatic Chosen One. Despite having some contingency plans, engaging in pointless combat was far less preferable than having a conversation.

The Spring Fairy's words left Xianyu somewhat disappointed. Despite being prepared for such a possibility, the outcome was still a letdown.

However, this disappointment quickly faded away. He looked at the Spring Sprite, who appeared almost human-like. If it weren't for her elemental nature, one might even mistake her for a human. Her delicate facial features explained why Old Finch had waited so patiently for her.

"Well then, I apologize for the intrusion. As compensation, is there anything you need my assistance with?"

Xianyu's offer left the Spring Fairy momentarily puzzled. She appeared to be contemplating something. However, after glancing towards the nearby wooden hut and heaving a sigh, she didn't answer Xianyu. Instead, she gradually merged back into the springwater.