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墨書 Inktalez
The sea breeze blew in from the distant Sea Surface, chillingly enveloping Lu Fei Fan, as if it sought to steal away all the warmth from his body.
The thick blanket wrapped around him fluttered in the wind as he gazed ahead at the increasingly cold Sea Surface, lost in thought.
The climate of the West Sea was notoriously unpredictable, and during this late autumn and early winter season, it was even more so. If it weren't for Lu Fei Fan's training in the Art of Pulse Control, he might have been shivering uncontrollably by now.
Qin Qin, bundled up tightly, approached him on the deck.
"What are you looking at?" she asked, genuinely curious. Lu Fei Fan had been standing on the deck for nearly an hour, fixated on the horizon.
"The ocean," Lu Fei Fan replied succinctly, though in truth, his mind was occupied with thoughts of a certain person's face.
Qin Qin followed his gaze toward the vast sea. Suddenly, the ship jolted, causing her to lose her balance. Lu Fei Fan quickly reached out to steady her.
"Let's go below deck," he suggested as he turned to leave.
Qin Qin looked back at him, puzzled by this enigmatic person.
Though young, he seemed to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders, as if he harbored some deep secret within.
The more she observed him, the more her curiosity grew.
After half an hour of sailing, the temperature began to rise. Everyone climbed onto the deck to bask in the sun. The once quiet and lifeless ferry regained its vibrancy.
In the distance stood a formidable line of steel fortifications known as the Blood Barrier. Everyone on deck gazed at this coastal fortress that humanity had constructed with immense financial resources, effort, and technology. Occasionally, fighter jets flew overhead while ancient warships navigated in and out of the Sea Surface.
As they approached this maritime Great Wall, it became apparent that its architecture was blood-red. The towering walls rose several dozen meters high, and at their base lay a bustling marketplace reminiscent of a floating world painting, filled with vibrant stalls and lively chatter.
In such places where profit could be made, people were willing to risk their lives for a chance at fortune.
After discussing with Da Fu, the horsemen decided not to linger beneath this Great Wall. After all, many ships that had set out together had already passed through the narrow Gate of the Blood Barrier into foreign lands.
The vast ocean still gave a sense of boundlessness. As the ferry sailed past one island after another, green islands began to emerge at the edge of the sea.
On many of the accompanying vessels, mercenaries were already impatiently preparing their gear.
“The West Sea Forbidden Zone, No-Bone Graveyard to the Green Mist Rainforest has arrived,” Jiang Yu said, slapping the ferry's railing as he gazed at the lush green islands.
“We will disembark at Dock No. 6 on Island No. 1!” the cavalry leader announced to all members. “Remember to stick together; no one is allowed to wander off.”
Everyone began to gather their belongings and equipment in the cabin. Before long, they were all fully armed and standing on the deck, each person carrying a combat backpack.
When the vessel reached Dock No. 3, Lu Fei Fan noticed that this dock was actually built on several enormous trees rooted deep in the sea. These towering trees were astonishingly large, each one as tall as a ten-story building.
The dock was managed by a unit dressed in Expeditionary Force uniforms. Lu Fei Fan couldn’t recognize their insignia; their equipment was mixed and didn’t compare to the elite Free Federation Legion within the Free Federation.
What caught attention was that many fortifications at the dock were constructed on thick tree trunks, and even streets were built atop these trunks. Many of the trunks had been hollowed out, creating space for bars, weapon shops, restaurants, and clinics.
Numerous mercenaries disembarking rushed toward the dock, ordering off-road vehicles before collectively heading deeper into the area.
The cavalry team lingered at the dock for a while before waving for Da Fu Ge to take his team to rest in the square while they entered a nearby bar.
Jiang Yu watched as the cavalry team went into the bar to gather information while he flipped through a map, drawing and writing notes as he calculated something.
Just then, Lu Fei Fan, who was beside him, asked, “Which of these areas do you think has a good chance of finding that thing?”
Lu Fei Fan examined the map and concluded that based on the dock and routes, it was unlikely to find any information about the Source of Life in nearby areas. Instead, he felt that places deemed improbable might hold greater hope…
He slid his finger across the map and pointed to another location.
“Hmm, that’s the highest danger zone, the Red Zone,” Jiang Yu remarked, seemingly expecting this response from Lu Fei Fan.
“Opportunities coexist with dangers,” Lu Fei Fan replied.
Jiang Yu nodded in agreement. “Based on my analysis, the Green Mist Rainforest leading to the Red Zone, along with the unexplored Black Area, is the most likely route.”
As expected, a group of horsemen, reeking of alcohol, stumbled out of a bar and nodded towards Da Fu Ge. The team began to set out; all members of the Fei Hu Battle Team rented two off-road vehicles. The vehicles drove along a path carved through thick tree trunks, passing through the living area of the Green Mist Rainforest. This place felt like a paradise, with many residents living in treehouses or hollows within the trunks.
However, beneath its warm facade lurked hidden dangers. Along the way, they spotted an Expeditionary Force dealing with a dispute involving local mercenaries. A body covered by a white cloth lay on the ground, and the sight of bloodstains was shocking.
