by Zhuang Bifan
Furthermore, there were six people, but only two things. It was impossible to divide the pie equally.
So, he had decided to distribute some equipment to every single man on the team after returning to Alanna as reward for completing the mission together.
Before everyone left, they lit a fire in the Shadowglen to clean up all the bloodstains. After all, it was a place where the undead creatures roamed freely. A ground full of blood would not only trigger the interest of these creatures, but also the Vampires. If it were to lure a more powerful undead creature, there would be dire consequences.
After doing all these, it was already very late.
The team of six returned to that cave again. Since they had not only stayed away from the battle between the undead creatures, but also escaped a high-level Vampire by luck, they did not need to embark on their former plan of hiding deep within the Shadowglen. That cave was indeed a good hiding spot, and should be the safest and cleanest place in the valley.
Campfire, sleeping bags, rugs…
Due to their thrilling encounter with the high-level Vampire, and witnessing the magnificent battle between the undead, everyone except Lin Li and Orrin was so excited that they crowded around the campfire to discuss it through the night. Then, they gradually fell into a deep slumber as a result of fatigue…
The subsequent days were strangely calm and peaceful as everyone hid in the cave.
Apart from Mason, who encountered Hell Ghouls, no one saw any undead creature throughout the three days. Even Lin Li, who was a man who disliked trouble, also complained a couple of times that life was too boring in there…
That situation continued until the sixth day of the trial.
The moment the sky started to light up, Lin Li did not feel like sleeping anymore. Every day felt the same—everyone stayed in the cave, and the only thing they did was to eat and sleep. The one entertainment they had was only to chat with the others. Even a pig would have lost all its d.e.s.i.r.e to sleep.
After he got out of his sleeping bag, he went to the entrance of the cave to reinforce the mana on the mageweath. Then he stood there and started daydreaming…
When Lin Li was thinking if he should look for things to fill up his time, he heard faint footsteps walking in the direction of the cave. What came into his vision afterwards was a small group of young mages walking along the skeleton-filled path towards him…
"Eh…" Lin Li froze for a second before he immediately hid back into the cave. What he saw was a group of sour young mages, and he could recognize three of them.
Those were the three men whom Mason introduced to them on the first day of the trial. Vaguely, Lin Li remembered that one of them was called Kayla.
Frankly speaking, Lin Li did not have a good impression of that Kayla, as he was too friendly.
If they had a close bond with each other, the friendliness would be absolutely justifiable. Hence, the extremely agreeable attitude Kayla showed them was so unnatural as though he hoped to become sworn brothers with them the moment he met them.
Lin Li had always believed the idea that 'one who was unaccountably solicitous would be hiding evil intentions'.
It was Liubei's friendliness that landed Guanzhang in dire consequences. [1. Allusion to the Three Kingdoms—the tripatite division of China in 220-280 A.D.]
Of course, Lin Li had nothing to say if Mason was close to that fella. He could only observe silently and try to minimize interaction with him.
Unfortunately, things in the world were always like that. The stronger one wished to avoid a particular person, the greater the chance for him to meet that fella—just like in this case.
Although Lin Li tried to hide in the cave, the four young mages continued to come closer and closer.
And at that moment, Mason woke up, getting out of his sleeping bag groggily. He wanted to go out of the cave to relieve himself…
"Mason—"
Before Lin Li could continue talking, Mason already dashed out of the cave in a daze, and cried out in surprise, "Kayla!"
"Hahaha, Mason, I can't believe that we meet again so quickly!" Kayla exclaimed in surprise, and urged his teammates over. He was shocked that Mason had such good luck that he had not been sent back to the campsite.
And, the cave seemed to be a good hiding place.
Lin Li shot Mason a glance, and shook his head helplessly before sitting down beside the campfire. Orrin, who had been snuggling up in the blanket, frowned as well.
…
Chapter 146 - An Uninvited Guest
"Hey, Kayla, how did you come here?" Mason asked excitedly as he brought Kayla into the cave. To meet a familiar person unexpectedly in the middle of the Shadowglen, where undead creatures roamed about, was a pleasant surprise for Mason.
