The Eternal Guardian

The wind swept over the rolling hills, turning the withered yellow grass into undulating waves.

The sky was gray and murky, heavy clouds hanging so low they seemed ready to come crashing down at any moment.

This land was too desolate. Only the occasional caw of a crow added a touch of ill omen to the deathly silence.

Xia Lin walked at the front, gripping a roughly whittled wooden stick as a walking staff.

His boots were caked in mud, and his cloak had been snagged and torn in several places by thorns.

"I swear, I'm never buying discounted goods again," he muttered, using the stick to part the weeds ahead.

"Oh? How rare. I thought you'd say that next time, you'd definitely buy a waterproof discounted map." Sera's voice came from behind him, as mocking as ever.

Xia Lin turned back to defend himself. "Who could have guessed that parchment labeled waterproof, fireproof, and magic-proof would turn to mush in an ordinary rainstorm?"

"Perhaps because the word 'waterproof' itself was written in water-soluble ink?" Sera raised an eyebrow.

She walked with ease. Several slender shadow tentacles extended from behind her like nimble servants, brushing aside every troublesome branch and leaf in advance.

Kade walked at the rear of the group, wearing a gentle smile as he tried to smooth things over. "At least we still have our sense of direction.

The stars do not lie, and the Goddess's guidance cannot be wrong."

"The problem is, we can't even see the stars right now." Xia Lin pointed at the gloomy sky overhead. "And I don't recognize a single plant in this damned place. Look at that tree over there—it looks like an oak, but its leaves are purple. And those mushrooms are bigger than my head."

"Mr. Xia Lin is