It was the very tavern the female mage had mentioned.
Lin Gui stood where he was, staring at the shop sign for a long time.
An indescribable feeling surged into his heart.
As if he had missed something.
Or as if something was right before his eyes, yet he couldn't grasp it no matter what.
He shook his head and withdrew his gaze.
"What is it?"
Elvia poked her head out from behind him.
Following Lin Gui's gaze, she also discovered the tavern.
Withered Wood Town in the dusk had fewer and fewer pedestrians.
Shops began to close, and rowdy laughter drifted out from the taverns.
The two paused for a moment, then controlled the staff to float toward the city gate.
Just as they turned a street corner, a caravan appeared ahead.
Wagons, pack beasts, and guards riding horses.
Flags were planted on the wagons, embroidered with a ring of connected stars.
The Morningstar Caravan.
They were also about to leave.
Raymond was riding at the front of the line and spotted Lin Gui at a glance.
His eyes lit up, and he steered his horse closer.
"Mage Messenger guy!"
"Are you two leaving at this time too?"
Lin Gui slowed his speed, letting the staff drift alongside Raymond's horse.
"Yeah, making some time."
Raymond smiled.
"What a coincidence; we're in a hurry too."
"Leaving town together?"
Lin Gui hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
There were only a total of 147 transport teams on the Akara Continent.
If he successfully established a transport team in the future, the probability of bumping into them was high.
There was no harm in staying on good terms.
Even though Raymond had been annoying him with constant recruitment attempts at the post office over the past few days.
"Sure."
Lin Gui controlled the staff to move in parallel with the caravan.
Raymond was very happy and took the initiative to introduce the members of the caravan to him.
"The one on the black horse is our captain, a Legendary powerhouse—ruthless and a man of few words."
"That white-robed priest is Cecil; he has a bit of a temper, so don't mind him."
"Those guys in the back are guards, all High-tier Transcendent..."
Lin Gui nodded to each of them in greeting.
The priest named Cecil shot him a glance, his mouth twitching as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he didn't speak.
The group passed through the city gate, and the dusk deepened further.
Raymond looked back at the walls of Withered Wood Town and let out a sigh.
"We've been out for over half a year this time; finally going back."
Lin Gui asked:
"Back to the City of a Thousand Towers?"
"Yes."
Raymond nodded.
"But not using that strange route of yours."
He paused and looked at Lin Gui.
"Want to travel together for a stretch?"
"We'll also pass by Serpent-Spine Ridge."
Lin Gui shook his head.
"Not on the way."
Lin Gui was familiar with the Morningstar Caravan's route.
It was true they passed through Serpent-Spine Ridge, but they would not take the route through the eastern Forbidden Zone.
Instead, they would go north, taking a much longer and safer path.
Raymond did not force the issue.
"All right then, stay safe on the road."
He urged his horse forward and went to the head of the caravan.
Lin Gui stood in place, watching the transport wagons pass by him one by one.
The first one.
The second one.
The third one.
At the very instant the last wagon brushed past Lin Gui...
Screech...
A soft sound rang out.
The curtain covering the wagon was slashed from the inside.
A pale, ghastly hand reached out from the hole.
It clawed straight toward Lin Gui's face.
Its speed was extremely fast.
So fast that the air was torn, producing a sharp whistling sound.
Elvia's reaction was even faster.
She released her hold on Lin Gui's waist, leaned forward, and grabbed that wrist.
Her five fingers tightened, locking onto the joints.
Crack...
The hand stopped right in front of Lin Gui.
It was less than a fist's distance from the tip of his nose.
Lin Gui retreated, the staff drifting back several meters.
Raymond and the other members spun their heads around.
A guard flipped off his horse, drew a short blade from his waist, and held it in a reverse grip.
The hilt of the blade struck that arm fiercely.
"Ah..."
A stifled scream came from within the curtain.
The hand retracted.
Raymond hurried forward, pulling the slashed curtain shut and pinning it down.
He looked back at Lin Gui with a somewhat awkward smile on his face.
"Did that scare you?"
Lin Gui was dazed for a moment.
He looked at the hole that had been covered back up and asked subconsciously:
"This... is your... precious cargo?"
"Ah..."
Raymond scratched his head, looking a bit troubled.
Then, he said with a smile:
"It is indeed precious cargo."
"You see, with the Elven Forest under lockdown these days..."
"Many female elves have been driven up to astronomical prices."
"Us taking some beautiful slaves to sell in the City of a Thousand Towers..."
"That's normal, right?"
He patted Lin Gui's shoulder.
Then he flipped back onto his horse and followed the caravan forward.
The wagon wheels ground over the gravel, making a rolling clatter clatter sound.
Lin Gui narrowed his eyes, watching the departing backs of the caravan.
"Precious beautiful slaves, huh..."
He mumbled in a low voice.
"I certainly couldn't see where the beauty was."
In that brief glimpse.
He had seen the person inside through the hole.
Filthy, dirty, and shriveled.
They had nothing to do with beauty at all.
They weren't even female.
And that person's eyes...
Seemed to be red.
Lin Gui watched the transport team leave until their figures disappeared into the dusk.
He withdrew his gaze and turned his head.
Elvia stood where she was, staring blankly.
Her gaze rested on the direction where the caravan had disappeared.
As if she was looking at something.
Yet as if she was looking at nothing at all.
Her right hand was slightly clenched, as if something was in her palm.
Lin Gui frowned.
"Elvia?"
No response.
"Elvia."
He raised his voice.
Elvia suddenly snapped out of it.
She looked at him, her eyes somewhat evasive.
"Ah... what is it?"
Lin Gui looked at her.
"What did you see?"
"Nothing!"
Elvia's answer was fast.
So fast it was as if she were hiding something.
She hid her right hand behind her back, grabbed Lin Gui's hand, and urged him:
"Let's go; it's almost dark."
"Didn't you say we have to make time?"
"Hurry, let's go."
She sat on the staff and wrapped her arms around his waist.
Tighter than usual.
Lin Gui glanced at her but did not press further.
The staff rose into the air and drifted forward.
Behind them, the lights of Withered Wood Town gradually grew smaller, becoming a cluster of starlight on the ground.
And in the other direction.
Inside that transport wagon.
Three pairs of crimson eyes stared at each other.
Their eyes were filled with despair.
Rate on N.U.
