It's so painful! So hard! So difficult!

Leighton continued his lengthy narrative.

The hero was severely wounded, and was already near death when he arrived at the village. Despite the advanced skills of contemporary witch doctors, he was unable to save his life. Rumors said that his back bore a black wound dripping with pus and blood, and his exposed skin was covered in severe burns.

The wound on his back, like a curse, took his life. However, this was not the most terrifying thing -

Due to time considerations, the witch doctor decided to freeze the hero's body, then simply covered it with a shroud and prepared to wait until the next day for the funeral...

It's not because of disrespect for the brave man, but time does not allow for a custom-made coffin, so we just did it in a hurry.

Out of consideration for the guests from afar, the witch doctor slept in what is now the warehouse that night, leaving her original room for the guests. It was precisely because of this consideration that the tragedy occurred.

That night, a horde of monsters, not found in the Ice Forest, descended upon the village, causing great panic. The guards and witch doctors took the initiative to attack, firmly holding the defense line outside the village. Meanwhile, the noblewoman slept peacefully in her room, with no one to wake her.

Because all the villagers nearby believed that the offensive could not go any further. Although this was indeed true...

"Stop." Bai Lin said, "Are the monsters on the ice field recorded in the manual?"

"Of course, little girl, could you please stop interrupting other people's stories? I was just about to get to the climax." Leighton shook his head as if a little annoyed.

Bai Lin smiled awkwardly and motioned for Leighton to continue.

While the offensive didn't spread into the village, no one anticipated the hero's transformation. Unconscious, he immediately turned his claws on the noblewoman. But perhaps due to a last-ditch effort or some other reason, the woman was only severely injured and spared.

The corpse-turned hero's remaining consciousness ended here, and he slaughtered the villagers wantonly. It must be admitted that even with his corrupted body, his strength remained formidable, and his powerful fire magic made it difficult for many villagers to resist.

This was arguably the most devastating destruction the village had ever seen, with two entire streets littered with corpses. Ultimately, the witch doctor, at the cost of a significant amount of his life force, performed a purification ritual and sent the hero to rest in peace.

More than a year later, a group of well-armed soldiers arrived at the village and took the noblewoman back. They left behind a large amount of precious supplies as a token of gratitude and then left the village.

"So, does this story have anything to do with the glaciers and snow-capped mountains?" Bai Lin asked in confusion.

Chapter 60 Views

Leighton narrowed his eyes and took a sip of the cheap beer in his cup in a pretentious tone. "Do you know why it took so long for someone to come pick up this nobleman?"

"Because our village is in a secluded location?"

He shook his finger proudly, "Wrong, wrong, wrong. If it was so secretive, how did the hero bring the nobles here? The reason is very simple, guess again."

Bai Lin touched his head and thought for a moment, "Will we be stopped by the monsters on the ice field?"

"That's half right. The monsters changed their ways and even formed a fairly large army, which is why the humans were stopped." Having said that, Leighton gave Bai Lin a meaningful look and said, "Guess why."

The reason the monsters gathered together was purely for profit. But if any special treasures or resources appeared in the past century, there was no reason for Chrissy not to tell me...

"It's because their leader is very strong." Bai Lin could only come to this conclusion.

The same race was fine, but the monsters on the Ice Plains were just as diverse as those on the Ice Forest. To keep them all in line, one needed to be incredibly powerful.

Sure enough, Leyton nodded, "According to the story, the strongest leader is likely the cause of the huge wound on the hero's back."

"But according to rumors, the human soldiers organized there have never seen a monster that is too powerful." He knocked on the small table in front of him, as if a teacher tapping on a blackboard, saying "This is the key point."

"The hero and the dragon both suffered losses. What a sad and tragic ending." Bai Lin commented calmly, and Leighton nodded.

"You are absolutely right. That monster is very likely a dragon."

"what?"

Bai Lin was confused and shocked. She just casually referred to the powerful enemy as the evil dragon and didn't expect it to be true.

