Chapter 163
In the quiet room, blue light illuminated the space to a minimum.
It also illuminated the girl lying on the bed with her eyes tightly closed.
Her face was pale, and her green hair cascaded down like a waterfall. But it started to turn white from the ends, then gray towards the roots.
Although she was wrapped in a blanket, one of her arms sticking out revealed her slender figure, suggesting she was probably a stunningly beautiful woman. But now she lay here like a corpse.
The door opened silently, and the Elf King slowly walked in. After sitting on the edge of the bed, he carefully placed her hand back under the covers.
Then it just sat there, attracting no attention, except that there was one more person sitting there.
Actually, there should be someone sitting here; it would be strange if no one were here. There are traces of two people living here; it shouldn't be just one person.
The Elf King, who had been acting like a hermit sage just moments before, remained silent after entering, sitting there like a statue.
Or rather, both of them are like statues, except one is lying in bed and the other is sitting on the edge of the bed.
A long, long time later, the reclining statue made a faint sound.
"Where were you just now?" the elf lying on the bed asked, opening her eyes.
The Elf King knew that although her eyes were open, she was actually blind. She had spent far too long in the chaotic outside world; the prolonged exposure had severely corroded her entire body, especially something as delicate as her eyes.
However, I can still sense my own existence, though I don't know why, probably because of magic.
“It’s just someone coming.” The Elf King paused. “We haven’t had any visitors for a very, very long time. I went out to greet them.”
"Who is it?" The woman lying on the bed turned her head slightly to look at the Elf King and said, "It's been a very, very long time since you've shown such emotions."
The Elf King was startled, but he still acted as if nothing was wrong.
How can you know my emotions?
"Listen to your heartbeat, I can hear your heartbeat." The woman stretched out the blanket again, and the Elf King grasped it, then slid his hand to hold his wrist.
Then, after a moment, she laughed, a really happy laugh, as if it were something very interesting.
"I knew it," she said. "Did you see something extraordinary?"
The Elf King remained silent until a very long time later, when he sighed.
"It's Yak."
The air grew still. Although the place was already very quiet, it became even quieter when the name was uttered.
It seemed that even the spirits in the air dared not speak, as if that name was a taboo, and that something bad would happen if it were uttered.
"Is that so?" The woman's voice was very low.
“He asked me about you,” the Elf King said. “I told him you were in very bad shape; your body was as withered as a dried-up tree.”
“Is that so?” she continued.
"But he didn't react at all, as if he was just asking around." The Elf King took a deep breath to try and calm himself down. "I'm really annoyed. If it weren't for that guy, you wouldn't be acting like this."
“I’m so grateful to him,” the woman lying in bed said softly. “I can’t see anything now, but I can still remember what happened before. I remember it all so clearly. I remember that guy taking me all over the world, seeing everything, everything.”
"That's no reason for you to think he's not wrong. I really wanted to make that guy my dinner." After saying this in anger, the Elf King's voice gradually lowered.
"I'm just getting old," the elf lying in bed said. "Even if I hadn't been corrupted, I'm at an age where I need to rest."
“You’re only four hundred and a half, which is still youthful age for an elf,” the Elf King comforted him. “You’re not old yet.”
"The average lifespan of an elf is only a little over six hundred years, and then I will become a great tree." She closed her eyes, although opening them was meaningless, but it usually meant that she was still awake.
But looking like this, she's probably about to fall asleep again.
The Elf King remained seated beside her, watching over her.
She sleeps all day now, only waking up very occasionally. Although it doesn't help much, the Elf King still hopes that he can appear before her every time she opens her eyes.
Even the simplest psychological comfort made her feel accompanied. Although it was a very simple thing, something anyone could do, perhaps only she or that guy named Ark could truly put her at ease.
He showed her everything that could not be seen in this forest, and all he could do was provide her with a safe and stable life.
The Elf King didn't want to think too much, but without thinking, nothing could be done here. He had no job to speak of; although he was the nominal manager, there was nothing easier to manage than a group of elves. They seemed to be bound by rules from birth, and could never step outside of them no matter what.
This feels good; I feel at ease, without worrying that this guy might suddenly have a mental breakdown and cut off his own body one day.
He closed his eyes, and when he did, he imagined the entire forest as his eyes. He could hear what was happening here, and sense everything that was about to happen.
However, although there is vitality here, it is static, and nothing interesting happens at all.
Half a day has passed, and those guys have landed here. They'll stay here for about three days, seemingly waiting for someone and taking the opportunity to regroup.
Next, they're supposedly heading straight to the Land of the Dead; that seems to be their destination this time. The goal is to send Lori to a place that's more suitable for her to live in.
There are still plenty of empty rooms here, so allocating them shouldn't be a problem. However, the Elf King doesn't want to help these creatures with supplies; they say they'll figure it out themselves here. They don't need any further assistance from him.
They're a bunch of easygoing guys.
......
"Our supplies aren't just these fruits, are they?" Chuli said, looking at the things hanging on the trees. "As an elf, I can tell you responsibly that these things have a shelf life of less than three days. They can only be eaten immediately after being picked."
"So we'll be going hungry for the next few days," Yak said helplessly. "There's only one person here who needs to eat: Lady. Enough for one person is enough."
