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

Seeing that Bai Lin seemed to be the one in charge of this matter and was quite intelligent, Nuo Wen immediately explained to Bai Lin. His voice was as lazy as the middle-aged man's, but with a touch of gentleness. Because he was lazy? Bai Lin was somewhat interested in this reason; after all, she was a lazy person herself.

"Oh? So, this means that Andel can ask you to come out of retirement?" Bai Lin looked at the polite handsome guy with interest and asked tentatively.

Nowen shook his head. "The only thing that motivates me to work is a good salary. Every time Andel comes to me, it means that the job must be very lucrative. I wonder if this person..."

Bai Lin instantly understood what Nuo Wen meant and said with a smile, "Just call me Bai Lin. As for the reward, I can guarantee that as long as you complete the task, it will definitely be extremely generous."

Chapter 208 Pastor Joins the Team

"Hahaha, then I'm relieved. I will definitely use my strength to get the reward I deserve."

It seems that this priest named Norman is quite confident in his own abilities. Although Bai Lin prefers to form a long-term team, although not too long, after all, the magician will eventually be replaced by Katie. However, it would be a bit troublesome to only carry out one mission.

But since the strength is guaranteed, other things don't matter. Bai Lin currently thinks so, and the matter at hand is still very important.

After the negotiation, the gentle-looking pastor said he was going to pack his luggage. The middle-aged man, who appeared to be the store manager, didn't comment, but did say "Bon voyage," as if he was already used to this kind of thing.

In short, Andel had agreed to notify him a day in advance once they had gathered all the people. However, judging by the situation, if they were only missing one person, leaving tomorrow wouldn't be a problem... So the three girls quickly headed to their next destination.

So far, progress was good. Nowen didn't seem to notice Fei'er's reticence, even though she didn't even touch her drink or point out her anomaly. Furthermore, his appearance and even his aura seemed incredibly gentle and understanding. Bai Lin felt that the team was going well so far, and Fei'er should be able to gradually integrate.

Hopefully, the last member is also a nice person!

Although Bai Lin thought so, unfortunately, the gap between ideal and reality is always huge. The final location was an outdoor fitness field, where a large number of strong men were exercising their bodies or practicing martial arts. They sweated and burned every ounce of their youth, dedicating their passion to the earth and sports.

There was no doubt that this was a group of people working hard to become stronger. Although the ground was just an ordinary sand field, the equipment was quite complete, and of course, there was also a shooting range.

A man with a buzz cut, slightly yellow skin, black hair, and dark pupils was pulling a longbow with his muscular arms. He closed one eye, his gaze fixed. The sunlight reflecting off the sweat made the curves of his muscles stand out, brimming with the beauty of strength. He suddenly held his breath, concentrating, pouring his whole being into the bow in his hands.

An arrow shot out, and instantly hit the target from a hundred steps away. The flying arrow turned into a stream of light and disappeared in the blink of an eye. Bai Lin couldn't help but fix his eyes on the target in the distance, but felt a burst of surprise.

"Huh? Why didn't you hit it?"

Andel, who was beside Bai Lin, nodded in surprise, "No, look at the tree trunk farther away, the arrow is there!"

Bai Lin immediately looked further away, estimating a distance of at least six or seven hundred meters. It was a lush banyan tree, its branches completely covering most of its trunk. But if Bai Lin had looked more closely, he would have spotted an arrow stuck in the trunk beneath the branches.

Did he capture the moment the wind blew apart the branches? Bai Lin speculated, but then quickly dismissed it. No, this kind of banyan tree wouldn't be blown apart so easily. The man's archery skills were truly mysterious, and his strength rose to a new level in Bai Lin's mind.

Just when Bai Lin was shocked by his quiver, he had already walked over here. He greeted Andel and said,

"It seems that you are very confident this time, Andel."

The man's tone was calm and mature, revealing a very old-fashioned and upright feeling. He must be a very serious person. Andel crossed his arms, smiled meaningfully, and replied,

"Of course, this team is definitely your favorite."

The man laughed a little, not even trying to believe it. "Oh, really? Those two short guys in thick clothes are your companions? Their appearance doesn't make a good impression."

Bai Lin smiled bitterly. She also realized that the little man was talking about herself and Fei'er, but she had nothing to refute. She could only stretch out a hand and said,

"Nice to meet you. I'm Bai Lin, and I'm organizing a team of adventurers. We're in great need of an excellent archer like you."

The man, dripping with sweat, put down the water bottle he had just taken a sip of, but did not hold Bai Lin's hand. He said

"You're a woman, after all. Don't rush to get close to me. Let me ask you first, what's the reason for your fight?"

