Chapter Summaries

Xia Nan questioned Hunter Old Sang about his mended clothes, then watched the Sulfur Dragon Breath squad pressure him into revealing where he had encountered the banshee. The group followed the directions into Rime Forest, found goblin corpses, and Shuxi tracked the banshee’s trail, leaving them poised to pursue it.

• Xia Nan noticed Old Sang's reaction to questions about his clothes, while Old Sang explained that his late wife had woven them for him.
• Ganke threatened Old Sang for the banshee's location, and Shuxi's move toward the inner room made Old Sang reveal a ravine east of the village.
• Xia Nan offered Old Sang two silver coins, and Old Sang quietly warned him to be careful on the road after noticing Sarah's bracelet.
• Xia Nan, Tal, and the Sulfur Dragon Breath squad set out for Rime Forest, where Ganke and Uriah argued until Shuxi stopped them.
• Fanny sensed danger, and the group discovered nearly ten dead goblins with signs that a banshee had killed them.
• Shuxi used blood and magic to track the trail and pointed the group toward where the corpses had been dragged.

Xia Nan and the others tracked a Banshee’s recent victims to a Goblin nest, where the Sulfur Dragon Breath team attacked without heed to his warnings. As Xia Nan sensed an imminent threat and shouted for everyone to watch out, a cold wind swept through the cave and a scorching current surged into his wooden sword.

• Xia Nan determined that the fresh Banshee attack marks and the missing adventurers’ tracks pointed toward a nearby Goblin nest.
• Shuxi led the team to a cave, and Uriah ordered them to enter despite Ganke’s doubts about her tracking.
• The group found a Bear Goblin and dozens of Goblins but no Banshee, and Xia Nan warned the team to stay alert.
• Ganke fought the Bear Goblin hand to hand while Xia Nan and Shuxi slaughtered Goblins, and Fanny and Tal stayed close to Xia Nan.
• Xia Nan sensed a fatal danger, pulled Fanny back, and shouted a warning as a cold wind swept through the cave and a scorching current surged into his wooden sword.

A Banshee attacked the adventurers in the Goblin Nest, badly injuring Ganke with Corrupting Touch. Xia Nan and the others took precautions against her lethal Withering Wail, leaving the group deaf but ready to face her.

• The Banshee emerged from the cave ceiling and struck Ganke with Corrupting Touch while he fought a Bear Goblin.
• Ganke’s left arm turned ash-gray and nearly useless, and he fell to the ground in agony.
• Xia Nan, Fanny, Tal, Uriah, and Shuxi drank Potions of Deafness to counter the Banshee’s Withering Wail.
• The potion took effect, silencing the world as Xia Nan checked that Fanny was unharmed.

Xia Nan and Sulfur Dragon Breath fought a Banshee in the Goblinoid cave, using Uriah’s flute tune and Potions of Deafness to counter its defenses. As the Banshee unleashed its lethal Withering Wail, Uriah cast Silence over himself and the others, leaving Ganke and Shuxi outside the spell’s protection.

• Fanny adjusted to the Potion of Deafness while Xia Nan drew Green Pine and the injured Sulfur Dragon Breath members struggled to prepare for the Banshee.
• Ganke crushed both Potions of Deafness while countering the charging Bear Goblin, then licked the spilled liquid but remained only partly deaf.
• Uriah played Dawning Flute Tune, empowering the team’s attacks with Radiant damage, and Ganke and Shuxi drove the Banshee back.
• Shuxi gave Ganke her spare Potion of Deafness and warned him to run as the Banshee opened its mouth to use Withering Wail.
• Xia Nan redirected his charge toward Uriah, while Uriah cast Silence around himself and the others instead of Ganke and Shuxi as the Banshee’s wail swept through the cave.

The Banshee’s Withering Wail killed Ganke and the Goblins, while Xia Nan and his companions survived inside Uriah’s Silence. After Xia Nan’s attacks wounded the Banshee, she recognized the Ice Crystal Flower bracelet Sarah had given him and fled, leaving Xia Nan wondering why she had reacted to it.

• The Banshee unleashed Withering Wail, killing the Bear Goblin, the nearby Goblins, and Ganke, while Xia Nan, Fanny, Tal, and Shuxi survived.
• After the Silence barrier shattered, Shuxi attacked the Banshee, and Uriah played his flute to speed up the surviving adventurers.
• Xia Nan evaded the Banshee’s ambush from the ceiling and struck her with his flaming sword, while Fanny and Tal wounded her with Radiant attacks.
• The Banshee charged Xia Nan, but his Gaze into the Abyss damaged her mind and weakened her hostility.
• The Banshee saw Sarah’s Ice Crystal Flower bracelet, halted her attack, and fled into the rock as Xia Nan watched her disappear.

