Book 5: Chapter 24: Enemy Appeared

The Sanctuary Camp was situated in the center of the Silent Forest. The camp covered an area of less than one square kilometer. Within this oval-shaped area, the central region consisted of the core area where the Management Committee was located, as well as the Trade Zone and the Living Zone. The Living Zone also had a small section designated as the Newcomer Residential Area.

Surrounding the central area were various sections including the Planting Area, Beast Pens, Smelting Yard, and Alchemy Shop. To the left of the Planting Area, there was also a very large Arena field.

The entire camp was filled with ancient towering trees and didn’t look like a human settlement at all. In fact, except for a few larger forest clearings, most of the buildings in the Sanctuary Camp were tree houses, preserving the forest’s original appearance.

Apart from a few entrances and exits, most of the camp’s perimeter was protected by illusionary Magical Arrays set up by High Rank Mages, which basically ensured personal safety. Any forest creature that wandered into the array would lose its sense of direction and eventually have to leave the camp’s area. Over time, the jungle creatures instinctively avoided the area where the Sanctuary Camp was located.

The Newcomer Residential Area where Qin Lun and the others stayed was not far from the Arena. It was one of the rare forest clearings. All beings who had just entered the Inner World basically lived here. Only after they grew to a certain stage and could survive independently in the Silent Forest would they be accepted as full members and given their own tree houses.

“Busy all day, and only one adult scavenger beast? How utterly pathetic!” As the two small teams drew near each other, a flashily dressed young man from the back of the opposing team muttered a scornful laugh.

His voice wasn’t very loud, but in the quiet of the forest, it was clear enough for Hansen and the others opposite to hear.

“Whether we are pathetic or not isn’t for a useless waste like you who only knows how to hide to judge! If you’re not convinced, we can have a duel, a fight to the death!” Hansen suddenly looked up, a fierce glint in his eyes, and grinned at the young man.

“What did you say? Say that again if you dare!” Even though this was a deliberate provocation as per their plan, the young man clearly hadn’t expected such a decisive counterattack. His face immediately flushed red.

“I’ll wait for you at the Arena!” Hansen pointed a finger at the young man and said ominously.

“You…” The young man was embarrassed, his gaze involuntarily shifting to the big man in front of him.

“Yu Mo, forget it. We haven’t finished our daily quota yet, no time for you to pick fights!” The big man glanced at Hansen and casually held back the provoking young man.

“Hmph!” The young man turned his head away, secretly relieved.

Even though he had successfully undergone his Class Change to become a Jingwei Scout, his skills leaned towards scouting and stealth. One-on-one combat wasn’t his forte. Besides, this matter didn’t really concern him. Arranging for him to provoke the other side was one thing, but making him act as cannon fodder to test them in a duel was something he was unwilling to do.

The two teams passed by each other. The leaders, Hansen and the opposing big man, exchanged a glance before each turned their faces away.

“A bunch of dogs who only know how to bark!” Hansen sneered to himself. Unlike the young man earlier, he didn’t lower his voice; it was loud enough for the surrounding onlookers to hear.

Veins bulged on the big man’s forehead, his face turning livid. But he didn’t stop walking, still leading his several companions, whose breathing had become heavier, out of the camp.

“Captain, why didn’t we just fight them directly?” As soon as they left the camp, the young Rogue named Yu Mo asked resentfully.

“Sen, can you confirm the target now?” The lead big man didn’t answer the Rogue. He just closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, his face was calm. He turned to ask a short figure wearing a hooded cloak behind him.

“Mm, that big ape who responded to Yu Mo is the Apostle who killed my brother!” The cloaked figure pushed back his hood, revealing a green face of the Dwarf Clan. His expression was now ferocious. “At such a close distance, the Soul Sigil sensation was very clear. Besides, that Esmira person with the Purple Tower Shield wasn’t nearby. I can’t be mistaken.”

“Qingming, what do you think?” The big man nodded noncommittally and turned to ask a beautiful woman behind him.

The woman had a delicate and charming face with a cool, aloof temperament. A bright red dot marked her forehead, and between the purple hair at her temples, a pair of pointed ears were visible. It seemed she was also an Apostle with an Elf Bloodline.

“Since Sen confirmed it through the Soul Mark, it should be correct. However, we still can’t completely rule out suspicion regarding those two Esmira people. After all, they have the Tower Shield Sen personally made and the Green Parrot Staff.” The female Elf named Qingming lowered her head in thought. “I think we should be more cautious. They managed to wipe out an entire Black Iron Team, so they must have their own trump cards.”

“Anyway, from the intelligence Yu Mo gathered over the past two days, they are at most just past their initial Class Change stage.” The last young man in the team said calmly. “Captain, let’s finish this quickly. If they don’t accept a five versus five duel, then we’ll just follow and ambush them when they go out.”

“Yu Mo, have you checked out that Elf Gunslinger who came with them?” The big man slowly paced on the spot, then suddenly turned back to ask the young Rogue. “Is he an Apostle?”

“Sorry, Captain! That Elf is very slippery. I tried following him a few times but lost him every time.” The Rogue Yu Mo’s expression changed uncertainly. “However, I don’t think he is an Apostle. After all, a Black Iron Team only has five Apostles. Given their strength, they absolutely cannot be a Bronze Team!”

