,!
"Let me count, how many birds? How many bouquets of flowers? Since you call this a lack of weight, then we have to bring the scale." Painter seemed to be talking with his nose, but it was not so harsh. Brenanin knew he didn't like her, but never said it. "What's the name of your peeping potion? Musician?"
"Song Girl." It was discovered that the alchemy potion used by the royal assassin was of course not it, but "worm eyes". But the formula of Bug Eyes is good, but "Song Girl" is different. This is Brenanin's unique recipe, the alchemy secret book he relies on for a living. Whenever he said this name, he would always think of the woman who composed poems for him in the Court of the Fountain. She had a tall and burly figure, shrouded in tattered robes sewn from rough leather, and played songs of praise for him on a six-stringed harp. music.
He had not experienced that feeling for a long time, and now the royal court was reduced to ashes, and no one offered a triumphant song anymore. Brenanin is willing to pay any price to regain his glory, even to accept the ridicule of a country adventurer. After all, he doesn't understand me at all, nor does he understand alchemy or royal arts.
"I didn't expect that the singer is not in the city, but I have to go to the mountains to find her." The dwarf sighed, "Xin's team can't take the mission out of the city."
Then don't let me stay on his team. "But...I'm an alchemist...eh?"
"Okay, okay, let me think of a solution." Painter stood up, walked around the carpet, and stopped in front of the fireplace. The living room was as warm as spring, while snow fell outside the window, and the glass was covered with fog. "Well, he can do it himself, just take him out." A handful of sparks exploded in front of the fence, and he kicked his boots impatiently. "Leave the employer's request to Xin, and let the kid listen to our mermaid hunter's stories. And you, Bonin, stay with him."
"Lota?" Brenanin pretended to be confused.
"Your captain. Go find your singing girl and have a good time, boy. Birdsong is better than people muttering nonsense under the table. Damn it, go take a nap, I have to sit still. Come on. Come on, go! This is nothing."
The alchemist stepped out in despair and went to the other side of the camp to find Xin. Forget it, acting has its pros and cons. The Knox Mercenary Group wouldn't let me go into the wild alone, and it's really unrealistic to sit in a tent and wait for the materials to be put in front of me... even though he has done this before. The current conditions are insufficient, and Boning can only make do.
The squad leader was sharpening a dagger by the campfire, the steel humming. If you think about it carefully, he is actually the person with whom Bonin communicates the most in the mercenary group, and he is no less important than Sita York. Besides, this guy is a qualified adventurer and will be helpful to my progress in making the potion.
The other party took the initiative to say hello: "Bo Ning, how do you arrange your materials?"
"Lord Painter wants me to join you."
"I'm afraid it's just the two of us, right?"
"That's it."
The mercenary choked and sparks burst out from his hands. Then he put the dagger into its holster and hung it on his waist. "Who else can this job fall on? It has to be me." He complained with a smile and a sigh, "Let's go, man, go pack your things. Your potion ingredients still need to be paid this time. It’s divided.”
Bonin's heart beat a little faster. This trip was not accidental. At first, someone approached mercenaries and hired them to find some mysterious materials. However, he soon learned that several of the materials were ingredients of the fire potion "Sovero".
Studying Sovero was one of his goals. A rare opportunity, Bonin immediately claimed that he needed similar materials to make the "Song Girl" potion, and told everyone that it could conduct long-distance detection. After several lies were added up, he was able to successfully join the mission out of the city.
There's just one problem: the total amount of mysterious material is likely limited. While Bonin considered stealing or concealing his harvest to obtain the materials, Xin struck a deal with his employer to use a portion of the harvested materials to pay the adventurers' commissions. We, the self-proclaimed alchemists, stopped here.
As they walked out of the city, Bonin noticed many looks, some malicious, but more appraising. Would this be a good prey? they asked with their eyes. Is it worth it for me to follow? He knew that it was his foreign appearance that attracted the jackals.
"Put on the armband, Bonin." Xin turned around and said. "Originally, Yotsuba City was not like this." He sighed and led the alchemist through the crowded city gate. Guards stood behind them, collecting fees to enter the city, and keeping refugees and beggars away from the wooden trellises.
