Table of Contents 1: Travelers
The wide, uneven avenue is full of monotonous and boring scenery, and only when the dead leaves are blown up by the wind will a different picture.
It was noon, but there was not a single human being to be found on this endless avenue.
It wasn't until the appearance of a few figures that this desolate picture was finally painted with a little color.
The scattered teams in front and back seem to be random, but they weave a rigorous formation, perfectly protecting one person in the center.
"When I arrived, this is the exit place of Hedong City. "The man at the front is the most conspicuous Cun ZΓ i in the whole team, with a tall and sturdy figure like an iron tower, with a scar on the side of his eyebrows, no one will think he is cute or amiable, for this man, there will always be only a helpless impression - fierce.
The group came to the wooden house at the end of the avenue, and the gust of wind blew, and the unsettling sound of "creaking" could be heard.
"At a closer look, it is really a dilapidated place, which shows the weakness of Hedong City. A calloused hand reached out from under the gray trench coat and pushed open the weightless wooden door, and the tall man was the first to enter.
"Thrush. The person who was protected in the center by the group wrapped his whole body under a thick trench coat, and even his face was almost hidden, only his beautiful chin was exposed, and it was only at this time that he opened his mouth and found that it was a woman under the trench coat.
"Don't worry, miss, I won't talk nonsense. The tall man called the thrush had already half walked into the house, and the woman who followed behind seemed to look around vigilantly, and then entered the house with the others.
The furniture and furnishings in the wooden house seemed to reflect the appearance of the house, which was as old and dirty, and even a fat giant rat squatted in the corner without fear of humans, looking at the group of uninvited guests with a green glow.
The walls of the house are plastered with all kinds of wanted notices, what killer black drugs, drug trafficker Lin Yan, cultural relics smuggling syndicate, witch Cen Feiyi, are all some well-known guys.
The woman's gaze lingered for a moment, then moved away.
All that's left in the room are a few crumbling tables and chairs.
"Is the Administrator there?" the thrush quietly pressed his hand to the bulging position at his waist, and judging by the shape, it was easy to recognize it as a sword.
"Here we are...... I wonder if it's time to rest?" The door of the back room was pushed open, and a middle-aged man in a yellow shirt walked out with a pot-bellied belly, yawning listlessly, and was still slightly surprised when he saw the people in the room.
"There are so many people, there haven't been so many people coming to the door together for many years, do you want to hire a guide?"
"We're going to Thousand Nights. The woman under the trench coat said coldly, and the administrator looked at the other party with those cloudy eyes, until the thrush beside the woman frowned, and he twisted his head with a strange smile, "I'm really sorry, the three guides from this exit office have all taken the task and are ...... out of the middle of the trip" "When will they come back?" The thrush asked the key instead of the woman behind him.
"Generally, it takes three to four days. The administrator shrugged helplessly.
"We're leaving today. The woman commanded as if she hadn't heard the conversation between the two sides.
"Leave yourselves on your own, then. As soon as the Administrator finished speaking, he felt the hostility of the group of people in front of him, and to be honest, the big man called the Thrush was the most feared by the Administrator, and he had an undisguised dangerous aura, like a beast in the jungle.
"I can't control the return time of the guide, do you think crossing the white wood forest is such an easy errand?" The administrator wanted to teach them a few hard words, but after seeing the thrush's ugly face, he moved back a little backwards.
"How much do you want?" the woman asked without giving up.
"What?" "I know that every exit station has its own gray income, and it is impossible to use only that few poor guides, and you still have a back hand, those little mice who are not recognized by the Association of Extradition Persons......" The woman folded her arms around her chest, and said in a confident tone.
"It's not a flower that grows in a greenhouse, it's a wild flower that stings your hands......" The Administrator's face shook with laughter, "I have a little guy here, and although he is not recognized by the association, he has the highest mission completion rate. "That's it. The woman immediately decided.
"Miss, this ......" thrush doesn't trust those wild people, if he has enough ability, how can he not be recognized by the extraditers association?
"We don't have time to waste here. The short, strong reason left the thrush speechless to refute, and then the woman pointed to the administrator, "Take us to him." β
"Follow me. Probably vaguely aware that this group of people was not some fat sheep that could be extorted casually, the caretaker waved his hand in the direction of the wooden door of the inner room, turned around and led the way, through the door, the woman and the thrush saw a winding and complicated corridor, and after turning three or four corners, the group stood in front of a room, and there was no sign hanging outside.
"Bai Ye, there is a business. The caretaker opened the door, and the previous nonchalant voice seemed to become a little nervous, and this subtle reaction caused the woman hiding behind the thrush to wonder for a moment.
