North Side of Shiling Town. Just like when they had arrived, the unremarkable Guang Yuan Merchant Group left through the northern city gate and headed north along a dirt road covered in gravel, wheel ruts, and claw marks.
The Slimes bounced along with gurgling sounds, each carrying various goods inside its body.
Commander Lu Liu walked at the very front, periodically scanning the surroundings.
After traveling some distance, they turned off the dirt road and entered a rugged, primeval forest. The surroundings gradually fell silent, leaving only the sounds of everyone leaping forward, the Slimes bouncing and gurgling, and wind rustling through the leaves.
They had traveled for half an hour without encountering a single player team.
But—
Lu Liu frowned and glanced behind them. The trees were dense and sturdy, with patches of sunlight filtering through and scattering mottled shadows. From time to time, ordinary birds or beasts flashed through the forest.
It was an utterly ordinary scene.
"General Lu, do you also feel that someone is watching us from the shadows?"
Sophia asked.
Lu Liu nodded. "We may have been targeted by someone while we were in Shiling Town."
He summoned a Storm War Falcon and ordered it into the air. However, the lush trees concealed everything, and even the falcon's sharp eyes found it difficult to spot anything unusual.
Lu Liu continued forward.
After another dozen minutes, he raised his right hand and made a gesture to halt and stand ready.
"They're here."
The leaves and bushes began to rustle, as though countless ambushers hidden nearby had finally bared their fangs.
"Goblins!"
Sophia recognized the loathsome green-skinned creatures at a glance.
Great Goblins pounced from the bushes, while short Goblin Spearmen hid in the trees and hurled one sharp, keen steel spear after another, each infused with