Chapter 30

Chapter 30: Internal Turmoil
Rock pulled a map from his robe, crouched down, and spread it flat on the ground. “I don’t have any brilliant ideas either,” he said, “but since we must pass through the Tianyuan Clan’s territory to reach the Death Mountains, you should know that four major races primarily inhabit their lands: the Winged People, the Dwarves, the Elves, and the Beastmen. Both the Elves and the Winged People are races who love peace and nature; our Puyan Clan has always maintained friendly relations with them, so passing through their territories shouldn’t be a problem. Although the Dwarves tend to be short-tempered, they are kind-hearted and straightforward by nature, so there shouldn’t be much trouble with them either. The most difficult to deal with will be the Beastmen’s territory. Their xenophobia is hardly any less than ours among the Puyan Clan, and being inherently brutal, they have always survived by hunting wild beasts in the forests.”
Xuan Yue asked, “Aren’t they themselves no different from wild beasts? Why would they still hunt animals?”
Rock glanced at her and replied, “That shows you don’t truly understand the Beastmen. So-called Beastmen are, plainly speaking, wild beasts possessing thinking abilities and intelligence, sharing certain similarities with humans. Among the Beastmen, many different races exist, led by five major clans: the Lionmen, Tigermen, Leopardmen, Wolfmen, and Bearmen. There are also some smaller races that avoid being bullied due to their special abilities, such as the Centaurs, skilled in archery, and the mysterious Dark Demons.”
A Dai was startled and exclaimed involuntarily, “What? There’s also the Dark Demon Clan among the Beastmen?”
Yan Shi nodded gravely and said, “Yes. Although the Dark Demon Clan is hunted by all humans across the continent, they face no discrimination within the Tianyuan Clan’s territory, which is why they’ve managed to survive there. Nevertheless, their whereabouts remain highly mysterious; even other Beastman races rarely catch sight of them. Though few in number, the Dark Demon Clan possesses formidable combat prowess. Let’s hope we don’t encounter them. They hold a transcendent status among the Beastmen; no race would dare target them. Besides the several races I’ve mentioned, the Beastmen also include many minor tribes whose strength is extremely weak. Even slightly powerful mindless beasts could kill them. Therefore, those forest beasts and these weak races serve as prey for the major Beastman clans.”
“Wow, they even eat their own kin!” Yue Ji cried out in shock.
Yan Shi said, “Exactly. That’s why I say the Beastmen are utterly ferocious. Their territory lies right across the Tianyuan lands and constitutes the only route to the Death Mountains. When the time comes, let’s strive to secure help from our friends among the Elves and the Winged People. We’d best avoid any conflict with the Beastmen; their numbers are far too great for us to handle.”
Everyone exchanged bewildered glances; none had anticipated encountering so many obstacles before even entering the Death Mountains. A Dai asked, “Brother Rock, what should we do if we come into conflict with the Beastmen?”
A cold light flashed in Rock’s eyes as he replied, “We’ll have to assess the situation then. If they are few in number, we’ll fight our way through; if they outnumber us, our only option will be to flee.”
Xuan Yue said, “If only we could grow wings like the Winged People; we could simply fly straight across.”
Yue Ji shot her a disapproving look and retorted, “Aren’t you a mage? If you knew wind-element flight magic, you could carry everyone across.”
Xuan Yue said disdainfully, “If you don’t understand, then don’t interrupt. Do you think flying with wind magic is that easy? It’s already extremely difficult to fly while carrying only yourself; to carry so many of us, I’m afraid even Bi Yinluo, the Wind Archmage of the Sunset Empire, couldn’t do it. Truly a magic idiot.”
Yue Ji flew into a rage, stood up, and retorted, “Who are you calling a magic idiot? If you’ve got the guts, stop using magic, and I’ll put away my bow; let’s settle this fairly.”
Xuan Yue, showing no sign of backing down, proudly rose and glared at Yue Ji, who stood half a head taller than him. “Afraid of you? Go beat Adai first before coming after me. Adai, teach her a lesson for me.”
Yue Hen quickly grabbed his sister, frowning. “Enough, stop arguing. So many difficulties lie ahead of us; let’s overcome these challenges first. We’re all on the same side; there’s no need to hurt our harmony. Brother Rock, none of us have ever been to the Tianyuan Tribe, and we know nothing about that place. Judging by what you said, it seems highly likely we’ll come into conflict with the beastmen.”
