"It's alright," Fang Hong glanced at the team behind Kuisu. "Since we're all here, let's set off earlier."

"Is there anything we need to be cautious about?" Kuisu asked. Despite leading a team across many regions over the years, she understood that the work of an Adventure Group differed from that of a Woodcutter, and sometimes this is a job that confronts life and death directly.

Fang Hong took something out from his pocket. "Don't make too much noise, and stay close to me." He looked at the others and added, "If we encounter combat, let the others not panic too much and hide behind us."

Then he released his hand. It was only then that Kuisu saw it was a golden Copper Sphere, which 'clicked' and unfolded its four wings in Fang Hong's hand, then flew into the darkness.

She was a bit surprised and turned to glance at Reed.

Kuisu had been somewhat worried before. The big boy always gave her the impression of being too young and somewhat unreliable in reality, but that Big Cat hadn't told her that their Captain was an Alchemist.

Facing her gaze, the Lion People only showed a look of unsurprised expression and shrugged. Trust is mutual, and so is the relationship between employer and employee—unlike other jobs, Adventurers sometimes require some extra trust.

The process of negotiation between the parties is, in fact, a process of building trust.

If the other side isn't willing to trust in their strength, then any amount of words would be futile. It's better to let the employer see with their own eyes, which in turn can establish a stronger trust relationship.

As he had thought.

Kuisu indeed felt slightly relieved at that moment. "To be the Captain of an Adventure Group at such a young age, he indeed has some skill," she thought to herself.

The abandoned Ancient Castle was located south of the Masongke Creek base. Following the Valley into the woodland, it took six to seven hours to see Aimumu Fortress standing atop a solitary peak at first light before dawn.

It was built of grey-white bricks and stones, with a black pointed roof. On the western city wall, there was a gap, which could be clearly seen from miles away. Below was a Valley, where spruces and cypresses grew similarly to the Forest vegetation around Tibial Creek, though at this time, the Forest was covered in silver ash snow, presenting a vast expanse of white from afar.

The solitary castle stood atop a grey cliff, overlooking the mountains and distant thin clouds in the Valley, with a leaden sky, making the barren winter seem colder and lonelier.

This area had already entered the range of the Blood Thistle Woods. The place was thus named because of the blood-red shrubs growing in the mountain woods, even under the snow, a dark red hue could be seen from afar.

Moreover, the trunks of the trees in the woods vaguely exuded a dark red color, like dried blood. The locals believed this was the blood of a Demon, making them even less willing to approach this area.

As they entered the Forest, the Woodcutters were somewhat nervous, whispering amongst themselves. But as they continued deeper, people gradually quieted down.

For the woods were relatively quiet, seemingly no different from before—

They were much luckier than the Adventure Group they rescued two days prior at Tibial Creek, as they encountered almost no trouble. They only saw from afar a Dire Bear, which hadn't hibernated yet, wandering on a frozen river, which avoided them from a distance.

The only incident was when a few skeletal frames suddenly crawled out from under the snow.

However, these things were too common at Tibial Creek, even the Woodcutters were unfazed, and they quickly took down these Low Rank Undead Creatures with their sticks.

After this episode, the Woodcutters also gradually relaxed.

But even as the others relaxed, Fang Hong keenly sensed some changes around.

In fact, ever since entering the Blood Thistle Woods, he had had this feeling. The surroundings became quieter, the snowfall silent, the snow seemed to truly absorb the sound of footsteps, making the Forest absolutely still.

The air seemed to be filled with something peculiar.

But Tata was the first to notice this. "There's something odd here, Mr. Knight." Miss Fairy hid in his coat collar, speaking to him in his mind.

"What's wrong?"

"The distribution of Magic Power here is somewhat peculiar."

"Magic Power distribution?"

Tata nodded calmly.

She seemed to be searching for something in her knowledge, then said, "Do you know the Grey-white Scar, Mr. Knight?"

Fang Hong nodded, that place was on the Grey Plain to the south of the Osh Empire, where there had been an epic battle between the Empire and Hanruina. The combatants had used Campaign Level Magic at the time.

The terrifying spells left a permanent scar on the plain, a great canyon filled with unpredictable magical turbulence—later, people called that place the Grey-white Scar.

Meaning a scar on the Earth.

Tata gently blinked her emerald green eyes. "Some books from the Silver Tower describe that place, and this place is somewhat similar to it."

"This place and the Grey-white Scar?"

"Both have had irreversible events that changed the rules of Magic Power distribution."

Tata answered, "In history, there must have been a substantial change in Magic Power here, which left the scenery as it is today. The dark red color of the trees in the Forest is not naturally formed, but a manifestation of Magic Power concentrated on the plants."

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