…Is the dragon the one who just left the Novice Village? According to Layton, the monsters' attacks continued even after the hero returned, so the dragon was probably just dormant.

No, the existence of dragons is just speculation, and it has not been confirmed that it is definitely a dragon.

Seeing Bai Lin's disbelief, Leighton added his own explanation. He leaned over to Bai Lin's ear and said, "You must not tell anyone about this. I'm only telling you this in advance because I'm afraid you might lose your life."

Hearing Leidenhal's serious tone, Bai Lin also pricked up his ears.

"That brave man is the youngest deputy leader of the Dragon Knights of the Third Knight Order in the main city."

After saying this, Leighton returned to his seat. Bai Lin was stunned. She didn't quite understand why the dragon knight had to fight with the dragon.

"In short, just be careful. If there really is a dragon, run away if you can."

Seeing Leighton's worried look, Bai Lin didn't ask any more questions. She just thought this guess was just a guess and didn't think too much about it.

-

After dinner, Bai Lin set out for the Ice Forest and happened to meet Katie who was fetching water outside the house.

Seeing Bai Lin, Katie waved to her with her sleeves rolled up, "Have you eaten?"

Bai Lin smiled slightly. This greeting really made her feel very warm. Some villagers had asked her the same question on her way here. This sense of belonging made her miss her hometown a little.

Seeing Bai Lin stunned, Katie took two steps forward and splashed some water on her face. The cold sensation caused her to scream unconsciously. Seeing Katie smirking before her, she immediately wanted to retaliate. But Katie immediately put her hands behind her back and feigned innocence.

Katie had a firm grasp on this aspect of Bai Lin. Not surprisingly, Bai Lin gave up his revenge and said, "I'm going to the Ice Forest."

"Looking for Claire?"

Katie's expression returned to seriousness, and Bai Lin nodded. She took a deep breath and asked Bai Lin,

"What is your impression of this so-called Elf Queen?"

Bai Lin hesitated for a moment, then held Katie's hands. Katie also cooperated and began to use her telepathic ability.

Not easy to mess with, but still useful, Bai Lin commented.

"Really? I think you are quite interested in her." Katie rolled her eyes at Bai Lin.

…How could anyone be interested in a woman who killed him once just to vent her anger? We first met, and we had no personal connection. It's just that she's so powerful that she doesn't care about my life. Even if I could be resurrected, I'd still find this objection offensive.

Katie nodded, clearly agreeing. Having endless lives didn't mean they were any less precious. Every life should be cherished, not treated as a consumable commodity.

Death is not a pleasant feeling.

Perhaps Bai Lin had overcome her fear of death with her willpower and emotions, returning to battle time and time again. But now, when she thinks back on it, she still feels a little scared.

From the initial beheading to the increasingly bizarre methods of death, the icicle piercing her eye was her most unforgettable experience. This death was also caused by Kress.

In Bai Lin's eyes, Chris's so-called love was merely a form of pathological possession. After she defeated the Ice Witch, she resorted to a more "gentle" killing method. Bai Lin considered this a "test of strength." If she failed to defeat the witch, she would be just an ordinary ant. If she succeeded, she would be the most prominent among the ants, and she would have piqued her interest.

Although this thought was awkward, Chris's behavior seemed easygoing and personable, but in reality, it was far from human ethics. That was why Bai Lin deliberately used this mind-reading ability. If Chris heard it, who knows what would happen.

That's what she thought, but since she could make the monsters less hostile towards them, she could naturally make them attack her again. By superficially building a good relationship with her, she could get more information out of her.

Even the most hateful person has their pitiful side. Chris has witnessed the death of her friends and family, and the destruction of her home. Perhaps this is why she is relatively numb to the idea of ​​killing.

After all, if you think of her as just a big devil who's easier to get along with, you'll feel much more relaxed. Bai Lin released Katie's hands and prepared to head into the forest.

