A team was advancing on a winding road between canyons. The road should have been repaired by humans and was basically flat, but few people had walked on it over the years, causing many leafless shrubs and yellow weeds to grow on the road. In addition, there was some snow on the ground, which had melted nearly half on this warming day, making the dirt road a bit muddy, slowing down the team's progress.
Adan rode in the front, with two solemn middle-aged guards beside him, and Ji Yijun behind him. Aola was talking to him. In the middle of the team was Luo Ling, and Elaina, who had been with her all these days. Morey and Farrell walked behind them, lowering their heads as if they were still thinking about something. At the end of the team were Karanda and Chen Hansheng, who were accompanied by several pack horses carrying the baggage for the expedition.
The destination of this team of eleven people was a relic of the royal family of the Black Dragon Empire.
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"Okay, don't be depressed. Isn't it fun for us to go out and explore together?" Ola tried to find a way to make Ji Yijun talk, but the latter kept having a sour face along the way.
"I'm telling you, I will never let that bastard Chu Ying off. When I get back, you'll see how I teach him a lesson." Ji Yijun said bitterly, "And those old guys who protect each other!"
"Why get angry with them? Nobles and officials have special status after all. What you did is an insult to a group of people. Just dismiss you from office. You can go out into the world. Otherwise, you'll still be catching old men spitting everywhere every day."
This touched Ji Yijun's heart. He was already suffocated by the rigid life in the camp and often yearned for such a thrilling life. However, he was furious when he thought of the committee members criticizing him in an official tone. In theory, with the power I have, it shouldn't be difficult to beat them one by one until they surrender, right? I only need a stick to kill everyone in the administrative building...
As Ji Yijun thought about it, a smile appeared on his face, and he whispered, "Hey, are you convinced?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Ah?" Ji Yijun was startled and came to his senses. Thinking back to what he had just thought, he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. This might be the so-called state of mind not keeping up with strength, right? No wonder my father always said that the more powerful one's martial arts skills are, the more one must learn to live an honest life. Otherwise, if he gets possessed one day, the person behind him will not let him go.
He turned back quietly and found Luo Ling talking to Elena.
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"Have you been worried about something these past two days? You seem to be distracted often and talk less." Luo Ling pushed aside the hood of her down jacket and glanced at Elena.
"You found out." Elena was also wearing a down jacket. Her pointed ears made the hat stick up into two sharp corners, which made her look a little funny. She looked around and whispered to Luo Ling, "I wanted to tell you a few days ago. But I held back."
"I know you can't help it." Luo Ling smiled and rode closer to Elena. "Go ahead."
Elena pulled the reins, slowing the horse down a bit and putting some distance between herself and the people in front.
"Adan and Ola are descendants of the Black Dragon Empire. But do you know? The Black Dragon Empire and the Elf Kingdom are sworn enemies." Elena leaned over and said.
"I know that Emperor Luca of the Black Dragon Empire attacked the Elf Kingdom hundreds of years ago. He hired a Master Gryon to corrode the elves' tree wall. But how long ago was that? Is it necessary to care about it now? Besides, that war did not destroy the Elf Kingdom. On the contrary, when the Black Dragon Empire was overthrown, the elves also got involved and occupied a lot of territory, right?" Luo Ling has read almost all the local books she could find and knows these historical events in detail.
"You humans have a short lifespan and forget history very quickly. But we elves are different. I have many living elders who participated in the war. They all had relatives and friends who died at the hands of the Black Dragon Empire. So the hatred towards the Black Dragon Empire has been planted in my head since I was a child." Elaina said surprisingly seriously, "And you also know that the Black Dragon Empire has done many things without bottom line, such as forcibly transforming people's blood and extracting souls to make golems. I know that the word evil is not suitable to describe a country, but the Black Dragon Empire is really an evil country."
Luo Ling suddenly realized that the difference in life spans made the two races look at things in completely different ways. What happened in ancient times for humans happened just yesterday for the elves.
