No Hesitation

Just a few minutes passed.

Linsey dragged the remaining few gray wolf carcasses back to the ground where the battle had taken place.

The four Tree Spirit stood there trembling.

Hong, however, remained nonchalant, thoughtfully touching the spear as if considering something very important.

"..."

Linsey raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything more.

He briefly touched the corpse. These Forest Gray Wolf varied in strength, with the strongest being at the third tier and the weakest only slightly stronger than ordinary animals.

The materials produced are mediocre, and even the number of kills for achievements is still far from satisfactory.

However, the giant bear he ambushed and killed was a Fifth Stage Devil Beast. After looting its corpse, it gave Linsey a special [Forest Giant Bear Hide] and also had a special crafting recipe.

[1 Forest Giant Bear Hide + 6 Silk Threads = Hibernating Bear Cloak]

Linsey's eyes lit up.

He had all the materials on hand, and he immediately put them together.

[Equipment: Hibernating Bear Cloak]

A cloak made primarily of the Forest Giant Bear Hide; when worn, it increases both strength and Constitution; the wearer gains the special ability [Hibernation].

(Hibernation: Reduces the wearer's metabolic rate, entering a special state of dormancy where food is not required. During this period, the wearer maintains a low level of awareness of the outside world, with a maximum hibernation period of thirty-six months.)

[A cloak with rare features, of high value.]

"Hibernation..."

Linsey raised an eyebrow.

The skills that come with this equipment are usually not very useful.

However, in certain special circumstances, it can have an irreplaceable and miraculous effect.

Linsey immediately put on the cloak and glanced at the Attribute Panel.

"..."

"As expected of a product of Fifth Stage Devil Beast."

With two points added to both strength and Constitution, Linsey couldn't help but sigh at the data.

At this moment, he looked at the Tree Spirit trembling behind him, who were still red.

So Linsey put the Treant Flower Crown on her Equipment Slot and then spoke to Red beside her:

"Red, why are they so scared?"

Hongwei tilted her head slightly, a sweet smile playing on her lips:

How would I know?

"Mingming was rescued, and she's quite well-behaved. I just told her not to talk randomly, and she gradually became like that."

"..."

Linsey rolled her eyes at Red without any politeness.

He ignored the girl's shouts and came to the terrified Tree Spirit, deliberately crouching down to be at eye level with them.

This friendly attitude has also been rewarded.

Having escaped a life-or-death crisis, he was then kept under guard by a domineering guy like Red for a few minutes until Linsey, a clearly more approachable human, appeared.

One of the Tree Spirit, the braver one, asked tremblingly:

"Humans, I am very grateful for your help."

"If there's anything we can do, just let us know, and we'll do our best to accomplish it!"

This guy is smart enough to know that being left behind is useful.

Linsey nodded slightly and replied in a frank and gentle tone, "My companions and I were trying to cross this forest when we saw you being chased, so we offered to help."

"There's nothing I absolutely need you to do right now."

"However, if you know, we would appreciate it if you could tell us the details of this forest."

Linsey's idea was simple.

The information provided by the Mountain Stone Elemental is what they saw and heard in the Starshine Forest a few years ago, and it may be outdated and invalid now.

If we could get information from these guys who are actually here, that would be even better.

Upon hearing Linsey's question, the Tree Spirit exchanged glances.

For some reason, they all felt a sense of goodwill towards the humans in front of them. After exchanging whispers, the leader of the Tree Spirit spoke up, "Human, my suggestion is to turn around immediately."

"The woods ahead are far more dangerous than the way you came. If you venture any deeper, you will only become nourishment for the forest."

Linsey shook her head:

"We have a reason to go east, and it's too late to turn back now."

While talking, Linsey glanced at her map.

After he clearly expressed his goodwill, the attitude of the rescued Tree Spirit gradually changed from neutral yellow to friendly green.

Upon hearing Linsey's statement, the Tree Spirit opposite continued:

"If you really intend to go east, I also suggest you take a detour."

"As you can see, we are being hunted, and the most dangerous area in the forest is just ahead. Regardless of race or height, any living being may lose its life or the Essence it depends on for survival."

