In the bushes, about a kiloter away from the eastern gate of Longshan City, Chang Long was still confused with the map. Had she been going the right way? Even Devi-chan and Hisa-chan were perplexed as Chang Long led them in circles. Fluffy Head-chan, who was sitting nearby, yawning, had long since lost his enthusiasm.
"I think we're on the right track now. Look, you're about to enter the Golden Grasslands. If we keep following this path, we'll definitely reach the Purple Forest,"
Devi-chan remarked, running his translucent fingers along the map. Hisa-chan nodded in agreent. Chang Long stepped out of the bushes and continued walking at a leisurely pace.
About two kiloters ahead of Chang Long, four players stood panting, exhausted from trying to keep up with the person they were following. However, they had lost track of him and had reluctantly decided to give up and sit down to rest. Each of them pulled out a rejuvenating crystal to recover from their fatigue, speculating about where their guild leader might be heading.
As Chang Long entered the Golden Grasslands, she encountered various beasts, so that attacked on sight and others that only retaliated if provoked. Fluffy Head-chan volunteered to clear the path of any beasts that crossed their way, finally getting a chance to unleash the pent-up energy that had been building. Thanks to this, Chang Long's journey through the grasslands was smooth.
"Unseal Kitsune!"
Chang Long released her fla fox, a pure-blooded sacred beast, from the ring. At level twenty-one, Kitsune still had not shown any signs of evolving into his first stage, leading Chang Long to conclude that pure-blooded sacred beasts had to evolve more slowly than regular ones. Hulu had reached his first evolution at level fifty, so she figured Kitsune would likely need to reach the sa level before evolving.
Chang Long proceeded at a leisurely pace, enjoying the abundance of beasts in the Golden Grasslands, where many players were also hunting them. The spirits of the slain beasts were exactly what Chang Long needed for Kitsune to consu, allowing him to gain more tails and increasing the power of his attacks. Eventually, Kitsune easily collected the one hundred spirits required.
"The sacred beast, Fla Fox Kitsune, has gathered 100 spirits, resulting in the growth of one additional tail,"
the system announced. Chang Long was imnsely satisfied, and the golden flas of Kitsune had grown significantly stronger. Deciding it was ti for lunch, Chang Long searched for a safe spot to sit and eat, using the Horn of Abundance to summon her al.
"This is pretty good,"
Devi-chan comnted, observing Kitsune, now sporting two tails. Hisa-chan nodded silently in agreent as usual, while Alice-chan, claiming it was not yet ti to drink blood, opted for so fruit as a snack instead.
"There are plenty of beasts here, and with other players hunting nearby, the spirits of the slain beasts all drift over to Kitsune,"
Chang Long spoke in a cheerful tone. Aside from the odd encounter with Aswa, the head of the Dark Horse Guild, earlier in the morning, today had been quite a good day.
After leisurely finishing their lunch, Chang Long resud her journey an hour later, following the path on her map that led closer to the Purple Forest. The closer she got, the fewer groups of players she noticed hunting beasts. Chang Long did not think much of it and continued forward until the entrance to the Purple Forest finally ca into view. A wooden sign, inked in red, warned low level players not to enter. It was hidden behind a bush and would be hard to spot unless you looked carefully, but most players already had general information about each location in the ga, so no one wandered in cluelessly like Chang Long.
Standing at the entrance, Chang Long peered into the darkness beyond, with only a little light from outside illuminating the forest's edge. She cautiously stepped inside, summoning her Guiding Fla from her backpack. Faint signs of previous battles were still visible, though mostly faded. Chang Long deduced that other players had likely been in the forest hunting beasts before her.
"Looks like so other players have been here too,"
Chang Long mumbled to herself as she ventured deeper into the Purple Forest. The bluish-white glow of her Guiding Fla made her pale skin appear even more ghostly, blending her into the surrounding beast in a way that was almost unbelievable.