“Captain, are you worried about Master Vima?” Qingming’s beautiful eyes flashed as she asked cautiously.

“Mm, although it’s unlikely that Master Vima would interfere, if that Elf persuades her, we’d be in danger!” A cold light flashed in the big man’s eyes. He turned and said, “The target is an Elf. Yu Mo really can’t keep track of him in the forest. Qingming, work hard these next few days and follow that Elf. Whether he is an Apostle or not, we can’t let him ruin our operation!”

“Captain, Sen specializes in life skills, his combat ability isn’t high. If we lose Qingming as well, it would be like three versus five… Wouldn’t our numbers be too thin?” Yu Mo frowned, sounding somewhat worried.

“Haha, little Momo, don’t worry! The Captain and I are both Second Order High Rank Apostles. The Captain is even a Second Order professional. Dealing with a Black Iron Team full of Junior Apostles won’t be a problem!” The young man in the team licked his lips bloodthirstily, then turned and sneered at the cloaked man. “Sen, remember your promise. If it weren’t for the Captain, I wouldn’t abandon the main quest to settle your personal grudge!”

“Kael, since you’ve come along, stop complaining so much! Sen has contributed greatly to the team. Think about the equipment you’re wearing!” The big man’s face darkened as he gave the young man a stern look.

“I will remember this favor from everyone. I will slowly compensate for your losses this time.” Sen’s face turned ugly as he pulled his hood back up and fell silent.

…

“Qin Lun, you’re back! So, did you catch the Scorpion-tailed Biao?” As Qin Lun walked into the campsite from outside, an excited voice immediately called out to him.

“Haha, Casey, I told you I would personally catch a Scorpion-tailed Biao for you!” Qin Lun spread his arms and moved to hug the young man approaching him, giving him a light embrace. “You’re in luck this time. I found a Scorpion-tailed Biao nest and caught three cubs in total. You can pick the best one.”

Casey was a handsome young Elf. Unlike Qin Lun’s silver-haired Dark Elf attribute, this Elf was a Sun Elf, with beautiful golden long hair, a slender figure, and a youthful, vibrant face. By Elf standards, he was still a youth.

“If it weren’t for Aunt Vima constantly watching me, I really wanted to go with you!” Casey eagerly pulled Qin Lun along. “Tell me about it, okay? How did you catch those little guys?”

“Of course, but let me get some food first. I’ve been hunting outside the forest all day!” Qin Lun laughed and patted Casey’s shoulder, pulling him towards his tent. “…First, I went to the nest of the Color-winged Oriole to the south. You know Scorpion-tailed Biaos love eating Color-winged Oriole eggs. Then…”

As Qin Lun vividly narrated his tale, Casey’s sea-blue eyes gradually sparkled. His hands clenched and unclenched at times, as if he were experiencing the adventure of catching the Scorpion-tailed Biao alongside Qin Lun.

“Is that all?” After hearing about Qin Lun’s entire day of adventure, Casey still seemed to want more. “Then tell me more, the Color-winged Orioles you saw, do their feathers really shimmer with colorful light?”

“Casey, let me have some water first!” Talking for over twenty minutes had left Qin Lun parched. He shook his head wryly. “You’ll see for yourself later. You don’t need to always pester me for stories!”

“Sigh, that’ll take a long time. Aunt Vima said unless I can defeat a Savage Rhino alone in the Arena, that creature will absolutely not let me take half a step out of the camp!” Casey wrinkled his face pitifully and pointed towards a large tree next to the clearing.

Qin Lun looked up at this huge tree, its trunk so thick it would take three people to encircle it. High up in its canopy rested a black Ghost Owl.

The Ghost Owl’s facial features resembled a Monkey’s. It had wings on its sides, a curved hook-like nose bridge, and fiery red eyes. An adult Ghost Owl’s strength reached the Seventh Order, making it a truly High Rank creature. Its intelligence was similar to that of a thirteen or fourteen-year-old child, capable of understanding both Elven and human languages.

Their sharp claws were comparable to diamond, capable of destroying almost anything. They belonged to the Dark Creatures category. They also naturally possessed a Shadow talent, allowing them to shift their bodies between solid and intangible states and hide within shadows. In the nighttime forest, even powerful Eighth or Ninth Order creatures dared not confront them. They could be called the natural rulers of the dark night.

“Haha, it seems Master Vima really cares about you!” Qin Lun slightly narrowed his eyes, shifting his gaze away from the Ghost Owl, and asked casually, “When will Master Vima go out again? I need to collect the reward for this quest from her in advance!”

“You only care about the reward! Didn’t you say you took this quest specifically for me?” Casey pouted, muttering discontentedly. He hesitated for a moment before saying, “Aunt Vima will go out tomorrow. If you’re in a hurry, we can go find her now!”

“Haha, thank you then, Casey!” Qin Lun winked at the young Elf. “Casey, I’ll tell you a secret… actually, the Savage Rhino has a big weakness!”

“Really? Qin Lun, will you tell me?” Casey’s eyes lit up, and he jumped up in delight.

“Of course, but… this is a secret just between the two of us. You won’t tell Aunt Vima, right?”

“Mm, mm!” Casey nodded excitedly, like a chick pecking at rice. “I’d have to be stupid to tell Aunt Vima!”

Seeing Casey’s excited look, Qin Lun softly sighed.