"Is it because of the war?"
"It's because of poverty. With the exception of Winnie Watts, other towns in the Ice Territory barely get supplies. People can't survive in the ice and snow, so they have to go north to seek shelter."
Bonin sat on his horse and turned to look. This group of smelly refugees does not seem to be a threat, but no one knows who among them is a mortal, who is a nightingale, or both, but the Seven Fulcrums will definitely send nightingales because Four Leaf City is far away from the ice. Lead to the nearest city. As for the ice leaders heading north, he imagined them trekking through the snowy forests, playing hide-and-seek with the garrison, and finally passing through the blockade and arriving at Four Leaf City, but having to spend all their money for the chance to enter the city.
A kind of pity appeared in his heart, and it was fleeting. He began to think about what fire these people used to light fifteen years ago when they were keeping warm on cold nights.
"It would be better if the Duke doesn't allow these people to enter the city." Bonin said, "Since they can go to Four Leaf City, they must also be able to go further south. There are many fields over there."
"It's too difficult to choose," Xin told him. "It's always difficult for people to choose between the peace in front of them and the wealth in the future. If it were me, I would choose the former."
"It seems you never gamble."
"Only alive can you have a future." The mercenary took him off the road and into a path covered with fallen leaves. "Bring out the map, Bonin."
The road to the Four-leaf Forest is winding and narrow, with shrubs, fir trees, and large purple thorns growing on both sides, and covered with snow. Insects, birds, snakes and rats are their traveling companions on their way, parting in front of a deep clump of hanging vines or a steep crevice. Occasionally there are gopher beetles traveling far away, most likely just curious about the smell of people and horses.
"Turn here." Xin said as he walked. "Go west for about forty yards and there will be a path."
Bonin lowered his head and glanced at the map: "Forty yards to the west is a sloping valley."
"The map of the mercenary group is never the same as the real route. Do as I say."
After arriving, Boning really didn't see Po Gu. A shallow stream winds its way deep into the forest. On the other side, there are wild animals drinking water and resting. Xin's mount suddenly skidded on the rocks, frightening them all away.
"This is called a 'living stream'. It only appears during the frost moon. Snow water accumulates and melts, forming a waterway. There are countless 'living streams' in the Four-leaf Forest. The shallow ones are just below the ankle, and the deep ones can reach the belly of a horse. ." The one in front of him was neither deep nor shallow, reaching up to a person's calf. Xin unloaded the luggage of the two of them, put it on his mount, and then asked Boning to ride through the water. "There are wolves and lynxes on the other side, so be careful." the mercenary warned.
"It's better to go as usual." Bonin couldn't help but said, "The thing is too heavy and it will easily crush the horse." It would be bad if it got wet. The tent didn't matter, but he brought some dried platycodon and mint for convenience. Make a temporary "paper window".
"No." Xin climbed on the mount and drove it forward. The horse calmly stepped onto the water...and stood on it. A little ripple soaked the horse's hooves, and it flicked its tail. "We can be lighter than a piece of paper and fly over easily."
Turns out it was his magic. Bonin noticed the disturbance of the fire, the convergence of magic power, and caused the phenomenon. This is the process of conventional mysterious creatures performing their skills. The only guesswork is which career path this person has chosen. Combat occupations are favored by adventurers in the Four-leaf Territory. Most civilians cannot reach the lowest level of knowledge occupations, so they have to work hard.
Regardless of Xin's profession, given his age and circumstances, it is almost impossible for him to go very far. Brenanin felt that mercenaries were only at the level of job transfer, the same as him, but he knew very well that his strength was not based on superficial mystery. The "paper window" can make him invincible.
okay. Bonin told himself. I still need Xin right now, so there is no need to treat him as an imaginary enemy. Besides, why deal with a little mercenary? He intends to complete this task perfectly so that his employer can pay the bills happily and Xin will be praised. This is repayment for his kindness in saving me. www.八77zwm
After crossing the "living stream", they never encountered a river of molten snow again. The forest became quieter and quieter, and snow began to fall in the sky. Boning took out the map several times to check. The distance was getting closer and closer, but there was always still a distance. He had never made a solo journey through the forest, and enduring the damp, cold, and silence was the current problem. He thought again of the war two years ago. If we had lost, we would have had to live in such a desolate environment.
