Is it good luck or bad luck?" Assa wondered as he sipped the meat soup.
The meat was good meat. It was made from top-quality dried beef, pounded into dense jerky. The meat from just one cow fit into a small bag. When cooked with water, it transformed back into delicious beef. This was the preferred ration for noble warriors during expeditions.
The soup was good soup. Even the river water in the Lizard Marsh, purified by purification charms, was as clear and sweet as the purest mountain spring. When boiled with beef and seasoned with salt, even the finest chefs in the city couldn't find any faults. It made one feel that the purification charm was indeed worth a silver coin.
Eating such good meat and drinking such good soup would invigorate even a person on the brink of death. Assa was well aware of his physical condition. After a good night's rest, he could take down a cow barehanded.
The campfire was built with a stack of large logs, carefully arranged with solid and compact dry and wet wood, ensuring it would burn until the next day. The heat from the campfire would surpass a person's body temperature, making it undetectable to the Wyverns. There was no need to hide in cold tree hollows and burrows, and other beasts and venomous creatures wouldn't dare come near. Sleeping soundly next to such a campfire, his strength would fully recover.
Even if he could take down five cows barehanded, Assa still lacked confidence in directly facing the stalker.
No matter how much his strength recovered, it wouldn't be enough to outpace the stalker. The campfire was warm, safe, and bright enough to allow any creature in the swamp to see clearly.
"You're really amazing. It's the first time I've seen someone daring enough to navigate the Lizard Marsh with just one weapon," the woman who claimed to be an apothecary said with an admiring expression.
Assa didn't feel worthy of admiration. He hadn't even noticed that his skin was still bleeding after the leeches detached. It was only a few drops of blood, but it almost attracted all the carnivorous fish in the swamp. He had to push a dead tree, knocked over by a wild bull, into the river and stand on it, drifting downstream to evade the countless mouths eagerly awaiting him. However, when a few crocodiles joined the pursuit, he had no choice but to scramble ashore. It was already dusk, and he was about to find a hiding place when he saw the flickering of a fire. That's when he encountered someone he never expected to meet.
The woman was probably around the same age as Assa. Despite her adventurer's attire, carrying a large bundle and wrapped in a dirty blanket, her fair and delicate skin revealed that she wasn't a commoner. Carrying that type of efficient rations and a single purification charm, the price of which could sustain a common family comfortably for a month, this woman was likely of noble birth.
I thought it was already impressive for me to explore and gather herbs alone in the swamp. The terrain and climate here are unique, and many plants only grow in this area. So, despite my father's disapproval, I sneaked in here myself." The girl spoke freely, like an innocent child. It seemed she hadn't encountered her kind for a long time, especially in such a treacherous environment, so she had no guard against him.
She had a slender sword, an Anka rapier, strapped to her waist. It was thin, long, strong yet flexible, light and nimble, primarily used for thrusting and assassination. As an experienced soldier, Assa recognized it immediately. It was always displayed prominently in his father's shop, accompanied by an eye-catching price tag.
The sword's position on her waist was optimal, allowing her to draw it quickly. The hilt was tightly wrapped in fine hemp rope, a technique used by seasoned warriors that ensured a secure grip even when soaked in blood. Although the rope's color was still its original untainted shade, the countless marks left from tight grips and strikes indicated that this sword was more than just for display.
But even with her, it would still be insufficient to deal with the stalker. In life-or-death combat, it was not just about skill and technique but also about spirit and determination. Even if one was trained since childhood, if they had never heard the shattering sound of an axe breaking bone, the desperate cries of someone severed in half but still clinging to life, or felt the sharp pain of an enemy's weapon tearing through flesh and tendons, then it was all just child's play. When faced with the threat of death and the immediate agony that could engulf their consciousness, fear, hesitation, and loss of combat effectiveness were inevitable.
If only there were a magician or a priest present, even with just the most basic blessings or a few simple fireballs...
Assa realized that he had perhaps become too complacent in the comfort of this sudden arrival of meat soup and the warmth radiating from the campfire. To encounter another human being in the dense forests and swamps spanning hundreds of miles, and to drink meat soup and replenish his strength by the comforting campfire, was almost unbelievable stroke of luck.
Chewing on a piece of adventurer's biscuit given by the girl and washing it down with the meat soup, feeling the comforting warmth from the lucky campfire, Assa sighed contentedly but helplessly.
