Chapter 110: Sudden Encounter

Two months later.

The outskirts of Mist Forest, a certain Goblin Lair.

Silence.

An eerie silence.

"Drip."

Crystalline blood, refracting the pus-green glow of the fungal moss, dripped down, stirring up a layer of fine ripples on the blood pool.

The terrifying shrieks that had echoed between the stone walls were now only a phantom-like afterecho; the frenzied, twisted roars had likewise dissolved into nothing.

The air was still thick with a filthy, foul stench, but compared to before, it carried an even heavier, richer tang of blood.

This was a Goblin tribe numbering as many as twenty-three.

Even without any elite individuals among them.

These low and base lesser monsters still relied on the primal Hunting instinct passed down from deep within their bloodline, swarming together with an almost frenzied aggression and an exaggerated reproductive capacity akin to another species, carving out a foothold for themselves within the danger-filled Mist Forest.

Tree bark, grass roots, wild fruits, mud-fungi, ordinary beasts, careless Adventurers… a wide-ranging diet, and a tenacious vitality as stubborn as insects, beasts, or plants, meant that as long as they had a single mouthful to eat, they could survive.

As if they were creatures born with biological traits enhanced purely for survival and reproduction, the Goblins were just like those nauseating, ubiquitous mosquitoes, flies, and cockroaches.

On the surface you only see one, but in truth their nests have already quietly bred in the darkness, spreading into every corner you have failed to notice.

To a certain extent, over twenty green-skinned Goblins, given the right timing and suitable environment, already possessed the ability to ambush a Human caravan.

And if a leader-type elite individual like a "Hobgoblin" were added, their numbers and actual combat power would explode geometrically in a short span of time.

If left to develop, even a small Human village that normally had guards would be threatened by them.

However, right now—at least this Goblin tribe—no longer had that possibility.

As if ravaged by some sharp weapon: scattered severed limbs with clean, even cuts; skull fragments wrapped in red-and-white mucus; glaring fresh blood and writhing entrails.

Almost carpeted the entire cavern.

The aura of death seemed to have congealed into something tangible.

"Squeal… squeal…"

In the silence, a shrill, pain-laden wail suddenly rang out.

Legs lifted off the ground, muscles atrophied, twig-thin limbs twitching and flailing in frantic struggle;

In the blood-red eyes brimming with desire and viciousness, only deep despair and terror remained.

A Two-Handed Longsword glinting with an iron-grey metallic luster had been driven straight through the center of the Goblin's chest.

Like a javelin, pinning it firmly against the hard stone wall.

Blood kept flowing down from the wound.

And not far in front of this Goblin.

On a stone that was slightly cleaner than the muddy, filthy ground of the cavern.

Sat a black-haired youth with a Wooden Sword on his back and a stern expression.

The tough, thick rings of his Chain Mail were drenched in Goblin stinking blood, but on closer inspection, only a few faint scratches could be found on its surface, with no trace of any breach.

And if one looked further in, past those fine, overlapping metal rings, one could discover the supple Leather Armor beneath, perfectly intact.

Facing the Goblin pinned to the wall before him, there was no sickly smile of torment on the youth's face, as one might imagine.

He merely kept his face taut, utterly focused, his eyes unblinking as they fixed on the drops of blood seeping from the wound where the blade had pierced the Goblin.

Steadying his breath and calming his mind.

One second, two seconds, three seconds…

He had no idea how long had passed.

Until the Goblin's struggling limbs grew weaker and weaker, and its wails gradually faded.

Finally its head drooped, and it completely lost consciousness, passing out.

Only then did a spark of life return to the youth's eyes.

He let out a silent sigh.

Xia Nan stood up, stepped forward, and with one hand pulled the Zhan Shou Chang Jian out of the stone wall.

Casually twirled an unadorned sword flourish, flicked the blood off the blade, and sheathed the sword.

Without the blade's support, the Goblin pinned to the wall tumbled to the ground along with it.

He drew a short-bladed Dagger glinting with a cold light from his waist.

Xia Nan bent down, first gave the green-skin two extra cuts to confirm it was thoroughly dead.

Then, with practiced ease, he stepped on its skull, sliced off its left ear with the Dagger, and stuffed it into the bulging loot pouch on his back, whose bottom was seeping with bloodstains.

He certainly wasn't doing this to torment the Goblin and vent some emotion.

These Goblins behaved like beasts in their daily actions, could barely speak a few words of the common tongue, and tormenting them further was pointless.

He wasn't that sort of person either.