He was wrong. "There's someone." Xin suddenly stopped, "It's just ahead, about a hundred yards away."
"Here? Anyone else?"
"Anything can happen in the deep mountains and old forests." The mercenary got off his horse and hid his mount and luggage behind a holly tree.
Then, he asked Boning to wait where he was and went to explore alone.
Dense vegetation became the only landscape, and the mercenaries disappeared into it. Every tree seems to have a different look. Can Xin find it back? Brenanin didn't know. He wanted to explore the situation a hundred yards away, but there was no "bug eye" potion available. He could only sit on the horse like a fool, keeping his eyes wide open and his ears pricked up, trying to catch the sound coming from the distance.
Once, he was almost convinced that he saw a dark figure, no more than two steps away from Xin's mount. But Bonin turned his head abruptly, and all he could see were the blades of grass swaying in the wind, and the shadows of branches falling from the snowdrifts.
fool. Bonin thought. You fool, nothing more than a moving shadow, a trick of nature and wind. The noble alchemist indeed has no experience in crossing the forest, but his skills are enough to deal with any accident. There will be no demon hunters here! Could it be that I am scared by trees? He couldn't help but laugh and cry.
Bonin opened his eyes wide enough to make out everything in his field of vision. Nothing special, in fact, pretty much business as usual. The horse looked at him, lowered his head, nibbled on some grass roots, and sipped the snow water. No problem. Except the animals drinking water are too loud.
wrong. Bonin's throat felt dry. Where did the water come from? He watched helplessly as the surrounding snow melted into water and merged into a clear spring.
Living Creek.
He finally discovered the problem. If this stream is formed by melting snow, so only the frost moon appears and its position is uncertain, how can the snow in the frost moon melt? Bonin didn't feel hot at all. However, the gurgling stream does not know where it comes from or where it flows.
I can't stay here. Brenanin gripped the horse's belly and stepped carefully across the stream. Xin's horse looked up at him but did not follow. He ignored it completely and drove his horse away quickly. I must get away from this stream...but where? He couldn't find any trace of Xin. The mercenaries were at home in the forest, leaving no trace at all.
Bonin couldn't help but grit his teeth. As things stand, there is only one way to go. The deep mountains and old forests are no better than the well-defended Four Leaf City. No one will keep an eye on him, and there are no detection stations here. All it takes is a little let go, a few seconds, never more, and I can find him. The living stream seems to be hiding a secret. To be safe, finding Xin is a top priority. He will never admit that it is the forest and the stream that bring him fear.
But the other party will be suspicious. There was a voice in my heart. The road ahead is unpredictable, and the mercenary will want to know how you found him.
Bonin had already been on the verge of being exposed once - at Knox's camp in the Four Leaf City, the man who came to the door and held the alchemist hostage was a demon hunter from the Seven Pillars. As we all know, hunters only target their prey. He excused himself as a foreigner, but if this happened again, the excuse would no longer work.
Fortunately Xin didn't have far to go. Bonin successfully found the mercenary. He squatted down next to a corpse and cut open the luggage with a knife.
Is he looking for a trophy? Brenanin couldn't help but tighten his horse's reins and slow his pace. He couldn't help but be nervous. There was undoubtedly a fierce fight in front of him: there were three people killed, all killed with one blow. Two died from having their throats cut, and one had his head moved. Judging from the cross-section of the wound, he actually died in the same way as the first two. The reason why his head fell to the ground was probably because he wiped his neck with too much force.
The three of them were all wearing cotton clothes and leather armor, linen leggings, and carried swords or short spears at their waists, but they had no time to take out their weapons. There was a fire not far behind them, and there were sparks in the embers. On the sidelines, Xin Zhengzheng, who came to inquire about the situation, was groping for the body. Suddenly faced with this situation, Boning could not contain his wild imagination.