Rock nodded and said, “That’s one way to put it. Although the Elves and the Winged People love peace, it’s unlikely they’ll be willing to help us. After all, we’re all races of the Tianyuan Tribe; they won’t easily offend the Orcs. The Orcs are extremely proud. Once we reach their territory, we should quicken our pace and avoid direct confrontation if possible.” He sighed and continued, “The most complicated region on the continent is undoubtedly the Suo Domain Federation, especially within the Tianyuan Tribe. There are so many factions there; it will be difficult to deal with!”
Wan Li said, “If it really comes down to it, we could just go around them.”
Rock shook his head and replied, “Taking a detour is too troublesome, and there’s no guarantee we won’t encounter problems in other races’ territories either. Besides, since we’re embarking on an adventure, we shouldn’t shy away from difficulties.”
“What are you guys talking about? Why didn’t you call me?” Yan Li came running over, rubbing his sleepy eyes and stretching as he asked.
Miao Fei chuckled and said, “You really can sleep!”
Yan Li, somewhat embarrassed, replied, “These past couple of days have been exhausting. Now that I finally have a chance to rest, why wouldn’t I catch some sleep? Brother Yan Shi, what were you all discussing?”
Yan Shi calmly stated, “A Li, as a warrior, you must always remain vigilant. The road ahead is perilous; from now on, you need to heighten your alertness. We were discussing how to pass through the Tianyuan tribe’s territory. Our Puyan tribe has never dealt with orcs before, so we may encounter some trouble when passing through their lands.”
Yan Li declared, “No fear! If they dare block our path, I’ll split each one of them down with my axe. I don’t believe anyone can stop me.”
Yueji sneered, “What can you possibly do? Fighting an entire clan all by yourself—I’d really like to see how you plan to charge in.”
Yanli flew into a rage and shouted, “You woman, do you look down on me? I am one of the most formidable warriors of the Puyan tribe!”
Yueji had already been infuriated by Xuan Yue moments before; hearing Yanli call her “woman” instantly sent her temper soaring. “Who are you calling ‘woman,’ you muscle-brained little runt?” she retorted.
Yanli swiftly drew the battle axe from his back and declared grimly, “You called me a little runt again—I challenge you to a duel!”
A Dai stood up and said, “We’ve rested enough; let’s get on our way. Brother Yan Li, your battle axe is truly magnificent. May I take a look?” With that, he walked toward Yan Li, positioning himself in front of Yue Ji.
Since A Dai had awakened the Rock Spirit, and Prophet普林 had declared him the Rock Spirit’s benefactor, Yan Li treated him with considerably more respect. Handing his battle axe to A Dai, he grumbled irritably, “That woman from the Red Hurricane tribe has such a foul mouth. I absolutely hate being called ‘Three-Inch Nail’.”
Yue Ji slung her longbow across her back and, as she walked toward the carriage, muttered to herself, “Just because I’m short doesn’t mean others can’t say it.”
Yan Li, with his keen hearing, naturally overheard this. Roaring in fury, he shouted, “You’ve insulted me; I’ll kill you!” With that, he lunged to snatch the battle axe from A Dai’s hands.
A Dai swiftly turned around, positioning himself between Yan Li and Yue Ji, then called out to her, “Sister Yue Ji, this isn’t right of you. How can you discriminate against someone for their shortcomings?”
Yue Ji snorted coldly. “Mind your own business! Tell him to come forward—does he think I’m afraid of him?” As she spoke, she drew her longbow from her back.
“Slap.” Amid the crowd’s gasps, the rock-like figure flashed forward and struck Yue Ji with a backhand, sending her flying to crash onto the ground nearby. After their initial shock, Wan Li and Miao Fei swiftly drew their weapons. As fellow members of the Moon Scar Mercenary Group alongside Yue Ji, witnessing their comrade being attacked naturally filled them with fury.
Yue Ji was knocked several meters away, crashing hard onto the ground. A clear, large handprint immediately appeared on her delicate face, while bright red blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. She was completely dazed. Throughout her entire life, not even her parents had ever struck her; yet this two-meter-tall giant before her had mercilessly slapped her across the face.
Yuehen gripped the hilt of his sword and shouted angrily, “Brother Rock, why did you hit my sister?”
Rock replied expressionlessly, “Because she deserved it. With such an arrogant and domineering personality, she should have been taught a lesson long ago. Since you, as her elder brother, failed to discipline her, I stepped in to do so for you. If she continues offending everyone with every word she speaks, I’m afraid none of us will survive to reach the Death Mountains; we’ll all perish because of her sharp tongue. Was I wrong to strike her? Warriors of our Puyan tribe possess immense dignity that must never be violated. If you disagree, feel free to seek revenge against me.”