The reason Xia Nan, after clearing out the entire Goblin Lair, had deliberately left one alive and "watched" it die—

was mainly to test the 【Gravity Solidification】 (simplified version) he had unexpectedly obtained from the Wild Mage's journal.

It didn't require filtering raw magical power through the Magic Net, nor did it need a Spell Model constructed in advance.

In the simplest manner, using spiritual force to stir the Magic Particles in the air and influence the invisible, untouchable "Gravity."

Much like the Beast Priests and Bloodline Warlocks of the ancient wilds, who needed no study of complex, vast magical knowledge.

It was, in fact, very well suited to an outsider like Xia Nan who had come to this path halfway.

However, perhaps it was also because he truly had no talent in this area.

More than two months had already passed since he got his hands on the journal.

The results had been negligible.

Following the method the Wild Mage left behind, he focused his attention. Though he could faintly sense his consciousness extending outward like tentacles, the distance was very short, and the things he could perceive were extremely vague.

But the distance was very short, and the things he could perceive were extremely vague.

Let alone adjusting the size of gravity, he couldn't even manipulate the magic particles in the air.

Xia Nan even suspected that before training, he would need to find some "Meditation Method" or similar to boost his spiritual power.

He wasn't anxious either.

Spellcasters were rare and powerful — whether in most of the anime and novels from his previous life, or in this fantasy world before him, it was a universally acknowledged fact.

But after Xia Nan came to this world, he had always fought in close quarters with his body, had nothing to do with spells, and had never been in a party with a Spellcaster — he had no real sense of it.

Now that he had unexpectedly obtained the simplified spell of a Wild Mage from three hundred years ago, if he could master it, that would naturally be for the best.

And if he couldn't master it in a short time, there was no rush.

Take it slow, that was fine.

He had the patience for it.

Even if it turned out he truly had no talent in this area, Xia Nan would at most feel it was a bit of a pity, then decisively give it up.

With the Attribute Panel at hand, he had already been given a clear and distinct path of advancement.

Even with the most common "Warrior" class, following it all the way — class advancement, Transcendence, Legendary… under the accumulation of countless feats, attribute points, and equipment, he was confident his combat power wouldn't be much weaker than a Spellcaster of the same level.

Besides, over these past two-plus months, Xia Nan's main goal had never been this simplified spell.

He tightened the backpack on his back and took two steps toward the cave entrance.

His gaze shifted downward.

Reflected in the faint light within the lair, thick, fresh-red blood faintly mirrored his blurred figure.

His eyes focused.

Semi-transparent characters floated before his eyes.

【Fang Hunt】 lv2: (89/100)

Sixty, seventy days — nearly two hundred points of proficiency.

He could only say it felt great grinding it out.

Xia Nan even felt that his recent self was working harder than those days right after graduation in his previous life, grinding away at a major internet company.

Prepare supplies — accept quests — slash Goblins — return to town — prepare supplies — accept quests…

Working non-stop, he basically hadn't rested much at all.

And the gains brought by such effort were naturally quite substantial.

Not only had he raised the newly learned 【Fang Hunt】 close to the lv3 "Proficient" level, the savings in his bank had also shot upward.

His net worth had reached 576 gold, 8 silver, and 2 copper.

Adding in the rewards and loot from this quest, he should be able to earn more than twenty additional Gold Coins.

Raking it in.

Of course, the reason he alone, without joining any party, could still accept quests and earn money so smoothly and steadily while raising his proficiency — his own strength was one aspect.

Another reason was his cautious attitude of never getting cocky, treating himself as nothing more than a beginner Adventurer who had just started out.

Before heading out, he spent a large amount of Gold Coins (even if some of it would be wasted) to ensure ample supplies for surviving in the forest for a long time; he only accepted quests related to Goblins, and the locations had to be near the outer edge of the Mist Forest, with the round trip taking at most three days.

Before entering a Goblin Lair, he absolutely had to fully observe the surrounding environment.

Once he found that the number of green-skins was too many, exceeding what he could handle, or there was a possibility of Bugbears and Hobgoblins being present…

Without hesitation, retreat immediately.

【Fang Hunt】, as a mobility combat skill, could be unleashed multiple times in a short period given his current physical condition.

It could easily widen the distance between him and his enemies.

With those two short little legs of theirs, Goblins couldn't catch up at all.

Finally, he scanned the lair one more time, confirming nothing had been missed.

Xia Nan, with the twin swords on his back, left the cave.

The originally murky air inside the lair instantly cleared.

Though he could still smell a bit of the stench drifting out from the passage, compared to inside the cave, it was undoubtedly much fresher.

