86: Chapter 86 The Team Sets Off

The midday sun poured through the lattice windows of the Chiefs Tent, golden light beams stretching across the Savage Beast hide rug in the East Chamber like lines drawn by the fingers of a primal deity.

Zhao Linger lay on the bed.

The bandage on her right arm had been removed, and the dark purple poison marks had faded for the most part, leaving only faint traces, as if a drop of wisteria juice had accidentally stained white jade.

She was wearing a white spirit vine casual outfit, the thin fabric clinging to her petite body and outlining her devilish figure to perfection.

Her slender waist could be spanned by a single grip, the curves seemingly molded by the two fingers of a primal deity, with the shallow dimples at her waist like two tiny whirlpools.

Below the waistline, the full curves were even more astonishing in her sitting posture, the rounded contours resembling two full moons sculpted by the hands of a primal deity.

The spirit vine casual outfit draped down like flowing moonlight, outlining a breathtaking curve at her round and perky buttocks.

The fullness of her chest stretched the casual outfit into an astonishing silhouette, the soft and ample curves slightly compressed by her prone posture.

It was like two clouds wrapped in white velvet, the contrast so sharp it made one's heart tremble—a baby face paired with a devilish figure.

This was Zhao Linger's deadliest contradiction, and also the scenery that made it impossible for anyone to look away.

But at this moment, she could not spare a thought for these things.

She was listening with Spirit Sound affinity.

Her large, round eyes were closed, long eyelashes trembling slightly, like two rows of dense curtains swaying in a gentle breeze.

The Spirit Sound Master's full perceptual power acted like the most precise acoustic probe, passing through the stone walls of the Chiefs Tent, through the sound of the Lingxi River.

Through the overlapping human voices of Guangming Village, extending to the depths of the far, far away Savage Beast Forest.

"Wang Sheng,"

She opened her eyes, her voice carrying a tense urgency.

"The Shadow Clan's communication today is three times more frequent than yesterday. They are transmitting a large amount of information, but I can only capture the edge signals; complete communication content requires closer proximity or stronger Spirit Sound affinity."

A trace of unwillingness flashed across her baby face, her small lips pursed slightly, as if a Spirit Sound Master had missed the most critical note; that sense of frustration was more painful to her than the injury.

"If my Barbarian Warrior rank were two levels higher, I could fully decipher it."

Wang Sheng sat by the bed. "No need to rush. You have already done very well."

Zhao Linger pouted, then suddenly flipped over and sat up.

The spirit vine casual outfit clung to her petite body, her slender waist spanable by a single grip, the full contours even more astonishing in her sitting posture.

That contrast seemed magnified tenfold in the midday sun, her fair skin glowing with a warm luster under the golden rays, like white jade finely polished by a primal deity using gold dust.

But there was not a trace of playfulness in her eyes.

"I will not go to the Myriad Races Market." Her voice carried a rare seriousness, as if a Spirit Sound Master had tuned all her senses to their most acute state.

"I will stay in the village and continue to monitor the Shadow Clan's communications. If I hear any movement regarding Zhao Mang, I will notify you immediately via the communication spirit stone."

Wang Sheng looked at her.

The contrast of a baby face with a devilish figure, now paired with those earnest large eyes, made him unable to resist reaching out to ruffle her hair.

The warmth of his palm passed through her soft short hair to her scalp, like sunlight falling on the petals of a spirit flower.

"Good, I will leave the intelligence core to you."

Zhao Linger's face turned red, the blush spreading from her ear tips to her cheeks, like the color of a spirit flower blooming in the morning light.

But she did not act spoiled like before, did not pounce up to wrap her arms around his neck, did not say "Rub it a little more" in that sweet, sticky voice, but nodded solemnly.

"Rest assured."

Two words, yet heavier than any act of being spoiled.

Before departure.

Shen Xun'er stood before the door of the Chiefs Tent, tidying Wang Sheng's collar.

The Moonlight Priestess's fingers were slender and fair, like white jade carved from moonlight by a primal deity, nimbly fastening the last button of his Savage Beast hide armor.

Her movements were very light, very slow, each one like moonlight falling onto the surface of the Lingxi River, gentle, quiet, yet carrying an undeniable strength.

She looked up, her watery almond eyes filled with gentleness and a trace of imperceptible concern.

"Diplomacy is different from battle." Her voice was like moonlight falling into the Lingxi River, gentle but not lacking direction.

"Show weakness when you should, and when you should be tough..."

Her finger tapped lightly on his chest, like moonlight creating a ripple on the surface of the Lingxi River.

"Let everyone see that the Chieftain of Guangming Village is not to be trifled with."

Wang Sheng held her hand.

"Wait for me to return."

Shen Xun'er stood on her tiptoes.

The Moonlight Priestess's lips left a light kiss on the corner of his mouth, like a blessing before an expedition, gentle, certain, carrying a trust of "You will definitely return."

"You will always return."

Her voice was as light as moonlight, yet firmer than any vow.

Guangming Village, South Gate.

The expedition team had assembled.

Wang Sheng stood at the forefront of the team, his white Savage Beast hide armor seemingly edged with gold thread in the afternoon sun.

The Power of Holy Light on his left hand shimmered slightly, and the golden light on his right hand flowed between his fingers.

Murong Xue stood behind him to the right, the Holy Light Knight's silver armor like a flowing silver mirror in the sun, her brown ponytail fluttering in the wind, her holy light spear resting at her waist.

Her expression was firm and valiant, like a silver spear drawn from its sheath, but a trace of the morning's blush still remained on her ear tips.

Liu Ruyan stood to the left rear, the Phantom Assassin wearing dark night-walking clothes, her smoky, misty eyes carrying a hint of haziness even in the daytime.