Yueji struggled to rise from the ground. Her armor was disheveled, her once-neatly combed hair now loose and scattered. Combined with the red palm print on her face and blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, she looked utterly wretched. Her lips, pale and trembling violently, suddenly moved as she swiftly drew the longbow from her back. A flash of silver light erupted, and a silver arrow shot toward Rock like lightning.
A flicker of surprise crossed Rock’s eyes. He clapped his hands together, catching the silver arrow firmly between his palms.
Seeing that Rock had struck Moon Princess, even Rock himself was stunned. After all, Moon Princess was a girl; being hit so hard by such a heavy palm was unacceptable under any circumstances.
Xuan Yue rushed to Adai’s side, tugging at his arm and whispering, “Brother Rock has such a terrible temper! If I ever say something inappropriate in the future, you must protect me. I don’t want to get beaten.”
Adai nodded, then strode forward to stand before Rock, blocking Miao Fei and Wan Li who were charging up. He said, “Stop fighting. We are all friends. How can we retrieve the supreme-grade magic crystal from the Death Mountains if we aren’t united? Brother Yue Hen, Brother Wan Li, Brother Miao Fei, please calm down.”
Miao Fei shouted defiantly, “Adai, get out of the way! What right does he have to hit Moon Princess? Let him beat us all together then!”
Yan Li also rushed over, leaning close to Yan Shi, and said, “Big Brother, let it go.”
Yue Ji’s voice trembled with rage as she pointed her longbow at Yan Shi. “You… you dare strike me? Today, either you die or I do!” While speaking, her right hand drew three more long arrows from her quiver.
Yan Shi stood there, gazing coldly at Yue Ji. He tossed the silver arrow from his hand aside and said, “Your archery skills are indeed good, but killing me won’t be so easy. Do you think you’re that impressive? A bunch of young mercenaries with mediocre abilities—do you really believe your skills alone can make a name for yourselves across the continent? Stop dreaming. Brother Adai, step aside. Let me teach them a lesson, so they understand there’s always someone stronger, and skies beyond skies. Otherwise, once we reach the Death Mountains, we might all get trapped there.”
Adai threw his battle axe to Yan Li, then turned and grabbed Yan Shi’s shoulders, urgently saying, “No, Big Brother Yan Shi, don’t act impulsively!” He spun around, positioning himself in front of Yan Shi, and called out to Yue Ji, “Sister Yue Ji, I apologize on behalf of Big Brother Yan Shi. His wife just passed away; he’s in terrible spirits. We should show him more understanding. Big Brothers Yue Hen, Wan Li, and Miao Fei, let’s drop this. The road ahead is still long—are we really going to fight among ourselves first?”
Yue Hen let out a long sigh, released his grip on the sword hilt, stepped before Yue Ji, snatched the longbow from her hands, and pulled her along, saying, “Enough, sister.” He turned around and coldly addressed Yan Shi, “Yan Shi, today you struck my sister; I will remember this debt. For the sake of your newly deceased wife and A Dai, I will not hold it against you now. But if there is ever a next time, I, Yue Hen, will seek justice from you even if it costs me my life. Come, let’s get into the carriage.” With that, he led the reluctant and tearful Yue Ji toward the carriage. Miao Fei and Wan Li shot Yan Shi fierce glares before also heading to the carriage. From within the carriage, Yue Ji’s muffled sobs could faintly be heard.
A Dai breathed a sigh of relief, turned to Yan Shi, and said, “Brother Yan Shi, what came over you? Although Sister Yue Ji was in the wrong, you still shouldn’t have laid hands on her!”
Xuan Yue also approached and whispered, “Exactly! She is, after all, a girl. In front of so many people, how could she possibly save face? Besides, she is so strong-willed.”
Yan Shi gave a bitter smile and said gloomily, “I don’t know why I acted so impulsively. I’m sorry, Brother A Dai. Please, get into the carriage. We must prioritize continuing our journey.” With that, he and Yan Li walked toward their warhorses.
Xuan Yue took A-Dai’s large hand and said, “A-Dai, let’s get on the carriage too. Go comfort Yue Ji.”
A-Dai scratched his head and replied, “Yue Yue, their relationship has become so strained; what will happen in the future? It might not be appropriate for me to comfort Yue Ji. You’re also a girl; why don’t you try comforting her? Brother Yan Shi’s slap just now was certainly no light matter!”
