Chapter 122 Return to the Sacred Tree
A snowy mountain maze in the Land of Snow?
Shu Li looked at the messy lines on the paper and couldn't understand at all that it was a treasure map.
"Why did the Queen send us the treasure map?"
Shouldn't the Snow Country's treasures be kept safe within itself? Why give them away to outsiders?
"The Snow Mountain Labyrinth has existed for nearly ten thousand years." Ilio stroked his smooth chin and pondered. "The Snow Country has always kept the entrance open, allowing expeditions and mercenaries to enter in search of treasure. But sadly, no one has ever successfully found the treasure in these ten thousand years."
"With the queen's maze map, can we find the treasure?" Shu Li rubbed his hands and asked excitedly.
Elio raised his eyes, ruthlessly breaking the goblin's money-obsessed expression. "The Snow Mountain Labyrinth has nine levels, and this map only reaches the seventh."
"Ah!" Shu Li was immediately disappointed and deflated.
Ilio folded up the map and placed it back in the silver box. "This is probably the most comprehensive maze map ever made. It's invaluable."
"Really?" Shu Li asked, "Maps are difficult to draw?"
Ilio pushed the silver box toward him and said, "Drawing up to the seventh level took at least a thousand years and cost the lives of countless adventurers."
Shu Li was surprised, and his eyes suddenly became solemn when he looked at the silver box.
Who would have thought that a treasure map is the result of thousands of years of hard work by countless people, and it is truly a priceless treasure.
"Is it appropriate for the Queen to give it to us?" Shu Li was puzzled.
"Do you think a treasure map is more valuable than her life?" Ilio asked.
Shu Li shook his head.
Her life must be more precious.
Ilio folded his arms and said, "So, she earned it by trading a treasure map for a favor."
After hearing his analysis, Shu Li no longer felt any psychological burden in accepting the treasure map.
"Keep it. When you travel to the mainland on your own in the future, you can try the Snow Mountain Maze. If you're lucky, you might find treasure." Ilio touched the little guy's head.
"Yeah." Shu Li put the silver box into the storage ring with peace of mind, grabbed a handful of nuts, and started cracking them like a little squirrel.
The coachman sitting in the front room waved his whip and drove the two horses. The carriage left the spacious road and drove towards a secluded path, entering the wild mountains and forests.
In fact, the groom was very panicked.
He had been a rickshaw driver for ten years, but this was the first time he encountered an employer who only took the small road instead of the main road.
What surprised him most was that his employer asked him to avoid big cities and small towns, head west and reach the Sesis Mountains as quickly as possible.
What is the Cysis Mountains?
That is the famous mountain range that separates the fairy forest from the human world.
Apart from adventurers and mercenaries who like to go there, ordinary humans dare not get close at all.
What were the employers, an adult and a child, doing in the Cesis Mountains?
However, he was just a humble coachman and did not dare to inquire or ask.
Anyway, the commission for this trip is quite high. Fifty gold coins is enough for his living expenses for half a year.
The carriage began to shake as it left the avenue.
Shu Li was dizzy from the shaking, so she just lay down. There were cushions in the car, making it more comfortable to lie down.
The carriage went further and further away, and when it passed through the woods, it miraculously did not encounter any monsters or wild beasts. The driver went from being terrified at first to feeling relaxed and at ease later.
You know what, the scenery along the way is pretty nice.
We ate dry food at noon and slept outdoors at night. The night was safe and sound.
We drove smoothly for a day, but on the next morning, we encountered robbers.
The driver was trembling with fear.
I was careless!
The journey was so smooth that I forgot there were robbers.
However, the driver's fear only lasted three minutes.
After getting out of the car, the two employers smiled brightly at the dozen or so robbers.
The next moment, the robber knelt down and begged for mercy, crying bitterly. The big employer threw away the branch he used as a sword, and the small employer put away the magic wand, yelling at the beaten robber to get as far away as possible.
The robbers were so grateful that they didn't hesitate at all and fled in panic.
The driver was full of admiration.
The rest of the journey was smooth, and on the morning of the third day, they successfully reached the foot of Mount Sesis.
Shu Li jumped off the carriage, stretched his sore limbs, looked up at the endless mountains, and sighed.
It wasn’t easy, but we finally arrived at our “doorstep”. As long as we cross this mountain, we will reach the Fairy Forest.
Ilio pulled a handful of gold coins from his backpack and handed them to the driver. "This is your commission."
The driver took the gold coins, roughly counted them, and asked in surprise: "Ah, distinguished guest, did you give too much?"
There are at least sixty gold coins in this handful.
"The extra gold is yours," Ilio said with a smile. "If you're not in a hurry to return, why not wait at the foot of the mountain?"
The driver was confused: "Wait? Wait for what?"
Elio narrowed his eyes slightly and looked towards the mountain range. Suddenly, he curled his lips and pointed at the black dot in the distance and said, "Here it comes."
Not only was the driver confused, Shu Li was also bewildered.
What is coming?
Soon, he saw what the black spot was.
A group of people.
A group of injured people.
Shu Li suddenly understood.