"So you are here." The mercenary said, facing the tree.
Bonin could see clearly that there was no one behind the tree. Who is he talking to? There are only dead people here...
Yes, he thought. I only felt Xin's fire and no one else. Maybe they only met one person, but all of these people...well, did these barbaric adventurers not even intend to communicate? He couldn't help but wonder if he would ever get the chance to drink the potion. Otherwise, drink it now?
"Bo Ning?" The mercenary spotted him first.
"It's me." Brenanin confirmed without hesitation. Otherwise, if he rushes over and stabs me, there will be nothing to explain. "What's going on...?" He didn't dare to ask who the other party was talking to.
Xin paused for a second before replying: "You don't know? Oh, they are robbers." His tone was a little apologetic. "I forgot that you are a newcomer. These three guys all have bounties on them. They call themselves the 'Treant Gang' and specialize in robberies in the Four-leaf Forest. All the adventurers in the Four-leaf Territory will recognize their wanted posters."
I will confirm it and look for it when I get back. Bonin decided secretly. At least the wanted poster should be real. These three people are bandits from the Four Leaf Territory. They want to attack us. They may have followed us from the city gate. Xin took him on a detour, but he didn't get away from them, so he had to take action in the woods... To be honest, the alchemist didn't care about dead people, but the tree gang robbers died so miserably and quickly that it was hard to be frightened at the first sight. After all, it was Xin's problem, Bonin thought to himself. If you kill someone, kill someone, but this mercenary made it bloody.
"How much is the reward?" He showed concern.
"Not as good as your employer's reward. Come on, we're almost there. Where are your tools?"
Only then did Boning remember the mount and luggage he had left behind. "Suddenly a 'living stream' appeared, and I had no choice but to come find you." The panic in his words was not staged. God knows what is going on in these deep mountains and old forests. "There was no warning, it just came out all of a sudden, and I didn't see the process at all."
"Don't worry, the other party means no harm. I think it is our target."
Bonin frowned: "Target? But aren't we here to collect mysterious plants?"
"Yes. But this is a forest, Bonin. I can only confirm that the materials you need exist here, but I don't know the specific location. Can you rummage through every inch of the forest?"
Even if it really needs to be done, I won't do the job. "Uh, no. No way."
"Neither can I. In short, when you go to do business here, you have to ask someone, preferably a local resident."
"That creek...inhabitant?"
"Go back quickly. Don't ask others to look after our luggage for us. This is not the attitude you should have when asking for help."
Brenanin followed him back suspiciously, leaving the body of the Treant Bandit behind. Compared to a shallow puddle, he felt that they looked like forest dwellers. Didn't the bandits call themselves "tree people"?
He originally thought that the horse and luggage had been lost long ago, or that there was only a dead horse. But when we returned to the original place, the "living stream" was gone, and the horses were chewing dead leaves. It opened its eyes innocently and neighed at its owner.
They still lost things. "The luggage is missing."
Xin sighed. "The fighting must have pissed them off, so Living Creek took away the picking tools and left the mounts behind so we could leave."
"Fight?" Bonin muttered. No matter what happened to the robbers from the Tree Gang, at least they died happily, so happily that they didn't even have to fight.
The alchemist has looked at the mercenary again and found that this man is actually very strong. He is seven feet tall, agile, and his hands are stable and dexterous. Each finger has calluses for holding weapons, and his thick wrists are bound and Covered with boiled leather armor. This is also a pair of bow-drawing hands, with movable wrench sockets at the base of the fingers.
He was not an eye-catcher before, probably because he was traveling with Painter and others. Bonin has realized that this mercenary is very dangerous. He saved my life, Bonin thought, but I still have to keep an eye on him. "After all, who do 'them' refer to?"
"Water Fairy."
Water and forests have always been inseparable. "Nymph."
"Yes. They are true forest dwellers, especially the spring nymphs."