Xuan Yue pouted, intending to refuse, but upon seeing A-Dai’s pleading gaze, her heart softened. She said, “I’ll give it a try, but if she ignores me, there’s nothing I can do.”
As they spoke, the two boarded the carriage. Wan Li moved to the front to drive. Inside the carriage, Yue Hen sat with a face as grim as water, while Yue Ji lay beside him, sobbing softly. Miao Fei kept fiddling with his flexible sword. Seeing A-Dai and Xuan Yue board, Miao Fei angrily exclaimed, “A-Dai, judge this fairly! How could someone like Yan Shi do such a thing? He actually slapped Yue Ji! You must know, within our mercenary band, Yue Ji is a princess cherished by everyone! Yue Ji, stop crying; I’ll go avenge you right now.” With that, he drew his flexible sword and prepared to leap out of the carriage.
Yue Hen grabbed Miao Fei firmly and snapped coldly, “Enough! Stop causing trouble. Just sit down quietly.”
Ah Dai smiled bitterly and said, “Brother Yue Hen, Brother Yan Shi has been in a bad mood lately; please don’t hold it against him. I’ll find an opportunity to have him apologize to Sister Yue Ji.”
Yue Hen let out a heavy sigh and replied, “His wife’s death has nothing to do with us. Even if he’s upset, that’s no excuse for hitting our little sister! I admit she can be somewhat spoiled, but that doesn’t mean he has the right to discipline her. Ah Dai, this time I’ll let it go for your sake, but they must not provoke us again. Perhaps we cannot defeat Yan Shi, but we will fight to the death to defend our dignity.”
Xuan Yue chuckled lightly and said, “Alright, you’re all great heroes with dignity; let’s stop being angry. We still need to journey together to the Death Mountains.” As she spoke, she moved over and sat beside Yue Ji, patting her back gently while asking, “Being hit by someone so big must have hurt a lot, right?”
Yue Ji sat up abruptly, her left cheek already swollen high. Glaring at Xuan Yue, she snapped, “Don’t gloat! If you’ve got the guts, go let him hit you too.”
Xuan Yue stuck out her tongue and replied, “He’s in a bad mood right now; I wouldn’t dare provoke him. Ah, Sister Yue Ji, what a beautiful face you once had! To be beaten like this… If it leaves lasting damage, making your eyes crooked and your mouth askew, it won’t look good at all.” Despite A Dai’s frantic attempts to signal her with his eyes, she spoke the words anyway.
Miao Fei exclaimed in shock, “What did you say? There could be lasting aftereffects?”
Xuan Yue replied matter-of-factly, “Of course there will. I don’t need to explain how powerful the force of rock is, do I? Perhaps Sister Yueji’s bones have already been shattered by him; her face might become crooked in the future.”
Yueji, perhaps imagining her once-proud beauty now ruined, burst into tears again. With a wail, she threw herself down beside them and sobbed uncontrollably. A vein throbbed on Yuehen’s forehead as he said, “Miss Xuan Yue, my sister is already heartbroken enough; please don’t provoke her further.”
A mysterious smile flickered across Xuan Yue’s face. “I was only trying to help!” she said. “Seeing Sister Yueji beaten so badly, I originally intended to heal her and restore her appearance. But since you put it that way, never mind. I’ll just go to sleep instead. Ah Dai, come here—let me lean on your shoulder while I nap. You may be silly, but your shoulder is actually quite comfortable.”
Hearing Xuan Yue’s words, Yue Ji immediately stopped crying, sat up again, and grabbed Xuan Yue’s hand, saying, “Sister Xuan Yue, what did you say? Can you heal the scars on my face?”
Xuan Yue toyed with the magic staff in her hand and replied, “Of course I can. Have you forgotten that I’m a light-element mage? Healing is my specialty. So now you’re calling me ‘Sister Xuan Yue’?”
For the sake of her appearance, Yue Ji had no choice but to speak humbly: “Sister Xuan Yue, please help me heal them. I… I…”
Xuan Yue grabbed Yue Ji’s arm, giggled, and said, “There now, Sister Yue Ji, don’t worry. In just a few minutes, I can restore your appearance to its original state. Although Brother Rock was in the wrong this time, you were also at fault, weren’t you? So please don’t hold a grudge against him, alright? We are all companions on the same journey and must support each other in the future.”
Yue Ji glanced at Xuan Yue and nodded helplessly. Upon hearing that Xuan Yue could heal the injuries on her sister’s face, Yue Hen’s brows immediately relaxed, and he earnestly pleaded, “Miss Xuan Yue, please treat my sister.”
