Taking a slightly deeper breath to calm her surging emotions, Anjihya opened the second letter. But upon reading it, her face instantly turned a furious shade of green once more.
This second letter was from her mother, which basically stated that she had agreed to let her younger sister study abroad at the "Summer Star Empire." Furthermore, her mother and father would be meeting her sister at some location, telling Anjihya not to worry. They masked this maneuver under the pretense of "caring for Amirida’s daily life," but in reality, it was a honeymoon trip!
Anjihya had never imagined her mother would collude with her sister. What angered her most was that they hadn't informed her beforehand—they clearly didn't value her, the eldest daughter, at all!
However, the die was cast. Even if she voiced strong objections now, it would be utterly useless!
Adopting a tit-for-tat mentality, Anjifeiya also penned a letter and left it on her writing desk. It stated generally that she was heading out for trials and tribulations, with no set return date, so they shouldn't worry about her!
Sigh! Two states—
; .
When Anjihya hurried back to the small courtyard, Lis had already been back for half a day.
“Senior Sister!” Sis looked utterly excited.
It was understandable; he was born in this small town, and the furthest he had ever traveled was the Monster Beast Forest. He had never been anywhere else. Naturally, he couldn't contain his excitement about accompanying Zhong Shenxiu and the others to the dazzling world outside.
Anjihya smiled and nodded at Lis. Though she hadn't traveled far either, she was much calmer than Lis. She casually asked, “Where is Sister Shaluo?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t see her when I returned! Maybe she’s getting ready too!” Lis guessed.
Anjifeiya merely said, “Oh,” and asked no further questions.
Just then, however, Shaluo emerged from Zhong Shenxiu’s room. Seeing Lis and Anjifeiya, she proactively greeted them, “Are you two ready?”
Lis’s eyes widened. He pointed at the small hut, his mouth agape, unable to form a single word for a long moment. He never imagined Shaluo would come out of that room. The shock was no less than if Zhong Shenxiu and Robin had descended from the heavens!
Anjifeiya wasn’t faring much better than Lis. She was astonished by Shaluo’s audacity—to dare enter Zhong Shenxiu and Robin’s room? Did she not value her life?
Shaluo clearly sensed their surprise and quickly explained, “Well, the owner invited me in!”
Lis and Anjifeiya were stunned again. It was utterly unbelievable that Zhong Shenxiu would proactively invite Shaluo into that forbidden territory!
Never mind them, even Shaluo herself found it incredible at that moment!
“Sister Shaluo,” Lis leaned in conspiratorially, his voice dropping even lower, “What’s inside there?”
Hearing this, Anjihya immediately perked up her ears, unconsciously edging closer.
But just as everyone was intensely focused, Zhong Shenxiu’s voice rang out.
“You two, come in here for a moment!”
Lis and Anjihya clearly flinched. They glanced back at the small hut with complex expressions, unsure of what to do.
“Don’t worry, there are no traps inside!” Shaluo said, covering her mouth with a laugh. She had been more nervous than anyone when she first entered the room!
Lis and Anjihya could only steel themselves and walk in. After watching them enter, Shaluo couldn't help but burst out laughing again. She could already imagine the shocked expressions on their faces when they saw Zhong Shenxiu’s pile of belongings.
In reality, Zhong Shenxiu hadn't called them in for anything profound; it was just to help pack some things that were “useless to keep but a pity to discard,” reasoning that the space in their rings was otherwise going to waste.
In the end, they even packed pots and pans. According to Zhong Shenxiu, since they were heading into the wilderness, there would be no restaurants or eateries; they needed to solve their own food problems!
Once everything was prepared, the group ate a little and retired early, ready to set off at first light the next morning!
Lis, lying on his bed, tossed and turned, unable to sleep. His mind was consumed with thoughts of leaving the place that had nurtured him his entire life to venture into the unknown for trials. He wondered what he would encounter.
But he wasn’t worried at all. No matter what dangers arose, as long as Zhong Shenxiu and Robin were there, everything could be turned from peril to safety!
He heard that the outside world had incredibly powerful monster beasts—just how powerful were they? And the legendary Dragon, would he get to see one? People outside were all quite savage; would they run into bandits or robbers?
Question after question filled Lis’s mind, making him more and more excited the more he thought! To be able to venture out with Zhong Shenxiu and Robin—that was far beyond simply ‘awesome’!
Meanwhile, Dan noted that Anjihya, despite her calm exterior, was also unable to sleep.
Thinking about leaving tomorrow, she couldn't help but feel a wave of nervousness. Would she become a burden to Zhong Shenxiu and Robin?
