Chapter 50: The Return Journey (4)

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  Although Astrid wore the title of Forest Ranger, she was also roughly familiar with some of the tricks for sneaking through the forest, but these small skills could only deceive little warriors like Joanie who didn't understand anything. In front of Isaac, those artificial traces along the way were simply a map guiding them to find their target.

  Although the north is cold, there are not a few forests. As a strong Uskja who grew up in it since childhood, Aizak found his home advantage as soon as he entered the forest, like a fish entering a river.

  "Oh, great Uskja, your humble follower invokes your noble name, entreating you to bestow your blessings. Let my prey be unable to escape, let them fall before your majesty. I, Ezak the Bonebreaker, will offer their flesh and blood to you, as proof of your supreme glory!"

  "What is he doing?" Idas asked his brother in a low voice.

  "He must be praying to his god." Will replied softly.

  Aidas was clearly dissatisfied: "Hmph, followers of a false god!" He didn't even bother to lower his voice.

  Isaac remained still and silent, reciting his own prayer, until the end of the prayer, he suddenly stood up, holding an axe in his hand, glaring at Edas: "You, apologize!"

  Aidas, as a devout and typical Tanian solar priest, countered sharply: "Am I wrong? There is only one divine spirit in this world, the Sun God Derinis; there is only one main deity for humanity, the Sun God Derinis. Those who have stolen divine power and falsely claim to be gods..."

  He flashed a powerful slash like a thousand armies, and then said: "...... guys, are all shameful pseudo-gods!"

  This speech has been heard on the battlefields of Tanis and Osedrin. Like the Northmen of old, Isaac was thoroughly enraged. He swung his massive axe wildly, each blow aimed squarely at Eddas' vitals.

  In fact, many military scholars believe that the reason why Tanias lost those battles is largely due to the hot-blooded priests in their minds.

  Even clad in the Temple's finest plate armor, wielding a large shield covered in steel plating, and frenzied to the point of near-madness, Eidas still didn't dare meet the full force of the barbarian's attack head-on. As he dodged the giant axe that howled with the wind, Eidas chanted the prayer of his divine magic.

  Sanctuary Technique

  Like the hapless vagabond before him, the barbarian warrior of limited intellect had lost his objective.

  The effect of the Sanctuary Technique is to create a shelter using divine power, causing the protected creature to be completely ignored by surrounding enemies. Only those with strong willpower can break through this barrier.

  Ezak's anger had yet to subside after losing his target, but he was at a loss for an outlet and could only wildly hack at the large tree beside him, leaving deep scars on its trunk.

  As Isaac gradually calmed down, Will, who had been hiding on the side, carefully approached him: "Isaac, don't mind it, my brother is just like that."

  Ezak turned around, his eyes still glowing red as he glared at Will: "He insulted the great Uskja! He must apologize!"

  "Alright, alright, I'll go and persuade him. You stop wielding that axe!"

  Will's words seemed to have some effect on Isaac, who put away his axe and continued to breathe heavily.

  The storm seemed to have passed, and Eidas revealed his figure. Will rushed up and, without regard for the fact that the man in front of him was a priest, covered his mouth just as it was about to open and dragged him aside.

  "You have to apologize!" Will put on a big brother act.

  "What?!’ Idas shouted loudly, “That…”

  Will covered his mouth again and said seriously, "Firstly, without him we can't catch up with that Ailuer; secondly, you are a pastor, not a holy warrior, do you plan to preach like this in your parish from now on?"

  Aidas came to himself a bit. Ah yes, he was no longer just a simple student basking in the glory of Daenerys.

  "I apologize for what I said earlier." Eidas suppressed the revulsion in his heart and came before Elal to offer an apology.

  The barbarian was indeed straightforward, since he said sorry, the matter would be settled, but he kept a distance from this fanatical heretic pastor on their way afterwards.

  A crisis has dissipated into thin air, and this is not good news for Jonyi and his group.

