Recap
The combat vehicle continued on. The weather today was unexpectedly good, the sky was blue and there were no clouds. The heat wave outside scorched the air and distorted it, but the inside of the car was still cool.
Shen Chaomu said again; “It’s a bit like the day of the Elf Princess’ wedding.”
“…Hmm.” Long Shiyu replied.
Shen Chaomu was a little surprised: “You admitted it very readily this time.”
“I can’t hide it anyway,” Long Shiyu said sullenly, “I’m not good at keeping secrets.”
This is the truth.
Not only is he not good at it, he simply can’t.
Shen Chaomu said: “How can I remember those things? I mean all of them.”
“Go and take a shower of light rain,” Long Shiyu said, “and you will remember everything.”
“Where can I find the light rain?”
“I don’t know, but we will meet one day, just like I always believe that I will meet you one day.”
The car ran over the yellow sand and rushed towards the monster frenzy in the distance.
The lightsaber tore through the monster’s flesh, and Qiu Ruowen heard the sickening crunch of bone and sinew. Behind her, several hunters stood frozen, petrified by Medusa’s gaze.
The ambush had been swift and brutal. As soon as their starship landed, Medusa emerged from the shadows, her hair a writhing mass of venomous snakes, her eyes glowing with a hypnotic light. The hunters were helpless against her power, and even Qiu Ruowen, exhausted from the Cerberus fight and running on fumes, felt her senses reeling.
This wasn’t a random encounter. The strange beast’s knowledge of their arrival suggested collaboration with the mercenaries.
Qiu Ruowen, a veteran of countless battles, quickly masked her eyes and engaged Medusa, her lightsaber a blur of deadly energy. Reinforcements arrived just as her blade found its mark, tearing through Medusa’s flesh.
Green blood splattered her gray hair and stained her blindfold. The monster faltered, its snake-hair limp. Relief washed over Qiu Ruowen, followed by a wave of dizziness.
A hunter screamed.
Blood erupted.
The seemingly defeated Medusa lunged, its venomous hair lashing out, snapping Qiu Ruowen’s forearm with terrifying force. Bones shattered, her arm twisted at an unnatural angle. Qiu Ruowen cried out, her lightsaber slicing through the creature’s flesh. The sudden attack unbalanced Medusa, sending her crashing to the ground. Qiu Ruowen pressed her advantage, pinning the monster beneath her boot.
Red and green blood mingled, a gruesome sight.
Medusa’s breath hitched, her struggles ceasing. But her body twitched, the snakes in her hair slithering, dragging her broken form toward the shadows of the forest.
Qiu Ruowen tried to pursue, but a wave of dizziness forced her to her knees.
The hunters who came later hurriedly supported her, and their hoarse shouts came from the tactical channel: “Where is the medical team?! Where is the medical team?!?”
When Qiu Ruowen woke up again, she was in the hospital.
The drip in the IV bag was slowly dripping drop by drop, and her right hand was wrapped in layers of bandages and splints, surrounded by several unfamiliar medical instruments. She was in a daze for a while before realizing she should sit up.
The doctor and a hunting companion hurried into the room and said, “Please don’t move yet. Stay lying down.”
“…” Her throat was dry, and swallowing caused a tearing pain. She asked, “How’s Medusa?”
“Not found yet,” the hunter answered. “The Association has everything arranged. You don’t need to worry.”
The doctor also said, “Get some rest and don’t think about these stressful things. You’re still running a fever.”
Perhaps due to the medication, her consciousness was uncontrollable, and Qiu Ruowen quickly fell into a deep sleep again. The severe injuries had left her very weak, and she didn’t wake up for more than four or five hours a day. Her spiritual strength had always been strong, and she had been in constant battle, so this level of exhaustion was unusual.
Perhaps it was her age catching up with her, or perhaps she really needed rest.
After three or four days, she finally started to recover from the haze.
Propped up against the head of the bed, Qiu Ruowen was drinking the white porridge the nurse had brought her. She opened the terminal, and a pile of messages were waiting, all genuine inquiries about her well-being.
She had been the chief for six or seven years, and her dedication had earned the respect of many. Sometimes, just her presence at the scene could uplift the spirits of the hunters. In terms of talent, she wasn’t a genius, but her perseverance made up for it. Sweat and courage had forged a resolute heart.
From her youth until now, she had always been like this. But when she looked up now, she saw dark bags under her eyes in the reflection of the glass, along with fine wrinkles and streaks of white in her hair.
Her right hand was still numb.
The doctor said there was a good chance of recovery.
