Hah! Hah! We ran for a full four hours before we finally stopped!

“Gasp! Gasp! We should be safe now!” Long Xin was utterly spent and finally had to stop.

Long Zhan and Long Qi gently lowered Zi Yue and Zi Yun to the ground. Then, they both plopped down, gasping for air. “Hah!

Yeah! Hah!” Long Zhan managed to catch his breath: “I didn’t expect you, Xing Chen, to really have some tricks up your sleeve!” “Whew! Yeah!” Long Qi added: “If you hadn’t held them off just now, we probably would have been finished!” “Heh heh,” I managed a dry laugh: “But I don’t think we’ve actually escaped yet!” “Right!

If escaping were this easy, the Woma Forest wouldn't be called the forbidden ground of Rangers,” Long Xin analyzed calmly. “Exactly! So now is no time to relax.

We need to run as far as we can while we still can!” Long Zhan said. “Yes! I’m sorry!” Zi Yue finally found a chance to speak up: “We’ve dragged you down again!

And caused you to enter such a dangerous place!” “Silly girl, what are you talking about!” Long Xin smiled faintly: “You had your reasons, and we have ours!” “For me, this is a rare experience!” Long Qi laughed: “When I’m old, I can write this down in my Ranger’s Diary!” “Heh heh! This is the first real guild mission we’ve ever taken!” Long Zhan declared: “On such-and-such a date, the heroic Wandering Dragon Gang accepted a difficult escort mission! We traversed the Woma Forest, considered forbidden ground by the Ranger world, and safely reached our destination!

From then on, our prestige soared! Our name became known throughout the land!” “Of course, we have to make it out alive to have the chance to write it down!” Long Qi chuckled: “So, for all of us to survive! You absolutely must not apologize again!” “That will make us lose confidence and courage!” Long Xin looked back over her shoulder: “So, if you want to say anything, it had better be something encouraging!” “You are the bravest, most outstanding Rangers!” Zi Yun offered from the side, suddenly inspired.

“Mmm! I love hearing that!” Long Qi said: “After all, that’s the highest praise our employer could give us!” “That’s from my heart!” Zi Yun argued. “I believe you!” Long Qi continued: “Your words have doubled my courage!” Heh heh!

For a moment, the tense atmosphere dissipated because of this exchange. However, everyone knew that after alarming the Beastmen, what lay ahead would be a difficult path of evasion. “Alright!

Rest is over!” Long Xin stood up: “Let’s keep moving!” “En!” The few of us stood up simultaneously. For the next four hours, we dashed off again. Only when the last trace of light vanished from the horizon did we stop.

“What should we do!” Long Xin looked around: “Should we travel in the dark, or camp here!” “I think it’s best not to stop!” Long Qi analyzed: “We’ve been discovered now; the Beastmen tribe definitely won’t give up easily.” “Mmm!” Long Zhan nodded slightly: “What’s more, Xing Chen killed two of their experts. I imagine those two weren't insignificant figures in the Beastmen tribe!” “Those Orcs definitely won't let us go!” Long Xin continued: “It seems we all agree! Let’s keep moving!” “In that case!” Long Qi stepped forward: “Leave the pathfinding to me!” As Long Qi spoke, he summoned his Rib Skeleton.

Actually, the small skeleton Long Qi summoned was an undead creature belonging to the Necromancy line. Undead creatures are innate masters of darkness. They observe the surrounding world not by relying on light like humans, but by utilizing the innate Eyes of the Undead.

This is essentially the Eye of the Skeleton, which allows it to perceive its surroundings at night as clearly as a human can in daylight. Therefore, having the small skeleton lead the way was the most suitable option. Although the sky was very dark now, it wasn't so dark that one couldn't see their hand in front of their face; those close to each other could still discern general outlines.

The six of us followed the little skeleton, moving quickly. Although we couldn't sprint like in the daytime, we maintained a pace akin to a light jog. Although no dangerous situations arose along the way, the lingering sensation of being watched constantly preyed on my mind, making me very uneasy, yet I couldn't pinpoint the source of the problem!

Despite the inner turmoil, I didn't show it. During the day, we were still occasionally attacked by Beastmen. These Beastmen usually came in groups of ten or twenty, appearing to be scouts from the Orc tribe.

We just didn't know if they belonged to the same tribe as the first group of Beastmen we killed. Of course, we couldn't know that. But to us, regardless of the tribe, any Beastman had to die.

