Chapter 9 Crimson Maple Forest
“I… I want to say something,” the youth opened his mouth.
“No, you don’t,” Lolan Hill interrupted him directly.
“What you want to say, I roughly know. It’s nothing but a moment of passion, a surge of emotions, wanting to change the world.”
“But this isn’t something you can just think about. The difficulties you face in reality will exceed your imagination.”
“And this isn’t just a day or two, but thousands upon thousands of nights of fighting, thinking. Not just one or two people, but millions.”
“Could it be you want to talk big?”
Pullman’s enthusiasm was immediately doused with cold water, quickly calming down.
“What should I do then?”
“This is something only you can answer. Since you can’t go back home, go elsewhere. Maybe you’ll find a new life.”
“Mm…”
The progress displayed by the system stopped at 85%.
Well, that’s how it is, Lolan Hill sighed. She could guess that if she encouraged the youth to take the path of revenge and told him how to defeat those nobles, the progress would reach 100%.
But she knew very well that if he truly embarked on this path, there was a 99.9999% chance he would die untimely.
Though the task reward was good, she didn’t want to gain it at the cost of someone else’s life.
The youth lay beside the fire, pondering, slowly falling asleep.
Lolan Hill didn’t sleep; she leaped onto a large tree, gazing at the Milky Way above, recalling her past.
In her previous life, because her parents worked in the county early on, she naturally grew up in the city. But her grandparents were in the countryside, as were many relatives. Thus, during vacations, she would return to her hometown, where the mountain forests, soft fields, and emerald rivers filled her childhood memories.
She remembered being quite smart, until middle school when she became obsessed with games and novels, causing her grades to drop. Luckily, high school was strict, and her grades eventually improved. Her college entrance exam scores were among the best among her peers.
However, in college, she became decadent, barely passing her studies. Only after entering society did she wake up to the harsh reality.
When she looked back, she realized the most colorful period of her life had passed, leaving only mundane tasks like making a living.
Her childhood dreams, once vibrant, had faded with time. She no longer dared to make grand promises, only wishing to live a peaceful life.
Perhaps this is the answer to a simple life.
—
The next morning, Pullman washed his face at the stream and returned, circling around and noticing Lolan Hill on the tree.
Lolan Hill lightly leaped down from the tree, landing on the grass, pointing out a direction to the youth, telling him that over the southern hillside, there were several fruit trees he could pick.
Then, relying on her ability to identify plants, she found some medicinal herbs and gave them to the youth, explaining how to use them.
As the youth prepared to leave:
Pullman stood under the shade of a tree, his dark face showing some unease.
He asked Lolan Hill,
“Can you tell me how to defeat those nobles? I still want revenge.”
“Do anything I ask, please.”
“Yesterday I made it clear. This isn’t something one person can accomplish, let alone one generation.”
“It will only lead to your death. Live well instead. You wouldn’t want your parents to lose both their daughter and son.”
Lolan Hill still coldly refused the youth’s request.
“Alright.”
Reluctantly accepting this outcome, Pullman wandered under the tree for a long time before slowly heading north. It was said that far in the north was the Black Rock Duchy, a mercenary nation, relatively welcoming to outsiders. Lolan Hill also gave him the [Primordial Gem], a valuable item produced from the core of demonic beasts.
The youth’s figure gradually disappeared into the forest.
—
Afterwards, Lolan Hill continued to study the cultivation of Extraordinary Sequences.
Since achieving the Nature Sequence 1, the movements within ten miles were clearly visible in her mind.
It was undeniable that this contradicted Trinasha’s records. According to historical records of long-term combat with elves, the Nature Sequence 3 elf scout’s “Listening to Nature” ability covered only about 1 kilometer.
During prolonged wars, scouts were typically scattered around the army for vigilance. This was crucial intelligence, which Trinasha wouldn’t miswrite. The general limit for counter-reconnaissance was 2-3 kilometers; closer proximity would expose them to the enemy.
She focused on the talent “Skywind,” wondering if it had such a significant impact on skills.
It seemed so. Even without cultivating any extraordinary abilities, she could single-handedly defeat Sequence 2. This was indeed abnormal.
With the help of “Listening to Nature,” she moved through the forest as if walking in her own backyard.
Even with powerful demonic beasts around, she could sense them from afar and easily avoid them, roaming nearly two hundred miles without encountering any extraordinary demonic beasts.
Where am I?
After turning a bend along a river valley slope, a stunning red filled her entire view.
Tall, dense red maple trees lined the riverbanks, plains, and hillsides, filling every inch of land with crimson leaves.
Clear water reflected the red canopy overhead, and occasionally, with the wind, crimson leaves fell from the treetops, drifting into the river.
How beautiful.
Walking amidst this dazzling red was like stepping into a fairy tale.
Lolan Hill walked on red maple leaves, wandering through them, sensing a call from ahead.
After turning several bends and weaving through layers of red maple trees, a fresh red flower sea appeared before her.
Slender petals held delicate golden stamens, shimmering faintly. Wind blew across the red sea, creating ripples.
In the center of the flower sea stood a towering tree, its trunk over 50 meters in diameter, with gaps wide enough for a car to pass through.
This tree had rough, broad bark in reddish-brown, with amber resin glowing faintly like gems in the dusk.
(End of Chapter)
