139: Chapter 10: Misfortunes Keep Coming {VIP Chapter 8}_1 139: Chapter 10: Misfortunes Keep Coming {VIP Chapter 8}_1 The Shepherd-tree People had barely left when Liu Zhenhan, keen to escape, quickly rubbed oil on the soles of his feet and vanished into the night.
After all, tricking someone out of their belongings is not something to be proud of.
After trekking through the forest for an entire night, he finally saw the area with ink-hued trenches in the canyon ahead from atop a cliff.
He had reached the Ink Crystal Canyon.
Liu Zhenhan cross-referenced with the tattered map in his possession, confirming that he had stumbled upon his destination.
After a brief rest, Liu Zhenhan foraged for some hard nuts that had fallen to the ground to sate his hunger.
He then scaled down the cliff into the canyon basin below and followed the gradually discernible forest path in search of the Beamon soldier’s camp.
A mountain viewed from afar appears closer than it actually is.
Only after searching till the following morning and experiencing numerous twists and turns, did Liu Zhenhan eventually find the damned Ink Crystal Canyon station in the vast canyon.
Huge logs had been piled up to form enclosures and houses.
Under the shade of a massive tree was an entire tree carved into a bear totem— Misha, with a red banner twirled around the totem.
On it were four words in the Beamon language, “Compete with the Dragon Horn”.
In a clearing created by man, a squad of Buer Tribe Tauren soldiers with greenish-black curved horns on their heads were lined up in an organized formation.
Amid the morning mist, they swung the weapons in their hands— huge wooden totem pillars for practice.
Large beads of sweat rolled down their robust, naked muscles, splashing onto the moist grassland amid the dispersing mist and wild shouts.
On the other side of the clearing, a squad of Haos Centaur Archers were practicing archery.
The twang of their bowstrings resonating incessantly.
Every now and then, a stray arrow would attract the wrath of the Centaur leader supervising the practice.
A tall and burly bear-man paced around the area, his hands behind his back holstered in an armed belt.
The occasional roar he let out sent shivers through the vast forest.
The appearance of Liu Zhenhan didn’t cause these soldiers in training to even bat an eye, showing a spirit belonging to the regular army.
Only the hulking bear-man of the Pier race glanced back at him. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel★fire.net
“Welcome, Lord Richard the Shaman!” The bear-man continued to reprimand his subordinates for a few words, then strolled over leisurely with a rocking head to shake hands with Liu Zhenhan.
Despite this bear-man not using much strength, his grip still created a crunching sound in Liu Zhenhan’s bones.
“I received word from the temple a while ago and have been awaiting your arrival,” the bear-man introduced himself: “I am Christian Vieira, the squadron leader and the highest officer stationed in the ‘Compete with the Dragon Horn’ corp of the Kingdom, under the jurisdiction of the Southern Cross Star Forest’s ‘Ink Crystal Canyon’ station.”
“I apologize for keeping you waiting, knight,” Liu Zhenhan looked up at the towering bear-man, “I got delayed on the road, so I am late.”
The helmet of the bear-man knight had several colorful ostrich tail plumes, suggesting that he had probably hunted many exotic magical beasts.
“Why did you come alone?
Where is Helen the Shaman?” Vieira, the bear-man, furrowed his brows.
“We’ve already hunted plenty of high-quality magic crystals in the extension of the Southern Cross Star Forest — Bering Mountain Range, so Helen, the shaman, has gone back to the temple first.
I’m here to handle the handover procedures with the Ink Crystal Canyon station.
If you don’t believe me, I can accompany you to hunt a few more magical beasts and ensure the supervisory duty is fulfilled,” Liu Zhenhan said, taking out a couple of extravagant magic crystals from his bosom and weighing them in his hand.
Now, Liu Zhenhan was the very definition of a nouveau riche.
“As for you obtaining the magic crystals, it was anticipated by the temple and us,” the bear-man smirked, displaying a complete understanding.
How did they know?” Liu Zhenhan wondered.
Could it be that the temple and the Pier Bear-men had the ability to communicate with trees too?
“In my earlier years, I followed Cui Beixi, the Lord.
Indeed, the quantity and quality of the magic crystals she hunted could match those of the magical beast in the Southern Cross Star Forest,” the Pier warrior chuckled.
His words were modest, but the meaning was straightforward.
Those scoundrels from the temple must have taken a loss and are now planning revenge on me!
Liu Zhenhan began to comprehend.
“Lord Richard, the task of your trial must be completed, and as for the absent Helen Shaman, I will make a note of it in the assessment memorandum to the temple, suggesting that her qualification to progress to the War Shaman be revoked.
I regret to inform you, Lord Richard, that the task for your trial is formulated by the advisers of the military department.
You don’t have the privilege to pick and choose,” The bear-man withdrew a sheepskin scroll authorization letter sealed with wax from his sleeve.
The military issued a task to me?
How can the military intervene in the temple’s trial?” Liu Zhenhan was genuinely puzzled.
“To be honest…” the bear-man shrugged his broad shoulders, “You still have the right to refuse the trial.”
“Wait… What exactly does the military’s order say?” Liu Zhenhan turned his head to look at the bear-man, a look of doubt on his face.
“The military ordered us in the Ink Crystal Canyon station to assign the most dangerous task to you, Lord Richard, upon knowing that you were once a Dragon Shaman,” the bear-man chuckled, unfurling the authorization scroll in his hand.
At the end of the authorization scroll was a bright red seal, a triple-headed lion holding a staff and a crown.