But she knew that was just a comforting remark. For an ordinary person, that kind of recovery might be enough, but it wouldn’t restore the strength and precision needed to wield a blade.
She clicked on the council’s contact info.
After a few seconds of beeping, the operator’s voice sounded extra delighted when she heard Qiu Ruowen’s voice.
Just fifteen minutes later, the council and senior officials from the Association’s alliance were all in a video conference.
Qiu Ruowen briefly responded to their concerns before saying, “I think it’s time to discuss the next chief.”
“…I’ve already made my decision. This will be our best choice now.”
“My opinion won’t be decisive. The decision is still in your hands. But the decisions I’ve made in the past have been correct, and this one won’t be an exception.”
“Yes, I understand. But there’s an additional condition.”
After the call ended, she quickly filled out some paperwork for the handover of the chief position, but drowsiness hit again.
The medical instruments beeped in rhythm, and the smell of disinfectant filled the air. The transparent liquid in the IV bag continued to drip. She gazed out the window, watching the rain lightly fall. The weather was gloomy, just like the day she first took over as chief.
It felt like a full circle.
Qiu Ruowen smiled faintly and picked up a bottle of liquor from the bedside and took a few swigs.
Just a few sips in, a hunter burst into the room and was horrified: “How can you be drinking now?! Where did you get this alcohol from?”
“Stole it while you were napping,” she shook the bottle, “Hiding the alcohol beforehand was useless. You can never outsmart me.”
The hunter’s face fell even further as he rushed over to grab the bottle from her, flustered. Qiu Ruowen watched him, amused, and laughed heartily.
…
Thunder rumbled, and the rain was bitterly cold.
It had been many years since the western hemisphere had seen such heavy rain. Vehicles rolled over yellow sand, while aircraft flew overhead, casting bright beams on the damp sand.
The Black Knight followed far behind.
The formation of hunters had been arranged by Bai Yiyi, who had deliberately left a small blind spot for detection, where the Black Knight could follow them unnoticed.
These past few days, she had cautiously gone to the frontlines but hadn’t encountered anything unusual. Yet, she knew the dragon was still out there, along with that strange man in the suit.
…How could anyone be mixed up with the old dragon king?
According to the Black Knight, the old dragon king had lost all rationality, and no one knew how that man had gotten so close to him.
Although the Black Knight’s presence reassured her a bit, she still felt somewhat uneasy.
After all, the last time the Black Knight had managed to escape, it was largely thanks to Luo Ya’enuo suddenly going berserk and attacking their own.
The team crossed another sand dune.
With her leading the way, the hunters had been much more efficient these days. An hour later, another wave of the storm was repelled, and the hunters temporarily set up camp.
After confirming the defense was secure, Bai Yiyi told the guard, “I’m stepping out for a bit.”
The hunter was momentarily stunned.
She explained, “I’m going to check the situation nearby.”
“Please be careful,” the hunter said, clearly impressed. “Come back soon.”
As usual, Bai Yiyi’s face remained impassive, but she couldn’t help feeling a little pleased inside.
She left the camp, took a detour, and went to find the Black Knight.
Once the camp was set up, heavy reconnaissance equipment would be deployed, so she needed to ensure the Black Knight wouldn’t be discovered by the other hunters.
When she found the Black Knight, the warhorse was leisurely munching on a carrot. The rider, in comical wooden armor, was sitting in the sand, weaving something from leaves. Only at times like this would he set down his heavy sword.
After witnessing the Black Knight’s strength that day, Bai Yiyi couldn’t help but feel a little wary of him. The Black Knight seemed rough but was oddly perceptive of her feelings, often sensing her mood. When she was unhappy, he would pull out a few trinkets like magic, much like trying to cheer up a little girl—childish and amusing.
It was a strange kind of understanding, beneath the rough exterior, a sensitivity. Sometimes, Bai Yiyi felt like all her thoughts, including this purely strategic use, had been seen through already—
But then, she would find herself absurdly wanting to laugh.
She dismounted from the white deer and said, “How many leaves did you bring with you?”
“Lots,” the Black Knight replied. “Making the cloak takes a lot of leaves. My left hand isn’t fully healed yet, so it’s not as nimble.”
Bai Yiyi: “…I brought you some medicine.”
She tossed him a sealed bag of dressings.
It was medicine for Potato—no one knew what kind of beast Potato is, but the medicine worked for it as well.
The Black Knight set aside the cloak he was working on and applied the medicine to Potato’s eyes.
