Owl left so quickly that Chen Lin had no time to say anything else.
His mouth still open, he watched Owl shrink into a black speck before withdrawing his gaze and looking at the colorful mushroom beside him.
"You accepted my Golden Nightmare Coin and lured me here, then hid without showing yourself. Now you won't even let me enter the story contest. What exactly are you trying to do?"
Chen Lin suppressed his anger, trying to keep his tone as mild as possible.
He had no choice. Beneath another's eaves, one had to bow one's head. She might only be a mushroom, but she was still far beyond his ability to contend with.
"Hmph. Do you even know what the story contest is, wanting to enter it like that?"
The little mushroom glanced at Chen Lin and snorted, her face full of mockery.
"Oh?"
He managed to voice his puzzlement.
Then his eyes flashed, and he adopted a dismissive expression. "Isn't it just a story contest? What's so difficult about that? I've got a whole basketful of stories in my belly. I could tell them for three days and nights without a problem!"
"Ignorant!"
The little mushroom curled her lips.
"If all you had to do was tell stories, would Lord Xila need to deliver the Invitation Letters personally? I wouldn't have to hide, either!"
Chen Lin maintained his dismissive air. "I refuse to believe a story contest could be dangerous. Aren't you just too timid?"
"Me, timid?"
The little mushroom sneered.
"I, Lilia, am a renowned adventurer in Fairytale Town, with the title of Adventure King!" she declared proudly. "You're the first person ever to call me timid. You truly have eyes but cannot see!"
Seeing that he had provoked her somewhat, Chen Lin immediately softened his tone