Bai Lin was stunned for a moment, "If that's the reason for taking risks, it's mainly to make a living, and there are some personal reasons..."

"You're totally unqualified!" the man roared, seemingly abruptly and angrily. "Masked man over there, what about you?"

"..." Fei'er had no intention of answering, and even shrank behind Bai Lin. Bai Lin also subconsciously protected her, and then said in a somewhat tough tone,

"This magician isn't very good at communication, so don't vent your loud voice on her. You said the reason for fighting is unqualified, but do you have a more noble reason?"

The man turned his head away in a somewhat arrogant manner and said to Andel, "One of them just treats adventuring as a job, and the other is aloof and silent. What makes you think I would agree to team up with them? Please, adventuring is not a joke. It's better for a little girl to go home and do some chores."

Just as Bai Lin was about to say something else, Andel interrupted, "I brought people here for a reason. I understand what you mean. You don't know their strength, so let them show you."

"Show your strength?" Bai Lin asked with some confusion.

"Forget it, if word gets out they'll say I'm bullying girls... You guys better go back!"

The man didn't seem to agree with this, but Bai Lin was still a little impatient when he saw him say this, "How can you, a grown man, be so hesitant and worried like a woman? Tell me, what are you competing for?"

Hearing Bai Lin say this, the man narrowed his eyes slightly, "Don't go too far. Since you said so, let's have a competition!"

The content of the competition... was somewhat beyond Bai Lin's expectations.

They walked over to a tree stump, and both men bent slightly, resting their elbows on the stump. Apparently, the event was arm wrestling!

The most primitive and versatile form of arm strength competition. It appears to be a test of endurance and strength, but in reality, it is a test of explosive power. Bai Lin is naturally well aware of this.

"If you don't take off your armor, it will affect your performance, right?" The man said to Bai Lin with some concern and surprise.

Chapter 209 Grayer

Bai Lin shrugged nonchalantly and said in a casual tone, "It's okay. You don't need to worry too much about me. Just do your best."

"Hmph, don't say I didn't warn you. Come on!"

The man's hand suddenly exerted force, and his upper arm muscles suddenly seemed to become more muscular. Bai Lin lowered her body slightly, clasped the other person's palm, and made her preparations.

"Three, two, one, start!" they shouted in unison.

The arm wrestling battle was about to begin. There's a saying in ancient martial arts: "Power originates from the earth." From the very beginning, Bai Lin could clearly feel the endless flow of power coming from her opponent's hands. Like the trembling earth, she could even feel the trembling of muscles.

The roar of power, the sweat of passion, and this primitive wrestling style—everything seemed to stir the blood. The opponent's arm strength was as vigorous as the rising sun, and his crouching figure seemed much taller. His strength pressed down on Bai Lin like a massive wall. For a human being, his strength had reached its peak.

But that is only for humans.

If the man was a massive wall, then Bai Lin's strength was a mountain he couldn't possibly overcome. However, the mountain remained silent, unmoved. The man's expression gradually grew serious. He found it unbelievable that a strong man like him couldn't even shake the female knight before him.

Although he held back, he still had no confidence he could defeat Bai Lin even if he pushed harder. Bai Lin sighed softly, then increased his strength, instantly pinning the man's hands to the tree stump. The man's face immediately wrinkled and twisted, visibly in agony. Despite his defeat, he gritted his teeth, his breathing quickened, and he refrained from shouting or conceding.

"One, two, three, the winner is decided," Bai Lin said slowly and playfully, then released his hand. The man quickly withdrew his own hand, his other hand tightly gripping the wrestling hand, unable to release it easily. He was panting heavily, his whole body revealing two words: "exhaustion."

"Well, are you willing to join the team? Your strength is enough, but what attracts me more is your archery skills. We are in great need of talents."

Bai Lin crossed her arms, as if letting go of her previous prejudice, and removed the assembly of her helmet, which again caused the men around her to exclaim. But this time, she did not extend her hand again. Pity for the defeated warrior was an insult.

The man endured the pain, loosened his arm, and shook his head with a carefree look. His clenched teeth loosened, and he spoke in an unstable tone, speaking in a very rigid manner.

"I understand, but I still need to confirm that person over there... How can anyone trust a weakling who can't even speak?"

After saying this, Fei'er raised her head, revealing her deep blue pupils. Even in the sunlight, her gaze sent a chill down one's spine. A sense of crisis washed over the man, and alarm bells rang in his mind.

But even though he sensed danger, the man still didn't catch the moment Fei'er approached him. Although Bai Lin saw the strange, seemingly slow, yet extremely fast pace, the man was completely oblivious. By the time the man realized what was happening, it was the last sentence he had heard while still conscious.

