The battle had ended, leaving behind a gruesome scene of dead wolves and wild boars strewn across the ground, blood pooling and staining the earth a deep crimson.
The air was thick with the stench of blood, and no matter how the wind blew, it couldn't disperse the oppressive atmosphere that clung to the place like a shroud.
In the forest, silence reigned, a stark contrast to the previous commotion.
Although the attackers had been repelled, the surrounding beasts remained, fixated on the corpses scattered about, unwilling to leave.
Today, they had not only failed to secure food but had also suffered significant losses. After a chaotic chase, they had arrived at this site, and after the battle, they were left with gnawing hunger. The rich scent of blood was a constant temptation, but the terrifying weapons of the humans kept them at bay.
Recalling those weapons—the creatures' greedy gazes were filled with confusion and doubt.
They recognized these weapons; humans called them firearms. One shot could take down one of their own. However, after the shot, there was a pause, and they felt emboldened. If they charged in together, victory would be theirs.
In the past, they had relied on this strategy to defeat many bipedal hunters, feasting on their flesh afterward.
The thought of those two-legged prey made their mouths water, as it had been far too long since they tasted such delicacies, and they were beginning to forget the flavor. It was a longing too strong to resist!
Unfortunately, this time, the enemy had proven unexpectedly strong. Their fire-spitting weapons had not ceased; the bold tactics they once employed had been scattered before they could even charge.
With many of their brethren dead or injured, they were now frightened and unwilling to rush in and meet their doom.
Now, they only hoped that these two-legged creatures would leave the bodies of their "brothers" behind, allowing them to feast well.
Even if they took some away, that would be fine. As long as some remained, it would be enough for a hearty meal.
Inside the makeshift shelter, it seemed the humans were unaffected by the earlier chaos. After driving off the beasts, they brought out some finely crafted kitchenware and began preparing dinner. The group temporarily put away their weapons and divided the tasks among themselves.
"Phew! Those things are finally gone!"
"Yeah, those creatures are absolutely insane! I've never seen animals so reckless!"
"If they were on some grassland, they would surely dominate!"
In reality, the group wasn't entirely calm; while preparing food, they couldn't help but exchange remarks while glancing outside. As far as the light from their torches reached, no beast remained. The dark forest was eerily quiet.
Staring into the darkness, it felt as if a giant beast lurked within, making them uneasy.
They didn't let Maria cook; the young girl felt somewhat left out and unhappy, especially with the nauseating smell of blood lingering in the air. She glanced at Zhao Lun, who was also idly standing around. "Brother, can you clean up those things outside?"
"I was just thinking of doing that. I'll take care of it now," Zhao Lun replied.
Cleaning up the battlefield was a simple task for Zhao Lun. With a wave of his hand, the bodies of the wolves and wild boars vanished. Without the corpses, the stench of blood diminished, and the area felt much more open and pleasant.
Outside, the waiting beasts were bewildered. Where was their promised breakfast? Why weren't the humans adhering to the usual customs?
With no food left, and aside from a few stubborn beasts who refused to believe there was nothing for them, the rest gradually slinked away.
Dinner was unaffected by the earlier bloodshed; if anything, it made everyone more ravenous. They feasted heartily, with Mulan preparing the most delectable parts of the wild boar as braised pork for everyone.
After dinner, they all retired for the night. The next day, they woke up according to schedule, finished breakfast, and set off again.
By then, it was already past seven o'clock. The forest was deep and dark, the light inadequate, making it seem as though dawn had yet to break.
There were no beasts around now. Last night, some bolder wolves had ignored the danger and ventured onto the battlefield to scavenge for food, but they found nothing. They left disappointed, having only licked the bloody ground.
With no opportunity for a meal and unable to overpower their foes, these clever animals slinked away in defeat.
On the road, they saw no signs of wildlife, enjoying a rare moment of tranquility.
By noon, they finally emerged from the dense forest to find a village ahead. Smoke wafted up from chimneys as the villagers began preparing lunch. Other than that, the place was quiet, but with Zhao Lun's group arriving, the tranquil village erupted into activity.
At this point, they switched to a horse-drawn cart.
Many adults and children rushed out to see them. Zhao Lun felt a sense of familiarity at their expressions, reminiscent of a city dweller returning to a remote village, drawing curious onlookers.
These children were thin and wore mismatched clothing, each clutching a piece of something dark and unappetizing, their faces dirty and filled with curiosity and longing as they gazed at the horse-drawn cart.
Zhao Lun and his companions didn't stop to give them anything despite their hopeful eyes. They weren't saints and wouldn't offer any handouts, especially since some armed men watched them warily from a distance.
This village was very close to the forest, and the men with firearms looked fierce. Without adequate weapons, they would be unable to protect themselves from any wild boars or wolves that approached.
This little village was the most poorly conditioned one Zhao Lun had ever seen; the environment and the people appeared filthy and impoverished.
Giving out alms indiscriminately could easily lead to trouble.
Zhao Lun and his companions didn't linger here; instead, they passed through the small village and continued along the relatively flat dirt road.
When they reached the next town, it resembled a version of Transylvania, and in fact, it looked even worse than the previous small town. The group was left disappointed. However, they still headed to the town's only inn to eat.
The inn was rather quiet, with few patrons, while the tavern next door was lively, filled with the sounds of loud conversations.
As the wind blew, the stench of cheap beer wafted into their noses, prompting the group to mentally rate the inn poorly.
Inside the inn, an elderly man noticed their arrival. He was taken aback by the ladies' beauty but quickly regained composure to greet them.
"Oh! Guests from afar!"
"Hello, are you here to stay or just for a meal?" he asked cordially.
"If you're looking to stay, we have available rooms. If it's food, we have delicious meals."
The old man was relatively clean, but he spoke slowly. If he were impatient, it might feel awkward.
"Can we take a look first?" Monica, acting as the assistant, naturally spoke up first.
"Of course." The old man didn't boast about his inn; he allowed guests to inspect it if they wished.
The lodging was in the back courtyard. The rooms looked quite cramped, furnished simply with wooden beds and coarse linen sheets. The soundproofing wasn't great, but the place was relatively clean, with no unpleasant odors.
After a brief glance, they all nodded in agreement, deciding to rest here. After a long journey, they needed a stable place to recuperate.
"We'll take the rooms," Monica said.
A genuine smile finally appeared on the old man's face.
Dinner was also ready, and they didn't eat in the front area but instead had their meal here. The food was simple: lamb, with tender leg of lamb cooked to perfection. It was accompanied by potatoes, and the lamb was flavorful without any gaminess—quite decent. The bread served, however, was a surprise; they hadn't expected to see such dark loaves!
This dark bread was hard and tough, making it difficult to chew. Zhao Lun quickly spat out a small piece he had bitten off, only to find a foreign object within. Feeling nauseated, he hurriedly took some water and rinsed his mouth several times.
The other ladies politely declined such food. Only Zhao Lun, driven by curiosity, tried a piece, resulting in the unfortunate situation.
This small town remained relatively quiet, and they spent the afternoon there. The next morning, they set off again toward a nearby town.
The journey was a bit long, requiring more than two days. Along the way, they encountered some unsavory individuals wielding firearms, engaged in their no-cost dealings. (To be continued.)