Early the next morning, Terry El and Gao Shun arrived at the Mercenary Guild, only to find the hall eerily empty.
Old Riley sat alone, savoring the rare tranquility in the guild's main chamber.
"Terry El, good to see you! What brings you here so early?" Riley greeted him with a warm smile.
"Morning, Old Riley. What's going on today?" Terry El gestured toward the deserted hall.
Riley chuckled knowingly. "Ah, the Phantom Forest vanished overnight. Word got out last night, and every mercenary in town rushed off to try their luck hunting for treasure. But—" He paused, eyeing Terry El slyly, "—I suppose they won't find anything worthwhile, will they, Terry?"
Old Riley was one of the few who knew Terry El had once sold seeds of the fabled Phantom Blossom. Hearing the news of the forest's disappearance, Riley had pieced the puzzle together. It all made sense now—why such a peculiar ring would be gifted to a boy like Terry El by someone as notable as the guild master. Clearly, there was more to this young man than met the eye.
However, Riley nearly toppled from his chair at Terry El's response.
"Treasure? The Phantom Forest held treasure?"
"You're joking, right?" Riley looked aghast. "You mean to tell me you destroyed the entire Phantom Forest just for a few seeds of the Phantom Blossom?"
Terry El's expression stiffened. "And if I said yes, would you believe me?"
Seeing the boy's serious demeanor, Riley heaved a sigh. "Well, that's… certainly not what I expected to hear."
Terry El brushed aside Riley's reaction, leaning forward urgently. "What treasure are you talking about, Old Riley?"
Riley scrutinized the boy for a moment before explaining, "Terry, I don't know how you managed to resist the Phantom Blossom's poison, but I can tell you this—there's no one else on this continent who could have done it. Over the years, countless experts ventured into the forest to uncover the source of the blossoms, but all failed. Many perished there, leaving behind everything they carried. Those items have been scattered across the forest floor ever since. Do you see where I'm going with this?"
"Damn it!" Terry El cursed under his breath. "Why didn't I think of that before?"
Riley offered a consoling smile. "Take it easy, Terry. You may be resourceful, but you're still a kid."
Terry El shook his head firmly. "No, I have my ways. Are those mercenaries already at the forest?"
"Not yet," Riley replied. "The news broke late last night. The man who leaked it was drunk, so it took time for word to spread. Many mercenaries left on foot because the city doesn't allow carriages to depart after dark. At most, they're halfway there."
"Then there's still time."
Riley raised a skeptical brow. "Unless you can fly, there's no way you'll catch up to them now. Besides, good luck finding a carriage in the city at this hour."
"Gao Shun, let's go!" Terry El shouted.
Under Riley's stunned gaze, the pair bolted out of the guild hall. Gao Shun, understanding the urgency, scooped Terry El into his arms and sprinted home. Using the teleportation portal openly would attract too much attention, but activating it at home would be safe.
Once inside, Terry El summoned Ying Zi, and Gao Shun swiftly retreated into the summoning space. Terry El wasted no time. "Go!" he commanded.
Ying Zi flapped her wings, lifting into the sky as Terry El's voice rang out. "Head to the Phantom Forest! As fast as you can!"
Though Ying Zi didn't understand what had sparked her master's urgency, she knew it must be serious. She soared at full speed. Below, Terry El could see throngs of people heading toward the forest, lured by its mystery and rumored riches.
As they approached the forest, the crowds thinned, and Terry El reached the site ahead of everyone else. Rising early had paid off—any delay, and the opportunity would have been lost.
Terry El opened a massive portal, unleashing the entirety of his summoned flying corps. "Ying Zi, begin the search! Locate anything that doesn't belong to the forest and bring it back to the summoning space immediately."
The flying corps scattered under Ying Zi's command, while Gao Shun's elite battalion, the Xian Zhen Unit, handled retrieval. The once-weary mountain bandits now wore broad smiles—they finally had a task they enjoyed. After all, scavenging treasures was far more exhilarating than endless drills.
The flying corps proved their worth. As undead beings, they had an uncanny ability to detect even the faintest traces of death. Items left behind by those who had perished in the Phantom Forest were quickly uncovered.
One by one, artifacts were retrieved—blades, staves, armor—all swept into the summoning space. Terry El's heart pounded with excitement as the spoils piled up. Cold sweat dotted his brow. **So close!** he thought. **I nearly let this fortune slip through my fingers.**
Once the pace of discoveries slowed, Terry El decided to recall his summoned forces. However, Ying Zi was nowhere to be seen.
Panic crept into his chest. Time was running out; more treasure hunters would arrive soon, and Terry El couldn't afford to have his secret exposed. Concentrating intensely, he prepared to establish a telepathic link with Ying Zi. This technique consumed a great deal of mental energy, but it was his only option.
Before he could begin, Ying Zi appeared, swooping down at full speed. Even before landing, she cried out urgently, "Master! Quickly! Recall everyone to the summoning space—I've found a hidden cave!"