The moment he stepped out of the Magical Beast Mountain Range, Loa glanced back at the rolling forests behind him.
Half a month on the run, half a month recuperating, half a month training. The ancient trees that blotted out the sky, the damp, gloomy forests, and the roars of magical beasts in the dead of night were all behind him now.
The road ahead gradually opened up. The trees grew sparse, replaced by vast stretches of farmland and the occasional village. Even the smell in the air changed. Instead of the damp scent of rotting leaves and soil, there was cooking smoke, wheat straw, and the aroma of food drifting from distant towns.
Lying on Wuzhui's back, Mia once again saw the world outside the Magical Beast Mountain Range.
Her eyes were wide, her mouth slightly open, and her little face full of wonder.
After spending who knew how long in the Dark Church's cages, then hiding with Loa in the remote forests for more than half a month, the little girl of five or six had not seen such open skies and land in a long time.
"Uncle Bob, what's that?" She pointed at a golden wheat field.
"Wheat," Bob said. "It's used to make bread."
"Bread?" Mia's eyes brightened even more. "The soft, sweet kind?"
"Yes."
Mia swallowed and asked no more questions, but she kept staring at the wheat field until it disappeared behind them. Bob glanced at her and gently patted her back with his large, rough hand without a word.
Wangcai followed beside Loa, took a deep breath, and let out a satisfied sigh.
"Boss, I smell it."
"Smell what?"
Wangcai's tail began to wag. "Roast meat, bread, and-" Another deep breath, and those eyes shone like two stars. "Sugar! I smell sugar!"
Loa