Bonin had heard of these water nymphs, and in the civilized land where he was treated as a guest, there were always young men and idiot aristocrats interested in them. But no matter how many fantasies people have and how much effort they put in, no one can catch the nymph. Hunters claimed that they were made of water and could flow and disappear as well as evaporate.
"They took away my luggage. Is this forest the territory of nymphs?"
"Water fairies never talk about territory, they just live here. People or horses, robbers or adventurers, there is almost no danger when passing through the forest where nymphs live, and occasionally someone will be driven away. In short, there are not many of them, Most people won’t even encounter it.”
"Then we are still lucky?"
"No. I think they're here to find you."
Boning's eyes widened: "Looking for me?" Could it be that there are also nymphs...
"Have you forgotten? Our target is the mysterious plants in the forest. These things may seem ownerless to you, but they are naturally their own masters." Xin told Brenanin. They gradually left the route on the map and entered the depths of the forest.
"You talk like a Heather believer, Xin." Boning said, "We all work for the employer's requirements, even if the demand is a bit large."
"They know, Bonin. If you just want to pick two grasses, no one will stop you."
"What? Know?"
The mercenary smiled. "The water fairy knows everything in this world." He pointed at Bonin, "You, me, and everyone in Knox know everything. This Knox is not Benox."
Bonin digested the information as best he could. Incredibly, this seems to be true - of course it is not a one-sided statement by Xin. But in other places, during the banquets and conversations of most of the upper class, he knew that they had never caught the water fairy. This seems to be a side confirmation.
If it was true, he thought, that the water fairies knew everything, then they would undoubtedly be able to answer all the questions. This thought occupied Boning's mind, making him almost unable to control himself. "Then...will they return my luggage to me?" There is a high probability that we will not find them at all. "any idea……?"
"It's right here." Xin comforted, "Almost there." Bonin vaguely heard the movement and they continued to move forward.
A huge deep hole cuts off the forest. Brenanin heard the sound of water, as low as waves and as clear as spring. He couldn't tell whether there was a waterfall or an underground river inside. When he stood on the edge, there was a stirring, bubble-bursting sound in the darkness, as if this was not a stone stream, but a huge hungry mouth.
"Here?" Bonin repeated, shouting.
"Down below!" Xin Ye responded loudly.
I don't want to go down. Brenanin said nothing, hoping his eyes would express his feelings. There are some things you just can't say, especially in front of others. He suspected that his companion was snickering in his heart, waiting for him to refuse in panic, waiting for him to beg hard, and then he was forced to give up the descent in order not to damage his own face. He knows that this is mostly his imagination, but facing this surging bottomless abyss, it is better for people traveling together to compete with each other to see who can retreat first than someone who takes the lead to jump in without saying a word and urges you to leave quickly...
"Remember to be prepared." Xin told him, "I brought a rope, but it's all in the bag." That means there is no rope.
"How deep is it down there?"
"It's no higher than five floors, but the ground is a little slippery."
Maybe he is the demon hunter, Bonin thought, pretending to know nothing but actually wanting to get rid of me here. Regardless of the truth, judging from his tone, this bastard probably really skipped it. Damn it, how did adventurers become so common? Their number should be less than the number of survivors who fell from the fifth floor!
"I have to prepare." Paper window? Mead? Just choose a singer, use it on this mercenary, and we will turn around and go back immediately. "Wait a moment." He finally drank the "paper window". The potion took effect immediately, softening the contours of the body.
I must go. The water fairy who knows everything is only one step away from the answer, and Boning cannot resist this temptation. As long as he could see them, he would no longer have to be a mercenary.
So Boning took a deep breath and jumped down. The whistling sound of wind passed by my ears. I'm falling. He gritted his teeth and swore to the gods in his mind that he would never lose his temper and shout. I'm falling! By the gods, I'd probably sink into the ground, through rivers and mud.
He landed safely, but his waist was sunk deeply into the stone. Boning opened his mouth wide and took a breath of moist water vapor, feeling his heart beating wildly in his chest. He had to slow down for a while.
