Chapter 198 : Spare My Life, Heroine

“I ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍was wrong! I was wrong! Please stop hitting me!”

“I ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was just passing by! I won’t dare do it again!”

“I ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍have an eighty-year-old mother above, and below… below I have a younger brother who’s still not weaned…”

“Keep ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍making it up. Go on.”

Lilia ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍rolled her eyes. “I stopped using lines this cliché eight hundred years ago. You’re a monster living in a mass grave—where’d you get a mother from?”

Her ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍foot pressed down slightly, grinding.

“I’ll give you three seconds to reorganize your words.”

“D-don’t! Heroine, spare my life!”

Little Red Riding Hood trembled all over. “I really don’t dare anymore! I’ll switch to vegetarian food! I’ll eat mushrooms! I’ll never eat humans again!”

“That’s more like it.”

Lilia withdrew her foot and wiped the blood off her shoe sole on the grass with a look of disgust.

Although she really wanted to directly eliminate this thing that had tried to eat her, reason told her that keeping it around still had some use.

After all, this was the Dark Forest. She was unfamiliar with the place and needed a guide.

That Bulara was useless—this local snake in front of her, however, was just right.

“Name.”

Lilia kept it brief.

“Red… Red Demon…” Little Red Riding Hood instinctively tried to report her fearsome nickname.

“Hm?” Lilia raised an eyebrow and lifted her fist again.

“Xiao Hong! My name is Xiao Hong!”

Little Red Riding Hood immediately corrected herself, nodding like a pecking chicken. “Everyone calls me Xiao Hong!”

“Xiao Hong?” Lilia’s mouth twitched.

That name was way too casual—like it had been made up on the spot.

“Fine, Xiao Hong.”

Lilia crouched down, picked up the small bamboo basket from the pile of junk, and shook it in her hand. “Let me ask you—has something been off in this forest lately?”

According to the intel Hera had given, there was something unusual happening near the Black Sea. As a necessary route, the Dark Forest would definitely be affected.

This thing had rushed to eat her the moment it appeared—didn’t seem like hunting, more like… stockpiling food?

Or maybe it had been driven to the outskirts by something and was starving?

Hearing this, Xiao Hong’s expression stiffened.

Her crying demeanor faded a bit, replaced by deep wariness, even… fear.

She glanced around, confirming there were no third ears listening, then lowered her voice and spoke carefully:

“Heroine… you felt it too?”

“Cut the nonsense. Get to the point.”

“Th-there’s a group of strange people.”

Xiao Hong swallowed, her voice trembling. “Just a few days ago, a bunch of people in gray robes suddenly appeared in the depths of the forest. They’re neither alive nor dead, and the smell on them… is even worse than this rotten swamp.”

“Immortality Society?”

Lilia’s heart skipped a beat.

That description of the smell was exactly like the modified monsters she had encountered in Batori’s mine before.

“I don’t know what they’re called.”

Xiao Hong hugged her knees, curling into a ball. “Anyway, as soon as they arrived, they started capturing the Resentful Spirits and magical beasts in this forest. Even those old zombies buried for hundreds of years were dug out.”

“I originally lived in the central area… it was because I was afraid of being captured that I had no choice but to run to the outskirts and try my luck…”

As she spoke, she looked at Lilia with a pitiful expression.

She had thought she’d found a soft target for a meal, only to kick a titanium alloy steel plate instead.

What kind of world was this!

Even being a ghost was this hard!

“Capturing Resentful Spirits?”

Lilia rubbed her chin.

Now that was interesting.

Those lunatics from the Immortality Society used to play with human body modification—why had they switched to supernatural research now?

Could it be they were trying to develop some new project combining body and soul?

“How many have they captured?”

“Too many to count…” Xiao Hong shook her head. “Anyway, along the way, all my old neighbors have disappeared. Even the fog in this forest has thinned a lot.”

Lilia looked toward the depths of the forest.

The originally impenetrable black fog had indeed become thinner compared to when she first entered.

And although the feeling of being watched was still there, it had clearly weakened.

Looks like these guys were clearing the area.

With such a huge operation, it definitely wasn’t for some casual picnic.

“Heroine… I’ve told you everything I know.”