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  The rest was brief. Joni, who had determined his life goal, was soon called up by Odala to continue on their way. They needed to venture deep into the forest before sunset, choose a good campsite, set up simple traps... all of which took time.

  "Hey, Joni." Elar leaned in close to Joni. "Where did you hear those stories from earlier?"

  Putting aside his jealousy as a wandering poet, Ailal thought the story he just heard was quite good. The dim-witted king, the virtuous minister, the struggle between demigods and gods, interspersed with various characters' grudges... If slightly embellished, it would make for an excellent epic poem. Although whether this history actually existed or not is still unknown.

  "I made it up myself, what's wrong with that?" This time I couldn't use that mysterious traveling poet as a shield again, or else the old guy would have stayed in the blacksmith shop for too long. "What do you think of the story I just told?"

  What I've written... is truly enviable, to think that after all those years of wandering in Vilsa, I was only able to come up with a few small poems, and yet this illiterate little brat can somehow manage to concoct what seems like a complete history? Is he a genius? Or perhaps someone blessed by Gipniss (the god of art and vagrancy)?

  How is it possible, Gipnis really wants to bless and definitely help Tongxiao language solidify for him.

  "No, no, I don't have any opinions. I just want to know what happened afterwards?" Eral gazed at Jony eagerly. He had originally wanted to say "Am I lucky enough to get the right to adapt and spread these stories?", but hearing Jony's unpleasant tone, thinking of how he had flirted with his woman in front of him, Eral thought it was better not to take this risk.

  Joni glanced sideways at Ailar, intending to refuse, when he suddenly felt another scorching gaze on him. No need to look, he knew it was that little girl Astrid. Anyway, he had rested enough, and telling one more story wouldn't be a problem. Although those historical events had gradually faded from the life of this illiterate blacksmith's descendant over the past decade or so, with details already unclear in his memory. But who cares, no one knew the truth anyway.

  Perhaps he could make a living out of this? Johnny thought silently to himself. Then he thought of Eilar's romantic affairs and their consequences, shuddered, and drove the crazy idea out of his mind.

  The journey was uneventful. Odara and his group were far ahead of their pursuers, and the forest didn't pose any threat to a team with a 12th-level warrior. As night began to fall, Odara listened to Jony's non-stop chatter behind him, scanning for potential enemies and a suitable campsite, before interrupting him: "Alright, let's set up camp here for tonight."

  At this point in the story, Western Zhou had not yet perished, but it was time to stop. Unsatisfied Aisley went hunting, Jony and Eral picked up twigs. Odala cleared a flat area where they could sit comfortably and waited for their return.

  When camping outdoors, not everyone can sleep at the same time. Someone has to keep watch. After eating and drinking their fill, Odala arranged the order of the night watch, then looked distrustfully at Ailar, deleted him, and rearranged it again. The group fell into a deep sleep, leaving only Odala on duty for the first shift, keeping guard around them.

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  Even with the moon and starlight, the forest at night was still so dark. Even Isaac couldn't continue to track his prey under such visual conditions.

  Aidas hummed softly and raised her hand, a warm and gentle white light emanating from Azak's body, illuminating the surroundings like a torch.

  "Are you an idiot?!" Will slapped his forehead, saying helplessly, "If the other side has a Ranger or an Archer, you're giving them a target!" Isaac also glared at him, unable to accept being so exposed in the dark of night, and without his consent.

  Aidas wasn't stupid, and at this moment he also realized his own rashness: "This... I just wanted to provide some lighting, can't you see that......"

  Will lamented in his heart. It seemed that he had made a mistake by sending this foolish younger brother to the temple, for the sacred profession of priest was not suitable for him! At the same time, he also increasingly understood the temple's requirement for graduating priests and holy warriors to go out and gain experience. With such goods, if they didn't make progress, how could they fight for the great Derynis in the future?

  "First put out the light on Isaac's body," Will ordered.

  "This can't be cancelled, it can only wait for time to pass..." Eidas seemed to have returned to his childhood, becoming the little boy who broke a plate and lowered his head in front of his brother.