"It was just a coincidence…"
When Kayla spoke of that, he was at the mouth of the cave. Lin Li clearly saw how he froze in shock at the beginning before hiding his emotions with a smiling face to talk to Mason. He exclaimed excitedly, "Mason, you are so lucky to find such a good place! How were you these few days? Hope you did not have too much trouble to deal with!"
"Yeah, there was really nothing much…" Mason replied Kayla after thinking for a while. He was right. Not to mention the Skeletal Warriors, the Hell Ghouls were also killed by Felic instantaneously. As for the high-level Vampire they encountered afterwards, there was the level-18 Shapeshifter that dealt with it. In the past six days they spent together, there were really no obstacles at all.
"It's really a good place…" Kayla commented as he entered the cave enviously. He couldn't believe that there was such a gem hidden in the Shadowglen; if he had found it sooner, he would not have faced so many challenges…
"Hello, Mage Felic, Mage Orrin. I can't believe that we meet again!" Kayla greeted the two men by the campfire affably.
"You're right, what a coincidence…" Lin Li was full of smiles when he greeted them back, but his gaze was on the young mage standing behind Kayla.
This person looked like he was in his 20s, which was around the age of Kayla. He was good-looking and slender. The silk black robe on him had particularly delicate craftsmanship, and he could see some faint signs of magical waves on it.
After the young mage walked into the cave, he saw Larry and his companions, and Larry was wrapped in a thick blanket, drooling in his sleep by the campfire.
The young mage frowned, and his eyes showed hints of disdain.
"Come, everybody. Let me introduce him to everyone," said Kayla in an extremely friendly tone, although underlying it was a slight sense of ingratiation. "This is Mage Sarsen from Nightfall City. Oh, yes. Mason, you should have heard of the reputable Mage Salson, right?"
"Oh, yes…" Mason replied as he nodded. "Welcome welcome, I'm surprised that Mage Sarsen would participate in the trial too."
Unlike Mason, who treated him with extreme hospitality, Sarsen only nodded coldly. There was a hint of arrogance that surfaced in his eyes.
"This is Mage Felic, and this is Mage Orrin…" Kayla was very agreeable as he took the initiative to introduce them as though he was the owner of the cave.
"Mage Orrin?" Sarsen looked at Orrin immediately, and did not even acknowledge Lin Li's presence. The emotionless expression on his face when he entered the cave transformed into a surprised one.
"You are Orrin from Rotterdam?" He entered the cave
Ever since Lin Li came to Alanna, he had been used to being ignored by everybody. When Sarsen treated him like air, he just touched his nose, and did not feel awkward at all.
Sarsen's actions was very natural too. Ranking of mages was everything in the world of magic. How would a level-seven mage and a level-nine mage deserve his respect?
There should only be one person in the entire cave that he needed to show his respect, and that man was Orrin.
The prodigy of Rotterdam was indeed true to his name. Despite his young age, Orrin was already a level-11 mage. Maybe after one or two years, he would reach h
is current level…
Sadly, he had shown this respect wrongly.
After hearing Sarsen's greeting, Orrin did not even bat his eyelid. His gaze was fixed on the flickering flames as though it was air that greeted him.
Sarsen's smile froze, and the atmosphere became awkward and tense immediately.
"I say, Mason, could I discuss some things with you?" Kayla tried to ease the situation by changing the topic.
"What's the matter?" Mason asked in an unfriendly tone as he was upset that Sarsen did not acknowledge him. No matter what, he was still the best performing young mage from Chevan City! It was only after he met these two freakish teammates in Alanna that he got belittled by others… The more Mason thought about it, the more indignant he felt.
God dammit, I have even met Master Andoine in real life before… How could this fella look down on me?
"The thing is…" Kayla paused, and led Mason out of the tense atmosphere that was not suitable for discussion. At the entrance of the cave, he continued slowly, "I hope to borrow the cave for two days."
