"Be cautious on the way back, the journey may not be peaceful," Eugene advised.
"Could it be bandits?" Zhao Lun asked, puzzled.
Eugene smiled but said nothing; everything remained unspoken yet understood.
After delivering the goods, Eugene casually made his exit, offering no further words, and did not attempt to keep them.
Zhao Lun and his companions packed their belongings, then, with the innkeeper and Carpenter's farewell, they departed the inn, climbed aboard the carriage, and made their way out of the city.
A few miles later, they had left the clamor behind, and only the silhouette of the vast city remained in the distance.
"This road is better than the one we took before."
This time, their return was from a different route. The road beneath them had been paved with stones, though uneven, it was still far better than the mountain path.
"Traveling by carriage occasionally isn't too bad."
The road was flanked by sturdy trees, with firs further ahead, lush and vibrant, exuding an almost ethereal energy, perfect for high-quality timber.
"Boss, stop placing your hands where they don't belong."
The carriage was cramped, and the group was packed into a small space. Naturally, there were some accidental touches in places where they shouldn't be.
"I'm not placing my hands anywhere inappropriate! My hands are right here, how could they be anywhere else?"
Zhao Lun raised his arms, holding Maria, and said with a frown.
"Whose hands are these? Wait... Maria?"
Monica, grabbing a mischievous little hand from Maria's plump rear, realized it was her at play.
"Hee-hee..." Maria showed no sign of embarrassment for being caught; instead, she laughed triumphantly, acting like a playful monkey in Zhao Lun's arms, teasing them with reckless abandon.
"You're still laughing? Just wait till I deal with you!" Monica retaliated.
"Hey! Both of you, behave! Stop moving, we might overturn the carriage! Ah, Maria, you—"
The already cramped carriage swayed even more.
They had not ventured far from Nikolai City. Still riding in Anna's family's carriage, though crowded, the atmosphere was pleasant and full of laughter. No one minded the discomfort, and they all enjoyed the jovial mood.
As evening approached, they had reached a remote stretch of wilderness, with Nikolai City no longer visible in the distance.
Chirping and rustling filled the air as countless birds returned to their nests in the thicket ahead, forming a sight resembling a vast "cloud," compelling the group to halt and observe.
"There are so many birds here."
The group was captivated by the sheer number of birds. They had never encountered such a large flock before.
"This place is likely safe; there aren't many dangers around, and there's plenty of food. It's probably what makes it a bird haven."
A place that can sustain such a large number of birds must have few predators and an abundant food supply, which suggests a low level of danger—a favorable location.
"Should we shoot one for dinner?"
Maria's appetite was stirred. Unlike most girls, who would find the sight of so many birds endearing and be reluctant to harm them, Maria thought only of food—whether it was delicious or not.
"Wouldn't that be a bit wrong?"
"After all, they're heading home. If they have chicks..." Penelope added, watching the returning birds, her concern grew. She worried that the young birds left behind might starve without their parents.
"Then let's not shoot them. Let's find one that's not heading home."
It was too late for any bird not returning home, everyone thought, and seeing that Maria was resolute in wanting to try some exotic meat, they switched their focus.
A dozen or so plump cedar grouse were pecking around not far from them. Unfortunately for them, they became Zhao Lun's target. "Whoosh! Whoosh!" A few arrows were released, swiftly taking down several unguarded grouse, now destined for their evening meal.
"Wow! Cedar grouse!" Maria exclaimed in delight.
The other women also smiled, pleased with the upcoming feast.
Cedar grouse were a unique species in this area, resembling chickens, but with snowflake-like feathers, and their meat was renowned for its exquisite taste. They inhabited remote, human-free regions, making them difficult to catch. But today, luck was on their side as they encountered a dozen of them. Zhao Lun certainly wasn't about to let this opportunity slip by.
After hunting a few and capturing others alive, they sent them straight to the divine realm to be kept as breeding stock. In the future, they wouldn't need to hunt here for cedar grouse; they'd have them available at their convenience.
The night passed unusually quietly, and after their meal, everyone retired for rest. At dawn, they resumed their journey. The road was relatively easy to navigate, though it did take a longer detour.
"Brother, have you noticed? There have been no ghosts here at night."
"Yes, I've noticed. No ghosts have appeared here at night, which makes me believe something is definitely at play."
"Didn't you notice? I thought it was perfectly normal," Maria remarked, as the trio—Zhao Lun, Penelope, and Maria—discussed the topic of ghosts. Both Zhao Lun and Penelope were wizards, and Maria would soon be one as well. They could all see ghosts. Before coming here, they had occasionally spotted ghosts outside, but not a single one had appeared here, indicating some unknown cause.
"It might be a matter of belief, or perhaps the evil presence here has affected things."
This place was dangerous, with limited knowledge and many fools, making it ideal for preaching. The surrounding dangers had made the locals more devout. Their faith, fervently held, helped them endure spiritual torment, and, at the time of death, it would lead them to their god's embrace, granting them entry into their personal paradise.
If the evil influence were too strong, however, it could destroy or even warp souls.
Zhao Lun believed the first theory was more plausible.
As for the world they had come from, Zhao Lun speculated that the wandering souls they often saw were connected to the depth of their faith.
"Be careful! Watch ahead!"
By now, it was afternoon, and they were nearing a perilous stretch of the journey. The road beneath them was so bumpy it caused discomfort. They had already packed away the carriage and switched to their off-road private vehicle, specially designed for such terrain. As they moved along, the passengers only felt a slight vibration.
"Do you think there's danger ahead?"
"Danger? Eugene warned me to be cautious on this road; it's an ideal place for an ambush. Let me take a look."
As Zhao Lun spoke, he pressed several buttons on the vehicle's dashboard, and a satellite-launching icon appeared. Without hesitation, he pressed the button, causing the vehicle's trunk to open automatically. A small object shot into the sky, quickly vanishing into the clouds before coming to a stop.
A satellite.
The projection opened, and a clear image appeared before them.
The mountain road was treacherous, with high mountains on one side and a turbulent river on the other. The river's surface swirled with occasional whirlpools, looking extremely hazardous.
The mountain's barren soil yielded little vegetation, with sparse plants dotting the landscape. The satellite zoomed in, revealing several figures concealed among the thin vegetation.
They were people—armed, lying in wait, prepared to fire.
The satellite expanded its search range, revealing a man dressed as a gentleman, binoculars in hand, pointing toward them and making gestures.
Closer to the mountain path, another man was seen holding a torch, standing by a fuse, seemingly ready to ignite it at any moment.
"Hiss! They don't come in peace!"