Although this interruption from Rookie was a bit out of place, his blunt words still made sense. Everyone present was hoping with all their hearts to meet Xu Yuan as soon as possible.
Ever since that meeting when Xu Yuan called them together and told them to think about their own safety first, and only then about this world, they had never seen him again.
Even though from the time Xu Yuan left until they entered the item dimension, everyone had been constantly busy, none of them had ever stopped missing him. Xu Yuan was the reason they kept moving forward.
At this moment, after hearing Rookie's words, everyone quietly closed their eyes and began carefully recalling in their minds the past they alone had shared with Xu Yuan.
———
"You... from now on, will be called 007."
This was the first sentence Xu Yuan ever said to the Death Knight.
That was the first scene he saw after awakening his consciousness. Even after so long, he still remembered Xu Yuan's expression, his emotions, even the slightest movement of his lips as he spoke.
From that moment on, he had a name of his own.
After Xu Yuan gave him that name, his body, which clearly had no senses at all, suddenly felt strange for a moment. It felt like something inside him was surging.
He didn't know what a name meant. He didn't know why Xu Yuan had given him one.
At that time, the Death Knight didn't even know what emotions were.
The only thought in his mind was that he had to be loyal to the person in front of him.
———
"Put these on. Protect yourselves."
"007, once the player builds up two blocks, don't get close. Find a way to control the skeleton archers or the crawlers to attack them."
These were the words Xu Yuan said to him before assigning him a mission for the first time in the Death Knight's memory.
Xu Yuan gave him a magnificent and sturdy set of armor that shimmered with a beautiful blue glow, and also taught him many combat techniques.
At that time, he could clearly feel that Xu Yuan's tone and the way he looked at him were completely different from when he first gave him his name.
He didn't know why Xu Yuan had changed. In his eyes back then, Xu Yuan was a very complicated person.
He feared Xu Yuan, because whenever Xu Yuan gave orders, his authority allowed no doubt.
But he also always wanted to get closer to him, because in their daily interactions, Xu Yuan's face often showed a gentle smile.
So he always kept a certain distance and silently observed Xu Yuan.
Every time he saw Xu Yuan smile, he would feel something unfamiliar stirring inside him. He liked that feeling.
At that time, the Death Knight couldn't understand what Xu Yuan's gaze toward him meant.
But he could tell that the way Xu Yuan looked at him, Little Creeper 233, Little Zombie 520, Little Black 88, Spider 101, these monsters he had given names to, was different from how he looked at the wandering monsters.
———
"From now on, you will each fight on your own."
"Remember your mission. Be careful out there."
"Be smarter. Stay alive and come back to see me."
These were the words Xu Yuan said after an overwhelming victory.
After that great battle, the Death Knight could clearly feel his own changes. By then, he was already able to understand some of the meanings and emotions behind Xu Yuan's words.
He could feel the joy in Xu Yuan's heart after that crushing victory.
He thought there would be many more victories waiting for them. He thought he would often see Xu Yuan looking happy. He thought they would continue fighting side by side with their companions…
But all those beautiful expectations suddenly came to an end after that victory.
Even though he still couldn't fully read Xu Yuan's eyes at the time, he could vaguely sense the complicated emotions within them. He didn't know what those emotions were called, but he could feel them just the same.
Xu Yuan's order was for them to leave. Before, he would have carried it out immediately without hesitation.
But at that moment, something inside him was shouting. He didn't want to leave like this.
This was the first time in his life that something deep inside him resisted Xu Yuan's command. He felt a kind of struggle he had never known before.
For the first time, he gathered the courage to try to express himself, but he didn't know what he should do. All he could manage were two low, hoarse growls forced out of his throat.
Just when he felt helpless and lost, Xu Yuan reached out those broad and warm hands and gently stroked his head.
For the first time, he truly felt the warmth from Xu Yuan's palms. That warmth seemed to pass through his entire body, filling him with a gentle heat.
On the eve of their parting, Xu Yuan gave him a little wolf.
"Take good care of it. You'll have to return it to me later."
He didn't know the meaning behind Xu Yuan giving him that little wolf. He only knew that he had to protect it with his life.
———
The next time the Death Knight met Xu Yuan again was before the great battle with the Eternal Guild began.
This "journey after parting" made him go through many things, and also cost him everything he had... Little BUG.
After losing Little BUG, he grew rapidly. The things he could understand also became more and more.
He went through endless torment day and night. He experienced pain so deep it felt like it pierced his very core.
His mind was on the edge of collapse every single day.
Before his eyes, scenes from his past with Xu Yuan kept flashing again and again like a revolving lantern.
When those past images appeared again, many of the doubts he once had were finally answered.
He came to understand that the strange feeling in his body after Xu Yuan gave him his name was gratitude.
He understood that Xu Yuan giving him a name meant giving him a new life.
He understood that the unusual look Xu Yuan had when facing them was called concern, and the smiles he showed them were called affection.
He understood that the emotions flowing in Xu Yuan's eyes when they parted were reluctance and worry.
After he finally understood these emotions, the desire to live appeared in him once again.
Even though Little BUG had already left him, he still had to keep living well.
He wanted to see Xu Yuan. He had to find Xu Yuan and tell him how he truly felt inside.
It was this belief that finally gave him the courage to keep living.
When he saw Xu Yuan again, just that single look Xu Yuan gave him made him choose Xu Yuan for the rest of his life.
Xu Yuan's gaze at that time was very complicated, filled with many emotions tangled together.
But in the Death Knight's eyes, all those emotions meant only five simple words.
"I found you."
And when Xu Yuan found him again, he also helped him find Little BUG, who held just as important a place in his heart.
From that moment on, the Death Knight understood the meaning of the word "home."
For him, wherever Xu Yuan and Little BUG were… that was home.