“Sister Shaluo, are you asleep?” Anjifeiya asked in a soft voice, feeling, for the first time, an urge to seek comfort from someone.
“Not yet.” Shaluo turned over, facing Anjihya.
“Sister Shaluo, where are we going?” Anjihya asked.
“Have you ever heard of the ‘Moist Forest’?” Shaluo countered with a question.
Anjifeiya shook her head. She had spent the last few years focusing solely on improving her strength, knowing very little about external affairs.
Shaluo rolled her eyes at Anjihya and asked again, “You don't even know the ‘Moist Forest’? Have you seriously never left this town?”
Anjihya honestly nodded. Unlike her parents who wandered everywhere, she, like Lis, had only traveled as far as the Monster Beast Forest.
Shaluo was nearly speechless, but after a moment’s thought, she understood. This “Gulu City” had no main road leading to the outside world. The easiest path out was to cross the Monster Beast Forest, which, though not filled with extremely powerful beasts, was vast. Those unfamiliar with wilderness survival could easily get lost within it.
“This ‘Moist Forest’ is actually very close to the Monster Beast Forest. Cross south through the Monster Beast Forest, climb a few mountains, and pass over a moderately wide river, and you enter the territory of the ‘Moist Forest’!” Shaluo explained with a smile. Their “Cloud-Rending Empty Mercenary Group” had used this very route to get here!
Anjifeiya nodded noncommittally. After a moment of silence, she asked again, “Sister Shaluo, I heard there are many powerful people outside—is that true?”
Anjihya asked this because, being considered an expert in “Gulu City,” she had the false impression that there weren't many truly powerful people in the world. However, students who had traveled outside often spoke of countless formidable individuals, which confused her!
“It is true!” Shaluo confirmed, then continued, “You might not know since you haven't been out, but there are countless powerful people outside. There are innumerable individuals even stronger than me!”
Anjihya’s heart trembled slightly. She knew Shaluo’s strength; she couldn’t even manage a draw against her currently. Yet, to hear that there were countless people stronger than Shaluo was astonishing!
Shaluo noticed Anjihya’s surprise and added, “I am telling the truth. You must be extremely cautious once you venture out; even the monster beasts in the ‘Moist Forest’ are not easily dealt with by ordinary people.”
Thinking of the waves of monster beasts they encountered in the ‘Moist Forest’ on their way here, Shaluo’s expression suddenly turned serious. If they hadn't maintained constant watches and coordinated so perfectly, they might have suffered losses!
However, Anjifeiya didn't seem to take the monster beasts too seriously, mainly because she hadn't yet experienced the terror of truly fierce ones. After a pause, she continued the previous line of questioning: “Sister Shaluo, are there many people outside stronger than Robin, too?”
This was the question she most desperately wanted to know! In her heart, Zhong Shenxiu and Robin were god-like figures, mountains she could never hope to surpass!
To her surprise, Shaluo immediately made a very exasperated face upon hearing this question.
Zhong Shenxiu and Robin were, as far as Shaluo had ever seen among beings who could still be called ‘human,’ the most freakish existences. Never mind many—just those two were enough to make her sweat! She sometimes truly wondered how these two little freaks came to be, and why they were so strong?
Shaluo could confidently state there were countless people stronger than her, but when it came to anyone stronger than Zhong Shenxiu and Robin, she couldn't think of a single one, even racking her brain!
The abnormality of these two little ones had reached a level where humans couldn't compete. If possible, perhaps the legendary Dragon could fight them to a standstill. Shaluo had never seen a Dragon either; she had only heard they were existences more powerful than the Sword God—whether that was true, she didn't know!
Seeing Anjifeiya staring intently, waiting for an answer, Shaluo gave an embarrassed smile and could only say, “Aside from the Owner, I have never seen anyone stronger than Robin!”
Anjifeiya stared blankly at Shaluo, contemplating her words. She silently thought: Indeed, Robin’s power is so immense it’s unreachable. If only I could possess even a tenth of her strength!
As Anjihya pondered, her thoughts drifted. She began to wonder how she could stay by Zhong Shenxiu’s side to learn from him forever.
When this question arose, an answer immediately surfaced in her mind, but this answer made Anjihya’s heart pound wildly, and a flush of color spread across her delicate face.
That answer was: to become Zhong Shenxiu’s woman!
“Anjihya, what’s wrong with you?” Shaluo asked with concern when she noticed Anjihya’s unusual expression.
“N-nothing!” Anjifeiya stammered guiltily, quickly turning her face away, then added, “Sister Shaluo, let’s sleep. I’m getting sleepy!”
Shaluo said, “Oh,” and although she didn't press further, the doubt on her face deepened.