Kind-hearted Grim Reaper

"Okay, teacher." Ah Dai replied cheerfully. He picked up the pile of steamed buns and sat on the bed, biting into one with vigor. It had been five months since he last savored his favorite food...

The next day, Goris began repeatedly using his small cauldron for crafting. Since Ah Dai had fully memorized Goris' notes, he could clearly deduce the result according to the materials used by Goris. Goris' crafting process was equivalent to providing Ah Dai with a practical experiment. What perplexed Ah Dai was that all the metals crafted by Goris were alloys; each having unique properties and all being extremely valuable. Ah Dai understood from the notes that any one of these metals could be crafted into a superior weapon. Goris carefully stored the crafted metals, but it was unclear what purpose they served.

One day, after Ah Dai helped Goris craft another piece of metal, Goris retreated back into his room to ponder, while Ah Dai stood at the door practicing the Fireball Technique and the Flame Spell.

"Oh? Where did this little imp come from?" A teasing voice echoed.

Ah Dai was astonished to see a red-cloaked figure emerging from the mist. This person's attire was very similar to that of Goris, a large red cloak covering their entire body, making it impossible to see their face. They held a long wooden staff in their hand and seemed to be sizing up Ah Dai.

A bit shocked, Ah Dai stepped back and questioned: "Who... who are you?"

The red-cloaked person arrogantly said: "Me? I am a grand magician." As he spoke, he extended his similarly skinny right hand just like Goris, and muttered a spell. A huge purple fireball, with a diameter of half a meter, appeared in his hand. Despite standing a good ten meters away, Ah Dai could still feel an abnormal heat from the flames. Comparing his own Little Fireball with the large purple fireball in the red-cloaked figure's hands, Ah Dai shamefully retracted his magic.

"Haha, how about that? Now you know what a grand magician looks like. Hahaha."

"Hmph, showing off in front of a child," a black fireball, also half a meter in diameter, flew out from the wooden house directly towards the red-cloaked person.

The red-cloaked person was taken aback, stepped back, and with a loud shout, sent the purple fireball in his hands flying to meet the incoming black fireball. The magic he released was a pure Fire Magic fireball, while the magic that flew out from the room was Goris's Dark Magic combined with Fire Magic—the Dark Flames. In terms of attributes, the red-cloaked person was at a disadvantage, but his energy was stronger.

Ah Dai suddenly felt a light sensation, as a gust of wind blew him ten meters away. With a thunderous boom, sparks scattered everywhere, causing the red-cloaked person to involuntarily step back. He exclaimed: "Wow, big brother, I just came all the way to visit you, why are you treating me like this!"

Goris stepped out from the room, snorted and said, "You came to see me? I think you are more like a weasel paying a New Year's visit to a chicken. Just the sight of your arrogant face makes me sick. Gorisong, if you have something to say, say it quickly. I don't have anything here to entertain you with."

The red-cloaked person, Gorisong, let out a bitter smile and said, "Big brother, how can you treat me, your own brother, like this? By the way, who is this?" As he spoke, he pointed to Ah Dai with his wooden staff.

Goris irritably replied, "He is my apprentice. What about it?"

Gorisong grinned and said, "I never imagined you would take an apprentice. That's out of your character! Judging by the Fireball Technique the kid used just now, he's already at the level of a Junior Magician. Big bro, where did you find such a promising lad, let me take him under my wing. You know I still don't have an apprentice."

Goris retorted disdainfully: "Don't even think about it. This kid is very important to me. Not only is he my apprentice, but he also has other significant roles."

"Oh! Big brother, you, you can't be…"

Goris snorted, "Let's go inside. Ah Dai, you guard the outside, and don't come in unless I tell you to."

Ah Dai assented and watched in a daze as Goris and Gorisong walked into the wooden house, muttering to himself. Why do I not understand so much of what they're saying? Is this red-cloaked person Goris' brother?

Inside the room.

Gorisong questioned: "Big brother, could that kid be the one you got for that final experiment?"

Goris grunted, "Watch your mouth, okay?"

Gorisong sighed, "Big brother, you're really ruthless! Very fitting of you, Flame Wizard. The innocent look on the kid's face is rather cute, though. There's really no need…"

Goris abruptly lost his patience, "Keep your nose out of my business. If you're just here to talk nonsense, get lost."

Without showing any anger from Goris' words, Gorisong chuckled, "Okay, okay, I can't be bothered with your matters anyway. It's such a waste of a good prospect, though! My main reason for coming was to ask a favor on behalf of our master. I hope you could comply." As he spoke, he drew a line in the air with his staff, and a space rift appeared. Gorisong chanted a spell, and a cloth bag floated out, dropping to the floor. "This is the deposit from our master. He hopes to have the results of your experiment in the coming days." The bag opened automatically, revealing a bag full of diamond currency, easily amounting to over a thousand pieces.

Goris seemed to have ignored it, snorting coldly, "He wants the results of my experiment? Dream on, I won't give it to anyone."

Gorisong sighed, "Big brother, it's not like I want to persuade you, but what use is there in hoarding your treasures? Especially this last experimental result of yours, didn't you create it to make your name known in the world? There's no need to be so protective over it. In my opinion, you should be more like me, and be a…"

Goris interrupted Gorisong, shouting angrily: "Enough nonsense. Take these worthless trinkets and leave. If I say I'm not selling, then I'm not selling."

Gorisong was silent for a moment before saying: "Alright, since you don't want to sell, there is no point in forcing you. I'll explain things to our master myself. However, that kid seems to have quite a talent for magic, you should consider it more carefully. Wasting a life for one thing, do you think it's worth it?"

Without hesitation, Goris said: "Worth it. Even if a thousand people have to die for this thing, it would still be worth it."

Gorisong gave a bitter smile, "Since you put it that way, I won't try to persuade you anymore. Goodbye, big brother, take care. I'm leaving. If you change your mind, notify me using the old method." Upon finishing, Gorisong strode towards the door.

"Wait." Goris, sitting on the spot, called out to Gorisong, "My experiment may not necessarily succeed. If it does, I'll let you know. Be careful yourself."

Gorisong deeply met Goris' gaze, then left the wooden house without a word. Goris sat where he was, making no move to see him off.

As Gorisong walked out of the house, he glanced at Ah Dai and sighed, "Kid, take care of yourself." After finishing, he muttered an incantation, and the surrounding air started to stir, lifting Gorisong into the dense fog.

Ah Dai stood stupefied, watching the spot where Gorisong had disappeared for quite a while without uttering a word.