The berserk Tree Mother, the oppressive rule, and the Dragon Head's relentless demand for Essence...

Shu Jing's answer undoubtedly confirmed what Linsey knew.

After a moment's thought, he didn't press the Tree Spirit on this issue further, but decisively changed the subject:

"Let's ask it another way."

"What will we encounter if my companion and I continue eastward?"

This time, the Tree Spirit's expression was even more hesitant.

But Linsey's good attitude and the way she wanted them to get close to her ultimately prevailed.

They whispered among themselves, overturning their last vestige of loyalty.

"Humans, ahead lies Thorn Valley, where many of our brethren reside."

"But unlike us, who wanted to escape, they obeyed the Great Mother and descended into madness. They will try to turn you into nourishment for the forest and take your lives!"

Is it a choice between running away and obeying?

Linsey understood immediately, and then asked, "What if we go east after crossing the bottom of the Thorn valley?"

The four Tree Spirit trembled the moment they heard the question.

The Thorn Vines that make up their bodies even begin to twitch and coil, emitting dense and tense friction sounds.

A fearful voice rang out:

"That is the Banyan Grove, our mother."

"You may think you can rely on your own strength to try to cross Thorn Vale. But please remember not to enter the Banyan Grove. It is best to go south and bypass that forest area. This is your only chance of getting through alive."

The habitat of the Tree Mother.

Linsey immediately understood the reason, but also noticed a detail in the answer.

"Why do you want me to go around to the south?"

The Tree Spirit spirit replied sorrowfully, "Because a dangerous being also dwells in the north. She can even command our mother, and being discovered by her means certain death."

Alright, now we even know where the Dragon Beast's messenger is.

Having identified the locations of the two most dangerous entities ahead, Linsey was quite satisfied with the outcome of the rescue.

However, after glancing at the giant bear's carcass trampled under Red's feet, he cautiously asked, "I rescued you here and killed this giant bear."

Will your mother find out about this immediately?

"Death can happen at any time in the forest." The Tree Spirit shook its head in denial. "If it were decades ago, my conscious mother would have noticed immediately. But now, it will probably take her several dozen days to start to react."

Linsey looked at Red beside her. "A few dozen days should be enough for us to get around it."

The Tree Spirit kindly reminded him:

"But you must also be careful that the pursuers sent out will catch up with you if you are discovered."

"Your strength may be great, but the power within the Great Forest is boundless!"

Hearing this, Hong laughed disdainfully, "Ha—"

"If we catch up, so be it. We'll fight to the death and see who wins in the end!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Hong tightened her grip on the Meteorite Spear.

She prepared to eliminate any potential hazards.

But just then, the girl saw Linsey's fingers twitch slightly.

"Tsk—"

The girl tossed her head away in dissatisfaction.

She remained silent and did not look at the four Tree Spirit, but she still gripped the Meteorite Spear tightly in her hand.

"..."

Linsey kept her promise and did not continue to make things difficult for the Tree Spirit.

After ascertaining the situation of the forest ahead, he released the creatures, letting them continue their escape.

Fifteen minutes later, the two cleaned up the battlefield and continued on their way.

Hong looked at Linsey with some confusion. "Linsey, why didn't you let me kill them just now?"

"What if these guys leak our information?"

Linsey shook her head:

"They don't know what we're here for, so it's enough for them to wipe out the pursuers."

After answering, Linsey gave another example. "And think about it, if we had killed the Root Elder in the canyon from the beginning, we wouldn't have gotten this amulet that confuses the aura. We would have been easily detected in the forest and then be surrounded."

"Sometimes, showing appropriate kindness is also a way to help yourself get through difficult times."

Hong pursed her lips and deftly hoisted the Meteorite Spear onto her shoulder.

The girl didn't refute Linsey because she knew she was right, but some inexplicable habit made her feel very uncomfortable.

Only after considering what they might encounter next did she ask again, "Linsey, what if we're in a situation where the Tree Mother might discover us..."

Linsey interrupted Red's question directly, giving a firm answer:

"Unnecessary killings should certainly be avoided."

"But if it comes to that critical moment—Red, believe me, I will absolutely not hesitate!"