It wasn't that we were heartless; it was just that this world was so cruel—Beastmen and humans were mortal enemies by nature. In just one morning, we killed three waves of Beastman scouts. And from noon yesterday until now, we hadn't stopped for almost twenty-four hours.

Even an iron man would have collapsed from exhaustion. Therefore, we had to risk stopping to rest. After careful selection, we set up camp in a patch of woods.

As before, Long Xin laid down the Holy Word Barrier and magic traps, but she didn't sit down to meditate as usual. Frankly, after running for over twenty hours, she was utterly exhausted and had already crawled into the tent. At this point, even if the sky fell, we couldn't ignore the need for rest.

If we didn't sleep now, we truly would die from fatigue. However, for safety, Long Qi still summoned his small skeleton and instructed it to patrol around the barrier. To be honest, besides Long Xin’s spatial pouch, the thing I envied most was Long Qi’s Rib Skeleton.

In the game Legend, skeletons are often clumsy and slow to grasp player intentions, making them awkward and troublesome to control. But here in the real world of Farma, Long Qi’s Rib Skeleton surprisingly possessed simple intelligence, equivalent to that of a seven-year-old child. It faithfully carried out the commands issued by its master, meaning the master could direct their summoned skeleton as they wished—a superb helper for home defense, petty crime, fighting, or assisting in brawls.

It was a pity I wasn't a Taoist, so I could only look on with envy. Thanks to the little skeleton’s guard duty, we all slept soundly. However, to ensure we didn't oversleep, we set the magic clock for four hours, believing that after four hours of sleep, our stamina and spirit should recover.

Dong dong dong dong! A series of urgent alarm bells woke me up. Remembering we were still fleeing, I quickly nudged Zi Yun, who was still sleeping soundly beside me.

“Mmm! Gasp! Has it been four hours!” Zi Yun’s groggy expression instantly cleared!

“Mmm!” I nodded slightly: “Are you rested enough!” “Enough!” Zi Yun quickly flipped over, got out of bed, and efficiently packed up the bedding and mats. These were tasks I usually did, but he took the lead this time, which surprised me. Still, having help allowed me a moment of leisure.

Exiting the tent, Long Xin and the others, along with Zi Yue, were also busy packing their gear. After a quick wash, we set off. It was already four in the afternoon; the sun in the sky had clearly begun to sink toward the west.

We continued toward our designated direction while munching on dry rations. This forced march lasted another twenty hours before we stopped to rest on the spot. The Beastmen we encountered along the way were getting more numerous, but none of them were powerful experts, so they were all killed on the spot the moment we engaged.

However, analyzing this situation, we knew the Beastmen pursuing us were increasing in number. At this rate, it wouldn't take long for the main fighting force of the Beastmen to pinpoint our whereabouts. We analyzed the situation but couldn't come up with any feasible plan.

Thus, we could only afford four hours of rest each day, using the rest of the time to hurry along. This was the only course of action available to us: shake off the Beastmen quickly and escape the Woma Forest to gain safety sooner. But at noon on the third day, we ran straight into the main experts of the Beastmen.

As usual, while advancing, about twenty Beast Warrior figures charged straight toward us. Roar! Long Zhan took the lead, charging forward, while Long Xin’s Lightning Bolt shot out instantly.

I, naturally, was not far behind. Bang! Bang!

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!! After several violent roars and the sharp whistle of blades cutting the air, the twenty-odd Beast Warriors were quickly taken down. As usual, we maintained our speed and kept moving.

Boom! Whoosh! Suddenly!

A massive crescent-shaped white light whistled toward us, sweeping across our middle. “Ah! It’s a Half-Moon!” Long Zhan cried out, diving to tackle Zi Yue, while Long Qi simultaneously pinned Zi Yun to the ground.

Long Xin and I leaped away to the left and right respectively. Whoosh! A searing heat brushed past my feet as sharp, fierce energy whistled by.

Bang! Rumble! Immediately, a massive explosion sounded behind us.

Several large trees were cleanly severed halfway by that dazzling crescent light, crashing to the ground, causing the earth to shake violently. Clouds of dust instantly rose, engulfing the surroundings. Whew!

That was close; we nearly bought the farm! The moment I landed, I had already swapped to my Rapier. A Beastman Commander!

Without a doubt, what had just occurred was a high-intensity battle skill attack, something even a Beastman Warrior couldn't execute. Therefore, we could confirm that the one launching the attack was definitely a Beastman Commander, whose strength far surpassed that of the Beastman Warrior. Stomp!

Stomp! Heavy, slow footsteps, like a moving small mountain, preceded a tall, majestic figure advancing slowly ahead of us. Hmph!