"Do you want me to come with you?" Katie asked.

Bai Lin waved his hand and strode out. It would be better to negotiate alone.

Chapter 61 New Equipment

Entering the Ice Forest again felt completely different. Perhaps it was because there were fewer monsters and the temperature had warmed up, but even the tension had subsided. Bai Lin even had the energy to look at the ice branches that had once teased him and identify their plant species.

Although it was a dead forest, it did contain useful medicinal resources. The ingredients for the hot drink I'd made earlier were harvested from the Ice Forest. This was a ray of hope within the village's harsh environment.

The journey to the center of the forest wasn't particularly long for Bai Lin. His already strong legs were now less burdened by the wear and tear of his armor.

The cold wind blew across her exposed skin beneath her leather armor, feeling like a gentle evening breeze to her. Soon, feeling relaxed, she arrived at the central lake.

Just like usual, there were monsters resting and playing comfortably by the lake, a harmonious atmosphere. They ignored the humans passing by them, as if Bai Lin had never existed.

The owner of the lake wasn't there at the moment. The Ice Witch once again hovered above the lake. With a wave of her hand, she dispersed the monsters, and then the Elf Queen slowly emerged from the lake.

She was as charming and full of life as ever. But when Bai Lin thought of her morbid emotions, he couldn't put on a good face.

"You missed me so soon—Hey, aren't you in a good mood today?"

Perhaps sensing Bai Lin's unfriendly expression, Chrissy swallowed her teasing words and instead put on a look of worry. Honestly, Chrissy's emotions were truly rich, more human than a human. It was a shame that emotions without boundaries were like a society without legal constraints. She appeared fine on the surface, but underneath, she was a raging mess.

Bai Lin quickly recovered his composure and said, "It's nothing. I'm just a little cold without my armor to block the wind."

Kress then smiled and said, "Is that so? Then bring out your broken armor and I'll fix it for you."

"That's great." Bai Lin naturally wouldn't refuse. With a click of a button, she put on her clothes, and the shabby, slightly charred and torn clothes were draped over her body again. Seeing this tragic scene, Chris couldn't help but laugh. However, she still maintained her professional ethics and began to chant and arrange the formation.

A flood of green light and golden wisps of particles surrounded Bai Lin like a drizzle, gradually forming a warm current of magical power. Although the power was clearly acting on the armor, Bai Lin felt waves of energy spreading out from his surroundings.

How to describe it? It was like being immersed in one's mother's amniotic fluid, comfortable, warm, and reassuring. Even the aftermath could create this effect, and Bai Lin couldn't help but look forward to what this armor would become.

As Claire touched Bai Lin's chest, light instantly gathered and condensed onto the armor. Like a gentle spring breeze, the armor began to take root and sprout like a plant, enveloping Bai Lin's body with a rich breath of life. Numerous rings surrounded the armor, gathering together in the blink of an eye.

New armor is born!

The smooth surface seemed newly forged, tempered and polished, with subtle, unadorned lines running down the sides of the shoulder armor and breastplate. If one listened closely, one might hear the throbbing rhythm of life.

Although this iron barrel was still an iron barrel, it was much more reassuring than the original armor. Bai Lin patted his new partner with satisfaction, but the only flaw was that the missing helmet had not been replaced.

Kress then broke off an extended icy branch, and in her hand, it slowly formed a dark brown wooden crown. Her slender fingers lightly touched the center of the crown, and a dark green spherical light sank into it.

The Elf Queen personally put the crown on her hero, and after the crown was put on, the entire armor was dyed the same dark wood color. This black look has the momentum of a dark knight, which is also a good style for Bai Lin.

"Just touch the right side of the crown with your hand and the helmet will appear. Press almost the same position again and it will disappear. Do you understand?" Chris said playfully.

Bai Lin tried to touch it, and a helmet appeared with the extension of magic lines. She nodded, indicating that she understood.

"Thank you, Chris," she said solemnly.