Xuan Yue rolled her eyes at him and replied, “I would have done so even without your saying it. Sister Yue Ji is so beautiful; it would be such a pity if her appearance were ruined!”
Flattered by Xuan Yue’s words, Yue Ji’s expression instantly brightened. Just an hour ago, she had regarded Xuan Yue as an enemy, yet now her heart was filled with gratitude.
In fact, Xuan Yue was merely bluffing them. Although Rock’s slap had been quite heavy, he had still held back; even without treatment, Yue Ji would recover within a few days, though those days would certainly be painful. Seeing how Xuan Yue eased the atmosphere inside the carriage with just a few words, Ah Dai finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Xuan Yue giggled and said, “Sister Yue Ji, sit tight; I’m about to begin. And none of you are allowed to speak.”
Miao Fei and Yue Hen immediately sat up straight, daring not to make a sound. Yue Ji also straightened her body, wiping the tears from her face with her sleeve. Xuan Yue smiled gently and said, “Here we go.” She raised her magic staff and, deliberately showing off, chanted aloud: “O great God of Light! Lend your mighty power to your faithful servant; with the light of restoration, soothe the pain before us.” As the incantation was spoken, Xuan Yue’s Angel Staff emitted a faint white glow, filling the carriage with a sacred aura. Using her spiritual energy, Xuan Yue guided the restorative light, thread by thread, toward Yue Ji.
Yue Ji flinched slightly. Her face, originally burning hot, instantly felt cool under the penetration of the restorative light, and the pain eased considerably.
The light gradually intensified, allowing everyone to clearly see the swelling on Yue Ji’s face subside and the slap marks slowly fade away. When tranquility returned to the carriage, apart from the traces of blood at the corner of her mouth, Yue Ji’s beautiful face had completely returned to normal, as if she had never been struck at all.
Xuan Yue lowered her magic staff, glanced left and right, and smiled, “It’s done, Sister Yue Ji. Touch it; you’re fine now.”
Yue Ji felt that the pain in her face had vanished entirely. A soothing coolness emanated from the injured area, bringing an indescribable comfort. Miao Fei, astonished, leaned close to Yue Ji’s face, staring at it intently. Flushed by his gaze, Yue Ji shoved him away and scolded, “How annoying! Have you never seen a beauty before?”
Miao Fei fell back against A Dai and exclaimed, “Wow, Sister Xuan Yue, your magic is no joke. Not even a trace remains! Yue Ji, I was just kindly checking on you! Are you repaying kindness with ingratitude?”
Yue Ji rolled her eyes at Miao Fei, then gently touched her own fair face. Not only had the pain vanished from her injuries, but they had also completely healed. Overcome with gratitude, she said, “Sister Xuan Yue, thank you. Before, it was all my fault; I was always bickering with you. From now on, you are my best sister. If you ever need anything, I will definitely help you.”
Xuan Yue giggled and replied, “I wasn’t perfect either before! It’s mainly because Sister Yue Ji is so beautiful that I felt jealous.”
A Dai stared dumbfounded at these two beauties who had been arguing fiercely not long ago, unable to utter a word. How could he possibly understand the hearts of women?
Yue Hen smiled and said, “This time, my little sister avoided being disfigured, all thanks to Miss Xuan Yue. We truly appreciate your help.”
Since Sister Yueji has recovered, let’s just forget about what happened earlier. Brother Yanshi is actually a very good person. This time…
Yueji snorted and said, “For the sake of Sister Xuanyue, I won’t hold it against him this time, but from now on, I want nothing to do with that barbarian. A-Dai, you must take good care of my Sister Xuanyue. If you bully her or cause her any grievance, I won’t forgive you.”
A Dai forced a bitter smile. “Me? Bully her? It’d be more like she isn’t bullying me that’s the miracle. Ouch! Yueyue, why are you pinching me?”
The commotion subsided under Xuan Yue’s basic healing spell, and the group once again set forth on their expedition toward the Death Mountains.