After nearly forty minutes of driving, they stopped deep within the forest. The horsemen disembarked, and before them stood towering trees supported by massive trunks, resembling a village within a forest.
The horsemen approached a tree hollow and knocked on the door. An elderly man, nearly sixty with mostly white hair and thinning on top, peeked out. His eyesight seemed poor.
“I was sent by Boss Gu,” one of the horsemen said, handing over an envelope that felt thick.
The old man took it with skepticism, opened it to reveal a stack of cash from the Free Federation, and then finally opened the door.
“Come in.”
Outside, Jia Jia and Jiu Ye stayed behind to guard the vehicles and equipment while everyone else hunched over and squeezed into the tree hollow.
Once inside, Lu Fei Fan discovered that there was much more space than expected. The trunk had been hollowed out significantly to create various areas including a spacious living room and several partitioned rooms. A ladder led to a second floor where the old man gestured for the horsemen and Da Fu to sit down at a wooden stump table in the living room.
“Adi, come down and pour them some tea,” he called upstairs.
Moments later, a dark-skinned individual with short hair that reached their ears hurried down. If not for their slightly protruding chest and Adam's apple, Lu Fei Fan might have mistaken them for a boy.
Silently, they brewed a large pot of tea at the counter and poured each person in the treehouse a cup. Lu Fei Fan took a sip; the tea leaves tasted like sun-dried crushed leaves—bitter and moldy at first—but left a sweet aftertaste lingering in his mouth.
“We're here to find this,” the horseman said as he handed over a photograph, which was the same one that Bai Qi had given him, depicting the 'Source of Life.'
The old man’s expression grew serious upon seeing the photo.
“The Bodhi Tree Demon has been extinct for many years,” he said, looking up at the horseman.
“But someone has seen a living Bodhi Tree Demon,” the horseman replied.
“Perhaps that was the last one,” the old man remarked.
The horseman did not rush; instead, he took a deep breath and patiently communicated with him. “Boss Gu, you will provide us with some useful information.”
The old man did not respond but continued sipping his tea, seemingly indifferent to the presence of the horseman and his companions.
“This is a deposit,” the horseman said, pulling out a bundle of cash from Da Fu Ge and pushing it toward the old man. “I hope the guide from Rainforest can lead us.”
The old man glanced at the bundle, which was significantly thicker than the one he had received earlier, then nodded and dragged it back toward himself.
“The person who saw the Tree Demon is dead,” he stated.
The horseman and his companions exchanged glances; it was clear that the old man was very cautious. He looked at Adi, who was pouring tea in the room.
The horseman seemed to sense where his caution lay.
“Don’t worry, you can trust our reputation at the Fei Hu Battle Team. We are not the kind of people who kill to silence others like those Special Operations Teams,” he said, tapping on the table.
“I don’t know where the Bodhi Tree Demon might appear,” the old man shook his head, then waved his hand and pulled out a map from behind him. He spread it out on the wooden table. This map was much more primitive than those that the horseman had; it lacked any colored regions. It was precisely because many people had explored that the Green Mist Rainforest had been divided into so many color-coded areas—such as red for the most dangerous zones, orange for slightly less perilous areas, while unexplored regions were marked entirely in black.
The old man pointed at the primitive map. “Once, this area was not part of the Free Federation or Alliance Empire Mercenaries, let alone now with an Expeditionary Force stationed here.”
The old man paused for a moment and continued, "Originally, this place was inhabited by some primitive tribal races; they were the true children of this forest. Later, when adventurers arrived, it was like discovering a treasure trove. Mercenaries and Empowered Individuals came in droves, slaughtering and plundering. Many Rainforest tribes suffered heavy casualties in their attempts to protect their environment, and some tribes were even wiped out."
At this point, the old man glanced casually at Adi, while Lu Fei Fan stared at the girl, as if he had realized something.
"I can have her guide you, but you must guarantee her safety," the old man finally said, pointing at Adi.
The caravan looked at the gender-neutral girl who appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen years old and nodded. "We can guarantee that."
The old man nodded in return. "She will lead you to... this area!"
With that, he pointed to a section deeper within the forest. Da Fu Ge and Jiang Yu compared it with the colored map they held and noted the geographical location.
"All things have spirits; all beings are equal," the old man suddenly said. "Remember, do not engage in excessive slaughter in this forest; otherwise, the consequences will be unimaginable."
After finishing his words, he waved his hand and whispered a few phrases into Adi's ear, instructing her to prepare. Before long, she came down carrying a simple cloth bag and wearing a pair of special rain boots.
"Just have her bring back the remaining payment for me. As for whether you encounter the Bodhi Tree Demon, that's beyond our control. A transaction is just a transaction; we don't make promises beyond that. This is the rule of the guides," the old man told the caravan members.
They nodded and turned to leave. The old man stood in the doorway watching them depart before turning back inside and hanging a sign on the door that read 'No Visitors Allowed.' Shortly after, someone knocked on the door, but no one responded. The people outside kicked the door a few times in frustration before cursing and walking away.
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