"Lend it to you for two days?" Mason repeated his question in surprise.
"You see… I have so many people with me, and the cave is not that big. If we were to live together, it would be very uncomfortable. Furthermore, since the mission is going to end soon, could y'all just move out of the cave for us…"
"Kayla, what are you saying?" Mason asked suspiciously as he felt that something was amiss.
"Mason, let me explain…" Kayla stood a little further from Mason, and continued, "Look, Mason, we grew up together. And since Mage Felic and Mason Orrin are your friends, they are naturally my friends too. I would not make you move out, but…"
"But what?"
"But the rest of them, they have neither abilities, nor a close relationship with you. Couldn't you do something about it?"
Mason glanced at Kayla, and asked, "You are referring to Larry and his teammates?" He did not know how to describe his feelings. The man standing before him, with whom he played together since they were young, became like a stranger to him instantly.
"Y-yes, yes. I'm talking about those guys. You are not close to them, right? Wouldn't it be easy for you to tell them to move out?"
Although Mason had not given him a clear answer, Kayla was not anxious at all. He just continued to persuade him with patience. "You saw that Sarsen from Nightfall City just now? He's a level-13 Magic Shooter. If we get close to him, how would we still need to worry about our mission?
"Furthermore, we are only telling them to move to the mouth of the cave—what's the big deal about it since there's only one last day to the end of the mission? As an exchange, we get to help them to complete the mission as well! Mason, don't be in a hurry to reject me now. Go and have a discussion with them to see if they are fine with the terms."
"Wait for me…"
Mason turned to enter the cave and whispered to Lin Li with a low voice.
After all the interaction with Lin Li, Mason had already treated him as the sole decision-maker of their team. In fact, he could only look for Lin Li, for Orrin's would only insult him with a "moron".
"Oh, alright."
After listening to Mason, he only nodded his head, and said nothing else.
Kayla was waiting outside the cave while Mason waited for Lin Li to make his decision. At that point in time, the cave was extremely silent. Apart from the sound of the crackling flames, nothing could be heard at all.
"Mage Kayla, you might want to come in for a while."
The silence was broken by Lin Li after some time.
"Hehe, what's the matter, Mage Felic?" Kayla entered the cave confidently. Although the way he made his request just then seemed very casual, it was indeed carefully considered. He was confident that no one would turn it down.
Everything was so obvious. Firstly, since he knew Mason from a young age, their relationship with each other would not be as superficial as that with Larry, whom they had only met for a few days. By making this comparison, anyone would know how to make the choice. Next, he had already told them Sarsen's background. Since Sarsen was a level-13 Magic Shooter, how would anyone be able to find any ally more powerful than him other than the magical genius Gryffindor?
Even if they had Orrin, who came from Rotterdam, who would not wish to have a stronger ally in this land where the undead roamed freely?
That is a true-blue level-13 Magic Shooter… A fool would also know whom to choose, right?
To Kayla, not to mention Mason and his friends that would stand to benefit from Sarsen, if Larry's team were to be asked to move out of the cave, they would also be extremely willing to invite Sarsen in.
"Nothing much." Lin Li smiled before standing up from the side of the campfire. "I wanted to ask: when are you intending to leave this cave?"
"…"
Right after Lin Li ended his speech, Kayla was not the only one that was shocked. Even Sarsen gave him a second look. Never would he have expected that a level-seven mage actually opened his mouth to ask him to leave when Orrin had not even said a word…
Chapter 147 - Lich
"Mage Felic, what do you mean?" Kayla's smile stiffened.
"Mage Kayla, please don't be mistaken. I don't have anything against you…" Lin Li replied with a sincere smile, but the words that came out of his mouth nearly caused Kayla to vomit blood. He continued humbly, "I only feel that such a simple and worn-out cave is not suitable for people with high status. I heard that there's this Undead Palace in the Shadowglen. Why don't you live there tonight? The time now is still early, so if you rush there now, maybe you can reach there by dinnertime…"
"…" Mason was listening by the side. He nearly choked on his saliva.
