Volume 1 Chapter 6 Part1 (1/2)
Last chapter recap: Aofeng travels into the forest with a new group of people including Roth, a protector of the Imperial Court after Mistress Su Ya adopts her.
Chapter One First Show of Ability
The three horned horses moved forward steadily in front of the carriage. In order to guarantee speed, Roth had specially bought two horned horses for riding.
After formally entering the Forest of Neversetting Sun, Aofeng and the others got off the carriage. Mistress Su Ya and Liao Ya stayed inside the carriage to rest. Mo Ling and the other three youths looked around the forest interestedly at the rich flora, the moonlight falling through the leaves like stars, and the flickering lights of fireflies.
“Whoa! Big Brother Zhui Yun, look, so beautiful!” Mo Ling pointed at a nearby swarm of fireflies and called out joyfully.
Aofeng look in that direction and narrowed her eyes slightly. She warned, “There are far more beautiful things in the forest than this, the color of nature will occasionally enchant you. Sometimes, the more beautiful something is, the more poisonous it is, it is better to be careful.”
Mo Zhu saw Aofeng give a meaningful smile and thought that she liked things like this. He hurriedly asked, ”Zhui Yun, you like these? Don’t be afraid, how about I catch a few for you?”
Yu Fan was already glaring disdainfully at Aofeng as Mo Zhu spoke. Yu Fan walked forward to capture them as he sneered. “A coward is a coward, you don’t even dare to catch some fireflies. I think you should go back when its early! Mo Ling, you like these, I will catch them for you!”
“Really? Then I will wish our great Young Master Yu of the Snowstorm Mercenary Company to come back successfully … …” Aofeng pulled Mo Zhu’s warm hand. She raised an eyebrow and looked on as Yu Fan walked without any caution towards the ball of light.
Roth saw this and shook his head helplessly from the side. Seventh Young Master, can you not just watch as the world turns to chaos. Pitiful Yu Fan, just a few words and you are “motivated” by this devious person into a trap. This person kills without blood! This Seventh Young Master really had comprehended the highest state of being shameless and devious!
But Roth did not expose Aofeng. He didn’t like young people like Yu Fan whose eyes were on top of their head. It would be good to give Yu Fan a lesson and have other people become mentally prepared.
Yu Fan was satisfied that he had gotten there first. This time, he would obtain Mo Ling’s affections. He reached out to seize the fireflies. However, he suddenly felt the black area in front of him wasn’t quite right.
Dark! Extreme darkness so that not even one thread of moonlight reflected off.
The surrounding vines shuddered lightly, and a large and cold thorn-filled mouth suddenly opened from the darkness.
“Ah!” Yu Fan jumped in fright at the enormous mouth that abruptly appeared and gave a high scream. He tried to crawl out of the bush in a panic but he tripped and fell down with a “thump.” Vines had wrapped around his feet at some unknown time like metal chains. A great force came from above, and Yu Fan was pulled towards that enormous mouth.
Three exclamations of surprise sounded. The young people didn’t react in time, freezing there and not knowing what to do. Yu Fan looked at the great mouth growing closer and almost peed his pants.
At this moment, a long broadsword pierced the enormous mouth behind him with a “pew!” Dark green fluid spilled from that strangely shaped vine, and the vine quickly withered.
Of course Aofeng was not so goodhearted to save Yu Fan. Roth finally acted at the last moment.
“Uncle Roth, it’s so fortunate you are here.” Mo Ling patted his chest and sighed with lingering fear. “What is that? So scary?”
“Maneating Vine, it is not a magic beast, but is no less dangerous. It will attract b.u.t.terflies in the day, and fireflies in the night, creating beautiful illusions to lure other beings. Then it will use its tentacles to pull the prey in and swallow them.” Roth walked forward and pulled his broadsword back out. He cut off the vines that were wrapped around Yu Fan and picked the pale boy out. He said coolly, “The Forest of Neversetting Sun is full of things like this. Just like Zhui Yun said, if you do not pay attention, even I may not be able to save your lives. You have come here with me to get stronger, put away your playful att.i.tudes!”
After the fright just now, the trio didn’t dare to enter the darkness. They felt as though every blade of gra.s.s and tree were terrifying. They nodded anxiously.
“Don’t be afraid. Actually, you just didn’t detect it in the chaos. An adult Maneating Vine is something that someone with the strength of a five-star swordsman can protect themselves from. A normal vine wouldn’t even be a threat to a three-star swordsman. When they wrap around you, cut its tentacles in time, and then cut down its crown.” Aofeng smiled serenely, and patted Mo Zhu and his sister’s shoulders comfortingly. She walked forward and then cut down the pouch at the center of the dead Maneating Vine. The green liquid inside had already bled out.
“Zhui Yun, what are you doing?” Su Jian asked curiously.
“The pouch of the Maneating Vine is filled with extremely corrosive liquid but is also a hard to come by herb. After cleaning, it can be used to make longevity-lengthening wine. Of course, it is rare for vines to grow pouches this big and useful. The majority will shatter with a touch. This thing is worth a few hundred obsidians.” Aofeng casually tossed the wrinkled little pouch in her hand up and down before giving it to Mo Zhu to look.