"Maybe we should find out where they are, so we can avoid them,"
Devi-chan suggested. Chang Long nodded in agreent, not wanting to deal with any unnecessary distractions or competition for experience points. She thought that she would hunt alone with her pets.
With Chang Long's agreent, Devi-chan, Hisa-chan, and Alice-chan spread out to scout the area within a fifty-ter radius, looking for any signs of the other players. They planned to report back on their locations so that Chang Long could steer clear and focus on collecting experience in more isolated areas. It was not long before the three spirits returned to report their findings.
"To the north, near the Guardian Fire, there are four players resting. They look pretty battered. I think they look familiar."
Devi-chan reported.
"Familiar. Soone you know?"
Chang Long asked.
"I don't think so, but seeing them irritates for so reason,"
Devi-chan replied, scratching his head in thought.
"Old enemies, maybe? Anyway, sounds like we can't use the area around the fire. What a sha—that's a great strategic spot,"
Chang Long muttered, disappointed that she can't use the Guardian Fire she had worked so hard to ignite as it was occupied by other players.
"To the east, there's just one player, and he seem pretty strong. He was fighting several beasts at once with ease. But I think he's searching for sothing else. He might eventually wander and cross paths with you, master,"
Hisa-chan reported.
"No worries, if he's that strong, he probably won't bother with us,"
Chang Long replied.
"I found no one,"
Alice-chan said bluntly.
"Uh-huh, lead the way, Alice-chan. Fluffy Head-chan, stay within the light of the Guiding Fla!"
Chang Long ordered Alice-chan to lead the way, but had to scold Fluffy Head-chan, who looked like he was about to pounce on a zombie girl beast standing with her back turned. Fluffy Head-chan, losing his montum, sulked and followed Chang Long, bored.
.....
anwhile, Aswa stood posing dramatically like a music video protagonist amidst the darkness. The only light ca from his large, flaming sword. Whatever had brought him here, he had high hopes. But as ti passed, his bright mood started to fade, much like the grotesque faces of the beasts in the Purple Forest. Why? Because despite wandering around in laps for hours, killing every beast that crossed his path, he had yet to find the one person he had co here for—Chang Long, the woman he had fallen for. She had clearly stated she would be coming to this forest to grind for experience, yet after all this ti, there was no sign of her.
"Did Chang Long really co here?"
Aswa muttered to himself amidst the eerie silence, occasionally broken by the wailing cries of beasts he attacked. He started feeling foolish. He should have just followed her from the start, never letting her out of his sight. Now, how would he find her if she was not actually here hunting in the Purple Forest? What if she went to another island instead? He should have asked to add her to his friend list—at least then they could stay in touch. Maybe this was her way of getting back at him. Yes, he should have been more thoughtful, asked more questions, and definitely added her as a friend. Maybe she was angry because he did not do that (Really!). So, she sulked and hid herself just to tornt him. She would eventually co back once her anger passed. With this comforting thought, Aswa felt a surge of hope.
"Yes, that must be it. Chang Long is just testing . Hehehe, I won't give up now. I will find her no matter what!"
Aswa roared, startling a nearby beast creeping up to attack him. With newfound determination, he slashed at the approaching beasts with his flaming sword, wiping them out in a flurry of heavy strikes. Renewed with hope, he pressed forward, confident that he would find Chang Long, though his left eye had started twitching slightly.
"Aaachoo!"
A loud sneeze echoed suddenly, causing Kitsune and Fluffy Head-chan, who were both in the middle of battle, to jump in surprise. Kitsune's flas missed his target and set a large tree on fire, though the flas quickly fizzled out. Fluffy Head-chan, who was in his war mode under Puppet Manipulation skill, intended to play with his opponent for a bit before finishing it off. But he accidentally hit the beast too hard, causing its head to fly off. Fortunately, the beast did not die imdiately, so Fluffy Head-chan could still continue his ga.
"Got a cold, master?"
Fluffy Head-chan asked.
"Nope, maybe soone's gossiping about ?"
