Chapter 1377

By the time their companions untied them, though still somewhat resentful, they no longer opposed Lin Cheng and instead felt mutual relief.

"Thank goodness the sisters came."

"We nearly met a terrible fate."

"Whips, candles, shameful animal pelts… just thinking about it is terrifying."

"Yes yes, it's horrifying!"

Saying this, the four elven sisters simultaneously wore horrified expressions, casting sorrowful glances at Lin Cheng and the white-haired elven elder Murphi before embracing each other for comfort.

"You're all weird."

The four elven sisters looked utterly baffled.

What did this human mean?

Lin Cheng did not consider himself a great good man, but he would never be a bad man either.

Does he look like that kind of person?

He himself had never thought of using whips, candles, or such things—yet these elves had already imagined them for him.

You really are weird.

The four sisters wanted to press further, but Lin Cheng had already taken Valkyrie Ailin by the hand and walked home.

The nature spirits, with nowhere else to go, naturally chose to follow behind Ailin; they had come to the city to rescue her, and though they had planned ahead, clearly events had outpaced their plans.

They would naturally spend the night in the city, investigating whether the Faith Tree was truly as Valkyrie Ailin had described.

If possible, they naturally wished to petition the Faith Tree to return them to the ancestral homeland of the elves.

At the entrance of the Tiejiangpu Sect.

"What's your situation? This isn't an inn, and I don't provide lodging."

Returning to the entrance of the Tiejiangpu Sect, Lin Cheng coldly refused, cutting off the white-haired elven elder and his group before they could speak further.

He had tolerated them following him before, but now they'd come straight to his doorstep—he would never let these damn elves set foot in his forge!

"Hmph, human… we came for the Faith Tree and Ailin. Who wants to stay in your dump?"

Elder Murphi, the white-haired one, had long since awakened, his face wearing an inexplicable air of arrogance, his words even more brazen.

"Heh."

As he let out a dry laugh, Lin Cheng raised his middle finger—Elder Murphi instantly bristled.

"Human, if you keep provoking us, do you think I won't…"

"If you dislike it, get out!"

Before Murphi could finish, Lin Cheng cut him off with a curse: "Whether about the Faith Tree or Ailin, you have no right to decide for me or for Ailin! Understood?"

"I have never restricted Ailin's movements—she comes and goes freely, and the ownership of the Faith Tree belongs to me."

"Why should I give it to you just because you say so? Do you have proof?"

"Who the hell are you? Send your boss to talk to me."

"You…"

Elder Murphi pointed angrily at Lin Cheng, but Lin Cheng simply waved his hand and knocked it away.

"What 'you'? If you've got nothing to say, shut up."

After this exchange, Elder Murphi's face turned from green to purple with rage.

Since ancient times, legends of the Faith Tree and prophecies within the clan had constantly reminded them that the Faith Tree was the foundation of the elven people's survival and rise—how could this not prove the Faith Tree belonged to them?

If not for hearing other elves speak of Ailin and the Faith Tree, he'd never have bothered coming to this place.

In the past, had he encountered a case like Ailin's, he would have left with his people immediately.

The elven clan has the duty to rescue any elf trapped in the human world, but if an elf chooses to remain in the human world, they respect that choice.

Turning, Elder Murphi regarded Ailin with solemn expression and asked gravely.

"Ailin, as a member of the elven clan, I wish to hear your will and thoughts—especially regarding the Faith Tree."

"Does it truly exist?"

Unable to outargue this bastard human, Murphi believed he could surely persuade a mere elf girl under a thousand years old—especially if he struck a perfect side profile.

"It doesn't exist—I crushed it, and used the trunk for firewood," Ailin had not even opened her mouth when Lin Cheng cut in coldly, "The Faith Tree isn't even that impressive—I thought it'd be something extraordinary."

"It's nothing special."

As he spoke, Lin Cheng produced a toothpick and casually stuck it between his lips.

The toothpick radiated a potent aura of life—proof enough that it was made from a branch of the Faith Tree.

"You…"

Elder Murphi could not believe this human was so wasteful—how could the sacred Faith Tree be used for firewood and as a toothpick?

"Can you say anything else besides this…?"

"Asshole!"

After cursing, Elder Murphi was so enraged his vision darkened and he fainted again.

"Elder Murphi? Elder Murphi?"

Fortunately, the elves behind him quickly caught the elder.

The fragile peace between Lin Cheng and the elves shattered the moment Murphi fainted—they glared at him with open hostility; the elven maidens radiated venom toward Lin Cheng, and had Ailin not been present, they might have attacked on the spot to avenge Murphi.

"Ailin, come with me. Watch them, so no one else takes them away and ruins my reputation."