After Ganke died in the Banshee’s attack, Shuxi confronted Uriah over his choice to protect himself, while Xia Nan considered the Banshee’s strange reaction to his bracelet. In the village graveyard, he found Sarah beside a carefully tended gravestone bearing the name Ailiruila.

• Xia Nan returned to Ice Tree Village with Fanny and Tal after Ganke died and the Banshee escaped, while Shuxi abandoned the mission for now.
• Shuxi accused Uriah of failing to protect Ganke with Silence and left to think alone.
• Xia Nan recalled the Banshee’s moment of clarity and her reaction to his Ice Crystal Flower bracelet as he walked through the village.
• Xia Nan found Sarah at a graveyard gravestone, where she tried to hide why she was there.
• Xia Nan saw Ice Crystal Flowers arranged before the spotless gravestone and read the name Ailiruila carved in Elvish.

Sarah told Xia Nan that adventurers had killed Grandpa Jerry after he defended Mary, and Xia Nan suspected the gravestone marked Sarah’s mother, Ailiruila. The party decided to wait three days for a lead on the Banshee, but while training in the woods, Xia Nan found Old Sang speaking with the Banshee, whom he called Ellie.

• Sarah recounted how Grandpa Jerry had been killed by an adventurer while protecting Mary, then left Xia Nan at the cemetery.
• Xia Nan and the others agreed to stay in Ice Tree Village for three days to search for the Banshee before Sulfur Dragon Breath withdrew.
• Xia Nan went into the woods to train, but [Green Pine] grew hot and led him toward a presence in the forest.
• Xia Nan hid and saw Old Sang speaking with the Banshee, whom he called Ellie, and asking why she had broken their agreement to stay hidden.

Xia Nan discovered that the Banshee Ailiruila was Sarah’s mother and listened as she told Hunter Old Sang that she wanted the adventurers to kill her before she lost control completely. Shuxi intervened and signaled her teammates, but Ailiruila became a monster again and attacked Old Sang as Ang Yi’s Wolf Howl sounded from nearby.

• Xia Nan recognized Ailiruila as the Elf wife whose gravestone bore her name and spotted Shuxi watching Old Sang and the Banshee from a tree.
• Ailiruila reassured Old Sang about Sarah, then admitted she had deliberately sought out the adventurers so they could kill her before she harmed her family or village.
• Shuxi revealed herself, set off a Flashbang to alert her teammates, and refused Old Sang’s plea to let Ailiruila go.
• Ailiruila lost control and lunged at Shuxi and Old Sang, while Ang Yi’s Wolf Howl rang out from the bushes.

Xia Nan and Shuxi fought Ailiruila after she attacked Old Sang, then pursued the flying banshee toward Ice Tree Village. Xia Nan brought Ailiruila down at the village’s edge, where the chief and villagers faced her with an unexpectedly complicated expression.

• Xia Nan rescued Old Sang from Ailiruila’s attack, and Shuxi joined him in fighting the banshee.
• Xia Nan wounded Ailiruila with Green Pine, but she escaped into the air and flew toward Ice Tree Village with Xia Nan and Shuxi in pursuit.
• Xia Nan used Gravity Control and a copper coin charged with Gravity Etching to bring Ailiruila down before she reached the villagers.
• Xia Nan reached the village clearing, where Uriah, Tal, the chief, and armed villagers had gathered around the wounded Ailiruila.
• Xia Nan noticed that the village chief showed no fear of the banshee, only a complicated expression.

Ailiruila’s past revealed how she found a home with Sunny and Sarah in Ice Tree Village before sacrificing herself to stop a deadly Mycelium plague. After Xia Nan wounded her and restored her awareness, Ailiruila took Shuxi’s Radiant dagger and stabbed herself while bidding farewell to her family.

• Sunny found the stranded Elf Ailiruila in a cave, and the two grew close until she joined him in Ice Tree Village and became his wife.
• Ailiruila and Sunny raised their daughter Sarah, who was accepted as a villager and grew up happily in the close-knit community.
• A Mycelium plague spread through Ice Tree Village, infecting Sarah, and Ailiruila left Sunny bound in their cabin before transforming into a Banshee to save the settlement.
• Xia Nan’s attack severely wounded Ailiruila and restored her awareness, while Old Sang begged him to spare her and Sarah watched in shock.
• Ailiruila used her wail to escape, took Shuxi’s Radiant-coated dagger, and stabbed herself after telling Sunny and Sarah she loved them.