Chang Long replied nonchalantly as she continued to help dismber the beast for Kitsune to burn with his flas. As they fought, the sounds of another battle grew closer. Devi-chan and Hisa-chan, who had been watching Chang Long fight, imdiately beca alert. Judging from the ferocious cries of the beasts, the attacker had to be of a high level.
"I've found you!"
A voice exclaid, accompanied by a wide smile. A male player erged confidently from behind a large tree, wielding a giant flaming sword. In the dim light, Chang Long could not clearly see his face, but she recognized the voice from their argunt earlier that morning.
"You..."
Chang Long stared at the man in disbelief. He strutted towards her, trying to look cool, despite a beast's skull clamped onto his left ear.
"We et at last, Chang Long. I knew you wouldn't leave waiting forever,"
Aswa declared happily, completely unfazed—or perhaps unaware—of the skull gnawing on his ear.
"Huh. What are you talking about?"
Chang Long asked, baffled, her eyes fixed on the skull still gripping Aswa's ear with its teeth. When had she ever told him to wait for her? anwhile, Devi-chan and Alice-chan burst into laughter without any refrain at Aswa's ridiculous state, while Hisa-chan, trying to maintain his composure, had to turn his back to Aswa, was clearly trembling as he struggled to stifle his laughter.
"I'm so happy to finally et you, Chang Long... I know you're just as happy. You must have forgiven for being slow to understand your feelings, so you showed up. I'm so glad. How about we exchange nas and add each other as friends? I promise I'll—Ack!"
Aswa, too focused on his dramatic pose, tripped over a tree root and faceplanted. This ti, even Hisa-chan could not keep up his serious samurai deanor and exploded into loud laughter alongside Devi-chan and Alice-chan who were still laughing and wiping tears from their eyes as they laughed. Chang Long, Kitsune, and Fluffy Head-chan were left utterly speechless.
"Goodbye..."
With that, Chang Long led her companions away from the clumsy man, who was struggling to get up in the darkness, fumbling around for his flaming sword that went out the mont it flew off his hand. When he grabbed onto sothing, it turned out to be the skull that had fallen off his ear, which promptly bit his hand, causing him to scream in pain, his cool guild leader deanor completely shattered.
Chang Long walked away from the bumbling guild leader who was screaming from getting bitten by the skull, muttering to herself about how unlucky she was to run into soone like him. She activated her Mystic Gust skill to quickly escape, moving so fast that even Aswa could not see her, despite the Guiding Fla she carried. As she fled in frustration, the sound of her wristwatch suddenly beeped.
Beep beep beep beep
Chang Long lifted her wrist to check her watch, surprised by the call. When she saw who it was, she slowed down and answered.
"Hey, Oliang,"
Chang Long greeted as she picked up. Oliang put the call on speaker so everyone gathered around him could hear.
"How are you doing, Chang Long? All good?"
Oliang asked cheerfully, followed by the voices of others chiming in. Chang Long could not help but smile as she recognized the familiar voices. Each person tried to greet her over Oliang's watch, and from the sounds of Oliang groaning, it seed like his arm was twisted in an awkward position.
"Ow, knock it off already. My arm's about to snap. So, are you all just gonna say hi to Chang Long, or can I ask her what I need to!"
Oliang yelled, prompting a giggle from Chang Long. She even heard Peach Blossom's irritated muttering in the background. Everyone went quiet quickly, though, eager to find out how Chang Long had died.
"Is there sothing you want to ask, Oliang?"
Chang Long asked, curious.
"Well, yeah... I an, uh, did you just die, Chang Long?"
The sudden question brought silence. Chang Long herself seed taken aback, not expecting anyone to know about her death.
"How do you know that?"
She asked, puzzled. She stopped walking as she tried to figure out how Oliang and friends knew she had died. Could the ga have notified her friends?
"Uh, well... I saw your na turn black after you just logged in not too long ago. So, I kinda figured that you must've had a bit of a mishap. But... it's true, right?"
Oliang asked, relieved that Chang Long was not upset.
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