The very next morning, the group boarded the Blue Serpent and set off toward the Evergreen Forest. The Blue Fiend's speed was astonishing, and since it could automatically deploy a protective barrier, the travelers enjoyed the rapidly passing scenery without feeling the sting of the biting winds.

Robin was kneeling there, her expression placid, watching Zhong Shenxiu, whose head rested comfortably on her lap. Zhong Shenxiu’s eyes were closed; while he appeared to be resting and enjoying the moment, he was actually deep in thought, processing the insights gained the day before.

Beside Robin, Racheal watched Zhong Shenxiu with the same attentive gaze. She desperately hoped Robin’s legs would start to cramp, giving her the chance to take over and have some intimate contact with Lord Fara.

However, Robin showed no intention of yielding her privileged position. For her, serving Zhong Shenxiu in this manner was its own kind of happiness.

“Hey, Rhys, look how much the Young Master is enjoying himself. Why don’t you **** your girl and take a turn letting her rest her head on you?” Laurent said to Rhys, though his eyes kept flicking toward Daisy, who stood next to Rhys. Everyone knew about the relationship between Rhys and Daisy, so teasing them about it was commonplace.

Rhys didn't mind much; a man’s skin is usually thick enough for that, but Daisy couldn't stand it. Her pretty face flushed crimson, and she finally fled to shelter near Charlotte and the others.

Meanwhile, Charlotte and her companions were already discussing Robin and Zhong Shenxiu’s situation and barely noticed Daisy’s arrival.

“Hey, have you noticed? Since Racheal arrived, Robin seems to have gone back to calling the Young Master ‘Master’ again. Giggle, isn’t that a sign of jealousy!?” Charlotte murmured, lowering her voice. Even if she had spoken louder, Robin could have heard, but she was currently savoring the moment and deliberately feigning ignorance.

“It seems so; I hadn’t noticed until you pointed it out!” Elina smiled. Although she usually appeared quite dignified, there was a saying that women were inherently prone to gossip, and she was certainly no exception. “Charlotte, I think you might be the one feeling wistful, giggle~” Keni put on a mischievous grin and followed up, “It seems someone was entrusted to Little Xiu by her parents!” “That’s right!” Elina chimed in, patting Charlotte’s shoulder as if she were giving serious advice. “Charlotte, you need to put in some effort!” Charlotte hadn’t expected the conversation to swing toward her so quickly and instantly panicked.

The other women, however, showed no sympathy and instead joined in the teasing, kicking her while she was down. By the end, even Daisy was participating.

“I… I’m not talking to any of you anymore. I’m going to wander around!” Outnumbered, Charlotte decided retreat was the best strategy.

“Don't go too far!” Marcoxine joked.

Charlotte gave them a sharp look before walking over to Rosieriel, who was gazing blankly ahead.

Concerned about her clan’s affairs, Rosieriel hadn't joined the general chatter. Although the Blue Fiend was already moving swiftly, her longing for home made her wish it could move even faster. Until she could confirm her kin were safe, her heart couldn't rest easy.

“We’ll be there soon, won’t we?” Charlotte said, sitting down beside her.

“Yes,” Rosieriel nodded. At this speed, they wouldn't need more than half an hour to reach the Evergreen Forest.

“Don’t worry, everything will be fine. You must trust your people,” Charlotte advised gently.

Rosieriel nodded again, hoping that was the case.

“Right, Rosieriel, if your people relocate, how will you find them?” Charlotte posed an intriguing question, hoping to distract Rosieriel.

“My people live surrounding the World Tree. As long as we find the World Tree, we can find my kin,” Rosieriel replied softly.

Sensing Charlotte’s confusion, Rosieriel elaborated: “The World Tree is unlike ordinary flora; it can move. It is the divine tree that birthed us Elves. I carry a seed detached from the World Tree, which guides me to its location!” As she spoke, an object shaped like an olive stone, the color of deep jade, materialized in her hand.

“This is the seed?” Charlotte asked, surprised. Had Rosieriel not explained, she would have mistaken it for a piece of jade.

“Yes,” Rosieriel nodded again. “I can sense the World Tree’s location through it! Every Elf who leaves the clan carries such a seed to ensure they can find their way home. Among our people, these seeds are called the Stones of Life, and they only sprout when watered with the Water of Life!”