"It's not big business, and I don't take it. The lazy answer sounded very young.
"A total of eleven people, the price is up to you, I have only one request, arrive in Thousand Nights City within three days. The moment the woman stepped into the room, she had already dragged out all her requests, and then, she saw the young man named Bai Ye.
Standard Oriental ancestry, black hair, black eyes, yellow skin.
He was wearing a dark brown leather coat, and he couldn't tell what kind of animal it was.
After feeling the gaze of the woman in the trench coat, Bai Ye whistled, he sat on the chair, and his feet were casually placed on the edge of the table in front of him, so that half of the chair and body were suspended there, the first impression of the woman in the trench coat of him was casual, and that whistle was even more frivolous.
"I heard you're familiar with the White Wood Forest. The thrush was very unhappy with Bai Ye's naked gaze, and quietly moved his steps, blocking the woman in the trench coat behind him.
"Hey, Dead Scar, blocked. "What?" "I said you blocked my view, what is there to look at a fierce man." Bai Ye waved his hand, as if he was driving away a child, "I, I hate men the most, so don't talk to me, if you want to talk, let that woman come." "You ......" The muscles in the thrush's face twitched slightly, and his eyes became more and more terrifying.
"Stand down, thrush. The woman in the trench coat had already crossed the tall tower man in front of her and took a few steps forward, "That's it, now, I'll talk to you." "No, no, no. Bai Ye's head shook like a rattle.
"What, you regretted it?" the woman in the trench coat raised her voice suddenly.
"No, no, I mean, if you can't see your body, you can't even cover your face, that's not okay, woman, at least let me know what you look like. β
"What I look like matters?"
"That's right, I made a bid based on your looks. β
"Huh?" was probably the first time she had heard such an unbelievable pricing method, and the woman in the trench coat was stunned.
"If it's the type I don't like, I'll have to add money, and if it's what I like, it's free. Bai Ye ignored the unkind gazes cast by the female subordinates in the trench coat, and just stared at the woman in front of him, "Of course, if you don't want to, get out of here, don't waste my time." β
The huge body of the "little ghost ......" thrush was about to swoop out, but it was silently stopped by the delicate figure.
"I see. Almost without hesitation, the woman in the trench coat agreed.
"Miss, you ......" At this moment, the group of guards behind him made a fuss, they had never been so insulted, they were just a wild guide who was not even recognized by the extradition association!
"Shut up! Just look at it, and you won't get pregnant. The cold mockery of the woman in the windbreaker was perhaps more aimed at Bai Ye.
The woman raised her hand and pulled down the heavy windbreaker and headscarf, revealing the brilliance that was covered, and Bai Ye immediately had an evaluation of this woman.
It can't be said to be excessively beautiful, but it gives people an intellectual sense of beauty, quiet with nobility, and the black hair coiled around the neck is flicked at will, and the action is also full of elegant posture.
But after Bai Ye's initial calm, his eyes suddenly widened, and he subconsciously blurted out: "Li Yue?" This time, not only the woman, but even the thrush showed a subtle look of surprise.
"Do you know me?" the woman named Li Yue pursed her lips with a pale red sheen, and her voice suddenly became soft.
"It's not important, it's ...... Why is the princess of the Wheel Country here?" Bai Ye accurately reported the origin of the other party, and the administrator standing on the side was the first to change his face, "She is a princess? Bai Ye, you won't be joking." "Is there any need to joke...... I've been to the country of wheels once before, and I've seen her from afar at the parade, and I've always been confident in my memory, especially remembering women. Bai Ye clapped his hands when he said this, jumped up lightly, and then landed.
"Forget it, I don't think you will be naΓ―ve to reveal the purpose here, according to the previous agreement, I can not charge your fees, and the others will be five thousand yuan each. "Didn't you say it was free?" some of the guards asked dissatisfiedly.
"I mean pretty women are free, and as for you men, it's better to pay me obediently, please remember that it's best not to offend me as a guide, because I will be in control of your life for the rest of the journey. Bai Ye turned a blind eye to the almost murderous gaze of the thrush and the others.
"I'm going to go at once. Li Yue conjured a heavy money bag out of thin air in the palm of her hand.
"There is no problem, as long as you follow my arrangement, you can arrive in Thousand Nights City within three days, now, pay half of the fare first, and settle the rest for me when you arrive in Thousand Nights City." β
"Deal. The money bag was deftly thrown up, showing a perfect parabola that fell between Bai Ye's open fingers.
