"Huff... huff..."
Ayasi opened his eyes with some difficulty, his mouth filled with a metallic, almost rusty, taste, and his empty stomach churned with acid. Intense fear forced him to gag repeatedly.
"vomit--"
He hadn't eaten his fill for three days straight. The last thing he could remember eating was a handful of shriveled berries and a small piece of goat cheese that his wife had secretly hidden away.
Since the monsters invaded the village, there has been less and less food around the village. At first, only small wild animals such as rabbits, pheasants and ducks disappeared. Later, even the edible berries in the bushes disappeared, leaving only the trees with their roots exposed after they were eaten clean.
Although the village chief has repeatedly sought help from the Adventurers' Guild, they simply cannot afford the exorbitant commission fees, so no one has come to exterminate these damned monsters.
Those slimy, bizarre monsters are tireless, fearless, and unaware of death; everything they devour disappears.
Faster!
Faster!
Ayasi didn't know where these monsters came from; he only knew that he could only keep running, and if he stopped, he would become food for those monsters.
The thought of this possibility made him tremble uncontrollably.
If it weren't for his youngest daughter Tana's illness and the need for the forest's horsetail flowers, Ayasi would never have risked being hunted by these monsters to enter this forest.
In his hasty escape, Ayasi did not notice the undulating tree roots under his feet, lost his balance and fell heavily to the ground!
"Duang—"
"Duang—"
As the dark figure behind him drew closer, he waved his arms in despair and shouted:
"Damn monsters! I'd rather die than let you eat me! Damn it, damn it, damn it!! Tana is still waiting for me at home! Damn monsters! (Son's words)"
Clutching the basket in his arms, Ayasi, emboldened by some unknown source, frantically pounded the wooden stick in his hand and charged towards the leading giant monster with his eyes closed.
—At that very moment, a pale golden halo suddenly appeared on the spot, and countless golden particles carried an antique wooden door into the air, engulfing Ayasi, who had her eyes closed!
The strong suction forced Ayasi to open his eyes. After the blinding golden light, he struggled to open them again, but could hardly believe what he was seeing:
This is a bright and clean room. The ceiling is made of some kind of thick logs, each one neat and tidy. Strange dark green vines climb the walls, with beautiful red flowers blooming beneath the green leaves. On either side of the room are two huge, crystal-clear containers, like jewels, filled with swimming live fish. Odd square tables and chairs are neatly arranged by the window, and the lush greenery outside shines in, making everything seem so vibrant.
On the table were exquisite porcelain pieces, the kind that are hard to find even in towns. Their delicate shapes and exquisite designs captivated Ayasi.
Small wisps of white smoke rose from an unidentified container carved with animal heads, emitting a pleasant and noble fragrance. Even the curtains used to block the view were made of the finest silk, and just looking at them made one imagine the smooth feel of touching them.
Even the mayor's house isn't this extravagant; they actually used the finest silk for the curtains!
The welcoming mascot hanging at the entrance finally responded, making a sound as if it had been stuck in a malfunction:
Hello! Welcome! Hello! Welcome!
Startled again, Ayasi clutched the basket in her arms tighter, looking at the talking "doll" with suspicion and uncertainty:
“I’ve never seen this style of furniture and tea set before—could this be the secluded retreat of some magician?” (Song En's words)
"Hehehe, you blue-haired foreign man are really interesting. Your eyes are even yellow, just like a cat's!"
Wearing a bellyband, Dai Zi peeked out from behind the counter and patted Ayaxi on the shoulder with a grin. However, due to the language barrier, what she said sounded like a bunch of gibberish to Ayaxi, consisting of "&#*~&@".
Ayasi immediately bowed his head in greeting, trying his best to appear humble:
"Honorable Mage, I did not mean to trespass into your sanctuary. I was being hunted by monsters while gathering wildflowers from the forest. Please forgive my intrusion and recklessness—"
"What are you babbling about, you brute? I've only just taken human form and can't understand a word you're saying." (From the language of the Journey to the West world)
Dai Zi puffed out her cheeks, her fair face full of confusion. She clearly didn't understand why the man in front of her looked at her as if he had seen a ghost.
"Lord Mo Xuan and the young master have gone to Fox Mountain and won't be around for a while. If you want anything to eat, just tell me! Don't worry, don't be afraid of me. I'm a flower fairy, unlike other demons. I don't eat people!" (From the Journey to the West world)
"Merciful spirit, I am but a poor passerby; please have mercy and let me seek your protection for now!" (Song of Grace)
Ayasi couldn't understand Daizi's words, but when he saw the writhing vines wrapped around Daizi, he immediately lowered his head even further.
A magician who can control elves!
That was a great magician whom even the Baron treated with utmost respect!
"What should we do? It seems we have no choice but to ask my wife for help."
Dai Zi scratched her head in distress, her chubby face full of dejection. The brown vines climbed up the roof beams and headed straight for the backyard.
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