Charlotte listened, completely bewildered, yet too hesitant to ask more questions. Just then, Zhong Shenxiu's voice drifted from behind them: “May I see the object in your hand?” Charlotte and Rosieriel both turned, finding Zhong Shenxiu staring intently at the Stone of Life. If an outsider had made such a request, Rosieriel would have dismissed it immediately, as the Stone of Life was critically important to the Elves, and they rarely revealed it, let alone let others handle it.

However, in Rosieriel’s heart, Zhong Shenxiu was not an outsider, nor were the other members of the Ethereal Mercenary Group. Thus, she generously handed it over.

The moment the Stone of Life settled in his palm, a long-standing question in Zhong Shenxiu’s mind was resolved. Earlier, while healing Robin at the Moonlit Spring, he had been puzzled by the spring’s potent efficacy. Now, he finally understood: it must be related to this Stone of Life; Rosieriel must have taken it out at that time. “You say this is a seed from the World Tree?” Zhong Shenxiu asked as he returned the Stone of Life to Rosieriel.

Though his tone was level, the light flickering in his eyes betrayed his inner agitation. (If just a seed possesses such healing amplification, what must the true World Tree be like?) Rosieriel, though not grasping the depth of Zhong Shenxiu’s inquiry, simply nodded honestly.

Receiving Rosieriel’s confirmation, Zhong Shenxiu’s expression suddenly changed. In a tone laced with seriousness, he commanded, “Blue Fiend, full speed ahead!” The Blue Fiend’s frame visibly shuddered, but it dared not object, immediately exerting every ounce of its power to fly forward at maximum velocity...

At a location within the Evergreen Forest, numerous Elves were bustling about, their expressions uniformly grim. “Pitcher, have you spotted any movement?” a female Elf armed with a longbow called out to an Elf standing on an elevated platform. “Lady Allison, we detected two Corrupt Bugs thirty miles ahead, but they haven't noticed our location yet!” “Maintain observation!” Allison commanded after dispatching this order, then moved to survey other areas.

These Elves had fought the Corrupt Bugs countless times. These insects were like persistent flies, constantly seeking to defile their sacred World Tree. This was absolutely intolerable to the Elves; the World Tree was their life source, and without it, the Elven race was doomed to extinction. They would rather fight to the death than allow the Corrupt Bugs to approach the World Tree!

Fortunately, Elves were naturally masters of ranged suppression, capable of unleashing a storm of attacks before the Bugs could close the distance. Coupled with their exceptional affinity for magic, they could erect barriers around the area, temporarily evading detection by the Bugs.

However, the effectiveness of these barriers required that the Bugs remain at least five miles away from the World Tree. If they were discovered once they breached that radius, the Elves would have to evacuate before a large swarm could gather.

“Lady Allison, the fifth-layer barrier is complete!” an Elf rushed over to report. “Begin deployment of traps with the Seventh Squad now!” Allison instructed. “Yes!” The Elf hurried off again.

Allison watched the departing figure, letting out a long, silent sigh. How much longer would these battles last?

Elves despised combat, but survival forced them to take up arms. This guerrilla war against the Corrupt Bugs had raged for three years, during which the Bugs’ strength had grown while the Elves’ power had been steadily depleted.

The reserves of the Water of Life were running low. If this continued, even without direct destruction by the Bugs, the World Tree itself would wither. Furthermore, accumulating the Water of Life required a stable location; constant movement made replenishment impossible. Just as Allison was lost in thought, an alarm bell suddenly pierced the air.

Allison’s body visibly jerked, like a startled bird. She swiftly moved to the watchtower and demanded, “How many Bugs, and from what direction…?” She fired off several questions in rapid succession, her face growing incredibly tense.

In this critical time, the sound of the alarm signaled an attack by the Corrupt Bugs, meaning a grueling battle was imminent, and more importantly, that they would have to move again.

They had only been stationed here for just over a week, and now they had to depart. Allison was deeply weary of this existence.

“Lady Allison, it's not the Corrupt Bugs that are coming!” Pitcher stammered out the reply. “What is happening?” Just as Allison prepared to press for more details, Elves from other surveillance points began converging there as well.

This was a built-in mechanism among the Elves: if one post sounded an alarm, the Elves in other areas would provide immediate support.

“Lady Allison, it’s a bird—a very large bird! It’s moving incredibly fast and flying directly toward us!” Pitcher reported in a strained voice.