* Ta Ta Ta! * As the 3 people looked away into the distance, two figures on horseback appeared on the horizon.
Those two riders stopped in front of the 3 people, revealing the countenance that belonged to Leylin and another unfamiliar acolyte.
“Leylin, let me introduce to you, this is Mister Bosain, from the Lilytell Family….”
The stranger’s voice belonged to Jayden, as he introduced them to Leylin. To avoid trouble, Jayden had masked his appearance.
“Also, this is Shaya and Roth!”
Jayden introduced the group to Leylin. Bosain had golden bright hair and wore silver robes — appearing dressed very grandly. If not for the acolyte mark, Leylin would even think that it was some professor who joined Jayden’s group.
However, Jayden specially emphasised on the Mister honorific and the explanation on the Lilytell Family, giving Leylin a shock.
“Lilytell Family? One of the big-three families in the academy, where every generation has produced at least one official Magus?”
“Indeed, in addition, the chairman of the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy was elected by the big three families.”
Bosain added, pride evident on his face.
“Which is to say, he could have direct access to high-grade meditation techniques! Or, I can…” Leylin outwardly displayed a shocked expression with a tinge of envy, satisfying the ego of Bosain.
However deep down, he had some villainous thoughts.
As for Shaya, she was a fire-haired female acolyte, reminding Leylin of Neela. Ever since his return to the academy, he hasn’t seen Neela once.
She could be dead, or she did not receive the academy’s notice. There was also the possibility that she abandoned the academy and escaped.
Towards her, Leylin only sighed gently, before removing her from his thoughts.
As for the last member of the small party—Roth—he was the archetype male of the West. His stature was tall and big, taller than Leylin by half a head, his face containing a simple and honest expression.
However, Leylin did not dare to be careless. Acolytes who could survive in the bloodbath were not simple characters.
Moreover, these 3 people had the energy waves of Level 3 Acolytes. Bosain and Shaya even had the aura of Magic Artifacts on their body, as detected by the A.I. Chip.
“Hello! I’m Leylin, a Potioneering acolyte, I hope that…”
Leylin introduced himself to the rest.
“The Zither Moon Mountain Plains is perilous, however, I have heard of your reputation being only lower to the Potioneering genius Merlin! I believe that you would ensure our logistics and safety. . . ”
Bosain smiled amiably at Leylin, giving a feeling of warmth.
“I’ll try my best!” Leylin nodded his head.
“Alright! It’s getting late, let’s set off!”
Leylin nodded his head, and the five of them began their journey.
However, deep down, Leylin was somewhat disgruntled towards Jayden’s action of adding more members without consulting him. He certainly did not approve of the current situation.
Moreover, Bosain’s identity seemed to give him a troublesome feeling.
As if noticing something, Jayden engaged in a private conversation to explain to him.
“Bosain and the rest found out about my plans incidentally and insisted on joining. For this reason, he did not hesitate to keep the truth from his own family members and his professor, and sneaked out of the academy!” Jayden smiled wryly, “You know it as well, I am unable to refuse them!”
For the big families behind the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy, it was the most dangerous period right now since the war ended. Bosain, as the successor of the family, has to always be inside the academy compounds.
However, now he did not even bring a bodyguard, which indicated that this was a covert exploration. Even his family did not know of his destination.
Concerning this, Leylin could only smile wryly and be more wary of his surroundings, with no better idea in mind.
The Zither Moon Mountain Plains was situated on the western borders of the Poolfield Kingdom. It was the boundary between the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy and the Sage Gotham Hut.
These two forces had just ended a huge war and Jayden even carried a blood debt since he killed the enemy’s genius. Once this party was discovered, they would definitely have problems.
No matter if it was Leylin or Jayden, or Bosain and the rest, they were all intelligent and conscientious people. Moreover at crucial moments, they had the courage to fight for their lives.
Along the way, the five of them changed their travelling outfits into those of young, noble masters and mistress, continuously travelling along the western borders.
Without a doubt, it wouldn’t be inaccurate to say that knowledge and power were wielded in the hands of nobles. In the Abyssal Bone Forest Academy, most acolytes were born of nobility and had no need to learn how to dress as one.
This was why the five of them dressed as nobility. Their disposition was naturally formed, if they were to dress as someone else, they would definitely be noticed.
