River North Wanderer: "Glad to hear no serious harm befell them. My mind is at ease. I shall contact Fae Willow and inform her, so she need not concern herself with traveling to Haven City."
Liam often wondered if River North Wanderer was perpetually online, twenty-four hours a day. How did he possess such boundless energy? Was his daily routine perfectly aligned with Liam's own, allowing them to always cross paths online? No, that couldn't be it. River North Wanderer was online when Liam was, but he remained online even when Liam logged off; Liam always found a backlog of his messages when he returned. It was as if the man truly never slept, a tireless sentinel of the digital realm.
Liam felt a flicker of concern. With so many people succumbing to overwork these days, would River North Wanderer eventually collapse from exhaustion? He made a mental note: he should kindly advise River North Wanderer to get some rest before he left the group.
Liam scrolled further down the chat. After his update, Seven of the Serpent Clan had quickly logged off. Then, around 5:00 AM, Apothecary came online, sending an image followed by a question mark.
It was a picture of a plant Liam had never seen. The plant grew in a twisted, serpentine fashion, resembling a coiled dragon. Its tip bore a row of thorns, and its stem was purplish-black. A peculiar plant, undeniably beautiful.
River North Wanderer: "Poison Dragon Grass, Apothecary? Do you require it again? Did you not cultivate some recently?" River North Wanderer was, as usual, the first to reply.
Apothecary: "Experiment... perished." Apothecary sent a "distressed" emoticon. And that batch of Poison Dragon Grass hadn't been of very good quality.
River North Wanderer: "Very well, I shall contact you if I acquire some. Others who find it will surely notify you as well."
Apothecary: "Alive." Apothecary added tersely.
Poison Dragon Grass… The name itself sounded ominous. Surely it wasn't for elixirs as well? Would it be lethal? Liam felt a growing unease. These group members seemed to court disaster with alarming frequency.
Wait, something felt off. Liam's hand froze. He scrolled back up to Seven of the Serpent Clan's message, re-reading it.
"a few... *ahem*, dozens of inconsiderate mortals in a certain area outside Haven City were knocked unconscious by Sixteen, but no lives were lost."
This sentence sent a peculiar shiver down Liam's spine. He immediately and instinctively thought of the vanquished thugs outside the university… Was this still a coincidence? If all these events were mere coincidences, then there had been far too many of them recently!
"Perhaps I should consider it from a different perspective. Perhaps it's not coincidence, but simply my own overactive imagination."
"Humans are always like this; when suspicion takes root regarding something, they invariably twist unrelated events together, forcing them to fit a preconceived notion. It's like suspecting someone of theft – every unrelated action then becomes evidence, making the person seem more and more like the culprit."
He felt that his current state of mind was precisely that of "suspecting someone of theft." He couldn't let his thoughts spiral further; he'd go mad, just like the group members. Liam stretched, intending to go for a run. A day's journey began with the morning, and with his perceived decline in physical health, that persistent cough from his cold still hadn't fully cleared. It was bothersome! So, seized by a sudden impulse, he resolved to run a mile and a half this morning, to strengthen his body. His goal: to keep up morning runs for a month!
Meanwhile, at Aethelburg Airport.
A woman with waist-length hair emerged, pulling a large suitcase. She was fair-skinned, tall, and long-legged. Dressed in a white T-shirt and denim shorts, her slender legs encased in athletic sneakers, she exuded a vibrant youthfulness. But at this moment, the long-haired woman gazed at the vast airport with a distressed expression, murmuring to herself, "I detest these sprawling places; it's so easy to get lost." She then pulled out her mobile phone and began to tap away at it.
After his morning run, dripping with sweat, Liam felt a long-absent sense of invigoration. He stopped by the cafeteria, grabbing some buns and soy milk for breakfast. Once his rapid breathing subsided, he returned to his dorm. A full Sunday stretched ahead; what should he do? "Should I go read at the bookstore again?" Liam mused, munching on a bun.