Three days later, they finally left the territory of the Pu Yan tribe and entered the lands of the Tian Yuan tribe, characterized by rolling hills and dense forests. Over these past three days, thanks to their connections with Yan Shi and Yan Li, they received warm hospitality whenever passing through Pu Yan tribal villages. Nevertheless, a subtle barrier always existed between the four members of the Moon Scar Mercenary Group and the two rock-affiliated companions. They scarcely spoke during ordinary times, and Yan Shi had grown even more taciturn. Except when A Dai initiated conversation, he rarely uttered a word. Although A Dai hadn’t deliberately practiced the Nine Decisions of the Nether Script, he had already mastered all the techniques thoroughly. During her leisure time, Xuan Yue would read the magical notes given to her by Prophet普林 inside the carriage or secretly teach A Dai some incantations to activate the bloodline of the Divine Dragon. Among spatial magic spells, one called Instant Teleportation sparked her interest, prompting this mischievous young girl to exceptionally begin practicing it. A Dai continuously memorized those relatively simple incantations. The spells for the Divine Dragon Arts and the Phoenix Blood differed only in a few characters; although A Dai’s mind worked somewhat slowly, he had firmly memorized several simple incantations over these past few days. Given his current abilities, he could only utilize these low-level spells to activate the bloodline of the Divine Dragon.
The carriage came to a halt. Wan Li’s voice called from outside, “Boss Moon Scar, there’s no road ahead; it’s blocked by a vast forest. What should we do?”
Everyone disembarked from the carriage and looked ahead. Indeed, before them stretched an endless vast forest; the towering trees were lush with foliage, clearly bearing the marks of ancient history. Rock and Yan Li also jumped down from their horses. A Dai walked over to Rock’s side and said, “Big Brother, why is there no road here? Did we take a wrong turn?”
Rock shook his head and replied, “We haven’t gone astray. One of the most distinctive features of the Tianyuan Clan is that there are simply no roads within their territory. Thus, even if a massive army were to launch an attack, breaching their defenses would prove exceedingly difficult. From this point onward, we can no longer ride horses. The forest before us is the renowned Elven Forest of the Tianyuan Clan.”
By now, everyone had gathered around Rock. Miao Fei frowned and asked, “If we can’t ride through, what shall we do with our carriage?”
Rock said calmly, “We can only leave it here, along with our horses. I will ask our friends from the Elf Clan to keep watch over them. Nothing will be missing when we return.”
A Dai looked at Yue Hen, who nodded in response. Over the past few days, given the awkward atmosphere among everyone, A Dai had become the group’s messenger, handling all coordination matters.
Xuan Yue stepped forward excitedly and said, “Brother Rock, are there many elves in this Elf Forest? I’ve never seen an elf before. What do they look like?”
Rock, still expressionless, replied, “You’ll meet them soon enough. Elves are perhaps the kindest race; they never initiate conflict unless their survival is threatened. Make sure you’ve packed everything properly. We’re about to enter the forest.”
Gazing at the vast expanse of ancient forest before him, A Dai couldn’t help but recall the Illusory Forest. He sighed, “Nothing compares to the beauty of nature! This immense forest is truly magnificent.”
Yan Li snorted and said, “This is hardly beautiful; it’s merely the outermost facility of the Elven Forest. Once you see the villages of the Elf race, you’ll understand what a true earthly paradise looks like.”
A Dai stared blankly and asked, “Don’t Elves live in the forest? Where do these villages come from? Could it be that they too are destroying the forest?”
Yan Li said with a chuckle, “Looks like you’re quite out of the loop. Just wait until you see it; then you’ll truly understand what an elven village is.”
Yue Hen walked over to A Dai’s side and said, “Elves on the continent are becoming increasingly rare nowadays; they simply refuse to interact with humans. You should know that any male elf you pick from their race is far more handsome than us humans, while the female elves are absolutely breathtaking beauties. Many nobles offer huge bounties, hiring members of the Thieves’ Guild to capture young or adult elves for them. As far as I know, an adult female elf can fetch around ten thousand gold coins on the black market. Precisely because of this, the elven race frequently suffers harassment from the Thieves’ Guild and those bounty hunters. Even when dealing with such people, elves rarely resort to killing, which further demonstrates their purity and kindness.”
Xuan Yue snorted angrily, “So there are even people who want to capture elves? They’re utterly despicable! If I ever encounter them, I’ll eliminate these threats on behalf of the elven race. Brother Yue Hen, what do those nobles want the elves for?”
Yue Hen gave an awkward smile and whispered, “To serve as sex slaves or playthings.”
Xuan Yue was stunned and asked, “What do you mean by ‘sex slave’?”
Miao Fei had been drinking water when Xuan Yue’s question made him spit it out violently, spraying Wan Li all over his face and head. Startled, Wan Li grabbed Miao Fei by the collar and angrily demanded, “What are you doing?”
Miao Fei coughed repeatedly, clearly having choked. “I… I… didn’t… mean… to… Xuan… Xuan Yue… Miss… she… really… is…”