These guys turned out to be adventurers who had trespassed into the Fairy Forest.
The fact that they were able to come out alive shows that they were not evil people and did not get lost in the forest fog. Although they were injured, they saved their lives.
These adventurers were so excited when they saw the carriage that they were willing to pay a high commission to hire the carriage to take them back to the nearest town.
The driver was shocked, but the lion opened his mouth and asked for a high price of one hundred gold coins per person.
The adventurers who almost lost their lives didn't care about the hundred gold coins at all. They readily agreed and took out the money and stuffed it into the driver's hands.
The driver earned nearly a thousand gold coins in one go and was so happy that he couldn't stop smiling.
The adventurer saw a young man and a child walking towards the mountains and kindly reminded them not to go and die.
The young man and the child remained indifferent and continued to move forward. The adventurer shook his head, stopped trying to dissuade them, and urged the coachman to leave quickly.
After the carriage drove away, Shu Li asked Ilio, "Want to compete?"
Ever since he learned that physical skills could enhance defense, he had been increasing the circulation of his vital energy in his body these days.
Climbing mountains and crossing rivers is the best way to exercise your vital energy.
Although his strength is definitely not comparable to that of an excellent elf warrior, the little elf also has a competitive heart.
Elio looked at the child's pretty face, eager to try, and agreed.
"Then it depends on whether you can catch up with me."
As soon as he finished speaking, he took a breath and ran.
"Wow, you're cheating!" Shu Li yelled, "I haven't even said start yet!"
He skillfully used his energy and tried his best to catch up.
The first time I climbed the mountain, I was exhausted as a cow. The second time, I was already very skilled.
Make rational use of your energy to keep your body in the best state of exercise at all times, and with the goblin's incredible jumping ability, you can run and jump quickly on the steep mountain path like an antelope.
Ilio was far ahead, but Shu Li was not discouraged. He caught up little by little at his own pace and rhythm.
As the sun moved from east to west, they finally crossed the mountains and entered the Goblin Forest.
“Huff, huff, huff—”
Shu Li leaned against the trunk of a towering tree, panting. His clothes were soaked with sweat and stuck to his body, making him very uncomfortable.
Elio felt refreshed and at ease. "Do you want me to carry you?"
Shu Li waved his hands slowly.
No way!
Last time, I was so tired that I fell asleep on his back. This time, I had to hold on and return to the sacred tree no matter what.
After recovering from the shock, he wiped the sweat off his face with his sleeve and said firmly, "I can walk on my own."
Ilio felt quite regretful.
Missed an opportunity to rub the little fairy.
Shu Li had no idea what Ilio was thinking. He straightened his back and walked with difficulty into the depths of the Fairy Forest.
The fog in the Fairy Forest had no effect on the fairies and elves, and they easily passed the blockade and reached the cabin.
Yes, they need to remove the camouflage effect in the cabin and restore their original appearance.
Shu Li drank the potion given to him by Ilio, then washed off the hair dye, rinsed himself with water magic, and changed into comfortable, soft and light clothes like gauze.
“Swish~”
He spread out his wings that had been hidden for more than ten days, put away his original power, turned back into a little goblin, and flew up and down in the wooden house to his heart's content.
Woo wah wah wah~~
I haven't flown with wings for a long time, and I'm almost rusty at it.
Hiding wings is so unkind to the little fairy!
Shu Li swung his long, pointed ears, flew around the cabin, and finally landed on Ilio's shoulder. He grabbed a strand of his hair, pointed upward, and shouted with full force, "Let's go! Back to the sacred tree!"
A smile flickered in Ilio's blue eyes.
Doesn’t the little guy know that turning back into this tiny form makes people want to rub it more?
Elio left the cabin, locked the door, hid it with magic, stood in the open space in front of the cabin, and whistled loudly.
A few minutes later, the snow-white holy unicorn descended from the sky in the afterglow of the setting sun and landed lightly in front of Ilio, with its flowing mane and tail flying.
Elio gracefully sat on the unicorn's back and stroked its neck. "Lixia, take us to the sacred tree."
The unicorn cried out, spread its wings, and instantly took off into the air, flying over the fairy forest.
Shu Li sat on Ilio's shoulders, looking at the towering sacred tree in the distance, and his nose felt sore.
I have only been away for more than ten days, but it feels like I have been away for several years. I can't wait to return to the sacred tree.
As night fell, the unicorn glowed faintly and moved quickly under the night sky.
Closer and closer, we’ve reached the sacred tree.
Shu Li excitedly tugged at Ilio's hair. "We're home!"
Elio touched his little head with his finger. "Yes, home."
The sacred tree is brightly lit, and light shines through countless small houses, decorating its branches like stars, dazzling and brilliant.
The unicorn flicked its tail, folded its wings slightly, and descended, tapping its four hooves slightly, and landed gracefully on the grass under the sacred tree.
In front of the tree trunk, a group of elves and goblins had been waiting for a long time.
Shu Li saw the Elf King in the lead at a glance.
He was dressed in a lavender robe as always, his golden hair hung softly behind him, and the silver crown on his head shone brightly.
