After crossing half the street, they stopped in front of an even more dilapidated residence.

The walls of this residence were mottled and covered with vines and moss, the gate half-open, seemingly ready to collapse at any moment.

A wooden sign was crookedly nailed to the wall, barely recognizable with rough handwriting that read—

[Dinger Kajuna's Repair Workshop]

Luo Yan squinted slightly, curiously examining the sign and the courtyard behind it that resembled a junkyard.

Nominally, this seemed to be a place for repairing machinery, but judging by the patched clothes hanging in the courtyard, it looked more like a temporary welfare institution.

As for why he knew this, it was because Priest Geoffrey's Temple in Elm Street had a similar feel—he grew up in Hell's welfare agency.

Holy City had similar places too.

Only this one was probably private.

Just as he was looking around with interest, suddenly two children in ragged clothes rushed out from the courtyard.

They held two crude wooden sticks, noticeably oversized, appearing extraordinarily clumsy in their hands, trembling slightly.

The older child boldly shouted, "Private property, no entry!"

The other chimed in, "Go back quickly! Or else we... we won't be polite!"

The two kids looked tense, their young faces full of fear and vigilance, yet their threats were unconvincing, even somewhat humorous.

If they could read faces, they would know these two in front were not to be trifled with.

Luo Yan's mouth curled into a gentle smile, watching them with interest.

Just as he planned to tease these nervous little fellows, suddenly there came some laborious footsteps from inside the courtyard.

Then, a boy of about fifteen or sixteen years walked out slowly, leaning on a cane.

The boy was skinny and pale, his clothes worn but clean, his demeanor revealing mature steadiness beyond his years.

He looked calmly at Luo Yan and Sarah, then seemed to understand, sighed, and lowered his head slightly, helplessly yelled into the courtyard.

"Sis, you've stolen something again, the owner has come to claim it, come out quickly and return it... don't trouble Mr. Kajuna."

No movement for a long time from behind.

The boy sighed, suddenly dropped the cane, and, to Luo Yan's surprised gaze, crawled on the ground.

The two kids holding the sticks were also rendered clueless by this scene, watching him in surprise.

The boy didn't explain, just bowed his head and said.

"Sir, for the sake of Saint Sis, please spare a poor soul gone astray, she merely wants to heal my leg, not out of selfish desire."

"We will return everything you lost... If that's not enough to make amends for your losses, let me serve you in any way. I only beg you to forgive my sister. If the guards find out she offended someone as esteemed as you, they'll throw her into the dungeon's depths and forget about it."

His voice was full of compassion and earnestness, but he wasn't truly sad.

Given his insight, though the man in front wore plain clothing, his status was certainly not low.

The woman beside him, draped in a cloak though standing by his side, should be his guard; beneath her cloak was likely a sword.

In Holy City, only two types could swagger around with swords in broad daylight. Either military men granted swords by the Emperor or guards of the Nobles.

If he could work for this big shot, it wouldn't be a loss, though he doubted a true big shot might care about his lame leg.

Born disabled couldn't be healed by Magic; another belief was it stemmed from a Soul flaw... some people were born missing a leg's soul, and Holy City's Nobles cared about this.

With interest, Luo Yan watched the child, finding his discourse quite amusing, and then his Magic Wand flicked gently, causing a breeze to lift him, helping him up, while the cane drifted back into his hand.

Looking at the boy's startled face, Luo Yan continued.

"What is your name?"

"White Kajuna," the boy answered honestly.

"Are you Mr. Kajuna's son?" Luo Yan glanced at the sign by the door and asked.

The boy shook his head.

"No, we're orphans, but Mr. Kajuna said having a surname would benefit us in the future, should we be fortunate enough to go to university like him... Anyway, we appreciate his kindness."

After speaking, White continued.

"Sir, though I'm crippled with a leg, I'm confident in my intellect, and I eat very little, not costing you much. But my sister is different, her appetite is huge, taking her won't do you any good—"

"Let him go!" Before he finished, a sharp voice came from nearby.

Luo Yan followed the direction of the voice and saw a small shadow rushing out of the house, spreading her arms, shielding her brother like a protective lioness.

Her gaze fierce, though her frail shoulders trembled slightly, her bravado covering eyes filled with fear, yet not retreating.

Since she was so small-framed and her eyebrows thick and dense, Luo Yan at first mistook her for a boy, surprised to find she was a girl.

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