The stalker should be hiding in a tree hollow at this moment, peering at the flickering firelight. Even he, with the nocturnal calls of the bipedal dragons still echoing through the night sky, had to take cover. However, as soon as the first light appeared in the east and the bipedal dragons returned to their nests, the stalker would relentlessly follow the trail of this stroke of luck and rush toward them at an astonishing speed.
Whether it was good luck or bad luck, since it had already happened, he had to, and could only, try to steer the situation towards a hopeful outcome.
"How far is it to the Dono River from here?" Assa asked.
The Dono River, which initially passed through the treacherous water segment of the Lizard Swamp where Assa was forced to venture into the swamp, became gentle after bypassing the swamp. Drifting along the river for a day would lead one to the small western town of Brakada in the Empire.
"I'm not entirely sure, but it's not far, maybe a day or two on foot," the girl replied.
He could reach it with a half-day sprint. No, although it was much closer than he had expected, without a precise distance, he had no exact certainty or assurance. On the other hand, he had a definite understanding that the stalker could catch up with him within half a day. The chances of a direct escape were slim.
Perhaps it would be better to tell the girl the truth and ask her to help him deal with the stalker. Although the odds of victory were small, it was still better than any other alternative. Waiting for the stalker while taking advantage of the moment seemed like a viable option. Assa pondered how to phrase his request.
"May I ask, could you accompany me for a while? Tomorrow, I plan to venture deeper into the swamp to search for new herbs. It's my first time going so deep into the swamp," the girl suddenly asked. "Of course, I will pay you for your company." She brushed away a few strands of black hair that had fallen onto her face, the dark locks resting lightly against her slender lips. Her lips formed a slightly hesitant curve. Her feet, rather large for a woman, were gently rubbing against each other. They were similar in size to Assa's, and she wore a pair of adventurer's leather boots, just like him.
Assa suddenly realized a way to escape. It was an efficient and potentially successful method. It required no traps, no deceitful ploys, no physical exertion, and no waste of precious time. Just take advantage of the present moment, this brief moment by the campfire, and he could make the stalker waste a significant amount of time and energy.
This revelation made his heart pound intensely.
"Can you?" The woman blinked her eyes, which were not large but adorned with long eyelashes. The corners of her eyes curved slightly downwards, giving off a faintly playful smile even when she was angry.
The campfire was bright, and her eyes were dark. The soft and warm glow from the fire reflected, but Assa dared not look directly at her. He shifted his gaze away, took a deep breath, and tried to make his tone sound natural. "I'm sorry, but it's not possible. I have something very important and urgent to attend to."
"Oh, really?" The woman couldn't hide her disappointment in her tone and expression.
"About half a day's journey west from here, there are several types of herbs unique to this swamp. They have distinct healing properties," Assa said, his face contorting, his voice faltering, and his words becoming vague. It was the first time he had told such a malicious lie to someone who was friendly, especially to a woman.
"What do you mean by 'unique'? " the woman asked.
"Um...uh...I saw a couple of savage bulls, no, it was two savage bulls...they were fighting each other, and one of them got injured...uh...no, it was its hind leg...no...maybe it was...well, it doesn't matter, but it was seriously injured. It was lying on the ground, almost dying. Then it ate a few plants, applied them to its wounds, and after a while, it got better." In his desperate state, Assa recounted a story he had heard from an old adventurer in his childhood about dogs fighting, but the meaning was not very clear. However, he became more fluent as he spoke.
"Oh, really? Tell me, what kind of plants are they?" The woman's eyes widened, and her gaze made Assa feel as if he was once again seeing the crossbow bolt that had narrowly missed him five days ago. He almost instinctively lowered his head and bent forward to dodge. She quickly took out a pen and paper from her backpack.
"It's a pale yellow flower..." Assa mixed up the characteristics of several wild herbs and improvised a description. The woman diligently wrote it down.
"If you venture deeper into the swamp, you must grind and apply the water mint and insect-repellent chrysanthemum on your clothes and skin. Even if you have insect repellent oil, you must apply them because there are some poisonous insects that fear the smell of these two plants," Assa said in a serious tone to the woman.
"Just these two plants? They are everywhere around the campfire," the woman casually found them nearby.
