Calm After the Bustle

Chen Yu's gaze followed Semiya's high-speed movement as she penetrated deep into the banyan forest. He saw blood splashing and scattered limbs wherever the female Lizardfolk passed.

The muscles on her body were smooth and elegant, each burst of power visually striking. Yet, her hunting style was precise and concise, like a warrior dancing on the tip of a blade.

And her prey were those Corrupted Lizardfolk.

"Seja, you should go back."

"With your sister around, even a fool like you can be put at ease."

Chen Yu retracted his gaze, jumped out of Seja's arms, and landed on the damp, mossy ground.

"Mmm..."

Although she had been mentally prepared, Seja's current joy was significantly diluted by the parting.

She knelt on the ground, crossing her hands over her chest, performing her final farewell prayer.

But Chen Yu, as always, couldn't understand it.

Compared to the strangely accented Demi-human language, the prayer sounded more like the ramblings of a dream.

The Lizardfolk probably can't understand it either.

Is this thing really not something her father tricked her with back then?

"Envoy, when I have time, I will come back."

"I'll bring back lots and lots of Gray Grit Crystals to see you."

"And the Beetles and Moss Monsters you like to eat..."

Chen Yu stood on the high ground, imagining himself with his hands behind his back like a peerless master, leaving only a solitary... round figure.

Even when hearing about his favorite Beetles, he could maintain a nonchalant demeanor.

"Go."

He spoke no further.

Masters always carried themselves this way; even in a sorrowful farewell, they would utter the briefest words.

After bidding farewell, Seja finally left the high ground.

Within the green jungle, several figures leaped over decaying logs and giant rocks, traversing the area as if it were flat ground.

"Lord Semiya, spare us!"

A Corrupted Lizardfolk clutched the wound on its shoulder, stumbling as it fled ahead, its agitated pupils filled with unease and fear.

A green shadow, like death itself, pursued rapidly from behind. Semiya's gaze indifferently fixed on the fleeing Corrupted Lizardfolk, her pupils devoid of any emotion, as if she were looking at corpses.

She drew a short spear from her back, aimed at the fleeing figures, her cold gaze like ice that could pierce one's heart.

Eventually, one Lizardfolk couldn't bear the fear of impending death, broke down, and stopped, shouting madly:

"Come on, kill me..."

A cold glint pierced the dimness, blood blurred the rain, pattering onto the mossy ground, dyeing it crimson.

The terrified Lizardfolk clutched the bone blade that had pierced its neck and collapsed with a thud.

The fleeing Corrupted Lizardfolk were filled with extreme fear, as if their strength and senses were swallowed by despairing darkness. They could barely run, their breathing becoming difficult, almost draining every ounce of strength from their bodies.

Seeing Semiya approaching step by step, holding her short spear, radiating an aura of death.

The Corrupted Lizardfolk cursed, shouting with feigned bravery.

"Stop, just stop!"

"Don't you want to know where Seja is?!"

At these words, Semiya's cold gaze finally showed a slight change, and she stopped for the first time.

"Where is she?"

"Say one wrong word, and you die."

The three Corrupted Lizardfolk exchanged glances.

"She's right... Go to hell!"

They suddenly lunged, their blades piercing the air, whistling with a sharp, foul wind.

The gray scales magnified in Semiya's amber vertical pupils. Her expression remained unchanged. She simply took half a step back, drew her bone blade, and was about to strike.

"Vine Entanglement!"

At this moment, a clear yet powerful female voice rang out from a high position to Semiya's rear!

Semiya's pupils constricted sharply! That voice!

"Swish--!"

Countless tough vines shot out like living things from the branches of the ancient banyan, instantly coiling around the Corrupted Lizardfolk's bodies, especially binding their claws that had just exerted force! Their forward momentum abruptly halted!

Semiya mercilessly drew her bone blade across the Corrupted Lizardfolk's throats. Blood lines appeared, and three heads fell simultaneously.

But she no longer had the mental fortitude to deal with these filthy heretics. She instantly turned around, her gaze sweeping past the arriving Corrupted Lizardfolk hunting party, and precisely locked onto a familiar figure hiding beneath the collapsed, decaying wood!

Dark green scales, shamanistic bone ornaments, and those eyes filled with concern and anxiety!

"Seja!"

On Semiya's icy face, the frozen killing intent melted away like ice in spring, replaced by an overwhelming, unbelievable joy!

Little sister!

She's alive! Right before my eyes!

"Sister!"

Seja waved joyfully, running over with her staff.

Even when Seja reached her, Semiya still found it hard to believe.

"I heard from those traitors that you had wandered into the Swamp Forest. How did you end up here..."

"Heh heh, I'm Puto's most devout follower. Lord Puto couldn't bear to watch me get eaten by monsters."

Seja ultimately didn't mention the existence of Puto's envoy. It wasn't just because of the Corrupted Lizardfolk warriors around; she simply felt that the envoy didn't like being disturbed.

"It's good that you're back."

"Come, leave this place with me."

In the dim swamp, Chen Yu watched Seja leave with a group of Lizardfolk, then gradually withdrew his gaze.

He had no intention of contacting the Lizardfolk tribe yet.

Only that foolish shaman would believe he was Puto's envoy.

The other Lizardfolk wouldn't trust outsiders so easily, especially not a monster.

"There are Corrupted Lizardfolk everywhere on the edge of this swamp; it's too unsafe."

For a monster like himself, the swamp was a more suitable place.

At least there weren't so many intelligent beings, nor any scheming and plotting; only pure strength mattered.

It was much more satisfying to fight there.

He planned to first go to the abandoned shelter Seja had mentioned, let his bee soldiers take shelter from the rain, and then return to Oak territory after the downpour.

However, without Seja carrying him, his travel speed could only be described as that of a turtle. It took him half the day to find the shelter.

Chen Yu hid inside the dry, concealed stone cave. The remaining eight Stinger Bee soldiers perched on a nearby rock, cleaning the heavy water droplets from their wings.

He appeared lost in thought, his gaze sweeping through the dim forest marsh.

Actually, when the Lizardfolk were fighting, the Queen Bee had told him that something was hiding nearby, seemingly a surviving human.

"The heavy rain is coming. If this poor fellow doesn't leave the swamp soon, I'm afraid he won't survive the night."

"Forget it, what's it to me."

That night, thunder pierced the tranquility of the Swamp Forest, and the rain poured down harder. Occasionally, the roars of wild beasts could be heard from within the forest.

It was terrifying.

That human was probably well and truly dead.

The next day, the heavy rain was still falling.

Chen Yu stayed put in the shelter, cultivating his Talisman Scrolls. It wasn't until the third day, when the rain began to subside, that he followed the cleared bee path back to his territory.

However, he couldn't expect to travel fast. He could only study and draw talismans to pass the time as he made his way back.