"Be careful!" That was what Bai Lin shouted.

As Fei'er's punch landed, Bai Lin could clearly see a ripple of magical energy. From her fist, the wave spread out, sending dust flying and a gust of wind roaring. Bai Lin instinctively covered her face, then saw the man's body crash through the distant barbed wire before collapsing to the ground, his body limp. His eyes were glassy yet still open, but he was unresponsive.

"..." Bai Lin glanced at Fei'er, not bothering to say anything to her, and ran straight towards the man. Fortunately, the man's body was still strong. Apart from a few wounds on his back caused by the barbed wire, he was not seriously injured. Bai Lin had no choice but to lay the man flat on the ground. The man slowly closed his eyes and completely passed out.

As Andel came over to check, Bai Lin said to her directly, "Hurry up and call that Nowen over. If you move his body, it might cause secondary damage."

"Understood!" Andel was obviously a little panicked and ran away. Bai Lin looked at Fei'er who stood silently beside her with a headache. She had no choice but to teach her a lesson.

"You, you're being too harsh."

Fei'er closed her eyes slightly, "I have already held back."

"..." Bai Lin didn't know what to say. For Fei'er, it was normal for her to be very angry because of the man's strange remarks. She could only say that she was not very careful, but at least she saved the man's life. She said to Fei'er helplessly,

"Don't be so cruel next time. We still need him. Besides, using magic on ordinary people can cause great harm. You must know this, right?"

Fei'er nodded slightly, then uttered a few words, "He's annoying."

Bai Lin sighed, "I know, but we don't have much choice. His strength is enough. If you don't want to communicate with him, then don't communicate."

This time, Fei'er remained silent. Although she had her own little emotions, she was still more receptive to Bai Lin's words, and Bai Lin took it as tacit approval. A short while later, Andel hurried over, dragging Nowen with him.

The treatment didn't take long; it was just a simple blow, after all. Fortunately, Fei'er only used her magic to amplify herself, not to freeze anyone else's blood vessels. Norman quickly released his shimmering hand, exhaled, and said,

"Phew, it's done."

The man quickly opened his eyes weakly, looking at the crowd of people around him, and he understood the situation completely. He sighed and tried to support himself. Nowen quickly lent a hand and supported him.

"You saved me, didn't you? Thank you so much... Looks like I've lost. Let's get to know each other again. My name is Grayer, and you...?"

The man's voice was not loud, but it was still very steady. Bai Lin also introduced him, "My name is Bai Lin. The one who just hit you was Fei'er, and the one who saved you was Pastor Nuo Wen. Welcome to our team."

Chapter 210 Archers Join the Team

"I see... Just now, I was a little too judgmental of people by appearance." Grayer seemed to have a headache. He touched his head and said so.

Bai Lin smiled at this statement and said, "It's okay. We were just too harsh on them. By the way, are you willing to join our team now?"

Grayer didn't seem surprised by Bai Lin's invitation. He closed his eyes, stretched his muscles, and then slowly uttered a few words.

"Before that, I have a question for you, Reverend!"

His spirit suddenly rose again, and his blood-boiling look was no less intense than before he was injured. He pointed his finger at Nowen and asked,

“Hey, me…?” Norman pointed at himself, somewhat confused.

"That's right, what's your reason for fighting!"

Thus, the incident ended in a farce. Grell's body recovered very quickly. It was actually said that after Nowen's treatment, he was completely unharmed. The new team agreed to set off immediately the next day.

That evening, Andel suggested a brief chat at the tavern run by Norman, to foster a closer bond. Norman, who usually attended as a musician, sat down with them for a rare guest seat, enjoying the drinks and the fun. After the banquet, Bai Lin left a letter for Katie, expressing his deep regret for not being able to see her over the weekend.

According to Kong, the round trip would take her five or six days. Although it was calculated based on the walking speed of an ordinary adventurer, Bai Lin couldn't carry five people on her own. She also had no confidence that she could complete the mission directly after arriving at the mission point, so she informed them in advance.

Bai Lin could imagine Katie's expression changing from slightly angry to understanding after reading the letter, which was why she felt comfortable accepting the task. As a girl grows up, she'll always need to let go of her family.

The next morning, at the south gate, everyone filled out their identity information and headed out. Andel changed into her familiar, slightly draped attire. Bai Lin didn't understand its combat significance; the little things around her waist were probably more important. Or perhaps, to reduce weight?

Nowen was wearing a light armor made of gray and black leather, and a black robe with gold edges on the outside, which symbolized her identity as a priest. She was completely different from the female priest Bai Lin had met once before, so she asked in surprise,

"Hey, do you pastors wear black robes?"

