I am the Holy Poisoner, the Empress advised me to calm down

After a while, as the footsteps of the searchers outside gradually faded away, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Just as everyone was about to relax and rest for a while, they heard another burst of hurried footsteps in the distance...

"It shouldn't be those bandits this time, right?" Lu Yan frowned.

"We have to be careful no matter what." Lin Chen said firmly, then looked at Chen Feng: "You said it's safe here, but we still have to prepare for the worst."

"That's right," Chen Feng nodded in agreement, "but I think we can at least stay in the cave until dawn. Then we can decide what to do next."

"Then let's do as you say." said the young woman, giving Chen Feng a look of trust.

In this way, in a silent and tense atmosphere, a group of people sat in the dark waiting for the arrival of dawn. No one knew what would happen next, and could only pray for peace.

"I hope this will all end smoothly." Lin Chen whispered to himself.

"I definitely will." Xiaomei said softly, trying to give some comfort to herself and everyone else.

However, at this moment, the figure that had been hiding in the dark and observing all this appeared again. It stood quietly behind a tree not far away, looking through the shade at these people who were about to embark on a new journey.

"This game has only just begun..." the figure muttered again, a faint, unpredictable smile playing on his lips. As the night deepened, the people inside the cave listened nervously to the approaching sounds outside. Xiaomei clutched Lin Chen's arm tightly, while the others held their breath in the darkness. The sounds grew louder, clearly more than just bandits.

"Listen, what's that sound?" Lu Yan suddenly said.

"It sounds like the sound of horse hooves." Amin also echoed, his eyes full of vigilance.

Sure enough, the noise and clatter of horse hooves could be heard from outside. Lin Chen whispered, "Everyone, get ready. The situation seems to be more complicated than expected."

Suddenly, a young hunter emerged from the darkness. It was Li Lei. "Don't panic," Li Lei said calmly. "I have a way to get you out safely."

"Why are you here?" Lin Chen asked in surprise.

"This forest is my territory, and I have to take responsibility for it." Li Lei replied with a smile, then turned to the crowd, "Follow me, I know a hidden path that can bypass the enemy and get us out of the valley safely."

Although everyone was a little surprised, they could only trust Li Lei at this moment. They followed Li Lei carefully, passed through a narrow and winding underground passage, and finally reached the exit on the other side.

As soon as they emerged from the cave, they were stunned by the sight before them. Outside was a vast open plain, and in the distance, an ancient castle could be vaguely seen, brightly lit and looking exceptionally magnificent.

"This is..." Lin Chen asked in surprise.

"That's Longcheng, one of the largest cities in our area," Li Lei explained.

"Wow, this is so spectacular!" Xiaomei couldn't help but exclaim, "We've never seen such a big city before."

"That's right," a passing villager stopped and looked at the group curiously, "Dragon City is a good place, but it's not peaceful here right now."

"Why?" Amin asked.

"I heard that a force recently wanted to occupy this city, and the two sides have fought many battles." The villager shook his head and sighed, "It's really unpredictable."

"We must go into the city to find help as soon as possible." Lin Chen said firmly.

The group quickened their pace, heading towards Dragon City. Along the way, they encountered many refugees, all telling the same story. The situation in Dragon City was indeed very tense.

Finally, in the predawn light, they arrived at Dragon City. The city gates were closed, with only a few guards patrolling. Lin Chen walked up and explained his purpose to the guards.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" A guard looked at them suspiciously.

"We are outsiders and hope to find help." Lin Chen said sincerely.

"Go into the city, but be careful." The guard nodded in agreement and opened a small door in the city gate.

After entering the city, they temporarily settled in a hotel. Lin Chen and Chen Feng discussed their next plan, while Xiaomei sat aside, watching the bustling scene outside, feeling quite emotional.

"Everyone here seems very busy," Xiaomei said softly. "I wonder what our fate will be."

"Everything will be fine." Amin comforted her, "We have been through so many difficulties, there will always be a turning point."

At this moment, a guest at the hotel came over and looked at them curiously. "Are you new here? The situation here is not good. Be careful."

"Thank you for your reminder." Lin Chen said gratefully.

"You don't look like ordinary travelers. What happened?" asked the guest.

Lin Chen briefly described their situation, and the guest nodded. "You need to find an important figure in the city, such as the mayor or military leader. They may be able to provide assistance."

Just then, there was a commotion at the door. A soldier hurried into the inn and shouted, "Everyone, please pay attention! The enemy outside the city is gathering. A big battle is about to break out!"

The people in the hotel suddenly fell into panic and talked about it. Lin Chen and Chen Feng looked at each other, knowing that this would be a huge challenge.

"What should we do?" Xiaomei asked nervously.

"Let's find a safe place to hide first, and then think of a solution." Lin Chen said decisively, "Everyone follow me."

Everyone followed Lin Chen through the crowded crowd and headed towards the city center. They knew that this battle was not only about their lives, but also about the future of the city.

"I hope we can find a solution to the problem." Lin Chen said to himself.

"We will find it," Li Lei said firmly. "As long as we unite as one, there is no difficulty that cannot be overcome."

At this moment, a deafening horn sounded in the distance, and the enemy army had begun to attack. Lin Chen stopped and looked at the chaotic scene in front of him, his eyes filled with determination.

"Get ready for battle, friends." Lin Chen said in a low voice.

"We will win." Xiaomei said firmly.

"No matter what happens, we must face it together." Amin clenched his fists.

Once again, they embarked on an unknown road, heading towards a future filled with challenges and opportunities. As Lin Chen and his group made their way through the crowded crowd, they found a relatively secluded alleyway that seemed like a temporary refuge. Surrounded by narrow stone walls covered in moss, the air was filled with a faint, damp scent.