Of course, these two herbs did have insect-repellent effects. Assa had been applying them on his body since entering the swamp. However, these two herbs were not as effective as the specially formulated insect repellent oil from the adventurer's guild. Over the past three days, the first thing Assa did upon waking up in the dawn in the tree hollow was to quietly remove any centipedes or other venomous insects that occasionally found their way into his armpits, crotch, or even his hair.
Of course, there were even more venomous insects in the deeper parts of the swamp that were not afraid of these two plants.
It seemed that any skill could be developed through practice. No matter how difficult or contrary to human nature it may seem, with enough practice, one would become accustomed, proficient, and even immersed in it. With previous opportunities for rehearsal, Assa spoke the most malicious part of his extremely deceitful lie smoothly and calmly, using the motion of poking the campfire with a twig to cover up his gaze.
"Thank you so much. If I can find these herbs again and understand their properties, it will be enough to embarrass those old folks at the Alchemy Guild," the woman said excitedly, feeling a sense of camaraderie between them. She continued in a friendly tone, "I've always known that the world is vast and there must be undiscovered medicinal plants. But those old folks always rely on the knowledge passed down from previous generations."
There's no need to feel guilty. Even if I don't tell her and go alone to face death with courage, it won't lead to anything good for her. Once the hunters discover any trace of humans in the swamp, they won't spare anyone.
Even if we fight together, most likely we'll both end up dead, and she might even hinder me or not be of any help at all. This method only makes her death more meaningful and gives me a better chance of survival. Assa searched for every reason in his mind to justify his sinister trap.
"Once my achievements are recognized, not only will the Alchemy Guild take notice, but even the Magic Academy will value me. The Archbishop himself might personally inquire about these new herbs," the woman said with excitement, her round face blushing. She pointed to a nearby tree and said, "Look, this type of tree is also one of my discoveries. There's no mention of it in any books, but through conversations with many retired adventurers, I learned that it's quite common in the swamp. I also discovered that its sap has strong irritant and toxic properties. If it splashes into someone's or an animal's eyes..."
Your life is actually built upon the deaths of countless other lives, so never give up on the slightest hope of survival.
The tree trunk was entwined with numerous small roots, straight and thin, much like the pen used by the old adventurer in the village. This suddenly reminded Assa of a profound-sounding statement he had once made, elevating his recent conspiracy to a philosophical depth. He felt that he could justify his actions. But suddenly, a wave of disgust overwhelmed him, leaving him feeling immensely fatigued.
The bipedal pterosaurs soared through the treetops, their swirling air currents even perceptible within the tree hollows. These enormous flying creatures held absolute dominance over the swampy night, encompassing any warm-blooded animals within their menu, even the massive brontotheres.
A scent reminiscent of lizards wafted in the air, evoking a sense of disgust in the stalker. He cared little for any connection between these two species; he simply found it repulsive. If it weren't for these creatures that emerged every night, forcing him to wait in the tree hollows like prey until daybreak, he could have driven his quarry to madness in just one day and night of relentless pursuit. If it weren't for the overpowering stench that almost rendered his sense of smell useless, he wouldn't have fallen for the cunning trap that almost deceived him and delayed his progress, nor would he be here, captivated by the flickering firelight in the distance.
What's the purpose of lighting a campfire? Is it to replenish strength by consuming food? Do you think I haven't seen through your ploy? Or is this yet another trap?
Are you provoking me? The stalker pondered with fury. Are you telling me, 'You're right there, come closer, let me tear out your heart'?
But the stalker quickly admonished himself not to lose his composure. Losing his cool in the face of such a cunning prey would be walking right into a trap. Undoubtedly, this was absolutely a trap, perhaps a follow-up to the earlier one from the day.
The river was now not far away, and at dawn, he would sprint with all his might to track and bring this hunt to an exhilarating end. The stalker let out an excited snort and tightened his grip on the immensely lethal weapon in his hand. The thin crust formed by brain matter and blood on it had become an integral part of the weapon.
Don't get too excited, don't get too excited, stay calm, stay calm. The stalker reminded himself once again. Tomorrow, he would carefully observe and consider every trace he encountered, not falling for any illusions anymore. Remember to watch out for illusions, be wary of them.
Do you think I'm easy to deceive? Are you still proud of the brain I'm about to rip out and savor?
The stalker felt pleased with his composed thoughts and let out another snort.