“I don’t mind going hungry,” Chuli said somewhat discontentedly, “but I’m someone you hired, and it’s really going too far to not even provide me with food.”
“Once we get to the Land of the Dead, I guarantee you’ll have plenty to eat,” Ark said. “It’s a monster-infested area with a safe zone, and I’m sure the administrators there will treat you well.”
"Don't tell me you know anyone in the Land of the Dead."
Is that so strange?
“It’s not surprising, but I just wonder why you don’t settle there. If you know someone in the Land of the Dead, wouldn’t it be better for you to live there?” Chuli looked around and said, “If I weren’t worried about being eaten there, I would want to live there too. It’s the largest gathering place for monsters right now, the most suitable place for us to live.”
Her only moments of grumbling were spent sitting in the carriage, inventorying the items. After the carriages were inspected, they needed to be taken to their lodgings. This simple task was done by Ark himself; he needed an assistant, and coincidentally, he had Chuli familiarize himself with the business.
Although I used to be a mercenary, this is my first time joining a caravan. If they can guide me through some of the procedures, they might be able to do some things for me in the future, so I can get some proper rest.
Lady had finally managed to train her, intending to use her to replace Denos. But now the child is inexplicably depressed, and Ark isn't so heartless as to let someone in a bad mood continue working. So he's letting her rest first.
Ultimately, however, this team was still disorganized, and he wasn't the leader. He couldn't command everyone. So, he just briefly explained the itinerary, and they all understood.
He looked in front of him and paused, stunned.
It was a somewhat cultivated area, unlike the other trees which were scattered and messy.
Some purple morning glories were growing on the nearby vines, which were rather conspicuous. They seemed a bit out of place in this setting.
It's like someone's garden.
Ark suddenly remembered that there were indeed some acquaintances living here, not only the somewhat aloof Elf King and his wife, but also an interesting fellow.
“Could you please take this carriage with you?” Ark suddenly remembered something and said to Chuli, “I’m going to visit an acquaintance.”
"Aren't you afraid they'll steal your things and run away?" Xiaobai refused, but looked at him with some displeasure.
“I never doubt people who run away; after all, wanting to find a safe place is just instinct.” Yak jumped down from the carriage. “By the way, there are a few animal hides on the third carriage.”
"Wow, you really are someone who's been to Lingsen before!" Qiuli gave him a thumbs up: "It's been a long time since I've been back and I'm not used to the bed anymore."
The elven beds were woven from vines. They were merely slightly soft places to lie down. While the hammock experience was alright, it was still quite uncomfortable for these creatures who were used to sleeping in beds.
At times like these, the importance of animal hides becomes crystal clear. Ark hadn't thrown away those hides; they were all top-quality. Getting him to hand them over wouldn't be possible without a good price.
Chuli watched Ark leave and continued sitting there organizing the text. She needed to make a quick record of her energy expenditure.
Incidentally, she didn't have to do less work than the others in this team just because she had just arrived. On the contrary, she relieved a lot of pressure for Ark.
So she took only twenty minutes to get everything sorted out. As Ark had said before, although he was now employed by this team, he could rest if there was nothing else to do.
It was clearly too early to take the carriage there now. She stretched, feeling a bit drowsy from the fatigue she had accumulated in the Chaotic Region.
After all, I couldn't even sleep soundly before.
Moreover, I've long wanted to lie down in those two coffins covered with animal hides. Although it's considered unlucky, you have to admit, sleeping in such a coffin during a long journey is really relaxing.
The moment she thought of it, her body began to move, and by the time she finished, she had already covered herself with the sheepskin.
Chuli settled comfortably, burying his head in the fur. This fur, often kept with spices, had a pleasant aroma.
I just escaped a crisis, only to find myself in a team full of weirdos and monsters. I barely survived, and what lies ahead is anything but easy. Now is the time to rest.
She slowly closed her eyes, thinking this way, and gradually calmed down.
Then suddenly she curled up into a ball, and her previously closed eyes suddenly opened. Her eyes were suddenly filled with tears.
Was I the only one who survived?
Just a short while ago, they were discussing how to deal with the ice fish and struggling to find the other participant when disaster struck unexpectedly.
But a month has passed. Only now has she begun to curl up in agony, feeling heartache and self-blame. Large tears fall, and her body trembles slightly.
If I had to pinpoint the reason, it would be quite simple. All her friends had died, and she was heartbroken. Anyone who has experienced surviving alone understands what that feels like. There's no past more painful to recall than that, a past where you acutely feel your own luck, your weakness, your vulnerability, and the cruel reality.
But no one could persuade her, not even Ark. No one here was qualified to tell her to let go. She had almost lost everything she had accumulated, and perhaps had nothing left but her life. Perhaps everything she had done before was in vain; she had gained nothing and had only wasted her time.
There's no good explanation; she's all alone now. She's returned to the Spirit Forest. How much determination it took for her to leave this place, to see what this world is really like.
She saw it all: disaster, monsters, people called despair, and that fabricated hope.
Now she's back, and the place is just as it was when she left. Everything alive is as silent as a plant. It's full of life, yet so deathly still, the silence as if trying to squeeze out the sadness in her heart little by little.
Here she can cry without fear of monsters. She can sleep peacefully without worrying that one day a huge gaping hole will open in the sky, crushing everything in its path, and causing chaos to erupt in laughter...
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