After learning how Ailiruila had protected Ice Tree Village as a Banshee, Xia Nan connected her decline and the village’s growing Goblin population to wider monster unrest. He visited Ailiruila’s grave with her grieving family, where the Ice Crystal Flower Bracelet’s attributes suddenly changed.

• The village chief told Xia Nan that Ailiruila had once guarded the village and that she began losing control around the start of the year.
• Xia Nan learned that Goblins had become unusually numerous near the village and recalled encountering a large Goblin force elsewhere.
• Xia Nan left the village chief’s cottage and prepared to depart for Blood-Cast Fortress with his companions.
• Xia Nan visited Ailiruila’s grave, where Old Sang and Sarah mourned beside her intact burial.
• Xia Nan removed Sarah’s Ice Crystal Flower Bracelet and noticed that its Attribute Panel had changed.

Xia Nan discovered that the Ice Crystal Flower from Spring Never Arrived had become an enchanted accessory after Ailiruila's death, then returned to Blood-Cast Fortress with his companions after a dangerous journey. He found the fortress crowded with a sudden influx of veteran and novice adventurers and asked a young officer what had caused it.

• Xia Nan examined Spring Never Arrived's new abilities, removed its Ice Crystal Flower, and returned Sarah's remaining bracelet to her as a memorial offering for Ailiruila.
• Xia Nan attached the flower to his necklace, then discussed magical equipment with his companions around the campfire.
• Xia Nan and the others set out at dawn and fought a berserk giant boar and a displacer beast before reaching Blood-Cast Fortress at sunset.
• Xia Nan noticed the fortress's outer camp was crowded with new adventurers, including timid novices being exploited by vendors.
• At the crowded Military Merit Office, Uriah volunteered to queue while Xia Nan approached the young officer and asked why so many adventurers had arrived.

Xia Nan learned that monsters were appearing more frequently near Blood-Cast Fortress and collected his share of the mission’s battle merits. After advancing to Border Patrolman, he went to a tavern with Tal and Fanny, where he asked Tal what he wanted to discuss.

• A young logistics officer told Xia Nan that monster sightings near Blood-Cast Fortress had increased and that the Inner Fortress might be preparing a large operation.
• Uriah submitted mission B135, and the group divided its 45 battle merits according to their contributions, giving Xia Nan 18.
• The group exchanged materials from two additional monsters for merits, earning Xia Nan another 12 and bringing his total above fifty.
• Completing the B-rank mission advanced Xia Nan from Recruit to Border Patrolman, one rank below Fortress Guardian.
• Tal invited Xia Nan for a drink, and the two went to a tavern with Fanny, where Xia Nan asked Tal what he wanted.

Tal told Xia Nan he planned to join Sulfur Dragon Breath, and Xia Nan accepted his choice while warning that the team might soon disband if it found no new members. As Xia Nan ate at a tavern in Blood-Cast Fortress, Zanfrui, Ak, and Wenser arrived, leaving him to wonder how the three had come together.

• Tal explained that he intended to join Sulfur Dragon Breath, and Xia Nan reassured him that he had no objection.
• Xia Nan advised Tal to hurry because Sulfur Dragon Breath might disband if it failed to recruit soon.
• Xia Nan ordered and enjoyed a hearty meal at a Blood-Cast Fortress tavern.
• Zanfrui, Ak, and Wenser entered the tavern after arriving with a recruitment squad.
• Zanfrui tried to appear like an experienced adventurer at the counter but nearly fell off his stool.

Zanfrui and Wenser arrived at Blood-Cast Fortress and went to a tavern, where the powerful adventurer Magda targeted Zanfrui. The chapter ended with Magda demanding that he sit on her lap and feed her.

• Zanfrui befriended Wenser during their journey after learning that Wenser knew stories about Grove Wilmot, the Silver Lake Shield.
• After registering at Blood-Cast Fortress, Zanfrui brought Wenser to a tavern and offered to pay for their meal.
• Wenser ordered only the cheapest sauerkraut and black bread, while Zanfrui planned to order far more food than they could eat.
• Magda, the Level 5 captain of the Ghost-Faced Spider team, approached and demanded that Zanfrui treat her to a meal.
• Ak offered to cover Magda's and her team's expenses, but Magda agreed only if Zanfrui sat on her lap and fed her.

