Sail Shadows in the Sea of ​​Fog

Chapter 175 The Beginning of Chaos in Ganquan Village
"The beginning of calamity? Why is it the beginning of calamity?" Yafso asked, dissatisfied.

“How would I know?” Vanhart shrugged. “That’s all the Fire Seed said.”

"What exactly is the fire seed?" Shenba asked curiously.

“It is a source of power,” Van Hart explained vaguely, “like the heart of a pirate ship or the sacred tree of elves.”

This was destined to be a profound and tedious topic, so after only a few words, the conversation shifted to the elves and the village of Sweet Springs, which was mainly inhabited by elves.

"Is that the architecture of the Elven race?" Cheng Lang looked at the distant village with curiosity.

Calling it a village is a stretch; he would rather use the ancient term "Youchaoshi," whose deeper meaning only he knows, to describe the village.

The reason was simple: all he could see were treehouses.

For a treehouse to exist, you first need trees, and only then can you consider building one.

These are quite large; any one of them has a diameter of four or five meters, and the treehouses are hidden in the trunks of these big trees.

Moreover, most of these sturdy but not very tall trees have wooden steps built around their trunks that spiral down to the canopy.

Inside those meticulously pruned tree canopies, either a platform for resting has been built, clothes are hung out to dry on ropes, or tables and chairs are set up and oil lamps are hung up, along with a sign that reads "xxx Tavern".

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?”

Yun Ji smiled and explained, "These treehouses all sprouted from the roots of the sacred tree. Any elven citizen, and only elven citizens, can pray to the sacred tree to occupy any unclaimed treehouse outside the capital and other major cities free of charge, and build treehouses on it."

"Is it that amazing?" Cheng Lang asked in astonishment. "It feels so good."

"yes"

Yun Ji said, "The only price is to take good care of the house trees, which will make the sacred tree even more lush. Of course, if an elven citizen wants to occupy a second house tree, they will have to pay a very high occupancy fee."

"This is simply perfect." Cheng Lang couldn't help but sigh, he was even starting to feel a little tempted by that lush sacred tree.

"What about the capital? Is it like this in the capital too?"

Shenba pressed on, saying that he was just a baby when he left the Elf Kingdom last time and had no recollection of these things.

"I don't know, and I've never been there," Yun Ji shook her head.

"What about dark elves? Can dark elves be used too?"

Yafso asked the same question. Although she had lived on the border of the Elven Duchy, she avoided everything about the elves.

“Dark elves are also an option. These treehouses are essentially similar to hunting tents, or even more basic hunting tents.”

It was Yun Lan who answered Yafso's question: "The Elf Capital is also made up of treehouses, but the treehouses there are much taller, and each tree has more treehouses, which can accommodate more people."

"What about the elven royal family?" Cheng Lang asked, puzzled. "Do they also live in the trees?"

“That’s right,” Yun Lan replied, “I live on the tree closest to the Verdant Sacred Tree. It’s also known as the Cloud City, the highest city on the entire continent.”

"It is also known as the royal city that is the first to receive the sunlight," Yun Ji added.

"When a wildfire breaks out, see where they run to," Cheng Lang said, completely lacking any sense of public morality.

"If it were that easy to ignite, the Elven royal family would have been replaced countless times by now."

Vanhart picked up the thread, saying, "Even Eleanor has tried more than once, but in reality, it is very difficult to start a wildfire within the territory of the Elven Duchy."

As the conversation reached this point, the group arrived at the entrance of Ganquan Village. At the village entrance, between two trees, there was a wooden plaque hanging from vines—Welcome to Ganquan Village. This is the first step towards freedom, and also the first step towards exile.

"That's really honest."

Cheng Lang muttered something to himself, then looked back at Fan Hart and saw that his loose robe completely covered his feet and the ground. He breathed a sigh of relief and led the group into Ganquan Village.

Cheng Lang had to admit that the village was truly beautiful. Although the treehouses were scattered somewhat haphazardly, the lawns were meticulously trimmed, and each household had a stone path connecting it to the main road.

At the entrance of those treehouses, there is usually a huge parasol, with stone or wooden tables and chairs set out. Some of the guests are either drunken silver-haired elves, while others are temporarily sober, playing musical instruments and singing.