Leylin too tried to get closer with the other 3 acolytes.
Shaya and Roth were rather friendly. The most important factor was that Leylin was also a Level 3 Acolyte, moreover, he was acknowledged by them in having talent in Potioneering, so they were somewhat friendly.
As for Bosain, he had the behaviour of being an elite amongst magicians.
Refined and courteous, yet arrogant to the skies. He had the deceitful characteristics of the nobility, so he appeared somewhat indifferent towards Leylin and the other acolytes.
Leylin felt that once he spoke of any information regarding the high-grade meditation technique, he would definitely gain the attention of Bosain.
However, even if that was the case, after many days being together with them, Leylin had, more or less, determined their stats.
105 - The Zither Moon Town
Apart from Leylin, among this party of five, Bosain would be the strongest based on stats.
In the stats detected by the A.I. Chip, Bosain’s Spiritual Force had reached 15! It was already the requirement needed to advance to the level of an official Magus.
However, for some reason, it was concealed like Leylin’s. Bosain also used some secret method to conceal his Spiritual Force’s energy waves and also the aberration of his eyes, without letting anyone find out.
Moreover, as a Level 3 Acolyte from a large family, Bosain’s Magic Artifact emitted energy waves that were extremely strong, only second to the Fallen Star Pendant hung around Leylin’s neck.
In addition, the Lilytell Family was one of the three big families of the academy. If Bosain, who was one of the younger generation that hailed from there, had no Magic Artifact on him, Leylin would be the first to not believe it.
As for Jayden, Shaya, and Roth—they were Level 3 Acolytes who had just advanced. Jayden and Shaya carried Magic Artifacts with them and were stronger than Roth by a small margin. However, Roth was neither obsequious nor supercilious along the way—obviously he had his own hidden trump card.
“Without using any trump cards, between Bosain and I, we have a fifty-fifty chance of winning. As for Shaya and Jayden, they are below us by a little, whereas Roth is ranked the last. However, he cannot be taken too lightly either!”
Leylin’s eyes flashed, rapidly calculating that if any conflicts were to occur within the party, what would be the result and the control that he had of such a situation.
However, be it in the novels of his previous world, or the adventure that he undertook today, various adventurers would have internal strife after obtaining the treasures. It was inevitable.
Leylin questioned himself—if Jayden or the rest discovered that it was actually the inheritance of the Great Magus Serholm they were after, they would definitely not be willing to share the loot obtained.
Who knew if he might be the first to revolt then?
……
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The Zither Moon Town was a little town located at the foot of the Zither Moon Mountain Plains.
This day, on a road that was flying with dust, there were five travel-worn horse riders that appeared.
“Alright, we will enter the Zither Moon Mountain Plains from the Zither Moon Town. Before that, we can have a lodging at the inn in the town!”
Jayden reined in his horse. After getting down, he took out a badly damaged map to have a look.
At this moment, he had a completely different appearance. It was a rather secular face changing spell, which let Leylin somewhat surprised.
“This is the area of the borders. If there were any people from the Sage Gotham Hut academy it wouldn’t be odd at all, so we have to be more careful…”
“We know it already!” Bosain straightened his robes, showing impatience.
The five of them led their horses to an inn called “Ghosts With Grievances Don’t Weep”.
Opening the door, it was as though it was a whole new world. Shouting and clamouring noises, along with the stenches of sweat and the odor of alcohol, wafted over.
Jayden’s brow’s furrowed, but he still walked towards the counter, tossing out a golden coin.
“Give me 5 private rooms….”
“I’m sorry, we only have 3 rooms left!” Before Jayden finished speaking, a person, who seemed to be the shop owner and who also stank of rum, interrupted him.
“Alright then! Three rooms, we’ll have it all. Also, give us your best delicacies!”
Finding lodging at an inn in this small town is already considered fortunate, so Jayden did not pursue further.
But when he was paying the money, he complained, “Isn’t this damned place the one that doesn’t have even a few visitors each year? Now, why is is that there are only 3 rooms left?”
“Burp!” The shop owner hiccuped, “Who knows? The Zither Moon Mountain Plains is filled with the damned poisonous gas and miasma. Many of these lads don’t return after setting off. Usually, there are only people here to drink some rum, but regarding gold coins, I seemed to have met with two waves of important guests today!”