He casually opened his laptop and logged onto the university portal—still curious about the thugs' unconscious state, he continued to monitor the news. However, there were no follow-up reports about the thugs' mysterious incapacitation. The poor thugs were still unconscious in the hospital, showing no signs of waking. Thus, there was no way to ascertain who or what had inflicted such injuries upon them. Fellow students who had visited them reported that even in their comatose state, the thugs occasionally moaned in pain. Due to their large numbers, they had been placed in a massive ward. The collective moans and cries of seventy to eighty individuals created a truly horrific scene.
"They were only knocked unconscious; they shouldn't still be out after a day and a night, should they? Have these thugs been reduced to vegetables?" Liam wondered. While idly speculating, he clicked on the group chat. In the time he'd spent running and eating, a few new messages had appeared.
Fae Willow of the Spirit Isles (mobile online status): "Elder River North, I have arrived at Aethelburg Airport. Does Elder Seven of the Serpent Clan require assistance?"
River North Wanderer was, as expected, online, and he swiftly replied: "Fae Willow, you've logged on! Seven retrieved young Sixteen in the early hours and has since departed Haven City. You need not concern yourself with them; feel free to proceed directly to Port City for your own matters."
Fae Willow of the Spirit Isles: "Glad to hear they are well." Fae Willow replied, then added: "Has Elder Seven of the Serpent Clan truly departed Haven City?"
River North Wanderer: "Indeed, in the early hours." River North Wanderer then inquired, "Do you, Fae Willow, still have matters requiring Seven's attention?"
Fae Willow of the Spirit Isles: "Actually… I had hoped to rendezvous with Elder Seven of the Serpent Clan. It would be even better if someone could accompany me to Port City. I am quite unfamiliar with Haven City, Aethelburg, and Port City, and fear I might not find my destination."
River North Wanderer: "Where do you need to go? Modern mobile devices all have a navigation function; it's quite convenient. I must say, modern human inventions are remarkably practical." River North Wanderer enthusiastically explained. Many members of the group were unfamiliar with modern technology, but River North Wanderer considered himself a 'modernity expert.'
Hold on, is your mystical aesthetic slipping? Liam thought. Shouldn't you be recommending ancient maps or perhaps mystical compasses? Or even, at the highest tier, teleportation portals? Mobile navigation is a bit too mundane!
Fae Willow of the Spirit Isles: "I tried, but my destination is not found on the navigation system." Fae Willow replied, sounding frustrated. She, of course, knew how to use navigation. In fact, at just twenty-five, she was in some ways indistinguishable from other modern young people, save for her far deeper knowledge of the 'true' hidden world. "Furthermore, my sense of direction is rather poor; even with navigation, I might not find my destination." Fae Willow added.
River North Wanderer: "Worry not; once you ascend to the Fifth Tier, mastering aerial navigation, you'll see far and wide, and never lose your way. For now, you could hail a taxi. Generally, with just a destination name, a taxi driver can get you there. But be wary of illicit cabs."
Fae Willow of the Spirit Isles: "Thank you, Elder. I shall try that." Fae Willow said gratefully. Without his reminder, she might have forgotten about the convenience of taxis.
River North Wanderer added: "Fae Willow, where exactly do you need to go? If you truly cannot find it, I can inquire among my contacts to see if any fellow cultivators are nearby who might offer a small assistance."
Fae Willow of the Spirit Isles: "It is a place in Port City called Haven's End District. There should be an ancient abbey there called Whispering Lantern Abbey. That is where I must go!" Fae Willow swiftly replied.
River North Wanderer: "Understood. I shall make inquiries for you. I will contact you when I have news."
Fae Willow of the Spirit Isles: "Elder, my gratitude knows no bounds!" Fae Willow sent a smiling emoticon. She secretly clenched her fist. With River North Wanderer's reply, her anxiousness eased slightly—after all, this was her first journey alone. Previously, her father had always accompanied her, or she had only ventured within the vicinity of the Spirit Isles. She felt a strange thrill.
...
Aethelburg Airport. The long-haired, long-legged young woman picked up her massive suitcase and strode quickly towards the taxi stand. Her radiant presence drew the eyes of many passing men.