Shuli let go of Ilio's hair, flapped her gauze-like wings, flew in a straight line, and crashed into the Elf King's arms.
"King~~~~~Woooooooooooo~~~I'm back!"
He pressed himself against the Elf King's collar, rubbing against him vigorously, tears welling up in his eyes.
The Elf King held the spoiled little elf in his hands and nudged his cheek against him affectionately.
Shu Li immediately took advantage of the situation and rubbed the Elf King's smooth face vigorously, while her little mouth was also busy, complaining to him bitterly.
"The coarse cloth is so hard to wear. It's rubbed my skin and left red marks!"
"The mountain is so high, climbing it is so tiring!"
"The carriage is uncomfortable, the food is not tasty, and the living conditions of ordinary humans are very difficult..."
"I met a lot of people on the road, some good and some bad."
"I listened to Elio's instructions very well. Oh, and I passed the magic apprentice badge!"
He spoke very quickly, a few words here and there. He hadn't spoken Elvish for several days, and he mixed in a few words of the common language of the continent.
The Elf King listened patiently, and when he finished venting his grievances, he gently stroked his head with his fingertips.
“You did a great job.”
"Hehehe~" Received the king's praise, Shu Li sat in his palm, grinning like a fool, raised his right hand, revealing the white back of his hand. "Look, the curse is gone."
The Elf King touched him again, his emerald eyes gentle and watery. "Welcome home."
Shu Li's restless heart was soothed by the Elf King's gentle voice. He spread his wings and flew into the air. He looked left and right and was surprised to find that dozens of pairs of eyes were staring at him.
His limbs stiffened instantly.
ah?
I was so excited when I saw the Elf King just now that I threw myself into his arms and completely forgot about everything else, even ignoring the other fairies.
Elder Fodro, Sit, Aisha, Leah, Ores, Dosia, Kumandi... Disio and other twenty-four goblins, plus eight newborn goblin cubs.
Blink, blink——
The big eyes of the goblins and goblin pups shone like lanterns.
Shu Li swallowed, raised his little paws and waved at them.
"Hi~~I'm back~~~"
These words were like opening a floodgate, and twenty-four little goblins surrounded them, crying and shouting.
"Sperian—you're finally back!"
"Woooooooo, Sperian, you've been gone for ages!"
"We missed you so much! You were cursed and didn't even tell us, woooo!"
"Isn't the human world scary?"
"Great, you're back safely!"
"Ilio is a bit mean! He actually made you wear coarse cloth!"
"Yeah, yeah, Ilio even made you eat nasty porridge!"
"Human magicians are so scary! They can actually cast curses—"
"Thank goodness the curse is lifted!"
The little fairies rushed to hug Shu Li, rubbing her one after another, until Shu Li's face turned red.
Misina and the other eight newborn fairy cubs were flying around anxiously on the periphery.
"Brave Sperion, brave Sperion..."
"Oh my, make way, make way, we also want to hug the brave Sperian!"
"I really want to hear brave Sperian tell brave stories!"
"I'm anxious, anxious, I can't squeeze in, wuwawa——"
When Shu Li heard "Brave Sperian", her face turned red like a monkey's butt.
The scene was extremely chaotic, and the adult goblins were extremely amused.
Aisha asked Kumandi beside her with a smile: "Don't you want to hug Sperian?"
Kumandi pursed his lips and said, "No rush."
Aisha looked at his tense handsome face and covered her mouth with her hands to laugh.
Elio glanced at Sperion, who was being "swamped" by the goblins, coughed lightly, and then walked before the Elf King, bowing respectfully. "My king, I have fulfilled my mission."
"Thank you for your hard work, Ilio." The Elf King said gently.
Ilio hadn't forgotten how little Sperian had complained to the king, so he bowed his head humbly. "No, it wasn't hard at all. On the contrary, it was because it was my first time taking a child out, so I wasn't able to take good care of him."
"So, Ilio, why do you dress little Sperion in coarse cloth?" Elsa asked parentally.
There are many kinds of clothes in the human world. Even if you are disguised as an ordinary civilian, there is no need to wear the worst quality coarse cloth, right?
Elsa felt distressed when she thought of the red marks left on the little elf's delicate skin by the coarse cloth.
Meeting the adult goblins' reproachful gazes, Ilio's face froze.
"Well... you know, I haven't been to the human world in nearly three hundred years, so I don't have many human camouflage clothes on hand," he explained shamefacedly. "To prepare suitable clothes for Sperian, I altered my old clothes overnight, overlooking the issue of his delicate skin."
"But don't worry, I've already taught him how to use the energy to train his body, and I've also bought him new clothes."
He added this to make up for the loss.
The adult goblins snorted and forgave him for his carelessness for the time being.
Having escaped danger, Ilio breathed a sigh of relief and stood beside the Elf King.
The Elf King looked at Shu Li, who was surrounded by goblins and cubs, and said to Ilio, "The farm is short-handed lately. Go share some of the work."
“…Yes, King.”
A bead of sweat dripped down Ilio's forehead.
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