Zanfrui, Ak, and Wenser faced a threat from Magda, the Fat Hyena, until Xia Nan intervened and drove her away. The group thanked Xia Nan and discussed their next plans in Blood-Cast Fortress.

• Zanfrui stepped forward to protect Wenser and Ak, offering to feed Magda if she let all three leave unharmed.
• Wenser spotted Xia Nan in the tavern but initially pretended not to see him so he would not be drawn into danger.
• Xia Nan signaled Wenser that he would help, and Wenser called out to him, prompting Zanfrui to greet him too.
• Magda sensed Xia Nan's superior strength, abandoned her attempt to claim Zanfrui, and led the Ghost-Faced Spider out of the tavern.
• Zanfrui, Wenser, and Ak thanked Xia Nan for rescuing them, and Ak offered to cover the expenses for Xia Nan, Tal, and Fanny.
• Xia Nan asked the group what they planned to do next.

Xia Nan warned Zanfrui and Ak about the dangers around Blood-Cast Fortress, then reported his mission findings to Fugan. Fugan confirmed the link between rising goblin numbers and berserk monsters, but told Xia Nan to rest and focus on his own affairs while the mission channels remained closed.

• Zanfrui asked to join Xia Nan’s team, but Xia Nan rejected him because the inexperienced boy could not keep pace.
• Ak asked about local dangers, and Tal explained why more adventurers had gathered at Blood-Cast Fortress while sizing Ak up as a potential recruit for Sulfur Dragon Breath.
• Xia Nan left the tavern with Fanny and went to meet Fugan in the Inner Fortress.
• Xia Nan reported the hunter, banshee, rising monster numbers, and goblins, and showed Fugan the ice crystal flower accessory [Spring Never Arrived].
• Fugan confirmed that rising goblin numbers were connected to monsters going berserk and said he had come to Blood-Cast Fortress to address the issue.
• Fugan told Xia Nan to rest until the mission channels reopened and then attend to what needed doing without worrying too much.

Xia Nan headed to a Goblin Nest after resting from the Banshee assignment, but news that the Blood-Cast Fortress had reopened its commissions redirected him to the Military Merit Office. He received an assignment to investigate missing sheep and signs of a possible Underdark entrance southwest of the fortress.

• Xia Nan saw exhausted garrison soldiers return with a Meltback Drake carcass and heard that monsters had been appearing unusually close to the fortress.
• Adventurers learned that commissions were available again, so Xia Nan abandoned his plan to visit a Goblin Nest and joined the queue at the Military Merit Office.
• Xia Nan received assignment B632, which called for investigating missing sheep and underground tremors southwest of the Blood-Cast Fortress and eliminating monsters emerging from the Underdark.

Xia Nan accepted an investigation quest and traveled alone with Fanny to a remote valley where a shepherd’s sheep had been vanishing after a sudden underground disturbance. After hearing the shepherd’s account, Xia Nan set out to inspect the sheep pen.

• Blood-Cast Fortress assigned Xia Nan an investigation quest suited to his demonstrated strength, and he left alone with Fanny.
• Xia Nan reached a small pasture and found the frightened flock and its crude, damaged enclosure.
• The shepherd welcomed Xia Nan into his cottage and explained that he grazed his sheep in the valley to improve their wool.
• The shepherd said a crash from the west had damaged the pen, underground noises had followed, and nearly half his flock had disappeared.
• Xia Nan finished questioning the shepherd and asked him to lead the way to the sheep pen.

Zanfrui, Wenser, and Ak investigated undead activity near the Blood-Cast Fortress, where Zanfrui narrowly avoided a skeleton soldier’s attack before Wenser and Ak helped destroy it. Elsewhere, Xia Nan investigated missing sheep and found scratches and nearly invisible spider silk, leaving the culprit’s identity unresolved.

• Zanfrui charged a skeleton soldier recklessly, dodged its sword strike, and Wenser severed its spine before Zanfrui smashed its skull and holy water extinguished its undead flame.
• Ak advised Zanfrui to stay calmer and explained that the trio had taken an investigation mission because military recruitment was suspended.
• Ak confirmed the skeleton was dead and told Zanfrui and Wenser to rest before moving on.
• Xia Nan questioned a shepherd about sheep that had vanished without leaving tracks or drag marks.
• Xia Nan noticed deep scratches on the sheep pen’s roof and nearly invisible spider silk beneath its edge.