Lin Feng pushed open the door and stepped aside to let Shadow Snake in.

The room was simply furnished with a bed, a desk, a few chairs, and a map spread out on the table.

Moonlight shone through the window, laying a layer of silver-white on the floor and softening everything it touched.

Shadow Snake stood by the door, not venturing further inside. Her gaze swept across the room; the blankets on the bed were folded neatly.

A few crystals held down the corners of the map on the desk, and some weapons rested on a rack in the corner.

Concise and clean, just like the man himself.

Lin Feng walked to the desk, turned around, and looked at her.

"Sit." He pulled out a chair.

Shadow Snake paused, then walked over and sat down. Her posture was proper, her back ramrod straight and her hands on her knees, like a student entering a schoolroom for the first time.

Lin Feng sat opposite her and remained silent for a moment. He looked at Shadow Snake and suddenly smiled. "What are you nervous about?"

Shadow Snake pursed her lips and didn't answer. Her fingers tightened slightly, her knuckles turning white. Her face remained expressionless, but a faint flush crept up to the tips of her ears.

In this room with only the two of them, the composure she usually hid in the shadows had suddenly vanished.

Lin Feng didn't press her. He took something out from his robe and placed it on the table.

It was a palm-sized token, purple all over, with a faint light flowing across its surface.

The edges of the token were carved with patterns of cities and halberds, and in the center were three large words in ancient seal ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) script—Village Establishment Order.

Shadow Snake's gaze fell upon the token.

"This is a Subsidiary Village Establishment Order," Lin Feng said calmly. "The territory can accommodate two of them."

He paused and looked into Shadow Snake's eyes. "I want you to become Beacon Fire Town's subordinate lord."

Shadow Snake lowered her eyelashes and remained silent for a long time.

Lin Feng didn't rush her; he just waited quietly.

A moment later, Shadow Snake looked up. The nervousness in her eyes had disappeared, replaced by a very faint smile that was barely noticeable unless one looked closely.

"So..." she whispered, her voice carrying a hint of imperceptible relief, "so it was this." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Lin Feng raised an eyebrow. "What did you think it was?"

Shadow Snake didn't answer, simply shaking her head. She stood up, took a step back, then knelt on one knee, pressing her right hand to her chest.

She had performed this action many times, but this time, her voice was more solemn than ever before.

"I am willing."

She looked up, the moonlight falling on her face and brightening those eyes that were usually cold and distant.

"Beacon Fire Town is my home. I will protect Beacon Fire Town with my life."

Lin Feng looked at her, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth.

"Good."

He stood up and raised his right hand.

In the center of the room, a crystal about the size of a human head materialized out of thin air, suspended in mid-air.

The crystal was an irregular polyhedron, with each facet rotating slowly and refracting a blurred halo of light.

Those halos were not merely colors.

That was Beacon Fire Town's territory core, radiating a warm golden light that illuminated the entire room.

Shadow Snake stood up and looked at the crystal, a trace of daze flashing in her eyes.

The light was so beautiful, like a tiny sun, and within it seemed to be a miniature of a city.

Walls, streets, houses, and people coming and going. She had never seen a territory core from such a close distance.

Lin Feng placed the Subsidiary Village Establishment Order into the crystal. The token slowly melted within the light, turning into countless golden threads that coiled around the territory core like small rivers flowing into the sea.

"Bind subordinate lord," Lin Feng's voice echoed in the room.

A light screen appeared before him, listing all the names available for binding.

Zhao Hu, Tie Dun, Wang Wu, Arrow Eye, Su Yurou, A Wang, Scarface Liu... and Shadow Snake.

Lin Feng was about to confirm when he suddenly remembered something, and his finger stopped in mid-air.

He turned to look at Shadow Snake. "It's best to use a real name when binding. What is your real name?"

Shadow Snake was slightly taken aback.

Shadow Snake fell silent for a moment. Moonlight fell on her face, making her expression appear blurred.

Her lips moved, and as if having made a great resolution, she softly spoke three words:

"Jiang Yelan."

Lin Feng was stunned for a second, then smiled. "Jiang Yelan... Ye Lan." He whispered the name twice, as if savoring its flavor. "A good name."

He no longer hesitated and tapped his finger on the light screen.

【Binding Confirmed: Jiang Yelan is now a subordinate lord of Beacon Fire Town】

A golden light surged from the territory core, enveloping Shadow Snake—no, Jiang Yelan's entire body.

The light was like flowing water, pouring from the top of her head to her toes, dyeing every inch of skin and every strand of hair golden.

Jiang Yelan closed her eyes, feeling that warm power surging into her body.

She could clearly feel a wonderful transformation occurring within her body.

Her muscles became firmer, her reactions more agile, and the potential hidden deep within her bloodline was being Awakened bit by bit.

The light dissipated.

Jiang Yelan opened her eyes, and an attribute panel that only she could see appeared before her.

【subordinate lord Binding Successful】

【Name: Jiang Yelan】

【Level: 10 (Reset)】

【Lord Template: Rare】

【Template Bonus: All Attributes +30%, Base HP +600, 35% Effect Resistance to all negative status effects】

She looked down at her hand and lightly clenched her fist.

Although her level had been reset to 10, the Rare Lord Template bonus made her actual combat power far exceed that of an ordinary Awakened of the same level.

Jiang Yelan looked up at Lin Feng. There was a hint of complexity in her eyes, but more so an indescribable emotion, like gratitude, or perhaps something else.

Lin Feng didn't notice her gaze. He took the blue booklet from his robe and handed it to her.

"Intermediate Class Change Book: Shadow Raider," he said. "Level up to 19 first, don't rush into your second class change."

Jiang Yelan took the booklet, her fingers lightly stroking the words on the cover.

"I have a mission for you," Lin Feng's voice became serious.

Jiang Yelan looked up at him.

"What mission?"

"I'll tell you later," Lin Feng's voice was calm.

Jiang Yelan was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"I understand, Lord."

Lin Feng smiled and waved his hand. "Alright, go back and rest. Starting tomorrow, level up properly."

Jiang Yelan stood up and carefully tucked the blue booklet into her robe.

She walked to the door, stopped, and looked back at Lin Feng.

Moonlight shone through the window onto Lin Feng, plating him in a layer of silver-white.

He was looking down at the map, his brow slightly furrowed as if he were deep in thought.

Jiang Yelan watched for a few seconds and softly said, "Goodnight, Lord."

Lin Feng looked up and smiled. "Goodnight."

The door closed gently.

Silence returned to the room. Lin Feng sat at the desk, looked at the map for a while longer, then rolled it up and placed it at the corner of the table.

He stood up and walked to the window, gazing out at the moon which had already returned to normal.

Moonlight, like water, spilled over every inch of Beacon Fire Town.