Even if you have a bad impression of someone, you still have to thank them.

Chris smiled innocently and happily, like a young girl. "It's okay, it's just a small favor. If you really want to thank me, please come and see me more often."

Bai Lin didn't answer, but started talking about his own affairs, "Actually, I came here today to ask something."

"Oh? What's that?" Chris's face still had a smile on it, as if seeing Bai Lin made her very happy.

To show her friendliness, Bai Lin took off her helmet and smiled. "I want to tell you about a rumor."

-

After Bai Lin quickly recounted the story that Leighton told her, Chris nodded.

"As the forest's ruler, I'm naturally well aware of this matter. After all, if the people from the snowfield want to come to my place, they have to get my permission."

"Then didn't you stop the monsters?" Bai Lin realized that she had asked a very stupid question after she said it. She was not a human being, so why should she help the village?

Chris wiggled her finger. "I have no reason to be hostile to the Snowfields. If they launch another attack, even for your sake, I still won't confront the monsters of the Snowfields head-on."

"However, for you and that little girl, although it will be a tough battle, it is more than enough to protect yourselves."

Bai Lin gave a wry smile. This was true. But there were also kindhearted people among the villagers, and simply seeking self-preservation was not enough.

"Oh, by the way, there are some small details in the story that you don't know..." Having said this, Chris leaned close to Bai Lin's ear and whispered.

Bai Lin's expression suddenly became extremely shocked. He even took two steps back and waved his hand towards Claire. "Wait, wait, this is too..."

"But this is the truth," Chris said. "I can't tell you the specific reason, and I hope you don't tell anyone what I told you."

"This is a secret between you and me."

Chapter 62 Chatting

The ambiguous tone of Claire's voice actually eased Bai Lin's shock. She nodded and said, "You don't have to tell me. I won't tell anyone."

"But do you have any idea about the huge wound on the hero's back?"

This is what Bai Lin wants to know most. It would be great if he could know the opponent's biological species in advance, or even get more information from it.

But Chris gave a negative answer.

After all, in this era where the demons dominated most of the world, she was able to manage this forest because she had to have good relations with them. Giving Bai Lin some help out of friendship was fine, but it was limited to this little bit of help.

Although she was a little disappointed, this was also within Bai Lin's expectations. She hesitated for a moment, there was one more thing that she was hesitant to say.

Kress noticed Bai Lin's confusion and took the initiative to ask, "What's wrong? Just say it. The Elf Queen's tolerance is beyond your imagination."

Really? With such a broad mind, she would still give me a thunderbolt just because I didn't agree to be her girlfriend. Bai Lin thought so in her heart, but she didn't dare to show it. But what she wanted to talk about was indeed this matter.

The blonde elf was natural and easygoing, with a compassionate heart that cared for the forest dwellers. Bai Lin could clearly sense a sense of intimacy from her, a kindness that belonged to human perception. Yet, she also treated human life as worthless. Although she spared Katie's life, when Katie told Bai Lin about her fight with Chris, Bai Lin couldn't help but clench his fists.

After all, he had clearly promised to protect her, yet she had been treated like this. While he was certainly at fault, the main culprit was the man in front of him who had treated the battle like a joke.

"I want to tell you something. Can you be a little kinder to humans, just like you treat the monsters in the forest?"

Simply thinking about the answer in your head will not lead to the correct answer. The body moves before the mind, which is also one of Bai Lin's principles of action.

A look of surprise flashed across Cress's face, and then she smiled and said, "Suppose you met an elf, would you treat them with the same care you give humans?"

Those who are not of my kind must have different hearts. This is an old saying passed down among humans, and other races also have similar sayings. Just as humans have various nations, monsters that look the same may have different races. If a creature can be so cruel even to its own people, how will it treat others?

But Bai Lin's answer was very firm, "I will."

The elf's smile remained undimmed. "You will, I believe. But they might not. What if they turn on you? Will you still be so determined to get along with them?"