The moment they stepped out of the bookstore, sunlight poured over them, and they prepared to leave the city to complete that S-rank quest.
It was currently peak traffic time. The streets were bustling with people, and carriages lined up one after another, jamming the already narrow city gate until it was completely impassable.
The time was already afternoon, with the sun gradually tilting westward. They had to return to the adventurers' guild to submit the quest before dark.
Dan Feng and Roxy walked side by side, seemingly chatting casually, but every word they exchanged carried hidden meaning.
"Did you feel it, Roxy?" Dan Feng suddenly lowered his voice. His gaze appeared to sweep the surroundings idly, but in reality, he had been constantly monitoring every movement around them.
"Yeah, I know. We're being watched." Roxy acted just as nonchalant, and her conversation with Dan Feng flowed naturally, as if she hadn't noticed the hidden gazes at all.
"It looks like they're planning to make their move after we leave the city. When that happens, stick close to Fia and don't leave her side." Dan Feng said calmly.
Roxy nodded, indicating she understood what Dan Feng meant.
At that moment, it was their turn to exit the city.
Once outside the gate, Fia's demeanor immediately became completely different from how she had been inside the city.
Her steps grew light and lively, her gaze frequently turning toward the distant forest, her eyes sparkling with anticipation for the unknown world.
"My first time leaving the city." Fia sighed inwardly. She had never felt this close to nature before.
Looking at the dense forest in the distance, her heart was now filled with longing for the journey ahead.
Just like a bird kept in a cage, no matter what, it would yearn to see the world outside.
And the moment it learns to fly is when it spreads its wings and soars.
"Hello, to that forest over there!" Fia came up to a carriage and said to the driver.
Roxy immediately pulled Fia back. "It's such a short distance—no need to take a carriage!"
"No need? But won't our clothes get dirty like that?" Fia looked at Roxy with full suspicion, completely puzzled.
Roxy replied with perfect calm, "Just let them get dirty. We're adventurers, not some delicate people."
Dan Feng wanted to say that the other person seemed to be exactly the delicate type, but he decided against it and didn't undermine Roxy.
Fia still hesitated a little after hearing this, but seeing Roxy's confident attitude, she ultimately nodded.
Not long after, the three of them set foot into that dense forest together.
When their figures completely disappeared from the city gate, the group of people who had been staring at them with killing intent could no longer hold back. They finally emerged from inside the city.
...
"Wow, so this is what a forest is like!" The moment they entered the forest, Fia was like a little bird set free, excitedly looking around in every direction.
Everything in the forest felt so fresh to her. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she took in every sight around her.
"It's exactly the same as the descriptions I saw in the books in my home library!" Fia said happily, her face overflowing with irrepressible joy.
This really was something exciting—after all, she could finally see the outside world with her own eyes.
Their quest this time was to gather 36 stalks of a specific herb. Although none of the three had ever seen this herb before, as long as they followed the route on the quest sheet, they should be able to find it without issue.
So they kept walking through the woods, enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way.
Suddenly they came across a lake. The water was crystal clear, like a giant mirror.
On the surface of the lake, several pure white lotus flowers stood quietly.
Beneath the lotuses, a few fish swam leisurely.
"What kind of flower is this?" Fia looked at the white lotus flowers curiously. This kind of flower seemed quite rare on this continent.
Roxy shook her head, indicating she didn't know.
"Lotus flowers—symbolizing holiness, purity, and elegance. They're quite common on the Millis Continent." Dan Feng explained to Fia, then suddenly thought that Imbibitor Lunae seemed to have lotus-like features.
Afterward, the three left the area, though Dan Feng picked one lotus flower before going.
"Ah! Found it!"
Later, they finally located the target of this quest, and so they began their grass-pulling journey.
This naturally got dirt and soil all over their clothes—except for Dan Feng, who was just slacking off.
But Roxy knew what Dan Feng was doing, so she didn't bother him about it.
After some time, Roxy and Fia had already gathered more than twenty stalks. The sun wasn't far from setting now.
After noticing something, Dan Feng quietly said a word to Roxy, then disappeared from the spot.
"Still ten more to go. I have to find them!" Fia said with firm determination, indicating she wouldn't leave until they were found.
"Then we need to hurry. The sun's going down soon." Seeing how serious Fia was, Roxy silently put more effort into her own work.
Meanwhile, the scene on Dan Feng's side was completely different.
"Kill the princess and we'll get a huge pile of gold coins. Hurry up!" A man dressed like an adventurer said to the others.
Their pace was fast—they were only a few minutes away from Roxy and the others' position.
Dan Feng watched this group of would-be princess assassins from atop a tree, a faint smile appearing on his otherwise expressionless face.
Just as they were about to pass under the tree where Dan Feng was perched, a white lotus flower drifted down from above.
In that instant, Cloud-Piercer shot down like lightning and slammed hard into the ground.
Clang!
"Who's there?" Those people stared in shock at the scene before them and shouted suspiciously.
But Dan Feng ignored their questions entirely. He swiftly lifted Cloud-Piercer and charged toward the person in front.
The most effective way to protect the princess was to eliminate the threat in front of him as quickly as possible.
His movements were as fast as a gale, leaving no time for reaction.
In the blink of an eye, Cloud-Piercer pierced through the man's chest with astonishing speed and power.
Immediately after, a powerful burst of wind magic erupted from the spear tip, instantly tearing the man's body into fragments and turning it into a bloody, mangled mess.
The others' faces changed drastically at the sight. They stared in terror, fumbling to draw their swords in a desperate attempt to block Dan Feng's attack.
But it was all in vain.
How could such clumsy swordsmanship possibly stand against Dan Feng's masterful spear technique?
In less than half a minute, those people were completely helpless before Dan Feng. One after another, they were struck down, blood splattering everywhere.
Seeing that few enemies remained, Dan Feng let out a slight sigh of relief in his heart.
However, at that moment, someone suddenly leaped down from a tree.
The person instantly appeared behind the last survivor, raised his blade, and cut the man down in one stroke.
After finishing this, he slowly raised his head and cast an icy gaze toward Dan Feng.
Dan Feng wasn't afraid. He knew this was the princess's guard—just look at that gorgeously ornate golden sword.
"You still owe me one head."
Guard: ?