Norwen shrugged nonchalantly. "Normally, they don't wear them, but if it's an adventure, there are very few priests who would choose white robes, right?"

Indeed, a white robe would look particularly dirty if it got stained with mud, while a black robe, no matter how dirty it was, would always be much easier to wash. His robe didn't drag on the ground, probably designed to avoid affecting combat. He also didn't have the priest's long boots or fancy staff. Whether it was the iron footplate or the medium-length spear staff he held, it looked much more reassuring.

Grayer, on the other hand, had some light armor mixed with iron and chain mail, such as shoulder armor. He seemed to have a lot more supplies on his back than Novin, perhaps due to his daily diligent exercise.

Fei'er and Bai Lin were just like usual, not even carrying a bag. Grell asked,

"Didn't we say everyone should bring their own things? What's wrong with you two? Don't you have any supplies at home? Fortunately, I brought more..."

Bai Lin smiled and waved his hand, then said, "I've already brought my share along with Fei'er and Andel's, so don't worry. Although I have a way to save space, it will increase my load, so you two grown men should just bear with it."

One person, carrying three loads of supplies? Grell was slightly shocked by Bai Lin's words, but when he thought back to the arm wrestling match that day, he could basically understand. He didn't say anything more, just nodded.

"Okay, let's go!"

-

Bai Lin had never been on this section of the mountain they were climbing together. After all, she and Katie had floated down directly when they came here before. There weren't many monsters on this section of the mountain, perhaps because of the changes caused by the previous mission, the monsters hadn't migrated back yet. Compared to the Ice Forest, the road here was flat.

Grell proved invaluable in clearing the way. While the scent of blood would attract monsters, Grell seemed to possess unique detection skills, foreseeing many of them beforehand. However, his response to the monsters he anticipated was completely different from Katie's.

Magical beasts are naturally sensitive to magic, but if it comes to bows and arrows, they can generally only avoid them by using sound and other means. Hunters who have been wandering in the forest for many years, that is, human archer adventurers, first need to learn the skills, which are,

Nature's Arrow

He minimized his presence, blending into the land, becoming a hunter lurking in the shadows. He determined the wind direction and the type of monster, minimizing the use of arrows to dispatch the most formidable packs of monsters. He, in turn, exploited the monsters' sensitivity to the scent of blood, luring them together.

After that, with Fei'er's low chant, she completely buried them with spells like Mud Trap, leaving almost no trace. Although she didn't communicate with her teammates, they had a certain degree of tacit understanding in this regard.

Andel has been carrying out her work all the time, wandering among the woods and using her naked eyes to help everyone avoid some of the more dangerous monsters. The opening stage of the journey was the main show for the three of them, and everyone showed off their own skills.

The strength of an adventurer team doesn't depend on how much each individual can unleash in battle, but rather on experience and decisiveness. Minimizing losses and allowing everyone to focus on their own tasks is the most likely way to avoid problems.

Bai Lin deeply felt the power of teamwork. If she were alone, she would have been chased by a pack of beasts.

When the team reached a certain height, they finally reached the main path. The danger zone had appeared. According to everyone, there were many dangerous monsters here. As luck would have it, not long after they left, Andel returned with bad news.

Chapter 211 Purple Poisonous Giant Lizard

"Eight hundred meters ahead, there's a scattered group of purple venomous monitor lizards, about 15 in number. What should we do, Captain?"

Andel asked Bai Lin seriously, and Bai Lin looked back at him like he was an idiot. "You're asking me? How the hell do I know what a purple venomous giant lizard is... Oh, I think I suddenly remembered."

Although he'd never seen one in the flesh, Bai Lin had previously discovered this creature in the monster notebook he'd obtained. The Purple Venomous Monitor Lizard, as its name suggests, is a venomous creature. They're ferocious by nature, and will typically charge and bite anyone they see unless they're well fed. However, Purple Venomous Monitor Lizards have a voracious appetite, so it's impossible to get through a group of them without a fight.

Adult monitor lizards are approximately five to eight meters long, with some exceeding ten meters. They are large and usually move slowly, but can burst into astonishing speed when hunting, especially in forests like these, where their reptilian nature can be fully utilized.

Such conditions are also the reason why they dare to use conspicuous purple skin as their appearance in this forest. Bai Lin thought for a moment, then asked the whole team,

"Can you outrun those lizards?"

Grayer, Nowen, and Andel shook their heads. They couldn't outrun him, and there was no way they could sneak through. Did they have to take a detour? No, Bai Lin didn't think so.

"It should be okay to do them all, right?"