The paper window potion turns Brenanin into an invisible phantom, and falls cannot harm him. This is the talent of the alchemist, and he has always been proud of it... Someone landed lightly and grabbed his hand. Before Boning could react, he had already landed on his feet and was standing on the stone again.
"Thank you... uh." He turned his head and saw the mercenary dismounting and handing him the reins.
Xin blinked: "My professional magic."
"..."
"You move very quickly. Well, are you still riding a horse?"
"...No. I just need to be self-reliant. That's how I like it."
They left their horses where they were, used powdered medicine to light a fire bottle, and led it deeper along the stone wall. The sound of gurgling water sounded in the low areas, and the stone walls sent a wet echo. Soon, under the leadership of Xin, Boning saw his luggage.
real. he thought. Absolutely true. Water fairy. Answer. Brenanin was giddy.
"Your materials, Bonin?" Xin pointed to the stone wall on the other side with the fire bottle. The alchemist saw a large black-green shrub, with layers of branches and leaves wet by water.
"Taye Polygonum." The main material of the singer is also the target of the employer. "Too much."
"No one is here." Xin watched Boning open his bag and take out various tools. "Do you need my help?"
"No." Boning decided to separate from him next. If the mercenary's judgment is correct and the source of the "living stream" is the water fairy, then he would rather abandon his current identity and pursue the real goal. "I can just do it myself. You are an amateur and you are likely to damage the roots."
The mercenary agreed and handed him the bottle of fire. Bonin had never been more grateful for his common sense than now. The alchemist carefully crossed the river and climbed up the slippery mud with his belongings and light. The water here is as deep as an adult's chest, but fortunately the sand underfoot is very firm.
By the time he reached the other side, he was already soaked to the skin. There is the smell of muddy water and earth everywhere, as well as the sour smell of Polygonum truncatula itself. I've had enough. He thought to himself, his original thoughts disappearing. Thanks to the adventurer's magic, I don't even have to get my shoes dirty. But do you want me to ask him?
These days will come to an end soon. Boning looked back and saw that the stone road where Xin was was in darkness. So he continued walking deeper.
"Be careful." the companion warned.
"You can't lose anything!" he responded while moving forward. Soon, even the echo of his companion's words disappeared. "Water fairy? Nymph?" He asked quietly, but if the water fairy knew everything in the world, she would definitely know that he was calling them. "anyone there?"
"This is not your territory." A sweet voice sounded in my ears. "Your Highness Brenanin."
They really exist and they know who I am. Unprecedented excitement surged in his chest. "Give me the answer." The alchemist heard his voice trembling. "Tell me, where is the sacred book left by the ancient gods?"
The sound of water in the underground river became louder, almost drowning out the voice of the water fairy. "Bible?"
"As expected, you know." Brenanin didn't care about being discovered by the mercenaries, and asked loudly: "The Bible of the Gods, the key to the kingdom of heaven, you know its location, you should know! Byrne, and the tower messenger, they all Where?"
No reply. The water fairies are thinking, do they need to think too? Having said that, maybe the water fairy knows everything, but there is no need to answer at all. Brenanin gradually calmed down. What can I do to win their favor? They know what they’re missing, they just have to ask…
"Okay, Eva." Xin's voice suddenly sounded behind him, and Bonin shuddered. "Please forgive me, we are just adventurers and have no intention of offending you and your tribe."
A strange tranquility arose in my heart, soothing all thoughts. Bonin stood there, unable to move. He subconsciously felt panic, aware that something was out of control, but this feeling was fleeting. He could barely think.
He heard a clear splash. Dark water surged beyond the reach of the firelight, and even though he could see nothing, he could still realize that the water spirit had left.
she left. Bonin thought, Nymph didn't tell me anything. He opened his mouth and said, "Uh..."
"Boning." A hand took away the bottle of fire. In the darkness, Brenanin felt his heart racing. When did he come? How much did you hear? Is it already... "Where is your luggage? We should go."
At this point, any questions are redundant. The alchemist's Adam's apple slid up and down, trying to calm his heartbeat, otherwise he couldn't hear anything. "Here." He slowly picked up the backpack on the ground, "Let's go."
