Chapter 478: The Withered Old Friend

In the dead of night.

In an unnamed small grove on the Twilight Hills.

Flap—

The sound of wings beating.

A black great bird, perfectly blended into the night, carrying an aura of decay and death, silently glided down from the sky.

Its wingspan was astonishing; beneath the wing membranes, intricate blood vessels were faintly visible.

Yet within those vessels flowed not fresh blood, but some dark green, viscous liquid, emitting a suffocating stench of rot.

The great bird's eyes were sunken deep into its withered skull, flickering with an eerie green light.

Twisted natural power flashed by.

The black great bird transformed into a black-haired human woman with red patches wrapped around her left eye socket, landing gracefully.

"Dane."

The woman looked at the slender, non-human shadow standing motionless in the small grove and called out softly.

That shadow was currently pressing a long arm covered in snake scales, reaching to the knee, against a lush, healthy tree.

This was a Serpent Man.

As a similar twisted natural power flowed through him.

The natural spiritual essence within this great tree was instantly drained, withering and decaying at a speed visible to the naked eye.

It was the withering of destruction and death.

Another Withered One.

"Greta, I recall the Windwall Forest is part of your assessment; are you sure you want my help?"

Dane, the Serpent Man Withered One, spoke with an upward inflection, always carrying a chill.

Greta said in a deep voice, "The situation in the Windwall Forest is indeed complex; I need help."

"Then you should understand, my lord values personal ability; outside aid might lower your rating."

"Adapting to circumstances is also personal ability. I haven't been gone many years, but the power within the forest has risen too quickly. You should be able to see the spiritual essence in that forest, right?"

Both looked simultaneously toward the west.

On the pitch-black horizon, a thick natural power visible only to the Withered Ones rose like a flame, illuminating half the sky emerald green.

Greed and longing flashed in both their eyes.

"Natural power comparable to the Emerald Court of the Elves. Pity that even my lord dares not recklessly destroy this entire forest."

Dane sighed.

Looking back at Greta, he said, "Speak. How do you want me to help? And mind your reward."

"There is a Tree Spirit in the forest. I once saved her life; you know, Tree Spirits usually aren't very bright. I intended to use this to force her compliance, but now there are five or more Seventh-Rank beings in the forest. After a little inquiry, I also discovered that the Forest Warden even met the Great Dragon of Coral Bay some time ago and remains unharmed."

"Forest Warden Rod. I know. The Snow Hill Evening News loves to brag about this fellow; he must be quite capable. I heard someone above once suffered at his hands. I'm not afraid of him; after all, he's only Seventh-Rank, but he's certainly not an easy opponent. You'll have to pay more."

"No, Dane. I don't need you to defeat him."

Greta began to lower her voice. "Before I became a Withered One, I stayed quietly in the Windwall Forest for nearly ten years. You should know that Druids like to record history within the forest. One day, I accidentally touched upon a history recorded there by a Ninth-Rank Druid a century ago. He said Shi Ying Town hides a secret capable of shaking the entire continent."

Dane frowned slightly.

"What secret?"

"That Ninth-Rank did not say."

"... What difference is there between that and saying nothing?"

"The key is that the Ninth-Rank Druid specifically recorded it. We may not care about secrets, but my lord loves such things most of all. If you, Dane, help me contact those above, it might count as a merit..."

"..."

Seeing his interest, Greta quickly added, "You don't need to fight those Seventh-Ranks in the forest; you only need to hold them in check. I have my own ways to force the forest's Tree Spirit to comply. When I saved her life back then, I left a contingency on her. Once I successfully trigger it, she will be enslaved by my spells."

"But that Forest Warden has a close relationship with that Tree Spirit. Have you considered the consequences if you are discovered?"

"That is precisely why I need to ask you, Dane, for help! When it comes to escape and concealment techniques among the Withered Ones, who can compare to you?"

Dane snorted coldly.

Pride rose to his face: "Indeed. The Forest Warden's direct combat strength is indeed good, but as for concealment and escape, even the perception of a Ninth-Rank mage might not find or see through it, let alone a Spiritual Warrior!"

"Exactly!"

"Very well, I accept. Wait a few days; I will speak with those above."

A week passed quietly.

Peace arrived in the late part of January.

Inside the warden's cottage.

The Tree Spirit Vivian lay collapsed on Rod's lap.

Rod kicked Tally, who was dozing at the foot of the bed; the succubus woke up with a dazed face.

Vivian required full attention at this time, so Tally had virtually nothing to do all night; she waited and waited until she fell asleep.

"Ah, hmm?"

"Clean."

"Okay—"

After a good while.

The girl's aura calmed down.

She lifted her exquisite, picture-perfect face, expressionless.

Her eye sockets, filled with Bai Guang, even though the pupils' positions were invisible, showed she was staring at Rod's lips.

"Rod, kiss."

"Good, good, good."

Rod gave her a light kiss. "Was my performance last night satisfactory? Young Lady Vivian."

The tree spirit, who couldn't understand jokes, nodded foolishly, then asked back:

"Rod, happy?"

"Not bad. Vivian may look very passive, but once the mood strikes her she takes the initiative — that part of her I really like."

"Contrast."

"Right, that's the idea."

Vivian didn't understand any of this, tilted her head, still expressionless: "On top, Rod, cheeks, can see clearly."

A pair of large eyes shining with pure Bai Guang were opened wide, focusing her entire field of vision on Rod's face.

"Vivian, like, looking at, Rod."

"I like looking at Vivian too. Vivian is super cute."

What a pity.

Miss Xiao Ke the tree spirit had never been much impressed by sweet talk; she probably didn't even have the concept in her heart.

In any case, she hadn't understood it either — hearing Rod say he liked her, she kissed him again.

Vivian didn't like to talk, but once she started kissing, it always went on and on endlessly, unwilling to stop.

Rod could only pinch her cheeks and gently push her away.

"That druid I mentioned before — the one who lived in the forest before Miss Xiao Ke and me, the one who's now a Withered One."

"Greta."

Vivian spoke a name.

(End of chapter)