Although Trunks was known to be a difficult character to get rid of, his reputation was actually quite good. After receiving his promise and having him swear a blood oath, Han Shuo didn't give him any more trouble.
Having been badly injured, Trunks didn't pay any further attention to Han Shuo as he struggled to get some gauze and medicinal water out of his space ring. He shook and trembled as he applied the medicine to his wounds, then grimaced in pain as he finished.
"Your injuries look quite severe, how long will it take you to fully recover?" Han Shuo frowned and asked when he saw Trunks like this.
Snorting badly, Trunks said, "Weren't you the one who caused my injuries? And you still dare to ask, but don't worry, my injuries look severe, but they will be easy to recover from as long as my tendons and bones are not hurt. Not to mention that the medicinal water I just treated him with was made from magical herbs I picked in the Dark Forest. It's especially good for healing wounds. As long as we wait for my combat aura to recover, I won't be a burden to you."
Nodding, Han Shuo said, "Alright then, let's return now."
"Wait!" Trunks shouted, and then he concentrated on Han Shuo's face, finally asking confusedly, "Can you tell me how you discovered me as soon as I entered your tent area, and why I was found no matter where I hid? Why is it that even though I can use Combat Aura to lock onto an enemy before I use Restrained Dragon Slash, leaving them at my mercy as long as their strength is not greater than mine, your weapon still automatically flies up to protect you?"
"Sorry, I can't answer both of your questions. The only thing I can say is never try to ambush me in the future. You will only get yourself into trouble." Han Shuo shrugged as he said this to Trunks.
Nodding his head in understanding, Trunks said, "If no one can ambush you, then your strength within the Dark Forest is many times greater. It looks like this time we might actually have a chance to succeed in our quest for the Fruit of Dagmar.
The way back took more than five times as long as it had taken them to get here. Trunks' speed was greatly reduced due to his injuries, but he resolutely refused Han Shuo's offer to assist him, stubbornly insisting on walking alone.
In this way, Han Shuo came to understand many things about the Dark Forest as the two of them progressed, finally making it back to camp late in the afternoon.
The tents of Odysseus and the others were all still there, as they hadn't left. When Han Shuo and Trunks appeared, it was as if the whole group was facing a huge enemy as they all grabbed their weapons and pointed them at Trunks.
"Everyone put down your weapons, he is no longer a threat to us." Han Shuo walked over and with a straight face tried to convince the others that there was no need to brandish their weapons.
When everyone heard Han Shuo's words and saw Trunks' bedraggled condition, they hesitated for a moment and then withdrew the weapons in their hands. Water Adept Mage Aphrodite asked curiously, "Han, what's going on?"
"I'll tell you later, how are Odysseus ' wounds?" Han Shuo asked Aphrodite with a furrowed brow.
Giving Trunks an unfriendly look, Aphrodite opened her mouth to say, "There's no threat to his life, but there's a bloody mark on his chest from where the manticore hit him. His whole body is now very stiff and very strange. I feel that even if he recovers in the future, I'm afraid the injury to his chest will affect his strength. He's just gone to lie down and rest.
Everyone's eyes were filled with hate and bitterness as Aphrodite spoke her piece and her eyes swept over Trunks' body, seemingly ready to draw their weapons at any moment to give Trunks a thorough and painful beating.
"Han, can you tell us why you brought this person with you? Oh, I know, you captured him alive to execute him in front of Odysseus?" Gordon stared at Han Shuo as he asked with a darkened face.
Because of Captain Odysseus' injuries, these people now had a hard time to hide their hatred for Trunks. Han Shuo could sense the anger in their hearts from their tones and expressions. If Han Shuo hadn't restrained them just now, it was likely that Trunks would have taken an immediate, furious revenge as soon as he appeared.
But Han Shuo needed Trunks to lead him in the search for the Fruit of Dagmar, so Han Shuo couldn't let these people hurt Trunks just yet. Han Shuo hesitated when he saw Gordon's malicious expression and then explained what had happened.
When Han Shuo finished, Grodon laughed coldly and said loudly, "Screw that Fruit of Dagmar! Odysseus was badly injured. We no longer need the Fruit of Dagmar, we need the life of that damned murderer!"
"Han, do you want the Fruit of Dagmar or revenge for Odysseus?" The elven archer Nia suddenly looked at Han Shuo coldly and asked him weakly.
The other adventurers all focused their gaze on Han Shuo for a moment, as if waiting for his answer. At that moment, Han Shuo suddenly felt a huge headache. He hadn't expected Odysseus ' injuries to be so severe, and he certainly hadn't expected these people's concern for Odysseus to go far beyond their concern for the Fruit of Dagmar.
Han Shuo hadn't originally considered these people to be trustworthy companions. He'd only come with them because of the Fruit of Dagmar. He was a little surprised by what was happening now, and a little touched by these people's friendship with Odysseus, but since he had already promised Trunks his safety, he was at a loss as to how to handle the situation.
Being the person in question, Trunks hadn't said anything since his arrival. There was no trace of panic in his eyes, but he was calmly reading everyone's expressions. Suddenly, he opened his mouth and said, "It looks like no one is welcoming me, but I have a way to deal with Odysseus' injury. Are any of you willing to trust me?"
Han Shuo didn't wait for the others to speak after Trunks said these words and immediately asked, "You can help Odysseus?"
Nodding, Trunks said in the affirmative, "Odysseus' injuries were the result of being clawed by the manticore. The manticore is my companion, of course I know how to heal an injury caused by it."
"Follow me!" Having long since sensed Odysseus' breathing, Han Shuo didn't waste time with further chitchat and led Trunks to one of the tents. He lifted the flap to reveal a pale-faced, somewhat weak Odysseus.
A large hole had opened in the chest of the soft armour Odysseus wore. It was now wrapped in gauze, making it impossible to see the condition of the wound inside. As Trunks and Han Shuo entered, so did Aphrodite and Gordon. The others surrounded the tent from the outside, ready for Trunks' slightest move.
"Remove the gauze from the wound." Trunks instructed after entering.
Since Trunks said he had a way to help Odysseus, the group hadn't said anything, as if they were waiting to see how Trunks would act before deciding on their next move.
Gordon remained silent, but walked over to Odysseus . He woke Odysseus and then, under Odysseus' astonished gaze, removed the gauze from his wound. A terrifying injury was revealed, down to the bone in his chest.
"Han, what's wrong? Odysseus weakly looked at Han Shou and asked in confusion.
"Don't move and don't say a word. I'll explain when your injury has stabilised!" Han Shuo said quietly as he approached Odysseus.
At that moment, Trunks took a vial of medicine from his space ring and poured out some red powder, which he slowly applied to Odysseus' wound on his chest. He explained weakly, "The tail of the manticore has an extreme poison that paralyses the entire body. The claws have it too, but it's not as strong as the tail. The powder I'm applying can remove the poisonous effects of the manticore's claws and increase the speed at which its injuries heal".
"If you still want the Fruit of Dagmar, you'll find the Medusa monster in this swamp. The fresh blood of a Medusa monster has miraculous properties for wounds. As long as we can kill the Medusa monster and get its blood, I promise that he won't suffer any after-effects from it. The speed at which his chest wounds will heal will be even faster in the future. Trunks explained weakly as he glanced at Gordon.
Looking at Gordon and then at Aphrodite, Han Shuo said calmly. "I think we need him to help us find the Medusa monster. What do you think?"
Aphrodite and Gordon looked at each other and nodded simultaneously.