One of the swordsmen made a simple stretcher to carry Odysseus, who tried to defuse everyone's hostility towards Trunks once he understood the situation. It was a shame that although the people stopped shouting for Trunks' death, they still gave him dark looks.
Trunks himself was rather light-hearted about everyone's hostility. Han Shuo even had the feeling that he didn't care at all. To his surprise, when Han Shuo questioned him, Trunks simply replied coolly, "If you hadn't miraculously discovered my movement, none of them would have left alive. I never pay attention to those who pose no threat to me."
In the days he spent with Trunks, Han Shuo learned a few things about the Dark Forest from him. In the depths of the Dark Forest, everything depended on personal strength. Everything else was of secondary importance, and to be indecisive or friendly was to be weak. It often meant losing your life.
Everyone followed Trunks' instructions as they ventured further into the Dark Forest over the next three days. Odysseus' injuries came under control over the three days and slowly began to scab over, but his movement was still restricted.
Trunks' injuries also healed quickly after being treated, but because of the spikes on the tip of Han Shuo's Demonslayer Edge, Trunks' hands and feet still weren't quite as agile. However, traces of colour were slowly returning to his originally pale face.
By midday, they all arrived at the edge of a pond. They found a large tree to rest Odysseus on, then decided to draw some water from the pond to drink.
Before the others had moved, however, Trunks had stood with Han Shuo and suddenly frowned, opening his mouth to say to Han Shuo, "Tell them to be careful. Do you see the seaweed in the pond? These seaweeds have sharp thorns in their roots and will pull you into the water as soon as they sense that humans or beasts are approaching. You'll easily lose your life this way."
Han Shuo exclaimed hastily when he heard these words. "Gordon, you stand there and don't move."
"If you hold torches, the heat from the flames will scare the seaweed away, so they won't move so easily." Trunks said weakly when he saw Han Shuo staring at him.
"Thank you!" Han Shuo said lightly and walked over to Gordon and the others. He told them about the dangers of the seaweed and reminded them to light the torches.
As they began to move according to Han Shuo's instructions, one of the original demons standing guard in the distance suddenly spotted traces of the manticore's movement. Han Shuo was startled and quickly walked over to Trunks, "Your manticore is nearby."
Nodding, Trunks looked questioningly at Han Shuo and said, "You really can detect movement in your surroundings. That's right, I chose this path because this is where I told the manticore to wait. There's a scent on me that only it can detect. I think it will find me very quickly."
"If that's the case, I hope you can tell the manticore to behave." Han Shuo understood that Trunks would keep his word, as his reputation had always been good. He wasn't really afraid of Trunks doing anything, just that the manticore was a level one magical creature with boundless power and could tell friend from foe. If it started attacking him, Odysseus and the others as soon as it appeared, things would get a bit dicey.
"I know what to do, I don't need you to remind me." Trunks stretched lazily against a large tree and suddenly whistled violently.
The manticore that had been circling in the distance quickly closed the distance when it heard Trunks' whistle. Within ten seconds, it was standing obediently in front of Trunks. When Gordon and the others, who were fetching water from the pond in the distance, saw the manticore, it was as if they'd all seen a huge enemy. However, Han Shuo was able to calm them down with his voice.
At that moment, the original demon who had seen the manticore suddenly saw a strange phenomenon. The branches of a lush green tree suddenly twisted bizarrely, the twisted branches spinning in circles several times before suddenly turning into human hands and feet.
Han Shuo had also detected the disturbance there through the original demon, and he immediately focused his concentration on observing it. The twisting branches continued to twist around themselves and finally formed into a strange person covered in tree bark clothing. This strange figure had dark green hair and looked a bit like the forest trolls, but had sharp ears, making it look a bit like an elf.
Just as Han Shuo was stunned, the strange figure regained his bearings and walked towards where the manticore had passed. He muttered, "If the manticore is here, then Trunks must be nearby."
Han Shuo was startled as he suddenly stared at Trunks, "A strange person is following the manticore. He just transformed from a tree and is now approaching in this direction along the path the manticore took. He seems to know you."
The lazy expression on Trunks face immediately vanished as Han Shuo's words rang out, and he suddenly stood up and jumped directly onto the manticore's back, saying, "If I'm guessing right, that person should be the druid Caspian. As a druid, Caspian has the ability to transform his body into a tree and a large bear. He can also communicate with trees. I can't meet him with my current strength, we have to leave here immediately".
"Too late, he's already here." Han Shuo furrowed his brow and said suddenly.
Han Shuo had originally planned to decide whether to leave or stay after asking Trunks, but who would have thought that the druid Caspian's movement speed would be so fast. Caspian had jumped towards a tree as Trunks spoke, and the flexible branch, as if it had a psychic connection to Caspian, suddenly swung back and forth, throwing Caspian in that direction.
Caspian had landed with a thud in front of Trunks by the time Han Shuo had finished speaking. He looked at Trunks and smiled faintly. "Long time no see, good friend. Shouldn't you return what is mine now?"