In his ears, there were also many more insect chirps and the "shas sha" sounds of branches and leaves rubbing together.

Xia Nan glanced twice toward the depths of the forest, hesitated slightly, then quickly firmed up.

Currently, 【Fang Hunt】's proficiency had been raised by him to (89/100).

Just 11 more points and he could raise it to lv3.

If he could fight a few more battles, he could level up very soon.

But Xia Nan gave up on the idea of grinding it to lv3 in the forest before returning to River Valley Town.

On one hand, the reason things had gone so smoothly these past two months — even alone, without encountering too many dangerous situations — was because he adhered to the principle of never staying in the forest for long: complete the quest, immediately return to town.

Even this Goblin Cave behind him was something he had stumbled upon by chance on his way back to town, and only after a detailed investigation confirming there was no risk did he enter.

He hadn't yet obtained a Professional Level, and there were many dangerous magical creatures in the outer reaches of the Mist Forest that he would find hard to handle.

On the other hand, when 【Fang Hunt】 went from lv1 to lv2, it didn't give him attribute point rewards like the previous 【Whirl Slash】 had.

It seemed as though it really was just a proficiency increase.

Xia Nan guessed that perhaps it would only grant attribute points and feats at lv5, the max level?

Under these circumstances, the gains were completely out of proportion to the risks required.

Goblin Caves and the like — he didn't have a corresponding perception combat skill, and they weren't something he could just find anywhere.

【Fang Hunt】 lv2: (89/100)

Just 11 more points and he could raise it to lv3.

Rather than risking his life wandering aimlessly through the forest, hoping to stumble upon a suitable enemy by luck.

It would be far more prudent to spend ten-odd days drilling in River Valley Town, or take on a quest before heading back out.

Having made up his mind, he was just about to leave.

"Crash!"

From the dense bushes not far beside him, a sudden violent rustling of branches and leaves rang out.

Hmm—

A flash of iron-grey sword-light swept past.

The Zhan Shou Chang Jian was drawn in an instant.

In the blink of an eye, Xia Nan was already fully prepared for combat.

A pale grey mist drifted through the air; along with the steadily approaching footsteps, three figures appeared before his eyes.

"Three?"

Xia Nan's gaze sharpened, yet his breathing unconsciously grew heavier and longer.

Power, silently brewing and gathering within his body.

Walking at the very front, the first to push through the grass and enter his field of vision, was a man with short, fine black hair and a sturdy build…

A woman?

Xia Nan remembered it very clearly — she was the female Adventurer he had run into at the alchemy shop, the one who had gotten into an argument with the owner.

He had assumed she was merely a passerby encountered by chance between quests, never expecting to run into her again at this very moment.

After that fleeting glimpse at the guild, he had only retained a few striking features of her appearance.

Now, coming face to face, the light filtering down through the canopy let her true features register clearly in Xia Nan's sight.

Her short black hair looked as though it had been hacked off roughly and haphazardly by herself, like a pelt handled by a butcher — tangled and bristling;

Her skin, weathered by years of harsh sun, was a swarthy, rough brown — it had nothing whatsoever to do with words like "fair" or "soft," and faint, vicious scars could even be seen across its surface;

Over a faded, greyish linen shirt, she wore a coat of scale armor that caught the metallic sheen — well-maintained, and almost the cleanest thing on her entire body.

Were it not for the faint, gentle softness showing through her otherwise hard-set features, and the feminine voice he remembered from her quarrel with the alchemy shop owner,

At a single glance, one would never notice any difference in her gender, and would simply take her for an ordinary low-level Adventurer.

The Mist Forest had a complex environment and poor visibility.

But at such close range, there was no cover for concealing one's form.

The moment Xia Nan saw her, the woman also noticed his presence at the same time.

Her body stalled.

The two male Adventurers behind her also stopped in their tracks.

The Wuwu drifted thick, and the branches and leaves provided further cover.

It was hard to read the exact expression on her face.

Xia Nan maintained his stance, sword raised and on guard.

While watching the three people before him, he also kept constant vigilance over both flanks and his rear.

Yet his legs did not move an inch, showing not the slightest intention of retreating.

Counter-intuitively speaking.

At a moment like this, especially for him, who was outnumbered.

Any hint of flinching or cowardice shown.

And a kill-or-be-killed encounter would be unavoidable.

1 versus 3.

No guild or Sheriff to oversee things, out in the desolate wilds.

In the eyes of the vast majority of Adventurers.

A lone Adventurer, and a Green-skinned Goblin.

Were no different at all.

(End of Chapter)