Chapter 69: Detour

A day later, they finally emerged from the labyrinth.

After completing the ritual to exit the labyrinth, they left the pink soil behind.

Before them stretched a shaded green avenue.

The fresh, normal scent of soil filled their noses, bringing a sense of renewal.

At the horizon’s end, three white spires stood tall, their tips visible but their full forms obscured.

“Look, the outpost ahead.”

The half-dragon Xia Li pointed forward, where a modest outpost stood.

“There’s a dedicated carriage team there to transport people back to Jade City—cheap. Of course, you can also hire a private carriage.”

“I’ll wait nearby for twenty days. If you don’t return by then, I’ll have to leave you behind.”

With that said,

she stopped and watched the three depart.

“Thank you. You’re the best half-dragon guide I’ve ever met.”

Luo De shook her hand in farewell.

“I bet you’ve never met many half-dragons.”

She winked and squeezed his palm.

Then she whispered, “Let’s spar again sometime.”

Moments later,

Gaima had arranged the carriage fees.

She paid.

Soon, she and Luo De boarded the carriage.

The long carriage was packed with people; sweat and sour odors hit them at once.

The two happened to sit in the last empty seats.

They had barely sat down when the carriage was ready to depart.

The driver shouted, cracked his whip,

and headed toward Jade City.

Beside Luo De sat a group of mercenaries.

They wore patched, perforated leather and faded sand-repellent cloaks, gathered together laughing and chatting.

Among them was a girl with a staff, who seemed close to them.

Since boarding, her gaze had kept drifting toward Luo De.

“Mr. Luo De, the journey will take about three days—rest while you can.”

Gaima said.

After the open labyrinth, their tense nerves finally relaxed.

The goblin woman instantly grew drowsy.

“Didn’t you say it would take only two days, even if delayed?”

“I don’t know the exact reason, but I heard there’s some situation requiring a detour.”

“I see.”

At that moment, Luo De felt someone squeeze in beside him.

It was the female mage.

Only now did Luo De notice she wore the simplest mage robe, had a cute, lively face, and had tied back her bangs to reveal a smooth, broad forehead.

“Hey hey hey, Bana, what are you doing?!”

The mercenary she displaced complained.

But that was all—he reluctantly gave up his seat and returned to his companions’ chatter.

“I know why! Handsome sir!”

Her eyes glowed as she stared fixedly at Luo De’s face.

Luo De smiled and introduced himself.

After a brief introduction, the young mage named Bana revealed the reason for the detour.

“Because of a dragon! Mr. Luo De! A dragon!”

The girl gestured wildly, drawing a large circle with her hands.

“A dragon near Jade City?”

“Yes! I heard it’s an old dragon that invites a female dragon over every five years—for breeding.”

Hmm.

Something like a mating season?

“You understand, Mr. Luo De—dragons’ extremely low conception rate is well known, and this old one especially so. I heard it hasn’t laid a single dragon egg in a hundred years.”

“That sounds awfully close to Jade City. Won’t the city hall intervene?”

Luo De asked.

“Nope! They’ve even built an observation deck and a [Shared Vision] spell—just five silver Along, and you can watch the whole mating process!”

“...Will the dragon really allow this?”

“Why not? Sixty percent of ticket revenue goes straight to the old dragon. Dragons love shiny gold, after all.”

Luo De’s face darkened.

What kind of fantasy romance porn is this?

Over the next three days,

Luo De quickly grew familiar with Miss Bana.

As for Tally, she didn’t care—she knew her master had little interest in humans, especially this bony, flat-chested one.

She mostly slept in the shadows, only appearing at night for meals.

During the journey, the carriage team was ambushed.

A gang of goblinoids and boarmen, about twenty to thirty strong, with spiritual energy ranging from first to third tier, unevenly distributed.

More interestingly, they were led by a fourth-tier banshee.

This was Luo De’s first time seeing a spirit race.

He’d always assumed they were monsters, not realizing they counted as sentient races.

Rumor had it that in the southern continent lay a ghost city inhabited entirely by spirit races.

Most on the carriage were mercenaries, but their strength was pitiful—roughly equal to the bandits’.

They couldn’t hold against the bandits’ numbers, let alone the fourth-tier banshee.

They were quickly scattered and beaten.

Forced to act, Luo De struck—just one [War Trample] nearly cleared the field.

The bandits fled in terror.

Afterward, the team waived their fares.

Outside Jade City,

a colossal city famed for its fusion of emerald-green flora and walls.

Gazing at the far grander, more imposing city than Scorching City, Luo De couldn’t help but gasp.

Especially those three towering white spires.

They seemed to radiate magical power constantly, casting faint, shimmering halos beneath the sun.

“Mr. Luo De, you must come find me!”

Bana bid him a reluctant farewell.

Unlike Luo De, who disembarked at the south gate, she and her companions would exit at the west gate—they had other business.

After the bandit skirmish, she had become his devoted fan, clinging to him daily for conversation.

If not for her companions’ teasing glances and remarks, she’d have already grabbed him.

“Let’s go, while the crowd’s still thin.”

Gaima pointed to the city gate.

Though a long line already formed, to the goblin woman—who’d visited several times—it still counted as light traffic.

“I still recommend finishing quickly, Mr. Luo De.”

“Still thinking about the banshee? She’s just one of countless races on this continent.”

To Luo De’s surprise,

the goblin woman was deeply superstitious.

She firmly believed the appearance of a banshee foretold death.

“No, not like that, Mr. Luo De... Spirits perceive things differently from us. They always sense something special.”

Luo De couldn’t bear to let her worry—they’d grown somewhat close.

After all, for a goblin, Gaima was already elderly.

“Don’t worry. I have connections. It’s too late today—I don’t know if it’s possible. At the latest, tomorrow morning I’ll advance, then rest two days before leaving.”

“Two days isn’t enough—I want five! I still want to watch the dragon mate~”

Two days isn't enough—I want to stay five days~ I still want to watch the dragon mate~

Tally stepped forward and said.

Hmm. I want to see too.

“Perhaps Gemma, you could wait for us at the inn first.”

The goblin suddenly looked ashamed.

“I’m sorry—I’ve ruined the guests’ enjoyment. I must have overthought it.”

(End of Chapter)