Trunks didn't answer Caspian from behind the manticore. The Manticore jumped up and tried to get as far away as possible.
The smile on his face remained unchanged as Caspian suddenly chanted an old and ancient incantation. All the bushes, trees and flowers suddenly seemed to come to life in the direction the manticore had gone, and seemed to turn into countless hands, large and small, that rushed towards the manticore and the trunks to entangle them.
The branches of a large tree in front of the fleeing Trunks spun into a net, blocking his escape. The bushes rose like waves, surrounding the Manticore and Trunks. The manticore tried to destroy everything around it, but Trunks held it back.
"Old friend, I sense you're hurt. The fact that you didn't fight back this time means that you're not quite sure you want to leave me behind. It looks like your injuries are not minor. Give me the Divine Wood Sceptre and I can heal your injuries. Isn't that good?" Caspian smiled at Trunks, who had stopped in the distance.
Han Shuo and the others watched the conflict between Trunks and Caspian from a distance and didn't interfere. It looked like Trunks had taken something from Caspian and Caspian was just asking for it back. From the current situation, Trunks was in the wrong, so Han Shuo didn't interfere and just watched coldly from the sidelines.
"I'm hurt, you wouldn't take it from me at a time like this, would you?" Trunks held out his hands and spoke to Caspian after he'd been surrounded.
Caspian was silent for a moment and then stared at Trunks, "If I remember correctly, you stole the divine wooden sceptre from me when I was injured. I wouldn't mind learning from you if need be!"
"Alright, this is your divine wooden sceptre. I've studied it for three months, and I haven't discovered anything special about it. You can have it back." Thinning his lips and smiling ruefully, Trunks took an exquisitely crafted scepter that looked like it had been made from old tree roots out of a space ring and threw it at Caspian from afar.
The branch of a large tree suddenly extended and magically wrapped itself around the divine wooden sceptre, placing it in the hands of the druid Caspian. As Caspian grasped the divine wooden sceptre, a vibrant and powerful presence of life immediately emanated from the sceptre. The bushes around him rustled as if in silent celebration.
Caspian tossed over a small vial the size of a thumb. When Trunks caught it, Caspian said softly, "The essence of a hundred flowers inside will be very beneficial for your injuries. Don't think of doing anything against me in the future."
Trunks accepted the Essence of a Hundred Flowers and shrugged his shoulders, making no promises to Caspian. Judging by his expression, he seemed to be very interested in something Caspian had.
"Honourable noble druid, may I ask you to heal my friend?" At that moment, the elven archer Nia suddenly stepped in front of Caspian and asked very sincerely.
Caspian smiled faintly as he looked at Nia, nodded and said benevolently, "Sweet child, I cannot refuse your request.
Druids and Elves were both followers of the great Mother Nature, and only the most devout of her followers gained the right to become a Druid. This druid's ears are pointed, indicating that he was an elf turned druid. No wonder he'd agreed to Nia's request without further protest.
The druid, Caspian, walked over to Odysseus on his stretcher and frowned at the sight of Odysseus' injuries. Caspian recited an incantation and dropped three drops of green liquid on the wounds on Odysseus' chest, then said apologetically to Nia, "Your friend is badly hurt. My blessing of nature and three drops of lifewater will help him heal quickly and without fear of infection. But once his injuries are healed, he won't be able to do any strenuous activities. Otherwise, he may feel dizzy or even faint. There's nothing I can do, I'm really sorry!"
"Thank you, kind Caspian." Nia thanked him and then said, "Trunks said that Medusa's blood can help Odysseus make a full recovery. We'll find Medusa."
Caspian looked at Trunks in surprise and said to Nia, "He's right. There is magical blue blood in Medusa's brain, where the magical core is kept. This blood can indeed help him to fully recover. But my old friend isn't someone who likes to help others, so why would he tell you this?"
"You took the divine wooden sceptre and healed the person. Isn't it time for you to return to the Druid Order after chasing me for several months?" Trunks looked at Caspian from his side and said a little irritated.
Nodding his head and smiling, Caspian explained to Nia, "Looks like my old friend is angry. Heh heh. He's not as bad as you think. If he's willing to help you, the chances of you getting Medusa's blood are extremely high. Excuse me, I still have things to do and can't keep you company."
"You're too kind." Nia was a little startled and flattered as she hastily replied sincerely.
Caspian looked at Trunks and left with a slight smile, disappearing from everyone's sight after a while.
"Let's go, we'll continue on our way and reach the place in two days." Trunks snorted slightly with a cold expression after Caspian left and urged the others to continue on their way.
Under Trunk's guidance, the group encountered no danger, and after two days, they arrived at a swamp that had a strong stench. Several giant man-eating flowers repeatedly attacked Han Shuo and the others around the swamp. It was a good thing that Trunks had warned them beforehand, and the group was able to defend themselves against the man-eating flowers together.
"The Fruit of Dagmar grows on a patch of mud in the middle of this huge swamp, along with a lurking Medusa. We've reached our destination." Trunks pointed to the vast expanse of swamp in front of him and spoke.