The blade sliced through the skin, cut through the muscles, severed the windpipe, and then severed the arteries. The muscles split open, and the blade emerged from the other side of the woman's neck, sending a clear and vivid sensation that trembled all the way from the fingers to the wrist, elbow, arm, and resonated directly in his heart. The distinct layers of feeling were as profound as an exquisite poem. And then, the vibrant crimson blood gushed out from the woman's body, allowing Assa to indulge in its passionate flow.
A few strands of black hair pressed against her delicate lips, which formed a slightly constrained arc. Her drooping eyes narrowed, and within her long eyelashes, a faint smile lurked. Only when he drew closer did he realize that she was an incredibly beautiful woman.
Suddenly, Assa felt afraid. Afraid of the tenderness hidden within her narrowed eyes, the stubbornness conveyed by her thin lips. The woman maintained the same expression, but Assa was completely consumed by the fear that arose from this sudden discovery of gentle beauty.
Then he realized that it wasn't just the woman's throat that had been slashed; his own had been too. Caressing the wound on his neck, he felt the vivid and distinct sensation of cutting through that gash, desperately trying to fill the wound with that feeling but to no avail. Assa groaned in immense pain.
Gazing at the woman's beautiful and gentle face, juxtaposed with the distressing wound on her neck, he felt his own wound with his hand. Sorrow, sadness, fear, and pain enveloped Assa as tightly as the surrounding darkness. Suddenly, he jolted awake.
The pale light of dawn had already appeared on the eastern horizon, and the calls of the bipedal pterosaurs were gradually fading away. These creatures were circling back to their nests deep within the swamp, starting from the edges. Assa's position was closer to the heart of the marsh, giving him the advantage of an early departure.
However, Assa didn't show too much interest in this precious time. Instead, he crouched near the dying campfire, staring blankly as the woman crushed water mint and insect-repellent chrysanthemum with a stone and applied it to her clothes and skin. Even now, the lingering sensation of the nightmare echoed in his thoughts, clinging like sticky snot that couldn't be wiped away, leaving his mind in a foggy haze. Fortunately, he could also keenly feel that his energy had almost completely recovered.
The woman, on the other hand, seemed to have slept well. After finishing applying the mixture, she began swiftly packing her belongings while engaging in casual conversation with him. "You had quite a intense nightmare last night. It even woke me up. I was going to wake you up myself."
Assa stared blankly at the woman's serene and radiant face. Her beautiful, hazy eyes, straight nose, thin lips, and slender white neck subtly revealed through her clothing. Suddenly, Assa had the illusion that blood was tragically flowing from there, causing him to shudder uncontrollably.
The woman had finished packing her belongings and bid him farewell. 'Goodbye, if you ever have the chance, you can come to the Duke's Manor in the capital city, Mularak, to find me,' she said, her smile infecting the morning mist with a gentle and tender charm. 'My name is Xiao Yi.'
No chance. It's either you die or I perish. Assa couldn't bring himself to face that smile, so he kept his gaze fixed on the ground and mumbled an acknowledgment.
After watching the woman's figure disappear into the misty morning, Assa started running in the direction of the river.
He didn't jump into the river to conceal his scent, nor did he mind leaving footprints that even the poorest-sighted rat could clearly see on the soft muddy ground. He didn't run fast either. This speed allowed him to make the most efficient use of his stamina. He knew very well that any kind of disguise would be futile in the eyes of the pursuer. Obvious tracks like these would only confuse him.
Of course, there was still a possibility that the pursuer would follow the true tracks, but after encountering the previous trap, he would likely have reservations, so the likelihood was relatively small. Assa suddenly found himself actually hoping to hear the pursuer's footsteps behind him.
But deception was also futile. This was indeed the most efficient method. Once the pursuer spent energy and time chasing the woman, Assa's chances of escape would be high. Even if the pursuer killed the woman and resumed tracking him, Assa would have the advantage in stamina, increasing his chances of victory. Assa shook his head, trying to focus all his energy on running step by step.
However, after running for less than half an hour, he came across a wide river blocking his path. He couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness. Everyone, including the pursuer, had probably miscalculated. Perhaps due to the rainy season, the river water had diverted from the low-lying areas of the marsh and flowed directly through the swamp.
At that moment, a faint and sorrowful scream echoed from deep within the swamp.
After traveling such a long distance, the sound was already weak, but it struck Assa's heart like a massive iron hammer. The image of last night's dream immediately surfaced before his eyes, and the distressing wound on the woman's throat was incredibly vivid. He stood frozen in place, unable to move.