"If you have such a strong opinion, why didn't you say so earlier?"
"Isn't it because I'm afraid it will affect your plan? I know the seriousness of the matter." Elaina's face was a little worried, "But the closer we get to our destination, the more worried I get. In the end, I couldn't help but say it out loud."
"That empire no longer exists." Luo Ling said.
"But what if the empire is restored because you helped them?" Elena asked back.
"Don't worry." Luo Ling reached out and patted Elena's shoulder. "A country is not built on secrets or treasures. Now in the kingdom, apart from these poor people, who else misses the Black Dragon Empire? Without people, there is no foundation for existence, and this country will never have a chance to be restored."
"Okay. I believe you." Elena put her hand on her shoulder and held Luo Ling's hand.
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The team reached a narrow valley entrance and heard a shout from the front: "Human team, stop! This is the territory of the valley dwarves."
Luo Ling rode forward and saw a dozen dwarves blocking the road ahead. They were wearing simple leather armor, holding spears and hunting bows, and a few hunters were holding what looked like matchlock guns. Most of them were carrying prey such as rabbits and pheasants, and were obviously dressed as hunters. Judging from their appearance, they must have come back from hunting and happened to run into Luo Ling and her group.
"Matthew, how could this be the territory of the dwarves?" Adan looked at the middle-aged knight beside him with some doubt. Knight Matthew took out an old map and said, "From the map, it seems that this place is very close to the ruins, and there is no village marked here. It must be a dwarf tribe that moved here later."
"Dwarf, we are just passing through here and going to the basin by the river behind the mountain. We will not affect you." said another knight Nate.
"That's where our village is. We don't welcome outsiders." The leading dwarf replied. He waved his hand, and the dwarves behind him put down their prey and picked up their weapons.
Seeing the stalemate ahead, Luo Ling asked Farrell beside her, "Mr. Farrell, have you heard of a dwarf tribe here?"
"No, the dwarf kingdom is far away from here, and I have never heard of any dwarf branch here. I can talk to them." Farrell jumped off his horse and walked to the front of the team. Luo Ling also dismounted and followed.
The other party was very surprised to find a dwarf in the team. Luo Ling thought that since they were both dwarves, they would have something in common, but unexpectedly, the other party suddenly became even angrier and shouted, "Human, how could there be a dwarf with you! Is this dwarf a slave trader from the Dwarf Kingdom? Is he here to capture the dwarves in our valley and make them slaves?"
Farrell looked at him in confusion: "I don't know what hatred you have with the Dwarf Kingdom, but I left that place a long time ago. I am an exiled dwarf."
The leading dwarf stared at Farrell with wide eyes, then said to the people behind him: "His beard is tied into three braids, so he must be a craftsman."
"Or maybe he's just a small officer. Those bad guys at least have five-strand beards." said a dwarf.
"Well. Looks like he's not a condescending jerk." said another dwarf.
"Let him speak for himself." The leading dwarf turned to Farel again, "What did you do in the Dwarf Kingdom? Why were you exiled by those idiots? Do you have any relationship with the family responsible for trade with humans? You must swear in the name of the God of Forging that what you say is true!"
"In the name of the God of Forging and the Forging Hammer, I am telling the truth!" Farrell said without hesitation, "My former family was the Molten Stone Family, a very small family of craftsmen. But I am the most talented craftsman in the family. Not only in my family, but also in the entire city, there are few people who can compare to me!"
"Sure enough, it says he is a craftsman." said a dwarf.
"Shut up!" said the dwarf leader. "Let our brother finish his story. I already smell the stench of those high-handed bastards from this story."
"Yes, my brother, those guys are bastards. I invented a new steel forging process that can greatly speed up the forging process. This is a good thing, right? I was going to win the forging festival competition to prove myself, but I was framed for cheating by those big families. Cheating in the forging festival is a serious crime, so I was exiled..." Farrell told the dwarves his story. Those hot-tempered dwarves were attracted by his story and listened quietly.