Hmph! Finally, it stopped eight meters in front of us. Man and horse, though standing silently before us, were enveloped in an aura of tragic, fierce killing intent—a furious, unstoppable energy of an army charging a thousand miles.

So strong! I instinctively gripped the Rapier in my hand. Honestly, after defeating the Beastman Warriors, my confidence had swelled unprecedentedly.

I thought that with my sword in hand, I could stand a chance against even the strongest enemies. But the moment the Beastman Commander in front of us appeared, that confidence was utterly crushed. Such an aura could only be possessed by battle-hardened, supreme experts.

In all the people I had ever met, none possessed an aura comparable to his. An opponent like this absolutely couldn't be defeated by simple techniques, even with the terrifying speed of my swordplay. Though we hadn't clashed yet, I knew I couldn't win this time—it was a deep, primal intuition, and my intuition had never been wrong!

“You all go!” The moment the Beastman Commander appeared, I realized that retreating unharmed was impossible. Of those present, only I could barely hold him off for a while: “I’ll keep him occupied!” “No!” Long Xin and the other two spoke almost simultaneously: “We can’t leave you behind!” “None of you will leave!” A gloomy, magnetic male voice suddenly rang out! “Ah!” Everyone instinctively looked toward the Beastman Commander opposite them: “Are you the one speaking!” “Vile humans, you all must die!” The Orc Commander on horseback spoke grimly.

Heavens, the Orc Commander can speak! What is going on! We exchanged glances, all filled with dread.

You must know, the Ranger’s Handbook contained no record of Orcs speaking the human language! “The Orcs can speak the human language!” I muttered to myself: “How is this possible! The Beastmen have evolved to this extent!

Gods, this is terrifying!” “Insolent! I am the dignified Orc Prince! Is it strange that I can speak a few sentences of your barbaric language!” The Orc Commander opposite said grimly.

“Orc Prince!” My heart chilled. Good heavens, no way! This was the royalty and nobility among the Beastmen, and usually, the strength of martial arts mastered by royalty and nobility far surpassed that of commoners.

Now an Orc Prince emerged—surely his power was infinitely greater! But thinking further, since the Orc Prince could speak, it meant communication was possible between us. Extrapolating from that, as long as communication existed, his thoughts could be influenced by me.

Wouldn't the rich tapestry of human schemes and intrigues have a place to be used? I rapidly calculated, analyzing the current situation. First, the opponent was a Beastman, and a terrifyingly strong Beastman Commander at that.

Second, he was a Prince among the Orcs. Since he was a Prince, he couldn't be very old, and his thinking must be immature—it’s like that in the human world, even more so in the intellectually inferior Beastman tribes. These were all exploitable points.

Third, judging by his previous speech, his psychological age was probably similar to Long Zhan’s. This made things easier; people that age usually crave competition and value martial strength, especially one born into a Beastman world where the strong rule. Ideas flashed through my mind, and I immediately had a plan.

“Your esteemed Royal Highness, your power has filled us with awe and shock!” I decided to butter him up first. “Enough nonsense! You humans are too cunning!” The Beastman Commander snarled: “Die together!” Saying this, he prepared to spur his warhorse forward.

Damn it! This guy doesn't fall for flattery. Fine, if the soft approach fails, I’ll try the hard one—wait!

Before I could formulate a plan, the Beastman Commander charged his steed like a speeding train. “Quickly scatter!” The few of us managed to dodge at the very last second, scattering in all directions. Whoo!

Whoosh! Bang! The Orc Prince missed his charge and immediately wheeled his horse around.

If he were allowed to rampage like that again, it would be disastrous. “You all go first!” I roared! Before the warhorse could accelerate again, I lunged toward the Beastman Commander the moment he launched into the air, unleashing my Three-Line Sword strike—three lightning-fast thrusts aimed directly at the Orc Commander’s face and throat!

Roar! The Beastman Commander roared wildly! His great battle-axe spun instantly, miraculously blocking my swift swords.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Three short, crisp sounds, and I used the rebound from the final thrust to spring back. I saw that Long Xin and the other two had no intention of fleeing; instead, they glared furiously at the Beastman Commander, clearly intending to fight the Beastman Commander alongside me. Alas!

These kids are still too green. Given the immense power of the Beastman Commander, little fry like us stood no chance against him. To use a saying from Legend, our attacks couldn't even break through his defense, let alone defeat him.