Of course, there are also some vendors who run businesses right outside their homes. They sell various drinks, food, musical instruments, weapons, and clothing that are unique to elves.

Besides elves, there are also orcs here. Most of these orcs guard the crossroads, with a sign next to them that details who is looking for someone from the Frost Duchy, and when he or she entered the Dwarf Mountain from the other side and has been missing ever since.

Of course, what was even more eye-catching on these wooden signs were the varying bounties. The highest bounty they had seen along the way was 100 cups of Poseidon's Blood, and it was posted by the owner of an orc caravan.

"The lush green hunters are stationed on that tree on the right," Yun Ji whispered to Cheng Lang.

Without making a sound, Cheng Lang glanced in the direction the other party had indicated and raised an eyebrow. There were more than a dozen lush green hunting tents in the open space outside the treehouse.

At the entrance of the treehouse, two lush green hunters sat or stood, observing the travelers along the way. On the table beside them were binoculars, whistles, bows and arrows.

Although Cheng Lang quickly withdrew his gaze, the verdant hunters still couldn't help but notice them.

"Be prepared"

Cheng Lang whispered a reminder, "Vanhart, which direction?"

"What? Oh! That direction!" Vanhart realized what was happening and quickly pointed in a direction.

"Yafso"

“There are still plenty of spores,” Yavso said, glancing at the orcs not far away who were searching for their families or helping others search for their families.

"I'm ready too!" Shenba said in his loud voice.

"Do we really have to do this?" Yun Lan asked, sounding somewhat helpless.

"The only way to get to that waterfall is through Ganquan Village," Cheng Lang said.

That's nothing!

Yun Lan cursed inwardly, completely lacking any aristocratic manners. It was clearly this country bumpkin captain who had taken a liking to those treehouses and insisted on coming to take a look!

Just as Yafuso had taken out a glass bottle full of spores, Shenba had even drawn the scythe tucked at his waist, and Yunlan was even preparing to summon Thorns, a joyful shout came from afar!

"Someone has emerged from the Dwarf Mountain again! It's an elf! An elf! It's him, the same elf from two years ago!"

"Wow!"

Amidst the cheers of surprise, the orcs guarding the crossroads, the drunken elven villagers, the Green Hunters, and even a minority of humans all rushed into the depths of the village.

"Let's go take a look too," Cheng Lang said, and ran over with the crowd.

"Does he really enjoy watching a spectacle?"

Yun Lan sighed wearily, complaining as she followed the others to catch up with Cheng Lang.

Soon, everyone ran to the foot of the Dwarf Mountain, which was right next to the village. At a point where the Dwarf Mountain was almost level with the canopies of the surrounding houses and trees, there was a large enough cave.

The cave was almost right next to the waterfall pool not far away, and the slope built of piled stones and mud was now full of elves and orcs.

Amidst the cheers of the crowd, an elf in a robe walked out of the enormous cave step by step, finally stopping at the entrance, shielding his eyes from the sunlight, and surveying his surroundings.

It's him?

Cheng Lang and the others immediately recognized the other party; it was the mysterious pointed-eared man in a robe they had encountered before entering the Dwarf Mountain from the other side!
"Ten thousand gold coins! I want to buy your route!"

From the crowd, an orc was the first to shout.

"I'll offer 100 cups of Poseidon's Blood!" another orc shouted.

"Azure Hunters! On alert!"

At a command, the swarming Green Hunters drew their swords or set up their spider bows, surrounding the people at the highest point of the slope and blocking the entrance to the Dwarf Mountain.

"You are suspected of illegal immigration."

Before the hunter captain could finish speaking, the man in the robe drew a curved knife with a "whoosh," and shouted, "Time's up! Make your move!"

With a shout, two tall orcs emerged from the cave behind him, blocking the elf with two massive shields.

At the same time, the orcs who were just bidding suddenly took action, drew their weapons, and took the surrounding elves hostage!

Just as the hunters subconsciously shifted their attention to the kidnapped elves and the orcs who were holding them hostage, a wave of shouts came from the cave that extended into the Dwarf Mountain!
Immediately following, a large number of orcs, humans, and even sirens and hybrid sirens rushed out!