While he worked, Bai Yiyi watched. No matter what kind of beast the horse was, it seemed its eyes wouldn’t heal. After all, Luo Ya’enuo’s lightning had destroyed it. The scars looked like they had been caused by an explosion of lightning at close range.
Luckily, Potato was much stronger than it seemed, or that strike would have been enough to kill it.
Blindness was already a stroke of good luck.
When the Black Knight was finished, Bai Yiyi said, “The reconnaissance equipment will be set up soon. Stay here as usual and don’t move, or the other hunters will find you.”
“Of course,” the Black Knight said. “Potato says it smells like the storm is almost over.”
“That’s the best news. If nothing else happens, I’ll be heading back.”
“Why not wait a little longer?” the Black Knight said. “The cloak’s almost done, just one more round of leaves to go.”
The leaves were particularly bright and beautiful, the kind she liked. Somehow, she hesitated, feeling an odd impulse.
She figured it was just a few minutes; it wouldn’t be a problem.
The white deer lay down halfway, offering her a place to rest.
The Black Knight’s armor was so heavy, but he was quite nimble when weaving.
The air was cool at night, but the sand still retained some heat, so it was fairly comfortable. As he arranged the leaves, he said, “I remember you used to be quite afraid of the dark, but now you are much bolder, which is a good thing.”
These days, he would bring up things about the “past” from time to time, Bai Yiyi was noncommittal, and didn’t bother to correct his ideas, she just hummed in agreement.
The moonlight came out and flowed on the tall sand dunes. She bent her legs, propped her chin with one hand, and asked casually, “What stories do you remember about me?”
“I remember a lot of things.” Speaking of this, the black knight suddenly became excited, “I remember that you like roses and emeralds the most, you like apples and peaches, and you don’t like canaries and all insects.”
This hobby is really accurate.
There was a rock in the distance, beside it was a cactus. A gerbil crept out furtively, and quickly disappeared.
Bai Yiyi was in a trance for a while.
“The cloak is ready.” The black knight tossed the cloak, and the gorgeous red leaves rustled, very beautiful.
He handed the leaf cloak to Bai Yiyi, but Potato suddenly neighed long, pawing the ground with its hooves.
At this moment, the black knight grabbed the epee on the ground and jumped on the horse. The sickle also appeared in Bai Yiyi’s hand, she turned her head abruptly——
Under the moonlit night, the man in the suit was pale.
A delicate rose was pinned to the collar.
Bai Yiyi was about to suffocate, her heart beat faster in an instant, and her eyes quickly swept across the vast desert. Where is Royasno? Where would Royasno be? ! Why are there no thunderstorms this time!
Potato raised its hooves high, and the black knight shouted: “Be careful!”
She also sensed something was wrong, and the white deer jumped suddenly, and the sand under her feet collapsed instantly.
A claw protrudes from it!
The claws were charged, exploded in front of my eyes, and in just half a second, the front legs of the white deer transformed by spiritual power were smashed.
The black knight raised his epee and slashed over, and in the dull sound, metal and scales collided. The black dragon let out an angry roar, and its irrational eyes stared at him instantly——
“Run!!” he yelled, “Be brave, don’t be afraid of the dark!”
The white deer staggered and took a step, its spiritual power continuously trying to heal its wounds. In the panic, Bai Yiyi heard Shen Di’s sigh: “It wasn’t you who was the target…but you happened to see it that day.”
So she realized that these two monsters were not targeting her at all.
Their target was the black knight, but that day she happened to bump into it together, so she had to kill someone to silence her!
If the forest knight hadn’t followed that day, she wouldn’t have encountered this at all!
The little guilt in her heart was torn to pieces, Bai Yiyi almost gritted her teeth.
Royasno became even crazier, surrounded by lightning, and the blue arc crackled. Compared to the black knight, he was more interested in the fleeing Bai Yiyi, and he spread his wings and was about to chase after him.
The epee lay horizontally in front of him.
The black knight shouted loudly: “Never attack a lady, one-on-one is a fair duel!”
But the black dragon no longer had his former sanity, he couldn’t understand his words, and pressed down with a manic claw. This speed is very fast, so fast that no one can see clearly.
However, Potato jumped forward suddenly, passed under the claws with incredible agility, then miraculously stepped into the air, and rushed towards the dragon’s head with the knight on its back.
“Good job!” the black knight shouted, and swung the heavy sword in his hand again. This time he used all his strength, the wind pressure condensed around him, and the heavy sword fell——
Behind Royasno, the sand rose tens of meters high!
