Chapter 245: Ou Jia

After the magic ring's test detonation ended.

Zombie Selena received a new research task: studying the Dimension Stone notes.

She had always been fascinated by other dimensions, and the extradimensional power within the Dimension Stone suited her perfectly.

She hurried back to her room to begin her research.

Vivian also parted ways with Luo De; the trees damaged by 【Plant Withering】 had yet to be fully dealt with, and she had her own matters to attend to.

Luo De was slightly concerned about Mouse Girl No. 3 and the orc Amy.

The former was after all a new resident of the forest, and as a forest warden, observing her was only natural.

The latter was the source of the Beastification Disease; after two days, he should at least check in with Kalist again.

He first found Amy still fast asleep in the orc's hut.

He kicked her twice—she didn't wake up.

Luo De simply slung her over his shoulder and walked to the edge of the elf's magical treehouse.

This time, he didn't need to throw stones from a hundred meters away to knock on the door.

The elf, the cat spirit Xiao Ju, Mouse Girl No. 3, the pony girl Bond, and the giant pine tree Cui Qian all gathered in the front courtyard.

Among them, Xiao Ju, Bond, and Cui Qian—three small figures—stood in a row, heads bowed in silence under Kalist's scolding.

"What's going on here?"

Luo De walked over and slammed the female orc onto the ground with a thud.

Amy's thick flesh felt like a tickle; she rolled over and went back to sleep.

Seeing the parent had arrived, Kalist always had to put on a sour face and report: "Bond has been messing around every day—she hasn't remembered a single thing from this month's lessons. Do you know what score she got on this morning's test? Not ten. Not five. Zero!"

"I've ascended to fifth tier."

The pony girl spoke timidly, yet defiantly.

"That's right, Bond—you've ascended to fifth tier," said the giant pine tree Cui Qian, supporting her friend.

"Oh come on, little Kali, what's wrong with kids being playful? We weren't exactly model students back in school either!"

The cat spirit Xiao Ju grinned, trying to smooth things over.

"That was you. I was first every year."

Kalist coldly scanned the three small creatures. "Even if I overlook all that, what about taking No. 3 to fight neighbors, catching mice and roasting them, and using spells to blow up feces?"

At this,

Luo De couldn't help but feel a vein throb on his temple.

He turned to look at No. 3.

She had changed into new clothes: a pair of men's trousers, re-tailored, with a perfect waistline, paired with a short, thick jacket—making her legs look impossibly long.

Now, she hid behind the elf's back—but her 1. -meter frame was far too tall to be concealed by the elf's 1. -meter frame.

"Wait a minute—these pants look familiar."

Bond excitedly raised her hand: "I stole them from you! Xiao Ke cut them for me—aren't they awesome?"

Cui Qian also raised her tiny paw: "I helped steal them too."

Xiao Ju fanned the air in front of her nose: "The scent of essence was too strong in there—I didn't dare go in."

Luo De went to each of them and gave a sharp flick on the forehead—even Xiao Ju got one.

"Don't steal things."

He adjusted his force carefully—don't think your thick skin makes you immune to pain.

Their wails served as their punishment.

Kalist knew he was trying to let them off the hook.

She sighed: "Bond has been too unruly lately."

Luo De and Xiao Ke had once discussed this after finishing their business by the river.

Xiao Ke had always grown up wild, and Luo De, weary of the high-pressure education of his past life, quickly agreed.

The plan: let Bond play freely, as long as her spiritual accumulation doesn't fall behind.

"What's this about fighting neighbors?"

Luo De cared most about this point.

Who were the neighbors?

Bond raised her hand again, excitedly: "Sister Ou Jia! No. 3 fought Sister Ou Jia—it was amazing!"

"Who is Ou Jia?"

Kalist: "The half-wolf druid who fought alongside us against the Plague Mage—don't tell me you still don't know her name?"

She avoids me—what can I do?

Luo De sighed helplessly.

But both No. 3 and Ou Jia are seventh tier—shouldn't he have sensed something?

The cat spirit Xiao Ju seemed to read his thoughts and said:

"It was just a light sparring match—almost no spiritual energy was used. One reason was to test No. 3's potential; the other was Ou Jia's post-plague rehabilitation."

Her injuries from that time still haven't healed?

During the attack on the Plague Mage, she had been wounded by the Plague Domain.

He assumed her constitution would recover in time—but it's dragged on this long.

"Do you know where she is?"

Luo De frowned.

She was a colleague he'd fought alongside, and a forest neighbor—he should at least maintain a decent relationship.

He'd ignored it before, but now that he'd gained insight into the Plague Domain and mastered 【Saprophytic Unity】, he couldn't stand idly by.

"I know! Master Luo De wants to fight, right? I'll take you!"

Cui Qian perked up, bouncing excitedly—even if her weight made the jumps barely noticeable.

"Fight?! I'm coming too!"

Bond quickly chimed in.

"You're not coming. Only Cui Qian and I."

Luo De ignored the pony girl's pleading and handed the orc over to Kalist for examination.

He picked up Cui Qian and headed toward the eucalyptus zone.

"Cui Qian… have you gotten heavier again?"

"No way! I've been controlling my food intake, okay!"

Eucalyptus Zone.

Under the guidance of the giant squirrel Cui Qian, they successfully drew out the half-wolf druid Ou Jia.

Why say "drew out"?

Luo De feared he'd be avoided again, so he had Tally hide him in the shadows while Cui Qian went to find her.

Before long, Ou Jia appeared in the form of a giant wolf.

Her blue-white fur rose and fluttered like flames in the wind.

On her abdomen, a distinct patch of yellow-green scab was visible.

A faint trace of plague energy still leaked from it, but she had suppressed it enough to prevent contagion.

Luo De frowned.

He leapt out from the shadows.

The giant wolf startled and instinctively unleashed several wind blades.

But when she saw it was Luo De, she immediately regretted it.

Her instinctive attack had been too strong—this forest warden, though formidable, would struggle to block a seventh-tier wind blade.

Ding ding ding—

The wind blades clanged against his Long Lin skin like drumbeats; his clothes were torn, but he was unharmed.

The giant wolf stared, dumbfounded.

Luo De, however, was angry:

"This is the Plague Domain! Don't you know it's contagious? Why go around meeting others? Why not find someone to treat you?"

Bond is only fifth tier—she's among the weakest in the forest.

If she got infected, survival would be unlikely.

The giant wolf shrank back, her eyes guiltily darting away.

Then she opened her mouth, and a clear, soft girl's voice emerged.

"I can suppress it."

"Shut up! I won't allow hazards in my forest! Come here—I'll heal you!"

(End of Chapter)