  "Alas." With a long sigh, Will shook his head and gave Isaac an apologetic smile before explaining the situation and then having them sit down together in a clump of grass.

  I hope they didn't notice me. Will prayed silently.

  After the brilliance of the spell dissipated, although a few people still wanted to continue advancing, in the pitch blackness, it was indeed impossible to investigate the information left by the prey. A bonfire was lit, and the order of night watch was arranged. The three people reluctantly took turns sleeping.

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  Due to the great distance between them, Aidas, who was chasing, did not discover Eral, and Jonyi's group, who were being chased, also did not notice that someone was following them. Although they were all people who had tasted blood on the tip of their blades, the atmosphere in the forest at this time was actually quite relaxed. The morning sun shone through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground, and the dying embers of the bonfire emitted a faint warmth.

  "Just get out of this section and we'll be fine," Odala said as they set off. "Although the Mercenary Union's wanted poster will continue to be posted on the borders of Ocedin and Velsa, at least no one will know that this guy with a linen cloth covering his face is the head worth fifty gold coins if we leave the Principality of Salva. Then we can get back on the main road and stay in inns."

  The future is bright and the road ahead doesn't seem too winding.

  "Yes, at that time just buy a piece of cloth to cover my face again. I hope it's velvet, linen is too rough." Eral heard this news with great joy.

  "No need to buy a new one, just use the old one, we must be frugal in our daily life." Odara rejected Eilar's application with disdain.

  "But I already threw it away!" Elar shrugged.

  "What?!" Aethereia and Ondara exclaimed in unison, their four eyes fixed intently on Eiravel.

  Aiyal looked a bit embarrassed and asked weakly: "Wh-what's wrong?"

  "Did you throw it away?" It was Astrid's voice.

  Yes.

  "Thrown on the road?"

  "Right."

  "Throw it away casually?"

  "That's right, it's nothing good anyway."

  Seeing Astrid with a murderous look on her face, Eral felt somewhat inexplicable.

  "I hope no one is following us." Odara's expression was no longer as relaxed as before, "However, Astry, he can leave such an obvious marker on the ground right under your nose, it seems that your anti-tracking skills are not that great either."

  Astrid's face turned red: "When Dad taught me, I didn't study seriously..."

  Joni recalled the scene where he first met the girl being ambushed by goblins and involuntarily let out a long "Oh---". He was immediately glared at by Astrid.

  "What a nuisance." Odara shook his head, walked up to Eral and grabbed the collar of his shirt. "Listen, you little scamp from the Heinrich household, now it's 300 gold coins!"

  "In Joni's gaze, he said to the crowd: 'Now let's discuss whether we should continue advancing or wait for possible enemies that may appear.'"

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  "Will, come see," Isaac yelled out as he continued on after dawn broke.

  Will and Edas approached, only to see a relatively clean piece of linen quietly lying in the grass, particularly eye-catching.

  "What is this?" Edith asked with a frown.

  Will was lost in thought: "I heard the tavern owner say that Ailar left with three people, covering his face with a linen cloth?"

  Aidas suddenly realized. He picked up the linen on the ground, compared it in size, and it was about to wrap around a person's mouth and nose. He sniffed it close, and there was still a faint scent of fragrance - how could a romantic poet not apply some perfume.

  "This must be that wicked Erl's thing. They must have escaped from this road." Eidas concluded.

  The other two nodded. Will continued: "So now our direction is correct, our goal is also correct, those guys are just ahead, thank you Darrynis."

  Ayzak was on one knee, his hands raised to the sky: "Thank you, great Uskja!"

  Although he couldn't understand, Aidas could guess that this guy was praying to that shameless pseudo-god again. However, he didn't dare provoke this irrational barbarian warrior anymore, it wasn't worth it.

  This discovery greatly encouraged them. Isaac stood up from the ground, more carefully pursuing the traces left by his predecessors. The team that killed Elar was getting closer and closer to their goal.