The forest covered by heavy snow is not quiet. There are often dead branches broken by the falling snow, making a clicking sound echoing in the forest. There was more than a foot of snow piled on the forest floor, up to the half-elf's knees. Wiltok and his party all put on special snow boots, with a layer of wooden boards similar to duck webs buckled on the soles, so that they would not completely sink into the snow when walking, making trekking in the snow forest much easier.
As the team gradually moved away from Braun Town, everyone's tense mood was relieved to a certain extent. A few younger store clerks even had time to pick up frozen forest birds from under the snow and show them to Wiltok as if they were treasures.
Looking for food in the snow-covered forest is a must-learn subject for adventurers. They will judge whether there are frozen birds and animals under the snow based on the shape of the snow. Although the escape team is not short of food for the time being, the youngest team member is still showing everyone his ability and value.
Wiltok remembered that winter is also called the season of water, which is the period when the water element is most active. The Taku and Hemo people like to call winter the season of life. It's just that the seasons of life are a little too cruel to life.
All life must withstand the severe cold of ice and snow. Even branches that are not strong enough will bend and break because they cannot bear the weight of falling snow, making room for the growth of new buds in the coming year. Old and weak birds and beasts are not immune, and their death provides other birds and beasts with a chance to live.
The escape team encountered a group of gray wolves deep in the snow forest. They just happened to find an old deer that had died from the cold, and when they found the half-elf fugitive, they just blew up their back hair, showed off their sharp fangs, and let out an intrusive growl from their throats to intimidate these uninvited guests away from their food. , did not launch an attack on the half-elves. The old deer that froze to death actually saved the pack.
The twenty-eight half-elves around Wiltok are the core backbone of the Adventurer's House, and most of them are professionals. The nine almost-adult shop assistants are also awakened, and their physical fitness is better than that of ordinary half-elf soldiers. They have received strict training, are agile and agile, and do not need others to worry about them.
Vertok is now the nominal leader of the Adventurer's House, but he is still looked after by the group. He doesn't need to think about what's coming next. He can enjoy the snow scenery while driving on the roadside at his leisure, and use the "knowledge puzzle" to think about the mystery of the water element.
Water, ice crystals, and steam are all manifestations of the water element, but they are not equal to the water element. Philosophically, the water element symbolizes time and life, but in reality, the philosophical symbols of the water element have corresponding practical meanings.
Wiltok knew that his surging talent belonged to the changes of the water element in the life field. It was the endless flow of life potential that allowed him to gain extra physical energy and energy, which was reflected in the length of time.
If the flowing form of the water element corresponds to the activation talent, what do its solid and gaseous forms correspond to?
Wiltok didn't know why he thought about such strange questions when he saw the snowy scene. He just feels that the current awakened abilities are not perfect. If he can understand the changing laws of the four elements, it will definitely be helpful for him to find himself and improve his various talents.
Unfortunately, except for Dr. Cole, the other half-elves around him were not interested in these inexplicable questions. Even Cole just listened and did not give him any valuable suggestions.
The imperfect talent of life tenacity has brought Wiltok's physical strength to an inhuman level. He did not feel tired at all during the non-stop rapid march and trekked for more than 100 kilometers in the ice and snow, but most of the people in the team had reached the critical point of preserving their combat fitness.
When it was getting dark, Max, the dark hunter, finally stopped and turned around and said: "Rest where you are, don't light a fire, eat dry food, drink water, and get some sleep first. We will continue on our way in the middle of the night...Huck, Let the professionals with your physique orientation take turns keeping vigil."
Huck nodded and said nothing. He sat down with his back against a big tree and ate dry food silently. Boss Bottom decided to stay alone. The fight against the orcs and barbarian invaders left him so devastated that he didn't even bother to talk on the road.
The smile on Max's face, a level four secret hunter, also disappeared, but he shouldered the responsibility of leading the team.
The young shop assistants were the weakest and they were all exhausted. They ate something casually, took off a roll of bearskin blanket from their shoulders, spread it directly on the snow, wrapped themselves in rainproof cloaks, and fell asleep.
Max looked at these underage companions, with a hint of unnoticeable gloom in his eyes.