"Count. With a flick of Bai Ye's right hand, the money bag was moved to the administrator again, and even the process of opening it was saved.
The administrator weighed it lightly for a few moments, then nodded with a smile.
"Are you ready to go?" Li Yue pulled up her trench coat and covered herself again.
"Of course. Bai Ye didn't mean to procrastinate, but turned to the administrator who was taking out his part from the money bag, "Thank you for taking care of me in the past few months, and you can use this room for others in the future." "Aren't you going to come back?" the administrator was taking out his portion of the commission from his money bag, and a complicated expression flashed across his face, as if it was a pity to let such a good guide go.
"Ah, it's time to go to the next city. After Bai Ye re-caught the money bag, he tied it around his waist casually, "I shouldn't see each other again, take care, dead fat." With a wave of his hand, Bai Ye pushed the door out, leaving the administrator with a distant back.
"It's okay, although it's an excellent tool, but that kind of disobedient personality is really not something I can control. The Administrator seemed to remember some bad memory and sighed in relief.
A few dozen meters after leaving the country, there is a vast forest.
Passing through here, you can reach the famous trading city of Thousand Nights in the Xia Kingdom, but it is such a not too vast forest that has devoured the lives of countless passers-by.
In the clearing in front of the woods, a crooked wooden sign is inserted, and you can vaguely see the name of the forest, the White Wood Forest.
"There are eleven of you in total, if you want to cross the white wood forest alive, you must completely obey my orders, understand, the world after that, you can't use common sense to judge, and those who question my orders will be the first to lose their lives. Before leaving, Bai Ye repeated this sentence for the last time, although his face was full of impatience, his frivolous tone finally became stern.
"This will be my field. β
Bai Mu Lin, I don't know who took this name, the only thing that is certain is that since this forest has its own name, it has become extremely dangerous, and the guys who try to cross here alone disappear into it forever one after another.
After a simple preparation, Bai Ye and his party entered the forest.
Along the way, the thrush and other guards carefully guarded Li Yue's side, and Bai Ye walked in the front very consciously, and that relaxed and calm appearance was like the owner who came home and wandered in the backyard.
"Is this forest really as dangerous as it is rumored?" a guard walking beside Li Yue muttered quietly, and the noisy chirping of birds and insects could be heard everywhere, and he could vaguely feel that there were small animals running nearby, just like a normal forest.
"The White Wood Forest is only a C-level area, with a survival rate of at least 60%, and if it weren't for the unfamiliar terrain, we wouldn't need to hire any bullshit guides at all. The thrush always kept its eyes on the back of Bai Ye in front of him, as if he was observing something.
"Is he a martial cultivator?" asked Li Yue, who was protected by the stars and moons of the stars.
"It's not. The answer was categorical, the thrush tested Bai Ye many times, and finally came to the conclusion, "I can't feel the breath of the same kind from his body." β
"That means it's the contractor?" Li Yue and the others kept their distance from Bai Ye, but they still kept their voices as low as possible.
"Miss, don't worry, I won't let him divulge the secret. As if understanding what Li Yue meant, the thrush inadvertently pressed the hilt of the sword.
"Thrush, it's very dangerous to act without knowing the opponent's hole cards, and being able to survive in the wild today proves that he is not an ordinary person, and there is one more person to deal with. β
"If it's the Administrator Fat Man, I left a signal that the others have already taken care of it. β
"Really...... If I look closely, I'm really getting more and more cold-blooded......" Li Yue said with a little self-deprecation.
"Miss, the path we are taking, sacrifice is inevitable, and besides, that kind of fat person may not necessarily be a good person. The thrush was annoyed by the dirty look of the dead fat man before, but now the guy was afraid that he could no longer see.
"Well, I know, I have had this realization for a long time...... When we leave the White Wood Forest, let's get rid of him too. Li Yue, who had returned to normalcy, gave an order lightly.
"Yes. A neat, whispered answer rang in my ears.
"Hey!" Bai Ye's call interrupted the strange whispers of the group of people behind him, and after stopping, he looked ahead, and a wide avenue appeared in the forest, a road that was incompatible with this forest, there were no weeds on it, no dirt, and it was a strange dark black, and it was much harder than other grounds.
"It's almost time. Looking at the position of the sun in the sky, it was already noon, and Bai Ye casually nodded in the shadow surrounded by tall trees.
"Rest here until dark and continue your journey. β
"What? You have to know that our time is already very tight, and we even want us to use the day to rest?Moreover, if you rush at night, it is more dangerous than during the day!" The thrush's reaction was naturally expected by Bai Ye, but he didn't bother to explain.