Xiao Hong looked at Lilia pitifully. “C-can you let me go now? I promise I’ll roll as far away as possible and never appear in front of you again in this lifetime!”

“Go?”

Lilia stood up, dusting off her hands, and revealed an extremely “kind” smile.

That smile made Xiao Hong’s scalp go numb—it felt even more terrifying than that punch earlier.

“Since you’re so familiar with this forest…”

Lilia pointed at Bulara, who was still lying on the ground playing dead.

“Then I’ll trouble you to carry that ‘luggage’ for me. Let’s head inside together… and pay a visit.”

“Ah?!”

Xiao Hong looked at the heavy doll, then at the darkness deep in the forest that seemed capable of devouring everything. Her face turned green.

Wasn’t this just courting death?!

“What? Not willing?”

Lilia flexed her wrist, her knuckles cracking.

“Willing! Extremely willing!”

Xiao Hong sprang up from the ground, moving as nimbly as a monkey. She hoisted Bulara onto her back in one motion, plastering on a flattering smile uglier than crying.

“To be able to guide the heroine is a blessing cultivated over several lifetimes!”

As long as she wasn’t beaten to death, what was being treated like a beast of burden!

Lilia nodded in satisfaction.

As expected.

Whether in the human world or the Demon Realm, having the bigger fist was the only real truth.

See? Not only did she deal with a roadblock, she even got herself a free laborer and guide.

“Let’s go.”

Lilia strode forward.

“Let me see what kind of trouble those gray-robed rats are brewing.”

She rolled her wrist, glancing sideways at Xiao Hong, who had just picked herself up and was struggling to carry the doll.

“Let me make this clear—if you dare play any tricks on me or lead me into some messy trap…”

She paused, her gaze lingering for two seconds on the Corpse-Faced Locust tree with a human-shaped dent in it.

“I can’t guarantee every one of your bones will stay where they belong.”

“N-no! Absolutely not!” Xiao Hong shook her head like a rattle drum. Her swollen pig-like face was full of sincerity and panic, with dried nosebleed still smeared across it, making her look both ridiculous and pitiful. “Even if you gave me ten times the courage, I wouldn’t dare! I’m truly turning over a new leaf! I’ll lead the way right now, right now!”

To prove her loyalty, she actually started jogging forward with Bulara on her back, her short legs moving quickly despite the heavy burden.

Lilia snorted and followed behind at an unhurried pace.

The Dark Forest was filled with twisted, tangled roots everywhere.

Stepping on them felt soft and squishy, and occasionally there would be a “squelch” sound, splashing unknown liquids—making one not dare to think about what exactly was being crushed underfoot.

After about half an hour.

There was nothing but fog all around—no shadows of any creatures. Not to mention the gray-robed figures, even the wild Resentful Spirits that used to let out occasional wails had completely disappeared.

Lilia’s patience was dropping in a straight line. She already had a short temper, and the lingering irritation from earlier hadn’t fully dissipated. Now, watching Xiao Hong ahead wander around in confusion while leading the way, her anger surged upward.

“Stop.”

Lilia halted, her boot grinding against a pale leg bone.

Xiao Hong braked abruptly, nearly flinging Bulara off due to inertia. She turned back nervously, her swollen eyes squeezed together, asking ingratiatingly, “Heroine… wh-what’s wrong? Tired? Should I find a cleaner rock for you to rest on?”

“No.” Lilia pointed at the unchanging scenery around them. “This is what you call ‘familiar’? Leading me in circles in a place this barren—do you think I have a particularly good temper?”

“No, no, no! I’m innocent!” Xiao Hong’s legs went weak from fright, and Bulara slid halfway off her back, her head hitting the ground with a thud.

Xiao Hong didn’t even bother to fix the doll and hurriedly waved her hands in explanation. “I used to know this place well! Really well! I could find my way home with my eyes closed! But… but it’s different now!”

She shrank her neck, her eyes darting fearfully into the surrounding darkness, as if afraid something might suddenly jump out.

“Ever since those gray-robed people came, the paths in this forest have been like they’re alive, constantly changing… and… and I haven’t dared to come this deep for a long time… I really don’t know…”

Seeing her cowering like that, she didn’t seem to be lying. That kind of fear coming from the depths of her bones couldn’t be faked.