Chapter 58: A Special Surprise (2/2)

”Oh, I think they have arrived. Let's go take a look,” Yaro said with tinges of excitement as she pulled Arion along.

On the outside, a carriage stopped, and two elderly figures stepped out.

One of them had a stick on his hand and had a full white beard which was at least six inches long and had an amiable-looking face. Arion identified him as the Village Chief of his Rimfefall Village, and every single person who lived in this village knew him.

People also addressed him as Chief Aslan, just as Arion does.

However, Arion was closer to the Village Chief since he was a good friend of Mei and always entertained him as well, no matter how busy he was. He was also the one who didn't crush his hopes just because he was disabled before but, in fact, encouraged him to continue doing whatever he feels best.

The other old man had an aged look, but his posture seemed straight as an iron rod and had a valiant aura around him, making him appear stronger and younger than he looked.

Arion identified him as Old Zi as people generally called him, or Zixin Siu, the only retired Champion in the Fok Grove Ward and, in fact, the only living Champion left of his generation in the Rimefall Village.

Arion wasn't that familiar with Zixin since he barely saw the man walking around Fok Grove Ward. He would usually be traveling here and there, which also made him wonder whether he was indeed retired or voluntarily doing everything.

However, he knew that Zixin was a kind man as well who even adopted a poor orphan as his son more than a decade ago.

As the two elderly men entered the backyard, everyone bowed to pay their respects to such admirable figures, especially Zixin Siu, who was still rumored to be half as strong as he was during his prime despite being very old.

He could have minded his own business and stayed cooped in a nice house without lifting a hand while having many servants to serve him. But he did nothing of the sort and continued to save people, even from other wards when he wasn't even obliged to.

This was the main reason why people of the Rimefall Village held him in high regard and why the Fok Grove Ward considered him as their leader.

”Come on. They were looking forward to seeing you once you woke up,” Yaro said as she pushed Arion to the front.

Aslan and Zixin saw Arion getting pushed to the front and their lips arched into a friendly smile upon seeing him.

Aslan beamed as he came forward and patted Arion's shoulder, ”My boy Arion, look at you. Sigh, Heavenly Mother has been kind to you by granting you such a boon.”

Zixin also came forward with a look of admiration, ”Right. May she continue to protect you from the Timeless Realms as she always does. A noble kid like you is a blessing to us, especially to our Fok Grove Ward.”

Arion didn't feel as if he was standing before senior experts but two next-door grandpas. Still, he felt pride welling up inside him after hearing their heartfelt compliments.

Arion pressed his palms together in a cross as he said, ”Thank you for the kind praise, Chief Aslan, Old Zi.”

”Don't mention it, boy. It is a well-deserved one,” Aslan chuckled as Zixin nodded.

”Please have some seats, seniors,” Yaro respectfully offered as she was the host.

Aslan waved his hand with a smile, ”No need for that now, Yaro. Not before we announce something for our friend Arion here.”

”Announce?” Arion mumbled in confusion.

Zixin said, ”You must be wondering why we came empty-handed, right?”

”Uh, no...I really didn't,” Arion dryly chuckled.

”Haha, it would be bad on our part if we didn't appreciate you for what you did when everyone else did. So we have a special surprise for you which we also wanted to announce to others as well to spread some positivity,” Aslan happily said.

Arion knitted his brows, wondering what surprise these two seniors had in store for him.