“Two waves?” Leylin stepped forward, “Which is to say, there was someone else before us who came here?”
“Indeed, and they even asked for a tour guide. Gold coin payment, bah! Who wants to die in the depths of Zither Moon Mountain Plains?”
After hearing this news, Leylin and the rest looked at each other, having a somewhat ominous premonition.
“Alright! I’ll let Pinky bring you to your rooms!” The shop owner took down 3 keys that were extremely oily, as he shouted, “Pinky! Pinky! Don’t let me wait another second, if not I’ll scrape your skin off….”
* Bang! * Very soon, a dwarf which wore a grey pointed hat stood in front of the owner.
“Respected Sir, Pinky is here for your bidding….”
This dwarf named Pinky was only half of Leylin’s height. He also wore a flowery green costume, looking somewhat comical.
“Bring our esteemed guests to the rooms upstairs to rest, you know which few!”
The owner casually smacked the dwarf, before handing over the keys.
“Dear guests! Please follow Pinky! Be careful of the steps!”
Pinky touched his hat and led the way at the front.
Leylin and the rest followed behind.
Shaya took off her cloak, revealing a beautiful face and alluring body, and this attracted the whistles from a few drunken blokes suddenly.
Towards this, Shaya was not irked at all, she even sent a few coquettish glances over, igniting some heat within those drunkards.
Looking at these group of animals that were lusting over her, Leylin snickered. This expression of Shaya’s showed that she was already angry to a certain extent.
If these drunkards acted recklessly and stepped forward to provoke, they would definitely suffer a fate worse than death!
“Leylin, you and Roth will be in this room, Bosain and me in the other. The last one would be for Shaya, any opinions?”
As the organiser for this adventure, Jayden quickly allocated the rooms to the members.
Seeing Jayden assign the difficult Bosain to himself, Leylin and Roth heaved a sigh of relief, naturally not raising any objections.
Shaya did not say anything either.
“Also, come to my room in a while’s time. Towards the previous batch of customers the shop owner mentioned, I am somewhat concerned!” Jayden’s brow’s furrowed.
“We are all staying at the same inn. I believe that we will definitely see the other party!” Leylin spoke blandly as if hinting at something.
According to that dwarf Pinky, the earlier batch of guests was currently not inside the inn. They seemed to have gone out to purchase some goods, even spending money to hire a tour guide.
Dinner was held at the large hall on the first level. The main dish was mud bean paste, with some wild herbs as seasoning.
However, food like this was, in the eyes of Leylin and the rest, fit only for swines. The few of them had no appetite, yet they were curious about the previous batch of guests, so Leylin and the others chose to remain inside the large hall. They sipped on their drinks as they waited.
* Bang! *
Leylin was drinking his malt, and Shaya had reached her tolerance limits due to the provocation of a few drunkards beside her when the inn’s door opened at this moment.
* Hu Hu! * Large gale of cold wind blew into the inn, lowering the somewhat lively atmosphere.
After seeing these few people who just entered, Leylin’s body tensed.
It was five cloaked figures. From the energy waves on their bodies, they were actually Level 2 and 3 Acolytes!
When they entered, they too obviously noticed Leylin and the others.
The line of sight connected between the two parties, and sparks appeared. However, as if nothing had happened, the five cloaked figures did not stop and continued walking towards the second floor.
“How is it? Are they acolytes from the Sage Gotham Hut?”
Shaya whispered, unable to conceal the worry on her face.
“I don’t know, but they are obviously not here on a holiday!” Jayden’s expression darkened.
“I say, if we did not choose this inn for lodging, would we have been able to avoid them?” Roth scratched his head.
“Avoidance?” Bosain smirked in contempt, “It is the thought of weak people. The Lilytell Family would never ever have to avoid!”
Being looked down upon by Bosain, Roth tensed. He was suffering from humiliation, yet he did not react.
“Moreover, the Zither Moon Town is so small, and there is only this one inn. When we entered the town, we were already exposed. Any sudden movements will only attract the vigilance of the other party!”
“The crucial thing is, what is their motive for coming here?” Leylin asked.
“Could it be that they also have found traces of the clues in here?”
Warlock of the Magus World 1-596 Page 82