“Roar! You all get out of here!” Seeing these little ones acting so recklessly, I felt a surge of joy mixed with gratitude. I knew they didn't want to abandon me and escape alone.

Although we hadn't known each other long, they proved their courage and resolve through their actions, and their loyalty to me. I suppose this must be what they call friendship forged in adversity! I never expected that after coming to this world, the heavens had given me so much.

First, meeting a mother as loving as my own, allowing me to feel familial love for the first time. Then, there was Chen Feng, my senior brother who treated me like a father and brother, always caring for me. And now, comrades who share life and death with me in danger.

To have this in life is enough. For a moment, I felt a sense of time slipping away, like looking back on a lifetime. But this only strengthened my original resolve: I absolutely could not let them die here.

“We will never leave you!” Long Xin said with resolute conviction, launching a thick bolt of lightning. Long Qi’s Soul Fire Talisman also shot out like a sharp flying dagger. “Roar!” Long Zhan emanated a soul-stirring, fierce aura.

Holding his axe with both hands, he lowered his stance, planting his feet, and positioned himself in front of Long Xin and Long Qi, clearly preparing to take the brunt of the Beastman Commander’s next charge. Behind them stood the pale-faced but equally fearless Zi Yue and her brother. All excellent kids, I sighed inwardly.

As I landed, I bounced up again instantly! Rushing toward the Beastman Commander, I knew that if the Beastman Commander’s warhorse managed to charge again, everyone would be doomed. Therefore, killing the warhorse was the most thorough solution.

On the horse, the Beastman Commander suddenly burst with a strange light. Long Xin’s lightning and Long Qi’s fire talisman struck him simultaneously, yet they didn't leave even a trace. What astonishing Battle Qi defense, I thought secretly, but my movements didn't slow.

Lightning Thrust Sword! I drove my sword directly into the warhorse’s forehead! Eee-yii!

With a mournful cry, the warhorse reared up and then crashed to the ground. The moment the horse fell, the Beastman Commander flipped backward and landed on the ground. “Roar!

Damn you!” The Beastman Commander was furious: “You actually killed Chi’er! I will tear you into ten thousand pieces!” “Now, quickly go!” I roared: “Wait for me at the Mengzhong Town Inn!” To reassure them, I added: “I have a way to slip away!” “But!” Long Xin wanted to say something more but was pulled away by Long Qi: “Let’s go!” Long Qi looked back at me: “Xing Chen! You must come back alive!” “But!” Long Zhan, “Hurry, we’ll only distract Xing Chen if we stay here!” Long Qi interrupted, grabbing Zi Yun’s hand, and they turned and fled without looking back.

“Ah!” Long Zhan cried out mournfully: “Xing Chen, I’m sorry!” Then he pulled up Zi Yue and ran off. Tears? I could hardly believe that in the moment Long Zhan turned to look at me, I saw his proud warrior eyes filled with glistening tears.

Then I understood—of course. For a proud warrior like Long Zhan, abandoning his companions to save himself in desperation would be more humiliating than death, yet now, forced by circumstances, he had to do it. Want to leave?

Not so easy! Almost the moment Long Zhan turned, the Beastman Commander roared, his Battle Qi surging violently. Clearly, he intended to use the Half-Moon skill to snipe them.

But could I let him succeed? Hmph! Electric Light Fire Sword!

I thrust out another sword strike, aiming directly for the Beastman Commander’s throat. Roar! I must admit, the Beastman Commander's reaction speed was astonishing.

The half-formed Half-Moon instantly shifted its trajectory, changing from a horizontal sweep to an upward slash, simultaneously blocking my quick sword and sending the surging Half-Moon Battle Qi slamming toward my chest like lightning. So fast. If I took the hit, I would certainly be sliced apart instantly.

Hah! I took a deep breath, tapped the ground lightly with my right foot, and my entire body sprang to the left like a coiled spring. The Half-Moon Battle Qi swept past, almost grazing my right waist, cleanly severing a large tree twenty meters away.

Bang! I landed, looking back at the fallen tree with lingering fear. In that brief delay, Long Qi and the others had already run over fifty meters away!

"Damn it!" The half-beast chieftain ground his teeth, straining to give chase, yet compelled to remain vigilant against my sudden attacks. Indeed, given the force of my blows, penetrating his armor and protective battle aura seemed an almost impossible feat! However, should the chieftain allow even a fleeting moment of distraction, I was certain my swift blade could, in a mere instant, pierce a vital spot—the throat, the heart, or some other critical area. This inherent danger, the seasoned half-beast chieftain instinctively understood as well.