Her figure was as slender as a willow branch, but every curve was just right.

Rainstorm Archer Xiao Yuqing stood at the very back, the Rainstorm Archer's neat short hair seemingly edged with gold thread in the morning light.

Her long bow was slung across her back, her quiver slung diagonally at her waist, her valiant bearing like the sharpest eagle on the Savage Beast continent.

White Deer stood beside Wang Sheng, the Deer Spirit Archer's beast ears twitching slightly, her golden eyes scanning the surroundings, like the most precise radar.

Heavenly Strategist Shangguan Xuan stood to the left of Wang Sheng, the Heavenly Strategist's pair of eyes like a deep starry sky, a faint smile on her lips, as if everything were under control.

Her dark blue narrow-sleeved long gown fluttered slightly in the wind, setting off her capable and intelligent temperament like the most precise chessboard on the Savage Beast continent.

Final roster of the expedition team:

Wang Sheng, Holy Light Warrior, Rank 4 Barbarian Warrior, Captain.

Murong Xue, Holy Light Knight, Rank 3 Barbarian Warrior, Guard and Vice-Commander.

Liu Ruyan, Phantom Assassin, Rank 2 Barbarian Warrior, Shadow Reconnaissance.

Rainstorm Archer Xiao Yuqing, Rainstorm Archer, Rank 2 Barbarian Warrior, Ranged Guard.

White Deer, Deer Spirit Archer, Rank 2 Barbarian Warrior, Beast Clan Intelligence.

Heavenly Strategist Shangguan Xuan, Heavenly Strategist, Rank 1 Barbarian Warrior, Diplomatic Strategist.

Left behind: Shen Xun'er in charge of the main palace, Frost Mage Lin Shiyun as Military Officer, Zhao Linger as Intelligence Core, Su Mengyao as Logistics Manager, Hua Jieyu as Medical.

Frost Mage Lin Shiyun stood behind the defensive wall of the South Gate, her silver-white long hair fluttering in the wind like a cold flag.

Her ice-blue pupils watched Wang Sheng, her lips moved, but in the end, she said nothing.

But her fingers tightened slightly on the wooden fence of the defensive wall, like the deepest warm current beneath an ice surface, sealed by an ice shell, yet hotter than any language.

Su Mengyao stood at the edge of the spirit field area, her emerald green long hair like willow branches in spring, her emerald eyes as gentle as water.

She curved her lips slightly at Wang Sheng, then waved her hand gently, like a spirit flower bidding him farewell in the wind.

Zhao Linger did not come out to see them off.

But Wang Sheng knew that in the East Chamber of the Chiefs Tent, the Spirit Sound Master was sitting cross-legged on the Savage Beast hide couch, her Spirit Sound affinity operating at full capacity.

Her perceptual power was like the most precise acoustic probe, weaving an invisible net in the savage air; any communication from the Shadow Clan could not escape her ears.

The team departed.

Following the Lingxi River southward, passing through the spirit field area, crossing the South Gate of the primary defensive wall, they stepped onto the ancient savage road leading to the Myriad Races Market.

On both sides of the ancient road were half-person-high savage grasses, golden-red spirit grain swaying gently in the wind, the air filled with the fresh sweetness of the spirit fields and the earthy scent of the savage land.

The Lingxi River rushed on the right, the river water like a flowing silver mirror in the sun; occasionally, a Savage Beast would poke its head out from the bushes on the opposite bank, only to shrink back upon seeing the team.

They walked for about five miles.

White Deer's deer ears suddenly pricked up.

Those two furry beast ears were like two fully drawn bowstrings, standing straight up on her head, the tips trembling slightly, her golden eyes suddenly contracting into vertical pupils.

"Stop!"

Her voice was no longer the nimble and crisp tone of usual, but carried a sense of urgency unique to the beast clan, like a hound smelling a hunter's scent.

"There is the scent of a Savage Beast... but..."

Her golden eyes narrowed slightly, her nostrils flaring as she distinguished the scent of every molecule in the air.

"It is not wild. It is being driven here by someone, the same method as in the Savage Beast Forest—the Shadow Clan!"

Before the words faded...

In the distance, seven or eight Savage Beasts rushed out from the forest.

Iron-Horned Boars, Armor-Splitting Lizards, Savage Bulls—all low-rank Savage Beasts, but their movements were not as fierce and violent as wild Savage Beasts.

Instead, they were being driven, heading toward Guangming Village, as if being whipped forward by an invisible lash, each step carrying the stiffness and unnaturalness of being controlled.

This was a test.

Someone was using Savage Beasts to test the defensive line of Guangming Village!

Wang Sheng clenched his fists, the golden Power of Holy Light suddenly brightening between his fingers, like a sun rising from his palm.

"Liu Ruyan, track the traces of the Savage Beasts being driven and find the source!"

The Phantom Assassin's figure was like a wisp of green smoke, disappearing into the grass without a sound.

"Murong Xue, follow me and clear out these Savage Beasts!"

The Holy Light Knight's spear was unsheathed in an instant, silver holy light burning on the spear tip, like the sharpest silver flame on the Savage Beast continent.

There was no shyness from the morning in her brown eyes, only the sharpness of a warrior, but the trace of slight redness on her ear tips had not yet fully faded.

"Rainstorm Archer Xiao Yuqing, notify the village! Zhao Linger, monitor the Shadow Clan communications and see if someone is directing them!"

The Rainstorm Archer's long bow was already drawn, the arrow tip shimmering with silver spirit light, like a meteor about to fall.

Wang Sheng took a step forward.

The Power of Holy Light burst from his body like a golden sun.

Since you have come, do not think about leaving unscathed.