In the second half of the night, those who were resting were woken up one by one. Piru and other store clerks yawned, wiped their faces with ice and snow to refresh themselves, and then quickly packed their luggage and prepared to continue on their way.
However, Max called all nine awakened people together and said with difficulty: "Piru, you have to walk the road behind you... don't follow us."
The faces of the store clerks at the Adventurer's House changed drastically, and they all lowered their heads, not wanting others to see their expressions of wanting to cry.
Wiltok noticed the movement here, strode over, and asked Max: "Why do you want to drive them away?"
When Piru and others saw Wiltok, it was like seeing a savior. They raised their heads with hopeful looks on their faces.
Max, the secret hunter, smiled bitterly and said, "Vell, look back at the traces on the snow..."
There is a ravine in the white and soft snow, which is the road plowed by Sarah, the fat cook. Sarah was tall and stocky, probably weighing more than 400 pounds, and she carried a heavy rolling pin. Snow boots didn't work for her at all. Along the way, she left very conspicuous traces on the snow.
"The orcs attacked Braun Town. The old people, women and children who had no fighting ability were evacuated from the back door first. Their physical strength was poor, so they had to flee west and take refuge in the nearest Jinsha Town. The walls of Braun Town fell too quickly, and we could not give them any protection. Buy more time to escape... Each adventure group can catch up with the old, weak, women and children in Braun Town if they leave late. To be honest, as long as the adventurers surpass them, they can use them as bait and have more chances to escape from the orcs and The barbarians are chasing them. So, don’t expect the adventure group to rescue the townspeople.”
The dark hunter did not dare to look into Vertok's pure eyes. While he was stunned, he turned to Piru and others and said: "There are nearly 200 awakened people in the Adventurer's House. They divided into small groups and evacuated separately. Piru , if you catch up with the townspeople while escaping, will you find a way to help them?"
Pilu Nana said: "I, I don't know, we should help them, right?"
"This is what I'm most worried about." Max shook his head, pressed Piru's shoulder, and said: "If you don't help the townspeople, they will die; if you help them, they will die together. Fortunately, we don't have to do this. There is no other choice. Bottom asked us to evacuate from the north, so that we are less likely to encounter the fleeing townspeople. Bottom asked you to follow Mr. Wiltok, but he actually hopes that you can survive..."
"Of course, we have tried our best to help the townspeople who escaped. We were the last ones to leave, and we left clear enough traces... I hope the orcs and barbarians will chase us. In this way, others will also have a chance to Survive.”
"In other words, we took the initiative to act as bait, and our current situation is even more dangerous!"
"Piru, don't think that there are more people than you are safe. This is a damned illusion. Our battle with the orcs and barbarian pursuers has already begun. A day and night of rapid march will wear down ordinary orc pursuers. If we can catch up, Our enemies must be powerful butchers, shamans, or barbarian fighters."
"We must prepare for the worst. You are the weakest. Following us will not only slow down the team's transfer speed, but will eventually be killed by the enemy first. If you want to survive, you have to leave the team... Do you understand? "
Max made it very clear that the awakened people in the team are a drag and the professionals are bait. If everyone wants to rely on physical strength to defeat the pursuers, the weakest awakened person should leave the team, otherwise everyone will be doomed. From another perspective, Pilu and other shop assistants can also distract the attention of the orcs and barbarian pursuers by separating from the team, giving others a chance to fight back or escape.
In the end, those people's survival depends only on their own luck. But the nine young store clerks who chose to leave had a better chance of survival.
After all, Max is a level four stealth hunter, good at tracking, lurking, reconnaissance, assassination, and counter-tracking. His arrangement seemed reasonable. At least, Vertok couldn't fault it. Precisely because he had to take care of the awakened ones in the team, his physical advantage was not used at all.
Wiltok estimated that he would double his marching speed. He would run for three days and three nights without eating or drinking, and would have to travel 6 or 7 hundred kilometers before feeling tired. If he used the activation talent, he could continue running for 150 kilometers. kilometer. The orcs and barbarian pursuers are following him, and they may not even be able to eat ashes. He hasn't taken into account the factors of Gluttony Talent and Golden Toad Secret Shape. The super physical strength of Life Tenacity Talent alone is enough to defeat most enemies.
