Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 194 Lizard Swamp
The person who was originally presenting the treasure suddenly became a pimp, and the boss and the client directly reached a deal. Where was the credit for the receptionist? You can imagine how frustrated Sena was, but he didn't dare to make a scene under his boss's nose, so he could only try to avoid seeing it and worrying about it.

Having achieved his most important goal, Zhang Yuan didn't bother with such trivial matters. He took out his communication crystal and contacted his teammates.

In a marketplace-like setting, Zhang Yuan met with the others, and the Canaan team reunited.

Nothing unusual happened, except that Bransana, who was acting as a temporary guide, was no longer as enthusiastic as before. He looked completely listless, and his occasional glances at the enchantress were full of regret and sighs.

The group pretended not to notice the pathetic state of the young half-antelope and strolled around the village's market area with great interest.

Because the Misty Woods was not completely isolated from the outside world, occasional trade and communication led the local residents to accept precious metal currency as the equivalent of transactions.

After receiving a few lucky money gifts, the team members, now with more money to spare, started spending lavishly, purchasing a large quantity of local fruits, vegetables, and food.

Unfortunately, since setting off from Baldur's Gate, we haven't stopped at a single civilized settlement on our journey. We've survived on dry rations and hunting. Meat is manageable, but fresh fruits and vegetables can only be obtained by picking wild berries by chance.

Besides satisfying their appetites, the scattered general stores in the market also offered some pleasant surprises.

How much is this little gadget?

Nancy picked up a bracelet from the stall in front of her. The bracelet was woven from thorny vines. Strangely, the vines that had been picked were not inanimate objects. They twitched slightly from time to time, like a thin snake.

"Your Excellency, you have excellent taste. This bracelet is a high-level magical artifact created by an Archdruid. It can transform into living thorns twice a day. Look at these branches; they are vines harvested from the sharp thorns known as barbed wire. They are as hard as steel yet as flexible as tree branches, and they can autonomously entangle and strike enemies."

The dwarf standing behind the stall gestured wildly and raved about his wares: "This is like having an extra offensive spell! Only 198! Only 198 to take it home!"

Not to mention Master Zhang, who was watching from the side and wanted to laugh, even Nancy, who was ignorant of the law, had her eyelids twitching. It seemed that the other party was treating her like a fat sheep.
I've never met you before, we have no grudges or enemies, why are you treating me like a fool? Nancy isn't naive, she's not so easily fooled, she threw down the bracelet and made to turn and leave.

Of course, this was just an act. The dwarf boss and Ms. Nancy, unable to resist calling back their customers, began round after round of haggling. During this time, the female thief even showed a fierce glint in her eyes and considered returning to her old ways to do another job. Fortunately, Zhang Yuan managed to dissuade her.

59 gold coins—that was the final price. It wasn't a cut in half, but rather a cut right at the ankle.

However, if I hadn't gone through so much trouble to get this price, I wouldn't have been able to bring myself to spend real money to buy something like this.

Perhaps it was because Nancy's memory of Zhang Yuan's animated rope was too deep; in any case, the female thief was having a great time playing with the treasure she had just acquired, and her eyes, which kept glancing at her captain, also held a hint of eager anticipation.

It was just a fleeting thought. Having witnessed the many methods of Master Zhang, Nancy ultimately didn't dare to act rashly and obediently suppressed her wicked intentions.

While the Canaanites, having spent most of the day exploring, were still reluctant to leave, a half-antelope ran over and whispered something in Bransana's ear. The listless fellow then forced himself to perk up and spoke to Zhang Yuan politely but distantly:
"Guests from the South, you have achieved your purpose for this journey. If you wish to depart now, I can once again serve as your guide." Then, in a tone that seemed to be asking, "Or perhaps you would like to stay with us for another night?"

Having sensed the other party's intention to see them off, Zhang Yuan had no intention of forcing them to stay. He decisively regrouped his team and followed them back to the trade route.

After bidding farewell to Branthana, who seemed to have been liberated, the Canaanite squad continued their journey north to Neverwinter.

They hadn't gone far when the group, who had already spent most of the day in the Misty Forest, was greeted by the approaching sunset. The convoy hadn't yet left the Misty Forest, so it was in a relatively safe area. They decided to set up camp and rest.

“Oh, Moradin, how have we come to this stinking muddy place again? I’ve had enough.”

As Kegan drove the carriage, he complained loudly. Although the main trade route was relatively smooth and not too bumpy or muddy, the road here was winding and twisting like a mountain road with eighteen bends, just to avoid the swamps and ponds.

Not to mention the mosquitoes and flies that breed in the wetlands, which are extremely annoying. It was only thanks to some herbal ointment I bought yesterday that I was able to escape their venomous bites.

Although both are swamps, the Lizard Swamp is not much different from the Death Swamp that the group had passed through before in terms of landform features, but the ecology is completely different.

Apart from the snakes, insects, mosquitoes and flies that are everywhere and impossible to get rid of, there are no undead creatures running rampant here or the cold, pervasive black mist of negative energy. Instead, amphibians such as lizards and water anacondas often move among the puddles and wetland grasses.

The sight of these unsightly creatures roaming and hunting certainly revealed the true nature of this desolate and barren place, but it also added a touch of life, making it less desolate than the Death Swamp.

The Canaan caravan, having traveled for a full day, did not encounter the rumored cold-blooded natives—the lizardmen—but instead met some strange fellows.

Just around noon, as everyone was preparing to disembark, settle down, and rest for a while, a rustling noise came from not far to the left of the road. The horses, which had been standing quietly, suddenly became restless, kicking their hooves and neighing loudly despite the reins in their mouths.

Such an unusual event naturally alerted the team members. Except for the four survivors and Lawrence, who was on guard with a crossbow, everyone got out of the vehicle and formed a well-organized battle formation facing the direction from which the sound came from.

As a mage, Zhang Yuan was naturally in the safest position at the rear, with the carriage behind him and Münster, Rick, and Morty in front of him, while the two dwarf guards stood at the front of the formation with their shields up.

Nancy, however, found a secluded spot to lie in wait, hoping to strike at the right moment.

As the noise gradually became clearer, the group of uninvited guests pushed aside the dense reeds and strode arrogantly, revealing themselves to the crowd.

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(End of this chapter)