Support Class

"Celestial Scholar?" Lin Tian murmured, his brow furrowing in thought. "I don't remember any class with 'Celestial' in its name before."

She chuckled, a wide smile playing on her lips. "Well, what do you expect? You've been out of the game for a few years—things change."

Feilian, finishing his drink, nodded with a similar grin. "Wizard Guild, huh? Sounds like a class that could be either support or DPS."

"I'm still figuring it out," she admitted, glancing down at her gauntlets, which were adorned with brass and wheels, a violet aura swirling around them. "From what I've seen, most of my skills are focused on helping allies—buffing their attack and movement speed or slowing down the enemy."

Lin Tian's eyes lit up with interest. "So, a support class then," he said, rising from his wooden chair. "You know, altering attack and movement speed is a big deal. If your enemies can't dodge or react fast enough, or if your team can strike quicker, it can really turn the tide in a fight. It'll be a huge asset."

Excited, her confidence surged. "I know that! I've been playing for almost ten hours straight. Don't underestimate how much I've learned about my class already!"

Lin Tian offered an apologetic smile, lowering his head. "My bad," he uttered, glancing over at Yu Mei, who had hidden her ID name. "You're not just a newbie after all."

"You'll see! Just show me the best farming spot! I want to level up faster than ever!" she exclaimed, her voice rising with enthusiasm, drawing the attention of several relaxing adventurers around them.

"Keep it down, will you?" Lin Tian said, flustered, his eyes darting around the room. He was wary of drawing too much attention, especially since their conversation had touched on topics that weren't widely known and could arouse suspicion. "Let's talk somewhere else."

Without waiting for a response, he took her hand and led her out of the tavern. Outside, the streets were bustling with adventurers going about their tasks, and the market area was teeming with merchants, busy buying and selling their wares.

"You can't do that," Feilian grumbled, keeping hold of her hand as they walked. "People will think we're veterans and start following us."

Yu Mei pursed her lips and checked behind her, scanning the crowd. "I don't see anyone trailing us."

"For now," Lin Tian muttered, heading toward an unattended carriage. "We need to get out of sight."

As they approached, a mischievous smile appeared on Yu Mei's face. "Isn't that a good thing? You could make a name for yourself!" Her tone was light, almost encouraging.

"I'm not interested," Lin Tian replied, opening the Coachman's menu. "I'd rather stay under the radar."

She chuckled, covering her mouth with her free hand. "Are all introverts like this?" But then, something dawned on her. "Wait, are we going somewhere?"

"Don't you want to level up faster?" he asked, circling around to the back of the carriage. "Come on, hop in!"

Yu Mei was struck with astonishment as she noticed Lin Tian's attire. His red martial artist robes were far from ordinary, and the exotic black staff strapped to his back only added to the air of mystery around him. Filled with a renewed sense of enthusiasm, she quickly caught up to him as they settled into the carriage heading toward their destination.

Neither of them opted to skip the cutscenes, choosing instead to take in the beautiful scenery around them. The sun shone brightly in the blue sky, with abstract-shaped clouds drifting lazily overhead. Yu Mei's black hair fluttered in the breeze, catching Lin Tian's attention for a brief moment before she turned to him.

"Lin Tian," she called softly, startling him as he averted his gaze.

"What is it?" he asked, slightly flustered.

"We might have more in common than I thought," she said. "Both of us decided to hide our ID names. Care to share why?"

"No," Lin Tian replied firmly, his tone leaving no room for further discussion.

"Figured," Yu Mei murmured, a hint of resignation in her voice. "I knew you'd respond like that." She lowered her gaze, her fingers resting above her thighs. "I hid my ID name to avoid going through what my manager put me through."

Lin Tian's eyes widened in surprise, his attention snapping back to Yu Mei. She sat directly across from him, her hair falling forward, partially obscuring her face. Her hands were clenched tightly in her lap, as if she was trying to muster the strength to confront her vulnerability. Despite the vibrant day outside, it was clear that Yu Mei's thoughts were clouded by something darker.

"I think this world would be the dream I'd always imagined," she continued, her voice growing hoarse and tinged with melancholy. "But it's just as harsh as real life."

She moved her hands to cross them over her chest, gripping her shoulders as if trying to protect herself. "People were so cruel the moment they saw me… until that incident when I joined a team."

Her breathing became erratic, tears streaming down her cheeks as her entire body trembled. Just then, a gentle touch landed on her shoulder, snapping her back to reality. She turned to see Lin Tian beside her, his expression filled with concern. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.

Yu Mei tried to force a smile, quickly wiping away her tears, and nodded as if to signal that she was fine. But Lin Tian could see through her facade, understanding her pain without pressing further. He knew that a team could be both a source of joy and a source of trauma.

"You're safe now," Lin Tian reassured her. "As long as you're with me."

Their eyes locked, and for a moment, Yu Mei was captivated by this side of him—a side she hadn't seen before. She shifted her gaze, managing a faint smile. "What? Since when did you start caring like this, Lin Tian?" she asked, her sorrow giving way to a small laugh. "Where's the indifference you usually show me?"

Lin Tian remained silent, knowing that she was right. He had been distant and aloof with her before. But lately, something weird happened to him. He found himself caring about her in a way he hadn't expected.

"You've changed," Yu Mei said softly, meeting his gaze again. "For the better."

Lin Tian then stood up, turned his back to her, and returned to his seat. Without looking at her, he said, "I'm doing this because I want to, not because I have to."

Before they knew it, they had arrived at a different village, stepping out of the cart into an area surrounded by swamps. The village was filled with decaying buildings and teeming with strange monsters—mud creatures, slimes, infected rats, and the largest of them all, swamp mudcrabs. These were their targets after accepting a quest from a nearby NPC.

"I don't think we can defeat them!" Yu Mei said hesitantly, glancing nervously at the level indicators. "I'm only level 9, and they're all level 15!"

Lin Tian, unfazed, drew his Black Tiger Bo Staff. "It's necessary to gain more experience," he replied. "But with you by my side, we can take them down with ease."

Surprised by his confidence, Yu Mei felt her own spirits lift, her determination rekindled. "You're right. We've got this."

With a flick of her fingers, her gauntlets hissed as steam vented from them, bringing the steampunk mechanisms to life. A violet aura surrounded her as she prepared for battle. "Let me slow them down like snails!"