High-level orcs and high-level barbarians may be able to compete with Vertok physically, but will they travel more than 600 kilometers away from their home base in order to hunt down Vertok?
"Uncle Max, we understand... let's leave now." Piru nodded.
Max nodded and said solemnly: "Well, I have taught you how to survive in the winter forest. I believe in your abilities, and you must also believe in your own abilities. Because you are all the best training camp students and adventurers." The Awakened Ones carefully cultivated by the House of Masters! Remember, after you escape, don’t go to Jinsha Town, go to Beibang in Luoye City to find ‘Wooden Leg Velen’!”
"Hope to see you again."
"Hope to see you again."
Piru and eight shop assistants waved goodbye to everyone, carried their bags and weapons, and headed west. Their figures quickly disappeared into the dark snow forest.
After all the awakened ones left, the fleeing team moved much faster. By evening, we had walked almost 80 kilometers and were about to enter the territory of the shadow lurkers.
The Shadowlurker is a terrifying monster with life level five. Its territory was originally a restricted area for adventurers, but the dragon cavalry of the famous Golden Oak family came here a few days ago to hunt shadow lurkers. This forest should now belong to the Borderlands. Even if they encounter ordinary beasts, they will not pose much of a threat to the elites of the Adventurer's House.
"In the summer, I came here specifically to detect shadow lurkers, and I am very familiar with the terrain here. There is a deep trench 5 kilometers away to the west, covered with wormwood more than two meters high, which is especially suitable for hiding under the snow." Max pointed Xi Niang said: "I think we can hide our traces by dividing half of our men and sneaking along the deep trench. Cole, you are not a combat professional. You can take Wiltok and all the first-level professionals to move out of that deep trench... …”
"That's wrong." Wiltok interrupted Max suddenly.
"Um?"
Vertok stared into Max's eyes, stretched out his left index finger, pointed at Huck, Cole, John and other half-elves one by one, and asked seriously: "You asked Piru and the others to leave last night, but there was no one except me." Raise questions. This is wrong! When you drove Piru and the others away, he, him, and he didn't object? You usually have a close relationship with the store clerk, why don't you stand up for Piru and the others? "
Those half-elves were publicly criticized by Wiltok, and their expressions became a little unnatural.
Max tried his best to explain: "Weir, I have already told you the reason why I asked the store clerk to escape alone. Didn't you object after listening to it? My old clerk understands my abilities and trusts my judgment. They always start first. Listen to what I have to say and you won’t immediately object to my suggestions..."
Wiltok sneered: "What is your reason? You said that Piru and the others are not strong enough and will hurt everyone."
"Yes." Max nodded.
"Assuming your reason is valid, the premise is that there are orcs and barbarians pursuing us behind us, and they are powerful, right?"
"Well, that's what I think, so I need to be prepared in advance."
Wiltok asked with stern eyes: "What if there are no pursuers behind us? If Piru and the others leave the team, won't they have to face the beasts in the forest alone?"
Max spread his hands and said helplessly: "Piru and the others are all awakened and have the ability to deal with wild beasts. And even if they suffer casualties, there is nothing they can do about it."
"But you asked Piru if he would stop to help the townspeople when he met them on the way to escape? Piru said that he might stay. If they don't protect the townspeople, the townspeople will die; if Stay and help the townspeople, they and the townspeople will die! Boss Bottom asked nine shop assistants to follow us and escape north, just to prevent them from having to make this choice. Because Bottom thought that Piru and the others would definitely not be able to bear it. Abandon the townspeople!”
Wiltok glanced at the other people present and asked loudly: "Now, I ask you the same question. Piru and the others need help. Will you abandon them? Say! Will you choose to abandon them?!"
The half-elf professionals lowered their heads and avoided Vertok's sight. Wiltok was not ready to let them go. He walked up to them one by one, held their collars, looked into their eyes, and then pushed them down on the snow. "You are all mixed-race children, adopted by Boss Bottom. You are training." The camp grew up, maybe we are related by blood, we are brothers and family. If you choose to abandon the weak shopkeepers and let them be attacked by wild beasts in the snow forest, then there is no need for the Adventurer's House to exist. Got it!"