"Mage Felic, you must be joking…" Kayla let out a nervous laughter. The ends of his lips curved as though he had infantile paralysis.
"What?" Lin Li stared at him with a shocked expression, and continued, "Does Mage Kayla has such high expectations that he does not take any fancy to the palace? I've heard that a monarch of the undead lived there before though…"
"This fella, you are going overboard!" Before Kayla could react, the short mage beside him stood out and pointed a finger at Lin Li face. He came so close that he nearly poked him.
Lin Li looked at that short and thick finger, and vaguely recalled that this short mage was one of Kayla's followers, named Fedrick…
"You're Mage Fedrick, right? Could I trouble you to move your finger away by a teeny weeny bit?"
Instead of putting away his finger, Fedrick came closer to Lin Li, and while he scolded him harshly, his saliva landed on Lin Li's face.
"F*CK! You are just a level-seven mage, how could you be so c.o.c.ky? If not for Mason, do you think Boss Kayla would waste his time here and listen to your crap? Scram when we ask you to, don't wait until—"
The moment the short mage spoke his first line, the cave was filled with tension. Embarrassment appeared on Kayla's face. He did not expect that a matter that would bring benefits to both parties would become so difficult…
But forget it… he would let Fedrick teach that impolite dude a lesson.
And Mason was just stupefied at what he saw.
He was so amazed by Fedrick. What a talent…
To point a finger at Felic! Does he feel that his finger is too long…
Does he not know that he is standing before a monster?
At that moment, not just Mason, even Orrin looked at that short mage with pity…
"Let me repeat… Mage Fedrick, could I trouble you to move your finger away…" Lin Li requested calmly.
"You motherf— aaah!" Before the short mage could complete his sentence, he saw a ball of fire rising up. What was next was a hammering pain on his hand. Before he could understand what had happened, the finger he used to point at Lin Li was alight with fire…
"Moron," said Mason and Orrin in unison.
Kayla was utterly stunned by what he saw. Never would he have expected that the
level-seven mage could use a grade-two magic spell—the Instant Flaming Hands. Not to mention a level-seven mage, even if it were him, he might not succeed in casting the spell instantaneously every single time…
At that point of time, Kayla didn't know if he should cry or laugh.
His plan was that after Fedrick punished that c.o.c.ky fella, he would step forward to mediate, and guilt-trip Mason with their relationship. After all, how could a mere level-seven mage create much commotion in the Shadowglen? At that time, not only would those insensible people volunteer to move out themselves, that dude would not even dare to reject their request of him leaving that cave…
But he only guessed the ending right.
Someone was indeed punished, but the man was Fedrick…
"AH!" Fedrick shrieked in pain again suddenly. That sound brought Kayla back to the present. Then, he started to recite a spell before his magical staff produced liquid for him to extinguish the fire on Fedrick's finger.
"To be honest, I couldn't believe it…" Lin Li grinned as he waved the smoke off his hand before bending down to look at the short mage.
Fedrick's nearly entire arm caught fire, and the cold water from Kayla aggravated his pain. A series of ear-piercing cries continued; how would Kayla have the time to react to Lin Li's gibe? Furthermore, he would not have the courage to speak against him. What if he were to lose his life due to that?
"Ooops, sorry, I guess I've exerted too much force." After giving Fedrick a scare, Lin Li stood up to apologize. Yet, he was still full of smiles.
"…" Kayla was so furious that he felt like puking blood. How was that an apology? That was like slapping Kayla right after Fedrick without even changing his hand. To Kayla, nothing was as humiliating as that. But facing this insult, he could only choose to swallow his rage.
The world of mages had always been a cruel one. Whoever was more able in his skills would have more say in matters. Kayla understood that not only did he not have the ability to summon the Instant Flaming Hands like Lin Li, he also could not deal any injury to a level-10 mage just with a raise of an arm. Thus, he did not have any right to avoid Lin Li's slap.
