Chapter 210 - 152: The Girl in the Corpse Bone Tree

"What’s wrong? Are there monsters nearby?" Guagua was startled, then immediately became vigilant, ready to transform into the Iron-faced Warlock at a moment’s notice.

"There’s a call for help."

Skyrim stared intently in one direction.

Hearing this, Guagua also frowned and tilted her head, listening carefully.

Sure enough, a faint cry for help drifted from Faraway.

"Help... me..."

Someone really was calling for help!

Guagua’s gaze sharpened as she instinctively looked toward the source of the sound.

To the front-left, in the densest thicket of Corpse Bone Trees.

"Over there!"

They both spoke at the same time but pointed in two completely different directions.

"..."

Their eyes met, and the atmosphere grew silent for a moment.

"...Let’s check the place you mentioned first." Skyrim gave a light cough, feigning composure as he nodded.

’My sense of direction really is a bit off. I should just follow Guagua.’

"Let’s ride. Brother Niu said we can just skip past a lot of the monsters on this map."

After speaking, Guagua took out the Candle Bone Whistle and blew into it.

WHOO—

A melodious whistle echoed, and the Power of the Spirit Candle coalesced into a steed, its Candlefire burning.

NEIGH—

The Candlefire Spirit Steed reared up, its neigh reverberating through the air.

Guagua swung herself onto the steed. Just as she was about to set off, she saw that Skyrim, behind her, hadn’t moved.

"What are you doing? Where’s your mount?"

Guagua had a bad feeling.

"I don’t have a mount." As expected, Skyrim’s answer cut right to the quick.

Guagua facepalmed. ’I should have known. This guy might be a pro when it comes to technical skills, but he’s a total newbie in every other way.’

"Forget it." Guagua held out a hand to him, annoyed. "Get on!"

"This..." Upon hearing her, the calm expression on Skyrim’s face vanished. He waved his hands in a fluster. "A lone man and woman sharing a horse... How could that be proper..."

"It’s fine, I don’t mind. Hurry up and get on." Guagua’s brow furrowed slightly.

"It wouldn’t be right, it wouldn’t be right." Skyrim shook his head.

"It’s just a game, hurry up! If some important NPC dies, we’re screwed." Guagua was getting impatient.

"No, my mother always said..." Skyrim still refused.

"..."

Guagua gritted her teeth so hard they made a grinding sound.

"Stop with the damn nonsense! I told you to get on!"

Guagua finally exploded, her cute, delicate voice gone as she roared.

’I’m not even bothered by it, and this kid is acting all prim and proper like some kind of saint. You didn’t seem so shy when you were kicking my ass earlier!’

The sudden roar made Skyrim jolt.

A moment later, he swallowed hard. Not daring to refuse again, he quickly swung himself onto the horse.

But his hands were very "well-behaved," braced firmly against the horse’s rump.

"Are you trying to fall off?"

"Hold my waist!"

Guagua shot him a glare and roared again.

Skyrim flinched again before quickly reaching out and grabbing her waist.

’This is unbearable...’

Guagua took a deep breath... ’I can’t keep up this Sweet Sister act for another second.’

NEIGH!

In an instant, the Candlefire Spirit Steed’s hooves flew, carrying the two of them at top speed toward the source of the sound.

CRACK!

Along the way, Corpse Bone Tree trunks would occasionally burst open as Parasites emerged, but they were no match for the incredibly fast and nimble Candlefire Spirit Steed.

Some unlucky Parasites were even trampled viciously under its hooves, turning into pools of blood and gore.

The Corpse Bone Trees on both sides receded rapidly. Their branches, made of fingers and hand bones, twisted bizarrely, like demons from Hell trying to drag people into the Abyss.

"Hold on tight!"

Seeing a huge Corpse Bone Tree root blocking the path ahead, Guagua shouted a warning without a moment’s hesitation and yanked on the reins.

The Candlefire Spirit Steed instantly lifted its hooves and leaped high into the air.

In mid-air, the pair on their horse soared over the Shadow. With their hair flying, time seemed to stand still in that moment.

Skyrim was stunned by the sight.

’This... is just... so valiant and heroic!’

THUD!

But the next moment, a heavy jolt brought him crashing back to reality.

The two resumed their frantic gallop through the Skeleton Forest.

The faint cries for help grew clearer and clearer.

It sounded like a girl’s voice.

Guagua focused intently on finding the source and direction of the voice.

Before long, a massive Corpse Bone Tree appeared in their line of sight, its trunk and branches much thicker than the others.

In the nearby ground and among the winding roots, things bulged and swelled as if incubating something within.

CLOP, CLOP...

The Candlefire Spirit Steed gradually slowed and finally came to a stop.

As Guagua put away the Candle Bone Whistle, the Candlefire Spirit Steed dissolved into motes of Firelight.

As soon as he dismounted, Skyrim quickly shuffled to the side.

It was hard to tell if it was out of fear or shyness.

Guagua, of course, noticed his behavior. Her face darkened as she warned him, "You are not to say a single word about what just happened to anyone else, you hear me!"

Hearing that T-rex roar coming from a Sweet Sister’s face was both jarring and a little terrifying to Skyrim.

"Okay." Skyrim nodded vigorously.

"That’s more like it." Hearing this, Guagua, who had been scowling just a moment ago, broke into a bright smile.

GULP.

This lightning-fast change of expression made Skyrim swallow nervously.

’This woman’s true personality is terrifying...’

After warning Skyrim, Guagua went to the nearby Milestone Spirit Candle to touch the flame.

Then, they both turned their gazes to the giant Corpse Bone Tree up ahead.

Guagua frowned slightly.

There were almost no other Corpse Bone Trees around this giant one, but its roots and branches covered nearly the entire area, their tangled depths a truly shocking sight.

And beneath those bulging roots, something stirred from time to time.

"Help... help... me..."