John jumped up and shouted angrily: "We did not abandon Piru and the others..."
Like a gust of wind, Wiltok flashed in front of John and said calmly: "Of course, you didn't abandon Piru and the others...just like Boss Bartom asked you to retreat at the end, escape to the north, attract the pursuers of orcs and barbarians, and This covers the awakened people and townspeople who fled to Jinsha Town. You have done what you can do, and there is no need to have any psychological burden."
John opened his mouth, but had nothing to say, so he just let out a long sigh.
"Since you won't abandon Piru and the others, then my assumption that there are no pursuers behind the team is invalid!"
Wiltok walked up to the dark hunter, looked down at him, and said: "You know that we have pursuers behind us. They all know that you know there are pursuers behind us. Therefore, even if the nine awakened shop assistants face the enemy in the forest, It’s better to be a beast than to stay with the team.”
Max smiled bitterly and said: "I am a fourth-level hidden hunter. I have the ability to see through trackers. I can feel that the enemy is always following us..."
"Why did you hide it from me?" Wiltok asked.
Max tightened his lips and stopped talking.
"First let Piru and the others leave the team, and now you ask Dr. Cole to take me and the first-level professionals out of the deep ditch in the snow... The strong people attract the pursuers behind, and cover the weak people to escape. This is very difficult. OK! Then what?"
Wiltok nodded, suddenly pointed at the fat cook, and said through gritted teeth: "If this continues, the only person who will attract pursuers is Sarah... You have not abandoned any companions, you have only abandoned Sarah! You dare not Tell me, you are afraid that I will oppose your escape plan!"
Max covered his forehead. Vertok usually seemed silly, but he was actually too smart. He even suspected that Vertok was an intellectually awakened person.
Wiltok, who has a mental attribute of 15 points, is definitely not a fool, he just reacts a little slowly. "Knowledge Jigsaw" independently analyzes problems that take time, but nothing is missed. Everyone's micro-expressions were seen by Wiltok. After the "Knowledge Puzzle" sorted out the clues clearly, it was not difficult to find the answer to Sarah's sacrifice.
Wiltok was furious and reached out to grab Max, "Okay, you really want to sacrifice Sarah!"
"Vell, you misunderstood..."
"What a misunderstanding!"
The dark hunter saw Wiltok's five hook-like fingers, which contained terrifying power, and he fiercely grabbed him. He hurriedly dodged sideways, but was chased by Vertok and jumped all over the ground, unable to even speak.
A warm big hand covered Wiltok's head. He stopped chasing Max and turned around to see the fat cook Sarah shaking her head at him. She said gently, "Wil, good boy, don't make things difficult for everyone."
Wiltok snatched the heavy stone rolling pin from Sarah's hand, pulled her toward the woods, and said angrily: "Sarah, let's go and don't worry about them."
The rest of the people stayed there and looked at each other. Max grinned and said: "Is Mr. Wiltok a strength, intelligence, physique, or agility person? I feel like I will be caught by him if I persist for a while longer..."
Dr. Cole glanced at Max with schadenfreude, shook his head, and said worriedly: "Sister Sarah's speed has slowed down... She is getting farther and farther away from the mark. I don't think she can hold on for too long. If Sarah If there is something wrong with the eldest sister, will Wiltok still accept us?"
Huck, who had been in a low mood, suddenly said: "Sister Sarah saved my life, I will not let her die in front of me! Wiltok will see that the Adventurer Family dares to sacrifice to protect their loved ones! "
Cole was silent for a moment, nodded with a smile and said, "That's fine. I can live for nothing...and the situation may not be that bad. I'll go with you."
Huck let out a disdainful "Bah" and said: "A guy like you has no fighting ability at all, so what's the use of accompanying us? Or follow Max's method, you take young people under 35 years old out of the snow ditch Let’s go, just don’t burden us. Everyone over the age of 35 should follow me and accompany Sister Sarah through the last part of the journey!”