The sand and dust danced wildly, and the black dragon’s body swayed slightly. This terrifying blow only left a scratch on his scales.
The war horse galloped around him.
It is extremely flexible, taking the black knight to the best angle to attack. Years of tacit understanding made their cooperation perfect.
After being entangled like this for a few seconds, Royasno became completely furious. The erupted lightning surrounded him, and after several swift attacks, the lightning exploded beside the knight with a piercing sound.
Even if he loses his mind, even if he is just a walking dead, even if he loses all his fighting skills…
Relying on instinct, he also found the challenger’s weakness.
The lightning meandered forward, viciously entwining the knight’s armor.
Bai Yiyi had already run far away. This blow was very heavy. The black knight fell from his horse and rolled several times in embarrassment before he managed to maintain his balance by inserting the heavy sword into the sand. And potatoes also fell from the sky.
Then he stood up with some difficulty, and patted Potato’s neck: “Run! Go find Doris!”
But the war horse didn’t move, it just neighed softly.
The black knight was taken aback.
The electric light exploded again, and this time they rolled tens of meters in embarrassment, and the armor on their bodies became hot to a terrible place. If ordinary people were inside, their skin would have been scalded off, and the strong current was enough to stop the heart.
The black dragon sticks out its claws——
The next second, the heavy sword firmly stopped him.
Sparks flew at the moment of confrontation, and after separating, the black knight turned back on the horse’s back.
Potato stepped on the void again, just like the unrestrained freedom of traveling the universe many years ago. The moonlight is bright, reflecting the armor, and even the thunder can’t catch up with them.
The black knight laughed heartily: “Let’s challenge the windmill together!”
Slashing, heavy chopping, parrying…
The sand was cut to pieces, and the lightning danced like a poisonous snake in the air. Aggressive, both offense and defense are like dancing on the tip of a knife, and the full moon of Tabu witnessed this epic decisive battle.
Finally, after a perfect charge, the heavy sword slashed on the black scales again.
The scales are turned over, and the blood explodes!
Royasno roared in pain, blood dripped all over the ground, and his long tail swept out and hit the war horse.
This blow was almost fatal, and they flew out. Potato struggled on the ground a few times, but he didn’t get up again after all.
It wailed.
“…It’s okay, it’s okay, it’s okay.” The black knight coughed violently, and patted its neck lightly, “Thank you, even if no audience saw our bravery, this is still a wonderful enough duel.”
He held the epee and swayed his body, wanting to face Royasno again.
But the next second, the terrifying shadow on the ground approached him and Potato.
It seemed like countless strange beasts were crying and roaring inside. The thick darkness entangled his left foot, and then spread all the way up, until it swallowed his head.
The epee fell to the ground, leaving only the cold moonlight.
……
“A little further ahead is our defense line,” said the hunter escorting the supplies. “Are you almost done organizing the supplies?”
“Yes,” the man from the Zhanshu Chamber of Commerce wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Five more minutes. It would be best if we can arrive safely.”
“The nearest frenzy to us is ten kilometers away. We should have enough time, and the association will send us additional reinforcements later… Wait! What’s that!”
Everyone’s eyes fell on the sand.
The yellow sand was rolling, and there was… no, there was a group of things slowly emerging.
“Get back to the aircraft!” the hunter shouted, “It might be the flying snakes hiding!”
“No, no!” The merchant grabbed him, “Those are metal!”
Sand flowed down from them, it was the cold and hard color unique to metal, blue-silver.
Under the scorching sun, the fleeting light was extremely dazzling.
The oddly shaped robot has spider-like feet. They woke up from a century of sleep, with red lights flickering in their eyes.
It is a self-defense robot made by dwarves.
The hunter murmured: “How could they move…”
An aircraft came from afar.
After landing, a man came out, handsome with a straight back, black boots stepping on the scorching yellow sand.
Only one person came to reinforce the Hunters Association.
“Don’t panic, everyone, they have no malicious intentions,” he said, “it’s just a dwarf who wants to go home, on a whim, wants to try if these things can still move. The beast frenzy is coming, we have to leave as soon as possible.”
The people in the chamber of commerce were still a little terrified: “So, is it only you who came to reinforce? Our goods were accidentally damaged, and it will take some time to sort and transport them.”
“Yes, only me. I happen to be nearby.” He showed the hunter badge to the people in the caravan, “I am the chief hunter Shen Chaomu, and I will escort you to the defense line.”
___
The author has something to say: Daily Ying (0/1) Today is the chief princess and the Ying Ying dragon who did not appear~
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