Chapter 295
Flander, the Honest One, Gets a Lesson!
Xiao Wu's face turned deathly pale, and she gripped Tang San's hand so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
The Starry Sky Forest is her home!
Her deepest secret lies there!
Lin Xia's power and mystery instilled in her an instinctive sense of extreme fear, especially when his seemingly playful yet all-seeing gaze swept over her. She felt as if her identity as a soul beast could be exposed at any moment! Go back to the forest with him?
This is a nightmare!
She almost screamed to stop it.
Looking at the collectively petrified expressions on everyone's faces, especially Tang San's grief-stricken expression, Ning Rongrong felt a strange sense of... schadenfreude.
She has just experienced a hellish business war education, and her mindset is already different.
Seeing these people now silent and trembling in front of Lin Xia, she felt a strange sense of superiority and peace of mind.
Following Brother Lin Xia, it seems like I always witness some "interesting" things?
A slight smile unconsciously curved her lips, though she quickly concealed it.
Flander, being the cunning old fox he was, quickly suppressed his inner turmoil and countless questions after a brief moment of shock, forcing a smile.
"Good! Good! Good! It's wonderful that City Lord Lin can come along! I can finally rest assured about the children's safety! Without further ado, let's set off now!"
He immediately turned to Zhao Wuji.
"Old Zhao, take a rest and keep an eye on the house! You don't need to lift a finger this time!"
He dared not let Zhao Wuji, who was in poor condition and harbored great resentment towards Lin Xia, accompany him. If another conflict broke out, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Zhao Wuji's lips twitched, and he grunted in agreement.
His gaze towards Lin Xia remained incredibly complex.
"Oscar! Sausages, get ready! Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, lead the way and keep watch! Tang San, Xiao Wu, stay close to the group! Ning Rongrong, your buffs are ready!"
Flander quickly issued instructions, trying to take control of the situation and conceal his inner anxiety.
"set off!"
Flanders gave the order.
Shrek and his companions embarked on their journey to the Star Dou Great Forest in an extremely eerie atmosphere.
At the front of the group were Flander, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun, who were trying their best to create a normal atmosphere for us.
In the middle are Tang San and Xiao Wu, each with a different expression and looking distracted, and Oscar, who is holding a sausage with trepidation.
At the very back were Lin Xia, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong.
Lin Xia walked with ease and leisure, as if she were on a picnic. Occasionally, she would point out the surrounding scenery and whisper a few words to Zhu Zhuqing beside her.
Ning Rongrong followed closely beside him. Although she tried her best to remain calm, the novelty and a hint of determination in her eyes showed a change in her mindset.
However, the atmosphere in the line ahead was as heavy as lead.
Tang San's nerves were on edge, his mental energy pushed to its limit as he watched the calm yet terrifying figure behind him, with only one thought in his mind.
Be careful!
Xiao Wu clung tightly to Tang San, her body trembling slightly. The direction of the Star Dou Great Forest no longer held the warm call of home, but instead concealed an unknown and immense crisis.
Lin Xia looked at the tense back of the boy in front of her, a cold, amused glint in her eyes.
Eight Spider Lances?
This external soul bone, this "great opportunity" that belonged to Tang San in the original story... He was very interested to see if, with his participation, it could still fall into Tang San's hands smoothly. The afternoon sun, carrying a touch of laziness, shone through the sparse clouds onto the official road leading to the Star Dou Great Forest.
What was originally expected to take more than two days was accomplished in a day and a half by Flanders' almost forced march.
Flanders was indeed taught a lesson and became more obedient.
Along the way, he completely abandoned the bizarre testing sessions used to train students in the original work.
He was like the most dedicated and cautious tour guide and bodyguard, with a clear goal—to reach the outer edge of the Starry Sky Forest in the fastest and safest way.
He personally planned the route, avoiding known dangerous areas, and even chose the most open and least vulnerable campsites.
Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun took turns clearing the way and guarding the rear, while Oscar continuously provided restorative sausages to replenish everyone's stamina.
The atmosphere in the group was silent and efficient, with only the sound of footsteps and occasional hushed conversations.
Tang San's tense nerves did not relax despite the smooth journey.
He always kept Xiao Wu close to his side, keeping a watchful eye on the leisurely figure at the back of the group—Lin Xia.
Ning Rongrong's mindset underwent a subtle change.
Following closely beside Lin Xia, she felt an unprecedented sense of security, as well as an excitement of glimpsing the real world. She was no longer as lost as when she first left Soto City, nor was she the helpless girl during the chamber of commerce negotiations.
Lin Xia would occasionally point out the vegetation and landforms along the way, or casually mention the habits and characteristics of certain soul beasts. She listened very attentively, her glass-like eyes sparkling with a thirst for knowledge.
She began to try to observe the world with her own eyes, instead of relying solely on the sense of superiority brought by the Seven Treasures Pagoda.
Zhu Zhuqing remained silent as always, like Lin Xia's shadow. Her cat-like eyes scanned her surroundings warily, her aura restrained yet impossible to ignore.
Finally, on the afternoon of the second day, the road ahead opened up, and a fairly large town appeared on the horizon.
"arrive."
Flander stopped, adjusted his glasses, and deliberately kept his voice steady, but a hint of relief could be heard. "Ahead is Starfall Town, the closest large supply point to the Star Dou Great Forest. We'll rest and replenish our supplies here tonight, and officially enter the forest area early tomorrow morning."
The town was far larger than Lin Xia and Ning Rongrong had imagined. It was not bound by city walls, and the houses, of varying heights, spread naturally along the roads, covering an area more than three times the size of the village where Shrek Academy was located.
Although it's a small town, the overwhelming hustle and bustle, along with the rows of shops, makes it feel more like a well-rounded, bustling city.
Upon entering the town, a complex odor, a mixture of leather, ironware, herbs, food, and various sweat smells, fills the nostrils.
The streets were wide enough to accommodate several carriages side by side, and the road surface was paved with solid bluestone slabs, worn smooth by countless footprints and wheels.
It was afternoon, and the streets were bustling with people.
What's most striking is the number of residents and visitors here. The proportion of Soul Masters is astonishingly high!
They were dressed in various styles of tight-fitting clothes or leather armor, and most of them carried weapons. Their auras were either fierce, calm, or weary from their journey.
Small groups of mercenaries chatted loudly about their hunted souls or the dangers they had encountered.
Well-dressed members of a Soul Master family, accompanied by guards, are selecting equipment.
The lone Soul Master had sharp eyes and walked in a hurry.
An atmosphere of adventure, wealth, and danger permeated the air, a stark contrast to the bustling commercial life of Soto City or the academy atmosphere of Shrek Academy. (End of Chapter)