Chapter 33: The Forest

“It’s been a long time, Kalist.”

“Human.”

She narrowed her eyes and glanced at Tally with disgust: “It seems you didn’t listen to my warning.”

Tally leaned contentedly against Luo De’s shoulder, rubbing against him like a cat.

Then her pink tongue elongated, licking a long trail of moisture along Luo De’s neck—visibly suggestive.

“Perhaps you could try to understand Tally—not all succubi are vile creatures.”

Luo De smiled.

He had never taken this elf woman’s words to heart.

Especially not when she demanded he abandon Tally.

“I’m not here to argue with you. I sensed the aura of the [Scytheclaw Shortbow]—Falshad must have already handed it to you.”

“That’s correct.”

Tally sneered: “Not only that—he also told me things about you. Hahaha.”

“Tsk—”

The elf spat in cold disapproval.

“Where is Falshad? Where is he?!”

“To be honest, I’d rather not get involved in your affairs, but you know—forcing things brings no happiness,” Luo De advised.

“Mind your own business! I’ll ask one more time—where is Falshad?!”

“Old maid, no man likes a woman as domineering as you.”

Tally’s remark instantly ignited Kalist’s temper.

She gathered magic and fired a fireball straight at the succubus’s face.

Luo De immediately activated [Chang En Fa Yin] and [Tree Armor], pulling Tally back.

The surrounding forest amplified the [Tree Armor] with the [Iron Skin Blessing].

The fireball struck him, shattering the aura of [Chang En Fa Yin], but could not penetrate the [Tree Armor] or [Iron Skin Blessing]—it dissolved into a shower of sparks.

“Don’t play with fire in the forest, elf.”

Luo De spoke coldly.

A flicker of regret passed over Kalist’s face.

But she showed none of it.

Her pride would never let her apologize lightly for an impulsive act.

Without another word, she turned and left.

“Heh heh, so domineering.”

“Kalist has a short fuse—don’t provoke her.”

“I’ll provoke her if I want to. She keeps looking at me with that hateful glare.”

“She’s a sixth-rank elf mage.”

“Hmph, I’m about the same.”

Come to think of it, Tally’s ascension had always been rocky—she’d failed several times.

Fortunately, it wasn’t without some benefits.

Her rank stabilized at the upper tier of fifth-rank, but succubi are naturally lazy—she probably hasn’t practiced her spells at all.

The next evening, Wei An arrived.

She told Luo De that someone had built a treehouse using magic at the edge of the Eucalyptus Zone.

The Eucalyptus Zone was Hera the Scorpion Woman’s territory.

But she wasn’t one to fight over land—as long as no one damaged the forest, she rarely showed herself.

And perhaps due to the innate nature of insectoid races, Hera loved to hide in her home and never leave.

Under cover of night, Luo De and Wei An arrived at the scene.

At first, he thought it was a hut carved from felled trees.

But upon closer inspection, he saw it was formed by several trees twisted together, weaving a wooden house thirty to forty square meters wide in midair.

And the trees didn’t look lifeless at all.

“Magic. Elf magic.”

Wei An stared at it, her expression calm—no anger over the earlier tree burnings.

The trees still seemed healthy—at least not dying.

“Elf magic, huh.”

Who else but that aggressive elf woman from yesterday?

Elves are a race that reveres nature and lives in harmony with trees—it’s only natural they could build a house without harming them.

A figure with golden hair stepped out from the nearby woods.

She carried a bundle of wild berries in her arms.

Kalist saw Luo De and Wei An.

“Is spying your habit, human?”

She acted as if nothing had happened.

As though the previous conflict had never occurred.

Luo De understood this.

The elf’s classic softening tactic—“I’ve already forgotten it. Why are you still upset?”

He’d seen it often in the little storybooks of Shi Ying Town.

“Good evening, Kalist.”

Luo De didn’t care much about such things—last time had just been a minor disagreement.

He introduced the two women to each other.

Tally, full and sleepy, had curled up inside the treehouse and didn’t come out.

“How rare—a tree spirit willingly approaching humans,” Kalist said, surprised.

“Is that so?”

Wei An had arrived via [Tree Walker], and had politely declined Luo De’s offer to ride together—leaving him quite disappointed on the way.

Tree spirits and elves got along well—both were wise races aligned with nature.

They chatted for a few moments.

Finally, Kalist revealed why she had built her dwelling here.

“I know Falshad is hiding here. He’s masked his star fate, making divination impossible. I can’t return without him.”

“I’ve spoken with him—he told me he doesn’t feel that way about you.”

“I know. I don’t either.”

Kalist’s expression remained calm. “But it’s the decision of the Elders Council. Both he and I must obey it.”

Luo De found it hard to judge.

He’d always been bad at giving advice on matters of the heart.

Just as he was about to take his leave, the elf called out to him.

“Your spiritual technique—the one called [Shao En Fa Yin]? I can’t quite remember.”

“[Chang En Fa Yin].”

“Yes, [Chang En Fa Yin]. A third-rank spiritual technique. Weak effect.”

Kalist scowled: “I once learned its advanced form. Shall I teach it to you? As rent for staying on your land.”

Luo De instantly understood.

The elf was apologizing in her own way.

“Of course. I’ve wanted to learn it for a long time.”

The next morning.

Tally stared blankly as her master and that hateful elf sat in peaceful discussion.

And the treehouse over there.

She’s moving into the forest?!

I object!

“Master~”

She rushed over, wrapping her arms around Luo De and tugging his sleeve playfully.

“What’s she doing here~?”

“Nothing. Starting today, Kalist is a tenant of Windwall Forest. I’ve already collected her rent—don’t cause trouble.”

“What?!”

Tally erupted in a tantrum.

Luo De ignored her—and also ignored the elf, who still scowled but betrayed a hint of smugness.

He turned his attention to the new spiritual technique he’d just learned.

[Dark Chang En Fa Yin]

A spiritual technique barely reaching seventh rank!

Unlike the Constant Grace Seal, which forms an aura membrane on the skin, the Lightless Constant Grace Seal envelops the body in a spherical spiritual shield.

After this spiritual shield is destroyed, it reflects all damage previously absorbed back onto nearby enemies.

It is a spiritual art that combines offense and defense.

Moreover, while covering the user in this spiritual shield, it dispels all negative magical states from the caster.

Luo De could only sigh.

The elves’ depth of heritage is immense—even a random technique they offer is this powerful.

(End of Chapter)