"As I said, you have to listen to me here. β
"That at least gives us a reason. After seeing Li Yue's hidden eyes, the thrush held back the anger in his stomach and asked in a rough voice.
"There's no reason why you have to listen to me if you want to live. Bai Ye had already walked into the shade of the tree, and then sat on the ground casually.
"The survival rate of Bai Mulin is more than 60%, and a mere C-level field is really as terrible as you say? I don't believe it, we are more or less people who have passed through the B-level or even A-level field. β
"That's the case of an extraditer, is it something to be proud of?" Bai Ye yawned listlessly, his eyes hazy, as if he was going to sleep well here.
"If you have a regular army, if you enter the White Wood Forest, the survival rate will naturally be 60%, or even 100%, but in the case of few people, this is the most dangerous C-level area, believe it or not, if you are not afraid of death, just keep going. "Bai Ye is determined to rest here.
"There is no need for the army, it is enough for me alone. Before the thrush finished speaking, the movement of other creatures in the forest disappeared in an instant, as if instinctively feeling the oppression from the thrush.
"I'm very confident in myself, but even if it's a martial artist, it's hard to survive here alone. Bai Ye laughed unmoved.
"What is in the White Wood Forest?" Li Yue strolled out of the guard pile and came to Bai Ye's face, the anxiety in her heart was more than that of the thrush, but she realized more clearly that in the White Wood Forest, her people did not have the capital to get along with Bai Ye.
"A bunch of cunning brutes. Eleven small black sachets flew out of Bai Ye's hands one after another, and they fell into everyone's hands, "The things that poisonous insects and snakes hate are all in it, wear it on your body, so that you won't be killed by the invisible little guy, and then have a good rest, and keep your spirits on the night rush." β
"Can't travel during the day because of some animals in the woods?" Holding the sachet in her palm without suspicion, Li Yue asked.
"Rodents. Bai Ye leaned on the damp tree pole behind him, his eyes staring blankly at the dense branches and leaves above his head.
"Monkey?" the thrush and the other guards let out a contemptuous laugh.
"The body size is about the same as that of a human adult male, with strong arm strength and sharp teeth, and the most terrible thing is the movement in groups, and it is thanks to this group of guys that Bai Mulin has become a C-class realm. As soon as Bai Ye finished speaking, he heard sparse laughter.
"A small bunch of monkeys, if you dare to show up, I'll kill them all, little ghost, I order you to keep on your way now, that's the guest's request. The thrush approached with heavy steps.
"You look really strong, maybe you can't die, but I'm different from you. Bai Ye shrugged, his face full of helplessness, "I'm super weak, so I will only use the methods of the weak to protect my life." "You ......" "Okay, thrush, listen to him, rest here......" Li Yue had already sat down, and the anxiety in her heart was well hidden in the bottom of her heart.
"Miss......" The thrush wanted to say something, but was glared at by Li Yue's stern eyes, and finally sat down in submission, so that the rest of the people did not continue to object, and sat cross-legged on the ground one after another, forming a circle, and began to wait for the night to come.
"By the way, you can't walk on that flat road at night, you can only go through the weeds and be mentally prepared, and as for torches and the like, you can't hit them. Bai Ye moved his body and put on a more comfortable posture to lean on.
"Why?" the thrush only felt disgust for Bai Ye, and his tone was full of provocation.
"Don't you think it's weird? That road shouldn't be so clean, if not plantable. Bai Ye pointed at the void absently.
"Do you want to say that the monkeys helped clean up?" one of the guards imitated Bai Ye's tone, causing many people to laugh strangely.
"As it is, apes are the closest animals to our human structure, so it's not surprising that they would be clever. Bai Ye closed his eyes and was too lazy to deal with the group of guards.
"Is that road ......" Li Yue's gaze never left the clean and wide road.
"Ah, that's something left over from the aftermath of the Holocaust, which used to be called a highway, but who would have thought that hundreds of years ago, it wasn't a forest here, but a constant stream of cars. Bai Ye seemed to think of something, and the corners of his mouth slowly hooked up.
The era of mankind has been ruthlessly ended.
"yes...... Who would have thought that the human race, which was once the ruler of the world, would be reduced to such a pitiful appearance......" Li Yue lowered her voice, and the whole person seemed to curl up, hiding in the shade of a tree.
"This is nothing but punishment for humanity, punishment for our greed and madness...... Let's get some sleep first, it's going to be a hard ride. The voice landed, and Bai Ye had already let out a slight snoring sound and fell asleep.