"Yavso! Spores, throw out all the spores!" Cheng Lang made a decisive decision.

"Where should we throw it?" Yavso asked immediately.

"The entrance to the cave!" Cheng Lang made the decision almost subconsciously.

"Look at me!"

The silly girl Yafso didn't even ask her captain why she was told to throw the spores towards the cave entrance. She immediately drew her bow and shot arrows. With a whooshing sound, the arrows with glass bottles attached to them hit the rock wall directly above the cave entrance with precision!

"Give us some!" Shenba urged.

Upon hearing this, Yun Lan immediately opened Yafso's backpack and took out one small bottle after another.

"That's enough! Leave some for me! Don't use them all!" Yavso said with a pained expression.

"May your bowel movements be regular!"

Shenba shouted out a blessing containing countless beautiful and subtle meanings, and swung his arm to throw the glass bottle in his hand towards the distant cave entrance.

As the battle began, and as glass jars filled with spores exploded one after another, the delicate spores began to spread.

"let's go!"

Before Cheng Lang could finish speaking, Yun Lan had already sprouted a large patch of thorns blocking their path on the ground in front of them.

Using the thorns as cover, the group turned and ran towards the nearby waterfall. Before the arrows, whose trajectories had already veered off course, could strike them, they jumped one after another into the icy pool.

The moment they entered the water, everyone realized how useful the belts that Vanhart had spent several days crafting for them were.

This belt not only has enough defensive power to stop the arrows and even flintlock bullets from before, but it also creates spherical spaces filled with air underwater.

Especially those with keen senses like Yun Ji, or those like Cheng Lang who were given the ability to breathe underwater by the ship's core, could clearly perceive that this underwater "bubble" was breathing slowly, drawing air from the surrounding water.

"Come with me!"

Vanhart gave a series of enthusiastic reminders, then, having anticipated this, lit a red oil lamp hanging from his waist, leading everyone to swim as fast as they could towards the depths of the pool.

The pool was much deeper and clearer than they had imagined, and of course, much more lively than they had expected.

As they descended, they saw more than one skeleton stuck in a protrusion on the rock wall.

When they finally reached the bottom of the pool, they were even more astonished to find it covered with human bones, coins, various weapons, and fragments of other unknown materials.

As the crowd gathered together, the bubbles formed by the belt merged together, becoming an even larger bubble.

"Captain, why did we just make a move?" Yun Lan asked first.

"That man in the robes clearly planned this sneak attack from here."

As Cheng Lang looked at the mud and broken bones under his feet, he said, "And it's clear that those hunters weren't prepared."

I don't know what their motives are, but it's clear that we can't let any of their plans come true, otherwise it could bring us a chain of trouble.

"so."

"So the only option is to create some surprises for them."

Cheng Lang pointed to his face and said innocently, "I'm an elf. I'm protecting my home. Is that wrong?"

"Okay, that's right."

Yun Lan shook her head helplessly, "I hope no new monsters or ferocious beasts will be born."

"Will not"

Yun Ji said confidently, "Since there is a rule that elves and orcs cannot intermarry, the elven royal family must know something, and they must have a way to deal with it."

"So what do we do now?"

Cheng Lang glanced at Shenba and Yafusuo, who were bending over and picking up gold coins, then asked Fanhart.

"Don't rush, wait a little longer."

As Vanhart spoke, his eyes were also fixed on a pocket watch that he had pulled out from somewhere.

"Just wait?" Cheng Lang asked warily. "You'd better tell us in advance what will happen, otherwise we won't help you."

“It’s too late,” Vanhart said, looking up.

"What did you say?" Cheng Lang instinctively lashed out with his whip, wrapping it around everyone's waists. The others also instinctively gripped their whips tightly.

I said, it's too late.

As soon as Vanhart finished speaking, a pitch-black hole larger than a digging beetle suddenly appeared on the rock wall not far away. Instantly, the water, carrying the bubbles that had gathered together, rushed into the pitch-black hole, which led to an unknown destination, amidst a new round of curses.

(End of this chapter)